Loving Heart Vegan Cafe

Chicago has an enormous number of vegan restaurants. I doubt I'll ever get through all of them. I ended up here largely because it was walkable from the waterfront. It was also next to what appeared to be an entire vegan grocery store. Despite it being called "Loving Heart" as opposed to the better known "Loving Hut" chain, they did have some fliers for the same Supreme Master associated with the latter. I suspect many vegetarians will have heard of this personality cult, of which I am not a fan. Then again, I'm generally live and let live with these things, and nobody here bothered me about it. My salad bowl included a bit of rice and a hefty helping of Korean BBQ soy protein. The BBQ tasted better than I thought, but the nut-based pesto was not quite as good as I'd hoped. Still, it was a healthy meal at a time and place I needed one.

Loved the heaven wrap and mango smoothie. Perfect combo before summer is over. Definitely will come back another time.

Ordered for pick up and when I arrived the store was closed and no one answered the phone. Unreliable. Still waiting on a refund.

Had a Sky burger that was SO GOOD! It's a faux fried "chicken" type sandwich and it's AIR FRIED so has that comfort food experience but HEALTHY! Perfect balance of a unique bun (really tasty) with several "chicken" nuggets and a lovely sauce with shaved carrots and a "lettuce wing" in the middle (order it to see what I mean) came with some nice "cheese" veggie sticks. Exactly what I was craving! Such a calm place, relaxing space to eat in leisure. My blood pressure after eating here is alway 110/70 Love this place!

Five GOLD stars for this wonderful cafe. The food was scrumptious and the service was outstanding. I had the Bibim Bowl with chickpeas. Delicious sauce and fresh veggies over rice. Super tasty and filling. The person taking our order heard we wanted to sit outside, but there were no tables setup, and immediately told us he'd put a table outside for us. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!

Food 4/5, Service 4/5 Food: This is a fully vegan restaurant so that's always exciting and reassuring for me! I ordered the Summer Rolls and Tom Kha soup. I added beef like protein to the summer rolls and they were great. They were very light and healthy tasting. The Tom Kha soup was also very light and healthy but good. Overall I liked the food. The only change would be adding more seasoning to everything.

PLEASE patronize this place! Their food is absolutely amazing and their staff is super kind! Even if you're not vegan! Try their burgers! I promise you you won't care that a cow didn't die for it.

Cute cafe with great quality smoothies, drinks, and coffee. Will have to come back and try the food!

This cafe is somewhat under-the-radar vegan, popular, but a small and unassuming place. We ordered takeout from here and the food was made quickly and lovingly and the host/cashier was super friendly. We really enjoyed our dishes: we ordered a curry bowl and bibimbap bowl. (Sorry, I ruined the spelling on the second bowl: it's a Korean bowl). In addition, we had the delicious summer rolls, which are spring rolls in disguise, though I'm not sure why they're going incognito. They live up to their name of loving heart and it is part of their mission to create love in the universe.

I love this small, vegan, family-owned cafe. Along with their large variety of foods and smoothies, there is always a nice selection of informational pamphlets and books on veganism as well as calming, classical music playing in the background. The food is consistently delicious and best of all they are very considerate of my food allergies. I'm so glad to have this restaurant in my neighborhood and I recommend anyone who wants to try vegan food to stop in! The curry bowl is my go to, but you won't be disappointed no matter what you try!

This place was recommended to me by a family member, and did not disappoint! Me (a vegan), and my friend (non-vegan), both found something that we throughly enjoyed. We also got the strawberry cheesecake which was great. We were also given complimentary Fiji waters. 10/10 for this spot.

Way overpriced for low quality food and even lower quality service. Waited 30 mins for a soup and sandwich. Soup was watery, lacked flavor and even lacked the ingredients listed on the menu (soy/cashew cream, sweet potatoes). When questioned, the server's response was far from "a loving heart". The impression I came away with was they skimp and gouge.

