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Name: Soul Vegetarian East
Address: 205 E 75th St, Chicago, IL, 60619
Telephone: (773) 224-0104
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.96

Soul Vegetarian East

205 E 75th St, Chicago, IL, 60619

(773) 224-0104
Store is closed

Soul Vegetarian East Menu

Appetizers

Bbq Protein Tid Bits

Battered Tofu Tidbits

Battered Cauliflower

Battered Mushrooms

Hebrew Fries
Soups

Chef's Soup Of The Day
Soup Or Salad

Garden Salad

Carrot Supreme Salad

Tofu Salad

Salad Bar
Sandwiches

Jerusalem Steak

Breaded Tofu Sandwich

Hand Burger

Carrot Supreme

Tofu Salad Sandwich
Entrees

Yokannon Special

Noodle Stir Kai

Stir Fried Vegetables

Stir Fried Tofu

Stir Fried Steak

Down Home Greens
Side Orders

Brown Rice

Corn Bread

Pita Bread

Any Side Order

Healthy Meal suggestions for Soul Vegetarian East

Appetizers

Bbq Protein Tid Bits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Battered Tofu Tidbits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Battered Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Chef's Soup Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup Or Salad

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

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

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

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

Jerusalem Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breaded Tofu Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Yokannon Special [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Noodle Stir Kai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fried Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fried Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fried Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Down Home Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Side Orders

Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corn Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pita Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Any Side Order [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Jill D.

The name is appropriate. Being from the South, I know my soul food, and this is it - with the added bonus of being meat free. I went to Soul Vegetarian for lunch and got the jerkfu wrap and fries. The wrap was stuffed with generous portions of green peppers, onions, and tofu - all coated in the best jerk sauce I've ever had (and I spent a month in Belize). The fries were unlike any I've ever tasked, with unique spices and some kind of crispy coating beyond what you normally find on fries (maybe they use cornmeal?). I also got their ginger beer, which was the perfect refresher to complement the spicy jerk sauce. Wish this place was in my neighborhood. I doubt I'll have an opportunity to go back anytime soon, as it's pretty far South and not that convenient to public transportation.
(4)
Ben D.

This is, no exaggeration, my favorite restaurant anywhere. I go here every time I go to Chicago. I will travel any distance for some of this deliciousness. More often than not, I go on Sunday, when you can pretty much just get the Sunday meal, but that's fine, because it's always amazing. The most flavorful cornbread, greens, seitan, etc. So great. I always bring someone new and they go nuts as well. The restaurant itself is great too. Unique. I like the idea of putting plastic on the tables.
(5)
Grant S.

They are mean mean mean to pasty white people, but that's okay because they dish up some good grub. It was close to my university so the hike wasn't bad - don't know if you center city folk will venture down here. Pretty good vegan junk food. Seitan is AWESOME - makes you sweat so you know its got a lot of oil and crap it in. Mac and Cheese = wow. Everything else is okay. Not that cheap and takes forever too. Go if you want soul food and don't eat meat. No vibes, but alright times.
(3)
Jesse C.

If you can get the Sunday breakfast it is amazing. Other times, I get he BBQ twists/ sandwich with a side of greens and cornbread. The smoothies at the deli next door a slamming and overall this place is a haven of peace for vegetarians in the inner city. They cater throughout Hyde park and the South Side so look for them in the grocery store too!
(5)
Sarah N.

The service is slow at times, but super friendly and attentive. The food is beyond amazing, I typically order the dinner special, but the bbq sandwiches are awesome. Love the fried cauliflower, and the homemade icecream.
(5)
Christina Z.

Soul Veg is a vegan soul food restaurant way on the south side of Chicago -- and it's delicious. Don't think "vegan" automatically translates into "healthy", though, this is still soul food, in all of its fried glory. I tried the "BBQ protein tidbits" appetizer, a basket filled with some sort of fried protein product, with a side of barbeque dipping sauce. I also had a banana smoothie; the combination was extremely filling. My friend tried the dinner special, which seemed to be a pretty good deal. The prices weren't cheap, the culture of the place is interesting, it is run by New Hebrew Israelites on the south side, but I quite enjoyed my fried food, and definitely want to go back.
(4)
Elizabeth R.

I've lived on 61st for two years and never made it down to SV. For shame! I needed to fix that. Following the recommendations here, I ordered the BBQ protein tidbits. Between the two of us, we also ordered the greens, the gyro, and the falafel platter. We ordered this much food even though I have a stomach bug right now because we're moving shortly and this is our last chance to try the food. I am sad that we weren't able to try the deserts, but I was already tempting fate on the tummy woog front. So... the BBQ protein tidbits.. my first reaction was "Yup! It's seitan!" The flavor was good though, and the BBQ dipping sauce was very high quality. My greens (kale and collard greens sauteed with onions in a delicious sauce) were tender- dare I say they almost melted in my mouth- and the corn bread they came with was crumbly in a good way. My husband was responsible for the gyro, and he thought it was basically just...okay, though it needed veggies. We both agreed that the falafel was a bit too dense, and a touch overly flavored (but the pita and cucumber dipping sauce were great). This place has been a part of Chicago for more than 25 years, and is definitely worth the trip as the food is quite original. Our fairly large order came out quickly, despite SV being crowded on this particular Saturday night. Everyone was very friendly. Look for them at the Taste of Chicago, if you go! Conclusion- they excel, quite predictably, in their soul food dishes. Gravitate towards those.
(4)
Ana Luv Y.

medicore. put together last minute vegan food. maybe if they work on presenting foods more favorable, i could visit often.
(3)
Joe M.

An ok place. Worth a stop if you are on the south side. Food was very heavy but tasted good. Service was slow but probably because of they invest quality and attention to the food. The BBQ protein tip bits app was good and was a huge serving size, but was way too heavy. BBQ twist sandwich was pretty impressive.
(3)
M R.

Great food. This is one of those rare places that the food is so good that you don't even mind the poor service.
(4)
Buttermilk P.

This restaurant does wonders with soy and tofu. My wife ordered the 'dinner plate', which was some sort of BBQ protein along with mustard greens, potato salad and corn on the cob. I ordered the BBQ twist platter which was also some sort of protein that also came with fries. We also ordered an appetizer of BBQ tofu wings. To be totally honest with you, neither one of us had any idea what we were getting. Both of our meals came with the choice of soup or salad so we got one of each. The soup was chili and came with a big square piece of cornbread. The house salad was standard and we got it with something they call "Prince" dressing. My wife said it was the best chili she had ever eaten and the salad was also crispy and delicious. As far as our appetizer and entrees, I don't know how they manage to get so many different and unique flavors from BBQ, but they pull it off. Everything was delicious. The service.........meh.........there is definitely room for improvement. When we walked in there was a young lady standing at a large counter who just stared at us. She looked as if she didn't know who we were, who she was, or what city and state any of this was taking place in. She didn't say anything so I walked up to her and said "two" while holding up two fingers. It was as if she had no idea what that meant either. I then asked her if we should sit anywhere; to which she mouthed something inaudible but gestured to the effect of 'yes' so we did just that. After we were seated and ordered (this young lady was also our server, but I'm not going into that adventure) she was very attentive. She constantly checked on us and kept our glasses full of water. Overall it was a good experience with very good food. My wife didn't like it as much as I did, but I think we'll be back.
(4)
Kimberly S.

Vegetarians and vegans, unite! Soul Vegetarian is a restaurant free from the worry of your food being cooked in beef fat or fish sauce or chicken stock! And it's so damned GOOD, too! Now, at around 3pm on a Thursday, the restaurant was bustling, so you know that you've found a real gem of a place to eat. I ordered the Veggie Gyros and my god, were they delicious: the perfect texture with the perfect seasoning, the pita bread thin and not too heavy. And the fries that accompanied it were crispy and tasty too. As my friend and I were digging in, a dapper gentleman came to our table to ask us how we were enjoying our meal. Remember how I said the restaurant was busy? This is clearly an example of why that is. If an establishment cares about what they're serving you and how you like it, well, instant return visit for sure!
(5)
Brittany M.

Soul Vegetarian is a hidden gem. The bbq twist and the protein bites are officially my favorite dish in Chicagoland. When meat eaters say, "the meat cut like butter"...well I suppose its kind of like that. The texture is perfection. The sauce is boss. The prices are very fair. What more to say.
(5)
Tita A.

Pleasantly surprised, yummy flavors. I had the rice with protein bits to start. I will go back for the food. The crowd was diverse. We went during lunch and the small restaurant had every table occupied. I docked two stars for the service. The young lady there was not attentive and was actually quite rude. Having grown up with a family owned restaurant, I know what it takes to be a server. She didn't even say hi, just took our food order and delivered it once it was done. No water refills or check ups.
(3)
Monique J.

I love their barbecue! They sure know how to cook tofu properly and their ice cream is fantastic! I do wish they had the Mac and cheese all the time. Owner is super friendly
(5)
Alexis M.

It is always such a treat to come here. I like Sundays where you get the preset Sunday dinner, but I also love choosing my own meal. I always hop down here when at the Museum of Science and Industry or near the lake. There are so many vegan options, which is heaven for me. My favorite is the combo fried basket-- the bbq sauce is AMAZING. The fried tofu and cauliflower are also great. I always like the soup. Also, the fresh salads next door are amazing. You can't beat it.
(5)
Kristine P.

I went here for lunch today with a non-vegan. We had the vegan chicken fried special with mashed potatoes, gravy and corn. It was really great! The service was excellent, and I really enjoyed my meal. I even ordered the spicy chicken sandwich to go so I had dinner, too! I will be going back to try the barbecue tidbits and gyro, next time! YUM!!!!!!!
(5)
Carolyn H.

Fabulous greens and cornbread - what a fabulous, unexpected find and in an unassuming neighborhood. Can't say the atmosphere or the service gets 4 stars but the food - quality, flavor and attention to the health conscious - were stellar. Give it a shot, I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(4)
Kimmie R.

This is the best vegetarian - vegan restaurant in Chicago. I walked into this restaurant with a friend shortly after graduating from college in 2003. Completely broke as all new graduates were, but still very hungry, so I decided to sit with my friend while she ate. The staff was exceptionally kind and told me that it would be no big deal if I wanted to eat there. :) Imagine that.... (smiles) The food was extremely delicious and flavorful with the perfect amount of seasoning. This is soul food without the fat, sodium and other horrible things that people consume when eating what Americans call "ethnic" food. This restaurant is a great experience for people that enjoy meat as well. Meat lovers tend to enjoy the surprise of great tasting meat substitutes. The restaurant itself is a bit outdated and old fashioned and is not the place to take a date, but it's good enough for casual dining with friends. The waiters are extremely kind and very attentive.
(4)
A.J. S.

Driving through south Chicago hunger struck. Reaching for my phone I looked up the closest vegetarian food place around... Soul Vegetarian? To my guild my only real exposure to Soul Food despite living in Detroit was watching the "Itis" on the Boondocks. However, the reviews intrigued me and I went in. The place is in what some might call a rough neighborhood. Unless of course you just came fresh Detroit, then it's just like being in any neighborhood. The interior wasn't anything too special, however looking at the vegetarian menu and listening to the special I knew it was totally worth stopping and eating at. The service was good, the person was nice enough. Looking up "Soul Food" on wiki at the time I found that the definition was "Soul food cuisine consists of a selection of foods traditional in the cuisine of African Americans". I'm not sure what part of Africa had the "Chicken Fried tofu with mashed potatoes and corn", but who am I to complain it was delicious. The fried Tofu was awesome, and altogether I loved the place. The prices for lnsh were so cheap, 2 at for 1 dollars. This restaurant actually made me wish I lived in Chicago.
(5)
Marc R.

I have been going here off and on for years and there are a few things that are common about this place. 1.) Don't expect your order to come in any order. It is always hectic. My food came, but my friend had to wait 20 minutes. On another occasion my GF and I were given another tables food. We ate it, but when we figured it out, we were a bit freaked. 2.) The drinks are expensive. They are good, but boy they are expensive. I always wind up spending more money here than I want to. I am not sure why things are so expensive here, but they seem very expensive when compared to places I go in other parts of the city. When I am on the far south side I go here - and have been coming since 2006, but have to say there is always a bit of a casual atmosphere to the place. So, if you are ok waiting and getting things in random order I would say the food is good. I really like the Garvey burger and fries, the garlic-nut dressing is amazing and I always ask for a side order. Some of the rice items are very dry and need more oil or flavor. The corn bread is good, and the cakes and pies are good. I was thinking that next time I pop in here I might just get drinks to go and some sweets (ready in to go containers). They take credit cards, and parking is usually easy out front.
(3)
Sandy S.

I'm not sure what might have happened today, but I visited based on the stellar reviews and I was very much disappointed with what I tried. I ordered the Barbecue entree that comes with fries and salad. I ordered carry out and drove to my destination which was just about four blocks away, and by the time I got to my location the food was cold!! The food did not seem fresh at all, more like warmed up frozen food doused in barbecue sauce. Huge disappoint in the quality, flavor and presentation! I am giving two stars bc the service was nice and friendly. This was the dish everyone recommended, so I am not sure if I will try anything else bc this is one of their signature dishes, and if they cannot get that right my confidence is lacking for other items served. If I patronized based on service vs. taste, I would return, but that is not the case for me.
(2)
Nick D.

This is hands down the absolute best vegan joint in all of Chicago. If you've been trying to get your meat eater friends to try some vegan options this is also your best bet. They've been making 100% legit vegan food since 1983, before it was fashionable. They've got it down and know exactly how to hit those taste buds. BBQ tofu is so tasty and the mac and "cheese" is sooooo good! You wouldn't even know it's not actually dairy. Greens are perfection. They even have vegan desserts. This place is a definite stop. I just wish it was closer to me but luckily they supply Whole Foods with some take home items.
(5)
Dhruv P.

A bit disappointing. Expected so much. Being on the south side, I though, this WAS the place to get some authentic and good soul (vegan) food. No pretentions, no frou frou, just a good home meal. Sadly, I was mistaken. The place looked exactly how I expected, which is, don't expect much. But the sadness really is reserved for the food. Or lack of much taste. We had the protein tidbits with bbq sauce. Subpar... the protein tidbits had no taste. All taste, which was monotonous, came from the BBQ sauce. Now the carrot dish was amazing, we ordered it on the side, and I would order over and over again, just because it was healthy AND tasted good. The veggie gyro... eh. Not sure why its highly rated. The fake meat didn't taste too good, and the dish itself was way too large of a portion. The sauce and veggies are ample and my first bite was great, however, every other bite I had came no where close to the first one... I couldn't finish it... Most of the meal was too salty. The dishes here might be vegan, but don't expect it to be healthy.
(3)
Pete K.

So I did recently have the chance to eat here at the actual restaurant. Was very tasty and I enjoyed the food greatly. As the name suggests, it's soul food, so not necessarily the healthiest (which is what I try to eat). I made exceptions here and was happy I did. The place was pretty full; lots of people lovin it. It has an easy-going, simple dining room. I do recommend it, if you're in the hood. Otherwise, for me, it's not worth the trek. I'll be happy continuing to eat their stuff at all the food events they host.
(4)
Caroline D.

I had a wonnnnnnderful smoothie, the Sampson, which is soy milk and spirulina and blackstrap molasses and MAGIC. Super fresh and bright tasting and delicious, only a tinyyy bit greeny (which can't be avoided). It was refreshing and filling.
(4)
Stephen R.

Soul Veg is one of my favorite restaurants in the world, without question. Living on the South Side for almost 8 years and being a vegetarian the whole time, I used to come to Soul Veg as often as possible. All of the food is delicious, and has given me lots of ideas for making recipes in my own kitchen. Sure, most of it is not exactly healthy, even if it is vegan, since it's heavy on the deep fry, but most soul food isn't super healthy anyway. The BBQ sauce is boss, the homeade seitan is delicious, and my mouth is literally watering thinking about the Jerusalem fries as I type this review. I love their carrot salad and homemade dressings, too. The juice bar is pretty good and they'll make you basically whatever you want, even though the menu is pretty extensive. I wish they still made the date rolls there, though years ago, the cook who made them stopped working there and I don't think they've made them since. The service is laid back, so don't expect to be in and out in a jiffy. I think because this is such a destination restaurant, they get a lot of yuppie vegan types here who give the staff attitude if the service isn't super speedy. You can tell they roll their eyes a bit when they see obnoxious, self-righteous vegans from the North Side who have never really been in a predominately African American neighborhood. But, if you are appreciative of their delicious food and smiley service, the wait staff will make sure you are well taken care of.
(5)
Michele O.

The floor space is tight. The food is pretty good, depending on what you order. They seem to handle seasoning well, but personal tastes may require salt. The wait staff was deplorable!!! So very slow to get any type of service in the dining area. The waitress spoke with impatience, did not come to check on us at all, took our food to a different table, was abrupt with other customers (noting the one who knew that it was our food, the waitress insisted that the guy had ordered the Dinner Special, which he did not). Sadly, on the southside of Chicago this is one of the best options for vegetarian or vegan eats. Maybe next time I want to try something there I will get it go and not dine -in. My take home was delicious and I didn't have to put up with the claustrophobic feeling of eating in their dining room. My meat eater friends who ventured out with me seemed to enjoy the black bean burger and the dinner special (after it was recooked - the one that was sent to another table first). Street parking is limited.
(3)
Regina C.

Great food, I just wish it was closer! Everything is vegan and you must get the greens when you go...and the mac and cheese. I love this place and if I could get there more often, I totally would.
(4)
Claudia D.

April is a very nice server! But to her credit, it's difficult when there are only 2 servers for so many customers Today the restaurant did not open til 2 & the Groupon was extended to 4/20! The husband and I came here for lunch, but the restaurant didn't open til 2 PM so we ordered the dinner special. It was very good, but seitan is not my favorite thing. The greens were terrific. This is a small place with several rooms. We sat in the second room. Many of our fellow customers appeared to be regulars. Lots of people come for take out. I want to revisit this place to try more things.
(4)
Rachel H.

The boyfriend is a vegetarian and a big fan of Soul Veg, so when the Groupon came along, I thought it would be a nice treat for him and an excuse for me to give it a shot. Perhaps Friday night at dinner time isn't the best time to go if you're in a hurry, but we weren't and our server made sure that we knew he hadn't forgotten about us, even if things were backed up in the kitchen a bit. I sort of made the mistake of pounding down a pineapple coconut drink from the juice bar, which filled me up way too much and made our waiter laugh at me, but it was delicious. Besides, it allowed me to have leftovers for tonight's smorgasbord of leftovers dinner. This is key. Fried mushrooms were good, and the breading was very flavorful as was the batter on the fries, though the mushroom breading did fall off a bit when dipped. I had the falafel which as others have said was a bit dry, but it was spiced well and I, in a turn of usual character, actually enjoyed the sauce. Boyfriend liked his BBQ twist sandwich. Don't fill up on the juice unless you want leftovers though, go for a bottle of Reed's Ginger Beer instead. Your belly will thank me.
(4)
S P.

Here, Vegan is NOT synonymous with healthy so don't expect to eat healthy, if its not fried it's boiled (and there's nothing worse than flavorless boiled veggies, so do not get the Buddha bowl? I can't even remember the name of the dish but it has tasteless fried tofu where the breading doesn't even stay on!) The sautÃ©ed greens should actually be called sautÃ©ed onions with some kale...way too many onions in my greens! But I did like the corn bread it came with. BBQ tibits were fine, but what doesn't taste good fried and dipped in BBQ sauce? The twist sandwich was basically BBQ tidbits in sandwich form. To make things worse, the service is not good. Our waitress was not attentive, she walked by our table 10 times and it was still hard to flag her down. And when we went up to pay, we waited a good 10 minutes at the cash register for someone to ring us up only to realize the staff was sitting 15 feet away from us chatting away. Overall it was not a pleasant experience and the meal felt heavy with all the fried food. This is not good vegan food, go to Native foods cafe if you want the real deal.
(2)
Courtney O.

I wanted to give SVE five stars. I always want to LOVE every vegetarian restaurant beyond reasonable comprehension. Sadly, this is seriously just a three star deal. Okay if you're in a crunch, but not somewhere I tend to wake up craving. Food is pretty good, although the infestation history (and yes, I know that was *so* 2009!) always makes me feel a little...I don't know...troubled? Service is dicey. When things are a bit slower, it's usually pretty solid, but when it's busier? Forgetaboutit. Like the rating states, it's A-OK. If I'm going out (especially to celebrate a special occasion), I almost also choose Karyn's Cooked since I think their food and service is almost always top notch; if I'm just looking for a quick meal, it's the Chicago Diner all the way. Sorry, SVE. You're good, but you just don't light my proverbial fire like the competition.
(3)
Valerie M.

Really long wait so call first. I had a juice next door. I was told they don't believe in mixing fruits and veggies together so that was interesting. I had the black eye pea burger and fries. I t was so good!!!! THE cashier let me sample the greens and they were a little salty to me. I like the vibe of the restaurant.
(4)
Jen S.

Just had the worst experience at soul veg. My husband ordered the special. It came out before our mushroom appetizer. 20 minutes later my burger came out with mustard on it which I had asked be left off. There were also onions on it which the menu didn't say was on it. I had to scrape those off but then I couldn't even eat the burger because I absolutely hate mustard. The server never came back to ask if everything was ok. We just got a box and left. My husband will eat it later. The service was horrible and I will never go back! I paid $36 to watch my husband eat.
(1)
Gemma K.

I haven't been here in ages so I was glad when a friend from work suggested we go and besides it is always beneficial to eat soul food, of any kind, when the weather is without soul. After pushing our way in, I remembered how lunch time here could be. But it is definitely worth it. My colleague had a taste for tang so he got the Down South BBQ, which is always great. It came with fries that have such a wonderful nutty flavor to them; whatever they do to the skins of those spuds; mm-mm. The sauce left him drooling. It's got a wonderful bite to it. I decided on the Jerkfu Spinach Wrap; I love toferky and the spin they take with the onion and coconut flavors says one thing loud and clear: day light come and me won go home to the Caribbean. It was great. We split an order of the greens and cornbread. And needless to say we pretty much had to heave ourselves out of the place. It's hard to blame them for getting crowded, their food is that wonderful, and the place was clean, despite all the folks clammering. So, if you truly enjoy vegetarian/vegan cuisine, or you want to see how good good can be, this is the place for you.
(4)
Wayne H.

This is the best vegan restaurant in Chicago, hands down. And one of the best in the country. Definitely try the protein tidbits -- the seitan is wonderfully flavored. (Make sure to ask for prince dressing on the side.) Also high on my list are the greens and veggie gyro -- the cucumber sauce in the latter is outrageously good. The one and only complaint I have is that they're often so busy that you have to wait a little longer for the food, as they typically only have 1-2 wait staff working at a time. But it's a small price to pay for some of the best vegan food I've ever had.
(5)
Christina M.

I was very disappointed to read this article. Normally I re-rate restaurants with 1 star after seeing a report like this, but Soul Veg was one of my favorites. I'm so disgusted that I doubt I'll be back for a very long time. Please clean your act up Soul Veg. Rat infestation and droppings: chicagobreakingnews.com/â€¦
(3)
David C.

This is my first time here. Had the breakfast sandwich and it taste so good & fresh!!! The staff are very helpful & knowledgeable. Open to answer all your questions. I will come again
(4)
William C.

Really enjoyed my dinner. Wish I could eat this on a daily especially from the raw bar!!!
(5)
Ali H.

I was sooooo looking forward to eating here and fully expecting to love it. I tried so hard to love it! But I just couldn't! :( We came on a Saturday for lunch, and had two smoothies (cashew craze and carrot nog), the protein tidbits, a sandwich (gyro, I think?), and a side of carrot salad. The smoothies were delicious. But it was practically the end of the meal when we got them. Which brings me to my other point about the excruciatingly slow service. S. L. O. W. Like, does our waitress even still work here? Anyway, the protein tidbits were ok. They had 50% a good flavor and 50% some sort of weird aftertaste. And the appetizer basket was enough fried anything to feed a major league football team. I'd happily pay 1/4 the price for 1/4 the tidbits! The sandwich was also just ok. I did like the carrot salad quite a bit. So, with great sadness, I must say that I would not make the trip back here. There are plenty of other good vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in chicago (urban vegan, anyone?) and the price, the food, and the service just didn't make the cut.
(3)
Nirmal G.

Came here last week for an early dinner with two other vegetarians and one non-vegetarian. Two of us had been before and two of us (including me) had not. I really didn't know what to expect at all with this restaurant (I've never had soul food before!) but I must say that I was very pleased. We weren't on a schedule at all, so I think that that made the evening that much better. We were able to sit in the window, which was nice. The entire atmosphere was like being at home. Maybe not my own home, but at someone's house. Rich colors on the walls, classic dining tables and chairs. I liked that a lot. And to top it off, the service was fantastic. Our server was interactive and helpful and wanted to get to know us. I ordered the gyros sandwich because I love seitan. I was a little disappointed when I received it and it looked kind of small. Uh, I was sooooooo wrong. I could barely stuff the last little tasty bits of it into my mouth. So yummy and ended up being the perfect portion size for me. The kitchen had run out of tomatoes and I had to request additional cucumber dressing (but that's a personal preference for tons of sauce), but otherwise, it was an amazing dish. I didn't hear any complaints from the rest of the group except the groans of being overfull. The entire experience was a fantastic value as well (my sandwich was only $5.50!). Makes the car trip down to SVE completely worthwhile. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Amira F.

One thing I love about this place is their veggie plate. You do not have to pick different sides to create one even though that idea is also appreciated! I have enjoyed in the past the vegan shake it is so good. I do not eat any ice cream anymore however If you do please enjoy yummy! It is a good place to take a group or friends and family. It is a very nice social atmosphere!
(5)
Christina S.

I love there food you absolutely need to try the protein tidbits you wouldn't even know they weren't meat they taste so good the servers are pretty nice they have a nice ambiance. There chili is pretty good also
(4)
Michael G.

There really must be something in the food that causes me to forget how slow the service is every time I'm describing (hyping is probably a better term) SV to people (but not this time, oh no, I'm writing down how glacial the service is so as not to forget). Or maybe it's the company as whenever out of town vegetarian friends come to play, the long trip to Soul Vegetarian is in order. And I think the restaurant exploits this fact. Every vegetarian in Chicago will end up taking their visiting herbivore friends here. No matter what the "service" is. It and Chicago Diner are seriously like magnets. Or, my sister has an alternate theory to the lack of hospitality: "they just don't care." Now I understand the idea that they want a place that slows down time. A place to reflect, to gather with friends, to enjoy the moment. But there's a difference between bringing out the food out and not hovering and not bringing the salads until after the main course (because our table was given someone else's mains). It was alright on this particular time, however, as I'm pretty broke right now and the .67 cent total tip left by the table (to make the bill an even number) worked for my pocketbook. A bargain in this economy. And that's the other thing. Soul Vegetarian has gotten expensive. The Sunday dinner (which starts serving at 1:00 p.m., we found out - before that it's breakfast) is now up to $13.95 pre-tax. But, hey, the food is worth every penny. Delicious seitan loaf, yams, vegetarian greens. It is really a feast. Though the vegan mac and cheese is sort of disappointing each time because it always looks amazing. And the food does not only sticks to your ribs. The taste survived in my mouth through three teeth brushings. Seriously. Not that it's a bad thing since it is scrumptious - some of the best vegetarian (and possibly the best vegan) food in Chicago. I just hope the negative impression from the (especially) bad service last time doesn't stick in my mind. After all, I'm sure I'll be hypnotically back next time anyone meat free is in town. And will have bad service again.
(3)
Strea T.

This vegan food is awesome! I absolutely loved the mac and cheese, the bbq chicken-like wings, and their pecan pie (which had a sweet potato - maple bottom)! I wouldn't change a thing. The cheesesteak was alright but the cheese wasn't melty, which is something modern vegans have gotten to cherish. Sorry Ste. Martaens. It was still good. I wish I had gotten a bbq chicken pita instead because everyone raves about it and it is cheaper. The wings really do taste like real meat -- chewy, stringy, savory, but definitely veg. My only gripe is the price. 6 wings for $10, pie slice for $5, a meager helping of mac and cheese for $5, cheesesteak for $10. However, it meets my "$20 before tip" rule (because I'm a bit broke), so it was worth it for me. This was without drinks or tip, because it was the food truck. Share the pie with someone if you don't want to splurge alone. It's worth it!
(5)
Timothy S.

I did not eat at the restaurant itself while visiting Chicago. However, I must say that I really enjoyed their pre-made food at Whole Foods. Delicious wraps, mac n cheese, and more. I've always loved soul food, even before my vegan years. Delicious comfort food that always keeps you full! Affordable prices and great for a quick bite to eat if you're in the area for lunch. I've heard both good and bad reviews about the restaurant itself but I must say that I enjoyed the food and would gladly eat it again when I'm in Chicago.
(4)
Aman B.

Went here for a late night bite this weekend and was blown away at the quality of food. The restaurant itself is old and basic inside, the atmosphere is casual and laid back and there were people of all races, all ages enjoying food. Very good vibe. On the table were, Hebrew fries, BBQ Twists, lemon pie, and a dinner platter which I could not remember the name of. I know others have complained of the poor service, and I must say that I honestly did not encounter any delay in getting my order or meal for that matter. For any vegetarian, this is a "must eat" place. I know I will be back to try new items but at this very moment, my mouth is watering for the BBQ twists, they were unreal!
(4)
Daniel M.

I go here whenever I visit my south side vegan friend. Love the place. I've been going here for almost ten years now and I'm never disappointed. This place has to have the most flavorful vegan food I've ever tasted. It's not the bland stereotype a lot of meat eaters have come to expect. Very satisfying. If more restaurants made food like this, there would be a lot more vegetarians and vegans in the world, I think.
(5)
Julia H.

This is my favorite vegan restaurant in the city. I love the raw kale, sunflower pate, carrot pÃ¢tÃ©, my daily dose of wheatgrass, my spurilina smoothie, peanut butter smoothie, and the berry smoothies are the best.
(5)
Gerri H.

Soul Vegetarian is a very unique restaurant that does a vegan take on traditional soul food. I am well versed in soul food, so I was quite surprised by how good their vegan macaroni and cheese and greens are at Whole Foods (I am not a vegan). As a result, I had to try their other selections at their actual restaurant. I've been there about four times, and I have found a number of dishes that are really good. My husband and I always order their fries w/ bbq sauce. The sauce is one of the best bbq sauces I have tasted. We have also enjoyed their falafel (soul food?) and vegan gyros. The only criticism is that the falafel was the best we ever had on the first occasion and then just average the next week. But we crave those fries..... I can't wait to try the bbq twist sandwich! Side (soap box) note: To all those who think 75th & King is the edge of the earth, get over yourselves! It's the MID-south side; Chicago goes well into the 100's. For those who are unaware, people actually live their lives south of Roosevelt. And they don't all live in Hyde Park!
(5)
Andre P.

Being a vegetarian from the south is hard but this place fills the hole in my stomach. it has Great food. Service is slow, but its so worth it. I've had everything on menu and never been disappointed. the cauliflower with barb que puts me in a good mood for days.
(5)
Henry L.

Delicious, very reasonably priced food that comes in large portions. What more could a person want in a restaurant. I especially recommend the soy ice cream, which tasted like a mix between froyo and regular dairy yogurt. Definitely will be returning here sometime soon!
(5)
Chris Z.

Years ago I swore off Soul Veg. "Never again" I screamed to the heavens... But, I am back. And boy does it feel good to be home.
(5)
Jade T.

Since I've moved to Chicago, I have longed to visit Soul Vegetarian. I've had their food back in Washington, DC (although I'm not sure if they are affiliated with each other). When compared to the likes of Karyn's, Chicago Diner, and more, Soul Vegetarian is more affordable and the most gratifying. Your eyes will roll and you will moan when you take a bite of their BBQ sandwiches. To be honest, the neighborhood is a little intimidating to some of us. However, the food is so damn good that it may be worth trekking down here. Most of their main dishes are made from tofu, not seitan (I think). I normally dislike tofu, but theirs is out of this world. It's not gelatinous at all nor bland. Dare I say it's "meaty"? Don't forget the vegan mac and cheese. It's utterly divine. Their sandwiches and wraps are flavorful, but the portions (in general) are on the smaller side. I must say though, as a teeny girl with a small appetite, I will f*cking hork down SV's food like a fat kid on Thanksgiving. Order a couple of meals to-go while you're here. You'll be glad you did. Rent a Zipcar, beg a friend with any motor vehicle to drive you, or take the Red Line (allllllll the way) down here. As a vegetarian/vegan living in Chicago, consider it one of your responsibilities. PS: If you don't like soul food, then move to Winnetka or Greenland or something.
(5)
Gwen J.

If stopping thru chicago this is not to be missed. I love soul food but have to be careful since I am a vegetarian. I first dined here about 6 years ago and was delighted with the food. My dining companions who eat meat gave their food 5 stars also!
(5)
Luan N.

These guys have the art of cooking tofu/seitan down pat! The prince elkannonn burger was rightfully royalty compared to the peasant status burger I had at Veggie Bite. I wasn't expecting fried rice when ordering the gluten steak w/ brown rice,but nevertheless, it was healthy and it was good. The cornbread was impressively made, considering it was a vegan side. Soul Veg East is truly one of the few restaurants that can make a lifelong carnivore such as myself quell any meat cravings. The only disclaimer is that, like many other yelpers mentioned, the service is pleasant but never visible. It makes me wonder if the server is also the chef!
(4)
Jeanie P.

Wow! I was totally skeptical about this place since I'm like such a carnivore... (I can't help it.. I love meat..) Anyway my friends who have gone a bunch of time suggested the BBQ twist sandwich... and it was amazing! Super flavorful and didn't have like a weird consistency. Definitely gonna come back and try some of the other stuff! I hear the sweet potato pie is really good...
(4)
Yumm y.

Holy deliciousness! Holy because it's a religious institution of sorts and deliciousness as a descriptor the amazing food. My buddy and I split "the special" which was "chicken fried steak" with greens, mashed potatoes and gravy and a tofu, veggies and rice dish. Both were so yummy! There is plenty of street parking and well worth the commute. The service was slow-the place was packed and there was only one waitress and many irate customers. I felt badly for her but heck, it was a Friday night- she should have had a helper. That was the only negative-- please check this place out if you have not already- your tongue will thank you.
(4)
Januarie Y.

Let me start by saying I am not a vegan, so when my sisterfriend told me we were going to a vegan restauarant where they served 'faux meat' (forgive me as I don't know the proper way to phrase it), I experienced two emotional hunger transitions: 1. I was too damned hungry to play and say anything other than ok, although I had come prepared with steak n shake coupons before I knew where we were headed. 2. I don't like these places. I don't like faux meat. Awww man. :/ We arrived and this quaint little spot that sits on a corner in Chicago was black owned and inviting. The chandaliers gave a soulful glam to the dining area and the line of people on the side where the salads and homemade ice cream are served stayed full. I scanned the menu looking for something that did NOT contain the faux meat. I settled on a noodle veggie plate. It was FIYAH! FIRE! GREAT ! As in gooooood! Yes, I was starving which means there was a small possibility that it wasn't as good as I thought it was. But that's not true. It was really quite delicious....there wasn't a 'sauce', but the noodles and veggies (onions, sundried tomatoes, spinach & mushrooms) had been tossed in ginger and probably some type of sesame and olive oil combination. I ate until I could not eat anymore and not to be wasteful, I took the small leftovers home. The plate was huge and anyone can get full from half a serving. I didn't like the flavor of the water. It tasted like it was flavored with lemon but came from a busted up, unfiltered pipe that has an attitude towards clean water. But the food was amazing. I would definitely go back and have this again. I might even try the greens they offered and there was also another veggie plate that read like it would cure my hunger pains as well. The service was cool, the waitress was friendly and helpful and the hallway that leads to the bathroom is decorated full of vintage photos of famous (and even non-famous) people. It's a welcoming atmosphere. The guests seemed happy and peaceful and by the time we left, my stomach was in agreeance. If you're in the area and want to try something new or if you are looking for a really good vegan spot with good portions for the price, you definitely need to give Soul Vegetarian a try. I call it a #WIN.
(4)
Victoria J.

