Creative and delicious food. Lively, loud, colorful ambience (especially on a Friday night)! Really happy to see vegetarian options that were unique and didn't rely on plant-based meat. I ordered the Nashville Fried Hot Chicken sandwich with a side of Vegan Dream Mac, and the fried pickles. The hot chicken sandwich was a little milder than I expected but it was crispy and the flavors were well balanced. The fried pickles were crispy and juicy. Everything was made well, and staff was friendly. Can't wait to be back and try some other items!

As a meat lover, I was initially nervous about visiting a vegetarian restaurant… But WOW, this place is incredible. The staff was helpful and their suggestions were incredible. I ordered the fried avocado tacos, and they were tasty and very filling. You certainly get your money’s worth here. Definitely visit Handlebar if you’re in the Wicker Park area in Chicago. It’s certainly worth the wait and one of the most well rounded meals I’ve had in a long time.

So Good!!! So many Vegan and Vegetarian options. Vibe is amazing, servers are good, they have patio seating, food was delicious and is good quantity. Best Bloody Mary I’ve had.

This Excellent bar saved my life on many an occasion! One time I treated a bunch of women friends there for lunch. I didn't realize it is mostly vegetarian food, lol! I had seen wonderful things coming out of the kitchen, but had only tried the French fries myself. All the girls were happy with their drinks, from a cold old style tall-boy, to a fancy martini and with the tasty things they got to eat! Good times! Hope I can visit again real soon!

Vegetarian/vegan restaurant with some pescatarian options along with a hefty drink menu. The indoor has some seating and the backyard is a big patio with more tables and string lights. Portions here are HUGE. Chilli cheese fries - shoelace (thin) and very crispy fries with melted cheese and vegan (bean) chili. I’m curious as to how this would’ve tasted had they used soy or seitan-based “beef” crumbles. Very tasty and true to the “oily American food” base. Chips and guac - okay guacamole. Could use more lime and something to add a kick like a pinch of paprika or chopped jalapeños. Nashville hot “chicken” sandwich - they did an amazing job frying the mushrooms into one crispy “patty” and dousing it in Nashville hot seasonings and oil. Paired really well with the slaw and pickles in the big brioche bun. Fried plantains - freshly made and proper fried plantains!

Really delicious and decently affordable spot for some amazing vegan food. They aren't entirely vegetarian because they do serve one or two fish dishes but the rest of the menu is vegetarian and can be made vegan. The seating was outside due to COVID but they had a very welcoming outdoor seating space with heaters and it was covered. Staff was so helpful and friendly. If you are live in Chicago or just visiting it is a must visit.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! I had the vegan breakfast burrito and it was absolutely delicious. Could be shared between two people. The side of black beans were some of the best black beans I’ve had (and I’m hispanic). I’m saving room for dessert next time.

In the early days of the pandemic, when there was so much uncertainty and conflicting information, I wanted to support the struggling restaurants and their staff. I reached out to Handlebar via social media and they immediately responded. Their response was open, honest, and comforting; their safety standards were incredibly elevated. I cannot stress how much better that made me feel and whenever we get takeout, it is now always from Handlebar. I love their complicated flavors and my non-vegetarian friends always rave about how they can't tell that the food is vegan/veggie. Their brunch and holiday meal options are especially amazing. Kudos to staff and management; you're doing a great job in this very difficult time!

The tastiest Mexican food I had since I went vegan. Super filling too. The staff were very kind and the coffee was so good! Nice atmosphere and cozy place.

Yum. Ambiance, food, server, experience. All top notch 👌🏽

I ordered the Nashville fried “chicken” sandwich with a side Handlebar salad. I was really craving a vegan fried chicken sandwich but was having a hard time finding one that wasn’t made with seitan. Although I didn’t know until after the fact, but the Nash was definitely what I was craving! Lemme add that the Handlebar salad was just as yummy! I don’t eat out much but whenever I get this craving again, Handlebar, I will be taking the drive from Chinatown! Edit: Changed my initial rating from 5 to 3 stars, as I have been here three times (probably will be the last) but the last two, they did not make my order vegan as I asked. The first time it happened, I ordered online and added in the Special Instructions box to made my order vegan. They didn’t do it. I let it slide because the meal in general is delicious but I have dietary restrictions. The second time it happened, I ordered by phone and made sure I asked that they make the meal vegan. They didn’t do it 🤦🏾‍♀️. This time the meal was for my mother, who doesn’t mind dairy, but that’s not the point. The point is - I asked that my meal be made vegan on two occasions but it wasn’t. Cmon, Handlebar, these were very simple instructions 😒

First time here and did not realize it was vegetarian/vegan and was incredibly impressed by both the number of options but execution of everything. Great greens and the hen of the woods fried chicken sandwich was amazing. Love hen of the woods and it held up perfectly with their batter and delivered more so on what you would expect out of most fried chicken sandwiches you can get in the city. Good Bloody Mary, was not at all expecting the great outdoor space they have and am excited to get back and try other things on the menu.

