we need something like this in california. fighting obesity in america one healthy food chain at a time. not all calories are created equal and they have made them wonderfully here. great service. great food. good prices. whole food. filling ingredients. definitely does not make you feel tired or fat. promotes feel good energy. very quick service. a+++++++++++++ read more

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The service at this location is always terrible. I used to come here 3 times a week until very recently and order the exact same thing, and at least once a week they would mess up my order. I was willing to overlook that because the black bean bowl was so delicious. The first sign was when they changed the recipe from coming with tofu as the default protein, to with chicken, but they didn't update the menu boards so when I ordered it I got chicken instead of my usual Tofu. Yuck!! So I moved forward having to order my black bean bowl and subbing for tofu and it was so delicious I was ok with doing it. But then, they changed the tofu preparation! The perfectly roasted small pieces of tofu that I was in love with suddenly changed to large soggy barley cooked pieces of tofu! What the Heck?! I emailed customer service, alerting them to the problem, but was told they changed vendors and recipes. I was given two free meal coupons to give it another shot. I used one.. Soggy tofu.. Anyone want a free coupon lol. I was seriously in love with Protien Bar - I am not even a vegetarian but I was obsessed! Unfortunately, I am never going back here again. The new Tofu is the worst I have ever had, I had to cut it into small pieces just to even eat it, but the texture was terrible and it was so under cooked. It reminded me of eating vegetables as a kid where I just needed to get them down to finish my meal. On a plus side I guess its not so bad because now I am bringing my lunch to work and saving lots of money. Protien Bar lost potentially hundreds of dollars a year. read more

The smoothie I ordered was so disgusting I threw it away. It didn't taste like strawberries it tasted like watered down milk. Super disappointed. Really looking to up my protein intake but this is not going to work. Maybe there are better ones than the red line but that was terrible!!! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - So gross. Red line smoothie - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped in for a quick bite prior to a meeting across the street at the Willis Tower. The line was long so I took that as a good sign. :) The line moved along fast and the wait wasn't bad. I had a buffalo chicken bowl -- it was very tasty, portion size was just right, not too small, not too big. I'll be back. read more

At first I was a bit leary of The Protein Bar. What is with the name? It sounds like a juice bar, but having scanned the menu and seeing my favorite grain EVER Quinoa, I knew I had to give it a try. I have not been disappointed in any of the foods I've gotten there. Portions are very good, enough but not so much that I'm totally stuffed when I leave or feel like I have to schlep food home. All the ingredients are fresh and either very hot or very cold. They clearly are monitoring their food storage which I like to see. My all time favorite item though is the Trail Mix Oatmeal cookie. At $3.50 its pricey, but its so big and fantastic that I'm willing to pay for one. Plenty to share as well. My only regret for The Protein Bar is the process they are using to order, make and then charge people. Something is seriously wrong with it. People get backed up at the cash register and the people making the food are all over doing a bit here and there. Customers kind of wander around and don't really know what they are supposed to do. When should they order, where do they stand, who takes the money...its just feels like I'm dealing with a group of laid back people who really are nice but don't have much on the ball when it comes to a process. In the Loop, folks are busy running out for lunch and don't have tons of time. This is the one area that continues to really surprise me. They need to develop a process and stick with it. So go prepared for weirdness in the order taking order fulfilling paying process and enjoy the food. It's a wonderful change of pace for lunch. read more

