Penelope's Vegan Taqueria Andersonville

Clean cute place with that “New Mexican” decor style complete with an interior neon wall sign. I thought this place was sooo cute. Tables are close together so it’s both fun and easy to eavesdrop, which I love in a “dinner and a show way.” The food was a little mixed, I loved the nachos, they were delightful. Really big portion and very colorful. Not skimpy on the guacamole. The burrito, I was less crazy about. I think the ratio of beans to rice was a little off and it was not super flavorful. Servers were sweet, vibes were nice. Overall 4.5/5, you should give this place a try.

We had a fabulous time at Penelope's. I always have a bias toward vegan restaurants only because I have so many options to choose from. This place has an outstanding menu with all the traditional Mexican dishes made vegan. Clean and cute ambiance with very attentive and friendly service. We went in for a brunch and loved it! We ordered the Pambazo, chilaquiles, and a side of guacamole with chips. Everything was great with the right amount of flavors. Can't wait to be back.

This is truly a “Day of life” Vegan restaurant. I had a fantastic time interacting with the staff and enjoying the overwhelmingly portioned nachos with VEGAN Chorizo! Sangria of course.

Don't sleep on Penelope's! And don't let the vegan label fool you. This vegan food is full of flavor and substance. Very friendly staff.

My favorite vegan restaurant, everything here is so good! I have taken many non-vegan people here and they only have had good things to say! Love this place

It’s been a minute since I’ve posted a review and this is one to bring me back to the food review game. Ladies and gentlemen this place is yUuuuMmmmMmy. When I say YUH- you say MEEE. This place has the best margaritas, the best quesadilla and tacos. It’s vegan which is a bonus but honestly bring the carnivores here they gon’ delight in all this flavor. Bring your friends, there’s room for everyone. I’ve been to their OG location downtown and both locations go hard in the paint, just look at the murals on the walls. With all that, I gotta say I love it here. And my stomach stays happy after my meal.

I’m not a huge fan of tacos but visiting this place for soup only. Having it with avocado chips and parsley on the side makes a perfect meal for me and without overeating!

The food was delicious 5/5 recommend! The service was not great at all 1/5 rating. All three waiters were on their phone which made it difficult to get their attention. The girl was hovering while I paid so I felt obligated to tip 18% which was about $10, although I did not want to tip that much after the not so great service. It is also over priced for a taco spot. But overall, I would recommend.

I came here for a solo dinner on my last night in Chicago last fall. The way I almost cried when I took my first bite of the quesabirria!!! So so so so good! The Al pastor was good too, but the quesabirria made of vegan barbacoa was so insanely delicious I wish I had ordered more of them. The service was also incredible. I had thee best experience! All of the staff I encountered was just awesome. There is no way I could ever return to Chicago without stopping by at Penelope's. Definitely a must for all vegans and anyone open to trying vegan foods.

The River North Penelope's is one of my top spots in the city but after I found out this location did brunch on the weekends, I had to stop by and try it! This location is very spacious and has that signature Penelope's look. They even have merch! The good thing is that at brunch, you can still order from their regular menu. The brunch was a good meal. I enjoyed the waffles and sausage, but I do wish that the waffles were served a bit warmer. My boyfriend got the huevos con chorizo y papa and he enjoyed his meal, as well. The servers were very nice and hospitable and everything was served in a timely manner. We want to come back and try more items on the brunch menu because we do love Penelope's so much! Overall, we had a good experience and a good meal. Will definitely be back for more!

i've been twice to this location, and the verdict is pretty good. the service is pretty good and the place is really cute, all purple and pink! I think the tacos have a really good flavor, particularly the barbacoa and mushroom ones, plus tortillas are well cooked and not dry. both times i've tried the taco dinner and both times the beans and rice were mediocre. kinda dry and lacking flavor for both, going forward i will probably just order tacos individually rather than with the beans and rice. as for drinks the matcha horchata was SUPER GOOD!!! both flavors read really well in the drink so that's a reason to come back! the pink drink in the photo is the strawberry dragonfruit horchata not as good or distinctive flavor but still yummy. additionally we also tried the elote and i prefer it without the takis, when you get it with the takis the flavors mesh in a strange way in my opinion. but the regular elote is pretty good. definitely coming back to try their chilaquiles!

