- Top Rated Bakery in Chicago
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The Chicago Diner - Lakeview
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Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Bakery
Catering
Providing all vegetarian and mostly vegan American comfort food for brunch and dinner with organic beers and wine, margaritas, vegan bakery, and desserts. Meat free since 1983. Patio seating available. Confirmed open May 2020. Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-10:00pm, Sat 10:00am-10:00pm, Sun 10:00am-9:00pm.
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- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 06 Jul 2023 by geometric-noise
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278 Reviews
First Review by amargrav
malloneek
Points +76
Great Diner Food - Edit
First, know that you're going to a diner! If you think you're going out for healthy food you are mistaken! That being said, it was delicious. I ordered the chicken fried steak- even though I never ate it as an omni- and had a strawberry shake. It was all vegan, as is most everything. The "steak" was very crunchy yet tender inside, the mashed potatoes were appropriately chunky with a perfect mushroom gravy.
Read moreI arrived about 630 on a Wednesday night, easily found parking and was seated and served immediately. When I left there were many people waiting for seats though. It is packed and noisy but the servers were friendly and quick.
They had many vegan desserts to choose from as well. A side note - my table-neighbor wasn't vegan but she likes their vegan nachos so well she goes every time she's in Chicago! Prices seemed very reasonable.
I'll go back anytime!
Pros: Quick, Great food, Friendly
Cons: nosiy
Guest
bill_watson
Points +44
worth the drive (from Indy) - Edit
Decided to visit this place due to the reviews, and it did not disappoint. Not the healthiest food, but that's not what you're looking for from a diner. Had hot wings, which were yummy but a little pricey. The Reuben was the best I've ever had, and that includes my pre-vegan days, and the southern fried steak, while super rich was yummy. The mashed potatoes were also the best I've ever had, period. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert, but luckily our local Whole Foods has started to carry their cakes and cookies. Fantastic. We're going to be making another trip up to Chicago this summer largely to visit the restaurant again. Planning on trying their breakfast on that trip!
Read moreGuest
samanthamuffin
Points +139
Worth the Trip - Edit
I live in Detroit. I have seriously considered driving to Chicago just to eat at Chicago Diner.
Read moreThat being said, this is what I love: the vegan shakes are amazing. I always order one as soon as I get there. The desserts are delicious, too, but you might die of sugar overload if you get both a shake and dessert.
The chick'n parm sandwich used to be my favorite, but last time I was there, they didn't have it on the menu. I got the vegan rueben. It was awesome. The bright red faux corned beef can be a little off-putting at first. It is spongey, but it grew on me. The vegan mac n' cheese is awesome. I love a place with vegan mac.
There is parking on the side of the building. It's a tight squeeze, but worth the spot. The outdoor patio is adorable. I always feel like home there.
Pros: Delicious food , Great staff, Shakes!!!
Guest
Seitan_Nic
Points +255
The Best In Veggie Diner Food - Edit
I love this place! The food is great, the atmosphere is perfect and they seem to consistently have one of the best wait staffs of any veg restaurant in the country. The servers seem excited about the food, and genuinely happy to be there. I love it, it really makes the experience that much more pleasant.
Read moreI've been here maybe six times, and everything I've ever had has been delicious. The best meal I've ever had here was last summer (I live on the West Coast and visit Chi town infrequently) I had the country fried seitan. Unbelievably good!
I HIGHLY recommend this place for those who are seeking good veg comfort food, and especially those that favor the wheat meat. They do seitan dishes extraordinarily well.
Oh, and the desserts (vegan carrot cake is my favorite) are excellent too!
Pros: GREAT SERVICE!!, GREAT FOOD!!, Great location/ambiance
Cons: A little expensive., I'd like it even better, IF it were 100% vegan.
Guest
Keith_Thode
Points +712
Friendly, Homey, Great Food. - Edit
I regularly buy their baked goods at the Whole Foods stores in the Detroit area, so when I traveled to Chicago last week, I decided to try the Diner itself. I wasn't disappointed. Plenty of waitstaff, friendly and the food was great. While not entirely Vegan, they can modify non-Vegan items to accommodate.
