philly cheesesteak egg rolls? say less. the menu was huge and everything looked so good but as soon as i saw the philly egg rolls i knew i had to get them. we ordered the philly cheesesteak egg rolls which come with fries, the big mik with fries, the banana pudding, cookies, and a mango peach lemonade. the food was cheesy, greasy, and delicious. i loved the sweet chili sauce on the egg rolls but also ordered a side of ranch to dip them in too. unfortunately the ranch had no flavor but it was creamy. It needed garlic, parsley, and salt at least! i also ordered lemon pepper seasoning on the fries ($1.50 up charge) but they just gave me plain fries. the fries were soft but that's how i like them. the mango peach lemonade was not overly sweet and didn't taste artificially flavored. the cookies were a good way to end the meal. they were soft and chocolatey but could have used a little more salt to mimic a buttery flavor. i recommend checking your order thoroughly before you leave because we were missing our ranch, banana pudding (they ended up being out), and my fries weren't seasoned. also because i ordered online and used apple pay, it didn't ask me for a tip, which i felt bad about so we ordered cookies when we got there to leave a tip on. something to look out for when online ordering. i didn't go in but my partner said it's a small space so maybe better for take out but they do have a bar and some seating. read more

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The food is mediocre at best, though I think it fills a very important niche in Hyde Park for vegan/vegetarian food. Typically, I do not enjoy imitation meat, which is perhaps why I am the wrong audience for this restaurant. On occasion, however, I have been highly impressed by high-quality imitation meat dishes (Veggie House in Chinatown comes to mind), and was eager to see if CBINM would do something similarly fantastic with imitation meat. I had read several fawning reviews online, and was prepared to be impressed. I was also especially eager to support a vegan/vegetarian eatery. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. The gyro and the Big MIK were soggy and underwhelming. The prices are super high for what you get, though the biggest positive about this place is that they constantly have deals and promotions that make getting food from here more affordable. This is a takeout place and not a sit-down restaurant, so there is no ambience to speak of. The servers are nice. Overall, I am not sure if I will return: some of the options on the menu look great, and I'm hoping that just one bad experience with the food doesn't mean that the food is always poor here. Three stars because the restaurant fills a niche in the Hyde Park market, is relatively affordable if you have a coupon, and finally, is appealing to people who enjoy imitation meat. read more

This is a walk in location with outdoor seating. The Philly cheesesteak is flavorful- but hold the peppers of you can't handle them. The fries are crispy and seasoned. My mind was blown with the cheesesteak eggrolls. Vegan or not- they are a must try with the sauce. The flavored lemonade washed everything down with a perfect balance that wasn't too sweet. I'll be back next time I'm in Chicago. read more

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Smh. I've have order from here several times. However, my order from yesterday 6/19/26 was horrible on Juneteeth. I order the Philly Chimichanga cheesecake and Stawberry Field Salad both was awful. The Philly Chimichanga was made different not the same ingredients, the chef create a whole different menu. Whoever they have for chef is going to cost their business. The added tomato, lettuce, mixed peppers, and the meat was a thick hamburger. The fries had dump seasons and salt which could cause a heart attack for those of diabetes. The Stawberry Salad had only stems to eat, the strawberry dressing was horrible along with salad. I will not be returning, they truly lost a customer. The owner needs to pay attention to what is being served and how the food don't match with the menu. Hopefully the owner get it together because this a lawsuit waiting to happen. read more

Delicious vegan food. I had the buffalo shrimp and my daughter had the Philly cheesesteak. Great service and nice outside seating area. read more

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Went here with Hubby and it was amazing! We shared the big Mik, it was huge! So yummy! Good flavor and juicy! The fries were good too! We shared a fresh made mango lemonade! It was a beautiful day to sit outside too! Our cashier was awesome, she offered to cut the burger in half since we were sharing. Thank you! read more

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No sit down area, strictly walk in and pick up your food. Absolutely amazed by the menu options! I ordered the Chik'N Birria Tacos for myself and they were decent! I ended up taste testing the Egg Rolls with fries (seasoned with what seems like Old Bay?) and those were BOMB!!! Would love to go back and try the rest of the options on the menu! Good came out very quickly. Small building but inviting on the inside. Also splurge a little and taste the banana pudding! So good! read more

Yum! Yum! SO GOOD! Howwwwww is this vegan?! The loaded fries, pizza poof and burger are all absolutely to live for!!! The pizza puff is actually my fave! You also have to get one of the shakes! Please go and see for yourself! You won't believe it's not meat either!!! read more

Can't believe it's not meat - BETTER than meat! This is the CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S A PIZZA POOF! Yummmahh! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing burger...quick service a little pricey! They have a small outdoor seating area, not recommended for sitting to relax and enjoy.

