I'm a carnivore but came here to try the desserts (I can't eat eggs so I am essentially vegan when it comes to dessert). Everything else looked so good I decided to I had to try it. We had Jerry's pizza and the Italian eggplant - both had a delicious tomato sauce that had just the right amount of sweetness. (Jerry's pizza is in the appetizer section but could probably feed 2 people as an entree and is only $10.) The potato soup was pretty good but a little bland. My pecan pie was pretty tasty too, but not what I expected (it was drier inside than I'm used to and had a crumb topping). Overall, the quality of the food is very good and it's very reasonably priced (especially as far as organic vegan options in River North go). Between the two of us, we had an appetizer, a bowl of soup, an entree, dessert, a beer, and a cup of coffee for $43 after tax and still took food home. We're both carnivores and really enjoyed the food. We will be back.
Karyn's is one of the best vegan options I've found in Chicago. I'm not usually someone who likes fake meat but they have a lot of veggie options that are really delicious. My favorite is probably the polenta and mushroom dish. Definitely a great lunch spot in River North!
Karyn's Cooked provides dependable vegan(ish) comfort food. We're not particularly picky about the purity of the veggie creed, and we're pleased to have this option.
We've visited three times over the course of a few years and have been pleased each time. The food is solid, though no one dish stands out. It's the best veggie option that we've found in the area.
This place was definitely a nice surprise to come across. I have never heard of Karyn's Cooked and just after a quick Google maps search this was the only vegan restaurant in reasonable walking distance from Lincoln Park. I totally fell in love.
The decor was nice. Contemporary and sleek. Clean from what I saw. The service was okay. No complaints about it, but it didn't seem outstanding. The guy at the register was very nice and helpful (I wish I caught his name). The food was GREAT! I wish I had more money and a second stomach to have tried more on the menu. In my group we ordered the Buddha Bowl and a Portobello mushroom sandwich. Both entrees were amazing, but the Portobello sandwich did get one negative mark for it being more on the greasy side.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
I am a week-day vegetarian, but could eat here any day. I've been coming here for years & it's always a great meal that never leaves me feeling stuffed or gross. Must be the natural & vegan cooking :) If you're feeling adventurous & have never tried vegan cuisine before, this is a great place to check out. Karyn has been doing the "raw" and "vegan" things for years (she also holds seminars at her LP Raw locations & has a raw market there too), and she knows what's she doing.
What to order: The (fake) Steak Wrap, The Jerk Tofu Wrap, the baskets (cauliflower, tofu & mushrooms are my favs - and the sauces are really good too), the agave sweetened lemonade & definitely try a dessert.
Tip: Brunch is served on Sundays & is pretty awesome too. I always get the Rainbow Mexicana (basically vegan breakfast tacos)
Karyn's Cooked is my personal favorite of her restaurants. Sure, the salmon is a bit precious but it's also fantastic. The food may seem a bit over the top in the 'cute' department, but it never lacks for quality and flavor. Other restaurants rely almost solely on quaint imitation. Here it is the finishing touch to a plurality of wonderful dishes.
The words gourmet and vegan can go together! Karyn's cooked is awesome, it's chic, affordable and this summer I had a celebrity sighting here - Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers ate here while in town for Lollapalooza (Hard to miss him with blue hair!)
Many items are gluten free and even though there is no meat, you won't leave hungry. I love the jerk tofu, the Buddha Bowl, sloppy joe's and the polenta! Can't go wrong at Karyn's plus they have outside seating in the summer.
Great Vegan desserts. This place is definitely worth trying. This is not an overtly relaxed environment, it has black napkins and is a little stuffy. The dinners are overpriced and a little underportioned, although they are original dish ideas and have many gluten-free dishes and options. I came here for coffee and the vegan deserts and I recomned you do the same as I feel they are more worth the price than the full dinners are.
My husband's folks came in from out of town, so the 4 of us went to Karyn's Cooked. We ordered a variety of items -- like the ribs, sloppy joe and more-- meads & desserts. Customary to us, we each shared a bit so we could all have a taste... and loving it. Mid-way through the meal, we mentioned this was a vegetarian restaurant. My father-in-law asked why would a vegetarian restaurant serve ribs and motioned to all the food on our table. They were both amazed to hear that everything they enjoyed today was vegetarian -- never had a clue.
Delicious food in a friendly casual environment. Great location for plant based food options. Feels good to go to a restaurant where one can eat anything from the menu. Crab cakes, pasta primvera and guacamole were delicious. Ginger beer is great. Overall good food choice close to Chicago Magnificent Mile.
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