My new favorite addition to Hyde Park. Way more exciting than the Chipotle. All the food is delicious and a vegetarian's dream. Portobello and sausage burger, meatball sub, all the bowls, and pretty much everything. The lavender lemonade is especially delicious. The sweet potato fries are also a good option. The staff is mostly nice, though sometimes some of the staff members seem a little less than friendly. I will acknowledge that aside from the salads nothing is really healthier than the meat dishes they are replacing, though in my opinion they are more ethically sound choices. Update: So annoying, they get rid of their specials during summer and raise their prices.
(4)
Hannah C.
I try so hard to like this food every time I bring a vegan friend here. But I'm always stuck with the impression the good just isn't that tasty. Take the chili, which is fine, but comes with a cornbread that features a weird aftertaste. Or the bacon cheeseburger, which appears to have no patty and is in desperate need of sauce (mine also did not come with fried pickles, much to my dismay). I will say the desserts looked awesome and the oatmeal cream pie was pretty good - as long as you didn't let it get warm (including by holding it in your hand).
(3)
Cindy W.
Wonderful! I went for their soft opening an the service and food were both impeccable. We got the nachos, Saigon roll, and chicken buffalo wings or starters. The Saigon roll was so delicious and the peanut dip was beyond amazing. I would order that again. I also recommend the peanut butter parfait and watermelon fresca! It's a great addition to 53rd street and the staff was overwhelmingly nice and friendly. My two guests were also impressed as very pleased by the food and service! It's also a lovely space. I can definitely see a lot more university students eating out here soon.
(5)
Lisette D.
I ordered the Moroccan bowl which was delicious. Lots of flavor and texture, and very filling! I also loved the lavender lemonade, though it was a little light on the lavender side. We ended up waiting a very long time for our food, but the manager gave everyone at my table a free dessert because of the wait, which I felt was a nice way to handle it. It was very crowded in when we went in on a Saturday evening, but they had a host seating people even though I think they don't normally do that. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive too, despite the place being very busy. I took one star off because they are lacking in the non-fake-meat category. I'm omnivorous and love vegis and tofu, but seitan and tempeh both give me a stomach ache so I avoid them when I can. The options for tofu only left a handful of options, but I didn't ask if I could substitute tofu. Also, their carrot cake cupcake had great cake part, but the frosting was the blandest frosting I've ever eaten; no flavor and not sweet at all. I didn't try the chocolate cupcake, but my friend enjoyed it and didn't complain about the frosting. The peanut butter pudding dessert was fantastic. And the bite I had of the sticky toffee cake was underwhelming as well. Overall a great option, especially for vegan/vegetarian options, and friendly staff. I'll definitely go back and try something else.
(4)
Mark M.
First time here. Wasn't sure what to expect. Service is good and very friendly. Food served quickly. Casual atmosphere. Very clean. Wish they'd open one up in Boston! Haven't tried desserts; just didn't strike me as sinful enough. If call this repeatable.
(4)
G R.
I'm a fan with one little issue, they're slow, so if you're short on time go off hours if eating in, if ordering pick-up order online. Other than that the place is a great addition to the developing Hyde Park area. A friend of mine recommended that I try their Reuben, I guess it comes on the menu as a special every so often. It was good, however keep in mind that it's not real meat, but a substitute. I actually didn't miss the real meat, what I missed was the Russian dressing. My husband had the Gyro bowl, which he enjoyed. I think one of the things that makes them slow on the to go orders is that they label everything, while it's a nice touch it seems to take up some time.
(4)
Aaron T.
great healthy alternative to most of what's available in the neighborhood. We really like alot of the salads and sandwiches, and a generous amount of food.
(5)
Loretta P.
I had been trekking to Milwaukee Ave to partake of this delicious, fresh, vegan food when, one opened up in the loop. Then, here Native Foods Cafe comes to Hyde Park! Well, slap me and call me an anteaters auntie! NFC does it right--from the Chipotle Chop, Yo Soy Amigo Taco Salad, and Bangkok Curry Bowl to the Portobello Steak Burger. Service here is stellar, the ambiance is inviting, and the location rocks! I'm working my way through the menu, slowly but surely. All this creative, veggie-laden wonderfulness is right in my neck of the woods, and I couldn't be happier about it. Unless it was open until midnight..hint hint, wink wink!
(4)
Rebecca S.
I was skeptical at first. Vegan? Meat posers? No, the alternate-to-meat doesn't exactly taste like real meat, but the differences are kind of subtle. I think it's all in the way the food is prepared--lots of flavors, and they complement each other pretty well. All the ingredients are fresh, and although the portion sizes don't look particularly huge, you will leave wanting to explode. My friend and I had to sit for a good ten minutes before leaving the restaurant. I always get a bowl--basically a salad with rice at the bottom. So tasty and there are a ton of different ways they're prepared--there will probably be something that suits your craving. The Bangkok Curry bowl is my favorite. Definitely get the Lavender Lemonade. It is so perfect and sweet, that you will likely get second and third rounds, so that in addition to your stomach exploding, your bladder will probably burst. Overall, I really like Native Foods! The service is very friendly and the food is very filling and tasty, despite being healthy "rabbit food."
(4)
Andy Y.
Really great service, so I feel a little bad about the low number of stars. However, I really didn't enjoy neither of the two salads we got, and the only good drink out of the five was the lemonade. We got the Caribbean jerk kale and the aztec salad. The Aztec had an interesting taste -- but not exactly in the good way. Perhaps it was personal taste but I was just a bit thrown by the flavors. The Caribbean had what I think are tofu bits, but they just tasted burnt. The dressing was also pretty average
(3)
Meag H.
Overall, I really enjoy Native Foods. However, today I was sorely disappointed. I ordered the twister wrap and fries. The fries were undercooked and the wrap was a soggy, horrible mess. Noticing my messy plate, a server came over and asked how my meal was. When I responded that it was soggy and really disappointing his consolation was "Well, if you do return, always ask for the dressing on the side". I appreciate his honesty, but I am disappointed overall. It will be a while before I return.
(3)
Joseph M.
I'm not vegan but thought the food was surprisingly decent. I wasn't a fan of the dessert (peanut butter parfait) but that's a relatively small quibble. A bit pricey overall though.
(4)
Chris M.
The food is pretty good. I think they try a little too hard to be "different." When it comes down to it, its really just fast food spot thats pricey. Everything made with fresh ingredients that definitely take the price up. But still, for what you get, service included, the price is way too high. Ordering takes too long and the restaurants set up makes it hard to move around. Also hard and awkward wait for carry out. Great place for vegetarian and vegans eaters, plenty of options.
(2)
Dreena L.
Because I had a bad experience at the Wicker Park location I decided to go to the Hyde Park location on Thanksgiving. Right away the customer service was exceptional!!! It was out of this world. Everyone is the restaurant was so friendly and helpful. They also was personable. They didn't rush you and they held a conversation with you. The food of course was great but the customer service made this experience even better. Definite kudos to everyone there!!!
(5)
Anne S.
I had lunch here yesterday and it was great. The service was fantastic, and you can tell they really care about their customers. I had the avocado crunch wrap, which is a limited time special. It came with seasoned sweet potato fries and both were really good. The wrap had coleslaw in it that was really outstanding. It was a tiny bit sweet and tangy, but mostly really fresh tasting. I would eat that as a side or as the main part in another wrap. We had native nachos as an appetizer and I was surprised by how good they are. Since I'm not a vegan, I don't normally go as far as to eat vegan cheese. These were pretty damn close to regular nachos. It was so nice to sit outside and people watch.
(5)
Tony S.
Cheap veg food (done right) near campus? Yes please! Although I discovered them at their downtown location in The Loop, I was quickly converted into a believer after signing up for their Rewards cards (their points system is pretty well-organized; you can track your benefits through their website). If you don't know what to get, you can always try their Specials, which vary by day of the week. What doesn't vary by day of the week (or location), I've noticed, is how reliable their service is--the servers will bring the food to you, although you'll have to get up if you want to take advantage of the free refills on their assortment of healthy drinks. Their dedication to fresh, organic, healthy food and tasty meat-less and dairy-less nourishment is one to be emulated more widely--I am a fan.
(4)
Leonard H.
#ism #NativeFoods makes #vegan meals delicious as well as nutritious. They have healthy twist on what would be considered unhealthy. They use no animal products & the food simply makes you feel & look good. It is a great transition restaurant for anyone who is skeptical about #vegan food. Try it and embrace the concept. #EatGood #LiveGood #ismLife
(5)
Yaniv K.
Update: If there's yet another reason to love Native Foods, here's this one: they emailed me a couple of days after my bday and awarded me a free, complementary lunch. Excellent customer service!
(5)
Nikki T.
I was introduced to this place a couple of years ago. I used to frequent the one on Clark, but was elated to see it come to Hyde Park. I love the native wings. The chicken Ranch burger is quite tasty too.
(4)
Riva L.
Had such a crap experience here. Came in for the first time and ordered a twister wrap, sweet fries, and a side of kale. Sat down & waited for my food with one of those watermelon fresca drinks, which was delicious. My wrap came and they had made it wrong -- they didn't include half of the ingredients! They had also forgotten my side of kale. I asked if they could rectify the issue and my waitress told me it'd be out in a moment. She brought out my kale, which tasted boring but OK, and I munched on the sweet fries while I waited. After fifteen minutes, I went up to the front & asked about the wrap, and it turned out that they had forgotten about it! They made it then. Once I finally got my wrap, I took a bite...and it wasn't very good. Actually, it was so crappy that I was angry that I had waited so long. They didn't seal off the ends, so half of the ingredients fell out. Additionally, it was pretty bland. It was probably the least exciting wrap I have ever consumed. Even with the thrills of scooping up bits of tomato and shoving them back into the wrap. The chipotle flavor was overwhelming from the sauce and the rest of the ingredients just tasted like soggy mush in the wrap. Gets two stars instead of one because I liked the watermelon drink & the sweet fries. But UGH I have never left a restaurant so annoyed and disappointed.
(2)
Bernice R.
HEADLINE: Vegan deliciousness and Refreshing Drinks Served Here! The headline above is really all you need to know. But, in case you were wondering what I had for dinner, I had the Greek Gyro. It was tasty and impressively large. It was so large that I had my husband help me finish my bowl! Who knew I could get so full without any meat protein. Alas, I was wrong. In addition to my meal, I had a watermelon fresca which was so invigorating! Native Foods Cafe, you do Vegan food right!
(4)
Michael M.
For anyone that wants to get into the vegan lifestyle, this is the resturant to go to. I had the portobello sausage burger with seasoned fries and it was terrific. I admit to being highly skeptical prior to dining here but I'm glad I did and definitely will be going back soon and often.
(5)
Kate S.
I love Native Foods. As a vegan, this is where I grub. Best items there? In my opinion, the salads (Jerk Kale, Taco, and Amazonian!) and the appetizers (Polenta Bites and Nachos!) I will be honest though - I have not absolutely loved everything that I've gotten here. My advice is: don't be stupid. For whatever reason, I get CRAZY excited when I can order anything on a menu and lose any and all smidgens of common sense that I possess. If you never liked BBQ brisket when you ate meat, you're probably not going to like a vegan sandwich made to taste like it. Sound obvious? It is. Don't be me. Don't be stupid. Order things that are versions of something that you would like.
(5)
George R.
I have returned twice now, and I think that the sandwiches are probably a more worthwhile, creative, and tasty venture than the bowls. The philly cheesesteak sandwich was very good. The bowls (soul, bangkok, moroccan) are also very good, but are less flavorful and taste healthier. They probably are healthier too if that's what you're going for. The soul bowl with the vegan cornbread was pretty cool though. The chocolate peanut butter pie dessert was also very very good. Very happy to have this place in Hyde Park.
(4)
Paige E.
YUM! My favorite chain restaurant in Chicago. And it's within walking distance of my apartment, even when it's snowing out, which is amazing. Such great food. Consistent among other Native Foods I've been to (and I've been to quite a few) and the service is great too. The workers are always so nice, and they will substitute almost anything you want on your meal. I will say all my favorite food items at NF are the apps. The polenta bites, nachos, and "chicken" wings are by far my favorites. I'm honestly not a huge fan of their drinks, but then again, I pretty much only drink water or beer, so the flavors are just not that great to me. I know a lot of people love them though and there are some that are better than others (the lavender lemonade is actually quite good but the watermelon fresca just tastes like infused water to me). Great location, too. If you're staying at the hotel nearby or live around the area, it's a great spot to grab a bite. Prices are good too, because it fills that gap between the $7-8 entrees of Chipotle and the $15+ entrees of most sit-down restaurants in HP (Chant, Pizza Capri, etc). Plus, now that Red Mango is right next to it, and there's a Kilwins across the street, there are some great places to grab dessert afterward if vegan cupcakes aren't your thing.
