Excellent Fried Pickles and Nachos!!!!! Service was attentive but not overly chatty! I'll be back, especially to enjoy the back patio read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Strong enough for a meat eater but made for a vegetarian (well, technically a pescetarian but that's a bone of contention that shouldn't be played with). There was a reason that Handlebar was chosen as the place to revive Yelp Chicago's vegetarian events (in the form of the first monthly Vegetarian Supper Club). Many meat eaters that I talked to before deciding on a venue raved about this place to the point where they could put aside consuming flesh for a night and join the festivities (extra credit and thank you to Handlebar for accomidating our large group - this place doesn't usually take reservations but made an exception for us). And it was pretty easy to see why. While Handlebar doesn't seem to try to approximate meat like some vegetarian restaurants, the food is good enough that no meat eater in our group seemed to notice their loss. But with Handlebar's fine beer selection, it's possible to get any omnivore who did notice a loss drunk enough not to care. There is a big problem for vegetarians at this restaurant though. Too many choices. I solved this dilemma by ordering three sides as a meal. The collard greens were not sauteed enough but the vegetarian chili had a nice kick and a good consistency (though, again, not really fake meaty) and the gouda macaroni and cheese...oh my...I want it again right now. Yeah, just go here and get the gouda macaroni and cheese. Trust me. If you're a meat eater that has thusfar avoided Handlebar due to it being a pescetarian restaurant, shame on you. You're an elitist carnivore who doesn't know what you're missing. :) But seriously, fake herbimilitancy aside, borrow your vegetarian friend's (or just some person on Yelp whose review you're randomly reading's) deoderant slogan parody and go! read more

Went here for a date because she is a vegetarian. It's rated pretty high, so I figured I'd try it out. Plus, she looked at the menu beforehand and she really liked what she saw. She got the buffalo chicken sandwich and really liked it. Get the chili fries! They did do a really good job with whatever substitute they used for the chili. I got the tacos which were good, but left me still hungry. With that said, I would give 5 stars if they offered a few non-vegetarian dishes. But I think vegetarians would be very happy with this place though. read more

We didn't make the cut here [frowny face]. Turns out we just didn't have enough ink or facial hair. Or maybe it was the "Fuck You, Hipster" t-shirt my friend was wearing. I don't know. For some reason our server was just not into, eh, what's the word?... Oh yes, "serving". When it came time to pay the bill it got even worse. He straight up disappeared. I'm talking Benjamin Linus waking up in the desert type shit. For his sake, I hope our server knows how to disarm horsemen with AK-47s and I hope he made a reservation at the finest hotel in Tunis. For six years from now. The food is pretty good veggie-oriented stuff. Far from your typical bar fare. The beer list looks nice and the back patio is quite solid. I might come back and give it another shot sometime. But not with Hurley. He'd be so pissed! read more

At this point, you'd think I was a local given how often I end up at Handlebar while visiting Chicago. I'm not a vegan (though very recently I was), but it ends up being the perfect brunch destination for large groups. Don't eat meat? You're covered. Gluten free? You'll find something. Eat meat, but willing to go a single meal with just eggs instead of flesh foods? You'll find some delicious options. Add to that some tasty brunch drinks and reasonable prices, and you've concocted a recipe for success. Vibe wise, if you're not comfortable with secondhand skinny jeans, lots of tattoos + facial hair, and countless diners sporting band t-shirts, then it may not be your place. read more

We like this place! Handlebar is great for dinner. Good service, good drinks and great food - try the black bean tostadas! Not so great for brunch - can be jam packed, uncomfortable and hectic with poor service. Try the breakfast burrito. read more

Wait a minute, wait just one minute! Really? Is this place really this good or was I just dreaming? I waited a couple days to write the review just to be sure... Delightful service! Delightful surroundings! Amazing food! Four of us sat down for a late brunch, each of us was collectively blown away with every aspect of the experience! We started with the fried pickles, they are served with a vegan ranch that is crazy good, and its vegan! HMMMM! Two of my friends had the Huevos Diablos, I tried it and it was grand, they had avocado added and we were all in aww of the amount, who doesn't love avocado... One of us had the Handlebar omelet with pears, walnuts, and smoked gouda... Perfect! I had the Pepita Tofu Scramble, I substituted eggs for tofu, which was no problem at all, this was filled with amazing flavor from pumpkin seed pesto to sweet potato, from kale to poblanos, it was off the hook! OFF THE HOOOOOOOK! I tried it all, and it was all more then memorable in a very good way! This place is a hike for me, something tells me this is a hike I will be making a lot more often! read more

