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312 Eats
River North · Mexican

Can't believe it's not meat

4.3496 reviews ·Opentil 9 tonight
Now for the meal itself; it was absolutely delicious
Anastasia MAnastasia M · 329 Google reviews
Read the reviews on Google →

Can't believe it's not meat — solid, no-fuss mexican in River North. Sleek and intentional, with the aesthetic dialed in, and solid veggie options. "Everything I’ve tried has been amazing, but let me tell you… the patty melt is next level" — Raymond Barney

🌱Vegan & vegetarian friendly — real options, not one sad pasta.

What 496 diners keep saying

Neighborhood institutionTrendyQuick biteGreat for groupsBrunchTakeout strong
Plan your visit
226 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
River North
Today11AM-9PM
Sun–Fri11AM-9PM
Sat11AM-7PM
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What 496 diners keep saying

verbatim, from Google
Review photo by daniel O'Brien
Jul 2026

Loved the food. We got a burger, chic’n sandwich, birria tacos and Oreo milkshake. Everything was so tasty, portions were generous and service was great.

daniel O'Brien

daniel O'Brien

64 reviews on Google

Review photo by Sofia Laimposible
Jun 2026

Vibes are great, food is spectacular, you can’t believe is not meat!! Love all of it, definitely coming back.

Sofia Laimposible

Sofia Laimposible

43 reviews on Google

Review photo by Jesse Jones
Jun 2026

I want to update my previous review. I originally had an issue where I never received my food, and I was very disappointed. As a loyal customer since the beginning, including supporting the new North Side location, I was upset enough to leave a negative review. Shortly afterward, the owner's mother personally called me to address the situation. She spent nearly 40 minutes on the phone with us, listening to our concerns and working toward a solution. We even had technical issues where the call kept disconnecting, and each time she called back to continue the conversation. She genuinely cared about making things right, and she did exactly that. I can honestly say that I Can't Believe It's Not Meat has completely won me back. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is great, and their commitment to customer service is outstanding. Mistakes happen, but what matters is how a business responds, and they went above and beyond to fix the situation. Thank you for taking the time to make things right. I'll continue supporting this business and highly recommend it.

Jesse Jones

Jesse Jones

106 reviews on Google

Review photo by Addie Otting
Feb 2026

Awesome place with really good food and music and vibes. We are from Iowa and this is unlike anything in Iowa (in a good way lol) it is such a cool place to check out!!

Addie Otting

Addie Otting

26 reviews on Google

Review photo by Queen Nelly
Jan 2026

We were visiting Chicago for a few days and of course we had to try the food! I haven’t had meat in about 9 years and thought it would be a challenge while out of town but I’m so glad we found this place! Exceeded expectations! I had the hot Italian sandwich, delicious!! Almost went back the second day also.

Queen Nelly

Queen Nelly

44 reviews on Google

Review photo by Kelsey Blackwell
Jan 2026

YALL this place is great. Idk if any of you are from the south lol. But that turkey bacon club is exactly like the McAlister’s Club. Except it’s vegan. 💚 Amazing lemonade and fruit smoothies. I plan to come in and try it all. I highly recommend!

Kelsey Blackwell

Kelsey Blackwell

3 reviews on Google

Review photo by jarrod wilson
Sep 2025

Vegetarian and Vegan paradise. This location is 2 restaurants in one. A vegan one and a soul food one. So many amazing options if you are done settling for what passes as vegetarian options at most restaurants. Very chill vibe with a full bar. Highly recommended

jarrod wilson

jarrod wilson

25 reviews on Google

Review photo by lance affolter
Sep 2025

The food was excellent and the atmosphere was incredible. Extra stars for the music they were playing. Will definitely go back next time I'm in Chicago.

lance affolter

lance affolter

58 reviews on Google

Review photo by Himanshu Gupta
Jul 2026

My wife and I are always on the lookout for great vegan restaurants, so we decided to give this place a try after seeing its strong reviews. They have a few locations around Chicago, which gave us confidence that it would be worth checking out. We visited during the lunch rush, and since seating is quite limited at this location, we were offered seats at the bar. It wasn’t a problem for us, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning to dine during peak hours. The food was good, fresh, and flavourful, and it’s clear they put thought into their dishes. That said, considering the price point, I was expecting something a little more memorable. I’ve had better vegan meals elsewhere for a similar cost, so the value didn’t quite match my expectations. Overall, it was a decent experience with solid food and friendly service, but nothing really stood out enough to make me want to return. If you’re in the area and looking for vegan options, it’s worth trying once, but it didn’t become a new favourite for us.

Himanshu Gupta

Himanshu Gupta

31 reviews on Google

Review photo by P G
Jul 2026

Ordered loaded fries and buffalo shrimp via Uber Eats. The loaded fries tasted really good. I did not enjoy the buffalo shrimp that much.

P G

P G

87 reviews on Google

Review photo by Matthew Wheeler
Jun 2026

This was a unique dining experience since it’s connected with Soul Vibez, giving you access to a wide variety of food options in one spot. The customer service was friendly and welcoming, and there is plenty of outdoor seating available, which I’d recommend since it was quite loud inside during my visit. What really stood out was the impressive selection of vegan menu items. I tried a couple different burgers along with the fries, and overall everything was enjoyable. The burger flavors were good, though not quite the best vegan burgers I’ve had. That said, the menu has so many interesting options that I’d definitely come back to try more. If you’re looking for vegan food with lots of variety and generous choices, this place is absolutely worth checking out.

Matthew Wheeler

Matthew Wheeler

242 reviews on Google

Review photo by Jesrina Kabir
Jun 2026

We ordered "vegan milkshakes" and after leaving and trying the whipped cream on the milkshake, I had doubts. So I went back to ask what brand of whipped cream they use because for being "vegan" it should mean dairy free as well. My understanding is that vegan means no animal products. The lady by the register came back and told me the brand was glenview farm non dairy whipping cream. I asked so there's no dairy in it right? She brushed me off saying it's 100% vegan, so no dairy. So I looked up the so called whipped cream and the ingredient states there's sodium caseinate, which is a milk derivative. So if you're allergic to dairy and wanted some "vegan milkshakes" this is not it.

Jesrina Kabir

Jesrina Kabir

13 reviews on Google

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