I was craving Nashville hot chicken while I visited Chicago and I saw some reviews praising how good the "chicken" sandwich was. I'm no vegetarian or vegan by any means, but I thought I had to give it a try because of those reviews. I read the description and I am a fan of the hen of the woods mushrooms, so I believed it would be good for sure and needless to say, it was great! The crazy thing is I didn't even have it fresh either. I was having so much trouble with transportation and accidentally ordered way too early. I didn't eat it until an hour and a half later when I got back to my hotel because it was getting so late. I don't think I thought it was great because I was hungry - I actually had a full meal before that. Anyway I had it cold and yeah it still blew me away, but I'm sure if I had it fresh out the kitchen it would've blown my mind and I would definitely come back again. The fries did get soggy however so nothing special about that. But they were seasoned well still! read more

Handlebar - Nashville Hot Fried "Chicken" - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Did. Not. Disappoint. I came by while traveling in Chicago and I heard this place was incredible for vegan food. I grabbed a table in the corner and ordered a few things. I got the Nashville vegan chicken sandwich, birria tacos, vegan Mac, and a salad. All were so delicious, especially the vegan nashville sandwich! For dessert, I had the berry cheesecake and a vegan hot chocolate with marshmallow. The cheesecake was incredible! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more

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updating my review now that we've had brunch at handlebar and all i can say is wow. filling, flavorful, and fun. the vegan chimichanga was giant and delicious. the queso and guac were great additions and the tortilla was fried to perfection. the vegan biscuits and gravy also hit the spot. we got there shortly after they opened at 9 on a sunday and placed a to go order that was ready quickly. i wished we could have stayed and ate there because the morning vibes were it. read more

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This was amazing!!!! I have been craving a veggie sloppy joe for forever and this satisfied every need. The service was amazing, ambience was great and chill. I loved everything!! read more

Handlebar - Sloppy Joe Sandwich Smoked Gouda Mac - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been watching to try this place for a while and finally got a chance to go! As a vegetarian, I'm always looking for fully veg/vegan places where I can go with friends who are also vegetarian. This one was a win! The service was lovely. We had a bit of a wait as it was lunch time on a Saturday but nothing too crazy. The restaurant is quite small but still able to seat a good amount of people. We shared all the dishes so we could try a little bit of everything and we all loved everything. I will say, my favorite was the cauliflower wings so, I definitely recommend getting those. You can't go wrong with any options here honestly. I will be coming back for some more yummy dishes. Want to try the breakfast items next! read more

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The food was so well seasoned and very well prepared! I didn't like the bbq sauce and the overall cheesecake. The crust, apples and the caramel were delicious! The actual cheesecake filling had an aftertaste can tell it's vegan. I really wanted pp md cake but they were out. I didn't get Togo on my birthday so went during the day while working. They were very attentive and Nay had the best service I've ever received here. The service is usually meh so I get the food Togo...but I'll start dining in. The vibe was very laid back chill with Amazing food! read more

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Came here on a Saturday night around 6pm. We ate outside (2 of us) and it was cold but the heat lamp did work! The food was all vegetarian or vegan, we started with the cauliflower wings. They were delicious, juicy, and sweet all at the same time. And it came with a green vegan ranch, incredible. I could have drank it (lol). For my meal I got the Nashville hot chicken sandwich which was made with Hen of the Woods mushrooms and it was good. Not moist enough and not enough mushroom but good. My partner got a sloppy joe and Mac and cheese, he said it was "messy and nostalgic". He enjoyed it. I also got a White Russian with a vegan cream and it was okay. My partner got a Bloody Mary and said it was very good. The service was so slow, it was an hour to get the food and another hour to pay. But the staff were nice. read more

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Went here on a Saturday evening and was seated quickly for 2 people. We ordered the Porch Swing and the Five D which were yummy! I would say the service is fantastic and food came out quick! We had the fried chicken patty melt with Gouda Mac and cheese as well as the Roadhouse sandwich with chili. The food was amazing. Great texture and flavor for being vegan and would highly recommend! read more

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Handlebar is a solid vegan/vegetarian restaurant in Wicker/Bucktown area. I am not vegetarian or vegan but still enjoy going here. The fried avocado tacos were alright but the chilli mac attack and green meanie sandwich were delicious. The service could be better in my opinion, they take a long time, this might also be due to how busy this place gets. The restaurant's ambience is funky and hip and they also have a cute patio! read more

