The pumpkin smoothie I ordered tasted like birthday cake. I couldn't taste any of the pumpkin. If you want a sweet smoothie, it tastes fine, but it's not worth $8.00. read more

The food taste great and so do the drinks but the portion sizes they provide definitely don't match the price they're charging you. Other than that they're pretty fast and always friendly and willing to help fix any mistakes with your order. read more

Love this place! Fresh & "clean" food, served in cool combinations. And their smoothies are amazing. read more

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Another great lunch and excellent service from James. Their spinach and pesto bowl is awesome!!! read more

Everything here is pretty pricey, and we were only drawn in by their first-visit LevelUp credit for some refreshments. Transaction Amount$2.28Berry$1.99La Croix$0.00Other*  * tax or other one-off adjustments$0.29Total Rewards-- $2.00%[value_remaining] New Protein Bar Guest Credit-- $2.00Total Balance$0.28 read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just had an AMAZING salad on a lunch break at a conference; it was sooooooo fabulous. Everything was fresh, the staff friendly, and the service fast. I legit may eat here every meal for the rest of the trip!! read more

Great Hi-5 juice! I guess that's all I can say. I really wanted to eat, but the chicken wasn't ready. I'm not sure what that meant. Also, what's online isn't what's available in the store. Lots of those juices are pre-made and in the refrigerator. Nah, I'm good on what's being shipped and stored. Overall, it was a good place to grab a natural drink and then eat somewhere else. read more

Protein Bar's pesto scramble with avocado may just be my favorite commute breakfast. Well, the healthier option anyway. Add onto that, the pancake in a bowl, with whey protein, almond milk and bananas.. and you have a very large*, delicious (and maybe not so healthy once you eat it all) breakfast to combat even the gloomiest of days. Hai-ya! Quick and friendly service. Love the stamp card. I would avoid the breakfast quinoa bowls as I tend to find them a little dry. The steel-cut oats are where it's at! Soon, I shall expand my exploration of the menu to lunch and dinner! * Did I mention I also had a large BGT shake? #hollowlegsclub #tapeworm read more

This place is pretty cool for juicing and health fanatics. There isn't a lot of these in Chicago but the one they have is solid. The menu here shows you how many calories, fats, sugar,s and protein are in each drink. That makes it easier for me to count my calories and protein intake for the day. They make the shakes and juices pretty quickly here. I had a strawberry one and it tasted great! It didn't have that protein chalky taste and it went down smoothly. I enjoyed it. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Juice - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hrmph. Ok, I will say that this is a pretty healthy meal choice. Quinoa is one of the best grains for you and Protein Bar uses a lot of organic/high quality ingredients, which is good. THAT BEING SAID, I paid $8 for the pancake in a bowl (with bananas) and a small latte (8oz). First off, THE PANCAKE IN A BOWL IS A LIE. It's just vanilla flavored oatmeal. I wouldn't have been mad (or have felt misled) if they had just called it vanilla oatmeal, but I was anticipating pancakes in bowl form and got none. It was also a little bit on the bland side, as well. The vanilla flavor was very, very faint and it was more or less just oatmeal. The small latte was very small and kind of bitter. It wasn't the worst latte I've ever had but it certainly wasn't the best. I will be back to Protein Bar one more time to try the chili, which I've heard good things about. I really want to like this place, but I'm just not going crazy over it like some people seem to be. read more

