I'm trying to think of something on which Penelope's could improve, I truly am, but nothing comes to mind. Decor - fabulous. Menu - varied with options for anyone, plant based or not. Pricing - quite reasonable for a niche vegan taqueria. Portion sizes - appropriate. Flavors - spot on. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, and while hesitant to offer suggestions did share her favorites, which was just as helpful. I tried: -Street style elote: I nearly cried. I found out about the (potential) joys of elote after becoming plant based, and as such had not been able to try it until my visit to Penelope's. The corn itself is sweet and bursts delightfully between the teeth. The combination of mayo, cheese, tajin, and cilantro elevate the dish that much more. I could eat a bucket of just this for a meal and be entirely satisfied. -Soy al pastor taco: beautifully seasoned soy protein balanced by fresh veggies and pineapple, with just enough kick to make you pay attention. -Mushroom chimichurri taco: THAT SAUCE IS EVERYTHING. The veggies are also fabulous, but holy smokes - chimichurri perfection. Ah! I just found the problems, of which there are two. 1. There are so many options I wasn't able to try everything. 2. Penelope's is located entirely too far from my home. Fix these, and I will award a magical 6th star. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Menu and water - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I tried Penelope's for the first time this week, and it was actually really good! I'm not vegan, so it was a little different from what I'm used to when it comes to Mexican food, but I have to give them credit -- they did an amazing job with the seasoning and substitutions. The dishes were still filling and had textures that felt familiar while keeping the vegan twist. I ordered the enchiladas, and they were AMAZING! The sauce on the side was so good that I had to get some to-go. The pineapple margarita was also a highlight -- it was fresh, well-made, and honestly good enough that I'd come back just for the drinks. The inside is super cute and colorful, and it's in a great location. Definitely a fun spot to check out, whether you're vegan or just looking to try something different! read more

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Not sure if I was just starving or if the food was really as SPECTACULAR as it looks! Either way, this place was a 10/10 and is totally worth the try even if you aren't vegan! Run, don't walk! I couldn't choose between the Asada Fries or Enchiladas, so I got both and they did not disappoint. The Chimichanga was good too. Honestly, everything was seasoned to perfection! I also tried the dirty horchata & it was perfect! I'll definitely be back soon. Next time with more family and friends! read more

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Delicious! Everything is really clearly marked on the menu if it's gluten free. The restaurant is cute and the roll up window to let the outside in was lovely today. We will definitely be back. THERE IS NO DIGITAL TIP OPTION. Bring cash if you want to take care of your server. read more

The atmosphere here was very charming and the space was well decorated. I was excited to try their vegan food. They have a very wide variety of choices which is great. We got the soy al pastor, the carnitas and the barbacoa. The flavor of the tacos was totally fine, but everything was super greasy. We enjoyed the soy al pastor the most probably because the pineapple cut through the grease. We also got the asado skillet and the butterfly pea flower pancakes from the brunch menu. The skillet was again a bit too greasy and the pancakes were just normal pancakes that looked blue. The really standout item was the horchata. It was really good and definitely worth getting. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Asado skillet, assorted tacos, butterfly pea pancakes - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience eating here. Atmosphere: chill, quick to get a seat, and pretty clean Price: Decent for the amount of food you get. I ordered the carne asada fries which were priced around $16 or $17. Food: I enjoyed my meal. It was tasty. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can't believe I waited so long to try Penelope's! My friend and I came here on a Sunday for brunch with no reservation and got seated promptly! The weather was beautiful outside so they had their front windows open and we sat near them for natural sunlight. There are so many options for brunch - a buffet option, brunch specific a la carte menu, and the regular lunch/dinner menu. I went with three tacos - one with cauliflower, one with jackfruit, and the last one was mushrooms. Loved all three of them! The servers were all really friendly. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the vegan tacos here! The quesabirria was delicious, and the other tacos looked fantastic as well. I really would try all the tacos on the menu here, this is a great place to go with my friends who don't eat meat, and I appreciate how wonderful everything tastes and how creative they are. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - birria - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I met here because we saw that they were providing food for people impacted by the government shut down. My friend was quite late and they allowed me to sit at a table to wait for her. The server was gracious and came at useful intervals. The place is decorated beautifully and it feels like a festive party just entering it. I loved my soy chorizo taco and wish I'd ordered more tacos. I was told it wasn't spicy but they out the salsa on the side just in case. It was delicious and not spicy. The double corn tortillas were crispy at the edges / perfect. I also had the pancakes which were pillowy and just the right level of sweet. Can't wait to return read more

