Appreciate The Meat- And Dairy-Free This November
Plenty know Chicago for its hot dogs, Italian beef, Polish sausage and other meat-heavy delicacies. Even still, this city is home to plenty of happy vegetarians and vegans. Increase your awareness of the vegan lifestyle during November, National Vegan Month. Don’t worry—going meat- and dairy-free doesn’t mean going taste-free; let these eateries prove it.
Fresh off its five-year anniversary celebration, Borrowed Earth Café (970 Warren Ave., Downers Grove) is one of the suburbs’ most trusted and beloved vegan restaurants. Not only is it free of animal products, everything here is also organic, raw and 99% gluten-free. Stop in for a meal, attend a workshop, or get coaching on living a raw lifestyle.
Less than a 10-minute drive from City View at the Highlands in Lombard
Raw (131 N. Clinton St., Suite 7) is another restaurant that celebrates all things raw. Everything at Raw is uncooked and 100% plant-based. The founders launched this project to raise awareness of how incorporating raw food into your diet can benefit your well-being.
Just a 4-minute walk from 180 N. Jefferson
Chocolate-covered strawberries at Raw
Catch vegan cuisine on the move. The Vegan Food Truck zips around Chicago serving quick, quality animal-free food Tuesdays through Saturdays. The menu changes every day, but some items may include tofu tacos, maple-glazed BBQ wings or mac and cheese. Track the truck on Twitter and Facebook for your vegan meal on the go.
Shredded tacos from the Vegan Food Truck
Karyn’s Cooked (738 N. Wells St.) offers “conscious comfort food”—all free of animal products. Founder Karyn runs this gourmet vegan restaurant but also has a sister spot in Lincoln Park, Karyn’s Raw Café, as well as an inner beauty center and product line. Her mission is to provide “a place to facilitate your individual path to well-being.”
Karyn’s Cooked is an 8-minute walk from Kingsbury Plaza.
Vegan taco bowl at Karyn’s Cooked