Very weird vibe here. Makes one a bit uncomfortable. Not crazy about the atmosphere or the help. I won't be back.

Always a great experience at The Handlebar. We had the fried pickles for an appetizer (1000% amazing flavor!) and some sandwiches for entrees. The patty melt was very nice. Perfectly toasted sourdough bread, and the fried mushroom had great flavor. The Roadhouse had great presentation and looked and tasted super appetizing! It's always nice when a restaurant offers a house made veggie burger. We had the oatmeal cream pie for dessert and it was incredible, wish I bought an extra one to enjoy the next day! Lastly, the fries are always great here. Friendly staff and great atmosphere! A+ and will be stopping back again. read more

Handlebar - The Roadhouse - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sometimes, you don't want meat. And when you don't, Handlebar is a great option: vegan and vegetarian fare at a reasonable price in a laid-back and eclectic location? Yes, please! On a recent Sunday morning, I just decided I want it brunch. The place was packed and I waited about 30 minutes. A long wait time means that the food must be good right? Well, it was. My first time trying a beermosa: Definitely a must! And then the roasted mushroom omelet was simply delicious: Good size and flavorful. The potatoes could've used some seasoning (even a little salt and pepper), but I added hot sauce to the ketchup to satisfy my taste buds. I will definitely keep this place in rotation. read more

Handlebar - Beermosa - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food we ordered were all affordable and delicious!!! My fried mushroom burger was juicy and flavorful. The cheese fries were great too. The ambiance was really casual and dimly lit, making it a great date/meal location. The service was smooth too. Great place to take friends who have dietary restrictions or just enjoys delicious food :-) read more

I love finding great vegan places to go to. This is truly a gem of a find. They offer great drinks! The black swan in particular is a favorite of mine reminds me of Chamoy with the spicy salted rim. The service was great. I was waiting for a friend and I was taken care of wonderfully. The multiple stickers and posters of bands makes their decor awesome. The avocado tacos are so tasty. Only wish they would serve them à la carte. Great place to meet up with someone or have a chill time with friends. read more

Handlebar - Porch swing - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really wanted to love this place because I live nearby. I gave it multiple chances but I never find anything I like there. The one decent thing on the menu is the Nashville Hot Mushroom burger but it's REALLY greasy. read more

I'm not vegan, but I like going to vegan spots with my vegan friends. Went the other weekend and got the cauliflower wingz to start - these were really good, next time I'll see if they can toss them in the buffalo sauce instead of having it on the side. For my entree, I got the avocado tacos since they were the most popular item. When I tell you this was the worst thing I've ever had at a restaurant, I'm not lying. The tacos had two thin strips of battered avocado that had absolutely zero flavor and some equally flavorless mashed avocado smeared on the tortilla, and all of it smothered in flavorless slaw. They served it with green salsa and rice (Not edible. Hard and gross). Absolutely NOTHING on the plate had even as much as a pinch of salt. I managed to eat 2/3 of the tacos by stuffing them with my fried plantains that I got on the side. I really can't believe people are really out here eating food this bad. My friend got the Nashville hot friend chixken sandwich and picked at it the entire time, so I don't think it was good either. Service was overall very good, but towards the end of our meal, either the busboy or the server was at our table every 5 minutes. It was quite annoying, so maybe some training is needed there. This spot was definitely a one and done for me sadly. read more

Great menu, great spicy chicken fried mushroom sandwich , great fries, pretty close to the blue line. I'll probably stop in here every time I'm in Chicago. read more

When you have friends in Chicago who always take you to the best places, it's easy to wrote a review! Food, ambiance & staff at Handlebar were all great! When you first walk in the entrance felt like a slice of CBGBs with all the stickers. The front area is warm wood cozy with booths, a bar and tables and great band posters lining the walls and behind the bar. When you walk to the back, there is a beautiful outdoor seating area with lots of seating, plants and great light. It was packed when we got there at 11. They don't take reservations. They have so many vegan (vegetarian and gluten free too!) options that honestly it was super difficult to make a decision. One of my friends ordered the fried avocado tacos, another an egg dish and the Handlemuffin--both loved them. I ordered the pepita scramble and it was super tasty. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had an odd experience here. The host was pretty rude and made us feel too scared to ask for a table to accommodate the party. But our server / the rest of the staff was amazing. The food was decent. We were just really scared of the host. read more