On the outside, Handlebar doesn't look all that big. But there is so much seating, and if you go in the summer they have a huge shaded patio! I was really impressed and very pleased to get a seat on the patio for lunch on Saturday without a reservation. Also note: they have special deals every day! On Saturday, they have $5 mimosas! I didn't realize they served breakfast til 3, so choosing from their menu was difficult! Honestly everything sounded so good, and you can customize your meal to be vegan or vegetarian. For example, I got the eggs benedict (my fav) and instead of eggs, I could have chosen to have it topped with tofu instead. Eggs benedict is my favorite breakfast food! I really enjoyed the potato pancakes and sauce this one came with. They also have a section with some fish dishes for the pescatarians out there. I really want to come back and try the Nashville hot "chicken" (mushroom) sandwich. It was calling my name but I couldn't resist passing up breakfast for lunch. I can't wait to come back here! read more

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Was wanting to check out Handlebar after being close by in the city. Sunday evening and vibes were chill so we were quickly seated by the hostess. Server was super quick and friendly as we placed our drinks and food order. I went with the Primo Tacos which were grilled maitake mushrooms with green onions and avocado. Mushrooms def had some heat to them and the tomatillo salsa was a nice compliment to it. Each bite got better. Now onto the chocolate cake. It's from a shop across the street called Bake and boy was it good. Chocolatey decadence and a spongy cake batter. So glad I tried it. read more

Handlebar - Primo's Tacos - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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giving them a star back... nachos are back up to par. my non-vegi family devoured them (even with the vegan cheese). wished the mushrooms in the patty melt were less battered and the BLT was less bread. read more

I'm always excited to try an all vegetarian place! Servers are really nice and get to you quickly. Sambal tofu - great thing is that it's a good portion and you get lots of greens, but I thought it was way too salty! Nachos - tasty, but I don't think it's worth the price for what you're getting Fun atmosphere - I would just definitely try other options on their menu. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is always delicious. One of my favorite vegan places in Wicker Park. The patio in the summer is the best part. read more

Handlebar - Al Pastor Sandwich (seasonal), Sloppy Joe Sandwich, Chili Cheese Fries *All with vegan cheese* - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Have been here several times and appreciate this vegan option in Chicago. The menu is huge and the variety is great. There is also a splendid drink list with fun cocktails. The service was quick and they were pretty thoughtful; for our take out containers they lined the box with some foil to make sure our food juices wouldn't leak through. Left this place feeling so full and content with leftovers that I enjoyed the next day. read more

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They have a ton of vegetarian and vegan options! The country fried portobello with blackened tofu was INCREDIBLE. Amazing cocktail menu as well but the food was sooooo good read more

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Went there in person for a late lunch today. The place was packed. We wauted like 10 mins and got a table. The food was good. You get a LOT of food. We had the nachos and it's like a LOT! The nachos themselves were ok. I think there could be a bit more flavor in the beans and all. We had a lot of nacho tappings left over vs chips. With such a heavy appetizer, we just shared a veggie burger. It was also good. Fries were kind of soggy, but again so so much. Took a lot back home. read more

Love this place! The menu is huge and most the options are delicious. I actually prefer the breakfast options and wish they were available all day. But the buffalo wrap is amazing for dinner. So many vegan options. We come here practically every week. I love the patio (when it's warm lol). And the vibe is awesome. The inside dining area can be a bit too loud when full which is totally understandable. But maybe it's possible to add some of that sound proofing foam squares on the walls? Its not really a big problem though I can just get it to go when I am not in the mood for that vibe! read more

Handlebar - From the specials: vegan pancake bowl. Was amazing! - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Would definitely come back again! The food was amazing and I'm not even a vegetarian. The tables are a little tight up against each other with little space but it was worth it. The waitstaff was very quick despite how busy they were. I did go on an hour long waitlist but it was easy track how many people were a head of you and we just strolled around town in that time. My son and I went here together and ordered TWO appetizers. The Nachos with vegan cheese which was pretty good and the cauliflower wings were to die for! I wish I would have ordered just those for my lunch haha He ordered the vegan chimichanga which was HUGE and he enjoyed it but barely made a dent before we got boxes. I ordered the smokehouse benedict which was good but I'm dying to try the Nashville "Chicken" next time. Looking forward to next time! read more

Handlebar - Vegan chimichanga, Cauliflower Wings, Nachos, Smokehouse Benedict - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Served in for a quick breakfast with a few friends who were staying in the neighborhood while visiting Chicago. We ended up picking this place because of their gluten free and vegan option. I wasn't sure what to expect at first because honestly, I had never heard of handlebar before this, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I really enjoyed my experience. Here is such a cute old school Chicago style location. My friends got two vegan breakfast options and a slice of vegan cheesecake and thoroughly enjoyed all of it. I had the non-vegan egg breakfast burrito and it was delicious thoroughly enjoyed the salsa and black beans on the side. It is very filling so I ended up taking half of it plus the black beans home. I am really pleased that I know about this location now because the service was really great helping guide us through the gluten-free and vegan options and now I have a solid gluten-free and vegan restaurant that I can fall back on when I needed it again. read more

