Soul Food Vegetarian East Restaurant
The Answer to Healthy Eating and Soul Food
Chicago, IL 60619
United States of America
There was no host to seat customers, the waiter spent more time looking at a wedding reception on their television screens than serving us, and it took almost a half hour in between time to get our food. But then I tasted the food and knew I'd come back again. Some of the stuff on their menu made me question whether it was meat or not because it tasted so much like it, and it was so delicious. Foods like the BBQ tofu sub, pepper steak, macaroni and cheese, BBQ twists, collard greens, hot water cornbread, and tofu nuggets decorate the menus and if I didn't taste them myself and know how meat really tastes, I could be fooled. I enjoy their "meat" selections much better knowing that no animals had to be killed for my food intake. That and I've never felt healthier eating food than I have there. A customer who's used to eating healthy food with more meat than vegetables is going to be challenged taking on this lifestyle regardless, but to enjoy the food makes it much easier. Whoever makes the collard greens put their foot in it, hands down. (For those unfamiliar with the terminology, putting your foot in a food means it's incredibly delicious from your hard work, not literally putting a foot in it.)
If you're not a fan of tofu and soy, there are vegetable dishes, such as kale and collard greens, broccoli, green peas, green beans, squash, mashed potatoes, and sweet corn. There are more common dishes for those who aren't necessarily enamored with soul food, such as spaghetti, taco salad, and pizza, but with a vegetable twist and no dairy products. Peanuts are used in a lot of their dishes though, so please make sure to ask if you have food allergies.
Consumers wash down their foods with delicious Nantucket juices, or protein drinks with ingredients like peanut butter, carob, banana, strawberry, pineapple, bananaberry, soy milk, molasses, green tea, pineapple ginger, and sorrel and apple ginger. Desserts include tofu cheesecake, cakes, cookies, and cinnamon buns. The juice bar is next door if you would like to check out all of the different shakes and juices to customize them yourself.
Best of all, the prices are surprisingly low. I spend way too much money on vegetables and fruit when I go to the grocery store so I expected to spend a large sum of money to eat at Soul Vegetarian East. Not true. The most expensive dish I saw was $8.50 and most dishes, especially sandwiches, run from $3.50-$4. If I lived on the southside of Chicago, I'd probably eat at the Soul Vegetarian East restaurant daily because it's so affordable.
I've been several times in the past two years and the service has improved greatly. Now the employers greet you immediately, ask for your food, bring it out within a reasonable time (sometimes two servers), the managers come over to make sure you are satisfied, and they still have the same comfortable seats, chairs, and comforting atmosphere as the first time I went. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to improve their eating habits, especially soul food lovers. The only con is the Chicago location still does not give out food menus. I don't quite understand that considering they do take-out, but they know and I know that the food will keep you coming back regardless.
Published by Shamontiel
Shamontiel is the author of Round Trip and Change for a Twenty, and in mid-October became the Chicago Tribune s Digital News Editor. She works on National Travel, Health and occasionally Breaking News, and w... View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentIf you're in the Chicago area again, I'd recommend checking out any of the following restaurants I reviewed here http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2702465/so_you_think_you_can_be_a_vegetarian.html
Hi Yahkemda Levy, I can't really give you feedback on opening a restaurant. It takes a lot more than being able to cook to open a restaurant. After completing an interview with two clearly different people for Yah's Cuisine, I figured that out promptly. I will say this though. If you decide to open that restaurant, make sure your business partners are on the same page as you. Don't let them ruin your company regardless of the ethics just because they don't know any better. It's what has stopped me from going into Yah's Cuisine even though I think Yehidah is quite pleasant. I would recommend Soul Veg though now that the service has improved.
Hey!! I'm taking out time to reflect and think on the good times in the Chi. I'm still here in Indy and need to open a vegie spot here. I konw I've been taught by the top culinary artist of vegitarian cusine (if I don't say so mysel)Now since people say "we're in a recession"...sounds like a good idea huh? give me some feed back. Oh!1 congratulations on your novels!!
Gray Whitley, thanks for checking in to this entry. I welcome you to visit me on ChicagoNow.com for a complete list of the work I've written about being a vegetarian.
"So you think you can be a vegetarian?" Check out my tips, recipes, shopping advice, and news all at one location: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/message-from-montie/2009/12/so-you-think-you-can-be-a-vegetarian.html
Thank you for the nice and informative write-ups, all peppered with fine recipe hints - being a vegetarian, especially in NC where pork is king, it's an inspirational moment finding "for real" vegourmet stories about living the vegetarian way.
Just an FYI, I tried to give Soul Veg another chance because even though the service may not be great, the food always was. However, I've been there two times recently, and I've been very disappointed. If you don't get the special, you can't get sides. The specials aren't always great. One time I ended up sitting on the outside by the cash register (with a date), and now, even when you try to interview them about vegetarianism, it's almost like they feel like they're doing you a favor. Quite honestly, I'd much prefer to go to Quench!, Vegetarian Life, Alice & Friends, and to visit A Natural Harvest (at the Taste of Chicago). It's difficult to recommend a restaurant who doesn't make good business decisions.
We ate here last time we were in Chicago and I too was quite skeptical about their ability to make collards taste good without ham (I have a hard enough time making them taste good WITH ham!). But I was shocked: best collards I have ever put in my mouth. I'd make an extra trip to Chicago just to eat there. And the Chicago Diner further north on Halstead (near the Cubs Stadium). And, btw, I'm not a vegetarian. :-)
Soul Vegetarian East will be teaching cooking courses, yoga classes, colon cleansing, and so forth. Visit www.soulvegwellness.com for details or email svwi7@yahoo.com for details.
Yahkemda, I'm digging the name. Unique! (Damn, I wish I had a dime for every time someone told me that.) Anyway, that's very cool that Soul Vegetarian East has become a meeting spot. Considering the service has improved, I enjoy that place so much. Although I'm becoming very partial to Annie & Friends, when I go to the southside of Chicago, I try to hit that spot up. Now that I think about it, I should go there this weekend.