It's not often that I would consider moving to a new city just for the food, but Alice & Friends' made me carefully weigh the pros and cons. The entirely plant based menu is varied, whimsical, and intentional, and the staff are just glorious. Once seated our server inquired whether we had had the pleasure of dining at Alice & Friends' before, and upon discovering it was our first visit delightedly offered suggestions for our optimal enjoyment. The outcome: -Laksa: Malaysian noodle soup with a coconut curry broth, served with a variety of vegetables, tofu, and vegan shrimp. What? Yes. So good. -Heavenly curry: magical curry base (coconut milk, coriander, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, turmeric), chickpeas, and lots of hearty veggies including sweet potato, served over perfectly chewy brown rice. -Raw tiramisu: I can't even. Espresso, chocolate, cream, crust. Just get it. The decor (like the restaurant) is based on Alice in Wonderland, with lots of anthropomorphized friends to appreciate. Pricing is reasonable for the quality and the quantity. If ever I move to Chicago just know it's entirely to be closer to Alice and her friends. read more

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First, I'm an idiot. I've lived near this restaurant OVER 20 years, but have never come here. Happy to report, no longer an idiot. I came here with a vegan friend and an omnivore friend. Typically, I reject these dietary labels, as what we all eat is food. Simply food. However, I'm also not someone who is all "OH EW, VEGAN STUFF, NO." I will not only never say that, but I will ALWAYS try something new. You should too. ON TO THE FOOD. I had heard talk of their Ramen, so I immediately ordered that. OH MY GAWD. It is so good. It tastes like "regular" ramen, but is 100% vegan. There was a strip of stuff (it was seitan) that looked like the pork belly that typically comes in Tonkatsu ramen. How is this not meat?! It was SO GOOD and had the texture of meat. But it wasn't meat. The broth is silky smoove, savory and . . . my gawd, I drank every single drop. The noodles and veg things that typically come in ramen were there, and just delicious. Writing this review, I am now craving this ramen. I took home an additional order of this ramen for my BF and he became obsessed as well! We had a couple other appetizers that were fantastic too! Some breaded mushroom app that was super tasty. I'm typically not a breaded food fan, but this was light and crispy and really tasty. The interior is spare, uncluttered, full of light and spotlessly clean. The staff is so helpful, friendly, and earnest with answering any questions. No booze, it's BYOB, but they have a lot of Kombuchas to try! A neighborhood gem that I will now keep in rotation when dining out. read more

Tl;dr the food here is really great, even if you're not a vegan. Portions are pretty generous, and the menu is wide-ranging. Highly recommend the crab rangoon + soulful platter. ===== Stopped by one weekend near opening and was able to get seated right away! They have a good number of tables outside and inside and seem overall fairly popular since there were already a few tables before us. The menu is huge and had seemed to be mostly Asian-ish, with some other items sprinkled in. We ordered: - crab rangoon - 5/5 - very tasty and light, sauce was a great complement - soulful platter with 'chicken' wing - 4.5/5- loved the variety of components. The 'chicken' wing was a highlight and had great texture and flavor; cornbread was also really tasty. Mac and cheese had a strong nutritional yeast flavor, which I enjoyed, but kind of wish it were more cheesy. Mashed potatoes were ok. Generous portion of collard greens. - mush love - 3/5 - huge portion, but the breading was very thick and crunchy. I wish the individual pieces were split up more and the breading a bit lighter; i also wish the sauce were the same as the one for the crab rangoon. This one was more of a bbq. Definitely would come back to try more items on the menu! I was intrigued by the drinks, though they were extremely expensive (e.g. 9$+). Staff were friendly, and I appreciate the disclaimer on the menu that they pay their staff a livable wage. read more

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Many vegan restaurants only focus on the vegan aspect of their food. Alice & Friends is different. They also care about food sensitivities. They understand that just because food is vegan doesn't mean it's healthy for everyone. They have a terrific menu (all dairy free of course) with tons of gluten free, nut free, and even garlic/onion free options. Their menu is clearly labeled with all of the symbols noted above, but they also provide a cheat sheet to help you look for exactly what you need to avoid when ordering your food. The food was amazing! Creative, tasty, and beautifully presented. They have three locations in the Chicago area. We wish we were gonna be here in town to try all three but we'll just have to work our way through them in in order. Michael Angel was our server and he was fantastic. Can't say enough about Alice & Friends. Highly recommend. read more