I think it's really important that quick food evolves to healthy options. I enjoy the gluten free and vegan friendly options offered by Protein Bar. Today I had a buffalo chicken bowl (small amount of food but portion appropriate) and the beetbox cold pressed juice. The bowl was tasty and I felt really good after eating here. Though it's not cheap, you pay for what you get in this world. Keep up the good work protein bar! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Buffalo chicken bowl, blue on the side, beetbox juice - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for lunch on a Monday during the noontime rush with a few coworkers. Pretty crowded but it's a big space so it didn't feel claustrophobic, though we didn't find a place to sit. The line was really long but it moved quickly, so I barely had time to decide what I want. Bonus point for the fast, professional service. I went with the Quinoa Chili Bowl with chicken. Ordering was super confusing because under "Bowls" it says they charge $2 something extra if you add chicken, but apparently my bowl came with chicken? so that didn't apply, even though every bowl except one comes with chicken. Basically the menu was badly worded. In the end, one little bowl of chili cost me over $8. For the taste, I'd give it 3 stars. It was super average and tasted exactly like what I've had in my college dining halls. It wasn't very filling either; most of it was tomato puree with a few beans. I'd estimate there was about a tablespoon each of quinoa and ground chicken. It came in one of those medium cylinder containers they have in grocery stores at the self-serve soup stations. I probably could have gone down the street to Mariano's and gotten the same amount of meatier chili for under five bucks. The Bar-ritos are quite sizable but the bowl and salads especially, come in meager portions, given the price. There's just something about patronizing a stingy business that really irks me. Plus the whole "we do healthy...healthier" thing is completely subjective. I wonder how many how many unfortunate suckers they rope in with that. If Protein Bar were a person, it would be the pretentious health-nut prick at the office that everyone avoids. read more

Shakes A-OK, wrap "OH DEAR GOD WHY???" The shakes grow on you, starting with a little too "I bought a protein shake" before moving into "okay I can live with this." The wraps taste like you are eating gobs of quinoa rather than meat and veggies. I know quinoa is the hip thing, but I'm going to agree with that Eagles fan making quinoa burgers in that beer commercial: why? That being said, service is good and the place itself is nice. Beyond that, stick with the shakes. read more

Super clean, somewhat pricey, guilt free noms. Expect to wait a bit even during off hours and to leave feeling healthy and satisfied, that is, if you're able to find a place to sit. Spinach pesto bowl: Great flavor, a little dry Healthy parm bowl: saturated in tomato sauce (not necessarily a bad thing) The quinoa bowls come in a bowl akin to those used at froyo places. I'm not sure why I was so amused by that. read more

I used to go to the Mothership location near the Sears Tower and I wasn't all that impressed. But Protein Bar was almost brand new then, and was still training workers, tinkering with the menu, and, basically, getting their ish together. Judging by the new State & Lake location, they have pretty much gotten it together. Fortunately the State & Lake location is closer to the gig, so I get there often. You simply cannot beat this innovative menu -- from the breakfast bowls to the Bar-ritos to the healthy smoothies, there's really not a bad item. The BBQ & Greek Town Bar-ritos are my favorites and all of the breakfast bowls are outstanding. South Acai'd (say it with your chest, like: "Souf A-SIIIIIDE!) is far and away my favorite smoothie. I also like that they can customize any item that's not vegan to be vegan, and will also doctor up the existing vegan items to suit your taste. To wit: A worker told me to add vinaigrette, tomatos & onion to the Original Vegan Bar-rito for a "kick" and I've never looked back! Doing a juice cleanse and don't feel like cutting up veggies and making it all yourself? Get it at Protein Bar. Their fresh vegetable juice bar is not cheap, but certainly worth saving yourself the trouble. If you're looking to clean up your diet without sacrificing taste, this is your spot. Everything is some incarnation of organic, all-natural, cruelty-free, allergen-free, and/or vegan and simply all good. The choices can be overwhelming, so take the time to check out the menu online before you get there if you've never been, so you don't hold up the regulars (like me!) There's also a frequent diner card--anybody who knows me knows how much I love "incentivized eating" -- only 8 purchases and you get a free something-or-another. Good deal! Finally, be forewarned that lunchtime is an absolute beast. They do a decent job of getting folks out the door pretty quickly, but if you ahbor lines as much as I do, your best bet to avoid the lunch rush altogether by arriving either around 11 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m. Go get your healthy, delicious food on! read more

One of the best locations I've been to. The food/shakes are a bit pricey, but you get good quality. Cashiers are always really friendly and quick to make all orders. My favorite shake is the Avo-Matcha, super filling. I order here quite often due to working in the area and have never had my order messed up regardless of how busy the location is. The spinach-quinoa bowl is my go-to for lunch. Super fresh and filling. They also always have a good variety of Kombucha (also a little overpriced, but nothing crazy for Downtown.) read more

