Handlebar: A Comforting Vegetarian Haven in Chicago

Great vegetarian restaurant with fish options. The fries and Mac n cheese were excellent, the nachos were so tasty too. The ambiance is pretty casual.

Handlebar was one of those places where the first visit easily earned the second. We popped in Saturday afternoon for Bloody Marys, and by the time we’d fished the last drop of house mix out from under the fried pickle spear, we knew we’d be back. There’s something instantly comfortable about the place—walls cluttered with stickers, a busy but not chaotic bar, and a staff that’s cool without being cold. You feel like you’re in good hands, and more importantly, you want what they’re having. So on Sunday morning, bags packed for an outbound flight, we returned for opening at 9:00 AM sharp — and they unlocked the door for us on the dot. No eye roll. No fake smile. Just a warm “good morning” … that seems rare! We ordered like we meant it: - Sausage and egg sandwich with fried avocado, which was excellent. - Hash brown patties, which deserve a holiday. Think McDonald’s, but if they had an actual soul and no grease. - Mushroom omelet and vegan bacon for my buddy, who took one bite and started making weekend plans to move here. Add more top-shelf coffee and a Bloody Mary encore, and we were full-on Handlebar evangelists. It took mere minutes for other Handlebar loyalists to start pouring in. I’d give 6 stars if I could.

I love the atmosphere, it was a little cold for me, the burrito was huge, I guess they didn't season the food with salt so I had to add my own salt. The salsa is too tangy for my liking I also had to add salt to it. I ordered a margarita and it was very good and strong.

Delicious vegan food, the best! The Nashville hot chicken burger made out of mushrooms were so crispy, juicy and filled with deep flavors. The Sambal tofu was equally good and spicy. Chili cheese fries was very unique. The atmosphere was a bit loud and that could be improved. Overall the food was delicious and highly recommend.

My favorite restaurant in all of Chicago! I always come here for comfort/ to treat myself. My friend visited from Louisiana and we had to try everything, practically came every day. Our favorites are the fried avocado grilled cheese and black bean maduro. Servers are always great and the food comes out perfect every single time.

Nashville "chicken" sandwich and vegan nachos were very good. And the vegan cheesecake was awesome. Ideal for vegetarian and vegan options but they also have some good fish choices too.

Handlebar's been a mainstay for as long as I've been a vegan eating in Chicago. The dishes are delicious, the portion sizes are appropriate for the price, and there are enough menu options and specials to make each visit unique. The staff is always super friendly and welcoming. I'll definitely be back

Love the atmosphere, they’re welcoming spirit, I blended right in I got the Vegan crispy chicken melt and my friend got the signature handlebar sandwich. Everything was delicious and to top it off we got the Vegan. Raw Pie