Lots of options Love this place! Service good Many desserts options [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lots of seating[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I've been here a few times, and the Carna Asada Plate ($22.99) is a stand out dish for sure. My husband is sure to order that at every visit, and he even sent compliments back to the kitchen the first time he had it. On my last visit, I had a Burrito Bowl, and this was tremendously bland. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant features photos of famous vegetarians throughout the spacious dining area and hallway.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm looking forward to trying something more flavorful on my next visit. read more

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This is one of Chicago's hidden gems. It is a 5-10 minutes from Midway Airport. So if you are looking for vegan food and coming in from the airport, it is very convenient. Their menu offers a full assortment of offerings, which range from tacos, tortas, enchaladas, nachos, chilaquiles, tamales, gorditas to soups. Today we tried broccoli soup which was pureed. It was hearty with just a slight kick to it. The soups come with sweet corn bread which have veggies, just small enough too see, but not overwhelming. I also had the rice and beans. The beans are pureed and the rice cooked perfectly. The combination was perfect for a cool fall evening and filling. We have tried the tacos, enchaladas and tamales in the past which were a good choice for the different generations in the family. The food is also not too spicy, which is great for those who may have heartburn. And best of all you don't miss the meat. For dessert there are bundt cakes, cookies, ice cream and rice pudding. They always have fruit water. Todays flavors were pineapple and cucumber. I tried the pineapple which was full of flavor and sweetened just enough. Did I also mention, they also serve smoothies. The staff is alway friendly and welcoming. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restuarant is always clean and quiet.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have a decent amount of seating with an extra room for parties or larger parties.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

If you're looking for vegan Mexican food, Healthy Substance is a solid choice! Most Mexican restaurants don't have many vegan options, but this place offers plenty of delicious ones. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a cozy spot that's great for lunch, with a welcoming atmosphere and friendly, fast service. We felt so welcomed from the moment we walked in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered the al pastor burrito, which came with rice and beans (really flavorful and filling!) I also tried the potato and chorizo flautas. They were a bit small, but the taste made up for it. For dessert, I had the banana and carrot cake. The banana cake wasn't my favorite, but the carrot cake was amazing (moist, flavorful, and just the right amount of sweetness). Overall, a great spot for vegan Mexican food with a welcoming vibe! Definitely worth checking out. They had this flyer on the tables and loved it to much!!! (Pic included) read more

Healthy Substance - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I decided to try something vegan since I'm a bit under the weather. This place was a nice option. I tried the nachos carne asada which was delicious, my fav so far. Also got the chili which was divine. The carne asada burrito which was tasty. The lady who took order/cashier was very friendly and cool. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nicely decorated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] No one was inside when I arrived and I received order in a timely manner. I will be back!!! read more

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Went during operating hours and the door was locked, no one looked like they were there. There was a sign that said to call a number for them to come out of the kitchen to open the door, we called, no one answered! How are you gonna run a business that makes it hard to enter and patronize? Sad read more

This was my first time coming here! I didn't realize at first that this was a fully vegan restaurant! I came here because I had it saved on my list of places to try. The atmosphere was very simple and had lots of light (reflective of the cuisine). The guacamole was tasty and quite creamy. I would expect this to be good at a vegan restaurant. The tortilla chips were good and crispy, but not too hard or greasy. The flautas were well done, crispy, with a smooth potato filling. I couldn't quite make out the vegan chorizo in those flautas, but it was good nonetheless. I tried an al pastor taco and a carne* asada taco. Both were good, but I would still give the edge to using actual meat. Kudos to the owners for being pioneers in this field of cuisine. The refried beans were flavorful and so very smooth. The rice was good Mexican rice. Nothing special though. The prices were reasonable as well. read more

Healthy Substance - Dining area - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mmmmmmmmh..... I'm not sure how I feel about this place. I'm really on the fence. I've had this place on my visit list for at least two years and finally went two days ago. So boom!... I ordered two tacos and a Gordita. My guy ordered the enfrijoles dish. Together my total was $23 and some change. Here's where my discomfort is. This is vegan food. There is zero reason to 1) be stingy with the veggies and 2) stingy with the seasoning. For goodness sake, all vegans have are veggies, starch and carbs. Give me veggies! Geeeesh. The two tacos were smaller than a easy bake oven cake. For $6, that's absolutely unacceptable. User bigger shells or add more toppings. The Gordita was decent but the mushrooms were tasteless. If it weren't for the salsas that came included in the meal, I don't believe I would've been able to bear getting through to finish. My guy and I purposefully didn't get any dishes with soy because often times places will use the overly salted soy or seitan to do the work of the entire dish and that's not true veganism. Would I return? Yes to try the burrito meal. If that's a no go, I wouldn't recommend. read more

