The Chicago Diner

The Chicago Diner opened on Halsted Street in Lakeview in 1983 and has served meat-free comfort food there ever since. The menu covers diner classics made without meat: the Radical Reuben with house-made seitan, country fried steak, chilaquiles, biscuits and gravy, vegan milkshakes and a bakery case of vegan cakes. Many dishes are vegan, and a few come with egg or dairy options. The diner closed its Logan Square location in December 2025, so the Lakeview restaurant is now the only one.

What to know

• Brunch is served daily in addition to the regular menu.
• The diner runs an online waitlist and does carryout and delivery.
• Free parking is available in the area on the north side of the building at set times; the diner asks guests not to park at the neighboring 7-Eleven.
• The Chicago Reader named the diner best vegetarian restaurant in its readers poll every year from 2009 through 2022, according to the diner.
• Sensory-friendly nights with lower lights and music are held on the third Wednesday of each month.