- 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
Ashvegan02
Points +180
Best Vegan Place! - Edit
This is my favorite place and their food is just amazing! Their shake is the best vegan one I have had.
Read moreGuest
vegansupreme
Points +34
Chicago Staple - Edit
Who doesn’t ❤️ the Chicago diner? The Ruben makes me a very happy person, and the gyro is always a family favorite. Omg those BBQ Wings 🤤
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-03-19
Pros: Everything
Cons: Nah
Guest
Tigra220
Points +10713
Chitown Staple! - Edit
This place is consistently dishing out 5-star food and even if there’s something I don’t like (which is rare), I still have a good time overall.
Read moreSome of my favs:
Milkshakes - thick and delicious, like a shake should be
Country-fried Steak - gluten heavy for sure. But it’s the best vegan CFS I’ve had in my 14 years of veganhood. The gravy is next level and the portion is legit.
The Cuban - it’s just so so so so good! I always add bacon bc it’ ain’t Cubano til you double up on the puerco!
Monte Cristo - with extra bacon. The french toast as sandwich bread has always blown my mind. Extra syrup for dipping!
Potato Tempeh Hash (I think it has a new name, but it’s the same dish) - breakfast potatoes (yum!), tofu scramble (delish!), biscuits and gravy (delish!!), and I always add bacon. Love this dish!
Pancakes- so fluffy and buttery!
I am not a fan of their cheesecakes or cakes. I’ve tried several and just don’t like them. I had some yummy pie and brownie a la mode here though.
This is the Boystown location; the OG location. I always get confused with the Lakeview tag (I’m clearly not from the CHI). It’s small but mighty. (The other location is larger) Service is hit or miss, but don’t let that sway you. Def check them out.
Guest
lvasquared
Points +1342
Cute & Cozy Spot - Edit
Menu has a good variety. The kids really enjoyed the chik’n sandwich and my daughter liked the nachos. My youngest is picky and didn’t want anything but brunch but we missed it. Definitely check out brunch! #Veganuary
Read morePros: Great shakes, Most seating is a booth, Friendly staff
Guest
KadiHarmon
Points +9889
Delicious! - Edit
I was visiting some non vegan friends in Chicago who brought me here. I’m always psyched for vegan breakfast and this place does a fantastic one!
Read moreGuest
kk1018
Points +222
Get the Reuben egg rolls - Edit
Great all-vegetarian diner with vegan options. I really liked the Reuben egg rolls
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-12-08
Guest
Sarah99
Points +52
great vegan comfort food - Edit
Pretty good! Not mind-blowing but good! However, the milkshake had some odd flavor to it, almost like anise, that made no sense for a cookie dough milkshake. But they were allergen-friendly and used a separate blender for my milkshake, that is not used for the peanut butter flavor.
Read moreGuest
beanbeenben
Points +562
Instant classic - Edit
best vegan nachos i've ever had. hands down. jesus christ
Read moreGuest
CassandraHalm
Points +326
Delicious! - Edit
Really enjoyed this place. Has lots of plant based options. I had the lentil loaf & hubs had the Reuben. Both delicious.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Vegan dessert!, Great service
Guest
meginbaker
Points +55
Delicious - Edit
Everything I've ever gotten from here has been great. One of the only places you can get vegan shakes. If they got rid of the dairy they'd be perfect!
Read morePros: Lots of options, Tastes good
Cons: Not entirely vegan
Guest
·X·
Points +25948
Chicago Diner - Edit
It looks like my review from 2009 has disappeared, so here’s my update.
Read moreI have been eating at this Chicago diner location since the year 2000! To me it was a shocking that there was a restaurant that was meat-free since 1983! This is truly a place that I will always support and will always hold a place in my vegan heart.
Chicago Diner is the best place for vegan comfort food in Chicago. It is a MUST if you are visiting.
Some of my favorite things include the nachos and the barbecue burger. I also love the vegan mac & cheese. They are well-known for their vegan reuben, which is still to die for in my opinion. They are always elevating and evolving their menu.
What I love about the Logan Square location is that it’s newer and it has a lot more seating compared to the Lakeview / Halstead location. But if you’re looking for the original location and experience, go to the Halstead location (this one).
Updated from previous review on 2021-10-21
Guest
Abrich2007
Points +52
Delicious food - Edit
Food was amazing! Everything labeled well, not fully vegan but pretty darn close! My husband had seitan wings and a burrito and I had the titanic burger with sweet potato fries! The wings were amazing and so was the burger! We also got a pumpkin shake and chocolate cake!
Read morePros: Lots of options, Delicious
Cons: Nothing
Guest
sydnifer
Points +58
Over-hyped - Edit
I was expecting this to be top notch but was disappointed. We ordered online and didn't get a notification that the food was ready. The food was good, for sure, but not world renowned like I had heard. It was also way more expensive than it shouldve been
Read morePros: Full vegan menu, Dine-in and take-out
Cons: Too expensive, No outdoor dining or nearby seating
Guest
dorothea13
Points +360
Can’t miss! - Edit
Loved this place! Satisfying, flavorful diner food without too much grease. My table had the poutine, smoked tofu club, seitan buffalo chicken salad, and peanut butter cookie dough shake - all was excellent.
