Planta Queen Chicago is now one of my go-to spots. The food was excellent, but what made the night…read morewas our server Alejandro. He was attentive without hovering, food came out fast, and he genuinely added to the vibe. When I ordered the wrong dish, he caught it, swapped it for what I actually wanted, and comped it without making it a whole thing. That kind of service is rare. Great date spot, will absolutely be back.

It's rare that a dining experience causes me to pause, sit back in my chair, close my eyes, and…read moresavor. This happenedat PLANTA Queen, self-described as plant-based dining, reimagined. Truly - eating at PLANTA is an experience. We weren't sure how busy it would be on a Saturday evening so made a reservation, which turned out to be the right move. We were seated promptly and our server thoughtfully offered descriptions and suggestions that guided us to the following assortment of mind-blowing items: -Bang Bang Broccoli: if you order nothing else, get this. Perfectly cooked, beautifully seasoned, with just the right amount of crispiness and a magical peanut chili sauce. -Firecracker maki roll: filled with sweet potato and avocado, topped with a monstrous pile of potato straws, unagi, and glorious sauce. -Udon noodles with truffle mushroom cream: the description is deceptively understated. This dish is magic - thick chewy noodles generously coated in an unbelievably creamy sauce and SO MANY mushrooms. Pricing is fine - more than I'd like to pay for a routine weeknight dinner, but justified by the flavors and the experience of elevated plant-based cuisine. It's a good (but also terrible) thing that I live far away, otherwise all my time and money would likely be spent at PLANTA.

TLDR; go here it is great!!!!…read more My family and I were in Chicago for a short trip. A couple of us are vegan so I wanted to go to a vegan spot. We actually got the rec for Penelope's from a doorman lol. I am so glad we came here. Everything was DELICIOUS. Honestly, maybe some of the best tacos I've ever had. We ordered the quesadilla grande (which was good, but I think there's only so much you can do with vegan cheese), a taco platter, and 3 tacos. We tried to order one of each taco to try everything. The tacos were amazing -- we loved all of them. My favorites were the mushroom chimichurri and the soyrizo. They also have a spicy salsa that is AMAZING, but is super spicy. Service was good - the waitress we had was very attentive. We went on the earlier side for dinner so it was quiet, but did start picking up by the time we left. If I was local I'd definitely come back to hang out and take advantage of the deals they have on Tuesdays (if I remember correctly). I wish we had one in Minneapolis!

I honestly was so surprised by how good the food was. The plant based Asada tacos were seasoned…read morewell, the Asada fries came topped with a delicious fresh guacamole, and the star of the show (the Baja tacos) were just phenomenal. I loved that they kept the flavors consistent with how I remember non-vegan food being. And it was such a good concept for the Baja taco to fire avocados as a substitute for the fish. Definitely recommend trying the red salsa to top off the tacos and the sangria to pair with your meal. As far as the ambiance goes, the music was fun , the windows were open, and the vibes were summery and fun. Decor could be slightly more up to date but it didn't take away from the experience. The waitresses were pretty nice , but when it hits closing time they will definitely let you know!!

Excellent food, decent service and unpretentious ambiance…read more One needs to order on an iPad, and the server then brings the food to you. My father and I ordered the glass noodles, spring rolls, and dumplings. While all three items were excellent, the spring rolls stood out. The dipping sauce was particularly delicious. Service was exceptionally quick, and the server was kind enough to recommend a good boba place nearby The ambiance is not spectacular, but it was almost charming in its charmlessness. Restroom was clean. Overall, I recommend Veggie House for its excellent food and quick service.

No frills vegetarian Chinese food in a cool part of Chinatown. Easy ordering, fast service,…read moredelicious food. Can be a go to take out spot for colder months! Pro Tip: don't forget to try their fortune cookies post meal!

Port Union was. Great experience. The menu has a great deal of variety and had something for…read moreeveryone in our party. There are several dishes each for vegetable, seafood, and meat, as well as pasta dishes, small bites, and desserts. My favorites were the PU burger and the Arrachera. Both were unique and had distinct enhancements that took the dish above your normal fare. The burger had a super melty cheese that was almost like a hollandaise sauce. Bun was so soft. The Arrachera had delicious chimichuri as well as potato pave on the side that complemented the meat perfectly. The cocktail list was also excellent with a ton of variety. 'The Last Word' was delicious as well as the aviation. Service was friendly and very helpfully explained the menu options to us. Overall a great experience at Port Union and well worth a visit.

