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Name: Native Foods Cafe
Address: 1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622
Telephone: (773) 489-8480
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.02

Native Foods Cafe

1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

(773) 489-8480
Store is closed

Native Foods Cafe Menu

Desserts

Carrot Cream Cheese Cupcake

Double Delight Brownie

Peanut Butter Parfait

Chocolate Cupcake

Oatmeal Creme Pie

Zucchini Date Cake

Strawberry Parfait
Earth Bowls

Rockin' Moroccan

Sesame Kale Macro Bowl

Bangkok Curry Bowl

Firecracker Cauliflower

Thai Curry Meatball Bowl
Entree Salads

Ensalada Azteca

Yo Amigo Taco Salad

Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad

Amazonian Jungle Toss

Andalucian Gazpacho Salad
Handholds

Chicken Run Ranch Burger

Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger

Scorpion Burger

Super Italian Meatball Sub

Ancho BBQ Brisket

French Market Muffaletta

Gold Rush Ciabatta

Crispy Chicken Bacon & Avo Club
Drinks

Lavender Lemonade

Native Iced Tea

Watermelon Fresca

Chai Tea - Hot

Chai Tea - Iced

Coffee
Kids are Cool!

Freddie's Mac & Cheese

Native Chicken Nuggets

Brontosaurus Burrito

Cheesy Quesadilla
Starters

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

Native Chicken Wings

Native Chili

Native Nachos

Native Seasoned Fries

Daily Soup - African Peanut

Saigon Rolls

Sesame Edamame Hummus Scoop

Deconstructed BLT
Party Platters

Combo Platter

Handhold Platter

Palm Springs Platter

Salad Platter

DaBears Platter

Finger Food Wings

Watermelon Fresca

Native Iced Tea

Lavender Lemonade

Finger Food Saigon Rolls

Healthy Meal suggestions for Native Foods Cafe

Desserts

Carrot Cream Cheese Cupcake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Double Delight Brownie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Butter Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Cupcake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oatmeal Creme Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zucchini Date Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Earth Bowls

Rockin' Moroccan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sesame Kale Macro Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bangkok Curry Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Firecracker Cauliflower [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Curry Meatball Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entree Salads

Ensalada Azteca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yo Amigo Taco Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Amazonian Jungle Toss [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Andalucian Gazpacho Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Handholds

Chicken Run Ranch Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scorpion Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Super Italian Meatball Sub [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ancho BBQ Brisket [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Market Muffaletta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gold Rush Ciabatta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Chicken Bacon & Avo Club [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Drinks

Lavender Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Native Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Watermelon Fresca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chai Tea - Hot [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chai Tea - Iced [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Kids are Cool!

Freddie's Mac & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Native Chicken Nuggets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brontosaurus Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheesy Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Starters

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Native Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Native Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Native Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Native Seasoned Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Daily Soup - African Peanut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Saigon Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sesame Edamame Hummus Scoop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deconstructed BLT [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Party Platters

Combo Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Handhold Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Palm Springs Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

DaBears Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Finger Food Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Watermelon Fresca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Native Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lavender Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Finger Food Saigon Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Stephanie L.

Yum! I love trying places like this. Giving my vegan desires a bone for the day. The ordering process is a little annoying. There was lots of workers...not working. Ha! Only one girl at the counter so it took forever! The nachos were delicious! Salad was amaze & chicken sandwich needed some of the chipotle sauce (or other spice/flavor/sauce) but overall it was good. The price point is great! Totally reasonable! Everything was under $10!!! And large a** portions :) The husband that's a total meat eater even liked it! Cheers for a healthy lunch...or kind of healthy.
(4)
B J.

This place used to be great, but now everything is meh. The menu got hacked in half, so many things are packaged vs made on site, and the employees are clearly unhappy. One was kind of rude to is, but I can't really blame her because this place is now mediocre. If there was a change in ownership, they didn't change anything for the better. Food is definitely not as good and it's pretty empty now. Avoid this place from now on.
(2)
Stephanie R.

I was a bit skeptical the first time I tried Native Foods. As a vegetarian and former vegan, I've tried many meat substitutes and they're just....not the same. I ordered the Chicken Run Ranch Burger and was incredibly impressed right away. It tastes just like the real thing. I've brought meat-eaters here as well who agreed with me. Also, the Lavender Lemonade sounds super weird, but is delicious. Native Foods, I'll bump you up to 5 stars if you open a location in Oak Park.
(4)
Brandon F.

Super healthy, fresh food that doesn't taste TOO healthy, i.e. it has some actual flavor to it. Prices are definitely reasonable and there's always seating available inside and out. Minus one star because the people working the cashier move soooooo slowly.
(4)
Hillary M.

This place is a winner. It was recommended by my friend (it's her favorite!) - it's really tasty vegetarian food that emulates a lot of the flavors and dishes of the carnivorious community. EVERYTHING on the menu sounded appealing. It probably took me half an hour to decide what I wanted. Or maybe I was just starving, but it did all sound good - they have fake bacon burgers, salads, wraps, Asian bowls, lots of options. I ended up copying my friend and ordered the Yo Amigo Taco Salad, and substituted kale instead of romaine. The fake taco meat was awesome - I added avocado and it was delish. I loved the dressing, and nearly scarfed down the whole thing which was a feat, because this thing was massive. The service was beyond great, they made me an onion free pico de gallo per request, were fine with all our substitutions and came by to check us on multiple times. I will be back!
(4)
Brad J.

A few years ago this location was my first experience at Native Foods, and possibly my first experience at an all-vegan restaurant. I was blown away from the very beginning and it has remained the same since. The quality standards they have for their food and the ingredients they make meals out of is far above any other restaurant I've yet experienced. Native Foods is currently my favorite restaurant.
(5)
Jessica V.

I'm a huge fan of native foods...or used to be at least. I came in today and did not realize how much has changed so quickly...no more daily specials, everything is extra, no more lemons and mint. This is very disheartening to say the least. I used to rave to my friends about the great food and decent prices. I can say that I probably would not recommend it anymore. There have also been differences in the food itself... it saddens me to see one of the very few all vegan restaurants in Chicago end up this way. :(
(2)
Jennifer P.

I'm conflicted regarding Native Foods. All 4 or 5 star reviews boast of a smiling and happy staff. The food is very good. Just make sure if you have to go back to work, that they take the onions out of your lunch! My concern is with the manager working there. I walked in on my second visit, and up to the register to order. I get a quick glance and a frown from her before she goes back to what she's working on. I ask her about a few things on the menu and she is completely short with me, distracted from what she was still working on. Once I make it known that I am ready to place my order, instead of looking at me, she glares at the rest of her staff. The staff obviously had no clue that she wasn't working with me, and that her work on her computer was for something else. "Excuse me!" she snaps. Then she makes a disgusted sigh and rolls her eyes. "Can you help this customer?" Confused, the staff immediately turns to her and one of the guys walks up. Quietly he responds to her demand, "I'm sorry, we thought that you were working with her." She barely waits for him to finish his sentence, "I'm working on a phone order!" Like he doesn't have the authority to even speak. Right away the server and I exchange glances of, "I'm so sorry!" Then I smile and gesture quietly, showing that he shouldn't have to feel bad; and that she was clearly out of line with the way she handled the situation. I had to struggle not to say anything at the time. Personally, I wondered if it might have invited her sour attitude to further take it out on the rest of the staff. I know how these places work, and the guy asked me to sign up for a rewards card. I'm sure you get recognition for working there should you encourage a diner to open an account. I happily obliged. Later on, as I was eating my food, I saw the manager shamelessly flirting with another customer in the store. In any sales environment, it's okay to flirt a little. I totally get it. However, this woman was practically leaning on this gentleman's table and chatting him up while her caboose pretty much blocked diners from access to the exit or the juice fountain, depending on where they were walking from. That's a little over the top if you ask me. Due to what I had to witness, I don't think I'll be back again. The food is way too expensive to have to walk in and witness what I had to see. I'll definitely visit other locations!
(3)
A B.

i visit this place a whole lot i love their food and the service is always so quick and efficient, i will always keep going back, i feel like every time i go the service gets better and better and i loved their blue berry lemonade they had the last time i was there!
(5)
Carmine P.

Wow, really good fake chicken! I actually like the chicken run ranch burger much more than the twister wrap. In terms of sides, the kale kind of sucks, the seasoned fries have better seasoning than fries, and the sweet potato fries are decent.
(4)
Marissa D.

Excellent place to chill and grab a bite in the neighborhood. Food is good and the beer selection is better. Eating there is better than pickup or delivery. My taco's did not make it home... The soggy mess however was still good just a mess to eat.
(4)
Monica C.

What a great surprise! Fast vegan food! Nicely decorated, and a large open space, I found this place to be a great place. I got the gyro bowl, and I was surprised at how tasty the seitan was, and how it didn't have a button of sodium! Most fast food or convenient vegan food tends to be extremely salty, but the bowl was great and I felt amazing that I was satisfied by something so...healthy. Also, I had a few bites of one the vegan burgers (bacon something) and that was also fantastic. Vegan cheese is surprisingly tasty. Will come again to try more other vegan things.
(5)
Carmilla K.

Love native foods, especially this location, but they've been chintzing out on protein if you sub it for anything (that holds true for the other locations as well) I don't get it really. And when I say I will pay extra I get a weird stare like, you don't have to, and why do you need so much? Um... Vegan? Mostly high vegetable one, some days when I work out I sorely lack it, and I don't eat all the bready lalalalala stuff (gluten), if I sub tempeh or tofu, please give me the right amount and not look like I'm trying to get free shiz. Food still good, the staff has changed a thousand times so some peoples are not as versed about the vegan side of thangs :D Again, food is good. Maybe because they don't get tipped the service isn't stellar.
(3)
Paul S.

Native Foods is doing a number of things right. Smiles: I've never been in here without the cashiers being SUPER friendly and smiling at me a lot. If I were a closer match to Adam Levine I'd think it was my good looks, but I think they just hire awesome people. Deals: Free drink with your flyer card. Free dessert after signing up. Free side with any special of the day. Generous portions of food that, for those of us with smaller appetites, can share. Vegan / Vegetarian Done Right: While most places give you a block of tofu (as if, when you become vegetarian you suddenly become a person who can extract taste from thin air), these crazy fools give you savory slices of peppered seitan and juicy 'chicken'. Moreover, they give you large portions and prepare the food thoughtfully. No longer do I marinate my withering tofu in my sorrowful tears. The Tea! Man I love their tea and lemonade. I can't even think of the wacko things they mix in it right now, (lavender and watermelon, respectively, I think.) I love mixing them together, like a silly child set free to make his own drink. Delicious and possibly good for you too, I'd guess. Desserts So cruel. They know your mouth is watering, and with their happy perky smiley faces they're like "SO! Wanna add a brownie!?". Well yes, of course I want to add a brownie. Of course I do. What do you think? Give me the delicious brownie you have sitting in front of my face at the register and take my wallet. Pro Tip: My recommendation is to go with a second person, get a main dish and side dish and split them. It's usually enough food and the price works out nice.
(5)
Leslie W.

My crispy chicken bacon & avo club had no avo and no chipotle sauce. Thumbs down. Sandwich was just ok. Bread was pretty good. I'm sure the sauce would have helped with the blandness though.
(2)
Lena A.

Recently they reduced their portion sizes so a $10 quinoa bowl now comes with one skewer of tofu instead of two and half as much sauce. I already thought that the price point was skirting the high side of value but this recent reduction has pushed it into the next sphere of "not worth it" Shame on you, Native Foods: it's TOFU!
(2)
Nancy D.

So sad. I have been a long time customer of Native Foods. I heard they changed owners... and you can tell. Portion sizes are so small. Protein portions are tiny. Menu options have been reduced. They have the same soup on the menu for months. No more lemon and mint. The staff are not the happy staff they used to be. It's just not the same. What made native foods special is gone. I always felt that they went above and beyond for us customers. The love is gone too. What happened? I hope the new owners listen to us long timers... we may have to move on to greener pastures.
(2)
Frankie T.

Favorite place to eat in Chicago. I come here a lot after work and it is SOOO nice to have a 100% vegan place right my by work but also in several other locations in the city. It's a pretty casual spot without much in the way of ambiance but the food is always AMAZING and the staff here are consistently very friendly across all the locations I've been to. I've even been invited to free tastings and cooking demos, great place.
(5)
Bruce B.

Not vegan the serve chicken and there are disturbing references to non vegan foods like bacon, and burgers I had the sausage portobello burger the sausage was like rubber puck once I remove the flavors were great the soup was African peanuts and was great the watermelon fresco with a splash of hibiscus lemonaid.... wow the soup was the beast part the worker who felt the need to sweep the rug into my face wile I was eating was the worst and she ignored my complaint and kept it up it was so stupid the tip jar said "instant karma'" $2tip for a $10 meal I hoped for better treatment. I'm still sneezing and I will have to use my inhaler before I her to the door ...so no good karma here. It it was not for the inconsiderate staff and even with rubber sausage I would have given 4 stare
(2)
Alex N.

As someone who is recently starting vegetarianism, this is a perfect place to check out. Great food, I mean, GREAT. So tasty and delicious. If I could eat here everyday I'd bed in heaven. I do have one issue but it's not a giant problem. The prices are a bit high. Standard restaurant prices for the quality but it find it difficult to bring non vegan friends due to the prices. As one put it "Why would I pay $11 dollars for wheat and vegetables?" Other than that, this place is perfect. Service was great as well. I will return.
(4)
Michelle M.

YUM! I'm so happy I finally made it here. This is a place to bring those who are skeptical of vegan food to show them how flavorful, satisfying and hearty plant-based cuisine can be. I had the Oklahoma Bacon Barbecue burger and it was crazy good! It's incredibly flavorful and savory with caramelized onions, gooey "cheese," ranch, tofu bacon and more on top of thinly-sliced seitan. Also I ate it like 8 hours ago and I'm still full. My husband had the blackened tempeh tacos which definitely could pass for fish and had awesome flavor. We also shared a breaded "wings" appetizer and their "chicken" is startlingly realistic but very good. OH and they have free refills of watermelon agua fresca, several different iced teas and an amazing lavender lemonade. Everything is flavorful, fresh, made in-house and 100% vegan. What's not to like? My only disappointment is that I realized JUST NOW that I ordered a cup of pozole rojo to go with my sandwich and I never got it. I really wanted to try that, too. OH NO. I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK.
(5)
Liz K.

Oh Native foods...Where were you when I was a vegetarian for years and years? Even though I am no longer a vegetarian this place and their "meat substitute" stuff rocks! Okay so ordering was a bit confusing because there were a lot of options and I didn't understand this native meat thing. Basically it is this vegetarian/vegan mixture that really tastes a bit like ground beef...but it is not I swear. I really don't know if it is soy based or tofu but it is delish! I ordered a taco salad and WOW it was huge!! So at first I was like what is this brown stuff....but wow the native "meat" is really good. Everything was so fresh especially the avocado...yum. Not only is the food great but they have free refills on their really really yummy fruit drinks...no no not sugary fruit drinks but refreshing drinks...I had the watermelon fresca and well let's just say I got my refills worth! ;-) Even though there are so many great places around the area...this place definitely sticks out...especially if you are a vegetarian or in an organic food frenzy.
(4)
Grant J.

Vegan heaven. This was my first time at Native Foods Cafe and boy was I ever impressed. First of all, the entire menu was vegan. That alone is reason to applaud. I've been disappointed before by some vegan restaurants but that didn't happen here. The food was served fast, was delicious, and it was all enhanced by super nice and efficient servers and staff. So often I've visited vegan diners and had to endure an aloof indifference permeating from the staff. That is not at all the case at this Native Foods Cafe. Also, this is a great place to people watch. The day we ate here, there were young people, old people, families, hipsters, fashionistas, straight couples, gay couples, and several different nationalities all represented. Eating here was such a glorious experience that upon leaving we felt compelled to put additional money in the tip jar even though we had already tipped once before.
(5)
Sara T.

Holy crap. Never been so satisfied with food in my life. My friend got the watermelon fresca and chicken wings/tenders appetizer. (They are called wings but they look like tenders.) both were fantastic and my friend, and avid meat eater, actually said he would be back. The 'chicken' needed no sauce and the drink was super refreshing and not sweet. I got the meatball sub and carrot cupcake. Sub was incredible. Looked an taste like a real meatball sub but was more awesome because it comes with an incredible pesto and medley of peppers. To be honest, I didn't like the cupcake. I think that's just a personal preference as it was very dense and I was looking for a lighter cake. After eating one bite, I pushed it aside. An hour later, with the expectation that it wasnt going to taste like carrot cake, I was able to eat it. Update: My second time I got the bacon cheeseburger with ranch on the side. Fabulous. Havent eaten real bacon in years but satisfied any need for it. Highly recommend. Ny friend got the greek gyro bowl. It wasn't repulsive, but it wasn't so amazing that I had to eat it all. Chocolate cupcake and brownie for dessert. Cupcake was better but we used the extra icing to finish the brownie. The service is akways awesome, as well. During my first time there I signed up for a rewards card before I even got my food cause it looked so appetizing and knew I'd be back. Another friend recommended it to me and said every time he's been there, his food has also been good. Legitimately may be my new favorite place to eat.
(5)
Ashley R.

Five star food Every time ! This place never under performs love native foods for giving amazing food for my sometimes restricting diet !
(5)
Beth R.

Whatever your doing right now, stop it. Get in you car/bus/train/bike/uber and get the hell over to Native Foods. Right now. The food here is so incredibly good, that you forget that there's no meat or dairy in it. I've only had a few items on the menu , such as the Reuben, chicken sandwich, and my all time favorite, the meatball sub. I can't order anything else but the meatball sub now. I'm freaking obsessed with it. My husband let me try his Bistro steak sandwich, begrudgingly. Their desserts are phenomenal. The cupcakes are so good they make me want to cry. Do yourself a favor ,take my advice and go there now. Seriously.
(5)
Sonia P.

Stumbled upon this place while strolling through Wicker Park and after days of consuming highly caloric and delicious meals during our Chicago vacay, we needed a serious food detox. Native Foods Cafe is THE perfect spot to grab healthy, flavorful noms. Everything is vegan but for you skeptics out there, you won't be disappointed. My Mini-Greens Salad paired with the Chipotle black bean soup (soup du jour) was the perfect portion and highly seasoned. My sweetie enjoyed the Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad (tons of kale, kinda felt like a dinosaur eating all the leaves) with Native Tempeh (still don't know what Tempeh is but he's a regular carnivore and approved the tempeh). They also have various lemonades including a lavender one which I was eager to try but it was underwhelming, not enough lavender flavor. Do yourself a favor and check out Native Foods Cafe, your body will thank you! P.S. they're opening up a location in DC!
(4)
Jordan P.

With locations in Boulder, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, and Chicago, this vegan sensation makes some fantastic dishes that make you say "Lacto-Ovo WHO?! Meat WHAT?" Instead of soda, they offer these tasty fountain options. I went for a little tea-lavender-lemonade combo with a bit of slapped mint. Sign up for their rewards program/email listserv, and your first fountain drink is FREE! In addition to the INCREDIBLE sweet potato fries that I split with my buddy, I went with the Ensalada Azteca.Fresh avocado, cucumber, and jicama salsa with romaine, currants, toasted pumpkin seeds, and cilantro atop quinoa and served with Mango-Lime vinaigrette. So good. So, so good. The bathroom is painted with elephants, and is beautiful. The prices aren't too steep, and the service is always with a smile and plenty of suggestions if you're not sure what to get. The sweet potato fries will keep me coming back for more (well, they would if I lived nearby.)
(5)
Dreena L.

I am a frequent customer at Native Foods and wanted to make a reservation for Thanksgiving since I didn't feel like cooking. When I call today the lady who answered the phone seemed nice. Once I told her what I was calling for (to verify my reservation time) she just hung up. I called back and the same lady answered the phone. I proceeded to ask her if she hung up on me purposely or it was technical difficulty. She didn't respond to me at all just was silent. I immediately got angry and asked her my question again. She asked for my first and last name and the time I made a reservation for. Not only did she probably hang up on me but she was asking questions that I was calling the restaurant for?!?!?! She was like, "oh okay" and then she finally told me the time. I didn't want to drive out there because the customer service initially through me off so I opted out to go to another location. Get y'all customer service together!
(2)
Addy S.

I really dig! The food is excellent, and in the numerous times I have been there, the service has been superb. Often I suggest this place to out of town friends. If it was a little cheaper, I would eat there more often.
(5)
Jessica C.

I hate how this place is so amazing I'm obsessed! I think it's a bit pricey but then again they do such a great job at imitating meat I can understand. I've had many different options here and have always enjoyed the food..well except the Scorpion Burger, eek! But other than that... Their fries have a delicious seasoning which is such a plus! My favorites by far: Aztec Salad Chicken Run Ranch Burger Baja Blackened Tacos NATIVE CHICKEN WINGS (these are a must, so damn good) Their holiday specials are super delicious as well... I'm always wanting to come back here to try something new, can't wait to try more options! YUM.
(4)
Michelle B.

Makes eating healthy look hard..fresh, wholesome but no soul. Nice ambiance and staff. Delicious juices.
(3)
Teresa C.

One of the best Vegan places I've been to. Despite all the options that I have in Wicker Park, I come here all the time. I love the daily specials that they have (comes with a free side -- I always try to get some veggies, but the sweet potato fries always win me over). Anything on their salad menu is delicious, and for those of you hesitant to try tofu chicken, this is the place to give it a first try! Also, don't forget about their dessert menu. ;)
(4)
Sara M.

I unknowingly completed a science experiment at Native Foods yesterday-- it was to find out if I was allergic to cashews. I'm (thankfully) not! Allow me to explain... Having never been here before, I came in and ordered the Native Nachos which someone said was delicious. It looked really good when it came out and I was totally pumped. Now let me say, for having been a vegetarian for 10 years and a vegan at a prior time in my life, I can safely say I am totally ignorant of what ingredients make up fake meats, cheeses, etc. So I tasted a few things in small bites before asking a waiter what this weird creamy thing on my plate was. He told me it was made of cashews. I'm allergic to peanuts and walnuts (and thus avoid all nuts because I really have no idea what else I'm allergic to in that family). I instantly went in to panic mode because I was purseless- aka benadryl-less. ANYWAY, long story short I survived with no side effects at all and they were very nice and brought me new nachos sans cream/cheese which is made with CASHEWS for others of you that might have food allergies. I'm not going to fault them too much because I didn't make my food allergies known, but it would have been nice to know that the cheese was made of nuts...I mean, who would've known?! I guess next time I'll ask for an allergen menu. The food was pretty good. I wish I had ordered something else, though. If I had known I was going to be unable to eat the cheeses/creams I probably would've gotten their bacon cheeseburger (without cheese!) or maybe their bankok curry bowl (i think that was what it was callled?). I don't know that I'll go out of my way to try it again, but I'll probably stop by if I'm in the area. It's nice to go somewhere and know that everything is vegetarian, though not always allergen free :)
(3)
Wing C.

Native Foods has monthly specials and daily specials so there's always a chance to try something new. The October special is a seitan torta with a black bean puree. I had it to-go, and it was one of the nicest carry out packages I've had. They separated all the sauces so even when I had leftovers, my meal was not soggy. The seitan didn't really have that much taste, but because there was so many other flavors, this sandwich was good. The black bean puree was delicious on its own and as a dip for the sandwich. If you ask for it to be spicy, you also get a spicy salsa too.
(4)
Ricky B.

I have to say I was really surprised when I walked into the Native Cafe. I am a person that loves chicken and all things fried. Looking at the menu was a little displeasing, but I ordered the portobello and sausage burger. It as pretty big and came with lots of veggie toppings like lettuce and tomato. The sweet potato fries are wonderful. I was definitely surprised about how great the food was. If all vegan/vegetarian food was this good, I could totally see me switching over. Give it a try, you will enjoy! Ricky
(5)
Melissah L.

I think my meat-loving boyfriend was not so thrilled about trying this place- but by the end he was so impressed he actually told me that we should "definitely come back at least every two weeks." Food: - Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad- AMAZING, mouthwatering jalapeno cilantro salad dressing, soft and chewy tempeh and chunks of jicama and red pepper scattered throughout. The salad itself is huge and left me stuffed and feeling great by the end of the meal - Portabello Sausage Burger- great flavor and texture, my boyfriend found it a little on the small side (for the price), but I was really pleased at how strong the sausage flavors came through and how the chewiness resembled a burger made with meat - Sweet potato fries- hands down best sweet potato fries I've ever had, a must-try - Watermelon Fresca- Watermelon juice with a hint of mint, delicious, refreshing and a great deal because you get free refills! We tried all of the drinks available and this was our favorite Service: - Pretty good, this is not really a sit-down restaurant with waiter service-- you order at the counter and they bring your food to the table Give it a try!
(5)
ariela r.

Love this place! Always have had friendly service. Sweet potato fries are so good, best sweet potato fries ever and I've had a lot. Mac and cheese is really good too! The Ensalada Azteca Salad is tasty, recently tried the Sesame Kale Macro Bowl for the first time and it was so good, though the tempeh was a bit bland. The first time I came here I had the super italian meatball sub, which I never really order subs but I'm glad I did because it was really good! On my last visit when I went before I had to head to the airport, my friend had the twister wrap with crispy chicken, it was SO good that I decided to get it as well for my dinner that night. As for dessert, the carrot cream cheese cupcake and brownie are really good! I've tried the oatmeal cream pie and it was too sweet for me but my friend liked it. I've gone to 3 locations in Chicago and they're all good. The second time I went the food took maybe 10 minutes, but apparently they have a policy where you get free dessert if it takes longer than a certain amount of time! They make their own tempeh, seitan,vegan chicken and vegan cheese which is pretty awesome considering so many restaurants these days just use already made food from a store. PLEASE OPEN A LOCATION IN NEW YORK CITY!
(5)
Laura K.

I am Vegan and I adore this place. They have healthy options and junk food options depending on your mood. The food is incredible and there are so many fun dishes to choose from! Even meat eaters love this restaurant. The customer service here is the best I received from most fast food places. The cashier is always chipper and friendly. You order the food with the cashier but you are served the food at your table. The servers are so accommodating and always ask if you need anything else. It seems like the staff really loves their job and are happy to be there. I recommend the Soul Bowl for the corn bread and native chicken, the brownie for the chocolate chips on top, the curry bowl for the sauce or the Moroccan bowl for the grilled veggies.
(5)
Erin C.

I don't like the Oklahoma bacon cheese burger. But it's not because how they taste. It's just personally I love the actual bacon. But it does taste decent. I fell in love with the lavender lemonade. It is soooo good!! And yes, get their reward program! And and, the atmosphere is nice too! And and and, definitely recommend to any one to try new things!
(4)
C N.

So I wrote directly to Native Foods earlier this month thinking that they would value the feedback but after almost a month of not hearing anything, I guess I will just post the letter on here: July 3rd, 2014 Hello, I have been a loyal customer for the past 3 years since moving to Chicago with very happy experiences from native foods. Today was the first very disappointing experience I've had with the company and it had to do with the manager at the wicker park location around 2 pm or so. My actual receipt can verify the timing if you need and the cashier was extremely embarrassed by her manager's behavior. The bottom line was that about 2 weeks ago a cashier told me that around my birthday I could get a free birthday meal. I asked her if I needed anything other than a registration with my email and she said no. Today, 3 days after my birthday I came to collect this birthday lunch and the manager helped me sign up by looking up my long member number knowing that it was to fufill this "birthday meal" for my birthday that had already happened 3 days before. I thought it would be a quick process but ended up taking a bit of time that the employee encouraged me to go ahead and do. After everything was said and done, the employee said she still couldn't make it go through and when she asked her manager for help again, he said oh yeah it takes two weeks for it to get processed which he didn't mention before. He said he couldn't do anything about it because everything is done by computers and was very flippant. He then quickly walked away and started punching away at another computer and avoided eye contact. I was extremely disappointed in his behavior as I have been the manager of several places and I know this is not the way to treat anyone. The employee was very embarrassed by her managers behavior. He was about my height around 5"5 and dark cropped hair. I hope that you do not have managers like this running your place in the future. I had brought a guest with me and had raved about this place ahead of time and was very embarrassed. I could care less about the silly birthday meal but was upset about the way that I was treated and pushed aside and the time that I wasted with him. I hope that management attitude changes so that I can frequent here and bring more friends here.
(1)
Tina S.

I know you guys (and gals) are probably sick of hearing me freak out over how amazing the vegetarian/vegan cuisine is in my reviews, but I'm sorry. Deal with it. It's just SOOOOO good. Native Foods Cafe was a delight to my taste buds. I felt somehow environmentally friendlier and although stuffed, pretty damn healthy after my meal. Let me explain: the options are so interesting...exotic even. You'll find things like jicama, sprouts, scorpion burgers (my friend ordered one and even got the vegan cheese!), seitan gyros (that is NOT like a gyro at all), quinoa, lavender lemonade on the menu for starters. This was definitely a "step aside and really study the menu" kind of place. The bold flavors, the colorful dishes, the healthy, leafy, green things! You can also get a rewards card with them. For signing up on my visit, my drink was free. YAY! Who doesn't love free sh*t?!?! You build up points to get discounts on your meals, stuff on your birthday and other fun perks! Do it! You'll want to go back to explore the menu. That's my plan, anyway. They also have three locations in the city so if you're feeling really frisky, go nuts and switch up the scenery. Sound good? Yep. You're welcome, meat eaters.
(4)
Beth S.

I've always been a big fan of Native Foods, and was pumped to check out the experimental menu at the Wicker Park location, but I have to say I was kind of disappointed. My boyfriend got the Cauliflower Power sandwich, which was pretty good and reasonably priced at $8, but my Saigon Salad was something I could easily make at home, and for way less than $10. That's not to say it was bad, just definitely not worth $10. Also a bummer was seeing "premium sides" for $4, or $3 when added to an entree. "Premium sides" included.. roasted vegetables. Roasted vegetables for $4?! Even $3, if I'm already spending $10 on an entree, is kinda insane. Not to mention that this location doesn't have the weekday deals (BTW, Native, why you gotta get rid of the weekend deals?!).. so it ends up being pricier than I expect. The food itself is always good and the staff are always friendly and helpful, but the price points are getting a little nuts, especially for the less innovative stuff here. And sorry, a bowl of noodles with a little bit of tofu and sriracha and romaine lettuce is not innovative.
(3)
Emily K.

Perfect option for any picky vegan friends!! The food is delicious I swear I believe I am eating meat when there is zilch!
(5)
Ashley B.

I really like this place! I am not vegan or vegetarian but I do limit the amount of meat I eat. My boyfriend, however, loves meat and was a chef and loves food in general so he was a bit more weary. To my surprise, we both loved it! The food tasted fresh, it wasn't dry, the sides were good and the portions were nice. It was a bit on the expensive side for sure but I didn't feel like garbage after I ate there, which was worth it to me. Since we moved to Wicker we often find ourselves craving this place and will go get take-out every so often. AND if you get the rewards card it will give you free items every so often, which is really nice. I would definitely recommend that anyone try this place, vegan or carnivore and everything in between!
(4)
Lindsay C.

Two stars because I appreciate the concept of the restaurant...but the Carrot Cake Cupcakes are so not good!!!! I was so excited to see them on the menu and while I stood in line for 15 minutes to order one I thought about how perfect it would be to stop by here everyday for a cupcake after the gym! (ridiculous I know...my sweet tooth is out of control) I LOVE carrot cake, but these were not even edible to me!! Wahhhhhhh!!!
(2)
Michael F.

A vegan restaurant at the former site of a ghetto Burger King. Now that's progress! It also helps that they serve good food, are friendly, and alcohol is available. This is the sort of place that you can bring anyone who enjoys flesh au animal and they would find several things on the menu that they would enjoy. Though Native Foods is part of a chain, you don't get that feeling from the place and neither the food or atmosphere suffers. In this respect, you can say that this is the Trader Joe's of restaurants. Eat here!
(4)
Candice G.

Why has it taken me so long to review a place I've been so many times? Imma be real- probably laziness. But I have started multiple drafts and just never felt they did Native Foods Cafe justice. I think I've had about a quarter of the menu so far, and though I love them like a 5 star, I have to be real and give the food an overall 4. Things I love the most: - Elephant drawing in the women's bathroom - Watermelon water and lavender lemonade- To.F*cking.Die.For - ANY of their soups - The daily deals! - The frequent eater's cards - The salads - Apps are good to - The bowls are beautiful - The servers are beyond helpful- TIP THEM. They work hard and they bring your food, clean up your ish, and refill your drink for you even though, technically, it's self serve -Mmm... phony fish tacos - The art. Colorful, innovative, animal-y -- just my style! - The desserts! Get the Gooey bar and if you can, wait a day or two to eat it. It tastes even better- I swear! Things I'm 'meh' about: - The burger. Specifically the Caribbean Queen burger. I loved all the mango salsa biz-nast but something about the burger's look, texture, taste and smell gave me the willies. Looked like sad bad chicken, smelled sour, tasted bad spongy. - Being perpetually out of both toilet paper and paper towels in the women's bathroom. Solution: Check on the TP more, get an electric hand dryer. You know people are clogging with the paper towels bc they're wiping their asses with them, right? And that's all folks. If you have any questions, you kind find me here all patio season with a neverending glass of watermelon water.
(4)
Ashley H.

Five star experience every time I go here with my vegan friends! I myself am not a vegan but I darn well could be with places like native foods. Their burgers and chowder and nachos and amazing lavender lemonade and peach tea...all great. The staff there is just awesome. Helpful, friendly and just happy that you're there. Everyone there wants you to have a great experience! They also have a free rewards program which is neat. Who doesn't like free stuff?
(5)
Bril B.

Vegan Heaven! My younger brother turned me on to this place when it first opened and I have been going every since. The food tastes great and Non vegans enjoy it too I work with teens and I took them, but didn't tell them it was a vegan restaurant until after they demolished the food. Their favorite...The Chicken Run Ranch My favorites...the whole menu!
(5)
Katie M.

I LOVE this place! My husband is a big meat eater so I didn't think he'd go for it but he loved his italian sausage sub and even suggested we go there again for dinner the next night! The check out girl was super friendly and helped us narrow down our choices. The lemonade and watermelon juice (free refills) were delicious and the food came out right when they said it would. I've loved everything I've had so far and plan to try every single thing on the menu. YUM!
(5)
Tommy D.