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Delicious. If you came here and had no idea that it was vegan, you would still be impressed by the smells & the flavors. Yum! read more

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I came here for a solo dinner on my last night in Chicago last fall. The way I almost cried when I took my first bite of the quesabirria!!! So so so so good! The Al pastor was good too, but the quesabirria made of vegan barbacoa was so insanely delicious I wish I had ordered more of them. The service was also incredible. I had thee best experience! All of the staff I encountered was just awesome. There is no way I could ever return to Chicago without stopping by at Penelope's. Definitely a must for all vegans and anyone open to trying vegan foods. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - This quesabirria taco was HEAVENLY!!! - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Can be summed up in one word- YUM! Everything from the onion ring appetizer to the Horchata drink, cauliflower tacos, taco platter, rice... Everything was delicious! Very casual and relaxed atmosphere and the service was great! read more

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The River North Penelope's is one of my top spots in the city but after I found out this location did brunch on the weekends, I had to stop by and try it! This location is very spacious and has that signature Penelope's look. They even have merch! The good thing is that at brunch, you can still order from their regular menu. The brunch was a good meal. I enjoyed the waffles and sausage, but I do wish that the waffles were served a bit warmer. My boyfriend got the huevos con chorizo y papa and he enjoyed his meal, as well. The servers were very nice and hospitable and everything was served in a timely manner. We want to come back and try more items on the brunch menu because we do love Penelope's so much! Overall, we had a good experience and a good meal. Will definitely be back for more! read more

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Delicious food, and I love that they have a brunch menu - fellow vegans will know that going out for breakfast can be hard since most restaurants rely on eggs and sausage. Every non-vegan friend I've brought here loves it too. read more

This was my second time at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria in Andersonville. I love how bright and colorful Penelope's is! The hummingbird mural is my favorite. Now that it's finally warm out, they will open their big windows so it's almost like patio seating. We walked in and got a table by the window for two without a reservation on a Saturday. I wanted to try something new this time so I got the chilaquiles torta with the additional carnitas. Now, I completely forgot that this is a fully vegan place. I love chilaquiles and since I'm vegetarian, I eat eggs. I feel like without the added carnitas, this dish would just be too much carbs with no other texture or protein. But they put practically entire avocado on there which I loved, and it was still really good! But next time I would just get the regular chilaquiles without the torta so I could have the added rice and beans. read more

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Didn't know it was vegan til I walked in. Did not make a different in the absolute deliciousness of food we had. 10/10 recommend the soy al pastor. That's the best Al pastor taco I've had in a while. Watermelon margarita is sweet and scrumptious read more

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Penelope's Vegan Taqueria was something we've been meaning to try when we would visit Chicago the next time. The cold weather made the search for warm food must. We had the quesabirria tacos, which were fire. And the nacho plate. They use follow your heart cheese and beyond meat. Service was mid, but fine. Ambiance was great. Will come back. 8/10. read more