Read moreGuest
hippublican
Points +286
Awesome - Edit
Um, love this place. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted and seated by a friendly host. The interior is cute, the music is good, and the staff are super friendly. All the shakes we tried (Acai Berry Cream, Irish Coffee Cream, and Cookie Dough) were AWESOME. I didn't want to share. I highly recommend the nachos (spicy, cheezy, deliciousness) and the country fried steak (tastes just like I remember it). Word to the wise- the portions are giganormous. Especially the biscuits and gravy. The only food we had here that we didn't care for were the desserts (we had cookies-n-cream cake and peppermint chocolate cheesecake). The cookies are good though.
Read moreI will miss this place!
Pros: awesome food, friendly service, reasonable prices
Guest
estefinparis
Points +858
Maybe I should've chosen another dish... - Edit
While in Chicago for business I was excited to try out the Chicago Diner, having read so many good things about it. When I got there the restaurant was very busy so I sat at the bar and asked one of the waiters what I should try from the menu. He suggested the Reuben sandwich and that's what I had... unfortunately I didn't like it and I wish I had picked something different as I'm sure it was simply a matter of taste. The menu had lots of alternatives and I would definitely like to give it another try if I return to Chicago. I was glad to go though as the atmosphere was casual and comfortable and the area was also a nice change from downtown Chicago.
Read moreGuest
TRaeCH
Points +384
For Comfort Food, Just About Sets the Bar - Edit
There is no such thing as a visit to the great city of Chicago without stopping at the Chicago Diner. As the other reviews will tell you the diner offers an impressive variety of delicious - but not always particularly healthy - appetizers, entrees, beers, shakes and desserts. As the name suggests, it is a diner; expect a diner atmosphere: busy, somewhat cramped, noisy, occasionally slow service. These aspects shouldn't take away from the dining experience, just know what to expect.
Read moreWe ordered buffalo-style hot wings which we shared, followed by the famous reuben for my friend (he loved it and was great based on the bite I took) and avocado tostadas for me (yum). Thankfully, and astonishingly, I still had room for dessert for which I ordered a luscious vegan chocolate truffle cupcake.
My friend was so impressed that he bought a very affordable Chicago Diner tote bag as well as a Chicago Diner cookbook which, he tells me, has served him very well ever since.
Pros: Very good food, Head-spinning selection, Beer from Quebec, Canada offered
Cons: Not the healthiest food, A bit pricey
Guest
PuppyGirl
Points +43
Great! - Edit
Who says a vegetarian can't have a dagwood sandwich? Or bbq "wings"? Even non-vegetarians love the brunch items and rave about the sweet potato quesadilla. A vegetarian must in Chicago.
Read morePros: great diner food, good value, friendly staff
Cons: tight space
Guest
Mighty Vegan
Points +96
I Felt Like A Vegan King!!! - Edit
My wife and I went there our first night visiting Chicago. We had a really great experience. The menu was a good combination of veg comfort foods but also had enough healthy veg options for my wife. I got the Country Friend Steak and the Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake. I don't know what exactly it was that I ate that night, but I know it was vegan, and I know it was amazing. It was one of the most satisfying meals I have had in my vegan history. The place was bustling and the staff was very welcoming and friendly. Its nothing fancy, but hey, its called a diner.
Read morePros: Great Comfort Food, Relaxed atmosphere, Awesome shakes
Guest
Kell Bell
Points +58
Just Heavenly! - Edit
This has got to be one of the best vegan restaurants in the country. It's definitely the best I've ever tasted! They have such a big menu - it was hard to decide. Lucky for me, my husband doesn't mind sharing. My country fried steak was AMAZING...crispy, crunchy, and the seitan was tender as could be. My husband got the philly cheezsteak...and I thought my dish was tasty - his was better! It was our first time there, but we went again one night later! This time I had the enchiladas - which were good, but heavy on the potatoes. My husband got the gyro - and it was out of this world. They have a handful of vegan deserts - we had the lemon/coconut cake (new to their menu), and a chocolate layer cake. Both were delicious. Their appetizers are impressive and soooo yummy. We had the potato skins with cream cheez and bacon. It tasted so good we had to ask our waitress if it was really vegan! She assured us it was. I would eat here every day if I could!