(5)
Aimee R.
This location forgets something in the carryout often. They seem to be working on remembering the dessert or drink, which they used to forget, and they're good about substituting or offering a refund, but I'm tired of being the bad guy and having to call about something every 3 out of 4 times. This time main ingredients were missing. Ordered bacon cheeseburger burrito and they ran out of bacon but 'couldn't tell me because I ordered online,' but they could have called and I could have changed the order. Instead the procedure is subbing with avocado?? Have you heard Jim Gaffigan's stand up about bacon. You would understand - there is no substitution for bacon. The bacon isn't that good anyway because it isn't real, but it adds some well-needed flavor. For the side, I ordered tortilla soup which came without tortillas (they forgot to put them on the side - some come inside too, but you can't tell - tastes like a cup of spicy warmed salsa). So bacon cheeseburger - NO bacon ?? and tortilla soup - NO tortilla strips ?? The chee'z'e and chee'z'eburger (which was more like the pseudo-lunchmeat used on everything else really leave something to be desired so the bacon is not optional. For the bacon cheeseburger burrito it would be better to use something like the consistency of their taco meat. They did refund it which was generous, but with a simple phone call I would have ordered something else. Portabella sausage burger is good. Some bowls are good. Drinks are unique and very tasty. It's hit or miss at Native Foods.
(3)
Angela Z.
Surprisingly good, especially since I'm not really into vegan food. I had the cheesesteak, and the portion was perfect combined with the given side of fries. It was juicy and very filling. The drinks, especially the lemonade, were great. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants good food and is okay with skipping meat for a meal.
(4)
Serita D.
My first time dinning in Hyde pk..todays special was the Oklahoma cheese burger was better than i expected for a vegetarian burger with bacon & sweet potato fries was simply amazing.. I enjoyed the lavender lemonade. Also the staff was great even tho it was self serve they still came around to see if everything is ok..
(4)
Mel K.
It's a like a stampede of vegans! I've been to this specific location three times and each experience has been wildly different. The first time, I noticed a man who appeared to be a general manager welcoming customers and facilitating seating and it was great. I particularly enjoyed my tortilla soup special and the side salad. The next time I came, I ordered the Moroccan bowl and after a really long wait, the vegetables came out completely burnt. I told an employee who appeared to be a different manager and he didn't even apologize. He just took the bowl and didn't say a word. I sat at a table unsure what was happening. Should I wait for another dish? Am I supposed to get a refund? The next bowl came out and it was almost as bad. I understand that when you grill vegetables, they get tinges of black, but these were almost completely black and it really made it taste bad. The third (and hopefully last) time I came, I had ordered about 20 min. beforehand for pick up. I showed up and said I was there for pick up. They asked for a name and checked, but it wasn't ready yet. I waited. And waited. I waited almost 40 minutes. Then a guy was like, "Oh, what was the name again?" And he checked and what do you know, it was sitting there the whole time. Great...
(2)
Hanzhe Z.
Came in thinking of getting some meat. Ended with a pleasant surprise.
(5)
Michelle T.
dude. I don't even miss the meat when I eat here. This place is stupidly good for a vegan place. My advice is to avoid the meat-substitute items. Just stick to veggies and tofu. I had a not so great experience with the sesame kale macro bowl but loved the bangkok curry. I hear good things about the nachos (meh for me) and I personally love the seasoned fries (but who doesn't love deep fried stuff). I always call in my order and pick up less than 10 minutes later. Super speedy service for pickup but I do see people waiting a while in the regular line. Reasonable prices too.
(4)
Cerene P.
Love it! Recently I've really been into Tofu tacos, well my friend told me that Native has amazing Vegan tacos. I stopped by recently one day after work. I really can't stand having to pay for meter parking just to run in to get a quick meal, so irritating. However, I heard good things and just went ahead and sacrificed a buck to get some grub. The service was extremely quick and the staff very friendly. The toppings on my tacos were fresh and delicious, however the tempeh seemed almost burnt. I ate the first taco, but the 2nd I took the tempeh out and had a veggie taco. It was suppose to be blackened so I'm not sure if this is how it was suppose to taste. Anyway, I will definitely visit again and try something different.
(4)
A M S.
This was the best lunch I have had in some time. I enjoyed the nachos. They were delicious and not salty. The Soul Bowl was great but I loved...Yes loved the Chicken. The one thing they could have politely came back to get was the cornbread. It takes an acquired taste bud for that :-(. Liked the Watermelon Fresca but it was too sweet for me. I mixed it with the Lavender Lemonade which made it better. Can't wait to go back but I would prefer to learn how to cook this good.
I will first comment on how great the customer service was on my first visit. My mother and I were greeted at the door by the manager, who was very nice. Once we approached the counter, we were greeted again by the cashier who was equally as nice and very helpful. Since it was our first time, she gave us recommendations on what was popular, what she liked, what she didn't like, etc. Overall, really helpful and patient. Once we ordered, we sat down and in about 10 minutes the food came to our table. I ordered the portabella mushroom and sausage burger, which was really good. My mother got some kind of bowl, which she enjoyed as well. The excellent customer service continued as several waiters came to the table to make sure we had everything we needed. OH, and you must try the lavender lemonade. Quite refreshing. I have gone back another time since my first time, and the service and food was just as good. I'll definitely be making more trips back.
(4)
Carmilla K.
So I've been coming to native foods since they opened their first one on Belmont. Each location has it's pluses and minuses. The pluses at this location. Pretty easy parking in Harper court most times :D outdoor seating, and vegan food anywhere is a plus! The minuses at this location, the kitchen is confused and so are the staff if you make any changes to your food. The kitchen in particular seem not to know what amount of different protein to give you when you want to sub out tofu or tempeh instead of seitan (gluten) so they give you a tiny dot of it lol. The service is kinda blah, everyone looks as if they don't know why they are here... Kinda like (((0.0))) To me, the Milwaukee location is still the best (even over the original one).maybe I'm just expecting too much as a long time customer here. The original chef isn't chefing at any native foods anymore or creating the menus, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised!
(3)
Sofia V.
Everytime we drove to the Loop location (20 minutes away) my husband and would always wish and hope the would open a location in Hyde Park...well aren't we special! When they finally opened up and my husband brought the carry out, he was a giddy as could be, talking about never being this excited about a restaurant in his life. We are vegetarians and maybe we are biased but I challenge any meat eater not to leave Native Foods loving the item they had and looking forward to trying something new on the menu next time. By far the best: Native Chicken Wings (served with ranch and buffalo sauce). If you love to eat healthy and earthy, you will love one of their many salads. It's delicious, it's healthy, tons of choices and the staff is very excited to have you there.
(5)
Parris J.
Oh my was my head blown from the Native Nachos! These were probably the best nachos I've had in my entire life. For Vegan food this is pretty damn good. Native Nachos come with Homemade corn tortilla chips covered in black beans, Native Taco Meat, Native Chipotle Crema, Native Cheese, salsa fresca, and guacamole. Topped with corn, green onions, cilantro and jalapenos. $7.95. Great food and staff; well worth it! I will be back very soon since I work in the area.
(5)
Courtney C.
I have a friend who absolutely loves Native Foods. I haven't been all that impressed, but just to appease her we went to Native. I got the Chicken Run Ranch Burger (CRRB), which I've ordered from Native before. I requested no ranch and no onion. The young woman at the counter asked, "How you gon order Chicken Run Ranch Burger with no ranch?" Rather than curse her out, I just stayed quiet. My friend and I sat outside to enjoy the (rare) nice weather in Chicago. Our food came relatively quick. The last time I had the CRRB (at another Native location in Chicago) it was served lukewarm. Unfortunately it was the same at this location. I didn't want to be a pest and ask for them to warm it up more;so I ate it. Halfway through eating this burger I realized it kinda reminded me of Chick-Fil-A. I haven't eaten meat in almost 2 years and it was nice to (semi) taste something I was used to having on a pretty regular basis. I'll be back, but it will be sparingly. I'm not exactly a fan of paying $10 for a burger...and close to $3.00 for fries. I also wish their fries were crispier. I guess I'll have to order the burger to go and enjoy fries I cook at home. Service was great as far as wait staff goes. We were asked about refills and if our food was good. I hope this location keeps up the relatively good work.
(4)
Ian L.
The peanut butter parfait was excellent, rich and creamy,
(4)
Shavon W.
Delicious! The nachos was outstanding and the vegan chicken avocado sandwich was to die for! #Yummy:)
(5)
Brenda Lee J.
What the wha??? Who ever expects a non-vegan/non-vegetarian, meat-eating consumer to walk into a vegan restaurant and walk out shortly thereafter thoughtfully considering how to incorporate parts of a vegan lifestyle into their world? Well, I certainly never expected to. I'm a bacon-loving, cheese worshiping, egg-eater---to name a few---and vegan food is for, well vegans. Not so, my friend. After hearing a few colleagues rave about the food they've eaten there, I took a gander and ordered online for pickup. Super easy to do, with the option to trim-out or trim-off any of the ingredients by a simple click. First order? The nachos. A large, generously topped concoction of flavors that I have yet to determine their origin. The chips were crispy, the ingredients perfectly blended so that every one of them came together perfectly. And the presentation was good, for a to-go box. Granted the place is literally steps from my office door, but I expect that this place will be able to captivate my attention for many more times to come. Be sure to request a loyalty card, as I received a refreshingly free lavender lemonade to wash everything down. Then register your account online. You'll be offered a free dessert on your next visit if you answer a few innocuous questions. In summary: I wonder what else they have up their sleeve. I'll be back, NFC...I'll certainly be back!
(5)
Tavi J.
Native Foods is a great option for Vegetarians and meat eaters. I'm a meat eater, but I enjoy the selection of food and what I like to call the "pretend" meat. LOL. I went to the location in Hyde Park this Saturday and I loved that they have outdoor seating. For my meal I ordered the bacon cheesebuger with a side of seasoned native fries. The flavors of the burger are delicious. I wasn't expecting it to taste like a normal bacon cheeseburger you would get from Wendy's and since I never go with that expectation it's really good. The fried pickles on the sandwich is the cherry on top. There fries are also really good and well seasoned. This time I pass on the sweet potato fries, but they are also good. One thing I am not a fan of is the dessert. Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. I'm not getting fooled anymore. LOL The desserts look really pretty and you would think they would be tasty, but they are not. I can't even describe what the cupcake was suppose to be that I tasted, but it was not edible. I'm a just stick with the food here.
(4)
Vishwa N.
Healthy organic vegetarian meat like options. For the health and fitness conscious person in you or a day when you're feeling particularly adventurous. Highly recommend.
(4)
Kay R.
This place wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. I've had much better vegetarian/vegan food. Chili was sour and under seasoned and would have been better without the "cheese" ball in the middle. The crispy buffalo "chicken" in the Twister wrap was good, but the wrap itself was underwhelming and impossible to eat, as it was open at both ends. The highlight of the meal was the seasoned french fries, but you could get those at a lot of other places.
(3)
Shirley H.
I don't eat at many vegan places, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out that I'm not much of a fan of Native Foods. I ordered the Ancho BBQ Brisket Sandwich and a side of Seasoned Fries. I'm not too fond of the sandwich - "Sweet caramelized onions, cooling mint and lime Mojito slaw." I did taste a lot of the slaw, but not much of the sweet caramelized onions nor the flavor of the bbq brisket. I don't know how to feel about the fries. The seasoning was interesting, which was good. I love soggy fries, if the fries are made to be soggy. These fries felt like and tasted as if they were supposed to be crispy fries that were disappointingly soggy cause they got cold. The food is also a bit overpriced, in my opinion. It was about $11 for a sandwich (a pretty tiny one) and a side of fries.
(3)
Pam D.
Being a vegetarian this place is right up my alley. The first time I came here, I wanted something small so I got the nachos. They were not small but could have used more toppings. My friend got the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and it looked good.... The second time, and third, I got the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and it is good! My boyfriend got the portobello sausage sandwich with split pea soup. He really lime the soup. The third time I'll finish telling you about after I eat!
(5)
Kimberlie T.
