Urban Vegan

Lake View
1605 W. Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 404 - 1109

Lincoln Park
1550 W. Fullerton Ave
Chicago, Il 60614
(773) 472-8208

http://www.urbanveganchicago.com/

     Their website reads the "Original Vegan Thai Cuisine in Chicago" and, well, vegan Thai food it is. Urban Vegan is a place that always delivers a straight to the point, great tasting meal. This place is (obviously) all vegan .. they even have wonton soup which, to me, makes them like a vegan Thai heaven. Even better, you have several proteins to choose (tofu, soy chicken, soy fish, soy pepper steak, seitan, soy shrimp or soy chicken nuggets). It's nice to have a choice which expands beyond the tofu squares, right? If you are vegan or vegetarian and live in Chicago, you've probably already been here.. more than once.
     They have a pretty sweet lunch and dinner special and have a pretty extensive menu otherwise. Each location delivers -particularly amazing when it is winter for 6 months out of the year- and caters which makes me want to get married to just have them cater my wedding.. don't worry, I'm not running to the alter any time soon.

  Lunch special: $9.95
  Fresh Ginger - Soy Chicken
  stir fried mushrooms, fresh ginger garlic, green onion, and
  bell pepper  in chef's special sauce.
  Served with steamed brown rice, 2 spring rolls and salad
    *I was too excited and ate one of the spring rolls before i remembered to take a
       picture - judge me not 

Global Coffee and Cargo

2917 West Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 252 - 0091
www.soschicago.org

   Global Coffee was an unexpected surprise. I was wandering the streets of Logan Square when I happened to walk by a cute little store front lodged between a community garden and a thrift store. I then noticed and Intelligentsia coffee sign, and while I've only had coffee from Int once, I took this as a good sign. Also, if you know Logan, you know that where Kedzie and Armitage meet, there is very little to see and do so I figured this was a good as it would get. So... enter store.

Bathroom wallpaper!

   This place is adorable. The different tables and chairs along with the eclectic paintings on the wall make it feel incredibly comfortable and the couches and pillows do not go unnoticed. I picked the table by the window-front to enjoy the natural lighting from an almost warm spring day and stared at the solar system hanging from the ceiling. I appreciate personalty and this pace definitely has one. Even their bathroom is an adventure.
   Their menu is what you might expect from a small mom an pop cafe. They offer sandwiches, breakfasty stuff, some appetizers including the standard hummus platter, etc, etc. I ordered a veggie burger and had the option between chips or potatoes. The burger wasn't terribly exciting but I'm really not that picky when it comes to burgers and at only $5.50, I really couldn't complain. Oh and the potatoes where truly tasty and included in that price; amazing. And since I was going to be there a while, I ordered a brown sugar cinnamon soy latte that needs no elaboration.
   A few hours later, I walked out feeling rather satisfied and not thinking much else... and then I did some research and was truly impressed. As if supporting small businesses is not a priority for me, this cafe is actually a part of a non profit which is "dedicated to empowering individuals who in transition from a variety of circumstances, such as homelessness, recovering from addiction, low-income, .. [have] the common desire to work towards self-sufficiency ..." They have various programs, including the above mentioned garden and thrift store. The cafe is actually a part of their job training program.
   Heart melted. The end.