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Edwardo’s
Golden Thai Jasmine
The House Cafe
Mediterraneo
Noodles and Company
Pita Pete’s
Qdoba
Thai Pavilion
Edwardo’s – 4 stars (out of 5)
http://www.eduardosdekalb.com
2124 E Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115
Edwardo’s offers both vegetarian and vegan options on their menu. Their vegetarian options are as follows: Veggie Crisp, Vegetarian Taco Salad, Vegetarian Tacos, Veggie Chicken Fajitas, Vegetable Fajitas, and the Vegetarian Burrito. While these options are vegetarian, most can be made vegan by omitting various toppings such as cheese or sour cream. A note on side dishes: refried beans and black beans are okay for vegans, but be aware that the rice is made with chicken broth. All in all, this restaurant makes an earnest effort at offering numerous veg-friendly options and will accommodate your special requests to make various dishes vegan.
review by Jon Bockman
Golden Thai Jasmine – 4 stars (out of 5)
http://www.goldenthaijasmine.com/home.htm
251 E. Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115
Golden Thai Jasmine offers many vegetarian and vegan options. Some of these dishes include Spring Rolls, Basil Rolls, Fried Tofu, Vegetable Soup, and Vegetarian Fried Rice. To make a dish vegetarian, simply ask for it with tofu instead of meat. Be sure to ask for no fish sauce in your food because fish sauce comes standard otherwise. Dishes can be made vegan by asking for them without eggs. The rice does not have animal broth in it. Portions are smaller than at the Thai Pavilion but can still fill you up. This restaurant has excellent food and is very accommodating to vegetarians and vegans, provided that you ask for substitutions.
review by Kathryn Kaye
The House Cafe – 5 stars (out of 5)
http://www.thehousecafe.net
263 E. Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115
Not only is The House Cafe one of the hippest hangouts, it is possibly the most vegetarian friendly place in DeKalb. With shows almost every night of the week, it is also one of the top music venues in Illinois. A vibrant, almost flamboyant display of delightful colors, comfy couches, local art and calming lighting creates a unique environment greeting you immediately upon entering (along with friendly staff!). Bring your computer for free wi-fi and you can study the day away. Placed in the heart of downtown DeKalb, The House Cafe is truly a gem.
Many of the options on the menu are already veg-friendly, and most items can be easily modified to fit your tastes. The House Cafe offers salads, soups, veggie chili, rice and beans, pita and hummus (though the pita contains milk), and chips and salsa, all of which make wonderful appetizers or small meals. Many items – including the black bean salsa and a large selection of cookies, bars, brownies, and muffins – are provided by DeKalb’s own vegan, organic Sunny Day Bakery (located in the basement of the cafe itself).
As for more substantial items, The House Cafe has a long list of veg-friendly sandwiches, all served with chips and a pickle. One favorite is the black bean veggie burger which is a vegan burger topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado spread onto a toasted ciabatta bun. Some other favorites are the Veggie-Veg sandwich and the simple peanut butter and jelly. Both come on a toasted multigrain wheat bread, which sometimes contains milk, so be sure to ask. You can, however, always substitute vegan ciabatta bread instead.
Wraps at The House Cafe are also very popular and many items are already veg-friendly. For starters, there is the yummy Veggie Wrap, as well as the heartier Sunshine Wrap, which comes with chopped black bean veggie burger. The mayo on this can substituted with hummus for a vegan option. Another refreshing item is the Salsa Avocado wrap, just ask for no cheese and no side of ranch for a vegan option. Just recently, the House has begun to offer small wrap combos for just $4.95, which provides a smaller version of the veggie or salsa avocado wrap, plus a side of rice and beans, salad, or the soup of the day.
Pita pizzas are available, but all use cheese. There is a cheese-less pizza called the Yum-o (which slathers hummus onto the pita topped with tomato, avocado and onion), but the pita contains dairy. Also, the cafe has soy milk which is readily available for veganizing the House’s plethora of coffees. Also be aware that only the dark chocolate is vegan while the white chocolate contains milk.
Feel free to get creative when ordering food and ask to add in different items to your salads, wraps, sandwiches. The incredibly friendly and helpful staff will be happy to accommodate you!
review by Allie Pueler
Mediterraneo – 5 stars (out of 5)
http://mediterraneodekalb.com
122 E Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115
Mediterraneo boasts a variety of inherently vegetarian-friendly options, and many can be made vegan (just ask for anything that normally comes with yogurt sauce or feta cheese to be made without!). Start your visit with their homemade orange blossom lemonade. You will not be disappointed. Then, the best way to approach the menu is to scour the appetizer list. Every single option is vegetarian (just ask for the two appetizers that have ground sirloin to be made vegetarian instead). Whether you are craving some pita and dip (hummus, baba ganouj, or muhamara), the best fried falafel in town, lemony-herb roasted potatoes, or the vegetarian grape leaves stuffed with seasoned long grain rice, you are sure to find exactly what you desire. And the prices are low enough that you can order multiple appetizers without breaking the bank, while still getting a full belly.
Other veg-friendly items include the spinach and pumpkin pies, served up in a hearty pita stuffed with the filling of your choice, piping hot from the oven. All of the salads are remarkably tasty and adding some falafel for 2$ is recommended. Ask for the house dressing, which is full of flavor from high quality olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, mint, and other secret veg-ingredients. Two sandwiches are veg-friendly: the falafel pita and the eggplant pita, both of which are sure to fill you up.Their lentil soup is surely the best in the area, topped with pita crisps and a sprinkling of paprika — NOT to be missed, trust me.