Read morePros: Tasty food, Good Value, Large Portions
Cons: Absolutely Nothing!
Guest
JulieV
Points +106
YUM to the CORE! - Edit
I love The Chicago Diner! You do need to know what "not" to order but there is SO MUCH TO ORDER! If there is something new or a special, I always ask our server what they think of it compared to something I would usually order. The staff is SO nice and helpful. The atmosphere is relaxed and the decor is fun!
Read morePros: excellent food, good value, friendly staff
Cons: noisy, usually a wait, no more cobb salad! BUMMER
Guest
feorag
Points +542
Solid, rib-sticking food. - Edit
We recently had an overnight stay with an omni friend of ours, who suggested The Chicago Diner. He'd never eaten there, but thought it sounded interesting, and he knew where he was going. Our party consisted of two omnis and one vegan.
Read moreThe interior was pretty much how I'd expect an American diner to look, with booths down one side. The menu is drawn from American comfort food with some Mexican influences, and on my first visit I had enchiladas. Many of the dishes are vegan, and the majority of those which aren't are available in lacto-ovo and vegan versions. The other two went for veggie versions of Mexican-style dishes, and both proclaimed that they were impressed.
There was also an interesting beer range, including many microbrews, though I do not think this contributed to how impressed the omnis were!
So impressed were my partner and our host that they insisted we go back the following morning to explore the brunch menu. No complaints here. I had one of their breakfast bowls. We then wandered around Chicago, before heading to O'Hare and a flight to Baltimore. We arrived late, but we didn't need to eat as we were still not hungry from breakfast!
I need to find an excuse to go back to Chicago.
Pros: vegan breakfast and desserts, huge portions, interesting beer selection
Cons: maybe too huge?, limited car parking
Guest
gildthatlily
Points +25
Delicious - Edit
We recently moved outside of Chicago from Georgia and I had come across ads for the Chicago Diner in Vegetarian Times and VegNews a long time ago. My husband and I were both really excited about trying this place out. I ordered Country Fried Steak which was made from seitan, and it came with gravy, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables mixed with a pesto sauce, and kale. My husband ordered a gyro which was also made with seitan and sweet potato fries. Everything was excellent. My country fried steak was thick and "meaty" and I also had a tasty Dark Horse Raspberry Ale. The gravy was creamy and delicious, and I was happy to have a side of vegetables that weren't bland and boring. The service was friendly as well. I ordered a strawberry lemon cupcake to go, and that was the only thing I wasn't incredibly impressed by. It was good, but the icing seemed a little oily. Overall, a very good experience.
Read morePros: excellent food
Cons: parking
Guest
jaml730
Points +67
My favorite place in Chicago - Edit
I've been to the Chicago Diner a lot and never get tired of the food. Everything on the menu is vegan or has the option to be made vegan. They have the BEST shakes that I've ever had...try the peanut butter cookie dough if you ever have a chance! I highly recommend the "radical ruben" sandwich, it is amazing. The raw plates are also very good.
Read morePros: Amazing food, Friendly staff (usually), Free parking
Cons: Can be expensive, Limited seating
Guest
mollypitcher
Points +72
Hit or miss.. - Edit
Before I moved to Chicago I would often go to the Chicago Diner, but since moving here a number of years ago I can't say I still feel a fondness for this place. It is pretty much hit or miss. I've had good food, but I've also had mediocre food and bad service and I've never had great food. Well, their desserts and shakes are pretty fantastic, but other than that I would have to say it is pretty average. I think they might be resting on their laurels a little bit.
Read moreGuest
Sophie
Points +376
Love diners! - Edit
I'm so lucky to have this place around the corner from my place...The food is excellent. I love the mac n cheese and tofu scramble. But my favorite is the choc mousse cake!!
Read morePros: Excellent Food, Friendly staff
Guest
LizOmen
Points +56
A little for everyone - Edit
I like to go to this restaurant when I go out with non- vegetarians. It is a vegetarian restuarant but a meat eater could find something they will like. I am a little dissappointed that they aren't vegan because i think they could do so very easily and still be just as popular. They also have 2 raw dishes on the menu plus raw cheesecakes. They are very good. The outdoor patio is nice and i recommend eating out there when the whether is agreeable. When it is closed then the inside can be very crowded and there can be a wait before you can be seated. There is parking on the side of the building in an ally like area. The staff is very accommodating and have gone out of their way to help me pick something to eat.