I so wish I could leave a good review, Vegan restaurants aren't easy to come by... but I have to be fair and honest about my experiences. The food I've eaten from here has been awful. My third and final experience ended up being a disappointment. I've had the gyro, awful. Flavor was bad and made me nauseous. There was season salt on the seasoned fries. What person in their right mind adds salt to seasoned fries? That's super unhealthy. And a sign of a pure ignorance or a mental health issue. I've also had the Pizza Poof, yuck. It has no marinara sauce or any flavor at all. And the actual pizza, which I had most recently was cooked with one of the worse vegan cheeses on the market. Sooooo disappointed on how bad it was considering Chicago is known for pizza. It needs to be taken it off the menu. I will NEVER eat here again. The quality is lacking. Over hyped, over priced and over rated... read more

I love this place. It's just hits the mark It's casual food done well full of favor and you never miss the meat. The one thing I've had that I didn't really care for is the pizza but everything else has been great.. Philly cheesesteak sandwiches the egg rolls the hamburgers hotdog all really good. read more

It's nice to know there are meatless options south of the city. Though a bit on the slower side for my preference (I waited 20+ minutes for my order on a recent Monday night), the meal was worth the wait. First time eating vegan shrimp, which wasn't half bad! Fries were crispy, though I wish more fries came with the order given the price paid. Polite staff. Definitely will be back. read more

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My coworkers occasionally do a group lunch from time to time. One of them suggested we do a vegan/vegetarian option and try out Can't Believe It's Not Meat. My coworker swears by the philly cheesesteaks here and I for one enjoy a good philly and opted to order their "Hold up! Wait a min!" philly cheesesteak. Per the website, its made with: "Meatless protein topped with red lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, onions, mushrooms, vegan mayo, and your choice of vegan mozzarella cheese or dairy mozzarella cheese. Served with bed of seasoned fries." I was so glad I got this because it was worth ordering. It was delicious and tasted just like a philly cheese steak with great flavor and good breading. You couldn't even tell the difference and that's what makes it so good! Hence the name of the restaurant with food having you saying, "I can't believe it's not meat!" The fries were decent but like other reviewers had mentioned there is a lack of additional sides other than fried stuff. For liquids, I tried out their "Cookie Monster" shake. That was okay too but it sorta had a weird gassy aftertaste. Overall it's a great place and will keep it on my takeout rotation. read more

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Don't come expecting healthy whole food options. Real vegans come for fast junk food cravings, messy burgers, phillies, eggrolls etc. I try to get something different every time I go, and my meat-eating friends always say the burger tastes like real beef! I was craving a juicy, messy burger and my goddaughter was asking for McDonald's -so we ended up here, lol. I had to try the Who Betta burger! I'm not sure if they use impossible patties, which I don't eat because of soy content and GMOs - but I tried it anyway! It was definitely giving "real" burger vibes, especially after someone told me theirs tasted like a black bean burger -which this does NOT! It satisfied my craving, with all the fresh toppings. But $20 for a burger & fries was a bit steep for the quality. The fries were honestly mediocre, they seemed like seasoned frozen french fries, which was disappointing but my 3y/o goddaughter devoured them though... Handcut or better quality fries please! read more

Can't believe it's not meat - Who betta burger - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time spending an afternoon down in Hyde Park, but it definitely won't be the last! Can't Believe it's Not Meat is a unique, innovative spin on vegan food, moving away from more Thai-oriented dishes, instead opting for familiar American style dishes in a vegan package. The Philly Cheese Steak Egg Rolls were such a cool idea, taking a familiar favorite and turning it into something completely different. The flavors were absolutely spot on, with melty, vegan cheese improving upon the Philly cheez-whiz topping. Definitely on the maybe-too-greasy side, but it is a Philly Cheese Steak after all. The Patty Melt was also delicious, a really great play on a pressed sandwich, with tons of flavor and impressive texture. The french fries, double-fried I'm pretty sure, were some of the very best I've had in the city (not to mention their homemade dipping sauce). A little less greasy, and perhaps a dollar or two cheaper per item, and this would almost certainly reach five stars for me. I know it's become a South Side staple, but I would love an outpost up here in Irving Park - this sort of thing simply doesn't exist up here. Really well done, we'll definitely be back! read more