I’ve been going to Handlebar for well over a decade and a half, and it still remains my favorite veg spot in all of Chicago (and beyond)! Their food is always fantastic and they’re always adding incredible specials. (If you ever see the Pancake Bowl on the special menu, but sure to get multiple to go…it’s that good!) I hit them up (very often) for their Pepita Tofu Scramble + Chai Latte with Oat Milk for brunch and their Smashburger special on Tuesdays (and currently Wednesdays too)! Ohhh and all the tasty drinks! Not only is their food THE BEST, but the owner and staff are some of the most wonderful humans in the world. Not a visit to Chicago without hitting up this gem. 🖤 Lastly, I’m the Executive Director of the nonprofit, Cruelty Free You + Me and this awesome team is constantly going above and beyond to host us for food and holiday drives, as well as supporting our work to provide vegan meals in under-resourced communities in Chicago. (A+ humans)

Great brunch food, super friendly staff. Tons of vegan and gluten free options, in fact I don't think even the pickiest or most restricted of eaters could walk away hungry. Very reasonable pricing as well, about $70 for four people. I personally recommend the handlebar omelette (Gouda, walnuts, and pears) which is a perfect example of their ability to take an unusual set of quality ingredients and combine them in a way that works so well it's hard to believe that I'd never seen it before. French toast was also fantastic, with tons of banana and strawberry slices atop extra thick slices of toast and drizzled with genuine maple syrup. Only thing I can say was a minor frustration is they don't give separate checks if you're in a group. Not a deal breaker by far, but it would have been nice to know ahead of time.

Came for brunch and loved this spot! Great vegan and vegetarian food and drinks served in a bustling environment with good music and friendly staff. Ordered the Pancake Bowl special and the Pepita Scramble, coffees, a Bloody Mary and a Mimosa. The food was excellent and filling (pancake bowl was a good mix of salty and sweet) and the Bloody Mary was super.

We ordered Egg&Sausage Sandwich, Pepita scramble, and chimichanga. The dishes tasted great, good portion of food (lots of potatoes too) with reasonable prices. The unique nice place to hang out with family or friends.

1) Appetizer Options: Black Bean Tostada's are to die for! 2) Lunch/Dinner Menu: Buffalo Chicken Wrap didn't disappoint. Original and unique recipe, was fantastic. 3) BONUS ***METRIC COFFEE SERVED HERE***

My girlfriend and I moved to Chicago three years ago. I discovered Handlebar only last year, which means the first two years here were a complete waste. It's that good. The decor is very hipster, and while I am 32 years old, I am by no means hipster. Despite this, I find the space charming, cool, fun, and sexy. But the real star is the food. They're not messing around here. Even the tomatillo sauce is magical.

A really chill and fun atmosphere with great options if you're vegan. I loved the green goddess salad and the hibiscus cocktail was really unique too. The fried avocado tacos were also really interesting and yummy. I definitely want to come back!

Best vegan spot in Chicago. The vibe in here is unmatched. The food is fresh, homemade, and filling. Get the chimychonga. The desserts are perfect. Huge plates, so affordable. They have eggs, and most everything can be made vegan. Full bar and coffee too. This place rules. This will be a spot I go back to every time I’m in chicago.

Wait on a Friday night was 30-40 min at 630p. I always have trouble using the rest app. The food, as always is delectable. Drinks weren't too sweet. Their patio seating is covered so we were mostly covered from the rain! Just a few stray drops. Staff is kind, service was quick despite a busy night. Keep up the great work.

Great brunch/breakfast place. Staff was friendly and server was cool, and top of it all the atmosphere was overall great. Ordered the sausage and egg sandwich with avocado slices and remembered to take a picture before I devoured it.

I came from Florida and took my daughter, grandson and his wife for lunch. He picked the restaurant t since he used to live in the city. We were not disappointed! Great city vibe, well selected menu, tasty food combinations and not overpriced! We will recommend this gem to all who are looking for a good lunch.

Steven is awesome!!!

Went here on advice from a friend for dinner one night. My girlfriend and I got the nachos, black bean maduro, and the Nashville hot “chicken”. We obviously ordered way too much food for the two of us, but we wanted to give a few things a try. The nachos are awesome, so make sure you give that a try. My Nashville “chicken” was also very good, it was quite spicy but had a lot of flavor. My girlfriend also liked the black bean maduro. The nachos and 1 entree would have been more than enough food for both of us. The staff was very helpful with popular menu items and was very courteous. They don’t take reservations at this time and it’s only outdoor seating right now. Give this place a shot if you’re looking for vegetarian/vegan or just something new to try!

