Hands down one of the best vegan spots in Chicago. Their Nasheville Hot is out of this world, but so are their salads, mashed potatoes and gravy, and specials. The vibes are immaculate and we love sitting in the patio in warmer weather. In the winter, it's so fun to go and get a vegan hot chocolate (spiked if that's the mood!) and enjoy their killer brunch. I would eat here once a week if I could! read more

We were told it would be 25-30 minutes for a table but ended up waiting almost an hour and a half with no updates. Be warned that it will take forever to be seated. We asked to speak with the manager to express our disappointment and he was extremely rude. I have never felt the need to write a review before but this was ridiculous. read more

I am not a vegan/vegetarian but this place was awesome! I would totally make a special trip to come back here. Food was so flavorful. We had the Green Meanie sandwich (blackened tofu, avocado, goat cheese, spinach, tomato, sprouts and agave mustard spread), the fried avocado tacos and the daily special of a tofu chimichanga. So so good, all of it was so tasty! If I could rate this a 10 out of 5 I would. Such a unique way to get into the restaurant too. A guy sits near a sliding glass window and opens it once you walk in. Need to show proof of vaccination and then they let you in. The courtyard in back is super cute. Highly recommend!! read more

Handlebar - Fried avocado tacos, tofu chimichanga and green meanie sandwich. - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Handlebar is one of my favorite spots. Awesome drinks and vegan options. In the warmer months the patio is a vibe. My only complaint is sometimes the m service is pretty bad. I know the service industry can be taxing (I am also in it) but sometimes the vibes here are uncomfy depending on who is helping you out. Have had a fair share of off putting experience with various staff members throughout the years which is a bummer because we always tip well and try to be easy to wait on. That being said our server was really good last visit, didn't get their name but that was a nice experience. read more

The food is delicious. Decor isn't family friendly nor is the staff sometimes. Vegan chimichanga Vegan nachos Chocolate cake read more

My friend and I split the chimichanga and the diablos from the breakfast menu. Food was amazing I was actually surprised. The food had such good flavors and texture, even the spice level wasn't too bad that it messed up the experience of the dishes. I don't remember the name of the drink I got but it wasn't strong at all which is really up to preference. I prefer a stronger cocktail so I was a slightly disappointed. Overall vibe of the place was excellent as the servers were so nice and it wasn't too loud despite being a little more crowded. read more

The IDEAL patio restaurant for COVID-19-friendly dining! Masks are required when away form your table and when you are talking to servers. Max 4 in a party and at a table to keep much of the space open. As for the food - oh my. I am obsessed with this place and I've just moved to Chicago. We ordered the black bean tostadas, the nachos, and the sloppy joe sandwich. The tostadas with the vegan cheese was so flavorful and had textures that made my mouth happy. The nachos were HUMUNGOUS and was perfectly portioned. The sloppy joe reminded us of our childhood, only more environmentally friendly. I loved the fries too; they were thin and salty and were perfect. read more

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Oh ma gahhh!!!. This place is so good. I never got drinks there but they have a wide section of adult alcohol beverage. The food though. Mmm the food is so good. Especially if you're wanting to get your servings of veggies a day. They have amazing salads as well as vegetarian options. Last night I had the roadhouse burger with fries. I never had a bad dish here. By far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Love the low key ambiance. read more

This place has some of the best vegan / vegetarian food I've had in a long time. Everything there was excellent. I got the fried avocado grilled cheese, which wasn't too soggy but was thicker than expected so had a nice outside crisp and soft inside. Also tried the vegan Mac attack, which almost made me wish I'd gotten that. For dessert, they had Pie Pie My Darling cakes. Got the Red Velvet one. Blew me away. Great taste and super moist. If I had one criticism it might be the drinks. Hot toddy had too much lemon and didn't impress me. Irish coffee made up for it though. A note on ambiance. The place is cozy so I wouldn't plan on much space to stretch out. Didn't have to wait on a fairly busy night though. It got a bit cold but that's because people wouldn't let the outer door close before opening the inner one. Not much a place can do about that except maybe put up a sign. Overall, it's rare to find a vegan / vege place where you don't have to compromise on texture or taste. Handlebar delivered on both. I definitely plan on coming back for another meal sometime soon. read more