I am so disappointed at Protein Bar. I purchased a "Wrigley Peeled" and when it was time to pick up my order the cup with only three quarters of the way full. I asked them to fill uthe cup up since the smoothies are not cheap. The order distributor sarcastically stated "we know how much the smoothies are". They reluctantly took the Smoothie back and obviously when they went back to re-blend it, they filled it with more ice. This was the absolute worst smoothie I have ever tasted and it had absolutely no flavor. The next time someone orders a vegan option, they shouldn't be punished with a non filled cup. When and if I frequent Protein Bar again, it will be at a location that does it right. This one doesn't. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's so hard to often find healthy lunch options that won't cost me an arm and a leg, or take forever to get. That's where Protein Bar comes in. Their vegetarian chili is by far my favorite menu item, aside from their shakes. read more

This Protein Bar location downtown needs help. And I think people should be warned about it's diminishing quality. The buffalo bowl used to be predictably delicious. Then one day I noticed a lot less blue cheese in my bowl, less chicken on another day. This pattern continued over the weeks. Today I had the worst one yet. After digging half way though the bowl for anything remotely buffalo in flavor (there was a very small cube of blue cheese that I found eventually) I noticed the chicken bits were a little discolored. Eventually I bit into one that was rock solid; crunchy like a bone. It's disgusting and insulting to have been given this as if someone checked its quality and simply did not care. Keeping up with volume is one thing, sacrificing quality to do so is another. I am a lost customer as I've been completely turned off to what used to be my favorite lunch. read more

While walking around Chicago my wife and I came across this place. I had eaten there many years before, and wanted to try it again. I had buffalo chicken salad, my wife had a chicken quinoa bowl. The staff was friendly, the food was delicious, and the location was clean. I could not ask for anything more. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Their drink and utensils area. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'll admit it: I didn't think I would like Protein Bar. At the end of the day, healthy's just not my thing, but the Buffalo "Bar-Rito" was pretty tasty. Fairly filling, lots of chicken, quinoa and sauce, quick service after ordering, and the diet black cherry soda did the job. A great place to take my vegan/veggie co-workers when I need a spot to go to appease their needs! Got out for under $12 but next time I'll skip the soda to keep this under $10. read more

"Would you like a side of quinoa with that quinoa?" OK, so maybe they overdo it with the quinoa, which might have something to do with the odor that smacks you in the face when you first walk in. That being said, this is the best tasting food you are going to get this side of healthy. The calorie counts, in fact, seem almost too good to be true (but, believe me, the 15lbs I have lost since coming here regularly are evidence of their accuracy). Aside from the obnoxious pun I hate saying every time I order one, the bar-ritos are a great lunch option (the original is the best I have tried thus far). The smoothies also are a great add-on to the meal, but will likely take the overall price of the lunch above the desired $10-and-under price ceiling. The quinoa bowls, however, is where this place shines. They are surprisingly filling, despite hovering around 400cal each, and don't disappoint when it comes to flavor. The chilis--although probably better classified as "stews"--never disappoint. Overall, it deserves a spot in any health conscious Looper's lunch rotation, and is well worth the longer wait and slightly higher price tag that comes with the quality. read more

I did not come here during the lunch rush, so my experience of the Protein Bar being a calm spot in which to grab a quick, healthy bite might differ from some of the other reviews. The menu is comprehensive--I might go so far as to say overwhelming--and features a variety of quinoa-based options, along with salads/bowls/wraps. The portions are decent-sized and the dollop of greek yogurt added to my dish was a thoughtful touch. As the chili was far from a three-alarm (more like 1.5 alarm), the provided selection of hot sauces was appreciated. I might not go out of my way to eat at the Protein Bar, especially with more fun (aka bad-for-you) dining options located a stone's throw away to tempt a person, but it is good to know that it exists as an alternative. read more

