I've only had one experience here, and that on a Friday morning, but that experience was great so I'm on board. Whenever I go to Chicago, I usually wind up in Wicker Park, and after a night out nothing sounded quite so good as some delicious breakfast. I'd read up about Handlebar being veg-friendly, so my partner and I headed over to check it out. Casual bar/restaurant, spacious, easy to get to. The menu had a good variety of options, but breakfast and otherwise, and the food that came out was delicious. I had the vegan pepitas scramble with spuds and toast, and it was exactly the kind of quality content I was looking for. Thank you, Handlebar! I'll be back again. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food and great service!! We went on a Monday night and it wasn't too crowded at all. There are tons of options of the menu which cater to a bunch of different diets! My whole family is vegetarian so we just ordered about 5 things and shared, everything was great!! Our favorite was the black bean tostadas and sambal tofu dish! Will definitely be coming back here again!! read more

Handlebar - All vegetarian food! - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered 2 breakfast burritos. They should have it named a spinach burrito because it was 30% potato, egg and chorizo and 70% spinach. If you like eating leaves instead of a breakfast burrito, this place is for you. If you are a normal person and want to have a real breakfast sandwich, go elsewhere. May I add - the far-left Liberal propaganda all over your windows alienates potential customers. Very disappointing experience. read more

Yum O!!! Went in to get a slice of cake from our favorite vegan baker, Pie Pie My Darling but got so much more!!! Went with our kids on a city excursion for some great vegan food and they had some great options. We had a vegan smorgasbord...Vegan chili cheese fries, Vegan buffalo chicken Mac n cheese, Vegan chicken tacos and one of the best spicy Vegan chicken sandwich I've ever had!!! It was super salt n I hate salty foods but I ate the whole thing because the flavor n heat level was on point! Washed it all down with nice n stiff craft cocktails! And of course we can't forget that slice of cake that we were waiting for. Tasted great as usual!! Great service all around from the minute we walked to the hostess deck, the bartender, our server n busser!! We will def be back! read more

Stopped in to Handlebar on Sunday for brunch. They set up the outside and they are Covid ready also, have ample power and heaters to handle things on mild winter days. The food was absolutely amazing. We had the chilaquiles and fries to start, very nice. I had a fish dish with a couple sides. We took a slice of cake to go. Another hidden gem in Chicago. read more

Handlebar - Brunch & Dinner Specials Menu - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A great vegetarian/vegan spot- from breakfast to dinner options. Weekly specials are great and have tons of flavor. Fun atmosphere and drink options. read more

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

See all

This place is soo good! The buffalo chicken wrap is to die for. I have brought friends here who are not vegetarian and they are still obsessed. I think that says it all read more

Gotta love these hipster places, am I right? They have a sense of some culture, and they blow it up like a wall size poster. However, this poster is designed to look like a delicious assortment of vegetarian and vegan cuisine only few can perfectly craft. Handlebar is set on a mission, it seems. They want to attract an audience with no general clue on just how incredible faux meat can really taste. Case in point: their sloppy joe made with soy beef. An unbelievable texture that measures only up to the real thing. Can you believe food like this can taste so good? Then you have their specialty Tofu dish, filled with hearty cut pieces of tofu drenched in peanut sauce, alongside broccoli, edamame, mushrooms, and brown rice it's a legendary party in your mouth. With items like this on their menu, you know there's a fire bar waiting to serve some brews and cocktails. Patio seating in the back are open even during these late winter days. Also there's a breakfast/brunch menu I need to try out. Underrated spot for some delicious health conscious food. Cannot recommend enough read more

100% my favorite vegan fast food spot in Chicago! Definitely recommend the Nashville hot! I am no longer vegan but was vegan for many years of my life. I just started eating fish recently and I'm looking forward to trying the pescatarian options on their menu. I have had their vegan Mac and cheese and I swear it is so freaking good! I am not one to like vegan cheese at all but that mac & cheese is fire! read more

This place was hit or miss! The chili was great but the fried pickles weren't. Loved the outdoor seating but wish there was more consistency with the food quality. read more

I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant. However, I was told that there was a 25-30 minute wait, and I have been waiting for my table for over an hour and a half. I have checked in with the host several times and was told 30 minutes ago that I would be seated in the next 5 minutes. I understand that places are short staffed, but if I had known that our party would not be able to be seated for almost 2 hours I would have gone elsewhere. I am giving this 1 star for service, specifically for the lack of communication. read more