Read morePros: big portions, lots of chioces., nice staff
Cons: crowded, not 100% vegan
Guest
yourfacehxc
Points +202
Good spot, but there are better! - Edit
I've eaten at the Diner for many years and can only recall one or two dishes where I wasn't pleased. Generally I enjoy whatever I have though. The wait staff has always been courteous and the restaurant is clean, however a bit noisy and cramped. While it's never been much of an issue when my friends and I grab a bite, the one time I took my grandparents there they were not especially pleased. The main complaint I hear most is of how expensive it is (entrees typically hit the $12 mark). While it certainly won't break the bank, I think you get more bang for your buck at Karyn's which is raw & vegan while capping out at the same dollar amount. Worth checking out (especially if you live in Chicago) however I think there are better vegetarian friendly restaurants that aren't as expensive and also don't require a 20-30 wait for a table in a cramped room.
Read morePros: Great food, Friendly staff, Chicago staple!
Cons: Bit expensive, Noisy & Cramped, Always a wait for dinner
Guest
Jakub1977
Points +45
Great place! - Edit
The service in here was especialy great. Kitchen people smile and make some great food. I had to walk little bit because of parking but no big deal. for Chicago this is a great location.
Read moreGuest
mtp51053
Points +35
Thanksgiving Treat - Edit
I decided to do carryout from The Chicago Diner for Thanksgiving. What a pleasant experience that was. Not only did I get a deliciously tasting dinner which included 2 servings of "turkey" with gravy but also 5 sides. They consisted of yams, stuffing, cranberry relish, green beans and red potatoes. What made this even more enjoyable was when I picked up my dinner, I was given a free Chicago Diner tote bag, a $10.00 gift card with extra coupons and a free copy of the Vegetarian Journal.
Read moreI am thankful that places like The Chicago Diner exist. When I became a vegetarian over 35 years ago, I was considered somewhat of a freak when I went to ordinary restaurants. Wait staff would look at me in shock for not wanting meat. Even family members were embarrassed when it came time for me to order. When The Chicago Diner opened, I was in heaven. Here was a place where I could order meals without having to worry about having a menu full of meat. I have never been disappointed with anything that they offered. The food surpasses Chicago's most notable restaurants in terms of cuisine. It has by far the healthiest, best tasting food that I have ever eaten.
For anyone that is vegetarian/vegan, The Chicago Diner is your place to eat.
Pros: Excellent food, Friendly staff, Wide variety of choices on menu
Guest
veganinvegas
Points +365
Finally ate here - Edit
After reading reviews for the last 10 years about this place, I was really looking forward to eating here on a business trip to Chicago. I was not disappointed. I had to take 2 buses to get to it, but it was worth the trek. I ate here 2 times.
Read moreThe first time I sat down and right away the waiter asked "vegetarian or vegan?" I can honestly say I have never been asked that before in a restaurant and I really appreciated it. The waiter told me what was vegan to start and what could be made vegan. It must have taken me 25 minutes to decide what to order, since I wasn't used to being able to order ANYTHING off the menu!
I decided on the wings appetizer, crab cake entree, cheesecake and chocolate chip milkshake. The wings were to die for. Just the right amount of sweet sticky BBQ sauce AND a vegan dilled ranch sauce. I cleaned my plate so well they probably didn't have to wash the dish!
Crab cakes were a bit mushy but good. The cheesecake was good but the milkshake was INCREDIBLE - thick, creamy, rich, chocolately... well worth the price.
The 2nd time I had the wings again, the reuben sandwich, another flavor of cheesecake and another milkshake. The reuben sandwich was INCREDIBLE! Tasted just like I remember reubens from delis. If I could place a weekly order of anything off the menu to ship to me out West, it would have to be the reuben and milkshake.