Walked by this place several times, was finally convinced by my colleagues to try it, and WOW. My main objective was to find a healthier alternative to Chipotle burritos, which I love, but have not been able to justify since staring at the whopping 972 cals and 80 g fat listed on their nutrition page. So, I tried the Protein Bar-rito with Chicken (which they list at 445 cals and 1 g sat fat), which was positively yummy. And a little research on their magic ingredient (quinoa) told me why I was so full even at 10 pm after a work out. Google it, it's much tastier than tofu, and very healthy. Subsequent trips with dad equally impressive (he's hooked). Favorites include: Quinoa chili with beef - makes my nose run even without Tabasco - it's a compliment; Comiskey Cocoa - my new solution to a late afternoon chocolate craving; and last but not least: Pancake in a Bowl - steel cut oats with all the fixins. This breakfast treat might just surpass the oats I cook up at home, but don't let that go to your heads PB peeps! The rest of the menu is very creative (Chicago destinations figure throughout) - one of the most original concepts I've seen in awhile. I'm torn because of course they should expand, but I'd selfishly like to keep this a "Chicago" joint. Staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and they've worked really hard to make changes to get that line moving. I've never been OCD about calorie intake but I try to be mindful at least; for those who watch closely they list calories and grams of protein, fiber, sat fat and sugar for all items - right out in the open. Best of all: get a punch card and receive a freebie after 10 purchases. Two thumbs up! read more

Nothing terribly wrong with this place, but nothing too great either. The original bar-rito was fine but pretty bland (was the chicken boiled?). My smoothie with whey protein, almond milk, pb and fruit was tasty enough to drink the whole thing but doesn't have me looking forward to going back. I think they have a good, healthy concept...but they need to figure out a way to kick everything up a few notches and drop the prices a notch or too at the same time. Overall, I think it was good enough to give it another shot sometime down the road. read more

Finally, I got to try out this place. There is always a long line the past few times I have been in the loop. I throughly enjoyed my 'Pier Nut Butter n jelly' smoothie, With soy milk & soy protein. Delicious! My only complaint - bigger cups! read more

I absolutely love that: (i) I know every single ingredient I am putting into my mouth, (ii) I know the nutritional facts of every single thing I am putting into my mouth, (iii) the food is quick, fresh and yummy, (iv) the portion sizes are awesome, (v) now that I've gone vegetarian I can still go to a place called "Protein Bar" and be overwhelmed with options, (vi) I can bring carnivores here and they don't hate me and (vii) all of the above apply to breakfast, lunch, dinner and yummy shakes. I love you protein bar. read more

I eat at Proetin Bar at least 3 times a month. I can honestly say that I am a fan. I thoroughly enjoy their chocolatey shakes in the Spring and Summer and adore their Vegan Bar-rito in the cooler months. My only misgivings about this place are the on-line ordering system and the size of the place itself. I am not sure why but almost every time I order using the web my order is either not ready when I wanted it to be or is wrong when I get there. It's cramped and you have to be pushy if you want to get to the counter. read more

Huge fan! I haven't been to Protein Bar since I stopped working in the Loop last August, but I must say that I just checked out their website to remind myself of what my fav menu items were and it looks like they've since added even more yummy choices! I'm officially motivated to trek out there for a healthy lunch someday soon. PB was a 15 min trek from my office, but I'd walk my ass over there once a week for their unbeatably healthy selection of veg-friendly amazingness. My favs were the Chili Bar-ito (with veg chili), the Black Bean Fiesta Bowl, the Quinoa Chili Bowl (veg chili), and the Vegan Gardens Salad. YUMMMM!!! The mex-inspired Bar-itos and bowls were like eating quinoa-subsituted, protein-packed, healthy/lite versions of Chipotle...for very literally 1/3-1/4 of the calories! And they would always gladly duose my orders with tabasco and Cholula as requested! Plus I love that the calories were posted - really helped me know what I was eating and stay on track during the weekdays. Downside is that meals were a little pricey, but definitely worth it and not too far off from other lunchtime eateries in the area. Other downside is the lunch rush line to the door, but it moves pretty quickly and you can always find a seat. Even though portions were nothing compared to calorie-packed mega-sized meals at other places, they were surprisingly filling aka no afternoon snacking at work. p.s. one of my stars is very seriously for the fact that they sell ice cold cans of Fresca!!!! this is unheard of post-1990! read more

