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Vegan-friendly
American
International
All housed in one building, Karyn's operates a cooked food restaurant (moved here 2015), a spa, and a raw food / fresh corner. Offers weekend brunch. Vegan except for honey. Confirmed closed, Jul 2017.
55 Reviews
First Review by condekedar
mollypitcher
Points +72
Excellent Food! - Edit
I think all of Karyn's places are pretty great! Karyn's Cooked has a wonderful selection from raw to vegan comfort food. You can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. One of my favorites is the jerk tofu sandwich--spicy and delicious. The service can be a little slow, but other than that I have no complaints at all (and that one is really only minor).
Read morePros: selection, quality, good food
Cons: slow service
Guest
antgirl
Points +340
Great food! - Edit
Karyn's Cooked is one of three Karyn's restaurants and is probably my favorite. The food is really good and everything I have had I have loved. Be sure to save room for one of their amazing pies or cakes. They will not disappoint even for the non-vegan. I like the atmosphere and the staff is always very helpful.
Read morePros: All vegan options, Great food, Good price
Guest
brentonagony
Points +83
Good food and service - Edit
On my trip to Chicago I ate at Karyn's twice. Once at Brunch and again at dinner. The service was very friendly and we were seated immediately (it wasn't very busy though).
Read moreFor Brunch I had scrambled tofu with hash browns. It was delicious. Dinner I had the lasagna with the fried mushrooms on the side. Very tasty.
I would dine here again.
Pros: Food , Service, Decor
Guest
hungrig
Points +146
Ridiculous wait-time for food - Edit
It took 45 minutes until we received our appetizers here! An hour until our meal came. The restaurant was not even half full. The front of house staff was attentive and knew how unacceptable that wait time is. We had to ask to have our entrées to-go since we had no idea it would take so long and had to be somewhere afterwards. They ended up comping the meal. They need more kitchen staff apparently. One party that was there before us looked to have had a long wait too, as they were asking for the check and to-go boxes before all of of their meals had arrived.
Read moreWe got a fried basket for appetizers which was pretty good, especially the french fries. We also had the ribs and meatloaf. The ribs were basically big logs of pre-made fake meat with a sauce that wasn't anything special. It wasn't awful but I wouldn't order it again. The meatloaf was so-so. The mashed potatoes and gravy with it were excellent though. So from the few things we ordered, the potato items sadly were the best.
I've been meaning to go here for years but I guess I wasn't missing out on too much. I'm debating about ever going back there seeing that so many people have really enjoyed some of their other items. I would probably order take-out in advance though.
Pros: appetizers, fries, numerous options, helpful staff
Cons: Unacceptable wait-time for food
Guest
happycowgirl
Points +6684
What am I missing? - Edit
People rave about Karyn's Cooked. I've been here twice and I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, this place is 100% vegan so right off the bat it's tops in my book. But if I am to objectively rate the food and service, I'm sorry to say I don't see what all the fuss is about.
Read moreThe menu has a good selection but I found the food bland and unmemorable. My companion had the same opinion - "it was okay but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again".
The service was mediocre. The wait staff did not greet us warmly at the door and that was a precursor of service to come. They were far more entrenched in conversations with each other than on helping us.
I want to love this Karyn's but it's failed me twice. Maybe you'll have better luck.
Guest
Mikemotorbike
Points +143
YOU CAN'T VISIT CHICAGO WITHOUT GOING HERE! - Edit
I go here whenever I can. Once I took a 2 hour train just to eat here (and go record shopping). I think this place is great. Good people. The food is something else. It's really a great place and I can't say enough about it. It redefines what/how vegans can eat.
Read morePros: excellent food, fairly priced , diverse menu
Guest
Krutolow
Points +223
Comforting and delicious - Edit
Read the complete review with pics at Marty's Flying Vegan Review
Read morewww.martysnycveggiereview.blogspot.com
Night one in Chicago and the big guy is happy to watch baseball and eat at TGIF so I have a car and a 100% vegan mindset. I Happy Cow, (now a verb you see), and find 2 Karyn's places but one uses words like, "chic," and I'm not really chic. I'm cool but not chic. So I pick Cooked.
It takes me about 20 minutes to get there from the hotel near Midway and I find a parking space around the corner. I spend another 15 minutes trying to figure out if I need to pay for parking and by then there are only 22 minutes left that I have to pay for parking FOR. So I spend another 5 wondering if I could get away with it and being from NYC where the traffic NAZIS will ticket you while you are actually walking to the machine to pay for your parking receipt to put on your dashboard to prove you paid for parking, (right?!), I cave in and buy $1.40 worth of asphalt rental time.
Karyn's has several tables outside and a welcoming facade. Inside it is warm and ... cool, woody and modern but not trying to prove anything, just a nice place.