The waitstaff both times were incredibly friendly and helpful. The owner/manager went around to all tables making sure everything was ok. The patio dining is great, especially if the weather is nice.
If you go in there expecting high-end, Food Network star dining, you WILL be disappointed. The charm of this place IS the fact that it is supposed to remind you of diners from years ago, of local dining places that you could just drop into and get a great meal. The prices were not that outrageous considering 1) its vegan and 2) the portions are HUGE!
It's too bad the owners (can't/won't) open up in other cities. The world needs more restaurants like the Chicago Diner.
Pros: milkshakes, reuben sandwich, friendly and knowledgeable staff
Cons: only in Chicago, not centrally located, opens at 11am
Guest
iojove
Points +46
Oh, Chicago Diner... How I Miss Thee!!! - Edit
Having lived in Chi-town for over 7 years, I have been to the Diner countless times both with vegetarians and meat-eaters. I've never found anything to complain about there, nor has anyone that I ate there with. It is an absolute beacon for vegetarians and vegans. I had a rule that anytime I went there, I had to get dessert, no matter how full I was! 'Tis true, some of the cakes can be a bit dry.... the carrot cake, however, is to die for! Also, if you order them ala mode (they typically carry vanilla and chocolate vegan ice cream, although they sometimes run out), the cakes are simply divine.
Read moreThe charm of this place is that it even exists... perhaps it's "greasy spoon" appeal is lost on some, but for those of us who have been vegetarian and/or vegan for the better part of our lives, it's just great to have this experience that we normally get left out of. Clearly, no one should go there expecting a gourmet meal... just some darn good veggie fare that's loaded with protein (the only reason I can think for any vegetarian to eat "fake meat") and flavor! I've never had a dish there I didn't like, but here are some of my favs:
Vegan Reuben
Vegan Lasagne (on request, they can make it w/vegan cheese)
Seitan Caesar Salad
Lemon Ambrosia Cake
Cookies and Cream Cake
Carrot Cake
Also, when they have them, their Cobblers are AWESOME!!!!!
The Chicago Diner is the #1 thing that I miss about the States now that I'm living in Japan :-(
Pros: Great food (esp. desserts!), Great people (not the kiss-your-ass type, Private patio seating when it's warm
Cons: Can get crowded- avoid usual busy hours, Sometimes run out of vegan ice cream :(
Guest
rccourtney
Points +102
pretty good - Edit
The food is pretty good and the menu expansive. Also, they have many dessert options. I hate to offer criticism of an all veg restaurant but the cakes tend to be on the dry side and I wish they would offer more dishes that don't center on fake meat.
Read moreI have been here many many times and i will go again. The service is hit or miss. At times we have had appetizers arrive at the same time as our meal and our drinks not refilled until we directly asked a passing waiter. Other times the service has been excellent.
I love the choc chip soy ice cream, the french onion soup, the mashed potatoes and the biscuits and gravy.
Pros: wide selection, vegan desserts, all vegetarian restuarant
Cons: dry cakes, too much fake meat
Guest
berserker29
Points +28
Great - Edit
I have heard a lot about Chicago Diner and was very excited to go on a weekend vacation to Chicago. The food was great. We went for dinner. Their BBQ Jerk Sandwich is to die for. We got the nachos as an appetizer and they were ok. The highlight of the visit was the PB cookie dough shake!! I can't even explain the tastiness of this thing!! Get it! The staff was great, they refilled our water glasses diligently and they were very helpful. Before leaving, we are going back for Brunch and expect it to be just as great, if not better, than dinner was. Chicago Diner has a great atmosphere and became very busy while we were there.
Read morePros: Shakes, Atmosphere, Menu
Cons: Some Dishes are expensive
Guest
mourn-me-in-skirt
Points +46
so-so - Edit
The food here is really so-so. They don't have anything on the menu that I can't cook better myself at home, and that for me is a major bad mark against a vegetarian restaurant. Service was terrible-- impossible to get my waitress to get more water for the table, because she was busy being "cool" in some corner.
Read moreGuest
TucsonxRob
Points +51
the place to go in chicago - Edit
One of the best vegan burgers i have ever had. definitely make it a point to stop here if you're visiting the windy city.
Read moreGuest
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