I love this place. Capital L.O.V.E. actually. As much as I remember being turned off when I heard that New York makes all restaurants put the calorie contents on the menu, I love that Protein Bar does this. I've had a zillion different smoothies here but my favorite is the Pier Nut Butter and Jelly. A bit more calories due to the peanut butter, but I am full for an entire morning off a small. I am a huge fan of quinoa and have been for ages. I love that they put it in their bar-ritos, as it is not only healthy but also incredibly filling. My favorite sandwich is the Ivy. Mmm...so yummy! I am partial to the grilled bar-ritos over the chilled...okay or I guess I'm just partial to the Ivy as that's the only grilled bar-rito I've had. I ordered the Guac and Roll last week, particularly because I was in the mood for some guac. Unfortunately, there was only a teeny tiny dab of guac on the whole thing, and I think that my request for no tomatoes also equaled no dressing, so the whole thing was a bit dry. It's okay though Protein Bar, I forgive you and you know I'll be back. Their chili is good but not great. I'm partial to the chili I make at home, so most places don't measure up. It certainly suffices on a cold winter day. Overall, this place rocks. I'm so glad it's so close to my office because otherwise I would be forced to trek across the loop to get my fix. read more

Haven't had any breakfasts or smoothies, but the lunches are very good if you choose the right product. The quinoa chili and quinoa marinara are both fantastic, but the wraps are too starchy for me. I know burritos work with rice in them, but once you remove all the lubricating grease to make a healthy version, quinoa and a wrap is just too dry and bland. And then there are the desserts. Again, too dry and bland to eat. Maybe you think I should know better than to get a cookie or bar at what is essentially a health foods restaurant, but I've lived in a vegetarian coop before so I'm no stranger to healthy desserts that are actually tasty and moist. If you get a bite of a cookie with some fruit in it, you're OK as long as that bit of fruit is juicy, but otherwise they're kind of gross- so dry they coat your mouth. Ew. I do really like this place though, despite those few complaints. I make the trek from Michigan Ave. maybe once every other week, so it's definitely good. But I've decided if I don't feel like marinara or chili, I should go somewhere else that day. And if you're thinking of giving this place a try but are on the fence, I would definitely go for it. The line is always out the door- so it's clear that people really like it! It moves quickly too, and even though the place is always packed, I've never not gotten a table. One last thing: I've seen a few complaints about portion. I think this may be a personal preference or dependent on your hunger level/appetite. If I finish a bowl there, I always feel like I ate too much. Usually I have enough for two meals from what I order. Maybe the chili and marinara quinoas are just particularly filling though! read more

I love this place- everything i have had here has been great. The best time to go is before 12 and a little after 12:45. The lines are pretty crazy, but if you go at the right time its not bad at all! I like that they give you the option of tofu or meat and I never feel super gross after i eat it. It is very light and not greasy at all. very healthy! read more

I eat here almost every day! They have really healthy and delicious choices...although I almost always get the Superfood Vegan + Avocado. It is the perfect mix of crunchy veggies, delicious chia dressing, and filling tofu/chickpeas. I add a little sriacha too to give it a kick. The carrot ginger soup is also tasty - get a dollop of greek yogurt and pepitas on top for a nice warm-up. This place also has kombucha for drinks! For breakfast the egg-white bowls are a healthy and delicious option. The first time I went to a protein bar, I literally ate all 3 meals in a day here! read more

After reading positive reviews on this place, I decided to test it out today. Here are my thoughts: Pros: - Healthy food with calorie content shown - Explanations of said healthy food (so you know what you're eating and its positive effects) - Taste (not too overwhelming, but not non-existent) - Portion size (not too much, not too little) Cons: - Long wait during lunch rush (15-20mins!) - Some of the staff seemed indifferent if not slightly incompetent (Disclaimer: I had a great gal wait on me) read more

Hmmm....I'll go back. After looking around their website more, I've noticed they have a glossary of the different ingredients I wasn't sure about so now I feel more prepared to go in and order wisely. I had the Chicken Ceasar wrap here a few months ago - It was ok. Personally I think Fat-Free creamy salad dressings taste HORRIBLE. No matter who makes it....So that added a little bit of 'ugh' to my wrap. But I'll go back...it's not Protein Bar's fault that creamy FF dressings are awful. I think next time I'll try a Bar-rito! Ariba! read more