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I really loved this restaurant. They make some of the best vegan food I've ever had and I'm not vegan. I'm so sad they closed down and only want to do catering. I can't tell you how many times since they closed I wanted to order from them. I really they'd reconsider and allow people to come and get take out! I miss their food so much! read more

The al pastor tacos were delicious and I'd eat them again. I also enjoyed crispy chips and salsa. Cucumber line water is what I loved the most. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great seating area and service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

We visited healthy substance. Some things were good, others not so much. It really depends on what you get. Overall, we would recommend getting the tacos de birria plate, but skip the nachos. read more

Incredible food. The Birra taco plate blew my mind, one of the best meals I've had in years. A must try when near Midway! read more

The food seems like it was in the microwave and put in a plate. The rice and beans are like cafeteria style and everything we ate was sooo bland. Do they have a chef or any spices in the kitchen? I did not feel healthy eating here because the burrito had a thick thick unhealthy dough. The tamale was so dry. The smoothie tasted like they added wayyy too much almond milk. The texture was more like you were drinking a milk. The dining room has literally no pictures on the wall and sterile looking. Literally an empty room! The server was very friendly and nice, although she didn't remember if she brought us food and there were only one other table with guests. Overall, I feel sad that I spent so much money on this dinner for my family. It was really gross. Update: the next day my husband and I felt really sick. We think it was the food- something did not agree with us. read more

Pros: This place offers very tasty and authentic Mexican food with a more health-conscious approach. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space has expanded and there's always seating available.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They offer many good options, but I stick to the steak burritos or steak burrito bowl which is more filling than the tacos. Speaking of, on to the one con: Their tacos have gotten noticeably smaller, meaning you're going to have your order (and spend) more than you normally would. These have earned the record of smallest tacos in town. Check out this pic. Hopefully they shift to giving us more bang for our buck to earn a full five stars. read more

Healthy Substance - Al pastor taco (card included to show size comparison) - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very tasty and authentic vegan Mexican food. Service is great and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance is very casual but very welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I completely understand why this restaurant has high reviews. Yesterday for the first time we came here. I ordered the Al pastor burrito, it came with chips and salsa. I also ordered double rice on the side. I would have never known that this burrito was vegan. It was absolutely delicious and tasted like regular meat. I was shocked. That Al Pastor had so much flavor and the burrito was a good size. I loved it. My fiancé had the chorizo with egg burrito, which came with chips and salsa. He ordered rice with beans. They actually forgot his rice and beans so I had to go back in and let the girl know. His food was delicious also. Once again I could not tell that it was vegan at all. Parking in front. The girl at the counter was very nice. We will definitely be back! read more

Healthy Substance - Al pastor burrito - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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SOOOOOOOO AMAZING!!! We eat vegan often as vegetarians living in Los Angeles. We were passing through the area and found this place on Yelp and had no idea what to expect. It's wonderful! The food is delicious!!! Mia was helpful in suggesting what I should try with other dietary restrictions. Mia was also friendly and professional. The burrito was awesome! The chips are great. The rice pudding was one of the best desserts ever. And my husband loved the hot chocolate. Oh and the chili is yummy. Great ambience. Clean. Bathrooms are good and the family bathroom might have a doorway to Narnia lol Highly recommend!!!! read more

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Mouthwatering is one of the many words I will use to describe this stunning place. If you are looking for a Vegan meal thats also serves Mexican food, well let me tell you... The Healthy Substance Vegan Restaurant located in Garfield Ridge is the perfect place for that . And you will be coming back for more. This place is a total a new experience and delicious! Im a meat person and I don't always enjoy eating vegan, but this restaurant it brings to the community the vegan side of Mexico and I was so excited to try this place. One again this being my first time coming here i ordered their signature dish the number one, the Impossible meat Steak Tacos and Vegan Al Pastor Tacos. I ordered one of each and for a drink i ordered una Agua de Jamaica or for my English audience a Hibiscus Tea. The first thing to arrive was my drink and Wow.. I had consumed and made this drink so many times but this specific drink was so flavorful, so colorful and with one simple sip of the Bright Red drink took my thirst away. i was blowed away already, first impressions do matter. The Tacos finally arrived, This was my first time having the famous impossible meat in a taco I wasn't sure how it would taste. They looked, smelled and surprisingly tasted just like regular tacos.. i was confused and astonished. The two tacos were amazing and hit the spot. it was perfection. I'll admit I wasn't sure what to expect with vegan Mexican food. But This place gives and brings a new Twist to the Mexican cuisine. read more

