Hubby and I wanted a light snack before heading to O'Hare and Protein Bar & Kitchen was within walking distance of our hotel. Because it was marathon weekend, there were a bunch of participants meeting in the dining area. While looking at the menu, a seasonal option caught my attention because the teenage version of me who loves 90s alternative rock loved the name of a certain smoothie: Smashing Pumpkin. https://yelp.to/ak0wlKoakD This visit was during October so it made perfect sense to offer a fall-flavored smoothie. It was quite light in flavor and not too sweet. The default protein powder is whey so we substituted it for plant-based vanilla protein. They also offer a plant-based chocolate protein as well. Non-dairy milk options include oat milk and almond milk. Since the indoor dining area was occupied my marathon runners, we sat at the tables outside just in front of the shop. Great for people watching. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Smashing Pumpkin (seasonal fall flavor) - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I tried another Protein Bar location by my office downtown earlier this week and wanted to check out the one closer to my apartment since I was working from home today. Using the app to order delivery was super simple, which made the whole process a breeze. I decided to get the bacon, egg, and cheese burrito, which had 50 grams of protein while being super low in calories. It was absolutely delicious! I also ordered an iced coffee, and it was just as good as what you'd get at Dunkin or Starbucks. What really stood out, though, was the price--my breakfast burrito was only $8, and the iced coffee was $2.50! For that quality, especially when staying within my macros, it's hard to beat. Protein Bar is definitely going into my regular rotation. It's a win when I can eat something tasty without compromising on my fitness goals! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bar-rito - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Solid açaí bowls in the city. Not super crowded, plenty of seating. Got the triple berry and coco azul. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I try to balance my vacation with staying fit! I was looking for a breakfast spot after my long run where I could just pick up. I found this on good ol yelp. I placed my order on line and I hate to say this was my favorite meal in Chicago (well almost). If you want to track your calories and food this gives you a breakdown but most important was that it did not lack taste at all!! Very delicious!! I had the spinach and parm breakfast bowl!! So delicious and healthy!! I also had the Booberrry proteing shake also delish! Ambiance: Not sure but I must say the cashier was very friendly! I wish we had some of these places in LA!! read more

Nice to have something fresh in the morning that isn't a bagel or donut. Here the breakfast Mexicali bowl was right price with a good portion of eggs, avocado, beans cheese and more. Service was quick and easy. Got to sit outside which was fine. Iced coffee was a bit forgettable. Get your coffee some place else but eat here for the food. Nice. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - AM Mexicali Bowl - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I enjoyed my protein smoothie- I did a pick up order and when I came it to pick up it was ready and waiting. The cashier was very nice and organized. Great spot for healthy bite! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Smoothie - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quick, efficient, healthy, and filling. A great grab and go option during our trip to the city! I got the "no gluten" egg roll bowl, replacing the main protein with tofu. It was flavorful and surprisingly filling. (Just the right amount to dig into the gluten free baked goods I bought elsewhere!) I might try the quinoa instead of diced cauliflower next time but really no complaints. Service was also friendly enough. A solid option for gluten free and dairy free, or not! Tip: order and pay in advance on the website for a really quick pick up. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Egg Roll Bowl with tofu - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've stopped into this Protein Bar many times over the years. I used to work in the building and I would get it at least a couple times a month. While I've since moved away, I was in town recently and stopped in for lunch. While the line can get wrong during lunch, it's pretty quick and they have the menu along the wall so you can figure out what you want before getting to the register. The sunshine spinach and parm egg scramble with pesto is/was my go-to for the morning. For lunch, you can't go wrong with one of their salads. Prices aren't bad, you can order online through their website, and they do have multiple locations around Chicago. read more

I work near the Protein Bar and like to eat healthy most of the time, yet the few times I tried them in the past, I was not impressed. I don't like wraps and their salads were boring and didn't fill me up or leave me satisfied. I found the spinach and pesto bowl, which became my go to. Yet I got bored with that too, since it was the only thing I liked. Recently I decided to try something else, and I was pleased to find the Mexicali bowl. It is both healthy and delicious! It has kale, quinoa, corn, black beans, cheese, and chicken, topped with Cholula hot sauce and chipotle Greek yogurt. Now THAT's a tasty meal! All of this for only 530 calories. I also added avocado for only $1.29 more. (It was a small scoop but complimented the dish.) I always order ahead and my order is always ready. They will be seeing me more now! read more