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! one of my favorite spots in the neighborhood Great service ambiance and amazing selection read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing food, vibes, and service. What else could you ask for? I have been to Handlebar multiple times and things taste as food as when I first visited. There are various specials almost everyday. The vegan options are a hit and you can alter any item to become vegan as well. Drinks are good, there are even some experimental cocktail choices. read more

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Excellent food / drinks, fairly priced and great service. When I come to Chicago I make it a point to go here at least once.

Come swing by the Handlebar for good vibes, fair service, and the most consistently mid food of all time.

Best veg/vegan place! Wow gotta give it to the Nashville hot chicken forealllll. Hands down number one on the menu for being vegan! We tried the patty melt and it was good too but not as prominent flavoring like that nash hot chicken. Sides- friend plantains and chili bowl was flavorful too! Fried plantains is a must. Drinks- got the non alcoholic and alcoholic and they both good. Service can be slow but the food was worth the wait. Ambiance- small place so it was crowded on a Tuesday! read more

Handlebar - Patty melt - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Handlebar should have 5 stars! I've been coming here for almost 10 years now and have never been disappointed! The best service, friendliest staff, coolest vibe/atmosphere, and of course the most delicious food! Brunch is my favorite but love their dinner menu too! If you can, try to go on a Thursday to get the best dang chili quesadillas you'll ever have! I've taken a lot of my family & friends here who eat meat and they have always loved it! Also if you don't get the pie pie my darling cake slice, you are missing out! Fave dinner/lunch/apps: roadhouse burger, sambal tofu, Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich, nachos, fried pickles, cheese fries BUT with vegan queso (I am a huge cheese person but their vegan queso is my favorite), fried chicken patty sandwich, green meanie sandwich, usually anything on their specials Fave breakfast: Pepita scramble, huevos Diablos, handlemuffin, chimichanga (honestly anything is delicious) Fave alcoholic drink: Bloody Hammer (comes with a fried pickle!) read more

Millennial dive bar is what I'd call it. Love the spot and we'll be back again. It's dark and intimate. Concert posters for decor. Mostly Vegetarian or Vegan There are some fish options. It's not health food, but let's be honest we all need some unhealthy in our lives sometimes. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had brunch here with a friend and overall enjoyed ourselves. We were seated on the patio, which was a great environment on a summer day. Really enjoyed my latte, my friend's chai was okay but not very spicy. I had the biscuits and gravy, and it wasn't what I was looking forward to. The gravy was a dark brown, like gravy with mashed potatoes (I'm used to a cream colored gravy for this dish) and the biscuit was quite dense, I think it was whole grain. Overall disappointed in my dish, but my friend's chimichanga looked amazing and she really enjoyed it. I'll probably be back to try something else and see if I just ordered poorly. Service was nice and friendly. read more

Handlebar - Lavender latte - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While I applaud the mostly vegan menu, the noise level is off-putting. I love the funky-punk vibe and music, just not so loud that I cant converse with soneone. Overall though, give Handlebar a try! read more

One of the must try vegan spots in Chicago. Dive bar and trendy.. I have been coming here for many years, the menu is quite different from other vegan spots. And mostly importantly always had such a great experience with the staff here, so friendly and really part of the vibe and atmosphere. read more