Healthy Substance - Vegan tacos - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We drive far to come here because of the vegan options. So we were really disappointed when we ordered take out and they forgot the tortillas, not to only one but two of our dishes which is the point of the dish to eat with tortillas they also forgot the guac. The restaurant called us 20mins out after we left to let us know they forgot the items. The cashier offered us a free drink or dessert we asked to talk to the manager and she was not in we said have her give us a call back she never took the time to call back. We had to get a hold of her and even then nothing was resolved at the end. We won't be going back. Poor management skills on her end not caring to lose loyal customers. read more

Amazing and tasty vegetarian and vegan dishes near Midway! In a food desert like this neighborhood it's a relief to find such good food, made delicious, and healthy. Definite lunchtime go-to for anyone in the area looking to steer clear of heavy, unhealthy food. Love the salsas and aqua Fresca too! read more

Healthy Substance - Impossible meat burrito bowl with the cucumber mint Fresca. - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had an unhappy event . Our flight to Niagara Falls was canceled and so we unexpectedly ended up in Chicago booking a hotel ( unexpected cost). And tasked with fining food in a place I had not researched in a long while . What pops up is Healthy Substance Joy filled my heart that I could eat true vegan while on this unplanned detour. Paper straws Fabulous creamy beans Chips seem hand made Well made rice with mild spice,grains fluffy Bakery cakes. Cookies and all vegan choices. Nothing on the menu at all that I can not order. I have found sunshine on a storm delayed day. So far my husband's assessment of the cookie is good moisture chocolate chip cookie read more

Healthy Substance - Counter says everything is vegan - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very welcoming when you walk in[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . [[HIGHLIGHT]]The entire room is bright and cozy[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . Food is awesome , !! Had the chili and the raja tacos ... will be back read more

I thoroughly enjoyed their vegan carne asasa tacos. The food options were amazing, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant's design had various animal rights messaging throughout the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The employees were helpful and attentive. read more

I love this spot. It's an oasis in the middle of a food desert! High-quality ingredients, delicious Mexican vegan/vegetarian food -- Talk about unique!! I love their layout, mission and overall their positive environment and customer service. It feels like home to me. I really enjoyed their mushroom flautas and fresh waters, my friend loved their Impossible Carne Asada Burrito, and did I mention the indulgent soy, dairy, nut, and gluten-free brownie???!!! That alone is worth the drive! read more

Healthy Substance - Birthday Gal with Owner Patrica & Brownie - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Flew home via Midway and was thrilled to be nearby. Have been wanting to stop in for quite some time and we were not disappointed. Street parking was easy. We arrived just before noon so it wasn't too busy but did get busier while we were there and there was not parking available right in front anymore on the street but still looked like you wouldn't have to park far up the street. Placed out order and the employee was very helpful with questions. We went and found a table in the little nook by the window and our food was brought out to us. Everything was delicious and well seasoned. I had ordered 1 cupcake which was forgotten to be brought out with our food but I was completely stuffed and was able to get my cupcake to go on our way out. Hope to be back again soon! read more

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The food here is absolutely amazing. My favorites are the Caprese and with Rice Pudding for dessert but I've loved everything I've tried. The cucumber lime drink is also delicious and very refreshing! And everyone is so nice Everytime I have come, I have never had a problem with service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's all indoor seating with a clean and simple atmosphere and usually have some Hispanic music playing in the background since it's mostly Mexican food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Absolutely great taste . You wouldn't expect these tacos to be vegan. Amazing staff Extra clean environment delicious dessert. Be right back for seconds! read more

I got the potato & chorizo flautas for lunch today. I was visiting friends & we met down the street for coffee & when I realized this was nearby, I suggested this for food. I'm not normally in this area but my meal was delicious & I would be happy to visit again. read more

