4-5 star food but zero thought to the idea that restaurants are part of the hospitality industry. Think about the word hospitality and tell me that you want me to feel at home, welcome and comfortable here. There's a ton of reviewers that talk about the music and I'm going to echo the sentiments that it's bar music and not restaurant appropriate. It's loud, irritating, obnoxious and just lacks basic musicality. Forget about having a conversation. It makes you wolf down your food. Is it for your customers or is it just what you like to listen to. It's too bad because I really like the menu and the food was very good. My partner had the fried avocado tacos on corn tortillas with rice and beans. The pickled cabbage was a thoughtful addition to the taco. Really nice. I had the Nashville hot chicken everyone raves about deservedly with a side of collards. The collards were hard to eat. I like mine cooked a lot longer. The taste was there but you have to cook them unless they're baby collards. These weren't. The service was friendly. It's a cool looking place. The prices fair. I can't sit through another meal there. It's ridiculous. read more

I've been to Handlebar a few times over the last few years and always enjoy their food. Their patio is a mega bonus during the warmer months, as the indoor space gets a little crowded with people standing around. My boyfriend and I met a few friends here last weekend after getting engaged and everyone seemed to enjoy their food and drinks - for the most part - even those who eat meat like it's their job. Fried pickles were a little over-done this time, but I've had them every time I've been here, so they're always my go-to. This last time I ordered the buffalo chick'n wrap and loved it enough that I was okay with the fact that it ruined my favorite shirt, with a side of sesame broccoli (divine!). Dirty martini was a little warm, but that's what I get for trying to order a martini at a grungy (yet lovely) bar. Bf had the biscuits and gravy with sunny side up eggs and guacamole. Street parking is free if you can find it, service is on point, and bathrooms are dirty, but that's part of Handlebar's charm. They serve breakfast and sammies until 3pm, entrees are served 3pm and beyond. Definitely check it out - sensory overload is a must from time to time. read more

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Anything less than a five means that the users have robotic taste buds. This place is so freaking good. Vegan food is never been high on my list. They kill it every time. Been at least four times and next week makes five. read more

This place is too hip. I definitely felt a bit out of place but the food here is amazing! I'm not vegetarian but I thought the food was amazing here. Wicker place is a really nice neighborhood filled with young people everywhere. Good coffee and dirty chai. My "Nashville Fried chicken" was very tasty. Too small of a patty but very flavorful and spicy. Couldn't even tell that is wasn't meat. My friend's chimichanga was really good. Very saucy with a lot of beans. Enough to fill both of our appetites. Came here early and there were no lines. But when we left around at 10, the place was packed with people waiting outside. Tip: Come early! read more

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My Buffalo chicken wrap was definitely a solid food option. I have to admit that it didn't blow my mind per se but it did the job of of getting me some dinner while I'm currently abstaining from meat. The sandwich was hefty to say the least enough so to fill a carnivore's appetite. There's a drive thru like prick up window that also serves as a hostess stand for dine in patrons. I'll be interested in trying other menu items such as the nachos when I return. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The patio at Handlebar is fantastic! Such a cool vibe. Been here a couple times now, and I have yet to have an item on the menu that disappointed. The go-to for sure is the Nashville Hot Sandwich. So good, but it is hot. The texture is spot on, and the slaw compliments the sandwich perfectly. The wrap was fantastic as well, and you have to start with the nachos. If they have a cake from Pie Pie, plan to order a slice; you will not be disappointed! Vegan paradise, y'all! read more

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YET AGAIN SPECTACULAR I got this special 3 years ago and got it again this weekend. The one and only pancake bowl! read more