Another great experience and Bloom. Love this plant based restaurant offering creative menu items…read morethat anyone can enjoy! The inside of the restaurant is designed very elegantly & the staff is superb! All the dishes we tried were great, from thr hand rolls to the gnocchi. Recommend a stop here even if your primary diet isn't vegan you will not be disappointed. Pro Tip: try the desserts as well while visiting. Also very creative and satisfying!

I can't recommend this spot enough! I brought two relatives who are trying to be more mindful…read moreeaters and they loved their vegan ice cream treats! We'll be back. I enjoyed a dipped cone featuring the pistachio ice cream. The others got a brownie sundae (with a WARM brownie) and a standard sundae with all the toppings- including vegan whipped cream. The owners are always kind, patient, and quick with service. The fun Halloween decor and delicious seasonal treats made this a great cure for the Sunday Scaries. Be sure to visit before they close for the season!

Went on a hot 95 degree day for some ice cream…read more The owner was very sweet, kind, and informative. She explained the different types of ice creams to us and even gave us a sample! We ended up getting two snowstorms. We didn't enjoy them because they had a strong vegan taste. You could taste that they used alternative dairy options. Even with the brownie swirled into the soft serve which was also vegan. The soft serve was also not that cold/firm and was melting as soon as we got them plus super sweet ( overly sweet for my liking). However, the place is very cute on the inside, and if you don't mind the vegan forward ice cream taste, you'll enjoy it here. I think I'll come back and try some other options...which might not have such a strong alternative dairy taste.

It's not often that I would consider moving to a new city just for the food, but Alice & Friends'…read moremade me carefully weigh the pros and cons. The entirely plant based menu is varied, whimsical, and intentional, and the staff are just glorious. Once seated our server inquired whether we had had the pleasure of dining at Alice & Friends' before, and upon discovering it was our first visit delightedly offered suggestions for our optimal enjoyment. The outcome: -Laksa: Malaysian noodle soup with a coconut curry broth, served with a variety of vegetables, tofu, and vegan shrimp. What? Yes. So good. -Heavenly curry: magical curry base (coconut milk, coriander, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, turmeric), chickpeas, and lots of hearty veggies including sweet potato, served over perfectly chewy brown rice. -Raw tiramisu: I can't even. Espresso, chocolate, cream, crust. Just get it. The decor (like the restaurant) is based on Alice in Wonderland, with lots of anthropomorphized friends to appreciate. Pricing is reasonable for the quality and the quantity. If ever I move to Chicago just know it's entirely to be closer to Alice and her friends.

First, I'm an idiot. I've lived near this restaurant OVER 20 years, but have never come here. Happy…read moreto report, no longer an idiot. I came here with a vegan friend and an omnivore friend. Typically, I reject these dietary labels, as what we all eat is food. Simply food. However, I'm also not someone who is all "OH EW, VEGAN STUFF, NO." I will not only never say that, but I will ALWAYS try something new. You should too. ON TO THE FOOD. I had heard talk of their Ramen, so I immediately ordered that. OH MY GAWD. It is so good. It tastes like "regular" ramen, but is 100% vegan. There was a strip of stuff (it was seitan) that looked like the pork belly that typically comes in Tonkatsu ramen. How is this not meat?! It was SO GOOD and had the texture of meat. But it wasn't meat. The broth is silky smoove, savory and . . . my gawd, I drank every single drop. The noodles and veg things that typically come in ramen were there, and just delicious. Writing this review, I am now craving this ramen. I took home an additional order of this ramen for my BF and he became obsessed as well! We had a couple other appetizers that were fantastic too! Some breaded mushroom app that was super tasty. I'm typically not a breaded food fan, but this was light and crispy and really tasty. The interior is spare, uncluttered, full of light and spotlessly clean. The staff is so helpful, friendly, and earnest with answering any questions. No booze, it's BYOB, but they have a lot of Kombuchas to try! A neighborhood gem that I will now keep in rotation when dining out.

First time here. Very pleased with the vegan menu that had lots of delicious meat substitutes!…read moreLow-key indoor and outdoor seating in a lively neighborhood. Helpful server explained the menu options. Where else can you get a $5 veggie burger? Nowhere. Loved the tangy Korean chik'n burger. Fast service. Casual spot. Would come again. Thank you for the inspired vegetarian food!

