Serves meat, vegan options available. Has vegan french toast, tofu scramble, vegan cakes, vegan shakes and coffees, vegan pancakes, veggie burgers, and more. NOTE: ask if fried items are fried in separate oil from meats or not. Open Mon-Sun 12:00am-2:00am, Mon-Fri 11:00am-12:00am, Sat 9:00am-12:00am, Sun 8:00am-12:00am.
Category: American, Non-veg
Reviews (24)
First Review by xsixshotx
Contributions +549
Plenty of Vegan Options! - Edit
I used to frequent PMU ages ago and was happy to find out that their menu was vegan-friendly after visiting for the first time in years.
I always take advantage of the breakfast options, since those tend to be scarce everywhere else. Their French Toast is amazing and insanely filling - I've yet to finish a full order by myself. They also make a pretty great Vegan Benedict.
I'm always too stuffed to try their dessert, but they do have rotating vegan baked goods such as cake, pie, etc. Everything is also very clearly labeled on the menu which is always a perk.
Great for vegans and omnis alike - everyone will find something they love off their menu!
Pros: clearly labeled, huge range of vegan breakfast options, open late
Contributions +10
amazing!!! - Edit
Okay they have some great vegan and non vegan options. The place is small but lovely.
Contributions +64
good option for mixed diners - Edit
Tons of vegan and veg items, all well-labeled, so you won't have to ask about every item. The vegan french toast is the go-to here. It's enormous and I've never been able to finish it in one sitting! five stars for the french toast. I went with a non veg eater and there's plenty of options for both of us, which makes it convenient. This is definitely not 'healthy' food, more typical diner-style.
Be sure to check out the bakery case for vegan pies and cakes.
Pros: well labeled food items , vegan french toast
Contributions +42
Great Options - Edit
Open late when you want good vegan food after everything else is closed. Great vegan food options, shakes and chili cheeze fries. Unfortunately, no vegan ranch!
Pros: Open late, lots of vegan options, vegan desert, lu
Cons: No vegan ranch!
Contributions +18
lots of Vegan items - Edit
Good Brunch/breakfast place with lots of vegan options. I find breakfast to be the hardest meal to eat out...but not here! Lots of vegan pancake options, vegan French toast, vegan tofu scramble and lots of other options too. The portions are huge. Plenty of options for non-vegans.
Pros: lots of options, large portions
Contributions +23
A good number of vegan options - Edit
I love the buffalo tofu wrap, and all of the vegan brunch options. They have vegan milkshakes, and you can spike them with a variety of liquors.
Pros: late night, brunch, alcohol
Cons: wrigleyville, very busy sometimes
Contributions +656
A great late night vegan option, or early brekky - Edit
This place makes the best vegan french toast in Chicago. One order can easily feed two people, or just one me. They are not all vegetarian, but there are many vegan options and they are open late. They used to be open 24 hours on the weekend, but I think that may have changed. I have had many of their other vegan items and have never had a complaint. It is one of my go-to breakfast places.
Contributions +16
great late night vegan eats - Edit
The buffalo tofu might be one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. Vegan mac'n'cheese is pretty tasty, chili as well. The mushroom gravy used to be fantastic but has gone downhill as of late. One of my favorite places to eat in Chicago.
Pros: open late, vegan options, delicious
Cons: service can be slow, closes at 5am, very crowded late/brunch
Contributions +2281
Best French Toast EVER - Edit
This place has the best French Toast I've ever had.
Their milkshakes are pretty good, as well, plus they are open late and have a great jukebox.
It's right near Wrigley Field, so it's easy to find.
I highly recommend this as your late-night option in Chicago.