Sooo good and healthy! I'm really surprised how yummy the fall salmon bowl is, nice to get something quick and healthy while in a hotel for a week. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Fall Salmon Bowl - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love the selection at protein bar! From salads, wraps and bowls to shakes, they have such a variety of what to choose here. I got the Mexicali "bar-rito" last time and it was awesome. Grilled to the perfect crunch and the tomatillo lime sauce and chipotle yogurt was a dynamite combination. This time I tried one of their shakes. I definitely had a sweet tooth today so I got the Wrigley Peeled. I loved how you could taste the peanut butter, banana and chocolate whey protein all separately yet all at once. The consistency was creamy but not too thick and not too thin. It was a good size and worth the price. The service was very fast and the employees were friendly. They have a nice variety of seating also inside and places to wait without feeling like you're crowding the people sitting down. read more

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Maybe I was really thirsty or maybe there is something special in the water, but wow the "Jokes Acai'd" protein shake was amazing. The hint of banana with the acai flavors came together really well. The ser was quick, plus the staff was friendly and didn't make funny of me too much for saying acai wrong :) read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Jokes Acai'd protein shake. - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the smoothies from here so when they changed up their menu recently I was pretty disappointed to see my favorite flavors gone, like the pumpkin and Hi-5. I decided to try the Fauci and I was so delighted by how much I loved the flavor. It might actually top my old favorite flavors! It had such a unique mix of ingredients that created a whole new flavor profile. I loved the cayenne pepper and ginger mixed with the citrus flavors of the fruit. I highly recommend it! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Fauci - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My smoothie was great however my turkey bacon came out burnt and inedible. Most of the staff is friendly but I did hear someone give attitude to another employee when he was trying to help her with making an order. I will probably pass on this location next time and find a place that pays attention to the quality of what is served and the attitude that can be heard by customers sitting within earshot. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Burnt turkey bacon. Only the first few I picked up before I gave up eating my bowl. - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Both the Mexicali and Carnitas bowls are amazing. Packed with flavor and served in portions big enough to leave you full. Better than other food choices in the neighborhood. read more

Pricey! Bring your checkbook along with your appetite. It's a good thing I don;'t mind paying for what I want. I'm a picky/healthy eater, I need to be able to toss a menu aside and say, "Can you do this for me instead" This was a problem at Protein Bar. The place was packed right before the lunch rush around 11:45am, but there was an employee promptly greeting and willing to assistant with orders and questions at the door. This aided in the assembly-line flow of business. I ordered a salad, my nephew ordered a wrap and a drink. The bill was nearly $30 sheeeesh! However, it was filling and nutritious so I shall not complain. read more

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Let's start with the positive. The matcha shake was awesome! It's not overly sweet, and is a great blend. I ordered the steak wrap at the recommendation of the staff, and was severely disappointed. While there are lots of fresh veggies stuffed in this wrap, the flavor fell flat. Additionally, the steak tasted like poor quality meat. Such a bummer, and the wrap alone cost almost $12. Overpriced. I was not impressed. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm really not a fan. I've been here (this location and another one in the loop) a few times due to the convenience of work and/or have had lunch meetings here. First, I'm pretty sure they use reconstituted/dehydrated eggs in the morning and that's a big no-no for me, unless I'm camping or at a conference and there's nothing else to eat. Second, I've tried several things off the menu from the sweet potato falafel bowl to the superfood vegan wrap and mexicali burrito. They sounded good on the menu, but the flavor just wasn't there. Meals here never taste like much and I end up adding a ton of hot sauce to make it somewhat palatable (and I'm clearly not alone - see attached pic). Plus the price point is too high and I even feel like the food doesn't taste very fresh. I'm all for light and healthy food, especially for a weekday lunch, but not if it's bland and expensive. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is expensive for fast casual. It does move pretty fast. The taste is bland. I guess because it's healthy? I go here about once every 3 months when I'm bored with choices in river north and want something quick and mindless. Beware of the prices on the fresh juices/drinks. I think I paid $8-9 for one of them and there were no prices next to the items! I'd give it 1 star but I keep going back every few months so I guess that counts for 1 star. read more

I've never been a huge fan of protein bar despite working across the street for the last five years. I have ordered lunch/dinner before but have never gone for breakfast. Today, my boss and I grabbed some breakfast bowls: spinach, pesto, parmesan and big bacon which included turkey bacon and cheddar. She also tried the keto coffee which was a light brown coffee due to the coconut oil in the coffee which make it a little greasy. Definitely a healthy but not extremely tasty meal... read more

