Raw - Chicago

Best raw vegan food, ever!!!!!! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 read more Best raw vegan food, ever!!!!!! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Love the food tastes really good. The pumpkin pie was to die for the only problem with this place is that it is a little bit on the price your side, but that’s... read more Love the food tastes really good. The pumpkin pie was to die for the only problem with this place is that it is a little bit on the price your side, but that’s what you pay for when it comes to high-quality food I guess also, everything is vegan, so they re-create dishes to representa meat like substitute without the meat like sushi Meal type: Lunch Price per person: $20–30 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Vegetarian offerings: Menu is all vegetarian

I recently visited Chicago Raw for the first time and had high hopes given their mission and dedication to raw, plant based cuisine. As a vegan of eight years,... read more I recently visited Chicago Raw for the first time and had high hopes given their mission and dedication to raw, plant based cuisine. As a vegan of eight years, I’m always excited to support businesses aligned with conscious eating and wellness. That said, while the environment was welcoming and the staff incredibly friendly and professional, the food itself left a lot to be desired. I spent around $70 to try a variety of items from the menu. The presentation was thoughtful, and I could tell a lot of care went into sourcing and preparing the food. However, the biggest issue I encountered across nearly every dish was the lack of flavor balance. • The hummus, for example, was overwhelmingly acidic, the lemon was so dominant that it masked every other ingredient. It wasn’t bright or refreshing; it was harsh. • The mustard served with the meat patties was similarly intense, far too tart, to the point where it distracted from the patty entirely. • The sushi, which had a pumpkin seed filling, again suffered from poor flavor balance. It tasted like an over-concentration of one or two ingredients, lacking the nuance and harmony that make plant-based sushi enjoyable. • The granola was okay, nothing too special but decent enough. I fully support what Chicago Raw is trying to do, offer clean, health forward meals, but there’s a crucial distinction between food that’s “healing” and food that’s palatable. Raw food doesn’t have to be bland or overpowering; it just needs the right touch. Unfortunately, it seems like many of the dishes could benefit from the expertise of a seasoned plant based chef, someone who truly understands how to layer and balance flavors in raw cuisine. If I were to return, it would likely be just for a smoothie. I genuinely appreciate the service and the positive, professional energy of the staff, but the menu, as it stands, needs more refinement. Final Thoughts: Love the mission. Love the people. But flavor is key, and currently, Chicago Raw misses the mark on that front. I wouldn’t recommend the food to anyone who’s truly vegan or on a raw diet. Service: Takeaway Price per person: $50–100 Food: 1 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 3 Dietary restrictions: Everything raw and Gluten free

Pleasantly surprised. Stopped in and met Polly who made some fabulous recommendations. Had the collard burrito, muffins, kale chips and several... read more Pleasantly surprised. Stopped in and met Polly who made some fabulous recommendations. Had the collard burrito, muffins, kale chips and several...

I enjoyed the raw sushi, potato and spinach cakes, raw oatmeal, and pizza, as well as the grapefruit spirulina smoothie. Everything was delicious and simply ama... read more I enjoyed the raw sushi, potato and spinach cakes, raw oatmeal, and pizza, as well as the grapefruit spirulina smoothie. Everything was delicious and simply amazing!