The BEST vegan food. So many options and all super delicious. We had chicken fried steak, reuben, portobello truffle melt, poutine, stuffed zucchini empanadas. Also 3 very tasty cocktails. I highly recommend this place. Went to the original in past also.
Chicago Diner a meat free diner, is located less than 25 minutes away from downtown Chicago. I was pleasantly surprised by how well their seitan meat mimicked bacon and ham. They offer a wide variety of diner food, including Asian fusion dishes. My family thoroughly enjoyed all the entrees we ordered. The only drawback was the dense dessert cake. Nevertheless, the customer service was excellent - very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a unique take on diner food!
Cool place for a wonderful meal. As someone who is a meat eater, dining with vegetarians, I was pleasantly surprised with just how tasty the Radical Ruben sandwich was (when I took a bite of the whole sandwich and I couldn't tell the difference from a Ruben sandwich) and the Portobello Truffle Melt was exceptional. I would go back just for that sandwich.
Absolutely fantastic vegetarian place, probably most telling to call it a vegan place with plentiful vegetarian options. (By which I mostly mean you have the option of putting dairy cheese in several dishes instead.) Food quality has always been excellent, with many old staples still being popular long after newer vegan offerings have hit grocery stores. The Country Fried Steak and Rueben Sandwiche are special favorites of mine.
I went on a Wednesday around noon and was one of the few people there. Clean, quiet atmosphere with great music and attentive staff. I brought my laptop to do some work while I waited for my meal, which came out much faster than I anticipated.
I took my server’s suggestion and got the blueberry pancakes, along with biscuits & “sausage” gravy. Cakes were hot, tasty, and a solid portion, while the “gravy” was rich in flavor and surprised me for being vegan. I’d definitely go back again, as this place is now one of my vegan go-to’s for comfort food.
Cameron Goodwin-Schoen
+5
Delcious food and great staff. I didn't even realize the food was vegan! The Radical Reuben is a really good option. Their shakes are delicious as well.
This is a vegan restaurant. I didn’t know until I was told by my friend when I met her there. I picked this place to meet. I was like, oh the Chicago Diner. Glimpsed at the pictures and was like yum! She asked if I thought her milkshake would be dairy free… I was like…. It’s a milkshake! Why would it be dairy free? She’s like….. ummmm it’s a vegan restaurant! I was shooketh hahaha but…. The food was actually not bad and was very tasty! The “chicken wing” had amazing flavor! The nachos weren’t my favorite but they were not horrible. Just regular nachos. I’m used to the chicken or steak that’s all…. And I would definitely come back! Oh yeah, the milkshake was AMAZING!!! Get one if you come here! You won’t be disappointed!
I have been to the Halstead location plenty of times, but only gotten takeout from this one, so decided to stop in and check out the vibe. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, service was pretty quick on a lightly busy Sunday night.
I got the Mac and teese, Thai chili wings, Big Kahuna burger (a tofu/sweet potato patty with a slice of grilled pineapple), and a chocolate chip cookie dough milkshake. Everything was delicious, as expected.
Also, it is well posted when you enter, plus the host mentioned it, but the is a 20% auto gratuity added to all dine in, regardless of group size. It did not bother me because I love supporting vegetarian businesses.
I absolutely loved their milkshakes and dessert. The banana milkshake was made with real fruit! The s'mores sundae had a warm brownie that was delicious! The food was ok. The tamale was fine, but the rice and beans were bland and seemed to be reheated and not freshly made. The chicken fingers and waffle fries were good.
Vegan Can Be Delicious!
This was our first time visiting The Chicago Diner and we were pleasantly surprised. They've been around for a long time for good reason.
If you've never had vegan food before you need to know that you can't expect the same texture as you'd get with non vegan food- particularly with proteins and cheese.
There were 4 of us on this visit and we began with the Thai Chili Wings appetizer.
Made with a Spicy chili-lime marinade and served with Sriracha-ranch, and garnished with sesame seeds, this was delicious! No, it didn't taste like or have the texture of "real" chicken and I'd totally have it again! Good is good!
The Country Fried Steak was good and the portion was large. The texture of the potatoes and gravy left a bit to be desired. The gravy didn't have much flavor. The potatoes tasted like a baked potato that was mashed. No creaminess at all, and not much flavor. The gravy didn't help, which was disappointing. The vegetables were good, though a little more on the raw side that we would've liked. On the plus side, they weren't overcooked and mushy either.
The Philly Cheese Steak is a hefty sandwich made with seitan that looked like shaved slices of tender beef topped with sauteed peppers, onions, and vegan cheese sauce. The vegan cheese sauce was a swing and miss for me. There was no cheesy flavor to it at all. It reminded me of the gravy on the mashed potatoes. I make a pretty good vegan cheese sauce at home so I expected more flavor. Still, this was a good sandwich.
The Caprese Burger is made in house. It is a tofu and seitan patty that reminds you of a mild chicken patty, is topped with mozzarella, tomato, a Very mild pesto and served on a grilled ciabatta roll. It was good but could've been great, if the pesto had flavor.
We ordered their sweet potato fries as our side- they were very good!
Their Titanic Blt Burger is also a house-made seitan patty. It's topped with bacon-style seitan, french-fried onions, lettuce, tomato, and Chipotle sauce. It was thoroughly enjoyed.
