The Chicago Diner, Lakeview Reviews

Went to the diner with my vegan friend after reading all the glowing reviews. We were promptly seated and our order was taken. In 15 minutes the place was packed, but the waiters were very friendly and quick. I should admit that for me the food was underwhelming. The food was not bad. I ordered some Thai dish and it tasted ok, but something was missing. I'm willing to try again, but guess that vegan food is not my cup of tea. My vegan friend was very happy though, so it was worth the visit.

I have eaten here about four times now, when I have visited Chicago on holiday. One of my party is Vegan, due to a cow's milk allergy. So for them, this means they can have milkshake, mac 'n' cheese and nachos; amazing! I recommend it for lunch, brunch or dinner. The service is quick and the food is reaĺly filling. Even though it is veggie and vegan, they do not skimp on your food. I love the seltan, as it does taste like meat. The deserts are wonderful too, and they can also be found in Whole Foods. You may have to queue and wait for a table outside, at certain times. But it is worth it. Great servers, too.

Broad variety of creative vegan food. Most items were delicious though the green beans that came with great "meat loaf" could have used a little more spice.

This was not my first time to the Diner. It is a special treat for my wife and kids as they are vegan. The food is always excellent and delicious. The bakery and shakes are the best. I rate them in fact over most normal non vegan bakery. I would recommend this place. And then go with you.

Liked the funky neighborhood atmosphere with array of seating, booths, tables and outdoor garden. Wait staff was friendly but appeared overworked. Had heard raves about the milkshakes and some of the salads, but since it was dinner decided to go for cooked food - which turned out to be a mistake. We ordered lentil loaf and the rueben sandwich - both were disappointments. It tasted like heavy vegetarian food stuck in the last century. Lentil loaf was mush with no distinct flavor and the bread on the Rueben was so soggy that when picked up it fell apart. We left most of the food on the plates. For what we got, the food was not inexpensive. Probably should have just gotten milkshakes and the salads

Went around noon on the 4th of July without making a reservation - we didn't think you would need one for lunch on a Sunday. Wrong! Should have called ahead, but we didn't know this place was so popular. And with good reason! Luckily, we were able to get take-out, after the hostess told us that she certainly could seat us...at 5:00 p.m! We ordered a big pile of food, drinks, and dessert since we are a vegetarian and two vegans on vacation. We loved all of it. Not a bad item in the bunch. I had the Original Dagwood hoagie and my friends both ordered the Cuban sandwich. They also had apps and dessert and loved them. If you're eating take-out, make sure to get utensils and also check your order before you leave. They gave me French dressing for my salad when I ordered oil and vinegar, and they also accidentally gave us someone else's mac and cheese, since it was in our bag and we didn't order it. I would definitely go back again, but I'll call ahead and reserve a table!

Not only are they vegan but they were able to feed my daughter who has many food allergies. Our meals were so plentiful when we started eating I said we could probably could have gotten away with one order. My my daughter said to me after a few minutes that she would not have shared. We were pleasantly full for many hours. We both got the soul bowl, I got the blacken tofu. Wish Chicago wasn't so far away. Wait staff really helpful, small but worth the wait.

Went with a group of family from various cities. Some people were vegetarian, some Kosher, some just like to eat. Everyone got something they really liked. Portions are huge. They don't rush you out. The diner is an old-style, very simple decor diner, but with a twist in that it's all vegetarian and some vegan food.

Totally unexpected veggie menu the one we found, but the outcome was great although a bit spicy. Very tasty food, nice place and excellent service.

Always looking for an opportunity to get the best vegan food when visiting my daughter. Today my mouth had the pleasure of enjoying the Titanic BLT Burger. It was tasty and delicious! We shard the Thai Chili Wings, a family favorite, and finished with shakes to go. If you're a vegan, vegetarian, or other, you will not be disappointed!

Really yummy comfort food that is veggie suitable and less unhealthy than you might expect—whole wheat buns for example. Fun Chicago staple that is very friendly and welcoming. Strongly recommended.

The menu is eclectic! Don't worry if you are'nt vegan or vegetarian- be brave and you will delight in your healthful, flavorful choices! Real food, real flavor and wonderful efficient staff. Shakes are better than their distant dairy cousins. If you can't find something here you really just are'nt trying. Wonderful even without the vegan heading.

Very nice and pleasant restaurant in the heart of boystown. Vegetarian food good and service very cool. Prices are very fair for the quality. I recomend this place!

Got here and they would not allow us to wait for a table inside. Sent us out into the cold! Will not go back for that reason alone. Will also not seat you until everyone in the party arrives even if 2 of 3 people are there. But they do have good food.

I enjoyed this place all in all. I didn't try to go for any of the "replacement" foods, like the "steaks" and "chicken" but stuck with spicy eggs and potatoes and the like. It does the spicy tortilla chips and avocado sort of thing very well, and serves pretty good drinks too. Somewhat sullen server, but it's in a quirky area so you come to expect this.

We ordered the Radical Reuben (with a side of Mac & Teese) and the BLT Burger. Everything was good and reasonably priced. The seitan used for the Reuben perfectly mimics the taste and texture of corned beef. It is a great place for both vegetarians and non-vegeterians. Plus, the wait staff is extremely friendly. One drawback is that the music is a little too loud in the restaurant, but that's kind of expected with certain places.

We were on the move - in town to see a concert - so we didn't have a lot of time. We stopped in here because Charlie had eaten here before and remembered it being good. And so right he was! Quesadillas, mac and cheese, tater plate...wow. Great stuff and very filling. Dessert LOOKED great, but we just couldn't. I was pretty impressed by the whole place. The only real downfall I could see was...the place was kind of tight. Lots of seats, but sort of mushed together. Sure, it's Chicago and rent is probably INSANE, so you just have to overlook the bunched feeling. A bigger place though....just think about it! :) Solid recommend. Go early to get a good seat.

This was a very cute, meat-free diner (although it looks different from many of the pictures posted here, not sure they are all from the Lakeview location). I ordered the cinnamon roll French toast which came with meat-free bacon and potatoes. Staff were friendly and helpful. This is a fun, unique option for those who are meat-free.

My Girl friend dragged me to this place. She is vegan , I am not. But she takes me to bbq places and steak houses , so I go with her to vegan places when she ask. I actually don't mind it, it gives me a very big spread of food to try and enjoy and I enjoy food. That said , I have had my share of vegan food throughout my travels. This place was really good. The food was tasty, not bland and they had so many choices of vegetables that they disguised as met products to choose from. It didn't disappoint. My bowl was amazing and I would definitely go back for more, but that is not what I am really writing this review about. I am writing this specifically for the vegan milkshake. I like milkshakes, not the vegan kind, but the ice cream kind. My girlfriend always gets me to try these vegan fake ice cream things and I usually take a sip or two and say yeah , its alright. This one was very close to the real thing that I had to ask the server if there was ice cream in it, it was that good. So people if you are looking for the best vegan/ vegetarian place to eat in Chicago, I have been to several, this is the place for you. Don't bother checking yelp , or reading more of these reviews, just plug chicago diner's address in your gps and come back and thank me latter.

Another great experience. Their shakes are a must and we always get dessert to go too. Had the chicken fried steak w/ flash greens yesterday and would have it again. Also got the orange chicken and shepard's pie for dinner last night. Extra special treat since we live 3 hours away.