Read moreGuest
hungrig
Points +142
Excellent every time - Edit
Edit:
Read moreWe generally visit the Logan Square location and are much happier with wait times and space. The variety offered is great! Reasonable prices.
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The food is always amazing. We've had numerous items over the years and the only thing we didn't love was a burrito which I don't think they have anymore anyway. I very highly recommend the gyros and shakes.
One disappointing thing is that their portion sizes have gone down while prices have gone up. For example, you used to get two gyros instead of one and sandwiches came with two sides. The place is also very cramped.
Updated from previous review on Thursday October 20, 2011
Updated from previous review on 2012-09-14
Updated from previous review on 2016-08-08
Pros: So many great selections!
Cons: small and cramped, smaller portion sizes than before, sometimes a long wait to get in
Guest
soyboy420
Points +56
Good as it gets in Chicago - Edit
Thai wings and the shakes alone are 10/10. Lots of great sandwiches and bowls as well.
Read moreGuest
Piggy
Points +406
BEST SHAKES IN CHICAGO - Edit
This is where we eat to celebrate special occasions. The food is always mouth-watering and it's a non-negotiable to get a shake when we go.
Read moreGuest
thejonblake
Points +571
Great vegan options in Boystown! - Edit
The service was superb and the food was incredible!
Read morePros: Plenty of vegan options , Great service
Guest
Ryah.Mayer
Points +311
Best milkshake I’ve ever had - Edit
Amazing food. Menu is 100% vegan unless specifically states dairy cheese. The cookie dough peanut butter milkshake was out of this world!
Read morePros: Milkshakes are amazing , Great service , Food was excellent
Cons: Small-ish menu
Guest
rodrigoazs
Points +3255
Incredible - Edit
The food is incredible. I had the best hamburger with the best vegan cheese I've ever tasted.
Read morePros: They can make all food vegan, Friendly atmosphere
Cons: Not entirely vegan
Guest
JeriFrietsch
Points +133
Wings are a MUST - Edit
We recently moved to Chicago and happened to move in just steps away from this place. We are vegan/vegetarian, and thought we wouldn't want "greasy diner food" all the time. Boy were we wrong. We get take out from here on a weekly basis. The Thai Chili wings are the best thing on the menu IMO, but you can't go wrong with the spicy chicken sandwich, jalapeno fritters, or a famous milkshake. Have not been disappointed yet!
Read morePros: Huge variety, Cheap and fast, Delicious
Cons: Small location, Closed on Wednesdays
Guest
AutumnTierra
Points +1552
Vegan diner! - Edit
Make a reservation! The menu is amazing. The base menu is vegan and then you can add eggs or dairy. The employees were very friendly and the neighborhood was fun. It’s a tiny place, though, so unless you have a reservation, you will have to get the food to go. There’s a cute park you can eat at behind Roscoe’s Bar.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-06-01
Pros: Awesome menu, All base menu is vegan, Good sandwiches
Cons: Very few tables, Likely need a reservation , The non-sandwiches are kinda blah
Guest
VeggieMegan
Points +407
The best shakes on Earth!! - Edit
Busy location, we couldn't get seats (not a big deal as we only wanted shakes), but they were booked until the following day. So plan ahead if you want to dine in. The shakes were insane, creamier than anything I've ever tasted before.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Creamy, dreamy shakes , Reasonable prices
Cons: Small space, limited seating
Guest
jayluhx
Points +1462
Vegan Mecca!!! - Edit
On my solo trip to chicago I went here 5 times in 5 days (one of those times was twice in one day). I live in New York with endless options and this place was so good I had to keep going back. I even brought 6 of their massive cookies back on the plane with me. This place is heaven. Everything is AMAZING. Def comfort food but wow- perfection.
Read moreI had luggage with me and they even let me keep it in a closet so it wasn’t in my way (pre Covid). I cannot wait to return when I come back to chicago!!
Guest
XoxoVeganGirl
Points +168
wish they were 100% vegan - Edit
this restaurant is a must when going downtown for anyone, but ethical vegans may be saddened when they see the unnecessary cheese and egg options. everything is vegan unless you’d like to add some cruelty in there, which I don’t understand why they have that as an option in the first place. I do hope one day this long running vegetarian restaurant becomes a completely vegan place. it would sure make the ethical vegans of chicago elated.
Read morePros: all food can be made vegan, filling delicious food, friendly atmosphere
Cons: not entirely vegan, very busy all the time
Guest
ChelseaCamis
Points +61
The best vegan restaurant hands down - Edit
Goo you will not regret anything I promise. Literally everything on the menu is perfect. I don't know how anyone could give this place less than five stars! I guess everyone has their days though haha
Read morePros: Legit the best vegan food you will find
Guest
gwennam
Points +469
Takes some effort to find best menu items - Edit
The Thai Chili Wings. You guys. Sometimes things on the menu are hit or miss. The burgers can be a bit much (either dry and not interesting, or a little heavy-handed in the strange flavors), and the chicken sandwich is alright.
Read moreBut the Thai chili wings? Worth every failed menu item, every attempt. (Not great leftovers though so just go to town on them.)
Guest
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