Vegan
Fast food
Delivery
Take-out
Mexican
Catering
An all-vegan Mexican restaurant serves a large variety of dishes and beverages. Open Mon-Sat 12:00pm-9:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-8:00pm.
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- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 27 Aug 2024 by KatelynCollin
Update business info -
Added by Degu on 01 Apr 2022
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143 Reviews
First Review by ExploreV
OskarHenriksson
Points +396
Amazing tacos and tortas - Edit
Everything on the menu is delicious!
Read moreGuest
SarahGibson
Points +144
Come for the Margaritas stay for the food - Edit
Penelope's is a great little taqueria. I had a Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita and a Quesadilla, they were amazing!
Read moreThis is a definite must eat spot when in the city!
Updated from previous review on 2024-07-03
Guest
VRunner
Points +335
Great spot - Edit
Came with a friend and we split the nacho appetizer. I liked it, but I actually preferred it without the soyrizo. For dinner I ordered the potato taco plate with rice and beans. Chefs kiss— it was so good. Their menu seemed extensive and had many cocktails to enjoy as well. Was really happy to have tried it.
Read moreGuest
HarrietSpy
Points +86
This place is AMAZING! - Edit
Just go get the life-changing Pambazo! Now! (And squeeze in a piece of cake from Pie, Pie, My Darling. You won't regret it.)
Read moreGuest
ShanahBell
Points +768
Great local vegan find - Edit
I found this place on the Happy Cow app. And since it shares a name with one of my daughters, we just had to check it out.
Read moreI loved that the whole place was vegan and they had a ton of gluten free options also. The menu is well labeled, which was extremely helpful.
2 of us got the taco dinner deal since it was Tuesday and they do a $5 off deal on that dinner. It comes with 3 tacos of your choice, rice and beans.
All of us loved our meals, and the margarita I got delicious!!
I was really excited to try their ice cream sundae for dessert, but it appears that they don't usually actually have the ice cream at this location. Apparently it's made at a different location, so they usually only have the cake, which isn't gluten free. I was really disappointed that there wasn't a dessert for me to try, especially since I'm the one who's vegan in the group. One of my daughter's who can eat gluten did try the cake special and really liked it though.
In my opinion, in order to get 5 stars, they either need to have all of the dessert options regularly, which includes a gluten free option, or just make the cake with gluten free flour and call it a day.
Other than that issue, it was a great find here in Chicago!
Pros: All vegan, Great service, Lots of gluten free options
Cons: No gluten free dessert options regularly
Guest
anmrise
Points +567
Tasty Affordable Perfect - Edit
This is everything y’all said it would be and more. The elote with chips & salsa was fantastic, the tacos are delicious, and you will leave feeling so full. Every taco packs a punch in flavor, the vibes of the place are phenomenal too. Not the venue for your fanciest outfit (the soft taco shells fall apart easily), great time all around
Read morePros: Tasty, Affordable, Great venue
Guest
NatashaHuffman
Points +104
Darn Good Food - Edit
This place is awesome! The restaurant itself has very fun decor and wonderful people. We tried the Nachos Locos appetizer and the plate was huge and it was delicious! The Quesaburria, Chimichanga, and Horchata were all amazing as well. We were able to be seated right away as walk-ins, but I believe making a reservation on a Friday or Saturday evening would be smart to avoid any potential waits:)
Read moreGuest
MelinaSantos
Points +236
Large portions - Edit
This was our first stop in Chicago! I’ll take any chance at eating vegan Mexican food! Their tacos were delicious, the horchata was one of my faves I’ve had, and their chilaquiles torta was delicious and such a unique find! We also had the elote in a cup which was perfect. Would have liked to try it on the Cobb but my husband and I got it to share and we figured this would be the least messy option! I appreciate the dinning experience as often vegan restaurants we’ve found don’t over a dinning experience and are more of on the go style. I would say to get Beans and rice on the side cause the bean water made it so the tacos fell apart instantly.
