The Windy City offers an abundance of vegan and vegan-friendly restaurant options for a weekend brunch!
Chicago’s vegan scene is on the rise, and brunch is no exception. Cheers to these 11 best vegan brunch spots in Chicago. From sweet waffles to savory breakfast sandwiches, there’s something for everyone!
Kale My Name is known for its amazing vegan dishes. The 100% plant-based restaurant offers a brunch menu exclusively on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Check out their sweet waffles, pancakes, brunch burgers (cheddar, pickles, tomato, onion, tofu scramble, and Hollandaise aioli with a side of rosemary potatoes), and jackfruit lox. Invite your favorite people for a vegan brunch on the patio and enjoy Chicago summer—while it lasts! We highly recommend you make a reservation, as tables fill up quickly.
Handlebar makes a delightful breakfast sandwich, but the vegan chimichanga (seitan chorizo, tofu, vegan cashew queso, peppers, flour tortilla, black beans, rice, guajillo sauce, pico de gallo, and guacamole) and vegan diablos (seitan chorizo, tofu, hand-pressed corn tostadas, chipotle sauce, black beans, and brown rice) are bound to make you come back for more! These dishes are plant-based versions of popular brunch items, and will surely satisfy the pickiest of eaters.
The Chicago Diner is a vegetarian diner that provides a vegan option for every item on their menu (just choose vegan cheese and tofu as your protein)! Our go-to brunch includes a warm vegan cinnamon roll, the breakfast bowl (potato hash topped with tofu, a biscuit, and seitan sausage gravy), and the Monte Cristo (French toast sandwich with melted cheese, seitan bacon, creole mustard, and potato hash). Plus, their famous vegan milkshake on the side—trust us, it’s a must-try!
Lucy’s Cafe provides an array of dishes that can be made vegan. Options include French toast, pancakes, tofu scramble, and more. Remember to clarify that you’d like to order them vegan, as the cafe does serve dairy and eggs. The establishment delivers a local cafe dining experience with a whole lot of flavor.
Original Soul Vegetarian is known for its classic vegan comfort food, including its brunch! Enjoy scrambled tofu, fluffy biscuits, and whole wheat pancakes on a Sunday morning (brunch is only served on the weekends). All items are plant-based and contain no animal products.
Fancy Plants Cafe provides a beautifully curated cafe menu with everything from croissants to carrot lox bagels to vegan spanakopita. The selection of baked goods and savory options rotates, however, you will always be able to enjoy staples like the JUST egg breakfast sandwich (featuring Chao cheese and seitan) daily.
Located on Michigan Avenue, ALTHEA makes plant-based eating a little healthier and a whole lot fancier! Known for its picture-perfect creations, the restaurant serves a weekend brunch that is just as tasty as it looks. Check out their spin on French toast, asparagus quiche, and more. The menu changes frequently, so be sure to visit ALTHEA’s Instagram for the latest eats.
How does a comforting plate of breakfast tacos (tofu & chorizo tacos with avocado, salsa verde, and cilantro, served with a side of potatoes, cheese, crema, scallions, and diced tomatoes), loaded potatoes (breakfast potatoes smothered with cheese sauce, seitan bacon, scallions, and crema), or a breakfast sandwich sound? Upton’s Breakroom is the place to go! The menu uses Upton’s Naturals plant-based proteins to provide a nutritious meal. If you need something a little sweet, grab a dozen or so doughnuts from Liberation Donuts (located in-house)—it’s all about balance.
Pick Me Up Cafe’s breakfast and brunch menu has several vegan options such as the vegan benedict (fried tofu, peppers, mushrooms, onions, spinach, and tomatoes served on an English muffin with housemade vegan sauce, served alongside home fries), tofu scramble (tofu, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, peppers, garlic, and potatoes), and vegan pancakes in chocolate chip, berry, and pecan flavors. Make sure to inform the server you’d like the vegan option when ordering.
Visiting Winnetka? Spirit Elephant serves brunch on the weekends, featuring a veggie scramble (vegan egg or tofu, mushrooms, spinach, caramelized onions, tomatoes, avocado, and salsa), breakfast tacos (vegan egg or tofu, pickled Fresno peppers, red onions, cilantro, avocado crema, and salsa served on corn tortillas), delicious gluten-free pancakes, and more.
HASH serves comforting vegan versions of classic brunch favorites. Options include a vegan burrito (tofu scramble or vegan egg with choice of protein and sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla and grilled, with a side of hash) and a vegan breakfast sandwich (vegan egg, Beyond sausage, and cashew cheese on a grilled Kaiser roll). Both are clearly labeled on the menu for easy ordering. We recommend adding a side of generously seasoned potatoes because, why not?
Mohini, a born and raised vegetarian from Chicago, initially went vegan when faced with a health issue, but stayed vegan for the animals. Whole food plant-based eating (inspired by traditional Indian culture) is her optimal diet. An advocate for mental health and lifestyle changes, she has a degree in Health Sciences from DePaul University.
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