I'm discovering a good amount of amazing vegan joints in Chicago this year, and Healthy Substance is for sure one of them. I think they could use a name that tells people a bit more quickly what they have, which is delicious vegan Mexican food, but all that aside, you need to go here. I've had a bunch on this menu. I've tried every tamale. I like the cranberry mole and the poblano ones best. I've tried most of the tacos, the steak is amazing! Bring that one home to your non-vegan friends and family. The tacos are very small though, so if you're hungry, you might do 4 or two and something else. The burritos are tasty, but I prefer the tacos. The supreme nachos are great. They have some of the best vegan cheese I've tasted. It doesn't slam your taste buds with nutritional yeast. All of the desserts we've tried have been great too. I'm a sucker for those almond cookies by the counter. My wife loves the rice and beans too. This place is a win! read more

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I would have never thought vegan food could be so delicious. Everything offered at this place is fresh and made with top quality ingredients. This is a must try golden, much needed place in our neighborhood! read more

Mmm the carne burrito is the best we've ever had. Our whole family orders it. I ask for extra green hot salsa!

Very impressive! Finally the southside gets a taste of vegan! My mom has been diagnosed with a confusing illness that makes her give up red meats, milk and eggs. Well good ol' YELP helped me to find a spot near our home. The young owner was pleasent and explained the whole concept of his restaurant and how it came to be. Part of the Comales Mexican restaurant dynasty huh? I won't go into thst but I did let him know that the story in itself is enough to bring people in. I am a believer of great foods equals great experiences and this spot doesn't disappoint. By all means come and tey out the most visually appealing yet so complexed taste to fool your taste buds. I had the chilaquiles and they fooled me completely to believe I was actually eating meat! The portion was so big that I actually took half home. I am a.sucker for great chilaquiles so come on through with this concoction. The actual dining area is every sterile in appearance, but subliminally it acts as a buffer between the good and the experience. What it lacks in circuses it more than makes up with flavors. Oh and did I mention their smoothies? Wow that's all I will say, extremely tasty and punching you with taste that you will not be able to easily associate with. Just an awesome concept and I've already gone back 2 times. read more

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A friend of mine told me about Healthy Substance BC (before Corona). She and I both LOVE Mexican Food and she told me of a healthier alternative.. Healthy Substance!! I had been meaning to try them out since the beginning of the year. It took me a while but I finally tried them out. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have a great menu!!! Impossible Beef Burritos, impossible carne asada tacos, nachos, vegan al pastor, frijoles (without lard), flautas, chilaquiles, and tamales. They also carry some non Latin foods... Smoothies, Vegan and Vegetarian pizzas and Caprese sandwiches and more!! Side Bar: They had Vegan Mac and Cheese which I forgot to order!!! I will be back very soon to try it. I ordered my food on Door Dash so it could be ready or almost ready when I got there. I arrived! I was so excited to try them out I forgot to take a picture of the outside. (My bad) I stepped in and it was four other people waiting for their food. The lady at the counter told me it would just be a few minutes. The restaurant was very clean. Like immaculate!! The guy behind the counter heard me tell the young lady I was a blogger so he took me to the back where they have a small cute art gallery. The art gallery displayed historical figures who were Vegan before it was mainstream. Albert Einstein, Gandhi, Leonardo da Vinci and Louise May Alcott graced this art gallery. They also had a mirror on the wall with a frame so you can see yourself on display as a Vegan....such a cute touch!! After I came out of the art gallery the owner came to speak to me (So sorry I forgot your name! When they respond to my IG I will add her name to this article) and said the Chef send his regards and he hopes I like the food. So nice!!!! The owner was very sweet. She and I had a brief conversation about my blog. I wanted to take a picture but this COVID had me hesitant to do so. I am going back soon so I will ask then. So by then my food was ready! I couldn't wait to buss it down= eat it in the car. I ordered an Impossible Burrito with rice, fresh pineapple juice, and a vegan mini banana cake for dessert. When I got to the car I noticed I was given a mini red velvet cake and rice pudding too. Thanks!! Everything was so damn good! If you didn't tell me it was vegan I wouldn't have known. My husband and kids wanted to "taste" it too smdh!!! *eye roll* They loved it too and was all in my frijoles= refried beans which were smooth and delicious. I can't believe it was no lard in them. The rice was flavorful and cooked perfectly. The Burrito was great. Smaller than I thought it would be but freaking delicious. It had their house made vegan cheese in it! That Burrito had my tastebuds sanging "You send me swinging" by Mint Condition LOLL! The pineapple juice was refreshing and great. The rice pudding was good too. It didn't have any raisins in it but it was creamy and delish. I made the kids wait to eat the red velvet cake and banana cake until we got home! EJ and Nia loved it. I liked it. The cream in the middle took me by surprise. It wasn't sweet at all. Next time I will just take it off before I take a bite. Healthy Substance is an AMAZING vegan/vegetarian Latin restaurant! I beg of you to try it. You can order through toasttab.com, ubereats.com, postmates.com, doordash.com read more

