Ah, Chicago — the birthplace of gospel and electric blues... and a bunch of sustainable, ethical, conscious businesses, stores, cafes, restaurants, and farms.
In our new Guide & Map series, we're going to guide you through the greenest, most sustainable and conscious businesses out there. We started with Florida (the birthplace of NatureHub), and we continue the journey all throughout the U.S.
Today we chose 11 green and sustainable good food places in Chicago. Ranging from coffee shops and bruncheries to rooftop farms and, well, regular farms, these local, family-owned, good food businesses are worth checking out.
Let's dive in!
1. Uncommon ground
Passionate about the "farm to table movement," more than 25 years ago Helen and Michael Cameron founded Uncommon ground, which now has two locations: an organic brewery in Lakeview and an organic rooftop (!) farm in Edgewater.
Would definitely recommend checking them both out for brunch. The Lakeview location has a nice kids menu and is open for brunch every day, while the Edgewater serves brunches on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Uncommon Ground Lakeview address: 3800 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL
- Uncommon Ground Edgewater address: 1401 W. Devon Ave., Chicago, IL
2. Chicago Raw
Opened by a mother and a daughter, Chicago Raw serves nutritious raw vegan food to-go. Other than a wide selection of meals, snacks, juices, and smoothies, they offer a lot of gluten-free, nut-free, and oil-free options as well.
While we're certainly looking forward to more plastic-free to-go options at RAW, you may want to arrange to bring your own container to enjoy their delish meals and dried snacks.
- Chicago Raw address: 51 W Huron St, Chicago, IL
3. Juice rx
Juice rx is basically a juice apothecary: in their juice bar, they 100% raw, vegan, and cold-pressed juices, elixirs, bowls, snacks, and juice cleansing programs.
If you're into juice detox or just enjoy fresh juice mixes, this one is a must-try. They do nationwide delivery as well.
- Juice rx address: 1880 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL
4. FRÍO Gelato
FRÍO Gelato specializes on fresh Argentinian gelato and sorbet. All gelato is hand-made in their allergy-friendly kitchen and includes a bunch of classic options (just like in an authentic Buenos Aires gelateria!) as well as more artisan flavors.
FRÍO Gelato is adopting green practices as well: they just started "Bring Your Own Container" movement to help reduce waste; hopefully, more initiatives are to come.
- FRÍO Gelato Evanston address: 1301 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL
- FRÍO Gelato Navy Pier address: 600 E Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL
- FRÍO Gelato Lakeview address: 3721 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL
- FRÍO Gelato Andersonville address: 5152 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL
- FRÍO Gelato HQ address: 1701 Simpson St, Evanston, IL
5. Dill Pickle Food Co-op
A community-owned grocery store, Dill Pickle Food Co-op offers a selection of sustainably sourced and organic products with a focus on local farms and producers. This is a great alternative to "green" supermarket chains: the suppliers and products are as transparent as it gets, plus you're definitely supporting local.
Visit their deli, too: the choice of salads and smoothies won't leave you disappointed.
- Dill Pickle Food Co-op address: 2746 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
6. Back of the Yards Coffeehouse
Back of the Yards Coffeehouse is a woman and Latinx-owned community coffee shop in South Side of Chicago. They make excellent coffee, but not coffee only: expect talks, workshops, and community hangouts.
Other than subscribing to coffee beans delivery from their own environmentally responsible roastery, make sure to visit their coffee shop an enjoy a cup of their specialty Horchata Cold Brew.
- Back of the Yards Coffeehouse address: 2059 W 47th St, Chicago, IL
7. Amish & Healthy Foods
Amish & Healthy Foods stocks their products directly from an Amish community in Shipshewana, Indiana — and then brings them back to Chicago. Most of the veggies they offer are organic and grown with traditional technology, and all animal products are free-range and grass-fed.
Come around for eggs, milk, and seasonal fruits and veggies: this is a great store for conscious consumers who want to know where their produce is coming from.
- Amish & Healthy Foods address: 1025 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
8. The Urban Canopy
The Urban Canopy is all about organic and sustainable farming. They are known for LUCSA, their own CSA program — a food subscription that includes fresh produce from their farm in Englewood and partner farms throughout the Midwest as well as other good food businesses in Chicago.
If you're vegan, vegetarian, or just trying to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet, LUCSA sounds like a nice option to keep in mind.
- The Urban Canopy address: 1400 W 46th St, Chicago, IL
9. Left Coast
Left Coast offers a winning combination of healthy food and juice. Their smoothies are amazing, and their menu proves that healthy can be oh so flavorsome.
With West Coast vibes and a perfect location, Left Coast is heartily recommend if you like good food, good people — and cold pressed juices to go along with your breakfast.
- Left Coast Address: 2878 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
10. Lyfe Kitchen
Lyfe Kitchen describe themselves as an eatery that creates “craveable, feel-good food that tastes amazing and makes your body feel great.”
We don’t know about you, but that just makes us hungry!
That said, what makes Lyfe standout from the crowd is that many of their dishes contain under 600 calories. As such, it’s ideal for anyone who’s watching their weight a bit at the moment.
There are lots of gluten-free options at Lyfe Kitchen, and even guiltier pleasures come with the likes of butternut squash and dried cranberries on the side. Mhmm.
- Lyfe Kitchen address: 413 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
11. B’Gabs Goodies
B’Gabs Goodies offers raw and cooked vegan foods that are free from both soy and gluten. Their foods are also rich in key nutrients, proteins, as well as enzymes and vitamins. And like all the other places in this article, B’Gabs Goodies source their 100% organic food locally.
What’s also pretty cool about this health joint is that owner Gabrielle has striven to create what she calls a “judge-free zone.” Built on love, compassion, and with a holistic approach to food and life itself, B’Gabs Goodies is definitely worth checking out!
- B’Gabs Goodies address: 1450 E 57th St, Chicago, IL
For more sustainable good food places in Chicago (or anywhere else in the U.S.), be sure to sign up for NatureHub! 😉
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