I'm a bit of a positive reviewer. I tend to highlight more of the positive than any negativity. Today will be different. I've eaten at this location many times, as it was close to where I obtained my graduate degree. "How could a graduate student afford an $11 quinoa bowl," you may ask yourself. Student loans, honey. That's how. I digress. I ordered the buffalo chicken salad. That was mistake #1. I walked to the store in shorts in 19 degree weather. That was mistake #2, which is on me. Lastly, for sake of some readers, specifics will not be provided. Let's just say about 40 minutes after consuming this bowl, the rumble in the tumble began. What exited my body shortly thereafter was a mixture between hurricane force and the depths of hell. Although this place has great options and tasty food, I've always found the sanitation to be questionable. After this bio-event, I'm even more skeptical. Be careful, my friends. read more

I didn't really love their old quinoa heavy menu but the new one has some really great things! Its a great place to grab breakfast if you are running late, and not feel guilty. Unless you are on a budget of course! I love their Pier-Nut Butter & Jelly smoothie. Vanilla protein, organic peanut butter, blueberries, almond milk, strawberries and organic agave nectar at 340 cals, 22g protein, 29g carbs. I just tried their new Ging and Juice smoothie. Orange juice, ginger, pineapple, carrot and vanilla protein blended with coconut milk at 220 cals, 18g protein, 34g carbs. It is like a tropical and refreshing beach vacation... on Lasalle drive! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - The new Ging and Juice smoothie is like a refreshing tropical paradise!!! Yum!! Also, Mexicali bowl. - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh, my gosh, Protein Bar, WHY DID I DISCOVER YOU. Now nothing will be good enough here in CA :( And I say that with great weight and sadness. I must completely agree with Gail A since I actually went there because of her review since I was very curious about said "skinny bitches." Jokes aside, this place is just fantastic. They have a large menu of "bar-itos" (burritos / wraps) and bowls full of goodie nutritious stuff that you will only find at Whole Foods that you have to go home to cook yourself. They make healthy eating delicious and the numbers show. Usually when you think of healthy eating, you think dry and bitter, and when healthy eating is "good" then it's really no longer healthy. Not the case at the protein bar. This place has smoothies and fresh juices to suit every mood you're in and every need you have. If you want muscles, they have a drink for that, if you want antioxidants, they have a drink for that, if you just want something yummy, delicious and 100% all juice with no added junk, they have a drink for that! If you buy 10 drinks, you get 1 free! This place blows my mind and my palate. I wish they were EVERYWHERE instead of just Chicago. Oh how I love you Protein Bar, and that's hard for me to say to many other places in the country... read more

I know people are crazy about this place, but really, I just don't get the hype. When we went for lunch, it took more than 30 minutes between walking in the door and walking out of the door. To top it off, my Millennium Perk shake was watery and barely tasted like chocolate, and the small chili I'd paired with it (thinking the shake would fill me up) came only 2/3 full. For a ripoff, food that didn't taste good, poor service, and slow delivery, you couldn't pay me enough to come back. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - $5 for an 8oz chili that comes only 2/3 full? I think I'll pass next time - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food here is always good. My online orders are always ready on time and they've never messed up an order. FYI from 2 PM to 5 PM they offer a discount if you have an account with them. My favorite lunch place :) read more

The line at the new Protein Bar wasn't that bad, for those of you wishing and wondering. In my experience, everything is fantastic here. I have yet to try their breakfast or drinks, but they all look amazing. If you are deciding between a bowl and a salad, they are basically the same BUT, the salad is bigger and has a few more veggies in it, depending on what you get. DEF worth the extra $. My favorite wraps/bowls are the buff chicken, Capone, Chili, and Greek. I love quinoa, and Protein Bar does it right! They also have extra hot sauce and Sriracha to top you off on your way out. Gotta love free heat. They also have a rewards punch card system, so don't forget to get punched! I'll be checking in here frequently. See ya there! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Buffalo bowl - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped by this Protein Bar location twice during my visit to Chicago (I admit, I was semi addicted to Protein Bar in general). Service was good at this location, but not as good as the one in The Loop. The smoothies were a little thin here, but this location prepared the Fruit Loop'd much better than other locations. I also tried the Wrigley Peeled for the first time here. I enjoyed the smoothie overall, but I definitely prefer the Millennium Perk. The Pancake in a Bowl was somewhat of a miss. The oatmeal was tasty, but it was lukewarm and didn't really resemble oatmeal. Overall, I still love the smoothies at PB! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Millennium Smoothie w/ Banana - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hooray for another lunch spot in the area. This part of downtown can be kind of boring for work day lunchin'. I'm giving it 3 stars for now. Well, is it weird I came in twice in one day? Yup, twice for lunch and dinner. And is it weird I that I ordered the same damn thing: spinach and pesto bowl with chicken, quinoa, and shredded parmasean cheese? The portion is reasonable for $6.95. Now, that's my kind of my lunch. Plus, it was pretty delicious and couldn't help scarfing it down. I recommend getting one of the wheat-free chocolate chip brownies for dessert or afternoon treat. Located in the former Bake for Me space, the place has a cute modern vibe with big menus hanging from the walls and funky seating area. Because it's brand spankin' new, I encountered a line out the door at lunch time. It wasn't a terrible wait, but I got to study the menu while waiting. I ordered, gave my name, and waited probably about 10 minutes for my food. The place was packed so I decided to take it to go both times. I didn't get any of the drinks while I was there, but they're on my to-try list among other items. I'll be back since it's practically a hop, skip, and jump away from work...sort of. read more