We also ordered their strawberry and cookies and cream vegan milkshakes. They were great! Creamy and flavorful, you'd never guess they were made without dairy.
You should definitely give this place a try.
I would go back again.
A classic, well-established spot for vegans and non-vegans alike to check out. Located in Logan Square and Lakeview, this diner features an eclectic, meat-less menu from Thai stir-fry to burgers to vegan milkshakes. The interior is super cute, decorated like a vintage diner. Make a reservation in advance— we came for a weekend lunch and it got pretty crowded at some points.
I got the Buddha’s Karma Burger (curried sweet potato-tofu patty, grilled pineapple, chimichurri sauce) with a side of sweet potato fries (a bit too much sweet potato, in retrospect). It was pretty good, with distinct flavors and a nice mix of savory and slightly sweet. Overall though, it was a little underwhelming, as I had high expectations. I didn’t like how it fell apart so easily, crumbling with every bite. The sweet potato fries were crispy and not too salty. We also tried the Mint Chocolate Chip Vegan Shake, as apparently they’re famous for their shakes, and it was really good and tasted so similar to a traditional shake... with no lactose intolerance!
The prices were pretty fair and standard for the portions and quality, and the service was friendly. An automatic 20% gratuity is applied for all parties. Overall, I’d love to come back, especially to try their other sandwich/burger and shake options!
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Price (relative to peers): 4.5/5
Food: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Overall Value: 4/5
The Chicago Diner in Logan Square is a delightful sanctuary for plant-based cuisine, offering a diverse and mouthwatering menu that caters to vegans and vegetarians alike. Stepping into this diner, I was immediately struck by its quirky and inviting atmosphere, which sets the tone for a unique dining experience.
Their menu is a creative celebration of classic diner fare, reimagined with a vegan twist. The Radical Reuben is a must-try, featuring a delectable combination of corned beef seitan, sauerkraut, and vegan cheese that rivals its traditional counterpart in both taste and texture. The vegan milkshakes are a dream, thick, creamy, and available in a variety of indulgent flavors.
What truly sets The Chicago Diner apart is their commitment to quality and sustainability. Every dish is made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, ensuring not only great taste but also support for the community.
The service at The Chicago Diner is exceptional; the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about their plant-based menu. They're always ready to offer recommendations, making the dining experience both enjoyable and informative.
In summary, The Chicago Diner in Logan Square is not just a restaurant; it's a vibrant celebration of plant-based eating. Whether you're a long-time vegan or just curious about plant-based cuisine, this diner is a must-visit for an enjoyable and satisfying meal. It's a true testament to how delicious and diverse vegan food can be.
Popular vegan diner in Logan Square serving vegan comfort food similar to what you’d find in a normal diner. Ordered the cinnamon roll French toast which was awesome, and the steak and eggs which were good not great (the seitan could have been seasoned better). Ordered cocktails which were tasty. Friendly staff, busy with lots of people.
I came here with a friend who has been dying to go to a restaurant where she doesn't have to settle for a salad- I am neither vegan nor vegetarian, but I can't resist trying a new place- omg so glad we did! My friend had the vegan chicken fried steak, she said it was fantastic. I got the basil stir fry and I'm already planning to come back to get it again (it was like a 40 minute ride from home to the Chicago Diner, but it was that good. We had the potato skin and spinach dip appetizers- both great, but the spinach dip was my favorite. By a lot. Somehow we decided to split dessert after, and we got the smores brownie sundae- I'd order this again. Possibly before I fill up on real food next time, it's not just good, it's special. Service was good, and seating is maybe a little close, but it wasn't overly crowded when we went. Honestly, if I said I wanted to film a TV show with a scene at a Chicago meat-free restaurant, this would be the set I'd invision- down to the vinyl applique graffiti on the bathroom wall. It isn't a bad thing, but it couldn't have represented the genre any better- even the servers. I had so much fun- I'm sure I'll be back.
I know it can hard to find vegetarian options most places you go, but this place is THE vegetarian restaurant of Chicago. From sandwiches, salads, soups, burgers, and classic American meals, everything has a vegetarian twist to it.
It's a favorite of mine, and I. Not even vegetarian but always enjoy coming here. Highly recommend their Thai Chili Wings and Titanic BLT burger. Recently tried their straight up veggie burger (no meat substitute, just pure vegetables) and it was really good.
Brunch I've tried once and it was alright, will try again, but their hot chocolate (soy milk) is really good.
This is a really amazing vegetarian restaurant/diner. I would give it 5 stars, but I am a bit spoiled coming from Los Angeles. I ordered the steak dish which was true to taste, however I felt it was a little too bland for me. The Thai wings were pretty tasty and I enjoyed them. I also thought that the chicken shawarma could have been better because the pita bread that came with it was pretty standard (very much store bought). However the Reuben saved the day because it was amazing! I would not really recommend the vegan cheesecake because it doesn't have the same flavor that you'd expect from cheesecake.
I’m a recent vegetarian but very happily surprised! They know how to make good food! The bbq tips with twice baked potato and were very good. 10/10 for sure
The food was excellent. We went early so no wait. Tuesdays are half price vegan wings and they were the best part of the meal.
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