Food was awesome! It was delicious and hot when it arrived to our table. It did take a while for it to come but I believe that was because it was cooked fresh. Here's what we got and I would recommend. Collard greens with tomato and onion On top with a fresh slice of cornbread Protein tidbits(yummmm) with Bbq sauce Vegetable stir fry Jerk wrap sandwich And yummy peach cobbler!!!
(5)
Josh S.

Probably the only vegan restaurant that I could get fat by eating at regularly. This is some greasy, heavy food, the way it's made old school down south, but no meat. Not recommended for gluten free diets.
(3)
Natalie M.

Its good to have a vegetarain restaurant on the south side. Yes the food is great, the other reviewers are correct that the prices arent CHEAP, but they arent expensive either. I definately believe you get your money's worth. The service leaves a bit to be desired, but the food more than makes up for it. I enjoy the desserts and the laid back atmosphere much more than the location- but there is always parking to be had.
(4)
Bonnie L.

I have wanted to get over here for a long time. It is not conveniently located for me. I live way North and work late. Every time I have thought to go there, they would be closed by the time I got over there. I knew that I needed to plan this out! So, Doctors appointment at Northwestern memorial in the middle of the day......left work early and would still have plenty of time afterwards so I knew that would be my chance. Trekked over there midday after my appointment. We noticed that the menu did not have the barbeque fare that we had heard about and inquired with the server. She said that the lunch menu and the dinner menu were different but if we just waited about ten minutes they were switching things over. We happily obliged. Oh man, was that food good. We ordered the special that came with tofu barbeque strips, greens, cornbread and mac and cheese. Everything was simply delicious. I really liked that the corn bread was more savory, not super sweet. Just as it should be when coming with a meal, in my opinion. We also ordered some hot teas that were really good, as well.. Upon leaving, we noticed that up in the front there is a hot bar that you can order take out from. There was a huge variety of offerings that I know I would just love. I wish I lived closer to this place. I am def going to have to plan another southside day very soon!
(5)
Angie K.

Soul Veg continues to own my soul. I made the hike over for my 2nd visit and while they were out of the BBQ twist, I loved everything else I had. Yes, my heart broke into a million little pieces but I took it as a sign to expand my horizons. Since we had a groupon (they come around every year around March, check for it!), we got the gyro, jerk wrap, east coast BBQ roast and tidbits, of course. We over-order because we need to keep eating this stuff the next day. Once it hits your lips, it's just so good. Fries come with the orders and they're ok. You don't make the trek to SV for fries though. You don't even need to eat the fries. Server was chill and while we waited for the grub, I walked to the restroom and noticed photos on the hallway walls of the owner chillin with Barack and Whoopi amongst other famous people. Damn, can I be your friend too? Overall, everything was still freakin' phenomenal. The place was packed and the AC wasn't on but It didn't matter. My belly experienced joy like it was Christmas morning. I could honestly eat Soul Veg daily and not get tired. Til the next time, my soul will be dreaming of SV.
(5)
Stephanie F.

BEST vegetarian ribs I've ever had. Carrot salad was great. If I had more time in Chicago, I would so venture again. There were so many items on the menu I want to try. Sloppy joes... a ton of things that looked good. One of the servers said he appreciated my making the trip there. If you're a vegetarian coming by Chicago, you should try their food The restaurant is located in a neighborhood where I felt like people were shooting stares at me. I've heard Chicago's neighborhood's are greatly segregated. Coming from Queens, NY, it was a very odd thing to me. I tried not to let it influence my behavior. Walking on the street it was hard to look near a person's eyes. Not something I usually do, but weird to have it in the forefront of my thoughts when doing something easy like walking.
(5)
Kamil T.

I used to prep and cook for Soul Veg...even I adore this restaurant. I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU SOUL VEGGGG!!! LOL Anyway, I love to bring my children here on a hot summer's day. We do the same thing each time. We go to their Eternity Juice Bar and order food, then we order hot food from the restaurant to take home. Eternity Juice Bar -soft served vegan ice-cream cones -Raw/Cold salads...chick peas, bean curd, kale, tofu, artichokes, olives, you name it! OMG, DO NOT FORGET the JALAPENO CHEESE (they put a huge dollop on top of your salad). -bags of honey mustard kettle chips or crackers to dip. ***This hits the spot on a hot day when you are hungry but don't want to eat anything heavy*** Then, we order food to go from the restaurant. -everyone orders their favorite foods or dinners, a dessert to go, and a yummy ginger brews or drink. ***While we wait for our food, we hang around, talk, listen to music, look at all the pictures and artwork on the walls. We always see people we recognize, cool vibes, and positive people from all over Chicago and IL. We leave with our bellies and our souls satisfied and full!***
(5)
Adrienne B.

I agree with whoever wrote that this food is so good it makes you want to put it in your pockets! At first I didn't know what they were talking about and I even made fun of reading that on yelp but I realized what they really meant as we left. The food was so yummy that I carried my leftover few bites of dessert in my pocket all across town on public transportation for the rest of the day. So if you don't wanted stuffed pockets maybe bring a side bag with you because you WILL want to take food with you, not just what you ate, but all the grab and go items behind the deli counter look amazing. We would order again: Garvey Burger with fries Greens Side Garden Salad with amazing garlic dressing Fried Cauliflower Onion Rings Coconut Cake Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting We would pass on: The fried steak and fried tofu that came in the combo basket BUT I can see why some folks would like those flavors, just not our cup of tea!
(5)
TA W.

Not a vegetarian, but I rely on them for fresh juices and wheatgrass. They come thru every time. Convo is great as drink is prepared. Fall thru...
(4)
Rain T.

I like Soul Veg. Definitely not as good as years ago when I first started going, but they have a consistency I can not argue with. You pretty much always know wht you are goin to get...
(3)
Tom K.

If you don't have a car, good luck getting here as it's way on the South Side (Red Line to a Bus). The place itself is a bit of an oasis in an otherwise dead area. There is plenty of seating and the staff was very nice. The food is going to be veggie, but not very healthy. Expect a lot of oil and grease. It's kinda like fast food for the veggie soul. I don't think eating here on a daily basis would be good for your healthy, but if your looking for home cookin that's veggie, this is it. Oh and it's under $10 a person.
(3)
Rick M.

I can't believe I've never written a review on Soul Veg! This restaurant is fantastic. Even if you're not a vegetarian, there's nothing to not love about it other than the location. I'm a carnivore, but my partner is a vegetarian. We're always looking for the next best vegetarian/vegan option out there, but I don't know if we have ever had anything quite like Soul Vegetarian. This restaurant is completely unique! I'd prefer it to the Chicago Diner or Native Foods any day. If you want real soul food, this is the place to go. Hands down best soul food in Chicago - and the great thing is they manage to do this completely vegetarian. Everything we've ordered (and we've had a lot) is delicious. A huge plus is that they always seem to have a special on Sundays- some kind of dinner like beef tips or meatloaf; always with all the trimmings. We've never been disappointed with portions, quality, flavor, or pricing. You get a lot for what you pay. I swear that if I took another carnivore here and didn't tell them they weren't eating meat, they'd never even know it. I'm pretty sure Soul Veg is distributing food to some of the local Whole Foods and Barnes and Nobles. That's awesome because it can be really difficult to make the trek all the way down south to 75th from where we live on the Northwest side. As I mentioned, the only con is the location. It's sooooo far away and a nice long walk from public transportation. The area itself is fine - but I'm not so sure about surrounding neighborhoods, so just know where you're going. With that being said, it IS worth the journey getting there. I am looking forward to our next visit. I'd highly recommend this place!
(5)
Someone Y.

Nice restaurant, bad food. I'm a vegan and I decided not to go the raw route, hence I tried what everyone on yelp was raving about: bbq tidbits and the bbq twist sandwich. I think this place goes "vegetarian" by substituting everything with tofu. The tidbits were eatable only because they are hot and fried, but I threw away the twist sandwhich after a few bites.. I love the atmosphere and I was dying to try some of their cobblers or desserts. I think I tried the wrong entrees.. Don't get me wrong- I love soul food. I have a gf who takes me down that route ever so often. She also takes me to Ms. lees which is on point!! I'm just guessing but I think this place is trying to make the ever so popular soul food more healthy. I just don't know if u take something with so much sugar, fat, Greece, salt and cholesterol and turn it vegan? Ever... Great atmosphere and great place inside, but the food wasn't very good for my taste considering I've tried a few other vegetarian/vegan/raw places in my dad
(1)
Victor D.

If you are in Chicago do yourself a favor and check this place out. Great vibe. Good food. Nice service.
(5)
Vince C.

Food is great. Just don't go there hungry because there has always been a long wait. Not because they are busy but because they are slow. However, good place to eat.
(4)
Irineo B.

This is an amazing Vegan spot. A real hidden gem located in Englewood Chicago. I had the Macaroni and cheese, kale,salad and carrot salad along with the bbq vegetarian dish. It was like no other! I'll be back with someone special!
(5)
Alicia G.

I've been eating here since I became a vegetarian and still come here even though I eat fish. I've tried just about everything on the menu, but here are my faves: 1. The battered tofu sandwich - it's like a fish fillet, with their homemade mayo and all, really really great 2. Small salad with Prince dressing - i have no idea what is in the dressing, but it is AMAZING!!! Too good. 3. Fries and Onion Rings - sometimes these are too greasy, but they are delicious 4. The live kale salad - ok, i haven't had this is in forever but it was delicious and really good. Raw before raw was cool. 5. The dinner special - it changes daily, but has always been good and very filling. The service is what it is, slow. Don't try to come in and out for a quick meal. This is a take your time kind of place. Also be prepared to remind your server of all the things she didn't bring to the table, like condiments, your food, etc. The place has only gotten better, although they use typical iceberg lettuce now instead of alfalfa sprouts, which changes the taste A LOT. They should maybe opt for spinach leaves, which are cheap, last longer than lettuce and is nutritional. A good restaurant on the South Side for folks who like a good vegan ( although not really healthy) meal without having to deal or trek out of the neighborhood.
(4)
Em M.

I.miss.this.place.so .much. I moved to the West Coast and there are no places like this anywhere out here in "the land of vegetarians." Soul Vegetarian East really has a unique take on good food. I dream about this place every time I try to find a veggie friendly restaurant. Their protein bites are delicious. Order these first as an appetizer. Make sure you get their collard greens as one of your sides. Any and all of their sandwiches are delicious. You must leave room for their coconut cake. Sunday nights there is a dinner that they serve and you can't get around it. If you want to order options, make sure you go on a different day.
(5)
Regina W.

I came here on a Friday at 3pm and was easily able to find one hour street parking outside. I ended up ordering the Down-South BBQ Twist Sandwich, which had both tasty BBQ sauce and protein, but was a bit too messy to eat with my hands. Next time I come I think I will order the protein tidbits off the appetizer menu.
(4)
iamlarry w.

After eating at both Atlanta Soul Vegetarians and the one in DC for many years, it was good to finally visit Chicago's Soul Vegetarian. As expected, the brunch hit the spot. Soul Vegetarian was the place to first let me know that Vegan food could be good and soulful.
(5)
Drea E.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I love delicious food- and healthy delicious food is even better... even if it is vegetarian/ vegan. It is pretty tough to beat the lunch, but somehow breakfast is even better- but huge! Bring your appetite! I balked at the scrambled tofu- but ate most of my husband's order. The pancakes and bulgar patties were filling and delish. But the best part? A slice of vegan caramel and coconut cake to go. Even better than the "real thing."
(4)
John S.

I'm having some serious vegetarian guilt about giving Soul Vegetarian East only three stars. It deserves three stars, truly, but that doesn't make doing my job any easier. I compare the experience to when I was a TA at UC Berkeley. Many of my students were extremely intelligent, thoughtful, and good writers to boot. Others may not have thought through their assignments as much, but they could write, so it was easy to settle on either an A- or a B+. Then there were the teeming hordes who didn't really care about the class and/or decided to get working on the assignment the night before because, well, it's only college, right? Why should I care about my GPA when my boyfriend-of-the-week is inviting me to a nice dinner out in the city? (Never mind the fact that you won't be on speaking terms with this guy in a month and that he won't be able to help you get into grad school.) Again, I had no problem with a B or B- for these folks. But then there were others. The students who weren't the best writers but who clearly had good, if disorganized, ideas. The absolute hardest to deal with were the students who had equal loves of learning and office hours. In general, I was an inquisitive student, and I kind of regret the fact that I spoke with my professors outside of class so rarely, so even if I got the same person every week, I liked talking to her. (And it was usually a her--er, she.) But after you've gone over seven drafts of a pretty simple assignment with someone, and her paper still isn't very good? Well, it's difficult to go with that B. The B+ is the magical elixir for troubled TA consciences, but it's also unfair sometimes. What does this have to do with Soul Vegetarian East? Well, it's OK. Some of the food is excellent, while other menu items are bland and not terribly different from one another. Fortunately, what I ordered (and I don't remember what it was) was very good, but I also tried some of my dining companion's, and it wasn't as good. I would definitely come back. The service was hit or miss, and that was odd considering that it was after lunchtime on a Friday and not too many other people were eating at the restaurant. I love how busy the place is, especially for takeout, and I really got the sense that regulars are treated well. The food probably isn't that good for you overall, but it's soul food, and it's probably not as bad for you as its non-vegetarian counterparts, so you're doing your health a relative favor.
(3)
Cait A.

I have a special place in my heart for this spot. It's a pretty unique place in terms of atmosphere, and honestly I never would have guessed that there's a place like this on the deep south side. Everything is vegan, the service is really wonderful, and the food is just resplendent; sooo comforting and satisfying. Their brunch is where it's at, but I also like their tofu tidbits, seasoned fries, onion rings, Jerusalem sandwich, BBQ twists, and the down home greens. My only "beef" is that their prices are a little much.
(4)
Kedar D.

I loved Soul Vegetarian. The service was friendly and fast, the atmosphere was charming and worldly, and the food was delicious and perfectly priced and portioned. I haven't had soul food in a long time and found their cream of broccoli soup, cornbread, mashed potatoes, collard greens and country mock steak to all be wonderfully filling and tasty. The clientele was diverse and added to the charm of the restaurant. Vegan food often produces a self-segregating customer base, but Soul Veg. seems to attract people from all different backgrounds. My only gripe is with the location, which is hard to get to via public transportation. Otherwise, it's highly recommended.
(5)
Lisa L.

Went to check out some homes in Beverly and decided to finally check out Soul Veg on our way back into Bridgeport. I have to say I have mixed reviews and feel that I'll need to go back a couple more times to get a real feel for things. Despite apparently being the only waitress serving the entire (fairly-busy) place, the woman taking care of us was extremely friendly, fast, and helpful. I decided to order the daily special: bbq tofu, greens, beans, corn bread, chili, sweet potatoes, and more. Everything was off-the-charts good in my opinion, with special notice given to the sweet potatoes. My friend decided to order one of the burgers and it came out late (after the cook forgot to make it), and textured like a dry sponge. I have a feeling my friend made a mistake getting a burger at a soul food joint, but I wasn't about to call her on it - she knows who she is, and will probably yelp about it sooner or later :D I also bought my husband a slice of their lemon cake for his birthday and brought it home. Considering the fact that he scarfed it down without even offering me a bite, and later looked up his own recipes for lemon cake online, I'm guessing that the cake was a hit! Don't sleep on this place, it's a great reason to get further into the south side.
(4)
Nessie V.

One of my favorite places in Chicago. I mean, its an all-vegan place and it's full of local south-siders every time I go. I think that's pretty good. I never feel out of place here either, as everyone is very very friendly, staff and patrons, not that I would expect otherwise. Everything tastes great, very filling but I always manage to have room for dessert. As some have mentioned, service can be slow sometimes but they're always apologetic and try to make everything work out. Can'r wait to come back!
(5)
Karyn R.

My love for Soul Veg can be summed up in two words: protein tidbits. I want them now. I want them tomorrow. I want to defy the time-space continuum and have them before I ever even tried them. If I were at all religious I would start my own cult in honor of them. Don't believe me? Try them. And it isn't just the protein tidbits, people--although I could happily eat nothing but--the bbq twist sandwich, the Prince Elkannon (Garvey) Burger, the gyro, the collard greens, and mac n' cheese...it's enough to make me overlook the water glass that is rarely refilled and the less-than-enthusiastic service. I know there are a number of vegan options in the city. Many with better service and a fancier spread, but Soul Veg is what it is: no apologies, no excuses--and I dig that.
(4)
Liz J.

I'd only ever had Soul Veg's food in it's ready-to-go incarnations at Whole Foods or some spots around Hyde Park, so I was excited when the Groupon came out. Of course, then I promptly forgot about the Groupon until right before its expiration date. So off to 75th street we headed on a rainy evening. Apparently others also forgot about their Groupon til the last minute, because I saw at least two other tables with Groupon printouts lying in the corner. Apparently, the restaurant wasn't really prepared for the flood of people. The place was packed. We were seated at one end of a long table already occupied by a single diner. We arrived around 6:30. We left at 8:30. And this wasn't one of those leisurely, enjoy-your-food two-hour meals. I love those. The bulk of the 2 hours was us sitting around waiting for someone to notice us ... waiting for menus - 15 minutes; waiting for someone to take our order - 30 minutes, waiting for our food 20-30 minutes ... since it didn't all come out at once, waiting for someone to notice we were done so we could ask for our check - 15 minutes. Which brings me to the final issue. I fully understand the problems with Groupon customers not tipping the full amount. And I fully support restaurants deciding to add the gratuity on to Groupon customers' bills. But you need to tell people that you're doing that. When our change came back with two measley dollars ... when we were expecting 8 and change ... we were bewildered. Did the adding up and conveniently the omitted change added up to 20 percent. By that time we were sick and tired of trying to get the attention of anyone who worked there, so we decided to call it even and just leave. Oh, the food? The food was awesome. It could have been hotter. And it could have been faster, but I've been thinking about the greens for a week now.
(2)
Octavia T.

Fried bean curds tastes just like catfish. Service has gotten faster which is great!! Can't go wrong with the prince dressing FYI- Vegetarian doesn't always mean healthy, some of the selections are loaded in starch and sugar...be careful.
(5)
Sherry H.

Get the twist and be amazed,
(5)
A. K.

Awesome food! Excellent deli food and service I'm especially fond of the Combo Basket and Stir Fried Rice dishes.
(4)
Scotty J.

I've been coming to Soul Veg for a few years. If I'm ever in the area I always stop by. The BBQ twist sandwich is a must for first time visitors. In addition order some cornbread, yum! Unfortunately the service is friendly but not always speedy and on top of things. So far I have yet to find better priced soul food that is vegan and this delicious. Don't fret vegetarians and omnivores this food is great!
(4)
In T.

Greetings, I've been going to soul veg for years and have always came back for more, until recently. Service and quality of food have decreased tremendously. I guess now their closed to give the decor a face lift... What about the food and service?????
(2)
Claudia S.

My friend is a carnivore. She professes her love for meat on a daily basis and I think the only person who loved meat more than her was an ex-boyfriend of hers. Sometime in November I was having a conversation with one of my lactose-intolerant vegetarian friends (who pretty much leads a vegan lifestyle when he doesn't feel like getting sick to his stomach from eating cheese) mentioned this place. He told me that Justin (my friend's ex) had gone down there with him and really liked it. Now, I'm not a fan of mayo, but when Justin said Veganaise (yeah, the spelling's probably wrong) was awesome, I had to try it for myself. It tastes like mayo, and still disgusts me. Moving on. He confirms that this place is good and I think "cool, I've got to bring Kevin here then" since I'm always dragging my friend to meat-inclined places. After driving out to 159th and Cicero I decide to see if another friend of mine (who lives on 83rd) wants to venture with, but opt against telling him what type of restaurant this is. The food was alright. Actually, MY food was alright. I forget what the boys ordered, but I liked theirs more. I got a wrap and it was falling apart and drenched in (BBQ?) sauce. That's my fault, because I should have requested it on the side as I'm not a fan of most sauces and hate when a sandwich/wrap falls apart because of the sauce. Regardless, the waiter was very patient with me. It's not far off the expressway, which is a plus because I would have ZERO patience for taking streets to 75th when I live about 1900 north. If I'm in the neighborhood I'll go again, but I won't make a special trip down there just for this place. There's some amazing vegan (and vegetarian) places closer to home. Honestly, it's just me being lazy, but like I said, should I be in the area (for a friend, or coming back via the Dan Ryan) I'll go there. Both of the guys thought the food was ok, and while I know for certain the one who lives off 83rd won't be going back there, the other one would if he's in the area, but seeing as how he relies on public trans., I can guarantee he won't make the special trip down there either.
(3)
Jessica R.

Soul vegetarian offers comfortable and delicious dishes with a casual and diverse environments. I use to come here quite often ten years ago and recently started going back (too bad it's so far from my new home). Love the staff, love the food, love the vibe.
(5)
Jonathan W.

What a goddam gem. Seriously.
(4)
Drumn M.

The food is great. We used a groupon and was not dissapoint. We got the bbq protein bits, buffalo chicken dinner & the bbq twist platter. My hat goes off to the bbq twist platter. It was the perfect bit of crunchy and had a great texture. I'm looking forward to eating the leftovers for lunch. Yes, the service is slow but it's cheap and delicious. worth the wait.
(5)
Laura D.

This restaurant has changed my perception of fine dining vegetarian cuisine forever. I'm completely f-ing serious. 1. The salad - start with the prince dressing. It's delicious. I keep some on the side for the main meal. 2. The main meal - I usually just get the dinner special of the evening, which can vary depending on the day of the week and the availability of the food items. My favorite dinner special is probably going to be the fried "chicken," which is outstanding. I love the greens that they serve and especially love blending the greens with the prince dressing I got with the salad. 3. If you get the dinner special on Sunday, it also comes with a great vegan dessert! My favorite is the apple pie, but I have yet to try one that disappoints. There are a few important details to note about this restaurant in general. It's generally very casual and low-key, not particularly uptight at all. It also serves as a community center, so everyone is very friendly and welcoming. However, the waitstaff are volunteers, so service can be slow. Be patient and appreciate the time it takes to prepare this outstandingly delicious food. Look around and take it all in. It's a great place to be with friends and family.
(5)
Rahshonda K.

My mom had been talking about this place for a while so when Groupon came with a deal I had to get it! We went through the week so we were able to walk in and get a seat immediately. However service was not so immediate. Service was SLOW AS HELL!! However the food was tasty. The Lima beans were delish but the Kale was so bombarded with onions and garlic that it was just inedible to me. My mom ordered the special of the day which was the smothered "steak" the little bit I ate was sooooo good. I thought for this place to be healthy the portion sizes were unbelievably huge. I definitely am going to go back they have a juice bar that I am dying to try.
(3)
Tomas T.

What's not to love? Generous portions at a reasonable price. Portions are large and service is attentive. The fine folks at Brown Sugar Bakery turned me on to Soul Veg and I am so grateful. The special with rice and veggies and cornmeal coated tofu is amazing and enough for two. Great deal. A recently ordered pasta dish was rather boring and not imaginative and that was a disappointment but other meals have been stellar. With so few vegan choices (I am not a vegan but love my veggies), this place is a treasure. I do not fit the traditional demographic in this locale and have, at times, felt looked upon with suspicion when entering but my easy going disposition has brought me into some interesting chat with fellow diners. Soul Veg is off the beaten path for many Yelpers but I encourage you to visit not just for the great food but also to experience the amazing history, culture and sights that Chicago's south side has to offer.
(4)
Laura V.

When I tried to convince my vegan boyfriend to move to Chicago - this is one of the places we went to eat - and I'm pretty sure it helped to seal the deal. Now that we live here, it is one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago - or really, anywhere. Even though they have an extensive menu - salads, sandwiches, veggie stir fries with rice, etc - I pretty much stick to BBQ because that's what I came for! They have three different kinds of BBQ and all are delicious but I like the Southern one the best. Their seitan is very good and they make sure to get those wonderful char marks on the slabs. For appetizers - I am almost ashamed to say that we always get the combination of fried... stuff. Cauliflower, tofu, seitan, mushrooms, whatever you feel like. It comes with a side of fries (like you need that!) and dipping sauces. That brings me to the subject of their Prince Dressing. OMG delicious. i want to bathe in this stuff. If you know what Goddess Dressing is and love it - this is even better! It's a little thinner and lots more garlicky. Have it on your salad! As a side. Just try it! The atmosphere is nothing to rave about but it's fine with me. The bathrooms are ok. Since Soul Veg is so far South, it seems like most of the people there are locals but everyone is super friendly - waitstaff included. I've never had a bad experience. Soul Veg is one of the best restaurants food-wise that I've ever been to. We bring most of our out-of-town guests here - vegan or not and everyone loves it. It is extremely unique and I would be heartbroken if it ever went away.
(5)
Meriel C.

This place has the world's slowest service. Think about what you consider to be slow service and multiply it by ten. I enjoyed my meal more than my friend, but she is kind of veggie shy. I had stir fried veggies and brown rice with an Almond Malt. While it was not amazing, it was decent. We had onion rings which were pretty good. The seasoned fries were over cooked and lacked flavor. It took forever for things to arrive to our table because as I said slow, slow, slow. Won't be rushing back.
(3)
Kelly F.

I have only the food to base my review on. We went to the Green Fest at Navy Pier a few weeks back and SVE was there serving food. You got a set plate of BBQ, mac & cheese, greens and cornbread. I had just eaten breakfast a few hours before but could not pass this up, it's not often I get to eat veggie soul food. I tried the BBQ first - awesome! I'm still dreaming about the sauce, I had wanted to lick the plate clean but was too embarrased. The mac and cheese was really good as well, I could have probably eaten a whole plate of just that. The cornbread was good as well.The greens were o.k., I guess maybe after the taste of the BBQ sauce the flavor of these got a little lost. I have to say I can't wait to get out to the city to have their food again!
(5)
Manu W.

Located in the heart of the South Side, Soul Veg has been a staple in the community for over 20 years. I enjoy the service and variety of choices to pick from. The dining hall is filled with beautiful artwork to help you enjoy your experience even more! I have a great rapport with the staff and the restaurant diners. Everyone loves the delicious raw selection, and you can pick up orders from the front register if you choose to dine at home. Luckily, the meals are wonderful wherever you choose to eat!
(4)
Kris C.

The mac & cheese is to die for. Trust me. You have to get it to go, so make sure you don't leave without it. Soul Veg is a cozy restaurant- the food is here good, and the prices are reasonable. We ate the Jerusalem steak sandwich, the bbq twist sandwich, and an order of the seasoned fries. The steak was good, it had a nice crust and the mustard was really quite good. The bbq sandwich was tangy and a bit messy, but that's part of the fun. We also enjoyed the fries- they were a little different, but not in a bad way. They were well seasoned, sort of breaded, but not greasy or crispy. I was visiting Chicago and staying downtown, but Soul Veg was definitely worth the trek. .
(4)
Joanne L.

Mmmm Mmm! I love me some Soul Veg. The first time I went here was for a Chicago Vegan Meetup. We had a buffet of all sorts of deliciousness to choose from. The dishes that stuck out to me were the Mac n' Cheese, BBQ Tofu and cooked Kale Greens. I would come out here more often but it's located in the south side, quite a drive from the north suburbs. The decor is nothing to rave about, but I don't come out there for the ambiance. The service has always been fine, but the articles about failing health inspections are a bit disconcerting. When my hubby and I came here again on a later visit, we had mac n' cheese on the brain, but when we got there, we found out that they only serve a set menu on Sunday... Bummer. When the food came out, we were in heaven so despite not being able to order what we came for, it was still wonderfully yummy.
(4)
Kelly C.

We took the trek down because we'd tried the mac'n'cheez at the Vegan Fest in Wicker Park in the fall. On Sunday, they have a dinner special for $13 that varies but for us, included seitan loaf, gravy, collard greens, mac'n'cheez and candied yams. The food was delicious and people working were super nice. I wouldn't call it super healthy but they do a great job of making a somewhat-healthier approach to comfort food. I'd like to go back and check out menu items. We parked on the street and came out to a mysterious flat tire which was a pretty big bummer since our experience was enjoyable.
(4)
Jeff Z.

We decide to try breakfast at this well known vegan restaurant to the south of Chicago. Though the inside is very quant and old looking was disappointed that there was an uncomfortable silence to the place. There was no music or anything in the background. Some sort of sound would be nice. There was also an irritating guy talking loud about his historical viewpoint. I was also saddened that there was no coffee served. Why not was the question. Overall you cannot beat the food. The sausage type patties were real good and the vegan scrambled eggs were very tasty. The service was slow but not too bad. All the staff was very friendly.
(3)
Tina G.

Every time I'm in Chicago I have to make a visit here. I love love love the BBQ sandwich (there's something wonderful in that there sauce). The prices are right, the food is more than right and I love the diverse and unassuming diners. As everyone noted - the service is ridiculously slow, but if anything was worth waiting for - this place is.
(4)
Shanna B.

If SVE wasn't soooo far away, I would be eating here every single week. It's THAT good!! I know they've been discussing opening new locations closer to the Northside, but until then I only make it down there a couple times a year. Everything is vegan, but even carnivores think it's yummy food. Love the Prince salad, Mac n Cheese, greens, and most of all the gyros. The gyros are so good that I usually order one as a separate to-go meal when we eat there so that I can eat it later in the week (or night.... lol). They do sell some pre-packaged dinners at Whole Foods now, but as good as these are they can't compare to the hospitality and freshly cooked soul food there. Oh, and I don't love Sundays only because it's a pre-set dinner menu and you can't order anything other than what they've selected.
(5)
Jenn H.

We love the food here! The fresh juices, the non-egg salad, the soy cheese, the salads with the Princes Dressing! We always just order the daily special too, no matter what we get it is always good! Don't forget to save room for the desserts, they are incredible, you will not miss the dairy or eggs!
(5)
Herman B.

Been there a few times and the food was good. However, the last time made me give it one star. We went there, and were completely ignored for one hour, not even menus or water, IGNORED. Oh, when I went looking for a high chair for my son, a waiter showed me where it was at but insisted on carrying it to the table, so they knew we were there. Anyway there are two rooms where people sit, I can only assume we were in a room where they forgot we were at, I had to go into the other room to get the menus myself, if I didn't have a Groupon I still needed to use, I wouldn't go back.
(1)
Niki G.

Ahh, we love this place! The food is so incredibly good! Even if you aren't vegan or even a vegetarian, you're going to love it. It's just that tasty. Plus, you know you're doing something good for the animals and the Earth at the same time :) Service is, in my opinion, very good and we love the mac n' cheese. The collard greens are incredible. I love the little corn bread slices, as well as the faux ribs and pretty much anything else off their menu. Delicious!!!!!
(5)
Valery S.

No wonder so many vegans are more than plump. If I ate nothing but vegan food (the way most vegans eat, not the David Wolfe type vegan, but your regular tofu downing vegan), I would a nutricional deficiency in about 3-5 years. I must applaud this restaurant for being what it it, where it is. I realize that if you go from real fried chicken and BBQ ribs to their fake versions, you health may actually improve, just because you;d be killing yourself so much slower. But good gawd! This is NOT healthy food. Heavy, sweet, salty, so rich in gluten. No thanks.
(2)
Brittany Y.

The food is substandard and the staff are ridiculously rude. I will never eat here again.
(1)
Christine H.

So far, I love everything I have eaten from here. Vegan soul food sounds like an oxymoron, but they make it possible. The chicken fried steak meal was HUGE (enough for two meals) and everything was delectable and filling (greens, potatoes, the "steak") I never ate real chicken fried steak before, but having eaten other soul food, I bet this tastes exactly the same. The portion of protein tidbits is almost a meal in itself. The Jerusalem steak sandwich fills you up too, though it tastes a little like the chicken fried steak... I had a caramel cake from there, and it was better than any cake I've had at Chicago Diner. This food is way more flavorful and spicy. And yeah the service can be a little slow, but honestly, you have to expect that whenever you go to a food that serves African cuisine ("African time" as I've heard it called, by Africans :-P). Also, the appetizers arrived about 30 seconds before the main meal. Nonetheless, the uniqueness, tastiness, overall awesomeness of the food trumps the service.
(5)
Tam H.

I am a flexitarian....So checking out S-O-U-L Vegetarian was a given! All my friends have been bragging about going here...So you know I had to check it out! When I arrived, the jazz was playing in the background. Nice to get you ready for the experience soulful on the vegetarian tip. I had the Garvey Burger along with the greens. The greens were fresh and delightful. I enjoyed the garvey burger as well. It was well seasoned and tasted really good. Unfortunately, they were out of the yams. I heard great things about the yams so I was looking forward to tasting them as well. Hmmm, maybe next time. The waitstaff was pleasant and one of them was dropping a bit of knowledge about the history of the resturant. You can't beat getting a history lesson about the resturant and the reason why they decided to open up a resturant such as this one! Love it! The next time I go, I plan on trying something else from the menu. Hopefully, my experience will be just as delightful.
(4)
Swati B.

Awesome Awesome Awesome When I first rolled up to this place off of the highway on 71st street, I was a bit skeptical because of the immediate area (don't be). The [place itself is a little small but nothing bad... The protein tidbits for an appetizer are A MUST DO! Absoultely amazing... I had they gyros and they were awesome...I downed the entire thing in a matter of 6 minutes... My friends that ordered their sandwiches also really enjoyed their meals...the soft serve Pineapple icecream was also amazingly delicious... The prices are decent...not super cheap but won't break your wallet....and don't come here for "fast food service"..they are slightly on the slower side..but thats my only complaint. I for sure will be going back..multiple times.... Take your vegetarian friends here..and to be honest, meat eating people would actually be pretty impressed by the food here...yes it is THAT good..!
(4)
kate w.

I've eaten soul veg food from all over the city, a grocery in Hyde Park, Whole Foods, Taste of Chicago and even O'Hare, but i'd never been to the restaurant itself. My friend and i finally decided to go and we checked out some yelp reviews in advance. Everyone seems to say the same thing, great food, slow service. We got there and it was not crowded, maybe 2-3 tables other than ours. We ordered pretty quickly, had the onion rings, handburger and southern bbq sandwich. The food came almost immediately and it was delicious. We wondered what reviews were talking about when they said service was slow. Then, after eating our meal, it came time for the order desert, lunch for her husband and get the check part of the meal. We weren't in any rush but we probably sat for an hour intermittently waving and "umm"ing to get the server's attention and we were ignored. Eventually, as time wore on, we decided to go pay at the counter. Apparently there was some confusion as our check had been mis-entered in the system and it took about 20 minutes for them to finally ring us up so we could pay. Everyone is right, the food is awesome, but the service is all but non-existent. Also, the quality of product is not significantly superior to what you'll find in retail locations. Save yourself the headache, and unless it's a special occasion, just get your soul veg in a grocery.
(3)
Tom B.

Given that I've never lived anywhere south of Division Street and I've been to Soul Veg in person twice probably speaks more to this place's greatness than any review could. The barbecue sauce they use on the seitan and fries is other worldly. Seriously, it's heaven. I went down once in 2005ish and was slightly disappointed that they were serving a set of courses rather than letting people choose from the menu, but the food was still good. The last time I went was a few weeks ago and they were serving from the full menu so I was able to get a little more creative...aka order my own weight in fried gluten and barbecue sauce. My only complaint (and it's a big one...but kind of my own fault) is that I was in recovery mode for a good 48 hours after my meal. I felt like a whale and probably would've died if someone had poked me in the abdomen. Something about the wheat gluten they use just makes you feel like there's a brick in your stomach afterwards. However, I'd still go back and still will go back. It should be noted that some of their food can be found in other parts of the city...the two places I've bought Soul Veg wraps were the Barnes & Noble Cafe at the DePaul Center in the Loop (random, I know) and at the Whole Foods on Halsted. So head down to 75th or at least pick up a Jerk Seitan wrap from Whole Foods. It is nothing short of bbq bliss.
(5)
Jason A.

Food is awesome, not healthy though, but if you're going for soul food you should know better. Fried cauliflower and jerk tofu wrap were really good (and I'm not a vegetarian). Service is a bit slow since they are super busy. Also, if you're white you'll get a little culture shock as you'll probably be the only white person in the restaurant, and neighborhood for that matter. However, for me that's part of the fun! I'll be back...
(4)
Margaret Ann B.