I'm not a vegan, but my daughter is. This place was recommended by the hotel staff even though it was a little bit of a trek for us to get there. WOW. This place was AMAZING. We shared the nachos. She had the SUV and I had the Ruben. We both had shakes. I had to take half my sandwich back to the hotel because it was HUGE. I was crying over not having room in my belly for a dessert. We delayed our departure from Chicago the next day so we could drive over and have lunch there before heading back home!! That meal she had the Black Bean Burger and I had the Country Fried Steak. We shared the Smores brownie sundae--and let me tell you...it was DEVINE!!!!!! The "meat" wasn't the exact same texture as the real thing (which I have to say I fully enjoy) but the taste was nothing short of AMAZING. The shakes were so good I really thought they were not being honest about them not having any dairy in them. BEST SHAKE I'VE EVER HAD!! (Cookie Dough), and that Brownie Sundae was so good I'm sitting her wondering when I can get back to Chicago! My daughter bought the cookbook but I just don't see how vegan food can be made this good at home. I think they have magic pixie dust in the back to sprinkle on all of it that make it incredible!! :D The service was perfect both days too. They don't hover over you while you enjoy your meal...they allow you to just eat and ENJOY the food and the cool vibe of the place. I wish I could give more stars because this place was better than 5.

I was very pleased with my dish a Mexican dish with quinoa and vegan sour cream on the side. I ate every bite so light and tasty! For desert I tried the vegan turtle cheese cake I found it to taste strange a weird savory aftertaste when I really wanted sweet so maybe think twice about the cheesecake. Service was good and restaurant was busy and clean.

Love, love, love this place. This diner has the best tasting food I've ever had the pleasure to eat since I started eating plant based food six months ago. If I lived anywhere near there, I'd eat there every day - in fact I'd give up cooking my own food. Me and my wife were visiting from Edinburgh with our carnivore friends from Winfield Illinois, and they both said they'd go back again they were so impressed. The cookie dough chocolate shake is an almost sexual experience, so freaking good. I asked the waitress if I could have a booth on my own with the shake...it was amazing. The portabello truffle melt was delicious as was my Mac n Teese side (with added sriracha sauce). Also bought some great t-shirts whilst there. I can't even remember what my wife or our friends ate, as I was in such a heightened state of bliss. If you're visiting Chicago as a veggie or a vegan then you have to try this place, you'll love yourself a lot for doing so.

I didn't know when my colleague planned to take me to this place for dinner that it is a vegan joint. It is a busy place, we had to wait for around 30 mins in their patisserie (they serve beer at the patisserie). I tried chicken wings on buffalo sause, all veg! Tasted great as well. They have also have a variety of milkshakes, and since this is vegan diner you get milkshakes without actual milk..but it tasted just like milk. Great place, highly recommended.

Went there with my sister. The service was good and the food was decent. It just seemed to lack seasoning. I had a vegetarian Reuben. The texture was good, but I had to basically dump a shaker of salt on it. I’d give them another try though.

I found this place to support my sister with her efforts to eat better. I enjoy trying new things and that's what I did. I enjoyed myself, the food was great! My sister loves it and goes there every time she visits Chicago.

Vegan food- sure it’s rated too 25 in Chicago which means it has to taste good! Wrong! The “chicken” fingers were terrible. My 10 year old said this isn’t chicken! Can’t fool a kid. I had the Reuben. It looked like a Reuben. But it taste like cardboard. Even the milkshake was bland. I love food but that was not a top 1000 restaurant in Chicago!

Me and my daughters were very happy with our dinner. We've been wanting to try this place out while my daughter is living in IL (husband is in the navy). While visiting we decided to give this place and try and we were very happy we did, as a matter of fact we are heading there again this coming weekend while visiting the city museum "Picasso"

This place is a Chicago classic for good reason. If you’re okay with a wait, you won’t be disappointed. They go above and beyond to create unique plant-based dishes to combat the misconception that plant-based diets are restricting and boring. There really is something for everyone at Chicago Diner!

Real diner food, but with a vegetarian (and moderately healthy) twist. The spicy chicken sandwich was everything I missed from being a meat eater, but none of the guilt. Crunchy, spicy, with a great sauce and bun, it was an amazing sandwich. Even better, the side salads aren't just a mess of iceberg and 2 carrot shreds but a real side salad with spinach, sprouts, and shredded beets! Really enjoyed this, and strongly recommend for any veggies visiting the area.

Went to this diner with my daughters Vegan friend Ros. It was me, my 8 yr old nephew Jai, my daughter and Ros. We had to take 2 trains from Michigan Ave(Columbia College) to get there(and my nephew barely made it)- we had been up since 345am and it was headed on 7p. I felt sorry for him, but he is too big to tote. He was so tired he didn't want to eat, he laid his head on the table. This was in the Rainbow section of town and they had a lot of sexual shops. Nevertheless the restaurant was crowed, but we got a seat at the front door. I ordered a burger with the vegan meat(it was good) sweet potato fries and a glass of house wine. My daughter had the nachos with the vegan meat and lots of jalapenos (it was a nice sixe plate and she barely ate it all). Ros comes here often and she had a salad(sorry I cant remember the names of the food items. For a person who is not near a vegan or vegetarian(Ros said there is a difference) I thought the food was surprisely tasty.

We greatly look forward to lunch/dinner at the Chicago Diner whenever we are in town. Lots of good options. My wife had the seitan reuben. It was big, gooey, and delicious. My son had the kids seitan chicken fingers with green beans. I stole a couple of the chicken fingers and they were tasty. We got him to eat the green beans too by dangling the promise of dessert (bad parents, haha). I had the taco salad. It had a nice mix of chips and salad ingredients, with avocado on top. I prefer lighter on the dressing, but my fault for not remembering to ask for it on the side. I had an IPA that I've never heard of before and enjoyed it. We also shared a great brownie sundae. Overall I consider this place to serve mostly comfort food, the type of meal you treat yourself to once in a while (or daily if you're nearby!). There are some healthier menu items too though. We look forward to visiting again next time we're in town!

I live far from the Chicago Diner now, but I eat there whenever I am in the area. I especially enjoy taking out-of-town guests there, knowing that they likely have not experienced any restaurant like it. Very consistent over the years, and while "vegetarian," most items can be made vegan.

My other half is a veggie, so we had to try this place before a night at Blue Man Group down the road. They don't take bookings so we rolled up at about 6pm. It was pretty busy already, so we needed to wait outside on the bench for about 20 mins. This place is clearly very popular as the queue quickly built up! So I guess earlier is better. We go to a lot of veggie places; sometimes the food can be a bit plain and tasteless. I can honestly say this place was amazing though - the food was delicious and the craft beers great as well. Wish we had room for dessert, but there was no chance. If we re-visit Chicago, we'll be sure to come straight back.

Visited this restaurant with a vegetarian friend. I tried her PB milkshake & it was honestly the BEST shake I've ever had & I believe it was vegan?! I'm not vegetarian but I occasionally order vegetarian food when other options are less appealing. I went for a sandwich, nothing special but it was the most filling meal I had on vacation so far which was a major plus. My vegetarian friend got the "wings" which really were delicious. I regret not being more adventurous & trying a meat substitute dish. I would recommend to anyone, vegetarian or not!