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What an incredible Mexican Food and Vegan Food Restaurant!!! Yum! I want to go back now....and they aren't open yet. Everything we ordered was so good. Had margaritas - fresh. Ordered the corn with mayo and cheese...omg! Never had this before, but now I know why they are popular ....delicious blend of flavors. Highly recommend. Then we had the taco plate, chimichanga and don't even know what my daughter got- it was gone. The chimichanga was huge, crispy and delicious. I could only eat 1/2. So good. My husband got the tacos and is not a vegan guy. But ate them all and loved them. Nice beer selection and they have their own IPA. Fun, lively, colorful decor. Plenty of street parking. And the staff was really friendly and attentive. Great new spot in Andersonville. Worth the drive, wherever you live. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Don't even know how long I've wanted to come here and it was AMAZING! Totally lived up the expectations options wise. As a vegan it can be hard to find high quality Latin food, but Penelope's does it! The servers are super nice and frequently stopped by to see if we needed anything extra, but it wasn't over the top. Fantastic music and beautiful murals on the walls added to the experience. I want to come back again and again! read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Loaded Nachos Enchilada Plate Matcha Horchata - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Penelope's was absolutely amazing. My partner and I aren't vegan but we have some meatless days. When we went we were amazed at the flavors of the food. The torta had a depth of flavor that has not been beat by any torta with meat that I've had. The service was also good and the atmosphere was good. The only issue we had was parking but if you're in Chicago that's to be expected. read more

This was a wonderful find and we will definitely be back. First, the service was flawless. Got everything right in the takeout order and never so much as sighed when I called to say we were running late. Super friendly and polite when I showed up even later than that to pick it up. The food was great. I can only speak to what I got -- a Baja taco and a Cauliflower Al Pastor taco -- but they were each a very pleasant surprise. Especially the latter: I don't even like cauliflower that much as it's typically prepared, but this taco had me wishing I'd ordered more. They also have a great selection of aguas fresca and horchatas, and the guacamole is good (a little on the creamy side for my tastes, but everyone else loved it). Based on this visit, Penelope's made it into my top three favorite vegan restaurants in the entire Chicago area. Would recommend. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Baja taco and cauliflower al pastor taco - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I came in looking to eat after day drinking, and were sat promptly on a Saturday evening. We inquired about alcohol options, and they said they were a BYOB establishment so of course we went across the street to the liquor store, and came back with 2 drinks. Our server was super friendly the entire time, and even though we only ordered the vegan nachos, we enjoyed our dining experience. Our only caveat was that the hostess at the front didn't mention that there was a BYOB fee which we feel like could've been disclosed when we asked her about it. An $8 add on was added to our bill for our 2 drinks in hand. Just an FYI and warning! read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Nachos - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was so excited to try another vegan restaurant in the city! As I pressed their menu I saw so many options that were all meat free, lovely! I was also pumped when I saw they also have many options that do not contain Beyond or soy products. This was definitely a good sign. Yet.....they fell very short. I ordered an Al Pastor con Soya / Soy Marinated Pork and one Chimichurri de Champiñones / Mushroom Chimichurri. The descriptions sounded wonderful! I went inside to pick the two tacos up and inquir d if I was given any green salsa. The workers told me it was already in the box. I inquired if it was green, as the description for the Al Pastor includes choice of green or red. She then assumed I wanted to buy a green one and started to ring me up. I asked if the green was in the bag and I was told yes. Sure enough, once in my car I check it out and it's a red sauce. I went back in and told her that. She exchanged it for me. So I could smell the tacos as I drove from one part of the city to the other and was excited to try them. I sat down later and dug in. I was so......underwhelmed. by all flavors. Both tacos were sorely lacking for any distinguishing flavors. Yet, the ultimate worst part of this experience was the dripping grease everywhere. It was absolutely unbearable and unacceptable to have such a large amount. Last, like others mentioned, my Al Pastor taco shell broke apart. I was more excited for the mushroom Chimichurra, but I don't understand how bad something could taste until you taste it. I wanted to give them business, especially at $5 a taco. Unfortunately, I will not return. read more

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If you're looking for an "I can't believe it's not carne" experience, this is not for you. You will not find simulated meat here. You WILL find delicious, well-seasoned, vegetables lovingly wrapped up in tortillas. You WILL eat more than you planned to because it's that good. I had al pastor style tacos filled with cauliflower in a spicy, smoky sauce. They were amazing. My partner had quesabirria style tacos filled with a cheesy mushroom mixture. The tacos were crisped a bit and the whole thing was great. Eat here! read more