Okay so the drinks were SO GOOD ...I had the dark clear and front porch...and the food was harty and flavorful. 🥗😍👽🧜‍♀️🤫🤓🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Food good

Excellent service! Great food even for non-vegetarians/non-vegans. Good selection of local beers. Comfortable patio/Covid-concious. Perfect brunch or lunch meeting environment. Would definitely go again!

Unreal experience. Great food. Great drinks. Awesome patio. Great date spot! Can’t wait to go back.

Menu was quite extensive. Mostly vegan and vegetarian, but they also had fish. Seared tuna sandwich was absolutely amazing. Good drinks as well.

My favorite vegan spot in Chicago! If you’re in the Wicker Park area this is a restaurant you should definitely visit.

Handlebar is a go-to favorite. Rarely go for brunch, which is a mistake, because the brunch is amazing. You can’t go wrong with anything you order here! Plus the drink prices and deals are unparalleled. Tried the Diablos for brunch today and will be ordering again.

Absolutely loved it here. Came with friends for dinner and the food, service and general atmosphere was amazing. We sat in the back patio which was a bit more spacious then the bar area. EVERYTHING smelled amazing and the food was delicious. Can’t wait to come back

Cool place and is well regarded by many people! This is my second time here and the drinks are great along with how fast the food comes out. I feel like I still haven’t figured out the right thing to order as I wasn’t a fan of the chili Mac or the vegan sloppy Joe but the nachos were fantastic! Will have the come back for brunch

Always friendly and quick service. Back area is a pleasant oasis and good chill vibe. I come here when I’m hungry and need a dose of veggies in my life. Sambal Tofu - veggie and flavor bomb. I never deviate from this order. Everything green salad - super creamy and crunchy. Love the pistachios.

Fantastic vegetarian spot with some good fish options as well. Highly recommend a visit. The Irish coffee was also a do not miss. And if you can get there before three the chimichanga is great

There aren’t any other vegetarian restaurants in Chicago that do it as well as Handlebar. On top of that the Nashville “Chicken” sandwich is hands down the best vegetarian sandwich in the city. Hen of the woods mushroom batter fried to perfection. I recommend the gouda mac and cheese side. (Vegetarian po’ boy is the picture) ❤️👊🏼

Finally a broad selection for vegetarian eaters in Chicago! Really enjoyed their fried “chicken” tacos and Nashville hot “chicken” sandwich. Both were battered / fried hen of the woods mushrooms and added great texture to the fish. Veggie chili mac was okay, but not a memorable taste and wouldn’t order again. No reservations despite the website saying they have a waitlist on the Resy app. They don’t! They’ll only seat you first come first served, and you’ll only be seated when you’re whole party arrives so plan accordingly.

Well-executed modern takes on Mexican and American cuisine, all vegetarian and vegan friendly. Overall, Chicago was a revelation when it came to how easy it was to find vegan restaurants, and Handlebar is definitely a flag-bearer of that trend. The outdoor seating area at the back is a fantastic place to sit and relax, while you enjoy the good food. Be sure to try the Vegan Mac & Cheese Chili, the Black Bean Tostadas and the Fried Pickles.

Soooo good! Had the Handlmuffin (vegan version) and Vegan Chili Mac. Everything was super flavorful and well cooked. Great coffee too with unlimited refills. Especially loved the Handlmuffin. Definitely be back!!!

This place?! Food. Drinks (DRAFTS). Vibe. Perfect. Super good. Especially if u r looking for a substantial non-meat friendly menu (there’s fish and maybe meat too... idk) DRAFTS, cocktails, bottles. They got it all.

Ask for the gravy tots! They're da bomb! The beers are great too :). And they have board games...what's not to love?!

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is amazing... Amazing spot.

Best vegan restaurant in Chicago.

Excellent spot

The Sambal Tofu is worth it's weight in gold. Great vegetarian fare.

Food was great

I can’t believe it has taken me so long to try this place. It’s soooo goooood! PLUS they serve Pie Pie My Darling cake! That is quite literally the icing on the dang ol’ vegan cake. Mwah!

Awesome food. Awesome service. Awesome everything.

Great vegan food and excellent delivery service

Such a great experience at the Handlebar!!!!! The food is phenomenal and they love pretty quickly. I had a phenomenal blackened catfish that omg can EASILY put up against many fine eateries in Chicago. Come in and enjoy.

No reason not to give this very well run establishment 5 STARS. As reviewer Emily said do not be put off by the facade because inside is a delightfully appointed cafe with approx 20 table plus an amazing , beautiful and huge patio behind the restaurant. I am a previous restaurant owner and know the biz well and this is a consistent, fun, clean establishment with a solid menu. We drive from the south side to dine here and have for 8 years. We love the soundtrack too.