There were only about 6 people there when I first sat down but by the time I left there were about 15 so I stopped worrying that they'd go out of business.
Look what my camera can do in Panoramic mode. I'm just amazing myself.
My waitress was upbeat and more than willing to find out the answers to my questions about what was made inhouse, (the seitan/tofu protein mixture), and what was purchased outside, (the Match meat used in my Buffalo Wings), and willingly shared which were her favorites on the menu.
I started with a local organic beer, (well, Wisconsin is local to me anyway), Lakefront Organic ESB which stands for Extra Special Bitter. It was milder than I was bracing for and quite enjoyable with my wings.
A nicely laid out plate with Buffalo sauce, Ranch Dressing and BBQ sauce
Buffalo Wings $9.00
Chicken soy meat dusted in whole wheat flour. Seasoned with paprika, garlic and onion. Served with garlic and barbeque sauces
Still working on clear closeups.
Nice and chewy with a fantastic crunch coating.
The Buffalo Wings were a hit with me. Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I swear I could have put a straw in the Ranch dressing. It had a creamy and slightly sweet taste to it. Man that was good. The Buffalo sauce had a nice hot sauce flavor but didn't scorch. Did I say that Ranch should have been served
Pros: some outstanding dishes, friendly staff, nice venue
Cons: killed my collards
Guest
darbygal
Points +43
Great Place with Fantastic Atmosphere - Edit
I was in Chicago on business and typically try to test out the local vegan places. I went here the first night and second night as well it was so nice and welcoming. It has a somewhat upscale feel which I love since so many vegan places are sandwich bars. Nice wine list and helpful servers. Had the vegan pizza and pulled "pork" sandwich the first night. Snadwich had some major heat (yes, they warned me). Pizza was excellent. Bread pudding dessert was also great. Night two went for the pizza again. Reasonable prices.
Read morePros: Location, Decor
Guest
Stevie
Points +11785
Karyn's Cooked, Chicago - Edit
I had dinner at this place last night. The place has a nice sort of vibe to it and the staff are very attentive and considerate. The menu is 100% vegan vegetarian.
Read moreThe sections on the menu include apetisers, entrees and wraps - no section for main courses. I went for the broccoli which was very nice and was served with some home made bread the likes of which I have never seen nor had before. Then from a different section of the menu I was going to have the polenta. I asked the waitress (she turned out to be the manageress) for a recommendation between that and the tofu lasagne and she strongly recommended the lasagne saying it would blow my socks off. She was absolutely correct. It looked sensational in presentation even before I tasted and when I put that first forkful into my mouth I knew that I was on to a winner. It was served with a couple of pieces of garlic bread most of which I didn't eat because I was full. $6 for a glass of house and the whole the thing came to $28. I thought this was reasonable for the quality being offered.
A big thumbs up from me.
Pros: 100% vegan vego, Great food, Great service
Guest
Keith_Thode
Points +717
Second only to Karyn's on Green - Edit
Read my review of Karyn's on Green. Much of it applies to this place as well. The Jerk Tofu Wrap was spiced just the way I like it, and the taste was great. I took a pizza to go, and was glad I did - fantastic. The tofu Thai Skewers in peanut sauce were great as well.
Read moreI feel that the deserts here are better than the deserts at Karyn's on Green - less imagination, less artistic, less exotic, but more to my taste. I took some home. I tried the lemon meringue pie, mango cheesecake, carrot cake, banana cake, and a peanut cookie, and they were from very good to excellent.
Guest
supremeunlocks
Points +34
Horrible entree! - Edit
Please stay away from the Slab of Ribs entree. It was horrible. I like to eat and I couldn't eat that crap. The menu listing completely deceived me.
Read moreIt read: Slab of Ribs $11.95
BBQ lovers- a grilled tofu/seitan meat substitution that will fool and delight you.
My server was ok he got me something else (Homestyle Meat Loaf). This wasn't good either too spicy and lacked flavor. I've had better. Maybe they should stick to the raw foods.
Pros: Fast
Cons: dark
Guest
hippublican
Points +286
Good food, bad service. - Edit
First things first, the inside of the restaurant is very nice. Some of the smaller tables are kinda squished together, so that was kinda awkward though. The menu doesn't have a huge selection, mostly sandwiches, and it's a little overpriced. We ordered a basket of fried cauliflower/zucchini/mushrooms as an appetizer. It was all delicious, especially the cauliflower. I had the grilled portobello sandwich. It was alright, nothing special. It could have used more sauce or seasoning. It was filling though and I liked the big wedge fries that came with it. My husband had the grilled veggie sandwich which he said was very good, although he thought the bun it came on could have been better. For dessert we had the bread pudding (a la mode) which was AMAZING.