The sandwiches are super tasty and come with a variety of fries. Nice selection of draft beer as well. We had the stir fry, which is slightly sweet but quite yummy as well as the mushroom lentil loaf which was excellent. It came with green beans and roasted potatoes both excellent! They offer shakes as well and nice selection of California (2), Italian (3), and French (2) wines along with a full bar. It was noisy when we were there

Always pleased when a vegetarian place does the cooking well. And then the dessert... I have a feeling in a blind test, most people can't tell that the desserts are vegan. If all meat free meal are like this, convert me to vegetarian, even to vegan!

I’m not vegetarian but I love this place. The service is always wonderful and it’s a very welcoming atmosphere. I’ve liked everything I’ve ordered here but particularly recommend the avocado tostadas and the spicy “chicken” sandwich. It really doesn’t matter what you order as long as you follow it up with a carrot cake shake. It’ll change your life, trust me.

This place is incredible! definitely the best shake I’ve ever had and probably the best vegan food I’ve ever had! Also shout out to the guy that served us, Mike for being the chillest dude ever! Best service and gave us loads of great tips about visiting Chicago. Wish more places were like this in England!

A must eat when you're in Chicago! The food is delicious and the milkshakes are famous!! We ate here 2 times in one day while in Chicago! Whether you're vegan or not, you'll love this place!!

my friends and i stopped at Chicago Diner for lunch during a quick trip to Chicago. We were there on a Saturday during lunch and it was very busy. I was a little weirded out because in the middle of the restaurant you sit on a long bench with other diners with very little space in between you and strangers. It was really busy inside and VERY LOUD and hard to hear the people you were sitting with. I got a really really yummy milk shake. Our server was nice but our food took forever. He did apologize and it was extremely busy while we were there so it wasnt surprising our food took so long. I got the spicy chicken sandwich which was way too spicy for me (my fault for ordering it it says spicy right in the description!). the ranch dressing on it was really yummy but there was A LOT of red chili flakes in the breading (again my fault for ordering it). the fries that came with it were yummy. i wasnt blown away by this restaurant but it was a perfectly decent meal.

Delicious Vegan food!! I went for Brunch and had amazingly delicious meal!! I had the tofu and french toast and it was yummy!!! I wish I could go there all the time!! This is a must eat at restaurant for anyone! It has a local vibe and cool atmosphere and is a short walk from Wrigley!!

Great vegan food at affordable prices. My carnivore friend can't stop raving about the vegan rubeun and the sweet potato fries. Comfort food without the carcass.

Such a wonderful place! All the food is veggie, and many gluten-free choices--so much to choose from. The vegan milkshakes were amazing!! and all of our meal tasted fabulous. The wait staff was friendly and the service was quick and efficient even though the place was packed. Can't wait go to back!

We saw it online and gave it a try. Drinks - two organic can drinks the menu drinks weren’t available. Appetizers- Spinach Artichoke dip with toasted bread, very delicious and light. Menu items; Radical Ruben sandwich; creamy thousand island dressing, sauerkraut not to tangy very good flavor. I had an order of Yucca chips but I didn’t like them. My wife had the Potabello mushroom and waffle fries she said it was very good. Our experience was very good and enjoyable.

This place was absolutely delicious! We got seated by the bar and had an incredible evening... the cute little bartender with blue hair was amazing so funny and entertaining we almost didn't want to leave!

What an amazing place! If you are a vegetarian looking for a slam dunk choice in chicago.. look no more!!!

Who knew this vegan diner would be so great? This was so amazing. The vegan Reuben was out of this world. Great menus selection. Friendly staff. Located on the fringes of Wrigleyville.

My friend suggested I try this restaurant while I was visiting Chicago. My sister (a non-vegan) and myself (vegan) split the vegan Rueben sandwich with sweet potato fries and a vegan spicy chicken burger with vegan Mac and Cheese. Before having to roll ourselves out of the restaurant 😂 we agreed that this was one of the best Mac and Cheese dishes we had ever eaten - vegan or not. Everything was spectacular and the restaurant had cool, funky vibes. Vegetarians and vegans in Chicago, this place is a must!

We ate brunch at this restaurant and it was yummy and over sized . The vibe at the restaurant lies back . It was cozy and intimate venue with really friendly staff. It's favorite by locals. We ate Mexican bowl for 11 bucks.

My hubby and my 3 kids being on a road trip wanted to find a good place to eat. Chicago's diner was a great discovery. The food was absolutely delicious. They had super friendly workers and the prices were very descent. Even the kids loved their tofu cubes and green beans. If we ever come back to Chicago we will make sure to go there again.

We had the pleasure of introducing a newbie vegetarian to one of our favorite restaurants on the planet and it did not disappoint. Poutine, Reuben, mushroom sandwich, lentil loaf, chicken fried steak, cakes, shakes, I could go on forever. Love the vegan and vegetarian food and neighborhood vibe.

Delicious! The Reuben tasted like the real thing and the Thai Chili wings were packed with flavor. I think if I had someone make food like this for me I could stay vegan for the rest of my life.

I was told it was famous. I was told it was worth the trouble. It was. Excellent in all regards. Well prepared meals from a extensive menu. Nice selection of cocktails and beers. Came back a second time

The menu is pretty extensive here. And it's true, the vegan milkshakes are a surprisingly good treat. We recommend not over ordering because the portions are large, unless of course you are able to take leftovers home. The cinnamon rolls are really good. They do a great job with service and it's a fun atmosphere.

Out of all the vegan restaurants I have had the chance to visit, the Chicago Diner was absolutely my favorite. This was my first time visiting Chicago, and the trip was well worth it. I had the Spicy Chicken sandwich with waffle fries [twice] and the chocolate peanut butter milkshake. Restaurant staff was super friendly and attentive. I loved the big number of options on the menu. I would eat at this restaurant every single week if I could. A big thank you to Chicago Diner, cheers from North Dakota.

I ate here with my almost-daughter-in-law on a Friday afternoon. She has the Radical Reuben and "cheese" fries (her favorite) and I opted for the Truffle Mushroom Lentil Loaf. It was moist and delicious, and smothered in rich gravy-like sauce. I had decided to forgo the potatoes so the server brought me extra veggies, which were fresh and crisp and cooked perfectly. We were too full (momentarily) for dessert, so we took home a giant piece of carrot cake and a chocolate peanut butter shake. As an omnivore, I didn't miss the meat at all. I can still taste that lovely Loaf and Gravy in my mind. Mmm...I want to make it at home (although I'm sure it won't be as good.) Along with the food, service was great. There was a fun funky-diner vibe. I'LL BE BACK!

We were visiting our daughter who attends school in Chicago. We were in the Halsted area for a show and planned on stopping in the Diner for a vegan meal afterwards. This place is a little rough around the edges but don't let the appearance deceive you, the food is phenomenal. There was a bit of a wait, but most quality places are going to have one. The seating was tight and the atmosphere was a bit loud, which made it all the more enjoyable. The staff was great and very helpful in explaining some of the options we have not found elsewhere. The shakes and cinnamon rolls were wonderful, but so was everything else we had. The experience certainly encourages us to return and also explore other vegan opportunities in the future.

It's always a relief to find a vegan restaurant when on vacation. But this old fashioned style dinner has a fantastic traditional revisited menu. Please try the buffalo wings!

Super vegetarian find in Lakeview neighborhood. Try to make a reservation, it's a small location with limited seating. But, great food with tons of options. Helpful waitstaff. Reasonable prices.