Let me start this review by saying I am not a vegan or a vegetarian and neither is my boyfriend. But I lovedddd this place. I don't mind eating vegan but occasionally the texture can be off and I don't love that. Not here! We started with the fried pickles and they were delicious. Would definitely get them again! For my meal, I had the sloppy joe. The texture was perfect and even my meat lover boyfriend thought it was really good. I had a side of cheese fries and they were perfect. I really had nothing bad to say about my meal. My boyfriend got the fried avocado grilled cheese, I liked it but he thought it was just okay. For a side he got the Mac and cheese, don't skip this! If you like smoked Gouda you need to try it. It was soooo creamy and the perfect consistency. Honestly better than some Mac and cheese I've spent $$$ on. Also the side portions are huge! Loved it and can't wait to go again and try more. read more

I love meat: cow, chicken, turkey, pig, fish, deer, buffalo, rabbit, duck, ostrich, snapping turtle, quail, and I have even eaten snake before. If my love for meat was only marginal, a few meals from this place would easily convert me to a herbivore. I am basing this conclusion on the vegetarian chili that I had there. I had some dousing my fries and then covered with some cheese and baked in the oven for a bit. WOW! These were damn good! I want to go back and try some of the other stuff because if the chili was any indication of what the rest of the menu is like, then I am sure to love everything else. Their drink special for a Monday is $1.75 PBRs. Come on now, even if you are not a big PBR fan you can't pass up this deal. Our server was good and he had a lot of patience to put up with my indecisive ass so extra kudos go out to him. Good food, cheap drinks and some kick ass company made for a fun night. read more

This was my first time checking out a vegetarian/vegan joint and loved it. They have some seafood items, but it's mostly all about the veggies and seitan. I was on a quest to finally try some seitan, but other stuff just sounded too good so I'll pig out on seitan sausages next time... well if I like it. Inside it can get a bit noisey with all the chatter and music, but they also have a sweet back patio if you prefer something quieter. I'll prob check that out next time. They have a nice beer list filled with a lot of unique brews and a handful of beers on tap, like 3F Pride & Joy. We started with some Samosas, which were tasty with that kickass tamarind chutney and some spicy cilantro yogurt. The Smoke Gouda Mac was a bit dissapointing. I could tasty the smokiness, but it was nowhere near cheesy enough. I also tried the Chili Mac Attack, which was just okay. My favorite of the night for sure were the Fried Avocado Tacos - woah tasty. The creamy & crunchy fried avocados and the zesty salsa verde made the perfect combo. Good stuff. I'll be back for sure, especially since my buddy is a vegetarian. I have to try that seitan! read more

Food: 5 Service: 2 Atmosphere: 4 Value: 4 I went for lunch with my wife on labor day and we were impressed. Like most places in Wicker Park, the atmosphere was quirky, yet inviting. It took a little while for a host to seat us, but as you can see by my ratings, service is not their strong point. We outside in the back patio and felt quite comfortable. The menu is large and diverse, and obviously I loved the vegetarian-friendly fare. It was hard to choose, but my wife had the Roasted Beet and Spinach Salad with Blackened Tofu, I had the Buffalo "Chicken" Wrap with Smoked Gouda Mac N Cheese, and we split the Chili Cheese Fries. The Fries came out first and they were delicious. The Chili was rich and filling and had a zesty flavor, the cheese was melted nicely, and it was a great appetizer-size portion. My only complaint is that the fries could have been a little crispier, but that's tough to do when you douce them with chili and cheese. The Buffalo Chicken Wrap was a treat, as I love fried chicken. The buffalo sauce wasn't overpowering, and the vegan ranch added a nice, cool, refreshing flavor. I would have liked a few more pieces of "chicken" in it, though. The Mac N Cheese was out of this world-definitely worth the upcharge. It was creamy-not baked-and the gouda added a smooth, smoky flavor. My wife enjoyed her salad, which was presented nicely and large enough to be a complete entree. She said it was pretty standard, but done well. She also said the blackened tofu was well-seasoned. Overall, I would definitely recommend this restaurant to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. [Thanks for reading my review and be sure to check out my other reviews on Yelp. My mission is to find restaurants that have great vegetarian, kosher, and vegan fare. On every review, I rate food, service, atmosphere, and value on a 1-5 scale to give you quick and easy overview of the restaurant. I love cooking, eating, and doing both with my friends and family. I always welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions so contact me on Yelp or Facebook if you want to share ideas.] read more