Read moreWhen we went to the restaurant, the number of staff standing around chit-chatting outnumbered how many diners were there. So I wonder why our simple, easy to make sandwiches took nearly an hour? We had to ask a passing waiter to find our waitress several times. She didn't even acknowledge or apologize for the slow service. The food was good, but the crappy service will definitely make me hesitate to visit again.
Pros: good dessert, pretty decor
Cons: careless waitress, slow service, cramped seating
Guest
·X·
Points +31485
One of The Best In Chicago - Edit
I've had my ups and downs with Karyn's Cooked (a fully Vegan restaurant) in the past, but I think it's definitely been on an upside for me lately. There are many good things on the menu including but not limited to the jerk tofu sandwich (yum), mashed potatoes (very good), cookies (best in Chicago), fried cauliflower appetizer (OMG!), bread pudding (wow), burger, meatball sandwich, etc. If you have a Vegan friend from out of town and are looking for a good place to take them, this is a definite place to go. It's also well decorated and not your typical "hippie-type" (as my bf refers to Vegan restaurants) Vegan restaurant. And yes, my non-vegan friends love this place, so be sure to try it!
Read moreGuest
Mighty Vegan
Points +96
An excellent brunch experience! - Edit
We went there for brunch, so the menu was limited compared to what they would normally serve. We shared the skillet scramble and the tofu quesadilla. Both were excellent, very filling, and really well presented. In hindsight, we might not have gotten 2 dishes that were quite that tofu heavy...it might have been better to mix it up a little. The place was cool, was busy, and the service was very friendly. As out of towners we were a little confused as we had associated Karyn's with a raw restaurant, but it turns out the raw place is at a different location.
Read morePros: Good food, Good ambiance, Good location
Cons: Brunch menu is limited
Guest
Sophie
Points +391
Best vegan food in the city! - Edit
I love this place! We had the vegan pizza and it's the best pizza I've ever had...tons of veggies and the soy cheese was perfect! We also had a basket of fried veggies which was awesome of course! The carob cake was a lil dry but overall the meal was excellent!!
Read morePros: Excellent Food, Large Variety of Foods, Amazing pizza
Guest
jaml730
Points +67
Great experience - Edit
I recently ate at Karyn's and can't rave enough about the place. I had a lot of trouble deciding what to order because everything on the menu sounded amazing. They even gave me some free samples to help make the decision. I ended up ordering the raw plate and it was great. The postion size was too much for one person but I managed to eat most of it anyway. A word to the wise: some of their raw desserts have honey in them, so be sure to ask!
Read morePros: Great food, Helpful staff, Good value
Cons: No parking, "Vegan" desserts have honey
Guest
yourfacehxc
Points +202
One of the best! - Edit
First of all, I love Karyn's. The food is always incredible, the atmosphere isn't bad, and they have my favorite wine, 7 Deadly Zins. With that said, I've been here a number of times for brunch, lunch, and dinner and have never left disappointed. My only beef (no pun intended) is with the service I receive. I definitely consider this to be hit or miss. I've had one or two terrific experiences while the rest I care to forget about (or wish I could). They weren't attentive or particularly friendly either. Nothing to right home about. Fortunately what the wait staff lacks, the food makes up for. Try the fried broccoli, 7 deadly zins, and any entree. You won't be disappointed! I consider this to be a bargain for what you're getting.
Read morePros: Delicious!, Well priced., Ummm...delicious?
Cons: Hit or miss wait staff., Can be quite a wait at times.
Guest
shineonyou
Points +1006
Good, but not super great - Edit
I went here with a vegetarian friend and an omni friend and we all enjoyed our food. The waiter was friendly. I did however find it odd that the restaurant billed itself as vegan, but one of the drink specials was mead i.e. HONEY, which I confirmed with the waiter. Even as a vegan who avoids, but doesn't give much thought to honey, this bothered me quite a bit.
Read moreI was pleased with my experience, and it was close-ish to where I was staying, but there are better and more interesting veg restaurants in Chicago. I would appreciate this place far more in almost any other city.
Pros: good, but expensive desserts, friendly, good atmosphere
Cons: honey
Guest
Rox
Points +40
The Good About Karyn's Cooked.... - Edit
I have ate at Karyn's 3 separate times
Read moreand after reading some reviews and some thought.....
I am very appreciate of Karyn's Cooked for the many menu selections, meals that aren't too extravagant (but they don't need to be.) The liberal use of mock meat makes it a GREAT place to take your meat-lovin' friends to show them they can eat something that didn't require the slaughter of an animal and enjoy it.
