I haven't been here in a couple years & it was just as good as I remember it. The black bean burger was delicious. Sweet potato fries were thin & crispy. Came with a pickle. So many yummy veggies & the bun was perfect. My friend loved her vegan Mac & cheese. Also, the cookie dough shake was amazing. A little pricy at $9. Super friendly service. Cute, clean place. The whole menu is vegan & vegetarian options. Lots of comfort foods. It's like heaven for people with limited choices at other places. I can't wait to come back. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Black bean burger & sweet potato fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After the terrible experience I just had trying to order at a restaurant I was nervous. They were like a breath of fresh air. Friendly, willing to put through brunch menu orders a few minutes before the end and just welcoming. I've often gone to get takeout here because they have so much food I have to get it for home! I nearly always get a drink while I wait. They make great cocktails and their shakes are to die for. Never a bad experience here. I even enjoy watching the vintage movies from my childhood on old VHS tapes! read more

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It's always a great time at the Chicago Diner. I love its trendy vibe, excellent waitstaff, and all the vegan options. I happened to come on a Tuesday when they have half-priced wings, which happens to be one of my favorite appetizers. So I ordered the barbecue wings which are absolutely delicious with the ranch on the side! (I had already eaten two of the wings before I remember to take a photo. LOL.) It was my first time ordering mushroom risotto and the texture and flavors were amazing! I truly enjoyed this dish. The vegan chicken was a nice addition, but I certainly didn't need the plant-based meat because the risotto tasted so good on its own. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Mushroom Risotto - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were seated immediately but took about 10 minutes to be served. The food was nicely seasoned. Potatoes were a dry and could use a little more work. Service was just ok. Vegan and vegetarian options available. Street parking available. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants and favorite vegan/veg restaurant of all time! I've been coming here for over 20 years. Sometimes I venture and try new things but I typically order the radical Reuben with vegan cheese. My hubby got the chocolate pb milkshake and the cubano. The milkshake was AMAZING!!! The Reuben was great as always and by husband liked his sandwich as well. He tasted mine and said next time he'll go with the same as me. Highly recommend for vegetarians and non vegetarians!!!! read more

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What a great spot for either brunch or dinner. They have several beers on tap, a rotating menu of seasonal items, and tons of delicious vegetarian and vegan options that even meat eater could roll with. The staff is always so kind and helpful with the menu items as well, and it does truly have a diner type of vibe. Don't skip the milkshakes! You would have no idea they were vegan. read more

My wife and I were at the Bucktown Art fair. Since we don't eat any animal products, they only a few options for lunch, so we decided to just go somewhere close. Boy am I glad we did. After a quick search and a phone call we headed over. Cute little place and almost every table full, on a Saturday around 2:00. That's always a good sign. I ordered the Ruben with dairy free cheese. WOW! I love a good Ruben and this was easily the best one I've had, since going vegan 9 years ago. It is seriously out of this world. I couldn't shut up about it through the whole meal. I also got the waffle fries. Hot and crispy! My wife got the BLT club and that was fantastic too. And I ate a 1/4 of that as well.... I wish I had room for dessert! You guys are doing it right. I love it. read more

The Golden Filet Sandwich is on the specialty menu for a reason!! The filet was crisped to perfection and the batter was well-seasoned. The tartar sauce was creamy and delicious--the coleslaw was the perfect crunch on top. The staff was wonderful AND this place has been vegetarian since '83. Definitely worth checking out!! read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Golden Filet Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food seems fresh and full of flavor. The salt though is inconsistent. Sometimes it is too salty and other times it perfect. The carrot cake was dry, but nice flavor. The Ruben is memorable and is a regular go to. The Cuban was nice, but had an unexpected lemon flavor. The club is nice and a solid choice. There are plenty of seat options and can accommodate a moderate group. There is a small step to get in, but space to move a wheelchair, there might be a ramp available on request. The restrooms are accessible. read more

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I had been to the other location of Chicago diner and liked their desserts (I'm not vegan but still think their desserts are great!) My friend and I finished dinner in the area and decided to split a milkshake here and it was SO GOOD. I also got my husband a gluten free turtle cheesecake which he said was ok. read more