I so wish that this chain opened a location in Toronto. Great concept and quality eats - I highly recommend it for anyone not wanting to load up on grease. Their fresh juices are on the small side, but I guess that's normal here from what I've seen at other locations in the area. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Beet, apple juice and breakfast burrito - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What an awesome place! There are a bunch of different smoothies to pick from. I had a peanut butter and jelly one wow! You even got to pick a free add-in so I picked multi-vitamine. They had a soda fountain but it was not filled with the standard high fructose corn syrup BS but had natural soft drinks. The tables were also cool. Really wish I had a place like this closer to me. If I were to go again, I would for sure try the food. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - No bad for you cola here. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This location is horrible! I go all the time and order a southwest salad. Today May 12th at 4:40pm I go and order my salad. Take it to go. Get home and its not chopped? The new guy to the cashier. We are out of cooked kale what do I do? Cashier response: make so more. New guy: How? Cashier: Tells him how I finish ordering and pay. Sit down. Within a minute the new guy says salad is ready. Take my salad and leave. To the location manager: Why do you have a new guy who is not trained working by himself in back? I would like my money back and for him to get the proper training he needs. I'll take my business to a better location. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - What is this? Why is my salad not chopped? Umm..Refund me please! Worst experience ever at this location. May 12th, 2017 at 4:40pm - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had been meaning to try out protein bar for awhile but hadn't realized how close they were to campus until SOMEONE stole my lunch out of the communal fridge (ahem.) and I had to find a quick lunch spot before my next class. The place was packed, but I got in and out fairly quickly. They have a lot of different items on their menu...abut 90% of those items contain quinoa (which is fine, good protein for vegetarians. I personally try not to eat too many carbs at lunch so I don't fall into a coma on the train ride home.) I ordered the Greektown wrap, but instead of the wrap asked for it over salad. It was really awesome. Their hummus was a nice flavor, warm chicken, lots of lettuce and stuff. It was filling, low-cal, and a delicious mix. I do wish they would have had feta cheese with it though - I thought for sure since it was a greek salad type thing they would have it but alas. Oh well, the hummus added a nice flavor. It was a little pricey for lunch at around $10-$12 for just the salad, no drink or chips or anything. $12 is really no more expensive than any other lunch spot in the loop though. (Hannah's, T.L.C, Chipolte, etc.) They also sell extras like greek yogurt, KIND bars, Popchips, and so forth. I would come back to Protein Bar if I am ever in need of a bought lunch while I am downtown again. I try to pack, but if whoever stole my lunch out of the Roosevelt University fridge remembers enjoying their stolen salad....go to Protein Bar next time you have the urge for some healthy food, it was good. Also, I want that tupperware back. /bitter Go Protein Bar! read more

If you have 30min to wait for a simple fresh juice, this is your place. Incompetent staff. Where is the manager? We're the only people in the place. I've waited so long I feet compelled to write this review while I sit here. Ugh. read more

My experience at the Protein Bar was great. I swung by right after getting my hair done from the salon in the same building. I grabbed a bowl of chili for lunch and HI-5 (Kale, Spinach, Pineapple, Cilantro blended with ice). They were beyond delish. HI-5 was just so refreshing. If you are too lazy to break out your juicer to make your own green juice, I would suggest you to treat yourself with some healthy raw green juice from this place. I would definitely come back in my lazy day. read more

Great chain overall - but this specific location does an awesome job. The customer service is really friendly and efficient about keeping the line moving and getting your food in hand. The pesto chicken spinach bowl is my personal favorite, great portion, tastes awesome, and feels like you made a healthy choice. As far as smoothies the pier-nut butter and jelly and the fruit looped are both great choices. Can't miss this for lunch if you're working in the Loop. read more

Friendly order taking staff. I went here in the morning two days in a row for breakfast and the staff smiled and joked with me both times. Their scrambled egg is perfect size for a women who hates huge America portion. I really liked the mexicana scrambled eggs. It was yum and I felt healthy. I also like the "healthy but" green smoothie. Love the nutty taste. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Healthy nut smoothie and mexicana scrambled eggs with egg whites - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