Oh yeaaaahhh baby! HP just got a Native Foods and we couldn't be happier about it. Great healthy alternative that's quick and nice on the wallet. I suggest the Kale Jerk Salad and sweet potato fries. They are delicious! For those of us that eat "sticks" for our meals, you'll love Native Foods!
(5)
Symone W.
Love all of the options for meat alternatives on their menu. This place is damn good if my sister is convinced that their chicken fingers are indeed real chicken lol. I had the chili, lemon dill potato salad and lavender lemonade. I loved the chili with a dollop of Native Cheese that gave it that added creaminess like sour cream does. The potato salad could have used a bit of salt, but otherwise was super yummy as well. Standout by far was the lavender lemonade. Not too fragrant, so sweet and you get free refills. Plus if you don't want the lemonade you can try some of there other offerings because drinks are self-serve. Signing up for their rewards card gets you a free drink! How could I almost forget about the cornbread. OMG. So moist and cakey. I love sweet cornbread and I would order this just because it was that damn good.
(4)
Maria Z.
The most excellent customer service I have ever experienced & food was great!! Wait staff was wonderful and the people who were waiting in long line for service they gave them complimentary drinks for having to wait. Some 5 star restaurant could learn something from them!
(5)
LePra G.
Stopped by Native Foods the other day for a light lunch. I heard about the other locations and read the great reviews, so I was expecting a great experience and was not disappointed. My girlfriend had the soup (some kind of lentil or something) and I had the chili. The served the soup with some type of crispy bread and the chili was partnered with some delicious cornbread. The chili was hearty and full of flavor. If I didn't know it, I would have assumed it contained some type of meat. I tasted my girlfriend's soup and it was also full of flavor. With this being our first visit, we signed up for their loyalty rewards card and received a free beverage and a free dessert (during our next visit). The staff was overly friendly (which I love) and very knowledgeable about the menu options. They brought the food directly to our table and offered to bring any extra items we might need. And when it was time for us to leave, they even brought over some to-go containers. I am not a vegetarian and definitely not vegan, but I love Native Foods. I will certainly return again!
(4)
Nick D.
People in our large group brought in froyo from the neighboring place and they kicked them out so they wouldn't "offend" vegans. I think vegans know that people eat yogurt, but you did manage to piss us all off.
(1)
Maria H.
Excellent customer service! awesome food
(5)
Jasmine D.
I love Native Foods, but this location's service needs a lot of improvement. Took a full 20 min to order, even though I was the only one in line. (Customers in front of me didn't know what they wanted, so the cashier just stood there and waited and looked at me, though I was clearly ready to order.) Then, they almost gave my order away to someone else. To top it off, didn't give me any silverware or napkins with my ToGo order. I usually really like the food here, but I suppose the dish I picked (Bangkok curry bowl) was blander than I remember? Also, while waiting for my food, heard a customer go up to complain about messing up their order. Sketchy... Regardless, it's located in a nice area and even has a little outdoor patio. Street parking is available, but may be tough, especially during peak hours. This location this time gets 2.5 stars. I'll try again, and hopefully the next time around is much better.
(3)
Jay W.
I get the whole vegan thing, but you're not killing animals by adding some spice. The food is creative but horribly bland. I had the soul bowl, supposedly the spicy, hot BBQ dish. I wanted to douse it with hot sauce. Even the infused lemonades need more pizazz.
(3)
Kari T.
I really love the food but the service was so horrible. I walked into the restaurant and got bum rushed by some manager looking man on this location and he didn't apologize. I ordered my food for pick up and stood at the pick up counter for twenty minutes then got asked if I was waiting for something...uh yeah! My food was sitting at the counter all that time and was cold and mushy when I got it, I was really excited about this location but I think I'd rather travel to the Clark location more than this one but I'll give it another shot.
(2)
Talib M.
Except for the new location that just opened on Clinton, I have been to every Native Foods in the Chicago area almost since the day they opened. I have had almost everything on the menu and to be perfectly honest, I don't know where to begin. Having been to several vegan restaurants in Chicago over the past 23 years, Native Foods has proven to be consistent and one of the BEST! The food is tasty, yet not salty. Fresh, but not undercooked or under-prepared. And the cooked food is not over-prepared. I have read some of the reviews and having reloaded my 200 points on several occasions and not being too anal about things being absolutely perfect for me to have a fabulous experience, I must say that I have NEVER had a bad experience in Native Foods. The service is always top notch and the food has never let me down. I have had Earth bowls, salads, most of the sandwiches and most of the sides and the homemade sauces to no disappointment. Even the desserts, which often call my name, are undeniably delicious. That oatmeal creme cookie is............(no words). To top things off, the homemade lemonade and hibiscus tea and blueberry tea and watermelon fresca are AWESOME! Unlimited refills of this GOOD STUFF. Somebody is being taken advantage of...and it ain't me. Can be a bit pricey, but the helpings are plentiful. Let's get specific, the Oklahoma Burger is probably my favorite, followed closely by the Scorpion burger, Chicken Run Ranch, Twister Wraps.....okay, yes it's difficult for me to choose each time I enter. So, I just bring my son and have him order what I don't and share. The bowls are fantastic but there are a few more that I'd like to try. The salads are fantastic and the accompanying sauces are perfect. My favorite is the Jerk Kale salad and it's chipolte side kick. I always order extra sauces and bring them home to top off something later. The fact that they don't charge for the extra sauces helps to make the cost of the sandwich or salad almost worth it. And to the cat that said that "you treat the black people better than the white people". Wow, that must mean your service is OFF THE CHAIN & everybody gets served well, even those that typically get blown off in other facilities. Though this review is for the Hyde Park location because it is closer to the area I frequent, it applies equally to ALL of the locations I've visited(Belmont, Milwaukee and Clark...soon to be Clinton).
(5)
Jen A.
3 stars because there appears to be a breakdown in the online and phone in order/pickup process. I wasn't the only advance order patron waiting for the cashier while she chit chat with the regulars (I get it, they are regulars). The lady in front of me murmured things like never again, this is unbelievable, ridiculous, I already paid and they are making me wait in this line? I give 5 stars for the food, but the long wait to pick up advance orders drops them down. Be sure to check your order for accuracy and utensils before you leave. All that said, I will try again before I write this location off. Hopefully it improves!
(3)
JL J.
Hyde Park, get ready to welcome Native Foods Cafe. Their new store is located in Harper Court at 1518 Harper Court right behind the Hyatt Place Chicago-South/University Medical Center. They open to the public on March 11, 2014. If someone asked us where to enjoy vegan versions of all their favorite comfort foods, we'd send them to Native Foods Cafe. From Reuben sandwiches to burgers and decadent desserts, these dishes hit the spot. Native Foods Cafe is known to Vegan people. The food is made fresh daily--from homemade tempeh and seitan, to Native Cheese, to sauces and drinks, dressings and desserts too. The entire menu is 100% plant-based. Overwhelmed by the enormous options at the private tasting, we opted to start off with the Native Nachos, which is homemade corn tortilla chips covered in black beans, Native Taco Meat, Native Chipotle Crema, Native Cheese, salsa fresca, and guacamole. Topped with corn, green onions, cilantro and jalapeños. It was divine! For our entree, we delved into the Chicken Run Ranch Burger, which was crispy battered Native Chicken, ranch dressing, romaine, carrots and onions. It was finger licking good. Of course, the burger was complimented with the Native Fries, which are thinly cut fries. We would normally pass on desert but the Double Delight Brownie was starring us down so we gave in. It was worth every calorie! The food was amazing, the staff was great and the atmosphere was comfortable. All vegan, all the time. Not a single thing we've had at Native Foods Cafe has been less than exceptional. Welcome to Hyde Park Native Foods Cafe! Cheers, Jordan & Marks
(5)
Rachel C.
This is one of my fave locations, have visited in most cities including original in Palm Springs. Staff here are always friendly and accommodating for my extra lemon-garlic sauce requests. Best ever topping on the grilled tempeh..so good!
(5)
Keeshawna B.
What a great addition to Hyde Park! The food is delicious and the service is effortlessly kind and thorough. The menu selections are vast and the food is always fresh. I can't wait for Native Foods to expand to more locations in Chicago.
(4)
Frank S.
Absolutely delicious fast, casual vegan food.
(5)
E W.
My favorite restaurant in the new Harper Court, and HP in general. Excellent food! Totally vegan, and even my carnivorous partner enjoys it. Attentive, friendly service. And they serve beer! It's a touch pricy, but worth every penny. One star off for the cramped line and seating arrangements, but I do not feel that it's a deal breaker.
(4)
Alice A.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere here and our server was very charismatic. The food is very fresh and the menu offers many diverse options. Eating here makes you feel like a healthy person, even if you're not, so it's great for your self esteem!
(5)
Camesha J.
I am a regular at this restaurant and the service is always good. I do wish the food was cheaper, but all in all it's a great restaurant.
(4)
Trish G.
A delicious, healthy food restaurant located in the middle of Hyde Park! Friendly staff, coupled with a lovely variety of drinks, food, and desserts, and a colorful yet rustic atmosphere make for an amazing experience!
(5)
Leon G.
I am a carnivore. Nom nom nom. I ventured into this place thinking it was just quickserve organic. While perusing the menu I started to notice evil words like seitan, tofu and tempeh. Well, I aint no wuss so I decide to tough it out. Ill just grab a salad. But Nooooooo! The lovely cashier talks me into a"meatball" sub. With friggin fake cheese! Well, friggin Sam-I-Am, I tried it sitting in my seat, I liked it...loved it, 'tho there's no meat! Seriously, it was realllllly good. I cant wait to go back and fool my tastebuds again.
I LOVE this place! I'm no vegetarian/vegan, but you don't have to be to enjoy this yummy food. Everything is prepared with such care, and it's soooo flavorful! The nachos are so good; the first time I've had nachos that were so loaded that we ran out of chips to scoop up the goodness. The meatball sub is delicious, the chicken actually tastes like chicken (with a killer ranch), and my favorite is the portabella and mushroom burger. Yum! You must have the chipotle sauce with the fries, it's so good you'll swear it's real mayo. The staff is so friendly and kind. I love patronizing this restaurant!
(5)
Sara R.
Native Foods is delicious! Get the reuben with sweet potato fries and don't forget the chipotle sauce! The service was quick, kind and courteous. This was an amazing addition to 53rd street.
(5)
Aqua M.
Iam not a vegan/Vegetarian... but this place seriously has the best food. The satf are very welcoming and explain the entire menu to you. They also have the best homemade chai on the planet. everything here is fantastic. Do your taste buds a fLavor and order some nachos. amazing.
(5)
Summer F.
Amazing! I've liked everything I've gotten there--sweet potato fries, portobello burger, bombastic wrap, scorpion burger, nachos...peanut butter parfait...even if you aren't wild about pretend meat you'll find something. very hippie vibe as you'd predict, which I love--like a vegan Chipotle. good for a chill dinner or lunch.
(5)
Terika K.
The first time I experience Native Foods Cafe was in Newport Beach, California and this location does not disappoint. You can't go wrong with the Native Nachos.
(5)
Marley D.
Awesome staff, so friendly and fresh food. Lavender lemonade and Caribbean salad were great. Really fast with getting food out which is a miracle for hyde park. Check it out !
(5)
Fifi A.
the food tasted good and filing i had the nachos the service was on point and the lavender lemonade was sweet good
(5)
Jennifer B.
BEST FOOD I EVER ATE!!!! Seriously. Affordable. Vegan. Flavorful. Fresh, crisp veggies. What more can a person ask for? Enjoy. Fantastic. Would be lovely if they'd open another one in Hyde Park on 57th street!
(5)
Greg G.
Great food, decor and service. Homerun for Hyde Park.
(5)
X O.
Yummy and unique ... definitely want to return and try more dishes. Took friends there and we all tried different dishes and shared bites from each others' plates. I really enjoyed the mushroom & "sausage" burger and even liked the lavender lemonade (not normally a fan of floral essence foods or beverages). The staff was really nice and helpful explaining what was in different food items. I only had frustration with the GPS through the Yelp app, as the location is in a court yard surrounding the Hyatt Place Hotel and easy to miss, but the GPS was trying to send us in a totally different side of Hyde Park.
(4)
Marc C.
Too strange for me. The chicken flavored Tofu was pretty good, but the rest of the meal did not seem like food. The restaurant is clean and friendly.
(2)
Joanne B.
