Chicago is a vegan hub for delicious, mouth-watering desserts. If you’re vegan, lactose-intolerant, a chocoholic, or just a hungry human-being visiting Chicago – welcome, you’ve come to the right place. The BEST vegan cake, vegan chocolate, vegan ice cream, and more in Chicago! All dairy-free and FULL flavor.
Disclaimer: some of these restaurants & bakeries might have limited hours or temporarily closed due to COVID. Make sure to double-check their website and/or call beforehand!
1. Vegan Award-Winning Milkshakes from Chicago Diner
If you live in Chicago, I’m sure you’ve heard of Chicago Diner. It’s the number one recommended vegan restaurant and they’ve been here since 1983. (OGs!!)
Aside from absolutely amazing vegan food, their milkshakes are the best milkshakes I’ve ever had. All milkshakes are scooped by hand and blended to order.
My favorite flavor is Cookie Dough Peanut Butter.
Location: two locations (one in Lakeview and the other in Logan Square) – both great, but I prefer Lakeview.
2. Vegan (best-you-ever-had) Rainbow Cake from Pie Pie My Darling
Pie Pie My Darling started baking vegan pies out of her home and sold them at local markets. Soon after, she expanded to vegan cakes and they went viral. Years and many pop-ups later, she opened up her own shop! Her cakes and treats are not only BEAUTIFUL but also super tasty!
Pro-tip: you can order an entire cake for a special occasion. My friends (the best friends in the entire world) ordered me one for my birthday and I just about died of happiness.
Note: Pie Pie My Darling Cakes are also sold at Handlebar (awesome vegan-friendly restaurant in Wicker Park).
Location: online + Humboldt Park storefront
3. Vegan brownie from Defloured: A Gluten-Free Bakery
Defloured is a local, GF bakery in Andersonville. The vibes are friendly and hospitable. They have multiple vegan options. My favorite is their vegan brownie (second favorite: oatmeal creme pie)!
Location: Andersonville
4. Delicious (accidentally vegan) Gelato from Frio Gelato
Gelato is my go-to treat. There are 9 times out of 10 vegan options and it’s light and always tasty. Frio Gelato has multiple locations all over the city.
Location: multiple locations (I go to the one in Evanston)
5. Three Scoops of Mouth-watering Vegan Ice Cream from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Ugh, I love Jeni’s. She has multiple locations and unique, seasonal flavors. Her ascetic is cute and inviting. Go see her and take a picture with your ice cream (and tag me).
Location: multiple locations (the picture is taken at their Fulton Market location)
6. Create-your-own Vegan Ice Cream Bars from Gordo’s
Think Subway, but with ice cream. At Gordo’s, first you choose a ice cream bar flavor, then a chocolate dip (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, etc), and finally toppings to dip your bar into. Toppings include fruity pebbles, chocolate chips, nuts, and more! There are many vegan options to choose from!
Tip: you can also get classic paletas from Pancho’s Ice Cream (few vegan options).
Location: Edgewater
7. Vegan Fro-yo from Forever Yogurt (forever my first love)
I know what you’re thinking, fro-yo is a bit basic, but it’s my first love and I have to include it. My favorite Forever Yogurt is located in Boystown, Chicago’s gay neighborhood. There’s outdoor seating to chat and people watch your night away. Or, grab it to go and wander around one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago!
Location: multiple locations (picture is taken at their Lakeview location)
8. Vegan Cheesecake from Alice and Friends’
Alice and Friend’s is not only my favorite vegan restaurant, it’s my favorite restaurant in general in Chicago. Their food is made from scratch and cooked with love (and you can taste it). Do not leave Chicago without dining at Alice and Friends’.
Their desserts are amazing. I especially love their vegan cheesecake, it’s light and tastes like the real deal.
Location: Edgewater
aliceandfriendsvegankitchen.com
9. Beautiful Vegan Treats from Kal’ish
Kal’ish wins for the most beautiful desserts. Their dessert display is 100% vegan and 100% gorgeous. They have amazing chiken burgers, but don’t leave without grabbing a bakery item.
Location: Uptown
10. The Best Double Chocolate Cake from Blind Faith Cafe
If you love chocolate cake, you need to try Blind Faith’s chocolate cake. It’s the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had in my life.
Very important: there are four different chocolate cakes (GF, peanut butter chocolate, chocolate, and double chocolate), double chocolate is the best one in my opinion. The peanut butter chocolate cake is also amazING. You really can’t go wrong.
Location: Evanston
11. Vegan concha from Panaderia Nuevo Leon
In the mood for authentic Mexican desserts? Go to Panaderia Nuevo Leon for delicious vegan conchas!
Location: Pilsen
12. Vegan Donut from Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee
Note: Firecakes Donuts and Stan’s Donuts & Coffee have vegan donut options as well – my personal favorite is Do-Rite, but feel free to try them all!
Location: multiple locations
13. Vegan Cupcake from West Town Bakery
West Town Bakery is a fully vegan restaurant and bakery. They have seasonal cupcakes for a good cause. Each month they donate a portion of their sales to a different local charity (amazing, right?!)
Note: Molly’s Cupcakes also has a few vegan options.
Location: West Town
14. Oatmeal Creme Pie from Native Foods Cafe
My favorite snack as a child was Debbie’s oatmeal creme pies and when I stumbled upon Native Foods Cafe’s oatmeal creme pies, all of my dreams came true.
Location: multiple locations (I prefer the Wicker Park location)
15. Vegan Cookies from Hilary’s Cookies
Who doesn’t love a warm chocolate cookie? I’ve been buying Hilary’s Cookies from Whole Foods for ages and just discovered she has a storefront located in Lincoln Square!
Location: Lincoln Square
BONUS: Cookies and Cream Vegan Cinnamon Roll from Cinnaholic
While Cinnaholic is not technically in Chicago, I had to include it. It’s a secretly vegan spot located in the Chicago suburbs (multiple locations). No where on their menu or inside their store does it say anything about being vegan and well, I guess there’s no need. Their cinnamon rolls are better than Cinnabon AND good for the planet. You win, Cinnaholic.
Location: multiple locations (picture is taken at their Naperville location)
Happy eating! What’s your favorite on the list? Anything in the city that I missed? *comment below*
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