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We were so happy to discover this gem in uptown! Our family wishes there were more vegan/vegetarian restaurants in Chicago! Sad to recently witness at least 3 vegan restaurant closures in our Logan Square neighborhood. Everything at Alice & Friends was super tasty and fresh! Also impressive presentations. Our server Abi was very well informed and her recommendations were spot on. Even our meat and potatoes friend from Minnesota was enjoying everything. We look forward to returning, especially exploring their dessert menu that we are told is amazingly delicious. It's byo, so we brought our favorite beer. They do charge 25 cents for to go containers, but they give 15 cents credit for customers who bring their own container to pack leftover food. read more

I tried this place for the first time this evening. I was impressed by the wings, the texture and presentation are similar to chicken wings! I do not care for the bbq sauce, it has a sharp bite at the end and no sweetness like bbq sauce. The Kung Pao Ding; for the sauce I was expecting a slightly tangy flavor with maybe a little heat but it was not that. The sauce feels sticky, thick, and the flavor is flat. The protein tasted over cooked to me. I also ordered a couple drinks that I've never tried before to test them out. The flavored water tastes like there's stevia in it, a weird after taste. The cardamom grape was not as sweet as I was hoping, and a very faint flavor. It's very possible I just chose the wrong items for my taste buds. But these were my first impressions on this order. read more

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Overall, it was a great for my first vegan restaurant experience in Chicago. Staff was friendly. Casual, clean, and relaxing interior. The dishes were pretty tasty. read more

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This place has such a cool vibe and the food is delicious, I split an app and an entree with my daughter and we were stuffed. Got a piece of cheesecake to go and ate it for breakfast the next day. The cheesecake was probably the best vegan cheesecake I have ever eaten. The service was amazing and the decor so whimsical and clever! The only downside was it was pretty pricey. But worth it for a fantastic vegan meal. Will definitely be putting this on my list of restaurants to frequent when I'm in Chicago. read more

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I remain a huge fan but ordering in last night was a disappointment. I'm sharing this as feedback because I hope this was one-off. The kung pao that I so adore here had barely any sauce or flavor this time; and the rice served with it didn't seem fresh - it was clumpy and dried up. The summer rolls were excellent! read more

Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen - Rainbow Roll - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was my third time here and it did not disappoint. The plating was good and the food is always packed with flavor! The Tonkatsu and fried rice were exceptional! I would recommended this place to everyone, even those who aren't vegan. read more

Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food... And great staff... I love this place we have taken non-Vegan family members there and they also love it Wide variety of choices for kids and adults and great desserts read more

I loved this place setting that they had all vegan menu that had my head spin! We ordered two different ramen and I was very indecisive due to so many options that I didn't know what to order so I just ordered the Korean BBQ which was good I think I would've like to have ordered something else. Service was awesome as they also provided dessert which was vegan I've cream which was good because the weather was pretty hot and humid at the time we went. There were so many good things on their menu that I need to come again and try what else they have to offer but for my first time here, I'm loving all the vegan options in the menu! read more

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Delicious casual vegan meal. Had a short few hours in Chicago and came here for dinner. Wife and I each got an appetizer-I got their buffalo drum sticks which were somehow gluten free and delicious. For my entree, I got the bimbibab or however you spell it, with tofu. Would have liked a meat alternative but other than those drumsticks, which are brought in frozen and premade and therefore, the "meat" cannot be used in an entree-only the tofu was gluten free. Although I mixed in tamari and sirahcha, this was delicious. The hot pit crisped the rice perfectly and the veggies and tofu were cooked really well. We also got their raw berry cheese cake and a scoop of soy vanilla ice cream for dessert. The crust of the cheesecake wasn't really good but everything else was excellent. Service was great with a lot of good suggestions and he was very friendly. The place isn't much to describe. Just a very casual interior with an Alice in wonderland motif. Cute, but not a place you come for the ambiance. You come for the food and service. read more

While the ambiance is blasé and the service when I was there was standard, the food was so fantastic that I easily give A&F's a 5-star rating. Great, GREAT food. And a friend with whom I was traveling (a carnivore) loved his meal too! I had the Banh Mi. Totally yummy. I want to take this place home with me! read more

We were blown away by the great food and the friendly staff! The Bahn Mi was super tasty and the egg salad vegan sandwich on texas bread was delicious plus the tofu appetizer was perfectly prepared. read more

Always so delicious! Can't say enough good things about the food. Truly impossible to choose b/c there are so many delicious options. The Laksa, the ramen, the Golden Breeze, the Banh Mi, I could go on. Also, the hostess and servers are always so kind and welcoming. This will always be a favorite spot of mine! read more