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I love animals but I still can't get away from meat. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at this vegan establishment. Great flavors, large portions and passionate personal service make this place a go-to in Garfield Ridge. Didn't get a chance to eat dessert but the chilaquiles with red sauce was really nice...just know the optional egg they offer as an option is vegan and apparently blends into the meal. Not sure if I would have notice if I hadn't ordered it. read more

Loved the food here. We stopped for dinner after dropping off someone at Midway. My wife had a carne asada taco and the chili. I got pastor and rajas tacos. Everything was delicious. My wife is vegetarian, and I'm an omnivore, and we were both satisfied. The server also was very attentive. I'd love to see more artwork in the main dining area, which has empty walls right now. read more

Re: catering business: This place has wonderful food! Truly delicious. But they are terribly disorganized. I left three phone messages and one email about catering for a 75 person event. They never responded, not once! I booked with Quesadilla La Reina, A wonderful Mexican vegetarian restaurant, and that's what I recommend for you as well. On Google Maps review they responded very unprofessionally and then called me to holler at me some more. See that post for details. read more

This is my second time coming here and they never disappoint! I got the flautas and al pastor tacos and they arrived at the table steaming hot and just how I ordered them. The seating is very comfortable and a nice ambient lighting. I would eat here every day if I could! read more

Healthy Substance - Potato and Chorizo Flautas with Al Pastor Tacos - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Healthy Substance is more than deserving of their high rating. I have spent years searching for true vegan/vegetarian Mexican food without flavor being compromised. This restaurant is amazing! The food was flavored so well and everything and I mean everything was fresh. You guys don't know how happy I am to have had frijoles without lard!!! The chips for the nachos were so crunchy and had just the right amount of salt. My mouth is watering just thinking about it (lol). My only complaint would be to make the red and green salsa spicier. I am officially counting down the days until I return for more. read more

Healthy Substance - "Pollo", "potato & chorizo", & "bean" Flautas. - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really wanted to like this place after a friend posted some food pix on IG. My wife has been eating vegan since 1/1 and we're working out way through a lot of restaurants. In the end, it just wasn't as good as I hoped. There was a lot to share so here goes: The Good: * Our server was really nice and friendly. The spot was small, so we felt like we could get her attention and get whatever we needed. * The restaurant is spotless. The bathroom is far in the back, and you walk by a large kitchen with big windows so you can see everything in the back. Just like the "front of the house", the "back of the house" was really clean. * Guac - This was probably the best dish of the ones we we ordered. It had a good flavor and was a good portion. I did add a little salt, but that's also when my SO looked at me like I was crazy. So reasonable minds can disagree on the need for salt * Veggie Colors grilled sandwich - I liked this. It was plain at first, but then I put the salsa that came with it on the sandwich. That made all the difference. They should just put it on there to begin with. Oh yeah, and the bread was really good. * Carrot Cake - It was a small bundt-like cake that tasted great. Big fan. There less-than-good: * First, our Carne Asada burrito came without any of the Impossible meat in there. It was a bit of a down bc were were so hungry and had waiting 20-25 mins for an order that had to go back. To their credit, they comped a piece of cake for the inconvenience. When it did come, it was just OK. Not particularly flavorful, so it had to get dressed up with the tasty guac and other salsa. * I order a white-grape drink. There is a menu update, so I can't recall the exact name. It was really bad. I was told it was like a fruity water, but it was more like a smoothie with Sucralose in it. It had a really bad after taste (I can't stand artificial sweeteners, they taste awful to me). The guy working there didn't know if that was an ingredient "It's a mix, and I just scoop it in there when I make it" * The bean & onion tamale was really dry and didn't have any real flavor. I didn't see any onion in there either. That might have given it some taste. It wasn't large and I only ate about 1/2 of it. Overall, the final price wasn't bad, so it's a good value for a vegan spot with a large menu. For me, there was no standout item that would bring me all the way back over there (20-25mins). If I'm back out there, I'd probably try it again, but we've found some places that are a better fit for our tastes. read more

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I was born and raised in Chicago and it's no exaggeration that I've been looking for a place like this all my life! Aside from it being a great Mexican Vegan option the food is phenomenal! The staff is super friendly and the vibe is truly authentic. Look forward to coming back and seeing the growth of this restaurant! read more