Handlebar - Pie, Pie My Darling's Vegan Red Velvet Cake - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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These were the best nachos I've ever had! I'm still in shock that everything was vegan. The nachos were made with switch chorizo and the Nashville "chicken" was made with mushroom but I swear you couldn't tell. Every bite was packed with flavor. I love that they're not shy about their serving of guacamole either! Definitely will be going back to this place quite often to try everything they have. Great outdoor social distances patio as well! I'm a straight carnivore but I would go vegan if it tasted like this everyday read more

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Came here with my cousins and had a great time! We got there right before brunch was about to end but they were able to place the order for the chimichanga. Definitely hits the spot everytime I'm there. They're vegan options are so so good and definitely will continue going back here!! Also loved the Mac and cheese as well. read more

Handlebar - Chili Mac Attack Entree and vegan chimichanga! Lavender rosemary oat milk latte - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The fried avocado tacos... I think about them all the time. SO delicious... My friend and I randomly discovered this place on a short trip to Chicago in 2023 and went 3 times on that trip! I'll get these tacos every time I'm in Chicago now. Also, I appreciate that they are open/serve food until midnight! read more

Holy crap this place was great. Huge portions and delicious. Drinks were great, great service, super cute little space. Love finding local spaces read more

My wife chose this restaurant because of the vegan options. The place was quaint with a gritty interior. The service was standard. We ordered our food and it was ready in the expected amount of time. My wife was not thrilled with her avocado tacos. She kind of just picked over them. I on the other hand am not too particular. My shrimp and grits were alright. I've had delicious shrimp and grits in the south, so the bar is set pretty high. The sweet potato chips were over done. I don't know if you can tell in the photo due to the low lighting. All in all not a terrible place to dine with vegan entrees. read more

Handlebar - Fried Avocado Tacos - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend showed me this place last night to try the nachos and I was not let down. They had a ton of flavor and were pretty filling for 2 sharing a plate. The staff were nice and the overall ambience was laid back. We sat in the front but there's a ton of seating and cool wall decor. We tried the horchata ice cream which was a little grainy but worth trying for $3. The pricing is also very reasonable and our whole meal came out to $24 read more

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I have been here several times and the food is always delicious! I love the ambiance of the outdoor patio. We had the vegan nachos, sambal tofu, and chili mac attack. Best advice is to only order the sambal tofu if you can take really spicy food - it was delicious but I had to order plant milk to be able to finish it! read more

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The Quick : The hot Nashville chicken sandwich was incredible! Crispy, juicy, and the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. Super hipster, vibey, dimly lit, with great food. The Details: I got a side of sesame broccoli which was delicious, but the vegan Mac and cheese would have been a better choice. The Monday night special Mac attack looked incredible. Vegan Mac and cheese with plant based chili and saucy goodness - I have to get that next time! The Damage: I found it very reasonable, the sandwiches with a side were right under $12... Cocktails were around $9. read more

After doing some shopping in the area, my husband and I decided on a whim to try Handlebar and boy were we PLEASANTLY SURPRISED! After showing our vaccination cards, we were seated right away. The venue is a little small but a totally cozy, friendly atmosphere! The fried pickles appetizer, fish tacos, plantains, chili, smoked gouda mac and cheese all arrived hot and fresh! We're pretty healthy eaters, lean more plant-based, flexitarians. Definitely worth making the trek from Hyde Park. We can hardly wait to return to try more options on the menu! read more

