When I went vegan in the ’90s, the only way to get pizza was to order a no-mozzarella option from Papa John’s — and then add my own meat-free proteins at home. Forget adding vegan cheese; the melting, tasty version we have today didn’t even exist yet. Now local pizzerias and national chains are jumping on board to include the vegan crowd. Chicago offers top-notch spots for dine in and delivery.
Kitchen17
You can dine in at this 16-seat vegan delight in Lakeview, but given the tight space, I opt for delivery. There are five pizzas on the daily menu, most with thick- or thin-crust options. Keep it simple with cheese or pepperoni or go crazy with the Philly cheesesteak — which comes with marinara sauce, house-made cheesesteak seitan, peppers, onions, giardiniera and vegan mozzarella cheese. Most notably, it is Chicago’s only spot for vegan deep-dish. And it’s killer. The crust doesn’t give way to the toppings, and the spicing is spot on. The fully loaded option ($25) comes with sausage, olives, spinach, giardiniera and roasted peppers. Deep-dish is available only on Wednesdays, and the owner advises ordering early to reserve a pie.
Prices: $10-$25
613 W. Briar Place, 773-661-1757, www.facebook.com/Kitchen17
Dimo’s
Dimo’s is great because you can get vegan by the slice — a rarity. Plus, the toppings are crazy. My mind was blown the first time I got a slice of The Vegan Mac: mozzarella Teese (a locally made vegan cheese) house-made vegan ranch, and macaroni noodles topped with cheddar Teese. The Philly and Dimo Florentine pizzas are also excellent, but my favorite is the Vegan BBQChickenCheddarRanch — which comes with chicken seitan, mozzarella and cheddar Teese, vegan ranch, and roasted red peppers on a barbecue sauce base. You can get pizza by the slice or a 12- or 20-inch pie.
Prices: $4.50 | $16 | $32
3463 N. Clark St., 773-525-4580, and 1615 N. Damen Ave., 773-687-4580. www.dimospizza.com
The Local Pizzeria
If you’re not a fan of vegan mozzarella cheese but don’t want to go with a red sauce, try the Vegan at The Local Pizzera. The pie comes with a roasted red pepper-cashew spread in place of sauce. It adds a sweet, nutty flavor that isn’t overpowering. The pizza — which comes in 12-, 14- or 18-inch sizes — includes garlic oil, spinach and a choice of three veggies. The crust is light and doughy and definitely won’t leave any grease on your fingers.
Prices: $17.50 | $21.50 | $25.50
3352 W. Foster Ave., 773-649-3114, www.thelocalpizzeria.com
Blaze Pizza
This fast-casual spot is a great if you’re out with your meat-eating friends or just want a no-frills thin crust. The build-your-own option lets you pick a vegan cheese along with as many veggies as you want — 17 choices — for the same price ($10.45). For an extra fee, diners can add more house-made dough for a thicker, “high-rise” crust. Gluten-free dough is also an option.
Price: $10.45
Various locations, www.blazepizza.com
Paulie Gee’s
This Brooklyn-based chain recently opened a store in Logan Square, with a menu listing seven wood-fired vegan options. The Chicago location doesn’t offer vegan cheese-covered pies but instead tops its pizzas with nutritional yeast, kimchee or olive oil. Paulie Gee’s focuses more on simple ingredients and a well-made crust. The Simply Red ($10) — with Italian tomatoes — is for the minimalist. The In Ricotta Da Vegan ($18) offers more pizazz: Italian tomatoes, house-made vegan fennel sausage, cashew ricotta dollops, baby arugula and extra-virgin olive oil.
Prices: $10-18
2451 N. Milwaukee Ave., www.pauliegee.com/logan-square
Boiler Room
This Logan Square joint offers Follow Your Heart vegan cheese and meat alternatives daily, but the regular dough is made with honey. Stop by on a Tuesday and you can get a vegan New-York style pizza by the slice with dough made from agave instead. Pair it with a PBR tall boy and a shot of Jameson, all for $8.50.
Price: $8.50
2210 N. California Ave., 773-276-5625, www.boilerroomlogansquare.com
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