Awesome!!! I love this place. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. I think even meat eaters can enjoy this.
(5)
Lucas C.
You wouldn't think that native foods chicken would be better than actual chicken but me and several of my friends all agree that it is. Their salads and their fresh drinks and teas are fantastic. I would highly recommend even die hard carnivores to give this place a shot.
(5)
Bridgette A.
Native foods has some of the tastiest, most inventive vegetarian fare in the area. Thanks for coming to Hyde park and giving us more restaurant options.
(5)
Adrienne P.
Sadly, I keep having not-so-great experiences at this Native Foods Cafe. After being exposed to the Native Foods in Wicker Park, I was excited to try out the Hyde Park location - closer to my home. Both times I've gone here, I've taken my food to-go. The first time, when I got home to check my meal (the gyro bowl), it was missing the pita bread from its description. I've been to Greece; and, I can't recall ever having a gyro without pita bread. Disappointing. Then, the second time (yesterday) I was looking forward to redeeming either the free dessert for completing a Native Foods survey or redeeming my $10 credit around my birthday (it was last Friday). I pulled up the email Native Foods Cafe sent me explaining these perks, but the cashier couldn't find anything in their "system." When she checked with her manager, I could see him across the room waving "no" to her. I decided not to grapple over the measly perks, paid my food, and moved aside. When I spoke with the manager about the situation and showed him the email (which he confirmed came from Native Foods), he gave the same super lame excuse that the "system" doesn't indicate anything. After reminding him that I was looking forward to patronizing Native Foods Cafe when it moved to Hyde Park (I mean, I just got off the phone with a friend in Brooklyn telling her I couldn't wait to take her there when she came to visit Chicago) and reminding him that they're new to the neighborhood, he then told me Native Foods has 23 locations. I mean, come on; what a ridiculous thing to say. Essentially, "my company is so big that I don't have to worry about your personal experience." Insulting. Sadly, these experiences with Native Foods Cafe in Hyde Park is making me believe they're vegans who care more about animals than humans, and that's not a good thing. I will not be patronizing them again due to these multiple negative experiences.
(1)
Lauren K.
I'm so glad this place came to Hyde Park! I had the chicken ranch sandwich - tastes and looks just like a giant chicken mcnugget (in a good way) and it comes with the delicious ranch sauce and all the trimmings on a soft, toasted bun. I also had the potato salad and the refreshing lavender lemonade - both excellent. I will be back.
(5)
William F.
This ls an Oasis for Vegans. Im not a vegan but this place has some real delicious stuff. I was surprised when i tasted their imitation meats. They actually taste like real meat. Overall you cant go wrong with this place no matter you a vegan or a carnivore.
(5)
Margaret i.
Love love love! I just wish they would put one of these in Grand Rapids Michigan though. Great customer service. So glad they finally brought Native Foods to the south side. Hyde Park is finally on the come up!
(5)
June H.
I was skeptical at first because I've had not great experiences with vegan food, but I was completely blown away. I ordered the sweet potato fries, the Italian meatball sub, and the watermelon fresca. The fries were perfectly seasoned, the sub was really filling and flavorful and I could barely tell that it wasn't actually meat, and the watermelon fresca was delicious - I kept going back for (free!) refills. The service was great - very attentive, checked in on us often - and the food was brought out very quickly. Will definitely be going back!
(5)
Nick G.
I've been here twice and I'm loving everything I've eaten. My first visit here just blew me away. The Reuben was fantastic.. possibly the best Reuben I've ever had. The lavender lemonade is amazing; my two favorite things combined.. I was in heaven. However, my second visit wasn't so likable. The food was great, but the service was not. The man taking the woman's order in front of us (we were second in line) proceeded to explain everything to the girl for what seemed like nearly 10 minutes. There was hardly a line when we got there and by the time we finally got to order, it was back to the door. She took THAT long. C'mon, staff. The second and major issue I had that day was the favoritism amongst the African American customers. While eating my dinner, I noticed that only the tables with African Americans were receiving drink refills by the staff.. and they were also being given to-go cups. Where's my to-go cup? I would have loved to walk out with some of that lavender lemonade. I watched the two or three staff members do this the entire time I ate my dinner. Not a single Caucasian table was attended to until they had left. It made for an undesirable experience and I felt unwelcome.
(3)
Yohance T.
The staff here is super nice very friendly and helpful. I have been here twice since it opened . The first time I visited I lad the Sunday Special the Chicken Run Ranch Burger I was with family and everyone enjoyed themselves and really enjoyed the food. Even my family member who is a carnivore ate every bite of her food and noted how it tasted just like real meat. I tried the Lavender Lemonade & Watermelon Fresca . . I liked the Lemonade a lot better than the Watermelon Fresca. My sister got a free desert Zucchini Date Cake which we al shared that was alright. The second time I went I got the Native Chicken Wings which came with Ranch Dressing and Buffalo Sauce . I really like the Chicken Wings they tasted just like chicken and unlike real chicken wings at least I did not have to worry about eating mostly bone and very little meat. I also got the Native Fries as well and those were quite good as well. The first time I visited the cashier gave all of us one of the loyalty cards they offer. Because of that I was entitled to a free dessert and so when I went the second time I got the Oatmeal Creme Pie and let me tell you it was so good. I like it much better than the Zucchini Cake. Even though I am not a Vegan I still enjoyed the food it tasted just like the real thing. I think Carnivores ,Vegetarians and Vegans will all enjoy the food here. I would definitely go back again ang cannot wait to try the other items on the menu.
(5)
Chris E.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I am so glad it is toward the north side of Hyde Park so I can go there as often as I want. The service is awesome and the rewards system is pretty nice too. I have brought friends here and had to convince them that it is indeed possible to have such great food that is vegan. The reuben is awesome and the avocado crunch wrap is also pretty good. I normally don't like sweet potato fries but these are mind-blowing and cooked to perfection. But by far the best thing on the main menu is their native chicken. If you order ANYTHING with native chicken in it you will be extremely pleased. I can't describe how awesome it is. Also, if you want dessert try the oatmeal creme pie. It is obviously LOADED with sugar but the cookies they use are so good! I usually eat half and save the other half for breakfast with a cup of coffee. Even if you don't like vegan food, check it out. Everyone can find something here that they will like.
(5)
Aubrey C.
Fantastic first visit! We had this one on our list of "must eat at" while in Chicago... It did not disappoint. Very friendly staff & so nice to know I could eat anything on the menu & not have to worry about secret animal ingredients! The food was delicious!!! Two in our party were meat eaters & they raved about the "chicken." So wish there was a way to get one of these in Indy.
(5)
Sharon H.
Sorry native foods, but an avocado in a bun is not considered to be a sandwich. Where is the dressing and the seasoning?! If I wanted an avocado in plain bread, I would have spent 3 bucks at the grocery store and made it myself. I was sorely disappointed by the food here. We also ordered the buffalo wrap and it was honestly to God just fried chicken breast smothered in this super unnatural looking red buffalo sauce. It was some of the grossest and unappetizing food I have had in Hyde Park. We were better off just going to the chipotle that was next door to native foods and buying four burritos for the price that we paid for the sandwich and wrap. Sorry native foods but never again.
(2)
Dara L.
Delicious vegan options that wow even the non-vegans! We ordered a sampling of various dishes - the chicken "wings," soul bowl, and Reuben. The flavor was great and the ingredients were fresh. I really enjoyed the Reuben - I have no idea how they make this meat but it was great. The soul bowl had fresh vegetables and kale and came with a orange sauce that I drizzled on top. Don't let the name of the soul bowl trick you, it didn't have a whole lot of soul, and was the blandest thing we ordered. However, the ingredients were fresh. The chicken "wings" looked like skinny tenders and were different in texture (of course), but didn't leave anything to be desired if you're looking for chicken at a vegan spot.
(4)
Dianne C.
The nicest people work here! Super healthy! Food tastes amazingly delicious and drinks are refreshing!
(5)
Crystal T.
Not pricey by New York standards (where I'm from), but definitely pricey for Chicago - and I'm all for sustainability and veganism, and the Azteca salad I got was tasty, but it was worth maybe about half the price.
(3)
Melissa C.
Um no. My coworker is a vegan and hyped this place up like it was something amazing. So I went. Thinking hey why not just give this place a chance. I'm no vegan. Not even a vegetarian. You can tell by my yelp pics. I had the Moroccan "chicken" bowl. Never again. What was that stuff? Seitan? Fake chicken. Not even close to real chicken. It had a custard like texture and a charred taste to it. The veggies tastes as though they actually came off of a grill. It came with this orange colored sauce on the side which was good. I guess I could have just drowned my food in that but I didn't. What did stand out was the blueberry lavender lemonade. I'll be back for that for sure. It was so good and refreshing. Seating is abundant. Staff is nice. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. I guess as a meat eater I just can't get with this. I'll be happy if I never have "wheat meat" again in my life.
(2)
Janelle H.
I enjoyed my first experience here. I didn't know what to expect but needless to say I got more than I expected! The cashier was very helpful in directing my order. I got a menu item favorite and I'm so glad I did. It was very delicious and flavorful. Writing this review makes me want to go back now actually... Anywho, I highly recommend stopping by whether you're vegan or not!
(4)
Kim T.
First time here and my dish was great. I had the taco salad. The taco meat protein tasted almost and I mean almost like taco seasoned ground beef. And I didn't get that stuffed feeling after I ate the meal.
(4)
Myia S.
Tried vegan food for the first time (I'm not a vegetarian or vegan). It wasn't the worst experience. For ppl who are first time tofu eaters beware the tofu bacon doesn't taste like bacon nor does the chicken taste like real chicken. Honestly I wasn't aware that this restaurant was a no meat or animal product restaurant until I start ordering I thought they would at least have chicken... But all in all it was ok at least they had fries that were nice and crispy with seasoning. I had the Crispy Chicken, Bacon & Avo Club and my boyfriend had the Classic Chicken Run Ranch Burger. My boy friend was very unsatisfied, he felt like he was robbed. The food is a bit over priced it really wasn't worth the money. I had a blueberry lavender lemonade with our food the total was almost $30 and the food was not filling. I would not go back here it's over rated everything that's supposed to be healthy is over priced. However, the blueberry lavender lemonade was the best thing they had there it was amazing if I were to go back that would be the only thing I order!
(3)
Mary Y.
I'm not a vegan-fan but this place was really interesting. Came here with my whole family (4 kids + baby) and managed to all pick one different entree. My nieces ordered the gluten free mac n cheese (made with quinoa pasta) and cheesy quesadilla (with wheat tortilla). The kids couldn't tell a difference! The sweet potato fries were light and crispy. I ordered an oklahoma cheeseburger made with seitan. I would have to say - it was mighty tasty considering there was no real ''meat'' inside. The watermelon fresca is to die for. It's a perfect drink on a hot summer day in Chicago. Plus free refills!! It's sweetened with Organic Agave. I love any place that focuses on organic and healthy foods. Will be back again when I visit Chicago.
(4)
Austin Y.
Definitely will not be returning. On my one visit with a small group, we had to wait ~20 minutes to even place our order, the system is very inefficient. I chose the "bacon cheeseburger" - ok, I admit it, my mistake for not ordering well. But they messed up one of my friends' orders, and the rest of us waited another 10 minutes for them to correct it, as our food slowly got cold. The burger was pretty terrible and completely lacking in flavor. The seitan was just texture, zero flavor, there was only a tiny squirt of BBQ/ranch, and the pickle chips were soggy and tasteless. The caramelized onions in the burger were the best part of this meal, though I guess that isn't saying a lot.
(1)
Janeen W.
Not a vegan or vegetarian by any means but Native Foods is delicious!!!! I love the chicken run sandwich I get extra chipotle mayo!! Yummmers!!!! The native fries are so damn good!!! Their key lime pie is a seasonal item it's perfect!! The lavender lemonade is great too!!
(5)
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Address :1518 East Harper Court
Chicago, IL, 60615
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Keerthana K.
My new favorite addition to Hyde Park. Way more exciting than the Chipotle. All the food is delicious and a vegetarian's dream. Portobello and sausage burger, meatball sub, all the bowls, and pretty much everything. The lavender lemonade is especially delicious. The sweet potato fries are also a good option. The staff is mostly nice, though sometimes some of the staff members seem a little less than friendly. I will acknowledge that aside from the salads nothing is really healthier than the meat dishes they are replacing, though in my opinion they are more ethically sound choices. Update: So annoying, they get rid of their specials during summer and raise their prices.