Read morePros: Dinning experience, Large portions
Cons: Tacos broke easily
Guest
debbl
Points +21
Tasty food and decor - Edit
3 pages of choices and a good hit of spice and heat in everything we ordered. Food was delivered quickly and server was really nice and helpful
Read morePros: Battered deep fried avocado was great, Authentic drinks offered
Guest
diannec
Points +786
Looking forward to coming back - Edit
Tacos were yummy, but I’m looking forward to trying other things on the menu. Menu is clearly marked for gluten allergies as well, and unfortunately the chips are fried in a shared fryer, but staff was knowledgeable about what was safe for those with celiac. And they have pie pie my darling cake for dessert!
Read moreGuest
Ksis
Points +1204
I see why the hype! - Edit
Coming from Texas, I was fairly skeptical about how good this taqueria in the Midwest would be, and man oh man did it live up to the hype!
Read moreEverything we got was delicious—quesadilla grande, guacamole, street style elote, beans and rice, margarita, and the butterfly pea horchata.
The stand out was the street style elote—idk how they did it but the cojita cheese on top was amazing. Guac was incredibly well seasoned too.
Overall you won’t be disappointed!
Guest
hashtagvegan
Points +106
Great food and ambience - Edit
Hard to miss Penelope’s—it’s the pink restaurant just off the Brown/Purple line at Chicago. The inside is also pink! The space is cozy but not cramped. The asada fries were piled high with toppings, and my carnitas taco was excellent. I wanted to try a margarita with zero-proof tequila, but they were all out; I wasn’t too mad however—I’m glad there’s a growing interest in mocktails—and I got the butterfly pea flower horchata. The horchata was blue, and sweet but not too sweet.
Read moreI loved my experience and look forward to going back to try a nonalcoholic margarita and more tacos.
Pros: Delicious food, Good ambience, Friendly staff
Cons: No physical menus
Guest
wuski
Points +325
Love this place - Edit
We usually stop by during every Chicago visit. We always get their elote and torta. Haven’t been disappointed yet!
Read moreGuest
FrankEsposito
Points +16
Just ok but solidly vegan. - Edit
The food was ok, nothing fantastic, and rather expensive. But realize it is in an expensive neighborhood too.
Read morePros: Vegan restaurant in Chicago
Cons: Have to use your phone to see the updated menu , Have to pay for parking $5/hr
Guest
kmoffatt
Points +172
Hit and miss - Edit
We ordered the taco dinner (3 tacos with rice and beans on the side) which wasn’t a good order. Although great value, the tacos became soggy due to being on the same plate with the beans. Both the rice and beans were extremely bland and lacking salt. Some of the tacos were delicious but some were just ok, and the jackfruit taco was really not good with watery, undercooked and bland jackfruit inside. On the plus side: the chips and salsa, pulled oats taco, baja taco and margarita were great. Excellent friendly service too.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-04-10
Pros: Service
Cons: Taco dinner plate
Guest
BenitaB
Points +30
Great Mexican food - Edit
The service was incredibly nice! I couldn’t decide on what to get, so I asked for the taco dinner (the three tacos being chosen by the waitress since I was so indecisive). All three tacos were impeccable. I was not a huge fan of the bean and rice as they were a bit bland, but the three tacos were so filling it’s best I didn’t finish the side.
Read moreGuest
theCorrector
Points +94
Amazing! - Edit
Awesome vegan food with great staff and service! Best vegan Mexican in town! Highly recommend! Michelle was a great waitress and extremely friendly!
Read moreGuest
KKumarK
Points +32
Perfection. - Edit
Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria is an outstanding establishment. When I called to make a reservation for my birthday party, I told them I would have a group of 16. I was worried they would turn down this request, but they happily complied even though the default max reservation size online is only 10 people. When we arrived, there were two 8-person tables set up for us at one end of the restaurant. The atmosphere was pleasant, with colorful decor and lively music. The prices were reasonable for Chicago. All of the waitresses were super helpful, friendly, and attentive. They brought out all of our orders quickly and in an organized manner. And the food was absolutely amazing. It was even better than Gracias Madre (a highly-rated vegan Mexican restaurant in California). The combination of the service, atmosphere, and food made Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria one of the best restaurants I have ever been to and a very memorable birthday experience. And to top it all off, I just found out that the owners are a vegan couple/family. As a long-time vegan, I love to support ethical businesses run by ethical people.
Read morePros: Food, Ambiance, Service
Guest
ohgeorgia
Points +800
Yuuuuuuuum - Edit
10/10 no notes.