I feel a little embarrassed to admit the sheer number of times I've eaten their food, but I need to spread the good word. I left the vegan sahara desert that is Lincoln Park for vegetarian friendly Wicker/Humboldt neighborhood and couldn't be happier. I live a block from Handlebar and have dined in or taken out no less than 5 times in the past week and a half (3 meals in 3 days is my current record). I just can't help myself...I love this place for it's creative vegan/vegetarian fare. My go-to has always been the pepita pesto w/blackened tofu for brunch (DO IT) and the sambal tofu for dinner (ALWAYS WITH FRIED PICKLES) so a few times forced myself to branch out and of course was not disappointed. The diablos vegan w/blackened tofu are ridiculous...they come on homemade tostones, covered in chipotle sauce w/black beans, avocado & chorizo seitan. I'm not a big fake meat girl so would skip this in future, but otherwise this thing was where it's at. If you want a variation of this for dinner, order the black bean tostadas w/blackened tofu. Also noteworthy and amazing is any special they have, their soups, chili, 'chicken' wrap and probably everything else on the menu. Which, I will conquer. Tonight is their special vegan burger & it's got my name written all over it. Also, super friendly, great enclosed patio in back & it's usually nice and warm in there. Things that are important to me. Easy street parking. No-brainer. Get there. read more

Would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a good vegan restaurant (they have vegetarian and seafood options too if not everyone you're eating with is vegan). The food and drinks were really good, especially the fried pickles and the Gouda Mac and cheese. It was a bit of a wait to get seated, but I think that's a testament to how popular the place is, and my boyfriend and I were able to order drinks and wait at the bar in the meantime. Definitely hipster vibes and seemed like a good spot for a late-night dinner and drinks. Excited to go back the next time I'm in Chicago, especially in the summer to check out the outdoor seating! read more

For those of you who don't know, for the past 3 weeks or so I've been on a raw foods diet to detox my body and then I've been adding things back in to see what if anything I'm allergic to. Well, it turns out that I'm officially allergic to wheat and gluten. When I added these two things back into my diet I had the worst migraine and my stomach just hated me. I called my doctor to see what was going on and he confirmed that I might be allergic to these two ingredients. He told me to keep them out of my diet for a while to see how I felt. So, instead of wheat and gluten I've been eating rice and whole grains and have certainly felt tons better. However, finding vegan-friendly, gluten free places to dine with my friends has been a challenge. So, I'm glad I found Handlebar. This is the kind of place that if you don't tell someone that it's all veggie, they might not know the difference and the best part is that they had a gluten free beer choice, whoot! The food here was very spicy and well prepared. I had their Buffalo "Chicken" Wrap vegan style. Which boasted chicken style setian tossed in wing sauce with romaine, red onion, tomatoes, and vegan ranch dressing. So spicy and good. The side I ordered with that was the sesame broccoli which also was very good. I will have to attempt to duplicate the broccoli at home sometime soon. Then I tried their Lakefront New Grist gluten-free beer and it was super delicious. I'm just happy to have found a new beer of choice besides the standard lagers I've been imbibing on lately. I'm looking forward to coming back and checking out more of their menu soon and soaking up the sun on their patio. read more

Dear Vegan Biscuits and Gravy at Handlebar, I want you inside me. All the time. Every day. My heart aches for you your smooth, creaminess. My loins ablazened every time I think of your hot, steamy fluffs of carnal carbohydrates. And finally, your tender seitan. I cannot take the pain of being away from you even for a second my love. Soon, we shall meet again. And I will possess you once more. With Love and Lust for You, Meredith read more

