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Vegan-friendly
American
International
Beer/Wine
Fusion
Non-veg
Serves fish, vegan options available. Pescatarian menu, casual atmosphere. Brunch 9am-3pm on weekends. No reservations taken. Open Mon-Fri 10:00am-10:00pm, Sat-Sun 9:00am-10:00pm.
131 Reviews
First Review by katieh
Hnadine21
Points +258
Amazing veg-friendly restaurant - Edit
I love Handlebar! Been going since I went vegetarian over a decade ago. It’s cute and cozy inside with a wonderful back patio (with heat lamps). The menu is mostly vegetarian with some fish and many vegan options, so it’s a good spot to go with friends who may be a bit hesitant to go to a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Most vegetarian items can be easily modified to be vegan. It’s a huge menu with a great cocktail menu as well. Keep in mind that they don’t take reservations and your whole party has to be there to be seated.
Read morePros: Huge menu, Back patio
Cons: No reservations
Guest
mingleman
Points +306
Excellent Brunch - Edit
Fried green tomato Benedict with home fries. Chicken fried mushroom with grilled tofu, spinach and gravy.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-09-15
Guest
Amyladedada1
Points +980
Good scene and good bites - Edit
Perfect lunch spot. I had the Nashville “chicken” sandwich. Everything was delicious. Service was spot on.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-08-28
Guest
JackBishop
Points +181
Great vegan food, watch out for incorrect orders - Edit
The food here was great! However, we ordered the loaded fries with vegan cheese, and they brought out loaded fries with cows milk cheese on it. After taking a few bites under the assumption that we got what we ordered, our waiter came back with the vegan fries. I get mistakes happen, but it sucks and I expect more from a restaurant that goes out of its way to have so many vegan options.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-08-20
Pros: Great food
Cons: Sloppy service
Guest
csalvatore9236
Points +83
Favorite Place in Chicago - Edit
So many delicious vegan options and generous portions. Also one of the best coffees I’ve ever had!! Great service. This place is always a stop for me when I visit Chicago.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-08-05
Guest
Matt23rd
Points +29
Vegan handlemuffin was soooo good - Edit
I walked in right after opening on my way to the airport and the staff was so helpful! They had me in and out with a vegan handlemuffin to-go in less than 15 minutes. The breakfast sandwich was absolutely delicious, the vegan cheez was amazing! So glad I got to stop here on my way out of Chicago
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-08-03
Guest
TamaraPainter
Points +82
Amazing Vegan options! - Edit
Well spiced delicious vegan. The Club sandwich is out of this world! Tacos are fantastic! Portions are very generous at very affordable price. Check out the bathroom walls 🥰
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-07-12
Pros: Food , Service , Vibes
Guest
wig_ping
Points +150
Mostly vegan spot - Edit
I really really really enjoyed getting dinner here. Sadly I had eaten before so I didn’t get an entree but I did get the fried pickles and the cheese cake. Their house made ranch was bussy. I also loved speaking to the bartender! I feel it’s rare to go to a vegan spot and the staff be vegan! Big plus was the outdoor seating.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-06-23
Guest
edoyle
Points +94
Perfect Breakfast Food - Edit
I thought this place was great. Lots of options, everything was flavored well, and it perfectly satisfied my craving for traditional breakfast food. I had the Handlemuffin which was delicious, ideal size, and not too heavy. That combined with the French toast made the best breakfast.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-06-07
Pros: Good service, Delicious food, Multiple options
Cons: Bathrooms were a little messy
Guest
bb.$hark
Points +2339
Super filling and huge serving size - Edit
I ordered the chimichanga and it was really good!!
Read moreA nice outdoor patio to sit down in
I went around 11am and it took like 5 minutes to be served I was so shocked.
I recommend and I will return!
Guest
SarahS88
Points +3308
Very delicious and affordable and great service - Edit
Had a great experience and staff was very vegan knowledgeable! Meal was great, tacos and salad were both good but the dessert was amazing!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-27
Guest
jtesta17
Points +72
So good! - Edit
I had the best birria mushroom tacos ever!! I wanted to drink the consommé with a straw. The drinks were excellent too and I’m so glad I also got a slice of their vegan chocolate cake to go - it was super fudgy and moist. I’ll be coming back to Chicago JUST to eat here again!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-23
Pros: Delicious food, Prices were reasonable, Tasty drinks
Guest
VeganJopa
Points +82
Best vegan tacos ever - Edit
Order Primo's Tacos - better than NYC or Tulum! Punk atmosphere is awesome - so lively!