(4)Hannah C.
I try so hard to like this food every time I bring a vegan friend here. But I'm always stuck with the impression the good just isn't that tasty. Take the chili, which is fine, but comes with a cornbread that features a weird aftertaste. Or the bacon cheeseburger, which appears to have no patty and is in desperate need of sauce (mine also did not come with fried pickles, much to my dismay). I will say the desserts looked awesome and the oatmeal cream pie was pretty good - as long as you didn't let it get warm (including by holding it in your hand).
(3)Cindy W.
Wonderful! I went for their soft opening an the service and food were both impeccable. We got the nachos, Saigon roll, and chicken buffalo wings or starters. The Saigon roll was so delicious and the peanut dip was beyond amazing. I would order that again. I also recommend the peanut butter parfait and watermelon fresca! It's a great addition to 53rd street and the staff was overwhelmingly nice and friendly. My two guests were also impressed as very pleased by the food and service! It's also a lovely space. I can definitely see a lot more university students eating out here soon.
(5)Lisette D.
I ordered the Moroccan bowl which was delicious. Lots of flavor and texture, and very filling! I also loved the lavender lemonade, though it was a little light on the lavender side. We ended up waiting a very long time for our food, but the manager gave everyone at my table a free dessert because of the wait, which I felt was a nice way to handle it. It was very crowded in when we went in on a Saturday evening, but they had a host seating people even though I think they don't normally do that. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive too, despite the place being very busy. I took one star off because they are lacking in the non-fake-meat category. I'm omnivorous and love vegis and tofu, but seitan and tempeh both give me a stomach ache so I avoid them when I can. The options for tofu only left a handful of options, but I didn't ask if I could substitute tofu. Also, their carrot cake cupcake had great cake part, but the frosting was the blandest frosting I've ever eaten; no flavor and not sweet at all. I didn't try the chocolate cupcake, but my friend enjoyed it and didn't complain about the frosting. The peanut butter pudding dessert was fantastic. And the bite I had of the sticky toffee cake was underwhelming as well. Overall a great option, especially for vegan/vegetarian options, and friendly staff. I'll definitely go back and try something else.
(4)Mark M.
First time here. Wasn't sure what to expect. Service is good and very friendly. Food served quickly. Casual atmosphere. Very clean. Wish they'd open one up in Boston! Haven't tried desserts; just didn't strike me as sinful enough. If call this repeatable.
(4)G R.
I'm a fan with one little issue, they're slow, so if you're short on time go off hours if eating in, if ordering pick-up order online. Other than that the place is a great addition to the developing Hyde Park area. A friend of mine recommended that I try their Reuben, I guess it comes on the menu as a special every so often. It was good, however keep in mind that it's not real meat, but a substitute. I actually didn't miss the real meat, what I missed was the Russian dressing. My husband had the Gyro bowl, which he enjoyed. I think one of the things that makes them slow on the to go orders is that they label everything, while it's a nice touch it seems to take up some time.
(4)Aaron T.
great healthy alternative to most of what's available in the neighborhood. We really like alot of the salads and sandwiches, and a generous amount of food.
(5)Loretta P.
I had been trekking to Milwaukee Ave to partake of this delicious, fresh, vegan food when, one opened up in the loop. Then, here Native Foods Cafe comes to Hyde Park! Well, slap me and call me an anteaters auntie! NFC does it right--from the Chipotle Chop, Yo Soy Amigo Taco Salad, and Bangkok Curry Bowl to the Portobello Steak Burger. Service here is stellar, the ambiance is inviting, and the location rocks! I'm working my way through the menu, slowly but surely. All this creative, veggie-laden wonderfulness is right in my neck of the woods, and I couldn't be happier about it. Unless it was open until midnight..hint hint, wink wink!
(4)Rebecca S.
I was skeptical at first. Vegan? Meat posers? No, the alternate-to-meat doesn't exactly taste like real meat, but the differences are kind of subtle. I think it's all in the way the food is prepared--lots of flavors, and they complement each other pretty well. All the ingredients are fresh, and although the portion sizes don't look particularly huge, you will leave wanting to explode. My friend and I had to sit for a good ten minutes before leaving the restaurant. I always get a bowl--basically a salad with rice at the bottom. So tasty and there are a ton of different ways they're prepared--there will probably be something that suits your craving. The Bangkok Curry bowl is my favorite. Definitely get the Lavender Lemonade. It is so perfect and sweet, that you will likely get second and third rounds, so that in addition to your stomach exploding, your bladder will probably burst. Overall, I really like Native Foods! The service is very friendly and the food is very filling and tasty, despite being healthy "rabbit food."
(4)Andy Y.
Really great service, so I feel a little bad about the low number of stars. However, I really didn't enjoy neither of the two salads we got, and the only good drink out of the five was the lemonade. We got the Caribbean jerk kale and the aztec salad. The Aztec had an interesting taste -- but not exactly in the good way. Perhaps it was personal taste but I was just a bit thrown by the flavors. The Caribbean had what I think are tofu bits, but they just tasted burnt. The dressing was also pretty average
(3)Meag H.
Overall, I really enjoy Native Foods. However, today I was sorely disappointed. I ordered the twister wrap and fries. The fries were undercooked and the wrap was a soggy, horrible mess. Noticing my messy plate, a server came over and asked how my meal was. When I responded that it was soggy and really disappointing his consolation was "Well, if you do return, always ask for the dressing on the side". I appreciate his honesty, but I am disappointed overall. It will be a while before I return.
(3)Joseph M.
I'm not vegan but thought the food was surprisingly decent. I wasn't a fan of the dessert (peanut butter parfait) but that's a relatively small quibble. A bit pricey overall though.
(4)Chris M.
The food is pretty good. I think they try a little too hard to be "different." When it comes down to it, its really just fast food spot thats pricey. Everything made with fresh ingredients that definitely take the price up. But still, for what you get, service included, the price is way too high. Ordering takes too long and the restaurants set up makes it hard to move around. Also hard and awkward wait for carry out. Great place for vegetarian and vegans eaters, plenty of options.
(2)Dreena L.
Because I had a bad experience at the Wicker Park location I decided to go to the Hyde Park location on Thanksgiving. Right away the customer service was exceptional!!! It was out of this world. Everyone is the restaurant was so friendly and helpful. They also was personable. They didn't rush you and they held a conversation with you. The food of course was great but the customer service made this experience even better. Definite kudos to everyone there!!!
(5)Anne S.
I had lunch here yesterday and it was great. The service was fantastic, and you can tell they really care about their customers. I had the avocado crunch wrap, which is a limited time special. It came with seasoned sweet potato fries and both were really good. The wrap had coleslaw in it that was really outstanding. It was a tiny bit sweet and tangy, but mostly really fresh tasting. I would eat that as a side or as the main part in another wrap. We had native nachos as an appetizer and I was surprised by how good they are. Since I'm not a vegan, I don't normally go as far as to eat vegan cheese. These were pretty damn close to regular nachos. It was so nice to sit outside and people watch.
(5)Tony S.
Cheap veg food (done right) near campus? Yes please! Although I discovered them at their downtown location in The Loop, I was quickly converted into a believer after signing up for their Rewards cards (their points system is pretty well-organized; you can track your benefits through their website). If you don't know what to get, you can always try their Specials, which vary by day of the week. What doesn't vary by day of the week (or location), I've noticed, is how reliable their service is--the servers will bring the food to you, although you'll have to get up if you want to take advantage of the free refills on their assortment of healthy drinks. Their dedication to fresh, organic, healthy food and tasty meat-less and dairy-less nourishment is one to be emulated more widely--I am a fan.
(4)Leonard H.
#ism #NativeFoods makes #vegan meals delicious as well as nutritious. They have healthy twist on what would be considered unhealthy. They use no animal products & the food simply makes you feel & look good. It is a great transition restaurant for anyone who is skeptical about #vegan food. Try it and embrace the concept. #EatGood #LiveGood #ismLife
(5)Yaniv K.
Update: If there's yet another reason to love Native Foods, here's this one: they emailed me a couple of days after my bday and awarded me a free, complementary lunch. Excellent customer service!
(5)Nikki T.
I was introduced to this place a couple of years ago. I used to frequent the one on Clark, but was elated to see it come to Hyde Park. I love the native wings. The chicken Ranch burger is quite tasty too.
(4)Riva L.
Had such a crap experience here. Came in for the first time and ordered a twister wrap, sweet fries, and a side of kale. Sat down & waited for my food with one of those watermelon fresca drinks, which was delicious. My wrap came and they had made it wrong -- they didn't include half of the ingredients! They had also forgotten my side of kale. I asked if they could rectify the issue and my waitress told me it'd be out in a moment. She brought out my kale, which tasted boring but OK, and I munched on the sweet fries while I waited. After fifteen minutes, I went up to the front & asked about the wrap, and it turned out that they had forgotten about it! They made it then. Once I finally got my wrap, I took a bite...and it wasn't very good. Actually, it was so crappy that I was angry that I had waited so long. They didn't seal off the ends, so half of the ingredients fell out. Additionally, it was pretty bland. It was probably the least exciting wrap I have ever consumed. Even with the thrills of scooping up bits of tomato and shoving them back into the wrap. The chipotle flavor was overwhelming from the sauce and the rest of the ingredients just tasted like soggy mush in the wrap. Gets two stars instead of one because I liked the watermelon drink & the sweet fries. But UGH I have never left a restaurant so annoyed and disappointed.
(2)Bernice R.
HEADLINE: Vegan deliciousness and Refreshing Drinks Served Here! The headline above is really all you need to know. But, in case you were wondering what I had for dinner, I had the Greek Gyro. It was tasty and impressively large. It was so large that I had my husband help me finish my bowl! Who knew I could get so full without any meat protein. Alas, I was wrong. In addition to my meal, I had a watermelon fresca which was so invigorating! Native Foods Cafe, you do Vegan food right!
(4)Michael M.
For anyone that wants to get into the vegan lifestyle, this is the resturant to go to. I had the portobello sausage burger with seasoned fries and it was terrific. I admit to being highly skeptical prior to dining here but I'm glad I did and definitely will be going back soon and often.
(5)Kate S.
I love Native Foods. As a vegan, this is where I grub. Best items there? In my opinion, the salads (Jerk Kale, Taco, and Amazonian!) and the appetizers (Polenta Bites and Nachos!) I will be honest though - I have not absolutely loved everything that I've gotten here. My advice is: don't be stupid. For whatever reason, I get CRAZY excited when I can order anything on a menu and lose any and all smidgens of common sense that I possess. If you never liked BBQ brisket when you ate meat, you're probably not going to like a vegan sandwich made to taste like it. Sound obvious? It is. Don't be me. Don't be stupid. Order things that are versions of something that you would like.
(5)George R.
I have returned twice now, and I think that the sandwiches are probably a more worthwhile, creative, and tasty venture than the bowls. The philly cheesesteak sandwich was very good. The bowls (soul, bangkok, moroccan) are also very good, but are less flavorful and taste healthier. They probably are healthier too if that's what you're going for. The soul bowl with the vegan cornbread was pretty cool though. The chocolate peanut butter pie dessert was also very very good. Very happy to have this place in Hyde Park.
(4)Paige E.
YUM! My favorite chain restaurant in Chicago. And it's within walking distance of my apartment, even when it's snowing out, which is amazing. Such great food. Consistent among other Native Foods I've been to (and I've been to quite a few) and the service is great too. The workers are always so nice, and they will substitute almost anything you want on your meal. I will say all my favorite food items at NF are the apps. The polenta bites, nachos, and "chicken" wings are by far my favorites. I'm honestly not a huge fan of their drinks, but then again, I pretty much only drink water or beer, so the flavors are just not that great to me. I know a lot of people love them though and there are some that are better than others (the lavender lemonade is actually quite good but the watermelon fresca just tastes like infused water to me). Great location, too. If you're staying at the hotel nearby or live around the area, it's a great spot to grab a bite. Prices are good too, because it fills that gap between the $7-8 entrees of Chipotle and the $15+ entrees of most sit-down restaurants in HP (Chant, Pizza Capri, etc). Plus, now that Red Mango is right next to it, and there's a Kilwins across the street, there are some great places to grab dessert afterward if vegan cupcakes aren't your thing.
(5)Aimee R.