Awesome healthy fast-food lunch spot! Love the quinoa bowls and the raw juices! Just tried the Greenberry raw juice (kale, lime, strawberry, apple, cilantro) and I'm in love! So delicious and cleansing! And just discovered a hidden Protein Bar location in the Northwestern Memorial Hospital - located on 2nd floor of the Galter Building. I'll be back on my next visit to Chicago! read more

This place is pretty awesome. The Comiskey Cocoa drink is chocolatey goodness served up with your choice of milk. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that almond milk is an option! The vegan chili with quinoa was so doggone good that I ordered an extra to go. Quick and efficient service to boot. I will definitely return on my next visit to Chitown. read more

Good for a quick healthy lunch or lunch on the go. You can order ahead on the app and love that they post nutritional facts

Quinoa. That's where our conversation will both start, and end. Are you really going to make that quinoa at home that you keep talking about, or would you rather have someone whip it up for you as part of a tasty meal? Yeah, me too. There are options for decent salad in the area, but not too many options for a healthy bowl of rice or even grains. You can't go wrong having more quinoa in your diet. I tried the beef chili, and it was pretty filling when combined with the quinoa. The signature drinks aren't bad either, and you'll get to customize the type of protein (whey, soy, egg) along with the type of milk (2%, skim, soy, almond), and/or yogurt (nonfat, Greek, soy) that goes into the drink. You can even put in some optional boosts as well. There's even raw juice drinks as well! The seating area looks fairly limited, and I assume that things will be fairly busy during lunch. There are some breakfast options as well, and as long as you aren't customizing, you can have them at any time of the day. Did I mention the quinoa? read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Chili! - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of my sometime old lunch spots in River North area. Think moneyed, healthy millennials when you come here. Nice, clean minimal chain establishment with quality healthy ingredients for the health conscious foodster which you'll pay a little more for. Think non hormone fed and probably organic. Honestly, though from trying out most menu items, the chicken chili, southwest salad and summer salad (if still offered) are the best items on the menu as far as tastiness. But if you are just looking for healthy items tastiness may not matter as much as non fattening feed the body and mind food. read more

I ordered the spinach and pesto bowl off Ritual for lunch, while my friend got the Mexicali bowl, which she liked. I thought the spinach and pesto was a solid portion for a healthy lunch, and they prepared it really quickly and the pick-up process was really smooth. While it tasted decent, I unfortunately don't think the taste was anything to write home about. I'd probably go here if I was in the mood for a vaguely clean/healthy lunch, but this isn't something I would ever crave or want. I wish there was a way for it to be healthy and delicious. The service was great though, and the cashier was super good about helping us find extra utensils. read more

Always been a huge fan of their bowls - size, quantity, ingredients, proportions, quality, flavors.