Handlebar - Breakfast Burrito - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've had Handlebar on my list for ages now and finally made it out that way to give it a try. Originally I was under the impression that it was fully vegan/vegetarian, but I'm glad it wasn't because my husband was able to get fish (he said it was really good). The menu was filled with entrees I was super excited for, but decided to go basic with a club sandwich. I'm so glad I did! The tempeh was delicious and there's something so cozy about a good ol' sandwich! The cauliflower wings were really good too! Huge portions! read more

The ambiance of this place is on the casual side and seems like a good place to go later at night! I absolutely loved the Nashville hot chicken sandwich (which is vegetarian because it's actually made with fried mushroom)! It was super filling and had great flavor. However, we also got the black bean maduro which wasn't very good. I was surprised that they had coffees, thought my iced mocha was $8 which felt too expensive. Overall, it was a good experience though! read more

Handlebar - Nashville Hot Fried " Chicken" Sandwich - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place was SO yummy and with so many amazing options to choose from, it was hard to decide what one thing to pick! The inside is super cute and there is an outside patio in the back as well. The service was a little slow due to how many people were there but overall, I would definitely come back to try more items from the menu! read more

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A good neighborhood bar with vibes but unfortunately the food and beverage missed the mark for me. The Old Fashioned felt watered down and too sweet inspite of asking for less sugar. It reminded me of a WI OF, IYKYK. I got a tuna steak sandwich and 5 stars for having it on the menu since I don't find it too often these days, but it had no seasoning and was served on multi grain bread which is not ideal for a 'steak' sandwich. Fries were plentiful and solid. read more

Dropped in here on a Thursday night and it was full. No matter! I got the food to go and no regrets. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich packs a kick. It's delicious and you barely miss the chicken. The club sandwich is very good. The homemade bacon adds a nice crunch. I'm happy the waiter talked me into it. This is definitely a good place to go, even if you're not strictly a vegetarian. read more

Food was so good. I woofed down the vegan Mac it was so good. Loved my vegan burger but I think it was a little soft and a big chunk of the patty fell out on the floor. Cauliflower wings were 10/10 so crunchy and perfect! read more

Handlebar - Vegan burger and vegan Mac and cheese. Fries and Cauliflower Wings - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hoooly shit the vegan scooby pancakes were amazing. So perfect and crispy. I've given vegan pancakes a few tries at home, and I can only hope to someday make some as good as Handlebar's. Had to try the Nashville hot sandwich and it tasted like home! I look forward to trying more of the menu read more

I've been to Handlebar a couple of times, and the food has been relatively simple and tasty. The Pepita Scramble ($15.50) I had on my last visit was no exception, and my husband enjoyed his Pancake Bowl ($15.50). However, it was very loud, and we were seated uncomfortably close to other parties. The quality of the food would likely draw me back, but I'd need to be prepared for that noise level for a casual lunch. read more

Handlebar - Pepita Scramble and Pancake Bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am not a vegan but I like this place! It's not quite a vegan restaurant because you can get dairy cheese and fish, but most everything is vegan able. I had the Primo's tacos and I love the cheddar crisp! My vegan friend says "The description sounds kinda mid, but they're actually REALLY good." And I'd agree! I love how the mushrooms are not trying too hard to masquerade as meat. They're proud of their mushroominess! And I LOVE me some mushrooms. So yes please! I also tried a bite of the vegan chimichanga which was seitany but not satany. Pretty good, in all honesty, I might consider getting it next time. The portion size was generous. The staff is swift, friendly and checks to on you regularly without being too pushy. Very chill vibes and I'm here for it. I'd say my only real critique is that the chairs are not very comfy. They're pretty dang hard tbh! And as for accessibility, it's a small place with high top tables on the bottom side, and low top tables up a steep step, so I believe accommodation could be made for a wheelchair or limited mobility person's, but I might call ahead first to make sure. Narrowish double doors might make it a bit difficult to maneuver but not impossible. read more

Beam me up!! This place is the mothership for weird, delicious alt food in the chi. Vegan and vegetarian dishes a plenty, the service is like a warm hug. Get a table if you can. read more

Super cool spot if you're looking for vegetarian & vegan meals! It's very chill inside and they have a decent patio. I ordered one of their specials, the cauliflower crunch wrap with a side of fries. So good and it was prepped super fast! Big portion which left me feeling full the whole day. The cauliflower is thoroughly breaded and super crispy. You don't get a heavy taste of cauliflower which is nice. Love that their menu is extensive with tons of options. Next time I wanna try their nashville "chicken" sandwich! read more

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Great variety of well made/prepared vegan food! I prefer WFPB meals and the variety, taste, and execution were amazing. I try to get there every week to try something new on the menu! Different styles, flavors and cuisines make it my go to with visitors! read more