Killer bloody ‘hammers’ and drink specials. I also had the hibiscus drink it was tasty! We had a group of 6 and had to split in 3s per table due to current restrictions but they were accommodating and did make sure to have our tables near each other. The food was delish and the staff was great! Also great vegan friendly options.

All veg restaurant. We ordered their Thanksgiving Catering package which did not disappoint! Looking forward to trying other things on their menu in the coming months.

If you're looking for great vegan food, this is the spot to go. Highly recommend the Nashville sandwich -- we get it nearly every time. The buffalo wrap is also a solid move. Don't even get me started on their nachos -- although I will say I would love it if they came with jalapenos, but I can deal without. We love Handlebar!!

I loved the sambal tofu, among my fav plates so far and the buffalo chickn' wrap was really good as well. The guac for the nachos was great and the lentil soup, was nice, very healthy. I will definitely go back for the sambal tofu although I ate mine 1hourbafter picking it up and the container of the peanut sauce had melted because of how hot the food was (the plastic container of the peanut sauce was inside the food container, just beside the rice and it melt so I didn't eat the squad nor the food that was touching the melted plastic container as well. Besides that, everything was perfect. Next time just out the sauce outside of the food container and a note saying it's for the sambal tofu.

Ambiance: 2/5 Heater was turned on but had no effect. Rest it was a cold day and which made it worse. Service: Food was served fairly quickly. 1 person kept coming back to look at us not sure why. Food French Toast: 1/5 Rubbery bread with no flavor. Not recommended. Mac Attack: 3/5 Mix of nachos and mac n cheese. Tasted just fine but personally won’t order again. Nashville chicken sandwich 4/5: Tasted really good and the fries on the side were well cooked. Negative point was just the amount of oil the sandwich had was insane. I would recommend this place especially for vegetarians in Chicago.

Wow! One of the best Vegetarian/Vegan brunch spots that I have ever been to. My husband and I shared the Vegan Chimichanga and the Nashville hot fried sandwich. The spice level of the sandwich was just right. The “cheese” sauce on the chimichanga was delicious. Definitely will return to this place.

Amazing food. Safe distance patio eating.

One of my favorite spots in the city, never disappoints. Thank you for continuing to work hard to bring the neighborhood delicious vegetarian food! Can't wait to be there in person again someday soon

Back in Chicago from a handful of years in California and SO happy this place is still in business—still making their sambal tofu and handlebar salad, no less!! Way too many of the old standbys have closed; having this treasure still around means a lot to me. Please support them through this pandemic with their delicious takeout, y’all. It’s as tasty as ever. ♡

Absolutely gorgeous patio! Super cute and intimate. The vegan selection is also excellent and the wait staff is courteous. All around great experience ❤

Delicious vegan options. Carry out and delivery only due to COV-19.

I went with my fiancé today after seeing good reviews and recommendations from friends. If I could separately review only the food I would give it 4 or maybe 5, but the service dragged this score to 3. The vegan nachos, french fries, and chocolate cake are very good, and came out quickly. Unfortunately the individual who served us our food (who was not our waiter, but maybe a busboy type of role) was very snotty when I asked for a lemonade for my fiancé, and he said “I’ll let your waiter know” like I was inconveniencing him. Way to make us feel welcome. Our actual waiter was very good. Probably will order takeout if I ever decided to order here again. I recommend the vegan nachos.

The sambal Tofu is one of my many favorites here! Love the vibes and cocktails and love the outdoor private dining-very beautiful.

I love this place. It's a bit loud, but the food is inventive and delicious. Service is cheerful if a little flustered- they are always so busy!

The vegan chimichanga is AMAZING. I also recommend their French toast, Nashville hot sandwich and the fried pickles.

Great vegan restaurant with a fun vibe. The first thing I noticed is that the food has large portions and tastes great. I was full from a chimichanga, which came with quality ingredients. If you want delicious food with good portions, vege options, and a decent price, then come here breakfast through dinner.

Needs more.vegan options

Have ordered from here a handful of times since the pandemic started, and have never been disappointed! Great food, great service for a reasonable price.

After some confusion we got a table and were seated on the patio. They are taking COVID precautions very seriously and the food is great as usual. I got the grilled cheese with the steamed broccoli on the side and truly it was the best broccoli side I have ever had. It had some soy sauce and tons of sesame oil. My boyfriend got the vegan chimichanga and that was just amazing as always.

Good food and good vibes

Handlebar is one of our favorite local spots. They’re super great for takeout (food is always ready quick and hot) and the people are awesome.

Great vegan options!

Their vegan nashville hot chicken is awesome!!!

BEST vegan fried avocado grilled cheese sandwich I've ever had