Read moreBut since there's a character requirement I'll say that the baja taco is out of this world; I'd eat it for every meal if I could. Good cocktails, delicious elote, everything is sufficiently spicy. New favorite spot for sure!
Pros: all vegan, friendly staff
Cons: cramped interior
Guest
Yvonne108
Points +126
Mexican Andersonville - Edit
Comparable to Don Bucio’s in Logan Square. Large portions, but very spicy! Great staff!
Read morePros: Large menu, Elote street food was awesome
Cons: Too spicy (unless if you like spicy)
Guest
andyjng
Points +5378
Outstanding Vegan Mexican in Chi - Edit
There are only a few fully vegan restaurants in Downtown Chicago and I'm so glad that Penelope's is one of them! Their menu is more than just a bean burrito or guac that most taquerias offer as a plant-based option. No no, they do it much better here.
Read moreI loved the music and the vibes inside Penelope's. The walls were colorful and bright, staff were very friendly and informative, and it was such a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a fantastic meal.
We started with the Cauliflower El Ceviche ($13.50), a wonderful tangy appetizer accompanied with chips (which were quite salty). Next we had the Quesabirria ($16), three amazing mushroom tacos accompanied with veggie broth where you dip and bite. This was my favorite hands down. We also had their Torta ($12.50) stuffed with veggies and potatoes and this sandwich was both filling and satisfying.
Everything here was great and I'm happy to see that they are around to offer some wonderful plant based options in Chicago.
Pros: All vegan, creative menu
Guest
kellifer10
Points +110
Amazing All-Vegan Taqueria - Edit
The Margaritas and Palomas were great!!! Loved the salsa, such a unique flavor. All the tacos I got were really good. The favorite taco among the table was the Baha Taco. My least favorite was the Cauliflower Pastor taco, way too cinnamon tasting, I didn't finish it. Guacamole was great, tortilla chips nice and flaky!!
Read morePros: Baha Taco
Cons: Smell of sewer wafting thru door
Guest
Total_Liberation
Points +28
Healthy and delicious - Edit
The three fried tacos main dish was delicious but it was hard to choose, they all sounded so good. We will go back to try more dishes. The food was extremely fresh!
Read morePros: Ambiance , Delicious fresh food, Playlist
Guest
XoxoVeganGirl
Points +150
Best taqueria in chicago! - Edit
My husband and I tried this place today for lunch, and boy was it amazing! Reasonably priced, especially for such a downtown location. The texture of my chimichanga was crispy and filling, and the taste was to die for. I asked if they make their own sour cream, and the chef says he does! I knew it was too good to be store bought. Not to mention, was this thing huge - so I’m currently eating the other half at home while i write. My husband says the tacos were extremely authentic, he was worried it was real meat for a second!
Read moreThe murals throughout the restaurant are beautiful, and they play a mixture of Hispanic and American pop music. We went around 4:00pm on a Wednesday and we were the only people in there for a while, but as soon as we were leaving, the place filled up immediately! Parking is not terrible, there is street parking with a limit of 2 hours which costs about $10. They have one gender neutral bathroom in the back which is very clean.
The staff were super great and we thanked the chefs on our way out - they gave us a sweet goodbye!
My husband and I will definitely be back to try more menu items, everything looks so good!
Updated from previous review on 2023-05-04
Pros: Food, Staff, Art (murals)
Cons: Music was a tiny bit loud
Guest
freak42
Points +275
Great Vegan option nearby - Edit
Everything is vegan and tasty. Has a long menu and friendly staff
Read morePros: Menu options, Staff
Cons: A little bit noisy. Music is too loud
Guest
WesleyA
Points +60
Best quesadilla I’ve ever had, and fully vegan too! - Edit
Fully vegan restaurant is awesome. Best quesadilla I’ve ever had, vegan or otherwise. Everything was great
Read moreGuest
jenq
Points +60
Best vegan mex! - Edit
I ordered the dorados tacos and they were amazing! Every other item we ordered was equally delicious. I hope this place thrives and then expands to TX. Will for sure re-visit next time I'm in Chicago.
Read morePros: Fresh and authentic , Fast service
Guest
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