We found the Chicago Diner by accident. While walking through the neighbourhood of our B&B we caught the words, "meat free since '83". Being vegetarians we just walked right to the diner to give it a try. It's a tiny restaurant with a big smile! The servers were friendly, polite and quick to show us to a table. The menu was great and we tried a few dishes, including dessert! OMG! Delicious. From beginning to end, this was a great experience. The diner was casual, family friendly and old school rustic. Loved it!

We visited during Market Days, so the diner was packed, but service was quick. There are several dishes that carnivores will recognize, but made with meat substitutes. I had the orange chicken and it was delicious. The chik'n was crispy on the outside and tender inside. I only wish there had been more veggies, but that is a personal preference. My friends had the Rueben, Burger, and Fried Rice, all of which they also enjoyed. I would eat here again to try other items on the menu, and save room for dessert.

The portions were large. I went for the BBQ ribs and Bean Burger with Waffle Fries. Modelo beer too. The food tasted lovely. Really good value too. The service was excellent too. Probably one of the best vegan restaurants in the city.

A friend of my son's told us to check out this restaurant. I was skeptical because my son is a vegetarian and I thought this would be just another diner. I was so wrong! Everything was meatless. He had a great burger and I had vegetarian Shepherd's pie. Food was good, staff was friendly, and easy to get to by train!

I am very pleased with the quality of food. The bun of the sandwich is soft and fresh. The waffle cut fries is nicely seasoned, crispy and well cooked. All in all, the titanic burger is beautiful. The buffalo wings is nice but the ranch sauce is even better.

My son and his girlfriend require vegan/gluten free so we went here when we arrived in Chicago - they rated it the best restaurant they had been to! He had the Thai stir fry and she had the soul bowl and they both had vegan shakes. I, who normally am an omnivore, thought their quinoa chili was excellent.

This place is like the Chicago version of a NYC diner that I love to go to. I got the gyro pita and waffle fries. This place was busy, even on a Friday afternoon, so I sat at the bar. The food was great, and it only took about 10 minutes for me to get my order. Would definitely come here again. Especially after learning the Reuben is their claim to fame.

Brought my daughter here with me a few months back. We usually have a challenge finding places where we both can easily find food to fit our tastes. She insists that we come here every time we've been back since then! The shakes, the Reuben, cinnamon roll....all are amazing. Today my 9 year old, non-vegan daughter said this is probably the best restaurant in Chicago. I can't disagree!

I absolutely love their food-plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Staff is always friendly, the atmosphere is great, and the food is always fresh and delicious. The vegan wings and Cuban sandwich are always on the top of my list.

Very interesting take on brunch food done totally vegan. Not quite as good as the real thing. But not bad, and the fries are fabulous. Friendly service and reasonable prices.

It is wonderful to come to a place where the entire menu is available to vegetarians and everything is delicious! The wait staff is also friendly and helpful. We live in the southern suburbs so it is a hike for us but always worth the trip when we come. Save room for a shake if you can!

Read rave reviews and was very disappointed. Linguine was acceptable. Dessert very bland. Would not go back.

Let me start off by saying that I worked in the restaurant industry for several years. Rarely do I rate restaurants poorly. However, our experience at Chicago Diner was less than desirable. The menu looks amazing! All of the food had our mouths watering. However, we went in in for a few shakes. We ordered our 5 shakes and sat at a table to wait. After waiting 35 minutes, the waitress brought out 3 of them. One of the girls in my group said "now we are getting somewhere" (with a smile mind you) and the waitress rudely replied back with "we are busy and these take a while, okay?!" We waited another 20 minutes for the last two shakes to come out. (We even saw a couple come in, order shakes, drink them and leave in the time we waited for all of ours). The shakes were delicious. They were the perfect consistency. I understand why we heard from several people to check them out. I have a feeling our experience was not the usual, but it is the only thing I can base it on.

Wow!! What a place! Well worth the drive - the Buddha burger was easily the best veggie I've ever eaten!! The chili was -- I'm actually speechless!! Cookie -- so soft and amazing!! I'm writing this review as I wait for my cookie dough shake -- I know it's going to be great!!! It's here - gotta go!

For over 15 years we have planned our trips to Chicago to arrive/depart at or near a meal time. Dinner on the way there, Breakfast or lunch before departing. We live 8 hours away. The Diner always provides top notch service with WONDERFUL food not available anywhere else. We even did a Thanksgiving dinner with our kids there one year. A treat worth doing if you have not yet done it. The food is fabulous and the value is unbeatable. On a recent visit I bought their discount card for future savings. Such a deal! Thank you Chicago for all the wonderful meals we have enjoyed.

Took my vegetarian daughter here; being from a smaller town in Kentucky, she doesn't often get many choices when we go out to eat, so I was excited that the whole menu was open to her. We split the gyros with sweet potato fries, Thai basil tofu stir-fry, and some carrot cake for dessert. We liked everything, but the gyros were especially good. Service was friendly and prompt, and the staff was very careful about following COVID safety protocols.

Since we live over two hours away, eating here is always a treat. Each time we go, we have an old favorite but we also try to have at least one different item. Over the last couple of years, we've been here many time and we've never been disappointed! The staff also contributes to a positive experience.

Chicago Diner has everything from Reubens to shakes. The food is excellent. The atmosphere is fun and the staff is attentive but not hovering.

This Diner looks like a diner and it says (on their wall) that have been on since 1982. Non-meat Diner, veggie place. But most of the menu says like wings, bacon, burgers - why on estehyppy does one need to call food resembling menty ones at all? Who is fooling who? Thai Chili wings tasted sriracha alright, but the chewy rubbery consistency... sekamelska seeds on top... we surely tasted them, but did not finish the course. Titanic BLT Burger, seuran ’bacon’ and veggie seitan patty was beyound anything you could have had. It all tasted like it all had been deep fried in old oil, the the ’bacon’ disgusting rubber Finer Food naturally - unfortunately we did not see the clue here. Avokado Super Crunchy Sallad made our eyebrows Eide as the paneered avokado sluces looked like dead mice on the plate. The romano was excellent though. Sweet potatie french fries were edible. Beer was tasty. The service personnel seemed to be busy or managed to look busy anywayz. They were not exactly ’Diner Oriented Staff’. Paid 64 $ for the worst veggie dinner -ever. Might need to visit a second time, but not too tempted to repeat this fiasko.

This place was really close to our Airbnb and we were starving. The poutine and taco salad were really tasty. Didn't try out any drinks or desserts, but they looked good. Sometimes the staff is a bit slow, but they are friendly.

My customary great experience was marred by a server not clear on the concept of how to relate to customers. AnnMarie needs a personality transplant. Excellent food as usual, but my out-of-town guest and I were appalled at the indifferent and downright unpleasant behavior of our server. I will purposefully avoid her on my next visit.

We were really excited to try out this restaurant. We are vegetarian and this restaurant has been declared meat free since '83, so it couldn't get better for us. However, I wasn't very impressed with the food. The serving is great, almost too much but I didn't think the taste was great. I had a cajun black bean burger and my husband had nachos. The burger was just about okay. But the nachos had too much black beans. They decided to be very liberal with the beans which ended up ruining the taste. I also thought it was expensive. Oh and I forgot the main problem - it is far too cramped! The tables are literally joined to each other, it is that chaotic. And we had gone there with our baby in a stroller! Ugh. Bad idea. Having said all of this, the restaurant is super popular with the locals. Anytime you pass by, there are always tons of people waiting outside to be seated. And the crowd is very hip. So I am sure the restaurant must have some charm, i failed to see it though.