Another thing I like is the decor; clean and simple compared to many veg-places I've been to across the USA-- which have a grungy-feel, hippy appeal with random-odd-art all over the walls (unless it is an Indian/ Ethiopian restuarant). Sometimes it comforting to find food I enjoy in an environment I am comfortable in. Karyn's is a place I can take my grandma, boss or co-workers, or my girlfriend without having to beg.
However, one thing is true.. I cannot recall ever having good service at Karyn's Cooked, whether lunch or dinner, whether crowded or not. The waiter seemed uninterested and too preoccupied (and not with other customers).
Pros: Food Selection, Ambiance/ Decor, Omnivore's Love It
Cons: Service
Guest
Kell Bell
Points +58
Southern comfort food not so comforting - Edit
The food at Karyn's tastes okay, but I didn't see many healthy options. The menu seemed to consist of things normally found at a steak and rib joint, but "veganized" for the non-meat eaters. Good place to get some comfort food once in a while, but I couldn't eat there regularly. The 'slab of ribs' were your typical seitan drowned in bbq sauce, and the mac & 'cheese' was overcooked and cold. A disappointment since I go out to dinner to eat foods I can't make at home, and a child could have made this. The night we were there, it looked like there was only one waiter for the entire place, but then again, the place is small. We thought about getting desert, but the waiter disappeared, so we left.
Read moreCons: boring food, unattentive & unfriendly staff
Guest
veganinvegas
Points +397
Very good food - Edit
Went with an omnivore (who wimped out with the falafel). I had the Thai Skewers for an appetizer, the slab of ribs for an entree and (since I couldn't decide) the coconut cream and lemon creme pie for desserts! Wonderful. Even my friend tried it all and said it was "interesting".
Read moreService was wonderful and very knowledgeable, food was great.
Pros: vegan, close to hotel, desserts
Guest
button
Points +206
Thumbs up - Edit
I had great service here, though I ate in the non-peak afternoon. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere very nice. Save room, the dessert was outstanding!
Read morePros: Excellent food , good service, Great dessert!
Guest
hickman
Points +36
VEGANS BEWARE - Edit
The sign on the door says vegan. My meal arrived, assured by the waiter that it was vegan. The "cheese" tasted good so I asked how they made it---the waiter told me what brand it was---THEN OFFERS HIS APOLOGY THAT IT HAD CASEIN IN IT--As A vegan, I wouldnt trust them again
Read moreCons: lied about being vegan
Guest
food lover
Points +126
Best vegan restaurant in chicago - Edit
We stayed at the fantastic Sofitel Chicago Water Tower hotel recently, and found virtually no veggie options at their restaurant. Very thankfully, "Karyn's Cooked" was walking distance from the hotel. Superb food, just delicious, huge menu, beautifully presented food, great smoothies & desserts, large serving sizes, amazingly friendly & attentive staff, clean, & great ambiance. We were so impressed with the extensive range and quality of food, we had 7 out of 9 possible meals there during our stay in chicago! We would have had the other 2 there if they weren't closed on easter sunday! A meal including starter, main course and smoothie was about $15-18 each. Would pay that quite happily because it was just that great! The tables/chairs/place settings were very basic, but everything else was so fantastic, it really didn't matter! They opened for brunch/lunch at 11 am, and shut around 10pm, which was perfect for us. Overall, it's tied it at first place in our books, along with the infamous "Il Margutta" restaurant in Rome.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Superb Staff, Good value
Cons: No significant cons
Guest
gr8vegan
Points +2357
Trust the Gr8Vegan! This place rocks - Edit
So the service is not the best. Here's the trick I've noticed people doing. CALL AHEAD for carry out and then eat it at the bar :) The pizza and lasagna are fantastic and so is the soup. We had great desserts here. The service has been slow each time, but its walking distance from most hotels on Michigan Ave. Its seriously a must hit for Chicago vegans. Don't let the reviews turn you away. Its at the top of my "if I could eat anywhere right now in the world where would I go"
Read morePros: lasagna, soup, dessert
Cons: slow!
Guest
fawn588
Points +108
Avoid at all cost! - Edit
Even though the reviews were mixed i decided to try Karyn's anyway. IT WAS HORRIBLE. Unoriginal, plain, boring food. Thank God they serve liquor so at least you can drink until the food taste palatable. [edited- see terms]
Read moreGuest
Deano
Points +123
Loved it - Edit
The food was excellent. And (wait for it....) the service was absolutely fine. One waiter was so enthusiastic about our food choice I thought he was going to start kissing me on the mouth.
Read moreDon't miss the pecan pie. We also loved the lasagne, the spaghetti and "meatballs" and the bruschetta. The pizzas are pretty good too.
Pros: Great food, Vegan pizza
Guest
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