(Sorry, longest review ever but worth finishing) This is a letter that I sent to the owner today: I have been repeatedly patronizing your establishment for about 5 years. I typically come in once every one or two weeks. I usually enjoy the food and the service had historically ranged from passable to good. However, several years back I began to notice a new employee. He usually seems to be behind the bar, but often serves as well (tall, thin, buzzed hair). He is, by far the worst server I have ever encountered. He is rude, smug, and does his job VERY poorly. Over the years I have been served by him many times and each time have come away with a new depth of the absurdity of his service. However, this past Friday (Aug 29th) absolutely topped all previous experiences and has possibly led me to consider not coming back. I had been talking to an out-of-town friend about Handlebar over the years and so when she came to visit this weekend, we were excited for her to try it. Unfortunately it ended up being little more than an embarrassment for me. We of course had my *favorite* waiter to begin with. He was his typical dismissive self. When he approaches a table, he does not greet anyone; he merely stands there staring at you with a disgusted look in his eye waiting for you to beg for food and drinks. We were able to order ONE drink from him and our food. Following this we never saw him again except for when he dropped off our burnt sandwiches (which was a first for me at Handlebar). I thought better than to even consider sending them back since he surely strikes me as the type who would retaliate in some manner. Then I made repeated attempts to get another round of drinks. He came through our section several times but actually noticeably and purposefully IGNORED me as I tried to flag him down. Finally about 40 minutes after receiving our food, I had to get up and walk up to the bar where I said to someone else "Since I cannot get anymore drinks or service of any kind, can at least pay so that I can leave?" Our smug waiter appeared shortly, made a PATHETIC apology which was more of an insult than anything else, and that was it. Let me summarize by saying that it is this man's attitude that ruins the experience. I understand that slow service happens occasionally, but when I leave a restaurant actually feeling BAD (unwelcome, unsatisfied), that is unacceptable. Hilariously, I went on Yelp to read reviews of Handlebar as I considered writing one myself, and found several that mentioned this same waiter. He clearly feels that he's too good to serve, and there for, he should not. I would highly recommend that you address his attitude with him and the affects that it has on your business. Sincerely, Crystal --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've always likes this place and it's a darn shame that this one awful guy ruins it for people. And you know me...if you don't bring me my drinks, you're dead in the water. Hopefully he is "dealt with" in some manner one of these days or gets a job as a Rocket Scientist so he can get the respect he so adamantly feels he deserves! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE********* WIthin a few hours, the owner responded with a very nice and accomodating note promising to address the issue. My faith is renewed. read more

Okay, so it's a typical Sunday morning....and like most Sunday mornings I wake up with a skosh-bit of a hangover and an overwhelming need for mimosa and brunch-type-sustenance. So a friend and I decided on Handlebar...a place I've been to once and had, oh, lets say 3-star worthy food (aka, neither good enough or bad enough to Yelp). But today, oh today, my friends....I shoulda brought another pair of socks, cuz Handlebar knocked 'em off! (that joke was way better when my Philosophy professor used it...). I was really in the mood for something different, something I wouldn't normally order so I decided on the Autumnal Tofu Scramble...cubed delicata squash, spinach, shoestring turnips (or parsnips...I always get those two confused), cubed tofu and candied pecans, all tossed in some kind of mystery sauce. I was a little leery of the dish, thinking there's just too much "stuff" going on here, but my gut told me to suck it up and go for it. All I can say, is my gut was right! There was a lot of stuff going on, sweet, savory, and some tastes right in-between....there was a variance in textures too, which I loved and was especially set-off by the crunchy deliciousness of the candied pecans. Seriously, if it's on the specials when you go there, order it, you won't be sorry! Quick rundown on the rest of the important little facts: Breakfast potatoes: excellent Coffee: pretty damn good Mimosa: tasty treat Vegan french toast: pretty tasty and had a yummy, malty taste to it..was a bit tough and burnt though Service: busy but decent, could have been more attentive but wasn't rude. read more

