- Top Rated Bakery in Chicago
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The Chicago Diner - Lakeview
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Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Bakery
Catering
Providing all vegetarian and mostly vegan American comfort food for brunch and dinner with organic beers and wine, margaritas, vegan bakery, and desserts. Meat free since 1983. Patio seating available. Confirmed open May 2020. Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-10:00pm, Sat 10:00am-10:00pm, Sun 10:00am-9:00pm.
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- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 06 Jul 2023 by geometric-noise
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298 Reviews
First Review by amargrav
Ayad
Points +320
Amazing Reuben - Edit
I love the Reuben sandwich here. Hot chocolate is amazing too. Great place for brunch
Read moreGuest
Danieladp
Points +20
couple dinner - Edit
good vegan restaurant , good selections of food and nice employs
Read morePros: easy to find, good selections of vegan food, good place for nn vegan
Guest
CaleighC
Points +459
Lovely LGBTQ+ Positive Spot - Edit
Went here on a tip from a local friend. Really cool concept where everything is vegan by default but can be vegetarianized.
Read moreThe meals we had were delicious and came so quickly. Everything was insanely delicious and filled two hungry people up for basically an entire day for just 50 USD including tax and tip - and we sure didn't cheap out on the tip lol!
The waitresses were so sweet and knowledgeable about the menu and what was good!
Guest
gail13oot
Points +141
Great place to take nonvegans - Edit
Tasty! I had the poutine and biscuits and gravy. The poutine had a bit too much cheese sauce for my preference but I still enjoyed the dish. Next time I'm going to try a shake because they looked delicious. I do wish it was all vegan but I guess it's a good way to get nonvegans to check it out
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-06-15
Pros: tons of vegan options
Cons: serves eggs and cheese
Guest
annieeatingstuff
Points +187
Always crave their brunch food! - Edit
Wish they served brunch all day 😭 seriously would change my life
Read moreGuest
VeganPhishPhan
Points +380
Awesome Vegan Food - Edit
Cool little spot in a cool neighborhood. Tons of options and everything can be made vegan. I got the Reuben and it was so good. The cheese was melty like real cheese and the corned beef was really good. Good portion of sweet potato fries too. Would definitely order this again. The staff were great as well.
Read morePros: Everything can be made vegan, Good portions, Lots of options
Cons: Small tables, Parking
Guest
aml1tsey
Points +168
Delicious! - Edit
This was SO GOOD. My only regret is not getting a milkshake too 😂
Read morePros: All vegan menu, Cute decor, Good location
Cons: Limited dining space
Guest
maltman23
Points +6560
Wonderful diner - Edit
I've been eating here for many years, whenever I visit Chicago. They used to be vegetarian, but now, everything on the menu is vegan, but you can ask to add cow cheese if you want. Great change (in my opinion) since last time I was here. The menu is full of really good diner food: Rueben Sandwich, Lentil Loaf, Burger, Chili, Fries, etc. All vegan (unless you ask to add cheese). The Milkshakes (all vegan) are divine. I had a Rueben Sandwich, which really hit the spot. The place has a funky, friendly old diner look. And the wait staff are all really nice.
Read morePros: Great vegan versions of diner food, Nice, funky, comfy atmosphere , Friendly staff
Guest
ravKlein
Points +456
My Go-to Restaurant in Chicago - Edit
Last time I was here was 7 years ago, but I always beeline here because the food is great and it's an early normalizer of plant-based food. Really terrific. Today it was parmesan with mashed potatoes and gravy, and of course one of their fantastic shakes. Chocolate chip cookie dough shake!
Read morePros: Flavorful, Normalized vegan food, Wide variety of choices
Cons: Not all vegan but glad they accommodate vegetarian
Guest
VeganBrian
Points +575
An “ok” Vegan Food experience - Edit
An “ok” Vegan Food experience. 3/5 & this is why:
Read moreI will start with the food rating. My orders were:
BBQ Wings, the „Reuben Sandwich “, „Mc n Teese“ , a coffee and a lemonade.
My favorite were the BBQ Wings with a side of ranch and salary. The Taste was a 5/5 perfect BBQ Sauce! The texture was more like a 3/5, could have been a little more “Authentic”. Summed up, a 4/5.