I'm vegetarian and this place has been on my list for sooo long. I should not have waited so long! Their menu is incredible. They have a ton of options using mushrooms which I love, and they make their sauces in house. I could drink the peanut sauce!! Also the inside is adorable with Alice in Wonderland themed paintings and quotes on the walls. This might be my new favorite spot! I literally wanted to try every single thing on the menu so ordering was very difficult. They don't serve alcohol but they have a lot of fun drink options. I got the lychee sparkling water! For dinner, I chose to try two apps. Their special for the week was fried enoki mushrooms. The did an incredible job with the crispiness on this. I preferred the lower part where you got more of the meaty mushroom compared to the top which was mostly just fried batter. Definitely order a sauce to go with this, too! Then I tried the spring rolls with steamed tofu and peanut sauce. I loved the variety of veggies in the spring roll. I've never seen one with beets! It was really good. I'm already planning to come back so I can try more of their dishes! read more

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Pretty good vegan food. Not into the fake meat stuff, but good salads and apps that were all veggie based. The desserts were a bit pricey so I'd don't try but they looked good. read more

I went to Alice and Friends with 2 others on Friday around 5 pm. We were immediately seated and the waitress was quick to bring waters and a water bottle for the table. The menu itself has a large variety of options. I went with the Korean BBQ, while one person went with the shrimp, and the other got the heavenly curry. Everyone loved the food. The Korean bbq emulated meat very well, and the flavors were amazing. The food portion was great, especially for the price point. The ambiance of the restaurant was casual and cozy. The ambiance coupled with the friendly staff and great menu makes me very excited to go again next time I'm in Chicago. read more

Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen - Korean B.B.Q. - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is so lovely. The inside has plenty of seating with some outdoor seating as well. I came to try the dessert and loved both of what my friend and I got a lot. I'd love to come back and try some of the actual food one day! read more

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First off the place is so cute! The lamps and the jazz music is very much my vibe. The menu has so many good options. I got the dol sot bibimbap and it was delectable. So flavorful and LOVED the crispy rice on the bottom. read more

Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen - Dol Sot Bi Bim Bab, Roasted Sesame Miso Ramen, Wonton Soup - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been here a few times and while it is a lil on the higher side money wise it is very tasty and I feel confident the food is excellent quality! I recommend blissful joy, and the satay skewers, and the corn chowder is amazing! Customer service is above and beyond. I brought my daughter for her birthday and they made it super special:). I wish I lived closer! Of course what's pictured is amazing! I was hoping for eggless salad but they were out when we were there last. Next time! read more

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Delicious! Vegan menus often feel intimidating to meat-eaters but Alice's has something familiar for everyone, minus animal products. Had spring rolls and the Noble Burger, both of which were excellent. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. Most items can be modified to accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions for those with allergies or specific needs. Portions are large enough to satisfy a serious appetite. Restaurant is clean with limited seating; preorder/takeout is available. Considering a Meatless Monday? Definitely try this place. read more

Definitely a place im going back to i been wanting to come here but haven't had the time to. It was so much to pick from so i got a few things even though i wasn't hungry. The food was really good the staff was super nice and the environment of the place was nice i hope the open another location closer to the south side. read more

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This might be my favorite restaurant ever. As a vegan it's amazing, but every non-vegan person I've brought here has also loved it. I really appreciate the well-labeled menu when it comes to allergens and other dietary preferences. You can tell the food here is made from scratch with love. I also love that you can stop in and just order a dessert to go from their bakery case. read more

Alice & Friends did the impossible: made me like TVP. I've always found it to be one of the more underwhelming meat substitutes, not helped at all by its industrial name (short for textured vegetable protein, in case you didn't know). But something about how they prepared it in their Kung Pao TVP made it exactly the right choice for that dish - kind of like layered, firmer tofu without that thick sponginess. And I really appreciated how they did NOT turn the kung pao sauce into something sweet and cornstarchy. They let it be spicy and nutty as it is intended to be, and threw plenty of vegetables in. Their spicy dumpling sauce is also S-P-I-C-Y! They warned me, which I kind of brushed off because I've spent a lot of time in Southeast Asia getting my ass kicked by all kinds of hot peppers and that experience is very rarely repeated in Chicago. This sauce made me cry and sweat. However, the dumplings themselves are forgettable; you could probably get them in a freezer section somewhere. I also like the desserts, but give me anything cold and cashew or coconut cream based and I'm sold. read more

This is one of my top five favorite restaurants now! I was craving something light yet delicious and wow am I blown away. I couldn't imagine vegetables could be so good. Everything I tasted here was amazing and I honestly wish I could eat the entire menu in one sitting. I'm so excited to go back and try more things. The carrot cake was extremely delicate, the soup had the most perfect tasting dumplings and the mushrooms!!! Literally thought it was chicken. Our server was very kind and the inside is so cute. I love the alice and wonderland theme. There is plenty of seating and overall vibes are chill. Can't wait to come by again!! read more

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I just finished having lunch at Alice and friends. The food was amazing. The Kung pow dish and the vegan pho were amazing.