Came here for vegan milkshake, left disappointed. It felt chalky and powdery, but had the perfect, thick consistency you want in a milkshake. Flavor was not for me. Underwhelming experience across the board, service was slow and food left much to be desired. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Choc Chip Cookie Dough - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was great to have a place where there were many options to choose from as a vegetarian. I will definitely recommend this place to my vegan/vegetarian friends. The service was great and I can't wait to go back. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Flautas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time visiting a pure vegan restaurant in Chicago and I had a fabulous time. All the options were so interesting but here's what I tried: 1. Thai chilli wings - flavour was amazing but I wish the wings themselves weren't so hard to bite 2. The Reuben - this was the best dish. Easy to eat, good crunch to the sandwich and very tasty! 3. Mushroom Lentil Loaf - this was alright, seemed very healthy. It's a cute diner vibe inside and for any vegan eaters out there I'd definitely recommend trying more options if you get a chance! read more

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I've decided that I will be giving Chicago Diner a 2 star review based on the following.. going into the establishment I had no expectations, good or bad. However, I found the experience to be quite perturbing and myself and those I was dining with ended o ur brunch with individual headaches and a feeling of strangeness that immediately washed away once we exited the building. Not sure if they had some type of psychic energy happening in the building or if it was a fumes situation. My friend got a sandwich that was like a big piece of slimey mess, which was frankly unsettling. My food was just okay. Not sure if the experience was redeemable or not but should definitely be taken into consideration next time I go there if I want to have a big headache and a weird feeling or not. I hope they fix this issue. Edit: I forgot to mention that after I received my orange juice glass ($4 by the way), I noticed in the kitchen doorway that the juice was simply just grocery store (Simply brand) juice! I felt a little bit scammed and a little bit used after I noticed that. The juice just didn't taste as good afterwards. If they keep serving grocery store juice they should at least hide it better so I don't have to feel like I wasted all my money which can feel quite sad. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is everything! We tried to visit another restaurant within walking distance and were sourly disappointed by the ambiance and eery environment. We found the Chicago Diner, and had amazing meals and cocktails. I would love to come back to Chicago just for this! read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Po Boy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is super cute and great for vegetarian/vegan dining! They also have quite a few gluten free/limited gluten options. The menu makes it clear what dietary restrictions each item is safe for. The server was super kind and answered all of our questions. I got the vegan cinnamon roll and it was good! The tofu scramble was solid; the tempeh strips weren't very seasoned so I wouldn't recommend them alone. The chai was great! read more

This was one of the best gf vegan meals of my life definitely the best on the road trip! Our server Clara was amazing, the ambiance was cozy, and the food was somehow still the best part! The prices are reasonable for the portions and location for sure. My favorite was the chili with the corn jalapeño fritter and the pumpkin pie vegan shake. I will be dreaming of this meal until I come back! read more

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We came to Chicago and the Vegan Columbus FaceBook page recommended us to come to Chicago Diner and even though it's not vegan, it's almost all plant based unless you specifically ask for eggs or diary cheese. Everything is vegan by default. Also we were told is a Chicago vegan rite of passage so of course we had to check it out. We ordered the Rueben and the strawberry milkshake as also recommended. Also got the pierogi quesadilla. It did not disappoint! Everything was delicious. The place itself it's very cool decorated. The staff was very attentive. We had a great experience. Will definitely come back again. read more

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A classic, well-established spot for vegans and non-vegans alike to check out. Located in Logan Square and Lakeview, this diner features an eclectic, meat-less menu from Thai stir-fry to burgers to vegan milkshakes. The interior is super cute, decorated like a vintage diner. Make a reservation in advance-- we came for a weekend lunch and it got pretty crowded at some points. I got the Buddha's Karma Burger (curried sweet potato-tofu patty, grilled pineapple, chimichurri sauce) with a side of sweet potato fries (a bit too much sweet potato, in retrospect). It was pretty good, with distinct flavors and a nice mix of savory and slightly sweet. Overall though, it was a little underwhelming, as I had high expectations. I didn't like how it fell apart so easily, crumbling with every bite. The sweet potato fries were crispy and not too salty. We also tried the Mint Chocolate Chip Vegan Shake, as apparently they're famous for their shakes, and it was really good and tasted so similar to a traditional shake... with no lactose intolerance! The prices were pretty fair and standard for the portions and quality, and the service was friendly. An automatic 20% gratuity is applied for all parties. Overall, I'd love to come back, especially to try their other sandwich/burger and shake options! -- Price (relative to peers): 4.5/5 Food: 4/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Overall Value: 4/5 read more

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Service was very friendly and described the menu in a way that appealed to our taste. Definitely recommend trying for meat-free options.