No lie, this is some of the best food I've ever had. period. Would bring my non-vegetarian/ vegan friends here without fear. The cauliflower wings are to die for with a great crunch and silky inside, the portion size is huge, and the vegan ranch is perfected. The nashville chiken sando is super spicy and crispy, the gouda mac is delicious, and the mash potatoes are perfectly seasoned. Inside is a cozy punk ambiance, it's generally pretty busy. The only con is, I've only ever see men working there. read more

Shrinkflation has hit hard. The Nashville Hot Fried Chicken is the key reason I loved coming to this restaurant because the sandwich was great and I felt like I couldn't get the same thing anywhere else. I haven't been able to stop in for a while but was excited to finally get back there. That excitement was short lived once my food arrived. The 'chicken' was incredibly small and had more seasoning than mushroom. Also the slaw was a very small portion on a small part of the sandwich. Hopefully they return to the quality they once had! There is indoor and patio seating. Inside the tables are very close together and the music is very loud but outside on the patio it is more spacious and quite so something for everyone's vibe. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Veganism and punk- a marriage documented in the documentary Punk Rock Vegan Movie. To be clear, Handlebar is not a pure vegan place. For those who still yearn for the cheese derived from the vigorous squeezing of cow's nipples- they have that option. For those who who prefer to find Nemo in their stomach, that is possible at Handlebar. As we ended our weekend in Chicago, my wife and I ventured to Wicker Park. A neighborhood in the midst of gentrification. Is Handlebar a rebellious statement against the changing nature of Wicker Park? Or, is it a reflection of the gentrification happening? To that end, it seems as if the menu is mostly trying to provide both comfort and compassion. Compassion for the land animals spared in the menu (sorry, Nemo) and comfort in the form of ooey gooey mac n' cheese, fries, fried this and that, beers, shots, cocktails, and more. Outdoor seating reminiscent of a German biergarten. I had the fried chicken melt, which was piping hot and very filling. My wife had the green meanie. Both great presentations and very filling. Needed to take home as leftovers. I wished I had gotten the pickle spears, as the table next to ours did order one. Overall, great ambiance with the outdoor seating and indoor seating options. Plenty of punk culture with stickers and grafitti-like chalkboard writing. 8.3/10. read more

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Very weird vibe here. Makes one a bit uncomfortable. Not crazy about the atmosphere or the help. I won't be back.

Do you ever go to a restaurant for the first time and think, "damn, I'm so in love with this meal that I'm never going to be able to eat anything else if I come back here"? That's how I felt about the Green Meanie Sandwich (avocado, goat cheese, spinach, tomato, agave-mustard spread, MMMM!) at Handlebar. Though there are a number of other delicious-sounding options on their menu, I simply cannot choose them over this sandwich that lives on in my dreams. The smoked gouda mac was also delicious, though I think I would like to try the vegan dream mac next time. We sat inside, because it was November (yes I'm still thinking about it in March), but would love to sit outside in the beer garden next time if the weather permits. Can't wait to get back to this joint on my next visit to Chicago! read more

Handlebar - The Green Meanie Sandwich, fully assembled - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I can't wait to come back here! The food was great and all of the staff were nice. Great vibes overall! I definitely recommend sitting in their awesome backyard. read more

Handlebar - Eggs, Potatoes and Toast with a side of vegan bacon - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was visiting the area and looking for a good restaurant what vegetarian options this place really fit the bill as it not only has meatless options, they use substitutes like seitan and tofu. Ended up getting breakfast and it was absolutely delicious, I had an egg cheese seitan sandwich. Very filling. It came with potatoes on the side but very much, they were soft. Also got a vegan oatmeal cream pie for dessert, but I thought that was just okay. It was a bit dry and crumbly for my taste. We did take out and it was ready exactly at the time they said it would be ready. The inside of the restaurant is pretty basic and small, bare bones kind of place. Would definitely get carry out food from them again. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I would not recommend Black people spend their dollars here. On September 5th around 6 PM, I entered this establishment with my husband. The host was warm and welcoming, and we were seated as requested. Water was brought to our table, and then we sat for nearly 20 minutes with no service at all. During this time, several employees stood at the bar just a few feet away from us, periodically glancing in our direction but never approaching our table. Meanwhile, we watched as white patrons were greeted, served, and engaged as though their presence and money mattered more than ours. After about 25 minutes, I asked the host if anyone would take our order. She appeared surprised, apologized, and said she would check. We then saw her speak with at least four employees, all of whom looked our way but none approached us. After waiting another minute, we walked out. No one tried to stop us, apologize, or offer to make things right. This was not just poor service--it was disrespectful, dismissive, and racially motivated. I have never felt so unwelcome in a dining establishment. read more