I really wanted to love it hear because I recently became vegan but I honestly only thought it was okay - i also wasn't super hungry so maybe that is why nothing wowed me. Good happy hour deals 4-7. Margaritas - 3/5 a little too sweet but the cutest glasses. Mushroom taco- 3.5/5 good but nothing special. Literally just mushrooms - would want to try the chimichurri one!Cauliflower al pastor- 4/5 this was my favorite! Baja- 4/5 lacked a little flavor - i added more lime and salsa. My friend felt the same way about her tacos and liked her soyrizo one the best! Will come back here when super hungry to give it another chance. Good service and a fun, colorful ambiance. read more

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Had the chimichanga and the taco dinner. OUTSTANDING!!! Delicious flavor, great staff. I'm not vegan but it doesn't matter. 10/10 read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Chimichanga, taco dinner - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered for the first time this week and the food was absolutely delicious! The cauliflower al pastor was flavorful and satisfying. I could drink their green salsa by the cup. It's the perfect amount of heat and layered flavors. The mushroom taco was just meh and I wish it would incorporate more of the "layered flavors" typically found in good Mexican food. The fact that Penelope's is vegan is the icing on the cake. I will be ordering again! read more

Loved the Ambiance. It was easy to have a conversation without yelling making ideal for a date night. They were understaffed on the night we went so it took sometime to get a server and to order additional drinks. The presentation of the food was great; however, we found the flavor lacking. We expected deeper, brighter flavors and it was only one note. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - The table that was reserved for us. - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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i've been twice to this location, and the verdict is pretty good. the service is pretty good and the place is really cute, all purple and pink! I think the tacos have a really good flavor, particularly the barbacoa and mushroom ones, plus tortillas are well cooked and not dry. both times i've tried the taco dinner and both times the beans and rice were mediocre. kinda dry and lacking flavor for both, going forward i will probably just order tacos individually rather than with the beans and rice. as for drinks the matcha horchata was SUPER GOOD!!! both flavors read really well in the drink so that's a reason to come back! the pink drink in the photo is the strawberry dragonfruit horchata not as good or distinctive flavor but still yummy. additionally we also tried the elote and i prefer it without the takis, when you get it with the takis the flavors mesh in a strange way in my opinion. but the regular elote is pretty good. definitely coming back to try their chilaquiles! read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Taco dinner, Elote, Strawberry dragonfruit horchata, and Matcha horchata - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Freaking amazing! Found this spot while visiting from out of town. Ordered the asada taco and quesa taco and could not be happier with my decision. Flavors were amazing. The space is clean and vibrant with a good vibe from the staff. Will be back. read more

I had read about this place but never been to it because it's not very close to where I live. Today I went with a friend who does live close to the restaurant and loved it. First it is decorated really cute. And then most importantly the food was delicious and the service was wonderful. Our waitress could not have been nicer and the food came out quickly. I will definitely be coming back. read more

I came with a group of 7 people on a Friday night to check this place out for dinner. The wait time was very minimal and we had a nice table close to the window. The bright decor is really pretty and inviting. About half of the members of our group are vegan and others like myself aren't. They have a great selection of menu options available to pick from. We started with an order of guacamole and chips. This had a slight kick to it and was good. The pineapple jalapeno margarita was really good. I would highly recommend ordering this margarita when you go. I was excited about the taco's, but they ended up falling short for me. I ordered the taco dinner with 1 mushroom chimichurri and 2 Baja tacos. The mushroom one was the better choice. The amount of avocado on the Baja tacos was minimal and the taco shells on all three were very crumbly. They fell apart. I had to mainly eat the tacos with a fork due to this. I think that this restaurant is a good addition to the neighborhood, but it is not my preference for vegan tacos in Chicago. There is a different restaurant in Logan Square that I like better. If I came back, I would check out their veggie burger or another non taco dish. read more

