The Chicago Diner, Lakeview
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I love coming here! This time I went on a Friday around 5pm and there was plenty of seating. The place can get packed with barely room to move, so I prefer going at a time where it's not so busy. I always love the atmosphere at the Chicago Diner; it's so fun and I appreciate the diversity. Instead of getting an entrée, I decided on a few vegan side dishes including the barbecuing, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy. The food looked so good that I took a few bites before I remembered to take photos. Their wings are my favorite! Our server was fabulous! I will definitely return again, and highly recommend the diner to others!
I've been going to Chicago Diner for about 30 years, but I had the weirdest experience today. After my meal, I got a slice of the lemon coconut cake to take with me. When I got home, I was surprised to see it was a small, unfrosted slice with the coconut and icing on the side. Not at all when I expected. In the past the cake has been a full, regular slice of cake that's already iced and garnished. And it used to be shareable as well. I hope this is a one-off. This was on the specials menu, and I thought it would be a bit more finished. (Lighter for scale)
I live for vegan/vegetarian diners!!! I got the vegan breakfast combo with scrambled tofu, veggie bacon, potato hash, and biscuits & gravy. So amazing. If I wasn't stuffed after that, their milkshake selection sounded so good! Really lovely staff & beautiful interior.
Very hipster ambience with excellent service! I thought the food was average though. The Thai chili wings were my favorite out of what we ordered.
All it took was one bite into a buffalo "wing" when I turned to my friend and said: I could totally give up meat. Granted, I was already considering going plant-based for a while, but some of Chicago Diner's dishes is just that delicious enough to make you pause. For appetizers, the Buffalo wings are a must-try and the spicy chicken quesadillas are bomb too. For entrees, the portabella mushroom melt is flavor-packed cheesy goodness. The Reuben is a really solid vegetarian alternative that makes for a novel experience, but of course not the same as the real thing. I'd skip the Asian-inspired dishes - you can find much better dishes elsewhere. Vibes are super welcoming and service is fantastic. Overall, the Chicago Diner is a true icon in the vegetarian/vegan scene that has something for everyone!
The best vegan Reuben, hands down. Also, delicious Mac and cheese. The Thai chili wings appetizer was also delicious. I also ordered the country fried steak which was a very hearty meal as well. Wish I had had a bigger appetite to order more things. It was the best vegan food I had to Chicago!
Listennnnnn, I am a certified vegan food hater ok.. This food was bomb! Poutine was so good, very well done, not too salty and a great vegan cheese! The only thing I would change is the fries were a bit limp and could have been a bit crispier! The vegan buffalo wings were BALLER! They are fried seitan with buffalo sauce and house made vegan ranch (which was also killer) The service was phenomenal, very kind FOH and servers! It's a smaller restaurant but it has great seats and will accommodate larger parties!
I have to say that I am pretty impressed with this establishment. This place has always been on my radar since I moved to Chicago over four years ago. I just never got the moment to actually try it out . I finally came here after a doctors appointment with a friend of mine, and we were greeted nicely by the staff. We started off with Thai lime chili wings which were absolutely delicious... the sauce that accompanied it was actually very good. For our entrées, we got each a different sandwich. My friend got the Reuben sandwich and I got the spicy chicken sandwich. Both were very good. Our server kept checking on us and refilling our waters, which was very much appreciated. Overall, I really enjoyed our experience here. It was actually a great place to catch up because of the booth style seating. I would definitely come back in the future!
This is a must have for vegan and vegetarian friends. This place has a really nice eclectic atmosphere with staff who are super chill with great service. The food however, is too good. You want to keep eating even when you shouldn't. Every thing is so flavorful. I was done eating, full, and contemplating dessert. It turns you into a glutton lol.
Amazing bahn min sandwich, I will dream about how saucy and delicious it was. The service was cordial, although because of market days it was chaotic so the food took forever. Fun and accepting of all environment, great for families or cozy date nights.
