Lacto
Ovo
Take-out
Caribbean
Catering
Fusion
Latin American, Puerto Rican
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Latin and Caribbean food with label for dishes are or can be made vegetarian/vegan, such as: rellenitos de plantanos (stuffed sweet plantains), paladar (empanadas), garnachas (tostada), nidos de camarones (stuffed plantains), relleno de aguacate, casa salad, taco bowl, plus guacamole & chips, among others. Offers Jackfruit for as a meat substitute. Open Wed-Sat 12:00pm-8:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-6:00pm.
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Last update on 25 Jan 2023 by EdgarJust
Update business info -
Added by makemenervous on 15 Mar 2017
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26 Reviews
First Review by meowlison
Nieve
Points +3947
Creative - Edit
We had dinner here and were impressed by all the vegan options on the menu, most of the dishes can be modified to be vegan. We had the Machuca and Vegan Asada. The Machuca dish was tasty, the sauce was awesome, but the eggplant wasn't cooked all the way which left it chewy. The asada came with lots of nice veggies and a tasty sauce but the seitan was suuuuper salty and we could have used a bit more sauce.
Read moreOverall we enjoyed the meal, it's a cool spot with a creative menu, something new to try with bold flavors. Just could have done with some slight adjustments.
Guest
andyjng
Points +4717
Fab Puerto Rican - Edit
I've returned to Casa Yari for my second visit after going plant-based, and what a revolution this spot has come for me and the vegan food scene here in Chicago.
Read moreI'll be honest and say I had trouble recalling my first experience here 5 years ago until I started reading over my review. Now as a vegan, I find new appreciation in how nearly every item on the menu has a vegan option associated that is just as delicious as it's non-vegan counterpart.
Now, I have to be honest and say that it did take a while for the food to come out. They specialize in preparing everything fresh so it may take 20-30 minutes, so please keep your expectations in place. They still so BYOB so popping down to the nearby Walgreens for a bottle of wine could help ease that wait, but it's worth it!
My friends and I started with Sweet & Spicy Cauliflower ($13) and Vegan Pechuguitas ($13), drizzled with their house aioli (also vegan!). The cauliflower nuggets were fire for both taste and texture, and the tenders were very crispy. 5 out of 5 for each of these apps.
For our mains, we tried the Caderas En Coco ($20) with mushrooms, Doblados ($16) with jackfruit, and their famous Machuca ($26) with eggplants. Every single item on our table was bursting with flavor and they did an amazing job with the portions, presentation, and making sure that these vegan friendly items were kept at the highest caliber. Absolutely fantastic!
Our meal ended with a Berry Flan (vegan option!) which was the perfect sweet end to an amazing meal.
We ended up dining here for over 2 hours - largely due to the wait in the kitchen, but we had a great time and never felt rushed. So glad to have rediscovered Casa Yari's menu especially through these plant-based eyes. I look forward to returning again someday.
Pros: Tons of inventive vegan options
Guest
diannec
Points +492
Delicious, kind, will be back to try everything - Edit
The food was amazing, and there’s a vegan version of nearly everything! I had the vegan asada, but there are so many more things on the menu that I’m looking forward to trying. It’s BYOB as well😄
Read morePros: Delicious food, Beautiful presentation , Knowledgeable staff
hannahsf
Bring your own beans?
Read moreGuest
Lacubanavegana
Points +68
This deserves 5 stars - Edit
Casa Yari is the best for vegan food in Chicago...hands down. The menu is creative, delicious and made with love. Yari is an amazing chef and human all around. Her staff, which includes her daughters, is very knowledgeable about the menu and can guide you on what to get if you're a first timer. Every dish is made to order so a little bit of a wait time is to be expected and well worth it. Be sure to check their website for updated rotating menus as well as some restaurant FAQs (i.e. they stop taking orders about 30 min before close) Heads up, brunch is busy so you most likely won't be able to grab your order to go but you are more than welcome to dine in at the bar if you're solo. They also have an amazing N/A cocktail list for those of you that don't drink. This is not a place to miss if you're a true Chicago foodie!
Read morePros: Vegan Flan, Vegan Churrasco, Dobladas
Guest
jadaruss
Points +1545
Delicious - Edit
Really enjoyed brunch. Can’t wait to come back for dinner.