Greens!! We were visiting Chicago and came here with a friend who's wanted to try it for years and years. Don't even bother considering the vegetarian aspect -- the food is just fabulous. The menu's kind of confusingly organized -- some things are called sides, some entrees, some appetizers, but there's not necessary much difference among them. We were four hungry people and ordered the collards & cornbread entree, the basket of fried mushrooms, cauliflower, onion rings and seitan and also got a side of BBQ "tofu tidbits" which were also deep fried, with BBQ sauce on the side. Then we got yet another order of greens and a side of the mac & cheese, which is almost like a souffle in texture. There were many other specials that probably wouldn't have involved quite as much deep fried food, but someone there is a wizard with the fryer -- light, not greasy. We were there on a Tuesday night and it was pretty much deserted -- hope it's more popular on the weekends. This is a treasure.
(4)
Kar M.

When I go to a legitimate vegetarian restaurant, I never order the vegetables. I want an otherwise unattainable vegetarian recreation of the meatiest thing I can imagine. So I've had the synthesized jerk chicken and bbq riblet, sure. Of course I would. And they were just fine. A bit syrupy, but satisfying. But thank goodness my dining companion got vegetables. Because I thought, as a transplanted Southerner who no longer deals in ham and turkey, that I would never have decent collard greens again. But this place brought tears to my eyes. Seriously. If I said on Yelp that the greens were better than my grammas, I could never go home again. So you must understand I can only say, wow.
(4)
Sonja B.

This place is on the south side (not too bad a neighborhood..) or else I'd visit it at least once a week. Upon entering soulveg you will encounter kind service, colorful African art on the wall, and the best damn soul food you've ever eaten. Oh, and every bit of it is vegetarian! The price is definately right, ranging from $2-$10 for entrees. I recommend a garden salad (you will dream about the home-made vegan cucumber dressing...thick..sweet...AMAZING), BBQ (gluten) roast sandwich, Veggie Gyros, and Salisbury steak dinner to name a few. The menu is big and will please just about everyone, even meat eaters and i'm not just saying that. They have a multitude of down-home style desserts as well. Warning- I've been told that if you visit soulveg on a Sunday, they just serve you Sunday dinner and don't let you order anything else. Check this place out!!!! Really cool date spot as well.
(5)
NeeraJamie K.

Hmm...disappointing. I was expecting some spice, but it was bland & our server was sooooooo slooowwwwww I'll give it another chance because the owner seems cool.
(3)
Latrice A.

The rating is because I am a meat eater dang it ! This food is no where close to being a meal that could place my hunger for meat My husband when vegan for about six month and dropped 30 + pounds and said he wanted to start up again so I said i will try. I also have a Groupon for 30 worth of food for 15.00 so it was a go . I went in will a clear palate to try and experience the worse food of my natural meat eating life! First i got the protein bites that the yelper suggested . The batter was good but as soon as i chewed i regretted it will all my heart. It is Tofu people why or why didnt someone warn me I tried one after the other until my gag reflex could not take another one , i hate to waste money but its was wasted on that ! Now one at my table liked them. So I ordered two Twist sandwich a side of macroni and somr kind of stir fry pasta. My sandwich after bite it several and hating was not thre Twist but a vegan kind of roast beef sandwich which I was choking down . upon sampling my daughters did i discover the different taste and textures. I did slightly enjoy the maccroni that all I will stay my meat eating self out of there . Vegans enjoy ! Oh on tuesday night one hour before closing the service was not bad I
(2)
Nico M.

I finally went to try Soul vegetarian East and absolutely loved it. I went on a Sunday afternoon with one of my close friends and they were just starting to become a bit busy. We were seated quickly and brought out water. The people that work there are so friendly and helpful. The first Sunday of every month they offer a Sunday dinner. This particular Sunday was the first of the month and the dinner included collard greens, stuffing, yams, mac & cheese, a gluten based roast with gravy, a dinner roll, and apple pie. This was so filling and SO good! It was hard to tell that the mac n cheese was even vegan. I always chop up onions in my greens but they already had onions chopped up in them! The dinner is $13 and well worth every penny. I even tried a sample of their sweet potato ice cream which was SO good. The staff was great and never neglected us since we were sat in the larger room toward the back because they were crowded. We were checked on consistently for water and asking how our food was. The art and decor was awesome too with African paintings and carvings. I don't like driving but am so happy that I have a car now and can get to Soul Veg more often. I will be going back for sure to try the other things on their menu. This is definitely my favorite veggie spot right now..
(5)
Nafeesah A.

I live near this place and not only is the food overpriced because a single lunch for one person is damn near $15. Plus not to mention the molasses slow service you get along with that rank attitude from the staff. Plus they have a problem with some of their raw food options because my mom got food poisoning from this place twice in the last 2 years and this last time was the second time and she had to be rushed to the ER after experiencing vomiting and severe diarrhea. This place had been shut down by the city before for sanitation violations. I won't eat at this place ever again after having eaten there years ago and seeing that my mom had food poisoning twice from this place makes you think about eating someplace where the staff doesnt give a damn about good service.
(1)
Sixto M.

so let's clear something up about this place that seems to be a litle unclear: the service is NOT good. If there is one thing that I cannot stand, its bad service. Maybe that's because my mother was a waitress and I know what good service is, but I digress. That is not to say that the waiters at Soul Vegetarian are rude, or mean, but they are just not very attentive. This is not only based on my experience, but my friend's experience as well, and she has been there more than a few times. So the service sucks! Now on to the good part: the food! I didn't know what to expect because I'm not a vegetarian, and I don't really eat vegetables, but I honestly think there is something for everyone here. I had the seasoned fries appetizer, stir fry steak, a slice of lemon cake (it was huge!), and a vanilla creme soda. All for 13 dollars (tax and tip included). The BBQ sandwhiches are also good, and I'm sure everything else is too! Me and my friend were a little disappointed because they didn't have a couple of things we thought they might: mac and cheese and sweet potato pie. I think I read on here that they have sweet potato pie ice cream, but they don't. Bottom line: its a great place to eat, not a great place to be waited on. That may be why they automatically add tip to parties of 4 or more.
(3)
Kiarash Z.

After my experience at Karen's, I was eager to try another take on vegetarian, and Soul Vegetarian East completely pleased me. Sure, it was far too quiet for a birthday dinner with friends. Sure, my greens didn't have the tomato the menu promised. Sure, it's a bit of a trek from Logan Square. But man, the greens were outstanding. The variety basket of fried goodies completely hit the spot, and the lemon meringue pie blew Karen's attempts at dessert out of the water. The bill for five people, including appetizers, entrees, ginger beer and dessert, was $70. I definitely am OK with that.
(4)
Liz P.

I came here with my big ex-football player bacon-is-the-perfect-food friend and he loved it, so I think that's a pretty big endorsement. Plus the place itself is kind of a trip. And you can get BIG bowls of collards and cornbread with whatever you order! A warning to the health conscious: Just because it's meatless doesn't make it good for you. Expect a greasy, salty, sloppy, delicious mess.
(4)
Chris F.

Soul Vegetarian is one of my favorite restaurants, and before I lived in Chicago I would always find a way to eat here whenever I visited. First off, everyone I have ever taken here loves the protein tidbits, so you might as well order those. My other favorites are the BBQ twists, greens, chicken fried steak, mac and cheese, gyros, and breaded tofu sandwich. They also make my favorite salad dressing, which is the cucumber. The desserts are great, and though I have a huge sweet tooth and they don't use nearly as much sugar as I would use, everything is still delicious. They make cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, cobbler, and their own vegan ice cream, and the selection varies. I especially liked the Oreo-style cake, which is carob cake with vanilla icing and carob "crumbles" dusted all over the cake. My only complaints are that they don't have some of my favorites--like mac and cheese and chicken fried steak--on the menu all the time, so sometimes I can't get what I'm craving. And the service is sometimes on the slow side, though everyone seems to be especially friendly. But these quibbles are not enough to take away the 5-star rating.
(5)
Gabrielle S.

Veeery interesting. Had to come here for the vegan food and give it a go. I have bought amazing bbq protein thingys, egg salad and mac n cheese from Whole Foods made by Soul Veg East and was very impressed. So a girlfriend and I decided to make the trek out.... We got lucky with parking out front and that was a relief because the neighborhood is a bit questionable.... The food: Salads were yummy- tried a tofu salad and a carrot salad which was way tasty. Dressing was some creamy cucumber sauce that went with several different dishes and I was practically licking off my fingers it was so good. On to the less healthy: Falafel- ok- not the best I've had, def on the drier side but as I mentioned that special secret sauce before, well it helped make up for falafel shortcomings. Protein Tidbits: Huge, bland, deep fried and without drenching them in the BBQ sauce they would be inedible. Need good teeth for these babies, lots of chewing required. Fries: Tried both regular and Hebrew--TOTAL dissapointment. Both. Totally underseasoned and undersalted. Also needed to be drenched in the BBQ sauce. The fries had LOOKED soooo good. But not really impressive. Overall we enjoyed our "experience" and were glad we came here, and I would definately come back and give it one more go and order different things. Such as desert....they all looked freaking amazing! Next time......
(3)
Jose G.

I thought I already had a review up? Oh well. Soul Vegetarian is perhaps my favorite all vegetarian restaurant in Chicago (and in most of the other cities where it had locations) and certainly is better than those of any of the others run by small religious groups (like Alice or Victory Banner). There is so much great food here, with textures and sauces that you just can't find at the Chicago Diner or anywhere else. Whether you're going for a plain old sandwich, or a lunch or dinner special (lunch specials until 1:45pm), this place is great, and always worth the trip to 75th St for those of you who are far away. It's prices aren't very cheap, but there aren't many vegetarian places that are, and for the specials you do get a lot of food. Some of the meals you will insist can't be as healthy as they actually are. There are some naysayers out there that complain about the service, but I love the service. Though sometimes it can be on the slower side, it is always gracious and helpful. They always make sure I know that they want me back. Soul Veg is a destination restaurant, great for locals treating themselves, visiting out-of-towners, and anyone in Chicago who wants great food.
(5)
Trinidad F.

Im in love...mmm. So if i ever decide to get married Soul Vegetarian will have to cater my reception. The food here was amazing. We started with the detoxification shake which was amazing. Strong citrus flavor. So good and refreshing. All natural. YUM!! I decided on the BBQ protein tidbits as an appetizer and they were so yummy. Covered in BBQ sauce..even better!!!! I've realized they're addictive. lol. I ordered the BBQ roast sandwich with a side or fresh greens. I have a BBQ thing..im a big fan. It did take a while for my sandwich to arrive but it was well worth the wait!! So good!!! Wheat bun with faux BBQ roast, lettuce and grilled onions!!!! Finger licking goodness...drools. After my sandwich and tidbits I was so full. I tried some of the greens and took the rest to go. The greens had a great flavor along with onions, tomatoes and some pepper. I was completely satisfied with the food here and will definately return...soon.
(5)
Michelle A.

soul vegetarian is great every time. tonight was no exception! the place was packed for a thursday night at 8 o'clock and there was one server working, vincent, who did a great job juggling everyone. water was filled whenever needed and he was apologetic from the get go about how busy it was. we had the cauliflower appetizer to begin with. my dining partner found it to be a little heavily fried for his choices, but i am a southern girl and loved every minute of it. we both had the BBQ twist platter for our entree. it came with so much food that we both have leftovers to make sandwiches out of it tomorrow! not only that but the texture of the protein is great. i'm a picky vegetarian and i can't stand things that are too rubbery and i didn't wince once with this. over all this place is great and next time i want to make sure to try dessert.
(4)
Tina B.

My favorite thing here is the fried cauliflower which really has a very fried chicken quality because of the awesome coating on the outside. Also the salads are fantastic - tofu salad is like an egg salad and the carrot salad is slamming. All of the salad dressings are delicious, but my faves are a toss up between the cucumber and the prince. Desserts are all really good. Here's a huge tip to offset the slowness - go on Sunday evening for the Sunday dinner. They only have one thing on the menu on Sunday evening and it's a full dinner with sides, salad and dessert that changes every Sunday. One time it was some sort of tofuish roast, sweet potatoes, mac n cheese and apple crisp - all delicious and still a little slow, but much less so than normal.
(4)
Shazana G.

This has to be one of my favorite Vegetarian Restaurants in Chicago... The menu is quite extensive and I am never left disappointed. It's great because if your friends are vegans/vegetarians, or meat eaters-- They will enjoy this place and won't be able to tell the difference.
(5)
Kelly G.

Deep fried vegan heaven Yes, the service is incredibly slow, you'll probably have to ask for something at least 3 times, and there's a chance that your dining companion may get his or her meal about 10 minutes before yours comes out. However, at least the employees are friendly, and considering that they are volunteers, you can't really be *too* mad at them. The food is out of this world. I've taken many an omnivore here, and they've all raved about it - ESPECIALLY the protein tidbits. I've never had such juicy fake meat anywhere. There's a sandwich that I used to get regularly that's like one big protein tidbit, and I can't for the life of me remember the name. It's fantastic though - especially with a little prince dressing. And definitely go on a Sunday sometime for the dinner. They only serve one meal on Sundays, and it's almost always a plate of bbq seitan or something similar, collared greens, and I think maybe cornbread.
(4)
Emily H.

Soul Veg is probably my all-time favorite restaurant. So easy to find, so easy to love, so hard to leave. They have the heartiest, most delicious vegan soul food you can imagine. The specials are always a treat, but there is so much love here, everything leaves you feeling amazing, no matter how overstuffed you are. This is my first and last stop in Chicago, and I always hit I-94 with my passenger seat full of food to savor after leaving Lake Michigan and another piece of my heart behind.
(5)
Amy S.

I love Soul Veg! It's all vegan but it is definitely not health food. It is absolutely decadent soul food at its best. The have a-la-carte options available, but the dinner is a must-have. You get more food than you can eat and it's utterly delicious. As appetizers go, the protein tidbits are a hit with everyone I've ever taken there, vegan or not. On Sundays, there is one set meal available for order, rather than a full menu, though it is always excellent. Their service has taken a few blows on yelp, but it truly doesn't bother me. Everyone at Soul Veg is incredibly friendly. Though food often comes slow, and not always at the same time for everyone at the table, it is fresh and delicious. I'm willing to make the trade. My favorite items are the BBQ twist, the greens, and the PRINCE DRESSING.
(4)
Ted F.

Fool me twice, shame on me. "Slow Vegetarian" couldn't be more accurate. Except maybe if it was "slow, overcharging, gut-twisting vegetarian". I ate here twice - by which I mean to say I didn't learn my lesson the first time. The first time, I marveled at the library-esque atmosphere, where it seemed like I had to whisper or I'd get yelled at. After eventually placing my order, I ate the BBQ twists with greens on the side. As a born-and-raised Southerner, I was not terribly impressed, but they weren't bad. At first. Later, while I was doubled over on my porcelain throne suffering through the same twists & greens, I cursed them mightily. I decided to play "fool-me-once-shame-on-you" and gave it another shot with a small group of friends. All six of us were eventually seated and it took nearly 20 minutes to get us all menus and take our orders. The food was again mediocre, the service absolutely glacial but the real slap in the face was when our bill had many items on it that we did not order nor did we receive. Our waiter eventually reappeared and we presented him with an itemized tally of what our bill should have been. He attempted to reconcile his bill with ours, eventually gave up and stated his was correct and we should pay and leave. No one else in the restaurant would aid us, so the incorrect, inflated bill was paid. I left a nickel in a water glass as his tip. I did not have the sting of intestinal distress this time, only the bad taste of a rip-off as a lingering memory. Never again. Go to Veggie Bite or the Chicago Diner or eat a handful of gravel. Eat anywhere but here.
(1)
Jennifer L.

I went here one Sunday with a brave, carnivore girlfriend. Wow, were we both blown away. First of all, if you haven't read other reviews, on Sunday, you get one homestyle cooked meal. No menu surfing trying to decide what you think will be the best. And they serve it up, like it is Thanksgiving dinner. Healthy portions that will leave you very satisfied. The day we went, they had the BBQ protein tidbits, greens, the Vegan Mac & Cheese and maybe something else that I can't remember. But it was a full meal. I left with leftovers that I enjoyed another night :) They were also at the Green Festival in May and so I was lucky enough to be able to get their Vegan Mac & Cheese there also. And let me tell you...I make Vegan Mac & Cheese at home all the time, and people love it, whether they are vegan or not. But the Vegan Mac & Cheese from Soul Vegetarian....Is out of this world. It is phenomenal. I would eat it every day if I could. It is so rich and creamy...Nothing compares. Nothing. Get over there and try it! :)
(5)
Jenny I.

Travel to the South Side and slide into this place. It's an experience, and the food is unbelieveable. First, it's almost all vegan (no animal products), yet it's also exclusively a soul food restaurant. Fried tofu tidbits, BBQ seitan (fake steak), veggie chili, cornbread, collard greens, unforgettable apple pie, coconut cream pie, smoothies and shakes. It's owned and operated by the African Hebrew Isrealites of Jerusalem. Whuuuuut. GO! ENJOY! It'll make you feel like you're tripping, and EVERYTHING on the menu is SO good.
(5)
Reggi O.

I've been to SVE four times now and each and every time I've been, the service just gets worse and worse. I was in last Saturday at lunch time. After a nearly 30 minute wait without service, I decided to go to the adjacent juice bar and inquire of the guy working the counter if all menu items were available for carry out. I got a whole lot of really bad attitude, as if he was doing me a major favour by answering my question. And after all of that, I was told that no carry out was available because they did not have carry out supplies (i.e. take away containers). How's that for poor managmeent? That was the straw that broke the camel's back In my three previous visits friends and I were just shocked at how long it took us to be seated, waited on and served our meals. It's beyond ridiculous, especially given the size of the facility. There is just no excuse for such poor service and such bad attitudes. I was actually giving the place one last chance and it failed miserably. Not me. I'll be driving north to Chicago Diner, Karyn's or even to Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston. And yes, I am black (Afro-Caribbean) and I'd love nothing better than to support black owned businesses. But, wow, NO CAN DO with this one. It's that bad! Of course, if you've got two hours to wait for a simple sandwich and you can deal with bad attitudes, it might just work for you.
(1)
Natalie J.

i wanted to cry it was so good. the service was excellent, the food spectacular, and the atmosphere was inviting and casual. it's a hike but one worth making. i'm pretty much planning on becoming a regular.
(5)
Ellie C.

it's great that this place exists, but it would be nice if they actually served the food on their menu. on our first (and only) visit to this restaurant, a friend and i ordered 2 of the dinner specials, and were told 3 times in 40 minutes that our food had been given to someone else (??!!) and that we'd have to wait a bit longer. i don't care if the person that got our food was angry -- even if they made that one customer (or in our case, 3) happier, our experience was so awful that we won't be back.
(1)
lauren a.

wow. soulveg is TOTALLY MORE than just a good vegan restaurant! i've moved from chicago to the bay area (hippie liberal diversity cultural capital of the country, yo) and there isn't one place that comes close to the perfect unique creation that is soulveg! i'm so surprised at the lackluster descriptions below. my group of friends at the u of c celebrated almost every birthday with a visit to soulveg, and none of us were vegetarians! the deepfried vegetables are better than i've had at any other place, the barbequed tofu twists and sandwiches are better than ribs, and the damned place has a freakin "Soul Vegetarian Day" in the city. this place is seriously one of the best things about chicago, and should do, like, superexpressovernightmail so i can still get my fix. hmph.
(5)
cb b.

great veggie food. Not a typically menu. This menu has plenty of variety and a friendly staff. There is plenty of deserts and smoothies they also hold health fairs and health talks at the restaurant.
(4)
Takelya W.

im not a vegan but i have friends who are so we come here sometimes and i seem to find myself ordering something. its good food.
(3)
Patrick M.

Amazing food, I was shocked it was Vegan. I had the Veggie Gyro, excellent. I have drifted in and out of vegetarianism, but if I knew how to cook like that, I would have been able to persevere. Vincent our waiter was very polite and made us feel at ease. I will go back. I have never been to that area of Chicago, but it's always a good idea to explore, good things can happen, like you stumble across this place.
(5)
Timothy M.

I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I was headed down the Dan Ryan at unsafe speeds in my crappy van. All I knew is that I had two hippie-leaning friends with me and we were ready to have us some vegan treats. Having done the vegan thing off and on, I haven't found it particularly hard to eat well in Chicago. There's a plethora of good restaurants that cater to vegans and there are many, many dishes that can be made vegan on request at a regular restaurant. Sadly, BBQ is one of my favorite things, and I thought I'd be kissing every delicious BBQ flavor goodbye when I became vegan. (Those Morningstar Farms Riblets are good, but not Fat Willy's good.) I was happy to find myself mistaken. The food was amazing. Let me put it this way, if you took a meat-eater here and didn't tell them anything about the place, they would eat well and want to come back. Ok, delicious BBQ. But vegan Potato Salad? My sad attempt at making it looked or tasted nothing like this.. this stuff tasted like my mom's. It also came with delicious split-pea soup, collard greens, and a piece of cornbread. They were out of soy ice cream, so they gave my friend a free piece of vegan cake... yum! Furthermore, after reading all the reviews, I was sure service would suck. It was, in fact, way better and more personable than places on the north side. My theory is that those who come into a place like this (a very African-American crowd and proud of it) and act as if they're at bin 36 are going to get shitty service. This ain't that kind of place. Play by their rules here (just be respectful and don't act like you've just arrived on an alien planet) and you'll be treated with much generosity. HIGHLY recommended.
(5)
Harpreet K.

I decided I was gonna move to Chicago's South Side when I first came out here from Cali. Not knowing any better, I set up camp in Hyde Park, because "this counts right?" It wasn't exactly what I envisioned, but I figured maybe I'd been listening to too many Common albums (where the f*ck is "the corner"?!) and seen "Save the Last Dance" one too many times (I love me some Julia Stiles!). I assumed the vibrant, robust, thriving South Side was confined to 53rd and 55th streets. Of course, I was WRONG, and all those mofos who led me astray, insisting there was nothing worth seeing on the South Side outside of the Hyde Park bubble, can shove their culture-of-fear/racist bullshit up their asses!!! Welcome to 75th street my friends!! This is pulsating civic community, and Soul Veg is the epicenter; attracting everyone, from all corners, far and wide. Come here and finally "get it." Anything you order is gonna be tasty -- although I think some of the vegan meat has a slightly rubbery texture and interesting aftertaste -- the sides will blow your damn mind.
(5)
Giselle K.

I'm not a vegetarian, but we wanted to try something new. The food was really good. We had a carry out order. The greens were great, the sweet potatoes and macaroni and cheese were exceptional. We will be back.
(3)
Cassandra J.

The food here is so f-ing yummy. Its way too rich for its own good, but I'm not complaining! Brunch is one of my faves. The BEST grits [vegan or not] I've ever had. And that spicy bulgar sausage patty is amazing. Pancakes are the way to go. I never have enough room to eat more than a few bites of them, but what I do eat are amazing. The greens are amazing and when they have mac and cheese [tuesdays only] its out of this world good. I love the veggie gyros and the tofu filet sandwich. Oh and the onion rings! This place is a food belly waiting to happen and its worth it. Desserts are pretty damn good. Lemon meringue pie, sweet potato pie, coconut cake, strawberry shortcake. All amazing. I'd love to give it 5 stars but sometimes the service is so frustrating. I love the culture and the breath of fresh air from other vegetarian crowds...but seriously, sometimes its like being on candid camera the service is so weird and slow. A few of the servers lately have been awesome though...so maybe that's on the upswing. And the owners/managers there are always super nice and appreciative, so ya know, that helps. EDIT! i'm updating to say that the service here has been amazing lately and the food is always tops. i love it!
(5)
E W.

Chicago needs more than one of this place. The food is excellent and definitely authentic, and the staff is polite and friendly. I recommend Sundays when they have brunch in the morning and full-on soul food for dinner. But, they don't call it "Slo Vegetarian" for nothing; be prepared to watch Black Hebrew Israelite family members get served before you. Also, they often run out of certain dishes, so it's helpful to be flexible. This is one of the few places on the South Side that White people go out of their way to visit, so that should tell you something right there. Also, check out the deli next door and take home some of those delicious BBQ twists or some Carrot Supreme!
(4)
Eugene E.

I would prefer a 2.5. It is ok. Friendly service. The reviews are spot-on with slow service. Be NOT in a rush if you are trying to get in and get out. A lot of eye-contact with the waiter/waitress is needed to indicate you need something or are ready for the check. As far as the food, I ordered the dinner special which this night consisted of greens, macaroni and cheese, fresh string beans and some buffalo tofu. Not the biggest fan of the tofu, but that is personal, nothing SV related. The greens (I am from the South) and have experienced tastier (non-meat seasoned) greens, the macaroni and cheese was ok and the string beans were good. I had the "water" because I am not a fan of sodas, etc. - The water was LEMON"Y" -- which I am sure hid the taste of the city water. Overall, it was ok. I would meet someone there, but not sure if it would be a top of mind suggestion or go on my own.
(3)
Martin G.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The food is delicious, and the portions are satisfying. There is a room in the back that can be reserved for large parties. Street parking is usually easy to find close to the restaurant. It's convenient if you're coming off 94. Sundays you cannot order off of the regular menu, they only serve one meal to all (which is always delicious, just disappointing if you wish to order off the menu). I love their salad dressings: Prince, creamy cucumber, creamy garlic. The only suggestion I have is that they serve the food in an order that makes sense. I have often received my salad after my main course, and half the food is brought out to some people while others are waiting with none. There are weird gaps in the service. It's difficult to get more water. Do not go here if you are in a hurry, as the service can be slow. All in all, though, absolutely delicious and vegan!
(4)
Regina F.

I finally used my Groupon I purchased months ago that exp in a few days for breakfast this morning. There was not any breakfast menu, the server just let us know of a couple of options. I liked that everything did not taste salty like many restaurants do. The OJ was also fresh and refreshing. Very friendly service. Place is big and open, can def tell it's a very old building with their original molding and whatnot. I would be interested to go back and try their dinner menu.
(4)
scott a.

So I'm not a huge fan of supporting racist religious agendas, but I'm vegan and was excited to go despite being warned about the bad service. After going, I can't believe how many good reviews this place has received. I ate here in the mid afternoon and it was slow. The service was the ABSOLUTE WORST I can recall in recent memory. We ordered drinks, an appetizer, and an entree. Our food took seriously 30 minutes and we unbelievably got entrees first, appetizers shortly after, then the drinks that the server forgot about. The server had no personality at all and didn't even apologize. Despite all of that, the food was really good. I guess I went on the wrong day? Maybe order to go. Won't be back. Semi-competent service is not that hard to get, and guess what, when you have good service, people come back, and you make more money! More money for the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem!!!
(2)
Emily K.

Ate here once on a Sunday with a group of people who have come here often and love it. Note: Sundays there is a fixed menu- no choice of options. Our menu on Sunday was chicken fried steak, cheesy mashed potatoes, collard greens, zucchini, and apple pie. DELICIOUS. I love soul food and it's awesome that it's all vegan. It's easy to get to, despite it being at 7500 south and I'm at 4800 north. The service was polite and helpful but a bit spotty. Our waitress would wander off and I don't think we ever got water refills. I will definitely come back again- for the fixed Sunday menu again AND to choose my own.
(4)
vernon c.

I've been a regular here on & off for years & its some of the best vegetarian food in the city of chicago or anywhere for that matter...ive lived in california for years & never came across a vegetarian spot that i like better than this one...Service can be very slow at times so if you're going to order take out give them a good hour...seriously! When ever i stop in I buy a carton of Prince dressing to take home(best salad dressing ever)...& they have the best veggie gyros...How good? Id rather have this than a meat gyros....I want one right now while i type this...So good!
(5)
jason e.

Well worth the drive, but expect a wait for your food. Everyone who works here volunteers their time, so don't expect the type of hustle you get from a wired up Wicker Park waitress or downtown cabbie. The BBQ twists are my favorite faux meat ever made. Being a Southerner by birth and vegetarian by grace of God, getting a much needed soul food fix can be tricky. Here you get food that compares to and often exceeds the quality of anything from the Chicago Diner, but the servings are larger, the food is less expensive, and your greens don't come with a side of "holier than thou" hipster contempt. Try to catch the big Holiday brunch. Words cannot describe. Vegan crepes and ham to die for.
(4)
Evan S.

I really enjoyed Soul Vegetarian. I am definitely a meat eater but really am always looking for healthy alternatives to red meat. I had the dinner special of the night which included: a salad, green beans, greens, mac n cheese, and sound kind of steak tofu thing - all for like $11. It really was a good deal. The house dressing is a must for the salad and the greens were off the chain. My wife had the battered mushrooms which I really enjoyed as well. She also had the vegetable soup which I thought was kind of boring, but okay. Service was pretty good. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Tiffany T.

Quite addictive! Desserts are delicious!
(4)
M N.

This place used to be a staple of mine but the poor service, lack of consistently available menu items and the somewhat frequent price increases have kept me away. When the food is good it's great. Vegan (if you're ok with honey) southern food prepared in an eclectic, but slow paced, environment. Mind the ratio.
(2)
T S.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the majority of the posts. The service is more than lacking and the food isn't healthy. The only way I would come here again is for an order I placed ahead of time for pick-up.
(2)
Erica W.

Eh...Just ok. I wasn't in love. I am a meat eater, but I partake in vegetarian foods on occasion. I went to Soul Vegetarian East because I tried their fake chicken salad at Whole Foods and I liked the flavor. When I saw the Groupon, I scooped it up. The service is painfully slow. Waited 15 min just to get a menu. The poor waiter had a hard time remembering things. Asked for ketchup, took 15 minutes. The food was ok. I had the BBQ twists, fries and nibbled off of my friend's "country fried steak", greens and corn. I'm not sure what the BBQ twists are made of, but they make it look like BBQ ribs. The fries were soggy, and many of the dishes needed more salt. The best part of the meal for me was the coconut cake. Yum. I have some left over for tomorrow. If you truly enjoy vegetarian/vegan food, it's worth a try, but I probably won't go back. There is something weird about the fake meat that I don't like.
(3)
Andrew C.

Overall Soul Veg is OK, but it hardly merits the rave reviews it has on Yelp. It *is* affordable, filling, and 100% vegan. Unfortunately it has some serious problems: 1) The service is terrible. All the staff are volunteers, and it shows. While a few of the employees (particularly Michael) are friendly, some others seem not to care at all. I have waited 20 minutes for food, then gotten the wrong thing. 2) The food is unhealthy. Despite the New Hebrew Israelites' prohibition on added salt, the food tastes extremely salty, and most of it is deep fried. 3 (and the reason I don't go there) The New Hebrew Israelites are an unsavory bunch of people. They are fiercely homophobic, and some are overtly racist. When a white acquaintance of mine asked what it would take to work there, the staff laughed and one replied "more melanin." All of the money Soul Veg makes goes toward funding their religious organization. Clearly, no one would tolerate this crap from more mainstream religions. Much as I like to support vegan establishments, it is unacceptable to turn a blind eye to bigotry.
(2)
Jean C.

Soul Vegetarian's food is really good. It's hard to believe that it's vegan. The pictures attached to the listing don't do the food justice. The food looks twice as good in real life and tastes, like, three times better.
(5)
Your M.

Loved the variety on the menu. Since I'm not a meat eater I could literally order ANYTHING on the menu. The lack of five stars is due to cosmetics. Unless you're a regular you don't know to just seat yourself...get a greeter or a sign would be nice. I also think the place could use a face lift. It seemed the other side (banquet arear) had a more modern tone but the area I dined in could use an update. Food was DELICIOUS and my server was cool!
(4)
Cassie B.

I finally went here a month ago with a few fellow vegetarian friends after wanting to go since I tried their BBQ Twist & Gyro at the Taste of Chicago last summer. So much BBQ! The battered fries were amazing. The BBQ tidbits were pretty good along with my Jerkfu Wrap. The service was rather slow. With such a heavy meal, I just needed more water refills than the small two glasses I was given!
(4)
Samantha G.

I'm always happy to find another veggie restaurant, where I don't have to worry if my amazing meal gets its zest from icky chicken bits. No worries here. My friend and I both got the dinner special: a good size plate of BBQ fried tofu, collard greens, mac & cheese, and sauteed zucchini. Plus it came with super yummy veggie soup. This masterpiece of comfort food was followed up by carrot-peanut-butter vegan ice cream. I must say, any place that will serve vegan ice cream is a winner in my book, but such a delicious concoction almost made my head explode with delight. The night I went the service was fine, and the price was oh so right. Lose a star cause it takes me a full two hours to get there from my place on the north side via train. That being said, I'm already trying to block out time to make the trip again.
(4)
Chuuk T.

Service was great. Staff immensely friendly. Felt like a friend had us over for dinner. Food was delicious and fresh. I had the dinner special and my friend the BBQ twist. Both were excellent.
(4)
Aja M.

Food is not the healthiest version of vegetarian cuisine. It is pretty tasty. However, stank attitudes and very dirty looking place. (closed down for rodent infestation last year.) I have vowed not to come back.
(2)
T M.

After reading other reviews I feel like I need to set the record straight. Eating vegan is not synonymous with eating healthy. Although elimanated the animal fat and protein will benefit anyone. Do a blood test, eat vegan for a month and get it rechecked. You will see improvement. Anyway, The food at soul veg. is good and you can choose to eat healthy or not. I love their raw kale salad, cucumber salad, and carrot salad. All delicious! They have excellent soups too. When you want something more filing the garvey burger is great (and no guilt). Probably 1/2 the calories of your average fast food burger and nothing had to die. If you have a sweet tooth the lemon pie rocks. Cookies are pretty good too. As far as service......I always get take out.
(4)
Jahi J.

Me and some of my friend playfully call it Slow Vegetarian because of the service, not just sometimes, but a lot of the time! The food is good, one of the few places if not the only place on the south side to get meat free, dairy free meals. That's probably why they take all day because they know you have to drive north to get something comparable, not comparable in taste because the food is pretty good, but in catering to vegans.
(3)
Alyssa V.

My parents and I meet here whenever we can arrange our schedules and enjoy a delicious, healthy feast. My father is the type to never, ever eat at restaurants-- so I'm sure he'd like me to give this more than five stars if I could. He's a picky vegan and sometimes I suspect germophobic tendencies. At any rate, I also love this restaurant and I recommend getting either whatever the lunch special is or one of their awesome sandwiches. I never pay, since I go with the rents, but I'm pretty sure the prices are very fair.
(5)
Alex K.

I like this place because when you get the right food it's really really good. The service is pretty bad. I think it's worse when you are white. From what I gather the place is owned by an African Jewish religious sect. (Why is best vegan food always made by obscure cults... Alice n friends anyone?). Basically if you are not african american be prepared to be stared at at least a little. BBQ tid bits were my favorite. It is far far away. The service can be slow. But the food is soooo good. The lady was helpfull though one time in telling us to not get one particular smoothy that was claiming to be the "cleanser". Deeply appreciated. Did I mention BBQ tid bits? I think sundays are pre made everyone gets the same thing food days. This is where I developed the taste for collard greens. I'm eastern european so it never came up in the foods i at before. It's worth a try. It's far but it's worth it for all its eccentricities.
(4)
jennifer b.

Finally! I made the trip after work last night with two friends for a visit to Soul Veg and the trip is more than worth it. The food here was FABULOUS, and I have no idea what other reviewers are talking about - our waitress was both attentive and super duper nice. And the prices were very reasonable - dinner special was $11, app was $5.50, smoothie was $6 (not much more than Jamba Juice, and a hell of a lot fresher-tasting). To start off, we split the BBQ Protein Tidbits and in addition to the tidbits themselves being super tasty and not too fried-tasting, the BBQ sauce was delicious - rich and tangy. The dinner special that night was chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, corn, and greens. None of us could resist, so we all ordered the same thing. We also all got the salad with the prince dressing to go with - delicious dressing, though hard to describe (garlicky and kind of sesame... the waitress said the recipe was kind of a secret). As far as the main dish, the gravy was delicious and the chicken friend steak was amazing as well - not too chewy or greasy. The pile of greens was also huge. None of us could finish our plates, and we all left with to go containers. But not before getting our smoothies. My friends got the tropical delight, which I tasted and was good, and I got strawberry heaven which was... well, appropriately named. Full of strawberries, bananas, and coconut milk - yum! It's too bad we didn't have room for dessert, because the sweet potato pie a woman across the room got looked divine. I did eat at the Soul Veg that was briefly open in Cleveland, and got the ice cream on my way out and remember it being very good as well. I'll get it next time, because there will most definitely be many many more trips to this place.
(5)
Em C.