Next up were the Mc & teese, due to the fact that I have had many comparisons, this dish was not extraordinary; 3/5.
Last and least, I asked for a recommendation of the house & they served the “ Radical Reuben” Sandwich. For the first time in a long time, I did not finish my plate and stopped half way through. Unfortunately I could not enjoy this recommended dish. The Bread was good, crusty and tasty, unfortunately I could hardly taste the rest on the sandwich because of the two dominant ingredients. Vegan cheese and sauerkraut. The sandwich was dripping in cheese with a side note of bitter sauerkraut. Maybe less cheese would allow to taste the rest of the components on the sandwich. 2/5.
Regarding the Atmosphere and Service:
The atmosphere of the place was nice, it gave a 70’s/80’s look of a diner and the music was also not too loud and therefore enjoyable. The service was ok. Our waitress was nice, though maybe not too attentive. Our drinks were empty in the first 5 Minutes and were never asked to be refilled within the following 30 Min. Nevertheless it was a ok experience.
So far, I would not necessarily recommend this restaurant as one of my top choices, but perhaps I will visit it again and try different options of the HUGE VEGAN Selection. That is one thing I have to mention! There are plenty of options! And I will and can so far recommend the BBQ Wings with a side of ranch!
Thanks for supporting the customers decision, to go against animal cruelty and offering vegan alternatives.
For more impressions, have a look at the attached videos and pictures.
Take care & Bon Appetit! #Veganuary
Pros: Great BBQ Wings
Guest
EvaliseDexter
Points +521
BEST vegan brunch - Edit
Absolutely loved this restaurant everything was delicious
Read moreGuest
villarreallevi
Points +962
so so so good - Edit
This is the one restaurant I tried while I was in Chicago for 4 hours while riding the Amtrak cross country. The food here gave me the energy to make it all the way back to NYC.
Read moreThe thai chili wings were some of the best food I've ever had.
veganqueenofqueensnyc
My experience there was also great when I traveled cross-country on Amtrak. Good choice!
Read moreGuest
ineed_b12
Points +346
Hit or miss - Edit
I’ve been to both locations and they seem hit or miss. The first time I went for dinner and it was fantastic! Sandwich and shake were on point! I then went for breakfast and was pretty disappointed, maybe because my dinner was so good? Still worth a visit.
Read moreGuest
PBPT
Points +205
Satisfactory - Edit
We were expecting amazing food from these reviews, but compared to other vegan food we’ve had, we found the dinner just satisfactory. The food options are very creative, but could use more seasoning.
Read morePros: Variety of options, Cinnamon bun , Pierogi quesadilla
Cons: Soul bowl lacked seasoning, Mac and cheese sub-par
Guest
Pau_LG
Points +26
Bonne option végé - Edit
Bonne variété. Nous avons pris le Soul bowl et le Reuben. Le repas était bon, sans être exceptionnel. Le milkshake était très bon!
Read moreGuest
shjipstone
Points +614
Proper great - Edit
Really dug here. Good vibe. Not all junk food. Cooked well. Straightforward
Read moreGuest
pkkellow
Points +189
ZERO STARS - Edit
I had a really bad experience when I went here, which was really disappointing as this place is heavily recommended. I was served the wrong thing and when I asked if I could have it sent back and receive what I ordered my server just like gaslit me? We also had to walk around and ask servers at the counter for stuff like water and silver as our server didn’t come to our table at all to help us.
Read moreI work in the service industry and fully understand tipping but was so shocked to have to pay 20% auto gratuity for the worst service I have ever received.
Updated from previous review on 2023-02-19
Guest
rjmarciniak
Points +1061
On the short-list for go-to restaurants - Edit
We have been coming to Chicago Diner fairly consistently for years now. Their food is always delicious and consistently hits the spot when looking for diner food.
Read moreWe often take people here when we are going out with friends or family.
Guest
RachelJoy
Points +24
Love it! - Edit
The gyro plate and peanut butter cookie dough milkshake were amazing. Loved the 90s Rent vibe too. It was an incredible experience!