The presentation of the food is beautiful, highlighted by the beautiful and unique environment of the restaurant, which features a brick wall, hardwood floors, and warm colors to remind you of the Mediterranean Sea. You can enjoy your meal while admiring the many unique and colorful lights and chandeliers, while pouring yourself a glass of your own red wine — Mediterraneo allows BYOB with a 5$ charge per bottle. All in all, the perfect place for a nice dinner in DeKalb.
review by Kaylee Walters
Noodles and Company – 5 stars (out of 5)
http://www.noodles.com/nutrition/index.php
2561 Sycamore Rd. DeKalb, IL 60115
Noodles and Company offers a delicious and eclectic array of vegan choices that use fresh (and local when possible) veggies, tailoring many of its meals to order. The menu offers a helpful ‘V’ next to any menu item that constitutes a vegetarian choice, and their website offers a very informative page on vegan specific dietary info (see link). As the store opened just recently, the brand new staff are not consistently as informed and up to date on dietary details as the website, but they are still friendly, accommodating, and fast.
While the Pad Thai contains fish in its sauce, some of the vegan options include my favorite, Japanese Pan Noodles: a generous portion of caramelized udon noodles in a zesty and sweet soy sauce, with broccoli, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, Asian sprouts, black sesame, and cilantro. Their surprisingly well cooked tofu can be added to any dish for an additional fee. Other vegan options include the Indonesian Peanut Saute, Chinese Chop Salad (with no wontons), Penne Rosa (with no cream and no cheese), Pasta Fresca (with no cheese), Whole Grain Tuscan Linguine (with no cream and no cheese), Spaghetti (with no cheese), Cucumber Tomato Salad, and Tossed Green Side Salad with balsamic vinaigrette.
If you’re looking for Mediterranean or Asian food choices, Noodles and Company offers many consistently satisfying and modestly priced options!
review by Sam Lenser
Pita Pete’s – 5 stars (out of 5)
http://www.pitapetes.com
901 Lucinda Avenue. DeKalb, IL 60115
At Pita Pete’s, vegans can find an array of healthful choices, including amazing falafel, pitas stuffed with veggies and hummus, and excellent seitan, made by DeKalb’s very own Sunny Day Bakery. There is a diverse assortment of toppings, including iceberg and romaine lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, green pepper, red and yellow onions, spinach, jalapenos, black and Kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, black beans, corn, mushrooms, carrots, pickles, garbanzo beans, green peas, croutons, sunflower seeds, whole grain rice, and giadineira. Pita Pete’s has many dressings that are free of animal products, including tahini, hot sauce, and salsa. The soup of the day is also frequently a vegan or vegetarian option. A variety of chips are available as well, some of which are vegan, and for desert you can choose from a variety of vegan, organic, locally made Sunny Day Bakery cookies!
Vegans should also find comfort in the fact that Pita Pete’s segregates their food. A separate grill and utensils for the veggie choices ensures that the falafel or seitan you order won’t mix with their meat options. Pita Pete’s employees are kind and sympathetic to health concerns and dietary choices and are always receptive to questions about the menu and ingredients — so, don’t be afraid to ask. Best of all — they deliver!
review by Adrian Seeley
Qdoba – 4 stars (out of 5)(out of 5)
http://www.qdoba.com/MenuFlavors.aspx
2383 Sycamore Rd. DeKalb, IL 60115
This cafeteria style, made-to-order restaurant offers two vegan options. One is the tasty, healthy, and inexpensive Grilled Veggie Burrito. Its grilled fajita veggies with cilantro-lime rice, beans (black or refried), and one of their many salsas wrapped in a warmed tortilla makes for a surprisingly refreshing and satisfying meal. The other veg-friendly option is the Vegetarian Burrito, which comes with guacamole, cilantro-lime rice, beans, and salsa, but guacamole or veggies can be added to either burrito for additional cost.
The servers were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful in answering dietary related questions and confirmed that there is no lard, beef stock, or animal by-product in either type of bean or rice. The guacamole is also made without eggs or dairy so eat as much as you’d like of this healthy and tasty topping! Coupons for Qdoba abound in our local ad papers and every time you order, you’ll also receive a stamped receipt with a buy 1, get 1 free coupon for specific days of the week which can make this an even more economical vegan dining choice.
review by Sam Lenser
Thai Pavilion – 4 stars (out of 5)
http://thaipavilionskokie.com/menus/dekalb
131 E Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115
Thai Pavilion has many offerings for vegetarians and vegans. From mouth-watering Tofu Satay to the classic Pad Kee Mow, many dishes are already prepared for a vegan eater. Just make sure that every time you order from the restaurant you ask for your order to be made without fish sauce. They have a delicious Vegetable Soup and Tofu Soup, but you must ask them to prepare it with vegetable stock; otherwise, they will use chicken stock. Fried rice, fried tofu, and egg rolls are all suitable for vegans. The curries, however, are now prepared with a fish stock base, so they are no longer vegan-friendly. Almost all dishes can be served with tofu instead of the meat that is listed on the menu or can even be prepared without tofu, substituting another vegetable for the meat part of the meal. Also note that the fortune cookies served at the end of the meal contain eggs.
Some other recommended dishes include the Lad Nar, Thai Pepper Steak (with tofu), Prick Pao, Lime Fried Tofu, and Mixed Vegetables. Some of these are served with rice; others are served with rice noodles. All in all, Thai Pavilion is an excellent choice for vegetarians and vegans.
review by Jon Bockman
More reviews to come!