I've ordered takeout from here probably a dozen times and it is always impeccable. Some of the best vegan food out there. Incredibly fresh, authentic taste, and a huge variety of options. I finally dined in person tonight and it was a perfect experience. Quick service, food came out piping hot, and our server was lovely and friendly. The location itself is convenient, clean, modern, and well decorated with the perfect volume level of music playing. I can't wait to come back as often as i can! Highly recommend for vegans and non-vegans alike! A great place to take the vegan nonbelievers ;) read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Happy hour! Strawberry Margarita, Loaded Nachos, and Elote Estilo Callejero - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love an all vegan restaurant! And this one did not disappoint - the nachos were especially good, and I was very glad to see the mushroom birria on the menu - everything was so fresh and yummy. Margaritas are huge and tasty. Service was attentive and fairly fast on a packed Friday night. A fun atmosphere and a great place to hang with friends. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Watermelon margarita - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stayed in Andersonville for a wedding and had the pleasure of walking by this spot one day. The ambience instantly drew us in. It reminded us of a recent trip to Cancun, where we sat in a lovely open air cantina. The bright colors, modern decor, and lovely art made the place welcoming. We're not vegan, but love to eat vegan when we can. The menu was well appointed with many options. The food was packed with flavor, had great texture, and was overall really lovely. Kids and parents loved it! Don't sleep on this place, give it a try! read more

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Food was very good I had the soy chorizo taco and couldn't tell you that it was vegan. Exploding with flava and seasoning it was awesome Service was solid as well and it's a casual vibe but very cool and hipster leaning Love this place and plan on coming and trying more of the menu read more

As a vegan, I definitely recommend any visiting vegan to check out this place!! It's super cute inside and they really set the landscape with the decor and music! Tit's full of bright colors and good vibes! The margaritas are HUGE!! and the food was delicious! I tried the mushroom and carne asada taco! It was great! I also tried the elote and chilequiles! The chips were not homemade, but overall it was really good!! read more

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"La Vida es mejor con tacos" are the words emblazoned on Penelope's wall. It's not quite right. Add enchildas and frijoles and arroz and the wide variety of tacos, and a whole lot more, and you get closer to the reality. Penelope's Vegan Taqueria serves seriously good Mexican food that only happens to be vegan. The decor inside the restaurant is as bright and inviting as the outdoors. This restaurant stands out in color and vivacity among the dull and boring storefronts of Andersonville, and the food reflects that excitement. Tacos may be life, or not -- I tend to go with the "life" side -- and Penelope's offer several variations on the classic theme. You can order individual tacos, or maybe get a generous taco dinner -- three tacos, which you can mix and match, along with rice and beans. It's a filling meal, and perfectly spiced, which means it made my nose run a little. I loved it. I want my taste buds up and awake and savoring each mouthful of this vegan adaptation of traditional Mexican cuisine. As a vegan, I've missed enchiladas, the standard type full of melting cheese that you find in standard restaurants. I don't know what magic Penelope's works on dairy substitutes, but these sure approximate the real thing without the cruelty of animal products. Potato is part of the filling, so you will be full after this tasty adaptation of the cheesy original. Penelope's has plenty of seating in a comfortable arrangement, where you aren't crowded into the next table of diners. No alcohol is served here, and there is a corkage fee. Vegans will go because they want more options, but don't limit yourself if you don't keep to a vegan diet. Go to Penelope's because you want creative takes on standards that will stimulate your sleeping taste buds. You'll be glad you did. read more

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria - Enchiladas with rice and beans - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was really excited to try Penelope's with my fellow vegetarian friend. It did not disappoint! The interior is bright, fun, and attractive, with cool murals and well thought out design from the time around the bar to the ceiling tile. The food was great! I tried the Baja, soy al pastor, and mushroom chimichurri. I can't pick a favorite because they were all so good! My friend agreed. I look forward to going back. read more

Great colorful vegan restaurant. Very clean and the staff are very attentive and so nice. Restaurant has big front glass panels that open up to enjoy the breeze and people walking by. The walls are painted in vivid colors of murals. The food is truly so tasty and delicious. We had the guacamole and chips for appetizer and it was fresh, savory flavors, chips were light and crispy. We had the soy chorizo tacos and the soy al pastor....so good. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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