This location forgets something in the carryout often. They seem to be working on remembering the dessert or drink, which they used to forget, and they're good about substituting or offering a refund, but I'm tired of being the bad guy and having to call about something every 3 out of 4 times. This time main ingredients were missing. Ordered bacon cheeseburger burrito and they ran out of bacon but 'couldn't tell me because I ordered online,' but they could have called and I could have changed the order. Instead the procedure is subbing with avocado?? Have you heard Jim Gaffigan's stand up about bacon. You would understand - there is no substitution for bacon. The bacon isn't that good anyway because it isn't real, but it adds some well-needed flavor. For the side, I ordered tortilla soup which came without tortillas (they forgot to put them on the side - some come inside too, but you can't tell - tastes like a cup of spicy warmed salsa). So bacon cheeseburger - NO bacon ?? and tortilla soup - NO tortilla strips ?? The chee'z'e and chee'z'eburger (which was more like the pseudo-lunchmeat used on everything else really leave something to be desired so the bacon is not optional. For the bacon cheeseburger burrito it would be better to use something like the consistency of their taco meat. They did refund it which was generous, but with a simple phone call I would have ordered something else. Portabella sausage burger is good. Some bowls are good. Drinks are unique and very tasty. It's hit or miss at Native Foods.
(3)Angela Z.
Surprisingly good, especially since I'm not really into vegan food. I had the cheesesteak, and the portion was perfect combined with the given side of fries. It was juicy and very filling. The drinks, especially the lemonade, were great. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants good food and is okay with skipping meat for a meal.
(4)Serita D.
My first time dinning in Hyde pk..todays special was the Oklahoma cheese burger was better than i expected for a vegetarian burger with bacon & sweet potato fries was simply amazing.. I enjoyed the lavender lemonade. Also the staff was great even tho it was self serve they still came around to see if everything is ok..
(4)Mel K.
It's a like a stampede of vegans! I've been to this specific location three times and each experience has been wildly different. The first time, I noticed a man who appeared to be a general manager welcoming customers and facilitating seating and it was great. I particularly enjoyed my tortilla soup special and the side salad. The next time I came, I ordered the Moroccan bowl and after a really long wait, the vegetables came out completely burnt. I told an employee who appeared to be a different manager and he didn't even apologize. He just took the bowl and didn't say a word. I sat at a table unsure what was happening. Should I wait for another dish? Am I supposed to get a refund? The next bowl came out and it was almost as bad. I understand that when you grill vegetables, they get tinges of black, but these were almost completely black and it really made it taste bad. The third (and hopefully last) time I came, I had ordered about 20 min. beforehand for pick up. I showed up and said I was there for pick up. They asked for a name and checked, but it wasn't ready yet. I waited. And waited. I waited almost 40 minutes. Then a guy was like, "Oh, what was the name again?" And he checked and what do you know, it was sitting there the whole time. Great...
(2)Hanzhe Z.
Came in thinking of getting some meat. Ended with a pleasant surprise.
(5)Michelle T.
dude. I don't even miss the meat when I eat here. This place is stupidly good for a vegan place. My advice is to avoid the meat-substitute items. Just stick to veggies and tofu. I had a not so great experience with the sesame kale macro bowl but loved the bangkok curry. I hear good things about the nachos (meh for me) and I personally love the seasoned fries (but who doesn't love deep fried stuff). I always call in my order and pick up less than 10 minutes later. Super speedy service for pickup but I do see people waiting a while in the regular line. Reasonable prices too.
(4)Cerene P.
Love it! Recently I've really been into Tofu tacos, well my friend told me that Native has amazing Vegan tacos. I stopped by recently one day after work. I really can't stand having to pay for meter parking just to run in to get a quick meal, so irritating. However, I heard good things and just went ahead and sacrificed a buck to get some grub. The service was extremely quick and the staff very friendly. The toppings on my tacos were fresh and delicious, however the tempeh seemed almost burnt. I ate the first taco, but the 2nd I took the tempeh out and had a veggie taco. It was suppose to be blackened so I'm not sure if this is how it was suppose to taste. Anyway, I will definitely visit again and try something different.
(4)A M S.
This was the best lunch I have had in some time. I enjoyed the nachos. They were delicious and not salty. The Soul Bowl was great but I loved...Yes loved the Chicken. The one thing they could have politely came back to get was the cornbread. It takes an acquired taste bud for that :-(. Liked the Watermelon Fresca but it was too sweet for me. I mixed it with the Lavender Lemonade which made it better. Can't wait to go back but I would prefer to learn how to cook this good.
(4)Elihu B.
I think they're trying here and its a good try but they really need to perfect their efforts. The best part of my experience was Yasmin's service. She was attentive to all of her customers while helping us get the most value for our experience considering their high price for their fast foods. I expected a more refined restaurant even though this is only a high priced café that seams to compete with Chipotle. The portabella mushroom burger was only tasty because of the extra tofu (by another name) patty they put in it; making it less than a portabella burger because it only included two strips of mushroom. So my main complaint is that every dish includes this cheep tofu like filler at a price that implies your getting the real thing. This cafe's second best quality were its drinks; however, I didn't come here for drinks. I really expected a higher class vegan restaurant in Harper's Square and left disappointed by this overpriced café experience. Good Taste and Service At A High Price, eblanks
(2)Nailah W.
I will first comment on how great the customer service was on my first visit. My mother and I were greeted at the door by the manager, who was very nice. Once we approached the counter, we were greeted again by the cashier who was equally as nice and very helpful. Since it was our first time, she gave us recommendations on what was popular, what she liked, what she didn't like, etc. Overall, really helpful and patient. Once we ordered, we sat down and in about 10 minutes the food came to our table. I ordered the portabella mushroom and sausage burger, which was really good. My mother got some kind of bowl, which she enjoyed as well. The excellent customer service continued as several waiters came to the table to make sure we had everything we needed. OH, and you must try the lavender lemonade. Quite refreshing. I have gone back another time since my first time, and the service and food was just as good. I'll definitely be making more trips back.
(4)Carmilla K.
So I've been coming to native foods since they opened their first one on Belmont. Each location has it's pluses and minuses. The pluses at this location. Pretty easy parking in Harper court most times :D outdoor seating, and vegan food anywhere is a plus! The minuses at this location, the kitchen is confused and so are the staff if you make any changes to your food. The kitchen in particular seem not to know what amount of different protein to give you when you want to sub out tofu or tempeh instead of seitan (gluten) so they give you a tiny dot of it lol. The service is kinda blah, everyone looks as if they don't know why they are here... Kinda like (((0.0))) To me, the Milwaukee location is still the best (even over the original one).maybe I'm just expecting too much as a long time customer here. The original chef isn't chefing at any native foods anymore or creating the menus, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised!
(3)Sofia V.
Everytime we drove to the Loop location (20 minutes away) my husband and would always wish and hope the would open a location in Hyde Park...well aren't we special! When they finally opened up and my husband brought the carry out, he was a giddy as could be, talking about never being this excited about a restaurant in his life. We are vegetarians and maybe we are biased but I challenge any meat eater not to leave Native Foods loving the item they had and looking forward to trying something new on the menu next time. By far the best: Native Chicken Wings (served with ranch and buffalo sauce). If you love to eat healthy and earthy, you will love one of their many salads. It's delicious, it's healthy, tons of choices and the staff is very excited to have you there.
(5)Parris J.
Oh my was my head blown from the Native Nachos! These were probably the best nachos I've had in my entire life. For Vegan food this is pretty damn good. Native Nachos come with Homemade corn tortilla chips covered in black beans, Native Taco Meat, Native Chipotle Crema, Native Cheese, salsa fresca, and guacamole. Topped with corn, green onions, cilantro and jalapenos. $7.95. Great food and staff; well worth it! I will be back very soon since I work in the area.
(5)Courtney C.
I have a friend who absolutely loves Native Foods. I haven't been all that impressed, but just to appease her we went to Native. I got the Chicken Run Ranch Burger (CRRB), which I've ordered from Native before. I requested no ranch and no onion. The young woman at the counter asked, "How you gon order Chicken Run Ranch Burger with no ranch?" Rather than curse her out, I just stayed quiet. My friend and I sat outside to enjoy the (rare) nice weather in Chicago. Our food came relatively quick. The last time I had the CRRB (at another Native location in Chicago) it was served lukewarm. Unfortunately it was the same at this location. I didn't want to be a pest and ask for them to warm it up more;so I ate it. Halfway through eating this burger I realized it kinda reminded me of Chick-Fil-A. I haven't eaten meat in almost 2 years and it was nice to (semi) taste something I was used to having on a pretty regular basis. I'll be back, but it will be sparingly. I'm not exactly a fan of paying $10 for a burger...and close to $3.00 for fries. I also wish their fries were crispier. I guess I'll have to order the burger to go and enjoy fries I cook at home. Service was great as far as wait staff goes. We were asked about refills and if our food was good. I hope this location keeps up the relatively good work.
(4)Ian L.
The peanut butter parfait was excellent, rich and creamy,
(4)Shavon W.
Delicious! The nachos was outstanding and the vegan chicken avocado sandwich was to die for! #Yummy:)
(5)Brenda Lee J.
What the wha??? Who ever expects a non-vegan/non-vegetarian, meat-eating consumer to walk into a vegan restaurant and walk out shortly thereafter thoughtfully considering how to incorporate parts of a vegan lifestyle into their world? Well, I certainly never expected to. I'm a bacon-loving, cheese worshiping, egg-eater---to name a few---and vegan food is for, well vegans. Not so, my friend. After hearing a few colleagues rave about the food they've eaten there, I took a gander and ordered online for pickup. Super easy to do, with the option to trim-out or trim-off any of the ingredients by a simple click. First order? The nachos. A large, generously topped concoction of flavors that I have yet to determine their origin. The chips were crispy, the ingredients perfectly blended so that every one of them came together perfectly. And the presentation was good, for a to-go box. Granted the place is literally steps from my office door, but I expect that this place will be able to captivate my attention for many more times to come. Be sure to request a loyalty card, as I received a refreshingly free lavender lemonade to wash everything down. Then register your account online. You'll be offered a free dessert on your next visit if you answer a few innocuous questions. In summary: I wonder what else they have up their sleeve. I'll be back, NFC...I'll certainly be back!
(5)Tavi J.
Native Foods is a great option for Vegetarians and meat eaters. I'm a meat eater, but I enjoy the selection of food and what I like to call the "pretend" meat. LOL. I went to the location in Hyde Park this Saturday and I loved that they have outdoor seating. For my meal I ordered the bacon cheesebuger with a side of seasoned native fries. The flavors of the burger are delicious. I wasn't expecting it to taste like a normal bacon cheeseburger you would get from Wendy's and since I never go with that expectation it's really good. The fried pickles on the sandwich is the cherry on top. There fries are also really good and well seasoned. This time I pass on the sweet potato fries, but they are also good. One thing I am not a fan of is the dessert. Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. I'm not getting fooled anymore. LOL The desserts look really pretty and you would think they would be tasty, but they are not. I can't even describe what the cupcake was suppose to be that I tasted, but it was not edible. I'm a just stick with the food here.
(4)Vishwa N.
Healthy organic vegetarian meat like options. For the health and fitness conscious person in you or a day when you're feeling particularly adventurous. Highly recommend.
(4)Kay R.
This place wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. I've had much better vegetarian/vegan food. Chili was sour and under seasoned and would have been better without the "cheese" ball in the middle. The crispy buffalo "chicken" in the Twister wrap was good, but the wrap itself was underwhelming and impossible to eat, as it was open at both ends. The highlight of the meal was the seasoned french fries, but you could get those at a lot of other places.
(3)Shirley H.
I don't eat at many vegan places, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out that I'm not much of a fan of Native Foods. I ordered the Ancho BBQ Brisket Sandwich and a side of Seasoned Fries. I'm not too fond of the sandwich - "Sweet caramelized onions, cooling mint and lime Mojito slaw." I did taste a lot of the slaw, but not much of the sweet caramelized onions nor the flavor of the bbq brisket. I don't know how to feel about the fries. The seasoning was interesting, which was good. I love soggy fries, if the fries are made to be soggy. These fries felt like and tasted as if they were supposed to be crispy fries that were disappointingly soggy cause they got cold. The food is also a bit overpriced, in my opinion. It was about $11 for a sandwich (a pretty tiny one) and a side of fries.
(3)Pam D.
Being a vegetarian this place is right up my alley. The first time I came here, I wanted something small so I got the nachos. They were not small but could have used more toppings. My friend got the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and it looked good.... The second time, and third, I got the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and it is good! My boyfriend got the portobello sausage sandwich with split pea soup. He really lime the soup. The third time I'll finish telling you about after I eat!