I really wanted to love it hear because I recently became vegan but I honestly only thought it was okay - i also wasn't super hungry so maybe that is why nothing wowed me. Good happy hour deals 4-7. Margaritas - 3/5 a little too sweet but the cutest glasses. Mushroom taco- 3.5/5 good but nothing special. Literally just mushrooms - would want to try the chimichurri one!Cauliflower al pastor- 4/5 this was my favorite! Baja- 4/5 lacked a little flavor - i added more lime and salsa. My friend felt the same way about her tacos and liked her soyrizo one the best! Will come back here when super hungry to give it another chance. Good service and a fun, colorful ambiance.

Can be summed up in one word- YUM! Everything from the onion ring appetizer to the Horchata drink, cauliflower tacos, taco platter, rice... Everything was delicious! Very casual and relaxed atmosphere and the service was great!

Penelope's Vegan Taqueria was something we've been meaning to try when we would visit Chicago the next time. The cold weather made the search for warm food must. We had the quesabirria tacos, which were fire. And the nacho plate. They use follow your heart cheese and beyond meat. Service was mid, but fine. Ambiance was great. Will come back. 8/10.

Have eaten in and ordered delivery multiple times, and I've been super happy every time I have Penelope's. The food is always fresh and awesome, and the Andersonville location is really laid back and comfortable (haven't been to any of the other locations, so can't speak to them). Don't miss taco Tuesdays ;)

This was my second time at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria in Andersonville. I love how bright and colorful Penelope's is! The hummingbird mural is my favorite. Now that it's finally warm out, they will open their big windows so it's almost like patio seating. We walked in and got a table by the window for two without a reservation on a Saturday. I wanted to try something new this time so I got the chilaquiles torta with the additional carnitas. Now, I completely forgot that this is a fully vegan place. I love chilaquiles and since I'm vegetarian, I eat eggs. I feel like without the added carnitas, this dish would just be too much carbs with no other texture or protein. But they put practically entire avocado on there which I loved, and it was still really good! But next time I would just get the regular chilaquiles without the torta so I could have the added rice and beans.

I've ordered takeout from here probably a dozen times and it is always impeccable. Some of the best vegan food out there. Incredibly fresh, authentic taste, and a huge variety of options. I finally dined in person tonight and it was a perfect experience. Quick service, food came out piping hot, and our server was lovely and friendly. The location itself is convenient, clean, modern, and well decorated with the perfect volume level of music playing. I can't wait to come back as often as i can! Highly recommend for vegans and non-vegans alike! A great place to take the vegan nonbelievers ;)

Didn't know it was vegan til I walked in. Did not make a different in the absolute deliciousness of food we had. 10/10 recommend the soy al pastor. That's the best Al pastor taco I've had in a while. Watermelon margarita is sweet and scrumptious

What an incredible Mexican Food and Vegan Food Restaurant!!! Yum! I want to go back now....and they aren't open yet. Everything we ordered was so good. Had margaritas - fresh. Ordered the corn with mayo and cheese...omg! Never had this before, but now I know why they are popular ....delicious blend of flavors. Highly recommend. Then we had the taco plate, chimichanga and don't even know what my daughter got- it was gone. The chimichanga was huge, crispy and delicious. I could only eat 1/2. So good. My husband got the tacos and is not a vegan guy. But ate them all and loved them. Nice beer selection and they have their own IPA. Fun, lively, colorful decor. Plenty of street parking. And the staff was really friendly and attentive. Great new spot in Andersonville. Worth the drive, wherever you live.

Such a wonderful place! The food is so flavorful and great options. They have great bar drinks and a wonderful colorful decor. With beautiful artwork wonderful music playlist and great very attentive service this place is an easy local Chicago recommendation! A must for sure.