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This is my favorite Vegan spot! My husband and I eat here pretty frequently since first finding it on Yelp. Everything we've tried so far on the menu has been amazing. Their vegan ranch and cheese is the best I've had vs any other vegan restaurants. However, the best dish in our opinion is the hot fried chicken sandwich. I didn't know it was humanly possible to make a mushroom taste like chicken, but Handlebar does it. I'd actually like to see a competition with their sandwich vs honey buttered fried chicken cuz Handlebar would win. The service is always fast and nice. Even if the place is packed, they do such a great job making sure you're not waiting long. Highly recommend everyone try this place, even if you aren't vegan/vegetarian. It's that good! read more

Love an all vegan restaurant. Wish they had more gf options. But I really loved my food. We came for brunch. It was pretty busy, but we were seated quickly. read more

Its a bit loud inside but if that's your vibe then that's cool. Pescatarian and vegan options. Pretty spacious back patio. The food is pretty good. Convenient take out window in the front. read more

My friend and I split the chimichanga and the diablos from the breakfast menu. Food was amazing I was actually surprised. The food had such good flavors and texture, even the spice level wasn't too bad that it messed up the experience of the dishes. I don't remember the name of the drink I got but it wasn't strong at all which is really up to preference. I prefer a stronger cocktail so I was a slightly disappointed. Overall vibe of the place was excellent as the servers were so nice and it wasn't too loud despite being a little more crowded. read more

Wow was this an incredible find!! Thankfully there have been many more options for vegetarians over the past decade but boy does this place do vegetarian well. The food is outstanding. The vibe is kinda independent punk rock-reminiscent with music posters and flyers wallpapering the interior. Ramones t-shirts everywhere. Many places try to recreate the meat flavor but personally I don't need my veggies to taste like gyros. The mushroom sandwiches I've had(Nashville hot/patty melt) really honored the these classic icons while highlighting the actual mushroom flavor itself. It was an elegant balance I'm so happy to have experienced. Whether you're veggie or not, I can't recommend this place enough. Only wish I'd gone sooner. 10/10! read more

There is a growing list of Vegetarian/Vegan restaurants in Chicago. Some are great, some average, others not so great. Handlebar, in my opinion, is in the middle. They have a Metal theme - it is decorated with lots of posters and, it is quite loud. So, if you want to have a quiet meal, this is one to avoid. If the noise excites you or it doesn't matter, it is positive. Pros: As their name suggests, they have a full but limited bar. They have a nice wide variety of options for appetizers, sandwiches, meals, and even desserts. And, if you are a vegan, most of the menu options can be made vegan. (One notable exception which I heard was fabulous is the Mac n Cheese.) Cons: They were crowded at 5 PM on a Sunday night. Staff was not as observant as they should have been, or perhaps they were understaffed, but service was generally slow and it was hard to get a server's attention. While the food was good, the texture of their meat items was not really close. There were six of us, and two of us shared meals. We had the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, The Sunday Avocado special (came with a beer and a shot of tequila), and she had a side of the Mac n Cheese. The sandwich - the chicken patty is a large mushroom cap. If it was crisp, it probably would have had more of the right texture but it was simply hot so soft and mushy. The bun and the hot sauce were good - the sauce initially is surprisingly hot but it tames as you eat more. The Avocado tacos were my personal favorite. I'm not sure exactly what they did but there was a slight crunch - the tortilla was soft flour and not corn, and it was topped with plenty of lettuce. I didn't try it, but was told the Mac n Cheese was outstanding - it's been a few days since we were at Handlebar and those who got it are still raving about how good it was. This was actually a late birthday dinner for me - my wife, kids, and their significant others were all there. My wife and I decided to go one step further and got hand pies for dessert. They were my highlight of the meal and I would certainly get them again if we go back. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm excited to have an opportunity to update this review! My best friend invited my boyfriend and I to brunch with her and her boyfriend and I was stoked to get another round of the biscuits and gravy. We met them on a Sunday morning at 11. We checked in and were told about an hour wait. We decided no problem, and stood out front on the sidewalk. It was about 50 minutes and we were taken to the back patio for our table. There is currently no indoor dining open. The weather was beautiful and the patio was nice. Similar to last time, service was pretty slow, but friendly. It's not a quick in and out experience, so plan to just soak up the good vibes and not rush - we all need a little break anyway. They serve the water to the table in a carafe, which I love because I drink a lot of water and I can self-serve that way. Their specials sounded amazing but I was looking forward to the biscuits and gravy too much to venture out. New to this visit, we ordered the fried pickles, which were really tasty! I love that they are pickle spears instead of chips, I like them better this way. The house-made ranch that comes with them is really fresh and full of flavor. The breading is heartier. I'm not sure if it's a type or cornmeal or what they're using but it's crispy and filling and delicious. This is definitely a spot I enjoy and will come back to, and recommend. Their menu is always impressive and the food is consistently great. read more