It's a total chain, but so what, the food is great! I had the Italian meatball sub. It was a tiny bit dry.. could have used some sliced tomatoes or more sauce of something.. but overall very enjoyable. Even the Parmesan "cheese" was tasty. Often vegan cheese is overly spicy, but this wasn't. My fiancee had a vegan soup and a mixed greens salad, both of which she enjoyed thoroughly. We shared the chili fries that came with some nacho "cheese".. which was more of a whip. I have to say... we prefer the whipped vegan cheese than the usual watery nacho "sauce" often seen on nachos. Fiancee also had a glass of the hedges red wine which she liked as well. Keep in mind this is the opening week.. so the line was stupid long and slow as balls. And even more irritating.. the people in front of us STILL didn't know what they wanted after studying the menu in line for 25 minutes. Then on top of that, the cashiers are trying to greet you with a script and then want to sign you up as a "member".. and that requires time and information. That stuff will fade away with time. We'll be back to enjoy more menu items! My dog is wheezing. WTF?!
(4)
B R Hungry X.

This place is THEE vegan spot. The must-have's are the earth bowls (my favorite is the greek gryo bowl) - the fake meat tastes awesome in this meal. They have the best vegan creations and flavors. If you want a great meal, I can suggest my favorites: Greek Gryo Bowl, with a side of sweet potato fries, or order a whole side of the chili cheese fries, and nacho starter. The tempeh is really good too. They serve beers and natural juice drinks available like the lavendar lemonade. For anyone that is looking to try vegan, this is the right place to go, I can't imagine anything else that would compare. I live about 35 minutes from here in no traffic, I do my best to make the hike at least twice a month. This place hits the spot whenever I have my vegan cravings. As for my bf, he is the carnivore, he ordered the bacon cheeseburger, the meat on the cheeseburger is sliced like deli meat and not a patty (I tried it and it was okay) and I've had a friend try the italian meatball - they said they both liked it, but would probably rather have real meat. Regardless, for those that are open to try vegan, this is the right spot - always does it for me! *R*
(5)
A B.

The bad: Well they... didn't have the bacon cheese burger so I ordered the scorpion burger instead but they didn't have cheddar 'cheese' so I got the mozzarella. After I ordered the woman asked me "are you familiar with vegan food?" which I found kind of offensive since she said it AFTER I ordered. I didn't come in here expecting a dead cow on my plate. It wouldn't have irked me had she asked if I was familiar with the restaurant (it was my first time here) or familiar with veganism BEFORE I ordered. The peanut butter parfait was a bit too liquidy and the flavor wasn't amazing. Much better desserts can be had at Karyn's and Chicago Diner. The good: Everything else. My scorpion burger was spicy, not greasy, and delicious. Loved the seasoning on the fries and they were thin and crisp the way I like my fries. The lavender lemonade wasn't too sweet or too perfume-y tasting. The presentation and flavors are much better than the now defunct Veggie Bite. And bonus for the out door patio too.
(3)
Caitlin B.

I have been to this place a few times and have never had a less-than superb experience. The first time I went with my boyfriend because we knew it was vegetarian-friendly. He ordered a dish with "chicken" in it, and the whole time he was gushing about how amazing the chicken was and how much he wish I could try it because it was so tender. It was only the second time we went that we read the fine print which explained that all their "meat" is non-meat. It's a LITTLE pricey (with drinks, appetizers, desserts...all of which you will want), but definitely worth every penny. Do not miss out on the lavender lemonade! It's a great restaurant for a mixed company of herbivores and carnivores alike :)
(5)
tages t.

good as usual!
(5)
Ravina D.

Okay, first off, let me just get out of the way that the nachos are OFF THE CHAIN good. I highly recommend them and they are crazy filling. They usually last me two meals and I could eat them every day. Their fake taco meat is awesome and the bizarre cashew cheese foam thing is also delicious. Now for the rest of it: 1) The staff is weird. Sometimes, it's like weird good - like they're super nice, like happy-pill nice. But often, they treat you like they're on downers. It makes me kind of sad... 2) The nachos (which again, CRAZY GOOD) always, without fail, get soggy after like 2 minutes. It's kind of gross. So I almost always order the chips on the side, or ask for extra chips. They almost always forget to put the chips on the side and then charge me for the extra chips! BOOO!! But then sometimes, they randomly give me free extra chips that I didn't ask for (and don't refuse). 3) They don't know how to package anything to go. The packaging scheme was designed as a 3rd grade science project. I have ordered 3 different items as take out and when I opened them (a block and a half away), they were all over the place. Just a total mess of slop in a leaky box. 4) The drinks are totally foul. There is no excuse. Seriously? You screwed up tea? Not acceptable.
(2)
Richard J.

In all honesty, I wanted to hate this place. I was sure this was going to drown out Chicago Diner and tear them down, but I when after my visit, my fears were calmed and viewed it as a different place. The food is amazing, for one. The Oklahoma burger was packed with delicious vegan goodness. Honestly, it was filled. There were like layers and layers of fake meat and cheese and extra and oh lawdy, I shant ever sin again! In their specialty drinks, I had the lavender lemonade and it was super refreshing and having it be free refills was a nice touch seeing as how the prices will set ya back a bit. As I mentioned, the prices will set you back. I was one to pick off the daily specials because sides are extra unless you choose that. So it's like a 10 dollar sandwich PLUS $2-$3 side PLUS your $2 drink. For most, a $15 meal isn't so bad especially if you're eating out, but it just seems insulting. (I also guess since you also don't need to tip you save something...)
(5)
Kevin G.

We stumbled across Native Foods by chance, while we were in Wicker Park to run a few errands at Reckless Records and Myopic Books. We wanted to try something new for lunch instead of the usual restaurants we frequent, and once we spotted Native Foods our curiosity got the better of us and we opted to give it a shot. Big mistake. First, I would like to point out that my partner and I both enjoy vegetarian and vegan cuisine. We're meat eaters, but greatly enjoy eating vegetarian cooking at home and out at places like Handlebar where vegetarian cooking is prepared well and satisfies in terms of flavors, textures, and presentation. We were not aware that Native Foods was a vegetarian restaurant. We didn't see that information posted anywhere; not on the menu posted in the window, not on the mural painted on the wall at the front of the restaurant, not anywhere. If it is indicated somewhere, it must not be very blatant because we did not see it. Therefore, we assumed we were ordering a meat burger and as a result had different expectations. I ordered the chicken run ranch sandwich, expecting it to be... umm, let me think... chicken? After a few bites I knew something wasn't right. The outside of the chicken patty wasdeep fried and crispy, but the inside was a flavorless mush with the color and texture of oatmeal. Interestingly enough, I would have preferred an oatmeal sandwich over this. My partner ordered the deli Rueben. He only eats this sandwich once in awhile, and was looking forward to having a real rueben. Once he started eating, his reaction was the opposite of what I expected. Instead of saying, "Wow, this tastes great!" there was a look of confusion on his face, eventually turning into a frown. He commented several times during the meal, "This doesn't taste right." "If this is corned beef it's really bland." He liked the rye bread, but unfortunately the bread was the only part he complimented. The best part of a sandwich shouldn't be the bread. We didn't find out until later that it was actually seitan. We've had great seitan before. You can find it at Handlebar. We've eaten seitan at home and enjoyed it thoroughly. The issue isn't that we're opposed to seitan. The issue is: Native Foods has bad seitan. To be fair... There were a few minor pluses. (Not enough to save it from a two star rating, but nice nonetheless.) The sweet potato fries were good. Seasoned well and a good portion. I'd avoid dipping them in their ketchup, however, because they serve Annie's brand, which has so much cane sugar in it that it tastes more like cake frosting than ketchup. The lemon dill potato salad was delicious. The portion size was small, but those few bites were fresh and quite tasty. All 3 beverages were outstanding. The lemonade, iced tea, and watermelon fresca all hit the spot, and were all unique versions of traditional summer drinks. Native Foods owners, are you listening? Have you considered bottling and selling these 3 beverages? The beverages are one thing you're doing right. PRICE: In regards to overall value and price, Native Foods is way out of line. 30 bucks for a couple of sandwiches? We're not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but paying that amount of money for a couple of sandwiches we didn't even enjoy left us feeling ripped-off. For 20 bucks we could have had a made from scratch burger, boca burger, or chicken sandwich across the street at Pint and enjoyed every bite. We won't be back to Native Foods, unless they make significant improvements. There is too much competition here in Chicago. Even among vegetarian restaurants, there are multiple places nearby where you can get far more bang for your buck and leave feeling satisfied, instead of leaving feeling unsatisfied, duped, and ripped-off. Do yourself a favor. Stop in for a lemonade, and then go somewhere else to eat.
(2)
Baby S.

Yes, just yes. Easily accesible vegan food in an entertaining neighbourhood. Big place with plenty of seating options and the food arrives in a very timely manner (both dining in and taking-out.) The daily specials are very reasonably priced. The food is tasty although it was a taste I was unfamiliar with, possibly the seasoning? I ordered the Scorpion Burger with a side of the dill-potato salad which was good. I also tried the Soul Bowl with a side of homemade soup on a separate occasion which was really good. My meat eating friend ordered the Chicken Run Ranch Burger and enjoyed it although oblivious he was eating at a vegan establishment. He didn't ask so I didn't tell, you know how it is.
(4)
Chris C.

I stumbled upon this place today while walking to the blue line. I thought it was delicious. I am a meat eater but once in a while will eat vegan/vegetarian for something different. This place was as good as it gets for me. The "chicken" tastes like chicken. I would recommend the bowls, particularly the Moroccan one. Definitely try it.
(5)
Maya M.

Vegan food? Excuse me? So I can't order my favorite ham sandwich with steak as the bread? As someone who eats meat (though as scantly as possible. I'm looking at YOU low iron!!), I was pretty skeptical about eating "meat" for dinner. Wow. I was pleasantly surprised. The Yo Amigo Taco salad was easily the best taco salad I've ever had, it was so colorful, and the ingredients were fresh and crisp. That lavender lemonade? Majestic. Native Foods can throw down. I'll be back for sure!!
(5)
M v.

I love everything about this place. From the emphasis on healthy, fresh eating to the overall restaurant culture Chef Tanya has created. I was fortunate enough to make it to the opening and had an absolutely wonderful experience. The food was delicious from my lavender lemonade to my cardamom rose cupcake. The oklahoma bacon cheeseburger was outstanding and worthy of two meals (I'd been apprehensive about the battered dill chips, but they were hugely complementary). I also ordered the Nachos and they were basically enough to feed an army. Sustainable, animal-free food that is community friendly and delicious -- what is not to love?! I can't wait until the Loop location opens. I will be lunching there as often as I can.
(5)
Annie G.

I would eat here everyday if I could. That might not be super good for my waist line but it would be worth it. The ingredients are fresh and local and they have incredible vegan food. I think my dreams just came true. I had the Oklahoma Burger. It's been a while since I've eaten anything that good be properly described as gnarly but here it was in all of it's glorious. I'm not even sure what it was made from but it doesn't even matter. I'm always suspicious of vegan cheese but it's done right here. Service was friendly and efficient. The environment is decent, I went in the afternoon where it wasn't terribly busy or awkwardly lonely either. They should (and will, I'm told?) have more local art which would give the place some flair and help alleviate the "omg I'm eating at a nation wide chain" feeling. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Amy G.

I've been to my fair share of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurants. From big platters of Ethiopian lentils on spongy injera to spicy Buddhist Korean broths, this bonafide omnivore is totally cool with a meat-free meal every once in a while. Heck, even once a day, maybe! This said, I've rarely been impressed with specifically vegetarian restaurants, with many relying on soy- and gluten-heavy meat substitutes that are low in flavor, texture, and nutritional value. ...And then came Native Foods CafÃ©, a small California-based chain. Now, I've been to Chicago Diner and Victory's Banner; Pick Me Up CafÃ© and Mana. Native Foods differs from them because it isn't merely "good... for veg*n food"--it's straight-up freakin' delicious and something I crave on a regular basis. I am in love with this Wicker Park location. Expansive, light, airy, and with easy street parking 'n plenty of seating, it reminds me of one of my favorite haunts in the town I went to college in. Their ordering system is quick and efficient and meals are made-to-order but the wait is rarely long. Prices are a little steep but, gosh darn it, the quality of food and incredibly friendly service more than justify it. Oh, and the staff? So unbelievably nice. One of the waitresses remembered me on a recent visit and gifted me a free cupcake. The food: Delicious, although lacking in options for those with gluten and soy intolerances, which are becoming more and more prevalent nowadays. All of my vegan friends are crazy about the Chicken Run Ranch Burger, but I cannot get beyond the Sausage Portabella Burger to even try the former. Native Foods makes all their faux meats in-house and their seitan sausage burger is perfect. Thick enough to be substantial but not some kind of gut-bomb of overwhelming fake wheat meat, the spice blend really does make one think of a delicious, homemade sausage patty. Capped (pun!) with meaty, smoky grilled portabella slices, this is a sandwich to make any mushroom lover a happy camper. It's all topped off with a homemade pesto, chopped tomatoes, a basil leaf, and a soft, fresh homemade wheat bun. Most of their sandwiches come with a side of crispy French fries. Substitute these with their savory sweet potato fries, order a side of their dill-heavy homemade ranch for dipping, and thank me later. The sides are worth exploring too. Native Foods offers awesome seasonal soups--I'm a big fan of the roasted squash in the autumn--as well as refreshing drinks like various flavored lemonades (lavender!), wines, craft sodas, and organic beers. While Native Foods lacks options for those with food allergies as well as those on low-carbohydrate diets, their execution of vegan specialties is pretty flawless and definitely warrants a cheat day ev'ry so often. From homemade "cheeses" and "meats" to fresh produce and delightful baked goods, I could never go back to a plain ol' Bocaburger.
(4)
Kara C.

Lines out the door - and for a good reason! I'm not vegan, but if I went here and taste tested their menu blind, I would have no idea my "meatball sub" was actually made of seitan and not cow guts. It was delicious. And apparently, oh-so-healthy for you. Also highly recommend the Scorpion Burger (the best item on the menu), the Watermelon Fresca drink (not too sweet), and wearing your tightest pair of skinny jeans. This is a vegan restaurant, after all...in Wicker Park.
(4)
Dannie L.

To begin, I have to say I'm not vegan, not remotely. My cousin is, however, so she's taking me to the first vegan restaurant which I will begin to explore in the city. And I gotta say I loved it! The space, first of all, is huge, they have the front area, the back area and the huge outdoor patio area. the environment is pretty chill-laxed, you pick out what you want, order, get a number, sit down, chill and a friendly server brings your food to you. And they serve alcohol which is awesome. We sat outside on a nice night, we loved it, the only thing is, when the train passes by (and they pass by pretty frequently :( ), it could get really really loud and you basically have to pause your conversation until it's gone. If that will bother you, just sit inside. Then, the food, mmmm, the food, so good! I had the soul bowl, which, upon reading fellow yelpers' review, had sold me already and it didn't disappoint! Fresh veggie, beans and rice with fried vegan chicken, who knew that vegan chicken could taste just like chicken, if not yummier! If I could buy their chicken in frozen form, I'd totally stock them up in my freezer. I'll def. go back just for their chicken! LOL. My husband got the day's special, which is portobello and sausage burger, and he really enjoyed it, dispite the fact that he doesn't like seitan. We also really liked their drinks we had mixed the Lavender Lemonade and Watermelon Fresca, delish! You should try it when you go! Unfortunately we didn't try their dessert ( I know, I know I will def. try next time, I promised!) so I can't rate on them yet. All and all, it's a very enjoyable experience, fresh and tasty food/drinks, friendly staff, loved the concept. A must go! I can't wait till they open one in the Loop so I can frequent there!
(4)
Sophia T.

resisted the gluttonous native days special and ate part of friend's caramel cupcake (yum). had new radicchal salad. tasty! loved the potatoes and crispy shallots and balsamic tofu. dressing was fabulous. the jackelope sandwich (i had a bite) was really good too. nachos were ok. not my thing really
(4)
Joel T.

Top-notch healthy vegetarian choices for affordable prices. The atmosphere is funky without trying too hard...they save the effort for the delicious food, which includes their take on the traditional American to more adventurous plates. My wife and I have a few favorites in Wicker Park, but this quickly climbed to the top of the list.
(5)
Sara J.

I loved the food, but before I get into the good stuff I'll explain the service and how the place works. You walk in and take a menu. Figure out what you want, then order it at the counter. Pay and get assigned a number which a waiter will use to find you and give you your food. It's not obvious it works this way when you walk in. When we ordered, I thought the guy talked too much and tried too hard to up sell us (drinks and more). He also made recommendations for people who were new... but since we already had a chance to look at the menu we already knew what we wanted. Seriously, we just want to order! If you're going to do the daily specials talk then become a sit down and order restaurant. Thank you. The food is very good though. Everything is vegan. I ordered the very veggie wrap, a side of potato salad, and a carrot cake cupcake. My husband ordered the chef's garden pizza, sweet potato fries, and cheesecake slice. The break down: *Veggie wrap: very tasty, but I don't know if they actually put any ranch in it though. The giardiniera was good but not very spicy. It still ended up being a wonderful lunch item. When they wrap them, they do not fold the ends so be a little creative in holding it. My husband enjoyed his sampling as well. Recommended. *Potato salad: It is served in a cabbage leaf instead of a bowl. I thought it was wonderful, my husband thought it was bland. *Carrot cake cupcake: best vegan cream cheese frosting I have ever come across, I wish I had time to stop there before I left Chicago to take some home. Lots of frosting, proportionally, to the cake itself (I love frosting). *Chef's garden pizza: I thought it was good, it wasn't quite what my husband was expecting. He thought the crust and sauce were a bit thick, but he still enjoyed it. *Sweet potato fries: they were good. They put some kind of green powdery topping on it. My husband liked the topping, I didn't care for it. Most of the potatoes are free of the powder though so I still liked my plainer fry. If you want ketchup they use an organic brand. *Cheesecake: It comes with a little side of sweetened blueberries. Best vegan cheesecake I have tried thus far, even my husband thought it was good for a vegan cheesecake.
(4)
Renee E.

I'm so glad this wasn't the travesty that was Veggie Bite. Vegan food doesn't have to suck. We stopped in for the first time last Saturday while we were in the neighborhood. We were hungry and couldn't absorb the menu, so we ordered the special: sausage and portabella burgers. I got a side of lemon dill potato salad and my friend got the sweet potato fries. We loved our burgers, which were very flavorful and much better than many veggie burgers I've eaten in my life (and oh boy, have I eaten a lot of veggie burgers.) The lemon dill potato salad was really tasty. I loved the flavor and the fresh dill. I snuck a sweet potato fry and that too, was delicious. And, because I'm a dessert hound, I got a chocolate cupcake. Good, not amazing, but nothing I wouldn't order again! The lavender lemonade was also lovely.
(5)
Jake M.

So great for cheap, healthy food on the go! Anything with Tempeh in it is amazing. They have really delicious sweet potato fries (tip: get their house made ranch on the side!)
(5)
Paige M.

Delicious, healthy, affordable food for vegans and non-vegans! The Oklahoma Bacon Barbeque burger is delicious as are all of the salads.
(5)
Adam K.

I love good vegan food, that is why I am very upset about this place. Any vegan chief should do the world a favor, don't try to make stuff taste like meat. If you are trying to make things taste like meat, don't serve it if it tastes nothing like meat. Don't make cheese out of pickled fungus and serve it as feta. Don't shave loaves of wheat glutton and pretend its beef. In all seriousness, I ordered a Buddha Bowl, everything was bland and the vegetables where overcooked. My wife got a veggie burger and it had absolutely no flavor. We ordered a salad and they ruined it, I have no idea how. If you cant fake cheese then don't. I have eaten at vegan places that blow this place out of the water so I know what can be done. This place is a disgrace to a perfectly good movement. I think they are taking advantage of good people. The man sitting across from me looked like Christopher McCandless from Into the Wild when he was dying of hunger. My salad tasted like his last meal after he was done eating it. My wife and I had a meal that cost 49.00 and it tasted like pure evil took advantage of my face.
(1)
Jenny H.

Native Foods, even though the scorpion burger was stellar, I gotta say that Northstar Cafe in Columbus, OH had the best veggie burger of all time. Despite that, I still enjoyed it between the hearty chunk of avocado- scratch that... looked like half of an avocado on my burger, in addition to the rest of the fixins. This was my first tempeh experience and while I can get pretty burger-crazed, I still consider myself the casual carnivore. The patty sufficiently quelled my brain. My friend ordered the gyro bowl and who would've thought seitan "lamb" meat with quinoa, kale and hearty veggies would prove to be so refreshing? With shiny new native cards in hand, a beverage (unlimited refills of watermelon fresca, lavendar lemonade, and or native iced tea), and table outside on a warm day.-- people watching and the acoustics of the blue line whizzing by-- I couldn't think of a better al fresco dining experience.
(4)
Reuben H.

You know how they say marijuana is a "gate way" drug? Meaning, something thought of as an introduction into a world of heavier, harder drugs? Native Foods is a good synonym for marijuana, only for the hardcore world of veganism... OK, that "hardcore" statement is absurd- considering there's absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to eat that way. Many scientists and dietitians have come out and stated that consumption of animals and animal byproducts are unnecessary and in many cases can hinder the immune and digestive systems for humans. Which is why Native Foods could be considered that "gate way" into a life of becoming a vegetarian, or ultimately vegan. Plenty on offer here that reminds meat eaters of that fleshy substance they are used to, with all the great flavor, but none of the murder. I happen to like the taste of "murder for consumption" myself, but am not at all against any type of food that is prepared well and tastes great. Nothing I've had here has been bad- and for that reason, I like Native Foods. One word of warning however. Just because the food is vegan, doesn't mean it is all that healthy... Hefty doses of mayonaise-like sauces and deep fat frying seems to be used quite a lot. Couple that with the fact that all the faux-meats are ultimately processed foods that end up becoming formed into patties and links that resemble meat means that you really don't fully know what you are eating. Still, a great place to go with a meat head who thinks he/she would not be into vegan cuisine. This place would get them to change their mind.
(4)
Heidi V.

I've been vegan for over 20 years and NEVER thought my hubs or rib-loving daughter would ever come to the clean side. NFC's WINGS and CHICKEN RUN RANCH helped to change that... not to forget a few of her campus friends! My finicky 3 y/o nephew had choices too! He liked the house made (as everything is at NFC) ranch dressing in which to dip his "chicken balls," veggies and fries... Winner right there! My old-timer, meat and potatoes kinda father actually enjoyed the MEATBALL SUB! My daughter and I are gluten free and there are several options for us on the menu...Wow! You can order online for quick, easy pick up, but stay and try a gluten free beer, their delicious homemade Lavender Lemonade, sweet tea or Watermelon Fresca, and with free refills, you can try each of the three refreshing drinks! Now, in addition to the afore-mentioned yummies, here are some of my other faves: The BAJA TACOS with their chipotle dressing and/or hot sauce are really good. The ROCKIN' MORROCCAN BOWL has lots of protein and flavor. The NACHOS are going ON! They're loaded and taste delish! My daughter went in and shared an order as a 'snack' which kept us full for quite a while. The salads are for two, no joke. I love the CARIBBEAN JERK with their special dressing. The ENSALADA AZTECA is also nice. Let's not forget the holiday SPECIALS like the corned beef on marble rye for St. Patty's Day or the Valentine's Day lasagna with Caesar salad and a piece of garlic bread! This place is friendly, attentive, handles a request or inquiry immediately; the manager takes care of customers not just delegates...It's a real people place! NFC is a definite, go-to, reliable, every time, comfortable, best place for particular vegans;)
(4)
J B.

Get the nachos! I always get into Chicago and want the vegan nachos from this place. They also have really good flavored lemonade.
(3)
Evelina L.

To even my husband's surprise, not only did we love this place, but it has fallen into our rotation for easy/lazy weeknight dinners! Especially great are all the lemonade drinks and very friendly service. Everything so far we tried on the menu has been full of flavor and delicious. My husband shocked me last time by ordering steamed kale vs. his usual sweet potato fries...healthy must be growing on him :) Thank you, Native Foods! Only complaint, please focus less on trying to imitate meat/cheese - let the veggies stand out in their glory!
(4)
Tupac L.

Def great service!! They exchange anything you dont like and are all for your satisfaction. Its a big place. Parking could be a issue on friday or saturday but thats milwaukee ave so its nothing new.
(4)
Regina C.

The options for a vegan who doesn't like mock meats are few and far between. The desserts are terrible as well. Service is great and the few dishes I've had that were with tempeh (or subing tempeh in for the seitan) were yummy, but the mock meats freak me out. The chili cheese fries were not good (what was that cashew cheese?? ew!) they would be way better with the cheddar, which is strong! It's not a bad otpions for so quick grab and go eats, btu don't get dessert...it's just not good.
(2)
Allison E.

Siiiiiigh...... I want so badly to love vegetarian eateries, even as a committed meat eater. Yet, time and time again I am disappointed that the foods served are merely palatable and just not quite worthy of eyes rolled back yum noise. My theory is that the mistake comes in trying to replicate familiar dishes with faux meat. No matter which way you slice it, deep fried and battered pulverized textured bulgar wheat soy crumbs, or whatever, are not going to be nearly as good as a proper chicken strip. I continue to cling steadfast to the belief that one can create amazing vegetarian cuisine that is original, delicious and has nothing to do with pretend meat. But enough ranting.... Native Foods. It was OK. I went for the Thai curry thing which had tofu in it. The tofu was actually kinda tough. But overall the flavors were quite nice, the portion was massive, and it was absolutely PACKED with super veggies like kale. My dinner date had something with mushrooms and some sort of faux meat that wasn't quite as spectacular. The lavender lemonade was to die for! And, surprisingly, I loved the vegan ranch and chipotle sauces that came with my fries. Whenever I cut meat and double down on the veggies at the grocery, it ends up being cheaper. That was NOT the case at Native Foods. It was a bit pricy, but like I said before, at least the portions were huge.
(3)
Annette U.

"WOW! I can't believe it's not Chicken!" I exclaimed as I scarfed down my salad and the rest of my friends food. Vegan Nachos? Completely possible and absolutely mouth watering. My husband who tends not to eat anything with out eyes was thrown into a fit of glory as he ate his scorpion burger (not containing scorpions of course) and sipped his lavender lemonade. I felt completely cleansed, body, mind and soul after eating here. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!!
(5)
Misty B.

Chef Tanya is genius! And the team she surrounds herself rocks too! I can't imagine having a bad experience here. I know there will never be cross contamination issues or un-flavorful experiences. I'm truly thankful for a CLEAN vegan restaurant in Chicago. Favorites thus far: "Fish" Tacos Sesame Kale Macro Bowl Scorpion Burger Chocolate Cupcake Lavender Lemonade Native Nachos (this list will continue to grow) I mean seriously....my taste buds and conscious thank you!
(5)
Rachel F.

Man it feels weird to give 5 stars to a vegetarian joint but you know, if it merits the stars I will dole them out. Watermelon fresca. Ridiculously tasty. Light, fresh, just a touch sweet. Sweet potato Taquitos were amazing. And a lot of food for an app. I wish I wasn't on the way to the airport so I didn't have to throw it all away! Also had the Twister Wrap with fake chicken (sorry, I'm a bit of a hater) and avocado and cucumber and such. It was amazing. Even the blackened meat stuff that really could have passed for chicken and really nicely seasoned. Very very impressed. Also, in general, a fan of the area. Lots of cool consignment shops and such. Great place to spend an afternoon.
(5)
Kitty L.

As a vegetarian who occasionally misses meat, I sometimes find myself in the mood for things like fake burgers and chicken. I've been to the Wicker Park and downtown locations several times, and I'm always left put off by one thing or another. Here are my experiences: 1. The staff can be strange. Sometimes they're super nice. Other times I've been treated like a leper. Once, the table runner forgot to bring me my soup, so I caught the eye of the manager to let her know. Apparently that pissed her off and she walked away never to return. I ended up getting my own soup from the window. 2. The cashier is more interested in getting your email address than your order. They're obsessed with this stupid email promotion and demand that you give them your address every time you come in. I have yet to benefit from it. I think you might get a free drink after spending craptons of money there. Speaking of drinks. 3. The drink options are disgusting. I like black, unsweetened iced tea. Most places have it because it's cheap, easy, healthy, and popular. All the drinks at NF are sweetened. Yes, agave is still a sweetener. Diabetic? Don't want to drink your calories? Hyperactive? Then NF wants you to fuck off! The tea is loaded with gunk and the lemonade has lavender in it. Yes, I've read all the Yelpers' rave reviews about how amazing the lemonade is and I don't care. It tastes like grandma. A tall glass of grandma. 4. I love Rubens. You know what makes a Reuben a Reuben? Sauerkraut. NF serves theirs with grilled onions. That's deceptive advertising. They should call it a wuss reuben, or an American Roobin, or a crap sandwich, because it's not a fucking Reuben. Seriously, they've pissed off the wrong cabbage enthusiast. Plus, the ratio of fake meat to cheese to sauce to bread is way off. If they're going to pile that much tempeh on there it better be tasty. Instead it was bland and dry. And, the whole thing fell apart. Sandwiches that fall apart piss me the fuck off. Also, the thing gave me a stomach ache that stuck around until the following day when it exited my body in a fireworks display of diarrhea. I'm less pissed about the poop and more upset by the lack of kraut. 5. The scorpion burger fell apart. It's dead to me. 6. The chicken ranch sandwich is good and eerily realistic. And by realistic I mean I have no idea what I'm talking about. I haven't eaten chicken in over 20 years. I could eat my slipper and think it tastes "chickeny". But the sandwich is yummy. The sweet potato fries, regular fries and soup are all good. I've had a couple other things there but I remember nothing about them. 7. Yeah, I'll probably be back to try the rest of the menu. I'm a sucker for punishment.
(3)
Jared P.

I don't buy into this organic crap that they sell to everybody. Sorry that you do.
(1)
Wayne F.

What a great place for a plant-based meal. Great selection of food. My son (who is 14 and not vegan) LOVES coming here. The native chicken in the Moroccan Bowl is awesome. Sweet Potato fries are great as a side, but look at the soups as a side as well. They give back to the community as well with Community Days. Three locations in Chicago.
(5)
Dan R.

Jeremy, Mosby, and I stopped at this place for lunch after the HOt Chocolate 15k race yesterday, and this was our first time at this restaurant. I read good reviews and heard good things as well, so i was excited to try some vegetarian food ( and i am NOT a vegetarian) I had the run chicken ranch ( or something like that lol) and Jeremy ordered the Portabela and sausage burger. Both of them were really tasty and left that lingering flavor of "i want more" in my mouth ( i just translated the saying from Portuguese so I don't know if it will make much sense to you, but you got it, the food was delicious!) thumbs down to the watermelon drink. What the heck is that? Yeah, i think i would need to be a true vegetarian to appreciate that drink, i just thought it was the most disgusting water with herbs in the world. But, in the positive side, i could just go to the fountain and exchange my drink for lemonade. And they had organic sugar! yumi! love love love the place. I will be coming back more often.
(5)
Christina M.

I have two weird things happen while there but if I'm am basing this review just based on food quality it's phenomenal! I am not a vegan vegetarian whatever by any means. But you don't have to be....This isn't grass on a plate with some air as a beverage, this is hearty big portion and only the best quality of food. The watermelon fresca and the lavender lemonade are a MUST TRY! I've had the scorpion burger, corn chowder, lemongrass coconut soup, run chick run wrap, chili cheese fries....nachos, Chicago dip etc.... all PHENOMENAL. at this point I don't even read off the menu I just pick one I haven't tried and call it a day. I did have a pick up order once and they forgot my brownie... =( And my pick up order today was staring at me.....and i was staring at it....but i had to ask if it was my order....
(5)
Christina G.

Disclaimer: I usually don't like this type of vegan/vegetarian food. I went here with my vegan friend, and she liked it. I confirmed that I don't like this kind of food. I get there a little ealrier than the rest of my group and try to figure out what I want to eat. It took me a good 15-20 minutes to figure out what to eat, because it didn't seem like I'd really like anything there. If you have to google what certain foods are (like tempeh and seitan), it's probably not going to go well for you. I eventually ordered the Caribbean Queen Burger. It's not a burger. It's a few slices of their seitan with a ton of mango salsa. It was dry, and I didn't enjoy it at all. One non-food taste related thing that bothered me was that when I ordered the burger, I specifically asked for no onion. When the dish was brought to me, I was informed there was tiny pieces of onion in the mango salsa that couldn't be removed. OK, fine, now a huge deal, but couldn't the guy at the register tell me that when I ordered? To make it worse, when I said it was fine for the onion to be in the salsa, he proceeds to put the burger in front of me - with a huge pile of red onions on top of the burger. Nice. The only saving grace is the sweet potato fries, which were excellent in the chipotle sauce and covered with adobo. Yum. Needless to say, I will not be back.
(2)
Courtney O.

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. If I could propose to a restaurant, I'd have the phattest EVAR diamond resting on the proverbial hand of Native Foods. It's *that* amazing. Seriously, seriously so. My husband and I were vegan cupcake hunting when we decided to grab a bit of lunch. We've been wanting to hit up Native Foods for-ev-er and I honestly feel like an idiot for waiting so long to experience this level of deliciousness. My love had the reuben with seasoned fries, I had the chicken run ranch sandwich with sweet potato fries, and we split a lavender lemonade (*cue the "awwww" sound effect*). Everything was fantastic. By all accounts, it was the best reuben my husband has ever devoured and the lavender lemonade was the perfect blend of sweet and tart. The seasoned fries had a very "chili powder-y" taste (that's not a bad thing, just an observation) and my sweet potato fries were delish. I need to devote an entirely new paragraph to my "chicken" sandwich, though; it was completely and utterly off the chain. Had I been at a restaurant that served any meat whatsoever, I would've tossed the sandwich immediately. No question, I would've been beyond certain it was legit chicken. It was actually a little bit of a mindf*ck at first. I had to willfully wrap my mind around the fact it was, in fact, fake. Once I got my groove on, though...the deliciousness was pretty much an eleven (hundred thousand) on a scale of one to ten. Not even playing. You've gotta get on this. It's safe to say we'll be back. I'm so thankful we don't live near a NF location because I'd easily pile on a solid fifteen in, say, a month. Or less. And HOW. PS - They have a loyalty program. Sign up! Our drink was free for signing up today. And free is always delicious, no?
(5)
Jelena Z.