Real diner food with veggie substituted. Had the gyro, amazing.... Fried “chicken steak” was huge and delicious. Carrot cake with vegan cream cheese was better than dairy version. Service was friendly and helpful. Would go back if in area.

I was pleasantly surprised by this food. I ordered the Basil Thai Stirfry with Tofu. It was flavorful. The quinoa chili was very good!! I would order that again and again. My friend wasn't pleased with the peanut butter milkshake time. The gyro was also ok.

The food exceeded expectations. I'm a vegan and my girlfriend is not and despite the diner being meat free we both loved our meals so much, we ate there three days in a row and if given the chance would go back in a heartbeat. Expect big portions and reasonable prices. Located in a good area and they have their own parking lot, which is hard to find in chicago. Would highly recommend to anyone to go and try it out!

I came here after eating a small personal pizza at Lou Malnati’s. I’ve heard a lot about their shakes and had to try one as I was going to go visit Boystown anyways. It was extremely busy at 5:45pm, when I came as the waiting time was about 30-45 minutes for 2 people. I did come on a Saturday though. Since I was only going to order a milkshake, I was able to order it right away and within 10 minutes, I was able to get it. I ordered the Chocolate Peanute Butter shake at the suggestion of Time Out. And it was really good! It tasted like they used regular milk! I probably should’ve also eaten dinner here instead of Lou Malnati’s, which was disappointing. If I come back to Chicago, I’ll definitely be checking this place out again!

...if only we could have had a table in the restaurant and not in the back. It was a cold Chicago day and I was cold a little. However, our waiter made it up for us, very professional. The food is awesome, I wish we had something like this in Hungary. I had a black bean burger, the patty was not dry like at most places. It was plenty of food so I could not make it till the dessert but they looked good. Definitely would go back.

This is the best vegan restaurant in the entire world. Period. I've been to four continents and nothing is better than Chi Diner.

The food is great, and I highly recommend the reuben or gyro, but the real winners for me were the shakes. SO creamy and delicious!

This was the best ever!! If you are vegan or vegetarian this is the place to eat, for sure! The menu was extensive and there was something for everyone to enjoy--from appetizers to dessert. Don't miss the opportunity to experience this diner.

I usually am very happy with my Chicago Diner orders... But today was horrible. I ordered the Reuben... Bread not toasted, which made for a soggy sandwich. The thousand island dressing tasted weird. What ac waste of money. Very disappointed!

great food but very very noisy. traditionally healhty and has kept up with the times since the 70's!

This is a cool place to get a good vegan dinner. They also have a wide variety of beer as well as milk shakes. We had some burgers. They were quite tasty.

Whenever I visit Chicago, my son takes me to all his favorite restaurants. The only one we repeat is the Chicago Diner. Chicago has 100s of fantastic restaurants, but the Chicago Diner is my favorite. If you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or just like to eat healthy, beautiful plant based meals in a super friendly environment... go there. I bought their cookbook and use it at home- it's awesome too (although my dinners never look as pretty!)

This place is an all vegen/vegetarian restaurant. Everything on the menu tastes like the real, meat-included, thing!! It is excellent. The shakes are vegan, and the best shakes I have ever had in my life.

I had an amazing burger and the best milkshake I've ever had in my entire life here (it was chocolate peanut butter). As a student, it was a bit pricey, but honestly so so worth the slight splurge!

I have eaten ad the CD for years. The food is not as good as it once was. I ate brunch on a Sunday recently and was disappointed. I had the tofu scramble. It was not very flavorful and not particularly appetizing looking (I eat tofu scramble often, so it was not for lack of knowing what the dish should taste like). The strawberry shake was very sweet, but good. Please bring back your old menu - it was so much better!!

Really good food. A bit of a wait we waited nearly an hour. Once at table quick service. Small but plenty of elbow room

My meal was amazing! We have wanted to go to this place for a while. I am a vegan, but my friend is not. She loved the food too. I had the country fried steak, mashed potatoes, and veggies. Too much food to eat it all, but it was all terrific! The veggies had a smoked flavor. The gravy was awesome. Will definitely go back. We stayed in the Loop and took the subway/"L" to the restaurant. Just short walk from the station.

This is definitely the best vegan place I’ve ever been too. I’m not a vegetarian but love it every once and while. This is a place where you can take your meat loving friends and they’ll go home happy and satisfied. The Asian Chicken Sandwich is to die for. As is the cucumber lavender soda. The staff is a fantastic mix of the most friendly weirdos. Felt right at home.

Cool 50’s diner-esque space with a wide-range of vegan comfort foods and hip, friendly table-service. I can’t remember what I ate all together but I do remember that it was HEAVY, stodgy and exactly what you’re hoping for of a vegan comfort-food joint. Would visit again!

and it's amazing. Seriously, this is an excellent lunch spot for great vegan food. I had high expectations and it surpassed them. For reference I had the breakfast bowl which consisted of the following. Biscuits and Gravy (Excellent) Home fries (Excellent) Scrambled Tofu (Good) I also had a vegan milkshake (Peanut Butter and Cookie Dough) and it was the best thing I've had in a while.

We stopped at Chicago diners for a quick lunch. We found it on TI. The place was very busy, the service was super Nice ! Not a big place, but Good atmosphere. The vegeterian Burger was incredible!! 😬😊 And then the Vanilla milkshakes, soooooo good ! Go there ! :-) Even if your aren't vegetarian.

I have been wanting to visit this place for ages, but there is usually a wait because it is so popular! The atmosphere is adorable, the food innovative and servings plentiful and tasty. If you have a chance don’t miss this Chicago Boystown favorite!

Being a vegetarian who loves Chicago, I want to also love The Chicago Diner, but my two trips there so far leave me a bit uncertain. The diner has been crowded and loud both times we've been there, although we only had to wait in their back tent the second time we visited. Sitting in a booth is highly preferable; when we sat at one of the tables in the middle of the diner, I felt like servers were shimmying past me constantly. The barbecue "wings" are delicious, except when they're overcooked, which has happened. The entrees we've ordered have been mostly good, although our son (a lifelong vegetarian) didn't like the vegan cheese in his meal. We made the mistake of ordering milkshakes on our second visit, and while they were delicious, they weren't worth the additional 45 minute wait after we finished our meal. I would recommend going on an off-time or ordering meals to go. We have a friend who gets several orders of barbecue "wings" for takeout whenever he's in town and then freezes them to reheat them for future meals, which seems like a lot of work to me, but I have to admit that they're good. Not sure if we'll go back.

Service was awesome! Highly recommend. The food was great i have tried a few vegan/vegiatrian restaurants and this is hands down the best food ive had.

Great Diner all Vegetarian or Vegan in Chicago's Boystown area. Great food and service. The Torta Milanesa de Nopalitos (Mexican style sandwich made of Milanese style cactus), Gyro and Reuben Sandwich were all great. As well as their milkshakes made out of vegan products were excellent. The only part I did not like was the fact that they added a 20% service charge to our meal without any asking or warning. Other than that, this is a highly successful restaurant that's been in business for 35 years without serving any meat.