I was so excited to try another vegan restaurant in the city! As I pressed their menu I saw so many options that were all meat free, lovely! I was also pumped when I saw they also have many options that do not contain Beyond or soy products. This was definitely a good sign. Yet.....they fell very short. I ordered an Al Pastor con Soya / Soy Marinated Pork and one Chimichurri de Champiñones / Mushroom Chimichurri. The descriptions sounded wonderful! I went inside to pick the two tacos up and inquir d if I was given any green salsa. The workers told me it was already in the box. I inquired if it was green, as the description for the Al Pastor includes choice of green or red. She then assumed I wanted to buy a green one and started to ring me up. I asked if the green was in the bag and I was told yes. Sure enough, once in my car I check it out and it's a red sauce. I went back in and told her that. She exchanged it for me. So I could smell the tacos as I drove from one part of the city to the other and was excited to try them. I sat down later and dug in. I was so......underwhelmed. by all flavors. Both tacos were sorely lacking for any distinguishing flavors. Yet, the ultimate worst part of this experience was the dripping grease everywhere. It was absolutely unbearable and unacceptable to have such a large amount. Last, like others mentioned, my Al Pastor taco shell broke apart. I was more excited for the mushroom Chimichurra, but I don't understand how bad something could taste until you taste it. I wanted to give them business, especially at $5 a taco. Unfortunately, I will not return.

Loved the Ambiance. It was easy to have a conversation without yelling making ideal for a date night. They were understaffed on the night we went so it took sometime to get a server and to order additional drinks. The presentation of the food was great; however, we found the flavor lacking. We expected deeper, brighter flavors and it was only one note.

As a vegan, I definitely recommend any visiting vegan to check out this place!! It's super cute inside and they really set the landscape with the decor and music! Tit's full of bright colors and good vibes! The margaritas are HUGE!! and the food was delicious! I tried the mushroom and carne asada taco! It was great! I also tried the elote and chilequiles! The chips were not homemade, but overall it was really good!!

Penelope's has amazing food! We've only ordered delivery so far but everything we've had has been so tasty. One of us needs to eat gluten free and there are so many great options here!

Ordered delivery. Usually the food arrives in closed boxes. Instead it was delivered in open paper trays with no tops and was wrapped in tin foil to "seal it". I have never in my life received delivery food in this manner. I feel it is no coincidence that we are vomiting like crazy the morning after eating. This is sad cuz normally I love their food. We ordered the taco dorado dinner for reference cuz of the deal. Normally we would t order this item.

This was a wonderful find and we will definitely be back. First, the service was flawless. Got everything right in the takeout order and never so much as sighed when I called to say we were running late. Super friendly and polite when I showed up even later than that to pick it up. The food was great. I can only speak to what I got -- a Baja taco and a Cauliflower Al Pastor taco -- but they were each a very pleasant surprise. Especially the latter: I don't even like cauliflower that much as it's typically prepared, but this taco had me wishing I'd ordered more. They also have a great selection of aguas fresca and horchatas, and the guacamole is good (a little on the creamy side for my tastes, but everyone else loved it). Based on this visit, Penelope's made it into my top three favorite vegan restaurants in the entire Chicago area. Would recommend.

My friend and I came in looking to eat after day drinking, and were sat promptly on a Saturday evening. We inquired about alcohol options, and they said they were a BYOB establishment so of course we went across the street to the liquor store, and came back with 2 drinks. Our server was super friendly the entire time, and even though we only ordered the vegan nachos, we enjoyed our dining experience. Our only caveat was that the hostess at the front didn't mention that there was a BYOB fee which we feel like could've been disclosed when we asked her about it. An $8 add on was added to our bill for our 2 drinks in hand. Just an FYI and warning!

I ordered the taco plate and tried 3 different tacos. I have the names of each on the photo posted. The jack fruit was horrible to me. Way too spicy for my liking. Didn't like the flavor at all. The pastor as just okay. BUT, the asada taco was hands down the best I've ever had. I never would've known it wasn't real carne asada. Seasoned to perfection and the flavor was truly Mexican asada. Beans and rice were very good! I also ordered the chips and salsa. Chips were cold and salsa was watery. I prefer warm chips and thicker salsa. Service was good but not great. Prices are reasonable so it was easy to over look the avg service. I'd go back if I lived in Chicago but I'd order something different.

Delicious vegan food. When we want time yummy Mexican... This is our go to. The mushroom quesabirria is sooooooooo good. My whole family has our favorites. Love the Andersonville location as it's larger, and closer to home but food at both locations is consistently tasty.