Pros: Best French Toast on Earth, Open late, Vegan options
Cons: Serves meat
Contributions +2276
Good late night option!!! - Edit
I just had one of the best vegan BBQ sandwiches in Chicago here this week. Opt to add the vegan cheddar Teese cheese to it, it's soooo good! With that said, get the vegan BBQ sandwich! :)
Updated from previous review on Sunday March 01, 2009:
Since I've moved back to Chicago, Pick Me Up Café has become a regular place for me to eat. I mainly come here after concerts or a night out on the weekends for "breakfast" as this place is open 24 hours on weekends and until 3AM during the week. I love their Hummus and the vegan Mac & Cheese is OK, but their vegan chili cheese fries are horrible. Their breakfast items are always very good and you can have breakfast at any time here. I do love this place [especially since it's open all of the time] and it's my #1 late night place to eat in Chicago.
Contributions +46
Vegan Tofu Benedict! - Edit
Whether it's been a glorious day or a bad one, I always feel at home at Pick Me Up Cafe. They go out of their way to make my vegan heart happy. The Vegan Tofu Benedict makes a delicious meal anytime of the day. We eat here multiple times a week and we live in Evanston. The other day my husband asked me where we should eat dinner and I said, "Let's just go home." He drive straight to Pick Me Up because he knew what I meant.
Pros: Vegan options
Contributions +68
Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum - Edit
I love Pick Me Up Cafe! So tasty! We've been going more and more lately but need to slow down or we'll fatten up! I mean c'mon, open late night with the best vegan cheese fries!? YUMMERS! They have a good number of other delicious vegan eats, definitely worth eating there!
Pros: excellent food, friendly staff
Cons: noisy, a wait at peak hours
Contributions +30
In love with Pick Me Up - Edit
Imagine, a 24 restaurant that server vegan AND vegetarian food. Not only can you eat whenever you want, but you are also served an abundant portion....Now open you eyes and go to PICK ME UP CAFE. When i recently visited Chicago-I went there...twice love it to pieces
Pros: Tasty Food, Good portion, Open 24hrs
Cons: Can be busy, Parking challenging, ....nothing else
Contributions +43
Great selection of vegan eats - Edit
I ate here for dinner and was really surprised at all the vegan options. I had the pecan pancakes and a tofu scramble, and both were good. The pancakes were nice and fluffy just like they should be. They also had a vegan tofu benedict which sounded interesting, plus a number of regular menu items (like mac&cheeze...mmm!) This is a good spot when you have omni's in tow, and they're open 24/7.
Pros: Open 24/7, Giant portions, Good value
Cons: Slow service, Noisy, Parking can be problematic
Contributions +77
one of my chicago favs! - Edit
this is on my top 3 list for vegan chicago, maybe number one! i way recommend to go for breakfast rather than other times cause you can still get normal diner stuff but there breakfast menu is really great! (but i am not sure, maybe you can breakfast it all day) the menu denotes between veg or vegan, lots to choose from. cool atmosphere, oh and yeah, cheap beer and pretty good coffee! my only BUT and its a big one, is that i would not recommend there vegan cheese fries personally, go to veggie bite for those... but maybe i was just there on an off night. oh and same thing for the vegan mac and cheese, go to the chicago diner for those. but past that i still think this place wins over the others in town! check it out!
Pros: menu, breakfast, cheap beer
Cons: soy cheese
Contributions +18
Go There Now - Edit
If you want the best vegan cheese fries ever go there! This is the best vegan friendly place I've ever been to. Insanely good. Vegan french toast, what? Vegan Eggs Benedict- shut up!! And, yeah, there is a smokin' juke box, great coffee. Stay with me, the staff is nice too.. I was so impressed I ate there twice in one day!! They're open late and serve booze also, which resulted in the double down on the cheese fries.
Contributions +112
How could you not love this place? - Edit
This is a pretty well known spot on the north side just a couple blocks from Wrigley Field. The first time I came here was about 7 or 8 years ago when I was 16. I believe I tried the skordalia which I remember being very good. After visiting countless times over the years and trying many different items on the menu I can safely say this is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for both food and atmosphere. The vegan french toast is out of this world, the cheese fries (not vegan) are the best I've ever had (EVER!), and the hummus is always spot on. The wait staff is generally a pleasure, it's never too long of a wait, and it's open till 3am every night (and 24 hours on the weekend). I LOVE PMU! Come on a night when there's a show down the street at the Metro and you will likely find the bands dining there later on. Absolutely delightful restaurant that I will be patronizing for many years to come. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!
