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We came on a Friday evening and it was nice you can sit inside or outside. We decided to sit inside. The service was great! And the food we got was the roadhouse which was a burger but with an onion ring inside rather than meat and the cauliflower wings which was good. Loved their sauces that came with it. They also have non-vegan/vegetarian options on the menu. This place also has a breakfast menu for breakfast as well. Will be back to try more on their menu and i
This was my 2nd time here. I had French toast & the tofu with biscuits & gravy with potatoes! Sooooo yum! I'll definitely be back. I love the option to sit outside or in.
Love this place! It's in the middle of one of my favorite neighborhoods Bucktown! We sat in the back patio and started with lavender lattes. YUM! We ordered chicken of the woods friend sandwich with fries, the waffles, potatoes and biscuits and gravy. Everything was sooooo good! Nay Nay was our server and she is truly the best! So sweet and attentive with us! Can't wait to return!
Been watching to try this place for a while and finally got a chance to go! As a vegetarian, I'm always looking for fully veg/vegan places where I can go with friends who are also vegetarian. This one was a win! The service was lovely. We had a bit of a wait as it was lunch time on a Saturday but nothing too crazy. The restaurant is quite small but still able to seat a good amount of people. We shared all the dishes so we could try a little bit of everything and we all loved everything. I will say, my favorite was the cauliflower wings so, I definitely recommend getting those. You can't go wrong with any options here honestly. I will be coming back for some more yummy dishes. Want to try the breakfast items next!
Did. Not. Disappoint. I came by while traveling in Chicago and I heard this place was incredible for vegan food. I grabbed a table in the corner and ordered a few things. I got the Nashville vegan chicken sandwich, birria tacos, vegan Mac, and a salad. All were so delicious, especially the vegan nashville sandwich! For dessert, I had the berry cheesecake and a vegan hot chocolate with marshmallow. The cheesecake was incredible! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town.
I was craving Nashville hot chicken while I visited Chicago and I saw some reviews praising how good the "chicken" sandwich was. I'm no vegetarian or vegan by any means, but I thought I had to give it a try because of those reviews. I read the description and I am a fan of the hen of the woods mushrooms, so I believed it would be good for sure and needless to say, it was great! The crazy thing is I didn't even have it fresh either. I was having so much trouble with transportation and accidentally ordered way too early. I didn't eat it until an hour and a half later when I got back to my hotel because it was getting so late. I don't think I thought it was great because I was hungry - I actually had a full meal before that. Anyway I had it cold and yeah it still blew me away, but I'm sure if I had it fresh out the kitchen it would've blown my mind and I would definitely come back again. The fries did get soggy however so nothing special about that. But they were seasoned well still!
The food was so well seasoned and very well prepared! I didn't like the bbq sauce and the overall cheesecake. The crust, apples and the caramel were delicious! The actual cheesecake filling had an aftertaste can tell it's vegan. I really wanted pp md cake but they were out. I didn't get Togo on my birthday so went during the day while working. They were very attentive and Nay had the best service I've ever received here. The service is usually meh so I get the food Togo...but I'll start dining in. The vibe was very laid back chill with Amazing food!
Came here on a Saturday night around 6pm. We ate outside (2 of us) and it was cold but the heat lamp did work! The food was all vegetarian or vegan, we started with the cauliflower wings. They were delicious, juicy, and sweet all at the same time. And it came with a green vegan ranch, incredible. I could have drank it (lol). For my meal I got the Nashville hot chicken sandwich which was made with Hen of the Woods mushrooms and it was good. Not moist enough and not enough mushroom but good. My partner got a sloppy joe and Mac and cheese, he said it was "messy and nostalgic". He enjoyed it. I also got a White Russian with a vegan cream and it was okay. My partner got a Bloody Mary and said it was very good. The service was so slow, it was an hour to get the food and another hour to pay. But the staff were nice.
updating my review now that we've had brunch at handlebar and all i can say is wow. filling, flavorful, and fun. the vegan chimichanga was giant and delicious. the queso and guac were great additions and the tortilla was fried to perfection. the vegan biscuits and gravy also hit the spot. we got there shortly after they opened at 9 on a sunday and placed a to go order that was ready quickly. i wished we could have stayed and ate there because the morning vibes were it.
