Manna Kitchen — Restaurant in Lisle

1/22/25 update:

-mac attack burger with garlic parmesan fries 5 - This is a good size burger. You probably don’t need an appetizer. Meat is Beyond Meat, has cremini mushrooms, garlic aioli, fried onions, and mac ‘n cheese. Overall, it’s a very clean burger. I finished the burger with no greasy or oily fingers, I didn’t have to wash my hands in the bathroom. Patty wasn’t dry, it was slightly juicy. The mushrooms gave it extra flavor and the fried onions gave it a nice crunch. The fries were crispy and an adequate amount of garlic parmesan. No ketchup needed. -mac n’ cheeze 5 - The new version of mac and cheese was yummy. Very cheesy but not overpowering. -black forest cake 5 - Don’t underestimate the size, very shareable between two people. Slightly rich chocolatey taste. Cherry filling was enjoyable in the middle and little on top. -panang curry bowl 4 - huge bowl to satisfy your needs. It came piping hot. The aroma is light and the taste is mild compared to curries that you would find at Thai/Indian restaurants. Tofu was slightly firm. The broth was coconut flavored, it was more subtle. I would have liked the coconut flavor to be a little more prominent.

Overall, it’s about 4.5. I’ll round up to 5. I also recommend trying tower burger, cashew mac & cheeze (that’s how they spell cheese on their menu), and vegan seitan chorizo tacos (favorite).

———————————————- 2/22/24 update

When I walked in around 12:40 pm, I was astonished to see it empty. I was greeted right away, that’s a plus in my book. I chose the seitan chorizo tacos along with garlic parmesan fries as my side. I ordered a Mexican chocolate for dessert. They also have free water in the corner with enormous size cups. As you can see from my pictures, they have adequate seating. I’ve been to some places where there are only a few tables, but this place has more than a few. Service was fantastic, the employee asked how my meal was and was very attentive. Overall, it was a great improvement from my last visit. As for the prices, they are actually pretty standard for vegan food. I’ve been to Denver, where I ate a variety of vegan food and desserts. The prices were about the same range. I’m not vegan but my palate is eclectic.

-Seitan chorizo 5/5 - I really liked the corn tortillas, they didn’t crumble apart. The seitan chorizo tasted like the real chorizo. It was filling, clean, and I had no bloated feeling afterwards. The avocado salsa tastes great when you use it to put in your tacos along with dipping your fries in it. -garlic parmesan fries 5/5 - Very far from being salty, you can smell the whiff of parmesan before taking a bite. Not overwhelming. Nice crunchy taste, no sogginess, and there is an iota amount of oil at the bottom for dipping. -Mexican chocolate 5/5 - very smooth texture. Not super rich, just has the right amount. This is a very good dessert to end the meal, it’s not heavy either.

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I would give this place an overall 3.5. Service was really friendly.

The Tower Burger was pretty decent. Good taste. Fries were well seasoned. Ample food for the price.

Crab cakes were good not great. For the price, i would have liked to see another crab cake thrown in.

Sweet chili cauliflower wings were decent. I like to have wings with a little more moisture inside. A little expensive for what you get.

Cashew mac and cheese I really enjoyed. Definitely one of my favorite dishes from here. Good flavor and balance. For the price the portion was good.

Indonesian sweet vanilla pudding I really liked. After a filling meal, the dessert is light and not too sweet.

Overall, it’s worth going to once since not too many vegan restaurants. Price was fair on certain items and others were a little overpriced for what...

I’ve been coming to Manna Kitchen for three years now, and they never disappoint. A lot of places start slipping over time, but not this one. The food is just as good as the first time I had it.

I got the Chik n Sand sandwich (again, because why mess with a good thing?), and it was perfect—crispy, flavorful, and just the right amount of sauce. The buffalo sauce gives it a nice kick, and the chik’n itself is super crispy on the outside and tender inside. Honestly, if you didn’t tell me it was vegan, I wouldn’t even know.

The people here are always so nice, too. They make you feel welcome and actually help if you can’t decide what to order (which is me, every time).

If you haven’t tried this place yet, do yourself a favor and go. You won’t regret it.

This was my second visit to Manna Kitchen and I must say, they have truly maintained their standards of taste and quality over the year. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality, setting the tone for an exceptional dining experience.

The PanangCurry we ordered was simply amazing. Every bite was bursting with flavor, and the balance of sweet, savory, and tangy notes was perfection. It was evident that great care went into preparing this dish, as each ingredient shone through, creating a harmonious and memorable culinary delight.

The Crispy BBQ Chik-N Sandwich was a revelation. The combination of crispy, flavorful "chik-n" with tangy barbecue sauce nestled between soft, toasted buns was a true masterpiece. Each bite was a symphony of textures and flavors, leaving us craving more long after the last crumb was gone.

As for the Sweet Chili Cauliflower Wings, we were blown away. They were the perfect marriage of crispy and tender, with a sticky sweet chili glaze that elevated them to new heights. Even non-vegetarians would find themselves reaching for more of these delectable morsels.

Overall, our dining experience at Manna Kitchen was nothing short of exceptional. Not only was the food outstanding, but the service was also top-notch. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about ensuring we had a memorable meal.

Whether you're a returning patron or visiting for the first time, I highly recommend Manna Kitchen. It's a culinary gem where every dish is crafted with care and precision, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience. We're already looking forward to our next visit!

FAMILY OWNED HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Damm i was so impressed with this place. They have great options and guess what everything was vegan.

We we’re welcome by the mother and daughter who run this place. They were very flexible with us placing the order and also helped us choose what we can order.

The time we went, they were in process of cleaning the dining area as they were closing for 2 hours break in afternoon.

We ordered CHIK-N-SANDWICH - it was good. It had fried chicken along with tomatoes and lettuce buffalo sauce.

We also ordered Panang Curry bowl - actually that was really really good. I so loved the taste that next time i will order that again.

On side we ordered some extra Fried Chik-N Wings.

I definitely recommend this place for the...

Been going to Manna since they opened. Here is the lowdown. The new chef they got however many months ago (maybe even longer) saved the restaraunt. Food was kind of bland before, more variety and better quality/flavor now. Smallish portions for the price. Sometimes I'll order something and I just go wow I payed 16 dollars for THAT?! Prices have understandably gone up due to economic environment..BUT the thing that gets me is they really skimp on the more expensive ingredients. I ordered a wild grain bowl a few weeks back. 95% of the bowl was arugula and maybe like a quarter cup of quinoa, if even that. Also, the past 3 times I've ordered the grain bowl, the only grain I received was quinoa when they list other ancient grains on the menu such as buckwheat and millet. Quite deceiving and disappointing to receive a tiny bit of quinoa and no other grains when it is literally called a "grain" bowl. Also, an extra $2 for a skimpy side of sauce! (Honey mustard, balsamic, barbeque etc)... Crazy...Anyways, they have AMAZING desserts. The recent changes to them have made them even better, their chocolate chip cookies are better than non vegan cookies and their cakes are moist and flavorful. Also, give the incredible lox bagel a try on their once a month brunch (unless it's been sold out extremely early like last time). Very disappointing when they only have it once a month and they prep a very limited amount. I understand they need to watch costs though and can't over prepare and waste food. I feel like they are on the brink of surviving, especially in these times, so you definitely should support them and give them your business as vegan restaurants in the suburbs are few and far in between and they definitely compete with vegan restaurants...