Amitabul

IMO, the healthiest and best tasting vegan restaurant you can find in Chicago.

When I asked my husband if he wanted to try this place, his response was, «VEGAN Korean food? But the meat is my favorite part of Korean food».
Luckily, I have friends.
So my friend and I dragged our respective kids in for a lunch date. It was surprisingly crowded for noon on a weekday.
The waitress was a little of a hot mess but the owner came by to take our orders. I went with Yin and Yan because the «only order this if you can take the heat» sounded like a challenge to me. My friend had the cure all soup. The kiddos were boring and had tofu miso.
I loved my lunch. It was pretty satisfying even with the lack of meat. I tried the broth from my friend’s soup and it was good. Next time maybe I’ll give it a try. Although this isn’t impressive, my kids loved their miso which was surprising because it had shredded zucchini in it.
My husband has reluctantly agreed to give it a whirl. I’m recommending it to everyone, especially my vegetarian friends.

This place is beyond awesome and serves some of the most magical and restorative food. I have moved out of the Chicago area and I only wish they had a cookbook (hint, hint) so I could try and continue eating their dishes! Have to settle for visits when I am back in the area, but it is always worth it

Amazing, amazing, amazing! The Cure All soup is the only thing that makes me feel better when I have bronchitis. All of the food is amazing, fresh, flavorful. If you are a meat eater, you will not miss it one bit.

Let me say this is probably my most favorite vegetarian restaurant. I absolutely love this place! Ive been here a couple times but we always get carry out from here so I can’t tell you about the restaurant itself but the service is great in terms of ordering and being ready. The portions are huge so be ready to share.
My absolute favorite thing on the menu is the dr k’s cure all noodle soup! It’s spicy and full of delicious veggies and noodles! I can eat this soup all the time! We’ve tried the dumplings, kimchi (which they sell in jars), and many of the stir fry dishes. I can’t remember the names exactly but I’m sure there all good. Just a FYI the food tends to be spicy here so ask about making it mild or suggestions for mild food. We like it spicy so we don’t usually ask!
In terms of pricing it’s very affordable. Parking is street parking but it’s not too difficult. My only issue is that there closed Sunday and Monday which isn’t that big of an issue u less u need your fix.
Definitely give this place a try! I don’t know why it took me so long to rate this place!

This place was pretty good for cooked vegan food! Perfect for anyone who is sick and needs to clear out their sinuses or soothing a sore throat!
I was very happy with my meal and excited I had a chance to step out of the box and try something culturally new. It was light, refreshing and very earthy. I was super full afterward and would def come back for another try at something new!
The owner was so nice and very knowledgeable on which way to guide my husband and I which was really great. The service was a little slow considering there were a lot of people in the place but the food made up for that aspect! If you are looking for something new this is a place you need to go to. You can even take your non vegan/​vegetarian there too :)

So I got to try this restaurant after the third try because the first time I went here, it was their closing time… and the second time I went it was Sunday so it was closed.
But about the food, it’s simply awesome! Their Dr. K cure soup can really help cure sore throat n cold. I really loved their black pearl pancakes too. This restaurant is definitely a must try! :)

The Dr. K soup was full of seaweed. The Tibetan dish was better, but super masala spicy. They do not take American Express.
The service is nice. The music is tranquil. It was a good experience. Definitely 3 stars. I would come again, but I am not itching to.

Came here for my daughter’s birthday. She had Dark Side of Moon, my son had Zesty Noodles and I had the Maha Poao. Medium spice was perfect. All of our dishes were excellent! Friendly peaceful atmosphere.

this is the most unique korean restaurant around. the food is mindfully prepared and the vibe is of health, well being and balance. you just won’t find another place like this, anywhere. as a korean person who loves korean food, their interpretation of korean classic dishes might take a minute to adjust to, so eat with an open mind and heart. also, i think they use a bit too much sugar in some of their dishes. over all, i would still eat here every day. thank goodness for amitabul!

I just love this place. Everytime i come here it’s like heaven. All of the food is fresh, authentic and vegan. I love Dr. K’s noodle soup, it’s to die for.