8 days ago
Located in the infamous BoysTown, a lone brick diner, The Chicago Diner! Pakin can be challenging, but thankfully we found street parking around the corner. The diner is quaint, table settings, and booths with I believe a bar. Service was quick and very friendly. The menu is a robust plant-based comfort food. I suppose some items could be "healthy", but in our group, we got quesadillas, which were loved the soul bowl, which I thought was A healthy option, but it was a comfortable 100%. Chicken quesadillas were a favorite. Soul bowl was really good. Who loved my blackened tofu kale and sweet potatoes. The chicken wings, I believe they were a spicy chili sauce, was not loved. If the advertising was a rib plant-based rib, that would've been a perfect match. The texture was giving me rib boneless rib, not chicken. It was a little bit dry. chewy, so table didn't love it, but I actually liked it.. next was the seasonal pumpkin chocolate cheesecake. Everyone loved it. It was such a good decision. I wanna say it wasn't like a cheesecake. It was like a very unique delicious version of a pumpkin pie topped with chocolate and the crust was chocolate as well. 10 out of 10 highly recommended! This is my first time and hopefully not my last. I would love to come back. read more
Food: great spot for vegan! Keep in mind that most vegan proteins are highly processed food and if you are not used to it it might trigger some unwanted reactions Service: very friendly, great to go with friends. Ambience is casual, like a diner. Value: good value. read more
8 months ago
I love coming here! This time I went on a Friday around 5pm and there was plenty of seating. The place can get packed with barely room to move, so I prefer going at a time where it's not so busy. I always love the atmosphere at the Chicago Diner; it's so fun and I appreciate the diversity. Instead of getting an entrée, I decided on a few vegan side dishes including the barbecuing, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy. The food looked so good that I took a few bites before I remembered to take photos. Their wings are my favorite! Our server was fabulous! I will definitely return again, and highly recommend the diner to others! read more
23 days ago
I've been going to Chicago Diner for about 30 years, but I had the weirdest experience today. After my meal, I got a slice of the lemon coconut cake to take with me. When I got home, I was surprised to see it was a small, unfrosted slice with the coconut and icing on the side. Not at all when I expected. In the past the cake has been a full, regular slice of cake that's already iced and garnished. And it used to be shareable as well. I hope this is a one-off. This was on the specials menu, and I thought it would be a bit more finished. (Lighter for scale) read more
1 month ago
I live for vegan/vegetarian diners!!! I got the vegan breakfast combo with scrambled tofu, veggie bacon, potato hash, and biscuits & gravy. So amazing. If I wasn't stuffed after that, their milkshake selection sounded so good! Really lovely staff & beautiful interior. read more
6 months ago
7 months ago
8 months ago
Very hipster ambience with excellent service! I thought the food was average though. The Thai chili wings were my favorite out of what we ordered. read more
5 months ago
All it took was one bite into a buffalo "wing" when I turned to my friend and said: I could totally give up meat. Granted, I was already considering going plant-based for a while, but some of Chicago Diner's dishes is just that delicious enough to make you pause. For appetizers, the Buffalo wings are a must-try and the spicy chicken quesadillas are bomb too. For entrees, the portabella mushroom melt is flavor-packed cheesy goodness. The Reuben is a really solid vegetarian alternative that makes for a novel experience, but of course not the same as the real thing. I'd skip the Asian-inspired dishes - you can find much better dishes elsewhere. Vibes are super welcoming and service is fantastic. Overall, the Chicago Diner is a true icon in the vegetarian/vegan scene that has something for everyone! read more
5 months ago
The best vegan Reuben, hands down. Also, delicious Mac and cheese. The Thai chili wings appetizer was also delicious. I also ordered the country fried steak which was a very hearty meal as well. Wish I had had a bigger appetite to order more things. It was the best vegan food I had to Chicago! read more
Listennnnnn, I am a certified vegan food hater ok.. This food was bomb! Poutine was so good, very well done, not too salty and a great vegan cheese! The only thing I would change is the fries were a bit limp and could have been a bit crispier! The vegan buffalo wings were BALLER! They are fried seitan with buffalo sauce and house made vegan ranch (which was also killer) The service was phenomenal, very kind FOH and servers! It's a smaller restaurant but it has great seats and will accommodate larger parties! read more
I have to say that I am pretty impressed with this establishment. This place has always been on my radar since I moved to Chicago over four years ago. I just never got the moment to actually try it out . I finally came here after a doctors appointment with a friend of mine, and we were greeted nicely by the staff. We started off with Thai lime chili wings which were absolutely delicious... the sauce that accompanied it was actually very good. For our entrées, we got each a different sandwich. My friend got the Reuben sandwich and I got the spicy chicken sandwich. Both were very good. Our server kept checking on us and refilling our waters, which was very much appreciated. Overall, I really enjoyed our experience here. It was actually a great place to catch up because of the booth style seating. I would definitely come back in the future! read more
3 months ago