I had breakfast at the Protein Bar for the first time on a recent trip to Chicago and I was so very thrilled. The sooner this fantastic concept spreads its wings and flies to Omaha, the better, in my opinion. If I hadn't already had lunch plans for my one-day trip, there's a very good chance I would have eaten lunch here too. Morning (before 8am) here wasn't busy at all. I was one of only a couple people dining in at the time and didn't have to wait too long for coffee or food. It's unique for smaller-scale restaurants to openly offer their nutritional information online, but even more rare for one to promote them... but that's a central concept to Protein Bar because it's both healthy AND delicious. That's a one-two punch that can't be beat from a 'fast' food place. Since it was breakfast, I settled on the Southwest Bar-rito: Scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, spinach, diced tomatoes, and Cholula sauce (a personal favorite). When the thing showed up at my table, I couldn't believe the size of it! Easily akin to one of those Chipotle gut bombs I so enjoy (but have to relegate to once-in-a-while), I figured there was no way this mountain of food was only 306 calories w/ 6 g fat (2 g sat). How do they do it? And let's not forget the other macros... 43 g carbohydrates, 14 g fiber, 7 g sugar, 32 g protein. My only disappointment was that I noticed the Pump-Quinoa Treat Smoothie too late... "Puréed Pumpkin blended with pepitas, pumpkin spice and protein-packed quinoa, YES quinoa". Is it magic? No... it's just Protein Bar. read more

Protein Bar! Wow, as a fitness enthusiast I cant believe I haven't been to Protein Bar prior to now!!! Left my jaw on the ground... Location & Ambiance: The location is small, and busy due to the food court that this location is at. With that in mind it does do a good job keeping a quality ambiance in the midst of fast food restaurants. Drinks: This can definitely be its own category in this review! Wow, as someone who is actively eating healthy and making healthy choices this becomes the best part of the experience. Typically I am forced to get water especially at fast casual experience, but this was different! There were many protein filled drinks, and the ones I have tried have all been good! I recommend asking the staff what they recommend if you are stuck between a couple choices. Regardless, what ever you chose you cant go wrong with a smoothie or protein drink here! Food: WOW, I was shocked! The best way to explain it is by saying no matter what you get it will taste good! They make your wrap, bowl, or sandwich quickly so you can take it on the go while maintaining a healthy life style. I was recommended to try the IVY wrap, and I was so surprised it was very tasty! The fitness enthusiast in me quickly recognized the great macros: 600 calories with over 40 grams of healthy protein from chicken in quinoa! (important side note: They do high some higher levels of sodium in some dishes, so if your watching your salt intake be sure to check nutrition facts!) Service & Staff: The service is great! They were extremely busy, and they had the absolute nicest lady handing out the food! She was really getting to know everyone (despite being busy), and thats what really gives this restaurant a 5 instead of a 4 star rating! Overall, this was one of the best fast casual experience I have ever had! I will never be going back to Chipolte or anything similar! I cant wait for them to open more locations outside of the city! read more

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Thankyou protein bar for providing lean, healthy food on the run. It's very hard trying to find good places to eat at a reasonably low price that isn't covered in saturated fats. Thanks again, see you for breakfast! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Chilli Quinoa and coffee protein shake! Perfect post workout meal - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

UPDATE 4/20/14: PB, you should consider replacing the broc with spinach in the Denver Breakfast Bowl. It was offered to me recently as the broc wasn't ready yet and it actually pulls the bowl together in a much nicer way. Protein Bar's $7 chicken chili bar-rito with quinoa and nuts hit the spot today. The meat was moist, flavorful and pulled together by a wheat wrapping. That occasional nut crunch from the quinoa was a bonus. I imagine this place as a cross between a Chipotle and a fanciful food cart at a gym. It's a gorgeous, breezy fall... er Chicago summer day in the low 70's with little humidity. Makes for the perfect op to try the new Protein Bar across the way. I've seen the strings of people lining up outside the door, so I opted to walk over at about 11:30am before it all went to hell. The line was sparse, the service quite rapid and friendly. Be prepared to take a number until your order is ready. It didn't take long and I was out the door not long after I sat down on one of their swanky orange booths and snapped a few pics. They are likely B.Y.O as a group seated near me had a couple bottles of red open, already giggling with glee. read more

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I LOVE Protein Bar. I told my friend, just as we walked in that if a Protein Bar was near where I worked or lived, I would be there everyday! The wraps, salads, smoothies, everything all tasted delicious. I love how the smoothies have unique Chicago names! There is so much healthy food here that you don't feel guilty for anything you order. There are so many options as well, boost vs. no boost, choice of milk, etc. and that's just for your smoothies. So many healthy choices between the wraps, salads, and sandwiches that it was very difficult to decide. The calories are also listed beneath each item. The seating area is appropriate, but if you arrive during a busy time, you might have to take your lunch with you to eat elsewhere. The decor is modern and trendy. I LOVE IT! It was so appropriate for the downtown feel. You have enough space to grab lunch with a friend or meet new friends at their community table. Service is quick though the line can get very long. So like any of my past loop lunch reviews, I advise you arrive early or arrive late to avoid the long wait. read more