Vegan Travels: Illinois Vegan Gem
Sometimes you find the greatest food when you're just looking for a quick bite. While chosen on a whim, Urban Vegan turned out to be a great Chicago food find with a plethora of 100% vegan protein options.
After a morning of bouncing between stores with my mom, the hunt for faux leather bags quickly became a hunt for food. We didn't need anything special, just something quick and vegan that would give us enough fuel to continue our shopping trip. Huddled in the warmth of the car, we virtually searched for a local restaurant that would fit our needs. Some seemed good but too far away. Others were closer but didn't have enough vegan options. Finally, what seemed like endless scrolling brought us to Urban Vegan. Too tired and hungry to look at the pictures, we headed towards our new destination. Regardless of what they were serving, it was close and vegan. It was a winner.
We arrived at the vegan oasis to learn Urban Vegan specializes in Thai food. Excited by our eatery choice, we head in to be greeted by a waving golden cat and a warm smile from the hostess. As we walk the short distance to be seated, we are welcomed by beautiful red walls radiating god energy with wood beans leading to matching coffered ceilings. The dining room is nicely decorated with graceful pictures of Lord Ganesha. After settling ourselves at the table, it was time to browse the menu. Our eyes began to widen as we realized the whole menu was vegan - no second-guessing ingredients or trying to piece together a meal of sides. We had more than options; we had the full range.
Everything seemed delicious, from the dumplings stuffed with veggies to the coconut milk curries to the mild orange soy chicken. Remembering this was intended to be a quick trip, we did not order the full menu… this time. Although it was tempting. Instead, we each ordered a lunch plate from the "Combinations" section and promised to share. The "Combinations" sections offered 13 different meal options with 8 – yes, 8 – vegan protein choices. Each combination plate also came with a small salad, steamed brown rice, and two fried spring rolls.
Urban Vegan Menu Page - Combination Section
Mom ordered Sweet & Sour Soy Shrimp while I decided to go the Spicy Noodle route paired with Soy Pepper Steak. I decided to omit the brown rice because…well, noodles. Our plates did not take long to come to the table. Excited was an understatement. Two freshly made Thai dishes that anyone would be hard-pressed to call vegan upon first glance sat in front of us. Looks good, but what about the taste? This was honestly the most feared part of the meal for me. While I love good vegan food, I am not the biggest fan of faux meat so far. In my short-lived plant-based life, I was still trying to find which protein sources were best for me, and, so far, the texture and aftertaste of faux meats put them at the bottom of my list. Still, when my rumbling stomach encouraging me, I dug in.
All doubts left my mind with the first bite of soy pepper steak glazed in fresh chili sauce. I knew I could easily clean my plate. Judging by the way my mom was smiling, she felt the same way. There wasn't dissatisfaction, only perfectly cooked noodles and a delicate balance of chili sauce and basil. After reminding myself that I promised to share my plate with my mom, we swapped a couple of pieces from each of our dishes. The Sweet & Sour Soy Shrimp was just as good as the Spicy Noodles with Soy Pepper Steak. The soy shrimp was good, but the freshness of the sweet & sour sauce, green bell peppers, and pineapples impressed me the most. It had been a while since I ordered Sweet & Sour anything. The sauce was always too sweet, and the pineapples not sweet enough. This was not the case for Urban Vegan. For a quick stop to fight off hunger pains, we weren't doing so bad.
With our bellies full and minds are blown, we continued on our shopping trip, knowing that we just found a vegan gem on a whim. So, the next time you are visiting Chicago, be sure to stop by Urban Vegan for great vibes and great food. They are located at 1601-1603 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613 and are currently open for take-out and delivery. Visit them online at https://www.urbanveganchicago.com.
Combination Plate: Sweet & Sour Soy Shrimp. Also includes side salad, two fried spring rolls, and steamed brown rice.
Combination Plate: Spicy Noodle paired with Soy Pepper Steak. Also includes side salad and two fried spring rolls.
