9 Women-Owned Vegan Restaurants to Support in Chicago

Check out these plant-based, women-owned eateries in one of our favorite Midwestern cities.

Anja Grommons / Mar 17, 2023

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria spicy sandwich

Food & Drink

Chicago

Courtesy of Penelope's Vegan Taqueria

Check out these plant-based, women-owned eateries in one of our favorite Midwestern cities.

From plant-based 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

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 vegan fudge and a variety of plant-based cheesecakes.

Courtesy of Loving Heart Vegan Cafe

I’m Vegan

Lakeview

I’m Vegan features a modern interpretation of Thai cuisine and culinary traditions. The compact venue features steamed buns, fried rice, and noodle dishes along with a variety of appetizers, soups, and desserts. Curry is our fave! It features Thai eggplant, bamboo shoots, green beans, and sweet basil—it’s basically a rainbow in a bowl. Cheers to a good meal as this woman-owned vegan eatery also serves refreshing Thai iced tea and coffee.

Courtesy of I’m Vegan

Plant-Based Junkie

Calumet Heights

This Black woman-owned vegan restaurant was founded in 2020 and is known for its vegan take on junk food favorites. Plant-Based Junkie is one of those restaurants that makes it such a challenge to narrow down your order—you’re going to want a little bit of everything. From nachos, burgers, and fish sandwiches to gyros, cheesesteaks, and wings, this menu will crush your cravings with its delicious offerings.

Plant-Based Junkie spicy chicken sandwich

Courtesy of Plant-Based Junkie

Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria

Near North Side & Andersonville

Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria is Chicago’s first plant-based taqueria in its Near North Side 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, horchata, and so much more. We’re obsessed with this all-vegan Chi-Town mainstay.

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria vegan tacos with beans

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

McKinley Park

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. And at Sweet Vegan Bakes, a portion of all sales is donated to local community organizations like food banks, women’s organizations, and animal shelters.

Sweet Vegan Bakes vegan waffle with toppings and chicken

Courtesy of Sweet Vegan Bakes

Healthy Substance

Garfield Ridge

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, sandwiches, and tamales. 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

Anja Grommons

she/her

@vegcentricdietitian

During her studies to become a registered dietitian, Anja—a longtime vegetarian—transitioned to a vegan diet. Living in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the time (Go Broncos!), she met Maggie and Tammie through VegOut Kalamazoo (one of VegOut’s first focus cities) and began collaborating with the duo. When she’s not writing about new vegan eats, practicing as a pediatric clinical dietitian, and virtually coaching fellow plant-based eaters, you can find her creating veg-centric recipes, trying new cruelty-free products, and spending time with her partner Addison and cat Kovu.