This hipster hub has high energy, loud ambiance, and swarming crowds. You are going to have to leave fido at home for this pitstop, unless a service pet. With no AC, this small restaurant managed to cram a small kitchen and small patio into the location. But, don't worry, you won't be cut short of the Handlebar experience. CALLING ALL VEGANS, VEGETARIANS, gluten free, lacto ovo-ians... WHATEVER your dietary preference is, this place is meat free. Here, you no longer have to lie to your server that you have a gluten allergy; when in reality, you are just particular. It's crazy just how close meat substitutions have come to tasting like meat. Food has come a far ways since 2000s (aka since restaurants had no choice but to put GF, V, VEG symbols on their menus). My husband eats a ton of meat and thought it was better than he expected. My first reaction was to rate this place a two star (sssshhhh... I know, I know). Service was slow and my food was mediocre. I took a few months to put this restaurant under the Yelp microscope. Handlebar is a mediocre restaurant to me. Here's why? Service is VERY slow. But that's only because of the customer loyalty, and retention surges. "Handlebar is a cool spot, check it out!", is a common phrase I heard moving into Chicago. Groups larger than six may be split up. People swarm to this collaboration because the company branding is spot on and everyone wants to go to the talk of the town. That being said, it took five minutes for someone to even acknowledge us at the host stand, and another ten minutes to get a water from the time we were seated. Our server seemed preoccupied, and we had to flag down other servers for water refills. The restaurant mission is successful with middle of the road service, but is the food really that great? For Brunch, I ordered the Vegan Breakfast Burrito because I LOVE seitan. (Just to set the confusion aside- Tofu is condensed soy milk. Seitan is protein from wheat dough. Tempeh is fermented soybeans.) The Vegan Breakfast Burrito ($10.25) comes with seitan, peppers, onions, potato, avocado, spinach, salsa verde, black beans. SADLY, the vegan burrito is underwhelming- size, flavor, dryness. My husband offered me a bit of his French Toast, and my eyes lit up. I contest that it is the Wisconsin Maple Syrup that did the trick... former five year Milwaukee resident right here. This place is so popular. I am just not on board with the Handlebar fan club, yet. I am going straight for the dinner menu next time-- Sambal Tofu, Ground Nut Stew, or Buffalo 'Chicken' Wrap. See you soon, Handlebar! read more

SO GOOD. Worth the trek from my hotel across town for tasty vegan vittles. had an amazing queso burger & fries, snickerdoodle cake for dessert. kinda divey. dark. LOUD music. Friendly service. sadly did not imbibe, but the cocktail menu looked v fun read more

Great food and drinks. Very vegan friendly. When coming to Chicago, it's become a tradition that I check out Handlebar. I love that most of the menu can be made vegan and they have an array of interesting drink options. The vegan sloppy joe was very good. I, for one, don't care for messy meals, but this one holds true to its name... It was very delicious though. My only other complaint is that you can't get a pretzel roll with it if you order vegan! The Black Bean Maduro is another excellent choice. It's a very savory dish that will fill you up. In general, portion sizes are very generous here. Service has always been pleasant at Handlebar. On my last visit, we came here for dinner and our meals were done in less than 10 minutes. That is super fast! The only other minor complaint I have is that this place is kind of cramped, especially on a busy night. It's best for a party of two or smaller. I will still be coming back, though! read more

Handlebar - Vegan sloppy joe. Impossible to eat (with your hands) without making a mess, but so good! - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

*4.5 stars* We were in town for three days, two of which we spent dining at the handlebar. The first trip we didn't take photos but we opted for the fried pickle appetizer, the buffalo "chicken" wrap with the sesame broccoli & the black bean Maduro. The second trip we enjoyed the fried pickles, vegan nachos & the vegan chimichanga option. The pickles were delicious! They were crisped to perfection & the vegan ranch was the perfect pairing. They also came out very quick making them a great starter. The buffalo seitan wrap was very nice & flavorful however, there were only around 4 pieces of seitan in the wrap. Not sure if that's standard or a mishap, however, it resulted in me wasting more of the dish than I'd like. The black bean maduro was so good we actually had to check with the server to ensure it wasn't real fish! The fried plantains texture, appearance & flavor were perfect for this dish! Would definitely recommend. The chimichanga was by far my favorite dish. The vegan cheese (cashew based) in particular, blew me away. This item is on the breakfast menu & available until 3pm, I highly recommend trying it. Your taste buds will not disagree. The heaping portion of vegan nachos completely astonished me! Definitely the best vegan nachos I've had. Everything meshed together perfectly. Overall: The food was astounding, the atmosphere pleasant & the staff friendly. The posters & other artwork covered nearly all the walls which I found satisfying. The food was reasonably priced as well as the drinks. Maybe ask for extra seitan if you're going for the buffalo chicken wrap. The space was quite small & there's not much room when waiting for a table. The tables are all relatively close as well but small price to pay for the delicious vegan food. Will definitely return on my next visit to the Windy City! read more