Years ago, this was my in-hood go-to vegetarian spot, and if it was summer and I had a club night to run, I'd bring the headlining touring artists / DJs here for a pre-show nosh out on the patio accompanied by some leisurely-imbibed beverages. These music types I seem to bring in always seem to be food nerds, and this consistently proved to be a safe bet. It's one of those restaurants where you aren't limited by the three-way choice between the salad, some pasta dish, and a DIY flight of sides. Also, they take their booze seriously and their craft beer menu is fairly solid. So....fast forward a few years (last month) and my boy and I pop in for brunch on a Sunday to casually run some ideas between us before we head out for another adventure. Yes, the place is loud with all that sound bouncing around on hard surfaces, but the tables are small enough where you can hear your companion, which might be partially due to the fact that most people are nursing a hangover and just don't yell anyway. Then the weirdness then begins to set in.The table on our left is clearly full of newly-emigrated Trixies from Lincoln Park passively demanding validation from each other and then loudly encouraging all at the table to share some fattening and AMAZING desert selection. A woman is struggling to push a baby carriage through the double doors at the entrance only to awkwardly stumble upon a serpentine queue with this high-tech stroller outfitted with a suspension system fit for an off-road vehicle. My companion and I order our meals, he this crab-cake via black bean riff that's one of the specials of the day, and I a BBQ seitan (wheat gluten pulled in a certain way to resemble the stringy-ness of pork) sandwich, with a side of their smoked Mac n' Cheese, for max-sharing action. Well, my BBQ sandwich had RAW red onions and an impossibly crusty bread. First, red raw onions work best when they provide a bit of bite, texture, and color in mostly raw dishes: wraps, salads and the like. But we're talking BBQ here, and there needs to be some cooking of those guys. Those onions should be caramelized, providing sweetness and texture and just a hint of bite and softer texture.. But please no! Don't carmelize red onions. When you cook them they turn this hideous purple brown color that is just sickening to look at. I think Handlebar tried to combine their super "freshie vegan wrap" mentality with BBQ pork and ... no. I just ended up eating the M&C--which I really wish they threw under the broiler for a few minutes to get that nice crust of baked cheese. Next up, the extremely-crusty bread. Do you realize that biting into two pieces of wood with slimy stuff in the middle basically forces all the gooey insides out of the other end? This is basic fluid dynamics, people. Come on, chefs: pretend you're on a date. Do you want to look like a slob in front of your date and then go home alone and cry for 5 hours with a painfully loofah-ed mouth rubbed raw by your out- of-control rock/bread? I tried my boy's "black bean crab cakes." You've got to be kidding me. Fish is a delicate flavor and texture, which you'd probably want to go chasing after variations on soft tofu to get something analogous to happen. Black beans are so not it. Good god. Tasteless, mealy, bland, and nothing like fish. *Sigh* Vegan (and vegetarian) does not have to be disappointing. It can be extremely awesome and creative. For instance, Karyn's on Green has spoiled me, I think. I remember leaning back from an "omelet" I had there one morning and just blabbering adjectives about how delicious it was. Karyn knows what she's doing, and how to do it right and consistently. Went there for dinner and ate vegan sliders and time slowed down while I slowly noshed down a teeny appetizer. Do you see what I'm saying? Yes, Handlebar is hip and fun (and the bike-friendliness with the bike racks outside and bike-details within, like the bar stools made from rims) and has an inclusive menu, but just a few tweaks in standards here and there and they could have the hipster-bar equivalent of something along the lines of Karyn's. Just sayin.' read more

There's not a damn thing here that's not delicious. Yes, even the Mexican dishes. Those tostadas are the real thing. Handlebar's serving up the tastiest tofu, the sauciest seitan, and deep-fried pies. The collard greens are not to be missed. Did you see the beer list? You didn't? I'll be happy to go back with you to check it out. read more

I always thought it was a good thing when restaurants had small menus, you know, easy to make a decision, kitchen has most likely mastered the plates, etc. Except here, at Handlebar, I stared at the menu for like 20 minutes on line and then another 15 in the place and STILL couldnt make up my mind. Just when you thought one thing looked good, you saw two others that were almost better, and then not only is there a specials menu, but you have a fellow diner saying "oh gosh THIS dish is what I always order - its the best!" aaah...!! I finally take the plunge and order the first thing that had caught my eye initially, which was the Ground Nut Stew. A fabulous concoction of sweet potato, coconut, zucchini, and kale over brown rice, peanuts and toasted coconut. Truly divine! I was so impressed. Now I am hooked and cant wait to go back and try more stuff off the menu. Things are a tad on the pricey side, but hey, the food is pretty darn good so its worth it! read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. There's nothing fancy about it but they have excellent food and friendly people. All that AND bike parking right in the back of the restaurant? What could be better! My favorite things on the menu are the black beans tostadas, fried plantains, grilled cheese, avocado sandwhich and bbq sandwich. I've tried a lot of the menu options as well as specials and while I've had a few things that didn't wow me nothing has ever been cold, burnt or otherwise ill-prepared like I've experienced at other restaurants. They also have a good beer selection and drink specials every night of the week. Another thing that I cannot finish this review without mentioning- vegan biscuits and gravy on the brunch menu!!! This was a seriously creamy, sausage-y tasting delicious gravy. Like if you're the type of veg that doesn't like fake meat foods this will sick you out, but if you miss "real" gravy it's a must-taste! This is a really overlooked brunch spot, it's one of the only places in WP without a wait but they offer an excellent brunch. read more