Pastries are extremely sweet and bland. Not a good quality. Very disappointing. It's good to taste and make a decision to NEVER go back

Best vegan sandwich I have tried yet in Chicago. I had the Loving Burger and it's so juicy. They add tons of vegan meat on it and the meat has a pleasant Korean bbq flavor to it. The tomato is super refreshing on the burger as well. The first time I came here I took my time because I didn't know what to expect but the 2nd time I came I just scarfed the burger down because it's so dang good. The people that work there are also amazing.

I was visiting Chicago overnight and was delighted to find this little spot near the beach! We accidentally arrived right when it opened at 11:30 on the dot, and felt bad for hurrying the owner opening the door. She was so kind to us and made us feel welcome even though I'm sure she was not expecting anyone to be waiting outside the door. I ordered the Corazon Quesadilla and my friend ordered the Hearty Bean Wrap. It was genuinely the best quesadilla I've ever had. Seriously! The cashew based cheese combined with the house made sauce was a unique and delightful flavor. Really exceptional. My friend says he loved his bean wrap, too. I'm not sure how many people usually work there, but because we were there so early, the owner made our food completely by herself. It was such an intimate and quaint experience because you could tell the food was made with love and care. I cannot recommend this place enough!

Just stopped in again last week. It was during the big rain storm. Evita was there again. Everything is still good! If you are looking for a good place to explore meatless meal options that are creative, colorful and tasty you should stop in. Plus the fact you will be treated with kindness!

I just tried this place last night for the first time. The Bibim bowl was delicious, fresh and a lovely presentation. Their apple cake was scrumptious too. Also, it was completely covid safe! I'll definitely be back soon!

We found this place by pure luck, as we wanted a healthy dinner, but didn't have the energy to cook after a doctor's appointment. We found Loving Heart, which won our heart. I got the happy burger which I chose because of the house made vegan Mayo and cheese sauce. My husband got a bowl, I forget which one but it had the vegan Korean beef which he liked and would get again. We also tried the matcha cheesecake, that was just ok, but we still enjoyed it.

This is my first time visiting Loving Heart and I plan to return. I had the Tom Kha Soup which was very tasty. I also had the Beyond Burger which was delightfully delicious. Lastly, the PB Chocolate smoothie hit the spot. All that plus service with a smile. I'm a satisfied customer!

Wonderful! I stopped in just to try it and was pleasantly surprised. I'm usually a meat eater but the Happy burger was amazing. I will def be back to try more vegan options!

Fantastic vegan cafe with super fresh ingredients! I came here for lunch after reading so many great reviews. Everything on the menu is vegan, including the packaged cookies. The space is very quaint and welcoming and the woman who served us was just wonderful. The Green Diva salad was excellent and comes topped with black beans & chickpeas or vegan korean BBQ (texturized vegetable protein). The pesto dressing was amazing. The Eden wrap was also great. This comes on a wheat or rice tortilla, filled with avocado, spinach, tomato, apple, cucumber, roasted peanuts, and house vegan cheese spread. All of the spreads and dressings taste homemade. The iced chai with soy milk was refreshing and not too sweet. Really enjoyed this healthy lunch spot! Will definitely visit again.

Ordered takeout. Awesome vegan spot. Smoothie was good. Beyond burger was good. Salad and soup were great. Reason for 4 star is delay on food but well worth the wait. Definitely worth a try. Will be back.

Great atmosphere and very eco-conscious; was kinda interesting with the music and media they played. Food came out quick, and was fresh with healthy portions and plenty of options for the price. I was satisfied--full belly but not heavy at all. We had the curry bowel and hearty bean wrap, and the curry bowel was especially delicious. We also ordered tiramisu, which was a bit pricey but very good (worth at least trying) especially since vegan tiramisu is rare.

