- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Alice & Friends' Vegetarian Cafe - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Vegetarian Vegetarian [Edit]
5812 N Broadway St(between Ardmore Ave & Rosedale Ave)
Chicago, IL 60660
Neighborhood: Edgewater
(773) 275-8797
- Nearest Transit:
-
Thorndale (Red Line)
Bryn Mawr (Red Line)
Granville (Red Line)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
138 reviews for Alice & Friends' Vegetarian Cafe
Review Highlights
-
"The bi bim bop was great as well." In 11 reviews -
"The Supreme Master gives good veggie food." In 16 reviews -
"Its vegan with fake meat made sooo well." In 17 reviews
Loading...
- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
138 reviews in English
-
Review from Richard O.
Chicago, IL
10/8/2009
You know me and my love of vegetarian restaurants operated by obscure cults! I love everything about this restaurant. Usually I love the food. One time I went and the food was just okay and I still freaking loved it.
Not as good as the hare krishna restaurant in Dallas but it's definitely one of my favorite places for dinner. -
Review from dallas h.
10/1/2007 ROTD 12/12/2007
Fake" smoked duck" has never been better than at Alice's. It was superb, and was served with rice and a lovely salad too. The rice had some dark sauce drizzled on it and the salad had a light but very tasty dressing. Definitely the best meal I have had in a while. I also had the privilage of tasting the Almond Unchicken, and it was great too. This is faux meat done right!
The religious aspect of it with Supreme Master Ching Hai's picture everywhere was interesting to say the least, but the food was mighty delicious. -
Review from Dan T.
Evanston, IL
8/7/2006
I give the food 5 stars. I'm a vegetarian, and my meat-eatin' wife still found plenty to eat, and we were both satisfied on that level.
I am, however, creeped out by the cult that runs it. When I first visited, there was a large television showing speeches by "The Supreme Master", and although that might sound cute and 'normal' as one friend put it, I did a little research.
The restaurant has flyers for the religious organization that runs it, proclaiming their official website to be http://godsdirectconta... (creepy factor riiiiiising...). Upon visiting, I was treated to a letter by a little girl who asked The Supreme Master if her parents were bad people for eating meat, and wanting her to eat meat. "Yes, they are bad," The Supreme Master informed, "but you must be patient until you can leave this toxic environment". While I support animal rights, telling children to judge their parents and wait anxiously until they can run away and join the collective is where I draw the line.
Try Googling various keywords from http://godsdirectconta...! You can find stories of people who "infiltrated" it, and report back standard cult activities such as praying/meditating with a hot towel over your head to restrict oxygen while breathing and leave you open to suggestion.
The fake drumsticks are awesome. Eat them with extreme irony, if you must. -
Review from Dave S.
9/25/2007
This review really hurt me to write. The taste of my entree is accounting for both of the stars in this review. Everything else does not merit any stars.
I ordered Wonton soup, a side of steamed broccoli and my entree was called Glass Noodle. The wonton soup was a little bare. I like my soup with lots of stuff in it. It did taste good. The broccoli was perfect. it wasn't to crisp to give it the raw taste and it was not overdone where it was soggy. My entree was delicious. I have never seen transparent noodles before and I really don;t want to know what they were made of either. The broth it was in with a touch of hot sauce was a treat!
The service was not that great. I received my broccoli before my soup. and she was not very attentive to us. What really pissed me off was that they had stuff on the tables telling us how eating meat is wrong and it is going against God's will and those who eat meat are sinners, blah blah blah you bastards Who the hell are you to tell me what I should eat or what is moral. I came i to your place for a meal not a lecture. Back off because you are way overstepping your boundaries here.
I tasted some of Lara's Unchicken mainly because I was intrigued. Just because it looks like chicken, doesn;t mean it is even close to the yummyness that I call chicken. This stuff was bad. It tasted nothing like chicken, and had the most horrible consistency.