Handlebar - Fish taco entree with side of plantains! - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love Handlebar! Great for vegans and meat-eaters and everyone in between. Super diverse menu that's got something for everyone. Plus the vibe is awesome. Punk dive for all sorts of people. Menu highlights include: - Pepita scramble (tofu for vegans and eggs for others), super nutty and delicious and satisfying, and comes with a potatoes and toast - Seared ahi sandwich for non-vegans, huge and delicious, ahi is cooked perfectly every time - diablos (seitan chorizo and tofu for vegans, friend eggs for others), rice, beans, cheese and hand pressed tostadas, so satisfying - vegan cheese fries, literally could not believe this wasn't cheese and I don't say that lightly read more

Handlebar - diablos and vegan cheese fries. both amazing! - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute spot with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. I recommend asking to sit outside in the patio outside. It's a really nice ambiance. I got the Green Meanie with vegan Mac n cheese side. It was a lot of food and delicious, especially with the goat cheese. I also found it to be really filling and couldn't finish it all. We ended with a funfetti cake slice. The cake was just a normal vanilla cake that tasted okay, but it was fun to have it be so colorful! Overall, a great guilt free spot that I will always be down to drop by at when I'm in town. read more

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Everything we ordered tasted yummy! For drinks we had the hot cider and the Hibiscus drink(which didn't taste boozy hmmm). Highly recommend the nachos with the vegan cheese, they were my fav. If you're not into too sweet, stay away from the vegan pie pie, which is actually a lie lie cause it's a cake. Lol read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm not a vegan. I'll start with that haha but my friends are and this is their go-to spot in the city. And we all loved it! The ambiance is very urban and moody, and it was easy for us to get a seat (on Sunday night around 8:30pm). The black bean tostadas were easily our favorite thing. My husband ordered a Buffalo "chicken" wrap which was my favorite thing the group ordered. I got a black bean smashed burger and my friends split the chili Mac. For a meatless and cheeseless place, we thought the food was too notch! You almost have two carnivores converted :) read more

The patio is a great place to eat and the vegetarian menu is delicious. The service is great and the food is super flavorful. The desserts are also delicious, I'm partial to the dark chocolate so I went for the cake. read more

This place is disappointing. I've been three time(I wanted to give the place a fair chance) The staff always comes off as too busy to give good service. A few months back they failed their health inspection(you can look this up yourself) They call themselves inclusive, I did NOT feel included by this establishment. I have more to say but I'll keep it short and to the point. I do not recommend this place. read more

Everything is WONDERFUL! I cannot lie, you will not regret it. Try a Fluffy Steve if you enjoy warm, creamy, and flavored coffee. OR any food item [21+ drinks also]. Fast service and friendly staff. The space is cozy but when the food arrives, it seemed like you are among family. Comfortable. Relaxed. Ready to eat read more

My wife and I ordered to-go from here this weekend, partially for a reason to get out of the house, but mostly because we've been wanting to try Handlebar since being recommended to it by a friend. It was surprisingly good, even after being taken home - I'm usually not a fan of taking out anything but pizza or Asian food... Let's just say I'd get Handlebar to go anytime. We got the vegan Mac, the bowl of chili, and the buffalo "chicken" wrap with fries. The wrap was my favorite part, but nothing disappointed- even the French fries, which are one of my "oh no-no's" when getting take out, but they kept ventilation in the fry container so they didn't get too soggy. The seitan posing as chicken in the wrap was awesome, deep fried and wonderful, and the buffalo sauce was top notch - even the tortilla was high quality. The vegan Mac was as close to real cheese as one could hope. Support local. read more

I'm so glad my girlfriend is always open to my new discoveries. She said pick a spot you want to try and I heard all the hype about this place and wanted to see if it held up to all the hoopla. We went on Saturday evening around 6pm and found free parking directly in front of the place. Upon entering we noticed the place was quite packed and the hostess said a 30 min wait for a table, not bad. The actual wait was on about 10 to 15 minutes. We were seated and the waiter came right away. We put in our drink orders and ordered an appetizer, the loaded nachos. The food came really fast! OMG! Phenomenal is too small of adjective to describe the deliciousness of the food here. Those nachos were amazing. I ate all the nachos, I could hardly eat my chili mac. The food, the ambience, everything was great about this visit. So much so, were planning to go back and try other items on the menu. Great vegan spot! read more