Went here on a Saturday evening and was seated quickly for 2 people. We ordered the Porch Swing and the Five D which were yummy! I would say the service is fantastic and food came out quick! We had the fried chicken patty melt with Gouda Mac and cheese as well as the Roadhouse sandwich with chili. The food was amazing. Great texture and flavor for being vegan and would highly recommend!
On the outside, Handlebar doesn't look all that big. But there is so much seating, and if you go in the summer they have a huge shaded patio! I was really impressed and very pleased to get a seat on the patio for lunch on Saturday without a reservation. Also note: they have special deals every day! On Saturday, they have $5 mimosas! I didn't realize they served breakfast til 3, so choosing from their menu was difficult! Honestly everything sounded so good, and you can customize your meal to be vegan or vegetarian. For example, I got the eggs benedict (my fav) and instead of eggs, I could have chosen to have it topped with tofu instead. Eggs benedict is my favorite breakfast food! I really enjoyed the potato pancakes and sauce this one came with. They also have a section with some fish dishes for the pescatarians out there. I really want to come back and try the Nashville hot "chicken" (mushroom) sandwich. It was calling my name but I couldn't resist passing up breakfast for lunch. I can't wait to come back here!
This was amazing!!!! I have been craving a veggie sloppy joe for forever and this satisfied every need. The service was amazing, ambience was great and chill. I loved everything!!
Was wanting to check out Handlebar after being close by in the city. Sunday evening and vibes were chill so we were quickly seated by the hostess. Server was super quick and friendly as we placed our drinks and food order. I went with the Primo Tacos which were grilled maitake mushrooms with green onions and avocado. Mushrooms def had some heat to them and the tomatillo salsa was a nice compliment to it. Each bite got better. Now onto the chocolate cake. It's from a shop across the street called Bake and boy was it good. Chocolatey decadence and a spongy cake batter. So glad I tried it.
2 years ago
Amazing fried pickles and other vegan options ! The vegan breaded chicken patties (from mushroom) are amazing read more
Hell ya... love Handlebar with plenty of amazing options. Many vegetarian and vegan options with a sprinkling of some fish and other. The staff is friendly and on top of things We had some on the Black bean tostadas and guacamole and chips to start. Both were solid. Cocktail - Mary's sangria and handle-Rita both fantastic on one of the hottest days. I went with the seared tuna sandwich w fries. It was perfect. We also the blackened tofu sandwich - a full Mic drop - damn that's good dish. We definitely enjoyed our visit at Handlebar and sure to return. Highly recommend a visit to this great vibe establishment! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
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
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
2 years ago
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
Back at one of my favorite vegan friendly restaurants. Currently, they only have patio dining so be prepared to wait as it is pretty popular. Ft. ~Chilaquiles (blackened tofu, salsa verde, fried corn tortillas, queso fresco, avocado, diced onion, refried black beans) Loved the flavors and textures of this dish, especially the salsa verde. They added a WHOLE accolade to the dish which was amazing. ~Pepita Scramble (Scrambled tofu (non-GMO soybeans), sweet potatoes, red peppers, kale, poblanos, pumpkin seed pesto, crispy onions, breakfast potatoes and multigrain or sourdough toast) The tofu was a little too bland for me and needed some hot sauce or salsa. I've gotten the smothered burrito before and the chili Mac attack and both are incredible dishes- also they are HUGE! So plan on going with an empty stomach. * * * * * * * * #foodie #foodieblogger #chicagofoodie #do312 #infatuationchi #discoverunder2k #collegefinds #fabfoodchicago #chicagoeats #312food #chicagoeats #chitown #chicagofoodauthority #chicagorestaurants #foodlover #partyroomchicago #eaterchicago #312 #vegoutmag read more
2 years ago
Love this neighborhood spot! The fried avocado tacos and the chimichanga are my go-to items. Great atmosphere w/ a killer patio. Attentive service as well. Great brunch spot for friends or family. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
One of my favorite (super) vegetarian friendly spots. Huge portions, healthy and not so healthy (all relative) options. I really love this spot. Their breakfast burrito is one of the best ones I've had...the beans on the side are so delicious. I've had their biscuits before which are also fantastic. Coffee here is good as well. Service is nice. I recommend! read more
