Discover some of the best restaurants, cafes and diners serving up vegan brunch in Chicago in 2025.
Brunch in Chicago just got a whole lot better - especially if you're plant-based. Whether you're in the mood for a stacked breakfast burrito, a stack of fluffy pancakes, or a fresh-from-the-fryer donut, the city has plenty of options to satisfy your cravings. From cozy neighborhood spots to trendy cafés and legendary diners, this list rounds up the best places serving vegan brunch in Chicago.
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Beacon Donuts
This 'secret donut spot' is not so secret anymore. Operating out of an alley, Beacon donuts has become crazy popular for its vegan-friendly menu and decadent flavors. If you're on the search for a sweet treat, don't pass up Beacon.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.9 stars on Google
Location
In The Alley, 810 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
What to Order
Beacon makes their donuts in small batches every day, so once a flavor is gone - it's gone. If there's a flavor you really want, they recommend ordering in advance (up to 3 days ahead of time) to make sure you get the donut you want.
Some of the most popular flavors include:
- Blueberry pancake donut
- Vanilla bean cronut
- Boston cream donut
- Glazed brioche
- Apple fritter
Handlebar
Handlebar is a great place to get vegan comfort food. With brew fair-trade coffee, locally sourced ingredients and a full-service beer garden, it's easy to love this neighbourhood restaurant.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.6 stars on Google
Location
2311 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
What to Order
One of Handlebar's most popular brunch dishes is the vegan chimichanga. A fried burrito with all the trimmings: seitan chorizo, tofu, vegan cashew queso, peppers, black beans, rice, guajillo sauce, pico de gallo, guacamole.
Other great options include:
- French toast (ask for it to be made vegan)
- Biscuits and gravy (ask for it to be made vegan)
- Pepita scramble
- Vegan breakfast burrito
Tweet
The art-filled sister restaurant to Big Chicks, Tweet believes that sitting down for a good meal is about so much more than the food. Don't get it wrong - their food is delicious and portions are generous - but equal attention is given to ambiance, vibe, and, importantly, the people.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.7 stars on Google
Location
5020 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640
What to Order
One thing visitors love about the vegan food here is that they can get their favourite classics, but with a vegan twist, including vegan bacon!
- Vegan omelet (choose egg substitute, vegan cheese etc., to make it vegan)
- Vegan beyond burger
- Mt vegan bowl
- Vegan southwest tofu scramble
- Burrito numero siete (choose vegan)
Smack Dab
This beloved casual breakfast spot is home to some of the best vegan breakfast sandwiches in Chicago. If you're more of a sweet tooth - never fear. They also serve vegan donuts daily.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.7 stars on Google
Location
6730 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
What to Order
Smack Dab is well-known for they're breakfast sandwiches. Their signature sandwich, 'The Bestest Seller' can even be made vegan thanks to swapping scrambled egg for just egg, and serving it with vegan cheese on sourdough toast.
- 'Vegan bestest' breakfast sandwich
- Vegan breakfast burrito
- Vegan green sammie
- Vegan donuts
Chicago Diner
The only problem vegans will have at Chicago Diner is in choosing what to order. With so many vegan options on the menu, it might be hard to decide which dish to go for. Whether you're in the mood for a fluffy cinnamon roll or savory scrambled tofu, you'll find what you're looking for at Chicago Diner.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.6/7 stars on Google
Locations
Lakeview: 3411 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60657
Logan Square: 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
What to Order
This quintessential Chicago diner has a long menu of tried-and-tested favourites. Whether you go for the cinnamon rolls, or country 'eggs' Benedict, you're sure to find a few breakfast dishes you like.
- Biscuit and Gravy
- Cinnamon roll French toast
- Breakfast bowl
- Vegan milkshakes
Lucy's Cafe
This family-owned and operated cafe in Roscoe Village cares about good food, and it shows. As a business, their motto is to be better than the day before - and the quality of food they serve proves it. While not exclusively vegan, Lucy's Cafe has multiple vegan options, so you won't be short on options.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.6 stars on Google
Location
2100 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
What to Order
Though Lucy's isn't strictly a vegan restaurant, they're more than capable of making great vegan food.
- French toast (all flavors can be made vegan)
- Southwest skillet (vegan option)
- Banana-walnut pancakes (made vegan)
- Tofu scramble
- Caramelized onion flatbread (made vegan)
- Street corn-style avocado toast (made vegan)
Penelope's Vegan Taqueria Andersonville
Penelope's is known for their delicious, vegan Mexican food, and as an added bonus, the Andersonville location also serves brunch! Stop in for Mexican-inspired dishes and creative classics.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.6 stars on Google
Location
5204 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
What to Order
If you're in the mood for Mexican food, then Penelope's is the brunch spot for you. They put hash browns inside the breakfast burritos . . . need we say more?
- Huevos a la Mexicana
- Chilaquiles
- Dragon fruit blackberry pancakes
- Breakfast burrito
Flying Saucer
Flying Saucer is all about making comfort food that vegans and carnivores alike can enjoy. Many of the flavors you'll find on the menu are inspired by the owners' love for Mexican cuisine, but you'll also find your classic brunch fare - such as plant-based omelets, pancakes, and more.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5 stars on Google
Location
1123 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
What to Order
Flying saucer isn't 100% vegan, but you can trust that whatever you order will be delicious. Whether your Sunday brunch looks like a tall stack of pancakes with maple syrup or a breakfast burrito with some vegan sour cream on the side, you're sure to leave feeling satisfied.
- Omelet with plant-based eggs
- Vegan breakfast burrito
- Vegan huevos volando
- Vegan pancakes
Pick Me Up Cafe
Opened in 1997, Pick Me Up Cafe was one of Chicago's first restaurants offering vegetarian and vegan options. And while they do have a dedicated brunch menu, Pick Me Up also famously serves breakfast all day, every day.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5 stars on Google
Location
4882 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
What to Order
You can get all your favourite brunch fare here, until 10 PM. Breakfast for dinner, anyone?
- Vegan Santa Fe scramble
- Vegan buttermilk pancakes
- Vegan French toast
- Vegan benedict
Kale My Name
Kale My Name is an award-winning 100% plant-based restaurant owned by vegan entrepreneur Nemanja Golubović. On the brunch menu, you'll find longtime classics like pancakes and sausage patties, as well as innovative new flavors like jackfruit lox.
Rating
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5 stars on Google
Location
3300 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
What to Order
Half the fun of Kale My Name is checking out all the creative dishes on order . . . and the rest of the fun comes from eating them. If you're in the mood to try something new, this should be the next weekend brunch spot you check out.
- Brunchpanadas (brunch empanadas)
- Jackfruit lox
- Cauliflower wings and waffles
- Chilaquiles
Is your favourite place on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
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