This is easily the best vegan restaurant in the city. The servers have always been nice and helpful and I could easily eat the vegan mac and cheese every single day and never get tired of it. If you're new to soul veg, I highly recommend going for Sunday night dinner. On Sunday nights, there is a set menu and you get to try things from all over the menu, including a starter, main dishes with sides, and dessert. It changes every week and I've never had it not be incredible. I am, however, disappointed whenever this dinner doesn't include some mac and cheese. Their menu the rest of the week has always been really good, but it's difficult for me to pick just one thing. Coming on a Sunday night and having it be out of your hands can really be a good thing.The regular menu, however, is very very affordable, which I appreciate a lot and always makes me order more than I can possibly eat.
(5)
Jessie G.

Soul Veg is delicious, I crave it constantly. The BBQ tidbits/steak are SO yummy, ask for extra barbecue sauce. Let's see what else, always get their specials, they are the best thing by far on their menu. Tuesday is Mac N Cheeze day, which a lot of people seem to enjoy, I think it tastes pretty realistic, but nothing amazing. The collard greens and beans and such are great. A small note for vegans they do use honey in a lot of things and if you are concerned about that they will make accomadations for you. Their drinks are very over priced, and I don't really highly recommend their sandwiches, some are good, the gyros are nice. In the summers, they have a small farmers market outside, and do have desserts up at the counter when you walk in which are quite good. The people who work there are volunteers it seems for the church, so don't expect amazing service, it's laid back and nice. I'll be going there in the next couple of days if you want to meet up, haha. Otherwise, the south side, especially in this area is not as "scary" as you may think. The neighborhood is very friendly and the houses are cute.
(5)
Noel U.

We took a chance on this place, and wow were we impressed! It is a bit of a drive from downtown Chicago, but well worth it. We usually eat at Karyn's Cooked everytime we visit Chicago, but we're actually planning on eating here again! EVerything that we ordered was delicious. I had the bbq twist sandwich, while my partner had the special which consisted of sweet potatoes, greens, some sort of faux meat, and beans. We also had the onion rings and the fried mushrooms. It is possible to come here and eat for cheap. Some of the things on the menu are overpriced (the fried mushrooms being one of them), but my sandwich was only $6! It's weird how their prices work. Some things are really cheap, others are overpriced. Perhaps it is this way so that these meals are more accessible to everyone? We also tried two smoothies, the energy one and I had the strawberry heaven (?). Both thick and delicious. The desert is great too! I know that people have complained about service, but our server was excellent. Keep in mind that they do add gratuity onto groups of four people or more.
(4)
Regina D.

I visited Soul Vegetarian East and I have and will always love it! I am always happy to see people who are taking control of their health and respecting their temple by eating whole "live" foods. The Eternity Deli is THE BEST! I love just about any kinds of greens, so I had the marinated LIVE Kale Green, Chickpeas that was marinated in something that tasted like curry and the Dill Tofu, which was divine! I've had tofu before and it was not at all mushy or unflavored, but firm, meaty and picked up the flavors of the dill and manzanilla olives. I actually made a return trip later that evening for a little treat from the Juice Bar. I chose the "Boomerang" and it was a little sip of heaven - made with bananas, papaya juice, wheat germ, protein powder, coconut milk, ginseng and brown rice syrup. In a word, DELICIOUS! I've read some of the other comments about the decor, but SVE has a neighborhood feel and I wouldn't want them to change a thing - the decor lends to the charm. If you want "posh", then drive due North to Lincoln or Wicker Park - but remember, you pay for posh. I've also read some of the comments about the location being on the "South side". The location of SVE is a welcoming community and if you want to explore and have a great meal, then do so and make up YOUR OWN MIND. SVE, I wish I had more thumbs, I'd give you five!
(5)
Megan G.

I'm generally vegetarian, so my veggie crew and I headed down south of our usual north side stomping grounds in honor of my birthday. Like others have said, Soul Vegetarian is VERY unassuming. I read the reviews so I knew what to expect and wasn't surprised to confirm that our server was the only one working that Friday night, that the food took a bit of time to arrive, but it was worth it. Not everything was amazing but most items were quite good. I was disappointed to not see macaroni or friend green tomatoes on the menu. Both are soul food and vegetarian. In our group we tasted many items: The BBQ tofu appetizer was my favorite, the sauce amazing but not quite enough for all those fried morsels. The cream of vegetable soup was very tasty. My boyfriend ordered and enjoyed the special that day- a lasagna plate with greens and mixed vegetables. I was told the gyros and jerk wrap were very good too. I wasn't in love with my twist sandwich but I was trying to be adventurous so I wasn't too heart broken. The prince salad dressing was a new treat atop a well diversified salad. We enjoyed the lemon pie, caramel cake, and coconut soft serve for dessert. Our only disappointment other than not enough water refills (you get small glasses and she comes by not often enough) was the cornbread. One side note- the restaurant is not in a nice area. We unsuccessfully called a cab to pick us up at the restaurant and after an hour wait for that cab, and with no chance of a cab randomly riding by, we hoofed it to the bus stop. Again, not the best neighborhood to walk around in at night if you don't know where you're going.
(4)
Sara G.

This place is 5 super stars! If you are a vegetarian, love great hot sauces, and delicious tofu, this is the place to go. The first time I went, service was a bit on the slow side, but the second time I went the service was fab! I agree it's a bit of a strange place for the south side, but I'm taking everyone who comes to Chicago here. This is a gem in the midst of the south side. Don't miss it!
(5)
Laura I.

The workers are as sweet as can be, helpful too. However, I felt disappointed with my dish. After tasting a friend's, I apparently got the wrong thing, as theirs was pretty good. In the end, it left me feeling let down... and I left still hungry.
(2)
Mandee M.

My husband again a Meat Lover, didn't even realize this place was vegetarian. It is located at 205 E. 75th St. and their phone # is (773) 224-0104. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week, and I think we spend about $10-15 per person. This is very ethnic in its cuisine, so some may not like it, but it is good. It also looks like a major whole in the wall, but when you walk in the people are so warm. One note of caution, plan on spending some time waiting for your food. The culture and the experience is worth it though. It is an adventure, but you have to have an open mind.
(4)
Emblem P.

Please note that this is not a typical restaurant! A lot of reviews here are off because reviewers expected the usual experience. If you know what to expect, you will enjoy one of the better dining experiences in Chicago. So, allow me a detailed defense. Soul Veg is run by the Black Hebrews, a religious community of people of African descent who see themselves as descendants of the ancient Hebrews. Their base is in Chicago, but they also live in communities in Israel/Palestine and previously in Liberia. Their religion is a total way of life, following an interpretation of the Old Testament, adhering to communal life and to routines of bodily and spiritual health. This includes a strict vegan diet, without caffeine or salt (they use vegetable salts and seasoning). The restaurant is their way to share their way of life while earning money for their community. The bottom line is that their motivations for running the restaurant are not capitalist. They aren't trying to make a lot of money, especially not individually. That means they won't go out of their way to serve you or cater for tips via fake smiles/cleavage. They prepare the food the way they prepare it for themselves, and serve their customers as if they were guests at their house. Yes, it's slow, but I challenge you to find an authentically friendlier place. The food, if you're vegan or appreciative of vegan food, is paradise. Eat slowly and savor the purity of the ingredients. Also, check out their schedule for jazz or other live music! Good times. I recommend the dinner specials because they are well-balanced for a complete diet. And I strongly recommend the protein tidbits as an appetizer!
(5)
Jasmine D.

I had dinner here on Good Friday - lasagna with a ton of vegetable sides. Everything was delicious. Didn't get to try the sweet potato pie for dessert, but that is one of many yummy reasons to return, and soon!
(5)
Ayako M.

I had high hopes for Soul Veg...it seems like a vegetarian restaurant legend in Chicago but I was totally disappointed even a little grossed out by their food! The Mac and Cheez was mushy, the lasagna tasted like it was made with tomato sauce straight out of the can, the kale was way too salty and the bbq "beef" had a sliminess to it that was not appetizing at all. Totally not worth the trip!
(2)
Omnia I.

4 stars for the protein tidbits alone. The prince dressing is also great. I've realized that after I've filled up on the greasy tidbits, I have no room for an entree, which is just fine as most of the entrees aren't that special anyway. The breakfast is pretty good and the mac and cheese is amazing, except its not served daily. If the service were a bit better, this place might get 5 stars.
(4)
Shannon J.

Every good meal must begin with a story: I am a Logan Square living, non-vehicular owning Chicagoan, so Soul Veg had been on my radar for a very long time. Yes, they sell it at Whole Foods, but really, there is no comparison to an in restaurant experience. This past weekend, like any non-vehicle owner I turned up the powers of coercion and got a good friend to drive us down to Soul Veg so we could experience the real deal. I love restaurants that are a fixture within the community, and it is obvious that Soul Veg is precisely that. It's not super fancy or updated, but it is very clean and the server was a very friendly and well informed gentleman. After much debate we ordered: Protein tidbit appetizer, BBQ delight special and tofu and veggie rice (not sure the official name.) Let me just put this out there. If I were to die mid-bite of anything I've ever eaten, It would happily be on a bite of their fresh salad with their house dressing. Seriously. It was a ton of food for two people, but the leftovers were awesome the next day. The bbq sauce is phenomenal, the greens were everything I had been craving and the tofu and rice was delicious. Did I mention it was ALL VEGAN?! Oh, and my pocketbook didn't take much of a hit at all...in fact I had enough $ left to bring back extra salad dressing to enjoy for days after. Overall: Cheap, delicious and worth the drive South. It's officially in my top 5 favorite Veg restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Tony R.

I think that most of the reason I didn't get into the cuisine of African Hebrew Israelites is that it is vegan. I really and wholeheartedly believe that were I vegan and enjoyed vegan food, this place would be so incredibly delicious and amazing. Sadly, that is not the case, I am a self-professed worshipper of eating meat. So when I had a BBQ sandwich, my meat-corrupted soul wanted more!! It wanted meat!! However, that said, it wasn't half bad from what I recall, I mean, if you're going to have BBQ without meat.
(3)
Michael W.

Sunday dinner at Soul Veg is an experience not to be missed, but savored for all the flavor it brings. Something about this spot, just thinking about it makes me smile inside. Maybe because it conjures up memories as a child eating food around the long, oval table with grandparents and great-uncles and aunts, eating dinner between the late afternoon NFL game (usually the Cowboys whippin' up on some little sister) and Mike Wallace about the light up some fool's ass on "60 Minutes" with direct questions. Maybe it's the fact that I'm always reminded that -allegedly- Common, and Erykah Badu have dined here, so I heard "The Light" play in my head no matter what other relaxing music is playing inside. MAYBE it's just cause the food is so wonderful I forget that it's free from wages of the flesh. Yeah, Sout Veg isn't located on the Gold Coast. So what? Park your car quickly , go inside and be friendly. You live in (or around) Chicago. Welcome to the Southeast side. Can't handle it? Go nuke some frozen Morningstar, punk & be happy Mike Wallace isn't grilling you like tasty cauliflower. Yeah, yeah, the service here is slow. So what? You wanna rush a near perfect dining experience. Don't be a heathen. Sit down & be happy. Have a pre-dinner conversation with your friends and loved ones before you eat. Remember, you want to digest your food slowly. Sit back and enjoy. You're worth this treat.
(4)
Jenn C.

i love collard greens. Being from the south, it might be seem like an environmental hereditary thing...this is not the case. Not a mustard, collard, or kale green in the sea of texan comfort food. Funny how it took a trip up to yankee-ville to discover this delectable treat. Soul Veg is a comfort food genius. Bringing back all of those tasty tasty mama made pot luck dinner foods and throwing the animal junk to the curb...I applaud you. Granted, this place is not for the scale conscience...in fact, there is so much oil in most of the foods, that after one bite- you end up with a days worth of lip gloss. But that's what soul food is all about. Along with the oil, nutritional yeast (aka vegan pixie dust) is used with a heavy hand especially in the mac and cheeze. Check that out on Tuesday...or at a few markets in the Hyde park area (they carry soul veg take out boxes). I am a sucker for great dressings and the prince dressing which I believe is a miso base, is a heavy weight champion that turns an average mixed green salad into a veggie epiphany. For newbie vegans who dont cook, this place is great for a sweet fix...although, for a seasoned tongue they taste of sugar and fat. Service is slow, but its expected. Its soul food. Not fast food.
(3)
Pam B.

Amazing, unique eats. Don't go when in a rush. Go when you can sit and savor the food and not be worried about when it's coming. Bottom line, just bring some pepto bismol and patience and you will be in heaven :).
(4)
Jennifer C.

Oh Soul Veg with your chicken fried seitan, how do I love thee! However, ever since you got shut down last year for health code violations, I feel like we've grown apart. Maybe it was meant to be...
(5)
Eric G.

I am a carnivore. I never thought I could ever be a vegetarian, but after a visit to Soul Vegetarian, my mind has changed. Of course, I will still eat meat, but if I ever feel the need to have a vegan moment, I know where I will go. This place is fantastic. The prices are great and portions are more than enough. I tried the protein tidbits (?) after seeing it mentioned by reviewers--that could have been my meal alone! I also got the jerk tofu wrap which was incredibly tasty. The staff there is so friendly and welcoming. I really enjoyed it. I just wish it wasn't so far away so I could go more often, but I will definitely be back!
(4)
Ed C.

The food was absolutely delicious. I had veggie tidbits and a BBQ sandwich and both were delicious.
(5)
Laura P.

Great restaurant. The service is great. The food isn't the best soul food I've ever eaten, but it certainly is the best vegetarain food that I have. And it's vegan! The greens are great, wonderful flavor, not bitter at all. The bbq was pretty good, not better than the real thing though. A great place non the less, and I will go back.
(4)
Lizzy G.

I loved my experience at Soul Vegetarian! I don't know why I waited so long to go there! After so many reviews about slow service, I finally went on a slow, rainy weeknight. I decided not to go hungry expecting to wait. Maybe this is why we didn't have any problems at all! The service was fluid. I won't say our waitress had the greatest attitude, she was a little distracted, but nothing went wrong and all of our food was delivered in a timely fashion and it was absolutely delicious! There were about 4 other tables when we arrived but our waitress came over with water right away and told us about that evenings specials. She came back a few minutes later and took our order and with in minutes of ordering our soup was on the table. Promptly after that our dinner was served. No problems at all! She checked on us a few times and then offered dessert, which is worth saving room for! My boyfriend had the dinner special and it was almost more than he could eat. The buffalo tofu was a bit much for him, but he's a meat eater. The greens, mac&cheese and veggies were delicious though. I had the BBQ twist sandwich and I think I could eat it multiple times a week, it's just so good. Nothing was expensive either, I mean dinner was under $20! Who complains about that price!! I did feel a little bad about the ticket though, once I thought about the tab, I realized they didn't charge us for dessert! I'm glad I left a nice tip. The dessert was excellent! The coconut cake just needs some vegan ice cream on the side and it would have been perfect. The lemon pie was out of this world! Best I've had, and it's vegan to boot! What's not to love. This restaurant has been around for a while now, with good reason. It is a vegetarian dining destination and staple in the Chicago food scene. If you can't make it to the south side, force yourself through the crowd and visit them at their Taste of Chicago booth (if it returns, and i hope it does, it was my first stop last year!!). The food is good, and in my opinion would be worth the wait, if you even have to wait...!
(4)
alicia g.

I LOVE Soul Veg. I love it so much that I'm willing to ignore the fact that a year ago 3/4 people I went to dinner with ended up with food poisoning. TOTALLY WORTH IT.
(4)
Allie S.

Oh, wow. Yum! I recommend the gyro!
(5)
Patrice R.

This is comfort food at its best and as close to home cooked as you can get. My favorite items are all fried, but the kale greens are expertly cooked to perfection and there are other healthy items from which to choose. During the week you can order from the menu, but on Sunday there is one complete pris fixe dinner with all the trimmings for $14 which has been great! The atmosphere is interesting, the patronage eclectic and prices reasonable. I dream about the apple pie.
(4)
Camara S.

How much do I love this restaurant? On my last visit home I rented a car at Midway Airport and, instead of seeing my relatives immediately, I headed straight for Soul Vegetarian and ate lunch then ordered my dinner to go. Before heading back to San Diego, I ordered some more food to go, froze it, and smuggled it into my suitcase.
(5)
Izabella d.

Soul veg has been on my list of places to eat at for a while. We finally made the trek out there,, and were ready to eat some mad tasty food. We ordered the fried protein tidbits for appetizer -- tasty, large portion, good bbq sauce for dipping. We also ordered the bbq twist sandwich, jerusalem sandwich and the daily special - bbq chunks with potato salad greens and corn on the cob. The food was individually tasty, the greens were amazing -- but the sad part was that the protein was so similar in all of the dishes. From the appetizer down it was all deep fried seitan in bbq sauce. This could definitely be our fault for not ordering different dishes,, but the menu did a medium job at describing the dishes. Aaaand it turns out mac and cheese, something that i was so excited about, is only served on tuesdays!!! the corn bread was a bit dry and dense, but the cream of broccoli soup was delicious, made with coconut milk. For desert we had lemon cream pie -- super tasty, and all the other deserts sounded amazing as well. Overall, there was too little variety, a bit too much deep fried to get over 3 stars. But deserts and greens and the daily special deserve 4 stars. Also the service is amazing. The staff is engaging and so helpful. I think I would go back for a sunday dinner or tuesday mac and cheese.
(3)
Mimi S.

Once upon a time... this was a really good and affordable option for non-meat eaters... that time has past. When I first became a vegan, I didn't know how to prepare tofu or the like neither did I know what was "acceptable" to eat 910 yrs ago). Since then, I have learned both but most importantly, there are countless restaurants that cater to my culinary needs. Some of those places are also cleaner, less expensive, more attractive inside and more attentive to the patrons. I made the decision long ago to never patronize this location again. However, a coworker insisted on buying lunch for me so I ordered a dinner special. It consisted of kale greens, BBQ tofu, salad with prince and mac N cheese. It was a delicious meal ($20, I later found out!) so I decided to go in later for live (non- cooked) foods. I waited 25 minutes for 3 side dishes of non cooked food AND paid $15 for it...I'm so over soul veg....sorry guys, Karyn's has you beat on every level... For those who have never tried SVE before, give it a go, just make sure to ask about there current inspection status!
(2)
Danielle P.

Really good food for the most part. Affordable pricing. Service is definitely slow...if you are in a hurry or are not a patient person in general, you probably won't have a good experience. The friendly employees somewhat make up for the slow service.
(4)
Shayna W.

Maybe this review is unfair because the food I had was purchased packaged from Whole Foods and not fresh at the restaurant, but it was really gross. I'm used to mac and cheese not tasting like real mac and cheese, but theirs was so nasty that I would have thrown up if I had a weaker stomach. Instead I powered through about half with a disgusted face until I just had to stop. The greens were just as bad. The tofu was fine, but, come on, this is tofu, how bad can it be.
(1)
rebecca g.

one of the best joints for fake meat in chicago--and perhaps the only one for soul food? which makes the atrocious service and 'tude towards 'outsiders' worth it. i usually go with a big group and the running joke is that if you order a drink and a meal, you're only getting 1. likewise, not everyone at the table will get their order, and about half will just be plain wrong. and you will wait an hour MINIMUM, even if there are only 2 full tables in the restaurant. don't ask: just eat whatever they put in front of you and enjoy the uncannily meaty wheat gluten-y goodness! we suspect they're toking up in the back, because there's no other way to account for their insanely laid-back, slowwwwwness and order F-ups. it's all part of the Soul Veg experience: if you are a Northsider, you spend an hour getting there, another hour waiting, and an hour eating. i keep waiting for them to raise their prices; it's just too addictively good and affordable. the special drinks--carob shakes, fruit shakes, etc.- are incredible. the veggie gyros, fried mushrooms and tofu, anything gluten that they batter, bake, or fry...amazing. one caution: beware of sundays. this is when they historically offer only 1 dish: a higher-priced "special" of not-so-great options--bland vegan mac n cheese, bitter collards, and dry cornbread taking up the space that should be occupied by the marvelous but paltry scoop of BBQ twist "meat". the only reason to go is for the fake meat, so IMO anything else is extraneous filler. plus, due to intense vegan restrictions (no butter, no honey, no etc. etc. etc.), the sides are just blah and not at all foodie-licious.
(4)
Jacob R.

So, what's not to like? 1. Probably the worst service, ever. 2. The main dining area looks like a 3rd world banquet hall. 3. You're lucky to get water. 4. The food is pretty bland, and not worth the trip to the south side. I had most of the tofu dishes. Beware!
(2)
Ann A.

Solid delicious vegan soul food. What more can you ask for? We trekked down for dinner Saturday evening and noshed on the dinner special (bbq seitan, kale, potato salad, an ear of corn, and soup or salad). We also ordered a few appetizers, as we were famished. The fried mushrooms and onion rings were seasoned and battered and inhaled within a few minutes of arriving on our table. We also took dessert to go (as we had sufficiently stuffed our faces and had no room) and tried the lemon pie, apple pie, and coconut cake. So good! I highly recommend this joint if you're in the 'hood or if you're wanting some down home goodness.
(4)
kimb s.

Leave it to Chicago to corner the market on obscenely unhealthy vegan fare. Obscenely unhealthy, but awesome nonetheless. This place and the vegetarian Chicago Diner will make sure all vegan Chicagoans fit in with the rest of the town (where livin' large is literal).
(4)
Egan V.

Vegan soul food at it's best! Rich and comfort-y the food is delicious and the service very friendly. Worth the trek for north-siders and visitors.
(4)
T. T.

Decent food paired with GREAT, courteous service.
(3)
Amanda A.

I'm not a vegan. I'm not a vegetarian. Yet, for a long long time, this held the crown of my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Why? Because the food is so amazingly good that you can overlook the fact that you wait 10 minutes for water sometimes. I brought a friend here once and he was surprised that he wasn't eating meat. I love their smoothies and I swear to God, the strawberry shortcake is better than any cow version. Taaasteeeee.
(5)
Kim B.

Go with a group, prepare for a slow-paced meal and plan on minimal physical activity afterwards. Soul Veg is a landmark for vegan food in Chicago, and the praise is well deserved. The food is consistent, the specials are great and the staff is super friendly (although service is a bit on the slower side, I admit). Prince dressing = yum.
(4)
V S.

Went here to celebrate a friend's graduation. Slow does not cut it. The waitress didn't even ask for our order. We ordered two smoothies a veggie gyro and a special. Almost 30 minutes after we ordered, the waitress comes out to say they no longer have the lunch special but I can have spaghetti or lasagna. I say spaghetti. Fifteen minutes later my friend receives the gyro but my food is no where to be seen and hour and fifteen minutes later, I tell her to bring my food to go because we are already late and to forget about the drinks. She asks: What drinks? I say forget it. I ask for the check. She never returns. We go to the register, no one says anything. A woman is looking at a furnture website. When she turns around and holds out her hand. We tell her we didn't get the receipt. She pulls up the order and is about to charge us for the drinks that never came. We tell her that we no longer want them. At that moment the waitress comes out and has an attitude because the cashier tells her that she had to remove several items off our bill. We pay and get out.....never to return for sure!
(1)
jessica S.

the service was terriable ! the food is kinda pricey and they have no appreciation for your patronage!
(1)
Becky S.

Maybe it's because I'm a happy omnivore, but I really wasn't terribly impressed. I went there on a Sunday evening with an ex boyfriend who had raved about the place.. I liked the idea of having a Sunday dinner and no menu to fuss over.. it felt like being at my grandparents'. However, as my ex noted, "It wasn't even that the service was terrible; it's that it was non-existent." Over an hour wait for a meal in a half-full restaurant? I ordered a peanut butter smoothie (which, come on... $7.00? Seriously?) that thankfully never even showed up in the hour+ it took for our food to come out. You would think with a set menu and 10 (counted, perhaps more?) staff on hand, things would go smoothly, but alas, it was pretty disappointing. Several tables just got up and left in the time we were there... and it seemed that everyone had problems with the service (or lack thereof). When our food finally came, it was tasty, but nothing to write home about, and they had run out of dessert... again, fine, but not offering a substitution? I did overhear the owner day-dreaming about opening up a north side location, which I'd be open to trying, but until they figure out how to get a handle on the one they have, I couldn't imagine that happening. The restaurant is pretty good for that area, but I don't know how well it would fare in an area with tastier options.
(1)
trieu n.

i've been here a handful of times, and i can honestly say that each time i go, the service progressively gets worse. the food is always spot-on, from the smoothies to the tofu tidbits to the barbecue twist sandwich. i've never ordered something that i didn't enjoy. however, i think i've had my fill of soul vegetarian east for a long time. i always come here expecting to wait; the restaurant doesn't even have to be busy, but for some reason, our food takes a long time to come out. also, half of the table always gets served before the other half. on many occasions, half of the table was almost done with their meal before the other half had received their meal. so why would i keep coming back? well, i have a group of vegan friends who appreciate the vegan soul food, and somehow i always get suckered into going. no longer, i say! on my last visit, the same as always occurred. the dining room was only half-filled. the food was slow and half of us got served before the other half. however, this time, we had the rudest, most inattentive waitress i've ever met. she had completely ignored one member of our party, and she had to be hunted down so that he could order. we had to ask for a drink menu 3 times. one of my friends is allergic to coconut, but coconut was used in a smoothie he ordered, even though it was not listed in the ingredient list. when we tried to send it back, she insisted that there was no coconut in it and gave us a hard time when asking for one without coconut. when she finally asked the cook if he had used coconut, he said he had, and we had to wait another 15 minutes before a new drink came out. no apology or anything. she gave us a terrible headache when we asked her to put 2 people on a separate bill, and then decided she didn't want to do it. we arrived at 2:30 and our meal lasted over 2 hours...and not because we were busy chatting. the food may be good, but after such a horrendous experience, i'll never go back.
(2)
Adrian D.

DUUDE! DUUUUUDE! okay seriously, Soul Veg is where it is at. The food is sooo good. The service can be kinda funny sometimes. Like the server pulling a cell phone out of her very authentic looking African wraps in the middle of yr order. I honestly found it more entertaining then insulting, but I'm easy to please. The people who work there are really nice and always take time to talk to you and quite often remember at least yr face. I ran into some of the guys at a festival last summer and they remembered me when i came in a few months later. The tofu/Seitan tidbits rule. if you have a friend who is going to soul veg, have them bring you some back. If your friends are anything like mine, you will probably have at least a few left by the time they get back to you. Sometime they don't survive the car ride home.
(4)
Melissa M.

Amaaaaaaaziiiiingggg!!!!!!!! I almost went veggie just because of this place. I live all the way on the north side, and I'd go back again and again, even tho it's far. I was taken there by friends who live in SKOKIE, and it's one of their favorites. Can you say "well worth the trek?"
(5)
Amanda B.

Am I the only one that doesn't think that this food is very great? I heard so many great things for years about Soul Veg and finally tried it some months back and was disappointed. The food was just very heavy and didn't make me feel great when I was done. I did like ice cream though. Maybe I should try a Sould Veg in another city like Atlanta?
(3)
ro k.

Absolutely delicious. The service was wonderful. I liked the other customers and the general atmosphere. The BBQ platter was amazing; I could eat the BBQ sauce on its own. Hebrew fries were well done (and there was ketchup available!). Tofu salad tasted like a subtle potato salad minus the smelly egg bit. Carrot juice was fresh and hit the spot. I would go here every week.
(5)
Natalie S.

This place is great if you like slow service, getting served the wrong thing, paying $15 for boiled vegetables and going home with a stomach ache and a salty attitude. I used to put up with it when I was younger but at this point, I'm too close to 30 years old to put up with getting treated like crap. There are plenty of veggie joints in Chicago where the food is rad and the peopel aren't dicks.
(2)
Jena S.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST VEGGIE FOOD AROUND! I live no where near this place and I will drive there every week to get my BBQ twist sandwich. The restaurant is a little rough around the edges but no biggie.
(5)
Kevin M.

After recently moving to Chicago I have tried to get to as many vegetarian friendly places as fast as possible...I love you veggie-Chicago, and Soul Vegetarian is now at the top of my list, sorry Handlebar. The BBQ Protein Tidbit appetizer was only $5 and it must have been more than a pound of tofu. I was puzzled at how they could afford such low prices, but after reading a previous post regarding the proprietors beliefs I now know. The service was sporadic and slow, but those tidbits, those delicious protein tidbits kept me company till my meal came. Basically I would give five stars to any place with tidbits so wonderful.
(5)
Gloria B.

I agree that the service is slow and the restaurant is not at all fancy but their greens are the bomb!!! I live on the southside (Go SOX!!) so it's easy to get to for me. Parking can be an issue.
(4)
Sara O.

Being a vegetarian myself, I always appreciate places that have veg food. This place, however, is amazing. The prices are great, and the atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The food, on top of that, is delicious in its variety. I haven't been there in over a year and just thinking about it has me salivating. If you think you might not like soul food, try it anyway, you will. I'm a picky eater but I ate everything in front of me!
(5)
Sandy J.

Delicious. We all ordered the dinner special. It came with soup or salad. The soup was yummy, highly flavorful. Then the main course, greens, chunks of barbeque, and corn. We all ordered different desserts. I had coconut soft serve ice "cream". Someone ordered coconut creme pie. And the sweet potato pie is wonderful. Reasonable prices and great service.
(5)
Ben E.

You don't go here to get healthy vegetarian food (although it is available if you want it). Instead, head to Soul Veg for the protein tidbits (awful name, but they're amazingly flavorful nuggets of deep-fried seitan accompanied by absolutely perfect bbq sauce), the BBQ Twist sandwich, or the dinner special of the day. Not everything is great here, and the service can be of variable quality, ranging from slightly flaky to flat-out incompetent or surly. But who cares? The collard greens are fantastic, the fries are some of the best I've ever had, and the vegan lasagna is a spot-on rendition of what you'd find in a homestyle Italian restaurant. This isn't gourmet dining, and if that's what you expect then stay away, but it's one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I just wish it weren't so far away.
(5)
Zach H.

Delicious and healthy food. Even though a lot of it is fried (must start out with the BBQ tofu delites) it doesnt leave you feeling greasy or disgusting. They usually have some kind of dinner or lunch special going where you can get a LOAD of food for $6-10. Most definitely worth the trip down south.
(5)
Ben V.

Man, so I was in Chicago for 10 days last summer, and I ate at Soul Veg 3TIMES! It was so absolutely delicious. It is also not cheap, which led me to some creative eating for the rest of my overland journey back to California. Okay, so what stands out in my memory... Peach Cobbler, mmmm, man that was so delish. Definately the smoothies, you gotta get a smoothie with your meal--I vaguely remember getting some kind of peanut butter smoothie that was particularly incredible... The vegan mac and cheese is pretty impressive, and of course I love the collard greens, but those are pretty hard to fuck up. So like, of course, 5 stars for Soul Veg, when in Chicago, it's THE place to blow your wad. And then dumpster dive pizza in Wyoming at 2am because you ate there so much. YUUUUUMMMMMM!
(5)
Rob D.

Man, I really want to give this place 5 stars because I think I probably didn't make the best menu choice. I got the special, which was lasagne. First, let me say it was the best vegan lasagne ever. And.. it came with these fried bean curd strips that were pretty great. Pumpkin pie was good - maybe a little too sweet and honestly the portion was just too big (which I guess isn't really a valid complaint). The problems were pretty clear: a bit too much money for the amount of food I got; a big pile of sprouts fills the rest of the plate but it's not fooling anyone; the peas were canned (maybe it's customary in the tradition of this type of food but they suck when compared to fresh or even frozen peas); no sauce for the strips (it was really needed - I was lucky to have a few drips of salad dressing left over). Oh yeah.. the salad and (garlic) dressing were GREAT. After all that I would definitely go here again and I would definitely recommend it - I just wish I knew what to order to really get their best (I was trying to do that by ordering the "special" but I think that's bad logic when it comes to restaurant dining - according to Anthony Bordain, anyway).
(4)
sandra o.

The food is delicious. I agree with those who say the service is slow. It is slow for just about everyone--regardless of color of skin or ethnicity. They are very creative cooks. They have also mastered some raw food dishes. I highly recommend this restaurant. I don't go there all of the time because I do not want to overdo it when it comes to eating fried foods. To those complaining about their world view and belief system, I do not go there for that. I go there because I enjoy the food.
(4)
Nancy M.

best. barbecue. ever.
(5)
A D.

My experience on the wait time has always been positive, with my order being served within 10 mins. I always go Saturday mornings for breakfast and order the same thing -- pancakes, tofu scramble, and their homemade veggie sausage -- yummity yum yum. I think most of these items are prepared in advance because they sell out as the morning progresses (for this reason, I call ahead to make sure they will still have what I want by the time I get there). I think Soul Vegetarian is working hard improve wait time.
(4)
Anna S.

Their food is very good, and I have had good experiences there. However, a few weeks ago I went and got the worst service I have ever seen at any restaurant. We waited over an hour for our food; the waitress apologized and said the restaurant was full when it was plainly over half empty. While we were waiting, the waitress did passive-aggressive things like refilling the water of every single customer in the room and walking right past us to the door without filling ours. It seems from other comments that there might be extenuating circumstances for the bad service but really the food is not worth service like this.
(2)
Sy S.

Yes, the service can be very, very slow. And, yes it is a long drive. These are the only reason it didn't get five stars. Just relax and know that they are on their own time and then you will have a great experience. Don't forget to try the BBQ protien tidbits for an appetizer...they are amazing.
(4)
David F.

Are you looking for some soul food without the pork? This is definitely the right spot. The make fresh smoothies, wheat grass juice, salads, meat substitute dishes and soups that will make your tongue smile. The price is right, although some of the portion sizes are a bit small. That is a good thing because I always want to order half the menu.
(5)
Arrow M.

This the strangest, coolest, tastest vegetarian joint I've ever had the pleasure of dining in. If you like vegetarian and soul food, then you have to try it. It's out-a-sight!
(5)
Dee C.

I just got back from one of the best dining experiences I've had yet as a vegan in Chicago, and at the risk of sounding like I'm on Soul Veg's payroll, I wanna tell everyone about it -- especially to balance some of the comments about the service. Our group of three arrived around 7 on a Friday night and was seated right away by a waiter who would prove to be consistently friendly and professional -- there when you needed him, but unobtrusive. Of our appetizers, the deep-fried tofu bits were a standout. I couldn't decide on just one main course and, with most of these around five or six bucks, I didn't need to. My tofu barbecue twist sandwich ended up on a fork, though the bun stood up well to the sauce and the trimmings provided a nice crunchy counterpoint. The big bowl of greens was fresh and well-seasoned, with a side of crumbly cornbread to soak up the juices. I couldn't finish it all, but I tried my darndest -- despite knowing that dessert would be necessary. As we were coming in, we had seen through the window a series of gorgeous cakes displayed on trays; it turned out they were holding a bake sale in the other room. The sweet girl working there was glad to hand out samples. Everything was as good as it looked, and we took home a couple of slices of a smooth peanut-butter-carob layer cake and a couple of mini-pies, allowing us to still order ice cream. About that ice cream: it's one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. The flavor of the night was nominally carrot, but that was only one in a constellation of flavors that tasted like pumpkin pie and carrot cake somehow combined, distilled and made magically light. Just the right note to end the summer on.The texture's somewhere between soft-serve and sorbet, and a (generous) small is only $1.50. The atmosphere was quiet and comfortable, with soft R&B on the stereo and a few clusters of balloons advertising the bake sale. Forgettable, but you won't want much to distract you from this food. It's a bit of a drive for those not on the far South Side, but we enjoyed walking down a congenial stretch of 75th Street before and after the meal. I'll be dragging anyone who will come along with me down there again soon.
(5)
Always Right C.