6 years ago
Oh my Lawd! That Nashville Hot was so delicious; I was day-dreaming about it today and I'm writing this review weeks later, ha ha! The vegan Mac is yum too. The hibiscus tea drink; better than I was I expecting. Can't wait until I'm back in town, so I can enjoy another meal here. Side note: they aren't open for indoor dining, but patio dining is open and when it's cold they have some great heaters out at each table. read more
1 year ago
Goes without saying, this place is a neighborhood gem and an oasis for vegans and vegetarians. Today we got the buffalo seitan wrap, side of the plantains, side of vegan Mac and cheese and the vegan Diablos dish with seitan and it was all very delicious as usually. I've thankfully never had a bad meal here and have been coming for years. I wish them a ton of success. read more
2 years ago
Food was good. Our server was nice. It's a pretty cool looking spot. My hubby loves the fried avocado tacos from here. The pickles were good. read more
2 years ago
This was my first time here. The food is really good. My tacos were very flavorful and filling. The cheesecake is decadent. read more
nothing has changed about handlebar. everything i said before still stands. awesome staff, a great vibe, and the best vegan/vegetarian menu. the only thing that sucks is if you're gluten free and vegetarian--there's only a handful of options and they're ~fine~ but not worth going out of your way to try. if you are vegetarian and have to eat gluten free, your options are way limited. read more
1 year ago
Handlebar was a delightful little spot for a tasty brunch date. We came for the bloodies, FYI, and they didn't disappoint. The bloody mary came with a fried pickle - yum! - and a beer back chaser. Their house-made bloody mix was robust; some great flavor there! We ordered food as well. They had a nice array of choices which was really tasty and hit the spot. We had a great time while spending the weekend in Chicago. Cheers! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
Can you handle this bar, and restaurant? Handlebar is full of hipster stuff. It may be too much for suburban types. A lot of plant based items are on the menu, typically with a Mexican style such as burritos and chimichangas. The prices are typical for the area, but you get pretty big portions. After eating here a few times, I have sampled a good variety of choices. It pretty much has a Mexican American menu. There's a few items that aren't, but that's what it is for the most part. Even though it's not completely vegan or vegetarian, there's plenty to choose from. There's no doubt this is a totally hipster place. It's decorated like a college indie music fan's room, with just a hint of anarchism. The bar up front is good, but there's also a patio. Last time I was here we were having a little meeting. There was a special on Tecate and tequila. A good deal for $6, a can and a shot. The food was kickass as usual. I had the Vegan Chimichanga. Very hard to choose from all the vegan choices. It's about $13, but this was a really big thing. Almost was unable to finish it. This came with black beans, cashew queso, guacamole, pico de gallo, rice, seitan chorizo, and seasoned tofu. Holy crap it was filling. The others liked their stuff too. I know one had a Sloppy Joe. The Mean Green Sandwich looked good too. It had avocado and grilled tofu among the ingredients. That may be what I get next time. Basically everything is good. It's impossible to recommend one item. That means it's okay getting whatever. read more
6 years ago
Food: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Food: This might be my favorite Vegan restaurant in Chicago !! The have both vegan and vegetarian options for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner! At this point I've tried so many items but my favorite might be the Vegan Chimichanga! The Vegan pancakes are also crazyyyy good! Oh and the vegan chili cheese fries ;) Atmosphere: After reading everything I just said about this place, you might not expect it to look the way it does. You walk into a bar and the restaurant is in the back. I was kind of thrown for a loop. Nonetheless, the patio is cozy and they have heated lamps outside to accommodate during the pandemic. The service is very very good! read more
1 year ago
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4 years ago
