- 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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283 Reviews
First Review by amargrav
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
noah
Points +71
the spot - Edit
go here. its amazing. it truly is one of the best in the country. i eat here many times during my 2 weeks of work in the chi-town area, and did not mind driving in for this place. great food, good service, amazing desert options. everything about it is a plus. vegan french toast. amazing.
Read morePros: everything
Cons: nothing
Guest
gr8vegan
Points +2369
The Best of the Best in Chicago (get the Rueben) - Edit
The Chicago Diner is the staple vegan restaurant in Chicago. You must go here if its the only place you can go while you're in town. Breakfast / Lunch or Diner it won't disappoint. I am updating my previous review to tell the story of the Radical Rueben sandwich. I had pilfered a small laminated picture menu months ago from my last trip and I had been staring at this picture of the marbled rye bread with sliced seitan almost daily. (I honestly don't know much about sauerkraut) Finally after a last minute late night trip up to Chicago the Rueban and my destiny were finally realized. The combination of the sliced seitan and thousand island dressing and marbled rye bread is out of this world. I've been eating at Chicago Diner for over 5 years and have never had this sandwich until now. It is so fantastic it compelled me to delete my previous review so I could write this new one highlighting its tastiness.
Read morePros: Rueben, open until 11pm, large selection
·X·
Yeah I watched you eat that and didn't recognize it's goodness until I got it this week, HOLY MOTHER that's good, my new favorite!!!
Read moreGuest
Deano
Points +123
one of the very best - Edit
Fantastic food. Good atmosphere. Relaxed staff. Good value. What are you waiting for?
Read moreThis place kicks ass. The portions are huge and the food is gob-smackingly good. The nachos to start will live long in the memory - but be wary of some very hot sauce in there. Main courses such as lasagne, burgers and the Philly cheese steak are also highly recommended. And as for the vegan chocolate chip "cheese" cake..... It's so good it should come with a warning.
Pros: Top food, Laid back staff, You can buy the recipe book
Guest
nessers
Points +40
Disappointing... - Edit
Was REALLY disappointed in the food and service.
Read moreHad a trip planned for months to visit Chicago and I was really looking forward to our stop here, was supposed to be one of the highlights of my trip. Food was bland, fake meat was similar to what I purchase at the market, service was not great. Perhaps I've been spoiled by Native Foods in CA...really wanted this one to be great. I was quite sad about it, actually. :(
Guest
JPOrchanian
Points +27
What a great place! - Edit
Wow! When we went to the Diner, we felt bad because we walked in at 9:30 and they close at 10. Our guilt was quickly put to rest as the wait staff quickly sat us at a cozy booth. They were super friendly the whole time, and even offered to refill our drinks at the stroke of 10. We declined and left, not wanting to keep them late, but the gesture was appreciated.
Read moreI got the Gyro, and they somehow managed to get the texture and flavor of gyro meat pretty darn close. And their sweet potato fries complemented it excellently.
The chicago diner is a fun place, in a diverse neighborhood, with excellent tasting food.
Pros: Great Food, Great service, Great Atmosphere
Cons: only open till 10
Guest
beatsutra
Points +37
great food - Edit
This is seriously some of the best vegan food I've had! The seitan is my favorite- even my meat-eating friends enjoyed it. Portions are very large, you might want to split with someone if you plan on dessert!
Read morePros: large menu, delicious
Cons: a bit expensive, crowded
Guest
condekedar
Points +9560
Solid place - Edit
This is a landmark restaurant for vegetarians in Chicago. While the food (for me) has been hit or miss, its wide array of choices, great staff and cool atmosphere make it a great place to visit. The cheesecake here is probably the best I've ever had, vegan or otherwise. Also try the hot chocolate! Anything that sounds bland probably IS bland on their menu; on the other hand, anything that sounds exotic or and tasty is probably exotic and spicy and tasty. Portion sizes are huge, so expect to take home plenty of leftovers. Prices are high, but the portion sizes more than make up for that.
Read morePros: Big menu, Service
Cons: Bland food sometimes, High cost
Guest
amargrav
Points +60
food review - Edit
Food was excellent and came out incredibly fast. Lots of choices that I have never seen in any other restaurant. The food is a little spicy though. The Dagwood sandwich is amazing. Breakfast was a bit of a let down. Biscuits and gravy were ok but didn't really taste like biscuits and gravy.
Read morePros: many vegan options, great service, food came out fast
Cons: spicy
Guest
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