I came with a group of 7 people on a Friday night to check this place out for dinner. The wait time was very minimal and we had a nice table close to the window. The bright decor is really pretty and inviting. About half of the members of our group are vegan and others like myself aren't. They have a great selection of menu options available to pick from. We started with an order of guacamole and chips. This had a slight kick to it and was good. The pineapple jalapeno margarita was really good. I would highly recommend ordering this margarita when you go. I was excited about the taco's, but they ended up falling short for me. I ordered the taco dinner with 1 mushroom chimichurri and 2 Baja tacos. The mushroom one was the better choice. The amount of avocado on the Baja tacos was minimal and the taco shells on all three were very crumbly. They fell apart. I had to mainly eat the tacos with a fork due to this. I think that this restaurant is a good addition to the neighborhood, but it is not my preference for vegan tacos in Chicago. There is a different restaurant in Logan Square that I like better. If I came back, I would check out their veggie burger or another non taco dish.

Three of us had lunch there today. We were half of the total crowd at noon. We ordered a salad and four different tacos. We received the salad, but received two pairs of row of the tacos, not four different ones. The bill shore correct order, but the food delivered was incorrect. When I pointed it out to our waitress, she argued a bit and then got the manager who also argued with me. Finally I gave up, paid the bill and left no tip. The waitress had not bothered to check on us after the food was delivered. The food we received was fine, but the service was definitely not. Be your own judge about whether to go there or not.

I probably go to Penelope's. Every chance I get their food is so good I was literally full off of the corn and a taco. It was pretty empty in there, so I got service very quickly. The staff was great and got to me with these the inside the restaurant is cute.

I love an all vegan restaurant! And this one did not disappoint - the nachos were especially good, and I was very glad to see the mushroom birria on the menu - everything was so fresh and yummy. Margaritas are huge and tasty. Service was attentive and fairly fast on a packed Friday night. A fun atmosphere and a great place to hang with friends.

I'm not vegan but my sister and her family are. Every time they come visit we go to Penelope's, I even crave their nachos. The "fish" taco is great. Good food and service.

Yu-hummm! We had dinner there last night and were very pleasantly surprised. "I think this is the best vegan Mexican food I have ever had," said my carnitas-loving wife who grew up in California (that's high praise, people). We both highly recommend the pineapple jalapeño margarita and the chimichanga. The service was also prompt. It's full of young people busting their butts.

Stayed in Andersonville for a wedding and had the pleasure of walking by this spot one day. The ambience instantly drew us in. It reminded us of a recent trip to Cancun, where we sat in a lovely open air cantina. The bright colors, modern decor, and lovely art made the place welcoming. We're not vegan, but love to eat vegan when we can. The menu was well appointed with many options. The food was packed with flavor, had great texture, and was overall really lovely. Kids and parents loved it! Don't sleep on this place, give it a try!

Food was great, vegans and non-vegans both enjoyed it. Atmosphere was super cute, music was a little loud but not terrible. Service was terrible, which is the reason for 3 stars. Probably the worst I've ever had. Waitress forgot to take our order, was on her phone at a table, and we had a hard time getting her attention anytime we needed anything (to order, get the bill, ask for water) It was truly bizarre.

Food was very good I had the soy chorizo taco and couldn't tell you that it was vegan. Exploding with flava and seasoning it was awesome Service was solid as well and it's a casual vibe but very cool and hipster leaning Love this place and plan on coming and trying more of the menu

Customer service 10/10 Food 7/10 Drinks 7/10 Tacos were OK Two of them wasn't my fav but the BAJA taco was my favorite. One taco had beyond meat (which I didn't like at all) when it comes down to vegan food, I like for my food to have flavor and two of the tacos lacked that. If you're a light drinker the drinks were ok... . My partner enjoyed his quesadilla tho I would recommend fresh hot chips with the sauce next time because our chips with the dip didn't taste fresh at all. My tab was $75 Ordered Taco dinner Quesadilla 2 margaritas Chips and dip -2pts because the taco shells were falling apart to where I had to eat with a fork, lack of flavor asada & barbacoa The beans were a bit dry as well.. I really want to like this place so I plan to give this place another try in the future.