Read moreGuest
NikkiParis
Points +18
AMAZING! - Edit
Had Brunch this morning and it was exceptional, almost every menu item had a vegan option. I tried the benedicto with fried oyster mushrooms and vegan eggs. It was so good, I was smiling ear to ear the entire time I was eating. Also our server Yaya was super dope kudos to her and her amazing service. Will definitely come back!
Read moreGuest
JordanMichele
Points +28
Deliciousness!! - Edit
They have a lot of vegan options!! Wow I was impressed! I got the potato and mushrooms empanadas and arroz con gandules! So good! And the watermelon mojito mocktail was amazing! Very cute atmosphere! I live pretty far out south but it was definitely worth my trip!
Read morePros: Cute Atmosphere , Great service, Amazing food
Guest
Margiec
Points +95
Delicious, lots of items can be vegan - Edit
Could be a little more gf friendly bc a lot of their vegan items are made from seitan. Still very delicious.
Read moreGuest
t1vegan
Points +230
So many options to choose from! - Edit
Such a wide variety of flavorful vegan options to choose from! Cauliflower, eggplant, banana blossom, seitan made in house, you name it! Always blown away with our order.
Read morePros: Almost everything can be made vegan, Variety of alternatives to choose from, Uses local small businesses for vegan cheese, cake
Guest
Tigra220
Points +10603
Tasty Latin-Caribbean Cuisine - Edit
Chicago is one of many cities considered as a vegan food mecca. When visiting, there's never enough time to get to all the places I want to try. Casa Yari ended up high on my list because they sell something I wanted to try - locally, woman-owned, Planty Scoops, a vegan ice cream company.
Read moreCasa Yari is a Latina owned restaurant, serving various Latin influenced cuisine. There are lots of plant based vegan options here. I loved this, as they use hearts of palms, banana blossoms, jackfruit, and other veggies, as opposed to relying solely on mock meats. I came here with their Cuban sandwich in mind, but they were sold out, so I had to go with plan B.
Mimi's Bites -
battered, deep-fried Brussels sprouts, drizzled in buffalo sauce.
I'm impressed at how crispy and flavorful the coating was; I could eat it alone. I would've loved if the Brussels themselves had been roasted, or even a little more cooked, but they were still good. I would order these again.
Vegan Empanadas -
the vegan option changes frequently. When I went, the vegan empanadas were filled with stew shredded hearts of palm and veggies. They were delicious. I ordered a side of their vegan chipotle aioli as a dipping sauce, which made them even better.
Vegan Pika Pika -
crispy banana blossoms (which I find hella tricky to eat) covered in this amazing pika pika sauce. I was so in love with the sauce, I ordered more. Delicious! It came with a side of disappointing white rice, that tasted of box quality (i.e. Uncle Ben's). I would love to see them serve this with an island inspired homemade coconut rice. It also came with tostones, which were just ok by themselves. I prefer mine with a mango salsa, or something similar, which they didn't have.
Pineapple Tajin Empanada Sundae -
Warm pineapple empanadas, served with Planty Scoops pineapple tajin ice cream, and whipped cream. All vegan. I do wish the empanadas were sweeter, but it was still a very yummy dessert.
The presentation was beautiful. As you can see in my photos, all of the dishes were beautifully plated.
I wasn't impressed with the service. There were 3 young girls working and they had actually locked the front door 1 1/2 hours before closing time. I had to call to gain entry. I felt as if I was bothering them with my presence. I made sure to hurry up order, eat, and leave before closing time.
I will no doubt return to try more of the vegan menu options, particularly
their Cuban sandwich, when I return to the Chi.
Guest
vegstravaganza
Points +98
Casa Yari so Yummy - Edit
My husband and I finally went to Casa Yari last week and it was delicious beyond anything I could have imagined. Vegan Empanadas to split
Read moreI had the vegan Machuca Mofongo which was out of this world and so beautiful. Husband had the Vegan Cubano Sandwich and did a happy food dance. For drinks he got the Caribbean Sunset and I got the homemade Parcha (passionfruit). There are non-vegan options but 98% of the menu also had a vegan alternate option. We cannot wait to go back. If you're in Chicago, get to Casa Yari ASAP!
Pros: Almost everything has a vegan option, Seasonal specials , Patio
Guest
marielac68
Points +20
Love this restaurant - Edit
Almost every entree has a vegan option. The flan is delicious. They also have cake from pie pie my darling.
