CHI & Chicago Metro – The Vegan Digest

PLANTA Queen in River North, Chicago

PLANTA, PLANTA Queen, and their many varied concepts have long been favorites of The Vegan Digest. The restaurant group offers chef-crafted, balanced, and delicious signature dishes as well as many traditional classics from varied cuisines. Review the restaurant group’s various locations at its website, linked below for your perusal. The restaurant group was named TVD’s #1 Market Presence Favorite in 2023.

PLANTA Restaurants

Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria in Chicago

Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria offers a pride-friendly, colorful, respectable, and fun atmosphere for everyone. This authentic Mexican restaurant concept offers burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, street-style elote, pozole, asada fries, fresh guacamole, as well as al pastor, carnitas, chorizo, barbacoa, mushroom, baja, and asada tacos along with a choice of queso. They serve a “classic horchata,” a “kids burger,” and a “kids sundae.” They also offer a cinnamon buñuelo, ice cream sundae, cake, and other desserts. Penelope’s offers a happy hour with margaritas, tacos, chips and salsa, nachos, and more. TVD is yet to visit, and so, if you do visit, let us know how you enjoyed Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria!

Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria

Penelope’s on Instagram with TVD

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat in Chicago

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat is popular in Chicago! Owner and chef, Laricia Chandler Baker (Chef Fab), developed a menu that “appeals to both meat and plant-based eaters.” The menu includes “a tasty, creative twist on the iconic Philly Cheesesteak made with ‘beef-less’ protein and vegan smoothies, as well as shakes with flavors like ‘the Cookie Monster,’ made with America’s favorite cookies, Oreos.” Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat isn’t a fully vegan restaurant and is profiled as a vegetarian restaurant. While all their proteins are 100% plant-based, they serve some items with actual dairy cheese. TVD is yet to visit, and so, if you do visit, let us know how you enjoyed Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat!

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat

Where to Dine in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago’s meat-free culinary landscape is a dynamic mix of long-standing institutions and innovative newcomers. The city’s top-tier establishments are categorized into refined upscale dining, approachable global casual concepts, as well as artisanal cafes and bakeries. Each venue listed is a strictly meat-free establishment, offering menus that are either fully vegan or mostly plant-based. [Prompted by TVD and fully generated by Google’s Gemini as of March 31, 2026. These purported venues are entirely identified by Gemini and have not been linked herein or verified by TVD, and so, should you decide to visit any of these venues, please review their website, online presence, and their Google Maps profile.]

Upscale Dining in Chicago

PLANTA Queen is an Asian-inspired plant-based restaurant concept, located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. The menu is extensive with fully vegan items such as torched nigiri, maki rolls, hand rolls, noodles, stir-fried rice, dumplings, gyoza, bao buns, poke bowls, salads, desserts, wines, beers, cocktails, juices, happy hour beverages, and more. The restaurant began operating at this location in 2022.

Casual Dining in Chicago

Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria is in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, with a presence beyond. The menu offers soy al pastor tacos, mushroom chimichurri tacos, beer-battered avocado tacos, and vegan enchiladas. The establishment was founded in March 2022.

The Chicago Diner is in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Menu items include sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, ‘wings,’ chili, salads, nachos, milkshakes, beverages, and more. The business has been operating since 1983.

Alice & Friends’ Vegan Kitchen is in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, with a presence beyond. The menu features satay, spring rolls, dumplings, stir-fried rice, noodles, burgers, sandwiches, desserts, and more. It was originally founded in 2001.

Veggie House is in the Chinatown neighborhood of Chicago. The menu includes fried oyster mushrooms, stir-fried rice, noodles, desserts, beverages, and more. The brand transitioned to a fully vegan menu in late 2025 and was originally founded in 2020.

Soul Veg City is in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, with a presence beyond. The menu offers plant-based soul food classics such as barbecue, battered ‘meats,’ southern-style sides, and more. The brand was founded in 1981.

Healthy Substance Kitchen is in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood of Chicago. The menu offers vegan Mexican cuisine, including tortas, tamales, tacos, and more. The establishment was founded in 2018.

Elephant + Vine is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Menu items include burgers, ‘wings,’ tenders, bowls, wraps, smoothies, salads, and more. This location commenced operations in May 2022.

Kale My Name is in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. The menu features a global array of vegan dishes such as ‘wings,’ wraps, tacos, desserts, beverages, and more. The establishment was founded in 2020.

Amitabul Simply Vegan is in the Norwood Park neighborhood of Chicago. The menu offers traditional Korean vegan cuisine, including soups and spicy kimchi stir-fry. The establishment was founded in 1995.

Handlebar is in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. Menu items include the fried “chicken” seitan diablo and vegan nachos. This vegetarian and vegan staple was founded in 2003.

Urban Vegan Thai Cuisine is in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. The menu offers a wide array of vegan Thai staples such as pad thai, drunken noodles, green curry, soy-protein satay, and more. The establishment was founded in 2015.

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, with a presence beyond. The menu offers plant-based versions of American comfort classics, including burgers, patty melts, cheesesteaks, smoothies, shakes, and more. While all proteins are plant-based, the establishment is categorized as vegetarian because certain items are served with dairy cheese. The brand commenced operations in April 2019.

Cafes & Sweets in Chicago

Beacon Doughnuts is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. This small-batch bakery offers vegan doughnuts with flavors such as blueberry pancake and lavender vanilla. The establishment was founded in 2017.

Pie, Pie My Darling is in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. The menu offers “The Bunny” carrot cake, funfetti celebration cakes, and seasonal fruit pies. The establishment was founded in 2016 and opened its storefront in 2019.

Ingrained is in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. This shop offers raw, vegan, and gluten-free treats, including “functional” chocolate bars and nutrient-dense snack boxes. The establishment was founded in 2019.