Read morePros: Atmosphere, Gyro plate, Milkshake
Cons: Too much plasticky cheese on the Reuben
Guest
BarryY
Points +243
The vegan motherland - Edit
So many vegan friends have rhapsodized about Chicago Diner that I was eager to make a pilgrimage to the vegan motherland. I was taken by local friends who are omnivores but eat there regularly because of the quality of the food. The place feels like an old school city diner, and the menu is pure comfort food: burgers, wings, Reubens, gyros, omelets. I had the (seitan-based) Philly cheese steak and the mac-and-cheese (made with tapioca- and coconut oil-based "Teese"), and they tasted sentimental, like childhood. We shared a couple of desserts, too, and my favorite was the cocoa mousse cake.
Read moreGuest
squirrelboy
Points +403
Great almost-vegan diner - Edit
All dishes are vegan by default. The gravy is great and so are the milkshakes.
Read moreGuest
hannahsweitzer
Points +2485
The Best Reuben of all time - Edit
The absolute first thing I did when I landed in Chicago was check out the Chicago Diner and I was NOT disappointed! Multiple people recommended it to me (specifically, the Reuben) and I knew I had to try it! I ordered the Reuben with waffle fries and a peanut butter chocolate shake. I was totally blown away!! I’m not a huge Reuben fan but this was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had
Read moreGuest
veganqueenofqueensnyc
Points +1435
First Time for Everything - Edit
Being in Chicago for the very first time and for just a little more than 24 hours on a cross-country trip from NYC to San Francisco, I just HAD to make a point of visiting The Chicago Diner, after hearing so many raves about it over the years. So, I opted to visit the Lakeview location (which happens to be the original, with a 2nd now also in Logan Square.)
Read moreI was originally going for brunch, but I ended up ordering the Radical Reuben with a side of waffle fries and a Lemonade after talking it over with Alex, who offered fantastic, friendly service. I was very satisfied with my choice overall, though I have to say that I do still recall the flavor of a traditional Reuben Sandwich from my long-ago pre-vegan days (yes, a VERY long time ago, to be sure.) Although they have most definitely captured the texture of actual corned beef (which is the meat utilized in a traditional Reuben sandwich, and NOT pastrami as some may assume,) there was a lack of saltiness, and yes even "fatiness" (is that even a word?) Healthier, to be sure, and quite frankly, when biting into the entire sandwich, with the saurkraut, vegan thousand island dressing and the toasted rye, it was just as satisfying as any other Reuben from days gone by. The Waffle fries were also crispy, perfectly seasoned as was the Lemonade, which was barely tart with the slightest hint of sweetness.
After all was said and done, I had no room for dessert, as the portion was quite substantial and filling as well. I guess I'll just have to make a point of returning to Chicago and Chicago Diner, and perhaps it will be for brunch - and dessert! 😋
Pros: Customer service, Quality of food, Portions
Guest
janabee_
Points +189
Still so good! - Edit
Visited in 2015 and had the Reuben Sandwich and I have to say, if possible, I think it was even better this time!
Read moreGuest
karolciad
Points +176
My fav place in Chicago - Edit
My fav dish was a Caesar salad and seitan strips. And a cheesecake from this place?!if heaven exists, it tastes like this!
Read morePros: Amazing food
Cons: We don't have it in Europe
Guest
ak13
Points +403
Loved it - Edit
Great food and lovely staff! Ate here twice for my first trip to Chicago. Their shakes are incredible!
Read more(Wish they’d remove all animal products though)
Updated from previous review on 2023-04-10
Pros: Delicious food, Large portions, Friendly staff
Guest
FrauBausFamM
Points +700
Vegan comfort food - Edit
After all the stellar reviews, Chicago Diner was on my absolutely-need-to-go-list when I visited the city. As it was the weekend, I reserved via their website which worked really well. And what can I say? The reviews were right! Not only was the whole staff super nice and friendly, but the food was amazing as well. I had a hard time deciding what to order, but went with my waiter’s recommendation: Reuben with Mac&Cheese as side, and both were delicious. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any room left in my tummy to try one of their shakes - best reason to return! Prices are more than fair.
Read moreGuest
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