Most disappointing was that after I finished my three courses, I needed to go eat three hours later because I was hungry again. . -
Review from Leanne M.
Chicago, IL
8/20/2007
I love alice and friends.
It's an adorable little place based on Alice and Wonderland and her animal friends- which includes hand made decor of mosaic tables and quotes on the wall. It's tiny and cozy and super cute, like the owners.
The food is great mock meats for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. my husband (a meat eater) says it's his fav veg restaurant.
the religious stuff doesn't bother me at all- it's not a big deal like some of the other reviews have said.
I love it here. they make everything with such care and love.Listed in: Vegan in the Chi
-
Review from Robert S.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2008 1 photo
This place is totally not as creepy as these other reviews say it is. I think that Alice & Friends is a wonderful restaurant with a comfortable, upbeat and inviting atmosphere.
I didn't really get to see the religious video that was playing in the waiting area, since it was early on a Wednesday and we were the only people there. The decor is very unique- very bright colors, lots of photos, and some folk art. Lots to look at while waiting.
We ordered To Katsu and the dumplings for starters - The Katsu was crisp, hot, and surprisingly juicy for not being meat. The dumplings were delicious and had just enough ginger to be great but not taste like soap.
The service is beyond excellent - very friendly and attentive.
The Lemon Tofu was superb- wonderful flavors that I couldn't quite pinpoint, but amazing. The Home Run Balls were a tasty fake meat version of something in between Orange Chicken and General Tso's. The fake meat is unlike any others I have seen. Great texture.
I'll definitely be back here often. I can't wait to try the other dishes! -
Review from Jessie G.
New York, NY
12/17/2006
I really crave this place sometimes, they have a bit of the fake meat asian vibe going on, and they do it quite well. I do wish they offered brown rice however, so it could be a little bit more healthy at times. But! the sticky fingers appetizer is really great, bean paste with a sweet sticky sauce, served in a cute porcelain coffee cup, quite lovely.
I recommend giving it a try, the interior is somewhat small, but it's cute that way. They also offer a vegan cheesecake which is almost too good to believe that it is vegan at all, so I have my doubts, but give it a try too.Listed in: Yummy Veggies, Yummy.
-
Review from John W.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2007
Alice and Friends is an Asian influenced, all vegetarian restaurant. Although I am no longer a vegetarian I still love their food. Ok, so I'm not a big fan of real chicken so their Unchicken Teriyaki is right up my alley. I have had that, the Korean BBQ and the BBQ drumstick appetizers and they are all awesome. I always wanted to try the duck but the Teriyaki is just too good not to get. Besides not being greasy, I don't think most people would know that they weren't eating real meat unless you told them.
It is a small place and I don't remeber them serving alcohol and they probably aren't winning any Ms. Congeniality awards any time soon so I usually get it to go. The food generally keeps pretty well for that application. -
Review from Luca C.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2008
By saying that Alice and Friends is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Chicago seems to be cutting it short. Alice and Friends is one of the best plain old restaurants in the city.
I'll admit, the vibe takes a little getting used to: similar to Victory's Banner, it's run by some sort of peaceful, spiritual collective (is the word "cult" too harsh?) and the television by the front door is always on the station called, no joke, "Supreme Master Television", not to mention it's always super quiet, to the point where you need to whisper, and the past two times I've been there they've been playing nothing but the whitest music possible- Jack fucking Johnson. But to be honest, I wouldn't want to eat a giant dish of Almond unChicken in any other setting.
Everything on the menu is vegan, with the exception of one dish, which contains whey. The unChicken and unBeef is shockingly convincing and everything tastes great.
A huge perk of this place is the fact that nothing contains milk, or cheese, or butter, or bacon, or heavy cream, or any of that shit so you can eat a whole bunch of not feel like a complete and utter fatass. -
Review from Jose G.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2008
Now, this place was good, though I don't frequent restaurants that help fund cults (Victory Banner, I'm looking in your direction too!). I don't like cults, and they generally have sinister secrets. Aside from prices stiffer than I like, the food was good.
The decor, as someone at another table said, feels like you're "trapped inside a Valentine", though I happen to like the jokes in the bathrooms from the 'Masters Newsletter'. It was very pink and pleasant, with a weird poem and other strange attributes.
We had fake duck and steak. The duck was as good as my favorite fake duck, but without much sauce and in a decidedly smaller portion. There were a variety of tasty sides in both entrees, but again, it all left me quite hungry. Likewise, the barbecue-style steak was really good. Mmm, good. As was the ginger tea. Ginger. Tea.
And as we walked out, there was the Master on the TV set, the Beloved Master. Must write check. To the Master. My Master... -
Review from Shana C.
5/23/2007
When my friend suggested "this vegetarian place" near her house for an inexpensive dinner, I didn't dare imagine that it was actually called a Vegetarian Cafe. How apropo!
You walk into a little counter-top store front where there is 1 table and a foreign TV show playing, and you are aptly confused by the take-out vibe; then you're led us through a curtain to a room painted in pinks, purples and seafoam green. I had a hard time getting to the menu because the pastel of it all was deadening my retinas.
We both ordered Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob (mushroom, smoked tofu, royal fern, bean sprouts, spinach, zucchini, crumbled kom bu, carrots over jasmine rice in a stone bowl w/special hot sauce) which is as fun to say as you think it is. If the "special hot sauce" on the menu piques your interest, *Spoiler Alert*, it's tastes just like Sriracha.
It looks beautiful when you remove the lid from the cute stone bowl with all the shiny happy vegetables in piles on top of the jasmine rice. The veggies were steamed just the right amount of time making them either chewy or slightly crunchy but not overcooked. The smoked tofu was delish, and until last night, I'd never heard of royal fern, let alone eaten it (I couldn't discern its taste, it was stringy like glass noodles but thinner).
The cute stone bowl did have its drawback however; it was so hot that the rice continued to cook after we were served, making a hard layer of burnt rice on the bottom. My companion added water to hers to steam it down a bit and it seemed to work.
When you want veggies, unMeat, and a meal containing every color of the rainbow, this is a good place to go. Next time I go, I'm ordering the Love Letter from the Earth salad.Listed in: Accidentally New Age
-
Review from Rachel P.
Keaau, HI
5/25/2008
Delish!! Everything I had at this quaint little place was very very yummy!! The decor is definitely kitschy and bizarre, but I like that about it! Most dishes offered are Vegan, and there's even an AMAZING Vegan Green Tea Cheesecake that tastes authentic! I have a hard time tearing myself away from ordering the Almond Unchicken every time because it's SO good!!
I'd probably give it 4 1/2 stars in reality, just because the tables and chairs aren't that comfortable, and every time I've gone here there's only been one server, poor girl. -
Review from Lesley A.
3/3/2009
I am not vegetarian, but I could well be if I lived off of the food they serve at Alice & Friends.
I have been here multiple times I cannot say one entree is better than the other because I have enjoyed them all. I've tried their specials, as well as standard menu items such as their Don Ka Su and Almond unChicken. Even my most carnivorous of friends enjoy the menu that shows how important sauces and seasoning are making something like tofu or wheat germ taste like true Korean BBQ or other meat-infused Asian food.
As for desserts, the green tea cheesecake is a must, but the ginger milkshake is a hit or miss.
Some other reviewers have negatively commented on the inspirational videos that play in the background, lilac-colored walls, white Christmas lights, and poetry lines adorning the tables and walls. However, I like the way the restaurant looks! The atmosphere is relaxing and it's a nice quiet place to have an intimate and healthy dinner with friends.Listed in: Nice People
-
Review from Jenni S.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2009
The Supreme Master gives good veggie food.
So apparently this Asian lady with dyed blond hair is God, or an agent of God, or something like that, and she's decided the best way to spread her message of love and oneness with the whole damned universe is to sell you tofu. Whatever--the food's awesome, so you can either let her teachings (which plaster the walls around you) wash over you and give you a peaceful, enlightened feeling while you nosh, you can laugh at the broken English of the posters and her questionable fashion sense, or you can eat.
I've been here a number of times, and I've had the dumpling appetizers (tasty), be bim bab (awesome), and the seitan Korean BBQ (fabulous). It sucks that there are relatively few vegetarian restaurants in the city, but I'm glad this one exists--I'm entertained and charmed by the "Supreme Master" and her message of love/respect for all living things, and I'm bowled over by the food. -
Review from Ben L.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2006
This is hands down one of the best food things in Chicago. I have to admit I'm probably biased because this place hits a sweet spot for me. I'm not a vegetarian but I try to not eat meat too much -- this is a vegetarian / vegan place that doesn't make you feel like you're eating grass or something. It's not too expensive either. The soups are incredible, given that they are vegan. I'm told this cult thing has many branches -- this one is definitely run by Koreans, and the food tastes like it, which is a bonus for me. Not necessarily Korean traditional food, more pan-asian-y, which normally is a problem for me, but in this case is excellent. The ginseng soy shakes are awesome. I could go on and on.....
So what if it is run by a cult? If all religions were like Supreme Master Ching Hai's, then I think the world would be a much more peaceful (and tastier) place. Give it a try, especially if you like Korean food. -
Review from Mr, D.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2008
Great vegan restaurant with a somewhat odd, but positive, vibe overall.
The people who run it follow some Asian Master woman (Ching Hai?) who's apparently Vegan -- so she rocks in my book. They play her videos sometimes in the front, but otherwise, I don't feel like they cram her down your throat. She's kinda hip... does all kinds o' funky stuff with her hair & jewelry. She's kinda like the Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan of Korea... but with a heart of compassionate gold.
The food is GREAT!! Now, where else can you get VEGAN KOREAN BBQ?!?!? And it's really good!
Their salads are surprisingly good -- not to mention their cheesecake, which is FANTASTIC! I like the plain one with the cherries -- just like you'd imagine at a diner or something.
I really like this place and what it's about. GO Vegan one day and try it!! It feels good to eat a meal and walk away with the knowledge that nothing suffered or died as a result.
:)Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Brett C.
Chicago, IL
5/9/2008
Too bad I never stopped by this place when I actually lived in Edgewater. It really is a little gem. My food was delicious, but I also wish there was more of it. I was able to polish off my meal and a dessert and still felt a little hungry when I left, which isn't typical of other vegetarian restraints.
But let me tell you, the food here is out of this world. I had the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob, and it was scrumptious. I could have eaten twice as much it was so good. Also had the soy chocolate mousse pie, which melted in my mouth. I would have never expected this little place could churn out food this good without a line going out the door. Prices were reasonable too. And I don't know what the deal was, but their coffee was EXCELLENT. I was just expecting run of the mill coffee, but for some reason, their coffee really surprised me.
I don't necessarily understand the "cult" vibe everyone is getting, but it's a little drab in there. And when you walk in, you feel like you're intruding on somebody else's dinner. The Acoustics in the tiny little dining area makes it feel like your conversation was being heard by everyone.
I felt the service was pretty slow. If I ever needed anything extra, it was hard to flag down our waitress, but she was pleasant enough.
Definitely would come here again for the food. It is worth checking out for at least lunch, maybe not dinner. -
Review from Mark B.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2008
When people ask me where to get great vegan/vegetarian food, I recommend Alice N Friends without hesitation. I eat here once every 2-3 months and have tried just about everything on the menu. While some dishes are better than others, none have let me down.
So the decor can be described as unusual, but so long as it doesn't induce nausea, no problem. I find it quaint, and who cares so long as the food is fabulous? As the place is somewhat small and hushed, I always feel like I'm the loudest person in the room. But I never let that stop me from spewing pearls of wisdom to my dining partners.
The service is always friendly and polite, if a bit slow at times (the place is usually full every time I'm there). The food does, however, arrive and makes everyone forget their woes, at least for a time.
On to the food. A Love Letter from Mother Earth will change your life. It's the best salad ever and makes a great appetizer to share around the table. The entrees are also good. The Runaway Potatoes are my fav. The unmeat entrees also make me happy and must be taken as their own thing--it's not real chicken, beef, etc., and I think you'll be making a mistake if you compare them to the real deal. The dishes are good on their own. The portions, small by typical American restaurant standards, seem fine to me, and it leaves plenty of room for appetizers and dessert. Order some dessert! You won't be disappointed.
It's rare that I get to discuss religion in a restaurant review, but the folks at Alice N Friends make it unavoidable. Half the people who've been here don't even seem to notice the religious paraphernalia, which is only in the front room, and not the dining area. Imagery and literature on the Supreme Being abound in the lobby. She likes animals, she's a snappy dresser, and she seems ageless. Big deal. It's not like the staff is actively seeking to recruit new converts while you're eating. Unless you're weak of mind and easily led, take it for what it is and go have a great meal. How could anyone hate on a religion that turns out such amazing food? -
Review from Dawn H.
Phoenix, AZ
10/8/2006
Everything here is awesome, altho I almost always get the "Unchicken Teriyaki" and one of their shakes. I honestly can't recommend this place more highly. Someone else wrote that Alice and Friends is better than Chicago Diner - I agree! Way better.
I've never once been creeped out by the religious aspect of it all.
It's just there in the background.... I have had consistent good and friendly service.Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Phillie P.
Chicago, IL
5/30/2007
I like this place. Forget that it's vegetarian/vegan. Accept it as a great restaurant with exotic good food. I'll admit I always get the same thing here... but it is soooo good that it warrants me getting it. NO. I will not try anything else...HA! I always get the Spicy Korean BBQ.
I've taken a few non-vegetarians here and there were no complaints!
A nice twist on asian food.Listed in: EATs (and not necessarily in…
-
Review from Shep L.
Brooklyn, NY
10/11/2007
First of all, I don't understand the reviews that knock the decor. Yes, the place is tiny and you can hear clearly the conversations taking place at all the other tables. But, it is clean and cozy and cute.
The food came quickly and is reasonably priced. The dishes we had (Lemon Tofu special and Runaway Potato) didn't necessarily knock my socks off, but they were relatively filling and tasty. I preferred the Runaway Potato to the Lemon Tofu, though the dish was described as "very spicy" and to my palate was "barely spicy." The Lemon Tofu had way too much rosemary in it. I had to eat a lot of rice to temper the flavors. I thought the beef substitute in the Runaway Potato was very good, in both flavor and texture.
As for some of the other reviewers' remarks about the cultish overtones - to me it was barely noticeable. There was some literature under the tablecloths and in the entryway. I must ask though, what is so bad about a religious society predicated on respect for all beings? Oh my god, IT'S CRAZY, these people don't want to harm animals! If anything, I'd rather be patronizing an establishment based on love of the earth and innocent animals than one owned by Christians (which is also a cult, by the way). Maybe that's just me. -
Review from Tempe T.
Chicago, IL
10/26/2009
Don't come here expecting Alice and Friends. Alice and Friends was cozy, dimly lit, and had religious-cult programming on 24-7. I came back tonight with an out-of-town girlfriend to find a spacious, sterile, bright, quiet "Loving Hut." Maybe the rest of the menu is the same, but all I ever ordered here was the "duck" and that is gone and I don't know if I'll ever get over it. Instead of table service, it's cafeteria style. The service is sweet and the food was okay (the steamed dumplings and egg rolls were great, but the California rolls fell apart. I had the Almond Joy which was a little salty), but I came expecting to impress my friend with its intimacy, charm, and innovative menu and left feeling embarrassed that I selected this place for her short time here.
For the record, it isn't a bad place, just know what you're getting into. -
Review from Erin O.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2008
Alice's consistently serves up five star vegetarian dishes.
The atmosphere is quirky, but lovable and cozy. Price point is super reasonable. Whenever Im in the neighborhood I have to make a stop here.
Everything I've tried is so so good...but I put my official stamp of approval on the steamed dumplings, bi bim bop, and love letter salad.
Vegan/Vegetarian done exceptionally well, your non-veggie friends will be impressed! -
Review from Nico M.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2009
Pretty decent vegan food. I've wanted to come here for awhile and finally did today with my friend. Dining area is rather small but the tables aren't crammed together. I have heard about the cult religious stuff at this place but didn't really read into it. There was some video playing on a TV when we came in but we didn't pay much attention as we were promptly seated.
We ordered the steamed dumplings as our appetizer which were pretty good. For the main course I ordered the Almond Unchicken which the sauce, spices and vegetables mixed with the rice were amazing, but my friend and I agreed that the Unchicken was just too tough. My friend had the Lemon Tofu and she really liked it. I had a little taste and the sauce was amazing as well. I would like to try the unchicken again but hopefully it won't be as tough.
Overall it is a nice chill spot to spend and afternoon talking and enjoying decent vegan food. I will definitely try them out again. -
Review from Charles W.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2008
A very bizarre restaurant. Most of the items are incredible. The noodle based dishes are very tasty and reasonably priced, the tea's great. However, I must caution against ordering any of the "UNchicken" or "UNbeef" entrees.
Particularly the curiously named "UNchicken Home Run Ball" which, despite the singularity of the name, is a couple dozen little UNchicken balls. It's not a home run at all. At best it's a ground-rule double.
If vegetarianism isn't your thing and you prefer interior decorating, Alice N Friends will horrify you. The best way to describe the decorating style at Alice's is "crazy person". From informational books on cats mounted in frames to huge poems painted on the walls to dozens of weird lamps, this place boggles the eyes. -
Review from amish s.
Chicago, IL
7/15/2008
Are you a veggie or a vegan? well if yes, this is your answer to great food!
seriously though I loved this place, my brother came to visit me from the UK, and he loved this place when I took him here, and he's a fussy eater!
The food is wonderful, so many selections with the "fake" meat, i.e. fake chicken,pork, beef, you name it, and it was all vegetarian!
The only issues I had with this place was the service speed, woah they take their time, but when the food comes it makes up for it, seriously! It was just great, and i have been back many times since.
As a place, it is very mellow and relaxing, no stress, and chilled! I liked the atmosphere, it was a nice place to come and relax whilst getting away from all the stress of my day.
Great place as a whole, fully recommended to people to come and try the fake chicken teriyaki! I loved it! -
Review from Jessica K.
Roseville, CA
Updated - 12/30/2008
http://suprememastertv...
Check out the crazies!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/9/2008
Let me get this disclaimer out right now: The restaurant creeps me out with all the spiritual guru… Read more »
-
-
Review from Alex K.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2008
Everything I've ever gotten there was delicious. Its vegan with fake meat made sooo well. Fake chicken drumsticks are amazing(This is why they are on my Wings List). They used like a little stick to make the bone. And the meat had this nice crunch to it.
Their fake meat is done really really well. If you are going the steamed healthy veggies road, they have them too.
I don't think i've had anything there that was bad. The sauces were addicting.
Ok when you have a running video of a woman who is called the Supreme Leader on TV the cult thing might kinda be associated with that. Creepy, not because it's not Christian. Just creepy. Don't care though since it's delicious.
http://en.wikipedia.or...Listed in: Best.... Hot Wings... Ever
-
Review from Robin W.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2008
Hands down the best faux meat in the state.
There is a reason everyone overlooks the Supreme Master videotape on repeat. There's logic to our madness of driving way up north to sit in the tiniest food stop that is usually so quiet that the details of your conversation is up for grabs. Its because the food is AMAZING.
The BBQ "beef" is thinly sliced but the texture is SO on, it scares me, and the Runaway Potato dish had "beef" cubes that actually felt so chewy and tender, I was taken back to the days of crock pot stews and pot roast!
And don't get me started on the perfect Cheese Cake.
If this is the new way to recruit for cults, Im in. I love you supreme master! -
Review from Luan N.
Columbus, OH
10/30/2007
This was a very small restaurant so when I arrived with a party of 8 if was a bit challenging, but they managed to accomodate us in the cafe part of the restaurant.
Besides the 2 of us, the rest of the party were vegans so they were ectstatic to see a full vegetarian menu. Although, I'm a regular carnivore, I have to say the food was great. I sampled the un-chicken drumsticks which had only 2 drumsticks for $4.50. I thought it wasn't quite worth the price. However, the Almond un-chicken was superb, which tasted between a orange chicken and a general tsos. I also sampled the Bi Bim Bop which is probably not their strongest dish probably because it's more readily comparable.
Overall, I have to say this is every Vegatarian's must go. I was surprised on how good and how filling vegatarian food could be. 4 Stars because it took about an hour until the food arrived. -
Review from Colleen J.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2006
I'm not a vegetarian but I end up at a lot of veggie friendly places because my eatin' buddies are vegan. They wanted to check Alice N Friends out and I'll eat anywhere.
The restaurant itself is very cute and welcoming, with vintage furniture and purple paint on the walls. I enjoyed that very much. It's a super small space that I can see it filling up quickly. We came at an off-time so there was only one other group there.
The girl who served us was nice but she wasn't sure what was vegan and what wasn't, which struck me as a little odd. We came on a Saturday so the menu was limited. I just went with a noodle dish. The appetizers we tried were very good but my entree was a little eehhh. I wasn't crazy about the glass noodles and since that was the bulk of the dish, I left feeling unsatisfied.
One good thing is that they make a nice iced chai latte but I'm pretty sure they use the same chai mix I buy at the grocery store. So it was good but not extraordinarily special.
I think we'd come back here if we were in the neighborhood but it probably wouldn't be the first choice.Listed in: Chai!
-
Review from Nellie T.
Chicago, IL
10/1/2007
Went here on a Saturday night with the boy toy and it was quite lovely. We got there around 8:00 and was seated almost immediately. The place was pretty full, mostly two and four tops. This is a pretty small joint, so I probably wouldn't try to come here with a group. I thought everything was very homey and cute. We had two wicker chairs that were really comfy and a mosaic table covered with a plastic table cloth. Not the classiest, but still cute. Service was prompt. Our waitress spoke very softly, but was nice.
We had fried dumplings, Himalayan Spirit, and Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob. Really enjoyed all of it. My boyfriend LOVES meat and was really impressed with the "un-beef." The food is very flavorful so you really don't miss the meat. The dumplings were probably some of the best I've had in the city. Very well balanced meal as well. Really liked it. We'll definitely be returning. Total bill was about $30 for an appetizer and two entrees.
I've heard about the "cultishness" of this place, but we really didn't notice it. I think there was some things in the front room, but we weren't there long enough to notice anything. -
Review from Laura B.
3/9/2009
Thai Curry! Yum. Bi Bim Bop! Yum.
Calming purple walls, fun people watching, nice waitstaff.
I'm not a vegetarian but I would eat at this place at least once a week for the rest of my life and be very happy!Listed in: If you're vegan; If you're…
-
Review from Tiffany K.
Chicago, IL
6/9/2009
Very good food, I was surprised. I ordered the Don Ka Su and the sweet sauce was super delicious, and it didn't even taste like an "unMeat". The food was prepared great, and the service was okay.
The asian food here was really delicious, but apart from that, nothing really stands out. Okay, sure,it's a little kooky and is open at weird times (and not to mention that "Alice" takes a lot of vacations), but when you get there, be prepared for some good but unconventional vegan/vegetarian food. -
Review from shaina v.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2009
This is my new favorite restaurant. The almond unchicken is amazing. The homerun balls are also great, they are like fake fried chicken balls with sweet and sour sauce, rice and thin slices of orchard apple on the side. Best vegan food I've had since moving to Chicago.
Also, I'm pretty sure its run by some animal loving, very cheerful, pastel color worshiping Asian cult. And sometimes that's fun. -
Review from Angelique R.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2008
I'm in love. Since I swore off meat, I've craved Orange Chicken. The unChicken Home Run Ball delivered. The unveggie boyfriend agree = awesome. The place is sooo adorable, and the food presentation is lovely. The price at first glance seems too high, but you get a lot of food.
I simply cannot wait to go back and try more of the food. I will look here for some good recommendations. -
Review from Tammy Q.
Chicago, IL
2/21/2008
Since I consider myself borderline vegetarian (okay...not really), I was willing to try this place out.
The atmosphere is very cozy and organic. This place doesn't have pop guys -- so hopefully you like water!
I ordered the Unchicken Teriyaki while my friend ordered the bi bim bop. Oh man -- if I could have the unchicken teriyaki everyday, I would be a successful vegetarian. Nothing in there didn't taste like chicken - so unreal. The bi bim bop was great as well.
We got the german chocolate cake which was bland -- as expected...but good nonetheless. I would totally come back and try other things. -
Review from Yogi B.
Tucson, AZ
7/25/2007
Great Asian inspired veggie food! The UnDuck is REALLY good!
The Bi Bim Bop, the Himalayan Spirit and the Spicy Korean BBQ are always good choices. (And by the way, in response to another review, I LOVE that the Bi Bim Bop continues cooking the rice on the bottom of the stone bowl. It becomes crunchy & caramelized--YUM.)
The salads are AMAZING!!!
The biggest complaint I could have about the place is it's too darn small! It can get VERY busy and sometimes it's hard to get a seat. Street parking nearby is also limited. -
Review from Justin C.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2007
I went to this place for the first time about 4 years ago while visiting the area and just recently I came back to see if the place had changed at all. I They still cook up excellent meals and have the best tasting faux meat in the area that i've been too(I must admit,however, I'm not an expert in this kind of cuisine).
This place gets five stars for its specialization in fake meat. Alot of veggie restaurants these days just serve bland tofu as their meat substitute, but Alice n Friends has a very diverse selection of Un-chicken/beef ect. The sauces used are very light and flavorful(not greasy/heavy one might come to expect from stir fry).
I see other yelpers complain about the decor, but I love the decor! It igives you that at-home comfortable feeling. The waitstaff was humble,polite and always smiling.
As for the Ching Hai "cult", people just fear what they don't understand.
It appears to me a kind of a Falun Gong type of thing. At worst, Ching Hai is a bit looney, but comon, look at any organized religion these days people. Theres nothing creepy about the staff at Alice n Friends, despite what other yelpers have suggested. -
Review from Amy J.
Chicago, IL
2/7/2009
This place is great...and unintentionally hilarious! The food is very, very good and some have silly little names, like the Home Run Balls. The Love Letter From The Earth salad is incredible! Anyhoo, food is good.
Now, the place is so quirky, but I think it enhances your very healthy and kind-to-one-another atmosphere. They have a Supreme Leader infomercial translated into every language constantly playing at the register. A cat-themed parable is in the ladies room...no idea what the moral is supposed to be. The dining room is painted in pastels and filled with fake plants, and all the tables are shrink-wrapped in plastic!
Love it!
