The Best Chicago, Illinois Vegan Restaurants

If you plan to visit the Chicago, Illinois, area and are looking for the best vegan restaurants, visit the locations below for an excellent menu. The big city offers a large number of vegetarian restaurants with a variety of menu items, but these three vegan restaurants will be above and beyond your expectations.

The Chicago Diner

The Chicago Diner has been a meatless restaurant since 1983 and is located at 3411 N Halsted Chicago, Illinois. They have been given several awards for being the best vegetarian restaurant in Chicago, like Favorite Vegetarian Restaurant in 2005 and 2009, Favorite Brunch and many more. They are open Monday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday 11am to 10:30pm, Saturday 10am to 10:30pm, and Sunday 10am to 10pm.

The Chicago Diner offers an excellent menu, from brunch, dinner, and dessert. They offer a great menu of tacos, chili and meatball sandwiches, all made with vegan meats. Try a Dagwood Sandwich that consists of seitan roast and corned "beef", "bacon", and cheeze, with lettuce tomato, onion, pepperoncini, and spicy sauce on a hoagie bun. You can check out their full menu at www.veggiediner.com.

You can also use their catering services for your vegan weddings, parties, and group get togethers. If you want a spectacular wedding cake, order it from The Chicago Diner, it is the best in town. There are gift certificates available, along with a cookbook, t-shirt, and tote bag for purchase. You won't go wrong with The Chicago Diner, it will become your all time favorite vegan restaurant.

Udupi Palace

Udupi Palace is an authentic Southern India style restaurant located at 2543 W Devon Street in Chicago, Illinois. There are two other locations in Tacoma Park, MD and Schaumburg, IL. Udupi Palace offers a menu with authentic herbs and spices that come directly from Southern India. You can order off the appetizer menu where you can find Dahi Vada, a Lenthil donut soaked in seasonal yogurt, or try an authentic india soup, like the Rasam, a traditional South Indian sour and spicy soup. You can also order from the Currie or Pullavs menu, or just order straight from the dinner menu, where you will marvel in delight. Your dinner order will have a variety of things from each menu, including the main dish. The Udupi Special will enlighten you with your soup choice, iddly or meduvada, dosai or uthappam, and served with sambar and chutney, gulab jamun or rasamalai, and tea or coffee, a great menu choice. If you enjoy different flavors of Indian bread, try the Poori, a puffed whole wheat bread deep fried or an Alu Paratha, a multi layered whole wheat bread stuffed with potato, onion and spices, great taste.

Udupi Palace also offers a banquet and catering service or a group dinner. You can check out their full menu at www.udupipalace.com.

Arya Bhaven

Arya Bhaven is an excellent vegan restaurant choice, simply because they offer dine in, buffet, and delivery services. They are located at 2508 W Devon Street in Chicago, Illinois. They are open Tuesday through Thursday from 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 9pm, Friday from 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 9:30pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 9:30pm, and closed on Mondays in the dining room, but open for delivery from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. You can stop in for the buffet from 5:30pm to 9:30pm Friday through Sunday, where you can choose your favorite Indian and Continental foods.

Arya Bhaven has their own deliver menu, which includes appetizers like Samosa and Vegetable Cutlet, a soup and salad menu, like Rasam Soup and a fresh salad, or rice, bread, dosa, uttappam served with sambhar and chutney, and vada. Try a South Indian dish Bisi Bele Bhath that has a blend of spiced rice and lentil or a Thali Specials\, like the Vegan Thali served with puffed rice, crunchy chickpea noodles, and bits of whole wheat chips, along with diced potatoes, onions, cilantro, and three chutneys. Excellent menu choices that will make your mouth water for more South Indian flavors and keep you coming back for more.

Arya Bhaven offers a nice atmosphere and excellent service. If you are interested in visiting them, check out their website at www.aryabhavan.com.