Their Thai chili wings are a MUST!! Soo flavorful and filling. The portion sizes are also huge- perfect for sharing. We ended up getting full after two apps but we'll def be back for some more! read more

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Been to the other location before and overall good! I would skip the poutine and Mac-teese. Our waiter recommended it but I was not a fan. Thai stir fry was delicious. Ruben and Cuban were also good. I did enjoy the other location a little better! Ruben is always a safe bet and delicious if not sure what to get! read more

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Delicious, fresh vegan food! Ambience feels like a diner but the food quality does not, we got the jalapeño poppers, mushroom sandwich,& breakfast combo. Everything tasted great, I especially loved the vegan ranch. Service was also top notch. Although I don't agree with the default 20% tip added to every check, the service was definitely up to par. read more

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Classic old-school diner with almost everything vegan (everything is at least vegetarian). I ordered the potato tempeh hash with scrambled tofu ($16), plus a side of sauteed kale ($4) and a coffee ($4). The food came out in about 10-12 minutes in a massive portion: plenty of scrambled tofu, sliced potato, tempeh, biscuits & gravy, and a bit of red pepper and onion, spiced with fennel and pepper. Pretty satisfying and certainly filling. Definitely not the most exquisite breakfast/brunch out there, but it checked a lot of boxes. Friendly, attentive service. Recommended spot. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Potato tempeh hash with scrambled tofu (vegan) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The place is amazing! Food is so delicious and tasted so fresh. Service was quick and our server, emma, was outstanding. Can't wait to visit again and try some more dishes. I ordered the breakfast combo with biscuit and gravy from their brunch menu (which is served everyday) and couldn't have made a better choice. If you're near by, and want to have some vegan / meatless diner options, stop here! read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Breakfast Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A good vegetarian place with vegan options of most (if not all) of their dishes. The pierogi quesadillas were great and honestly inventive - definitely worth it. The Nachos are good. The chicken fried steak (seitan) is tough - but I'm not confident you can have it any other way. Good gravy! The Poutine was weird tbh, can't recommend it, but the vibes and staff are nice. They also have a bar, but I've not tried that out. I'll definitely be back. read more

I got the breakfast combo and was disappointed in general. It's a pretty big dish but came on a plate that was way too small for all of that food, so everything was just kind of piled on top of each other. I ordered the fried eggs which were undercooked, the veggie bacon was extremely limp and soggy, and it didn't help that the eggs were basically placed on top of it, which effectively steamed the already undercooked bacon. The potatoes were pretty good but the fruit that came with the dish was more decoration than edible. I've also gotten the chicken sandwich before--the patty itself was thin and the breading was meh, the bread it was served on had a stale vibe...overall it was was just kind of dry and unexciting. The staff is great but the food was mediocre. I hate to give veg small businesses bad reviews but I do wish they would step their game up. read more

Like a dehydrated man coming across an oasis in the desert, Chicago Diner is a haven of good eats and creative veg cuisine. Some things are great fake meat versions of other things (see the radical Reuben or the monte cristo) and some are just good on their own (like the shakes). Hell, even just getting blasted at the bar is fun here. Do it! read more

