Check out these plant-based, women-owned eateries in one of our favorite Midwestern cities.
From comfort food and Thai-inspired cuisine to plant-based junk food and cruelty-free Mexican fare, Chicago has some amazing vegan restaurants. And even more impressive are the women who own and operate them. Let’s celebrate the Chi-Town community by checking out these women-owned vegan restaurants to support in Chicago.
Alice & Friends’ Vegan Kitchen
Edgewater & Glenview
Welcome to a wonderland of flavors! Alice & Friends’ Vegan Kitchen features a tasty variety of plant-based fare. This woman-owned vegan restaurant features Asian-inspired dishes like the Spam Mi (a vegan spam sandwich made with slaw and housemade vegan mayo) and the Tonkotsu Ramen (a rich, complex broth topped with Japanese wheat noodles, vegan bacon, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, buttered corn, and bean sprouts). This Chicago eatery also features burgers, salads, and delicious desserts.
Courtesy of Alice & Friends’ Vegan Kitchen
Loving Heart Vegan Cafe
Uptown
Freshen up at Loving Heart Vegan Cafe. We love this woman-owned vegan restaurant's bright colors and vibrant foods. The Chicago cafe offers coffee drinks, salads, burgers, wraps, smoothies, and desserts to enjoy. We’ve got our eyes on the Buddha Bowl loaded with meatless Korean-style beef, avocado, peanuts, and seaweed. But don’t skimp on the desserts. Loving Heart offers chocolate cake and a variety of plant-based cheesecakes.
Courtesy of Loving Heart Vegan Cafe
Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria
River North & Andersonville
Penelope's Vegan Taqueria is Chicago's first plant-based taqueria in its River North neighborhood and Andersonville. The woman-owned vegan restaurant offers authentic plant-based Mexican cuisine and a bright, colorful atmosphere. Enjoy appetizers, entrees, desserts, and beverages like guacamole, cauliflower ceviche, street-style elote, soy chorizo tacos, chilaquiles, asada fries, horchata, and so much more. We’re obsessed with this all-vegan Chi-Town mainstay.
Courtesy of Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria
Kitchen 17
Avondale
You need to scope out the vegan pizza scene when in the Windy City. And you’ll definitely want to start with Kitchen 17. This woman-owned vegan restaurant features a variety of deep-dish, pan pizza, and New York-style ‘za. Additionally, this fully vegan restaurant has appetizers (like nachos and cheese fries!), sandwiches, burgers, and salads to enjoy as well. Can’t get enough? This place offers nationwide shipping! Get frozen pizza pies sent right to your door.
Courtesy of Kitchen 17
The Black Vegan
Little Village
For plant-based versions of comfort food classics, The Black Vegan is a must on your Chicago bucket list! This Black woman-owned vegan restaurant features appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Think Mac & Cheese, Crispy Chicken Sandwiches, Portobello Wings, BBQ Ribs, Beyond Burgers, Jackfruit Sliders, Vegan Cheesecake varieties, and so much more. Stop in for some of the tastiest comfort food in the city!
Courtesy of The Black Vegan
Sweet Vegan Bakes
Old Town
Whether you’re looking for vegan baked goods, plant-based catering, cooking courses, or enjoyable restaurant offerings, head to Sweet Vegan Bakes! The restaurant menu features cruelty-free versions of crabcakes, burgers, chicken salads, BBQ beef, chicken & waffles, and pizza.
Courtesy of Sweet Vegan Bakes
Healthy Substance
Garfield Ridge & Wicker Park
Healthy Substance “The Vegan Side of Mexico” features traditional Mexican cuisine for those seeking healthier versions of their favorite foods. Popular menu options include chilaquiles, nachos, burritos, tacos, and sandwiches. The woman-owned restaurant's mission is to save animals from the meat industry by producing delicious plant-based alternatives. We’d say they are onto something!
Courtesy of Healthy Substance