Handlebar - biscuits and gravy - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love handlebars breakfast and dinner. I think they offer a wide variety on their menu. Their Cali breakfast burrito is awesome!

The fried avocado tacos... I think about them all the time. SO delicious... My friend and I randomly discovered this place on a short trip to Chicago in 2023 and went 3 times on that trip! I'll get these tacos every time I'm in Chicago now. Also, I appreciate that they are open/serve food until midnight! read more

Excellent vegan and vegetarian food, great NA options, great lighting and energy. Would eat here several times a week if I lived closer.

This became one of my favorite spots very quickly. Beautiful, covered patio, good service, delicious food. A great vegetarian and vegan spot. Cool, edgy decor as well:) Perfect for a casual meal. Large portions for the price! read more

Handlebar - Buffalo wrap with fries - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Biting into my hot Nashville sandwich and being greeted by a long strand of hair in the center was not on my bingo card. I used to love this place but that honestly killed it for me read more

Really friendly service. Didn't take long to get our food (ordered on a Monday night) . Server let us sit outside even though it was about to close. It was really clean and the lights were pretty outside. The buffalo wrap was really good and the fries. First time coming here as I am from out of state. This was a very good vegetarian option. Will have to come again read more

Handlebar - Buffalo "Chicken" Wrap Tortilla Chips and Guacamole - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant was very cute! Due to covid, they had 6 feet birders in the ground. We sat outside in the back with lots of cute plants and lights! I got the margarita ($8) with a greenie and my friend got a the "chicken" wrap. We also got fried pickles as an appetizer and it seems like a lot of people were ordering the same thing. I would give atmosphere 10/10 and food 9/10!! read more

Handlebar - Fried Pickles Green Meanie Sandwich - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a great experience at the Handlebar!!!!! The food is phenomenal and they love pretty quickly. I had a phenomenal blackened catfish that omg can EASILY put up against many fine eateries in Chicago. Come in and enjoy. read more

Handlebar - Blackened Catfish with fries, collards, and a side of vegan mac - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came as a recommendation from another vegetarian and I cannot say enough good things. The atmosphere is fun and the food and service were perfect! read more

Ordered handlebar to pickup on our way back to our Airbnb from hitting the casino in Indiana. Ordering was easy and very quick and didn't have to wait at all to pick up our food Fried Pickles were delicious, an appetizer that I would recommend I had ordered the queso fries and vegan dream mac but unfortunately they gave me two vegan dream macs. It wasn't the end of the world, the Mac was good and different, it feels like a fusion of Mac and potato salad. I definitely recommend this. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich was shared between my wife and I. Flavorful, chicken is great, another great piece of food. We had ordered a pull pork bbq sandwich which was made with trumpet mushrooms and I must say that was one of my worst pieces of food that I had in Chicago. I couldn't even finish it. Consistency, flavor, sauce, it was all very underwhelming and really inedible Lastly we grabbed a slice of cake for a nightcap which was a snickerdoodle provided by pie pie my darling. This was the last bite we truly needed. Very delicious, very scrumptious, so much so that my wife for the next two days was contemplating making the drive from the Airbnb just to get a piece of cake! This place was great, that bbq sandwich really put me off and stopped it from being 5 stars. Still, if you're vegan this is a place you need to check out in Chicago. read more