I was really excited to try Penelope's with my fellow vegetarian friend. It did not disappoint! The interior is bright, fun, and attractive, with cool murals and well thought out design from the time around the bar to the ceiling tile. The food was great! I tried the Baja, soy al pastor, and mushroom chimichurri. I can't pick a favorite because they were all so good! My friend agreed. I look forward to going back.

Glad I found vegan Mexican food. Went yesterday and today. Kind of expensive, food is 8/10. Staff is very friendly, service was quick.

Great colorful vegan restaurant. Very clean and the staff are very attentive and so nice. Restaurant has big front glass panels that open up to enjoy the breeze and people walking by. The walls are painted in vivid colors of murals. The food is truly so tasty and delicious. We had the guacamole and chips for appetizer and it was fresh, savory flavors, chips were light and crispy. We had the soy chorizo tacos and the soy al pastor....so good. Highly recommend this restaurant.

"La Vida es mejor con tacos" are the words emblazoned on Penelope's wall. It's not quite right. Add enchildas and frijoles and arroz and the wide variety of tacos, and a whole lot more, and you get closer to the reality. Penelope's Vegan Taqueria serves seriously good Mexican food that only happens to be vegan. The decor inside the restaurant is as bright and inviting as the outdoors. This restaurant stands out in color and vivacity among the dull and boring storefronts of Andersonville, and the food reflects that excitement. Tacos may be life, or not -- I tend to go with the "life" side -- and Penelope's offer several variations on the classic theme. You can order individual tacos, or maybe get a generous taco dinner -- three tacos, which you can mix and match, along with rice and beans. It's a filling meal, and perfectly spiced, which means it made my nose run a little. I loved it. I want my taste buds up and awake and savoring each mouthful of this vegan adaptation of traditional Mexican cuisine. As a vegan, I've missed enchiladas, the standard type full of melting cheese that you find in standard restaurants. I don't know what magic Penelope's works on dairy substitutes, but these sure approximate the real thing without the cruelty of animal products. Potato is part of the filling, so you will be full after this tasty adaptation of the cheesy original. Penelope's has plenty of seating in a comfortable arrangement, where you aren't crowded into the next table of diners. No alcohol is served here, and there is a corkage fee. Vegans will go because they want more options, but don't limit yourself if you don't keep to a vegan diet. Go to Penelope's because you want creative takes on standards that will stimulate your sleeping taste buds. You'll be glad you did.

Since recently, I have been going on a plant based diet due to my health issues and wanting to eat healthier. When Penolope opened up by our home, my wife and I had to pay them a visit. We tried Friday night, but it was packed solid. On Saturday, we tried lunchtime, and we got in with no problem. I was surprised at how delicious everything on the menu sounded and how nice the waitress was and well as the owner. The place is nicely decorated and clean. A must reservation for dinner dates.

I am so happy to have this absolutely delicious restaurant on the north side! It is 100% vegan but the food is sure to appeal to anyone looking to experience excellent Mexican cuisine with complex, vibrant flavors. This is how vegan food should be! I first tried the enchiladas which are filled with a rich, savory filling of potatoes and covered in a perfectly spiced guajilllo sauce--no fake meats! On top, their versions of cheese and sour cream work perfectly. The tacos are also stellar, and on Tuesdays they have a discounted 3-taco dinner, so you can try different flavors. I love the asada, mushroom chimichurri, and cauliflower pastor. I have to tell you, though, my favorite thing to get is the asada fries appetizer. It includes perfectly golden fries with vegan asada meat, cheese, and sour cream, as well as guac, salsa, onions, and cilantro. Not for everyday, but a perfect treat! You can see from the pictures it's a beautiful space and fun place to meet up with friends. Service is friendly and food comes out fast. In the summer, I felt it was too loud with the windows open to Clark and its idling busses and trucks. The music then seemed to be cranked up because of the street noise. The volume's been better since the windows have been closed for fall/winter. Go check it out!

We've been dying to go here since they opened and it was so worth the wait. The nachos lobos were incredible, margs were great, and the Baja tacos were soooooo good. With stellar food, service, and ambience - what's not to like?