My bf was not feeling well and I decided to drag him here since I had heard about Dr. K’s soup. The place had a zen feel to it and people were quietly talking as we walked in. Per the owner’s recommendation we started with the Vegan Dumplings, which were delicious. We followed with Dr. K’s soup and Wolfman’s Dream Treats. The soup had an earthy taste to it, not too spicy. The other entrée had various nuts mixed with the side of rice and a good selection of vegetables that were still crispy. We both enjoyed the dishes even though we are not vegan and found them to be quite interesting. If we were to come back, I would love to try a noodle dish since I am not much of a rice person. My boyfriend felt much better that same day, it could have been the soup. We also found the food to be inspiring thus we tried to eat more clean food and it did brought us more energy while it lasted.

If I could eat every meal of my life at Amitabul, I could be a vegan. They actually offer this option — you can sign up for a monthly meal plan, and I’ve been there while people come to pick up their meals, and heard them rave about it.
I’ve been coming to Amitabul for years, since they were in their old Lakeview location, and I’ve never been disappointed. My favorites are the «Healing Soup» bowls — The Steve’s Super Shitake Noodle Wonder Soup if you want something with a mild taste (and love mushrooms), and The Dr. K’s Cure All Noodle Soup if you want something with a more spicy kick. And the Dr. K’s really does help if you have a cold. Another great menu selection they have are their teas. First time I went there, I ordered a Citron Tea and was surprised to find out it wasn’t actual tea, or even herbal tea, it was hot brewed citron in water, which basically tasted like hot lemonade, and is the most amazing thing to drink if you have a cold or sore throat (or just really like lemon). They also have a ginger tea that’s ginger brewed in hot water, and is perfect for an upset stomach — I used to stop by there when I was pregnant just to get the tea.
The rest of their menu is a really wide variety of vegan rice bowls, stews, noodles, bibimbop, all with different vegetables and flavor combos, and all great.
Amitabul is definitely one of the top vegetarian spots in Chicago!

Excellent food! The flavors are extraordinary. Although the place lacks ambiance, the amazing food makes up for anything else lacking in this restaurant.

Very healthy dishes to choose from. The soups will cure you!

I don’t know what I was expecting but I was so disappointed.
I got the kimchi noodle soup. It just felt very very flat. It had spice and that was all. The flavors weren’t balanced at all. I thought a slice of lime will help but guess what, I asked for one and was told I can’t get lime or vinegar or salt because they don’t have them.
I couldn’t finish my bowl of red water and left hungry :(

Whether it’s dinning in or doing a pick up, Amitabul is consistent with delicious, healthy, quality food. Dr K cure all soup is absolutely delicious and I swear by it for when you are feeling a little under the Chicago weather. I do think it is a little pricey but the quality and taste of the food is worth it

I’ve been going to Amitabul since I moved to Chicago in ’98 and they were still located on Southport.
Although the menu has not changed a lot over the years, the meals are still as wonderful as the first time I ate there. They have a unique atmosphere, a welcoming staff, and are highly recommended even by people that have no idea what the words «Korean vegan food» means.
Some of the food is very spicy, but they’ve toned it down a bit over the years. You get a lot of food for your money, so go hungry!
It’s a great place for dates, kids are welcome, and it’s BYOB.
You can get there via the CTA, but check google for the best instructions– it will vary based on your timing and which buses are running.
It’s also the best place to have lunch or dinner after a visit to American Science and Surplus down the street!

Worth the trip! Hop on your old car and head way way up Milwaukee avenue for Korean Buddhist Vegan nirvana.
This gem is on the far northwest side and the food is awesome. Carefully overseen by Chef owner Bill, the food is the best spicy stuff ever.
Try the soy pancakes! They are savory– not sweet– and perfectly balanced with veggies inside.
The healthy nut is a Korean noodle dish with fresh veggies and top shelf shrooms.
The date tea is great!
They do close early, so give em a break and come at 6.

Was looking for a healthy lunch option so decided to give Amitabul a try. I had one of the noodle entrees medium spicy. There were a lot of fresh veggies in the dish and I was impressed with the spicy flavor. Medium spicy definitely has some legitimate heat! My stomach is sometimes sensitive to spicy foods but I had no problems after eating here. I recommend trying this spot if you enjoy Korean flavors and are looking for something on the healthy side.