This was one of my favorite spots when I lived in Chicago back in 2011 and I recently dragged my husband and two sons there on a family vacation to the city for Memorial Day weekend. They are requiring vaccine cards for entry which I appreciate. There was a wait to get onto the patio but we got seated inside right away. I got my usual order, a large fresh squeezed organic juice and biscuits and gravy with two eggs over easy. The juice is delicious, so refreshing and just as amazing as I remembered. My husband got the California burrito and was impressed they closely resembled his favorites back in San Diego - with French fries inside and lightly grilled outside. My four year old son enjoyed his scrambled eggs with cheddar and multigrain toast with butter and grape jelly. Our waiter was helpful and friendly. I cannot wait to come back! read more
Thank you Chicago for having amazing vegetarian/vegan options...and more importantly, the kind that do comfort food RIGHT! Or, even better than the OG comfort food! Yeah, I said it. Fried avocado tacos - holy f$*king sh!t!! The texture is perfect with accompanied slaw and the verde salsa completes it. For a heartier meal, add the rice to the taco. When it comes to those foods and flavors combining, you'll want these every week. Vegan Mac attack - dude. The cheese, which I believe is cashew, is out off this world creamy! They top it with their chili, some pico de gallo, chili powder and jalapeños. Again - they have perfected textures and flavors. I prefer their version than any other I've ever had. Nashville hot chicken - now this has a mushroom front but omg do they do it WELL. It tastes like the best, and pretty damn spicy, Nashville hot chicken sandwich you've ever had. But again, definitely has a big mushroom taste. Fried pickles - CRUNCHY SALTY GOODNESS! And hot! Get this...the ranch is vegan and yup, you guessed it, tastes better than any other ranch! read more
AMAZING! Love finding vegetarian/vegan gems. And I love even more that there is so much on the menu to pick from. The Sloppy Joe caught my eye and although it was messy (I ate it with a fork and knife), it was so delicious, especially with the slaw. I was impressed. The pretzel bun was a great compliment as well. The Nashville hot "chicken" was also delicious. It definitely tasted like a mushroom patty, but it was a very pleasant sandwich. I will be back to try more! read more
1 year ago
the food and drinks were both amazing. everything vegan with the exception of fish (i think). the vibes were good, the outdoor area is really nice, great service, really delicious food!!! read more
What stood out about this place was the humongous portion of food they serve which was kinda ironic for a health conscious restaurants... I know this is probably most people's dream but quite a burden for me - it distracts me from quality to quantity. The food turned out to be okay. The vegan chimichanga was massive and saucy but got cold and soggy way before we were half way through...Also, all the ingredients fell apart as soon as we began eating. The tuna steak sandwich was huge as well with different ingredients on each slice of bread which made me pounder how to eat it... Tuna steak could use a bit of flavor as well. Fries were thinly cut and a bit soggy - not a fan. With everything said, the service was fast and attentive. Everything seemed reasonably priced unlike many restaurants in the neighborhood. I hope to try their other vegan dishes and beer next time cause I did like the vibe here. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Dear Handlebar, We got delivery and it was friendly and timely. What was delivered? Fried avocado grilled cheese Tuna sandwich...meh Gouda Mac n cheese Collard greens The tuna steak was fresh but not seasoned. The garlic aoli wasn't enough to make up for that. But the bread and greens were fresh. Maybe a red onion slice would give it some kick. Being a person with southern roots, I was skeptical about ordering the collard greens. But this being a veg-forward restaurant, I got them anyway. You sautéed them, like kale. CG and kale are not interchangeable. Of course you wouldn't boil them with ham hocks but braising in a vegetable stock would help. I forgot to order chocolate for my kiddo. I picked it up later and it was fine. Not vegan, conventional. Nothing to write home about but I hear the pie is really good. read more