Wow! After what seemed like the drive of an eternity (from Wicker Park), I was so very pleased with the end product. Every item on their menu is vegan and delicious. I had the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and greens. I also tried a few bites of their other items and there wasn't a single item that left me disappointed. Great price for good food.
(5)
Tobia C.

Soul Vegetarian is truly a great experience. The name really describes the place well. The trip will be well worth it. Vegans eat to your heart's content. They do use meat substitue...and as someone who eats meat...I was completely satisfied with the preparation. If you find yourself on the Southside....and near the 70's...don't miss out.
(5)
David C.

This is my first time here. Had the breakfast sandwich and it taste so good & fresh!!! The staff are very helpful & knowledgeable. Open to answer all your questions. I will come again
(4)
William C.

Really enjoyed my dinner. Wish I could eat this on a daily especially from the raw bar!!!
(5)
Januarie Y.

Let me start by saying I am not a vegan, so when my sisterfriend told me we were going to a vegan restauarant where they served 'faux meat' (forgive me as I don't know the proper way to phrase it), I experienced two emotional hunger transitions: 1. I was too damned hungry to play and say anything other than ok, although I had come prepared with steak n shake coupons before I knew where we were headed. 2. I don't like these places. I don't like faux meat. Awww man. :/ We arrived and this quaint little spot that sits on a corner in Chicago was black owned and inviting. The chandaliers gave a soulful glam to the dining area and the line of people on the side where the salads and homemade ice cream are served stayed full. I scanned the menu looking for something that did NOT contain the faux meat. I settled on a noodle veggie plate. It was FIYAH! FIRE! GREAT ! As in gooooood! Yes, I was starving which means there was a small possibility that it wasn't as good as I thought it was. But that's not true. It was really quite delicious....there wasn't a 'sauce', but the noodles and veggies (onions, sundried tomatoes, spinach & mushrooms) had been tossed in ginger and probably some type of sesame and olive oil combination. I ate until I could not eat anymore and not to be wasteful, I took the small leftovers home. The plate was huge and anyone can get full from half a serving. I didn't like the flavor of the water. It tasted like it was flavored with lemon but came from a busted up, unfiltered pipe that has an attitude towards clean water. But the food was amazing. I would definitely go back and have this again. I might even try the greens they offered and there was also another veggie plate that read like it would cure my hunger pains as well. The service was cool, the waitress was friendly and helpful and the hallway that leads to the bathroom is decorated full of vintage photos of famous (and even non-famous) people. It's a welcoming atmosphere. The guests seemed happy and peaceful and by the time we left, my stomach was in agreeance. If you're in the area and want to try something new or if you are looking for a really good vegan spot with good portions for the price, you definitely need to give Soul Vegetarian a try. I call it a #WIN.
(4)
Victoria J.

Food was awesome! It was delicious and hot when it arrived to our table. It did take a while for it to come but I believe that was because it was cooked fresh. Here's what we got and I would recommend. Collard greens with tomato and onion On top with a fresh slice of cornbread Protein tidbits(yummmm) with Bbq sauce Vegetable stir fry Jerk wrap sandwich And yummy peach cobbler!!!
(5)
Andre P.

Being a vegetarian from the south is hard but this place fills the hole in my stomach. it has Great food. Service is slow, but its so worth it. I've had everything on menu and never been disappointed. the cauliflower with barb que puts me in a good mood for days.
(5)
Henry L.

Delicious, very reasonably priced food that comes in large portions. What more could a person want in a restaurant. I especially recommend the soy ice cream, which tasted like a mix between froyo and regular dairy yogurt. Definitely will be returning here sometime soon!
(5)
Chris Z.

Years ago I swore off Soul Veg. "Never again" I screamed to the heavens... But, I am back. And boy does it feel good to be home.
(5)
Bonnie L.

I have wanted to get over here for a long time. It is not conveniently located for me. I live way North and work late. Every time I have thought to go there, they would be closed by the time I got over there. I knew that I needed to plan this out! So, Doctors appointment at Northwestern memorial in the middle of the day......left work early and would still have plenty of time afterwards so I knew that would be my chance. Trekked over there midday after my appointment. We noticed that the menu did not have the barbeque fare that we had heard about and inquired with the server. She said that the lunch menu and the dinner menu were different but if we just waited about ten minutes they were switching things over. We happily obliged. Oh man, was that food good. We ordered the special that came with tofu barbeque strips, greens, cornbread and mac and cheese. Everything was simply delicious. I really liked that the corn bread was more savory, not super sweet. Just as it should be when coming with a meal, in my opinion. We also ordered some hot teas that were really good, as well.. Upon leaving, we noticed that up in the front there is a hot bar that you can order take out from. There was a huge variety of offerings that I know I would just love. I wish I lived closer to this place. I am def going to have to plan another southside day very soon!
(5)
Angie K.

Soul Veg continues to own my soul. I made the hike over for my 2nd visit and while they were out of the BBQ twist, I loved everything else I had. Yes, my heart broke into a million little pieces but I took it as a sign to expand my horizons. Since we had a groupon (they come around every year around March, check for it!), we got the gyro, jerk wrap, east coast BBQ roast and tidbits, of course. We over-order because we need to keep eating this stuff the next day. Once it hits your lips, it's just so good. Fries come with the orders and they're ok. You don't make the trek to SV for fries though. You don't even need to eat the fries. Server was chill and while we waited for the grub, I walked to the restroom and noticed photos on the hallway walls of the owner chillin with Barack and Whoopi amongst other famous people. Damn, can I be your friend too? Overall, everything was still freakin' phenomenal. The place was packed and the AC wasn't on but It didn't matter. My belly experienced joy like it was Christmas morning. I could honestly eat Soul Veg daily and not get tired. Til the next time, my soul will be dreaming of SV.
(5)
Stephanie F.

BEST vegetarian ribs I've ever had. Carrot salad was great. If I had more time in Chicago, I would so venture again. There were so many items on the menu I want to try. Sloppy joes... a ton of things that looked good. One of the servers said he appreciated my making the trip there. If you're a vegetarian coming by Chicago, you should try their food The restaurant is located in a neighborhood where I felt like people were shooting stares at me. I've heard Chicago's neighborhood's are greatly segregated. Coming from Queens, NY, it was a very odd thing to me. I tried not to let it influence my behavior. Walking on the street it was hard to look near a person's eyes. Not something I usually do, but weird to have it in the forefront of my thoughts when doing something easy like walking.
(5)
Kamil T.

I used to prep and cook for Soul Veg...even I adore this restaurant. I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU SOUL VEGGGG!!! LOL Anyway, I love to bring my children here on a hot summer's day. We do the same thing each time. We go to their Eternity Juice Bar and order food, then we order hot food from the restaurant to take home. Eternity Juice Bar -soft served vegan ice-cream cones -Raw/Cold salads...chick peas, bean curd, kale, tofu, artichokes, olives, you name it! OMG, DO NOT FORGET the JALAPENO CHEESE (they put a huge dollop on top of your salad). -bags of honey mustard kettle chips or crackers to dip. ***This hits the spot on a hot day when you are hungry but don't want to eat anything heavy*** Then, we order food to go from the restaurant. -everyone orders their favorite foods or dinners, a dessert to go, and a yummy ginger brews or drink. ***While we wait for our food, we hang around, talk, listen to music, look at all the pictures and artwork on the walls. We always see people we recognize, cool vibes, and positive people from all over Chicago and IL. We leave with our bellies and our souls satisfied and full!***
(5)
Adrienne B.

I agree with whoever wrote that this food is so good it makes you want to put it in your pockets! At first I didn't know what they were talking about and I even made fun of reading that on yelp but I realized what they really meant as we left. The food was so yummy that I carried my leftover few bites of dessert in my pocket all across town on public transportation for the rest of the day. So if you don't wanted stuffed pockets maybe bring a side bag with you because you WILL want to take food with you, not just what you ate, but all the grab and go items behind the deli counter look amazing. We would order again: Garvey Burger with fries Greens Side Garden Salad with amazing garlic dressing Fried Cauliflower Onion Rings Coconut Cake Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting We would pass on: The fried steak and fried tofu that came in the combo basket BUT I can see why some folks would like those flavors, just not our cup of tea!
(5)
Amira F.

One thing I love about this place is their veggie plate. You do not have to pick different sides to create one even though that idea is also appreciated! I have enjoyed in the past the vegan shake it is so good. I do not eat any ice cream anymore however If you do please enjoy yummy! It is a good place to take a group or friends and family. It is a very nice social atmosphere!
(5)
Christina S.

I love there food you absolutely need to try the protein tidbits you wouldn't even know they weren't meat they taste so good the servers are pretty nice they have a nice ambiance. There chili is pretty good also
(4)
Alexis M.

It is always such a treat to come here. I like Sundays where you get the preset Sunday dinner, but I also love choosing my own meal. I always hop down here when at the Museum of Science and Industry or near the lake. There are so many vegan options, which is heaven for me. My favorite is the combo fried basket-- the bbq sauce is AMAZING. The fried tofu and cauliflower are also great. I always like the soup. Also, the fresh salads next door are amazing. You can't beat it.
(5)
Rick M.

I can't believe I've never written a review on Soul Veg! This restaurant is fantastic. Even if you're not a vegetarian, there's nothing to not love about it other than the location. I'm a carnivore, but my partner is a vegetarian. We're always looking for the next best vegetarian/vegan option out there, but I don't know if we have ever had anything quite like Soul Vegetarian. This restaurant is completely unique! I'd prefer it to the Chicago Diner or Native Foods any day. If you want real soul food, this is the place to go. Hands down best soul food in Chicago - and the great thing is they manage to do this completely vegetarian. Everything we've ordered (and we've had a lot) is delicious. A huge plus is that they always seem to have a special on Sundays- some kind of dinner like beef tips or meatloaf; always with all the trimmings. We've never been disappointed with portions, quality, flavor, or pricing. You get a lot for what you pay. I swear that if I took another carnivore here and didn't tell them they weren't eating meat, they'd never even know it. I'm pretty sure Soul Veg is distributing food to some of the local Whole Foods and Barnes and Nobles. That's awesome because it can be really difficult to make the trek all the way down south to 75th from where we live on the Northwest side. As I mentioned, the only con is the location. It's sooooo far away and a nice long walk from public transportation. The area itself is fine - but I'm not so sure about surrounding neighborhoods, so just know where you're going. With that being said, it IS worth the journey getting there. I am looking forward to our next visit. I'd highly recommend this place!
(5)
Someone Y.

Nice restaurant, bad food. I'm a vegan and I decided not to go the raw route, hence I tried what everyone on yelp was raving about: bbq tidbits and the bbq twist sandwich. I think this place goes "vegetarian" by substituting everything with tofu. The tidbits were eatable only because they are hot and fried, but I threw away the twist sandwhich after a few bites.. I love the atmosphere and I was dying to try some of their cobblers or desserts. I think I tried the wrong entrees.. Don't get me wrong- I love soul food. I have a gf who takes me down that route ever so often. She also takes me to Ms. lees which is on point!! I'm just guessing but I think this place is trying to make the ever so popular soul food more healthy. I just don't know if u take something with so much sugar, fat, Greece, salt and cholesterol and turn it vegan? Ever... Great atmosphere and great place inside, but the food wasn't very good for my taste considering I've tried a few other vegetarian/vegan/raw places in my dad
(1)
Victor D.

If you are in Chicago do yourself a favor and check this place out. Great vibe. Good food. Nice service.
(5)
Vince C.

Food is great. Just don't go there hungry because there has always been a long wait. Not because they are busy but because they are slow. However, good place to eat.
(4)
Irineo B.

This is an amazing Vegan spot. A real hidden gem located in Englewood Chicago. I had the Macaroni and cheese, kale,salad and carrot salad along with the bbq vegetarian dish. It was like no other! I'll be back with someone special!
(5)
Alicia G.

I've been eating here since I became a vegetarian and still come here even though I eat fish. I've tried just about everything on the menu, but here are my faves: 1. The battered tofu sandwich - it's like a fish fillet, with their homemade mayo and all, really really great 2. Small salad with Prince dressing - i have no idea what is in the dressing, but it is AMAZING!!! Too good. 3. Fries and Onion Rings - sometimes these are too greasy, but they are delicious 4. The live kale salad - ok, i haven't had this is in forever but it was delicious and really good. Raw before raw was cool. 5. The dinner special - it changes daily, but has always been good and very filling. The service is what it is, slow. Don't try to come in and out for a quick meal. This is a take your time kind of place. Also be prepared to remind your server of all the things she didn't bring to the table, like condiments, your food, etc. The place has only gotten better, although they use typical iceberg lettuce now instead of alfalfa sprouts, which changes the taste A LOT. They should maybe opt for spinach leaves, which are cheap, last longer than lettuce and is nutritional. A good restaurant on the South Side for folks who like a good vegan ( although not really healthy) meal without having to deal or trek out of the neighborhood.
(4)
Em M.

I.miss.this.place.so .much. I moved to the West Coast and there are no places like this anywhere out here in "the land of vegetarians." Soul Vegetarian East really has a unique take on good food. I dream about this place every time I try to find a veggie friendly restaurant. Their protein bites are delicious. Order these first as an appetizer. Make sure you get their collard greens as one of your sides. Any and all of their sandwiches are delicious. You must leave room for their coconut cake. Sunday nights there is a dinner that they serve and you can't get around it. If you want to order options, make sure you go on a different day.
(5)
Regina W.

I came here on a Friday at 3pm and was easily able to find one hour street parking outside. I ended up ordering the Down-South BBQ Twist Sandwich, which had both tasty BBQ sauce and protein, but was a bit too messy to eat with my hands. Next time I come I think I will order the protein tidbits off the appetizer menu.
(4)
iamlarry w.

After eating at both Atlanta Soul Vegetarians and the one in DC for many years, it was good to finally visit Chicago's Soul Vegetarian. As expected, the brunch hit the spot. Soul Vegetarian was the place to first let me know that Vegan food could be good and soulful.
(5)
Monique J.

I love their barbecue! They sure know how to cook tofu properly and their ice cream is fantastic! I do wish they had the Mac and cheese all the time. Owner is super friendly
(5)
Buttermilk P.

This restaurant does wonders with soy and tofu. My wife ordered the 'dinner plate', which was some sort of BBQ protein along with mustard greens, potato salad and corn on the cob. I ordered the BBQ twist platter which was also some sort of protein that also came with fries. We also ordered an appetizer of BBQ tofu wings. To be totally honest with you, neither one of us had any idea what we were getting. Both of our meals came with the choice of soup or salad so we got one of each. The soup was chili and came with a big square piece of cornbread. The house salad was standard and we got it with something they call "Prince" dressing. My wife said it was the best chili she had ever eaten and the salad was also crispy and delicious. As far as our appetizer and entrees, I don't know how they manage to get so many different and unique flavors from BBQ, but they pull it off. Everything was delicious. The service.........meh.........there is definitely room for improvement. When we walked in there was a young lady standing at a large counter who just stared at us. She looked as if she didn't know who we were, who she was, or what city and state any of this was taking place in. She didn't say anything so I walked up to her and said "two" while holding up two fingers. It was as if she had no idea what that meant either. I then asked her if we should sit anywhere; to which she mouthed something inaudible but gestured to the effect of 'yes' so we did just that. After we were seated and ordered (this young lady was also our server, but I'm not going into that adventure) she was very attentive. She constantly checked on us and kept our glasses full of water. Overall it was a good experience with very good food. My wife didn't like it as much as I did, but I think we'll be back.
(4)
Kimberly S.

Vegetarians and vegans, unite! Soul Vegetarian is a restaurant free from the worry of your food being cooked in beef fat or fish sauce or chicken stock! And it's so damned GOOD, too! Now, at around 3pm on a Thursday, the restaurant was bustling, so you know that you've found a real gem of a place to eat. I ordered the Veggie Gyros and my god, were they delicious: the perfect texture with the perfect seasoning, the pita bread thin and not too heavy. And the fries that accompanied it were crispy and tasty too. As my friend and I were digging in, a dapper gentleman came to our table to ask us how we were enjoying our meal. Remember how I said the restaurant was busy? This is clearly an example of why that is. If an establishment cares about what they're serving you and how you like it, well, instant return visit for sure!
(5)
Brittany M.

Soul Vegetarian is a hidden gem. The bbq twist and the protein bites are officially my favorite dish in Chicagoland. When meat eaters say, "the meat cut like butter"...well I suppose its kind of like that. The texture is perfection. The sauce is boss. The prices are very fair. What more to say.
(5)
Tita A.

Pleasantly surprised, yummy flavors. I had the rice with protein bits to start. I will go back for the food. The crowd was diverse. We went during lunch and the small restaurant had every table occupied. I docked two stars for the service. The young lady there was not attentive and was actually quite rude. Having grown up with a family owned restaurant, I know what it takes to be a server. She didn't even say hi, just took our food order and delivered it once it was done. No water refills or check ups.
(3)
Kristine P.

I went here for lunch today with a non-vegan. We had the vegan chicken fried special with mashed potatoes, gravy and corn. It was really great! The service was excellent, and I really enjoyed my meal. I even ordered the spicy chicken sandwich to go so I had dinner, too! I will be going back to try the barbecue tidbits and gyro, next time! YUM!!!!!!!
(5)
Carolyn H.

Fabulous greens and cornbread - what a fabulous, unexpected find and in an unassuming neighborhood. Can't say the atmosphere or the service gets 4 stars but the food - quality, flavor and attention to the health conscious - were stellar. Give it a shot, I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(4)
Kimmie R.

This is the best vegetarian - vegan restaurant in Chicago. I walked into this restaurant with a friend shortly after graduating from college in 2003. Completely broke as all new graduates were, but still very hungry, so I decided to sit with my friend while she ate. The staff was exceptionally kind and told me that it would be no big deal if I wanted to eat there. :) Imagine that.... (smiles) The food was extremely delicious and flavorful with the perfect amount of seasoning. This is soul food without the fat, sodium and other horrible things that people consume when eating what Americans call "ethnic" food. This restaurant is a great experience for people that enjoy meat as well. Meat lovers tend to enjoy the surprise of great tasting meat substitutes. The restaurant itself is a bit outdated and old fashioned and is not the place to take a date, but it's good enough for casual dining with friends. The waiters are extremely kind and very attentive.
(4)
A.J. S.

Driving through south Chicago hunger struck. Reaching for my phone I looked up the closest vegetarian food place around... Soul Vegetarian? To my guild my only real exposure to Soul Food despite living in Detroit was watching the "Itis" on the Boondocks. However, the reviews intrigued me and I went in. The place is in what some might call a rough neighborhood. Unless of course you just came fresh Detroit, then it's just like being in any neighborhood. The interior wasn't anything too special, however looking at the vegetarian menu and listening to the special I knew it was totally worth stopping and eating at. The service was good, the person was nice enough. Looking up "Soul Food" on wiki at the time I found that the definition was "Soul food cuisine consists of a selection of foods traditional in the cuisine of African Americans". I'm not sure what part of Africa had the "Chicken Fried tofu with mashed potatoes and corn", but who am I to complain it was delicious. The fried Tofu was awesome, and altogether I loved the place. The prices for lnsh were so cheap, 2 at for 1 dollars. This restaurant actually made me wish I lived in Chicago.
(5)
Marc R.

I have been going here off and on for years and there are a few things that are common about this place. 1.) Don't expect your order to come in any order. It is always hectic. My food came, but my friend had to wait 20 minutes. On another occasion my GF and I were given another tables food. We ate it, but when we figured it out, we were a bit freaked. 2.) The drinks are expensive. They are good, but boy they are expensive. I always wind up spending more money here than I want to. I am not sure why things are so expensive here, but they seem very expensive when compared to places I go in other parts of the city. When I am on the far south side I go here - and have been coming since 2006, but have to say there is always a bit of a casual atmosphere to the place. So, if you are ok waiting and getting things in random order I would say the food is good. I really like the Garvey burger and fries, the garlic-nut dressing is amazing and I always ask for a side order. Some of the rice items are very dry and need more oil or flavor. The corn bread is good, and the cakes and pies are good. I was thinking that next time I pop in here I might just get drinks to go and some sweets (ready in to go containers). They take credit cards, and parking is usually easy out front.
(3)
Ana Luv Y.

medicore. put together last minute vegan food. maybe if they work on presenting foods more favorable, i could visit often.
(3)
Sandy S.

I'm not sure what might have happened today, but I visited based on the stellar reviews and I was very much disappointed with what I tried. I ordered the Barbecue entree that comes with fries and salad. I ordered carry out and drove to my destination which was just about four blocks away, and by the time I got to my location the food was cold!! The food did not seem fresh at all, more like warmed up frozen food doused in barbecue sauce. Huge disappoint in the quality, flavor and presentation! I am giving two stars bc the service was nice and friendly. This was the dish everyone recommended, so I am not sure if I will try anything else bc this is one of their signature dishes, and if they cannot get that right my confidence is lacking for other items served. If I patronized based on service vs. taste, I would return, but that is not the case for me.
(2)
Nick D.

This is hands down the absolute best vegan joint in all of Chicago. If you've been trying to get your meat eater friends to try some vegan options this is also your best bet. They've been making 100% legit vegan food since 1983, before it was fashionable. They've got it down and know exactly how to hit those taste buds. BBQ tofu is so tasty and the mac and "cheese" is sooooo good! You wouldn't even know it's not actually dairy. Greens are perfection. They even have vegan desserts. This place is a definite stop. I just wish it was closer to me but luckily they supply Whole Foods with some take home items.
(5)
Dhruv P.

A bit disappointing. Expected so much. Being on the south side, I though, this WAS the place to get some authentic and good soul (vegan) food. No pretentions, no frou frou, just a good home meal. Sadly, I was mistaken. The place looked exactly how I expected, which is, don't expect much. But the sadness really is reserved for the food. Or lack of much taste. We had the protein tidbits with bbq sauce. Subpar... the protein tidbits had no taste. All taste, which was monotonous, came from the BBQ sauce. Now the carrot dish was amazing, we ordered it on the side, and I would order over and over again, just because it was healthy AND tasted good. The veggie gyro... eh. Not sure why its highly rated. The fake meat didn't taste too good, and the dish itself was way too large of a portion. The sauce and veggies are ample and my first bite was great, however, every other bite I had came no where close to the first one... I couldn't finish it... Most of the meal was too salty. The dishes here might be vegan, but don't expect it to be healthy.
(3)
Pete K.

So I did recently have the chance to eat here at the actual restaurant. Was very tasty and I enjoyed the food greatly. As the name suggests, it's soul food, so not necessarily the healthiest (which is what I try to eat). I made exceptions here and was happy I did. The place was pretty full; lots of people lovin it. It has an easy-going, simple dining room. I do recommend it, if you're in the hood. Otherwise, for me, it's not worth the trek. I'll be happy continuing to eat their stuff at all the food events they host.
(4)
Caroline D.

I had a wonnnnnnderful smoothie, the Sampson, which is soy milk and spirulina and blackstrap molasses and MAGIC. Super fresh and bright tasting and delicious, only a tinyyy bit greeny (which can't be avoided). It was refreshing and filling.
(4)
Joe M.

An ok place. Worth a stop if you are on the south side. Food was very heavy but tasted good. Service was slow but probably because of they invest quality and attention to the food. The BBQ protein tip bits app was good and was a huge serving size, but was way too heavy. BBQ twist sandwich was pretty impressive.
(3)
M R.

Great food. This is one of those rare places that the food is so good that you don't even mind the poor service.
(4)
Jen S.

Just had the worst experience at soul veg. My husband ordered the special. It came out before our mushroom appetizer. 20 minutes later my burger came out with mustard on it which I had asked be left off. There were also onions on it which the menu didn't say was on it. I had to scrape those off but then I couldn't even eat the burger because I absolutely hate mustard. The server never came back to ask if everything was ok. We just got a box and left. My husband will eat it later. The service was horrible and I will never go back! I paid $36 to watch my husband eat.
(1)
Stephen R.

Soul Veg is one of my favorite restaurants in the world, without question. Living on the South Side for almost 8 years and being a vegetarian the whole time, I used to come to Soul Veg as often as possible. All of the food is delicious, and has given me lots of ideas for making recipes in my own kitchen. Sure, most of it is not exactly healthy, even if it is vegan, since it's heavy on the deep fry, but most soul food isn't super healthy anyway. The BBQ sauce is boss, the homeade seitan is delicious, and my mouth is literally watering thinking about the Jerusalem fries as I type this review. I love their carrot salad and homemade dressings, too. The juice bar is pretty good and they'll make you basically whatever you want, even though the menu is pretty extensive. I wish they still made the date rolls there, though years ago, the cook who made them stopped working there and I don't think they've made them since. The service is laid back, so don't expect to be in and out in a jiffy. I think because this is such a destination restaurant, they get a lot of yuppie vegan types here who give the staff attitude if the service isn't super speedy. You can tell they roll their eyes a bit when they see obnoxious, self-righteous vegans from the North Side who have never really been in a predominately African American neighborhood. But, if you are appreciative of their delicious food and smiley service, the wait staff will make sure you are well taken care of.
(5)
Michele O.

The floor space is tight. The food is pretty good, depending on what you order. They seem to handle seasoning well, but personal tastes may require salt. The wait staff was deplorable!!! So very slow to get any type of service in the dining area. The waitress spoke with impatience, did not come to check on us at all, took our food to a different table, was abrupt with other customers (noting the one who knew that it was our food, the waitress insisted that the guy had ordered the Dinner Special, which he did not). Sadly, on the southside of Chicago this is one of the best options for vegetarian or vegan eats. Maybe next time I want to try something there I will get it go and not dine -in. My take home was delicious and I didn't have to put up with the claustrophobic feeling of eating in their dining room. My meat eater friends who ventured out with me seemed to enjoy the black bean burger and the dinner special (after it was recooked - the one that was sent to another table first). Street parking is limited.
(3)
Regina C.

Great food, I just wish it was closer! Everything is vegan and you must get the greens when you go...and the mac and cheese. I love this place and if I could get there more often, I totally would.
(4)
Claudia D.

April is a very nice server! But to her credit, it's difficult when there are only 2 servers for so many customers Today the restaurant did not open til 2 & the Groupon was extended to 4/20! The husband and I came here for lunch, but the restaurant didn't open til 2 PM so we ordered the dinner special. It was very good, but seitan is not my favorite thing. The greens were terrific. This is a small place with several rooms. We sat in the second room. Many of our fellow customers appeared to be regulars. Lots of people come for take out. I want to revisit this place to try more things.
(4)
Rachel H.

The boyfriend is a vegetarian and a big fan of Soul Veg, so when the Groupon came along, I thought it would be a nice treat for him and an excuse for me to give it a shot. Perhaps Friday night at dinner time isn't the best time to go if you're in a hurry, but we weren't and our server made sure that we knew he hadn't forgotten about us, even if things were backed up in the kitchen a bit. I sort of made the mistake of pounding down a pineapple coconut drink from the juice bar, which filled me up way too much and made our waiter laugh at me, but it was delicious. Besides, it allowed me to have leftovers for tonight's smorgasbord of leftovers dinner. This is key. Fried mushrooms were good, and the breading was very flavorful as was the batter on the fries, though the mushroom breading did fall off a bit when dipped. I had the falafel which as others have said was a bit dry, but it was spiced well and I, in a turn of usual character, actually enjoyed the sauce. Boyfriend liked his BBQ twist sandwich. Don't fill up on the juice unless you want leftovers though, go for a bottle of Reed's Ginger Beer instead. Your belly will thank me.
(4)
S P.

Here, Vegan is NOT synonymous with healthy so don't expect to eat healthy, if its not fried it's boiled (and there's nothing worse than flavorless boiled veggies, so do not get the Buddha bowl? I can't even remember the name of the dish but it has tasteless fried tofu where the breading doesn't even stay on!) The sautÃ©ed greens should actually be called sautÃ©ed onions with some kale...way too many onions in my greens! But I did like the corn bread it came with. BBQ tibits were fine, but what doesn't taste good fried and dipped in BBQ sauce? The twist sandwich was basically BBQ tidbits in sandwich form. To make things worse, the service is not good. Our waitress was not attentive, she walked by our table 10 times and it was still hard to flag her down. And when we went up to pay, we waited a good 10 minutes at the cash register for someone to ring us up only to realize the staff was sitting 15 feet away from us chatting away. Overall it was not a pleasant experience and the meal felt heavy with all the fried food. This is not good vegan food, go to Native foods cafe if you want the real deal.
(2)
Courtney O.

I wanted to give SVE five stars. I always want to LOVE every vegetarian restaurant beyond reasonable comprehension. Sadly, this is seriously just a three star deal. Okay if you're in a crunch, but not somewhere I tend to wake up craving. Food is pretty good, although the infestation history (and yes, I know that was *so* 2009!) always makes me feel a little...I don't know...troubled? Service is dicey. When things are a bit slower, it's usually pretty solid, but when it's busier? Forgetaboutit. Like the rating states, it's A-OK. If I'm going out (especially to celebrate a special occasion), I almost also choose Karyn's Cooked since I think their food and service is almost always top notch; if I'm just looking for a quick meal, it's the Chicago Diner all the way. Sorry, SVE. You're good, but you just don't light my proverbial fire like the competition.
(3)
Valerie M.

Really long wait so call first. I had a juice next door. I was told they don't believe in mixing fruits and veggies together so that was interesting. I had the black eye pea burger and fries. I t was so good!!!! THE cashier let me sample the greens and they were a little salty to me. I like the vibe of the restaurant.
(4)
Gemma K.

I haven't been here in ages so I was glad when a friend from work suggested we go and besides it is always beneficial to eat soul food, of any kind, when the weather is without soul. After pushing our way in, I remembered how lunch time here could be. But it is definitely worth it. My colleague had a taste for tang so he got the Down South BBQ, which is always great. It came with fries that have such a wonderful nutty flavor to them; whatever they do to the skins of those spuds; mm-mm. The sauce left him drooling. It's got a wonderful bite to it. I decided on the Jerkfu Spinach Wrap; I love toferky and the spin they take with the onion and coconut flavors says one thing loud and clear: day light come and me won go home to the Caribbean. It was great. We split an order of the greens and cornbread. And needless to say we pretty much had to heave ourselves out of the place. It's hard to blame them for getting crowded, their food is that wonderful, and the place was clean, despite all the folks clammering. So, if you truly enjoy vegetarian/vegan cuisine, or you want to see how good good can be, this is the place for you.
(4)
Wayne H.

This is the best vegan restaurant in Chicago, hands down. And one of the best in the country. Definitely try the protein tidbits -- the seitan is wonderfully flavored. (Make sure to ask for prince dressing on the side.) Also high on my list are the greens and veggie gyro -- the cucumber sauce in the latter is outrageously good. The one and only complaint I have is that they're often so busy that you have to wait a little longer for the food, as they typically only have 1-2 wait staff working at a time. But it's a small price to pay for some of the best vegan food I've ever had.
(5)
Christina M.

I was very disappointed to read this article. Normally I re-rate restaurants with 1 star after seeing a report like this, but Soul Veg was one of my favorites. I'm so disgusted that I doubt I'll be back for a very long time. Please clean your act up Soul Veg. Rat infestation and droppings: chicagobreakingnews.com/â€¦
(3)
Ali H.

I was sooooo looking forward to eating here and fully expecting to love it. I tried so hard to love it! But I just couldn't! :( We came on a Saturday for lunch, and had two smoothies (cashew craze and carrot nog), the protein tidbits, a sandwich (gyro, I think?), and a side of carrot salad. The smoothies were delicious. But it was practically the end of the meal when we got them. Which brings me to my other point about the excruciatingly slow service. S. L. O. W. Like, does our waitress even still work here? Anyway, the protein tidbits were ok. They had 50% a good flavor and 50% some sort of weird aftertaste. And the appetizer basket was enough fried anything to feed a major league football team. I'd happily pay 1/4 the price for 1/4 the tidbits! The sandwich was also just ok. I did like the carrot salad quite a bit. So, with great sadness, I must say that I would not make the trip back here. There are plenty of other good vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in chicago (urban vegan, anyone?) and the price, the food, and the service just didn't make the cut.
(3)
Nirmal G.

Came here last week for an early dinner with two other vegetarians and one non-vegetarian. Two of us had been before and two of us (including me) had not. I really didn't know what to expect at all with this restaurant (I've never had soul food before!) but I must say that I was very pleased. We weren't on a schedule at all, so I think that that made the evening that much better. We were able to sit in the window, which was nice. The entire atmosphere was like being at home. Maybe not my own home, but at someone's house. Rich colors on the walls, classic dining tables and chairs. I liked that a lot. And to top it off, the service was fantastic. Our server was interactive and helpful and wanted to get to know us. I ordered the gyros sandwich because I love seitan. I was a little disappointed when I received it and it looked kind of small. Uh, I was sooooooo wrong. I could barely stuff the last little tasty bits of it into my mouth. So yummy and ended up being the perfect portion size for me. The kitchen had run out of tomatoes and I had to request additional cucumber dressing (but that's a personal preference for tons of sauce), but otherwise, it was an amazing dish. I didn't hear any complaints from the rest of the group except the groans of being overfull. The entire experience was a fantastic value as well (my sandwich was only $5.50!). Makes the car trip down to SVE completely worthwhile. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Michael G.

There really must be something in the food that causes me to forget how slow the service is every time I'm describing (hyping is probably a better term) SV to people (but not this time, oh no, I'm writing down how glacial the service is so as not to forget). Or maybe it's the company as whenever out of town vegetarian friends come to play, the long trip to Soul Vegetarian is in order. And I think the restaurant exploits this fact. Every vegetarian in Chicago will end up taking their visiting herbivore friends here. No matter what the "service" is. It and Chicago Diner are seriously like magnets. Or, my sister has an alternate theory to the lack of hospitality: "they just don't care." Now I understand the idea that they want a place that slows down time. A place to reflect, to gather with friends, to enjoy the moment. But there's a difference between bringing out the food out and not hovering and not bringing the salads until after the main course (because our table was given someone else's mains). It was alright on this particular time, however, as I'm pretty broke right now and the .67 cent total tip left by the table (to make the bill an even number) worked for my pocketbook. A bargain in this economy. And that's the other thing. Soul Vegetarian has gotten expensive. The Sunday dinner (which starts serving at 1:00 p.m., we found out - before that it's breakfast) is now up to $13.95 pre-tax. But, hey, the food is worth every penny. Delicious seitan loaf, yams, vegetarian greens. It is really a feast. Though the vegan mac and cheese is sort of disappointing each time because it always looks amazing. And the food does not only sticks to your ribs. The taste survived in my mouth through three teeth brushings. Seriously. Not that it's a bad thing since it is scrumptious - some of the best vegetarian (and possibly the best vegan) food in Chicago. I just hope the negative impression from the (especially) bad service last time doesn't stick in my mind. After all, I'm sure I'll be hypnotically back next time anyone meat free is in town. And will have bad service again.
(3)
Strea T.

This vegan food is awesome! I absolutely loved the mac and cheese, the bbq chicken-like wings, and their pecan pie (which had a sweet potato - maple bottom)! I wouldn't change a thing. The cheesesteak was alright but the cheese wasn't melty, which is something modern vegans have gotten to cherish. Sorry Ste. Martaens. It was still good. I wish I had gotten a bbq chicken pita instead because everyone raves about it and it is cheaper. The wings really do taste like real meat -- chewy, stringy, savory, but definitely veg. My only gripe is the price. 6 wings for $10, pie slice for $5, a meager helping of mac and cheese for $5, cheesesteak for $10. However, it meets my "$20 before tip" rule (because I'm a bit broke), so it was worth it for me. This was without drinks or tip, because it was the food truck. Share the pie with someone if you don't want to splurge alone. It's worth it!
(5)
Timothy S.

I did not eat at the restaurant itself while visiting Chicago. However, I must say that I really enjoyed their pre-made food at Whole Foods. Delicious wraps, mac n cheese, and more. I've always loved soul food, even before my vegan years. Delicious comfort food that always keeps you full! Affordable prices and great for a quick bite to eat if you're in the area for lunch. I've heard both good and bad reviews about the restaurant itself but I must say that I enjoyed the food and would gladly eat it again when I'm in Chicago.
(4)
Aman B.