Probably the best vegan food in a casual sandwich cafe-like setting that I have encountered in Chicago. Friend got the huge Eden wrap and a beautiful and delicious blueberry smoothie. I had the Loving Heart burger and thought the patty, veggie toppings, and bun were of very good quality. Also had a refreshing spiced iced tea and rice paper wraps of vegan Korean BBQ that were as flavorful as meat. Finished the meal feeling satisfied and wholesome. I would say the only potential criticism is that the restaurant plays a TV channel called Supreme Master TV and has other paraphernalia related to a set of spiritual/religious beliefs. No one proselytized to us, but the literature is definitely present.

Loving Heart almost has to be a destination place for those who don't live in the neighborhood. Traffic can be heavy, parking is sparse and pricey, and construction makes it all worse. But for those of us who enjoy Montrose Harbor and the Bird Sanctuary in our beautiful Chicago summers, Loving Heart is convenient and close. It's probably one of the few places a hungry vegan can find good food. And you can get carry-out, too, which means you can linger even longer at the lakefront. There is a rack of paper menus near the counter where you order. Once your order is placed, you are given one of those electronic thingees that beep loudly and light up when your food is ready. If you're eating in, there are several tables in the front of the restaurant and alongside the wall. There's not room for a big group. Or, if a big group came in, they'd take the entire space. Let's call this place "intimate" without candles, hanging plants, or wandering musicians. I ordered the Eden Wrap. This is served wrapped up, as if you were taking it out. Apparently there is no difference between food served for eat-in or to go. Oh well. The Eden Wrap is a meal in itself; it is big! It includes apple and avocado and all sorts of yummy veggies, along with a cashew-based cheese spread. It is really good. Be aware, though, that it is also very juicy. I went through several napkins, because my fingers got so sticky. You'll want to wash your hands before and after eating, if you get this wrap. There is a single-seat toilet in the back. Again, a nice feature for us beachcombers. We can eat, drink, and use comfortable facilities. The frightening possibility of using the dreaded public toilets at Montrose can be greatly reduced. The only thing I didn't like is that the TV, which is near where I was sitting, runs continuously on Supreme Master TV. What the heck is that??? It looks like some cult thing to me. It's creepy. Despite the creep factor of the TV programming, I liked Loving Heart Vegan. I will definitely stop in again over this summer and work my way through the wraps and salad bowls. If you see me there, in my straw hat, carefully averting my eyes from the TV, stop by and say hi.

Loving Heart offers nice vegan dishes that we enjoy often. Their nachos are just about guilt-free and delicious. The wraps are great if you work from home and making lunch is just not feasible. We have yet to find something we did not like there. I did make it once inside, pre Covid, and the service was friendly.

Didn't realize this was a vegan restaurant - thought it was just vegetarian friendly. My daughter had the Happy Burger and really enjoyed it. I had the Korean "pork" bimbap and it was Delicious! So fresh, hearty, sweet and spicy, and home made. This little gem of a restaurant is easy to overlook, hidden in plain view. So - look for it! We'll go again!!

I so wanted to like this place. I was drawn in my the 5 star reviews and the welcoming vibe of the restaurant. Perhaps it was a super off day. But the service and the food were not even close to a five star rating. There were two people seated when we arrived. While we were waiting for our food one person came in for a carry out order she had called in. It took 40 minutes for a cup of soup and a cold wrap to be made! It was like the person working was making each dish in each order one at a time without starting on any kind of prep. I can understand being short staffed, but seriously? 40 minutes?! Even if they made the soup completely fresh for each order, it shouldn't have taken that long. And on top of that the wrap I ordered didn't even include all the ingredients - it was missing the sweet potatoes. Basically it was an open faced tortilla with a pile of spinach, a cup of black beans, 3 slices of avocado, an unnecessary amount of cilantro and some diced tomato. The wrap should have only taken 5 minutes to prepare....unless they went out and handpicked the spinach? I hate being snarky and leaving poor reviews, but this just absolutely floored me. At least they had outlets where I could charge my phone while we waited?