I had the Chicken Caesar Wrap and it was delicious...also had the Comiskey Cocoa Protein drink...YUM! I was expecting the smoothie to be more chalky with the added protein but it was just plain awesome. Great service, nutritious menu - really looking forward to the new location on West Washington! :) read more

When I first read about PB, I was very skeptical. People really eat here every day and sometimes twice a day??? Lines out the door? Having tasted the food, I now believe the hype and consider myself part of the cult. I usually get the Spinach and Pesto bowl with chicken and it's the best dish you can eat for under $10 anywhere. Full of flavor and nutrients, it scores a goal every time. Also, I get the Chili bowl sometimes and it's quite tasty too. I tried the Steak House Bar-rito once and the steak was a bit dry so stick with the bowls. The salads are a bit expensive so I don't order them either. I wish they were as prolific as Chipotle and that there was one on the north-side because I'd eat there more often. But, they opened a PB at my gym so that will have to suffice. I hope more places follow PB's trend and start making healthier food. As it stands, PB stands magnificently by itself in a landscape of bland and non-nutritious fast-food. read more

hit this place about twice a month. I can confirm what other suspect --- the bar-rito is a winner. But personally I'm a blue berry fan. Especially one with a little bit of coffee. Like a juice diet but without the pain and suffering. read more

This place is small inside, and was very busy, but the service was great, and they made the line go pretty quick. The food was decent, but the menu seemed a little too, I don't know, "trendy" for me I guess. I ordered the only beef thing on the menu, from the cold section of the menu, but I had them grill it and warm it for me. I'd probably head back, but it was quite a walk from my office, so probably not anytime soon. read more

I eat here just about every day...It's basically fast food that is healthy, but tastes good. I go through phases, but if I'm there for lunch, I usually get the Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bowl (the buffalo sauce is amazing), or the Baja Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing. The Chicken Chili and Southwest Chicken Salad are also really good. If you go for breakfast (until 10:30am), I'd suggest the Chocolate Oatmeal. If you'd rather drink your meal, they have a wide array of delicious protein shakes with catchy names like the "Wrigley Peeled" or the "South Acai'd". You can even choose what type of protein (egg, whey, soy) and milk (soy, dairy, almond, coconut) you want. The customer service is great, and the employees are friendly. The only complaint that I have is that I go to the location in The Loop, across from the Sears Tower, and it's a VERY small/tight space. If you go between 11am and 2:30pm, expect a line out the door followed by standing on top of 100 people waiting for your food. Having said that, the line does seem to move very quickly and they do the best they can with the space that they have, but might need to consider expanding the size of that location. read more

I'm in town for work. I happened to be working across the street from a Protein Bar and I would get their Denver burritos for breakfast almost every other day. Health, fresh food. The service is also quick. Too bad they don't have Protein Bars in NY. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Denver Burrito - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I used to work around the corner from this Protein Bar and would eat there almost every day. Its just that delicious! Protein bar is a fast causal place. They have wraps, quinoa bowls, salads, and smoothies. My favorite is the pesto quinoa bowl. I don't like they shredded chicken they put in, so I get it vegetarian. I also add avocado, which just makes everything extra delicious. I've also heard from my coworkers that the BBQ bowl is amazing!! The bowls look small, but I find them pretty filling. This is a delicious and healthy lunch! read more

Good food, friendly staff Not much to say about Protein bar - the food isn't anything extraordinary or incredibly healthy, even though it's assumed by the name. This location is always fast with my order and the staff is friendly and entertaining. One dislike I have is the prices for some of their items that I wouldn't necessarily say are worth $10-$12, but I guess that's the price to eating healthy! My recommendations - the Buffalo Salad or the Spinach Pesto Bowl. The salad always leaves you full, and the pesto bowl is creamy with hearty quinoa. read more

Really good food. Awesome for health contious people. First time trying it and was very happy. Wish they had these in the bay area

Delicious! Wonderful options for healthy breakfast and lunch. Mexicali bowl was outstanding...