While seating was a litte tight in the diner, that was more than offset by the great food at fair prices. I was amazed how varied the menu was. Even thought I am neither vegan or vegetarian, the Chicago Diner has something for everyone! I would definitely return if I am ever in the area again. I traveled by the Red Line rather than by car, but if I had come by car it looked like parking in the area might be a little challenging.

It is a meat free restaurant, but the food is lovely and you don't miss the meat. Cool atmosphere. Definitely try their shakes!

My daughter became vegan while at college so when we came to visit she chose the Chicago Diner. I ordered the Cuban and it was simply delicious. I am not sure if it is insulting to use the "if I didn't know..." cliche, but it's true. I also tried the spicy "chicken" and it may have been even better. Dessert milkshake was great to finish things off. Staff was friendly and attentive. I don't plan on going vegan myself, but I would happily eat here anytime.

We were pleasantly surprised to find a vegetarian restaurant called a diner. The seating area could be bigger, but the service is very good and the food is delicious.

This vegetarian restaurant has mostly vegan foods. Funky, fabulous, fun. Pleases both vegans and meat eaters.

Let's start by saying that this place most amazing vegan chocolate shakes on the planet! I always get the chocolate/peanut butter to go. Lots to choose from on their menu. My favorites include: Buddha Karma Burger Taco Salad BBQ Chikin Ranch Salad This place is always packed, so plan to have to wait in their outdoor covered patio or out in front. Worth it, trust me! But for this reason, I usually try to avoid going in peak hours. Worried about parking? Don't be. They have an adjacent lot to the north of the building with free parking. On the somewhat rare occasion it's full, I've always been able to easily find street parking (watch for meter price hikes during Cubs home games). This place is 'meat free since 83' but they do have eggs on the menu. This is a fun place with a super friendly staff and delicious offerings. I love CD!

We made a special trip into the city just to stop by this amazing vegan/vegetarian restaurant. Always amazing food. Tried their cookies and cream milkshake this time which was sooo good. Nice that they had a kids menu for my toddler. Tried the taquitos which were delicious and a spicy chicken sandwich which was amazing. This place never disappoints, just wish they would open a Denver branch so I don't have to drive 16 hours.

Would never return. I would classify it as a fast food supposed to be healthy restaurant. Loud fried food not healthy nor fresh. After hearing great reviews was extremely disappointed and felt sick after eating here. The first three bites I had had ice cubes on them from the frozen food they put on my salad. At least they took it off my bill and I thanked them for that. And my daughter got physically sick after eating the food here.

I told myself once I visited Chicago this would be my first eating spot and it was!!! I was in vegan heaven!! The seitan wings were amazing!! I got the bbq seitan wings, waffle fries, and chocolate chip cookie dough milk shake. Everything was so good yet this was definitely enough to split with another person!! Cannot wait to go back. Our waitress was super sweet too. They split checks just let them know before ordering!

If you are vegetarian or vegan, the Chicago Diner should be a must-visit stop on your trip to the city. I was visiting for the weekend and we stopped in for lunch. Everything we had was absolutely delicious—try the seiten strips and the pierogi quesadillas. The desserts were great. We shared the peanut butter puck and it was beyond delicious. You just can't go wrong, everything is so good! Plus the restaurant itself is very cute, with great classic diner stylings.

I've heard a lot of great things about this restaurant so when I was on vacation in Chicago with friends we decided we had to try the place out. The restaurant was packed, we ended up sitting outside while we waited- they told us it would be about 20 minutes to a half hour but they ended up seating us sooner which is always nice. The ambiance and aesthetic is welcoming and cosy; upon entry alone you would never guess this place is vegan/vegetarian friendly. The menu is gigantic, I end up ordering sweet potato fries and a slice of the vegan cheesecake, my friends had the carrot cake shake, waffle fries, and the karma burger. The service is mind blowing, especially considering how busy they were. Our waitress was personable, attentive, and well versed on their menu, some of the best service i've had in a long time. The cheesecake was so good i was actually suspicious that it wasn't really vegan. It was a traditional cheesecake with a layer of blueberry compote topped with coconut whip creme and carob chips with a (liberal) drizzle of chocolate sauce. The sweet potato fries were the only disappointment of the outing, they were bland and obviously missing something. My friend that lives in Chicago and frequents the diner mentioned they did taste a bit different than usual but they were by no means off putting. The carrot cake shake was also phenomenal, it literally tasted like a blended up piece of carrot cake but it was smooth, and creamy. The karma burger had a tangy chimichurri sauce which complimented the pinapple well. The tofu was properly seasoned and the texture was crispy- not at all spongey or chewy. We finish our food, visit for a little bit, and pay. An emoplyee thanks us on the way out, the cherry on top of our visit to the Chicago Diner.

There are few options for vegans in my neck of the woods, so this diner was my first vegan milkshake. It was amazing! I also loved the truffle portobello sandwich so much, we bought the cookbook. I've made a bunch of things since we've been home.

I got to the Chicago Diner with my husband right at 3:30 pm on New Year’s Eve, after writing to the restaurant to make sure that they were open on New Year’s Eve and taking a $30 ride share into the city. The hostess informed us that she wouldn’t seat us, since she had closed the seating right at 3:30. She had zero interest in knowing that we had come from far away, that I’m disabled, or that I can’t eat at most restaurants because of my celiac disease and my veganism. She actually walked away when I was talking to her. The food here is good - I have eaten here many times over the years - but the attitude and poor customer service make me not want to come back. Be warned - you also might not be cool enough to eat here. Skip the trip if you have any doubts.

I had a very troubling experience with a delivery service and the Diner (as we locals call it) came thru with better replacement than I ever would have dreamed.

My food was soooo good I really wanted to hug the waiter! I had the Rueben. It was AMAZING! It's main ingredient is shaved Seitan. I had the Mac and teese as my side. The diner is about 4/10th of a mile from Wrigley field. Quaint dining room with cool retro tables and chairs. I arrived 10 minutes after opening and the place was already half full. My server was friendly and knew the menu by heart with out even looking at it. The food came quickly after ordering it.

The fake meat here is surprisingly good and overall gives that nice greasy diner feel. So don't expect it to be healthy just because it's vegetarian, but expect it to be delicious! The milkshakes also look delicious, I had one once and it was surprisingly good but also had a weird aftertaste.

Excellent vegan food! Great service and looks like a diner complete with the diner clock! Great location.

I am vegan but live in an area where I don't have many restaurant choices that are easy for me. This place was everything I hoped for and more. It was a bit small on the inside so I felted a bit cramped. I forgot about it quickly when I got my food though! Awesome milkshakes, my husband (an omnivore) got the chocolate chip milkshake and I got the cookie dough peanut butter shake. These were reason to go there all by themselves, so good. I ordered the seitan chicken sandwich with waffle fries. I can't believe it wasn't real meat. so sad that we only got to go there for one meal.

I went here after my vegan friend highly recommended it, and I was not disappointed! The food was delicious and the portions were huge. I couldn't finish my food, but it was so good that I wished that I was able to! I will definitely go there again. Would recommend!

I went there expectantly to taste the classic American food but was surprised that they do not do meat however they serve fake meats and I must say they do a good job at it. The staff is cool and courteous. I would recommend this place to a vegan or vegetarian.