I came to visit a friend for the day in Chicago and she couldn't stop raving about Handlebar so I had to give it a try! My eyes were definitely hungrier when looking at the menu because I couldn't even finish all the food I ordered. I ordered the nachos which came with seitan chorizo (almost couldn't tell the difference) which was packaged super neatly and it was even more fun having to assemble them myself. My friend also said that I HAD to get the Pie, Pie My Darling cake which this weekend, it was the Hocus Pocus cake. UNBELIEVABLE. So moist and decadent! They also are taking precautions with COVID as they have a pick up window instead! read more

Handlebar - Pie, Pie My Darling's Hocus pocus - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had a very nice and lively visit to Handlebar and I wouldn't hesitate to go again. The food leaned to comfort food with plenty of satisfying options for pescatarian, vegan, and non-vegan. Good service too. read more

It is my mission to find a good vegan spot in every town I visit and Handlebar did not disappoint. We walked into the restaurant a little after 5:30pm on a week night and it was pretty empty. We were seated immediately and shortly after, water was brought to our table. I ordered the Nachos with vegan cashew queso (minus the black beans). The nachos are definitely big enough to share and are covered in cashew queso, chorizo and guacamole. The chorizo has a slight kick to it but was not unbearably spicy. The cashew queso was delicious and made me forget I wasn't eating "real" cheese. Overall, I left Handlebar satisfied. The food is reasonably priced and the portion sizes are perfect. I would definitely stop by again the next time I'm in Chicago. read more

Handlebar - Vegan Nachos - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were told it would be 25-30 minutes for a table but ended up waiting almost an hour and a half with no updates. Be warned that it will take forever to be seated. We asked to speak with the manager to express our disappointment and he was extremely rude. I have never felt the need to write a review before but this was ridiculous. read more

Hands down one of the best vegan spots in Chicago. Their Nasheville Hot is out of this world, but so are their salads, mashed potatoes and gravy, and specials. The vibes are immaculate and we love sitting in the patio in warmer weather. In the winter, it's so fun to go and get a vegan hot chocolate (spiked if that's the mood!) and enjoy their killer brunch. I would eat here once a week if I could! read more

It's pretty narrow minded to require a vaccine for entry. Especially given the 1291 side effects admitted by Pfizer themselves. The greeter was rude. It's a shame, food looked unique. read more

i'm sad it took me this long to try this place. around noon today, i went with my husband and friend and sat on their outdoor patio. all tables were placed at least six feet apart. temperature was fine - it was about 45 degrees but they had heated lamps and we kept our jackets on, so we were still comfortable. the menus are digital with a handy dandy qr code on the table but they also had food items written on the chalkboards. the servers were super friendly and all wore masks. we three split the vegan chili mac attack - and wowee it was amazing!!! so much flavor and didn't taste vegan at all. i got the fried avocado grilled cheese (w/ vegan cheese) and also wow'd. yes, it's greasy so not the healthiest but it was v delicious!! also got a side of fries which were thin and crispy, just how i like them! super filling so had to save the second half of the sandwich for later. i need to come back and try the rest of the menu!! 100% recommend for everyone (not just vegan/vegetarians)! read more

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Come get brunch here!! I was excited to find a vegetarian/vegan brunch+lunch spot. Masks are required to enter. Outdoor seating is the only option available based on the current Covid restrictions. The outdoor tables had individual overhead heating lamps. They didn't produce much heat. My hands ended up being pretty cold. So, beware and come fully bundled up!! The waitress maintained social distancing precautions! Masks are required when the waiter or waitress comes to the table and whenever you get up from the table. I liked that these rules were explained by the host right after being seated. The menu has SO many options providing a majority of the same options in either a vegetarian or vegan way. Best of both worlds. I ordered the vegan breakfast burrito and French toast. The vegan breakfast was filled with seitan chorizo, peppers, onions, potato, avocado, cilantro, and spinach. The burrito was also paired with salsa verde & black beans. The seitan had a powerful savory flavor that paired amazingly with the roasted peppers. Great smoky, meaty flavor. The side of black beans did not disappoint! Great texture and good mixture of flavors. The French toast was topped with fresh strawberries and banana as well as powdered sugar. The French toast can be prepared vegan. I ordered the non-vegan version. The French toast was lightly browned and crispy on the outside with a creamy, soft inside. It wasn't soggy or too eggy which I appreciated. It had a nice cinnamon sugar/custard taste to it. I recommend both of these food items! I'm looking forward to coming back and trying more from the menu! read more