Handlebar - Bar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good god I love handlebar. Anyone who lives in the area knows that handlebar is amazing. From the food to the drinks and music, this is a great place to catch up with friends. Definitely gets packed on the weekends so come early to get a seat. My favorite two dishes are the seared tuna steak sandwich and the chili mac attack. Really wish they had a second location on the north side of Chicago because it would be heavily frequented. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just a bad experience, should have followed our 1st mind and left when we couldn't get anyone to stop at our table to assist with menu's. Decent bar atmosphere, we were taken to our seats and the hostess didn't provide any info, no biggie because we assumed our waitress would do that after we realized that we only had drink menus. It felt like we were invisible because we couldn't get any of the 3 folks moving around our table to stop and acknowledge after saying "excuse me" and trying to signal with our hands. Finally we yelled over to someone at the bar for assistance. When she came over we asked about the menus and she showed us the QR code on the condiment tray, now it's very low lighting and the tray is not easy to read so we didn't see it. It would have been helpful for the hostess to advise when seating us. Now to food, great options but that food was absolutely the most bland food I've ever tasted. We ordered the fries pickles that had too much corn breading that wasn't fully cooked on a few slices but overall I'd give them a 3. We both ordered the "Fried Chix Patty Melt". Now I love a good melt, this had no fried or chix flavor, it was not even a pinch of salt or seasoning on the mushroom patty and there was no cheese for the melt. Even the grilled onions had absolutely not a bit of flavor. My hubby on took a bite, I was asking for different sauces to help mine but couldn't even finish a 1/2 slice. For the sides, hubby had fries and I ordered the smoked Gouda Mac and cheese. Fries were tasty and crispy. You can tell the mac was from a box with powdered white cheese. There was no Gouda, it was cheesy but lacked in flavor. Luckily the drinks we had, margarita and lemonade was tasty, but a Huge No on the food except the fries. Service was horrible, food tasteless and drinks decent. Hopefully if you decide to go you have a better experience. It was Soo bad I didn't get any pics and was ready to go. read more

We went to Handlebar to celebrate a friend's birthday with a somewhat larger group (6 top) and had a decent time. The menu is really vegetarian and vegan friendly, which is amazing! For that alone they deserve three stars. The birthday girl was vegan, so it was a great option for our group! The service left a lot to be desired. It was somewhat busy, but not packed by any means. Instead of combining tables (there were plenty open to do so), we were separated at high tops that had a bar going in between them. It worked but it certainly wasn't ideal. We just generally felt like we were a nuisance to our server. I ordered the perogies and tried bits of other dishes. They were okay, but I can't say I would ever find myself craving them. If you're a vegan or vegetarian, this place is worth checking out. Otherwise, I wouldn't find myself suggesting it. read more

Handlebar - perogies - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yessss finally tried Handlebar. Was not disappointed. Placed order by phone, staff was very pleasant and informative both on phone and in person. Upon arrival, Loved the atmosphere. Food was quickly prepared and DELICIOUS! I had the Nashville hot chicken sandwich (mushroom) and chili. Will definitely go back. read more

The takeout always managed to be packaged carefully enough to stay fresh and not get soggy. The salads have generous amounts of toppings and the desserts are always a stand out for me. It's great for weeknight delivery and the patio is adorable when the season is right. read more

10/10! You have to get nachos and fried avocado tacos!!! You won't regret it!! And such an amazing patio!!!!!

We picked up dinner from here because the vegetarian options seemed to be delicious! To start, I think this is a place where you want to sit there and eat because it'll just taste fresher. I got the veggie burger and the mushroom sandwich. Both were good but seemed super greasy and fried. I would be back but not something I can eat all the time because of the greasiness. read more

Amazing fried pickles and other vegan options ! The vegan breaded chicken patties (from mushroom) are amazing read more

Handlebar - Vegan chicken patty melt - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is one of my best bar restaurants in Chicago the reason is because I'm vegan person and the food is so delicious and good quality every time the staff is so kind and efficient the service is so quick, all the time .... read more

Handlebar - Caramel apple pie the best pie ever ... - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had a wonderful salad (like a dream worthy one) when I was in Chicago a few months ago. I was thinking about that salad and wanted to check my reviews to verify where I had it and discovered I had never reviewed this spot. First the salad. I had the everything green salad with green goddess dressing add tofu. It was amazing and huge and filling and again the salad of my dreams. And the dressing was fresh and light and yummy too. You want this salad. Trust me. The location... I feel like this is the backwards mullet of locations.... party/dive bar in the front with a casual calming courtyard in the back. The patio was perfect for lunch with my cousin. The service, was great. The server made sure we noticed the various notes about making items vegan. And everything came out promptly and waters were refilled quickly. Now I want this salad for lunch today. read more