Read morePros: Plenty of vegan dishes to choose from, Vegan desserts!
Cons: Vegan Flan not always available
Guest
CC409
Points +203
Can’t go wrong! - Edit
Chef Yari does an amazing job of making her vegan menu flavorful, inviting and picturesque. The vegan cubano is one of my favorites as well as the seitan churrasco dinner (you need to be super hungry for this one). The food is loved by every person I’ve brought along throughout the years. Also it’s a BYOB (more $ to be spent tasting the menu) that also offers virgin mocktails which can be spiked if you wish to make it an adult beverage. 5 Stars!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-03-24
Pros: Almost the whole menu can be made vegan, Outdoor seating in nice weather, Every dish is it’s own unique creation
Cons: It’s small so come early or be willing to wait, No reservations - walk-ins only
Guest
gizelle617
Points +1560
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago - Edit
The renovated space is beautiful and has such a calming vibe. All of their food is amazing, 10/10 recommend! Take all your fam and friends here.
Read morePros: WOC owned, BYOB, Plenty of vegan options
Guest
MarcBannes
Points +155
Should be 5 stars! - Edit
No it’s not a vegan restaurant. Nobody’s perfect. But Yari Vargas comes close. The Cubano is one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. The Pika Pika is a totally unique dish, unlike anything I’ve had anywhere else. The Dobladas tacos are decadent, to say the least. One of the best places in Chicago in my opinion.
Read moreGuest
CarolineWaas
Points +24
Many options - Edit
I would give 5 stars if I could. Almost every dish can be made vegan. Everything I’ve tried has been delicious
Read moreGuest
peachenthusiast
Points +140
delicious vegan latin fusion! - Edit
Photogenic AND flavorful! I was extremely impressed by the variety of options and the level of thought put into veganizing 90% of the dishes. They also work with local vegan businesses which are represented on the menu!!
Read morePros: lots of vegan (and keto!) options , upscale presentation
Cons: service was a bit slow
Guest
kortz✨🌱
Points +36
Many options to choose from - Edit
Very much enjoyed the food at Casa Yari. I enjoyed looking through all of the unique vegan options available. They take care to separate allergens during food preparation such as using a separate fryer if you notify them that you are gluten free.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Has an outdoor patio
Guest
madtom
Points +137
Yum! - Edit
Lots of good food here! Most items on the menu have a vegan option. Cozy patio in the back as well. Staff are masked.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-08-18
Guest
grime_
Points +52
Best meal I’ve had in the city - Edit
Blown away by their flavors, quality of the food, and large variety of vegan options. We had a pina colada, plantain, enchilada app, and vegan paella. So wish we had room in our bellies for the vegan flan😜will definitely be back.
Read moreGuest
MarinaBolotnikova
Points +29
Amazing vegan options - Edit
Loved this place so much. Almost everything on the menu can be made vegan, and not just by omitting half the ingredients or subbing in a Boca burger -- they've developed a creative and delicious veggie version of each dish. Will come again.
Read morePros: Cute decor, Friendly staff, Great food
Guest
HanHR
Points +20
Great options - Edit
Lots of options and I love that they use Cheeze and Thank You cheese. Vegan options are clearly explained. Flavors were amazing, loved everything I tried. Menu changes frequently so there’s always something new to try!
Read morePros: Vegan options
Cons: Serves meat
Guest
hambone1985
Points +150
Sabroso - Edit
Almost everything on the menu can be veganized. It is all clearly marked and says how they will make it vegan. The food was delicious.
Read moreGuest
StephanieMeyer
Points +1501
😋 - Edit
So good and plenty of vegan options presented well. Definitely go 👌🏻
Read moreGuest
Laurie24Sutra
Points +116
Oh my God! Amazing food. - Edit
Sophisticated flavors. Clearly labeled vegan menu options. Friendly and prompt service. This place should be way busier for how delicious the food is. Vegans - please support this business! You won’t find anything quite like it elsewhere in Chicago.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Menu clearly labels vegan options, The dessert!
Guest
meowlison
Points +220
Lots of vegan options, clearly marked - Edit
Delicious Caribbean food. Many vegan options featuring soy, seitan, and vegan cheeses replacing their non-vegan counterpart.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-08-12
Guest
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