Amazing. This is exactly what the loop needed. I had the Millenium Perk smoothie and sampled their chili and all I can say is wow. If you enjoy being healthy and care about what you put into your body, go here. read more

It takes a little bit of getting used to because the bar is really a smoothie bar. The wraps are super chilled...coldest wraps I've ever had. But, that is what makes it stand out and different. They have an amazing hot chili that balances the uber cold wraps. I hate stray fat on the sides of sandwich meats and you can be sure to never see any of that in their wraps. For most guys to feel full, they'll probably have to order a wrap, the chili and a smoothie which puts you at around $15. This is one of the reasons I don't go here often. I think if they would include a bowl of soup or chili with the wraps they would get a lot more business. read more

The only reason I gave Protein Bar 4 stars instead of 5 is only because they will be the main reason I go broke. Other than that...I'M OBSESSED! I went here for the first time last Friday and have already been back 3 times. I've tried the Quinoa Chili Bowl, Granola Remixed Bowl and today was The Ivy wrap. Each one was better than what I ordered last time and I'm now trying to figure out how to get to the gym earlier so I can come back and pick up dinner before they close at 7! Its nice to finally have a healthy lunch option that doesn't seem like its healthy. The food is hearty and filling and you don't finish lunch and feel like your going to slip into a food coma. I love the calorie count on each item and the variety on the menu. My only tiny complaint is the insane line and the slow check-out process. But in defense of this, everything they make is fresh and if someone takes an extra 10 seconds to put a little more care into my order...then I'll deal. Truly a hidden gem in the fast-food filled Loop. I hope they expand to other locations! read more

My girlfriend and I have been eyeing this place for quite some time now since we are both trying to eat a little healthier these days. We have been eating quinoa for a while now and it's been hard for us to find restaurants that serve quinoa in more than just a salad. This place comes to the rescue! Oh yeah, they also have nutrition facts posted right inside the restaurant....WIN! We were meeting up with a friend in the city and we decided why not meet here and grab lunch. Overall, the place was pretty busy with a line always snaking though the place, but it wasn't hard to grab a table and eat since patrons are constantly in and out. We fall in line and place our order: me: chicken caesar salad girlfriend: stir fry asian chicken bowl, mag mile mocha friend: oak street peach shake The food is made in a line and comes out fairly quickly. The chicken caesar salad was just that, a chicken caesar salad...can't really mess that up. My girlfriend loved her stir fry asian chicken bowl -- portion size was perfect. The quinoa was cooked just right and the sauce was light and did not drown everything in the bowl. She also loved the mag mile mocha...not too sweet. I did not try the oak street peach shake, but sure looked appetizing. Overall, it's a great lunch time spot with great tasting food. Those who are and are not watching what they eat will love this place. We will be back for sure. read more

working in the loop, it can be challenging to eat healthy with the exuberant amount of places to eat. Stopped by and had the bar-ito ( burrito)... i got the one with beef..it tasted pretty good.. i wish there were tomatoes in it ( like the menu said). it would be less dry if there was. other than that, i know how to kick it up a little next time with tomatoes, maybe lettuce. etc for less than 500 calories... damn good deal. I mean, compared to a 900+ cal burrito at chipotle, it makes sense to eat this for same amount of food and same price. great concept and will go back to try other things read more

The new Protein Bar in River North is average. The problem with eating healthy is that it taste a bit bland and dry. The food needs some serious sauce. I have been on two different occasions and both items were very much on the dry side. Both times I purchased a wrap, the first time grilled the second one was cold (They serve both hot and cold wraps). The only positive is that I do not feel lethargic after having lunch. Burger and Fry loving Americans should skip it. The granola crowd will love it. read more