Handlebar - Everything Green Salad with Tofu - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not as good as I remember but still ok. The atmosphere inside is great. Comfy place to have food and drinks with friends. The food wasn't super flavorful but was ok. Service was very good. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I don't get why they call themselves a vegetarian/vegan restaurant if they serve fish and seafood. I expected all the options to be suitable for people who don't eat animals. The food was okay and the cake was delicious, but the experience was disappointing. The host was rude, brought me the wrong coffee, and told me I had to order a full meal just to get spiral fries, which felt unhelpful and unnecessary. The other host (not the woman) was kind, that's the only reason I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1. Too bad I chose this place for my birthday. It really wasn't a great experience. read more

Everything I ordered was superb. Large portions at fair prices. Vegan Chimichanga. Could've been a tad bit crispier but the flavor was still excellent. The 1/2 order of Biscuit & gravy was very good. I tried the biscuit by itself and there was nothing special about it. I tried the gravy by itself and wow, was it amazing! Added the two together and winner, winner! One piece of french toast - so sweet and yummy. I tried the toast prior to adding syrup and it was even delicious on its own! Added the syrup and boom. I love how they're keeping staff and customers as safe as possible by requiring proof of COVID vaccination in order to enter the building or dine inside. If you don't have proof, or just don't want to dine in, you can order online or call in your order. I didn't see a way to get things how I wanted them online so I called in my order. It was a painless process. I paid for the order once it was ready. Only cons: They do not accept ApplePay (aka contactless payments, since we're being extra cautious these days) and the parking sucks in this area. read more

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Last weekend I and the family went out to try Handlebar for my mom's bday dinner and it was a VERY good decision. Mind you, my mom is vegan and everyone else in my family is very picky about their food so when I tell you that they liked their food and cleared their plates it means something. The fish tacos and nachos were top-tier dishes to try. The fish was very tasty and the satin chorizo was delicious as well. Everyone was second-guessing if these dishes were vegan or not, which sparked the long-time argument of my mom saying that vegan food is good you just have to cook it right like anything else. Hence, we did have to wait a while for a table, but once we were seated the waiter was very attentive and helpful. We did order the pancake bowl for pickup but they wouldn't let us eat it at the table since we were dining in at lunch time and breakfast had ended at 3 p.m. Rules our rules. Overall, the place felt very artsy mixed with some hip vibes. I would definitely stop in again for the nachos and a drink. 8/10 Would recommend! read more

Handlebar - Nachos - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great selection of plant forward options with common Chicago prices. It was a full lunch meal for $31. The friend grilled cheese sandwich was beautifully toasted. With every bite melting in your mouth with how golden the toast was & fresh out of the skillet ingredients. Each bit was buttery with flavor & great mix of veggies in a grilled cheese. The bowl of chili complimented the meal well & had great taste. I get worried about the saltiness that can happen with make shift meats but did not get that with the chili. The nachos were a great meal & no indication that there was no meat because they were loaded with flavor & fresh ingredients. Love to try more of the menu options as I was impressed with the presentation & meal preparation. read more