I don't hide the fact that I love meat, but I can get down with some vegetarian fare, too. In an effort to treat the lovely Candice G to a lunch more her speed (homegirl's a veggie), we made plans to lunch at the California restaurant chain's newest outpost in Wicker Park. On this particularly gorgeous day, we chose to dine alfresco and waited for our entrees (Scorpion burger for moi, 'fish' tacos for Orange Crush) with a lavender lemonade and a summery Bell's Oberon. Ladies who lunch do it with beer, okay? Scorpion burger = wow! With its homemade blackened tempeh, chipotle sauce, romaine, carrots, avocado and onions, I didn't miss the meat... not one bit. The portions are hearty and I was well-sated 'til dinner. Next time? I'll try one of Chef Tanya's favorites, the portobello and 'sausage' burger. If you sign up for the free rewards card, your first lavender lemonade or watermelon fresca is on the house! It really is the little things.
(4)
Oluwatope F.

Love this restaurant! The people who work here are much nicer than the Belmont location and there is free street parking if you don't mind walking a bit. Except that there seems to be a problem making the cornbread that was phenomenal but hasn't been good sense, but everything that I have gotten here is delicious. The Bangkok bowl, the twisterwrap, the white bean chili and the rueben are what I have had so far. I am more of a vegetable person and less of a setian/tofu/faux meat person so I tend to stick to the veggie dishes, as does my husband. But the rueben was awesome and I had the onion soup with it and it reminded me of when I used to eat beef and had french dip sandwhiches lol! But my hubby had the crispy chicken and it was a huge hunk of faux meat that he didn't enjoy. My advice is that if you are a 24/7 vegan most of it will be fantastic, but if you tend to eat chicken a few times a month the way we do then it is difficult to eat large amounts of faux chicken. But I am still going to buy her cook book. YOLO :)
(5)
R.S. H.

awesome! amazing vegan food! love the reuben!!!!!!!!
(5)
Monica Q.

This place is amazing. It was one of the first places I went once upon moving to Chicago and it absolutely blew me away. The food is so fresh and tasty, and my friend who stopped by here once and had no idea that it was entirely vegan had the "chicken" tenders and was shocked when we told him afterward that it wasn't meat! I've literally had almost everything on the menu, and my favorites are the Portobello burger, the Caribbean Queen burger, and always of course the sweet potato fries. The gyro was the first thing I had here and it holds a special place in my heart, though it is a little bit too lemony. It has such a great ambiance and quirky taste and the servers are absolute sweathearts. The inside is more open than the Loop location. Also, sign up for the newsletter and the free cooking demos. Chef Kendall is awesome and so funny, plus you get free samples of the recipes she is demonstrating! This is also a wonderful place for kids to go and "eat healthy", they always seem to be having a great time when I'm here.
(5)
Bethany S.

I can't comment on the atmosphere of the restaurant, because I had take-out, but I can tell you that my "meatball" sub was delicious even after being refrigerated and reheated hours later, and I don't always love seitan. The chili cheese fries were pretty good as well. I find it interesting that someone said the gluten-free options are terrible... my step-mother is gluten-free and works near Native Foods, so she eats here regularly. She actually recommended it to us. There aren't a ton of options, no, but she is used to being more limited than that and likes several of the items she can eat.
(4)
Alana T.

Can you dig it? I can dig! I dig it 6ft deep with a really good shovel, one of those shovels you needed for that Chicago blizzard we had, hmmm, so maybe I dig it with a snowblower?!?! Yeaaaaah, that how I dig it. Wait, huh? Look, I went to this Native Foods on Friday for the free dinner (Pre opening celebration). I think I know vegan eats, and this place, has GOOD, SOLID vegan eats. We ordered the Chicken Run Ranch, Portobello Sausage burgers, chili cheese fries, sweet potato fries, the Cardamom Rose cupcake, peanut butter parfait, cheese cake and the sweet potato taquitos. The best thing BY FAR from our order? The Portobello Sausage burgers and Cardamom Cupcakes. The icing on the cupcakes is like CRACK! ADDICTIVE. Personally, I didn't like the other 2 desserts we ordered, the taquitos were different but cool. The Drinks- THAT LAVENDER LEMONADE...it stole the show! It was so fresh tasting. It was marvelous. Service in the spot was really good, I mean, stellar pretty much. This place also has outdoor seating, so that's awesome. But, you know what's really awesome?!?! This place has a LIQUOR LICENSE! They sell beer and wine. It's like...SLOSHED FTW! Not sure how sloshed you can get on beer and wine, but dang, you can pregame here. We were really full after we binged on vegan eats. It's kinda pricey with sandwiches going for 10 bucks and add on fries for 2 bucks. Hmm, 12 bucks, I guess that's not bad. Hell, I was HIGHLY satisfied with that burger. Okay, look, I'm rambling. Fudge, just go. Trust me!
(4)
Danielle C.

Sooo happy this place finally made it to Chicago! I'm vegetarian and my father is vegan-we can't say enough great things about the amazing food. The Gandhi Bowl (got this the last two times I went) is filled w/ jasmine and brown rice, kale, steamed veggies, curry sauce, cranberries, green onions and grilled tempeh. They also have homemade lemonade and watermelon fresca-ade as well as a dessert case filled w/ vegan cupcakes/pies. Another thing to note about Native Foods is that they have beer and wine. This place never disappoints...and a location just opened in the loop on Adams. :)
(5)
Stasia J.

Unfortunately I was not thrilled with this experience. In fact I didn't even make it to the eating portion of the experience so my review is based on service only and probably not representative of the cafe as a whole. It was my first time there which I explained to the cashier and she did not seem moved to say the least. She was reluctant to help with my beer choice. At one point she walked away while I was talking to her about the menu and not being sure what to order. She didn't offer popular items or anything. I put my beer selection back in the cooler and left. Ah well! I'm sure I will try is place again. But man is there a lack of service standard. Especially for a first timer.
(1)
Claudia S.

Food is good (though it can be a hit or a miss), but really...I think the staff is great. I had a toddler who did not want to stay in his high chair and while I'm very capable of doing things myself (even when that means taking the complicated route), just asking a question of where something was located prompted them to grab it for me....without any sort of attitude. I like when businesses don't resent you for having a child with you, especially when said child loves the mac & cheese here.
(4)
Lauren K.

I love Native Foods, not just because it's a restaurant that offers delicious healthy meals for every taste, but because the wait staff is very friendly and they all seem to just want their guests to have a nice meal and leave happy. I often come here on Sunday nights and dine alone, on the patio. While this isn't a typical restaurant set up, they do come around and fill up your water so you don't have to leave the table alone. They're also willing to bring you anything else your taste buds may desire. Food is always quality. Portions aren't huge, they're just right. I frequently see the owner of this location in the restaurant, too, which I always think is a good sign.
(5)
Jackie M.

Two of my ALL TIME favorite food cravings are found here: Sweet potato fries - seriously my cravings for this was haunting me for months. I think about this at work, when I'm on the train getting home, before a softball game. I've tried SPF's from many places and they all just seemed to be missing the right sweet, salty and crispy crunch balance. And now I have finally found you and you even come with a friend called chipotle mayo. This is it for me. Watermelon juice - technically this is a watermelon fresca and looks a bit watered down and flavored with mint and sweetened with agave syrup, however, this is the 2nd best thing to an actual pulverized watermelon. I know it sounds crazy. A food addiction, but thank god this place is healthy, everything else is a bonus. They gave me a rewards card, spending $200 to earn $10 and a free drink to hook you on their beverages and you can try all of it with free self refills.
(5)
M R.

Hands down one of the best fast food option for vegetarians
(4)
M. N.

I like meat, I'm a typical dude that way ;/ NFC only serves vegan BUT I'm happy to say the food and service here is fantastic. Really loved the meatless burger that I had, believe it or not it has some balls behind it. Servers were very helpful. The watermelon fresca (I think) endless drink was very tasty. The only reason why I can't give it 5 stars is because as the good as the meal was, I was hungry about 20 minutes later ;( Probably says more about me than the food, but there you have it.
(4)
Sky M.

Let's hear it for the Watermelon Fresca! Yummy & refreshing. The Sweet potato Taquitos were good, hot, a little creamy. Skip the pumpkin pie, unless this is your only opportunity for pumpkin pie. I think this place has a great vibe and atmosphere, I'm non vegan and a little timid with all the meatless substitutions. Thanks to previous yelpers for the tips.
(4)
Sabine K.

Love this place. Love it. My friend and I meet here for once a week for a post workout dinner date. The way that it works is like a Corner Bakery where you order and then you get a number and your food gets delivered to you. So you don't have a server per se, but everyone that works there is fantastic and frendly and will offer to reup your drink or bring extra napkins or whatever your little heart desires. The first time I got the macro browl and my friend got the tacos & mac n cheese. She's got a wheat and dairy allergy so she was extremely excited for the mac n cheese. They looked a little runny to me, but I didn't hear her complain. I have a running love affair with kale in restaurants. I like to think that I'm the health nut kind of person that'll keep it in my house for a rainy day, but I'm not.- so I just order it when I'm out and pretend. Second time I got the gyro bowl (I don't know what I was expecting, but lets just say that while it was good, imitation gyro meat will never. ever. ever. replace real gyro meat). Pleasant surprise, it was stuffed with kale. I was on a post workout health kick, so I was like bring on the greens. My friend got a bangkok bowl and liked it. Apparently comfort food was the theme of the evening. So, some highlights - spring for the $2.50 and get a drink. You won't be sorry. Their home made lemonade is amazing, so is the iced tea. But I was in love with the watermelon juice. It's free refills, so go wild. I think I had about a gallon of it. Also, even if you just get a water, you have a choice of lemons or mint leaves for your water. It's a nice thoughtful touch. Also, the hot sauce is no joke. Go lightly and test it first. I love the shit outta some hot sauce and this was serious business. I think I overheard myself saying "It's so hot, I can't stop eating. I love it, but it's burning my mouth". This isn't necessarily a bad thing, all I'm saying is just, proceed with caution. Also the seating area at this location is really nice - perfect for people watching. The first time we sat inside (because it was hot as balls outside) and one wall is floor to ceiling windows, so even when you're inside you're visually connected to the outside. The second time we were outside and it was really pleasant. Quick wrap up - the staff is friendly, helpful and really polite. It's kindda $$$ but you get a ton of food and it's really good (and good for you) and the restaurant is the kind that makes you wanna hang around and chat for a while - and load up on watermelon juice (with mint leaves!)
(4)
Lainie P.

Count me as another omnivore who really, really likes this place. The Ropes: Entering the place can be a bit disorienting the first time, as it isn't entirely clear what you need to do to get your food. Here's how it works: When you walk in you'll notice the counter at the front and a sign on the left wall telling you to "start here," (or something like that). Walk over to the sign and grab a menu from the rack underneath it. Read the menu. It is pretty straightforward with a fair amount of detail about each item. When you decide on your meal, go up to the register and place your order. They do have a loyalty club and, as I recall, you get a free beverage the day you sign up. ( I strongly recommend the lavender lemonade.) Once you order, you get a number and a cup for your drink. Go over to the beverage area, fill the cup, and then sit down at a table. Someone will be by with your meal shortly. The Food: So far I've tried the chicken wings, the sesame kale macro bowl and the chocolate brownie. The chicken wings are dashed tasty (better than the real thing at many restaurants), as is the macro bowl, though the later is definitely for the advanced palate. (Be sure to get some extra sauce to jazz it up a bit.) The brownie is also quite good, though I found that it resembled a gooey chocolate cake more than a typical brownie. The Service: Friendly, kind and non-judgmental. There is no vegan snobbery here, just people who want you to enjoy some good food. The only criticism that I have is that, because customers don't actually have a single server, it can be a bit distracting when multiple employees constantly visit tables and offer service. (On my most recent visit, I swear that someone came by every 60 seconds.) While this was helpful in a couple of cases (the servers were happy to get me more water from the beverage bar), it did get a tad wearing after awhile. Beer and wine are available, the later going for $4.95 a glass. Not bad. Recommended.
(4)
Jessica D.

Amazing, cozy little alternative cafe in the heart of a great shopping street. Though I wish they had toilet paper in the ladies' restrooms.
(3)
Michael R.

So call me stupid or call me naive that day but I stumbled into this place without knowing it was vegan food. The woman I ordered from could probably tell by the wuestions I asked on the chicken, or maybe the size of my stomach, that I obviously was not vegan. I thought it was cool that she warned me. I figured what the hell and decided to give it a try. Boy was I impressed! The food was delicious. I couldn't believe it was tofu and not chicken. It tasted amazing. The ingredients used were great. I was thoroughly impressed. The service was amazing too. My favorite thing was that they had a watermelon juice / water to drink. It tasted delicious. I would definitely try this place again. There was so much more stuff that I wanted to try.
(5)
Salil G.

Staff is solo nice and the food is tasty. Bacon burger ,at not be a real burger, but it tastes pretty dang good. I'd give it five stars but their desserts are vegan and taste like it. Also last time their beer was Luke warm, not ice cold. Still love the place though.
(4)
Neha N.

Oh Native, I can't count how many times I've gone out of my way to get my hands on a delicious vegan meal. I go here....a lot. I have one of those fabulous rewards cards, that has gotten me a cooking class at Whole Foods (worth 60 bucks!) and ten bucks to use on my next meal. The first time you dine at Native, just sign up for the card....cause you get a free drink, which is worth about $2.50. The lavendar lemondae is my fav, but I only get it occasionally, because even if it's coming from cane sugar...it's still sugar!! My FAVS are the portobella and sausage burger, native nachos, and the Oklahoma burger. I've tried the pizza too...and find it to be just okay. I love real pizza, so I think I just naturally make the comparison in my head. I don't know where the chili cheese fries went on the menu, but they were fabulous too!! There are specials everyday, which means you'll get a free side if you order that specific dish. If you have the rewards card, then they send you emails about their tasting demos which are about once a month. I attended this once and watch the chef cook up some dishes while reading the recipe, and getting to try samples...all for free! They start in the morning, so by the time you're finished, you most likely will stick around for an early lunch, but you don't have to! The only thing that makes me knock this from 5 to 4 stars....is that this is probably one of the only places I don't mind eating by myself to get some "me" time. The servers always stop by and ask me how the food is, which I appreciate...but then they'll stop by again and ask again, or try to be friendly and have a conversation, usually when my mouth is full. I think they think I'm really lonely and need someone to talk to...but in fact I'm there for just the opposite! Sigh. Anyhoo, you can pick up from here by calling or just ordering online, which means you get to skip to the front and just pick your food up!
(4)
Kate S.

I went to Native Foods for the first time a few months ago, and loved it despite my high expectations from reading all the Yelp reviews. I used to live in Wicker Park, and became wary of these vegan/vegetarian fast food type restaurants that promise to be great but just end up being sort of falling flat. This was a great surprise, though. The "meat" tastes better than meat, and the burgers all had very strong, solid flavors. I had the chicken burger and sweet potato fries. The atmosphere is nice, casual, and sunny, with big windows and a helpful staff. This is one of the best vegetarian places in Chicago (I like it much more than Handlebar of Chicago Diner).
(5)
Jen S.

I have to tell you that their gluten-free menu is kind of a joke. No, not kind of. Straight up laugh-at. It doesn't have that many choices. My favorite item on the GF menu was the "steak" sandwich. It comes with a side of kale. To order it gluten-free, the menu notes, order it without the seitan, and without the bread. I burst out laughing, handed the menu back, and went across the street to eat BBQ. Why would they even print that? Why even bother?
(2)
Simeen A.

Let me start by saying I'm no vegan or vegetarian, but I do make an effort to eat less meat and it's nice to find a place that's got options. My husband and I walked past this place a week or so ago and were intrigued by the menu so we stopped by last night for dinner. We got there around 8:20pm and there was a healthy line, though it did seem like much of the holdup was from people asking questions while deciding what to get. I mean, it just opened, so I get it. It wasn't so much that the staff was slow, just friendly and willing to offer suggestions and recommendations. Also it was only their second day open, so I imagine lots of the crowd was from that. My husband got the scorpion burger with cheddar, which was good but less spicy than I expected. When I hear "scorpion," I think "fire!" It had nice flavor and was a good hearty sandwich but I'd probably try more stuff on the menu before I'd go back to it. I had the meatball sub with extra marinara... oh my goodness, was it good. I'm no vegetarian, but the meatballs were spot on and the marinara is nice and spicy. My husband and I both loved it and I would DEFINITELY order it again. For someone new to the vegetarian/vegan thing, this is a very safe bet. We also tried the sweet potato fries-- very tasty. We sampled all three drinks-- the watermelon agua fresca was the winner but I also loved the tart lavender lemonade. The iced tea is a hibuscus iced tea or something (I think) and I'm more of a black tea fan, so I didn't love it. We tried the chocolate love pie for dessert-- I liked it, but the aftertaste is a little overwhelmingly sweet (like too much agave?) but not a bad option if you are in the mood for chocolate. There are lots of sweet options so next time I'll try something else. Bill came to $25 for two sandwiches, one order fries, and two drinks, and the dessert was another $3 or so. Not bad for fresh, tasty fare. **Sign up for a Native Foods card and your drink will be free, also I think you accrue points or something and it's free so go for it!
(4)
Cameron A.

Love love love this place! I ate there three days in a row while I was visiting Chicago. The food is excellent. The service is excellent; they are really friendly. The Portabello Sausage Burger and The Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger are off the hook! Plus, the sweet potato fries with seasoning are delicious! And the peanut butter parfait is AMAZING, so creamy, but stay away from the rose cardamon cupcake (it literally tastes like soap. I had to spit it out). My only complaint is that they hardly put any ranch sauce on the Chicken Run Ranch Burger. WTF? Isn't "ranch" in the title? I expected the burger to be ALL about the ranch. Well, it wasn't AT ALL, so I had to ask for extra ranch sauce, which the kind and understanding waiter happily gave me. But, I won't be ordering this again unless they up the ranch sauce!
(4)
Danielle T.

Visited NFC on New Years Eve with the hubby as a Dinner Date. It was our very first Vegan restaurant and we LOVED it. I had the Ensalada Azteca Salad and the Lavender Lemonade. YUMMMM. Totally delicious and flavorful. My hubby ordered their "chicken sandwich. We ended up switching meals. We loved NFC and cantwait to rack up points on their reward card!
(4)
Christina R.

Great vegan food at great prices. Can't wait to visit this place again in the coolest neighbourhood when Im back in Chicago! Get the portobello/vegan sausage burger.... Yum yum!!!
(4)
Glo K.

Native Foods Cafe is located in the heart of Wicker Park among the trendy shops and small eateries, and Chicagoans welcomes this place with open arms. I've passed by Native Foods a couple of times when I'm wandering around Milwaukee Ave and every time I do pass by this place, this place is always hopping with vegans and secret meat eaters.The food is delicious and the staff is friendly. Every time I do go, I enjoy my time there. My first time, I ordered Twister Wrap with french fries, and I received a complimentary drink for signing up for a rewards card. Woo hoo! Free stuff! The twister wrap was so good. Wait a minute! I forgot that this wrap didn't have any meat in it. The ingredients are completely natural and organic. Native Foods proves that vegan don't suck. I mean who said vegan food has to be bland and boring?
(4)
Emily M.

My husband and I were wandering around this neighborhood hungry. We went into one place and got seated by the window, but the air conditioning was up to high and we left without ordering. Then, as we started wandering, we began to regret our decision as we were having trouble finding a place that was appealing to us that day. We stumbled onto Native Foods Cafe. I was all, "Fuck it! Looks good!" When we were in line I realized it was vegan. Now, I do try to eat healthy but my husband and I are sausage-loving carnivores through and through. I was a little concerned because I wanted something...substantial, you know? I got the Twister Wrap with "chicken" and sweet potato fries. It was awesome! The sauce on it was amazing, whatever it was, and they brought me straight up homemade creamy-ass ranch dressing to go with the fries. Delish! The only reason it didn't get five stars is because there was all this nonsense we had to go through while ordering. Too many damn questions. Now, would you like the crispy, blackened or grilled chicken? Do you want to use a card or cash? Do you want to try our blah blah blah iced tea? Do you want to get a Native Foods frequent customer card? Are you sure, you don't have to give an email or anything? Just shut up, take my money and give me my little table number! But yeah, great food!
(4)
Roxanne O.

You know a vegan restaurant is good when your non vegetarian/vegan friend says to you, "Are you sure you can eat here? I'm pretty sure this is real meat!" While in town for work I made the trek to Native Foods. In the rain. (if I lived in Chicago I'd need to invest in a good umbrella, but I digress) A coworker was in town and was a little skeptical about our journey, but I assured her she'd like her meal. (and ironically, I think she ended up liking her meal more than I liked mine!) We loved the vibe of Native Foods as soon as we walked in. Think Chipotle for vegans. The cashiers were super helpful and nice and provided great suggestions on what to order. I had a Reuben - my go to meal at vegan restaurants. (I try them everywhere I travel) I also had a piping hot bowl of chili. It was temperature hot, spicy hot, and pretty darn good. My friend had a chicken-y sandwich of some sort and was 100% convinced she was eating chicken. It took some convincing and pointing to signwork to prove to her that what she was eating, was, in fact, mock meat. Moral of the story? There's something here for everyone - vegan, veg, or meatatarian.
(4)
Mari Y.

I will be back because I really want to like this place and I think there's much more to the one experience I've had. For now though, two stars. My friend and I have been talking about wanting to eat healthier so we went to Native Foods. We ate outside and although it is nice to partake in the sunshine at a sidewalk cafe, there are two unpleasant factors: 1. The blue line train will pause your conversation every few minutes and 2. There are a bunch of vagabonds who like to walk up and down North, Milwaukee and Division and will ask if you're done eating your food and if they can have the leftovers. Listen homies, I'm currently unemployed so you need to step off my leftovers. I ordered the Greek gyro Earth bowl and it was pretty bland. Maybe that's because I like to squirt that white sauce all over my truck purchased gyros in NYC but I sure missed that flavor. I felt like I couldn't get to the bottom of the bowl, no matter how many sliced carrots I ate. I ended up taking home my leftovers (of course) and the next morning I fried up an egg and added salt and the dish took on a life of it's own. Next time, I'll be sure to introduce salt to my order much earlier. More importantly, I will be back.
(2)
Ngoc T.

I'd never thought I'd enjoy eating this much! I'm not a vegan, nor a vegetarian. I'm a huge meat eater! I love tearing upon the tendons, chewing on the cartilages and grinding the stringy texture of pulled pork. But seitans here are so fresh and filled with flavor, it makes me want to give up meat for real. Native foods understands customer service, very well. Well done Chicago. There are some nice people! As for the food, Chef Tanya understands that people do eat with their eyes first. EVERYTHING looks splendid, you won't be disappointed with your eyes (perhaps except for the cupcakes... they looks kinda... not pretty?) You can taste the organic -y, healthy part of every bite that you indulge in your food. I was sooo stuffed with the food, and trust me, I was hungry! But it was a good sense of guilty pleasure... knowing that all that meatball sub that I just stuffed down, was in fact wheat. And that cheesecake? It was all soy. I'm not going to gain another freshman 15 (I hope?) I rarely give anything 5 stars. But Native foods deserves it. A Must Try: Cheesecake. They are wonderful
(5)
Brian L.

I'm not vegan, nor vegetarian and could never be. But, I went to this place with a friend who had also never been here. When I arrived, she was already drinking one of their drinks and she was raving about how amazing it was. I didn't actually try any (should have) but water sufficed. I had a Moroccan bowl of some kind. I hate to sound insensitive to vegans but if this is a high standard of vegan food, then I feel sorry for you. I'm not saying it was BAD or anything, but I honestly felt like it was all just thrown together in a bowl. It would be super simple to do at home. The ingredients aren't of a bad quality, but they weren't amazing either. My friend's salad, according to her, was just "okay" like I said before, just seems like vegan ingredients thrown together. Not much creativity here. I would definitely never go back, except maybe with a vegan friend... but then I'd just take them to Sultan's around the corner.
(2)
Jerrica T.

Last year, for an experiment, I did not eat meat. Engaging in this project taught me a lot about how difficult it is for non-meat eaters to find healthy delicious food in a culture that does not cater to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. After almost a year of searching for places that had more on the menu than pasta and potato meals, I discovered Native Foods. I am once again eating meat, but, when I can, I eat at Native Foods. It is one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago. Here is why: An Abundance of Food Native Food CafÃ© has so many different options. Some of their dishes include the Nuevo Native Nachos, sweet potato fries, and the Native Chicken wings. Whatever your food preference, or craving, you'll find a dish to satisfy it at Native Foods. The Food is Delicious The chicken does not taste like typical chicken; the sweet potato fries have a completely different flavor from regular ones, but, despite this, all the dishes I have tried taste so good. I've tried about two dishes, so far, and sampled some of my friends' dishes, and everything has flavor and substance. I am not a vegan, but some of my friends are, so I've tried vegan meals before and I usually do not like the taste, texture, or flavor of vegan meals. At Native Foods CafÃ©, vegan food taste how food should. Welcoming and Good Service Most of the staff really seem like they love working there. I do not have much interaction with the staff because it's a cafÃ©, so most just stay behind the counter. However, some employees walk around offering to refill your drinks, asking how much you enjoy the food and things like that. The environment, overall, is really friendly. I'm a fan of cafes so I love going to them just sitting there and talking to people. Native Foods is designed a little different from most cafes, but that makes it more creative and easier to talk to different people. Discounts As an extreme budgeter, I know expensive eating out regularly can be, and Native Foods CafÃ© is not a cheap place, but it's also not that costly. Most dishes cost less than ten dollars, but with taxes, side dishes, etc. It can lead to a not so small bill. Native Food makes up for this by their Native Foods card. Every time you swipe the card, you earn loyalty points and get pretty good discounts. Some include one free item, five dollars off a meal, and even free meals if you earn enough. You get pretty good rewards even if you only visit the cafÃ© once a month, or less. Any budgeter will love their loyalty program. Negatives I do really love Native Foods CafÃ©, but like everything it has some problems. One problem is, despite being a cafÃ©; the staff can be very flakey with who gets special treatment. As stated, some staff will ask people to refill their drinks, but these staff members tend to only offer this service to some customers, not all. Another problem is the drinks. Everyone has different taste buds, but my friends and I didn't like their tea or lemonades. We did admit after drinking them for so long you get used to the taste, but they should add more drink options. Conclusion Overall, Native Foods CafÃ© is a great place to eat if you're a vegan, vegetarian, or just want to try something new. The food taste great, the staff is nice, friendly environment, and good loyalty program. Once you go there, you'll find yourself frequenting it often. Definitely one of Wicker Park's best food places.
(4)
Lexie V.

I'm surprised it took this long to open one up in Wicker Park. I'm a poor, starving college student. The prices here are very prohibitive for people like me. I probably would have loved this place when I was a vegetarian and I had disposable income, but alas, those days have ended. I guess I'm not as impressed with Native Foods as everyone else is, because if you look a little bit harder you can find smaller places with food that is just as good if not better for less. I got the chili, it was alright. I imagine they just threw some corn, canned tomatoes, beans and spices into a slow cooker. That's fine, but don't charge me $8 for a cup of it. However I do appreciate the unlimited refills on the delicious drinks, so for that I can look past the inflated chili (and everything else) prices. The service is great and so is the location. Every employee I've interacted with at Native Foods is great. There are few establishments with customer service this good, so kudos for that.
(3)
Kathryn R.

Come on a Saturday so you can experience my favorite of all vegetarian sandwiches, the portobello 'sausage'. I'm a hardcore carnivore, but this place knocks my socks off every time! I love love love the portobello sausage burger with it's amazing pesto topping, abundant garlic, and healthy portion of savory goodness. Side salad with shaved beet curlicues and sweet potato fries are my other favorite. My husband and I come here any time we need a delicious and healthy vacation from our meat-centric routine. Lunch or dinner for 2 is ~$20. Bam! Location - convenient to both blue line train and 56 milwaukee bus.
(5)
Natalie P.

Oh yeah, I'm busting out the 5 stars. DIG IT. Yum yum yum. Vegan food at its creative best! I don't even know where to start with this review so here's what I'm going to say about Native Foods: go there and eat it. All of it. Just put it in your face!! Their homemade beverage options are so delicious, the hibiscus iced tea and the lavender lemonade are soooo yummy when you mix them half and half. The customer service here is flawless. Everyone is insanely friendly, outgoing, and more than willing to offer their suggestions. Listen to them, because they sure know what they're talking about and have yet to lead me astray! Perfect place to eat a delicious, chill meal, while feeling good about it. Even non-vegetarians will enjoy Native!!
(5)
Cait A.

I love this place! The go-to for vegan "junk" food (though everything is organic and made in-house). A little pricey but it's so good you don't think twice; great service, and it's great to not have to ask if everything in a dish is veg, cause everything at Native Foods is. Plus, they have beer. I've yet to give their desserts a shot but I'm guessing they're beyond delightful. Must try: nachos, blackened tempeh tacos, seasoned fries, and native iced tea! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place over Chicago Diner, honestly.
(5)
Margaret C.

Pros-I'm very happy that Chicago has another veggie restaurant. The food is really good and all vegan. Great location. Cons-this is a total chain (based in Southern California) and it has that feel. The design is pretty bland, the tunes they play are meh, and the place just lacks character. It just feels too business/chain for me: The whole rewards card promo, the person taking your order asking if you want additional items (sides, desserts, drinks), and how several different staff members ask you how you're doing like 50 times during your meal (like customer service overload). Are any of those things really all that wrong? Of course not, but I think they're fair critiques of Native Foods. Fortunately though, Chicago has a fairly decent amount of veggie and veggie friendly establishments, so people can mix it up and support totally independent/unique places (The Chicago Diner, Handlebar, Delicious Cafe, Soul Veg East, Munch in Oak Park, Blind Faith in Evanston, etc.) and a place like Native Foods. It is actually really great that a completely vegan place could open so many locations too and survive as a chain, bland design aside...
(3)
Doro R.

DAMN! If you like chocolate get the Chocolate Love Pie. It is the BEST chocolate pie I have ever eaten, and I have eaten my share of desserts so I would know about this. As far as the main course I would recommend the Chicken run Ranch burger. It was super yummy! I also had the Chicago Dip AU JUS sandwich. It was good but not what I was expecting. The dipping sauce is sweet while I prefer a savory dip. I also got the nachos. They are LOADED up but would have been even better with more spicy toppings. {When I say LOADED that means that there was tons of "meat" and guac- they weren't stingy with it like some other veggie places} Prices... while my food was free because it was the pre-opening party, I did see what my total 'would have been' ($50) because we went nuts ordering. The prices are pretty in line with what you would expect EXCEPT their beer is 1/2 the price of what you would expect to pay $3...something- The entrees seemed to be around $10 and desserts were under $4- so not too bad there! If you sit outside keep in mind that the EL is right there, so every few minutes the convo will have to stop.
(5)
Ashley K.

Tell me why I gobbled up my "super italian meatball sub" and never realized it was meat-less until 2 weeks later when a friend revealed it's a purely vegan restaurant! SAY WHAT?! It was thaaat good. Had to look up the menu online and noticed they use "seitan", which is a wheat gluten, for the meatballs. Plus caramelized onions, pumpkin seed pesto, and a perfectly crunchy baguette.... my stomach is growling right now. The watermelon & mint fresca was amazing too. Staff was friendly and offered to refill my drink twice, which was nice that I didn't have to get up for anything. Definitely going back. Did not miss the meat at all haha
(5)
Lyn C.

This place is the BOMB! I went here when I was a vegetarian and when I wasn't one and loved it equally both times. Literally I took one of my friends one time and she didn't even realize it was vegetarian "meat" until about halfway through her meal. Everything on the menu is good...seriously. Great flavors and sauces and mock meats. You also get really large portions so sometimes it's best to share. Moroccan Bowl with tofu was my fave. I loved this place and I wish there was one in Scottsdale!. Healthy, yummy and affordable.
(5)
Marie E.

This review is based on carry-out only. Let me start by saying I really like this place (I am not vegan or vegetarian either)! It's my go-to place for healthy carry-out. What's also nice is that they are open until 10pm...I have found this to be a rarity among healthy restaurants. I have never actually sat down to eat here, but they do have free wi-fi and I would feel comfortable bringing my laptop and sitting for awhile. There aren't really servers here, its more an order at the counter and someone will bring your food to you type place. I would definitely still leave a tip though. As far as the food goes there are many many great options. Its also nice that they indicate 'gluten-free' or 'vegan' next to menu items. All of there soups are fabulous. And the watermelon fresco drink is also amazing...I put tons of basil in mine. The only item that I have not been 100% on board with is their rueben. The bread was soggy and there wasn't enough sauerkraut . Other then that everything is delicious. The burgers are another favorite of mine as well.
(4)
Josh G.

Let me preface this by saying I am a carnivore, but I enjoy this food; that is impressive. I'm big on taste, and I feel they deliver in the taste category. I also feel pleasantly full when leaving. The portion sizes are good. Customer Service- I would give them 5 starts consistently. Actually, each location I have frequented I would always give 5 starts for service. Everyone from management down to those bussing the tables, excellent. Whatever they are doing to train their staff IS working! Gluten Free friends- Ask for the GF menu upon arrival. Some have a GF menu and others have a "if you delete these items in red it will be GF" menu. Either way, I like that they cater to my GF friends. I LOVE the nachos. They are getting to be one of my regular meals there.
(4)
Taylor E.

I'm not a vegan by any stretch of the imagination, and due to growing up with a dad and sister with major food sensitivities I tend to be distrustful of any food that claims to be a 'substitute' for another type of food. When I first glanced over the menu, I admit that I was immediately distrustful of what I was going to get - that said, I really enjoyed the food here. The highlight was definitely the sweet potato taquitos - I'm a sucker for sweet potatoes and thought that it was an inspired combination - but I also enjoyed my 'rockin' moroccan bowl,' as groan-worthy as the name might have been - it was very fresh and reasonably flavorful. My lavender lemonade was also delicious. Definitely exceeded my expectations.
(4)
Jason H.