OBSESSED already! I had the BGT with egg protein and almond milk (LOVE that they have almond milk huge plus). For lunch I ordered a southwestern salad mixed and I couldn't believe how flavorful it was...the hot sauce really does it for me. I ordered a side of vegan chili as well just to taste it and have it for lunch tomorrow and you wouldn't even be able to tell it's vegan. the spice is fantastic! I am so happy to find an organic and G Free place down in the loop for my lunches I have a feeling my relationship with PB is about to get very unhealthy and the state/lake crew will start knowing me by name:) read more

I'd been excited to try Protein Bar for a while and then they opened one in the pedway of my office! If you want to eat healthy, PB is a spot for you, but it won't be gentle to your wallet. Overall, the food and smoothies are really good, but considering the size of the portion and the cost of the entree, it's fairly pricey and not for someone on a budget. When I want to eat healthy, I'd rather walk to Freshii where you get a better bang for your buck. 4.5 stars for the food 2.5 stars for the value read more

I was ready to dislike Protein Bar, as I came to one of its locations a few years ago when it first opened and felt it was overpriced protein shakes. But oh how it's evolved! The name is somewhat misleading -- you can get great salads and burritos here, with vegetables abound. I really like the burritos, and the breakfast ones are just as filling as the lunch ones, but a few bucks cheaper :) There might be a line during standard breakfast/lunch hours, but they're fast and efficient and always with a smile. read more

Pretty impressive when it comes to protein bowls and shakes, very healthy choice for lunch. They offer a good variety of vegan salads as well read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Buffalo chicken salad sub tofu, vegan chilli soup and acai shake - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stood in line forever to find that they no longer feature Tuscan kale and white bean soup, regardless of what the menus on display outside and inside the restaurant say. Bullshit. Not only that, but the "we do healthy . . . healthier" is kind of relative. The sodium content on most of their items is close to or over half of the daily recommended allowance, which is why I suppose they don't give you the sodium count on the menu like they do calories, fat, carbs, fiber and protein. There's less sodium in a Big Mac than there is in their Vegan Original Bar-ito, despite the fact that both items have the same calorie count. A premium grilled BLT sandwich at McDonald's has less sodium and calories than Protein Bar's Buffalo Salad. What a joke. read more

I, too, am thrilled that this Protein Bar finally opened- I'd never been to one, (the others aren't anywhere near my path on any given day) and considering my recent eating-right-and-working-out kick, this food is right up my alley! SCORE! I had the Guac-N-Roll, a cold bar-rito, which was absolutely delicious! Chicken, tomatoes, a salad mix, guac and a cilantro-lime sauce which perfectly compliments everything else. I loved it. Combine with super sweet enthusiastic employees, a fun, clean, modern interior, (love the tvs w/ sportscenter and CNN) I'll definitely be back. I am only deducting one star for the prices! Dear god! My bar-rito was $8. Some (most?) people wouldn't blink twice at this, but yowza! Still, healthy, fast, delicious. Welcome to the hood! read more

One of my favorite places in the city. Such a great place for clean eating with great taste and even better service! Special shoutout to Juan & Carlos! They gave me exceptional customer service. read more

I'm a fan of Protein Bar! I make my own green juice, which is better than PB's version, but when I'm running late, I try to get off on State and Lake to get one at PB's to start my day right. I tried their Sante Fe bowl and it was not that great. Their guac and roll is fabulous! I actually ate half for lunch, stuck the other half in the fridge and ate it for dinner. My only gripe, which is very minor, is that they should replace the splenda sugar packets with a more natural alternative like Stevia just to be consistent with their "organic, healthy, and better for you" concept. And since it's a healthy alternative restaurant, expect to pay above $10 for a lunch/dinner meal. read more

Seemed like the only healthy and fast option near my hotel. This location is bigger than the one not far away on Michigan Ave and is better in the sense that the other one is not capable of serving breakfast menu and lunch menu at the same time. Chicken chili is extremely tart and forgettable. Superfood vegan salad is very filling but dressing can be mixed in better. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Superfood vegan - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois