Vegetarian Food 101: Where to get meatless fast food in Chicago

Fast Food - sans meat! (Freefoto.com / Ian Britton)

Ever have the hankering for something drenched in grease and served up in a fast food basket with a side of French fries? Sadly, McDonalds and Burger King only offer oil-fried entrees for carnivores, leaving us vegetarians to settle for salads and fruit cups. Sure, vegetables and fruit are much healthier choices and should certainly be eaten with greater frequency than anything coated in lard. But, any self-respecting American cannot deny the occasional satisfaction of taking a bite out of something breaded and fried.

Vegetarians in Chicago are lucky enough to have a brightly painted fast food joint they can pop into whenever the crave for something devilishly delicious hits – Veggie Bite. Touted as an all natural and all vegan fast food restaurant, Veggie Bite grills the majority of their items, and uses non-hydrogenated plant-based oil for frying. Therefore, your fast food fare will still be dripping in oil – just healthier oils then you would get at a more mainstream fast food joint.

Expect the atmosphere to feel very much like a fast food restaurant should – corny décor, somewhat apathetic service, and neon plastic chairs. If the fast food experience is what you are craving it certainly does the trick. Veggie Bite’s menu includes offerings such as burgers, chili cheese dogs, burritos, pitas, gyros, chicken nuggets, fries, and even a Philly cheese steak. You can also get a taco salad, buffalo wings, or even a vegan milkshake. Don’t expect to find a dollar menu here, but considering all of the ingredients are vegan, the price (everything under $7.00) is right.