I was impressed. I went there and ordered the Chicken Run Ranch Burger and after my first bite I told my wife that it was the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. A few minutes later I realized that it wasn't real chicken... needless to say I was impressed and delighted. The fresh juice is great too, I preferred the lemonade, but the watermelon and sweet tea were good too. We also got some nachos that were good but they are pretty spicy. We'll definitely be going back. Very very impressive for a new chain a delightful treat for vegetarians & vegans.
(5)
Sonya L.

I am normally not a fan of fake meats, so I was not sure how I would like Native foods. I have only eaten there once and I have to say, so far so good. We split the Saigon rolls and the Sesame Kale Macro Bowl (we subbed the pepper seitan as my husband is a fan). The rolls were very tasty, had an interesting mix of flavors and textures and a yummy peanut sauce. Regarding the bowl, my first impression was the seitan was delicious. As far as fake meats, it is one of the best I've had as it was sliced very thin and had a strong black pepper taste. I also really liked the cucumber seaweed salad on the side. The rest of the bowl was good, but left a bit to be desired. The description said there was creamy ginger sesame sauce, but it seemed very dry to me and lacked flavor. When they offered me drinks, I was intrigued by the sound of Watermelon Fresca and Lavender Lemonade, so I tried them. They were overall good as well, but a bit too sweet for my taste. But everything was good enough to bring me back for more to try other things. My goal for next time is to get the daily special to get the free side.
(4)
Katrina R.

I had been wanting to try this place for a while. It's been in my Yelp Bookmarks for ages and so when we found ourselves in Wicker Park the other day and Skewerz was mysteriously closed, we decided to come here. First, the good: Service was nice and the place had a very low-key feel to it. I like. The Lavender Lemonade (or whatever it's called) was amazing AND... FREE REFILLS. So we drank a lot of that. The bad: Everyone was mostly "meh" about the food we ordered. I got the curry bowl something and I couldn't tell there was curry in it at all. In fact, it mostly seemed like undercooked rice and kale to me. The kale wasn't terrible, but that's basically all there was. Kale. A scoop of rice and a freaking ton of kale. 20 bites in and I still hadn't made a dent on the kale. It was too much. To-go box please. The really, really bad: This is honestly the worst food ever when left over. I gave my leftovers to the boyfriend who will honestly eat anything-- he is a goat-- and he loves vegetables. Despite these facts, he couldn't stomach the stuff. He gave in to office catering instead and trashed the food. Did you hear that? A healthy young man who LIKES veggies TRASHED this food. Couldn't believe it. So no, not coming back, and a little broken-hearted this place didn't work out.
(2)
Tracy L.

Just got the fries and their lavendar lemonade (?). Tasty but I wish I'd gotten one of their cupcakes... Maybe I'll come back to try their dessert.
(4)
Kim L.

I love Native Foods! A must for all vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians! I venture here every time i'm in Chicago..at least a few times. You can never go wrong the the hand-helds--i.e. sandwiches, go for the Scorpion or Chicken burger.. you won't regret it.
(4)
Julia M.

Oh my god the rockin marrocan bowl is soooo rockin good!!!!
(5)
Doris F.

According to my smart phone yelp app I have had 5 visits to this particular Native Foods. (One at the Lakeview location) And I have NOT written a review? For shame! This place is actually very good! The service is great and the recipe on the wall, I still need to try out. I have been working on the specials trying to come in on different days so I can try out all the specials. Today, I enjoyed the Twister wrap and they give you the option if you want to have it blackened, grilled or fried (I think.) I went for the grilled and it did not do me wrong. It tastes like chicken without the "meaty" taste and the texture was smooth and not rubbery. It was loaded in veggies and the sauce they used was actually not bad at all. Since I ordered the special of the day it comes with a side selection of your choice. (sweet potato fries, regular fries, side salad, potato salad, soup of the day, steamed kelp, etc.) My side was a side salad which I thought was going to be wimpy which most salads are either too much or too less. The side salad had carrots, bean sprouts, beets, butter lettuce, arugula served with a vinaigrette which was not an overpowering flavor as some get. The black bean soup is amazing! It is served with their cornbread. I have had the Moroccan lentil soup as well. All great tastes! Their Caribbean burger was a bit messy and their bacon burger was good but not all at once along with their Reuben sandwich. When I say a lot I mean they seemed to put a lot into the sandwich and you can't finish it. So, why four stars? The price is high but I guess it should be. That is the price you pay for good food.
(4)
John S.

I really enjoyed this place. I'm not a vegan or vegetarian but i like the idea of easting sustainably when possible. Being new to vegan food i was a bit skeptical but i had one of the bests lunches i had in a while. The sweet potatoes fries are great as was the chilli. Couldn't even tell it was vegan. Awesome teas and fruit drinks as well as revolution beer cans on hand. Nice people working and Great service!
(4)
James B.

I've eaten here several times and while I was initially worried that the carnivore could not be satiated, he indeed was. This ranks up there with Blind Faith in Evanston.
(4)
Virginia T.

I brought my meat-loving friend here. I got the chicken run ranch burger, he got the meatball sub. We split a plate of the cheese fries. I love that they have local beers (Two Brothers, Bells, Metropolitain). The food is really good. He liked his meatball sub so much he went back to Native Foods a few weeks later. This location has a nice patio, except for the EL noise. The location is new and nice, but the bathroom sink handle broke off in my hand and it was annoying that we were given plastic cups for water and beer for our dine-in order, but that is me being picky.
(4)
Tom D.

The ruben was so good, the pork was actually melting in my mouth. I loved the presentation; Native Foods does many things right, including the sweet potato fries! I just wish I could have eaten my meal in peace, every minute another staff member was trying to clear my table while I was still there. One took my fork prematurely, so I had to get another one. I understand keeping a clean restaurant, but I think they were doing it out of boredom. 5 star food, 3 stars for overstaffing.
(3)
Maria E.

love at first bite!! was roaming downtown chicago and my search for veg food led me here. we (unfortunately) do not have one of these in NYC so it was my first time hearing of it. counter girl was super friendly and helpful so my meal was off to a great start. i picked the meatball sub and was not disappointed. it was actually one of the best meat substitutes i have ever had! and the bread was so buttery yet crispy...mmm! loved the lavender iced tea as well as their drink options. can't wait to try the rest of the menu! also, service was great - even though it's self service on drinks (free refills) - someone even asked me if i wanted a refill. love it and hope to see one in new york soon!
(5)
Tejas B.

We ordered the Nachos, Portabello and Sausage burger and Bangkok curry. All three dishes were delicious and the portion sizes were big. We couldnt finish all 3 dishes. Looking forward to trying other items on the menu.
(5)
Michelle S.

When this place opened, I was shocked at how jam packed it was constantly! I just didn't realize that there were that many Vegans or Ominivores on hiatus in Chicago. I generally think if a Vegan restaurant can pull in your non-veg friends, than they are doin' somethin' alright! So I've tried this place now more than a few times. I LoVeee the Greek Gyro Bowl and the Saigon Rolls. Not so crazy about the weird pasty cheese on the nachos. I REALLY, really wish that Chef Tanya would come out with a breakfast/brunch menu as we Chicagoans all know that we love our weekend breakfast places. I think a tofu scramble, strawberry topped waffles, or a breakfast burrito would fit on this menu perfectly. I have to say that I'm not crazy about the fact that Native Foods uses meat terms to describe the Vegan dishes, but it is forgiven once one has tried the dishes. Maybe this is a marketing ploy to pull in the Omnivores. The space itself is really open and airy with plenty of seating. There is also a HUGE outdoor area when the happy, sunny, warm months are around in Chicago. They even have heat lamps for sweater weather. Another beautiful thing about Native Foods is that you can order your favorite vegan food online and I love the fact that they have a football party platter! All in all, great addition to the other stellar Vegan restaurants in Chicago!
(5)
Keri M.

Delicious, fresh, healthy food. I'd highly recommend the buffalo "chicken." Spot on. Also, I wouldn't even think of leaving without trying the lavender lemonade. I think it's a bit pricy, which I guess you sort of expect with vegan food, but my pockets aren't deep enough to eat here more often than once in a blue moon, which is sad (for me anyway).
(3)
Katie T.

I had been looking forward to going to Native Foods ever since I saw them on Clark and read about them on their homepage. Finally, thrifting with a friend gave me the opportunity to check it out. I tried the kale macro bowl and she the gyro bowl; both were really good (love that kale) and healthy. I also got a free drink since I signed up for their program (definitely recommend) and have to say that the Lavender Lemonade and the Iced Tea make a nice Arnold Palmer.
(3)
Adam K.

Yeah man, I am a hippy. Great veggie menu, plus they will recycle your sandals. I have been here a few times, I thought I reviewed it once but it was the south loop location. My bad. This location is great. They are on a nice angled street that gets a lot of natural light for the lunchtime circuit. They have very good customer service. But my favorite feature is all the hot chicks in yoga pants who are in here on the regs. Every chick has some sort of ass in yoga pants. The inventor of those pants should get some kind of award. Anyways, I reccomend: Baja Surf Tacos - Good fish tacos, not too heavy sauce, my one complaint is that they are small but my belly is huge so that may be the problem. Chicago style Rueben - This actually tasted better than a lot of the "real" ruebens I have had. My favorite sangwich. I would love to slip this into some fatso's lunch and see if they could tell the difference. Any of the salads - always fresh and local. Cupcakes - dude, wow. I wish they were gluten free though so my kid wouldn't cry when I eat them in front of her. Lavender Lemonade - tasty and tangy. Free refills! Also HUGE bonus points here - my kid didn't really like the quesadillas, so they swapped it out for the mac n cheese for free! We didn't even complain, our server just noticed she was picking at it and suggested we give her the mac n cheese. Super nice. I really appreciate stuff like that. So I am giving them 5 stars. Try them out for a nice change of pace from your normal blood soaked, saturated fat, heart attack inducing lard ass meal.
(5)
Madeline S.

I was surprised at all the great reviews on here, not to say Native Foods is bad by any means, but there could be some improvements. Their "meats" appear to be the ones you can just get in the frozen aisle at the grocer, and the few orders that I've had have been a little under-seasoned (or bland). I definitely appreciate the food though, it's healthy and vegan and all in all is pretty good. But I feel like it's along the same lines of something I could very easily cook at home myself. Up the ante, Native Foods!
(3)
Sabrina C.

I've been to two Native Foods locations, (Wicker and the Loop one) the Wicker Park location is the better of the two. The staff is very accommodating and friendly about describing the specials or anything else on the menu. I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian. I do eat healthy or as healthy as being an art student allows. Native Foods Cafe is one of my favorite places to go eat. The watermelon fresca is very refreshing. The salads especially the kale one are very good and bigger portions than I had anticipated.
(4)
Lynn L.

This place is not recommended for ANYONE who is allergic to nuts. They may be all friendly gluten-free and veggie friendly, but honestly, most of it is a marketing scheme. Unless the ingredients are fully written out of what is made in these dishes. I do not trust them. I brought my bf who is anaphylaxis with nuts. I told the server who took our order to have nothing with nuts contaminated in the entree and she "took note of it". Also notes in their menu, to let the server know about the nut allergy, as I did. Clearly, the staff are not intelligent enough to understand why people have allergies, get upset stomachs. I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone. Plus the food isn't even good. It's boring and plain.
(1)
Jeff W.

Take this review with a grain of salt, because I am not a fan of the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle whatsoever. For me, the redder the meat the better, and try to live a paleo diet meaning I pretty much eat like a caveman... meat, meat, and more meat. With that being said, I probably should have never come here but was curious and a friend wanted to go. So, for those meat eaters out there... don't come here. Let your girlfriends come here while you grow a pair and go home and cook a steak and drink a beer. Started with the Tandoori Kabobs. These were ok, This was my first experience with Seitan, and as most first times go, it was a bit awkward. I didn't mind it though, kind of like a fake meat. The tofu was spongy and firm, not like the Chinese tofu I'm used to. I wanted to love the mango-apple chutney but I might as well have doused my food with applesauce. This was ok. I got the wellington special that is a limited time dish for Easter weekend. I was thinking Beef Wellington, like as if Chef Ramsay was back in the kitchen screaming at the cooks to cook the perfect wellington. This was surprisingly decent. It was all ind of mushy for me, the crust was good and the mushrooms were a good touch. The "Hollandaise" sauce was weird, kinda tasty I guess. It was green. I like my Hollandaise sauce thick and hearty, as in the more butter and creaminess the better. Fail. My friend got the gyro bowl. It looked like lamb meat, but the Seitan was not an adequate substitute to my liking. I prefer the greasy deliciousness loaded with tzatziki sauce on a pita please. The quinoa on the bottom was good and loaded with kale. It looked healthy and it was a healthy portion I guess were the upsides. The lavendar lemonade with unlimited refills was, sadly, the best part. It was light and refreshing and delicious. Put some vodka in it and you have the perfect summer drink . Again, this is somewhat like a vegetarian giving a review for a steakhouse. Take it with a grain of salt, but I wasn't a huge fan of this place. I do try to eat healthy so I wanted to find a gem, but left with an unfilled stomach (went home and ate something brutally unhealthy.) I will say though, it's nice to leave a restaurant not feeling like you're about to sink into a food coma. The food is light and refreshing... if you're into that kind of stuff.
(2)
Linda H.

Let me preface this review by saying I love meat. Chicken, pork, beef, you name it, I will eat it. So I was a bit skeptical when friends suggested "this new vegan" place for dinner one night. To me, fake meat never can properly emulate the texture and mouthfeel of real delicious meat. Needless to say, my skepticism continued when I found out many of their menu items did contain "meat". I ordered my taco salad (thinking I could pick the "meat" out if needed) but alas, it tasted like MEAT! The cheese and the salad dressing were delicious as well. My friend had the chicken wings, which were also good, although the sauces didn't come close to what I expect from real wings. Their drinks are also delicious, and if you sign up for a rewards card, you get a free drink your first visit. The employees are very nice and helpful in their suggestions. They bring your food to your table, and even though they aren't considered servers/waiters, offered to refill all our drinks for us too! My only complaints were how cold the desserts were served (the cupcake tasted 10x better after I let it sit out for awhile at room temp), the prices were a little high, and I would really like to see nutritional information for their menu items. I'm afraid I'm getting tricked into thinking vegan=low calorie, low fat and 100% healthy. But I'll just keep telling myself that and continuing to eat here...
(4)
Rachel T.

Wow, I am thrilled to see Native Foods in Chicago and doing so well. While doing a search for vegan food in my old neighborhood, I put my name on a mailing list to learn more. A few weeks later I received an invite for a free dinner they were hosting to get things up and running, and work out the kinks. It was great - delicious food, cheery service, and everything vegan? Amazing. I've since ventured back to the Milwaukee Ave. and Belmont locations a bunch of times. It's always delicious and I love that you have the ability to choose where you want your meal to fall in the range from healthy/calorie conscious to decadent. I recommend: Watermelon Fresca mixed with a little Lavender Lemonade Chicken Run Burger Sesame Kale Macro Bowl. This is really tasty and wholesome - plus I usually get 2 meals out of it. Soul Bowl Peanut Butter Parfait. I can't really explain why I love this so much other than saying that it's absurdly tasty. Oh, and the cheesecake absolutely does not taste like it's made with tofu. I honestly would never have known. We even bought an entire 'cheese'cake from Native Foods for my sister's birthday. Native Foods seems to be doing really well, and this makes me very happy. Just one quick request: The Cubano sandwich that was promoted around the Superbowl was so fantastic. Please consider adding it to the menu permanently!
(5)
Meera R.

My husband and I tried this place today, and we loved it!! The nachos were delicious and filling for two. My husband's portabella burger came with fries, and my chicken bowl came with corn bread. Each dish had its own unique flavor profile. SO MUCH food, we would have brought more home if my husband hadn't devoured his entree. It's so nice to leave a restaurant feeling satisfied but not stuffed. It's also nice to know that you have made less of a negative impact on the environment through your choices. I agree with another reviewer. One NFC for every McDonald's. Lou L, let's get a petition going. Native Foods Cafe = great taste + fast and friendly service + reasonable prices + generous portions
(5)
Caity F.

Definitely not vegan or vegetarian, but I love trying out places like this. Such a creative menu! It was my first time around so I used their "first timer" suggestion and got the twister wrap. Silly me, I thought I was eating chicken. Seriously, I figured I had chosen one of the meat-eater options (which I later found out do not exist). I love the idea of spicing up products like seitan and tempeh. There was so much flavor in that little wrap! I am eager to go back because it was such a hit with my taste buds and NO overstuffed, guilty feeling. I also got the watermelon fresca. So what it's the middle of winter and no where near watermelon-summer-season? So refreshing and quenched my thirst after Bikram yoga. I have to say I was still a little hungry when i got home. Backstory: I eat a super light lunch at work, then sweat my butt off in yoga, THEN need some serious food-time (I probably have terrible eating habits, but I digress...) Needless to say, I was famished. May get an app or a side to go with my sandwich next time around.
(4)
Sonia B.

OMG Native Foods Cafe, whyyy are you so good? I was perfectly happy ordering my big, fat, juicy, beef burgers at other places, but now that I know that I can find equally delicious meatless burgers, I am torn! Native set the bar high for an awesome selection of high-quality food, service, and atmosphere. I got to try a few things on my first visit. I had the Portobello and Sausage Burger and the Sweet Potato Fries. They were both out of this world-- full of flavor and very generously served. I also had the chance to dabble into my friends' dishes like the Chicken Run Ranch Burger, Seasoned Fries, Native Nachos, and Chicken Wings. Holy goodness. They also have some pretty tasty drinks like the Native Iced Tea (with Hibiscus and Wild Berry) and the Watermelon Fresca. The only thing that I am not feeling 100% is their prices. They are just a little too high for me to dine here frequently, but would for sure come back every chance I get. Well done, NFC :)
(4)
Katie R.

i honestly can't believe i haven't reviewed native foods yet! while it's a chain, the food is fresh fresh fresh, healthy, and most importantly, delicious. there is something for everyone and you know, well, you have those days that you want to eat comfort foods and those that you want to eat healthy, and they have something to satisfy both cravings. the watermelon fresca is amazing, also!
(4)
Sarah M.

Can't say enough good things about this place. The food is always fresh and perfect, served in an aesthetically pleasing manner and for a great price. Even my non-vegan boyfriend likes it! On our last visit, we brought our dog along and had lunch on the patio - really relaxing and the staff was super nice to our dog and even brought over a bowl of water for her. The Chicken-Run Ranch burger is my favorite. I thought I was great at making homemade seitan until I tried theirs... just, wow. The worst thing about this place is that I moved from Chicago to Madison just after they opened... please, Native Foods Vegan Gods - please open a Madison, WI location!
(5)
Brooke O.

This place is solid for fresh and fast vegan food. Most folks who work there are upbeat and helpful in providing suggestions if you get lost in the options. I really like the salads and the bowls. I've taken meat lovers here and they actually didn't realize the chicken burger was not actual meat. The food is slightly expensive, but there are not very many strictly vegan spots in the neighborhood so I guess they can do it. They also get internet from Covo next door, so that's nice.
(3)
J. K.

Because it is healthy doesn't mean it is eatable.
(1)
Victor C.

Great food ! All the locations are super cool and all my non vegan friends love this place ! I love the art too ! just wish the sides were free lol but great food !
(5)
L N.

Delicious, inventive foods and abundant portions. Healthy too! Yay!!
(4)
Annie N.

Their chai was wonderful - and free refill. On a cold winter night, it was the closest thing to perfection. I signed up for a member card, and received the drink for free, so if it's your first time here, ask for a membership card (free and give you rewards if you eat here a lot). Their employees were very happy and friendly. It was almost closing time and yet I did not see a single sign of annoyance when customers were still walking in (which I see a lot at many other places). Their foods looked delicious. We ordered a Gandhi Bowl and a Greek Gyro bowl. It came out looking like spring just arrived on our table: lots of vegetables of different colors, fresh and healthy. I might have enjoyed the food a little bit more than my dinning companion, as he's not a big vegetable fan. My food tasted good, but I have no be honest and say it was not out of this world, or perhaps, not up to the hype. Maybe because I've been cooking without meat for a while now, and I've been able to find ways to cook vegetable well, that I was not blown away by the flavor. My boyfriend was reacting the same way as well, he told me he was not impressed by the flavor of the food. On the positive site, I'd have to admit that despite eating a huge bowl of food late at night, we were both not feeling bloated at all - the beauty of eating vegetable. Being a huge vegetable fan, I cook and eat the same thing at home daily (rice, or some grains, with lots and lots of vegetable), I probably should have known better and order a burger, or a wrap with the sweet potato fries, which looked delicious. Perhaps that is for next time when I'm back with someone else (since my boyfriend probably won't be convinced to come back). Their chai itself was a good enough reason for a return trip.
(4)
Chris H.

They make vegan food tasty even for stout carnivores.
(4)
Lauren D.

Years ago, I'd have never gone to a place like Native Foods. Vegan? Blegh. Gluten-free? Double-blegh. FAKE CHEESE? HA! No way, Jose. But, of late, I've realized how important it is to eat healthy. Whilst I cannot deny myself of life's indulgences (cream, cheese, cream cheese, anything dairy-related, steak, etc.), I certainly can incorporate a place like Native Foods into my daily diet. The food here is SO healthy and SO tasty, it's almost outrageous. Seriously, I could eat the entire menu. And the seasoned fries! YUM! And the desserts!! Peanut Butter parfait!!! O-m-g. Next time you're thinking about an unhealthy dinner, head to Native Foods - trust me, you will not be disappointed. If someone who loves meat and cheese as much as I do can be happy here, you can, too. You can satisfy your cravings for anything here, and you won't feel bad about doing it.
(4)
E W.

Yay yay yay yay yay! Vegan fast food that tastes delicious and won't break the bank! Conveniently located! Amazing variety of items on the menu! Happy, helpful service! Is this...heaven?
(5)
Charlie S.

Wasn't expecting much, but the food is really good and decently priced. Don't let the vegan label deter you!
(5)
Sophie F.

I LOVE NATIVE FOODS! I was just there last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and have tried so many things off their menu so I have no idea where to start but this is THE place to bring your non vegan and vegan friends, every one of my friends have been loving it! Fave Appetizer: YOU MUST TRY NATIVE WINGS with both ranch + buffalo sauce. The other appetizers are good but this really tops everything...if you want two appetizers, then get two orders of this :P Fave Entrees: Gandhi Bowl, Sesame Kale Bowl, Native Soul Bowl, Scorpion Burger, Chicken Run Ranch Burger (the kids GF quinoa mac and cheese is really good too!!) Dessert: PB PARFAIT!! The one big plus about the wicker park spot over the lakeview spot is that they have an outdoor patio.
(5)
Jim V.

A little creeped out by some of the fake meats, but overall good change of pace from your standard restaurant packed with super processed foods
(4)
Ramya P.

Vegan yumminess!! This is one of the few places where I've started off craving the drinks rather than the food. You MUST try both the Lavender Lemonade and the Watermelon Fresca which has a hint of mint and mildly sweet. Got to try the daily special option for Friday, a wrap that was delish. The fries are cripsy n well seasoned. Hoping to try many other options sometime soon.
(4)
Aurore L.

Fear not: I haven't joined the dark side of the force just yet. Me eats meat, and it's going to stay that way for a while. But after a little stroll in Wicker Park market I was thirsty and the three of us (Reuben, me and Sake out dog extraordinaire) unanimously decided (yes, communication is flawless in our family) to check out Native Foods Cafe to see what they had in their guts. Turns out, a lot of saitan, tofu and other weird substitutes that I will never understand for the life of me, veggies, fried items and - ready for the climax?!?!? - watermelon fresca!!! A delicious and oh so refreshing blend of watermelon, mint with just a touch of sweet. Perfect summer drink. Too bad it's already done. Or so they say.
(4)
Pieter D.

Sweet potato fries with chipotle sauce on the side is always a good addition to anything I end up ordering here... Amazing.
(5)
Kristina B.

First off, let me state that I am a meat eater. I'm throwing that out there because I want you, the reader, to know that you don't have to only eat soy products to enjoy vegan fare. That being said... This place is pretty darn delicious. I've only been here twice but I was satisfied with what I had. Yes, humanity, you CAN take non-meat products and spice them up just right to make them not only edible but tasty. Who would've thought?! Here's what I had the first time: Caribbean Queen Burger -- Shaved slices of island-style Native Original Seitan piled high with sliced avocado, lettuce, carrots, onion, mayo and a fresh mango-pepper salsa. Yum, yum, yum. And with sweet potato fries on the side, I was a happy camper! (note -- I've never been camping so that's saying something.) You need to give this place a shot. I feel like there's something here for everyone, even if you are huge on eating flesh. Also -- try their chocolate cupcake. The frosting tastes like it has a pinch of sea salt in it...ugh, so good. To quote Pee-Wee Herman from the Anderson Cooper SNL skit... TWO MORE!!!!!!
(4)
Angel L.

Best vegan diner food in Chicago HANDS DOWN! Native Foods is AMAZING! You won't regret it! My favorite appetizer is the Native Nachos. Not served with gooey vegan cheese, but with a creamy, light homemade cheese. They come LOADED with fresh veggies, even corn. VERY GOOD! Thirsty? I adore the refreshing Lavender Lemonade and that it's only $2.95 with free refills and to-go cup. :) ENTRÃ‰E TIME! I LOVE the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger: homemade seitan, vegan cheddar & bacon with fresh veggies, battered pickles, ranch, and just lil' bit of BBQ? *cue Homer Simpson* Best EVER! Also recommended: the Chicago Dip (My non-veg bf said he could easily eat it in place of an Italian Beef!) the Portobello & Sausage, and Super Italian Meatball Sub. In the 'okay' category, the BBQ Love, Chicken Run Ranch, & Scorpion Burgers. In the 'never again' category, the Greek Gyro Earth Bowl. A crisped pita on top of seitan & veggies a gyro is NOT. But other than that, YUM! The most costly entrÃ©e is $9.95. AND if you get their special of the day, it comes with a free side! (But otherwise, a side is only $1.95---but you may be so full you won't even want it!) If you do get a side, try the soup of the day! From mint split pea, to lemongrass coconut, each day is an exciting new flavor! Okay, this is where some of you might get mad at me---not a huge fan of most of the $2.95 desserts. *ducks as you throw a cupcake at me* I know, I know, but the Boogie Bar was horribly mushy and thick, and although not bad, I've had better cupcakes and pie. The parfaits didn't do too much for me either, but I did like the Cheesecake with blueberries! Very nice way to end a meal! Everything here tastes sooo FRESH! The quality of the food really comes out when you taste it! Service here is exquisite, AND the food comes very quickly after ordering---as in, with a long line of people and a packed restaurant, I've only ever waited 7 minutes for an appetizer, and ten minutes after that for an entree. I won't even compare service here to The Chicago Diner (which is horrid). There is always someone nearby asking if you need anything or offering a refill. With its great food, awesomely attentive service, and short wait times, you are sure to come back for more! Heck, try eating outside on the patio while it's still nice out and enjoy a beer or glass of wine! (Yes! They have alcohol too! :P) To fabulous vegan cuisine!
(4)
Jessie B.

Hey kids here's a thought. Just because a restaurant is vegan doesn't make it healthy. Frying and sauteing meat substitutes doesn't make the calorie count go any lower. I did enjoy most of my order--although it would have been better if I saw more fresh vegetables being offered. This review gets a star added because of the oh so delicious watermelon drink I had. It was fresh & light. Just what summer taste buds need. Would I go out of my way for this place? Probably not. I rather make my own tasty vegan food at home.
(3)
Brandon C.

This is an all vegan place but don't let that sway you. The food here is amazing and some of ]the best I've ever had. Me and my girlfriend had the nachos (most flavorful ever had as an appetizer, Then I had a scorpion burger with chipolte sauce I would have never known wasn't a real meat burger. My girl had the Greek gyro bowl which she says was delicious. Also you have to try the peanut butter parfait it was heaven like in it's texture and flavor.
(5)
Kelz M.

Just got back from my first trip to Native Foods and my entire review can be summed up into four words: "oof, I'm SO full!" What we ate: Scorpion Burger Native Fries Chicken Nuggets Cardamom Rose Cupcake Lavender Lemonade Price: $19.64 (the burger was on special and the beverage was free for signing up for their free rewards program) What we thought: As a meat eater, I confess to thinking, "wtf? A vegan place? Seriously??" when I walked through Native Foods' doors. I expected the menu to be loaded with items I've never heard of before but I was wrong. Food descriptions were readable, prices were reasonable....all easily doable for a simple girl like me. I won't take too long to describe our meal. Here's the low-down: everything was delicious, flavourful, and filling. We agreed that the cardamom rose cupcake (one of the best tasting cupcakes I've ever had) and the lavender lemonade (the lavender ~really~ softens the flavor of the lemons) were the two stand-outs. Additionally, the staff was attentive and helpful; five stars all the way around!
(5)
KM G.

Oh, Native Foods, how I love thee. Vegetarians can sympathize: it's not often that I can walk into a restaurant and have the ability to order ANYTHING off the menu. Usually my eyes just make a beeline for the "Salad" portion, and I satiate myself with that. However, here I can just go buckwild. (And let's face it...I usually do.) Everything I've tried here has been quite delicious, although it may be a wee bit on the pricy side for salads/burgers/sandwiches. However, I'm willing to pay for some seriously good vegan fare. The drinks are also excellent (try combining the lemonade and the iced tea; it makes for a helluva good Arnold Palmer), and the fact that refills are free and unlimited makes me feel better about the $2.50 price tag. The only downside? I live so damn far away from here. However, I usually try and come at least once a month and get my vegan-noms fix.
(4)
Lindsey B.

Food was priced reasonably, meal under $10 is win! I came with a small group, so we split several items: - Chef's Garden Pizza = 5 stars, I was in love - Mama Mia Pizza = 3 stars, these flavors were missing something - Chicken Run Ranch Burger = 5 stars
(4)
Mary Beth N.

I am hell-bent on trying each and every item on this menu at some point. I've made a pretty good dent in that goal in the year and a half since I discovered NFC, and I've yet to have a bad meal or regret a menu choice. The prices are right, the service is always friendly and the free refills on the delicious fountain drinks like lavender lemonade (as well as very reasonable beer and wine prices) are all great, but apart from those, the food is fantastic. I've been a vegetarian for almost 20 years, and being able to go into a restaurant knowing that anything I order is "safe" is a great feeling. My more open-minded meat-eating friends also enjoy this place, because the food is just that good. No tasteless generic veggie burgers or limp salads here--everything is colorful, flavorful and fresh, and comes in large portions. Sign up for their rewards program and their email list, and you'll learn about specials like free desserts with a purchase or limited-time special entrees. They do a great job making sure you don't forget about them without bombarding you with email.
(5)
Mike W.

I've been here probably 8 or 9 times and bought one of their party trays for a gathering at my place. There's nothing bad I can say about this place - the food is tasty and healthy, the food integrity is really high, portions are good, prices are cheap, and all of the servers are really helpful. It seems like what they server here should be the type of food most people should be eating - real ingredients, organic produce, healthy proteins. Having tried a lot of their menu by now, I'm a big fan of the Morrocan bowl, their sweet potato fries, and their nachos. Ok. the nachos aren't really that healthy, but they are really tasty, and good if you have at least 3 hungry people.
(5)
Allison C.

Though I enjoy vegetarian food, I tend to draw the line at vegan. I may order a tasty-sounding vegan item off a menu, but I DO NOT seek out vegan restaurants. I love cheese. Whenever Anthony Bourdain rants about veganism, a small part of me is thrilled. That being said, my husband and I were absolutely starving when we were doing some shopping in Wicker Park. We were right by Native Foods Cafe, and decided to try it. We split a jicama/guacamole salad, it was so good! It tasted very fresh. I had the lavender lemonade, and my husband had the watermelon fresca. Both were good, and all fountain drinks are free refills. I hope to come back and try more of their items.
(4)
Anna L.

I stopped at the Native Foods Cafe a lot while I was going to school. I am a vegan and they have a lot of good vegetarian/vegan/natural food options. The restaurant upstairs is really good and I love the soup they have. I think non vegetarians could enjoy the options they have to. I've also bought other misc stuff there like a smudge stick. I think they also have vitamins and other health stuff.
(4)
Monique U.

Dude, I so wanted to order everything on the menu! Mouth watering deliciousness! I ordered the scorpion burger with sweet potato fries and had a watermelon fresca. My friend got the bacon cheeseburger and since I'm lactose intolerant, I hesitated to try her cheese. Then i remembered, it's not cheese and I scarfed it down happily. After finishing my food. I remembered since it was so healthy, I could go back for the apple pie without feeling so guilty and I'm glad I did. If I would have eaten a burger, fries, and apple pie at any other restaurant, my stomach would have been in gassy turmoil, but I felt completely awesome and happy. No tummy aches or farts. Just a drooling mouth wanting more. I will be back ASAP.
(5)
Kristine G.

This is the restaurant I visit most in the city. Not only is the food delicious, it's healthy and it makes me feel good after eating it. Plus, have you had their hot or iced chai yet? It's one of the best I've had and I don't usually like chai. And, free refills! My husband and I have taken our friends and family here as well and even our most skeptical, meat-eating friends have enjoyed it. Another great thing about Native Foods is their dedication to giving back with community days. Eat good food that's actually good for you AND give back. Now that's a meal.
(5)
Sarah M.