Had the love burger with avocado - 9.9/10 Fast service. Polite. Delicious. What more is there? They included a vegan, pecan cookie that has me shook still. S/O you all if you're reading this! &Love

I visited this place yesterday because I was in the area and recently started eating plant based. I got the simple curry because everything else was around $10. With a $2 tip it was still $10. That would have been ok but the curry was very plain and liquidy, not curry like at all and not much veggies or stuff in it. The portions were small for the cost and the flavor was only ok. I think you're paying for the vegan name here. Save yourself some cash and for the same portion sizes visit Ghareeb Nawaz for fair prices and a great selection of veggie/vegan options. Like $2 for Daal or $3 for Chana Masala ($2 for rice) or $5 for a whole Veggie Thali plate that is 4 curries, rice, skip the yogurt sauce and a huge naan. Vegan doesn't have to be so pricey especially when the food isn't special.

Really enjoyed this little cute Cafe as far as the ambience and the service was excellent. I've been taking a tour of the vegan restaurants now for a few weeks and I have to say that this place thus far has been my least favorite as far as food. I ordered the black bean with brown rice wrap.. I'd have to say it wasn't bad but it's just wasn't something memorable. I could see myself stopping here again for a smoothie and they have a nice selection of vegan cookies. All in all there are better places places to go.

This place was incredible. I'm not Vegan but their wrap was both delicious and filling and I plan to go there a lot. Many interesting options, cute space if not really my style, very fast service for someone who wandered in off the street.

Love, love, love this place. I was greeted by a very kind lady as I walked into the door and she explained the menu to us. I ordered the Green Deva Salad while my friend ordered the Curry with korean somen noodles. We both opted for the korean BBQ fake-meat, which was delicious. I love the dressing for the Green Deva Salad; healthy, organic, and delicious. The curry sauce was also delicious! The place is small, but very cozy and clean. The food here almost reminds me of By Chloe in New York. The curry bowl was actually very filling because of the amount of noodles in the bowl. Would come back and would recommend!

Amazing little vegan restaurant. Truly a little treasure. Highly recommend the place. Simple menu, good prices

This place used to be my go to favorite food in the city and now that's it's under different ownership the food is different. It's like a bad version of what it was... makes me extremely sad. Everything I've tried has been sub par since the original owners left. I'm so sad.

Wasn't impressed. Got the happy burger & Tom khao soup. Soup was watery & not flavorful. Burger was extra messy & not flavorful. Very disappointing. I read the other reviews about how it fell downhill after new management and I think that may be true now.

This place is one of my favorite places in Chicago!!! A few months ago, a girlfriend and I stopped in for dinner after a friend said they had outdoor seating. They don't have permanent outdoor seating, but Chinzo set up a table for us- complete with bonai decoration. I had the curry bowl and PB smoothie and both were amazing! I just stopped in today and grabbed a Buddha now and a raspberry sunflower smoothie and PB smoothie and they were also amazing. So friendly (grabbed the door for me on the way out)! This is my new go-to in the neighborhood!

We aren't vegan but enjoyed our burger and curry! Great quality of ingredients, nice and clean preparation! The Korean BBQ protein is the bomb!

Love this place. It's soo healthy and soo good. It's a hidden gem next to a dentist office and could easily be missed. The staff is super friendly, the place is clean, and they have a fancy water faucet. I have had their loving burger, happy burger, and bim bim bowl, just delish. Their smoothies are also really good. I'm so happy that they're located just 1 min away from where I work. Yay!!