Ok, we love this place and I mean LOVE the place. We visit here whenever we are in Chicago (and a few times stopped here on the way to Madison (yeah a detour but worth it)). As vegans this place is terrific! We have also taken meat lovers here and they have really been impressed. As one of our carnivorous friends told us "This is meat? I feel like I could marry this sandwich!" Growing up in Chicago this was a place my family would treat me to as a kid. Now, it seems to have 3 locations (I haven't tried those places yet). There are so many options but we have a few go-to choices: Wings with Buffalo Sauce (seriously amazing). They make their own seitan then baked it to make it oven crisp and then slather it in their sauce (I don't think it is a bottled sauce but one they make). We grab the vegan shakes (either Carrot Cake, Chai, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - vegan chips). I often get the Rueben (but it seems like they brought back their Philly Steaksandwich --- you got to eat the steak sandwich). Kris grabs the Buddha Bowl or Steak and tofu scramble. For sides get the mashed potato and vegan gravy! We never have room for dessert but sometimes grab some to go (with an extra order of the wings). We also have both of their cookbooks (not sure if the old one is still available). We have cooke out of here a few times and it is nice to have a few variations on seitan (chicken, steak, and even corn beef (you use beet juice to get the red look on the outside). Anyway, do yourself a favor and go here!

I'm not a vegetarian. By any means. I'm a carnivore through and through. And then the Chicago Diner comes along. Let's just do a quick breakdown: 1) Price - totally affordable, not crazy expensive. Check out the menu when you get a chance. And just to be clear, none of the items have meat in it. None. Of. Them. 2) Service - Awesome staff. Very personable and funny, but not in your face, so you can enjoy your meal. But around when you need them. 3) Food - I mean. Damn. I had the gyro. Which didn't have the usual grease. But it tasted amazing. I had their 'chicken wings', which don't look at all like wings, but taste probably just as if not better than the real thing. Great selection of beer too! If you want to try something different, but still familiar, and walk out feeling healthier than you usually would. Try the Chicago Diner. Can't go wrong.

I ate here with vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and meateaters. Everyone was able to find an amazingly delicious meal! Everything from the smoothie to the cookies was better than I could have ever made myself. Definitely worth checking out!

The food was absolutely delicious. Recommend getting to the diner right at opening since seating is limited. I had vegan cheese for the first time and I loved it. Quick service and pretty fair prices.

Went here for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. It's vegetarian with so many options. We had quinoa salad and bean avocado tostadas. They were great and large portions. Prices were ok. Waitress was there for all needs. Definitely recommend this place.

And boy does that make me a happy camper! Our biggest issue at Chicago Diner was just picking what to eat! The menu is varied, so you have a bunch of choices. After elaborately discussing we settled on our dishes for lunch. I settled on a ceasar salad with crispy "chicken" and a side of mashed potatoes with gravy (a little weird perhaps, but I can't pass up mashed potatoes regardless of the main dish) and my partner chose a cuban sandwich with a side of vegan mac n cheese. The portions are generous and the food was tasty. The staff was really friendly, and the atmosphere is extremely welcoming. A lot of different types of people were gathered there for lunch, which was nice to see (that it's not just a hipster joint, but much more).

I appreciate new vegetarian fare. Updated items and tasty deserts! Thank you Chicago Dinner for being there!

For vegetarian and gluten free foodie this place was amazing!! Had SUV and Blt on gluten free bread with potato leek soup!! Delicious.10 minutes drive from down town.

New to the vegan diet, and this was a great introduction. I could walk here from my hotel, wasn't exactly sure what to expect, I ordered the orange 'chicken' and rice. It was so delicious I went back to the next day. Really enjoyed the meal here. The hostess was very welcoming, servers, well, it sort of depends who you get. One day I had a great server, very attentive, another day, much less attentive. Overall, great experience, I would absolutely eat here again and highly recommend it.

The Chicago Diner, as befits its name, is a greasy spoon of Chicago vegan restaurants. The dishes tend to be heavy or fried or both. Our table had the ravioli (deep fried) and quinoa cakes (fried) for starters. They ate like depth charges. Then we had the pierogi quesadillas, black bean tostidas and kale salad. Solid entrees, emphasis on solid without any sparkling flavor or ethnic profiles . It is a diner after all.

I have been here a couple of times with my vegetarian friend. It is always delicious. Always busy but fast, friendly service.

Comfort food done vegetarian/vegan style. Party of 3 noshing on house made fire roasted salsa and guacamole and then digging into an S.U.V. (Straight Up Veggie), Buddha's Karma Burger and Truffle Mushroom Lentil Loaf. The S.U.V. was a veggie sandwich. No meat substitutes here. Cheese, avocado, sprouts, tomato, onion, lettuce and Creole mustard on toasted whole grain bread with sweet potato fries. My mom really enjoyed it. Buddha's Karma Burger was a sweet potato-tofu patty, grilled pineapple, lettuce, onion and chimichurri sauce on a bun. My daughter loved it. She is the vegetarian and she loves all things sweet potatoes. The Truffle Mushroom Lentil Loaf was a veggie diner fix. I found this casserole loaf consisting of mushrooms and lentils topped mushrooms and white truffle mushroom sauce to be quite hearty. It was served with green beans and roasted potatoes. It wasn't bad. Dessert was a strawberry shake consisting of a soy-based vegan ice cream, red velvet cake and a fudge brownie sundae. These were decent desserts. I am not a vegetarian or vegan, but I did enjoy my meal at The Chicago Diner and recommend this as solid diner fare for any vegetarian or meat eater.

I’ve been meat free since 1990, while they have been since the 80s! I had the pierogi quesadilla. A little tangy and totally delicious. Wings didn’t look like wings but were good. Try this place out!

Well I've heard allot about this place but had never gone for a full vegan menu before, damn it I just wish I tried this sooner. You are suddenly made to be aware of how much range and freedom a vegan would have at a place like this. To start we had the buffalo wings made with seitan. The sauce was spicy and tasted great (no butter of course). The it was their scrambled tofu deluxe with kale. So much flavour to this dish, defiantly the healthiest of our choices. Then the signature dish, the Radical Reuben. If you want to walk away feeling full, this will get you there. The vegan thousand island cheese makes this mammoth sandwich really enjoyable. Finally a caramel shake, not the healthiest option, but so satisfying to finish with. The decor is lovely in the small and intimate space. The staff are also engaging and polite, ready to guild you through the menu. If your vegan or even if your not and want to try something different, give this place a try, BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE A DESSERT MENU!!!!!

Had researched vegan/veggie places to eat in Chicago and this kept popping up. Only a small diner but it didn’t disappoint. Couldn’t make reservations so had to wait half hour out in the back of diner....was incredibly busy so assumed it was popular! Had a vegan wings starter which was amazing but probably didn’t need it as the main meal portions were huge and struggled to finish it all. The only downside was that we felt a bit rushed. Food came out very quickly and the mains were being served before we had finished the starters....felt they wanted us in and out as quickly as possible due to it being so busy. However overall it was a great meal and would visit again.

This place is really the best of the best! We stopped by and tried the Thai Chili Wings and were blown away. The sauce those were spun in was NEXT LEVEL. They were the perfect amount of tangy, sweet and spicy--so good! We also tried a pineapple soda, which was also delicious. Before rolling out, we also split a peanut butter chocolate vegan milkshake, which was to die for. My very meat eating, dairy loving husband swore up and down that was the best shake of his life. I would recommend this to EVERYONE, even if you do eat meat! The food is just regular amazing (as opposed to "amazing for vegan food")!