Read moreGuest
zachweeks
Points +323
Everything rocks - Edit
Had dinner 3 times at Handlebar and brunch once over the course of a week in Chicago and didn’t have a single menu item that wasn’t extremely great. Some of the items look a bit expensive on paper, but they give you MASSIVE portions so you really get what you pay for. The first night I got the Chicago, my flights were delayed and I was starving — walked into Handlebar at 11:20pm (on a Wednesday) and they were happy to serve us an incredible meal. The hospitality alone kept me going back. 10/10 if I could rate it that high. One of the best.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-03-20
Pros: Huge portions, Good vibe, Kitchen open late
Guest
LaurelC
Points +122
Great options! - Edit
My mom and I had dinner here and thoroughly enjoyed the options. She isn't vegetarian or vegan, but she got the tots dish and loved it!
Read moreGuest
annieeatingstuff
Points +281
Always delicious! - Edit
Keep in mind this is a pescatarian restaurant so the fish is actual fish, not an alternative. There is animal dairy and eggs here. You can modify most things to be vegan by swapping to dairy alternatives and switching out egg for cubed tofu. The tofu is not a typical tofu scramble, just fyi! I think it would be great if they added an egg alternative for those who want that, like my partner for example. I personally don’t care for such things so it doesn’t matter to me.
Read moreMy faves are the black bean tostadas with vegan queso and the vegan chili mac attack, both of which you can order any time of day. The vegan pepita scramble is also delicious but keep in mind, it will be cubed tofu not a tofu scramble. The French toast is default vegan, at least as of January 2026. If I need a little something sweet, that’s what I get as a side with my vegan chili mac!
My partner loves the sloppy joe and my mom, who is also vegan, loves the club sandwich.
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-23
Guest
ChloeThonus
Points +1258
Fantastic options - Edit
Nashville hot "chicken" sandwich is one of my favorites in the whole city. Also has a great vegan chimichanga, nachos, and pancake bowl special.
Read moreGuest
CeciliaVargas
Points +324
Yummy vegan tostones - Edit
Went to a cocktail and appetizer. The black bean tostones where delicious
Read moreGuest
insectsprout
Points +22
amazing! - Edit
so many options! i had the biscuits and gravy which is hard to come by as a vegan; it was so good and i highly recommend this place!
Read moreGuest
totalfilth
Points +1528
Handlebar - Edit
Great experience and food. I would love to come back and try some more menu items.
Read moreGuest
pbthread2
Points +60
Would give it 5 stars if I could! - Edit
We stopped here on a whim while taking the Blue Line through the area. Absolutely incredible food -- we were thrilled with everything we had and the staff was very attentive. If 5 stars were an option here, I would give it. The patio is also amazing!
Read moreGuest
ThomasFinley
Points +33
Best mushroom chicken in town - Edit
Really pleasantly surprised - great menu, casual atmosphere and some of the most flavorful Nashville fried chicken I have ever had. Genius use of mushrooms on the menu. Would recommend.
Read moreGuest
tourtellinie
Points +32
Fav place to eat in Chicago - Edit
My always and forever #1 pick for going out for food in Chicago.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-08-04
Pros: vegan queso fries
Cons: loud, could be more inviting
Guest
MartinBaumeister
Points +1085
Great vegan gluten-free breakfast on the patio - Edit
We enjoyed our breakfast and the attentive service. The food was yummy. A lot of the meat substitutes are saitan based. As we try to be gluten free those weren’t an option for us.
Read moreThe patio is very nice. There is shade as well. So even on a hot day you can sit outside.
I find the description on the website a bit misleading. They talk about preparing vegan and vegetarian food but also serve fish. Not an issue for us but it might be for others.
Guest
sarahelizi
Points +253
Cool atmosphere, new fav fried chikin - Edit
The chicken and waffles special…wowza. More vegan options than I expected, having heard it is also pescatarian. Will definitely be back…strong tasty drinks too
Read moreGuest
EABessel
Points +2105
It’s good to be back! - Edit
It’s been about 10 years since my last visit. I ordered my “usual”, which is still on the menu (green meanie sandwich with vegan cheese and a side of collard greens) and it was just as good if not better than I remembered it. Friendly staff, great soundtrack, fast service, and really good food. 
Read moreGuest
EllenWhite
Points +21
Bomb AF - Edit
This place is incredible - doesn't matter if you're carnivore or veg, it slaps. Also they have an amazing patio, just *chef's kiss*.
Read morePros: Variety, Outdoor space, Quality
Guest
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