I went to the Chicago Diner recently at recommendation of a friend and was blown away by the variety and quality of their vegan offerings. We got the Thai wings, spicy chicken sandwich, Reuben, and a milkshake. The wings were flavorful and had an enjoyable texture to them (but not exactly like chicken, which we didn't mind). The spicy chicken sandwich I wish was spicier but still good. The chicken was more of a breaded patty than a fried chicken (I was hoping for a Popeye's-esque chicken). The Reuben was AMAZING and tasted just like the real thing; the thousand island dressing, sauerkraut, and rye bread blended the flavors together so well that you don't even notice you're eating seitan instead of actual meat. The milkshake was also amazing! We got strawberry and it was so thick and creamy; one of the best shakes I've ever had, vegan or otherwise. We went on a Saturday around noon so it was pretty busy but we were seated right away. The service was a bit slow. It took a long time for the server to take our order and then also unusually long for our food to come out, but I chalked it up to them being slammed with both diners and pick up orders. It's a little cramped inside the restaurant but I do enjoy the casual ambiance of it. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - The Radical Reuben Sandwich, Spicy Crispy Chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was surprised to see I've never reviewed this restaurant, but that's just because I've been going to the original location longer. The Logan Square restaurant is a little newer and more modern looking inside but still serving the same amazing vegetarian menu as the original. They are upfront about the gratuity that is now defaultly tacked on to the bill. In total, the cost to share a Radical Reuben came out to $22.23. I was going to order dessert, but that is pretty steep for just a sandwich. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Radical Reuben - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you walk away from Chicago Diner hungry, you've done something terribly wrong. Just a milkshake is a meal in and of itself, but how could you pass up the opportunity to paid that with poutine, smothered in gravy and cheese, and bacon if you really go all in? Then you night as well get a seitan Reuben while you're at it, because it is a classic after all. Don't forget the steak and eggs, bearing one of the biggest slabs of crunchy fried seitan I've ever seen atop a golden mound of tofu scramble. Find a friend to try the Monte Cristo sandwich too, because how often can you pick up French toast with your hands and chow down on meatless ham, eggs, and cheese all at the same time? Yeah, there's a good coma soon to follow that kind of feast, but you would only regret not going for it. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - a plate of french fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was traveling to Chicago and everyone I asked for recommendations said this was the placeDelicious vegetarian spot (mostly vegan but they do have egg dishes). Cute bar with old school vhs movies on display. The hostess was really friendly while I waited for my online order. The mint chocolate shake was absolutely delicious and the pancakes were GIANT! So so good. Also tried the poutine, something out of my normal to eat, and wow was that tasty! I can't wait to come back! read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Mint Chocolate Chip shake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm a huge fan of their food. However, I am not a fan of their desserts, unfortunately for me since dessert is my favorite course. Nonetheless, I love the Chicago Diner experience (excluding the parking situation). My favorites from this location: Cuban - delicious sandwich made even better when I add their yummy bacon. The bread is always so soft and fresh. The addition of peperoncinis is a nice touch. TITANIC BLT Burger - with mods I made this quickly became one of my favorite burgers. So good! Blackened Tofu Salad - was so delicious. That tasty blackened tofu set it off. Milkshakes - these end up being my dessert. They're so thick and delicious. This location is bigger than the OG location. It has a more inviting and modern feel. Good for groups, but carpool, bc...parking. read more

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I wanted to love this place. Drove over 3 hours to get to it. Parking in this area is terrible. $2.50 an hour to park on the street if you can find a spot. Greeted by a woman that explains that there is a mandatory 20% tip. Waited a while to place my order despite there only being only 3 other tables occupied. It was more important for my waiter to be complaining to another waiter than to bother waiting on me. Several employees that just wander around with seemingly nothing to do. Once the order was placed the food came super quick. The country fried steak did not taste fresh and was very tough, not the correct consistency. Flavor was ok. All in the bill was $23 for country fried steak and water. Seems very pricey to me. read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came here on a very late Thursday and the food was served very quickly. Thai chili wings: not very impressed. I might try another appetizer next time Gyros: nice presentation! The tzatziki sauce tasted delicious too Country fried steak: my friend ordered this and said it lacked flavor. she appreciated that the portion was generous  Chocolate peanut butter: our favorite! We shared the drink and really considered on ordering another one Overall, we were impressed with the shake but the entree dishes were a hit or miss. We may come back to try their other shakes read more

The Chicago Diner, Logan Square - Thai Chili Wings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We ended up at Chicago Diner in Logan Square after a few other options were either closed early, or located too far to travel. Not that we didn't plan to come here at some point, we just didn't plan to come here on this occasion. In this case, it's great to have so many Vegan options. In suppose it's technically "vegetarian" for some reason, clinging to the past. I guess if it's been working for nearly 40 years, why rock the boat? I actually forgot this fact when ordering, but thankfully we were told at the other location that by default, the menu is Vegan unless otherwise specified. Wouldn't want to scare those Vegetarian folks that can't commit to the cause. Jalapeno Poppers, Jalapeno Poppers, Jalapeno Poppers. Just order that if it's available. These were served with a bucket of ranch (that I hope was Vegan). Normally places give you a thimble of dipping sauce and even have the audacity to charge $0.25 - $1 for more. This diner hooked it up! It was very good (hopefully Vegan) ranch too. Although these poppers didn't really need any accoutrements to taste great. Perfectly battered, stuffed, and fried. They weren't even spicy. In this case, I'll put it in the bonus column since that means my spice adverse honey was about to help me out on devouring the platter. The Country Fried Seitan was pretty fantastic, if oddly rectangular shapen. The gravy was excellent and even the side of veggies packed a punch of flavor. The mashed taters were serviceable but without the gravy, would have been difficult to eat on their own. Would certainly order this again. The Titanic BLT Burger was tasty, despite an off-putting odor of char or smoke flavor. This completely turned my wife off of it. I slogged on and didn't really notice it for the most part. The chipotle fire sauce helped mask any oddness to me. Not sure if the bacon is produced in house but it's better than most anything available on the market. It's a large filling sandwich with your choice of side. The side chosen was mac n Teese. That Teese brand seems popular in this part of the country and I can see why. This was a creamy, well balanced mac that I could see myself ordering a whole bowl of. Service... it well sucked for lack of a better word. The wait staff pretty much hung out at the FOH gossiping like schoolgirls. The bartender was not really friendly, which is a rare trait amongst those in that profession. I mean, I'm glad dude didn't talk my ear off but a little friendliness goes a long way. We were going to come back here for breakfast/brunch later in our trip but the service (or lack of) experienced on this occasion made us choose the Lakeview spot instead. This spot is five stars for the food, no stars for the service. read more