(5)Kimberlie T.
Oh yeaaaahhh baby! HP just got a Native Foods and we couldn't be happier about it. Great healthy alternative that's quick and nice on the wallet. I suggest the Kale Jerk Salad and sweet potato fries. They are delicious! For those of us that eat "sticks" for our meals, you'll love Native Foods!
(5)Symone W.
Love all of the options for meat alternatives on their menu. This place is damn good if my sister is convinced that their chicken fingers are indeed real chicken lol. I had the chili, lemon dill potato salad and lavender lemonade. I loved the chili with a dollop of Native Cheese that gave it that added creaminess like sour cream does. The potato salad could have used a bit of salt, but otherwise was super yummy as well. Standout by far was the lavender lemonade. Not too fragrant, so sweet and you get free refills. Plus if you don't want the lemonade you can try some of there other offerings because drinks are self-serve. Signing up for their rewards card gets you a free drink! How could I almost forget about the cornbread. OMG. So moist and cakey. I love sweet cornbread and I would order this just because it was that damn good.
(4)Maria Z.
The most excellent customer service I have ever experienced & food was great!! Wait staff was wonderful and the people who were waiting in long line for service they gave them complimentary drinks for having to wait. Some 5 star restaurant could learn something from them!
(5)LePra G.
Stopped by Native Foods the other day for a light lunch. I heard about the other locations and read the great reviews, so I was expecting a great experience and was not disappointed. My girlfriend had the soup (some kind of lentil or something) and I had the chili. The served the soup with some type of crispy bread and the chili was partnered with some delicious cornbread. The chili was hearty and full of flavor. If I didn't know it, I would have assumed it contained some type of meat. I tasted my girlfriend's soup and it was also full of flavor. With this being our first visit, we signed up for their loyalty rewards card and received a free beverage and a free dessert (during our next visit). The staff was overly friendly (which I love) and very knowledgeable about the menu options. They brought the food directly to our table and offered to bring any extra items we might need. And when it was time for us to leave, they even brought over some to-go containers. I am not a vegetarian and definitely not vegan, but I love Native Foods. I will certainly return again!
(4)Nick D.
People in our large group brought in froyo from the neighboring place and they kicked them out so they wouldn't "offend" vegans. I think vegans know that people eat yogurt, but you did manage to piss us all off.
(1)Maria H.
Excellent customer service! awesome food
(5)Jasmine D.
I love Native Foods, but this location's service needs a lot of improvement. Took a full 20 min to order, even though I was the only one in line. (Customers in front of me didn't know what they wanted, so the cashier just stood there and waited and looked at me, though I was clearly ready to order.) Then, they almost gave my order away to someone else. To top it off, didn't give me any silverware or napkins with my ToGo order. I usually really like the food here, but I suppose the dish I picked (Bangkok curry bowl) was blander than I remember? Also, while waiting for my food, heard a customer go up to complain about messing up their order. Sketchy... Regardless, it's located in a nice area and even has a little outdoor patio. Street parking is available, but may be tough, especially during peak hours. This location this time gets 2.5 stars. I'll try again, and hopefully the next time around is much better.
(3)Jay W.
I get the whole vegan thing, but you're not killing animals by adding some spice. The food is creative but horribly bland. I had the soul bowl, supposedly the spicy, hot BBQ dish. I wanted to douse it with hot sauce. Even the infused lemonades need more pizazz.
(3)Kari T.
I really love the food but the service was so horrible. I walked into the restaurant and got bum rushed by some manager looking man on this location and he didn't apologize. I ordered my food for pick up and stood at the pick up counter for twenty minutes then got asked if I was waiting for something...uh yeah! My food was sitting at the counter all that time and was cold and mushy when I got it, I was really excited about this location but I think I'd rather travel to the Clark location more than this one but I'll give it another shot.
(2)Talib M.
Except for the new location that just opened on Clinton, I have been to every Native Foods in the Chicago area almost since the day they opened. I have had almost everything on the menu and to be perfectly honest, I don't know where to begin. Having been to several vegan restaurants in Chicago over the past 23 years, Native Foods has proven to be consistent and one of the BEST! The food is tasty, yet not salty. Fresh, but not undercooked or under-prepared. And the cooked food is not over-prepared. I have read some of the reviews and having reloaded my 200 points on several occasions and not being too anal about things being absolutely perfect for me to have a fabulous experience, I must say that I have NEVER had a bad experience in Native Foods. The service is always top notch and the food has never let me down. I have had Earth bowls, salads, most of the sandwiches and most of the sides and the homemade sauces to no disappointment. Even the desserts, which often call my name, are undeniably delicious. That oatmeal creme cookie is............(no words). To top things off, the homemade lemonade and hibiscus tea and blueberry tea and watermelon fresca are AWESOME! Unlimited refills of this GOOD STUFF. Somebody is being taken advantage of...and it ain't me. Can be a bit pricey, but the helpings are plentiful. Let's get specific, the Oklahoma Burger is probably my favorite, followed closely by the Scorpion burger, Chicken Run Ranch, Twister Wraps.....okay, yes it's difficult for me to choose each time I enter. So, I just bring my son and have him order what I don't and share. The bowls are fantastic but there are a few more that I'd like to try. The salads are fantastic and the accompanying sauces are perfect. My favorite is the Jerk Kale salad and it's chipolte side kick. I always order extra sauces and bring them home to top off something later. The fact that they don't charge for the extra sauces helps to make the cost of the sandwich or salad almost worth it. And to the cat that said that "you treat the black people better than the white people". Wow, that must mean your service is OFF THE CHAIN & everybody gets served well, even those that typically get blown off in other facilities. Though this review is for the Hyde Park location because it is closer to the area I frequent, it applies equally to ALL of the locations I've visited(Belmont, Milwaukee and Clark...soon to be Clinton).
(5)Jen A.
3 stars because there appears to be a breakdown in the online and phone in order/pickup process. I wasn't the only advance order patron waiting for the cashier while she chit chat with the regulars (I get it, they are regulars). The lady in front of me murmured things like never again, this is unbelievable, ridiculous, I already paid and they are making me wait in this line? I give 5 stars for the food, but the long wait to pick up advance orders drops them down. Be sure to check your order for accuracy and utensils before you leave. All that said, I will try again before I write this location off. Hopefully it improves!
(3)JL J.
Hyde Park, get ready to welcome Native Foods Cafe. Their new store is located in Harper Court at 1518 Harper Court right behind the Hyatt Place Chicago-South/University Medical Center. They open to the public on March 11, 2014. If someone asked us where to enjoy vegan versions of all their favorite comfort foods, we'd send them to Native Foods Cafe. From Reuben sandwiches to burgers and decadent desserts, these dishes hit the spot. Native Foods Cafe is known to Vegan people. The food is made fresh daily--from homemade tempeh and seitan, to Native Cheese, to sauces and drinks, dressings and desserts too. The entire menu is 100% plant-based. Overwhelmed by the enormous options at the private tasting, we opted to start off with the Native Nachos, which is homemade corn tortilla chips covered in black beans, Native Taco Meat, Native Chipotle Crema, Native Cheese, salsa fresca, and guacamole. Topped with corn, green onions, cilantro and jalapeños. It was divine! For our entree, we delved into the Chicken Run Ranch Burger, which was crispy battered Native Chicken, ranch dressing, romaine, carrots and onions. It was finger licking good. Of course, the burger was complimented with the Native Fries, which are thinly cut fries. We would normally pass on desert but the Double Delight Brownie was starring us down so we gave in. It was worth every calorie! The food was amazing, the staff was great and the atmosphere was comfortable. All vegan, all the time. Not a single thing we've had at Native Foods Cafe has been less than exceptional. Welcome to Hyde Park Native Foods Cafe! Cheers, Jordan & Marks
(5)Rachel C.
This is one of my fave locations, have visited in most cities including original in Palm Springs. Staff here are always friendly and accommodating for my extra lemon-garlic sauce requests. Best ever topping on the grilled tempeh..so good!
(5)Keeshawna B.
What a great addition to Hyde Park! The food is delicious and the service is effortlessly kind and thorough. The menu selections are vast and the food is always fresh. I can't wait for Native Foods to expand to more locations in Chicago.
(4)Frank S.
Absolutely delicious fast, casual vegan food.
(5)E W.
My favorite restaurant in the new Harper Court, and HP in general. Excellent food! Totally vegan, and even my carnivorous partner enjoys it. Attentive, friendly service. And they serve beer! It's a touch pricy, but worth every penny. One star off for the cramped line and seating arrangements, but I do not feel that it's a deal breaker.
(4)Alice A.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere here and our server was very charismatic. The food is very fresh and the menu offers many diverse options. Eating here makes you feel like a healthy person, even if you're not, so it's great for your self esteem!
(5)Camesha J.
I am a regular at this restaurant and the service is always good. I do wish the food was cheaper, but all in all it's a great restaurant.
(4)Trish G.
A delicious, healthy food restaurant located in the middle of Hyde Park! Friendly staff, coupled with a lovely variety of drinks, food, and desserts, and a colorful yet rustic atmosphere make for an amazing experience!
(5)Leon G.
I am a carnivore. Nom nom nom. I ventured into this place thinking it was just quickserve organic. While perusing the menu I started to notice evil words like seitan, tofu and tempeh. Well, I aint no wuss so I decide to tough it out. Ill just grab a salad. But Nooooooo! The lovely cashier talks me into a"meatball" sub. With friggin fake cheese! Well, friggin Sam-I-Am, I tried it sitting in my seat, I liked it...loved it, 'tho there's no meat! Seriously, it was realllllly good. I cant wait to go back and fool my tastebuds again.
(5)Suzanne E.
Friendly service, OK but overpriced food (the blackened tacos had nothing going on), excellent sauvignon blanc, very mundane décor in a truly hideous new mall. It left me with a renewed appreciation that I rent a place around the corner from the Thai restaurants on 55th Street, a shopping district not yet ruined, but this being Hyde Park I expect in time it will be. That said, I'll probably pop in for a take-out faux Reuben soon, because fake meat classics are too labor-intensive to create at home and summer is coming and the aroma from Ribs and Bibs down the street creates cravings in those of us not intent on consuming fellow mammals.
(3)Carmen C.
I LOVE this place! I'm no vegetarian/vegan, but you don't have to be to enjoy this yummy food. Everything is prepared with such care, and it's soooo flavorful! The nachos are so good; the first time I've had nachos that were so loaded that we ran out of chips to scoop up the goodness. The meatball sub is delicious, the chicken actually tastes like chicken (with a killer ranch), and my favorite is the portabella and mushroom burger. Yum! You must have the chipotle sauce with the fries, it's so good you'll swear it's real mayo. The staff is so friendly and kind. I love patronizing this restaurant!
(5)Sara R.
Native Foods is delicious! Get the reuben with sweet potato fries and don't forget the chipotle sauce! The service was quick, kind and courteous. This was an amazing addition to 53rd street.
(5)Aqua M.
Iam not a vegan/Vegetarian... but this place seriously has the best food. The satf are very welcoming and explain the entire menu to you. They also have the best homemade chai on the planet. everything here is fantastic. Do your taste buds a fLavor and order some nachos. amazing.
(5)Summer F.
Amazing! I've liked everything I've gotten there--sweet potato fries, portobello burger, bombastic wrap, scorpion burger, nachos...peanut butter parfait...even if you aren't wild about pretend meat you'll find something. very hippie vibe as you'd predict, which I love--like a vegan Chipotle. good for a chill dinner or lunch.
(5)Terika K.
The first time I experience Native Foods Cafe was in Newport Beach, California and this location does not disappoint. You can't go wrong with the Native Nachos.
(5)Marley D.
Awesome staff, so friendly and fresh food. Lavender lemonade and Caribbean salad were great. Really fast with getting food out which is a miracle for hyde park. Check it out !
(5)Fifi A.
the food tasted good and filing i had the nachos the service was on point and the lavender lemonade was sweet good
(5)Jennifer B.
BEST FOOD I EVER ATE!!!! Seriously. Affordable. Vegan. Flavorful. Fresh, crisp veggies. What more can a person ask for? Enjoy. Fantastic. Would be lovely if they'd open another one in Hyde Park on 57th street!
(5)Greg G.
Great food, decor and service. Homerun for Hyde Park.
(5)X O.