Vegans, vegetarians, and those in-between...Get Excited!!!!!! You have no idea what's about to hit our Windy City. When I walked past the developing storefront of a new restaurant in Wicker Park, I mumbled a casual,"Oh cool," at the ever changing scene in this wicked hipster metropolis. It wasn't until I looked up and saw the name "Native Foods" shimmering in the summer sun that I literally YELLED,"OMG! NATIVE FOODS IS HERE!!" I Facebooked it. I texted it. I Tweeted it. I got a tattoo of it. Okay...last one was a lie. Let me explain. I am a born and bred Californian. I bleed salt water and sweat sand. I learned how to body board before I learned how to walk. I was strolling the laid back streets of Orange County apartment hunting one afternoon and came across Native Foods in Costa Mesa, CA. The second I finished my meal, I told my sister,"I need to find an apartment close to this restaurant." And so I did. And it was good. I moved to Chicago 2 years ago, and visit home 3-4 times a year. There hasn't been one visit that I haven't popped into NF for a palatable throwback. FOOD: It's all good. It's also like taking a bite out of California. You're going to want to share the Native Nachos with a buddy, then pounce on the Scorpion burger. Wash it down with some mint tea, or an organic beer. Then indulge in a little carrot cake. All the food and ingredients are vegan. The reason I mention this half way through the review, is because it would fool you to know it. Any conceptions you may have had about vegan food (good or bad) are about to change. NF fills you up in a creative, flavorful and impressive way. All the ingredients are made in house, so you won't find them anywhere else. This isn't the run-of-the-mill veg restaurants around the city that feel like they're only one step away from being a Morning Star microwaved meal. This is the real deal. It's healthy and guilt-free, without being predictable. Native nachos have whole beans, vegan guacamole with a limey zest, "cheese" as a hearty hummus-like whip that I always order extra of and thin chips that are cooked to crunch. The Scorpion burger has a sick (as in awesome) spicy mayo, shredded lettuce and crunchy Cajun tempeh middle. Whole wheat bun and sweet potato fries. The pizza rocks. The rice bowls rock. Heck, everything is amazing. PRICE: Decent, pretty comparable to other veg restaurants. It's a place that you'll find a favorite on the menu from, and then suddenly no longer see the dollar signs accompanying it. ATMOSPHERE: Every NF I've been to has it's own feel. Imagine a modern art museum on ecstasy. Clean, pretty spacious, calming. It comes with an important social message, although I'll save the soapbox for them. A good place to read a book, get out of the heat for an hour, or chill with friends. Listen. All of my Yelp reviews are said to be gleefully hilarious...but I'm with holding the humor on this guy so you know the seriousness of goodness of deliciousness that is embarking on this Ocean-starved city. Go...be adventurous...then order me some more nachos!
(5)
Elizabeth A.

The first time I went here was just to get a drink while I was shopping on Milwaukee. I ordered a Lavender Lemonade and ended up getting it for free because I signed up for their rewards card. It was delicious! My boyfriend and I went just this past Sunday for a late dinner (open til 10pm) and the Chicken run ranch Burger was the special so I ordered that with sweet potato fries, my boyfriend got the Twister Wrap, and we both ordered the lemonade. Everything was excellent. The staff is really friendly and quick! I ended up getting a chocolate cupcake to go which was also yummy. I will definitely be going back and would highly recommend!
(5)
Kate S.

I've been a vegetarian for 18 years, so I've had my fair share of faux-meat and vegan food. I liked the balance between the healthy (hello, kale side dish and plentiful salads) and not-so-healthy (I'm talking to you, chili cheese fries) at this place. All the beverages my table tried were refreshing (iced tea, lavender lemonade, watermelon mint something...), plus they have very affordable wine/beer, with a nice selection (Two Brothers, Metropolitan, Green Truck--the selection probably rotates). My challenge here is that I don't like mushroom, and I don't love fake meat (I know, what kind of vegetarian am I?? Give me beans or lentils any day over fake meat..). But, I tried to be adventurous, so here's what I tried: The good: - Saigon Rolls -- YUM--slightly sweet, refreshing, unique, lemongrassy, peanut sauce - Chili cheese fries -- YUM--I didn't even taste the texture of the fake taco meat--these just had a really nice flavor, and some fake cheese thing to dip the fries in, which really seemed like hummus, was also good - Mini-greens salad -- YUM--Though, it's not so "mini"--definitely a good bit of salad for a good price The bad: - Moroccan bowl -- Eh. This had almost zero flavor! I was so disappointed, for a place that seems very into flavoring everything so well. It seemed like veggies and quinoa to me (no flavor/sauce). Maybe they forgot my sauce? I was sad. - Boogie bar -- Eh. I've had worse vegan desserts, to be sure, but this was very dense and a little dry, and didn't taste very banana-y, chocolate-y, coconut-y, or like too much of anything. Not bad, but I'd opt for another dessert there next time. The staff were all very friendly! They have plentiful outdoor tables, but you're sandwiched between Milwaukee and the Blue line, so it's a bit noisy. And--dark! We could barely see what we were eating at 9pm. I suppose summer's rapidly coming to a close...
(4)
Hoowa H.

Service was really good. Front desk girl extremely friendly. Didn't realize it's vegan. Why do they call things chicken and sausage if it's not really?
(4)
Suzy S.

Love the different varieties of Vegan fare. Not everything here is mind blowing but still good.The caradamon cupcakes, meatball sub, and sweet potatoe fries are def my fav!! Atmosphere is laid back and you will find positive plant based vibes on the walls. I frequent Native quite often and I think you should too!!
(4)
Felice O.

Vegan FTW!! I usually have dinner here on Sunday evenings. I have had most of the entrees and they are all amazing. The seasoned Fries are the best in the city as are the vegan chocolate cupcakes. The chocolate love pie is not so delicious if you're not a fan of nuts. However, the Chicken Run Ranch Burger is delicious or my personal favorite: The Yo Amigo Taco Salad.
(5)
Janine G.

So I was going to give Native Foods a 4 (a rounded up 3.5) earlier today, but yelp won't let me update an existing review the same day I posted the original one (2 stars for yelp...lol?) Original review: This would be a 3 1/2 star review if we could give half reviews, so I rounded up. I got the Moroccan bowl with tofu (the way Chef Tanya gets it...I think it's a little creepy how she is refered to as Chef Tanya everywhere and by all the employees...) and the peanut parfait. The bowl was pretty delish with some grains, well cooked veggies and seasoned tofu. It was definitely lacking a little pizzaz (more almonds and dried cranberries please, or a little spice), but tasted fresh. My friend got the Oklahoma Burger and fries, which was definitely a winner. The peanut parfait was also super super yummy. I take off a star and a half for the space. I thought I'd really like it when they were building it, but the space feels really empty and without character. Sitting outside, I still kinda felt like I was dining in suburbia somewhere. I think it's a great addition to the neighborhood, but I'll probably be keeping Handlebar at the top of my list for my vegan fare. Second Review: I just ordered pick up with some coworkers and spent $25 for some chicken wings, chili cheese fries, taquitos, and another peanut butter parfait. I would have normally been fine with the price if it the food would have been out of this world, but it totally wasn't. SO, the chili cheese fries were soggy and had no chili? Maybe just some chili powder, but last I checked chili cheese fries had some chili on them...plus the 'cheese' was just plopped on top and was cold, which didn't help out the texture or consistency. Furthermore, the chicken wings were more like chicken tenders, no real sauce on them. They were alright, much like the taquitos that were actually just tacos. As for the service, we ordered ahead and arrived within the time frame given. The staff was totally discombobulated and everyone was confused. We got a free chocolate hazelnut pie that was pretty decent, but tasted more like pudding. I might have made that pudding face that is apparently the new fad, but I don't think that's a good thing. So, majorly dissapointed. I feel like in every dish that I have tried (minus the burger) that something was missing.
(2)
Emily C.

I love this place and particularly this location since you can eat outside, they even have heaters for the cooler weather. We drive in 3-4 times a week (pregnancy vegan cravings) and even catered for our baby shower. The prices may seem high but the food is filling and reliable. I have never felt ill eating here like I have at other vegan restaurants that are a little heavy on the grease and oil. Make sure to get the Native Card - points for spending - every 200 gets you $$ off and randomly you win. We've won a reusable bag, desserts 3 times, and drinks a few times. Favorites for the kids: Chimpanzee Pizza and Freddies Mac n Cheese Quesadillas were a no go. I personally don't care for the bowls, they lack flavor but are substantial. The chipotle sauce is my all time favorite condiment - like a vegan 1,000 island with kick.The ranch is lacking in flavor and is sometimes too runny. The nachos are enough for a meal to share and everyone in our family loves the sweet potato fries. My personal favorite and our party hit the Saigon Rolls and Native Chicken Nuggets. I have literally tried everything on this menu and my all time favorite was the special Memorial Day Chimmichurri Burger (it is not available regularly). They also know how to do a vanilla cake cupcake correctly - if you have been to other cupcakeries you know what I mean (either too dry or too tacky). The rose petals are a bit overwhelming on the cardamom rose - but the taste is divine. Love the parfaits too! We met Chef Tanya opening week and she was delightful - I hope locations open in the Western Burbs
(5)
Maryellen W.

Overall, I like this place. The staff is absolutely awesome (super friendly and polite) and they have a really good menu. I have yet to be blown away by anything I've ordered, but it's pretty good for vegan food. The homemade drinks are great! I love the Lavender Lemonade and Native Iced Tea. Perfect to sip on while sitting in the outside eating area! Definitely a place I'll keep on regular rotation over the summer.
(4)
rhea w.

A- O- MF'n- K! thats right. i said it. this place makes me smile. great food, service, philsophy, and price point. Mom got the Soul Bowl and LOOOVED it. I got the Gyro Bowl and ...well...took some home for left overs. BUT reguardless of not liking the gyro bowl...this place is the kind of place i want to come back to and try over and over. we also shared a peanut butter parfait...what?! amazing is what! and then came the rose and cardamom cupcake...which sealed the deal. it was the best cupcake i . have. ever. had. ever. so...here's my suggestions: go easy on the soft drinks...if you're like me ( not that into soft drinks) then these soft drinks will not make you switch teams. if you are into soft drinks...well ...by all means...proceed. the apps are basically vegan fast food- and not really "worth it" for me. the rest of the menu is off the chain. i'll be back. and i will buy the cookbook. go here!
(5)
Caitlin B.

3 Things you need to know about Native Foods Wicker Park: 1. The food is AMAZING! I absolutely love everything I've tried on the menu. Special favorites include the sweet potato fries, Twister Wrap and Peanut Soup. 2. The staff could NOT be more helpful or kind! They consistently take the time to answer questions, refill your drinks and, just recently, after I spilled my fries, the manager replaced them immediately. 3. Even non-vegan eaters will love it. My husband absolutely loved the meatball sandwich, and he typically dislikes vegan food. CHECK IT OUT!
(5)
Hailee G.

Native Foods is delicious, and a vegetarian's dream come true! (It's also great for vegans!) I almost always get the Nuevo Native Nachos as a starter, and they are probably the best vegetarian-friendly nachos I have ever had. I also love the Yo Amigo Taco Salad, Sesame Kale Macro Bowl, and Bangkok Curry Bowl. And, I cannot get enough of their lavender lemonade! The food is well prepared and arrives quickly. It always tastes fresh, healthy, and delicious. And, the staff are so friendly, helpful, and caring - a few different times, a staff member noticed me getting up to get something (such as a drink refill) and has offered to get it for me, even though they are tipped when you place your order, not at the end of your meal. I also like their rewards program, through which I have received "bonuses" like a free beverage and free dessert. I highly recommend Native Foods to anyone looking for amazing (yet still affordable) vegetarian and vegan friendly food.
(5)
Kate L.

There's nothing like it- at least, not in Chicago. My husband and I pick up dinner from Native Foods once a week and couldn't be more pleased with the taste, quality and speed at which we're able to pick it up once we call our order in. The soups are consistently AWESOME, the Yo Amigo Taco Salad is wonderful as are the earth bowls and the Portobello and Sausage Burger is to die for. It's a healthier way to eat and it's delicious...perfection.
(5)
Becky G.

I'm not vegan or vegetarian. In fact, I love meat. But I like trying new foods with unique flavors, and I heard great things, so I decided to give Native Foods Cafe a chance. You never know what to expect when you take the first bite out of a meal that has seitan in it (or however you spell it), but here, my first words have always been "WOW!" The flavors are delicious, and I support their use of fresh and organic ingredients. I had the Twister wrap that tasted sooo good, it was hard for me to believe there was no dairy in the creamy chipotle sauce. The only negative I had about this dish was that the sauce started making the tortilla a little soggy and a lot of the ingredients started pouring out the other side. I've also had the portabella/sausage burger, and that was delicious as well. The watermelon mint drink is on a whole 'nother level. I could drink this stuff everyday and never get sick of it. So even if you're a meat lover, you should still try this place out! You will be pleasantly surprised.
(4)
Steve L.

I am nowhere near a vegan, but that meatball sub is just fantastic! The $3 two brothers selection isn't a bad touch either. I will absolutely be back and soon.
(5)
Kimberlie T.

Legit! Obviously great for vegans but pretty tasty for non vegans as well. You won't be disappointed. We tried the new Jamaican Jerk Kale Salad, Greek Gyro bowl and the Twister Wrap. All delicious and you don't feel like you over ate afterwards. A generous portion given for an extremely fair price. Staff is friendly, can't go wrong. Just try it!
(5)
Bob L.

Good, casual, friendly, warm. Try moroccan bowl, it's good. Just careful with lemonade, there would be few fruit flies in it. disgusting.
(4)
M M.

Yes, the food is as good as everyone says. Yes, the people behind the counter are wonderful and yes, the restaurant will quickly work its way into your top 5 rotation. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of something that most people wouldn't notice or care about: the aggressive pushiness around their rewards card program. Every time I order at the counter I get the sneaking suspicion that the people manning the registers will get an electrical shock if they don't ask you if you have or want a rewards card. I'm fine with being asked, but when I tell you I don't want one, please don't hassle me about it. I'm well aware that you offer one, and, as crazy as this might sound, I still don't want it. Please don't make me have to defend my personal and economic views every single time I order. It's grating. Outside of that (admittedly minor) complaint, I still go here all the time because the Chicken Run Ranch Burger is that good.
(4)
Michael P.

Good cupcakes
(3)
Holly M.

Just ate there. A-mazing! The restaurant is not completely open to the public yet, however there are some people who are getting in with personal invites. My friend and I were some lucky people! We made it in early enough to avoid the massive line. Since it just opened I think the workers are still figuring out the cash register. Anyway, my friend and I ordered enough food that would have come around to $35.00...but it was free!! The staff was unbelievably nice and we had several different people come around to our table just to make sure everything was perfect...which it was. Even the founder of Native Foods came by to see if we needed anything. The pastry chef conversed with us and told us how she made her delicious, amazing desserts. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start with the dinner first! I ordered the Scorpion Burger, which I had been warned by several staff was going to have some kick to it. It. Was. Perfect! The tempeh burger was blackened to enrich the flavor and bring out the zest of the chipotle sauce on top. The cheddar cheese on top was so good--the best vegan cheese I have ever tasted. Hell, some of the best of any cheese I've ever had. The lentil soup I ordered on the side was tasty and I enjoyed the big crouton that accompanied it. I tried the watermelon fresca, which was excellent and refreshing, but I could not get enough of the lavender lemonade. I'll be craving that forever. My friend ordered the strawberry parfait and I ordered the cheesecake. I've had vegan pastries before and have never been wowed, but....um....WOW! I can't even go into full detail on how absolutely amazing the cheesecake was. It was just astounding. I think my friend was about to cry over how good her parfait was. And again, the whole time we talked to the staff and were beyond 'waited' on--we felt like royalty! Without a doubt, I will be coming back here as soon as it fully opens to the everyone.
(5)
Sibi J.

A new place which opened up in the neighborhood in the past 6 months. Definitely trying to vegetarians in the area riled up !! A decent quick lunch / dinner spot. The cupcakes are great but apart from that, I think the sandwiches are just ok. Nothing bad but nothing great :)
(3)
Niki G.

This place is incredible! Just opened and I already love, love, love it -- and I know many non-vegetarians will adore it, too! Our party of four ordered the native chicken wings, saigon rolls, Oklahoma bacon cheeseburger, meatball sub, Chicago Au Jus dip sandwich, and a crispy chicken ranch sandwich. Oh man, was it good! Then to top it off, for dessert, we ordered a rich, creamy cheesecake, an awesome little chocolate cupcake with amazing frosting, and the peanut butter chocolate chip parfait. Ah, we were in heaven. Not to mention, the staff was super friendly and very helpful in explaining what some of the items were. Service was great and quick. We hardly had to wait before our food was put down in front of us! Looking forward to going back! Not too expensive either! :) Meals were about $9-12 a piece.
(5)
Brent G.

What's not to love? I am by no means a vegetarian, but the chefs here make such heavenly concoctions from nuts, berries, twigs, and beans that I keep coming back. Several of us in the family follow a pretty strict Lenten observance and this restaurant makes it a little too easy to comply. In the last two visits we have enjoyed a vegan bacon cheeseburger, chicken wrap, nachos, mac and cheese, fries, cornbread and a variety of soft drinks. Truly amazing stuff. The service is excellent too. Everyone smiles and makes you feel welcome. The atmosphere is social but peaceful.
(5)
Julie H.

We heard about Native Foods Cafe from an article in the Chicago Tribune and decided to go during the first week it was open. I had high expectations based on the good review and we were not disappointed! We ordered the Sweet Potato Taquitos, Portobello and Sausage Burger, Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and ended the meal with the Chocolate Love Pie. Everything was absolutely delicious! Only issue was the Bacon Cheeseburger was so huge that it was a little difficult to eat, but I would still order it again. We sat on the porch and enjoyed the great weather and nice meal. They also have a rewards program for frequent customers. We are already planning our next trip back to try a Scorpion Burger, but this time probably at the Lakeview location when it opens.
(5)
M N.

+'s Very friendly staff. Convenient location. Efficient service. Reasonable prices. -'s Underwhelmed by the food itself. Pre-fab chain store environment. We placed a to-go order on 8/9. The place was packed, which is great as any all-vegan restaurant need
(3)
Valery S.

A good vegan spot - great service, inventive menu, affordable, sells beer and their delicious, but unfortunately pre-sweetened, drinks are refillable! Yay! The deserts are also great, the Rose Cupcake that I had was do unusual I still remember that first bite. Highly recommended for a once in a while lunch. Of course, as in my other reviews, I do not recommend vegan take on the SAD diet as your everyday choice, as eating this food every day will make you fat and sick, granted not as fast as McD's, but just as well. However, that said, I would never eat at McD's, but I would certainly eat here again and again, keeping in mind that "cookie is a sometime food".
(4)
Samuel M.

I had an unexpectedly pleasant lunch at Native Foods with a close friend of mine who is a veggie. My friends will tell you that I am a big meat eater (rarely does a day go by during which I don't eat bacon), so I was not expecting to enjoy my meal as much as I did. The food was very good; we had our suspicions that it may have been pre-made and reheated, but it was pretty delicious anyway. I went with the meatball sub: seitan "meatballs" topped with marinara sauce, a non-dairy cream, pesto, and a Parmesan analog, on gluten free bread. It was delicious and very filling for a meat-less option; I wasn't crazy about the bread, but the fillings and sauces were really good. Sweet potato fries were addictive and fresh (although they always are, so this doesn't earn NF many points from me). The drinks were very refreshing; we had the watermelon fresca and the lavender lemonade. I don't ordinarily drink sugary beverages, but these were tasty and not remotely cloying. My one consistent gripe was with the service, which was on the clingy side. We were checked on no less than five times over the course of a 30 minute lunch; the final one was to offer us a free sample of delicious, well-spiced soy chai, but overall I still found this invasive to the point that it detracted from the dining experience. I have to knock a star off for this. Pricing was appropriate for vegan food (our lunches were around $10 with everything included). I'll begrudgingly admit that this place is good enough to make me not miss meat that much. I'll likely be back!
(3)
Franklin K.

Native Foods has really good food at reasonable prices. Plenty of seating and lots of vegan options. You won't be disappointed with their selection of vegan food and you will be surprised at what is considered vegan since it's so good and tasty! They have outdoor seating but it can get pretty loud with the blue line being right next door, indoors however the blue line train noise is hardly noticeable. They have a good loyalty rewards program and it's a fun little place to for a quick bite or to grab a meal with a friend.
(5)
Jen G.

Neither my husband nor I are vegetarians, but we do like and often eat vegetarian or vegan food. So when we were going out with a friend who is veggie, we felt fine about trying this place. The service was outstanding. All of the people were extremely friendly and ready to refill our drinks practically after each sip. And like others have mentioned, you do get a free drink if you sign up for the club. The person at the register was also really helpful with explaining the menu and the different "meats" they serve. But the food just wasn't super special. It tasted good, but not great. I don't think any of us finished our meals, and no one wanted to box them up to take home. Honestly, I don't even remember what we had because it was so nondescript. I just know that I'm not rushing back.
(3)
AV G.

concept is a good one--place is a mess--food is tasty--portions are smallish and pricey
(2)
Ha-ti N.

I am not vegan, vegetarian or anything but if I were, I'd go to this place all the time. This food fascinates me. Try to greek quinoa bowl. I still love meat and real cheese. Can't live without it.
(3)
Ernest P.

In town for some rest and relaxation so we checked this place out as it would be nice to have these type of vegan options closer to home. Ordered the: Nachos: Quite large, had trouble distinguishing the Native Cheese from hummus, and the chipotle crema wasn't very heavy on the chipotle. Otherwise the Native taco meat was a highlight. We asked for more chips and the staff brought more out free of charge. Nice touch. Saigon roll: tasty, especially the dipping sauce. My wife liked it even though she is not a huge fan of peanut sauces. Gandhi Bowl: great presentation, especially the skewered tempeh rising from the bowl. Good flavor even if flavor and volume of wild curry sauce was a little light. If you're gonna call your sauce "Wild" then you should really go for it! Vegetables were a tad crunchy but i guess that beats the alternative of "cooked to death" Also nice selection of beer and wine. It would be great to have this option in the Maryland/D.C. area.
(4)
Jennifer K.

So great to have another alternative to Chicago Diner. We went here after recently taking on more of a healthy eating lifestyle (not eliminating meat completely, but just making sure we know where it comes from). So having places like this that offer NO MEAT is really great. You can order anything! We had the kids mac and cheese, the chicken wrap and the reuben. They were all really good too. I loved their little drink station too, how cute. We can't wait to go back and try more food!
(5)
Robert S.

I've been to all 3 Native Foods locations in Chicago and this one is the mothership. Outdoor seating in summer, nice decor, plenty of tables inside. The food is outstanding. I've yet to order something here that I don't like. One word of caution: they put sliced red peppers in a lot of their dishes. Sometimes just as a garnish, but the taste spreads. So if you don't like red peppers, be sure to tell them when you order!
(5)
Jennifer J.

Oh my god! This place rules! Me and my meat lover boyfriend came here today. I'm gluten and dairy free and was so excited to try some of their food. I got the nachos without meat, sooo good! Then the trio tacos, super delicious. Unlimited iced tea and lemonade got me super stuffed as well. My boyfriend got the oklahoma burger and he liked everything but the cheese. He's hard to please.. All in all, amazing food to help me kick my hangover. We'll be back soon!
(5)
Diana D.

I ate like a VEGAN queen. I'm from the burbs so we have NOTHING like this where I live but BOY WAS THIS WORTH THE TRIP! This place is nuts and so mouth watering. There was only two of us but we ordered half the menu just to try multiple dishes! I was in love and everything is made from scratch. THIS IS A MUST GO even if you aren't vegan. AMAZING!!
(4)
James L.

Another edit- bringing them back dow to 2 stars. They've stopped offering the specials on weekend, slimmed down portions for the same price, and don't seem to really care about their customers. I was going in regularly for about a year and saw a string of changes that just appear to be related to greed. I won't go anymore unless I'm desperate. There are just too many other great and much better veg options in Chicago to keep giving NF another chance. After 2.5 years, I'm updating this review from 2 stars to 4. The food has greatly improved and the staff is no longer super annoying. They've mellowed out over time while spicing up the food and flavors. They need wifi and I'll be dining with them a lot more often- I would have eaten their today if they had wifi, but went to another place up the street with an awesome vegan sandwich because of the wifi.
(2)
Lawrence Y.

A couple friends and I stopped on in for a late-night dinner. It was surprisingly crowded, but I guess that's Wicker Park for you. I really wanted their sweet potato taquitos, but unfortunately they were out. Nothing else really grabbed at me so I decided on the chili cheese fries, and tried some of their teas (hibiscus?) and lavender lemonade. The fries are of the tiny variety (reminded me of Minnies... resting in peace up in Hamburger Heaven) - and the chili cheese topping was pretty light, not heavy and greasy like most other fat-inducing places. The crowd is pretty hip...ster (Again, Wicker Park). But all in all it was good decent food and a good experience.
(4)
Suzan W.

Seriously the grossest vegan place I have ever been to. I was so looking forward to the reuben (since that is my favorite dish at a considerably better vegan restaurant in Chicago) and I was very disappointed. The bread was a greasy oil soaked mess, the cheeze was missing, there was barely any russian dressing, and it was tiny for the price. I couldn't eat the meatball sub my husband ordered....seriously, almost spit it out. In addition, paying $1.95 for a side is ridiculous. I can't believe a sandwich doesn't come with a side. So I paid a $1.95 for half raw potatoes in clumps of oily dill. Even the pickle that came with the meatball sub was gross....warm and mushy. Not interested in ever going back there, which is a shame considering I do visit that neighborhood frequently. I'm giving it two stars for the outdoor seating, the pleasant order takers, and for just being a vegan restaurant. The food gets negative fifty stars.
(2)
Beth Z.

I have become a real fan of this place. There are so many dishes to choose from, but I suggest taking a chance and getting the real veggie items (like the rice bowls or the veggie wrap) as opposed to the meat substitute type dishes (like the "au jus"). The soups are delicious. This is a great quick lunch for meat eaters or vegetarians/vegans.
(4)
maya s.

This place has a huge selection of food for the health conscious. I had the seitan french dip. It was pretty awesome and spicy. It is a little expensive. But, the portions are good. And they do have daily specials. YUM
(4)
Melinda K.

I'm not a vegan, but i LOVE vegan cuisine. I went with my vegan friend to try this place out for the first time. I usually frequent The Chicago Diner, but thought I'd give this place a try. It's a bit pricey, but the food was AMAZING. I got the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger with a side of sweet potato fries and lavender lemonade (with free refills) The Oklahoma Bacon cheeseburger was SO MESSY, but SO VERY delicious!! I've never had the unique "cheese" they make. I heard they make it out of nuts/seeds and other goodness. The sweet potato fries had a very unique seasoning which made them 10x more delicious than your average sweet potato fries. Definitely the best I've ever had. The Lavender Lemonade was so good that I got two refills (we walked a long way there and I was quite thirsty!) I'm on a diet, so I'm only giving this place 4 stars because I have scavenged the internet for calorie or heath information is nowhere to be found. I guess it's OK though, considering that this meal was such a filling meal I haven't eaten for the rest of the day (We got lunch today at 1:30ish and it's almost 9pm and I'm still FULL!!!) Also, I signed up for the rewards card and they gave me my lavender lemonade for free! This place is a bit on the pricey side, but I can understand with the ingredients being all home-made and fresh and organic! If it were a little cheaper, I'd come back much more often. I'll definitely be bringing my boyfriend and other friends back here. VERY good place to eat if you are looking for a place with healthy delicious meals that fill you up!!
(4)
Nel A.

only had the sweet potato fries. they were great! they sprinkled sugar on them. great idea. also the lavender infused lemonade was refreshing.
(3)
Phil F.

At first we thought it was going to be a super vegan place will all super fresh ingredients, low cal and really didn't think about meat replacement stuff. But this place really relies on meat replacement items, like fake chicken, beef and tempeh. Fresh veg seem to be more of a garnish or distraction from the fake meat stuffs. There are really a lot of fried things on the menu too, so this is not a place that is not necessarily healthy or low cal. No way. But if you are a non meat eater or like to sometimes avoid it, its a good place. The italian "beef" sandwich and "meatball" sub are really good. Also the buffalo wings are really nice. Last time I got a bowl with quinoa which was really quite delish and didn't include any fake meat product. So, yeah, its basically fast food reinvented without meat, but its really good fast food.
(4)
jake g.

this place has outstanding vegan food that can stand up to the toughest meat-eater-critics. every dish is fresh and flavorful. we tried the "chicken" wings, saigon rolls, nachos for appetizers, the oklahoma bacon cheeseburger, chicago dip, portobello-sausage burger for sandwiches. the desserts are beyond delicious - try the chocolate love pie, the peanut butter parfait or the cardamom rose cupcake. the homemade lemonade and watermelon drinks are even great too. and the service cannot be beat - high-end restaurants can learn from this friendly, attentive, thoughtful staff. you must check this place out!
(5)
Lucy P.

I really, really want to like this place. I really do. As a vegetarian I was pumped that this place was opening just a block from my house. Me and the husb. decided to try it the first week they were open. Based on my craving as a former-meat-eater we got the Italian beef to-go. I thought it wasn't bad. (Uh, I did put some cheese on it at home, I won't deny that). The Au Jus tasted like pure salt. Not so good. (I will admit I'm a little sensitive to salt..) My husband wasn't impressed at all. We also had the sweet potato fries, and they were average. Nothing amazing, nothing to complain about. I also had the rose/cardamom cupcake. At first it was a little odd...but by the third bite I was in love. I do love this cupcake. ---- We decided to go again recently. I ordered some Ranch Chicken sandwich, and my husband ordered a the Azteca salad. We also ordered fries and a drink. When our order came out they told us we got a free desert because it took longer than they like. (maybe a 10 minute limit?) Anyway. We actually ordered to share, but I seriously did not like the salad. Maybe because mangoes aren't my favorite thing. The hubs loved the salad. But this isn't his review... I moved onto my chicken sandwich. It was seriously fried. I liked that. Until a few bites in and something was odd, the texture, the flavor. Something. I ate it because I was hungry, but I wasn't happy about it. The frenchfries are 'eh. Something in the seasoning wasn't doing it for me. I did think their ketchup was delicious! We first had a lavender lemonade. Again the husband didn't mind it. I thought it was awful. Then we tried the watermelon, again I didn't think it was that good. Honestly, the way I feel is that this place just tries to shove shit together to be creative. I love that I can order anything from the menu, but sometimes I just don't think the flavors work well together. Clearly an opinion. I will say, I did get the cardamom cupcake for my desert, and it was lovely. My husband got the (aka I picked it for him because I knew I would eat it) strawberry parfait. No complaints on the desert! Honestly, I'll probably try this place again because I want to like it so bad-and the husband seems to like it. There are a few things left I'd like to try before I'm satisfied I've given it a solid chance. But really, I'll stick to the chicago diner for my fake-meat indulgences. I will mention the staff has always been super friendly. I'll also mention that I think its slightly annoying that they put "native" in front of each and every "meat" item on the menu. It gets a bit excessive when you're trying to scan the menu. Again. Personal opinion. This place is about the food, and this has nothing to do with the food.
(2)
Dex Y.

As a meat lover, I may not come here for the food; yet I love their watermelon juice to the core! If you've eaten fast food too much recently then definitely go here!
(4)
lee w.

this place is disgusting. Partially my fault for not knowing it was vegan when I went there. the food taste awful and the drinks they have to choose from all taste like re-cycled and pasteurized urine. I tried several of them and just about barfed with each tasting. I got the "native" chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. The fries were good, the sandwich was awful. That "native" chicken made from grains and other ingredients is disgusting. My fiancÃ© ordered the "native" chicken wrap and was equally disappointed.. I'm not a vegan so I'm not used to having foods and drinks like that, but once was enough. I'll never go back again. "synthetic" man made chicken? give me a break. It was disgusting.
(1)
T F.

I'm delighted to have a vegan restaurant so conveniently located. The Gandhi Bowl and the Soul Bowl are big favorites in my house. The cornbread is delicious. The peanut butter parfait is extremely decadent and the rose cardamom cupcake is divine -- wonderful frosting, which is hard to find on a vegan cupcake. The sandwiches were good -- I especially liked the meatball sub, the bread is perfect -- but not as good as the bowls. They're too stacked with ingredients to eat as a sandwich and not satisfying enough cut-up into bite sized pieces. The boogie bars are also good, but not-quite-good-enough. The chili was pretty bland, but a coconut soup of the day was divine. I'm looking forward to trying the pizza --- I saw someone get that the other day and was very impressed. The nachos, sweet potato fries and salads also look fantastic. The best thing I think we've had is the Saigon Rolls appetizer. TRY THESE! You won't regret it.
(4)
Johanna O.

This is a great place. We come here all the time and its wonderful! Yesterday my sister tried to order food and pay at the table which they always do. The dining room guy told her she had to go to the counter. She was very upset and the manager came over and was very apologetic. The manager gave the fries for free and brought my sister a cupcake. He offered to pull up a seat and sit with her to help cheer her up!! He was the best manager ever. He handled the situation very very well. I was so impressed with his genuine apology that I will continue to come back to Native Foods all the time! Great place and great management!!
(5)
Lee L.

I took a bite from my husband's Chicken Run Ranch Burger and the chicken looked, tasted and felt like it was real meat! I ordered the Saigon Roll and it was delish! I cleaned up my plate which was also dressed with lettuce, cabbage and black and regular sesame seeds. Chef Tanya even stopped by our table to see if we were enjoying our meal---Nice Touch! Service was excellent, but they still need to work on the speed from receiving the order to having it served on the table. Also, they need a sign that lets patrons know that they have to wait in line and order. Some people walked in and sat down at the tables. Other than that, we will return for the excellent vegan food!
(4)
Lauren C.

Had the Bangkok Curry and Moroccan Bowl with tofu and both were awesome except Moroccan came out cooler than we'd like. Lentil soup good, side salad good. Excellent tofu, great size portions, will definitely be back!!
(4)
leslie h.

Vegan heaven. The hidden gem on the menu is the saigon roll. so. good.
(4)
Happiness L.

I spotted this place last Friday and stopped in today for a very late lunch. Very GLAD that I did. Very fresh and delicious food. I enjoyed the Moroccan bowl and Watermelon drink. I see that they have other locations too including one close to my office. This put a smile on my face.
(5)
Tania W.

Well, today is Easter Sunday and I have to say after attending a wonderful church celebration with my family I was truly craving some good ole' soul food with my favorite place being MacArthur's. Anyway, because one of my family members is a vegetarian and really has to watch what she eats the consensus was that we should go to a place she would enjoy. Well, my sister came across this place, the Native Foods Cafe." She pulled it up on yelp and since the reviews were cool and we were close we decided to give it a shot. When we got there it was nothing fancy. Clean of course, but the look was definitely internet cafe type. Not a lot of seating, but it did have patio seating even though we chose to stay inside. I ordered the Soul Bowl and a lavender lemonade. While we waited in line someone came around offering a tasting of either the lavender lemonade or the watermelon lemonade. I have to say that I enjoyed the lavendar lemonade with 2 slices of lemon. It was lightly sweet and mild. Not like a pop. Just right. Okay, now like I said I ordered the Soul Bowl which consisted of beans & rice, steamed veggies, and 2 lightly battered chicken fingers. Well, it was really good and I do mean REALLY GOOD! Not bland, nor were the veggies over cooked plus their was a lot of it. It was very filling. I was also able to try some of the sweet potatoe fries and they too were delicious. A couple of the waiters were very attentive. So much so that my family and I wanted to tip them individually but were later told that they pool their tips so it wouldn't matter. Anyway, even though I missed eating at my favorite soul food restaurant MacArthur's I really did enjoy trying this place. It was 4 of us and everyone ate every last drop on their plate. My family and I are open to trying new and exciting things. I just never thought a vegetarian restaurant would be an exciting thing. Take a chance and try this place. You will be glad that you did.
(4)
Kristen M.