This was our second time visiting! We returned for the Thai chili wings and found a few more favorites. It is so cute and fun inside, and the service is very kind and friendly, definitely one of our new favorite places. You have to try the pierogi quesadilla.. read more
This is a must have for vegan and vegetarian friends. This place has a really nice eclectic atmosphere with staff who are super chill with great service. The food however, is too good. You want to keep eating even when you shouldn't. Every thing is so flavorful. I was done eating, full, and contemplating dessert. It turns you into a glutton lol. read more
Amazing bahn min sandwich, I will dream about how saucy and delicious it was. The service was cordial, although because of market days it was chaotic so the food took forever. Fun and accepting of all environment, great for families or cozy date nights. read more
1 month ago
2 months ago
Staying with my friends, who happen to be vegan, I asked them to take me to their favorite restaurants around Chicago. They brought me The Chicago Diner for dinner one night. I enjoyed the old-school, slightly hipster, aesthetic and had a great experience! We arrived around 7:45pm on a Saturday night and were immediately seated at a booth. The inside has an old diner look, with a hipster embellishment with the artwork hanging up. The booth we sat at had wooden benches to sit on, which I thought were uncomfortable, but not enough to ruin the experience. Our waiter was a young, friendly and courteous gentleman. We ordered a starter plate of BBQ wings (breaded seitan strips) with extra ranch. There were plenty for the three of us to share. About 15 minutes later, just as we were finishing the last of the wings, our meals arrived. For dinner, I ordered one of their August 2024 Main Dish Specials, the Chicken Bacon Ranch Club with a side of sweet potato fries. The club consisted of SWAP chicken, house-made seitan bacon, ranch dressing, lettuce, tomato, between a multigrain bun and a pickle spear on the side. This was really good! I know this may not sound appetizing, the chicken tasted like grilled chicken that was left on the grill for an extra minute or two, so it was a little dry, but this still had plenty of flavor. The seitan bacon was tasty and I appreciated the generous amount of ranch and the big, fresh leaves of lettuce and tomato slice. The sweet potato fries were delicious and a nice way to finish my meal. Between the wings and my club with sweet potato fries, I was plenty full. The prices seemed to be pretty standard. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at The Chicago Diner! The staff were friendly, the energy/vibes were happy, easy-going, and the food was delicious. I would not hesitate to come back and try something off their normal menu! read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
Had order delivered by Uber. Missing sliced avocados ($2) and chocolate chip cookie dough shake(large-$10.72). Food was good, but go to the restaurant, they have know clue had to bag for delivery. read more
We wandered in because of the 'diner' sign and the hostess informed us as we sat down that they were vegan and asked if that was OK. We're not vegan but dine with several friends who are and are familiar with basic ingredients. It's been several weeks and after looking at my photos and the online menu, I can't recall exactly what we ordered but everythino was very good. The ambience of the tight dining room is cozy and service was great. We would definitely return if we lived in the area. read more
I've loved this restaurant ever since I first ate here almost a decade ago. There are a few other locations. The ice cream shakes are AMAZING. I would come here just for them. My mom said her taco salad was just okay & she wouldn't get it again. Normally I really adore the Cajun black bean burger but for some reason this time it wasn't as good as I remember it. I think they just had an off night bc normally the food is killer good. The Lavender Gimlet tasted like gin and lavender, haha, so if that's EXACTLY what you want - then get it. I'm really sensitive to the taste of alcohol so I wished it was sweetened or more sweet. I ended up pouring it into my strawberry milkshake, hahaha, which did the job... ALSO. They played Cigarettes After Sex ('Sweet'), Mazzy Star ('Fade Into You'), & LANA. DEL. REY. ('Let the Light In' ft. Father John Misty). Hearing ur favourite music in a public place is insaaaaane. Would highly recommend to everybody, even non-vegans! Thanks Chicago Diner :) read more
3 months ago
3 years ago
So many options for a vegetarian!! Usually there's a few options that I can choose from at most restaurants but had heard that Chicago Diner was a meat free diner and so I decided to check it out. I was not disappointed with the sheer number of options both vegetarian and vegan on the menu. There wasn't much of a wait even though we didn't have any reservations which was great because I came in HUNGRY. As someone who has heard how good reubens can be but can never have them as a vegetarian, I was excited to try the reuben on the menu. Service was efficient and our waiter was very nice and accommodating. The reuben was HUGE! It came with a side and I chose the sweet potato fries which were sweet with some salt for a perfect sweet and salty combo. The sandwich itself was a lot.. I think there was too much "meat" and it led to the sandwich falling apart after two bites. The flavor was nice and while I wouldn't get it again, I'm glad I tried it! read more
3 years ago
Nice place that's easy to find next door to the 7-11. We walked here so I can't really speak on the parking but I believe it's limited to street parking. We were greeted at the front and seated soon after. Established in 1983, they have a second location but this location is the original. We ordered chilaquiles. They offer real eggs and dairy cheese as an option. Food came out within reasonable time. Fresh and tasty and a great portion. Service was pleasant and efficient. The only issue I had was the automatic 20% gratuity. Which is an oxymoron. We were a party of 2. read more
