Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria — Restaurant in Chicago

You ever walk into a place and think, "Damn, I hope the tacos are as amazing as these murals"? Probably not, but that's where my mind went when we sauntered through the entry. One wall with four-foot tall hummingbirds and the other with jaguar-butterfly hybrids of some sort. Bold and colorful, just screaming energy. Just like the tacos.

The food is silly good. "Creep into your dreams to make a guest appearance" good. Elote cup: phenomenal. Onion rings: yes. Horchata: I usually don't even like horchata, but yes. Basically all the tacos: certified incredible. The mushroom chimichurri taco was probably my fav, but it's hard to tell. They were all so damn good. I tried four of the ten varieties, and finding a winner was like one of those horse races where they have to review the final photo to see which one's nose made it over the finish first. I don't support horse racing, though. It's cruel. But I do support taco races.

All vegan. All of it. Dip your tongue in the habanero salsa if you want to wake up, because it was hot enough to clear my mind of all else. Treat with caution.

Fantastic find. At first I thought our server was a little disinterested in, you know, serving, but I think she might just be very casual energy. Which is fine once you get it. We were well taken care of and the kids menu was clutch.

I don't know who Penelope is, but I'd like to give her a high-five some day. Or a handshake. Or just a friendly wave from across the room. Or maybe some awkward half-wave-half-nod, when you aren't sure what the other person is going to do, so you do both, and now you just feel ridiculous and honestly wish you hadn't done anything in the first place, because now you're both uncomfortable, but you have to see it through, because you've made eye contact and it would be even more bizarre to turn away now, so then you half-smile too, trying to improve things, which makes it even more embarrassing, until your two-year-old shouts something mildly inappropriate out of the blue, giving you the opportunity to finally turn away. Just to say thanks, you know? Thanks for having a restaurant. Because like I said, the food...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria on Chicago Avenue, and I must say, it was an incredible experience. As a vegan, finding delicious and diverse options can sometimes be a challenge, but Penelope's exceeded all my expectations.

First off, the menu boasted a wide variety of vegan options that catered to all taste preferences. From mouthwatering plant-based tacos to flavorful burritos. Penelope's had it all. The creativity and attention to detail in their dishes truly impressed me. Every bite was bursting with flavor, and I found myself wanting to try everything on the menu.

What truly stood out to me, though, was the exceptional service provided by the staff. The moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and genuine enthusiasm. The waitstaff was incredibly knowledgeable about the vegan options and provided helpful recommendations based on my preferences. They were attentive throughout the meal, ensuring that my dining experience was nothing short of perfect.

The ambiance of Penelope's Vegan Taqueria was also worth mentioning. The restaurant had a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making it the ideal place to enjoy a meal with friends or family. The vibrant decor and soothing background music added to the overall dining experience, creating a truly enjoyable and relaxing environment.

In conclusion, Penelope's Vegan Taqueria on Chicago Avenue deserves every bit of its five-star rating. The exceptional vegan options and outstanding service make it a must-visit for vegans and non-vegans alike. If you're looking for a place that offers a wide range of delicious vegan dishes and an unforgettable dining experience, look no further than Penelope's...

Where I’m not fully vegan I do love to dine with fully vegan establishments; and I was very excited to come and try Penelope. I dined there this past Sunday, spending roughly $100 total for three people, not bad at all. The food was aesthetically pleasing to the eye, yet lacked loads of flavor. The pozole verde tastes like watery broth with onion and cilantro thrown into the bowl at plating, the Valentina hot sauce is the only thing that saved the dish. The taco dinner rice and beans were cold and the only taco that conceptually worked in its entirety was the Baja, but had no flavor. The mushrooms were old and the chimichurri sauce was dry, along with the cauliflower El Pastor taco, which had perfect color but again no seasoning or flavor. The Birria was empty & soggy ( no crispy bits on the outer taco), along with the mushrooms being old again(the consome was the same base used for the pozole verde); no chile color/ nor flavor. The chimichanga was absolutely beautiful plated. The jackfruit barbacoa was better flavored but the could be marinated longer. Needless to say this is not a negative critique more so a critique on consistency; as when I read all of the reviews that were great; most said that the restaurant is extremely good along with service. But I can honestly say I doubt that I’ll be back, as the food didn’t meet my expectations to return nor did the service( we sat and waited for long periods of time for such a small establishment). Also, I noticed that there’s a little competition on the block that will be opening soon; I pray this help to recalibrate to menu etc, as vegan food should still be full of flavor because it’s still...