Can't believe it's not meat - PHILLY CHEESESTEAK EGG ROLLS - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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3 years later and the love is the same! Sincerely, your #1 customer!! I've ordered from the Hyde park location at least 100 times over the last 3 years. From the "Who Betta Burger" being the BEST vegan burger in Chicago, to the Lasagna giving you a sense of nostalgia, there's truly no place like it. And the best part is that it's Black Owned!! I've encouraged so many of my University of Chicago family to try them out, meat eaters included, and now most people prefer their burgers over meat burgers. A few more items I'd love to highlight is the Pizza Poof, Philly Eggrolls, Chick'in nuggets, Chicago St Hot Dog, Meatball Sub, Cookie Monster Shake, and the Ms Patty Melt. I am hands down your #1 customer :) read more

Can't believe it's not meat - Lil Italy Lasagna - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love a good old fashioned sandwich. Every time I get this hoagie, it makes me happy. It has the right amount of veggies, meat, condiments, and bread. The Hyde Park location is definitely my favorite. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Can't believe it's not meat - The best hoagie ever - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a great vegan food place! I would recommend ordering ahead online. The gumbo is my favorite item. It is super flavorful and it has a nice kick to it as well. I also like the patty melt. I tried the philly steak rolls and they were okay. Less is more and if I order the steak rolls again, I would ask for the sauce on the side. I would like to see more side options offered. Fries is pretty much their only side item. While fries taste good, being vegan you can get tired eating them. I love how it is a black owned business as well! read more

This my one favorite place to go to eat ate it for first time really good. Have some Philly cheesesteak and fries was good.

This place was suggested to me by my Lyft driver, who's been vegan for the better of 10 years and said this was a great place in Hyde Park. I tried the gumbo and egg rolls. The gumbo could've had more flavor maybe even more spice because I could taste how generic the shrimp was, but the eggrolls were pretty decent. They have a small seating area outside, so a lot of people just come take it to go and very well should because shortly after I was harassed and stalked by a crackhead couple, I thought I was gonna have to fight. Kind of pricey for that experience, especially for the drinks. I went next-door to Target to buy a drink. read more

Can't believe it's not meat - GUMBO & GARLIC BREAD - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not a vegan but came here with a vegan Cons: the restaurant is small and there's no place to sit down and eat. There's a few small tables outside but obviously that's not for most of the year. Parking also isn't the best in that whole street. Pros: it is amazing!!! If we had places like this everywhere it would be easy to be vegan. The chicken from the I can't believe it's not canes taste pretty similar to real chicken and the Philly melt taste exactly like a real one and real steak! The food cost a little more than the average fast food. Vegan food usually cost more which sucks because eating healthier costs more, but this place is deff worth it for vegans/ vegetarians and even people that don't eat plant base foods. read more

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The Buffalo Fried Chicken was delicious; I just wish it came with a spicier sauce option. It's very mild as is. The fries are yum. The berry shake is delicious but not thick, like I like my shakes. It's also small for the price point. Who Betta Burger was a sloppy good mess! I hate a dry burger. This was juicy with the right amount of sauce. I added bacon but discovered that I'm not a fan of their bacon. Chicken sandwich was delicious. The addition of the honey mustard really sets it off! Buffalo Chicken sandwich was also delicious. Buffalo Shrimp had good flavor but I disliked the rubbery consistency of the shrimp. They'd fare better with a yam based vegan protein shrimp. Even though I didn't love everything I had here, it's pretty freakin amazing for vegan junk food. There have been new additions since I last visited, so I'm excited to try more of their menu. read more

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Delivery of delicious plant based options. I had the Philly cheese "steak" and a gyro. Both fresh and hot with delicious seasonings and veggies. Nice portions, good fries. read more

Ordered lunch from here. I had the "Hold Up! Wait a Min!" Philly cheesesteak, my colleagues had the "Who Betta" burger and Patty melt. My colleague enjoyed her burger and my other colleague said the patty melt was delicious but a bit salty. This was my first time ordering from a vegan place and wow! I could not tell the Philly cheesesteak did not have meat! It was topped with jalapeños, lettuce, and tomatoes. This was delicious and the next time I will try something else. read more