Healthy real food sold at reasonable prices by knowledgeable folks with a smile. OUTSTANDING !!! This place may be easy to miss, but they cram a lot of choice into a small space. A wide variety of teas, energy drinks, milks, and shakes nicely compliment their sandwich/salad/wrap/breakfast options. As a diabetic, and healthy eater, I don't just watch what I eat--I count it, analyze it, obsess over it, etc. They sure make it easy having EVERYTHING, including their fresh-made packaged items, properly labeled with nutrition information. Looking for a quick bite of HEALTHY and TASTY alternatives? Stop in you will not regret it. Free Wi-Fi. read more

First, I should note, I don't do healthy. The greasier the better. Burgers, pizza, anything fried- that's the kind of food I like best. So my review is bound to be a deviation from the people looking to eat healthy. Even though I don't particularly like healthy food, I do like smoothies. Who doesn't like smoothies? I told a co-worker that I was in the mood for a smoothie, and he mentioned this place. He said he'd never been but had seen it and was wanting to give it a try. After checking out their offerings online, I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm looking to bulk up so I figured a little protein in my smoothie wouldn't be such a bad thing. I had an experience very similar to Jessica G's. I ordered the Sears Sucker with whey protein, skim milk, and nonfat yogurt. And boy oh boy was it bland. The raspberry flavor is barely there and the banana nonexistent. The protein powder and the raspberry seeds yield a grainy texture that isn't pleasant in the mouth. About halfway through the bland taste goes from indifferent to unenjoyable. I'm giving this place 2 stars because the people were nice, service was quick, and the place was clean. Health food places aren't my territory to begin with, so I can't fault them too much. But still, a smoothie should taste good not bland and grainy. If you're not into health food I would recommend paying a visit to Jamba Juice instead. read more

Protein Bar gears their breakfast toward people who work out, plain and simple. Unless you're trying to bulk up at the gym (or you live in an impoverished country and this is the only food you might see for days), adding a scoop of protein powder and a bunch of sugar to your otherwise perfectly good oatmeal *probably* isn't the best idea. I really have nothing against the owners of Protein Bar but I hate to see these sugar-loaded, glycemic catastrophes being billed as "healthy" to anyone but muscle heads. That, and the idiotic product names are my only complaints. They have two breakfast items, "Pancake In A Bowl", and "One EL Of An Oatmeal". The only difference between the two is that one comes with vanilla-flavored protein powder and the other has chocolate. On the plus side, the quinoa chili is a brilliant idea and great way to hide some truly healthy grains in a tasty package. The lunch menu, in general, is great and every item seems to be *actually* healthy. read more

The line for this Protein Bar is always out the door (for a good reason) and moves pretty fast during business hours Great place to go if you're looking for a healthy lunch, but the whole "chicken and quinoa in pretty much everything" can get a little old after a while, so probably not a everyday go-to. I would give it a 5 if there was a more varied menu. The food has always tasted great and the service has always been fast, though! read more

What a find. I don't really know the Chicago market to compare prices but for what I got, a healthy tasty meal high in protein, low in carb/fat... So hard to find when you're eating out... Absolutely amazing. This would play well just about anywhere. So quit your bellyaching about the price, enjoy the food and hope they expand. The best healthy eating choice I have found anywhere in the country so far. read more

I had three things today and given the portion sizes there is no way this restaurant is meeting the stated protein and carb content they post on menu and website. Don't get me wrong this is healthy food and it tastes good, but no way this lunch was 100 grams of protein. 1. The pesto spinach barreto listed at 49 grams. It s a small wrap and a lot of spinach and pesto. My guess is 30 grams. 2. Is the cup of chicken chili and listed at 26; but this was only a cup. A joke portion that was largely tomato, see photo. That s right, that's all that was in the 3.50 cup of chili. Last was the millenium perk listed 36 grams in this 12 to 16 ounce smoothie cup. Lots oh whipped ice. Anyone who has worked with the powdered protein knows its really hard to get the smoothie thin enough and with this little fluid, extremely unlikely. No chance I got 100 grams. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Chicken chili. That's all they filled it. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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5.99 for a scoop of chocolate protein, water and ice.