Having had the privilege of eating at scores of vegan/vegetarian restaurants all over the US (and the world), I would have to say that this is one of the very best: the food is delicious, healthy, fresh and not expensive. Though I can't say I'm a big fan of the cultlike Supreme Master Ching Hai, the Vietnamese businesswoman with a global chain of vegan restaurants, I salute her efforts toward making tasty vegan food available in numerous locations. Her restaurants vary in quality but this one is perhaps the best of all we have visited so far. TIPS: * Parking here can be a challenge, so be prepared. * As there are only a handful of tables in the restaurant, it may be best to avoid peak hours or consider doing take-out. I believe they will deliver to addresses in the vicinity. * The hours are somewhat limited (MON-SAT, 12-8 pm), so keep that in mind. Menu items we found to be quite good: Potato Kale Soup, Loving Burger, Eden Wrap, Curry Bowl and Nacho Chips. They did a good job of preparing the food for take-out on one occasion. When we arrived at our destination more than an hour later, the soup was still hot!

The experience is delightful from the moment you enter till the last taste off your spoon. The space is very clean, free water and the Host was very helpful when I was confused on what to order. She recommend the Curry bowl and Korean BBQ and I'm so glad I did. It was very filling and flavorful. I will definitively pay a visit back soon!

I genuinely use to love Loving Heart, but it seems like management changed hands, and now the food does not taste as good as it use to be. It use to be made with love, and now I can see a lower level of quality. Also, they use a flimsy cup for soup, and I know they want to use responsibly sourced containers, but this guy packed the soup I ordered with my other food, and I've told him numerous times to pack it separately because it leaks. Today he told me it will be fine. I walked 10 minutes home and had the bag up right and the same thing happened again where it leaked everywhere. I'm not happy. The food doesn't even taste good for it to be worth the pain of having to clean up all this soup. Thumbs down!

Great neighborhood restaurant. Food is healthy and tasty. Inexpensive. Great takeout idea for weekends.

My vegan sister visited from vegan LA, the mecca of US veganism. I had to impress, but also make it look like I wasn't trying that hard. Loving Heart was an amazing choice. This is vegan food as made by true believers. One of the chefs was also manning the tablet POS, and she practically sang a vegan song that only my sister could hear when our food was ready. It was my sister, me and my chef from NYC, who had joked about sneaking in a little jerky and hiding it for me in the bathroom. For a non-vegan, I found the vegan nachos delicious, and the vegan Happy Burger also delicious. The happy burger was juiced up with vegannaise, a kind of vegan special sauce that really appealed to me. The homemade potato side was well seasoned and crisp. The artwork here is also amazing. I felt like the abstract subtly spiritual nature of some of the artwork rekindled mystical journeys I have taken in the past (this is called a "flashback") and my own (almost) year of veganism. In particular, I had a trippy thought that meat eaters would probably have more bad trips, because of the superior karma of animallessness. This vegan food was very tasty, in an underground cafe near the bird sanctuary, it was a treat to visit with my sister and chef, during this actual Chicago fall aka "the non-polar non-vortex."

Cute little Vegan cafe. Excellent customer service and the food was delicious. Will be a returning customer!

This is my second time going hear and definitely not the last! On my first visit, I ordered the Happy Burger and it was unbelievable! On my second visit, I ordered the Loving Burger w/ Avocado (which is pictured below) and again, food was amazing! The staff was super friendly and the environment is cozy enough to where I can get work done on my laptop. WiFi is available, but you have to ask them what is the password and there is a time limit of 2 hours.

Open until nine!! I almost didn't go in because it looks dark, but they're really nice and the food is delicious! Healthy is just a bonus.

No wonder this place has 5 stars. My husband wanted us to check out a new vegan restaurant so we decided to give this place a try. They only had one available table inside but said they could put a table outside for us. The employee said " it will be very romantic" and we were sold. They set us up outside under a tree, not going to like, we felt pretty special. To top that off our wrap and burger was absolutely delish. Can't wait for the opportunity to come back here and try something new! Thanks for making us feel good !

Great vegan comfort food. Recommending the tomkha soup, the simple curry, the binomial salad, the Everyoung salad, the bibim bowl. Have not tried their burgers.

They have the best vegan burger!!! Their salad and curry are also very good! They cake delish! Way better than portfolios chocolate cake. Non vegetarians/vegans will also like this place!