I must say, the food looked and smelled delicious. However, the racist overtones made my husband and I leave without trying it. They had something called "Jazz-man rice" How about black-face eyed peas? I am not super sensitive or super easily offended, but this place was really insensitive.
(1)
Kim W.

if only the food from here was inside of the defunct earwax cafe.
(3)
Melissa A.

I was so stoked about coming here after reading the menu online. A veg place that's closer to me than Chicago Diner! I got there and saw that you order at the counter, which is fine, except I am extremely indecisive and it was busy. Bummer. I let a few people cut in front of me while I studied the menu like it was finals week. I narrowed it down to the tempeh 'fish' tacos and my absolute favorite thing ever: sweet potato fries. Heck yes. And a beer. Double heck yes. After placing my order I was told about the nifty rewards card and signed right up. The sweet potato fries were excellent, thinly cut and crispy. Nothing makes me more disappointed than an undercooked s.p. fry. The tacos were piled high with ingredients, which was kind of hard to eat in a lady-like fashion, but whatever. I liked the slaw and creme that came on it, the actual tempeh 'fish' was decent, a little dry and lacking in flavor. Maybe it was just a dud. My roommate got the Soul Bowl, which looked amazing and she said it was pretty good.
(4)
Dickie H.

My friend and I were looking for a place to get a burger and ended up going here. I guess you could say it was the complete opposite of what I really wanted. Looking at the menu outside I thought chicken meant chicken and burger was a burger, but as I was standing on line to order I read the menu more complete. I was vegetarian for a number of years and totally dig seitan and tofu, so I thought what the hell. I ordered the seitan sausage and portabella mushroom burger and had a side of steamed kale. It was yum! Though in the end not completely filling.. My friend ordered a gyro bowl and didn't seem completely happy about it. The line was short and the waitress was super nice, but I think she talked too much. She got me to sign up for their rewards card and I did it cause I could get a free drink. They have a great seating area inside and out. Overall not a bad experience. It 's made me want to check out the Chicago Diner..
(3)
Wendy G.

I really enjoyed my meal here... and I'm not even vegan. But I took off one star for this: the cashier didn't ask if I wanted to join their mailing list/ discount group/ cardholders thing, just started asking for my information so she could sign me upon. It's not because I don't like the program or food, it's the assumption that I should without question. But the food was yummy and the food runners very helpful.
(4)
Erika C.

I'm only giving Native Foods Cafe four stars because I have not tried enough items on their menu. However, if I were to base my review on their customer service alone they would receive five stars! I am not a vegan nor is my five year-old daughter yet yesterday instead of indulging in Mexican food for dinner as planned, we were both craving the Native Foods dishes we had a month ago and headed there instead. Last night was our second time there and we weren't disappointed. I got the Azteca Salad and a side of sweet potato fries. The salad is delicious and filling. It is a great dish for first timers. My daughter ordered the chicken nuggets and brown rice. She devoured everything on her plate including the cucumber spears. I helped her with her mango wedge :). We topped off our dinner with a vanilla cupcake. The frosting is delicious but the cupcake itself is a tad bit dry. Love the watermelon water and lemonade. Can't wait to try more!
(4)
Jesseka D.

so delicious! the rose-cardamon cupcake is the best, along with the chicken run ranch burger! it's so hard not to go there everyday.
(5)
Jennifer N.

this place just seems like a commercial, vegetarian, fast-food place. but it's good food, so this isn't necessarily a bad thing. i went in on a Thursday night alone and got one of the special sandwiches-- it was bbq seitan i believe. and sweet potato fries, along with the lavender lemonade. all very good. a great, quick, meal for vegetarians like me who don't always have time for a multi-course, sit-down meal, but still want something that taste good and isn't salad, pizza, or pasta-based! i'd def go back and get the bbq sandwich, but i'd also like to stop in and try some desserts, or maybe the watermelon fresca.
(4)
rima s.

This is what i keep hoping Whole Foods will become! Great healthy versions of food, refreshing drinks, and attentive service. I look forward to coming here again!
(4)
Katie M.

I. love. vegetarian. food. I've been veg for 12 years now and eaten all over the city. Now, just because I am veg, doesn't mean I am anti-flavor. In fact, I like big, CRAZY flavor!! I must preface this by saying, I like(ish) what Native Foods is trying to do. Bring healthy vegan food to the masses. The staff seemed happy enough, so I assume (hope) they are being treated well, but my food had no flavor to it at all!! I ordered the Rockin' Moroccan bowl, and the woman at the counter made sure I was ok with the spice level, because it was, she said, a very spicy dish. I had to add a bucket of salt and a bottle of cholula before I could taste anything at all. Maybe my palette is just crazy from years of eating lots of crazy flavored dishes, but I was so thoroughly unimpressed. I felt like I was eating a quinoa dish made by a friend (nothing fancy you couldn't have prepared at home) who doesn't taste her food before serving it. Snoresville. Most boring meal of my week.
(2)
Donna W.

This veg restaurant was awesome. Visiting my daughter in Chicago. Def would go again. The brown rice bowl, kale, sauerkraut was fab! would have never have thought to put those items together in a bowl. delicious. very filling. Chili, corn bread. yummier. ANd my daughters "burger" with portabellow (sp?) mushrooms- way fantastic. Gotta go there!
(5)
Miss zoe P.

good healthy place to eat esp. if you are a vegan.
(5)
Nisha A.

SO glad they have opened up locations in Chicago. Delicious food, great service, excellent ambience (Wicker Park location), Cannot wait for them to open up the Loop location. Have heard great things about Chef Tanya and her genuine compassion for all creatures and her philosophy behind her wonderful vegan cuisine.
(5)
J. L. S.

I went here today with 2 vegan friends, and myself, the vegan wannabe. This place is seriously good. I knew it would be when my Puerto Rican carnivore friend recommended this place. I didn't even think he ate vegetables, but he was raving about Native Foods. I had the gyro bowl - so filling, good flavor, gyro meat was delish. I have leftovers..... and I'm counting down to dinner time. Others at the table at the meatball sub - looked good, but I think it could use some toppings - you know, lettuce or toms or something. The pizza was too spicy for my other friend - but I'm sure you could ask for it without jalapeÃ±os. I had the boogie bar - ok, nice sweet treat without feeling too guilty. I'm actually eating that now with a nice latte at Starbux. Everyone else had cheesecake and said it was so amazing. Don't forget to sign up for the frequent flyer card and get your free drink. Lavendar Lemonade blended with Native Tea..... highly recommended. I will be back... maybe tomorrow even!
(4)
Laura K.

I am NOT vegetarian or vegan and this place still meets my needs really well. FAST, fresh, and waaaaaaaay more healthful than other "fast food" places I could be choosing without losing any of the flavor. I like the twister wrap....like chicken tender buffalo wrap you'd get at a place like Red Robin or something of that nature. The sweet potato fries are good, but equivalent to anywhere else that might make them. I haven't tried any of the homemade drinks....although I think the pricetag on them is a bit pricey. I'm addicted to Diet Coke though.....so don't take my word on most things.
(5)
Liz J.

One of my favorite restaurants! Recently moved to Lakeview and there is one right around the corner. My only complaint is that their food is getting a little pricey (which is to be expected) But a sandwich and fries for $14!? That's crazy! That said, I'll still be back regardless
(4)
Shin M.

I am just writing a review for my take out fountain drink $3+tax. Native Iced Tea- Meh, nothing special, just taste like iced tea Watermelon Fresca- It was okay...not too full of flavor but if the strawberry lemonade ran out, I would get this instead. Strawberry Lemonade- This was the best option. Did not taste too sweet and was the most refreshing.
(3)
Kyle R.

Loved this place. I tried the Bangkok Curry Bowl, alongside the fresh watermelon drink. Very impressed. The good thing about Native Foods is that all of their food is Vegan, and you don't feel bad about dining out! I was also inspired to keep up the healthy eating for a few nights, at least. Fresh and Friendly! Perfect for a date, as Milwaukee Ave offers many interesting and main stream shops to check out. Close to the Damen stop.
(5)
Alyssa G.

Came here for lunch the other day and was a little disappointed. The Ensalada Azteca was not very flavorful-honestly it tasted like maybe a key ingredient or flavor was left out. However, service was great and there were several other dishes on the menu that looked interesting so I will definitely give Native Foods Cafe another try. Also, the lavender blueberry lemonade was fantastic!
(3)
Liliana P.

Once in awhile I'll have a huge craving for a salad. We were already in the area shopping and stumbled upon this place. Portion size is large and I devoured my entire taco salad with avocado. Completely satisfied my craving. Plus, we also ordered a side of sweet potato fries. Can I say yum? And their drinks are so refreshing... I had to make sure I tried every single one of them. :)
(4)
Melia B.

Sooo good! The food is amazing even if your not a Vegan/vegetarian. I've tricked multiple meat loving friends into coming here and all of them have been instantly hooked!
(5)
Misty F.

Nice place for a quick and healthy bite to eat. Clean bathrooms and great customer service. Everything is plant based, so if you are in to that, check this place out. I like that this is their style but they aren't pretentious or hit you over the head with it. They also have a rewards/loyalty program as well.
(4)
Caroline H.

Worst service I've experienced in a very long time. Completely ignored by both members of staff, who showed no interest in coming over or standing near/behind the registers, and who both actually averted their eyes when we tried to speak to them. Very disappointed not to try the food, but was too annoyed to stay!
(1)
Simone G.

They have the best blueberry lavender lemonade, probably the only ones with that strange concoction. I came here after Googling the best lemonade in Chicago and noticed that this place was not too far from a familiar area. I'm happy I came here. I also tried the Watermelon Fresca and it was also phenomenal.
(5)
Krista P.

So so pleasantly surprised. This is the kind of place that gives you the encouragement to go veg. The twister wrap was to die for and the product they use to chicken is preferable to any chicken ive ever had. (AND IM CHICKEN WING QUEEN!!!) It has been a long time since i've enjoyed a meal this much. And it doesnt hurt that it was healthy, fresh, and guilt free. Helpful, friendly staff and amazing food. I could live here.
(5)
Jamie B.

Native Foods can't manage to respond to email inquiries in a timely manner regarding their non-transparent nutrition information. As someone who tries to eat healthy and avoid soy at all costs it's imperative that I understand what exactly I'm eating at this joint. In addition to having some dietary restrictions, I am conscious about the calories that I consume and it's important to me to see in the nutrition facts of the food that I'm eating. I emailed at the beginning of the month requesting nutrition information and I did not receive a response until the very end of the month-- even then I did not receive the nutrition information, they simply do not have it available. How is this allowed? Isn't it a law that establishments must provide nutrition information? I won't be frequenting native foods until I receive the nutrition information that I requested.
(1)
Nicole W.

I'm kind of over this place. I really liked it when it first went. But I feel like every time I go back the food gets more blah and the service gets worse. If it was the only veg option around I might be more kind, but it's not. Minus points for the fact that on free key lime pie day they told me they would bring me pie and then promptly gave the last pieces to the people in line after me. Would rather go to Ground Control and support a local business.
(2)
Kristen L.

Tacos were delicious. Waiter was a little.... rude. I don't know what was on his mind, but he was doing his job like it was the moat difficult thing on the planet. "Can I please have utensils?" Was met with such a bratty teenager "uuggg." Not okay.
(3)
Leang E.

My first introduction to this place was the location in the Loop, and I was happy to know this was an option closer to where I live. For those that know me I have very few go to spots as I like to try new places all the time, so this is one of the spots. Everything I have eaten here I have enjoyed. It's amazing that they make non-meat food taste so good. The nachos are there own meal - spicy and flavorful. I most recently had the Bangkok Curry Bowl, which phenomenal - how do they think up these creations?! The Ensalada Azteca, Twister Wrap, Soul Bowl, Greek Gyro Bowl, Scorpion Burger, Chili, sweet potato fries, dill potatoes, and other seasonal specials just delicious. I keep on seeing more things I want to try. The staff is so nice, and I may have to indulge in dessert next time.
(4)
AJ M.

Came here yesterday, was actually trying to go to unami burger with my sis and vegetarian bro in law, but it was a 45 min wait. So we came here and he was in vegetarian heaven. They got a lot of different things on the menu. They even serve beer! The nachos and watermelon fresca are amazing. My gyro bowl was very bland and the Thai meatball bowl was mediocore. I'm a full carnivore but I'll say there decent flavors here. But it might not be for me. I will say it is really healthy and fresh. When it cones to vegan dining I prefer Chicago diner!
(3)
Sarah V.

ALLERGY ALERT: Ask about absolutely EVERYTHING! The beans in the nachos contain a nut product and there is no warning on the menu. I haven't visited again, worried about what other odd things they add to their food without warning people. The two bites I had before breaking out into hives were pretty delicious though, and the lavender lemonade was memorable.
(2)
Avinash K.

This is the first time I have been to this franchise and it was pretty good food. This place is vegan, I heard from a friend, so it is a definite MUST TRY and if ever I need a VEGAN place I know where to head :).
(4)
Michelle E.

ehhhhhhh. Its fine. needs more meat doe
(2)
john o.

Tried Native Foods Cafe for the first time today and wow! I was impressed with the food quality. The cashier recommended the Aztec Mexican Cobb Salad. It was awesome! The ingredients were all really fresh and the dressing perfectly brought all the flavors. The place is pretty roomy and has a nice outdoor seating area too.
(5)
Leah K.

My new fave place in Chicago! The food was amazing and the service was so friendly that we felt like we were in a different country. You don't have to tip here as it's cafe style but we still left them 20%. Anyway, I'm not vegan but love to eat healthy. Im bringing all of my friends back!
(5)
Seher D.

As a huge 'Friends' fan, I've always wondered what Rachel's infamous meat trifle tasted like. According to Joey, that meat trifle was 'goooood.' At Native Foods, he would be saying, "Custard, good. Jam, good. Fake meat, goooooood." And believe me, somehow, someway, Native Foods would find a way to make that trifle taste like a piece of delicious sunshine. I was so skeptical at first to try Native Foods. As a carnivore, I doubted that I would actually like their fake meat. I would never settle for vegan ice cream, fake eggs, or vegan cheese, so why would I "settle" for fake meat? Let me tell you this, though. You can never settle at Native Foods. Everything that I've ever had has been absolutely delicious. The first time I went, a friend and I both ordered the Chicken Run Ranch Burger made with Native chicken (aka fake chicken). That burger is so, so good - probably my favorite thing at Native Foods (ask for extra ranch!). My friend even declared that it was the best chicken burger that she had ever had. When I told her it wasn't real chicken, she was confused (I don't think she understood the point of the restaurant since I forced her to go with me). But put that Native chicken in a line-up with real chicken, and no one would be able to pick out the difference. Also, that ranch - it's dairy free, and I would have never guessed it. My other favorite items, aside from the Chicken Run Ranch Burger, are the Native Chicken Wings, Native Nachos, Native Fries, and the Reuben. I've also had the Baja Blackened Tacos, and I thought they were only okay - the Native Tempeh was more discernible as fake fish in comparison to their other fake meats. Also, THEIR LAVENDER LEMONADE THO. That is seriously the best drink that I've ever had. Not gonna lie, once I had some left over after a to-go order and added some vodka in it to pre-game for a party, and man it was delicious (sans vodka, too). This place is a definite must try for all you vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free individuals, gluten lovers, carnivores, herbivores, and yelpivores! Also, keep the following perks in mind when you go: 1. Sign up for the Native Foods Rewards Club (free and easy!) at the register 2. You'll get a free drink when you sign up (that lavender lemonade!) 3. You get a free dessert when you fill out a survey or update your account after signing up (you'll get an email) 4. nomnomnom
(4)
Alicia G.

I'm not from Chicago, so this review is based on eating there once. So maybe I was just won over by the fact that I got a free (refillable) drink--and, by the way, their drinks are pretty incredible. I would suggest the watermelon fresca, but then I tried the lavender lemonade and was kind of won over by that as well. Given that we walked into NF coming off of a 3 hour drive from Michigan, my mind was pretty fogged over with road hypnosis and hunger. I didn't recognize that ALL of the items on the menu are plant-based, so being a vegetarian, I ordered what looked like the tastiest meat-free option--the Baja Blackened Tacos and I had some sweet potato fries on the side. They were good. SO good. My friend had the Saigon roll and some kind of soup (Thai curry something) which she declared she could eat every day. And it was, indeed, mighty good. I wish I had realized that all of the food was plant-based though; I would have definitely ordered something else. But that is my own ditziness. I live in a mid-sized town which is finally getting its act together when it comes to vegan/vegetarian fare, and we have some pretty great places of our own, but I would love to have a place like NF in GR (hint, hint!)
(5)
Lindsey Q.

WARNING - REVIEW FROM NON-VEGETARIAN HERE. My husband and I stumbled upon this place after we noticed that Furious Spoon was closed for repairs. It's a cute place with friendly staff and a very meat-eater friendly menu. I ordered the Crispy Buffalo 'Chicken' Wrap with the potato salad the hubs got the nachos with bbq 'chicken'. The wrap was slightly spicy and had a nice balance of vinegar and sweetness. The mock chicken was very close to the real thing. I definitely wanted more of it in the wrap. Potato salad was very fresh tasting. Would order both again. Hubs loved the nachos. This meat eater inhaled them. He said he would order again without pause. Loved their beverage choices too. I got the peach black tea and he got the lemonade. We will be back when we return to Chicago. In the meantime, COME TO MINNEAPOLIS! We are more than ready for something like this.
(5)
J E.

Has great fresh healthy alternatives. The natives chicken wings taste like chicken, crispy outside and soft inside. The homemade sauces are delicious and savory. The chipotle and ranch are favorites. You can enjoy eating here and feel satisfied and good about your choices.
(4)
Josh C.

Only visited this location once but I was very pleased. This is sort of like a Noodles and Co for herbivore food - fresh and delicious, even if you can get the exact same meal at whatever location you visit. The prices are a bit higher than I prefer for an every day meal, but then again in the city that's about the story, right? That being said, the prices are absolutely worth it. Absolutely. Seat yourself, no tipping, laid back atmosphere. There is plenty to love about here... the food, the environment, the versatility of flavors. My Italian Meatball sandwich was possibly the best meal I've ever eaten. Being vegan, I don't exactly get a lot of them. But now I understand the appeal. Native Foods will see plenty more of me!
(4)
Bobby M.

This place used to be great. The service and quality of food has gone down so quick I can't believe this is the same restuarant I once loved. When placing "to go" orders, there are frequently items missing from my order. The service gets worse everytime I go. I placed an order today and when my wife arrived to pick it up at the "to go" counter, the cashier helped 10 people in line before handing over my order that was already paid for and was getting cold on the counter. It's a sad day for Native Foods...
(2)
Katy K.

I'm a sucker for all things fresh and natural, so it wasn't hard to convince me to try Native Foods. From the beginning, I was impressed with the service. Servers, cashiers, and management were all friendly, knowledgable, and accommodating. The mix of healthy options were welcomed, & the watermelon fresca was beyond delicious. The chutney in the gold rush ciabatta wasn't very flavorful, but the ciabatta bun complimented the grilled apples nicely. I recommend the tempeh! I don't normally splurge on desserts, but due to a mix up with our order, they included a strawberry parfait- which was demolished in about 2 minutes. So worth it. There is a nice outdoor seating area with umbrellas, perfect for summer afternoons Overall a positive experience. Keep on keepin on, Native Foods
(4)
bridget g.

Where do I start? I'll start by saying, in terms of service, they get zero to .5 stars. In terms of food, they get 5 stars, so I'm giving them a 3 to be nice. Really I want to give them a 2.5 or 2. If you're taking the word on my food, then just pray that they get your food order right, for starters. I literally used to go here 2-3 times per week until they just started effing my order up literally EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I order the same thing every time. It's ridiculous. After 6 weeks of this, I started actually driving up to the Belmont one instead... same thing there. Finally, I couldn't take it and submitted a complaint on their website. That was months ago, and I have yet to hear from anyone. So, what did I do? I boycotted. But then that damn Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad was haunting me, so I went back. So far in the last month, they've gotten my order correct 1 out of 7 times. Good work, fools. Good work. I should also note, that the order takers ALWAYS put it on the ticket right, it's the kitchen that does something wrong. Speaking of order takes, Belmont is much friendlier than Wicker Park. It feels to me like the staff that take the orders at Wicker Park think they are better than everyone else, and the vibe I get is almost as if they feel it is beneath them to be an order taker. Well sh*t then, go get a different job! I don't want to talk to you either with that attitude. Kendrick sings it best... "B**** don't kill my vibe..."
(3)
Dario E.

Used to be bomb. New money hungry owners. The menu is a joke now. This is not healthy by any means just because it's vegan. RIP
(2)
Kathryn R.

I agree the service here sucks. I was pretty loyal for awhile, but I'd rather go to Chicago Diner now.
(1)
Valerie R.

It can be very distracting to eat with me. I'm in my mid-20s and never quite outgrew my childhood abhorrence for tomatoes. So when I eat out, if I forget to ask for "no tomato please," you will find me picking out every bit I can find in my food and then some (because that "some" kind of looks like tomato, and I'm not taking chances), and the habit can become a distraction for others. Here, though, I eat at peace. As do those that accompany me. Here I do not hear the joking, prodding question of "why are you picking everything out..?" Because here I eat it all. It is THAT good. If the tomatoes are lost within a cucumber salad in my chicken wrap, so be it! I don't just eat them with my food, I inhale the whole thing. In short: Native Foods is delicious. And I'd try it if I were you.
(5)
Anjee J.

So I guess Native Foods has new company ownership and all I can say is, RIP. The daily special was my reason for coming here, but without it their prices are RIDIC. $10 for a sandwich with no side at a chain restaurant?! Yeah, pass. The quality has always been hit-or-miss and some of those sandwiches are freaking tiny to begin with. Chicago has a ton of vegan-friendly junk food joints that'll run you way less for a bigger and better meal. (Shout out to Ground Control and Upton's!)
(1)
Dianne D.

I LOVE this place! I have tried several items on the menu and every single one is absolutely delicious! The staff is super friendly and helpful. There are also tables outside for some good people-watching and the neighborhood has some great boutiques and vintage shops close by. They also have beer & wine on the menu. What more could you want? Trust me, you do not have to be vegan or vegetarian ro love this food but it just may convert you!
(5)
Tricia T.

Loved the nachos. Service was excellent!!
(5)
Misha S.

I LOVE the food but the service is eh. The people working there aren't all that friendly (at least in my experiences) and I find that Native Foods is trying to be more healthy verses vegan-friendly because not everything is that rich in flavor, it's also very expensive for what you get. It's nice that there are plant based chains.
(3)
cina p.

I have almost 900 points. That should pretty much say it all. I love the food. I love the staff. I love the fast service.
(5)
Kayleigh G.

Favorite place ever. Super nice staff. I bring all of my non-vegetarian friends and no complaints yet. My favorites would be yo amigo taco salad, sweet potato fries, and the nachos. Soo good. They hold true to their name with the organics even down to the ketchup.
(5)
Kirstie S.

This place is fantastic-I'm a vegetarian who has just not had impressive experiences with Chicago Diner (I've found the food there just average overall with too small portions for their price range). The food price/size ratio here was a bit more reasonable. Staff is super friendly and helpful and the food itself is delicious with a wide range of choices. Even though it is technically self serve, the staff walks around and asks if you'd like them to take stuff away and refill drinks for you quite often. I've so far loved The Moroccan Bowl best but I've been happy with all four dishes I've had. Music selection playing is also great including Aimee Mann, Jeff Buckley, and Midlake, though not too loud or obtrusive. They also have a really great outdoor patio on the side with umbrellas for shade.
(5)
link b.

(in martin luther king voice).....So I had a dream, that one day I got kinda(very) stoned at my apartment, then went for a walk and stumbled upon the the best f*cking vegan meatball sub of my life!!!!!!! oh wait! the dream was real!!!!!! -----I think this place could even turn my hardcore deep fried, southern, meat at every damn meal family into vegans! Only gave it 4 stars cuz i only had one dish, but seriously this place is worth checking out!! I'm goin back tomorrow!
(4)
Jonathan M.

Great place! Anyone that goes needs to try the taquitos pure awesome!
(5)
John K.

This is basically Chipotle for vegans. It's a fast-casual setup. The food is vegan, yes, but much of it is fried in oil and greasy, and I certainly can't imagine that the calorie count of most dishes is significantly below that of a burrito. I had the Scorpion burger and the "chicken" wings with BBQ sauce. Both were very tasty. The wings were HEAVILY deep-fried, and made me a little queasy afterwards as a consequence. The burger was just awesome. Will def have again. In conclusion, this is a neat option for vegans and people wishing to explore new kinds of food. Why not 5 stars? Well, one way that NFC was DIFFERENT from Chipotle is that I can get a burrito at Chipotle for $6.50. At NFC, my lady-friend and I ordered a burger, a bowl dish, a "chicken" appetizer to share, and ONE lemonade, and our bill was over $30.
(4)
Candace S.

Native Foods is my ALL TIME FAVORITE VEGAN RESTAURANT!!!! I was so happy to find that they had a Native Foods in Chicago when I moved here from California. I have been to 5 of their locations & must say that this one is my favorite... love how big & spacious it is, the big bench seating, & outdoor patio. I have tried everything on the menu & you really can't go wrong... no matter what you order it's always delicious. I bring my non-vegan friends here too all the time & they love it!
(5)
Vanessa V.

I enjoy vegetarian restaurants, and Native Foods was exceptionally tasty--fresh and well prepared, good flavor without trying too hard to pretend to be meat. The staff was super friendly and very accommodating checking ingredients to ensure that what I ordered would work with my food allergy, which I most wholeheartedly appreciated. The only reason I wouldn't give this place the full five stars is because it doesn't quite fit into my dining world...it's a bit too expensive for lunch, especially one ordered from a counter, but not an atmosphere conducive to a relaxing dinner. But I can definitely see it becoming a favorite lunchtime splurge if not an everyday spot.
(4)
Brian G.

Had Saigon rolls and lemonade. They were really good and too expensive from what you'd except from these organic-veg places. Definitely coming back :)
(4)
Dan K.

The mushroom sausage burger and chicken run ranch burger are amazing. The chili cheese fries are also great, even with the oddly satisfying whipped vegan cheese. Vegan cheesecake excellent and the beverages just alright. The atmosphere inside feels a little like fast food, but having a lot of side patio seating makes up for it (at least for half the year).
(5)
Christine D.

What I love about this menu is, there truly is something for everyone. I lean toward superfoods/healthfoods and there's plenty. But I can also bring friends who prefer the burger/fries combo. Every single thing I've tried has been excellent, including the desserts. The service is top notch every single time and the atmosphere is equal parts charming and fun. Extra points for the bathroom art, literally almost brought tears to me eyes! Definitely my new favorite place!
(5)
Daniel S.

I was very much looking forward to this place as another option to our usual place (Chicago Diner). The space is nice and the service there was prompt and knowledgeable. I have to say the food was a bit bland and my guess it's more of a fast food alternative for vegans. I got the chicken run ranch burger and my boyfriend got the BBQ sandwich (i forgot the name of it) and it was ok. I'm not opposed to trying this place again, but it really isn't anything too exciting. They just need a bit flavor!
(2)
Stefan R.

Made me bloated. Get BBQ instead.
(1)
Steph C.

My husband and I LOVE this restaurant. We're not vegetarians. In fact, my husband normally has to eat meat with every meal and he loves this place. The food is delicous, has great variety and affordable. My favorite is the Oklahoma Burger (comes with deep fried pickle slices which are AMAZING). My husband likes the meatball sandwich and nachos best. Try this place and if you can attend a cooking class, you'll love it! Chef Tanya is charming!
(5)
Max R.

This place is awesome! Friendly staff, great menu, some of the best tasting vegan items I have ever eaten! Very expansive and creative menu with tons of options such as African Peanut Soup or the Scorpion Burger. I personally enjoyed the Twister Wrap (crispy) and the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger with seasoned fries. I am planning on many more visits to try out more of the menu. With Vegan food tasting so good, it's easy to eat healthy and do something good for the world (i.e. save animals). My only complaint is the prices are bit high. But then again, like everything else in the world, you get what you pay for and the quality of the dishes is exceptional.
(5)
Megan H.

Food is great!! Extremely flavorful. I am a meat eater, and I love this place.
(5)
Cherie F.

This place is my new fave, and I'm not even vegetarian! The food is amazing, I never thought vegan food could taste that good! I mean, it's one thing to cook with meat and dairy and make the food taste good, but to make delicious and satisfying vegan food is a true art and is very impressive. The twister wrap and the sweet potato fries were what got me hooked first. My fiance got them for me for lunch one day (take out). I had no idea they were vegan until after I ate the meal and was raving about it. I've gone back a few times since and I'm just loving them more and more. The desserts are so yummy, I can't believe there's no dairy in them. The cardamom rose cupcake is so tasty like no other. Love the food, love the drinks, love the staff! What more can I ask for? I'm so happy they're in Chicago!
(5)
Efrain M.

Superb. Fresh, creative and delicious. Nice staff, and efficient service.
(5)
Amrita B.

I'm not the biggest fan of vegetarian food, forget vegan. I love meat and don't think a meal is complete without it. That being said, their bowls are probably the most satisfying thing I've eaten in a long long time that didn't involve hours of labor. The Rockin' Moroccan Bowl with tempeh is full of chewy, crunchy, sweet and savory goodness and the meatball sub really hits the spot when you don't want a greasy meatball sandwich. And don't forget to try a desert - you won't regret it!
(4)
Allen J.

Prepare to drop some bread if you plan on eating here. It is absolutely worth it though. I had the Baha Surf Tacos, seasoned fries, and lavender lemonade. near 20 bucks with tax, but my body thanked me with a swift cleansing of the bowels, plus it was delicious. Also, every staff member was beyond wonderful. Overall pleasant dining experience.
(5)
Jonathan R.

I'm into it.. No but seriously, who is chef Tanya?
(5)
Rebecca V.

Originally in California, Native Foods was about the only place my family could go and all of us could eat in peace. There are two near my parent's house and it's a must go if there is a mix of vegans, vegetarians and carnivores. I almost peed my pants when I found out that there are now three opening in Chicago! I've missed Native Foods for two long years (since moving to Chicago) and now I can enjoy them whenever I want! With this high standard in mind, I went to Wicker Park to test out the new place. They opened only days ago so I expected some chaos; I called in my order ahead of time. Large drink (I mixed the Watermelon and Lavender Lemonade) Scorpion Burger (my California favorite) Peanut Butter Parfait I've always mixed the two non-caffeinated drinks at Native Foods and this time was no different. As always, the lemonade and watermelon drink was fantastic! No change there. The scorpion burger wasn't as zesty as I remembered, though that could be due to the fact that I haven't had it in so long and therefore probably built it up in my head. However, there were just a little too many carrot shavings (I like carrots, so not bad. But I desired some more sauce!) and while the tempeh had a great grilled taste, it otherwise only tasted of tempeh (Again, I didn't mind.), while I remember the California Native Foods' burgers tasting more of a marinade. All in all, still a delicious burger! The peanut butter parfait made my day. I'd never had it before and it is probably the best vegan desert I've ever had besides Sweet Cakes Bakery's mini vegan cupcakes or vegan cookies. Honestly, I believe that this Native Foods location will become as successful as those in California and I look forward to frequenting both the Wicker Park and Loop locations as they are convenient for home and school. My father and sister (die-hard carnivores) and my mother (quasi-vegetarian; dabbles in vegan) and I (vegan) can all eat there frequently and happily which, let me tell you, rarely happens. Give this place a few months to work out the kinks; the staff is so friendly and helpful, it is exactly like the ones in California. (Not all chain stores are bad. Especially vegan ones that are delicious and affordable!)
(4)
Vegetarian V.

i love native foods! i typically go to the one on belmont but i went this time during Wicker Park Fest with some friends. my burger was really messy, the seitan was all around the sandwich and barely on it, and the fried pickles were gross :( not sure if they sucked because they have never been that busy..i mean it wasn't THAT busy..but yes i expected more from my favorite vegan restaurant.
(3)
li m.

I attended the pre-opening on 8/7/11. However, the food and service were excellent. I tried the watermelon fresca, lavender lemonade, native chicken wings, super Italian meatball sub, fries and strawberry shortcake. Although, I'm not a vegan - I'm craving the food and will go back this week. Tanya the founder and chef, was very warm and engaging. She is very inspirational. Ron and Andrea were friendly.
(5)
kali s.

Let me preface this with: The food here tastes great! Definitely consistent 4 star, and I would go as high as 5 star if you are a vegan. Better yet, this place is 2 block away from my work and has a great selection. So why the two stars? THE SERVERS WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE. I feel terrible about this because I know they are coached to do it, but I do not need to be asked 7 times, by 5 different people, during a 15-minute lunch there, "How is everything?" This actually happened today, and yes I was counting. Guess what, everything is still fine, exactly as it was one minute ago. What is happening here?? It has become unbearable to eat here because of this. Not that I've stopped, I've just switched to "To Go" now. 3 visits ago they were having some sort of training session and I was asked no less than 10 times how my lunch was going. This is during a very brief lunch break from my office. You cannot have any type of conversation much less put a bit of food in your mouth without being interrupted. Ok, end rant.
(2)
Jessica C.

OK either you like vegan food or you don't...I think I am one that does not. The food was presented well, looked good, etc. But it just didn't taste great. Went with a group that did enjoy theirs, I just did not. My first mistake was ordering a vegan reuben(LOL) but seriously. I did notice a lot of fruit flies which i thought was odd, but didn't strike me as a dirty place. Nachos did taste pretty decent though. I did get a bit of the grandmas boy vibe there "Do you have a bathroom here or do I have to shit in the plants?"
(2)
Randall S.

