Best Healthy (ish) Chicago Restaurants: Plant-Based + Vegan Options – Finding healthy Chicago restaurants can be tougher than you think. For as big of a city it is, I feel like we are behind on quality, clean ingredient, healthy restaurant offerings. We are nowhere near LA or New York. On the flipside we have much more than most areas, so for that I am grateful!
Cooking our own meals is the only real way to know what’s going in everything, but sometimes you just want to experience meals out and have someone else do the cooking. While I don’t categorize all of the restaurants and cafes below as healthy, they all have at least one good healthy or healthyish option. I also personally let go more when I’m out of my home. It’s a balance that serves me well and makes me continually enjoy my healthier lifestyle.
Best Healthy (ish) Chicago Restaurants: Plant-Based + Vegan Options
Wicker Park:
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen
I wrote a whole review on Bloom here. In the healthish food scene, there are lot more super casual places vs a place you feel like you are actually going out for dinner. Needless to say, Bloom is a much welcomed addition. Everything is plant-based and gluten-free. Other dietary restrictions may be accommodated depending on the dish. Book a reservation just incase. Definitely one of the places I frequent most often for both brunch and dinner. Update: Bloom is not going to be all gluten-free anymore, but everything will still be clearly marked.
My Order: The menu is always in rotation, but I am always a fan of their flatbread, salad, crab cake, and sweet potato cashew cheesecake when they have it. For brunch I get the shawarma bowl and my husband usually gets the burger.
Not only is eating a more plant-based diet healthier and more forgiving to one’s body, but it is significantly better for the environment.
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen
Plant-Based Diet- A diet that does not necessarily avoid all animal products, but the majority is plant focused. Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Nuts, Seeds, Spices, Legumes, and Whole Grains make up the majority of the diet. (This is where I fall. I still have animal products on occasion, but it is less and less over the years.) ~ her healthy style
BY O’HARE – 6207 N Milwaukee:
Amitabul Vegan Korean
Healing Buddhist Spiritual Vegan Cuisine. 95% of the dishes are steam-stirred and contain no oil. Chef Bill also caters to other dietary restrictions as well. It’s a good thing this place is not too close to me as I would want to eat here nonstop. Eat at the restaurant for the full authentic feel (my favorite) or pick up take-out. I wrote a full review on the restaurant here.
My Order: Dr K’s Cure All Noodle Soup with rice noodles and no tofu is my #1 go to. I also like a mushroom forward, veggie, rice dish that I can’t remember the name. Just order a few and take the rest as leftovers; I doubt you’ll be sorry. Their online menu varies slightly.
Pilsen
HaiSous Vietnamese
A nicer Vietnamese restaurant that has offerings for all, but for those of us who want a healthier plant-based dish, they have a Vietnamese Curry on the menu.
Lincoln Park
Kala Modern Greek
Plant-Based and GF options – commitment to sustainability – casual dining or pick up place. I like to sit outside in summer and get their Greek Salad with French Fries.
Blue Door Farm Stand
A good place for a lunchy brunch with friends with all dietary preferences. The healthier menu item is the popular kale & brussels salad. Healthier without the parmesan and bacon of course. I promise it’s still really good. This salad inspired the Kale Brussels Maple Tahini Salad on the blog.
Roti Mediterranean
A healthier fast food place. Perfect place to go mid errands to grab lunch or even pick up to take home. I get the saffron rice and chickpea bowl with veggies & hummus. I’m a bit sad as my favorite tahini cauliflower topping is no longer available, but I’ll live. I have a roasted chili tahini cauliflower recipe on the blog if it sounds good to you.
River North
True Foods Kitchen
What each of us views as “healthy” can vary greatly. Whether you or someone in your party eats grass fed meat, wild salmon, solely veggies & GF grains, salads, healthier pizzas or sandwiches, I am willing to bet that True Foods has something for all. They have top notch quality ingredients.
My Order: I would love to try out more, but generally I go here when I’m in the mood for a pizza. Their butternut squash in Fall/Winter is my favorite. Right now they have a great mushroom, carmelized onion one with almond ricotta cheese. I generally ask for a GF crust, but I’ve forgotten once and enjoyed the non GF crust as well (way better ingredients than most & digested just fine). A pizza & their amazing hot tulsi tea and I’m in heaven.
Planta Queen Chicago
Vegan restaurant with lots of GF options. They are a chain with locations in the major cities. While their well-loved sushi rolls are not for me (too saucy), I absolutely LOVE their kale salad (one of the best kale salads I’ve ever eaten) and can’t wait to go back and try their kelp noodle dish as well as some of their warm noodle dishes. Those look divine. They also serve healthier mocktail options. It’s a great place for a date or girls brunch. I like sitting outside in the summer.
Sweetgreen
A famous salad chain that sources quality ingredients and makes bomb salads. A great order online & pickup place when you don’t feel like making your own. If you do feel like making your own however, I have a remake of their spicy cashew dressing and salad here.
My Order: Super Green Goddess with substituting the ranch for the spicy cashew dressing (it’s a vegan dressing).
Bright Wok
100% Dairy, Peanut, Fish, and Shellfish-Free, 99% Gluten-Free, and 95%+ Vegan friendly Asian inspired fast-food place. When you are feeling like an inexpensive Thai noodles or rice/veggie type takeout, take a peak at this one.