After a week of juicing and water only, I was more than ready for my first solid meal. I came…read moreacross Elephant + Vine, a vegan comfort/fast food spot at 2315 N. Lincoln Ave., and between the menu and the name (yes, the elephant caught my attention), I knew I had to check it out. There's plenty of street parking in the area, I went on a Sunday, so meters were free. The interior is bright, green, and inviting, with lots of seating and great natural light coming in from the front windows. There's also outdoor seating, but it was a bit too cold the day we went, so we stayed inside. Service is counter-style, and the staff was very knowledgeable about the menu. It's fairly simple, but still fun and satisfying. I ordered an Impossible burger, tater tots, and a strawberry almond milk smoothie. My friend got fries, so I was able to try both. After over 40 days without fried food, I was especially excited for the tots and they did not disappoint. Overall, the food was good and solid across the board. Nothing that completely blew me away, but definitely satisfying. If you're vegan or vegetarian and craving a classic burger experience, this is a great option. The smoothie was good as well, though I personally prefer fruit-forward smoothies with lighter juices, so the almond milk base wasn't quite my favorite, but it still complemented the meal nicely. Overall, if you're looking for a casual sit-down spot with a cute atmosphere and a solid Impossible burger at a reasonable price, Elephant + Vine is a great choice. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Great food, drinks and service! I love v that this restaurant caters to vegans and carnivores.read more

food is pretty good, but every time i order they're always missing something from my order so i…read morenever get 100% of what i order originally every time. two weeks ago i ordered the super taco which comes with side of fries and didn't get the fries and a few days ago i ordered the gyro with a side of banana pudding and never recieved the banana pudding. the process of getting you money back every time for things missing in your order is heavily annoying. won't buy from this place again.

I'm trying to think of something on which Penelope's could improve, I truly am, but nothing comes…read moreto mind. Decor - fabulous. Menu - varied with options for anyone, plant based or not. Pricing - quite reasonable for a niche vegan taqueria. Portion sizes - appropriate. Flavors - spot on. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, and while hesitant to offer suggestions did share her favorites, which was just as helpful. I tried: -Street style elote: I nearly cried. I found out about the (potential) joys of elote after becoming plant based, and as such had not been able to try it until my visit to Penelope's. The corn itself is sweet and bursts delightfully between the teeth. The combination of mayo, cheese, tajin, and cilantro elevate the dish that much more. I could eat a bucket of just this for a meal and be entirely satisfied. -Soy al pastor taco: beautifully seasoned soy protein balanced by fresh veggies and pineapple, with just enough kick to make you pay attention. -Mushroom chimichurri taco: THAT SAUCE IS EVERYTHING. The veggies are also fabulous, but holy smokes - chimichurri perfection. Ah! I just found the problems, of which there are two. 1. There are so many options I wasn't able to try everything. 2. Penelope's is located entirely too far from my home. Fix these, and I will award a magical 6th star.

Not sure if I was just starving or if the food was really as SPECTACULAR as it looks! Either way,…read morethis place was a 10/10 and is totally worth the try even if you aren't vegan! Run, don't walk! I couldn't choose between the Asada Fries or Enchiladas, so I got both and they did not disappoint. The Chimichanga was good too. Honestly, everything was seasoned to perfection! I also tried the dirty horchata & it was perfect! I'll definitely be back soon. Next time with more family and friends!

Great food, exceptional service, and beautiful ambiance!…read more Tried the spicy potato stew, the dark side of the moon noodles, and the yin and yang curry dish. The yin and yang was the standout, but is truly spicy and not for the faint of heart. The dark side of the moon noodles were not spicy at all, while the spicy potato stew (really more of a soup) was true to its name and actually spicy. Service was incredible - the owner was super nice and even offered to pack our leftovers for us. This was a lovely touch, not seen too often in restaurants these days. The ambiance was gorgeous, with lovely paintings, plants and statues. I felt totally at peace. Overall, highly recommend. My non-vegan dining partner also greatly enjoyed the experience, so you don't even need to be vegan to be blown away by the simplicity and flavour of the food!

What a wonderful, amazing peaceful place for dinner! Aside from the overall vibe though...the FOOD…read more SO delicious and I felt so good after dining there. Happy Buddha Tummy! Chef Bill helped me narrow down a few options that I had selected on the menu and he guided me to order the Green and Greener Nirvana entree - and it was exactly what I was hoping for! Medium spicy, the assortment of vegetables, seaweed and herbs/spice along with the tofu and brown rice was just awesome. Even if you didn't want to eat something "healthy" you would have been bowled over by the flavors and how special it was. You know you found a new favorite eatery when you aren't even halfway done with dinner and you start thinking about the other dishes/options on the menu and about when you can come back or place an order for pickup! Can't wait to try the Dr. K's Cure All Soup, the Tofu Young Patties and a few other options I had my eye on. Also the dumplings were delicious and perfectly cooked and NOT greasy! It was so nice to go out and have a scrumptious meal and not feel over stuffed with heavy, oily food. I hope Amitabul is there forever!