Amitabul

Staying with my friends, who happen to be vegan, I asked them to take me to their favorite restaurants around Chicago. They brought me to Chef Bill's Amitabul: Healing Buddhist Spiritual Vegan Cuisine. This was one of the most calming, tasty dining experiences I have had!We arrived around 6:45pm on a Friday and immediately were seated at a table in the front of the restaurant, right next to what appeared to be a Buddhist shrine. We were given menus and water and plenty of time to look over the menu. The inside of the restaurant is deep with booths and tables. There were a few others seated but the sound levels were great. It took a little bit for our food to arrive but we were able to enjoy a plate of Mandoo Vegan Dumplings to tide us over. These were delicious and we appreciated the spiced miso sauce.For dinner, I ordered the Chop Chae from the steamed stir veggies section of the menu, with a medium level of spice. Chop Chae is steamed sweet potato noodles with three kinds of mushroom, gathered with veggies. This was excellent! The noodles were so good and I loved all the veggies and the medium spice level was great. This was a surprisingly filling meal; I did not want dessert. HahaI am so glad I got to experience Amitabul! Such a calming environment with friendly staff. I do not follow a vegan diet, but I would have zero hesitation coming back for a meal here!

If you like steamed vegetables with no (I mean ZERO) seasoning, and a loud gong going off every 2 minutes or so, this is your spot. The food is bland, bland and more bland. Perfunctory service, not rude, just not engaging at all. There are far better options for both vegetarians and vegans on the same stretch of Milwaukee.Not to our taste, but hey, if you're a Tibetan Buddhist, OMMMMM...

I'm a carnivore to the core. I'd shovel up a freshly killed raccoon off the side of the road if it wasn't socially unacceptable. So it's a miracle in itself my friend managed to get me to this vegan Korean spot. Given the chill area (not too far from Superdawg--I said I was a carnivore) I didn't expect too much. I may have just been coming down from being sick that day, my friend said he knew what would help me feel better. He wasn't lying! I had a delicious plate of grilled curry tofu stir fry. My nasal passages opened right up! And I had a nice portion to take home and doctor up (with an egg of course) for breakfast the next day! The owner was really cool and informative, the space was super zen and cozy! Great spot to impress someone. Awesome vegan joint for carnivores like me to still get their fill! I plan to revisit with my mom sometime soon!

We absolutely love everything that we tried here today. A friend recommended this place to us because we live super close and were looking for a restaurant that has healthy food at an affordable price. This restaurant is spot on! The server came up and seated is right away, and we were able to have a wonderful meal and really enjoyed the chill vibe of everything.

Easily the best food I've eaten in a while. Healthy tasty and definitely spiritual experience. The tea is phenomenal while you wait for the food which is quick. We recently moved up north and go here frequently and order from here too. Must try!

I visited this place two nights in a row. They accommodated our party of 17 last minute with no reservation. The owner is kind and truly vested in making sure guests have the best experience. This a a high vibrational food experience with the tone of Buddhist culture noticed from the time I walked in with the huge altar in front. If you're not looking for "vegan" and want truly healthy food this is the place. I don't live in Chicago, I was visiting, but if I did trust and believe I'd be there multiple times a week. Highly recommended.

Amitabul in Chicago offers a unique experience with its vegan Buddhist-inspired dishes. The menu, rooted in plant-based goodness, showcases creativity and mindfulness. While the food is a standout, the service falls short, leaving room for improvement in ensuring a more delightful dining experience.

Great healthy food, wonderful helpful owner & peaceful atmosphere. Wish I lived closer...

It was my first time here, as my husband and I are exploring different aspects of Korean cuisine and had never tried vegan Buddhist cuisine from Korea. The ambience is very quiet and zen-like, with light green walls, rice paper lamps and wood details, Buddhist chanting on the sound system and a beautiful gratitude message placed on each table (to read before you eat if you like). The other people who were there looked like your typical vegan restaurant patrons. If you're more comfy with bro types hanging around burgers and BBQ, the vibe here might make you antsy :) I'm cool with it. Portions here are very generous -- one dish can provide 2-3 meals. The "Dr. K Cure-All Noodle Soup" has a really delicious spicy red broth (not super spicy) and LOTS of different fresh vegetables, tofu, seaweed and noodles (rice or wheat -- your choice). That was a really pleasant surprise. It tastes fantastic the next day too.The maki rolls with brown rice, kimchi, carrot and a leafy green veg were ok, as vegetable sushi often is. Healthy, but a little dry and bland... it needs a good dipping sauce besides soy sauce.A cup of the date tea (ginger tea? sweetened by dates) and a little white rice cake with red bean paste was a delightful treat to end the meal.I'll be back for that soup and tea!

This place is starting to become a common staple of ours. It's incredibly good. The amount of veggies in each dish is awesome! The flavor combination is amazing.