Recently went from a meat and dairy lover to pescatarian. The food available to a mostly-vegan eater, even in a town like Chicago, is lacking. Then my friend told me about Native Foods. You can read the menu for yourself but I recommend the nachos or chicken sandwich. I had the nachos, SO GOOD. They accidentally put jalapeÃ±os on when I ordered them sans, they quickly remade my order, let me graze on the mistake while I waited and packed it up for me too! Excellent service, tasty food, great atmosphere! I will definitely be back.
(5)
Christine C.

Love this place! I am recently diagnosed as needing gluten, wheat and dairy free in my diet. There are so many choices on this menu and they are all delicious, fresh and with generous portions! I had the Bangkok Curry (substitutions for gluten free) and it had so much flavor! The staff is incredibly friendly and super helpful. So glad I found this place.
(5)
Edward L.

This is exceptionally well prepared and super delicious rabbit food. Home to the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and Korean BBQ Sub (Special), this place won me over with the first bite. The thinly sliced Seitan they make in house is unbelievable. They pile the Seitan sky high on the burgers and sandwiches with lots of creamy sauces which make it an absolutely FILLING meal. Maybe not the healthiest vegan food you will consume, but it will be the tastiest. 1. If you have the oppt to try the Korean BBQ sub with sweet potato fries special they run...GET IT. They packed that sub with so much flavor and sweet bulgogi flavoring. Combined with the sweet and fresh slaw, it was a perfect SUB. 2. The Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger is a reg staple menu item so you can treat yourself to this delicious vegan burger ANYTIME. Smokey BBQ sauce covers the piled high Seitan. It is a fantastic sandwich. ASK FOR MORE OF THEIR RANCH DRESSING. I love mid-west gravy and the Native Foods ranch is phenomenal. All they need to do is release a COOKBOOK on how they make their Seitan...but we all know that's not going to happen. Oh well, that will keep me coming!
(5)
Lida P.

Chili bean soup with cornbread was just so yummy and perfect for a day like this! Plus got free hot tea for being a first timer.
(4)
Kate K.

I love this place for making vegan food fast and accessible. A great lunch option or quick dinner, and wonderful for carry out. I absolutely love the Morroccan bowl - tofu, veggies and sauce on top of quinoa with currants and slivered almonds. They also have great salads, soup and cornbread. Another fave is the sweet potato fries - they're seasoned with salt and cinnamon so they're savory but kind of sweet. You must get the chipotle dip with those too. Another fun aspect is the daily special. I've been dying to try their desserts - carrot cake cupcakes, oatmeal cream sandwich cookies and brownies. Always a next time!
(4)
Allison G.

Had the portabello sausage burger and loved it. As a vegetarian, I rarely even go to vegetarian places. I'm always reading every detail and asking the waitress to make sure there's no meat in my food, and I often end up with some. It was relieving ordering here, knowing they have no meat at all! But their meat like concoctions are delicious.
(5)
Emily C.

Unfortunately Native Foods is going downhill. I used to be in at least once a week and haven't been in months now. The last time I went there my salad was so bad and the dressing tasted off, that I had to throw it away (it was take out). I sent them an email to let them know (this incident was the straw that broke the camels back-there had been numerous stale tortilla shells and wrong to-go orders too). I've heard the same from others and upon passing it's often empty. They never responded to my email. Never thought I'd say I hope it closes and something else better goes in. Sad.
(1)
Lea L.

My favorite place in wicker park to eat! Not only does is it have the best vegan food but best food in general in this area. Definitely a place worth trying. The twister wrap is my usual but I also like the portobello mushroom burger and the sweet potatoes fries are the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. I ask for about 5 extra chipotle mayo sauces, it go's with everything and is so so good! Service is great and friendly! Environment is clean and inviting.
(5)
Diocelina G.

Food is great, a lot of items dont even taste like they're vegan. Fresh food, friendly staff, environmentally conscious I love this place and urge everyone to try it!
(5)
Aja G.

This place is nice to have, but it is nothing you haven't had before. While eating here I overheard a high pitched woman say " I love this place! I can eat here without feeling guilty." Now it may come as a life lesson to some, but eating shouldn't make you feel guilty. Eating should make you feel full, fueled, and if your like me relaxed. This place works to achieve that feeling of satisfaction with healthier opinions. But last time I checked most places that have chicken wings also have salads, so unless you can't resist the temptation of something battered and fried why make the trip here? The food can be healthy ( there is still salad dressing and dessert to tempt you). The food taste excatly the way it should-- nothing fantastic. The same prize and portion size as other places , with salads ranging from $9-12 The staff is nice, but nothing award winning.
(3)
Surge C.

Did you know an elephant is the largest vegan on Earth? Not only did I enjoy the elephant decor and tidbits, I also enjoyed the service and food. Since I have become very health conscious, I knew this was a definite go-to spot. I decided on the Ensalada Azteca Salad, which came with quinoa, cucumbers, avocado, mango, jicama, currants, toasted pumpkin seeds, and romaine lettuce. It was one of the Chef's favorites and came highly recommended for first-timers. I loved how refreshing it was and it was definitely a guiltless meal. I'm happy that this eatery has multiple establishments. If you're trying to go for a healthier option in Wicker Park, Native Foods is the place to go!
(4)
Jen A.

Yum! Love that we have another great vegetarian restaurant in the area. Will continue to be a repeat customer.
(5)
Iryna Z.

Had it for the first time. Loved it! I never had so much flavors and spices working so well together. Especially when its not all american greasy food but a vegetarian meal. Super healthy, i took half home, just so filling. So many different choices to fit anyones taste. Try it. Its a bit expensive but really good food and they sell adult beverages as well. Great lunch option!
(5)
Gianni M.

Native foods is a treat for myself and their African peanut soup is to die for. All of the people who work here are the sweetest individuals. My go to is always the native wings but I have yet to be disappointed. You guys are the best!
(5)
Cassandra B.

I love Native Foods! Please start a chain in NYC - you won't regret it! I hadn't been to Native Foods since a visit to LA nearly 8 years ago, so I was super happy to discover that Native Foods has since opened locations in Chicago. I really should have gotten one of their famous bowls, which are hearty, healthy, and tasty, but I just could not turn down the sandwich of the day - the Oklahoma burger. Huge burger with a free side for only $10 - deal! The burger came with deep fried pickles, which was a nice twist, and ranch dressing - which I found to be a big disappointment (very sweet, with an odd pureed tofu, chunky texture). I asked for some barbecue sauce instead but found that to also be weird - sweet, chunky, ketchup-like sauce not at all resembling BBQ sauce. Note to self: order Native Foods Burgers but bring own sauce from home. Given the enormity of this sandwich, I decided to go with the side of steamed kale to balance it out. Definitely steamed and healthy but totally lacking in flavor. I don't think there was any oil, salt, or sauce added. My friend ordered the Moroccon bowl with quinoa, veggies, and vegan chicken, which was excellent. Huge bowl with lots of different textures, colors, and flavors. He's not even vegetarian but he loved it and told me he will be back regularly to eat there. For dessert, I went with the chocolate brownie, which was incredible. I had a few bites there but saved the rest for the next day, when it was equally moist and tasty. I should have bought 4 of them!
(4)
Alison V.

After having eaten at a Native Foods Cafe on a trip to Palm Springs a couple of years ago and LOVING it, I had to try one of the Chicago locations on my day trip to the big city yesterday. The is place is a true home run: flavorful foods, quality ingredients, great service, sleek decor, and fair prices. My hubby and I split two entrees: The Azteca Salad and the Moroccan Bowl with the "chicken" skewers. I preferred the salad: light, crispy, with an occasional bite of velvety avocado and a delectable salad dressing. The bowl was nice, but after the explosively amazing flavors of the salad, I felt it was a bit bland and I wanted a little more. Although my trips to Chicago are few and fair in between, I will make sure to come back as soon as possible, because I want to eat my way through the rest of the menu and I am already craving the Azteca Salad!!!
(5)
Kira C.

I enjoy this place very much. The ingredients are super fresh. Had tried quite a few different salads and haven't yet been disappointed. I was trying to cut down my meat intake a while back and this place makes feel like I can be a total vegetarian over night. Thumbs up!!
(5)
Cassandra Beautyandsunsets K.

I've only eaten there once. As an overweight vegan I am often stared at as if I do not belong in those types to places. As if that is not my crowd. I was welcomed with open arms to this place and I love that! Crazy about the lavender lemonade. I'm going back soon. Join me? :-)
(4)
Keith R.

So far, so good. Let me preface this review by stating I absolutely ADORE meat. I know how that sounds, but lemme tell ya, my food pyramid looks like this... Apple Cheesesteak A l c o h o l C h e e s e P o r k B y p r o d u c t s P O R K S H O U L D E R I don't have time to really tweak the pyramid to more accurately represent my food pyramid, so in list form allow me to add all seafoods, medium rare steak, gyros, sushi, whole milk, Grade D beef from Taco Hell, deviled eggs, sausages, this list could literally be it's own review, it could end up using that many characters. But I digress. So anyway, one day in Wicker, me and my wife developed quite the appetite after trading at Buffalo. We always walk past the doors to Native Foods and I always stop and point things out on the menu and say things like, "Oooh, that sounds interesting. I think I might like that." Or "That ACTUALLY sounds good." We had recently watched the documentary "Vegucated" so I decided this might be a good place to eat on this particular day. So we walked in and stopped at the menu holder to peruse. After deciding , I sidled up to the counter and met Faith, their faithful employee. She asked if we'd ever dined there, and when I told her no, she went through the menu with me to allow me to ask any questions I had, and had me sign up for the frequent diner card, which allowed me to get our Chai for free. Awesome! Every item on the menu can be ordered with fries on the side, which saved us some scratch since I wanted regular fries with my Super Italian Meatball Sub and Mel wanted the sweet potato fries with her Crunchy Kale Salad. She gave me my drink and my number and I went back to the table. Just as I sat down, one of the runners had a bowl of Moroccan lentil soup that had been accidentally brought out and was offering it to us. I don't turn down too many free things, and I actually love lentils, so I'm loving it at this point vAnd then the food came out. I took a bite out of my sandwich and I really couldn't tell that what I was eating wasn't made of meat, it was as good as any meat-containing meatball sandwich I've ever had, considering the hellish amount of toppings that I would never put on a meatball sandwich myself. Marinara, ranch, pesto, sweet peppers? That sounds like a complete Bag Lady weirdo request. Surprisingly excellent in the taste department. The flavors somehow go together like Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Fries were dusted with a smoky combo of paprika, cumin, salt and other things. The sweet potato fries had an interesting topping that I couldn't place, so I asked Faith what it was. That's when she pulled out the magic ingredient book for every recipe in house, and she gladly allowed me to look at it. There are no secrets at Native Foods. I love that about them. That interesting something was tarragon. I got to eat the scraps of my wife's salad, and it also had a plethora of dressing on it, maple orange dressing along with tahini drizzle. And it was great. The sweet potato fries were also good. Crispy, ungreasy feeling and with that interesting blend of seasoning. Every last bit of food was eaten, and we were genuinely full without feeling gross and in need of our spare wheelbarrow that we keep in the trunk. When something is good, you know how good it is based on how much you lament the fact that you didn't try the place earlier, and also by the future plans to eat through the menu like Atilla the Hun pillaging Smalltown U.S.A. I'm not saying I have plans to convert, but if meat processing decided it didn't want to work anymore, I could eat this place like Adrian Peterson. All Day. Get it? It's all good, you can boo my joke. We will be back to destroy the menu. All your base are belong to us.
(4)
Hauwei L.

Not a vegan, but I like visiting Native Foods because the dishes are fresh, there are no issues being lactose intolerant, and the service is good. This location is one of 3, the others are in the Loop and in Lakeview. Experience is consistently good across all 3 stores. While their food may not blow you away like cheeseburger at Au Cheval or the tonkatsu ramen at Wasabi, you'll have the pleasure of feeling good about yourself after you eat it. My favorite item is the twister wrap, although their salads and other dishes are excellent too. Tasty non-dairy desserts, beer, and wine complete the package.
(5)
Grace K.

My favorite vegan restaurant! The native chicken is scary good.
(5)
Senem J.

Very very good food, you will be fully satisfied and feel great about what you ate. This was out first time trying NFC and we will definitely be back. I had the Steak sandwich and the seitan was so mosit and tasty that i dont think i ever had seitan that yummy. My boyfriend tried the curry bowl and he was equally impressed. We want to keep coming back and try everything on the menu. Oh and the peanut butter parfait was so silky and smooth it was like eating whipped cream but only better because its not dairy!
(5)
Ed M.

I went back again after a decidedly mediocre meal and was hoping for something better. Ordered the edamame hummus plate but crackers tasted stale and jicama and broccoli were dried out. Not terrible tho. After three bites of the Bangkok curry I simply stopped eating and had it boxed to go. Absolutely no flavor let alone curry. Put it in stir fry when I got home and added some curry spices and other flavor and it was passable. Blueberry tea was nice but $20 for a bland, unfulfilling meal is outrageous.
(1)
Rick M.

Oh my gosh, I feel terrible for giving Native Foods three stars (and I mean a low three) after looking at all of these positive reviews below me. My partner is a vegetarian, so he took me out to Native Foods for a quick dinner one night after looking at furniture off Milwaukee Ave. Their food photography got me so excited. Straight up food porn. Anyway, we ordered and the girl at the front was super nice. We got our food really quickly and I just wasn't impressed. At all. I got the Chicken Run Ranch. The patty itself was really awesome, but the sandwich as a whole was kind of lackluster. I would have liked some of their vegan cheese... but as I recall it only had some lettuce, wayyyy too many onions, and some carrots. Their vegan bread was also fairly bland and a little tough. After being to a place like Soul Vegetarian on the South Side, Native Foods was kind of lackluster in the flavor sector. It's not that I won't be back... I'm sure we will be back numerous times. But I definitely was a little disappointed for my first time.
(3)
Rachel B.

We need more vegan dining options like this in Chicago! When I'm not destroying a meat-based dish, I am eating vegan. So difficult to do, and it's sad that in L.A. or NYC you are virtually bombarded by vegan cafes, yet in Chicago they are as hard to come by as the most coveted toy is around Christmas! Its a travesty, but luckily there is Native Foods to save us. Try the apple pie!
(4)
Tabitha H.

Delicious!!! I had the meatball sub, salad and lavender lemonade. It was amazing. Free refills also. I love their passion and vision as well. I wish I had one closer to me. Very nice, friendly staff!
(5)
Kat N.

The girl taking our order was very very nice! I am in Wicker Park a lot for work and have been to a lot of places to eat and usually the people working are not that friendly at other places. The Lavender lemonade is one of the best things on earth.
(4)
liz w.

Deceptive ingredients, not the best customer service. Food taste "blah"and process from can products. Not worth the price!
(1)
Lori L.

Obsessed. Not only does this place promote cruelty-free / eco-friendly ingredients and utensils, but the food is ridiculously good. My "chicken" wrap tasted EXACTLY like chicken and the sauces are to die for. I have also tried a few of their bowls which were delicious. The atmosphere is casual and the staff are somehow always SO nice. There is nothing more to say besides the fact that my mouth waters when I think about eating here again.
(5)
Emma G.

Everything tasted great and filled me up although service was a bit crummy. Ordered a lavender lemonade and a very rude server (I think he is a manager too) barked at me when I asked if they had run out for the day.
(4)
Sarah B.

Foods ok. Affordable and I love the reward card. Staff are pretty nice too. The teas great and so are some of the desserts. It's also pet friendly and for me that's an extra star.
(4)
Sam P.

Live in Charlotte, NC yet somehow i'm a regular here. How could that be? Well every time we are in a 100 mile radius when visiting the Midwest we end up here. Everything we've had has been pretty satisfying. Nothing really has stood out to the point i can remember it now, but having good vegan options is great. We definitely enjoyed some of the desserts as well. The chocolate brownie thing was my favorite. Of course we'll stop again next time through.
(4)
Aditi G.

I'm a huge fan of Native Foods but had only been to the one in Lakeview - I really like how big this Native Foods is. The service here is great as well. I ordered the nachos here and they were fresh and flavorful. The guacamole on them was my favorite. My friend ordered the taquitos and was obsessed with them. Of course we had about 3 glasses of the lavender lemonade each! Yum! Will definitely be back!
(5)
R W.

I have been coming here since it opened and the food and service has really gone down. The tempeh is not as good as it used to be and serving sizes seem to be smaller on certain items. The service is slow and not as friendly as it used to be. I'm very disappointed since this used to be my favorite place.
(2)
Christina M.

Native Foods Cafe has been one of my favorite restaurants to visit while in California for quite some time now. Luckily for us Chicagoans, we can now stuff ourselves silly with as much NF's as we'd like - I'll have to step up my workout routine, but it's totally worth it! I was delighted to meet the mastermind behind all of the super-tasty menu items, Chef Tanya, she was very delightful, fun, and clearly passionate about what she does. All of the other employees were super nice too, as well as the manager, whom I had previously met in Tustin, CA. We ordered a few appetizers, entrees, desserts, and drinks - in sum the food was AMAZING. Appetizers: Native Nachos (chips, black beans, veg taco meat, chipotle crema, veg cheese, salsa, guacamole) - this was a tasty dish, although it wasn't my favorite. I really enjoyed the veg meat but didn't care for the cheese flavored drops that resembled fancy butter. Native Chicken Wings (crispy battered "chicken" wings served with ranch) - this dish was very tasty, even my non-vegan friends loved it. The ranch dressing that came with it is the best in the city! Entrees: Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger (seitan, daiya cheese, "bacon", caramelized onions, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, and battered dill pickle chips) - this is, and always has been, my favorite dish! It's perfect for when you're craving a burger and fries, or just when you'd like to treat yourself to a good meal. This time I decided to be on the healthier side and ordered potato salad as my side, it was good and had a lot of dill in it, although I prefer the mayonnaise (vegenaise) based potato salads - I'll likely stick with fries next time. Chicken Run Ranch Burger (crispy battered "chicken", ranch dressing, lettuce, carrots, and onions) - my bf got this so I tried several bites. We both agreed that it wasn't much different from the chicken wings appetizer, so get one or the other, but not both at the same time. Rockin' Morracan Bowl ("chicken", grilled veggies, quinoa) - my friend let me try this and I didn't care for it at all, however, he really enjoyed it...to each his/her own. Desserts: Cheesecake (served with blueberries) - I liked this NF's version better than others. Although you can taste the tofu flavor, it's very tasty! Strawberry Parfait (yogurty filling with sweet bread) - I loved this dessert! It was shockingly good. Chocolate Love Pie (chocolate filling in an almond crust) - this was good, but it had a carob flavor, and I'm not a huge fan of carob so I prefer the cheesecake, parfaits, and cupcakes to this. Overall Native Foods is GREAT, 100% vegan, and 100% amazing!
(5)
Tracey H.

Looks like meat and tastes like meat = very satisfied non-vegan customer. This is actually one of my favorite fast food restaurants.
(4)
Laura P.

I wanna say I was blown over but I really wasn't. The jackelope pulled BBQ sandwich with coleslaw was good. The sweet potato fries were excellent. But I just did not get that 'WOW' factor that I expected. I mean it really was a little boring for me. Maybe I am just jaded or maybe I wasn't hungry. Yes, I was super hungry. Super hungry. Idontknow....maybe next time. The patio is pretty cool and the servers are attentive. Which is nice, but I still want to be 'wowed' when a fast food meal for 2 is $27. Maybe it is just the price that has me down?
(3)
Yvonne B.

I was SUPER excited to try this place. After reading tons of glowing reviews and begging to go multiple times, I FINALLY got to go yesterday. The girl at the counter warmly welcomed us, cheerfully explained their food, and walked us through ordering. I got the Ruben special, glass of watermelon juice, lentil soup, and a peach cake dessert. The juice and dessert were both free for me (I think the dessert may have been included in my meal and the drink was for signing up for their free reward program). My buddy got some sort of wrap, lentil soup, and watermelon juice. Even with all of those deductions, our bill was a little more than $25. We went and sat at a table by the window with our drinks and waited for our food. The juice was good (I had two glasses of it), but it did not scream watermelon flavor. In fact, it wasn't even the typical transparent red color of watermelon. My buddy didn't get through his glass and chose to pass on the other drink options as well. Next, my buddy's soup came and we waited and waited for mine. After several minutes, he tried to get the attention of a server. After multiple hand gestures and polite "Sirs?" The server still did not acknowledge us (and he was about two feet from me). Eventually, my friend said "SIR?" in a loud and irritable tone that snapped the server's attention our way. The server brought me a bowl of soup instead of the cup that I was probably supposed to get. The soup was okay. I like lentils a lot, so I probably liked it more than it deserved. I got the impression that my friend only ate the soup because he did not like the wrap thing he got. His wrap was cut into pinwheels and laid in a circle around the edge of his plate. There were about eight pinwheels and he only ate two of them. It was so sad because he's a vegetarian, he hadn't eaten all day, and he wasn't a fan of the food. My Ruben sandwich was okay too. I thought it was tasty, but it was difficult to eat. The guts of the sandwich kept falling out onto my plate. It did not taste like a Ruben, but it was good. I gave half my sandwich to my friend. I also gave him my peach dessert for later. Considering the overall experience at Native Foods, I would have to say that I've DEFINITELY experienced better lunch places. Munch in Oak Park is vegan, delicious, and has consistently good customer service. The customer service at Native Foods seemed hit-or-miss and the food was not impressive for me (an omnivore) and disappointing for my friend (an herbivore).
(2)
Casey F.

Officially obsessed. I've eaten here too many times to count. I'm not a vegetarian - in fact there are few things I love more than a great piece of pork, beef, lamb, goat, you name it. But this place is just that amazing. It's very casual and in fact on my first trip I got confused by how you order but now that I'm a seasoned vet, no biggie. I have tried quite a few things but ever since I discovered the Rockin' Moroccan bowl, I have a very difficult time ordering anything else. With tofu. Mmmm. Anytime my husband suggests take out this is where I want to order from. We always get the native chicken wings to start which are so delicious. Also a big plus for this place is they always have dog bowls out front. It's right on our way to Wicker Park and our bulldogs love to get their water fix every time we walk by. We've dined alfresco on their patio several times too, which is dog friendly. I always go out of my way to support places that let me bring my dogs, but luckily in this case I don't have to go far.
(5)
Divya V.

I have been here twice.... LOVE the Watermelon Fresca and the Lavender Lemonade drinks. They are light and easy to drink. Perfect for summers! The first time I was here they had a special - Veggie Po Boy (mmm delicious!). In our group of 4 we ordered: Italian meatball sub, veggie pizza, veggie po boy and roasted corn chile trio tacos. We loved the taco's and the meatball sub that we ordered it again on our second visit. Also tried the Chilli and the Bangkok curry. The Chilli was a little bland I wanted something that was spicy but this was like a bean soup....It comes with cornbread that was like a corn cake...not authentic southern corn bread but still tasted good. The Curry was really yummy loved the ginger coconut sauce. Can't wait to come back and try other stuff.
(5)
Joanne T.

Love this place. Came here for the first time this past weekend and I love how clean and healthy everything tastes. Not too saucey or salty which I love :)! And I love how they post healthy recipes on the wall! So cute. Also, they have very friendly workers!
(5)
Emily C.

Love, love, love Native Foods and I'm not vegan. My favorite thing to order right now is the Indo Noodle Salad - I love the peanut salad dressing! This location has tons of seating, including outside. Though it can get loud because of the el. Don't forget a vegan chocolate chip brownie - yum! 259/365
(5)
Alexandria T.

Way back when, before I was a Yelper, and Native Foods first opened, I went at least once a week for dinner or lunch. I've never ordered anything I haven't been a fan of. They have a daily special that is ten bucks and comes with a side. I often times will just order that. They also have a daily soup--the African peanut is my favorite. I love the twister wrap, the scorpion burger, and the chicken run ranch burger. They also have earth bowls that are all delicious--my favorite is the sesame kale macro bowl. The food is always super fresh. You can also order a beer with your meal which I like. They have a rewards card, and it's great if you go often.
(4)
Adriel C.

Sat and waited for over 20 minutes was never addressed. We sat outside as 2-3 waitresses and possible manager passed by and nothing was clear as to what we were supposed to be doing since nobody addressed us as we sat and waited. We'll never come back.
(1)
Melissa F.

I always take vegan skeptics here. Delicious, beautiful, fresh food that can satisfy any craving! I usually get one of the salads, haven't had one I didn't like but the Ensalada Azteca Salad is my favorite! I did try the Bangkok Curry Bowl once and felt it was too much rice for too little curry; my friend who also ordered an earth bowl felt the same way (can't remember which one she tried). Most of the plates are $8-$10; extremely reasonable! All in all, great quality, great quantity, great flavor!
(4)
Ryan M.

If I was vegan this might be a 5 star I just don't have much vegan experience to base my rating on. It was good but lacking the tastiness and juiciness of the real deal. Worth checking out.
(3)
Mr. A.

Seemingly the service has gone downhill in a hurry. As a frequent to-go orderer I have experienced missing items when I get home. If I ever go back I now have to go over the entire order every time before I pay. I find that annoying and wasteful.
(2)
Courtney C.

I was in the mood for a portabello burger, but I changed course and went with the Chicken Run Ranch Burger. I was not impressed. The burger was somewhat hot but it could have been hotter. I also wasn't impressed with the flavoring of the chicken. My fries were also kind of limp-I prefer crispy fries. It was like these fries had been heated up in the microwave for 10 seconds. In order to lightened my spirits, I went with something I had high hopes of being good: a chocolate cupcake. Thankfully, this didn't let me down. I've eaten at Native Foods' South Loop location and loved the Bangkok Curry bowl. I might give Native Foods another try and try their portabello burger. I at least know where I can come for a great vegan chocolate cupcake. =) Oh yeah, for a restaurant that prides itself on being environmentally friendly, I was shocked to see them giving out paper cups for their tea. I'd much rather receive a ceramic cup for my tea.
(3)
Ken J.

I waited until my second visit to this Native Foods to write a review. I rarely write reviews. But. I have been vegan for nearly 20 years, and really am glad to see the sea-change towards meatless diets in the US. However... Native Foods has failed me on two occasions. The problem with NF is two-fold: first, its reliance on fake meats is distinctly unimaginative. Second - and more to the point - NF has quickly become a fast food chain. Meaning, everything there is pre-pared, heated up, fried, or thrown into a bowl. It is more about assembly of food than cooking of food. I tried their faux bacon cheeseburger the first time: a greasy mess of sliced seitan on a roll, covered with a melted substance. I was looking forward to my first fried pickle encounter, but it was as cold and hard as the french fries that came with the sandwich. Shame... corporate vegan food. Simply because something is vegan doesn't mean it is good. We need to get over the qualifier, "What did you expect from vegan food?" or, "I can't believe this is vegan!" Second visit, I braved a "bowl," that the hostess said was her "favorite." A bowl. With brown rice, steamed kale, some sort of tofu, beans, and cold chunks of sweet potato. 12 bucks. The appetizer of faux chicken nuggets coated in sesame seeds was interesting. So. This place doesn't work for me. I can do better at home.
(2)
Justine L.

I really enjoy Native Foods Cafe and particularly this location. First on the food - portions are big and very filling. I am not vegan or vegetarian, but I do appreciate a quality environmentally conscience meal. There are so many choices, and I have never gone wrong. I've been meaning to try their beer, but haven't gotten the chance to do so. The location - This location has the friendliest staff, best noise level, and space. I think I've gone at relatively busy times, and it has never been overwhelming full/chaotic/noisy like other Chicago locations. Makes all the difference in being able to enjoy your meal.
(5)
Julie S.

This is for the gluten-free crowd. I'm sure this place is fantastic if you're simply an adventurous eater, but for those of us with legitimate medical conditions that require special attention, this is NOT the place to go. I was hungry, so I went to the cash register and I asked what they do to prevent cross-contamination (from gluten). The (very kind, nice, pleasant) man behind the counter asked me what cross-contamination was, and then proceeded to pull out a book and read off their policy, which by the way, is not nearly strict enough for anyone with celiac disease. I left. I thanked the cashier for his honesty, and his honesty is the only reason why I'm giving this place two stars instead of one. They have gluten-free beer which is nice, but I'm not going to sit alone and drink a beer. It's not that kind of an establishment. Don't advertise a restaurant as gluten-free if you don't know anything about cross-contamination. Celiac disease is a very serious medical condition, not something you exploit to make more money.
(2)
Vanessa U.

I'm a huge fan of the Oklahoma burger, and the mac-n-cheese off the kids menu is perfection to a vegan in comfort food distress. Oh, and the lavender lemonade? Heavenly. I could do without the chicken substitutes on the menu, but maybe because I haven't spent enough time away from meat to forget what it tastes like. If you're not yet a vegan/vegetarian, I promise you the Oklahoma burger is they way to go. Gooey, melty non-cheese, fried pickles on top -- hits the spot, makes a mess, and it's filling enough for two to share if you get your own sides.
(4)
J P.

Love this place! Even if I have to travel to far far away land, the food is totally worth it. I went vegan 19 months ago and at the beginning I ate nothing but fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts and grains. After years of being an omnivore I missed certain comfort foods. When I want wings or a burger or a chocolate cupcake! I suffer no more! they have amazingly delicious desserts. The food taste great the sauces are amazing even my meat loving friends love the taste of the food. Don't get me started on that lavender lemonade !!!! yum! best part of all they have a rewards card... I am obsessed with collecting points from anywhere and everywhere! all thumbs up for this place! They have a location down town too! But... their menu is not identical so if you fall in love with a certain item and are going to a certain location I'd call ahead to see if they have what you are looking for!! if not there are enough delicious items to keep you happy and satisfied. Love that they have new items to try for limited times! that's always fun! and if you sign up for email you can be lucky enough to get invited to a tasting party where they try out new things ..space is limited so you must respond asap to the email!
(5)
Jeff K.

Great vegetarian food! It's quick, easy, walk up and order place and then they bring you the food. My favorite thing was the watermelon fresca; freshly squeezed watermelon with a mix of mint and free refills!! I had the Moroccan tofu, it was very good, had a kick but good. My wife had the taco salad, all veggies but said it still had good flavor. If your expecting any chicken or meat don't eat here because the imitation meat they serve doesn't taste like the real thing but it still takes very good. I like it but not because it taste like chicken or beef. If your a healthy eater, vegan or vegetarian than this is your place. I know I'll be back again.
(5)
Char B.

I absolutely LOOOVE this place. My second time around... I didn't even go with the normal cheerful company that I would bring to a venue like this, and still enjoyed EVERYTHING. I must say that even Meat Eaters will be pleased & leaved satisfied (& FULL). THE FOOD....... PREVIOUS VISIT: I've had a "PORTABELLO MUSHROOM & VEGAN SAUSAGE BURGER" here, once before... Beyond Delish! THIS VISIT: Started it all out with a soup... I cannot remember the name, as it was a daily special, but it was a Mexican Tortilla blend. And, we FOUGHT to finish it! This time I had an appetizer & it was great! "SAIGON ROLLS" Some sort of simple spring roll & intricate dipping sauce. It came together very well... First off; we ordered another appetizer, but they were out. But, Like super service pros; They offered to substitute the appetizer of our option... *smiles* And Like literally (when I saw it), for two seconds, I thought it was going to be lackluster, because I love sushi & thought I might miss the seafood element of anything rolled up..... WRONG! It was awesome. This time, my main entree was the "OKLAHOMA BACON CHEESEBURGER" Of course, it was vegan :-) And also impressive. The patty wasn't as dark as my previous burger patty (this would throw most meat eaters for a loop), but was well flavored, and all the extras on this burger did not clash. Even the pickle chips on top were Perfect!!! My guest had the "BANGKOK CURRY BOWL", and I could barely keep my hands off it. What an AMAZING Curry. Seriously, its as hard to get a curry at a non-thai restaurant as it is to get a good sushi at a buffet/grocery/freezer. Now, I must say that I love their faux-meats (and breakdown within the menu); BUT, we both were Not vigilant enough to notice that (with this curry bowl) right next to the word Steak, it clearly said TOFU Steak. I was shocked when it arrived, but... still no complaints! That bowl IMPRESSED. It was so well blended, flavor-wise, that I almost wanted to order one-to-go! For Drinks... I can never choose because they are so fabulous. I mix the Lavender Lemonade / Watermelon Fresca / Hibiscus Tea. But, maybe maybe maybe the Lavender Lemonade is Uniquely Impressive enough to be considered THE ONE. There was NO ROOM for desserts this time, but I have sampled some before... And they ARE AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK IN THAT WINDOW!!!
(5)
Lyric S.

Rude people work here. Waited in line for a simple lavender lemonade. The cashier turned her back to me and didn't even acknowledge me. As I stood there.....for over 5 minutes. Never again!!!
(1)
Stephen S.

Huge bowls of vegan-y goodness for fair prices? Sign me up! Native Foods Cafe offers a variety of tasty and awesome vegan options ranging from delicious salads to awesome sandwiches. I really like that they offer a selection of vegan protein options (tofu, tempeh, seitan) and actually do a great job with all of it.
(4)
Emily B.

Some of their items are more flavorful than others. Excellent option for healthy take-out on a busy weeknight. I love their beverages almost more than anything else... Lavender lemonade!! I also love the sweet potato fries with chipotle sauce, chili, bombastic tofu wrap, and the Saigon roll. I don't care for any of the burger/sandwiches I've tried. Nachos and taco salad are also pretty bland.
(4)
Tony F.

One of my favorite vegan places to go to.... everything I have tried here is very GOOD and can't wait to try something else new......
(5)
Jennifer H.

We weren't sure what to expect from the mammoth fast food-looking exterior with high ceilings and had walked by several times before stopping to look at the menu. Once inside, it was clear this was not a fast good joint. Don't be fooled by the walk-up to the cash to place your order - it's merely an efficient way to run such a busy spot while showcasing bevvy and dessert options. The menu, which is veggie and whole grain rich, offers a variety of "meat" dishes, though nothing that has ever walked, swam or given birth (check this description) is on the menu at all. Seitan (?check this) is the "meat" for the nachos, pastrami and chicken wings. Our meals, with tofu and tempeh, brown rice and veggies were flavourful and filling. And the customer service was outstanding - everyone was friendly, courteous and seemed like genuinely nice people. The kind I'd like to engage in conversation. With any luck, they will branch out and come to Toronto!
(5)
A. M.