Handlebar - Delicious vegan nachos made with cashew cheese - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

In the past two weeks I've come here twice because the food is so yummy! Lots of vegan options, but do wish there were more gluten free options. Both times, I came with a big group of people who all ordered different meals. I only heard amazing things from all members of both groups. The ambiance was good, both times we had a group of 6/7 people and were seated near the back in the booth. Was a comfortable area, we felt seperated from other parties and still able to interact with each other very well. The service was alright, not amazing but also not terrible. I would 100% recommend this place to everyone. read more

Date night in Chicago! One vegetarian and one meat eater finally found the perfect spot! Amazing food. Great drinks. read more

Handlebar - Sambal Tofu - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Literally everything about this place is amazing. Their vegan options feel endless and it's always a good problem to have when you go with the intention of trying something new, but your favorite dish is just too hard to pass up. It gives me an excuse to keep coming back. read more

Handlebar - Lavender latte - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stop in if you're looking for a nice healthy dinner while in the city!!! My experience at Handlebar was quality and enjoyable, the restaurant itself was a modern yet quite space with personality and fun. When sat down we were greeted with quickly and respectfully, we asked a few questions but they weren't too versed in the menu and drinks but still very nice and helpful. The well built menu was surprising to me it had tons of tasty sounding options, I wanted to try them all. The fried pickles long style is a new thing for me haha. My partner is vegetarian so we stop in to restaurants like this all the time so she can try new things. All the food we got was pretty good (not great) and the drinks were alright. The collard greens were not it in anyway and I hate to say it like that, I just didn't enjoy them because they weren't cooked fully and under seasoned (you can see in the photo). We won't be back to anytime soon sorry Handlebar but I'll always keep it in mind for some good eats. Rodney Out! read more

Handlebar - Fried Pickles - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were In Chicago just exploring and found this interesting place. So let's start with this: the wait is long. Almost like they are trying to ignore you. Seriously. It's not the front desk that greets you that's the problem it's the servers. They are probably overwhelmed but dang it was bad. We were sat within 20 minutes which was great. Took 20+ minutes to get water, 15+ minutes after that to get an order in. The food was really good for a vegan restaurant. Nashville hot fried "chicken" which was made was mushroom. Delicious. Spicy and crunchy. No complaints. Chili Mac attack was good for what it was. Again no complaints - but from the two dishes the sandwich was better. My favorite part when when I tried to get a straw, or my check, or extra napkins. We were met with "I'll get your server for that" or "wait until you see your server and ask them...I'm not the server for this section" Seriously guys? Vegans should definitely give it a try but don't expect the best service. That's where they lack which really throws off the experiences of the place. Again the food was great read more

Handlebar - Hater-ade - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Handlebar - it is easily in my top 3 Chicago veggie joints. I've been frequenting this restaurant for over 5 years now and it never disappoints. Even after moving out of state, I still make it a point to visit when I am back in town! My recommendations: - apps: fried pickles, nachos (my fave vegan nachos, ever) - salad: everything green! - sandwich: chicago style tofu - entrees: sambal tofu, ground nut stew - brunch: vegan bfast burrito, chimichanga, biscuits & gravy Another plus - they not serve Pie Pie My Darling cake slices! It just keeps getting better :) read more

Handlebar - Soy latte, Pie Pie My Darling cake, bloody mary, Chicago style tofu sandwich with side of collard greens - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

me and my friend always find ourselves coming back to handlebar to get the exact same meal- handlebar salad with blackened tofu for me, fried avocado tacos for them, fries to share but guac this one time, and as of recently the spiked cider. can't go wrong! we usually come around 8-9 on a friday night, it was busy but we got immediately seated on the heated patio the last couple of times. great drinks and food. can't go wrong with handlebar! read more

