Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood is known for its vibrant and eclectic dining scene. For health-conscious individuals, the area provides a variety of restaurants that focus on nutritious, wholesome meals without sacrificing flavor. Whether you're looking for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options, Wicker Park offers establishments that prioritize fresh, organic ingredients and innovative culinary techniques. Many of these restaurants also emphasize sustainability, ensuring a dining experience that is both healthy and environmentally conscious.
Diverse Culinary Options in Wicker Park
Wicker Park boasts a wide array of restaurants that cater to various dietary needs and preferences. From Southern fare to Asian-inspired dishes, there's something for everyone seeking a healthy meal.
Taxim: Located in Bucktown/Wicker Park, Taxim features regionally-inspired Greek dishes paired with an all-Greek wine list. The restaurant's stunning dining room includes soaring 16-foot ceilings, travertine marble floors, dramatic Byzantine-style lamps and artwork, and a rooftop dining area lined with Greek flowering herbs.
Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods: This Wicker Park establishment offers Southern fare by Chef Brian Jupiter, a James Beard Semi-finalist. Known for its fried chicken, seafood, and po'boys, Ina Mae also features live music and entertainment.
Mott Street: Located in Bucktown/Wicker Park, Mott Street offers a Supremely Asian American dining experience. Chef Edward Kim draws inspiration from the night markets of Asia and his Korean-American childhood, pairing eastern cooking techniques with Chicago ingredients to create umami-laden flavors.
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Handlebar: This mostly vegetarian restaurant is a great place to sit, eat, drink, and hang out, especially in the summer when you can enjoy their back patio. Handlebar's menu includes vegan mac and cheese and a buffalo seitan wrap with vegan ranch dressing, as well as non-vegetarian options like blackened catfish and seared tuna tacos.
Restaurants with Healthy and Dietary-Friendly Options
Several restaurants in and around Wicker Park are known for their healthy options and ability to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Beatrix (River North & Fulton Market): Beatrix is known for its "healthy meets delicious" options. The menu offers many healthy selections and accommodates dietary restrictions like gluten-free and vegan diets. The food is described as fresh and clean, and the restaurant is praised for its friendly service and great atmosphere. Beatrix - Fulton Market is a healthy choice with many reviews praising its vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Le Colonial: This Chicago restaurant offers a nice choice of healthy selections and options for vegetarians and gluten-free eaters. The food is described as fresh, light, and balanced, suggesting a focus on high-quality ingredients.
Bloom: Bloom is a vegan and gluten-free spot with a menu full of hits. Dishes include a squash blossom-filled tamal topped with a rich mole, a tomato pizza with sweet tamarind saba and a cauliflower crust, and mushroom asada tacos. Many dishes are also raw, making it suitable for various dietary needs.
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Chicago Diner: With the slogan "Meat Free Since '83," Chicago Diner provides a traditional diner-style experience with health-conscious soulfulness.
Loving Heart: This establishment is 100% vegan, with approximately 80% of its ingredients being USDA-certified organic. The menu features vibrant, fresh dishes and healthy smoothies and beverages.
Restaurants Emphasizing Fresh and Local Ingredients
Many restaurants in the Wicker Park area prioritize the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create their healthy and flavorful dishes.
The Oakville Grill & Cellar: This Napa Valley-inspired restaurant in the Fulton Market District brings fresh ingredients, warm hospitality, and the best wines of California to Chicago. The menu is inspired by exclusive partnerships with California and Midwest farms, ranches, and wineries.
LYFE Kitchen: This establishment crafts flavorful dishes using locally sourced ingredients, committed to promoting a balanced and sustainable lifestyle.
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Notable Dishes and Dining Experiences
Wicker Park offers a variety of unique dishes and dining experiences that cater to health-conscious diners.
Handlebar's Fried Avocado Tacos: These tacos feature cabbage slaw, tomatoes, refried beans, house-made ranch, and flour tortillas, served with brown rice and salsa verde.
Handlebar's Black Bean Maduro: This dish includes sweet plantains, brown rice, jack cheese or vegan cheese, pico de gallo, black beans, and spicy chipotle sauce.
Valhalla: This Wicker Park spot offers a $198 tasting menu with 13 courses, providing a thrilling and suspenseful dining experience.
Schwa: Known for its unique dining experience, Schwa offers an incredible 12-course tasting menu set to a soundtrack of independent hip hop in a fun environment.
The Coach House: This hidden spot serves a $160 seven-course meal with dishes like momos filled with crab kulambu in a spicy black garlic sauce, chewy fara dumplings swimming in clarified beet butter, and chettinad fish topped with eggplant and crispy shallots.
Other Healthy Options in and Around Wicker Park
Sultan’s Market: Known for its healthy menu options, Sultan’s Market specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine.
True Food Kitchen: This restaurant takes nutrition and great flavors seriously, offering food with a side of philosophy.
Amitabul: Specializing in Korean-inspired vegan dishes, Amitabul offers a range of flavor-packed dishes crafted with wholesome ingredients.
Left Coast: Left Coast aims to bring healthy food to hungry people, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and smoothies.
PLANTA Queen: Specializing in plant-based cuisine, PLANTA Queen offers a wide array of healthy, flavorful dishes.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle in Chicago
Eating healthy is only one aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Incorporating a regular exercise routine is also essential. Consider joining a Chicago Athletic Club location to stay in shape.
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