See all

Handlebar has some delicious vegan/vegetarian comfort food options. My partner and I tried out some of their breakfast options, and ordering was super easy. We placed it online, and picked it up with their safe, limited contact policy. Their vegan breakfast sandwich was delicious, and will satisfy any craving you might have! Overall, this is a great spot to check out if you live in the neighborhood and are looking for more vegan options. read more

Handlebar - Vegan breakfast sandwich special - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm typically a meat eater so when I had a friend visiting from out of town and said she wanted to try a vegan/vegetarian place, I was hesitant but soldiered on and found this place on Yelp. I was impressed. We came on a Saturday night around 8pm and the restaurant was full with a good 30 minute wait before we got seated. The ambiance of the restaurant is definitely of the Wicker Park variety with a little angst and soft lit candlelight. For food, we ordered the nachos with chorizo seitan, polenta and sweet potato tots, bbq chicken seitan wrap, and blackened catfish with chili and greens. The good held its own and if I didn't know any better, I would've thought it was normal meat. Actually, I've had normal meat that tasted worse than this in restaurants so Handlebar has definitely changed my stance on vegetarian food. All of the food was seasoned and cooked well. The chorizo seitan in the nachos didn't make me miss ground beef one bit. The chili was so so tasty and the greens were cooked perfectly and seasoned just with garlic and salt. It was simple yet delicious. Obviously we over ordered a bit but I'm glad I tried everything that we did. I would encourage everyone to come here and try some of their dishes with open minds and you'll probably come out having more appreciation for vegetarian/vegan dishes like me! read more

See all

After the first time I made it to THE Handlebar, I knew this would be a five stars for sure. That mushroom chicken sandwich is one of the best things I've eaten in Chicago. And the last time I went was probably the best service of my life and it was so rockin' that my fiancé and I were having simultaneous orgasms. Okay, not actually full blown orgasms, but it was a great experience. Weirdly, it wasn't even that busy, just so loud because they were blasting black sabbath and people had to scream to hear each other (it was 5pm). The loudness was also impacting because we wanted the server to notice we were in full effin' orgasms. And I am SCREAMER believe me. But again, fantastic food. What are you gonna do. read more

I don't think it gets any better than this. Delicious vegetarian and vegan food that warms the soul. I have been eating here since they opened and the food is incredibly consistent and always delicious. The service is efficient and helpful with questions. The space itself has a distinct ambiance that has been curated over decades and reminds me more of a neighborhood watering hole than a sterile, white box. Now they have catering too, so I can get that amazing mac and cheese for any occasion. If you want an unpretentious place to bring a friend - or even a kid - where you can both get delicious food while Metallica plays in the background, this is your spot. See you there! read more

It's DOPE ya it's as punk rock as Illinois is. Yep, probably the best way to get the yum done and not regret the tab. I'm a fan of it's everything but the white jeans the person next to me is wearing. .. come see for yourself. Hint it's really good food so just eat here. ya so it's super delicious food and the environment is The Jam. Offering: alcohol, sides (mash potatoes) dinner & lunch & BREAKFAST I dig! grubin the no pig! When a "friend" from Chicago who has a real job and loves this city takes you around "the city" and it's hip cocktails and games played by man in suits and then recommenders to go to pizza place with a line of hipsters 3000 deep It's DOPE ! My pleasure to call it delicious read more

See all

Bloody Hammer - best. bloody. Comes with a deep fried pickle spear and Pony beer back. The pony was ultra cold and the bloody was delicious. We really enjoyed the service here - so friendly. It was busy during Sunday brunch but we luckily found a couple of seats at the bar. Will return for brunch as the food looked good. read more

Handlebar - Bloody Hammer with Pony beer back - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

amazing vegetarian food, highly recommend! One of my favorite gems in the city. Definitely recommend the food.

