The 8 Best Vegetarian Restaurants In Chicago

By Staff in Food on Apr 23, 2014 8:40PM

Chicago is a meat-and-potatoes town but what about those of us who like to hold the steak, chicken and pork and get our fill instead on tofu, legumes and seitan?

Our 2013 choices stirred some debate and there are some restaurants from that list that make encore appearances this year. But we did work to shake things up a bit. As always, debate, dissect and discuss in the comments.

Mana Food Bar
Mana Food Bar’s menu reads like a prayer to the gods of carbs. Dumplings, potato pancakes, ravioli, polenta, spanakopita and burritos are just a few of their options. My personal favorite is the potato pancakes, made with both sweet and white potatoes, which come with a delicious fruit compote and crema. They also deliver, which is great for a rainy night in. — Melissa McEwen

Mana Food Bar is located at 1742 W. Division St.

Green Zebra
Green Zebra proves that no faux meat substitutes are needed to provide savory flavors. The silky smoked potato purée in the farm egg dish and the mushroom pates are perfect examples with their intricately umami layers of tastes. They have a great wine program, but light drinkers and teetotalers will appreciate their great non-alcoholic drink list including the delicious pink peppercorn thyme soda. — Melissa McEwen

Green Zebra is located at 1460 W. Chicago Ave.

Mysore Woodlands
South Indian cuisine is almost completely dominated by vegetarian dishes and Mysore offers a great selection. You should definitely try the iddly (idlis), vadas, and dosas, which are made from a tangy batter of fermented lentils and rice prepared different ways. Idlis are steamed, dosas are pan fried pancakes, and vadas are deep fried doughnuts. I’ve eaten a ton of iddlys and the Mancurian Iddly here is one of the most unusual, with a Chinese-influenced sweet and sour sauce topped off with some very spicy Indian flavors. If the heat gets to be too much, try their savory and sweet buttermilk drinks. — Melissa McEwen

Mysore Woodlands is located at 2548 W. Devon Ave.

Irazu
Irazu has something for everyone served up with a lot of soul and flavor. This eclectic BYOB Bucktown Costa Rican favorite is always packed with fans of their fresh ingredients and standout oatmeal shakes. The seafood is delicious here and there are plenty of meat options but their “Veggie Delights” section makes sure every diet gets something delicious. They make a mean veggie chili relleno and their potato tacos are strangely comforting. Wash it all down with an oatmeal shake, made with your choice of milk, water or soy milk. Irazu is one of those great spots for a group not only because they are BYOB (and across from a wine shop) but also because they have a variety of options for every taste. Reminder; Irazu is cash only. — Lisa White

Irazu is located at 1865 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Estrella Negra
As I lamented in last year’s Best Vegetarian Restaurants round-up, it can be hard to find meat-free Mexican food that does more than subtract ingredients to accommodate vegetarianos. Estrella Negra is a great example of an exception to that trend, with authentic cuisine that incorporates vegetarian options creatively—not just by shoveling on more rice and beans. The menu isn’t strictly vegetarian (their pozole soup retains its chicken base; choices of the usual meat suspects accompany most items), but meatless specialties abound. Empanadas, tostadas and quesadillas make use of goat cheese crumbles and mango salsa, and most entrees can be made in corn or black bean versions. Oh, and it’s BYOB! — Chris Bentley

Estrella Negra is located at 2346 W. Fullerton Ave.

Handlebar
A well stocked bar, an inviting patio and some of my favorite vegetarian dishes in Chicago awaits at Handlebar. I wasn’t even aware the spot catered their menu to veg and vegan diners the first time I visited and with such flavorful dishes you likely won’t notice the lack of meat. Their BBQ seitan sandwich (it hops on and off the menu) made me believe in wheat gluten again after an unfortunate incident in college when a roommate tried to make her own seitan (tip: don’t). Their Green Meanie sandwich is the perfect light spring lunch, packed full of creamy avocado, lightly herbed goat cheese, spinach and sprouts. And I have friends who swear they serve up some of the best mac and cheese in town. Their breakfast burrito has cured a few hangovers on Saturday morning and their biscuits and gravy is the perfect meatless take on a comfort food staple. Also numerous options can accommodate a vegan diet as well. If you need a little comfort and some hair of the dog, head to Handlebar, grab a drink and park it on the patio to soak up some sun and seitan. — Lisa White

Handlebar is located at 2311 W. North Ave.

Longman & Eagle
Normally you wouldn’t see a place like Longman & Eagle, known for their bone marrow and other adventurous meat dishes, on a vegetarian list. But I’ve noticed lately a few of the more higher end eating establishments are really spotlighting their vegetarian options (I haven’t tried it yet but Lula also has a vegetarian tasting menu), making sure to put in a little extra effort for their meatless guests. Sure, you can usually find a few vegetarian dishes on most menus, but Longman & Eagle are not only offering up some delicious options but creating their own separate menu for vegetarian diners. Granted, it’s some of the same dishes you find on the regular menu, but the restaurant is laying out all vegetarian options in one spot, including dishes that are vegan friendly. And seasonal of course. Currently the standout is their slow roasted cauliflower with beluga lentils, caramelized onion, golden raisins, mango and cucumber raita. I’m excited to see where Chef Jared Wentworth will take the menu once more vegetables start to appear as warmer weather sets in and I appreciate this little thing L&E is doing to make sure all diners have a wonderful experience as well as a delicious meal. — Lisa White

Longman & Eagle is located at 2657 N. Kedzie.

Updated: Sticky Rice Chiang Mai is closed.
Sticky Rice Chiang Mai
There are a lot of reasons to become a vegetarian: your poop smells better, you get to indulge in a superiority complex and you’re compelled to explore veggie-friendly global cuisines. Some exotic eateries make things more exciting for the meatless foodie population of Chicago, and that includes Sticky Rice Chiang Mai, the beloved Thai eateries new location in Bucktown. In addition to an overwhelming amount of menu items, Sticky Rice provides the meatless with three proteins rather than just tofu, the Plain Jane of alternative protein. Enjoy your Mussamun curry with mock duck or your Kua Kae with mock chicken. If you want to keep it simple, then order the tofu, which is actually really delicious in all its simplicity. — Erika Kubick

Sticky Rice Chiang Mai is located at 1746 N. Western Ave.