Can't believe it's not meat - "Hold Up! Wait a Min!" Philly Cheesesteak - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the chikn birria tacos and philly eggrolls with fries. Both were served hot and delicious. Almost ordered another round of the birria tacos to go! Service was polite and quick. Seating area outside was perfect for our pick up order as well. Would definitely come back here when visiting Chicago. read more

The best vegan/meat alternative in the entire city!! They live up to their name because in initially trying, I literally could not believe it was not meat. The food was tasty, the service was friendly, and I received my food promptly. I highly recommend 'Can't Believe it's Not Meat' for all your vegan or veggie needs! Or if you are simply in the mood for supporting a Black Owned Business. You won't regret it and also may actually prefer to eat here than places that serve meat lol I was met with so many options as their menu had sooo many meatless faves from pizza puffs, 'wings', burgers, and even 'hot dogs'. I landed on the 'Philly Cheesesteak' rolls. When I say DELICIOUS!!!! It was jam packed with flavor, the roll has a good crunch/crisp, it was nice and cheesy and again, I could not believe it was not meat! It taste better than some philly cheesesteak rolls I have had with actual meat. I also appreciated that in ordering you had an option of vegan cheese or dairy cheese. Absolutely amazing! I highly recommend. Go get you some, support black owned businesses! read more

I had the Moonie's Sweet Steak. Even though it doesn't say it on the menu's description, it comes with fries. I didn't like it. I think this food is for new vegans/vegetarians or for people who hate vegan food lol. It tasted way too beefy for me. It made my stomach hurt honestly. I wouldn't eat this or any of their other vegan proteins again. I didn't like the fries either. The bread for the sandwich was good though. I think this place is for new converts or for people that are trying to eat less meat. For that it's probably great. For them, I'd give it 5 stars. For me, I'd give it 1 star. read more

Can't believe it's not meat - Moonie's Sweet Steak - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

OK, I'm going to start with my biggest complaint, and that is that they don't open until 4 PM on Saturdays. This is by far my best day to get up to the city, but that opening time makes it tricky. In fact, I would have made the trip a lot sooner if they had been open earlier. But when my husband and I actually had a Friday off together, we were able to get up there and finally try this restaurant. I had the POPS BIG FISH SANDWICH ($13.95), a vegan fish fillet topped with red leaf lettuce, tomatoes, house made tartar sauce , and your choice of cheese. My husband had the Patty Melt ($13.50), a Vegan Burger Patty, cheese, grilled onions, and vegan mayo on grilled wheat bread. Both of our entrees were delicious. They both came with fries, which were less than impressive. We'd ordered online, and I'd requested a side of mayo, but there wasn't any included with our order. read more

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I love this spot. It's a great option for vegans and folks who just want an animal free meal. The food is always great and the service is fast and efficient. I love the rewards program and I feel like I always have points to redeem after a few visits. read more

their house-made juices, especially the yellow one, is so addictive!!! the pink one is also really really good. read more

Can't believe it's not meat - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just like the title implies, you really won't believe it's not meat! Honestly, I thought they served me beef tacos.... the flavor and texture was so spot on. Everything on the menu looked amazing so I will definitely be back! read more

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Talk about a delicious alternative to eating meat. This place was suggested to me by one of my friends that has become a vegetarian and loves going here. Delivery or pick up is available, but prepare to wait because everything is cooked fresh when you order it. Saturday's can be tough because they are only open a few hours in the evening so EVERYONE is trying to order. The Big Mic - their version of a Big Mac sandwich. It tastes amazing. If you eat Turkey burgers, this will taste even better. Loaded fries - delicious. Philly cheesesteak - be sure to get cheese (I got extra). If not while the "meat" is good, I feel like it can be a little dry. Pizza poof - A very veggie version of a pizza puff! Lemonade - I'm not sure what they put in it, but it's to die for! This is a tiny place that lacks a big flavor punch! read more

Can't believe it's not meat - New Big Mik - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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1st time here. All I can say is that I am very impressed. We purchased. Chicken Philly Sandwich and the Big Mik Burger. And both of them tasted suspect. Meaning wayyy to close to meat. The name of the restaurant suits them. Now to get them to open a location in my neck of the woods. read more