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I came here with a bunch of friends. As a meat lover, I can see why this place is popular. I enjoyed the chocolate banana shake and the omelette. Food were made with seitan /tofu. Dishes came in big portions so we all ended up taking leftovers home. Friendly staff. Spacious seating and clean interiors. read more

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I haven't been here in a couple years, I went a few times when I was vegan and don't remember loving it much. I had some kind of weird patty experience--but thought we'd give it another go today and try their brunch menu. I don't have anything bad to say service wise, although they did get some minor things wrong with my friend's orders. I like to have a visual reference for what I'm ordering at restaurants sometimes so thats what I did, I chose the monte cristo sandwich (with an over easy egg and dairy cheese) because it looked like, idk a normal sandwich in the pictures I saw. Also split the cinnamon rolls. CINNAMON ROLLS: they were fine. we ate most of them, they weren't anything to write home about for sure. MONTE CRISTO: Looked fine when I got it, took a flattering photo of it for the before, but once I tried to cut it in half I knew there was a problem. It would have been impossible to eat as a sandwich should be eaten (yknow in your hands). It was so so soggy, I really tried. I ended up cutting a chunk off and eating a bite but it was hard to swallow. The sogginess turned the 'french toast' bread back into a gooey dough which made the sweetness of it a little more disturbing than if it was actually acting as a bread. I really couldn't get past it and ended up really just taking the egg out and eating that with the potatoes. I tried to eat the seitan I really tried. I sort of used some of the (cheese) goo to mix into the potatoes to make myself feel better about my choices. I even ate the two melon pieces and I never go out of my way to eat melon. Oh well Additionally, something was poisoning us in the air, cant prove that though. Probably wont be back, no hard feelings read more

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Although we've eaten here a number of times over the years, and have ordered take-out since the pandemic, I realized my last review was almost seven years ago, back in 2015. Time for an update. Unfortunately, we're still COVID conscious so rarely eat inside of restaurants these days. The Chicago Diner gets crowded and seats are close together so we're not ready to return inside yet. We ordered through an online service. I'm not sure which one since my son ordered the food. We always eat way too much when we dine here. This time was no exception. Around the table, we had biscuits with gravy, Country Fried "Steak," and, since it was been a few weeks, I don't recall the rest. As always, the food was great. For vegan food, in many cases, you would never know the difference. There are a few items on the menu, such as the country fried steak, that are clearly not meat. And, Seitan can be very, very heavy. It seems to expand when you eat it. Nevertheless, I love getting food from here. I may feel too full for a while, but it is a sated kind of feeling. I can't wait until we feel comfortable going to crowded restaurants again since this will be one of the first on my list. read more

I've been wanting to try this spot for a while since I find vegan food to be such an art & I was not disappointed with the service! Came to this diner on a Monday during elderly dinner time (4:30-5pm) so it was p quiet when we came in. The set up of the restaurant was different with booth like tables in the middle. The food ordered: buffalo chicken wings, buddha burger, verde tamales, & strawberry and banana milkshakes. The wings were more like tenders but the skin was crunchier than expected & taste was definitely there. I loved the dill focused ranch sauce that came with. The burger was sweet potato based & paired perfectly with the pineapple & chimchurri sauce. I got a side of yucca chips that were finger lickin good. The tamales make up was definitely different looking but the taste was spot on! Lastly the milkshakes was heavenly & left ur stomach feeling light instead of heavy afterwards. Loved dissecting the flavors & eating food that didn't make me feel grossly full afterwards. read more