1 year ago
The Cajun Black Bean Burger is a must try! Hands down, the Chicago Diner black bean burger was the best black bean burger I've ever tried! The fried jalapeño's gives the burger some nice heat. The Creole mustard gives the burger some amazing flavor. I can't wait to order this burger again!!! read more
3 years ago
I'm really happy I finally made it to dine in at the Chicago Diner! I've ordered takeout from here but this was my first time eating in the restaurant, which is an experience in itself because it's so cute! The booths provide a lot of privacy and they have coat hooks which is great in the winter. The Chicago Diner has not been my favorite in the past BUT I was ordering wrong. I am not a huge fan of fake meats, which I learned pretty quickly. In the past I've had the reuben which while well done, was not my favorite. But this time, I chose a dish where fake meat was not the star and I loved it! I ordered the taco salad with real cheese and it was so good. I love how much stuff they piled into the salad, but I did have to ask for more chips because the ratio was a bit off. For dessert, we tried the chocolate cake. So yummy! I love that everything here is vegan but there are some options for dairy if you want it. They also have a full bar! This is a must stop if you're vegan and in Chicago! read more
Fun progressive plant based option. Went here on a Tuesday with a friend and enjoyed every minute of it. Adorable diner vibes with adult beverages. The staff were fun, friendly, and helpful. The location is in Boystown, so parking is a tighter experience than what you may be used to for the area. But close to transit, so traveling is an easy option. We sat in a booth and didn't have to wait too long until drinks and food arrived. One of the reasons I chose this place is the plethora of gluten free options for my dining guest. The place is very colorful, and the clientele unique compared to the suburbs. Spicy Crispy Chicken with Sweet Potato Fries Texture experience; crispy, crunchy, creamy, and chewy. A great choice! It's not greasy like some chains cooking in the deep fryer, so you may miss out on that. The spice level is on the lighter side. The toppings were fantastic and you get to select your side. I went with sweet potatoes and ate and left no crumb. Strawberry milkshake Very decadent and creamy. The fruity flavor is on point and while you can use a straw, I think a spoon provided a better mouth feel. read more
I'm adding a star because it's my fault that I went for brunch. Brunch is often trash, even at good restaurants. Today, we got an omelet (disturbingly overcooked) and a country Benedict with undercooked vegetables. No. You do not want raw onions on a Benedict. And why in the HELL can these guys not poach an egg? How can you even serve a Benedict if you aren't willing to try to poach an egg? Do what we all do, and watch a YouTube video. Service was wonderfully pleasant but wildly inattentive. No offer of a coffee refill until we were well-finished our meal. Practically had to throw a shoe at him to get the check. I was thinking we should try for dinner to give them a fighting chance. My dining companion disagrees. We aren't going back. There are some very good vegetarian/vegan restaurants out there. This ain't one of them. read more
4 months ago
9 months ago
I want to start by applauding the mission of the restaurant and the fact their milkshake was good. I think the seitan tasted different, may a little too slimey. Didn't have a lot of flavor. Chili was good, and we had a cozy booth to stay warm on a cold day. My wife had the tofu scramble, which had more flavor including the bacon. So, it was not all the food but my sandwich didn't taste good. Service was fine, and I think that if I had to give a rating out of 10, it's a 6/10. Like it's not bad, but there are better vegan options as far as taste (Kale My Name, Penelope's Vegan Taqueria, Can't Believe It's Not Vegan, etc). read more
I can't recommend this place enough... I wish I lived nearby so I could visit this location more often! I'm guessing most people already know this so I won't preach on it too hard, but the way a vegan meal makes me feel after eating it vs a normal regular burger is spectacular. Night & day difference. The Chicago Diner was the first place that actually made me consider going vegan... but unfortunately I have not (haha). I ordered their version of a chicken sandwich and we had a spinach dip (I believe) to share as well and both were fantastic. Surprisingly I got pretty full & had no complaints. I definitely plan on coming back & I am looking forward to it. If you've never been, I recommend, even if it's out of your direction. Thank you Chicago Diner! Personal Review: 8.1/10 read more
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More info about The Chicago Diner, Lakeview
3411 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60657
Lakeview
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(773) 935-6696
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https://www.veggiediner.com
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Ask the Community - The Chicago Diner, Lakeview
Do they require reservations?
No, they're not required, but you might not get in without one, so I'd highly recommend making reservations.
Even busy on Wednesday's?
It depends on the time I think. I went in the morning on a weekday between breakfast and lunch rush, and there were many open tables!
Do you guys do anything special for birthdays?
Yeah, you get a piece of cake with your meal after you tell your server.
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