Omg first time here & it was AMAZINGGGG!! I had the sloppy joe w/ mashed potatoes. Bruhh

I probably wouldn't ride my bike out of the way to get here, but I would definitely ride on someone's handlebars there. No need to sweat to get here. The Tilapia with a Dijon sauce was solid. I loved the Smoked Gouda Mac 'n' Cheese and the Aged Cheddar Grits! The veggie burger was a complete miss for me (all the combinations together on the burger did not make for anything tasty). Being a casual place, the atmosphere was relaxing and chill. Paintings of figures with lifeless eyes graced the walls (not only did I enjoy the art, I'm looking into buying one). We went here because I didn't feel like being in a crowded pretentious place, and Handlebar delivered. Although the food is not outstanding (at least what I tried, but I've been told Brunch is good), it's a great place to go to have the taste of home cooked pescatarian/vegetarian food. read more

We should have walked right on by... Handlebar's and why we didn't I have no idea. I was at a weekend seminar and had 45 minutes for my break and Handle bar was less than block away, so a small group of us headed there expecting a quick bite. While there was plenty of seating, we were told after waiting significantly for waitress to come over that the wait time for food was long, which was rather surprising considering how few people they had in he place (like 3) ... anyway, we kept our drink orders and changed the meals to take-out. And asked the waitress to separate out tabs - which she seem to get rather annoyed with - now here is where it really goes awry. It took them 45 minutes to get out order to us (keep in mind we had 45 minutes for the break) to continue the waitress gave us our tabs and we were about ready to leave when the waitress comes back to me and says "did you intend to leave me 80 cents for a tip" - Ok, so I'd admit I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box, but I thought 80 cents more then fair. Considering she only brought us water and our drinks. Why: 1) She only had to serve drinks. 2) She had an attitude when we wanted separate tabs. 3) The food took 45 minutes (for seitan sausage, Mac & Cheese and potato's hell I can't even cook and could whip that up faster. 4) Our order was Take-Out. 5) A tip is not a given - it's a reward for quality service. Being kind and generous person, I added a buck to the payment for her tip, and bit my lip - but my real tip is: "your nasty attitude will cost you dearly one day my pretty and you little tip too". After leaving and getting back to our seminar ... late I might add... and having to eat while sitting in the audience - the quality of my food was absolutely horrible. I've eaten dog food that tasted better - not that I'm a fan of dog food or anything. Although if you wanted to know what dog food did taste like - you should definitely stop by here. Consider how many good restaurants the city has, this place is a joke. Pros: Bicycle Parking, Vegetarian menu Cons: Slow Service (overall), Bad Attitude (waitress), Poor Food Quality (dog food) Cost: $$ of 5 Overall Rating: 0 (yes - that's a zero) of 5 Recommendation: Avoid Them read more

Once during Lent I decided to quit eating meat and was starving. Known as a hipster/bikester bar based on the number of bearded gentlemen and bicycles locked outside of the place, I knew that if there was any a time I would appreciate vegetarian fare, it would be at Handlebar. I came in with my roommate and we sat at the bar and we ordered chorizo nachos and a meal of three sides consisting of grilled veggies sausage, garlic mashed potatoes, and some chili. As a diehard meataholic, the gluten wheat meat substitute did the trick and I felt like I was eating meat all over again. The beers here and cheap and the place is moderately lit giving it a nice atmosphere. Hipster decoration with obscure art/signs/fliers line the walls and give it character and style. I am a fan of this place and would recommend it to meateaters who are weaning them self off of cow and pig and chicken. read more

I love this joint, its my peoples. Straight up hipsters, no filler, fuck what you heard, this is where the real hipsters be staying yo. The drinks are always great and amazing. And the food is vegetarian. So if your looking for a meat and cheese concoction, you stepped into the wrong bar, son. Straight Ghouda mac n chee up in hurr. I have literally got everything on this menu that rarely changes so I recommend: Samosas - not like the ones on devon, but real good for being homemade AKA better than you could make. Maduro - Filling and the best item on the menu as far as price to what you get. Gouda Mac N Cheese - straight delish yo. I dream of this when I am stuck in airports. Any of the salads - super fresh and always pleasing. For real. Get em. I order salads in restaurants and I somehow manage to keep my masculinity. Soundtrack is lively. Treated best if you have facial hair and wear pants that hug the nuts. No pool tables. read more