A totally vegetarian restaurant serving an interesting selection of dishes. Tasty food and friendly service. It was good to have a whole menu to chose from rather than picking our way through a regular menu. Great desserts and milkshakes.

I always stop here for a meal when in Chicago and I'm not a vegetarian. Food is excellent and they have a wonderful variety. Small place, so get there early or be prepared to wait. One of the oldest veg places in America and definitely worth a visit. Their motto - "Meat free since '83!"

The Chicago Diner is a vegan food heaven! Completely meat free since 1983. We tried their spicy crispy chick’n burger and it was phenomenal.. one of the tastiest vegan burgers we’ve had. Spicy breaded vegan chicken seitan (vegan meat analogue made from wheat gluten which is extremely rich in protein), lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion on a wheat bun with ranch and waffle fries on the side. It was very filling and satisfying. The waffle fries with cajun seasoning were to die for!

The food here is so so good. Truly vegan/vegetarian comfort food at its finest. We got the country fried steak, the Titanic BLT, nachos, the soup of the day, and, of course, a milkshake. Everything was insanely good and the portions are very generous. Excellent service as well! I loved this place.

Ordered delivery after a 6 hour drive for our Chicago trip, I got the Ruben and the wife got meatloaf, food was good, lemonades were good. Would eat here again.

This was my first trip, my wife’s 2nd to “The Chicago Diner”. I’m still eat meat, trying to become a “Flexatarian ” where I eat less meat and more veggies. The food was amazing; we had the hot wings, the Reuben and the Chicken Fried Steak. All was very satisfying and I think could have gotten fooled by the Reuben as real corn beef, If I didn’t know. We went at 2 PM and it was still pretty crowded, but got a seat right away. If you or your friends are not a vegan or vegetarian, they will still enjoy this food. Service was very good and prices are a good value. Had a vegan shake to go it was awesome. We will go back on many return trips when in Chicago.

Enjoyed a great meal here, even though I am far from vegetarian. The little diner has all the personality you'd expect for a little dive in Boystown. Everyone is very friendly. Expect a wait, they're usually busy! The menu has quite a few offerings and seasonal specials. I had a simple harvest salad and carrot/ginger soup, and both were great. I wish I could talk more to the vegetarian and vegan substitutes given those are what really make this restaurant stand out. Nonetheless, you can take anyone here and be happy.

We were here in August for a weekend and I was SO happy to finally make it to the Chicago Diner. It completely lived up to its wonderful reputation! I had the Country Benedict from the brunch menu and a chocolate milkshake. Left there uncomfortably full but my heart was singing!

Vegan restaurant with a large menu. Items ordered--Thai chili chicken (seitan), served with a dipping sauce--delicious. Radical Ruben sandwich with fries--enormous sandwich, shared. Spinach artichoke dip with thinly sliced slightly toasted baguette, very tasty. Bahn mi sandwich with sweet potato fries, generous but not as enormous as the Ruben. The Mac and Teese and soup of the day were disappointingly bland, but everything else was delicious. For vegetarians and vegans, it's great to be able to order without concerns! Very busy, very casual atmosphere.

Cinnamon rolls are amazing! Good portions and fast, friendly service. Even non-vegetarians will love this place!

If you are vegan or vegetarian, you MUST take the time to eat at the Chicago diner. I have been vegetarian for 10 years and have to say that they had just about everything I could ever want. I was the only vegetarian in our group of three and the others enjoyed it too. We had the biscuits and gravy, club, mac and teese, bbq chicken salad and pirogi quesadilla. All were so delicious! Next time I am in Chicago I will be coming here.

We saw the sign for this restaurant on a building and decided to check it out. While we are not strict vegetarians, we enjoy eating meat-free. The menu was fascinating and creative. Portions substantial. Our waitress told us it was actually a vegan restaurant. The Radical Reuben really tasted like meat - but better. The lentil and mushroom loaf was delicious. Wish we had room for their desserts (a meal in themselves, it appeared). Highly recommended.

Maybe I'll become a vegetarian! The quinoa chili and the mushroom truffle meatloaf were amazing to the last bite! Need the recipes!

Our daughters surprised their dad with a 70th birthday trip to Chicago. We are vegetarians so they took us to Chicago Diner. Loved the food, service, and atmosphere. The neighborhood was great and filled with friendly people. I will visit N. Halstead again.

I enjoyed the food. Much of the menu is focused on swapping out traditional diner staples with a vegan protein, which is fine if you want to try country fried steak or a reuben, etc. The menu has something for everyone.

My husband and I are both vegetarians, and we like to try out new places. We were in Chicago this weekend and wanted to try a new place for lunch. We decided to try Chicago Diner. The menu is extensive and there are alot of options... Good food, Good service. Will definitely go back to this place.....

I was in Chicago in August and made it a point to go to the Chicago Diner. It's a vegan/vegetarian restuarnt (you can choose to use dairy cheese or vegan cheese in most dishes). I have been there many times before, but it had been four years since my last visit. I convinced two friends to come along, one a vegetarian and one not. At the end of the meal, both agreed it was fantastic. The menu is a great mix of items that are traditionally vegetarian (for example, a quinoa salad) and things that are made vegetarian by using meat substitutes like seitan. We shared as appetizers vegetarian sliders with BBQ sauce and vegetarian Buffalo wings (made with seitan, which surprised me because I've usually seen this dish made with tempeh). Both were outstanding, especially the sliders. For my main course I had a vegetarian Reuben, which was amazing. The bread is great, the seitan is flavored to mimic the effect of corned beef, and the taste was fantastic. For dessert, I had a vegan shake (salted carmel) that was the best shake -- vegan or otherwise -- I've ever had. The service was great. The waiter and busboy were both friendly, efficient and thoughtful. Given the unique aspect of the restaurant (vegetarian/vegan), the demand (waits to get in) and quality (great food), you'd expect the prices to be sky high. Instead, everything is surprisingly reasonable. Three of us ate with two appetizers and shakes for dessert (no drinks) for $75 books with the tip. The only negative thing I can say is that still, after all these years, you have to be prepared to wait for a table. We waited about 35 minutes. But it's worth it. For vegetarians, the Chicago Diner is refreshing and exciting, with a menu filled with delicious options we can actually eat. And nonvegetarians can happily eat here too, as the food is just high quality and delicious. I can safely say that this is my favorite restaurant.

I ate here with my friend who is a strict vegan. I thought she might pass out from joy! The food is delicious and beautifully presented even if you are not vegetarian/vegan. Solid cocktails as well. I liked how varied the menu is. The atmosphere is very much like a diner (small, close together tables), but the food itself goes far above and beyond what I would expect from a diner. Wish we could have gone back to try out the breakfast!

This place was so so amazing. We had spicy buffalo wings as an appetizer and fake chicken fried steak as entries. It was all amazing. They have every food I have missed as a vegetarian in vegetarian form! I will be back!

The food was very good, so many different vegan plate it is a paradise for vegan people, the employees are nice and really positive people.

Normally I would not go to a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. However, the Chicago Diner had plenty of options that were palatable and more so. /Mushroom barley soup was great as was the Poutine appetizer. And the Milkshakes were fabulous.

We stopped on a Sunday evening. The wait was almost an hour. The food was very good. We had spicy chicken, pierogis quesadilla, and chips and guacamole. The quesadilla was the only dish that wasn't very good. They do have alcohol and can make lattes. The food is worth the wait if you like vegetarian dishes.