Went here for a late night bite this weekend and was blown away at the quality of food. The restaurant itself is old and basic inside, the atmosphere is casual and laid back and there were people of all races, all ages enjoying food. Very good vibe. On the table were, Hebrew fries, BBQ Twists, lemon pie, and a dinner platter which I could not remember the name of. I know others have complained of the poor service, and I must say that I honestly did not encounter any delay in getting my order or meal for that matter. For any vegetarian, this is a "must eat" place. I know I will be back to try new items but at this very moment, my mouth is watering for the BBQ twists, they were unreal!
(4)
Daniel M.

I go here whenever I visit my south side vegan friend. Love the place. I've been going here for almost ten years now and I'm never disappointed. This place has to have the most flavorful vegan food I've ever tasted. It's not the bland stereotype a lot of meat eaters have come to expect. Very satisfying. If more restaurants made food like this, there would be a lot more vegetarians and vegans in the world, I think.
(5)
Julia H.

This is my favorite vegan restaurant in the city. I love the raw kale, sunflower pate, carrot pÃ¢tÃ©, my daily dose of wheatgrass, my spurilina smoothie, peanut butter smoothie, and the berry smoothies are the best.
(5)
Gerri H.

Soul Vegetarian is a very unique restaurant that does a vegan take on traditional soul food. I am well versed in soul food, so I was quite surprised by how good their vegan macaroni and cheese and greens are at Whole Foods (I am not a vegan). As a result, I had to try their other selections at their actual restaurant. I've been there about four times, and I have found a number of dishes that are really good. My husband and I always order their fries w/ bbq sauce. The sauce is one of the best bbq sauces I have tasted. We have also enjoyed their falafel (soul food?) and vegan gyros. The only criticism is that the falafel was the best we ever had on the first occasion and then just average the next week. But we crave those fries..... I can't wait to try the bbq twist sandwich! Side (soap box) note: To all those who think 75th & King is the edge of the earth, get over yourselves! It's the MID-south side; Chicago goes well into the 100's. For those who are unaware, people actually live their lives south of Roosevelt. And they don't all live in Hyde Park!
(5)
Jade T.

Since I've moved to Chicago, I have longed to visit Soul Vegetarian. I've had their food back in Washington, DC (although I'm not sure if they are affiliated with each other). When compared to the likes of Karyn's, Chicago Diner, and more, Soul Vegetarian is more affordable and the most gratifying. Your eyes will roll and you will moan when you take a bite of their BBQ sandwiches. To be honest, the neighborhood is a little intimidating to some of us. However, the food is so damn good that it may be worth trekking down here. Most of their main dishes are made from tofu, not seitan (I think). I normally dislike tofu, but theirs is out of this world. It's not gelatinous at all nor bland. Dare I say it's "meaty"? Don't forget the vegan mac and cheese. It's utterly divine. Their sandwiches and wraps are flavorful, but the portions (in general) are on the smaller side. I must say though, as a teeny girl with a small appetite, I will f*cking hork down SV's food like a fat kid on Thanksgiving. Order a couple of meals to-go while you're here. You'll be glad you did. Rent a Zipcar, beg a friend with any motor vehicle to drive you, or take the Red Line (allllllll the way) down here. As a vegetarian/vegan living in Chicago, consider it one of your responsibilities. PS: If you don't like soul food, then move to Winnetka or Greenland or something.
(5)
Gwen J.

If stopping thru chicago this is not to be missed. I love soul food but have to be careful since I am a vegetarian. I first dined here about 6 years ago and was delighted with the food. My dining companions who eat meat gave their food 5 stars also!
(5)
Luan N.

These guys have the art of cooking tofu/seitan down pat! The prince elkannonn burger was rightfully royalty compared to the peasant status burger I had at Veggie Bite. I wasn't expecting fried rice when ordering the gluten steak w/ brown rice,but nevertheless, it was healthy and it was good. The cornbread was impressively made, considering it was a vegan side. Soul Veg East is truly one of the few restaurants that can make a lifelong carnivore such as myself quell any meat cravings. The only disclaimer is that, like many other yelpers mentioned, the service is pleasant but never visible. It makes me wonder if the server is also the chef!
(4)
Trinidad F.

Im in love...mmm. So if i ever decide to get married Soul Vegetarian will have to cater my reception. The food here was amazing. We started with the detoxification shake which was amazing. Strong citrus flavor. So good and refreshing. All natural. YUM!! I decided on the BBQ protein tidbits as an appetizer and they were so yummy. Covered in BBQ sauce..even better!!!! I've realized they're addictive. lol. I ordered the BBQ roast sandwich with a side or fresh greens. I have a BBQ thing..im a big fan. It did take a while for my sandwich to arrive but it was well worth the wait!! So good!!! Wheat bun with faux BBQ roast, lettuce and grilled onions!!!! Finger licking goodness...drools. After my sandwich and tidbits I was so full. I tried some of the greens and took the rest to go. The greens had a great flavor along with onions, tomatoes and some pepper. I was completely satisfied with the food here and will definately return...soon.
(5)
TA W.

Not a vegetarian, but I rely on them for fresh juices and wheatgrass. They come thru every time. Convo is great as drink is prepared. Fall thru...
(4)
Rain T.

I like Soul Veg. Definitely not as good as years ago when I first started going, but they have a consistency I can not argue with. You pretty much always know wht you are goin to get...
(3)
Tom K.

If you don't have a car, good luck getting here as it's way on the South Side (Red Line to a Bus). The place itself is a bit of an oasis in an otherwise dead area. There is plenty of seating and the staff was very nice. The food is going to be veggie, but not very healthy. Expect a lot of oil and grease. It's kinda like fast food for the veggie soul. I don't think eating here on a daily basis would be good for your healthy, but if your looking for home cookin that's veggie, this is it. Oh and it's under $10 a person.
(3)
Michelle A.

soul vegetarian is great every time. tonight was no exception! the place was packed for a thursday night at 8 o'clock and there was one server working, vincent, who did a great job juggling everyone. water was filled whenever needed and he was apologetic from the get go about how busy it was. we had the cauliflower appetizer to begin with. my dining partner found it to be a little heavily fried for his choices, but i am a southern girl and loved every minute of it. we both had the BBQ twist platter for our entree. it came with so much food that we both have leftovers to make sandwiches out of it tomorrow! not only that but the texture of the protein is great. i'm a picky vegetarian and i can't stand things that are too rubbery and i didn't wince once with this. over all this place is great and next time i want to make sure to try dessert.
(4)
Tina B.

My favorite thing here is the fried cauliflower which really has a very fried chicken quality because of the awesome coating on the outside. Also the salads are fantastic - tofu salad is like an egg salad and the carrot salad is slamming. All of the salad dressings are delicious, but my faves are a toss up between the cucumber and the prince. Desserts are all really good. Here's a huge tip to offset the slowness - go on Sunday evening for the Sunday dinner. They only have one thing on the menu on Sunday evening and it's a full dinner with sides, salad and dessert that changes every Sunday. One time it was some sort of tofuish roast, sweet potatoes, mac n cheese and apple crisp - all delicious and still a little slow, but much less so than normal.
(4)
Shazana G.

This has to be one of my favorite Vegetarian Restaurants in Chicago... The menu is quite extensive and I am never left disappointed. It's great because if your friends are vegans/vegetarians, or meat eaters-- They will enjoy this place and won't be able to tell the difference.
(5)
Kelly G.

Deep fried vegan heaven Yes, the service is incredibly slow, you'll probably have to ask for something at least 3 times, and there's a chance that your dining companion may get his or her meal about 10 minutes before yours comes out. However, at least the employees are friendly, and considering that they are volunteers, you can't really be *too* mad at them. The food is out of this world. I've taken many an omnivore here, and they've all raved about it - ESPECIALLY the protein tidbits. I've never had such juicy fake meat anywhere. There's a sandwich that I used to get regularly that's like one big protein tidbit, and I can't for the life of me remember the name. It's fantastic though - especially with a little prince dressing. And definitely go on a Sunday sometime for the dinner. They only serve one meal on Sundays, and it's almost always a plate of bbq seitan or something similar, collared greens, and I think maybe cornbread.
(4)
Emily H.

Soul Veg is probably my all-time favorite restaurant. So easy to find, so easy to love, so hard to leave. They have the heartiest, most delicious vegan soul food you can imagine. The specials are always a treat, but there is so much love here, everything leaves you feeling amazing, no matter how overstuffed you are. This is my first and last stop in Chicago, and I always hit I-94 with my passenger seat full of food to savor after leaving Lake Michigan and another piece of my heart behind.
(5)
Amy S.

I love Soul Veg! It's all vegan but it is definitely not health food. It is absolutely decadent soul food at its best. The have a-la-carte options available, but the dinner is a must-have. You get more food than you can eat and it's utterly delicious. As appetizers go, the protein tidbits are a hit with everyone I've ever taken there, vegan or not. On Sundays, there is one set meal available for order, rather than a full menu, though it is always excellent. Their service has taken a few blows on yelp, but it truly doesn't bother me. Everyone at Soul Veg is incredibly friendly. Though food often comes slow, and not always at the same time for everyone at the table, it is fresh and delicious. I'm willing to make the trade. My favorite items are the BBQ twist, the greens, and the PRINCE DRESSING.
(4)
Ted F.

Fool me twice, shame on me. "Slow Vegetarian" couldn't be more accurate. Except maybe if it was "slow, overcharging, gut-twisting vegetarian". I ate here twice - by which I mean to say I didn't learn my lesson the first time. The first time, I marveled at the library-esque atmosphere, where it seemed like I had to whisper or I'd get yelled at. After eventually placing my order, I ate the BBQ twists with greens on the side. As a born-and-raised Southerner, I was not terribly impressed, but they weren't bad. At first. Later, while I was doubled over on my porcelain throne suffering through the same twists & greens, I cursed them mightily. I decided to play "fool-me-once-shame-on-you" and gave it another shot with a small group of friends. All six of us were eventually seated and it took nearly 20 minutes to get us all menus and take our orders. The food was again mediocre, the service absolutely glacial but the real slap in the face was when our bill had many items on it that we did not order nor did we receive. Our waiter eventually reappeared and we presented him with an itemized tally of what our bill should have been. He attempted to reconcile his bill with ours, eventually gave up and stated his was correct and we should pay and leave. No one else in the restaurant would aid us, so the incorrect, inflated bill was paid. I left a nickel in a water glass as his tip. I did not have the sting of intestinal distress this time, only the bad taste of a rip-off as a lingering memory. Never again. Go to Veggie Bite or the Chicago Diner or eat a handful of gravel. Eat anywhere but here.
(1)
Jennifer L.

I went here one Sunday with a brave, carnivore girlfriend. Wow, were we both blown away. First of all, if you haven't read other reviews, on Sunday, you get one homestyle cooked meal. No menu surfing trying to decide what you think will be the best. And they serve it up, like it is Thanksgiving dinner. Healthy portions that will leave you very satisfied. The day we went, they had the BBQ protein tidbits, greens, the Vegan Mac & Cheese and maybe something else that I can't remember. But it was a full meal. I left with leftovers that I enjoyed another night :) They were also at the Green Festival in May and so I was lucky enough to be able to get their Vegan Mac & Cheese there also. And let me tell you...I make Vegan Mac & Cheese at home all the time, and people love it, whether they are vegan or not. But the Vegan Mac & Cheese from Soul Vegetarian....Is out of this world. It is phenomenal. I would eat it every day if I could. It is so rich and creamy...Nothing compares. Nothing. Get over there and try it! :)
(5)
Jason A.

Food is awesome, not healthy though, but if you're going for soul food you should know better. Fried cauliflower and jerk tofu wrap were really good (and I'm not a vegetarian). Service is a bit slow since they are super busy. Also, if you're white you'll get a little culture shock as you'll probably be the only white person in the restaurant, and neighborhood for that matter. However, for me that's part of the fun! I'll be back...
(4)
Jeanie P.

Wow! I was totally skeptical about this place since I'm like such a carnivore... (I can't help it.. I love meat..) Anyway my friends who have gone a bunch of time suggested the BBQ twist sandwich... and it was amazing! Super flavorful and didn't have like a weird consistency. Definitely gonna come back and try some of the other stuff! I hear the sweet potato pie is really good...
(4)
Jill D.

The name is appropriate. Being from the South, I know my soul food, and this is it - with the added bonus of being meat free. I went to Soul Vegetarian for lunch and got the jerkfu wrap and fries. The wrap was stuffed with generous portions of green peppers, onions, and tofu - all coated in the best jerk sauce I've ever had (and I spent a month in Belize). The fries were unlike any I've ever tasked, with unique spices and some kind of crispy coating beyond what you normally find on fries (maybe they use cornmeal?). I also got their ginger beer, which was the perfect refresher to complement the spicy jerk sauce. Wish this place was in my neighborhood. I doubt I'll have an opportunity to go back anytime soon, as it's pretty far South and not that convenient to public transportation.
(4)
Ben D.

This is, no exaggeration, my favorite restaurant anywhere. I go here every time I go to Chicago. I will travel any distance for some of this deliciousness. More often than not, I go on Sunday, when you can pretty much just get the Sunday meal, but that's fine, because it's always amazing. The most flavorful cornbread, greens, seitan, etc. So great. I always bring someone new and they go nuts as well. The restaurant itself is great too. Unique. I like the idea of putting plastic on the tables.
(5)
Grant S.

They are mean mean mean to pasty white people, but that's okay because they dish up some good grub. It was close to my university so the hike wasn't bad - don't know if you center city folk will venture down here. Pretty good vegan junk food. Seitan is AWESOME - makes you sweat so you know its got a lot of oil and crap it in. Mac and Cheese = wow. Everything else is okay. Not that cheap and takes forever too. Go if you want soul food and don't eat meat. No vibes, but alright times.
(3)
Jesse C.

If you can get the Sunday breakfast it is amazing. Other times, I get he BBQ twists/ sandwich with a side of greens and cornbread. The smoothies at the deli next door a slamming and overall this place is a haven of peace for vegetarians in the inner city. They cater throughout Hyde park and the South Side so look for them in the grocery store too!
(5)
Sarah N.

The service is slow at times, but super friendly and attentive. The food is beyond amazing, I typically order the dinner special, but the bbq sandwiches are awesome. Love the fried cauliflower, and the homemade icecream.
(5)
Christina Z.

Soul Veg is a vegan soul food restaurant way on the south side of Chicago -- and it's delicious. Don't think "vegan" automatically translates into "healthy", though, this is still soul food, in all of its fried glory. I tried the "BBQ protein tidbits" appetizer, a basket filled with some sort of fried protein product, with a side of barbeque dipping sauce. I also had a banana smoothie; the combination was extremely filling. My friend tried the dinner special, which seemed to be a pretty good deal. The prices weren't cheap, the culture of the place is interesting, it is run by New Hebrew Israelites on the south side, but I quite enjoyed my fried food, and definitely want to go back.
(4)
Elizabeth R.

I've lived on 61st for two years and never made it down to SV. For shame! I needed to fix that. Following the recommendations here, I ordered the BBQ protein tidbits. Between the two of us, we also ordered the greens, the gyro, and the falafel platter. We ordered this much food even though I have a stomach bug right now because we're moving shortly and this is our last chance to try the food. I am sad that we weren't able to try the deserts, but I was already tempting fate on the tummy woog front. So... the BBQ protein tidbits.. my first reaction was "Yup! It's seitan!" The flavor was good though, and the BBQ dipping sauce was very high quality. My greens (kale and collard greens sauteed with onions in a delicious sauce) were tender- dare I say they almost melted in my mouth- and the corn bread they came with was crumbly in a good way. My husband was responsible for the gyro, and he thought it was basically just...okay, though it needed veggies. We both agreed that the falafel was a bit too dense, and a touch overly flavored (but the pita and cucumber dipping sauce were great). This place has been a part of Chicago for more than 25 years, and is definitely worth the trip as the food is quite original. Our fairly large order came out quickly, despite SV being crowded on this particular Saturday night. Everyone was very friendly. Look for them at the Taste of Chicago, if you go! Conclusion- they excel, quite predictably, in their soul food dishes. Gravitate towards those.
(4)
Patrick M.

Amazing food, I was shocked it was Vegan. I had the Veggie Gyro, excellent. I have drifted in and out of vegetarianism, but if I knew how to cook like that, I would have been able to persevere. Vincent our waiter was very polite and made us feel at ease. I will go back. I have never been to that area of Chicago, but it's always a good idea to explore, good things can happen, like you stumble across this place.
(5)
Timothy M.

I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I was headed down the Dan Ryan at unsafe speeds in my crappy van. All I knew is that I had two hippie-leaning friends with me and we were ready to have us some vegan treats. Having done the vegan thing off and on, I haven't found it particularly hard to eat well in Chicago. There's a plethora of good restaurants that cater to vegans and there are many, many dishes that can be made vegan on request at a regular restaurant. Sadly, BBQ is one of my favorite things, and I thought I'd be kissing every delicious BBQ flavor goodbye when I became vegan. (Those Morningstar Farms Riblets are good, but not Fat Willy's good.) I was happy to find myself mistaken. The food was amazing. Let me put it this way, if you took a meat-eater here and didn't tell them anything about the place, they would eat well and want to come back. Ok, delicious BBQ. But vegan Potato Salad? My sad attempt at making it looked or tasted nothing like this.. this stuff tasted like my mom's. It also came with delicious split-pea soup, collard greens, and a piece of cornbread. They were out of soy ice cream, so they gave my friend a free piece of vegan cake... yum! Furthermore, after reading all the reviews, I was sure service would suck. It was, in fact, way better and more personable than places on the north side. My theory is that those who come into a place like this (a very African-American crowd and proud of it) and act as if they're at bin 36 are going to get shitty service. This ain't that kind of place. Play by their rules here (just be respectful and don't act like you've just arrived on an alien planet) and you'll be treated with much generosity. HIGHLY recommended.
(5)
Harpreet K.

I decided I was gonna move to Chicago's South Side when I first came out here from Cali. Not knowing any better, I set up camp in Hyde Park, because "this counts right?" It wasn't exactly what I envisioned, but I figured maybe I'd been listening to too many Common albums (where the f*ck is "the corner"?!) and seen "Save the Last Dance" one too many times (I love me some Julia Stiles!). I assumed the vibrant, robust, thriving South Side was confined to 53rd and 55th streets. Of course, I was WRONG, and all those mofos who led me astray, insisting there was nothing worth seeing on the South Side outside of the Hyde Park bubble, can shove their culture-of-fear/racist bullshit up their asses!!! Welcome to 75th street my friends!! This is pulsating civic community, and Soul Veg is the epicenter; attracting everyone, from all corners, far and wide. Come here and finally "get it." Anything you order is gonna be tasty -- although I think some of the vegan meat has a slightly rubbery texture and interesting aftertaste -- the sides will blow your damn mind.
(5)
Giselle K.

I'm not a vegetarian, but we wanted to try something new. The food was really good. We had a carry out order. The greens were great, the sweet potatoes and macaroni and cheese were exceptional. We will be back.
(3)
Cassandra J.

The food here is so f-ing yummy. Its way too rich for its own good, but I'm not complaining! Brunch is one of my faves. The BEST grits [vegan or not] I've ever had. And that spicy bulgar sausage patty is amazing. Pancakes are the way to go. I never have enough room to eat more than a few bites of them, but what I do eat are amazing. The greens are amazing and when they have mac and cheese [tuesdays only] its out of this world good. I love the veggie gyros and the tofu filet sandwich. Oh and the onion rings! This place is a food belly waiting to happen and its worth it. Desserts are pretty damn good. Lemon meringue pie, sweet potato pie, coconut cake, strawberry shortcake. All amazing. I'd love to give it 5 stars but sometimes the service is so frustrating. I love the culture and the breath of fresh air from other vegetarian crowds...but seriously, sometimes its like being on candid camera the service is so weird and slow. A few of the servers lately have been awesome though...so maybe that's on the upswing. And the owners/managers there are always super nice and appreciative, so ya know, that helps. EDIT! i'm updating to say that the service here has been amazing lately and the food is always tops. i love it!
(5)
E W.

Chicago needs more than one of this place. The food is excellent and definitely authentic, and the staff is polite and friendly. I recommend Sundays when they have brunch in the morning and full-on soul food for dinner. But, they don't call it "Slo Vegetarian" for nothing; be prepared to watch Black Hebrew Israelite family members get served before you. Also, they often run out of certain dishes, so it's helpful to be flexible. This is one of the few places on the South Side that White people go out of their way to visit, so that should tell you something right there. Also, check out the deli next door and take home some of those delicious BBQ twists or some Carrot Supreme!
(4)
Eugene E.

I would prefer a 2.5. It is ok. Friendly service. The reviews are spot-on with slow service. Be NOT in a rush if you are trying to get in and get out. A lot of eye-contact with the waiter/waitress is needed to indicate you need something or are ready for the check. As far as the food, I ordered the dinner special which this night consisted of greens, macaroni and cheese, fresh string beans and some buffalo tofu. Not the biggest fan of the tofu, but that is personal, nothing SV related. The greens (I am from the South) and have experienced tastier (non-meat seasoned) greens, the macaroni and cheese was ok and the string beans were good. I had the "water" because I am not a fan of sodas, etc. - The water was LEMON"Y" -- which I am sure hid the taste of the city water. Overall, it was ok. I would meet someone there, but not sure if it would be a top of mind suggestion or go on my own.
(3)
Martin G.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The food is delicious, and the portions are satisfying. There is a room in the back that can be reserved for large parties. Street parking is usually easy to find close to the restaurant. It's convenient if you're coming off 94. Sundays you cannot order off of the regular menu, they only serve one meal to all (which is always delicious, just disappointing if you wish to order off the menu). I love their salad dressings: Prince, creamy cucumber, creamy garlic. The only suggestion I have is that they serve the food in an order that makes sense. I have often received my salad after my main course, and half the food is brought out to some people while others are waiting with none. There are weird gaps in the service. It's difficult to get more water. Do not go here if you are in a hurry, as the service can be slow. All in all, though, absolutely delicious and vegan!
(4)
Regina F.

I finally used my Groupon I purchased months ago that exp in a few days for breakfast this morning. There was not any breakfast menu, the server just let us know of a couple of options. I liked that everything did not taste salty like many restaurants do. The OJ was also fresh and refreshing. Very friendly service. Place is big and open, can def tell it's a very old building with their original molding and whatnot. I would be interested to go back and try their dinner menu.
(4)
scott a.

So I'm not a huge fan of supporting racist religious agendas, but I'm vegan and was excited to go despite being warned about the bad service. After going, I can't believe how many good reviews this place has received. I ate here in the mid afternoon and it was slow. The service was the ABSOLUTE WORST I can recall in recent memory. We ordered drinks, an appetizer, and an entree. Our food took seriously 30 minutes and we unbelievably got entrees first, appetizers shortly after, then the drinks that the server forgot about. The server had no personality at all and didn't even apologize. Despite all of that, the food was really good. I guess I went on the wrong day? Maybe order to go. Won't be back. Semi-competent service is not that hard to get, and guess what, when you have good service, people come back, and you make more money! More money for the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem!!!
(2)
Yumm y.

Holy deliciousness! Holy because it's a religious institution of sorts and deliciousness as a descriptor the amazing food. My buddy and I split "the special" which was "chicken fried steak" with greens, mashed potatoes and gravy and a tofu, veggies and rice dish. Both were so yummy! There is plenty of street parking and well worth the commute. The service was slow-the place was packed and there was only one waitress and many irate customers. I felt badly for her but heck, it was a Friday night- she should have had a helper. That was the only negative-- please check this place out if you have not already- your tongue will thank you.
(4)
Emily K.

Ate here once on a Sunday with a group of people who have come here often and love it. Note: Sundays there is a fixed menu- no choice of options. Our menu on Sunday was chicken fried steak, cheesy mashed potatoes, collard greens, zucchini, and apple pie. DELICIOUS. I love soul food and it's awesome that it's all vegan. It's easy to get to, despite it being at 7500 south and I'm at 4800 north. The service was polite and helpful but a bit spotty. Our waitress would wander off and I don't think we ever got water refills. I will definitely come back again- for the fixed Sunday menu again AND to choose my own.
(4)
vernon c.

I've been a regular here on & off for years & its some of the best vegetarian food in the city of chicago or anywhere for that matter...ive lived in california for years & never came across a vegetarian spot that i like better than this one...Service can be very slow at times so if you're going to order take out give them a good hour...seriously! When ever i stop in I buy a carton of Prince dressing to take home(best salad dressing ever)...& they have the best veggie gyros...How good? Id rather have this than a meat gyros....I want one right now while i type this...So good!
(5)
jason e.

Well worth the drive, but expect a wait for your food. Everyone who works here volunteers their time, so don't expect the type of hustle you get from a wired up Wicker Park waitress or downtown cabbie. The BBQ twists are my favorite faux meat ever made. Being a Southerner by birth and vegetarian by grace of God, getting a much needed soul food fix can be tricky. Here you get food that compares to and often exceeds the quality of anything from the Chicago Diner, but the servings are larger, the food is less expensive, and your greens don't come with a side of "holier than thou" hipster contempt. Try to catch the big Holiday brunch. Words cannot describe. Vegan crepes and ham to die for.
(4)
Evan S.

I really enjoyed Soul Vegetarian. I am definitely a meat eater but really am always looking for healthy alternatives to red meat. I had the dinner special of the night which included: a salad, green beans, greens, mac n cheese, and sound kind of steak tofu thing - all for like $11. It really was a good deal. The house dressing is a must for the salad and the greens were off the chain. My wife had the battered mushrooms which I really enjoyed as well. She also had the vegetable soup which I thought was kind of boring, but okay. Service was pretty good. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Tiffany T.

Quite addictive! Desserts are delicious!
(4)
M N.

This place used to be a staple of mine but the poor service, lack of consistently available menu items and the somewhat frequent price increases have kept me away. When the food is good it's great. Vegan (if you're ok with honey) southern food prepared in an eclectic, but slow paced, environment. Mind the ratio.
(2)
T S.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the majority of the posts. The service is more than lacking and the food isn't healthy. The only way I would come here again is for an order I placed ahead of time for pick-up.
(2)
Erica W.

Eh...Just ok. I wasn't in love. I am a meat eater, but I partake in vegetarian foods on occasion. I went to Soul Vegetarian East because I tried their fake chicken salad at Whole Foods and I liked the flavor. When I saw the Groupon, I scooped it up. The service is painfully slow. Waited 15 min just to get a menu. The poor waiter had a hard time remembering things. Asked for ketchup, took 15 minutes. The food was ok. I had the BBQ twists, fries and nibbled off of my friend's "country fried steak", greens and corn. I'm not sure what the BBQ twists are made of, but they make it look like BBQ ribs. The fries were soggy, and many of the dishes needed more salt. The best part of the meal for me was the coconut cake. Yum. I have some left over for tomorrow. If you truly enjoy vegetarian/vegan food, it's worth a try, but I probably won't go back. There is something weird about the fake meat that I don't like.
(3)
Andrew C.

Overall Soul Veg is OK, but it hardly merits the rave reviews it has on Yelp. It *is* affordable, filling, and 100% vegan. Unfortunately it has some serious problems: 1) The service is terrible. All the staff are volunteers, and it shows. While a few of the employees (particularly Michael) are friendly, some others seem not to care at all. I have waited 20 minutes for food, then gotten the wrong thing. 2) The food is unhealthy. Despite the New Hebrew Israelites' prohibition on added salt, the food tastes extremely salty, and most of it is deep fried. 3 (and the reason I don't go there) The New Hebrew Israelites are an unsavory bunch of people. They are fiercely homophobic, and some are overtly racist. When a white acquaintance of mine asked what it would take to work there, the staff laughed and one replied "more melanin." All of the money Soul Veg makes goes toward funding their religious organization. Clearly, no one would tolerate this crap from more mainstream religions. Much as I like to support vegan establishments, it is unacceptable to turn a blind eye to bigotry.
(2)
Jean C.

Soul Vegetarian's food is really good. It's hard to believe that it's vegan. The pictures attached to the listing don't do the food justice. The food looks twice as good in real life and tastes, like, three times better.
(5)
Your M.

Loved the variety on the menu. Since I'm not a meat eater I could literally order ANYTHING on the menu. The lack of five stars is due to cosmetics. Unless you're a regular you don't know to just seat yourself...get a greeter or a sign would be nice. I also think the place could use a face lift. It seemed the other side (banquet arear) had a more modern tone but the area I dined in could use an update. Food was DELICIOUS and my server was cool!
(4)
Samantha G.

I'm always happy to find another veggie restaurant, where I don't have to worry if my amazing meal gets its zest from icky chicken bits. No worries here. My friend and I both got the dinner special: a good size plate of BBQ fried tofu, collard greens, mac & cheese, and sauteed zucchini. Plus it came with super yummy veggie soup. This masterpiece of comfort food was followed up by carrot-peanut-butter vegan ice cream. I must say, any place that will serve vegan ice cream is a winner in my book, but such a delicious concoction almost made my head explode with delight. The night I went the service was fine, and the price was oh so right. Lose a star cause it takes me a full two hours to get there from my place on the north side via train. That being said, I'm already trying to block out time to make the trip again.
(4)
Chuuk T.

Service was great. Staff immensely friendly. Felt like a friend had us over for dinner. Food was delicious and fresh. I had the dinner special and my friend the BBQ twist. Both were excellent.
(4)
Aja M.

Food is not the healthiest version of vegetarian cuisine. It is pretty tasty. However, stank attitudes and very dirty looking place. (closed down for rodent infestation last year.) I have vowed not to come back.
(2)
T M.

After reading other reviews I feel like I need to set the record straight. Eating vegan is not synonymous with eating healthy. Although elimanated the animal fat and protein will benefit anyone. Do a blood test, eat vegan for a month and get it rechecked. You will see improvement. Anyway, The food at soul veg. is good and you can choose to eat healthy or not. I love their raw kale salad, cucumber salad, and carrot salad. All delicious! They have excellent soups too. When you want something more filing the garvey burger is great (and no guilt). Probably 1/2 the calories of your average fast food burger and nothing had to die. If you have a sweet tooth the lemon pie rocks. Cookies are pretty good too. As far as service......I always get take out.
(4)
Jahi J.

Me and some of my friend playfully call it Slow Vegetarian because of the service, not just sometimes, but a lot of the time! The food is good, one of the few places if not the only place on the south side to get meat free, dairy free meals. That's probably why they take all day because they know you have to drive north to get something comparable, not comparable in taste because the food is pretty good, but in catering to vegans.
(3)
Alyssa V.

My parents and I meet here whenever we can arrange our schedules and enjoy a delicious, healthy feast. My father is the type to never, ever eat at restaurants-- so I'm sure he'd like me to give this more than five stars if I could. He's a picky vegan and sometimes I suspect germophobic tendencies. At any rate, I also love this restaurant and I recommend getting either whatever the lunch special is or one of their awesome sandwiches. I never pay, since I go with the rents, but I'm pretty sure the prices are very fair.
(5)
Alex K.

I like this place because when you get the right food it's really really good. The service is pretty bad. I think it's worse when you are white. From what I gather the place is owned by an African Jewish religious sect. (Why is best vegan food always made by obscure cults... Alice n friends anyone?). Basically if you are not african american be prepared to be stared at at least a little. BBQ tid bits were my favorite. It is far far away. The service can be slow. But the food is soooo good. The lady was helpfull though one time in telling us to not get one particular smoothy that was claiming to be the "cleanser". Deeply appreciated. Did I mention BBQ tid bits? I think sundays are pre made everyone gets the same thing food days. This is where I developed the taste for collard greens. I'm eastern european so it never came up in the foods i at before. It's worth a try. It's far but it's worth it for all its eccentricities.
(4)
jennifer b.

Finally! I made the trip after work last night with two friends for a visit to Soul Veg and the trip is more than worth it. The food here was FABULOUS, and I have no idea what other reviewers are talking about - our waitress was both attentive and super duper nice. And the prices were very reasonable - dinner special was $11, app was $5.50, smoothie was $6 (not much more than Jamba Juice, and a hell of a lot fresher-tasting). To start off, we split the BBQ Protein Tidbits and in addition to the tidbits themselves being super tasty and not too fried-tasting, the BBQ sauce was delicious - rich and tangy. The dinner special that night was chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, corn, and greens. None of us could resist, so we all ordered the same thing. We also all got the salad with the prince dressing to go with - delicious dressing, though hard to describe (garlicky and kind of sesame... the waitress said the recipe was kind of a secret). As far as the main dish, the gravy was delicious and the chicken friend steak was amazing as well - not too chewy or greasy. The pile of greens was also huge. None of us could finish our plates, and we all left with to go containers. But not before getting our smoothies. My friends got the tropical delight, which I tasted and was good, and I got strawberry heaven which was... well, appropriately named. Full of strawberries, bananas, and coconut milk - yum! It's too bad we didn't have room for dessert, because the sweet potato pie a woman across the room got looked divine. I did eat at the Soul Veg that was briefly open in Cleveland, and got the ice cream on my way out and remember it being very good as well. I'll get it next time, because there will most definitely be many many more trips to this place.
(5)
Em C.

This is easily the best vegan restaurant in the city. The servers have always been nice and helpful and I could easily eat the vegan mac and cheese every single day and never get tired of it. If you're new to soul veg, I highly recommend going for Sunday night dinner. On Sunday nights, there is a set menu and you get to try things from all over the menu, including a starter, main dishes with sides, and dessert. It changes every week and I've never had it not be incredible. I am, however, disappointed whenever this dinner doesn't include some mac and cheese. Their menu the rest of the week has always been really good, but it's difficult for me to pick just one thing. Coming on a Sunday night and having it be out of your hands can really be a good thing.The regular menu, however, is very very affordable, which I appreciate a lot and always makes me order more than I can possibly eat.
(5)
Jessie G.

Soul Veg is delicious, I crave it constantly. The BBQ tidbits/steak are SO yummy, ask for extra barbecue sauce. Let's see what else, always get their specials, they are the best thing by far on their menu. Tuesday is Mac N Cheeze day, which a lot of people seem to enjoy, I think it tastes pretty realistic, but nothing amazing. The collard greens and beans and such are great. A small note for vegans they do use honey in a lot of things and if you are concerned about that they will make accomadations for you. Their drinks are very over priced, and I don't really highly recommend their sandwiches, some are good, the gyros are nice. In the summers, they have a small farmers market outside, and do have desserts up at the counter when you walk in which are quite good. The people who work there are volunteers it seems for the church, so don't expect amazing service, it's laid back and nice. I'll be going there in the next couple of days if you want to meet up, haha. Otherwise, the south side, especially in this area is not as "scary" as you may think. The neighborhood is very friendly and the houses are cute.
(5)
Noel U.

We took a chance on this place, and wow were we impressed! It is a bit of a drive from downtown Chicago, but well worth it. We usually eat at Karyn's Cooked everytime we visit Chicago, but we're actually planning on eating here again! EVerything that we ordered was delicious. I had the bbq twist sandwich, while my partner had the special which consisted of sweet potatoes, greens, some sort of faux meat, and beans. We also had the onion rings and the fried mushrooms. It is possible to come here and eat for cheap. Some of the things on the menu are overpriced (the fried mushrooms being one of them), but my sandwich was only $6! It's weird how their prices work. Some things are really cheap, others are overpriced. Perhaps it is this way so that these meals are more accessible to everyone? We also tried two smoothies, the energy one and I had the strawberry heaven (?). Both thick and delicious. The desert is great too! I know that people have complained about service, but our server was excellent. Keep in mind that they do add gratuity onto groups of four people or more.
(4)
Regina D.

I visited Soul Vegetarian East and I have and will always love it! I am always happy to see people who are taking control of their health and respecting their temple by eating whole "live" foods. The Eternity Deli is THE BEST! I love just about any kinds of greens, so I had the marinated LIVE Kale Green, Chickpeas that was marinated in something that tasted like curry and the Dill Tofu, which was divine! I've had tofu before and it was not at all mushy or unflavored, but firm, meaty and picked up the flavors of the dill and manzanilla olives. I actually made a return trip later that evening for a little treat from the Juice Bar. I chose the "Boomerang" and it was a little sip of heaven - made with bananas, papaya juice, wheat germ, protein powder, coconut milk, ginseng and brown rice syrup. In a word, DELICIOUS! I've read some of the other comments about the decor, but SVE has a neighborhood feel and I wouldn't want them to change a thing - the decor lends to the charm. If you want "posh", then drive due North to Lincoln or Wicker Park - but remember, you pay for posh. I've also read some of the comments about the location being on the "South side". The location of SVE is a welcoming community and if you want to explore and have a great meal, then do so and make up YOUR OWN MIND. SVE, I wish I had more thumbs, I'd give you five!
(5)
Megan G.