I really like handlebar. I always have a consistently good experience here. The food and the beer selection have always been 5 star. I havent ever had 5 star service here...but it has also never been bad. Handlebar is a great place for people watching...my favorites are the collared greens, black beans, bbq sandwich, and buffalo chicken sandwich (spicy!). I've also tried the fish tacos...very tasty! read more

This is a really solid place. The outdoor seating area out back is great and the food s tasty too. Last time I went, my friend and I went for the Sunday special -- a shot of tequila, a Tecate, and two veggie tacos for $10. Sweet deal and yummy to boot. Despite what it seems like, there is no 3 tattoo minimum to enter the establishment, though hipster cred is a definite plus. read more

Erica N. and I headed to Handlebar on the quest for a healthy dinner. The restaurant serves vegetarian and vegan fare so it must be healthy, right? Well, as soon as we were seated, we were asked if we wanted to partake in the craft beer + french fries special of the evening. If beer and fries are healthy, I've apparently been doing it all wrong. Let's hope that the Sambal Tofu that I ordered is magnitudes healthier than IPAs and fries. The kale, collard greens, broccoli, and green beans were all cooked such that they were still crunchy (because who likes mushy vegetables, anyway?). The sambal (a chili-based sauce) was much milder than I expected, but didn't prevent me from enjoying dinner. In fact, after resuming my horrific and disgusting eating habits later that week, I found myself craving Sambal Tofu. As for the atmosphere, it's loud and the tables are on top of one another. The artwork that adorns the wall is really interesting; most of it pays homage to bike culture (for example, the iconic Cycles Gladiator poster). Try not to be seated by the door - unless you like keeping your coat on during dinner and enjoy random bursts of cold air every time someone enters and leaves the restaurant (which was pretty much happening on a continuous basis because it was so crowded). read more

One of my favorite bars in Chicago. Excellent selection of craft beers and interesting cocktails, as well as a full menu of everything from salads to sandwiches to late night snacks and desserts. Almost anything on the menu can be made vegan, and their kitchen is open late. An ideal spot for late night food in Wicker Park. I appreciate that their full menu is available even after midnight on a Saturday. Most people associate bar food with fried greasy unhealthy options (which are totally available here as well), but it was refreshing to be able to eat a proper meal after starving all day at a music festival. I had the Chicago Style tofu sandwich, which was fantastic. Flavorful basil pesto tofu with fresh veggies on a delicious ciabatta bread. My friends ordered various vegan entrees which all looked delicious. Service is very fast and friendly. read more

Handlebar - Chicago style tofu sandwich with greens - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If clean eating and a cool environment is what you're looking for, this is the place for you! I enjoyed their house margarita and their shrimp and grits was a new approach of the traditional dish. I went with my friend who has a dairy and egg allergy and since their menu truly caters to vegan diet, she was able to truly enjoy herself and that made me happy! read more

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Lots of late-night vegan options; yay! I had the "Savory Seitan Stuffed Tortellini" this past time. It was quite filling, though almost a little sweet. I've had the "Green Meanie" sandwich before (without the cheese); it's a big sandwich, but the veggie filling is light enough that it doesn't leave me feeling like I ate a brick. Handlebar is great for brunch. I've had the "Vegan Diablos" and "Vegan Breakfast Burrito" before, but I can barely finish cuz it's so much delicious food. The beermosas are excellent as well. They have a great beer selection (including my Unibroue favourites) and drink specials every day of the week. I like the flexibility between bar and restaurant; I've gone here just for drinks or just for food. Be prepared to wait during prime times. You'll have the best luck if you come as a party of two. Service can be spotty when it gets busy. read more

And I'm back again... I loved the Handlebar before I moved to Chicago and years later, I'm still loving it. 100 Handlebar omelets later, I still can't get enough. Who could go wrong with pears, gruyere, and walnuts on an omelet? Combine that with such perfectly seasoned breakfast potatoes and a never ending flow of iced tea and I'll never stop coming back for more. Once upon a time, the Handlebar omelet had been pulled from the menu. I'll hope to never see that mistake repeated. If it's time for dinner, then my combo of a Handlebar salad, fantastic tostadas, and masterfully crafted french fries also never fails to keep me satisfied. read more