Penelope's was a breath of fresh air the moment I walked in. I was greeted and sat down to look at the menu. As a vegetarian, it's so cool to be able to choose traditional Mexican plates and know you can eat everything on it. We started off with some ceviche which was fire. My friend got the cauliflower alpastor and I got the soy alPastor taco. They were both bomb. The margaritas are made with fresh juice and you can taste the quality. The only thing I would change would be the music. It was all female pop anthems and it was a contrasting to the food and overall feel of the restaurant.

Highly recommend! Food is super fresh and delicious. As a vegetarian, I am thrilled to find this spot and my husband who is a meat eater loved it too! Everything we ordered was perfect!

I really really wanted to enjoy Penelope's, however there were several issues that I ran into that stopped me from giving them a higher rating. First, some pros. I think the space is really well decorated and the murals in the restaurant are beautiful. They also play a nice selection of Latin music (albeit a little too loud). Also, the staff were friendly. My issues kind of began immediately upon entering. The host did not know where to sit us, and we kind of awkwardly followed them around for a bit while we walked by several open spots. We were eventually seated, however it took someone (a man in glasses? Possibly the manager) to direct the server to a spot for us. Next, the waitress taking our order completely forgot someone in our party and just didn't see what they wanted. The way we were seated, we initially thought they were coming around to finish writing things down, but instead walked off. Eventually, my partner just got up and let her know that she never took his order. Finally, we received our food. We each ordered the taco dinners and were overall not super impressed. The rice and beans had little to no flavor. For the tacos, I chose the cauliflower Al pastor, the asada, and then the carnitas. Of the three, the asada was my favorite, however the other two seemed to kinda just be covered in salsa with the filling underneath having little to no flavor. To end a high note, the strawberry dragon fruit horchata was amazing! If everything else could be as delicious as that drink I feel we would've had a much better experience. I know they just opened, so I'd be willing to give them another shot in a few months after they've had some time to settle.

Stopped in to place a to go order, although I wish I would have stayed to eat. They were super friendly, the environment was fun and styled well, not overly trendy. Got my food in under 10 minutes. I had the taco dinner/ pick 3 with chorizo, the asada, and per their recommendation the Baja taco. All we're amazing, I especially loved the Baja, it was a generously sized avocado slice lightly breaded/fried. Fantastic flavor and good heat. I love finding a good vegetarian options for Mexican food, there are so many flavors we miss out on when we are confined to only rice and beans. I will definitely be coming back and bringing friends!

Two stars for the really tasty, fresh margaritas. Less stars for the overpriced, kind of bland food. I don't know how many restaurants with guacamole on the menu need to hear this, but you need to put lime juice and seasoning in your dip besides avocados, onions and tomatoes. Also, $5 a taco is a little ridiculous. I mean, I know it's Andersonville, but still. Also, our server was really slow and inattentive. Don't think I'll be back.

Ordered to go... Soy El Pastor and beans. So tasty that you could certainly win over non vegans. The to go packaging was high quality so no leakage. I can't wait to go back for dining in.

The food was amazing. The staff was patient with those who were not familiar with vegan fare and it was a cool vibe.

Best vegan Mexican food in Chicago!! Every time I go the servers are incredibly nice and the food is fantastic. Beautiful presentation too!

I have visited Chicago twice and both times I have gone to Penelope's for their tacos dorado dinner and it's been absolutely fantastic. They're so crispy and the queso fresco they use is delicious. I'm from California and have had many tacos in my life but these top the list. I will always make a point to come to Penelope's anytime I visit Chicago.

okay i feel like im not the best judge of vegan food because 1. im not vegan or vegetarian and 2. i think this might be the first vegan place i've ever even tried. that said, i think this is probably a place that non-meat eaters would think is good! if you're a meat eater and come here thinking the food is gonna still taste like meat....it wont bookie im so sorry...this is not impossible burgers lmaooo. BUT it's super cute inside and in a convenient location for you to go and explore andersonville before or after you eat. we came in on a sunday afternoon for brunch and there was no wait, service was quick, waitress was attentive. AND the prices were very reasonable!!

The food is amazing, and they have vegan onion rings. The restaurant is very clean with cool sugar skull decor. Can't wait to go back and try more menu options. Quite possibly the best vegan restaurant in North America if not the world.