I'm generally vegetarian, so my veggie crew and I headed down south of our usual north side stomping grounds in honor of my birthday. Like others have said, Soul Vegetarian is VERY unassuming. I read the reviews so I knew what to expect and wasn't surprised to confirm that our server was the only one working that Friday night, that the food took a bit of time to arrive, but it was worth it. Not everything was amazing but most items were quite good. I was disappointed to not see macaroni or friend green tomatoes on the menu. Both are soul food and vegetarian. In our group we tasted many items: The BBQ tofu appetizer was my favorite, the sauce amazing but not quite enough for all those fried morsels. The cream of vegetable soup was very tasty. My boyfriend ordered and enjoyed the special that day- a lasagna plate with greens and mixed vegetables. I was told the gyros and jerk wrap were very good too. I wasn't in love with my twist sandwich but I was trying to be adventurous so I wasn't too heart broken. The prince salad dressing was a new treat atop a well diversified salad. We enjoyed the lemon pie, caramel cake, and coconut soft serve for dessert. Our only disappointment other than not enough water refills (you get small glasses and she comes by not often enough) was the cornbread. One side note- the restaurant is not in a nice area. We unsuccessfully called a cab to pick us up at the restaurant and after an hour wait for that cab, and with no chance of a cab randomly riding by, we hoofed it to the bus stop. Again, not the best neighborhood to walk around in at night if you don't know where you're going.
(4)
Sara G.

This place is 5 super stars! If you are a vegetarian, love great hot sauces, and delicious tofu, this is the place to go. The first time I went, service was a bit on the slow side, but the second time I went the service was fab! I agree it's a bit of a strange place for the south side, but I'm taking everyone who comes to Chicago here. This is a gem in the midst of the south side. Don't miss it!
(5)
Laura I.

The workers are as sweet as can be, helpful too. However, I felt disappointed with my dish. After tasting a friend's, I apparently got the wrong thing, as theirs was pretty good. In the end, it left me feeling let down... and I left still hungry.
(2)
Cassie B.

I finally went here a month ago with a few fellow vegetarian friends after wanting to go since I tried their BBQ Twist & Gyro at the Taste of Chicago last summer. So much BBQ! The battered fries were amazing. The BBQ tidbits were pretty good along with my Jerkfu Wrap. The service was rather slow. With such a heavy meal, I just needed more water refills than the small two glasses I was given!
(4)
Laura P.

Great restaurant. The service is great. The food isn't the best soul food I've ever eaten, but it certainly is the best vegetarain food that I have. And it's vegan! The greens are great, wonderful flavor, not bitter at all. The bbq was pretty good, not better than the real thing though. A great place non the less, and I will go back.
(4)
Emblem P.

Please note that this is not a typical restaurant! A lot of reviews here are off because reviewers expected the usual experience. If you know what to expect, you will enjoy one of the better dining experiences in Chicago. So, allow me a detailed defense. Soul Veg is run by the Black Hebrews, a religious community of people of African descent who see themselves as descendants of the ancient Hebrews. Their base is in Chicago, but they also live in communities in Israel/Palestine and previously in Liberia. Their religion is a total way of life, following an interpretation of the Old Testament, adhering to communal life and to routines of bodily and spiritual health. This includes a strict vegan diet, without caffeine or salt (they use vegetable salts and seasoning). The restaurant is their way to share their way of life while earning money for their community. The bottom line is that their motivations for running the restaurant are not capitalist. They aren't trying to make a lot of money, especially not individually. That means they won't go out of their way to serve you or cater for tips via fake smiles/cleavage. They prepare the food the way they prepare it for themselves, and serve their customers as if they were guests at their house. Yes, it's slow, but I challenge you to find an authentically friendlier place. The food, if you're vegan or appreciative of vegan food, is paradise. Eat slowly and savor the purity of the ingredients. Also, check out their schedule for jazz or other live music! Good times. I recommend the dinner specials because they are well-balanced for a complete diet. And I strongly recommend the protein tidbits as an appetizer!
(5)
Jasmine D.

I had dinner here on Good Friday - lasagna with a ton of vegetable sides. Everything was delicious. Didn't get to try the sweet potato pie for dessert, but that is one of many yummy reasons to return, and soon!
(5)
Ayako M.

I had high hopes for Soul Veg...it seems like a vegetarian restaurant legend in Chicago but I was totally disappointed even a little grossed out by their food! The Mac and Cheez was mushy, the lasagna tasted like it was made with tomato sauce straight out of the can, the kale was way too salty and the bbq "beef" had a sliminess to it that was not appetizing at all. Totally not worth the trip!
(2)
Omnia I.

4 stars for the protein tidbits alone. The prince dressing is also great. I've realized that after I've filled up on the greasy tidbits, I have no room for an entree, which is just fine as most of the entrees aren't that special anyway. The breakfast is pretty good and the mac and cheese is amazing, except its not served daily. If the service were a bit better, this place might get 5 stars.
(4)
Shannon J.

Every good meal must begin with a story: I am a Logan Square living, non-vehicular owning Chicagoan, so Soul Veg had been on my radar for a very long time. Yes, they sell it at Whole Foods, but really, there is no comparison to an in restaurant experience. This past weekend, like any non-vehicle owner I turned up the powers of coercion and got a good friend to drive us down to Soul Veg so we could experience the real deal. I love restaurants that are a fixture within the community, and it is obvious that Soul Veg is precisely that. It's not super fancy or updated, but it is very clean and the server was a very friendly and well informed gentleman. After much debate we ordered: Protein tidbit appetizer, BBQ delight special and tofu and veggie rice (not sure the official name.) Let me just put this out there. If I were to die mid-bite of anything I've ever eaten, It would happily be on a bite of their fresh salad with their house dressing. Seriously. It was a ton of food for two people, but the leftovers were awesome the next day. The bbq sauce is phenomenal, the greens were everything I had been craving and the tofu and rice was delicious. Did I mention it was ALL VEGAN?! Oh, and my pocketbook didn't take much of a hit at all...in fact I had enough $ left to bring back extra salad dressing to enjoy for days after. Overall: Cheap, delicious and worth the drive South. It's officially in my top 5 favorite Veg restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Tony R.

I think that most of the reason I didn't get into the cuisine of African Hebrew Israelites is that it is vegan. I really and wholeheartedly believe that were I vegan and enjoyed vegan food, this place would be so incredibly delicious and amazing. Sadly, that is not the case, I am a self-professed worshipper of eating meat. So when I had a BBQ sandwich, my meat-corrupted soul wanted more!! It wanted meat!! However, that said, it wasn't half bad from what I recall, I mean, if you're going to have BBQ without meat.
(3)
Michael W.

Sunday dinner at Soul Veg is an experience not to be missed, but savored for all the flavor it brings. Something about this spot, just thinking about it makes me smile inside. Maybe because it conjures up memories as a child eating food around the long, oval table with grandparents and great-uncles and aunts, eating dinner between the late afternoon NFL game (usually the Cowboys whippin' up on some little sister) and Mike Wallace about the light up some fool's ass on "60 Minutes" with direct questions. Maybe it's the fact that I'm always reminded that -allegedly- Common, and Erykah Badu have dined here, so I heard "The Light" play in my head no matter what other relaxing music is playing inside. MAYBE it's just cause the food is so wonderful I forget that it's free from wages of the flesh. Yeah, Sout Veg isn't located on the Gold Coast. So what? Park your car quickly , go inside and be friendly. You live in (or around) Chicago. Welcome to the Southeast side. Can't handle it? Go nuke some frozen Morningstar, punk & be happy Mike Wallace isn't grilling you like tasty cauliflower. Yeah, yeah, the service here is slow. So what? You wanna rush a near perfect dining experience. Don't be a heathen. Sit down & be happy. Have a pre-dinner conversation with your friends and loved ones before you eat. Remember, you want to digest your food slowly. Sit back and enjoy. You're worth this treat.
(4)
Jenn C.

i love collard greens. Being from the south, it might be seem like an environmental hereditary thing...this is not the case. Not a mustard, collard, or kale green in the sea of texan comfort food. Funny how it took a trip up to yankee-ville to discover this delectable treat. Soul Veg is a comfort food genius. Bringing back all of those tasty tasty mama made pot luck dinner foods and throwing the animal junk to the curb...I applaud you. Granted, this place is not for the scale conscience...in fact, there is so much oil in most of the foods, that after one bite- you end up with a days worth of lip gloss. But that's what soul food is all about. Along with the oil, nutritional yeast (aka vegan pixie dust) is used with a heavy hand especially in the mac and cheeze. Check that out on Tuesday...or at a few markets in the Hyde park area (they carry soul veg take out boxes). I am a sucker for great dressings and the prince dressing which I believe is a miso base, is a heavy weight champion that turns an average mixed green salad into a veggie epiphany. For newbie vegans who dont cook, this place is great for a sweet fix...although, for a seasoned tongue they taste of sugar and fat. Service is slow, but its expected. Its soul food. Not fast food.
(3)
Pam B.

Amazing, unique eats. Don't go when in a rush. Go when you can sit and savor the food and not be worried about when it's coming. Bottom line, just bring some pepto bismol and patience and you will be in heaven :).
(4)
Jennifer C.

Oh Soul Veg with your chicken fried seitan, how do I love thee! However, ever since you got shut down last year for health code violations, I feel like we've grown apart. Maybe it was meant to be...
(5)
Eric G.

I am a carnivore. I never thought I could ever be a vegetarian, but after a visit to Soul Vegetarian, my mind has changed. Of course, I will still eat meat, but if I ever feel the need to have a vegan moment, I know where I will go. This place is fantastic. The prices are great and portions are more than enough. I tried the protein tidbits (?) after seeing it mentioned by reviewers--that could have been my meal alone! I also got the jerk tofu wrap which was incredibly tasty. The staff there is so friendly and welcoming. I really enjoyed it. I just wish it wasn't so far away so I could go more often, but I will definitely be back!
(4)
Ed C.

The food was absolutely delicious. I had veggie tidbits and a BBQ sandwich and both were delicious.
(5)
Mandee M.

My husband again a Meat Lover, didn't even realize this place was vegetarian. It is located at 205 E. 75th St. and their phone # is (773) 224-0104. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week, and I think we spend about $10-15 per person. This is very ethnic in its cuisine, so some may not like it, but it is good. It also looks like a major whole in the wall, but when you walk in the people are so warm. One note of caution, plan on spending some time waiting for your food. The culture and the experience is worth it though. It is an adventure, but you have to have an open mind.
(4)
Lizzy G.

I loved my experience at Soul Vegetarian! I don't know why I waited so long to go there! After so many reviews about slow service, I finally went on a slow, rainy weeknight. I decided not to go hungry expecting to wait. Maybe this is why we didn't have any problems at all! The service was fluid. I won't say our waitress had the greatest attitude, she was a little distracted, but nothing went wrong and all of our food was delivered in a timely fashion and it was absolutely delicious! There were about 4 other tables when we arrived but our waitress came over with water right away and told us about that evenings specials. She came back a few minutes later and took our order and with in minutes of ordering our soup was on the table. Promptly after that our dinner was served. No problems at all! She checked on us a few times and then offered dessert, which is worth saving room for! My boyfriend had the dinner special and it was almost more than he could eat. The buffalo tofu was a bit much for him, but he's a meat eater. The greens, mac&cheese and veggies were delicious though. I had the BBQ twist sandwich and I think I could eat it multiple times a week, it's just so good. Nothing was expensive either, I mean dinner was under $20! Who complains about that price!! I did feel a little bad about the ticket though, once I thought about the tab, I realized they didn't charge us for dessert! I'm glad I left a nice tip. The dessert was excellent! The coconut cake just needs some vegan ice cream on the side and it would have been perfect. The lemon pie was out of this world! Best I've had, and it's vegan to boot! What's not to love. This restaurant has been around for a while now, with good reason. It is a vegetarian dining destination and staple in the Chicago food scene. If you can't make it to the south side, force yourself through the crowd and visit them at their Taste of Chicago booth (if it returns, and i hope it does, it was my first stop last year!!). The food is good, and in my opinion would be worth the wait, if you even have to wait...!
(4)
alicia g.

I LOVE Soul Veg. I love it so much that I'm willing to ignore the fact that a year ago 3/4 people I went to dinner with ended up with food poisoning. TOTALLY WORTH IT.
(4)
Allie S.

Oh, wow. Yum! I recommend the gyro!
(5)
Patrice R.

This is comfort food at its best and as close to home cooked as you can get. My favorite items are all fried, but the kale greens are expertly cooked to perfection and there are other healthy items from which to choose. During the week you can order from the menu, but on Sunday there is one complete pris fixe dinner with all the trimmings for $14 which has been great! The atmosphere is interesting, the patronage eclectic and prices reasonable. I dream about the apple pie.
(4)
Camara S.

How much do I love this restaurant? On my last visit home I rented a car at Midway Airport and, instead of seeing my relatives immediately, I headed straight for Soul Vegetarian and ate lunch then ordered my dinner to go. Before heading back to San Diego, I ordered some more food to go, froze it, and smuggled it into my suitcase.
(5)
Izabella d.

Soul veg has been on my list of places to eat at for a while. We finally made the trek out there,, and were ready to eat some mad tasty food. We ordered the fried protein tidbits for appetizer -- tasty, large portion, good bbq sauce for dipping. We also ordered the bbq twist sandwich, jerusalem sandwich and the daily special - bbq chunks with potato salad greens and corn on the cob. The food was individually tasty, the greens were amazing -- but the sad part was that the protein was so similar in all of the dishes. From the appetizer down it was all deep fried seitan in bbq sauce. This could definitely be our fault for not ordering different dishes,, but the menu did a medium job at describing the dishes. Aaaand it turns out mac and cheese, something that i was so excited about, is only served on tuesdays!!! the corn bread was a bit dry and dense, but the cream of broccoli soup was delicious, made with coconut milk. For desert we had lemon cream pie -- super tasty, and all the other deserts sounded amazing as well. Overall, there was too little variety, a bit too much deep fried to get over 3 stars. But deserts and greens and the daily special deserve 4 stars. Also the service is amazing. The staff is engaging and so helpful. I think I would go back for a sunday dinner or tuesday mac and cheese.
(3)
Mimi S.

Once upon a time... this was a really good and affordable option for non-meat eaters... that time has past. When I first became a vegan, I didn't know how to prepare tofu or the like neither did I know what was "acceptable" to eat 910 yrs ago). Since then, I have learned both but most importantly, there are countless restaurants that cater to my culinary needs. Some of those places are also cleaner, less expensive, more attractive inside and more attentive to the patrons. I made the decision long ago to never patronize this location again. However, a coworker insisted on buying lunch for me so I ordered a dinner special. It consisted of kale greens, BBQ tofu, salad with prince and mac N cheese. It was a delicious meal ($20, I later found out!) so I decided to go in later for live (non- cooked) foods. I waited 25 minutes for 3 side dishes of non cooked food AND paid $15 for it...I'm so over soul veg....sorry guys, Karyn's has you beat on every level... For those who have never tried SVE before, give it a go, just make sure to ask about there current inspection status!
(2)
Danielle P.

Really good food for the most part. Affordable pricing. Service is definitely slow...if you are in a hurry or are not a patient person in general, you probably won't have a good experience. The friendly employees somewhat make up for the slow service.
(4)
Shayna W.

Maybe this review is unfair because the food I had was purchased packaged from Whole Foods and not fresh at the restaurant, but it was really gross. I'm used to mac and cheese not tasting like real mac and cheese, but theirs was so nasty that I would have thrown up if I had a weaker stomach. Instead I powered through about half with a disgusted face until I just had to stop. The greens were just as bad. The tofu was fine, but, come on, this is tofu, how bad can it be.
(1)
rebecca g.

one of the best joints for fake meat in chicago--and perhaps the only one for soul food? which makes the atrocious service and 'tude towards 'outsiders' worth it. i usually go with a big group and the running joke is that if you order a drink and a meal, you're only getting 1. likewise, not everyone at the table will get their order, and about half will just be plain wrong. and you will wait an hour MINIMUM, even if there are only 2 full tables in the restaurant. don't ask: just eat whatever they put in front of you and enjoy the uncannily meaty wheat gluten-y goodness! we suspect they're toking up in the back, because there's no other way to account for their insanely laid-back, slowwwwwness and order F-ups. it's all part of the Soul Veg experience: if you are a Northsider, you spend an hour getting there, another hour waiting, and an hour eating. i keep waiting for them to raise their prices; it's just too addictively good and affordable. the special drinks--carob shakes, fruit shakes, etc.- are incredible. the veggie gyros, fried mushrooms and tofu, anything gluten that they batter, bake, or fry...amazing. one caution: beware of sundays. this is when they historically offer only 1 dish: a higher-priced "special" of not-so-great options--bland vegan mac n cheese, bitter collards, and dry cornbread taking up the space that should be occupied by the marvelous but paltry scoop of BBQ twist "meat". the only reason to go is for the fake meat, so IMO anything else is extraneous filler. plus, due to intense vegan restrictions (no butter, no honey, no etc. etc. etc.), the sides are just blah and not at all foodie-licious.
(4)
Jacob R.

So, what's not to like? 1. Probably the worst service, ever. 2. The main dining area looks like a 3rd world banquet hall. 3. You're lucky to get water. 4. The food is pretty bland, and not worth the trip to the south side. I had most of the tofu dishes. Beware!
(2)
Ann A.

Solid delicious vegan soul food. What more can you ask for? We trekked down for dinner Saturday evening and noshed on the dinner special (bbq seitan, kale, potato salad, an ear of corn, and soup or salad). We also ordered a few appetizers, as we were famished. The fried mushrooms and onion rings were seasoned and battered and inhaled within a few minutes of arriving on our table. We also took dessert to go (as we had sufficiently stuffed our faces and had no room) and tried the lemon pie, apple pie, and coconut cake. So good! I highly recommend this joint if you're in the 'hood or if you're wanting some down home goodness.
(4)
kimb s.

Leave it to Chicago to corner the market on obscenely unhealthy vegan fare. Obscenely unhealthy, but awesome nonetheless. This place and the vegetarian Chicago Diner will make sure all vegan Chicagoans fit in with the rest of the town (where livin' large is literal).
(4)
Egan V.

Vegan soul food at it's best! Rich and comfort-y the food is delicious and the service very friendly. Worth the trek for north-siders and visitors.
(4)
T. T.

Decent food paired with GREAT, courteous service.
(3)
Amanda A.

I'm not a vegan. I'm not a vegetarian. Yet, for a long long time, this held the crown of my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Why? Because the food is so amazingly good that you can overlook the fact that you wait 10 minutes for water sometimes. I brought a friend here once and he was surprised that he wasn't eating meat. I love their smoothies and I swear to God, the strawberry shortcake is better than any cow version. Taaasteeeee.
(5)
Kim B.

Go with a group, prepare for a slow-paced meal and plan on minimal physical activity afterwards. Soul Veg is a landmark for vegan food in Chicago, and the praise is well deserved. The food is consistent, the specials are great and the staff is super friendly (although service is a bit on the slower side, I admit). Prince dressing = yum.
(4)
V S.

Went here to celebrate a friend's graduation. Slow does not cut it. The waitress didn't even ask for our order. We ordered two smoothies a veggie gyro and a special. Almost 30 minutes after we ordered, the waitress comes out to say they no longer have the lunch special but I can have spaghetti or lasagna. I say spaghetti. Fifteen minutes later my friend receives the gyro but my food is no where to be seen and hour and fifteen minutes later, I tell her to bring my food to go because we are already late and to forget about the drinks. She asks: What drinks? I say forget it. I ask for the check. She never returns. We go to the register, no one says anything. A woman is looking at a furnture website. When she turns around and holds out her hand. We tell her we didn't get the receipt. She pulls up the order and is about to charge us for the drinks that never came. We tell her that we no longer want them. At that moment the waitress comes out and has an attitude because the cashier tells her that she had to remove several items off our bill. We pay and get out.....never to return for sure!
(1)
jessica S.

the service was terriable ! the food is kinda pricey and they have no appreciation for your patronage!
(1)
Becky S.

Maybe it's because I'm a happy omnivore, but I really wasn't terribly impressed. I went there on a Sunday evening with an ex boyfriend who had raved about the place.. I liked the idea of having a Sunday dinner and no menu to fuss over.. it felt like being at my grandparents'. However, as my ex noted, "It wasn't even that the service was terrible; it's that it was non-existent." Over an hour wait for a meal in a half-full restaurant? I ordered a peanut butter smoothie (which, come on... $7.00? Seriously?) that thankfully never even showed up in the hour+ it took for our food to come out. You would think with a set menu and 10 (counted, perhaps more?) staff on hand, things would go smoothly, but alas, it was pretty disappointing. Several tables just got up and left in the time we were there... and it seemed that everyone had problems with the service (or lack thereof). When our food finally came, it was tasty, but nothing to write home about, and they had run out of dessert... again, fine, but not offering a substitution? I did overhear the owner day-dreaming about opening up a north side location, which I'd be open to trying, but until they figure out how to get a handle on the one they have, I couldn't imagine that happening. The restaurant is pretty good for that area, but I don't know how well it would fare in an area with tastier options.
(1)
trieu n.

i've been here a handful of times, and i can honestly say that each time i go, the service progressively gets worse. the food is always spot-on, from the smoothies to the tofu tidbits to the barbecue twist sandwich. i've never ordered something that i didn't enjoy. however, i think i've had my fill of soul vegetarian east for a long time. i always come here expecting to wait; the restaurant doesn't even have to be busy, but for some reason, our food takes a long time to come out. also, half of the table always gets served before the other half. on many occasions, half of the table was almost done with their meal before the other half had received their meal. so why would i keep coming back? well, i have a group of vegan friends who appreciate the vegan soul food, and somehow i always get suckered into going. no longer, i say! on my last visit, the same as always occurred. the dining room was only half-filled. the food was slow and half of us got served before the other half. however, this time, we had the rudest, most inattentive waitress i've ever met. she had completely ignored one member of our party, and she had to be hunted down so that he could order. we had to ask for a drink menu 3 times. one of my friends is allergic to coconut, but coconut was used in a smoothie he ordered, even though it was not listed in the ingredient list. when we tried to send it back, she insisted that there was no coconut in it and gave us a hard time when asking for one without coconut. when she finally asked the cook if he had used coconut, he said he had, and we had to wait another 15 minutes before a new drink came out. no apology or anything. she gave us a terrible headache when we asked her to put 2 people on a separate bill, and then decided she didn't want to do it. we arrived at 2:30 and our meal lasted over 2 hours...and not because we were busy chatting. the food may be good, but after such a horrendous experience, i'll never go back.
(2)
Adrian D.

DUUDE! DUUUUUDE! okay seriously, Soul Veg is where it is at. The food is sooo good. The service can be kinda funny sometimes. Like the server pulling a cell phone out of her very authentic looking African wraps in the middle of yr order. I honestly found it more entertaining then insulting, but I'm easy to please. The people who work there are really nice and always take time to talk to you and quite often remember at least yr face. I ran into some of the guys at a festival last summer and they remembered me when i came in a few months later. The tofu/Seitan tidbits rule. if you have a friend who is going to soul veg, have them bring you some back. If your friends are anything like mine, you will probably have at least a few left by the time they get back to you. Sometime they don't survive the car ride home.
(4)
Melissa M.

Amaaaaaaaziiiiingggg!!!!!!!! I almost went veggie just because of this place. I live all the way on the north side, and I'd go back again and again, even tho it's far. I was taken there by friends who live in SKOKIE, and it's one of their favorites. Can you say "well worth the trek?"
(5)
Amanda B.

Am I the only one that doesn't think that this food is very great? I heard so many great things for years about Soul Veg and finally tried it some months back and was disappointed. The food was just very heavy and didn't make me feel great when I was done. I did like ice cream though. Maybe I should try a Sould Veg in another city like Atlanta?
(3)
ro k.

Absolutely delicious. The service was wonderful. I liked the other customers and the general atmosphere. The BBQ platter was amazing; I could eat the BBQ sauce on its own. Hebrew fries were well done (and there was ketchup available!). Tofu salad tasted like a subtle potato salad minus the smelly egg bit. Carrot juice was fresh and hit the spot. I would go here every week.
(5)
Natalie S.

This place is great if you like slow service, getting served the wrong thing, paying $15 for boiled vegetables and going home with a stomach ache and a salty attitude. I used to put up with it when I was younger but at this point, I'm too close to 30 years old to put up with getting treated like crap. There are plenty of veggie joints in Chicago where the food is rad and the peopel aren't dicks.
(2)
Jena S.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST VEGGIE FOOD AROUND! I live no where near this place and I will drive there every week to get my BBQ twist sandwich. The restaurant is a little rough around the edges but no biggie.
(5)
Kevin M.

After recently moving to Chicago I have tried to get to as many vegetarian friendly places as fast as possible...I love you veggie-Chicago, and Soul Vegetarian is now at the top of my list, sorry Handlebar. The BBQ Protein Tidbit appetizer was only $5 and it must have been more than a pound of tofu. I was puzzled at how they could afford such low prices, but after reading a previous post regarding the proprietors beliefs I now know. The service was sporadic and slow, but those tidbits, those delicious protein tidbits kept me company till my meal came. Basically I would give five stars to any place with tidbits so wonderful.
(5)
Gloria B.

I agree that the service is slow and the restaurant is not at all fancy but their greens are the bomb!!! I live on the southside (Go SOX!!) so it's easy to get to for me. Parking can be an issue.
(4)
Sara O.

Being a vegetarian myself, I always appreciate places that have veg food. This place, however, is amazing. The prices are great, and the atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The food, on top of that, is delicious in its variety. I haven't been there in over a year and just thinking about it has me salivating. If you think you might not like soul food, try it anyway, you will. I'm a picky eater but I ate everything in front of me!
(5)
Sandy J.

Delicious. We all ordered the dinner special. It came with soup or salad. The soup was yummy, highly flavorful. Then the main course, greens, chunks of barbeque, and corn. We all ordered different desserts. I had coconut soft serve ice "cream". Someone ordered coconut creme pie. And the sweet potato pie is wonderful. Reasonable prices and great service.
(5)
Ben E.

You don't go here to get healthy vegetarian food (although it is available if you want it). Instead, head to Soul Veg for the protein tidbits (awful name, but they're amazingly flavorful nuggets of deep-fried seitan accompanied by absolutely perfect bbq sauce), the BBQ Twist sandwich, or the dinner special of the day. Not everything is great here, and the service can be of variable quality, ranging from slightly flaky to flat-out incompetent or surly. But who cares? The collard greens are fantastic, the fries are some of the best I've ever had, and the vegan lasagna is a spot-on rendition of what you'd find in a homestyle Italian restaurant. This isn't gourmet dining, and if that's what you expect then stay away, but it's one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I just wish it weren't so far away.
(5)
Zach H.

Delicious and healthy food. Even though a lot of it is fried (must start out with the BBQ tofu delites) it doesnt leave you feeling greasy or disgusting. They usually have some kind of dinner or lunch special going where you can get a LOAD of food for $6-10. Most definitely worth the trip down south.
(5)
Ben V.

Man, so I was in Chicago for 10 days last summer, and I ate at Soul Veg 3TIMES! It was so absolutely delicious. It is also not cheap, which led me to some creative eating for the rest of my overland journey back to California. Okay, so what stands out in my memory... Peach Cobbler, mmmm, man that was so delish. Definately the smoothies, you gotta get a smoothie with your meal--I vaguely remember getting some kind of peanut butter smoothie that was particularly incredible... The vegan mac and cheese is pretty impressive, and of course I love the collard greens, but those are pretty hard to fuck up. So like, of course, 5 stars for Soul Veg, when in Chicago, it's THE place to blow your wad. And then dumpster dive pizza in Wyoming at 2am because you ate there so much. YUUUUUMMMMMM!
(5)
Rob D.

Man, I really want to give this place 5 stars because I think I probably didn't make the best menu choice. I got the special, which was lasagne. First, let me say it was the best vegan lasagne ever. And.. it came with these fried bean curd strips that were pretty great. Pumpkin pie was good - maybe a little too sweet and honestly the portion was just too big (which I guess isn't really a valid complaint). The problems were pretty clear: a bit too much money for the amount of food I got; a big pile of sprouts fills the rest of the plate but it's not fooling anyone; the peas were canned (maybe it's customary in the tradition of this type of food but they suck when compared to fresh or even frozen peas); no sauce for the strips (it was really needed - I was lucky to have a few drips of salad dressing left over). Oh yeah.. the salad and (garlic) dressing were GREAT. After all that I would definitely go here again and I would definitely recommend it - I just wish I knew what to order to really get their best (I was trying to do that by ordering the "special" but I think that's bad logic when it comes to restaurant dining - according to Anthony Bordain, anyway).
(4)
sandra o.

The food is delicious. I agree with those who say the service is slow. It is slow for just about everyone--regardless of color of skin or ethnicity. They are very creative cooks. They have also mastered some raw food dishes. I highly recommend this restaurant. I don't go there all of the time because I do not want to overdo it when it comes to eating fried foods. To those complaining about their world view and belief system, I do not go there for that. I go there because I enjoy the food.
(4)
Nancy M.

best. barbecue. ever.
(5)
A D.

My experience on the wait time has always been positive, with my order being served within 10 mins. I always go Saturday mornings for breakfast and order the same thing -- pancakes, tofu scramble, and their homemade veggie sausage -- yummity yum yum. I think most of these items are prepared in advance because they sell out as the morning progresses (for this reason, I call ahead to make sure they will still have what I want by the time I get there). I think Soul Vegetarian is working hard improve wait time.
(4)
Anna S.

Their food is very good, and I have had good experiences there. However, a few weeks ago I went and got the worst service I have ever seen at any restaurant. We waited over an hour for our food; the waitress apologized and said the restaurant was full when it was plainly over half empty. While we were waiting, the waitress did passive-aggressive things like refilling the water of every single customer in the room and walking right past us to the door without filling ours. It seems from other comments that there might be extenuating circumstances for the bad service but really the food is not worth service like this.
(2)
Sy S.

Yes, the service can be very, very slow. And, yes it is a long drive. These are the only reason it didn't get five stars. Just relax and know that they are on their own time and then you will have a great experience. Don't forget to try the BBQ protien tidbits for an appetizer...they are amazing.
(4)
David F.

Are you looking for some soul food without the pork? This is definitely the right spot. The make fresh smoothies, wheat grass juice, salads, meat substitute dishes and soups that will make your tongue smile. The price is right, although some of the portion sizes are a bit small. That is a good thing because I always want to order half the menu.
(5)
Arrow M.

This the strangest, coolest, tastest vegetarian joint I've ever had the pleasure of dining in. If you like vegetarian and soul food, then you have to try it. It's out-a-sight!
(5)
Dee C.

I just got back from one of the best dining experiences I've had yet as a vegan in Chicago, and at the risk of sounding like I'm on Soul Veg's payroll, I wanna tell everyone about it -- especially to balance some of the comments about the service. Our group of three arrived around 7 on a Friday night and was seated right away by a waiter who would prove to be consistently friendly and professional -- there when you needed him, but unobtrusive. Of our appetizers, the deep-fried tofu bits were a standout. I couldn't decide on just one main course and, with most of these around five or six bucks, I didn't need to. My tofu barbecue twist sandwich ended up on a fork, though the bun stood up well to the sauce and the trimmings provided a nice crunchy counterpoint. The big bowl of greens was fresh and well-seasoned, with a side of crumbly cornbread to soak up the juices. I couldn't finish it all, but I tried my darndest -- despite knowing that dessert would be necessary. As we were coming in, we had seen through the window a series of gorgeous cakes displayed on trays; it turned out they were holding a bake sale in the other room. The sweet girl working there was glad to hand out samples. Everything was as good as it looked, and we took home a couple of slices of a smooth peanut-butter-carob layer cake and a couple of mini-pies, allowing us to still order ice cream. About that ice cream: it's one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. The flavor of the night was nominally carrot, but that was only one in a constellation of flavors that tasted like pumpkin pie and carrot cake somehow combined, distilled and made magically light. Just the right note to end the summer on.The texture's somewhere between soft-serve and sorbet, and a (generous) small is only $1.50. The atmosphere was quiet and comfortable, with soft R&B on the stereo and a few clusters of balloons advertising the bake sale. Forgettable, but you won't want much to distract you from this food. It's a bit of a drive for those not on the far South Side, but we enjoyed walking down a congenial stretch of 75th Street before and after the meal. I'll be dragging anyone who will come along with me down there again soon.
(5)
Always Right C.

Wow! After what seemed like the drive of an eternity (from Wicker Park), I was so very pleased with the end product. Every item on their menu is vegan and delicious. I had the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and greens. I also tried a few bites of their other items and there wasn't a single item that left me disappointed. Great price for good food.
(5)
Tobia C.

Soul Vegetarian is truly a great experience. The name really describes the place well. The trip will be well worth it. Vegans eat to your heart's content. They do use meat substitue...and as someone who eats meat...I was completely satisfied with the preparation. If you find yourself on the Southside....and near the 70's...don't miss out.
(5)
Jenny I.

Travel to the South Side and slide into this place. It's an experience, and the food is unbelieveable. First, it's almost all vegan (no animal products), yet it's also exclusively a soul food restaurant. Fried tofu tidbits, BBQ seitan (fake steak), veggie chili, cornbread, collard greens, unforgettable apple pie, coconut cream pie, smoothies and shakes. It's owned and operated by the African Hebrew Isrealites of Jerusalem. Whuuuuut. GO! ENJOY! It'll make you feel like you're tripping, and EVERYTHING on the menu is SO good.
(5)
Reggi O.

I've been to SVE four times now and each and every time I've been, the service just gets worse and worse. I was in last Saturday at lunch time. After a nearly 30 minute wait without service, I decided to go to the adjacent juice bar and inquire of the guy working the counter if all menu items were available for carry out. I got a whole lot of really bad attitude, as if he was doing me a major favour by answering my question. And after all of that, I was told that no carry out was available because they did not have carry out supplies (i.e. take away containers). How's that for poor managmeent? That was the straw that broke the camel's back In my three previous visits friends and I were just shocked at how long it took us to be seated, waited on and served our meals. It's beyond ridiculous, especially given the size of the facility. There is just no excuse for such poor service and such bad attitudes. I was actually giving the place one last chance and it failed miserably. Not me. I'll be driving north to Chicago Diner, Karyn's or even to Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston. And yes, I am black (Afro-Caribbean) and I'd love nothing better than to support black owned businesses. But, wow, NO CAN DO with this one. It's that bad! Of course, if you've got two hours to wait for a simple sandwich and you can deal with bad attitudes, it might just work for you.
(1)
Natalie J.

i wanted to cry it was so good. the service was excellent, the food spectacular, and the atmosphere was inviting and casual. it's a hike but one worth making. i'm pretty much planning on becoming a regular.
(5)
Ellie C.

it's great that this place exists, but it would be nice if they actually served the food on their menu. on our first (and only) visit to this restaurant, a friend and i ordered 2 of the dinner specials, and were told 3 times in 40 minutes that our food had been given to someone else (??!!) and that we'd have to wait a bit longer. i don't care if the person that got our food was angry -- even if they made that one customer (or in our case, 3) happier, our experience was so awful that we won't be back.
(1)
lauren a.

wow. soulveg is TOTALLY MORE than just a good vegan restaurant! i've moved from chicago to the bay area (hippie liberal diversity cultural capital of the country, yo) and there isn't one place that comes close to the perfect unique creation that is soulveg! i'm so surprised at the lackluster descriptions below. my group of friends at the u of c celebrated almost every birthday with a visit to soulveg, and none of us were vegetarians! the deepfried vegetables are better than i've had at any other place, the barbequed tofu twists and sandwiches are better than ribs, and the damned place has a freakin "Soul Vegetarian Day" in the city. this place is seriously one of the best things about chicago, and should do, like, superexpressovernightmail so i can still get my fix. hmph.
(5)
cb b.

great veggie food. Not a typically menu. This menu has plenty of variety and a friendly staff. There is plenty of deserts and smoothies they also hold health fairs and health talks at the restaurant.
(4)
Takelya W.

im not a vegan but i have friends who are so we come here sometimes and i seem to find myself ordering something. its good food.
(3)
John S.