My Order: I get the VEG ONLY BYOB – carrots, broccoli, onions, peppers, local sprouts, zucchini, rice noodles, thai cashew curry, and medium spice level (it’s plenty spicy and I like heat). I also request that they cook it without any oil in the note section. I figure even if they use a little, it at least minimizes it.
Avli
This Greek restaurant is a fun place to sit outdoors in summer. They offer different menus depending on the time of day. They also have a happy hour M-F at the time I am writing this from 2:30-5:30pm Рserving half priced small plates and $10 cocktails. Their salads and some larger entr̩e options on their lunch and dinner menu can many times be tweaked for personal preference.
My Order: It varies, but often times it’s just a nice place to hangout outside on the weekends mid-day. I grab the hummus and eggplant spread with raw veggies and GF pita.
Ingrained
A small place to pick up delicious sweet treats. You won’t be sorry with an ice cream bar in summer (I got the peanut butter cup sundae). They are 100% vegan, gluten free, plant based, soy free, and refined sugar free.
ingrained is a small-batch Chicago snackery. we connect with people through food; we make real food for real people and specialize in handmade, plant-based, gluten-free and refined sugar-free food.
Ingrained
Lakeview
Left Coast Food + Juice
My favorite of their locations is in Lakeview. They also have a large outdoor area to sit outside in the summer. I usually get a salad or the curry. I made a Left Coast Copycat Curry.
West Loop
Aba
The most beautiful, night on the town, get dressed up, Mediterranean restaurant in West Loop. The whole place is eye candy. If you are lucky enough to snag a reservation or take a chance and see if they’ll sit you without one right when it opens, go. They have GF menus and also ask if you have any dietary restrictions at the time of ordering.
My Order: Their classic hummus with veggies & GF pita – my favorite of the spreads for an appetizer. I always end up ordering extra raw vegetables as well since it’s a lot of hummus. For dinner I get the cauliflower kebab with rice. It’s so good. It just has really great flavor with the red onion and medjool dates.
Beatrix
Besides being in Fulton Market, I also go to the River North location as well. Fulton Market has a really nice outdoor area and feels a little more intimate for being a large place, but River North is great too if that’s where you are close to. I feel like there is something for all eaters at Beatrix. You might have to do a little tweaking to an entrée to suit your needs, but if they can do it, they will. They have a GF menu as well as some vegan options. My order greatly varies depending on what time of day I’m going.
Old Town
Cafe Sushi
BYOB sushi place on Wells Street. This one made the list partly because it’s a good memory for me. My husband & I came here all the time in our beginning years of being in Chicago. It’s the perfect place to sit outside on a hot summer day and people watch while enjoying sushi and a glass of wine. I may just prefer a few orders of avocado rolls (I ask for avocado on the outside of the roll too), but I have to say that they are my favorite avocado rolls I’ve tried. Sometimes I’ll even bring the tiniest container of coconut aminos in my purse to dip the rolls in. 🙂
Near North
Yellowtail Sushi in Lakeview is another one we’ll go to. It has a much nicer interior and is also BYOB.
Doma Cafe
A busy Croatian café on an odd corner in the city, but it’s part of it’s unique and cool charm. Caters to all, but you can find a really good sandwich – the vegan Kata’s club on Publican (local Chicago bakery) sourdough bread, avocado toast, and a grain bowl (I just ask for no egg).
Logan Square:
The Spice Room
If you like SPICY food and Indian, they have a few options here. Mark and I will go here once in awhile for a super inexpensive casual date night. It’s BYOB.
MY ORDER: The Veg Bagara with coconut milk and peanuts and the Aloo Gobi with Cauliflower & Peas. Both so good if you can handle heat.
Chiya Chai
A coffee shop type atmosphere in the front and a separate dining area for dinners in the back. So depending on your mood, you can sit up front for a casual lunch (I like to snag a table by the window), or enjoy a nicer dinner in back. While they specialize in chai teas, they also an amazing potato curry.
My Order: I get the cauliflower pea potato curry and a spicy masala chai. I ask them to skip adding any syrup or sugar, but instead add in raw honey. They are always great with tweaking the chai to my needs.
Andersonville:
Alice and Friends’ Vegan Kitchen
The indoor atmosphere could be better, but if you find yourself in this part of town, take a look at the menu and see if anything peaks your interest. They cater to all types of dietary restrictions so even if an entrée has something you can’t/don’t have, they are great about adjusting it if they can.
My Order: I get the hot sweet cinnamon ginger tea (it inspired this sweet cinnamon ginger tea recipe), and the Kung Pao Ding with oyster mushrooms without the soy.
China Town:
Qiao Lin Hotpot
I have yet to go here, but I want to include it if you find yourself in China Town. It is an authentic hot pot place that offers a mushroom broth veggie pot. I’ve read to say low spice when they ask the spice level on the mushroom broth since it’s already fairly spicy?? I guess we need to try it ourselves to find out.
I feel like there are more I’m blanking on at the moment, but I’ll add to this list as I think of them or discover new places. If you have any that I should know about, please message me on Instagram @herhealthystyle. I’d love to hear from you!
You can find me many days @herhealthystyle on Instagram
PIN IT: Best Healthy (ish) Chicago Restaurants: Plant-Based + Vegan Options
Best Healthy (ish) Chicago Restaurants: Plant-Based + Vegan Options
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