Pros: Food is awesome!, Great night time hours., Steve Schoop. Yep.
Cons: None???
Contributions +26
Good but not sure about vegan friendly - Edit
I love Moo pizza at Pick me up café and often go there with my non-vegetarian friends. One day I had fries that marked as "vegan". But it was my mistake that I didn't ask if they use separate oil. I totally trust their menu and happy cow reviewer's notes. The other day I tried to order vegan fries again but at this time I asked if they are frying only vegetable in the same oil. The server said, "no, actually we fries other meat as well." I was so shocked. How come do they mark it as "Vegan"? The server said some vegan doesn't really care. =( Are you really don't care?
Pros: resonable price, big portions, vegan options
Cons: not sure if it's really vegan friendly, sometimes servers are not friendly
1 Response
juliek 22 Feb 2013 - to be fair-they only mark vegetarian options and some of those options can be made vegan, so it's best to just ask your server because there are certain items marked with a "v" that can only be made vegetarian.
Contributions +34
The "Pick Me Up" is a Let-Down - Edit
I've never been impressed by this place... the food is mediocre, typical "burger and fries" kind of fare. Also, every time I've been there, the place was filled with cigarette smoke which is absolutely disgusting to me and completely counters the idea of having a healthy meal. (Granted, the city ordinance against smoking may have put an end to this... it's been a while since I've bothered to go there). However, if you don't like the greasy spoon/bar atmosphere, definitely don't go to the Pick Me Up. If you're looking to extend your night of bar hopping with a late night snack, on the other hand, this is probably right up your alley.
Pros: Open late
Cons: Mediocre food, Unhealthy atmosphere, Usually loud and crowded
Not Entirely Vegan - Edit
But what is makes up for it. Best service of any vegan restaurant I've ever been to, because they all seem to have subpar service for some reason. Not the Pick Me Up. All vegan offerings are delicious, especially the hummus, salads, milkshakes, and pancakes. The vegan desserts are amazing. If you are hungry and it's late at night, this is the best option for a vegan.
Pros: Delicious Food, Friendly and Efficient Staff, Open Late
Cons: Needs More Vegan Options, No Parking
Contributions +33
late night pancakes - Edit
its open late and they've got delicious vegan pancakes...what more could you ask?
Contributions +22
best french toast in the world....vegan too!!! - Edit
loved it!!!!! went twice on a 3 day vaca. very hippie, but i don't always mind that.
Pros: vegan pancakes, vegan french toast
Contributions +1287
This is where you go late night after a show - Edit
Its fun to hit up Pick Me Up after seeing a concert on a Friday or Sat night. It always seems to have a good crowd and friendly staff. There are decent vegan options and a bunch of vegan desserts.
Pros: open late!, vegan desserts
Contributions +14
french toast! - Edit
I am in Chicago for the weekend and decided to stop at as many vegan friendly places as possible. Last night my husband and I stopped the Pick Me Up Cafe in which I ordered the vegan french toast. It was GREAT!!! At first I was weary about ordering it because it was rather pricey, but the portion size was enormous, leaving enough for the next morning's breakfast. They even included a side of vegan butter.
Pros: delicious, fun atmosphere, late night hours
Cons: a tad pricey
Link to this page from your site. Entry info .
Return to Chicago Vegetarian Restaurants & Health Food Store Listings
Business Owners, if you see an unfair review, read this.
Why was my review removed? - details / Review guidelines
Reviews are not endorsed by HappyCow - review terms
Has Pick Me Up Cafe closed, shut down, moved, or changed? Please use the Update Form.
This page has been viewed 2981 times.
Nearby Listings
View MoreDimo's Pizza
The Chicago Diner
Native Foods - Lakeview
Salsita