I'm having some serious vegetarian guilt about giving Soul Vegetarian East only three stars. It deserves three stars, truly, but that doesn't make doing my job any easier. I compare the experience to when I was a TA at UC Berkeley. Many of my students were extremely intelligent, thoughtful, and good writers to boot. Others may not have thought through their assignments as much, but they could write, so it was easy to settle on either an A- or a B+. Then there were the teeming hordes who didn't really care about the class and/or decided to get working on the assignment the night before because, well, it's only college, right? Why should I care about my GPA when my boyfriend-of-the-week is inviting me to a nice dinner out in the city? (Never mind the fact that you won't be on speaking terms with this guy in a month and that he won't be able to help you get into grad school.) Again, I had no problem with a B or B- for these folks. But then there were others. The students who weren't the best writers but who clearly had good, if disorganized, ideas. The absolute hardest to deal with were the students who had equal loves of learning and office hours. In general, I was an inquisitive student, and I kind of regret the fact that I spoke with my professors outside of class so rarely, so even if I got the same person every week, I liked talking to her. (And it was usually a her--er, she.) But after you've gone over seven drafts of a pretty simple assignment with someone, and her paper still isn't very good? Well, it's difficult to go with that B. The B+ is the magical elixir for troubled TA consciences, but it's also unfair sometimes. What does this have to do with Soul Vegetarian East? Well, it's OK. Some of the food is excellent, while other menu items are bland and not terribly different from one another. Fortunately, what I ordered (and I don't remember what it was) was very good, but I also tried some of my dining companion's, and it wasn't as good. I would definitely come back. The service was hit or miss, and that was odd considering that it was after lunchtime on a Friday and not too many other people were eating at the restaurant. I love how busy the place is, especially for takeout, and I really got the sense that regulars are treated well. The food probably isn't that good for you overall, but it's soul food, and it's probably not as bad for you as its non-vegetarian counterparts, so you're doing your health a relative favor.
(3)
Cait A.

I have a special place in my heart for this spot. It's a pretty unique place in terms of atmosphere, and honestly I never would have guessed that there's a place like this on the deep south side. Everything is vegan, the service is really wonderful, and the food is just resplendent; sooo comforting and satisfying. Their brunch is where it's at, but I also like their tofu tidbits, seasoned fries, onion rings, Jerusalem sandwich, BBQ twists, and the down home greens. My only "beef" is that their prices are a little much.
(4)
Kedar D.

I loved Soul Vegetarian. The service was friendly and fast, the atmosphere was charming and worldly, and the food was delicious and perfectly priced and portioned. I haven't had soul food in a long time and found their cream of broccoli soup, cornbread, mashed potatoes, collard greens and country mock steak to all be wonderfully filling and tasty. The clientele was diverse and added to the charm of the restaurant. Vegan food often produces a self-segregating customer base, but Soul Veg. seems to attract people from all different backgrounds. My only gripe is with the location, which is hard to get to via public transportation. Otherwise, it's highly recommended.
(5)
Lisa L.

Went to check out some homes in Beverly and decided to finally check out Soul Veg on our way back into Bridgeport. I have to say I have mixed reviews and feel that I'll need to go back a couple more times to get a real feel for things. Despite apparently being the only waitress serving the entire (fairly-busy) place, the woman taking care of us was extremely friendly, fast, and helpful. I decided to order the daily special: bbq tofu, greens, beans, corn bread, chili, sweet potatoes, and more. Everything was off-the-charts good in my opinion, with special notice given to the sweet potatoes. My friend decided to order one of the burgers and it came out late (after the cook forgot to make it), and textured like a dry sponge. I have a feeling my friend made a mistake getting a burger at a soul food joint, but I wasn't about to call her on it - she knows who she is, and will probably yelp about it sooner or later :D I also bought my husband a slice of their lemon cake for his birthday and brought it home. Considering the fact that he scarfed it down without even offering me a bite, and later looked up his own recipes for lemon cake online, I'm guessing that the cake was a hit! Don't sleep on this place, it's a great reason to get further into the south side.
(4)
Nessie V.

One of my favorite places in Chicago. I mean, its an all-vegan place and it's full of local south-siders every time I go. I think that's pretty good. I never feel out of place here either, as everyone is very very friendly, staff and patrons, not that I would expect otherwise. Everything tastes great, very filling but I always manage to have room for dessert. As some have mentioned, service can be slow sometimes but they're always apologetic and try to make everything work out. Can'r wait to come back!
(5)
Karyn R.

My love for Soul Veg can be summed up in two words: protein tidbits. I want them now. I want them tomorrow. I want to defy the time-space continuum and have them before I ever even tried them. If I were at all religious I would start my own cult in honor of them. Don't believe me? Try them. And it isn't just the protein tidbits, people--although I could happily eat nothing but--the bbq twist sandwich, the Prince Elkannon (Garvey) Burger, the gyro, the collard greens, and mac n' cheese...it's enough to make me overlook the water glass that is rarely refilled and the less-than-enthusiastic service. I know there are a number of vegan options in the city. Many with better service and a fancier spread, but Soul Veg is what it is: no apologies, no excuses--and I dig that.
(4)
Liz J.

I'd only ever had Soul Veg's food in it's ready-to-go incarnations at Whole Foods or some spots around Hyde Park, so I was excited when the Groupon came out. Of course, then I promptly forgot about the Groupon until right before its expiration date. So off to 75th street we headed on a rainy evening. Apparently others also forgot about their Groupon til the last minute, because I saw at least two other tables with Groupon printouts lying in the corner. Apparently, the restaurant wasn't really prepared for the flood of people. The place was packed. We were seated at one end of a long table already occupied by a single diner. We arrived around 6:30. We left at 8:30. And this wasn't one of those leisurely, enjoy-your-food two-hour meals. I love those. The bulk of the 2 hours was us sitting around waiting for someone to notice us ... waiting for menus - 15 minutes; waiting for someone to take our order - 30 minutes, waiting for our food 20-30 minutes ... since it didn't all come out at once, waiting for someone to notice we were done so we could ask for our check - 15 minutes. Which brings me to the final issue. I fully understand the problems with Groupon customers not tipping the full amount. And I fully support restaurants deciding to add the gratuity on to Groupon customers' bills. But you need to tell people that you're doing that. When our change came back with two measley dollars ... when we were expecting 8 and change ... we were bewildered. Did the adding up and conveniently the omitted change added up to 20 percent. By that time we were sick and tired of trying to get the attention of anyone who worked there, so we decided to call it even and just leave. Oh, the food? The food was awesome. It could have been hotter. And it could have been faster, but I've been thinking about the greens for a week now.
(2)
Octavia T.

Fried bean curds tastes just like catfish. Service has gotten faster which is great!! Can't go wrong with the prince dressing FYI- Vegetarian doesn't always mean healthy, some of the selections are loaded in starch and sugar...be careful.
(5)
Sherry H.

Get the twist and be amazed,
(5)
A. K.

Awesome food! Excellent deli food and service I'm especially fond of the Combo Basket and Stir Fried Rice dishes.
(4)
Scotty J.

I've been coming to Soul Veg for a few years. If I'm ever in the area I always stop by. The BBQ twist sandwich is a must for first time visitors. In addition order some cornbread, yum! Unfortunately the service is friendly but not always speedy and on top of things. So far I have yet to find better priced soul food that is vegan and this delicious. Don't fret vegetarians and omnivores this food is great!
(4)
In T.

Greetings, I've been going to soul veg for years and have always came back for more, until recently. Service and quality of food have decreased tremendously. I guess now their closed to give the decor a face lift... What about the food and service?????
(2)
Claudia S.

My friend is a carnivore. She professes her love for meat on a daily basis and I think the only person who loved meat more than her was an ex-boyfriend of hers. Sometime in November I was having a conversation with one of my lactose-intolerant vegetarian friends (who pretty much leads a vegan lifestyle when he doesn't feel like getting sick to his stomach from eating cheese) mentioned this place. He told me that Justin (my friend's ex) had gone down there with him and really liked it. Now, I'm not a fan of mayo, but when Justin said Veganaise (yeah, the spelling's probably wrong) was awesome, I had to try it for myself. It tastes like mayo, and still disgusts me. Moving on. He confirms that this place is good and I think "cool, I've got to bring Kevin here then" since I'm always dragging my friend to meat-inclined places. After driving out to 159th and Cicero I decide to see if another friend of mine (who lives on 83rd) wants to venture with, but opt against telling him what type of restaurant this is. The food was alright. Actually, MY food was alright. I forget what the boys ordered, but I liked theirs more. I got a wrap and it was falling apart and drenched in (BBQ?) sauce. That's my fault, because I should have requested it on the side as I'm not a fan of most sauces and hate when a sandwich/wrap falls apart because of the sauce. Regardless, the waiter was very patient with me. It's not far off the expressway, which is a plus because I would have ZERO patience for taking streets to 75th when I live about 1900 north. If I'm in the neighborhood I'll go again, but I won't make a special trip down there just for this place. There's some amazing vegan (and vegetarian) places closer to home. Honestly, it's just me being lazy, but like I said, should I be in the area (for a friend, or coming back via the Dan Ryan) I'll go there. Both of the guys thought the food was ok, and while I know for certain the one who lives off 83rd won't be going back there, the other one would if he's in the area, but seeing as how he relies on public trans., I can guarantee he won't make the special trip down there either.
(3)
Jessica R.

Soul vegetarian offers comfortable and delicious dishes with a casual and diverse environments. I use to come here quite often ten years ago and recently started going back (too bad it's so far from my new home). Love the staff, love the food, love the vibe.
(5)
Jonathan W.

What a goddam gem. Seriously.
(4)
Drea E.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I love delicious food- and healthy delicious food is even better... even if it is vegetarian/ vegan. It is pretty tough to beat the lunch, but somehow breakfast is even better- but huge! Bring your appetite! I balked at the scrambled tofu- but ate most of my husband's order. The pancakes and bulgar patties were filling and delish. But the best part? A slice of vegan caramel and coconut cake to go. Even better than the "real thing."
(4)
Laura D.

This restaurant has changed my perception of fine dining vegetarian cuisine forever. I'm completely f-ing serious. 1. The salad - start with the prince dressing. It's delicious. I keep some on the side for the main meal. 2. The main meal - I usually just get the dinner special of the evening, which can vary depending on the day of the week and the availability of the food items. My favorite dinner special is probably going to be the fried "chicken," which is outstanding. I love the greens that they serve and especially love blending the greens with the prince dressing I got with the salad. 3. If you get the dinner special on Sunday, it also comes with a great vegan dessert! My favorite is the apple pie, but I have yet to try one that disappoints. There are a few important details to note about this restaurant in general. It's generally very casual and low-key, not particularly uptight at all. It also serves as a community center, so everyone is very friendly and welcoming. However, the waitstaff are volunteers, so service can be slow. Be patient and appreciate the time it takes to prepare this outstandingly delicious food. Look around and take it all in. It's a great place to be with friends and family.
(5)
Rahshonda K.

My mom had been talking about this place for a while so when Groupon came with a deal I had to get it! We went through the week so we were able to walk in and get a seat immediately. However service was not so immediate. Service was SLOW AS HELL!! However the food was tasty. The Lima beans were delish but the Kale was so bombarded with onions and garlic that it was just inedible to me. My mom ordered the special of the day which was the smothered "steak" the little bit I ate was sooooo good. I thought for this place to be healthy the portion sizes were unbelievably huge. I definitely am going to go back they have a juice bar that I am dying to try.
(3)
Tomas T.

What's not to love? Generous portions at a reasonable price. Portions are large and service is attentive. The fine folks at Brown Sugar Bakery turned me on to Soul Veg and I am so grateful. The special with rice and veggies and cornmeal coated tofu is amazing and enough for two. Great deal. A recently ordered pasta dish was rather boring and not imaginative and that was a disappointment but other meals have been stellar. With so few vegan choices (I am not a vegan but love my veggies), this place is a treasure. I do not fit the traditional demographic in this locale and have, at times, felt looked upon with suspicion when entering but my easy going disposition has brought me into some interesting chat with fellow diners. Soul Veg is off the beaten path for many Yelpers but I encourage you to visit not just for the great food but also to experience the amazing history, culture and sights that Chicago's south side has to offer.
(4)
Laura V.

When I tried to convince my vegan boyfriend to move to Chicago - this is one of the places we went to eat - and I'm pretty sure it helped to seal the deal. Now that we live here, it is one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago - or really, anywhere. Even though they have an extensive menu - salads, sandwiches, veggie stir fries with rice, etc - I pretty much stick to BBQ because that's what I came for! They have three different kinds of BBQ and all are delicious but I like the Southern one the best. Their seitan is very good and they make sure to get those wonderful char marks on the slabs. For appetizers - I am almost ashamed to say that we always get the combination of fried... stuff. Cauliflower, tofu, seitan, mushrooms, whatever you feel like. It comes with a side of fries (like you need that!) and dipping sauces. That brings me to the subject of their Prince Dressing. OMG delicious. i want to bathe in this stuff. If you know what Goddess Dressing is and love it - this is even better! It's a little thinner and lots more garlicky. Have it on your salad! As a side. Just try it! The atmosphere is nothing to rave about but it's fine with me. The bathrooms are ok. Since Soul Veg is so far South, it seems like most of the people there are locals but everyone is super friendly - waitstaff included. I've never had a bad experience. Soul Veg is one of the best restaurants food-wise that I've ever been to. We bring most of our out-of-town guests here - vegan or not and everyone loves it. It is extremely unique and I would be heartbroken if it ever went away.
(5)
Meriel C.

This place has the world's slowest service. Think about what you consider to be slow service and multiply it by ten. I enjoyed my meal more than my friend, but she is kind of veggie shy. I had stir fried veggies and brown rice with an Almond Malt. While it was not amazing, it was decent. We had onion rings which were pretty good. The seasoned fries were over cooked and lacked flavor. It took forever for things to arrive to our table because as I said slow, slow, slow. Won't be rushing back.
(3)
Kelly F.

I have only the food to base my review on. We went to the Green Fest at Navy Pier a few weeks back and SVE was there serving food. You got a set plate of BBQ, mac & cheese, greens and cornbread. I had just eaten breakfast a few hours before but could not pass this up, it's not often I get to eat veggie soul food. I tried the BBQ first - awesome! I'm still dreaming about the sauce, I had wanted to lick the plate clean but was too embarrased. The mac and cheese was really good as well, I could have probably eaten a whole plate of just that. The cornbread was good as well.The greens were o.k., I guess maybe after the taste of the BBQ sauce the flavor of these got a little lost. I have to say I can't wait to get out to the city to have their food again!
(5)
Manu W.

Located in the heart of the South Side, Soul Veg has been a staple in the community for over 20 years. I enjoy the service and variety of choices to pick from. The dining hall is filled with beautiful artwork to help you enjoy your experience even more! I have a great rapport with the staff and the restaurant diners. Everyone loves the delicious raw selection, and you can pick up orders from the front register if you choose to dine at home. Luckily, the meals are wonderful wherever you choose to eat!
(4)
Kris C.

The mac & cheese is to die for. Trust me. You have to get it to go, so make sure you don't leave without it. Soul Veg is a cozy restaurant- the food is here good, and the prices are reasonable. We ate the Jerusalem steak sandwich, the bbq twist sandwich, and an order of the seasoned fries. The steak was good, it had a nice crust and the mustard was really quite good. The bbq sandwich was tangy and a bit messy, but that's part of the fun. We also enjoyed the fries- they were a little different, but not in a bad way. They were well seasoned, sort of breaded, but not greasy or crispy. I was visiting Chicago and staying downtown, but Soul Veg was definitely worth the trek. .
(4)
Joanne L.

Mmmm Mmm! I love me some Soul Veg. The first time I went here was for a Chicago Vegan Meetup. We had a buffet of all sorts of deliciousness to choose from. The dishes that stuck out to me were the Mac n' Cheese, BBQ Tofu and cooked Kale Greens. I would come out here more often but it's located in the south side, quite a drive from the north suburbs. The decor is nothing to rave about, but I don't come out there for the ambiance. The service has always been fine, but the articles about failing health inspections are a bit disconcerting. When my hubby and I came here again on a later visit, we had mac n' cheese on the brain, but when we got there, we found out that they only serve a set menu on Sunday... Bummer. When the food came out, we were in heaven so despite not being able to order what we came for, it was still wonderfully yummy.
(4)
Kelly C.

We took the trek down because we'd tried the mac'n'cheez at the Vegan Fest in Wicker Park in the fall. On Sunday, they have a dinner special for $13 that varies but for us, included seitan loaf, gravy, collard greens, mac'n'cheez and candied yams. The food was delicious and people working were super nice. I wouldn't call it super healthy but they do a great job of making a somewhat-healthier approach to comfort food. I'd like to go back and check out menu items. We parked on the street and came out to a mysterious flat tire which was a pretty big bummer since our experience was enjoyable.
(4)
Jeff Z.

We decide to try breakfast at this well known vegan restaurant to the south of Chicago. Though the inside is very quant and old looking was disappointed that there was an uncomfortable silence to the place. There was no music or anything in the background. Some sort of sound would be nice. There was also an irritating guy talking loud about his historical viewpoint. I was also saddened that there was no coffee served. Why not was the question. Overall you cannot beat the food. The sausage type patties were real good and the vegan scrambled eggs were very tasty. The service was slow but not too bad. All the staff was very friendly.
(3)
Tina G.

Every time I'm in Chicago I have to make a visit here. I love love love the BBQ sandwich (there's something wonderful in that there sauce). The prices are right, the food is more than right and I love the diverse and unassuming diners. As everyone noted - the service is ridiculously slow, but if anything was worth waiting for - this place is.
(4)
Shanna B.

If SVE wasn't soooo far away, I would be eating here every single week. It's THAT good!! I know they've been discussing opening new locations closer to the Northside, but until then I only make it down there a couple times a year. Everything is vegan, but even carnivores think it's yummy food. Love the Prince salad, Mac n Cheese, greens, and most of all the gyros. The gyros are so good that I usually order one as a separate to-go meal when we eat there so that I can eat it later in the week (or night.... lol). They do sell some pre-packaged dinners at Whole Foods now, but as good as these are they can't compare to the hospitality and freshly cooked soul food there. Oh, and I don't love Sundays only because it's a pre-set dinner menu and you can't order anything other than what they've selected.
(5)
Jenn H.

We love the food here! The fresh juices, the non-egg salad, the soy cheese, the salads with the Princes Dressing! We always just order the daily special too, no matter what we get it is always good! Don't forget to save room for the desserts, they are incredible, you will not miss the dairy or eggs!
(5)
Herman B.

Been there a few times and the food was good. However, the last time made me give it one star. We went there, and were completely ignored for one hour, not even menus or water, IGNORED. Oh, when I went looking for a high chair for my son, a waiter showed me where it was at but insisted on carrying it to the table, so they knew we were there. Anyway there are two rooms where people sit, I can only assume we were in a room where they forgot we were at, I had to go into the other room to get the menus myself, if I didn't have a Groupon I still needed to use, I wouldn't go back.
(1)
Niki G.

Ahh, we love this place! The food is so incredibly good! Even if you aren't vegan or even a vegetarian, you're going to love it. It's just that tasty. Plus, you know you're doing something good for the animals and the Earth at the same time :) Service is, in my opinion, very good and we love the mac n' cheese. The collard greens are incredible. I love the little corn bread slices, as well as the faux ribs and pretty much anything else off their menu. Delicious!!!!!
(5)
Valery S.

No wonder so many vegans are more than plump. If I ate nothing but vegan food (the way most vegans eat, not the David Wolfe type vegan, but your regular tofu downing vegan), I would a nutricional deficiency in about 3-5 years. I must applaud this restaurant for being what it it, where it is. I realize that if you go from real fried chicken and BBQ ribs to their fake versions, you health may actually improve, just because you;d be killing yourself so much slower. But good gawd! This is NOT healthy food. Heavy, sweet, salty, so rich in gluten. No thanks.
(2)
Brittany Y.

The food is substandard and the staff are ridiculously rude. I will never eat here again.
(1)
Drumn M.

The food is great. We used a groupon and was not dissapoint. We got the bbq protein bits, buffalo chicken dinner & the bbq twist platter. My hat goes off to the bbq twist platter. It was the perfect bit of crunchy and had a great texture. I'm looking forward to eating the leftovers for lunch. Yes, the service is slow but it's cheap and delicious. worth the wait.
(5)
Christine H.

So far, I love everything I have eaten from here. Vegan soul food sounds like an oxymoron, but they make it possible. The chicken fried steak meal was HUGE (enough for two meals) and everything was delectable and filling (greens, potatoes, the "steak") I never ate real chicken fried steak before, but having eaten other soul food, I bet this tastes exactly the same. The portion of protein tidbits is almost a meal in itself. The Jerusalem steak sandwich fills you up too, though it tastes a little like the chicken fried steak... I had a caramel cake from there, and it was better than any cake I've had at Chicago Diner. This food is way more flavorful and spicy. And yeah the service can be a little slow, but honestly, you have to expect that whenever you go to a food that serves African cuisine ("African time" as I've heard it called, by Africans :-P). Also, the appetizers arrived about 30 seconds before the main meal. Nonetheless, the uniqueness, tastiness, overall awesomeness of the food trumps the service.
(5)
Tam H.

I am a flexitarian....So checking out S-O-U-L Vegetarian was a given! All my friends have been bragging about going here...So you know I had to check it out! When I arrived, the jazz was playing in the background. Nice to get you ready for the experience soulful on the vegetarian tip. I had the Garvey Burger along with the greens. The greens were fresh and delightful. I enjoyed the garvey burger as well. It was well seasoned and tasted really good. Unfortunately, they were out of the yams. I heard great things about the yams so I was looking forward to tasting them as well. Hmmm, maybe next time. The waitstaff was pleasant and one of them was dropping a bit of knowledge about the history of the resturant. You can't beat getting a history lesson about the resturant and the reason why they decided to open up a resturant such as this one! Love it! The next time I go, I plan on trying something else from the menu. Hopefully, my experience will be just as delightful.
(4)
Swati B.

Awesome Awesome Awesome When I first rolled up to this place off of the highway on 71st street, I was a bit skeptical because of the immediate area (don't be). The [place itself is a little small but nothing bad... The protein tidbits for an appetizer are A MUST DO! Absoultely amazing... I had they gyros and they were awesome...I downed the entire thing in a matter of 6 minutes... My friends that ordered their sandwiches also really enjoyed their meals...the soft serve Pineapple icecream was also amazingly delicious... The prices are decent...not super cheap but won't break your wallet....and don't come here for "fast food service"..they are slightly on the slower side..but thats my only complaint. I for sure will be going back..multiple times.... Take your vegetarian friends here..and to be honest, meat eating people would actually be pretty impressed by the food here...yes it is THAT good..!
(4)
kate w.

I've eaten soul veg food from all over the city, a grocery in Hyde Park, Whole Foods, Taste of Chicago and even O'Hare, but i'd never been to the restaurant itself. My friend and i finally decided to go and we checked out some yelp reviews in advance. Everyone seems to say the same thing, great food, slow service. We got there and it was not crowded, maybe 2-3 tables other than ours. We ordered pretty quickly, had the onion rings, handburger and southern bbq sandwich. The food came almost immediately and it was delicious. We wondered what reviews were talking about when they said service was slow. Then, after eating our meal, it came time for the order desert, lunch for her husband and get the check part of the meal. We weren't in any rush but we probably sat for an hour intermittently waving and "umm"ing to get the server's attention and we were ignored. Eventually, as time wore on, we decided to go pay at the counter. Apparently there was some confusion as our check had been mis-entered in the system and it took about 20 minutes for them to finally ring us up so we could pay. Everyone is right, the food is awesome, but the service is all but non-existent. Also, the quality of product is not significantly superior to what you'll find in retail locations. Save yourself the headache, and unless it's a special occasion, just get your soul veg in a grocery.
(3)
Tom B.

Given that I've never lived anywhere south of Division Street and I've been to Soul Veg in person twice probably speaks more to this place's greatness than any review could. The barbecue sauce they use on the seitan and fries is other worldly. Seriously, it's heaven. I went down once in 2005ish and was slightly disappointed that they were serving a set of courses rather than letting people choose from the menu, but the food was still good. The last time I went was a few weeks ago and they were serving from the full menu so I was able to get a little more creative...aka order my own weight in fried gluten and barbecue sauce. My only complaint (and it's a big one...but kind of my own fault) is that I was in recovery mode for a good 48 hours after my meal. I felt like a whale and probably would've died if someone had poked me in the abdomen. Something about the wheat gluten they use just makes you feel like there's a brick in your stomach afterwards. However, I'd still go back and still will go back. It should be noted that some of their food can be found in other parts of the city...the two places I've bought Soul Veg wraps were the Barnes & Noble Cafe at the DePaul Center in the Loop (random, I know) and at the Whole Foods on Halsted. So head down to 75th or at least pick up a Jerk Seitan wrap from Whole Foods. It is nothing short of bbq bliss.
(5)
Josh S.

Probably the only vegan restaurant that I could get fat by eating at regularly. This is some greasy, heavy food, the way it's made old school down south, but no meat. Not recommended for gluten free diets.
(3)
Natalie M.

Its good to have a vegetarain restaurant on the south side. Yes the food is great, the other reviewers are correct that the prices arent CHEAP, but they arent expensive either. I definately believe you get your money's worth. The service leaves a bit to be desired, but the food more than makes up for it. I enjoy the desserts and the laid back atmosphere much more than the location- but there is always parking to be had.
(4)
Margaret Ann B.

Greens!! We were visiting Chicago and came here with a friend who's wanted to try it for years and years. Don't even bother considering the vegetarian aspect -- the food is just fabulous. The menu's kind of confusingly organized -- some things are called sides, some entrees, some appetizers, but there's not necessary much difference among them. We were four hungry people and ordered the collards & cornbread entree, the basket of fried mushrooms, cauliflower, onion rings and seitan and also got a side of BBQ "tofu tidbits" which were also deep fried, with BBQ sauce on the side. Then we got yet another order of greens and a side of the mac & cheese, which is almost like a souffle in texture. There were many other specials that probably wouldn't have involved quite as much deep fried food, but someone there is a wizard with the fryer -- light, not greasy. We were there on a Tuesday night and it was pretty much deserted -- hope it's more popular on the weekends. This is a treasure.
(4)
Kar M.

When I go to a legitimate vegetarian restaurant, I never order the vegetables. I want an otherwise unattainable vegetarian recreation of the meatiest thing I can imagine. So I've had the synthesized jerk chicken and bbq riblet, sure. Of course I would. And they were just fine. A bit syrupy, but satisfying. But thank goodness my dining companion got vegetables. Because I thought, as a transplanted Southerner who no longer deals in ham and turkey, that I would never have decent collard greens again. But this place brought tears to my eyes. Seriously. If I said on Yelp that the greens were better than my grammas, I could never go home again. So you must understand I can only say, wow.
(4)
Sonja B.

This place is on the south side (not too bad a neighborhood..) or else I'd visit it at least once a week. Upon entering soulveg you will encounter kind service, colorful African art on the wall, and the best damn soul food you've ever eaten. Oh, and every bit of it is vegetarian! The price is definately right, ranging from $2-$10 for entrees. I recommend a garden salad (you will dream about the home-made vegan cucumber dressing...thick..sweet...AMAZING), BBQ (gluten) roast sandwich, Veggie Gyros, and Salisbury steak dinner to name a few. The menu is big and will please just about everyone, even meat eaters and i'm not just saying that. They have a multitude of down-home style desserts as well. Warning- I've been told that if you visit soulveg on a Sunday, they just serve you Sunday dinner and don't let you order anything else. Check this place out!!!! Really cool date spot as well.
(5)
NeeraJamie K.

Hmm...disappointing. I was expecting some spice, but it was bland & our server was sooooooo slooowwwwww I'll give it another chance because the owner seems cool.
(3)
Latrice A.

The rating is because I am a meat eater dang it ! This food is no where close to being a meal that could place my hunger for meat My husband when vegan for about six month and dropped 30 + pounds and said he wanted to start up again so I said i will try. I also have a Groupon for 30 worth of food for 15.00 so it was a go . I went in will a clear palate to try and experience the worse food of my natural meat eating life! First i got the protein bites that the yelper suggested . The batter was good but as soon as i chewed i regretted it will all my heart. It is Tofu people why or why didnt someone warn me I tried one after the other until my gag reflex could not take another one , i hate to waste money but its was wasted on that ! Now one at my table liked them. So I ordered two Twist sandwich a side of macroni and somr kind of stir fry pasta. My sandwich after bite it several and hating was not thre Twist but a vegan kind of roast beef sandwich which I was choking down . upon sampling my daughters did i discover the different taste and textures. I did slightly enjoy the maccroni that all I will stay my meat eating self out of there . Vegans enjoy ! Oh on tuesday night one hour before closing the service was not bad I
(2)
Nico M.

I finally went to try Soul vegetarian East and absolutely loved it. I went on a Sunday afternoon with one of my close friends and they were just starting to become a bit busy. We were seated quickly and brought out water. The people that work there are so friendly and helpful. The first Sunday of every month they offer a Sunday dinner. This particular Sunday was the first of the month and the dinner included collard greens, stuffing, yams, mac & cheese, a gluten based roast with gravy, a dinner roll, and apple pie. This was so filling and SO good! It was hard to tell that the mac n cheese was even vegan. I always chop up onions in my greens but they already had onions chopped up in them! The dinner is $13 and well worth every penny. I even tried a sample of their sweet potato ice cream which was SO good. The staff was great and never neglected us since we were sat in the larger room toward the back because they were crowded. We were checked on consistently for water and asking how our food was. The art and decor was awesome too with African paintings and carvings. I don't like driving but am so happy that I have a car now and can get to Soul Veg more often. I will be going back for sure to try the other things on their menu. This is definitely my favorite veggie spot right now..
(5)
Nafeesah A.

I live near this place and not only is the food overpriced because a single lunch for one person is damn near $15. Plus not to mention the molasses slow service you get along with that rank attitude from the staff. Plus they have a problem with some of their raw food options because my mom got food poisoning from this place twice in the last 2 years and this last time was the second time and she had to be rushed to the ER after experiencing vomiting and severe diarrhea. This place had been shut down by the city before for sanitation violations. I won't eat at this place ever again after having eaten there years ago and seeing that my mom had food poisoning twice from this place makes you think about eating someplace where the staff doesnt give a damn about good service.
(1)
Sixto M.

so let's clear something up about this place that seems to be a litle unclear: the service is NOT good. If there is one thing that I cannot stand, its bad service. Maybe that's because my mother was a waitress and I know what good service is, but I digress. That is not to say that the waiters at Soul Vegetarian are rude, or mean, but they are just not very attentive. This is not only based on my experience, but my friend's experience as well, and she has been there more than a few times. So the service sucks! Now on to the good part: the food! I didn't know what to expect because I'm not a vegetarian, and I don't really eat vegetables, but I honestly think there is something for everyone here. I had the seasoned fries appetizer, stir fry steak, a slice of lemon cake (it was huge!), and a vanilla creme soda. All for 13 dollars (tax and tip included). The BBQ sandwhiches are also good, and I'm sure everything else is too! Me and my friend were a little disappointed because they didn't have a couple of things we thought they might: mac and cheese and sweet potato pie. I think I read on here that they have sweet potato pie ice cream, but they don't. Bottom line: its a great place to eat, not a great place to be waited on. That may be why they automatically add tip to parties of 4 or more.
(3)
Kiarash Z.

After my experience at Karen's, I was eager to try another take on vegetarian, and Soul Vegetarian East completely pleased me. Sure, it was far too quiet for a birthday dinner with friends. Sure, my greens didn't have the tomato the menu promised. Sure, it's a bit of a trek from Logan Square. But man, the greens were outstanding. The variety basket of fried goodies completely hit the spot, and the lemon meringue pie blew Karen's attempts at dessert out of the water. The bill for five people, including appetizers, entrees, ginger beer and dessert, was $70. I definitely am OK with that.
(4)
Liz P.

I came here with my big ex-football player bacon-is-the-perfect-food friend and he loved it, so I think that's a pretty big endorsement. Plus the place itself is kind of a trip. And you can get BIG bowls of collards and cornbread with whatever you order! A warning to the health conscious: Just because it's meatless doesn't make it good for you. Expect a greasy, salty, sloppy, delicious mess.
(4)
Chris F.

Soul Vegetarian is one of my favorite restaurants, and before I lived in Chicago I would always find a way to eat here whenever I visited. First off, everyone I have ever taken here loves the protein tidbits, so you might as well order those. My other favorites are the BBQ twists, greens, chicken fried steak, mac and cheese, gyros, and breaded tofu sandwich. They also make my favorite salad dressing, which is the cucumber. The desserts are great, and though I have a huge sweet tooth and they don't use nearly as much sugar as I would use, everything is still delicious. They make cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, cobbler, and their own vegan ice cream, and the selection varies. I especially liked the Oreo-style cake, which is carob cake with vanilla icing and carob "crumbles" dusted all over the cake. My only complaints are that they don't have some of my favorites--like mac and cheese and chicken fried steak--on the menu all the time, so sometimes I can't get what I'm craving. And the service is sometimes on the slow side, though everyone seems to be especially friendly. But these quibbles are not enough to take away the 5-star rating.
(5)
Gabrielle S.

Veeery interesting. Had to come here for the vegan food and give it a go. I have bought amazing bbq protein thingys, egg salad and mac n cheese from Whole Foods made by Soul Veg East and was very impressed. So a girlfriend and I decided to make the trek out.... We got lucky with parking out front and that was a relief because the neighborhood is a bit questionable.... The food: Salads were yummy- tried a tofu salad and a carrot salad which was way tasty. Dressing was some creamy cucumber sauce that went with several different dishes and I was practically licking off my fingers it was so good. On to the less healthy: Falafel- ok- not the best I've had, def on the drier side but as I mentioned that special secret sauce before, well it helped make up for falafel shortcomings. Protein Tidbits: Huge, bland, deep fried and without drenching them in the BBQ sauce they would be inedible. Need good teeth for these babies, lots of chewing required. Fries: Tried both regular and Hebrew--TOTAL dissapointment. Both. Totally underseasoned and undersalted. Also needed to be drenched in the BBQ sauce. The fries had LOOKED soooo good. But not really impressive. Overall we enjoyed our "experience" and were glad we came here, and I would definately come back and give it one more go and order different things. Such as desert....they all looked freaking amazing! Next time......
(3)
Jose G.

I thought I already had a review up? Oh well. Soul Vegetarian is perhaps my favorite all vegetarian restaurant in Chicago (and in most of the other cities where it had locations) and certainly is better than those of any of the others run by small religious groups (like Alice or Victory Banner). There is so much great food here, with textures and sauces that you just can't find at the Chicago Diner or anywhere else. Whether you're going for a plain old sandwich, or a lunch or dinner special (lunch specials until 1:45pm), this place is great, and always worth the trip to 75th St for those of you who are far away. It's prices aren't very cheap, but there aren't many vegetarian places that are, and for the specials you do get a lot of food. Some of the meals you will insist can't be as healthy as they actually are. There are some naysayers out there that complain about the service, but I love the service. Though sometimes it can be on the slower side, it is always gracious and helpful. They always make sure I know that they want me back. Soul Veg is a destination restaurant, great for locals treating themselves, visiting out-of-towners, and anyone in Chicago who wants great food.
(5)

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Address : 205 E 75th St
Chicago, IL, 60619
Phone (773) 224-0104
Website https://www.originalsoulvegetarian.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Soul Vegetarian East

205 E 75th St, Chicago, IL, 60619

Soul Vegetarian East Menu

Appetizers

Soups

Soup Or Salad

Sandwiches

Entrees

Side Orders

Healthy Meal suggestions for Soul Vegetarian East

Appetizers

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Soup Or Salad

Sandwiches

Entrees

Side Orders

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