Handlebar - Handlebar Salad Fried Avocado Tacos - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

$55 (after a 10% discount code) scored two vegan chimichangas and an order of the chili mac with buffalo seitan. the chimichangas -- units. my girlfriend and i barely finished ours. my fragile little ass legit had a moment where i thought i was gonna hurl. my thoughts on it flavorwise... it's better than decent. the tofu inside is flavorless little squares, though ... like my guys don't know what to do with it so they just shrug and throw the shit in. For real, no flavor at all, and nothing but protein filler. The red sauce that they have with the chimi hits pretty nice with a nice spicy kick, but the queso is what makes it for me... not that the chimichanga would necessarily be dry on its own, but the queso gets it all sloppy and delicious. i will say i probably set my bar a little high on this (a little more acid somewhere would have been money. with the spicy mac... like... all i can say is, if people are really calling this the best vegan macaroni and cheese they've ever had, my girlfriend needs to open a place last year. handlebar's is good, but the cheese is depthless. it seriously just tastes like a mediocre box mac. the chili is fine, nothing to write home about... i genuinely can't remember it after just a few hours after eating it -- all i was thinking about is how "whatever" it tasted. the buffalo seitan costs $5.50 to add, and they pile it on. it's not crispy on the outside, but the seitan itself is pretty tasty -- MUCH better than the tofu. like, at least they did something with it! it's kinda hard to screw up anything that has buffalo sauce on it, tbh... or pickled jalapenos. the toppings are what made the mac and cheese itself good. so with all the shit i'm talking, why am i giving it 4 stars? because the portions are nuts, man. one chimi is easily two normal-human-sized meals, and the chili mac is the same story, especially with the buffalo seitan added.. honestly, it's more like three portions. the food flavor-wise isn't quite on par with other vegan comparables i've had, but it's still pretty decently tasty, and you 100% won't leave hungry. read more

This place has a cool vibe. The patio is beautiful especially in the summertime. The lighting, outside bar, tables are gorgeous. When we arrived; the place was packed and looking forward to dinning in the patio area. Outside on the right there's a waiting area. It's very spacious. The ambience is beautiful. The wait was worth it. We waited for 10 minutes. The staffs were nice. Laidback,personable and knowledgeable of the menu. Gave good suggestions. The food looked delicious. Appetizers: fried pickles, etc tasted good. The entrees look delicious but not so fresh. Told my server about it and they so gracious to please..re done, allowed choose a different dish. Still the food wasn't a 5star. My assumption is that it was off night or the chef wasn't haven't a good night read more

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Always solid dishes, I have been several times. In addition to having great vegetarian and vegan food, I appreciate that it has seafood options as well. It makes it it easier to bring those friends that are not about vegetarian food. The menu is HUGE. My most recent visit I had the vegan country fried portobello, YUM! It was a huge fried mushroom covered in gravy on top of collard greens and mashed potatoes. A friend ordered the vegan chimichanga which was also delicious. Another stand out is the oatmeal pie desert, for sure leave room for this! Bon appetit! read more

Handlebar - Country Fried Portobello - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love the vegan/vegetarian options. Typical fare...toast, eggs, sammies and wraps. Different food and drink specials depending on the day. The bloody mary on Sunday is $6, different than their other bloody mary not on special-- this one was alright, the accoutrement were good, the bloody itself was meh, didn't even finish it, and I love bloody mary's so, this was not up to snuff. The food was good though, but can't really eff up toast or potatoes. It was a bit busy, but we were seated pretty quickly. read more

Handlebar - chorizo toast and the buffalo wrap - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Russ was great! Finally a good restaurant with good food and good service! Thanks for the bandage for my lil guy's finger haha read more

Vegan chimichanga all the way....so good! The restaurant inside is a little dark but they have a nice shaded outdoor patio.