Handlebar - French Toast and Vegan Breakfast Burrito - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh ma gahhh!!!. This place is so good. I never got drinks there but they have a wide section of adult alcohol beverage. The food though. Mmm the food is so good. Especially if you're wanting to get your servings of veggies a day. They have amazing salads as well as vegetarian options. Last night I had the roadhouse burger with fries. I never had a bad dish here. By far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Love the low key ambiance. read more

Handlebar is one of my favorite spots. Awesome drinks and vegan options. In the warmer months the patio is a vibe. My only complaint is sometimes the m service is pretty bad. I know the service industry can be taxing (I am also in it) but sometimes the vibes here are uncomfy depending on who is helping you out. Have had a fair share of off putting experience with various staff members throughout the years which is a bummer because we always tip well and try to be easy to wait on. That being said our server was really good last visit, didn't get their name but that was a nice experience. read more

The food is delicious. Decor isn't family friendly nor is the staff sometimes. Vegan chimichanga Vegan nachos Chocolate cake read more

I've ordered delivery from Handlebar about three times since March. I've gotten a different dish every time and each one was unique in flavor. The Nashville Hot Fried "Chicken" sandwich had just the right amount of spice to it. Their Green Meanie is a simple but FULL OF FLAVOR sandwich. Whatever juices and goods they got in it = my taste buds like it. Black Bean Maduro is my favorite out of the three meals I've tried. The sweetness of the plantains and spicey chipotle sauce they give mixes well together. Their side of fries are fine. I was not a huge fan of their vegan mac attack. Felt that it could've used more flavor. Their Oatmeal Cream Pies hit the spot!!!! Highly recommend! They also carry Pie Pie My Darling cake slices. I was lucky enough to try a few and I've been a fan for a bit! read more

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Although I am not vegetarian or vegan, after dining here I can see the most certainly see appeal! I've always been a fan of tofu and tempeh but if that's not your thing they do offer a few seafood options too, so everyone wins. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We opted for the patio since it was a nice day out. I got the buffalo "chicken" wrap (which is actually fried seitan) with a side of their gouda mac and cheese. The food was solid. No complaints. Definitely a fun little spot to come for booze and food. read more

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I'd like to share some actual quotes from eating at handlebar. I had the special fried "chicken" sandwich which is made with fried hen of the woods mushrooms. "I want to marry this sandwich" "No one will ever make me as happy as I am eating this sandwich" "I've never eaten anything so fast in my life" "I will not put it down, no" "What is this? Homemade vegan ranch? You think I can get a cup to just drink it?" "Serious about drinking this ranch though" "I can't believe I ate it all, I never finish things" "I'm drunk on this sandwich" Fries were great too. Ate a ton of delicious vegan food in Chicago but this was by far my favorite. Marry me, handlebar sandwich? I'll be faithful. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here with my cousins and had a great time! We got there right before brunch was about to end but they were able to place the order for the chimichanga. Definitely hits the spot everytime I'm there. They're vegan options are so so good and definitely will continue going back here!! Also loved the Mac and cheese as well. read more

Handlebar - Chili Mac Attack Entree and vegan chimichanga! Lavender rosemary oat milk latte - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Holy crap this place was great. Huge portions and delicious. Drinks were great, great service, super cute little space. Love finding local spaces read more