Nice lunch addition to the loop. Super friendly service and above average vegetarian/vegan options. I'm not a huge fan of the whole faux meat thing...I think that if you aren't going to eat meat, don't lust for non-meat options dressed up as meat. Anyway, I digress. The non faux meat vegetarian options I ordered were the mini green salad and saigon roll. Both very fresh with good flavors. I would order them again. ***Obviously gets busy during lunch time but don't be scared of the wait. The place was packed when I ordered take out and I hardly had to wait for my order to be up.
(3)
Laura M.

Visited for the first time today. My friend had the Twister Wrap, my son had the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and I had the Saigon Roll. Everyone loved their food. This was monumental for me since my son is the worlds worst carnivore. He left a clean plate and declared he could eat another. Native Foods Cafe, come out to the western suburbs. Please!!!
(5)
Freddie L.

Native Foods Cafe one of the new kids on the block is truly the only plant-based restaurant that I've been to. This is an amazing restaurant that represents humane food. Totally vegan absolutely delicious! Serving american-inspired cuisine. I highly recommend getting the vegan chicago au jus. Thinly sliced native peppered seitan piled high on a freshly baked baguette smothered with homemade giardinera. Bring back the Cubano sandwich. One of the best!
(5)
Jack P.

This place is just scrumptious. And easier to access on a Saturday night than Piece. And I wasin the company of a vegetarian, so things worked out well for both of us. Just shifted our focus off the white clam thin crust pizza we'd been hallucinating. The menu is full of interesting and inviting items, including the carnivore drag items where vegetable proteins impersonate meat choices such as Itlalian Beef, meatballs, burgers, sausage or chicken flesh. In fact, most of the recommendations by our waiter included these items. And there are just veggie dishes, like the Buddha Bowl my friend ordered, and like the Lentil Soup I ordered. Best veggie lentil I have ever had, infused with those unbeatable Moroccan spices and served perfectly hot. We were given samples at the order counter which made me an instant fan. Of both the soup and a place that actually let's you sample the food. So it's the hybrid table service where you order at the counter and a server brings you your food and drinks. Our server could not have been more helpful or accommodating. After the soup, I had their portabello burger and my friend got sweet potato fries to share. My burger was excellent. Most carnivore drag items disappoint me, but now I want to come back and devour some fake meatballs. You go, Native Foods! I love your stuff. Prices are a little higher than I'd like for vegetarian, but well worth it.
(4)
Claudia D.

BYOB Street parking, clean bathrooms You order at the counter. Gorgeous lighting fixtures, casual atmosphere. The food is OK, a bit pricey, definitely vegetarian. However, I don't like it as much as some other vegetarian, vegan places we've been. I wouldn't make a special trip here, but if we're in the neighborhood, and can find a parking space, maybe we'll go again.
(3)
Steve M.

If Native foods and Chicago Diner got into the Octagon together.....****** Maybe I ordered the wrong thing (Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger), but I wasn't as blown away as some of the other reviews would set one up for. Sure, this is some super inventive vegan fare, and they are great at re-creating some carnivorous delicacies, but I left with a feeling of bloated "meh." I did get to try the deli reuben sandwich while I was there, and that was tasty though. If ever back there, I'll give it a go. ******I'll sum it up like the most interesting man in the world.... ... I don't always eat vegan, but when I do.... I'll still choose Chicago Diner first. KaPow!
(3)
G R.

Recently dined here with my husband and was please with how tasty everything was. I had the twister wrap, my husband had a salad, and the fresco watermelon drink . We both enjoyed our food, but holy COW (heehee) was it price, $26.00 for lunch!! Again tasty, but not sure we'll frequent the place at those prices.
(3)
Melissa T.

As my first excursion into the world of vegan food, Native Foods Cafe was a great place to "dip our toes in the pool." I had never been in, but had read the menu online after seeing the cafe in passing. One hot and hungry day, I picked it out for lunch with my hubby (he had NO IDEA what sort of food they served). While he went to the bathroom, I had the task of ordering. And I know that nachos either make or break a place in my husband's opinion.... so there it was, nachos and 2 beers. We sit down and one of the girls brings over a very "exotic" looking plate of nachos. Digging into the mound of food, we discovered new flavors and textures..... all different from the usual velveeta/ground beef/chili nachos toppings.... but all very fresh and definitely pleasant. The thing that got my husband was the "meat" (which was tasty) was actually seitan. He mentioned how surprised he was that the nachos were ACTUALLY GOOD, and he spoke with the girl that brought over our food. She gave him the low-down on what he had been eating and even gave us a couple of pieces of "bacon" for a free taste. The "bacon" wasn't such a win, but we'll be back to try the other dishes on their menu and to give the nachos another go! Thanks for the great experience, Native Foods Cafe
(4)
Dave G.

FYI: The menu calls all the meat/cheese "Native" but they don't mean buffalo, they mean their own proprietary vegan products. Completely vegan fast casual. This business would be perfect in Royal Oak next to Qdoba and Noodles Inc. Entrees were are consistently good, and my meatball sub tasted spot on. We ordered chili fries as an appetizer to share, but they were not very good and came with our meals. The chicken fingers were delicious with a perfect coating and perfect ranch. Make sure you get a unique fountain drink (free self-serve refills) , they have iced tea, lavender lemonade and mint watermelon and I had to try them all. The nugget kids meal is an excellent deal, you get about 10 chicken bites, a cup of brown rice, and some raw veggies and fruit for $5!
(4)
Nick D.

Excellent vegan food. Affordable. I always leave this place feeling satisfied and full. My personal favorites are the fish tacos and the buddha bowl. They also have cupcakes. The peeps working the joint are pretty cool too!
(4)
Lou L.

Man, do I love this place. Every single thing I've had ( and I've eaten there A LOT) has been totally delicious. I recommend any of the bowls, my favorites are the soul bowl, kale bowl and gyro bowl, the bacon cheeseburger (!!), the meatball sub, the tacos.... Ok I'll stop here or else I will end up listing the entire menu. Service is awesome and prompt and the prices are fair. The fact that it's all vegan is just amazing and makes me smile. I wish they'd open up a native foods cafe for every McDonald's in this city.
(5)
Tara J.

Native Foods is utter perfection. I had visited the Palm Springs location in the past, and last weekend I made my first visit to the Wicker Park location (and went back again 2 days later!). The service is so friendly and the food is amazing. I love not having to wonder what is/isn't vegan. My favorites so far are the chicken run ranch sandwich, the peanut butter parfait and the lavender lemonade. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! The only menu item I've tried that I wouldn't recommend are the sweet potato taquitos - the are tasty but way too greasy. If I lived in Chicago (or anywhere near a Native Foods), I would quickly develop a serious addiction. As it stands, NF Wicker Park is going on my list of must-visit places on future Chicago trips.
(5)
L L.

Finally made it in! I am a huge meat eater and have no desire to ever be vegetarian nor vegan. I do love vegetables and try to eat as much as possible to keep balance. I am so excited that I finally got over to native! The service was friendly and informative. I had the chicken twister wrap w/ grilled chicken and loved it. I'm tempted to offer it to my some of my narrower minded friends, because I doubt they'd be able to tell. I purchase a Moroccan Rockin bowl for lunch tomorrow and am super excited to try it! At first I thought the prices were a tad high but you'll see that it is more than plenty! Love it and elated at the new quick serve food option!
(5)
Allison S.

I already wrote a review for the belmont native foods, and the food here is pretty much the same- AMAZING. I love the moroccan, gandhi, gyro, and macro bowls. The salads are great also! The sweet potato fries and steamed kale are great sides. Just wanted to follow up on my other review because I finally got to try some of the desserts! They were unfortunately out of the peanut butter parfait, but my friend and I split there banana bread that had coconut and chocolate chips in it (boogy bars), and the brownie. Both were delicious, and looking forward to trying more. The staff was also super friendly and helpful (refilling our drinks for us) at this location! I'm rarely in this area, but will always stop in if I'm nearby.
(5)
Amanda C.

Delicious food! Enjoy a healthy delicious vegan meal without skimping on taste! Non-vegans enjoy the food too! You wouldn't even know it was vegan if they didn't tell you! :)
(5)
Elizabeth J.

I'm surprised to see so many positive reviews of this place. I had high expectations - I'm a vegetarian and my friend is a vegan, so we were really excited to try this place out. We were both really disappointed. First of all, the service was pretty rude - underwhelming at best. They were not very opening to answering questions. Secondly, there was the food. I ordered a sandwich. The bread was pretty tough and bland. The sandwich was definitely primarily lettuce and onions. Most of the menu options contained some kind of fake meat. That's great for some people, but I prefer food that's more focused on fresh vegetables and less on processed fake meat products. My dessert sounded exciting, but was similarly bland. Whatever dairy substitute they used for the "creme" on the side tasted awful to me- a bit grainy, a bit slimy. Overall, I was extremely disappointed - a very lackluster experience given all the hype. I will say that the good things were - the drinks were great, and so was the sweet potato fries. If you want good vegan food, don't go to a cheesy, corporate chain like this. Try somewhere like Chicago Diner or, even better Soul Vegetarian.
(2)
C. P.

Oh my gosh! If you are a vegan or vegetarian, this place is awesome. The range of foods gives you healthy not-even-trying-to-replicate-meat options AND vegan buffalo wings, burgers, "chicken" etc. Personally, I'm a huge fan of meat-like vegetarian options, so I love looking at a menu and trying to decide whether a burger or crispy chicken wrap goes better with my beer. Love the menu, love the execution, love the service, love the outdoor seating, love, love, love... A caveat... if you are not a vegetarian or vegan, the fake meat is probably not *that* delicious or exciting. I dunno...
(5)
Wendy P.

I classify myself as a total-carnivore who "occasionally" eats vegetables (only in salad or stir-fry form). But today, I found a vegetarian (or rather, VEGAN) restaurant I can completely enjoy with my vegetarian/vegan friends; NATIVE FOODS CAFÃ‰: meat, dairy, and gluten-free. We were LUCKY enough to have a reservation for what Native Food's call a "soft-opening"; all food was FREE, and beer/wine only $2.00 each (proceeds benefiting PAWS - Performance Animal Welfare Society). Not only FREE FOOD, this was SPECTACULAR free food! While waiting to place our order, we tried samples of the Lavender Lemonade and Watermelon Fresca; both were surprisingly flavorful and very refreshing. For our lunch, we each received an appetizer, an entrÃ©e, a side-order, and a drink. As Wine and Beer sales were fully donated to PAWS, my friends each had wine, while I enjoyed a Two Brothers CANE & EBEL, a dry red rye ale with loads of hops. I love a dark beer with a "bite" and this did not disappoint! Of note: Two Brothers Brewing Company is an Illinois local, based in Warrenville. The Native Chicken Wings (Native, range-free soy) were flavorful with an amazing, meat-like texture, and came with a ranch dressing that tasted like the real thing (but was, in fact, dairy-free). As my friend said at lunch: "Tastes JUST LIKE CHICKEN"... The Chili-Cheese Fries knocked our socks off; the cheese itself is a special-blend of several nuts and other flavors, and with whatever the chili was made of, this dish ROCKED. I had the Yo Amigo Taco Salad (A blend of romaine, cabbage, Native Taco Meat, and salsa fresca, topped with corn, green onion, cilantro, and tortilla chip croutons. Although it came with a Chipolte Ranch, the regular ranch was exactly what I required to fall in love with a vegetarian Mexican dish! My friends had the Native Soul Bowl (hearty red beans and "jazzman" rice, steamed veggies, and kale dressed with ranch and BBQ sauce and served with homemade cornbread) and the Chicken Run Ranch Sandwich (Crispy battered Native Chicken, ranch dressing, romaine, carrots, and onions.) The sandwich came with lightly seasoned sweet potato fries that we just loved! For dessert, we had a delectable cheesecake (with a ginger granola crust and mini-blueberries), and "to-die-for" Cardemon Rose Cupcake. As I write this, I've just dived into my own desert, the Boogie Bar (banana bread loaded with almonds, oats, coconut, chocolate chips and jungle vanilla. Sweetened with agave and maple syrup) This is Seriously YUM! As for the restaurant; the design is fresh, full of light and airy. Local artists are encouraged to submit their work for display. The service provided by staff was simply THE MOST ATTENTIVE we've ever experienced! Everyone was friendly, willing to offer information, insight, and simply, make certain we had all that we needed. Chef Tanya visited everyone's tables during the course of today's opening. She's engaging, has a delightful personality, and is someone we WISH we knew personally, as she seems like a completely fun-loving gal. It's obvious that she loves what she does, in creating such tasty, and healthful alternative-to-meat dishes that show creativity in both flavor-construction, and presentation. Native Foods is opening 3 locations total in Chicago this year. I suspect, with their California-esque, global-inspired menu of tasty combinations and flavors, they may just take the top spot for MUST VISIT vegetarian restaurants in our fair city.
(5)
Sarah B.

I haven't been a strict vegetarian for a few years, but being someone that doesn't have an appreciative palate for meat, I knew I was going to fall into an intense love affair with Native Foods. And just as I expected, this love affair started last night at 8 p.m. The lines are long to order, but their policy is to have all the food prepared and delivered to guests in under 8 minutes. Score. Thoughts on the food: (take into consideration I'm a super picky, anti-grease, anti-mayo, anti-dressing, anti-weird textured things person) The food: nothing short of amazing. By no means would I say it's a healthy restaurant though... fried food is fried food, pastries are pastries, and sauces are sauces, even when it's vegan. So go with the mindset you will definitely be indulging, but its 1000000000% worth it at NFC.
(5)
Laura T.

I had the Twister wrap with crispy chicken and Native fries. I thought it was delicious. It was fresh and even a little spicy. The fries could have been a little more well-done, but I also carried out, and I've never met a fry that didn't get a little soggy on the walk home. They also gave me a rewards card and a free drink! It had a cute ambience, too. Chain-ishy, but that's okay because it was clean and spacious and bright. And at only $11.50, it's the cheapest vegan food around.
(5)
Andrea A.

Love love love!
(5)
Jesse L.

I went wandering today in Wicker Park as I was hungry and there's nothing in my neighborhood besides a Popeye's chicken. I found Native Foods Cafe and decided to give it a try since they had a daily special. Today was the Oklahoma love burger. It came with a side of soup and since I signed up for a rewards card I got a free drink. The soup came out piping hot and it was delicious! The burger came out soon after at it looked tasty. I'm no stranger to seiten but for some reason I wasn't too thrilled about this BBQ variety. The faint taste of BBQ unsettled me. I thought maybe it was because the seiten was on the bun so I began using a fork. It was a bit better but didn't do enough t refuel my appetite. The waitress came around soon after and carried a good portion of my burger to the trash can. Because the meal cost ten bucks it seemed like a waste, though I did remain full for the majority of the afternoon and evening afterwards. I would like to go back and try something else, such as the chicken twister. Hopefully the results turn out better then.
(3)
Vaughan A.

Absolutely DELICIOUS!!! My taste buds were fooled into thinking it was real chicken that I was eating....
(5)
Michelle G.

I went here for lunch today and it was healthy and delicious. I had the Aztec Salad and Iced Tea. I loved the relaxed vibe of the place and wanted to try everything on the menu. I didn't have any of the deserts but they looked amazing, I can't believe they are vegan. I'll have to come back soon to try some other things on the menu and some of the deserts.
(5)
Jackie M.

I ate here back in August. It was my first ever vegan meal, and while I haven't had time to go back yet, I have been talking (dare I say, dreaming?) about going back ever since. I had the delicious chicken run ranch burger with seitan and the most amazing strawberry shortcake parfait I have ever had in my LIFE. I wasn't a big fan of their specialty drinks but it seemed like a ton of the people around me were enjoying them very much. I even got a chance to chat with the head baker who made the parfait I was eating, and she told me a little bit about how it was made, she was very nice. I couldn't believe I was eating something so absolutely melt-in-your-mouth wonderful that was basically made entirely of tofu -- the pastry, the cream, everything. I can not WAIT to go back and I'm probably going to order the exact same thing. Mmm.
(5)
Egan V.

One of those places where the food is better than the descriptions. Took a ten-year-old omnivore here and she didn't notice the nuggets were not chicken. Service is very attentive, decor is nice. Chef Tanya is a little out there on her blog, but I didn't get any of that in the restaurant at all. Just a nice homey place your parents would love.
(5)
Gretchen R.

I love native foods! The price is pretty good, and the food is delicious. I love all the healthful options, and each dish is very flavorful. My favorite is the black bean twister wrap, and definitely get the lavender lemonade!
(5)
Hayley B.

Popped in here on my way to a hair appointment and wanted a quick lunch. I ended up getting fabulous food on the go and was so surprised! The service was quick and the food was awesome!! i can't wait to go back =)
(4)
Shakeia T.

I'm not vegan/vegetarian but this food was amazing! The lavendar lemonade was so delicious I wanted to take some home. The sweet potato fries were good even once they got cold, and my taco salad was delicious! I'm gonna keep it short and sweet, I'm going back!
(4)
Swati B.

Wow this place is outstanding. When I walked in, the line at this location was pretty long..it was nearly out the door (and it was about 7pm on a wednesday night), though it does move pretty quickly, I think I was in line for 10 minutes max? Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating the staff is super friendly and easy to talk to. The menu is just overwhelming, where to start, what to have..I want it all! I went with the greek gryro bowl which was really tasty. The portions are generous and the flavors were delicious...i also had the strawberry shortcake parfait...which was like heaven...are you sure this is Vegan?? The lemonade that they had was perfect, just a hint of tartness and slightly sweet but not syrupy. I am definitely coming back here and going to make it a point to try everything on the menu. My friend had the bbq sandwich and raved about it as well. She mentioned that the 'chicken' sandwich and some dip that they have as a dish was outstanding. I gotta go back!!
(5)
Lea S.

Since opening in Wicker Park, I've been telling lots of people about this place, so it is about time that I give them a yelp shout out. The food is so tasty that any meat eater would love it as much as a vegetarian! I've been here a few times now and have not been disappointed! I would say that some dishes had a hidden bit of spice, so watch out if you aren't into that! I also like that they have a selection of wine and teas.
(5)
Sean L.

Finally, a great vegan place in the hood! I love this place, as I come here at least 3-4 times a week. It's like starbucks, they know my order before I make it! I love the Scorpion burger and the Twister wrap..both awesome. The nachos are the best appetizer also. They are also the best thing to fill you up if you are really hungry. The only thing I don't like here are the drink choices. Just wish they had more variety or plain lemonade or soda etc. If your vegan or attempting to become more vegetarian, then I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(5)
Rolo R.

My girlfriend wanted me to come here with her, I didn't really want to since I only eat meat. Was very hesitant to try it. I must admit, it's actually pretty good. If I was a vegan/vegetarian I would eat here a lot. Although I wouldn't mind eating here once in a while.
(4)
Zach T.

I am a dire hard carnivore, yet I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Native Foods Cafe. I'd keep this at dinner, because it's a bit costly for lunch, but there's an incredible amount of effort that goes into each dish, so I feel it's justified. I went down for the Chicken Run Ranch Burger a tofu-made-to-look-like chicken sandwich. It was so well dressed and very tasty. Especially with some of their chupacabras hot sauce. Damn good. I added seasoned fries (meh) and a "fountain" drink. You get free refills and three awesome choices: watermelon water, Lavender Lemonade, and a very tasty Iced tea. My dining companions had interesting looking salad bowls and "burgers" and everybody was happy. I saw 2 friends in there who insist they're regulars. I got a free drink for signing up for their email list, and that brought the total down to 13.09. Atmosphere is clean and casual. It's cafeteria style where you put a number on your table and they bring it to you, and the staff is unbelievably attentive.
(4)
Yumm y.

SCORPION BURGER WITH CHEESE. Can't get enough chipotle sauce. Why is this place so good?
(5)
LC S.

Delicious vegan food off the blueline. Casual atmosphere, where you fill up your own drinks and condiments. They also have a good balance between fake meat and vegetable-focused entrees- not just one or the other. Yum.
(5)
Nicole L.

I've never been to a Vegan place until Native Foods. I absolutely love the nachos - I can't believe that was vegan. If that's how all vegan food is, it would be so easy to go vegan!
(5)
Ryan K.

Absolutely incredible vegan restaurant that also has fantastic service, options, and quality. Basically this place shuts the door in the idea that vegetarian food can't be filling or just as awesome as non-veggie food. Whenever I come here, the people are so darn friendly and helpful I just can't wait to come back. Try the nachos (my favorite!) and you are really in for a treat. Even my omnivore friends love this place and it is always the number one restaurant I want to visit when I am in Chicago. They also have a rewards system which gets you free stuff.
(5)
Frank B.

I am glad Native Foods opened up in Chicago! This makes me feel back home. One of the best veggie spots around, full of flavor, extensive menu and friendly staff. A ++++
(4)
Sourma K.

I cannot wait to go back. I had their kale macro rice bowl and it was really good and my bf had the italian meatball and that was even better. The ambiance was fantastic, the service was on point and the prices were reasonable. For anyone trying to go vegan or vegetarian this menu should help you figure out what the new food pyramid will be.
(5)
Justin H.

The food was amazing, The drinks were spectacular, the atmosphere was phenomenal. So you ask why just 2 stars... Let me tell you kids, I was asked if everything was OK at LEAST 5 times by every employee who walked past me. They had about 10 employees working it seemed so at least 40 times I was asked if everything was OK. I was offered a refill once my drink reached 1/4th inch in the bottom of the glass... 5 times. (NO I want to finish the drink I have so I can taste a different one!) In the hour I was there I think I only had 1 two minute period go by where I wasn't asked if everything was OK. Please if you see me reading my newspaper, sandwich in hand and me NOT waving you down or asking for something... LET ME EAT IN PEACE! I will go back again and give them another chance because the food is good and good for me!
(2)
Kimme O.

I'm going to make this short and sweet, just like ripping off a band-aid. The best sweet potato fries EVER, not the best tasting seitan but ok,and the waiter or non-waiting thing was confusing but interesting to say the least. In a nutshell a pretty solid yummy vegan restaurant.
(4)
Scott H.

All around greatness ...looks like a chain restaurant from outside..don't be put off by this ...great staff .. Non Vegetarian will love it too ..the Reuben on marble rye is my favorite thus far . But menu offers a world of choices ..dig it !....BTW don't listen to James ...he's clueless
(5)
James F.

I've been to the Wicker Park and Loop locations and thought both offered attentive service and great vegan food. I would recommend the Oklahoma Burger, Nachos and Soul Bowl.
(4)
Jeff R.

It's always a pleasure to meet up with good friends Ari and Tali for dinner. We love to try new places, eat good food and catch up on life. Another benefit of going out with the Dermans is that they remind us that there are always "healthier" options on the menu (mostly vegetarian and fish). We decided to go bold and check out Native Foods Cafe - an entirely vegetarian/vegan/organic establishment. The menu is filled with regular looking items like burgers, cheese, gyros and meatballs - but the joke is always on the unsuspecting customer that doesn't realize all of the animal product goodness is replicated with soy and plant based supplements. I love the idea of eating vegan, I really do. You would reduce cholesterol, lower fat and generally eat healthier stuff. But as Erica observed walking out (and speaking from experience as a former vegetarian), there are plenty of options to eat veg. without diving into fake meat replacements (can't get enough pasta, rice, salads, etc). Most of the push back always starts with protein sources - but that is another discussion for another time. Native Foods is a great option for people looking to satisfy the vegan need and eat "normal" food without that animal. I tip my hat to the chef who has the creativity of making a reuben sandwich with corned beef looking substitute and fake cheese. That's taking culinary "art" to a high level, but I think I'll stick to the real deal. We ordered a lot of food and was able to try many items. My favorite choices were two of the appetizers - "chili cheese" fries and saigon rolls. The fries were just really good and well season. The beans and "chili" didn't hurt either. The saigon roll was very tasty and served with a great spicy peanut sauce. The "chicken" tenders were kind of strange and definitely was too hard not to realize this was fake chicken. I enjoyed the ranch dipping sauce but it certainly lacked creativity unlike the other dishes. My main order was the meat ball sub with pesto marinara. I thought they did a nice job of making it real meat ball sub with a nice sauce and grilled onions. The bread was perfectly good and the texture of the meatballs was pretty close to spot on. Erica went with a rice bowl of sorts that had nice vegetables and "chicken" skewers and a very aggressive sauce - a little too spicy for her but really just too strong with the flavors. Ari and Tali went with a bacon cheeseburger concoction and the previously mentioned reuben sandwich. The texture of the fake cheese kind of throws me off a bit but again, I give credit for the ability and creativity to come up with these dishes and finding ways to pull them off. Since I know what the "real deal" tastes like it's hard to compare fairly, but for anyone that is vegan and doesn't know the difference, I think there are many fun and interesting options to enjoy. The decor and environment are exactly what you'd expect and the pricing is all very reasonable. Native Foods picked a great location and neighborhood for its third Chicago store and I wouldn't be shocked if more were in the works. Personally, I'd love to be vegan but know that's never going to happen and will try to eat as healthy as possible with minimal animal products. For everyone else I can recommend checking out Native Foods for a wide variety of options and flavors that always change.
(3)
Sam A.

Been here twice. Not really a fan of the drinks i'll stick with water but everything else has been great so far
(4)
Erica A.

I'm mostly vegan (I occassionally have cheat days but we're not here to discuss that). I usually make Native Foods my go-to place if I'm really hungry and want something that I know is consistently yummy. I should venture a little but the twister wrap with a side of sweet potato fries is my staple. I don't know if it's the seitan they use, the huge pieces of avocado, or the sauce but I'm borderline addicted. The sweet potato fries are good, they're a little soggy and could use a litte more salt or seasoning. Also, the staff is SUPER helpful and SUPER friendly. I honestly don't know if I've ever ordered food from nicer people. The only things that keeps me from going every day are the price and them soggy fries.
(4)
Sam B.

Stumbled upon this place while out and about in Wicker Park. The food was great, healthy, and filling. The line was nearly out the door. I wish these were all over Chicago. I'd eat vegan more!
(5)
Kate S.

Very excited to try this place and it met my expectations with delicous vegan foods! Went with a bunch of carnivores and they all loved it too. Twister Wrap, butternut squash soup, and chai tea were superb. Definitely going back to try more as every dish my friends ordered looked delectable. Affordable too!
(4)
Alexis M.

I really love the food here (and the free refills on the great drinks!). I'm marking off a star because I do think it is really expensive. Still, when I want a good vegan lunch, I definitely head here. The choices are plentiful and delicious. The fries are a tiny bit salty for me, but the other sides are amazing. The soups are good, too. I wish I could give 4 1/2 stars, because it is really great. Still, I just think it is too expensive for being a fast casual restaurant without full service. Conclusion: Awesome food, but pricey.
(4)
D R.

Fantastic quality of food. The Chicago dip has a great blend of spices and veggies and the au jus is perfect. The Chicken Ran Ranch Sandwich is the most realistic chicken substitute I have tasted to date. I do however wish that this item had more of a sauce added to the mix. I have had a better vegan cheesecake, but only one. I will be going here regularly once they officially open. Excited to check out the other two locations that are opening up soon.
(5)
Stephanie P.

I really am pleased with the concept of this joint. They are environmentally friendly from what I can tell inclusing selling "bottles" of water in paper jugs instead of plastic lol. The Food is all Vegan (me being a meat eater) enjoyed it well enough to eat it all. It tasted pretty close to chicken lol. I like that most of the dishes seem to come with Quina or brown rice and it all seemed pretty Fresh, light, and healthy. It seems they also make there own fresh juice/tea/lemonade daily and I had the water mellon juice with some fresh mint leaves and OMG it was one of the best drinks Ive ever had. My boyfriend had the lavender lemonade, and it as well was super good. The Staff was awesome! Very friendly and attentive but not annoying kind of attentive. I will most likely eat here again and if I lived close to this place I would eat here often do to how good the food felt on my body.
(4)
Autumn D.

UNBELIEVABLE!!! I teeter on being a vegetarian, but if I could have Native Foods EVERYDAY, I would be vegan. Absolutely the BEST vegan meal I've ever had!!! I hope they continue to expand and open new locations, because I'm moving out of Chicago tomorrow. :(
(5)
Neena P.

Confused omnivore here. As I told the journalist outside who was looking for a vegan to interview (not even joking), I like vegan food but I also eat meat. I carried out the nachos and kale salad to split with a friend, and then went back the next week for the same exact thing. The nachos are a must have (the fake meat on it is amazing), but here's a tip if you get it to go - have them pack the toppings separate from the chips. They offered to do this for me the first time, which was a fantastic suggestion. I forgot to request it when I called in my order the second time, and I was very disappointed when I got home with soggy chips. I also loved their iced tea. This place is a must try.
(4)
Debbie C.

Went here not long ago. Was looking for a place to take vegan friends but overall it's ok. With the explosion of vegetarian places to eat -- and omnivorous places making really good vegetarian dishes -- there's no reason to be bland. And NFC is bland. I had the nachos & hubby had the chili. Both were just ok. I was disappointed there just aren't many flavors -- if I had closed my eyes I don't think I would have recognized the difference on what I was eating as the texture on everything was mushy, aside from the chips. I heard a lot "it's not bad" -- as if that means it's good? The other thing that bugged me was the price. Considering there's no meat in anything, price points for lunch are really high. It's mostly beans, for goodness sake! There are a lot better places to get a good vegan/vegatarian meal.
(2)
Martin D.

I have been to the Native Foods in Cali (Aliso & Palm Desert) and they have really continued their success out here in Chicago. Same really good food that may be a little improved from the Cali shops but it was very good there as well. My gf and I are not vegan or even vegetarian but we come here, or the one in DT after work at least twice a month if not more. We try something new every time we go and have yet to be disappointed. The staff at both locations have been very friendly and helpful when explaining how everything is made to my gf, as she is interested how they make it taste so good. Try the Chupacabra salsa.
(5)
Nicholas V.

Oh yeah we suggest the Nachos with Cashew cheese oh it's great. First of all it's not cashew cheese it's cashew hummos! and second it was terrible it tasted like garbage. It's only getting 2 stars because of the vibe and so I won't be scolded by the vegan community. Beyond that i'm sure there are some way better vegan places out there.
(2)
Brittany K.

I am not a vegan, or vegetarian...but I eat here 2-3 times per week. Everything is so amazing. My favorite is the chicken run ranch burger with avocado, also love the Yo Amigo Salad (a healthy veggie burrito salad), the Azteca Ensalada (super filling, fresh, and healthy) and the meatball pizza (slightly less healthy but so good). Wasn't a fan of the Twister Wrap, but they have great chili and coffee. Also great little outdoor patio when you want a glass of wine with dinner.
(5)
Emil H.

This is one of the few vegetarian/vegan restaurant to which I can bring my omnivorous parents and not hear any complaints. While my father rightly pointed out that the "burgers" didn't taste like meat patties, he liked them well enough on their own terms. He rightly compared the breaded seitan patties of their Oklahoma "bacon" cheeseburger to a greasy slice of breaded eggplant, but with chipotle ranch dressing instead of tomato sauce. Personally, I'm a big fan of their "Gyro Bowl", with thick cuts of seitan that do an uncanny job of mimicking the texture and spices of lamb gyros. The Southern-styled "soul bowl" works great as a hot sauce delivery system, while the taco salad is another winner. All the sides - fries, soups, etc. - are excellent by diner standards, plus they have a unique assortment of beverages (watermelon agua fresca?) plus beer and wine if you want it. Service and everything else is... whatever. It's an upscale chain, like Chipotle if they brought the burritos to your table. The staff gives off that Northern California / Trader Joe's "Shiny Happy" vibe (which I prefer to everyone being surly) so hopefully they're getting paid decently. Price-wise... well, it ain't fast-food cheap. Expect to spend what you'd pay for a diner entree after tip. Everything on the menu is flavorful, hearty and satisfying. Of course, it's all loaded with enough olive oil and nut butter to fatten the skinniest vegan hipster if they ate here every day. Vegetarianism, done properly, is a very healthy lifestyle, but this place should definitely regarded as a high-calorie treat. Vegetarians will no doubt love it, and even slightly adventurous omnivores will probably want to check it out.
(4)
Chris R.

You don't have to be a vegan/vegetarian to love this food but the service could be better. When I have dined in Native they have sometimes forgotten about me. When I have had a carry out order they forget my side or dessert items(make sure to check before you leave). Some items I recommend are the Chef's Pizza (best pizza ever), Gyros Bowl and vanilla rose cupcake!
(4)
Alesha R.

I'm a vegan, and this restaurant has actually been recommended to me by three meateaters over the course of the past couple of years. I wish I would have listened to them sooner, because this place was amazing! Everyone that worked there was super friendly. I ordered the chicken wings app for me and the mac and cheese and chocolate cupcake for my daughter. The "chicken" was delicious and the closest thing I've had to real chicken since becoming vegan about 9 years ago. It came with three great sauces: ranch, cheese, and buffalo. I used and enjoyed all three. My daughter wasn't really into eating when we were there, so we took hers home and shared it later. Even cold, the cheese sauce on the noodles was great, very creamy. Sadly, she did not get much of the cupcake, because I maybe ate a good portion of it. It was slightly too sweet for me, but the icing was thick and yummy, and I am not complaining. I will return, maybe at a slower time (for better parking) or warmer night (and take the bus). Awesome.
(5)
Kristen G.

Everything that I've tried here is excellent! And I'm not a vegan. I work in the loop and if I have time I drop in for lunch, I will. Luckily I live near the Wicker Park location and can conveniently walk. The staff at this location are especially great. Particularly, Eric the general manager. He is very friendly and interacts with the guests. You don't see that at a lot of restaurants. Thank goodness for Native Foods!
(5)

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Address : 1484 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL, 60622
Phone (773) 489-8480
Website https://nativefoods.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : 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

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Native Foods Cafe

1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

Native Foods Cafe Menu

Desserts

Earth Bowls

Entree Salads

Handholds

Drinks

Kids are Cool!

Starters

Party Platters

Healthy Meal suggestions for Native Foods Cafe

Desserts

Earth Bowls

Entree Salads

Handholds

Drinks

Kids are Cool!

Starters

Party Platters

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