I feel pretty bad giving this place such a poor review, but I had had higher hopes. Handlebar had been on my "must eat" list for vegetarian food in Chicago for quite some time, but there were a few things that just fell flat. Handlebar is located in Wicker Park/Bucktown which is a pretty hopping place to be (wasn't always the case). It's a vegetarian and vegan restaurant so this is a huge plus! Their menu is Tex-Mex inspired/focused and they have both indoor and outdoor seating. We decided to sit outside since it was such a nice day and not too hot. This place screams "dive bar" but not seedy in any way. We were seated, given water and then our server came by to take our orders. What we ordered: * Nachos with regular queso -- what makes their nachos so great is the queso and soy chorizo * 1/2 order biscuits and gravy with fried tofu on top -- this was pretty terrible. I had never really had biscuits and gravy before (since it's not usually a vegetarian dish and I didn't have it even when I did eat meat), so I figured it'd have to be good. I was very wrong. The dish was super soupy, was brought out in a tiny bowl so it was hard to eat, the biscuits were dry despite being smothered in the gravy and the fried tofu lacked any kind of spice or flavor * Buffalo "chicken" wrap -- my husband got this and wasn't very impressed. He said the "chicken" didn't really have any buffalo flavor, the lettuce was wilted and the wrap was hard to eat because it was overly dressed Aside from some lackluster food, our service could have been better in my opinion. None of the servers or people working there would smile or greeted anyone. They looked miserable like they didn't want to be working. Maybe we just came at a bad day or something, but I doubt we'll be back unfortunately. read more
Back in June, my daughter was visiting from Denver. She's a vegan and always finds the hidden gems. It was too hot to sit outside but yolo. We ordered mimosas and palomas and both were tasty! We ordered the chimichanga, vegan French toast and pepita scramble. The portions were huge and delicious! We devoured the French toast! Would definitely love to go back when it isn't as hot out! Highly recommend! read more
5 years ago
Our first time here was about 9 years ago and I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a review. It is well overdue. The space is a bit small, tables are tight and it's usually loud and busy but feels sort-of intimate. The staff is friendly but sometimes short due to how busy it can be and you can tell they're just trying to get everyone taken care of. They'll always answer questions though, make sure your order is right, and check to see you have any extras things you need for the table (condiments, water, napkins, etc). Food is flavorful and comes out quickly. We've ordered carryout several times through the pandemic and most of the food packages up and travels well. The only thing we've ever ordered carryout which I would not again is the Nashville Hot Friend "Chicken" although we live about 50 minutes away which might have more to do with it but the mushrooms used for the sandwich did not reheat as well as I would have preferred. I can't say this is their fault though. Still plenty of other good menu items. My husbands favorite is the Vegan Chili Mac which is a large portion and very good both dining in and carryout. I like the Black Bean Murado and the vegan chimichanga both dine in and carry out and the green meanie is good too which I've only had as dine in. For all the times we've been there we tend to stick to our favorite items. Desserts are also good. They carry Pie Pie My Darling cakes, a local vegan bakery but these sell out quickly. Other desserts like the fried pies and oatmeal cream pie are also delicious. Most desserts are large enough to share unless you really want to indulge your sweet tooth and get a good sugar rush which I've done a few times. So many yummy items to pick from. The drink menu is also full of some good brunch classics and other fun drinks too. The back patio is a good spot on a nice day. We often end up in this part of the city when we're out together and even if we just ate here a few days before and decide to go to a nearby place for dinner instead of eating the same place twice in a week we usually will make the extra stop to pick up dessert or have a drink because we both like their menu items so much. read more
More info about Handlebar
2311 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
Wicker Park, West Town
Directions
(773) 384-9546
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Visit Website
http://www.handlebarchicago.com/
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Ask the Community - Handlebar
Gluten-free options available?
Yes, they have a whole gluten free menu! I recommend the black bean tostadas or the black bean maduro, but there are lots of other options too
How do you handle cross contamination for people with celiac disease?
They fry their gluten free meals in the same fryer as their non-gluten free meals, so order something not fried if you have celiac, and make sure you ask for the gluten free menu and tell them to not allow for cross contamination. I'm sure they will…
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104 reviews that are not currently recommended
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