I went to the restaurant with my daughter who is a vegetarian. I was a little hesitant as I do eat meat and was scared that I would miss it. However, I was pleasantly impressed with the menu. There was a nice variety and I'm sure this place caters to the palate of everyone. I wanted an omelette with spinach and jalapeños which wasn't in the menu however the waiter made it happen for me. My daughter had the nachos which I also tasted and it did not disappoint. In fact I will be ordering that in my next trip. Excellent customer service. The space was a bit cramped but the food and atmosphere was so great I did not mind. The walls are covered with all types of interesting art which were pleasant to see. I would most definitely return to this place. read more

Handlebar - Bar. - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So I been vegan for about 12 days now and wanted to try a vegan restaurant. Came to handlebar and got the Vegan Nachos with Vegan cheese and also got a fried avocado grilled cheese sandwich. Let's start with the sandwich it tasted so good it actually felt like a real grilled cheese sandwich and the fried avocado tasted amazing. Now the nachos holy cow they were one of the best nachos I've ever had in my life. The fact that they were vegan I was mind blown. I actually questioned if it actually was really vegan that's how good it was. It Had so much flavor. It was so good we went back the very next day and got the nachos again and also the fried avocado tacos which also tasted so good. I definitely loved this place and can't wait to go back and try the nachos. I know some people say it's too dark inside. Bu I actually really enjoyed that. It's perfect spot to bring a date. Make sure to get the nachos ! read more

This place was so good! It has a pescatarian-friendly menu and all the options are super yummy, flavorful, and filling. I got the black bean tostadas and even as an appetizer they were really filling. I loved that the tostadas were chewy instead of crispy, with a similar consistency to an arepa. There is an option to choose monterey jack cheese or vegan cashew queso. The vegan queso was really indulgent and perfect compliment to the food, I would recommend to get it on the side because you don't need very much of it because of its strong flavor. Their margaritas are also very strong and a bang for your buck. They have an outside seating area which is perfect for a warm summer night as you enjoy your food! Would recommend! read more

Handlebar - Black bean tostadas - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious vegan food that really hit the spot in terms of comfort food. Service for lunch was quick and very attentive. I got the fried pickles and the vegan mac attack. Both of which were delicious. read more

This is a great place to find vegan/vegetarian food! Everything is so flavorful and you can find healthy salads all the way to chili cheese fries and my favorite, the fried avocado grilled cheese! My only complaint is the host was off on the wait time. They estimated 35 minutes and it was closer to an hour but she was very sweet so it's not a huge deal. Our server was very friendly and drinks were good too. I love that they have a rotating cider on tap. My sister got it and it was a spicy grapefruit - really interesting and bold! read more

Service was great. Our party of 5 was sat immediately and we were greeted shortly after. The food was just okay though..

I ordered a Buffalo Chicken Wrap no ranch with side of collard greens - pretty good. The wrap was a regular white tortilla grilled filled with romaine, tomato, red onion and buffalo mock chicken. The buffalo sauce had a nice kick to it. Wrap was light and fresh tasting. The collard greens were sauteed with garlic. Still crunchy. Not over cooked. Good flavor. This place has a nice atmosphere. Typical bar like appearance, but not as loud or dark. I could hold a conversation with someone with them still being able to hear me. They were just setting up for evening when I got there and were setting candles out on all the table. Warm and cozy here. Good for singles, dates, or friends. read more

Handlebar - Bbq chicken wrap with collard greens to go - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place offers takeout and limited dine in outside. I ate outside in their back area but was not cold as they have heaters and they are taking lots of precautions and explain the rules well. I tried the Vegan Chimichanga which I will say it was huge I tried to finish it I was quite hungry but I still couldn't and had to take part of it to go. The server Andres was very kind kept checking and seeing everything was good. read more

Handlebar - Vegan Chimichanga - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been going to this joint since it first opened and it's still, as good as ever! This round consisted of: A 1/2 order of the most "thanksgiving inspired" Vegetarian Biscuits & Gravy. (Made me think of mushroom, vegetarian gravy on T-day) Next up, The Chili Mac Attack! Kinda like Mac N Cheese + Veggie Chili + + + +. So much YUM in one bowl, you might have to loosen your belt... ;) Perks: Chill Vibe, Outside Patio, TONS of Vegetarian/Vegan Options Eating Out With A Girl #EOWAG #EatingOutWithAGirl dot com read more