Out in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, you're going to find a meal like no other. Handlebar has taken vegetarian/vegan cuisine to new heights along with comfort food - think Smoked Gouda Mac and Biscuits & Gravy. Experience some of their best kept secrets. read more

*rubs belly* Who says good healthy food wont.... *unbuttons jeans* ...(excuse me) get you nice and full. Yet another one of my spots I hit in the vicinity because I don't cook... *belches* ...(wow, I may have eaten too much. Sorry about that) but don't eat meat (except fish, and they have that). Only wish they had some kind of desert to top the meal off. BTW...I expected more space out front to lock my bike up, but there was only two poles read more

Handlebar Cafe: location, location, location. The owners of Handlebar got it right when they decided to open the only vegetarian-friendly breakfast/lunch/dinner/bar spot on North Ave west of Leavitt. They have a mild cyclist bent--there's a bike rack out back and a pipe in the front of the restaurant that doubles as a rack. Oh, yeah, and there's a Four Star sticker on the pseudo-rack in front too-- "street cred." Whatever, that's where the "friendliness", bicycle or other, ends. Let's go through the service, shall we? Every time I've been here I have been served by this tall, intimidating shaved-head guy. He glares as he's taking your order, sighs audibly if asked a question about the menu, and, in general, embodies the word "goon." The last time I went I was served a Brooklyn Ale that was flat. When I told the server, he apparently did not believe me and brought it back to the bar to confer with the bartender and to taste it, at length, for himself. He then returned to the table to roll his eyes and tell me that yeah, it's flat and I wouldn't have to pay for it. No offer to, um, replace my beer with another? OK on to the food. I usually get the seitan sloppy joe. It's uneven. The first time I ordered the sloppy joe, it was delicious. The perfect blend of seitan-to-bbq sauce, onions were grilled, bread was fresh, great. The next time I ordered it, it was literally swimming in bbq sauce (tastes like Bullseye Barbeque sauce, nothing special) and the bread was stale! Ouch. The last time I went there, I again ordered the seitan sloppy joe, hoping for the same sandwich as I'd gotten the first time but again was served a steaming helping of bbq sauce and make-your-teeth-ache bread. This place sucks. Do yourself a favor: avoid it. Go to Karen's Kitchen, the prices are about the same and the service and vegan/vegetarian food is 100% better. read more

gets better everytime! Love it! Try the buffalo chicken wrap with plantains- I have the hold the buffalo sauce (so spicy!) yuuuuuuum. almost forgot I was vegan. hehe. read more

Handlebar had good food, i love their chili quesadillas, it may sound weird but I ate the whole thing, and didn't even share, thats how selfish the food made me. The rest of the night i was having a tecate and tequila shot combo ($5 everyday). The maggies made it fun as well, the whole crew was out and they officially inducted shannon into the group. I was there to see the whole thing go down. As for the other patrons, they mainly just stared but seemed afraid to come over and say hi. The outside patio was nice, we sat in the most perfect spot and i would like to build a replica of where we sat in my backyard. So cozy. read more

This place is a personal favorite, even as an avid meat eater. In the year that I've lived down the street, coming in once every month or two, the service has ALWAYS been top notch. The food is delicious and varied - I can't tell whether or not I like their regular or brunch menu more. Some tips - go sit in their patio later this season at night, bring someone you like conversing with, and enjoy their food&drink. I have a hard time ordering anything other than the Green Meanie. The Sambal Tofu and Ground Nut Stew are also especially fantastic. Only caveat is avoid Friday and weekend nights as this place will be PACKED as it's one of a few really good casual&queer friendly bars in this neighborhood. read more

1) If it is vegan it must be healthy. 2) If it is vegan it can't taste good. This place undoubtedly reveals statements 1 and 2 to be false. Everything here is freaking delicious. Mah-gawd. That's really the best way I can put it. Plus, they have great beer selection to go with your meal. However, fried pickles, fried sweet plantains, etc. These dishes, albeit delicious, aren't too friendly to thee ol' waistline. This is particularly true when consumed in large quantities. The sad truth is that I'll keep coming here, and I'll keep living in a fool's paradise... a yummy, delicious, fool's paradise... filed with fried pickles... /drool. read more