Yummy and unique ... definitely want to return and try more dishes. Took friends there and we all tried different dishes and shared bites from each others' plates. I really enjoyed the mushroom & "sausage" burger and even liked the lavender lemonade (not normally a fan of floral essence foods or beverages). The staff was really nice and helpful explaining what was in different food items. I only had frustration with the GPS through the Yelp app, as the location is in a court yard surrounding the Hyatt Place Hotel and easy to miss, but the GPS was trying to send us in a totally different side of Hyde Park.
(4)Marc C.
Too strange for me. The chicken flavored Tofu was pretty good, but the rest of the meal did not seem like food. The restaurant is clean and friendly.
(2)Joanne B.
Awesome!!! I love this place. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. I think even meat eaters can enjoy this.
(5)Lucas C.
You wouldn't think that native foods chicken would be better than actual chicken but me and several of my friends all agree that it is. Their salads and their fresh drinks and teas are fantastic. I would highly recommend even die hard carnivores to give this place a shot.
(5)Bridgette A.
Native foods has some of the tastiest, most inventive vegetarian fare in the area. Thanks for coming to Hyde park and giving us more restaurant options.
(5)Adrienne P.
Sadly, I keep having not-so-great experiences at this Native Foods Cafe. After being exposed to the Native Foods in Wicker Park, I was excited to try out the Hyde Park location - closer to my home. Both times I've gone here, I've taken my food to-go. The first time, when I got home to check my meal (the gyro bowl), it was missing the pita bread from its description. I've been to Greece; and, I can't recall ever having a gyro without pita bread. Disappointing. Then, the second time (yesterday) I was looking forward to redeeming either the free dessert for completing a Native Foods survey or redeeming my $10 credit around my birthday (it was last Friday). I pulled up the email Native Foods Cafe sent me explaining these perks, but the cashier couldn't find anything in their "system." When she checked with her manager, I could see him across the room waving "no" to her. I decided not to grapple over the measly perks, paid my food, and moved aside. When I spoke with the manager about the situation and showed him the email (which he confirmed came from Native Foods), he gave the same super lame excuse that the "system" doesn't indicate anything. After reminding him that I was looking forward to patronizing Native Foods Cafe when it moved to Hyde Park (I mean, I just got off the phone with a friend in Brooklyn telling her I couldn't wait to take her there when she came to visit Chicago) and reminding him that they're new to the neighborhood, he then told me Native Foods has 23 locations. I mean, come on; what a ridiculous thing to say. Essentially, "my company is so big that I don't have to worry about your personal experience." Insulting. Sadly, these experiences with Native Foods Cafe in Hyde Park is making me believe they're vegans who care more about animals than humans, and that's not a good thing. I will not be patronizing them again due to these multiple negative experiences.
(1)Lauren K.
I'm so glad this place came to Hyde Park! I had the chicken ranch sandwich - tastes and looks just like a giant chicken mcnugget (in a good way) and it comes with the delicious ranch sauce and all the trimmings on a soft, toasted bun. I also had the potato salad and the refreshing lavender lemonade - both excellent. I will be back.
(5)William F.
This ls an Oasis for Vegans. Im not a vegan but this place has some real delicious stuff. I was surprised when i tasted their imitation meats. They actually taste like real meat. Overall you cant go wrong with this place no matter you a vegan or a carnivore.
(5)Margaret i.
Love love love! I just wish they would put one of these in Grand Rapids Michigan though. Great customer service. So glad they finally brought Native Foods to the south side. Hyde Park is finally on the come up!
(5)June H.
I was skeptical at first because I've had not great experiences with vegan food, but I was completely blown away. I ordered the sweet potato fries, the Italian meatball sub, and the watermelon fresca. The fries were perfectly seasoned, the sub was really filling and flavorful and I could barely tell that it wasn't actually meat, and the watermelon fresca was delicious - I kept going back for (free!) refills. The service was great - very attentive, checked in on us often - and the food was brought out very quickly. Will definitely be going back!
(5)Nick G.
I've been here twice and I'm loving everything I've eaten. My first visit here just blew me away. The Reuben was fantastic.. possibly the best Reuben I've ever had. The lavender lemonade is amazing; my two favorite things combined.. I was in heaven. However, my second visit wasn't so likable. The food was great, but the service was not. The man taking the woman's order in front of us (we were second in line) proceeded to explain everything to the girl for what seemed like nearly 10 minutes. There was hardly a line when we got there and by the time we finally got to order, it was back to the door. She took THAT long. C'mon, staff. The second and major issue I had that day was the favoritism amongst the African American customers. While eating my dinner, I noticed that only the tables with African Americans were receiving drink refills by the staff.. and they were also being given to-go cups. Where's my to-go cup? I would have loved to walk out with some of that lavender lemonade. I watched the two or three staff members do this the entire time I ate my dinner. Not a single Caucasian table was attended to until they had left. It made for an undesirable experience and I felt unwelcome.
(3)Yohance T.
The staff here is super nice very friendly and helpful. I have been here twice since it opened . The first time I visited I lad the Sunday Special the Chicken Run Ranch Burger I was with family and everyone enjoyed themselves and really enjoyed the food. Even my family member who is a carnivore ate every bite of her food and noted how it tasted just like real meat. I tried the Lavender Lemonade & Watermelon Fresca . . I liked the Lemonade a lot better than the Watermelon Fresca. My sister got a free desert Zucchini Date Cake which we al shared that was alright. The second time I went I got the Native Chicken Wings which came with Ranch Dressing and Buffalo Sauce . I really like the Chicken Wings they tasted just like chicken and unlike real chicken wings at least I did not have to worry about eating mostly bone and very little meat. I also got the Native Fries as well and those were quite good as well. The first time I visited the cashier gave all of us one of the loyalty cards they offer. Because of that I was entitled to a free dessert and so when I went the second time I got the Oatmeal Creme Pie and let me tell you it was so good. I like it much better than the Zucchini Cake. Even though I am not a Vegan I still enjoyed the food it tasted just like the real thing. I think Carnivores ,Vegetarians and Vegans will all enjoy the food here. I would definitely go back again ang cannot wait to try the other items on the menu.
(5)Chris E.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I am so glad it is toward the north side of Hyde Park so I can go there as often as I want. The service is awesome and the rewards system is pretty nice too. I have brought friends here and had to convince them that it is indeed possible to have such great food that is vegan. The reuben is awesome and the avocado crunch wrap is also pretty good. I normally don't like sweet potato fries but these are mind-blowing and cooked to perfection. But by far the best thing on the main menu is their native chicken. If you order ANYTHING with native chicken in it you will be extremely pleased. I can't describe how awesome it is. Also, if you want dessert try the oatmeal creme pie. It is obviously LOADED with sugar but the cookies they use are so good! I usually eat half and save the other half for breakfast with a cup of coffee. Even if you don't like vegan food, check it out. Everyone can find something here that they will like.
(5)Aubrey C.
Fantastic first visit! We had this one on our list of "must eat at" while in Chicago... It did not disappoint. Very friendly staff & so nice to know I could eat anything on the menu & not have to worry about secret animal ingredients! The food was delicious!!! Two in our party were meat eaters & they raved about the "chicken." So wish there was a way to get one of these in Indy.
(5)Sharon H.
Sorry native foods, but an avocado in a bun is not considered to be a sandwich. Where is the dressing and the seasoning?! If I wanted an avocado in plain bread, I would have spent 3 bucks at the grocery store and made it myself. I was sorely disappointed by the food here. We also ordered the buffalo wrap and it was honestly to God just fried chicken breast smothered in this super unnatural looking red buffalo sauce. It was some of the grossest and unappetizing food I have had in Hyde Park. We were better off just going to the chipotle that was next door to native foods and buying four burritos for the price that we paid for the sandwich and wrap. Sorry native foods but never again.
(2)Dara L.
Delicious vegan options that wow even the non-vegans! We ordered a sampling of various dishes - the chicken "wings," soul bowl, and Reuben. The flavor was great and the ingredients were fresh. I really enjoyed the Reuben - I have no idea how they make this meat but it was great. The soul bowl had fresh vegetables and kale and came with a orange sauce that I drizzled on top. Don't let the name of the soul bowl trick you, it didn't have a whole lot of soul, and was the blandest thing we ordered. However, the ingredients were fresh. The chicken "wings" looked like skinny tenders and were different in texture (of course), but didn't leave anything to be desired if you're looking for chicken at a vegan spot.
(4)Dianne C.
The nicest people work here! Super healthy! Food tastes amazingly delicious and drinks are refreshing!
(5)Crystal T.
Not pricey by New York standards (where I'm from), but definitely pricey for Chicago - and I'm all for sustainability and veganism, and the Azteca salad I got was tasty, but it was worth maybe about half the price.
(3)Melissa C.
Um no. My coworker is a vegan and hyped this place up like it was something amazing. So I went. Thinking hey why not just give this place a chance. I'm no vegan. Not even a vegetarian. You can tell by my yelp pics. I had the Moroccan "chicken" bowl. Never again. What was that stuff? Seitan? Fake chicken. Not even close to real chicken. It had a custard like texture and a charred taste to it. The veggies tastes as though they actually came off of a grill. It came with this orange colored sauce on the side which was good. I guess I could have just drowned my food in that but I didn't. What did stand out was the blueberry lavender lemonade. I'll be back for that for sure. It was so good and refreshing. Seating is abundant. Staff is nice. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. I guess as a meat eater I just can't get with this. I'll be happy if I never have "wheat meat" again in my life.
(2)Janelle H.
I enjoyed my first experience here. I didn't know what to expect but needless to say I got more than I expected! The cashier was very helpful in directing my order. I got a menu item favorite and I'm so glad I did. It was very delicious and flavorful. Writing this review makes me want to go back now actually... Anywho, I highly recommend stopping by whether you're vegan or not!
(4)Kim T.
First time here and my dish was great. I had the taco salad. The taco meat protein tasted almost and I mean almost like taco seasoned ground beef. And I didn't get that stuffed feeling after I ate the meal.
(4)Myia S.
Tried vegan food for the first time (I'm not a vegetarian or vegan). It wasn't the worst experience. For ppl who are first time tofu eaters beware the tofu bacon doesn't taste like bacon nor does the chicken taste like real chicken. Honestly I wasn't aware that this restaurant was a no meat or animal product restaurant until I start ordering I thought they would at least have chicken... But all in all it was ok at least they had fries that were nice and crispy with seasoning. I had the Crispy Chicken, Bacon & Avo Club and my boyfriend had the Classic Chicken Run Ranch Burger. My boy friend was very unsatisfied, he felt like he was robbed. The food is a bit over priced it really wasn't worth the money. I had a blueberry lavender lemonade with our food the total was almost $30 and the food was not filling. I would not go back here it's over rated everything that's supposed to be healthy is over priced. However, the blueberry lavender lemonade was the best thing they had there it was amazing if I were to go back that would be the only thing I order!
(3)Mary Y.
I'm not a vegan-fan but this place was really interesting. Came here with my whole family (4 kids + baby) and managed to all pick one different entree. My nieces ordered the gluten free mac n cheese (made with quinoa pasta) and cheesy quesadilla (with wheat tortilla). The kids couldn't tell a difference! The sweet potato fries were light and crispy. I ordered an oklahoma cheeseburger made with seitan. I would have to say - it was mighty tasty considering there was no real ''meat'' inside. The watermelon fresca is to die for. It's a perfect drink on a hot summer day in Chicago. Plus free refills!! It's sweetened with Organic Agave. I love any place that focuses on organic and healthy foods. Will be back again when I visit Chicago.
(4)Austin Y.
Definitely will not be returning. On my one visit with a small group, we had to wait ~20 minutes to even place our order, the system is very inefficient. I chose the "bacon cheeseburger" - ok, I admit it, my mistake for not ordering well. But they messed up one of my friends' orders, and the rest of us waited another 10 minutes for them to correct it, as our food slowly got cold. The burger was pretty terrible and completely lacking in flavor. The seitan was just texture, zero flavor, there was only a tiny squirt of BBQ/ranch, and the pickle chips were soggy and tasteless. The caramelized onions in the burger were the best part of this meal, though I guess that isn't saying a lot.
(1)Janeen W.
Not a vegan or vegetarian by any means but Native Foods is delicious!!!! I love the chicken run sandwich I get extra chipotle mayo!! Yummmers!!!! The native fries are so damn good!!! Their key lime pie is a seasonal item it's perfect!! The lavender lemonade is great too!!
(5)