Handlebar - Eating Out With A Girl + Chili Mac Attack - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went to Handlebar for dinner yesterday, a Tuesday evening. To start, we ordered the nachos with vegan queso for a shared appetizer. This could also probably be a meal for a single person if you're really into nachos. They were truly loaded with toppings, which was great, since I've had other nachos with the wrong chip-to-topping ratio (that is, too many chips). The queso was delicious and I also enjoyed the hefty portion of guacamole atop the pile of chips. I have actually been thinking about these nachos all day today, and I cannot wait to go back and order them again. Based on other Yelp reviews I'd read, I decided to try the pesto tofu sandwich for my entree, and I had the plantains as my side dish. This was a truly unique sandwich! Lots of complex flavors going on and the tofu itself was perfectly cooked. I also enjoyed the plantains. Service was very quick; the appetizer came out within 10 minutes of ordering, and the meals arrived shortly thereafter. The server was also very attentive. read more

I love Handlebar & everything they have to offer. The ability to satisfy my cravings for a quick bit & still convince my son to eat with me is unmeasurable. I ordered the Chili Mac Attack to share with the table, as well as the Nashville "Chicken" sandwich. He ordered the Sloppy Joe Sandwich & my son ordered Grilled Fish Tacos. Every meal was consumed with no major complaints..my son's fish tacos were quite mushy & I would even go so far to say not grilled well. But please don't let one off dish deter you from trying handlebar. The vegan selection of dishes are the best I've had in Wicker Park & the bartenders are great as well. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Quaint north side vegan eatery. No inside seating due to COVID but they have outdoor seating and heaters near the table. The options were unique, reasonably priced and tasty. Would definitely recommend if you don't mind the wait time, 1 hour plus. read more

So so yummy + good music! I had the Nashville chickn (fried to perfection in chili oil) & chili fries 20/10 all together. Can't wait to try the breakfast soon! read more

Handlebar is a local restaurant serving up American/Mexican fusion classic dishes for vegetarians and vegans seeking breakfast lunch or dinner. I'm partial to their breakfast, but everything is good from Chimichangas to fried pie-style empanadas encasing lingonberries. Chimichangas are top on my list of various vegan foods I've eaten anywhere. The shell remains crispy like it just came out of the fryer, but the whole burrito-looking beast of a breakfast is covered in vegan cheese. You won't miss the beef at all because there is a perfectly-simulated ground meat made of seitan. On my dinner visit, I started with chips and guacamole, then attacked a buffalo chicken wrap with fries, and washed it all down with Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' on tap. The guacamole Handlebar makes caters to picky palates for sure. You really need to dump half a bottle of hot sauce into the avocado mixture in order to punch the flavor when at least a chopped jalapeño would have sufficed, sparing all the sodium coming from a salty sauce. I can't stress enough how much I'm not missing the meat here at Handlebar. The chunks of faux chicken on the buffalo wrap are fried to achieve a crispy outer layer, but remains chewy on the inside. I love the buffalo sauce as it is on the spicier side, along with the fresh vegetables that seem to cool down all the heat! The atmosphere inside will make you feel welcome with all of the statement art fighting for wall real estate. I don't think there is one spot of blank wall. Look anywhere and your eyes will rest on a sign, stopping to contemplate the art itself or the message it projects. I particularly enjoyed the selection of music on my evening visit as Standing On A Beach - The Singles by The Cure was playing. It paired well with the eclectic distribution of art on the walls. I skipped on dessert, but I cannot wait to return for the fried pie. All the desserts here are vegan except for the chocolate cake. Handlebar has offered heaping servings of meatless pub classics since 2003. I'm pretty sure I'll have the time to come back and sample the rest of the menu. read more

Food was absolutely delicious. We drove about 30 minutes out of the way and I was skeptical but my partner made a great decision. Ordered the tofu chimichanga. Highly recommend this place. Will be returning. read more

Great place to go for some vegetarian bites! Their hot "chicken" wrap is my absolute favorite. Good drinks and friendly service. They are often a bit busy so this is not a place to go if you are in a rush. But if you have time and it is a good weather day I highly suggest sitting on their patio- such a cool fun place to sit and eat. A little escape from the city. This was one of the first places I tried when moving to the neighborhood and I have loved it ever time I go! read more

Love this place!!! Service and Quality!!!! hearty meals that are cooked with love and awesome flavors!!

Food is absolutely delicious. I loved the Samba tofu, it was full of flavor and extremely filling. My partner had the blackened catfish with plantains and smoked Gouda Mac- all of it was delicious. I only took off points because the service is kinda bad. Our waitress was good but one of their employees,not sure if he was a waiter or busboy, (white guy with curly hair) was extremely rude. He had a really sour attitude with us when all we did was just thank him for the water. Also kept giving us dirty looks...not sure if it was because we were the only black people in there just felt off because of him. read more