Update: we went to Alice & Friends again tonight and the food was the best it's ever been there (we've been several times!). The laksa with rice noodles is excellent and gf, perfect spice and so flavorful and the vegan shrimp?! So creative. I am vegan but my husband is omni and developed a shrimp allergy and was thrilled to be able to enjoy it again. The kombucha and drink options in general are super tasty and unique. The raw tiramisu is gluten free and out of this world good. We'll be back soon! read more

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I love this place! The menu is amazing and they put so much care into what they do. Five stars!

Love this spot! Great food and really delicious desserts. The staff is kind as well. Will be back! read more

Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really incredible food here, I've had almost everything here and have not had a single bad dish. Even my grandmother loves it and doesn't miss the meat! The tonkutso ramen is one of my favorites along with the laksa. Really nice comforting soups at this time of year. read more

Really worth checking out! Have had some friends tell me about this spot for a while, I'm not Vegan. Tried it today and wow! Some of the best spring rolls around town by far. Everything was super fresh and delicious. Staff was really friendly and helpful. Place is very clean read more

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Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, with excellent service and amazing food. They don't take reservations but we showed up with a party of 13 people on a Sunday and we had no problem getting a table that fit all of us, we didn't even have to wait. All of our food was brought out quickly after we ordered it, and it was absolutely delicious. The appetizers were just as good, if not better, than the actual entrees. I also recommend any of the desserts on the menu. They even have mango lassi. I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking... read more

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My second review from 2023 when I gave 5 stars but this time it dropped to 3 stars. Food was not as I remembered in 2023. I'm from Cali and I was so excited to visit this spot again but disappointed with the food. The only thing I really enjoyed was the fried wontons -- not sure if that's the correct name but they were delicious. The other items were mediocre. The service was amazing and the ambiance was great. Don't think I will be back, however, I wish them the best read more

My girlfriend and I were in Chicago recently and stopped in here for dinner. Easily one of the best vegan restaurants we've ever been to. The food was outstanding, and the servers were extremely friendly and helpful in giving us recommendations. We shared the Bi Bim Bap and the Kung Pao Ding; so good!! The place is also very cute and cozy in an unassuming spot in Edgewater. Can't wait to go back and try more off the menu! read more

great service with a cool menu! i appreciate how the menu is designed to be as allergen/gluten free-friendly as possible and our server had knowledge of each dish's ingredients. highly recommend the sweet and sour cauliflower!! read more

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Alice & Friends is about the best an all vegan restaurant can get. It has been one of the best in Chicago for a long time now, and the food is a standard bearer for local plant based restaurants. Lots of things for vegans and more specific dietary needs like gluten, oil free, and such. Has everything from milkshakes to poke bowls. The prices are fine considering the hard work the kitchen puts into everything to make high quality plant based options. Being here quite a few times, I'm familiar with much of the menu by now and what's good and isn't. It's easy to figure out: it's all good in here mofo. There's almost something for any particular type of taste. Cool off with a Banana Chocolate Shake, made with non dairy milk. This is thick like the real thing. Feeling like something fishy? Maybe get the Chana Poke Bowl, which features kind of a substitute for tuna. It's about $12, which is a good price for a fairly large amount. This has avocados, brown rice, chana masala, cucumbers, purple cabbage, and tomatoes. Also lots of desserts. These always look good but these get expensive, keeping me from buying too much and becoming a fatass. Has lots of good choices for anyone with allergens. It does gluten free, and more. There's almost something for everyone plant based or for whoever. read more

Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen - Banana Chocolate Shake And Chana Poke Bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We stopped into Alice & Friends while wandering around Edgewater one Saturday afternoon and were so pleasantly surprised at how delicious this restaurant is. It's perhaps one of the best vegan restaurants I've been to! I'm also a sucker for Alice in Wonderland so the decor was a big plus for me. The menu is varied but mostly focuses on East and Southeast Asian dishes. I was intrigued by many of the menu options but I let cravings guide my ordering and got two random and not complementary items: pan-fried dumplings and corn chowder. They're two of my favorite foods, so why not? The dumplings were fresh and delicious, and the corn chowder was perhaps the best I've ever had. It was reassuring to know there wouldn't be any hidden bacon in the chowder! I'm really looking forward to going back to Alice & Friends more frequently, particularly as I now live close by. read more

This is a wonderful fusion vegan restaurant that truly fills all those cravings while having that unique aspect of "is this really vegan?!". As a fellow lover of all asian cuisine, this place came as a pleasant surprise! I'll definitely be coming back to try their other items, I got one of their noodle dishes and it was really good. My bestie and I split some dessert items and they were wonderful! read more