As more people strive to eat healthier, chefs often offer plant-based dishes or open up whole restaurants with a dedicated plant-based menu. Fortunately, Chicago has several great restaurants where you and your family can order dishes free from meat, chicken, or seafood. Our team at Crème de la Crème of Lincoln Park in Chicago has put together this list of amazing plant-based dining establishments for you to enjoy.

Vegan Plate

Thai food by Toby Oxborrow is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

When you’re looking for vegan Thai-style food, head over to Vegan Plate. This plant-based Chicago restaurant serves fresh, delicious food with exciting, exotic flavors sure to please any palate. Come to Vegan Plate with a hearty appetite because you’ll want to start your meal with tasty appetizers like steamed veggie dumplings with green curry or vegan tempura with vegetables like broccoli, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes.

On a warm Lincoln Park evening, cool off with a refreshing green papaya salad, and when the nights turn chilly, warm up with a steaming bowl of nutritious seaweed or miso soup. Entrees range from fragrant curry dishes to sweet and sour vegetables. You can order stir-fried noodles and rice or vegetables in a Thai basil sauce with your choice of soy protein. Save room for a slice of tofu cheesecake to round out your plant-based meal.

Location: 1550 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago.

Contact: 773-472-8208

Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine

If you enjoy eating soul food but don’t want the heavy meat associated with this style of food, you’ll appreciate the healthy and lighter versions served at Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine. Chef Tsadakeeyah Emmanuel adopted veganism over 20 years ago and understands the importance of eating plant-based foods while embracing his African heritage.

You can enjoy your favorite comfort foods like a taco salad made with ground lentils and special sauces; barbecued cauliflower; a fried oyster mushroom burger; or jerk tofu, mac ‘n cheese, greens, and candied sweet potato bowl. Finish your meal with a tasty dessert like iced sweet potato cookies. Bring the family to Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine to refuel everyone’s bodies after a fun and exciting day exploring the waterways in the Chicago area.

Location: 7167 S. Exchange Ave., Chicago.

Contact: 773-359-4019

Bloom Plant Based Kitchen

At Bloom Plant Based Kitchen, you’ll get delicious and healthy food while supporting the environment. The team at this vegan restaurant partners with ORCA to compost food waste and Green Grease that recycles cooking oil. When you sit down to order, you’ll notice that Bloom Plant Based Kitchen’s menu is 100% vegan and gluten-free, and you can order several items without nuts.

Start your meal sharing starters like the kale Caesar salad made with cornbread croutons or the Baja taco filled with banana blossom tempura and fermented cabbage in a hemp seed tortilla. Large plates include offerings like the almond, lentil, and beet patty melt; the hot crispy maitake mushroom sandwich; or the protein bowl filled with beans, lentils, rice, avocado, kale, and kimchi. You can satisfy your sweet tooth cravings with sweet potato cheesecake or tiramisu made with cashew mascarpone.

Location: 1559 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Contact: 312-363-3110

Fancy Plants Kitchen

The chef and owner of Fancy Plants Kitchen, Kevin Schuder, is no stranger to vegan cooking. He spent several years cooking at vegan restaurants in San Francisco before opening his Chicago Fancy Plants Kitchen. For the ultimate vegan culinary experience, order the five-course tasting menu with vegan foie gras, a soup, a salad with cheese made from macadamia nuts, a cabbage roll with lentil hash, and a dessert. Each month, the team offers a different tasting menu with a select theme.

For the normal dinner menu, you can share appetizers like mushroom calamari or wok-seared Brussels sprouts with a bourbon glaze. You’ll find a variety of vegan soups and salads, and dinner entrees include offerings such as the Wellington with a seitan steak and a red wine jus or the shepherd’s pie with mushrooms, vegetables, and black garlic gravy.

If you stop by for Sunday brunch, you’ll appreciate dishes like the tofu scramble bowl or the seitan steak and avocado breakfast burrito finished with chili and pepita salsa. Of course, you’ll want to stay for tasty treats like the Pear Gin Fizz Pie or the Candy Cap Cheesecake made with cashew cream and a walnut-date crust.

Location: 1443 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago.

Contact: 773-857-0486

Arya Bhava

Arya Bhava specializes in Indian-inspired vegan and gluten-free dishes infused with nutritious and flavorful items. Begin your meal with an appetizer like the mashed lentil patties with spices or the vegetable cutlets with mixed vegetables and potatoes. All appetizers come with cilantro and sweet and sour tamarind sauces. Rice dishes come with fragrant Basmati rice or protein-rich quinoa and a variety of vegetables and exotic spices like saffron, turmeric, and cumin.

When you’re looking for a hearty entree, choose the chana masala with sun-dried chickpeas; dal makhani made with black lentils, ginger, and garlic; or the organic tofu tikka masala with sauteed smoked vegan cheese and vegetables. Scoop up these flavorful foods with vegan naan bread or tandoori roti bread, and finish your meal with desserts like chocolate truffles made with cacao, coconut, and dates.

Once you’re done dining at Arya Bhava, bring home spice and tea mixes available for purchase at the restaurant. The team at this restaurant also offers cooking classes so you can learn tips and tricks for vegan, raw, and gluten-free meal preparation.

Location: 2508 W. Devon Ave., Chicago.

Contact: 773-274-5800

There’s a wrap for our list of restaurants with a plant-based menu in Chicago, IL. Dining at these restaurants will help your family stay on track with their health and wellness journey. Which restaurant is your favorite? What dish does your family enjoy eating the most? If you have a recommendation for other plant-based eateries in our area, let us know, as we always enjoy learning about healthy restaurants in Chicago.