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i had such a disappointing experience here. i ran the chicago marathon and was SO excited to come to handlebar for a post race brunch as a vegan of many years. I hobbled so fast from the train station to try and make the 3pm brunch cutoff. my parents met me there via uber and got caught in some gnarly traffic and their ETA went from 2:15 to 2:40. I arrived around 2:20. I told the hostess there were 4 of us and she told me they have a strict no seating rule unless the full party is there. I said ok no worries, we just really want to get the brunch! I asked if maybe we could sit at the bar and get some of our order in & when my parents arrive move to a table. I was told this was not a problem. When my parents arrived we moved to the back patio -- there were ~5 tables open so was a little surprised about the strictness of the seating rule given it was 2:20pm with so many tables open. Anyhow, the waitress from the bar marched over to the table we moved to and chastised us for moving tables? The hostess told us it was okay but then the waitress comes over to yell at us? Later, my dad then asked for the same coffee i ordered and the new outside waitress just goes "ok, i have no idea what that is." He, a nice guy, apologized to her and ordered it by name, but i seriously couldn't believe the reaction. They also forgot my mom's regular drip coffee & when i asked about it said they were working on it (it came out halfway through finishing the meal). Still tipped above 20% for the record as someone who has worked food service. But extremely disappointed by the service. 2 stars just because I still appreciate all the vegan options & the back patio is cute but the service I was met with made my whole party sad and feeling extremely unwelcome. read more

While searching for 'vegan' options within a radius of my neighborhood, I adored that Handlebar was ranked number one via Yelp! Being that I have had it bookmarked for some time now, it was an acceptable option for me to choose on my birthday for eats. This quote by (English actress) Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel describes my mood perfectly as of late: "You have to treat yourself. Life is too short to deprive yourself of things." Street parking is available along North Ave, but if it is a problem there is also neighborhood parking. Keep in mind that street parking is shared with other businesses along North Ave, so I recommend choosing wisely when you visit. I had no luck finding a spot along North Ave which led me to parking on N Claremont Ave nearby Ascension Saint Elizabeth Hospital. From its dim-lit appearance inside to its music being played, the character of this casual contemporary restaurant felt grunge-like, yet welcoming! Russell, the server who took care of me acknowledged me as soon as I sat within the bar area which was one of the few seating options available at the time. I got a kick out of sitting on one of the lower bar stools at the bar which had me chest level to the bar table, hehe. Russell gave me a laminated card, with a barcode on it that I had to scan in order to get to the menu. I ended up ordering the Sloppy Joe Sandwich w/ Sesame Broccoli as my side option, and a Grapefruit Juice as my drink. The Sloppy Joe Sandwich is topped with carne de soya, tangy BBQ sauce, creamy cabbage slaw inside of a brioche bun. Likely on a different date, I would love to order either the Buffalo 'Chicken' Wrap, a Grilled Cheese, or the Fried 'Chicken' Patty Melt. My food was ready within minutes from the time I ordered it. Minutes after Russell brought me my food, he checked on me confirming if I needed anything else. I have to say that I felt valued as a customer from the time I sat down at the bar to the time I requested my receipt from the cashier, Ken. I cannot complain about the appearance of the Sloppy Joe Sandwich w/ Sesame Broccoli, as well as its taste! I enjoyed each bite from the initial to the last with the biggest smirk on my face after finishing it, * chef's kiss *. As a whole, I had a satisfying ordering experience with Handlebar. Likely, with it being near my job, as well as close to me on the west-side of Chicago, I am quite positive I will order from again definitely! Not bad, Handlebar! ~Blessings~ Thomas G read more

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We had a fantastic time at Handlebar. Really delicious vegan and vegetarian (and pescatarian) comfort food that will make you feel warm and cozy. They have a large menu; something for everyone. My partner and I split the black bean tostadas which were very fresh and flavorful, and I got the fried avocado tacos. I mean, how can you not? It's a hip place, but not one that makes you feel out of place for not being "cool enough." The servers are friendly and make sure you feel taken care of. I will definitely be back. read more

Finding good vegan food that is unique and delicious is always worthy of a celebration. This food was so good. The portion sizes are pretty substantial. The taste made my mouth happy. The service was wonderful. I would eat here again for sure. The food was good the next day after reheating it. You had to step up to get to the seat which the step up was high. Be careful if you have mobility issues. read more

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It has indoor and outdoor seating. A place where you get huge vegan and vegetarian options. There are non alcoholic drinks. I had a ginger drink, which was refreshing and spicy. The vegan fried avocado sandwitch with premium vegan fries queso was really good. Also, regular chimichura was good. Portions are really filling. read more

Handlebar - Vegan avocado fried sandwich with vegan fires queso - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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