Can't believe it's not meat - Big Mik Burger with vegan cheese - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time here. This is a to-go/delivery place. Got a vegan Philly cheesesteak and it was incredible. The seasoned fries they came with were really good too but they could have seasoned them more. Some weren't seasoned as much as others so the mixing could have been better for the ratio. I'm not sure why there is an up charge for vegan cheese vs. regular cheese since this is a vegan restaurant. I would have thought there may be an up charge for regular cheese not vegan cheese. Nonetheless, my order was great and can't wait to go back to try more menu items. read more

As the name of this place says, I just can't believe it. Can't Believe It's Not Meat is one of these all vegetarian places that seem to be popping up everywhere lately. It has a few locations including this one in Hyde Park. High prices are the only bad thing you'll get. There's pretend versions of burgers, hot dogs, and more. Going through Hyde Park we searched for vegan options and this was at the top of the list so we headed here. It looks a whole lot like a fast food place. There's a counter to order at and they call your name to pick your order up. Line wasn't that long but it still was a kind of long wait to get food. The cooking process is slower than fast food so don't be fooled by the looks, they actually do real cooking here. We went and placed orders. For drinks we chose the shakes because these all sounded good. It's $7 for most shakes, and these have no milk. These are a pretty big size so it's a good price for these. I had a Cookie Monster Shake because it sounded like the best. It's made with Oreos, vegan ice cream, and vegan whipped cream. This was kick ass cool literally. I had a Hot Diggity Chili Dog. It's $10.50 each. This has vegan chili, choice of cheese, and onions. It's vegan if you substitute the cheese. This is an additional charge, and this is how things add up. Be careful what you add. That already expensive meal will cost even more. She had some fake chicken sandwich that smelled good. This was about the same price as a hot dog and some others. Expensive but she says it was good. The prices are too high but you can't deny people like eating this kind of stuff. Has so much vegan food to choose from. It has options that before were impossible to get, like egg rolls made without eggs, and pizza puffs. The prices are very high for what looks like fast food but believe it has much better taste. read more

Can't believe it's not meat - Cookie Monster Shake And Hot Diggity Chili Dog - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered the Philly cheesesteak hoagie, the Philly cheesesteak eggrolls, chik'ins . The Philly cheesesteak hoagie and eggrolls were extremely good. I didn't like the chik'ins I did not like the texture. Overall I think everything was good the online ordering process was good. The estimated time for the order to be ready was not that good it took about 15 minutes longer than the time on the order. I am definitely going back for the Philly cheesesteak! read more

Can't believe it's not meat - Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you are newly vegan/vegetarian or a junk food vegan, you will probably like this place. If you are used to cleaner, lighter, healthier food, I would not recommend this, not even on a cheat day. Everything was a bit too heavy and too meaty and just left me feeling not that great. Lots of fried and cheesy options (you can choose between dairy cheese or plant-based). The woman at the counter was helpful and they have a pretty efficient ordering system. There are two tables to sit outside and eat, but otherwise, this is a takeout-only joint. read more

For reference I have anaphylactic allergies to tree nuts and sesame! This used to be a place I frequented and got the patty melt for takeout often. Upon one of my last bites recently, I found two sesame seeds on my sandwich - very anxiety inducing. Had they been on my sandwich the whole time and I didn't know? My bf called the restaurant to ask if there were supposed to be sesame seeds in what I ordered. The worker on the other end of the phone said "well if it was there it's probably supposed to be there". Very unhelpful and haven't eaten here since due to cross contamination and reckless unhelpful workers. read more

Great staff, variety of a menu with food that tastes good and the price is well worth the food choices. Parking is convenient. It's not sit down inside, but outside in a clean environment. read more

Whewwww this food was AMAZING have you ever had vegan philly cheese steaks egg rolls nom nom nom sooooo good! I ordered them for an appetizer but it's a full meal so I saved the rest for later, great snack. The Italian beef was good but I should of ordered the dip on the side it made the bread soggy and the sandwich really messy to eat. You better believe I'll be back to try more items on the menu. I love that it's in Hyde park it's such a vibe over there. The restaurant is small so there is no indoor seating they had a couple tables outside to eat at. Give them some time to put together your order we ordered online and still waited ten or so minutes but we used that time to walk around. read more

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