Three things make up a quintessential Chicago-style pizza: a thick, pie-like, deep-dish crust, a rich, chunky, fresh tomato sauce, and a heck of a lot of gooey mozzarella cheese. None are negotiable, but with the latter, there is a little wiggle room. Mozzarella doesn’t have to be made traditionally—in fact, it’s arguably even better when it’s made with plants. Below, we’ve gathered three top spots for vegan cheese in Chicago, offering everything from dairy-free mozzarella (perfect for pizza!) to feta and gouda.
What is Chicago’s favorite food? Hint: it probably involves cheese
If you’re a resident, or you’re visiting, you’ll know that Illinois’ most populous city is renowned for many things, including the beaches on Lake Michigan, the impressive public parks, and, of course, the pizza.
Created in the 1940s, the iconic deep-dish pizza is thick, indulgent, gooey, and satisfying. It’s more like a pie than the traditional Italian version of the dish, but it’s a hit across the city (and, indeed, the rest of the country). In 2023, one survey from Mashed found that while most Americans vote New York pizza as their absolute favorite, Chicago pizza comes in a close second.
Connoisseurus Veg
One of the biggest components of the dish is, of course, the mozzarella cheese. The mozzarella is usually placed directly on the dough, forming a thick, gooey layer that helps prevent the crust from becoming soggy when the other ingredients are added on top. If you want to make it from scratch, you can find a vegan recipe for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza here (we recommend using one of the vegan cheeses below!).
Pizza isn’t the only Chicago dish that’s loaded up with cheese. Italian Beef Sandwiches, another Illinois classic, are usually served with mozzarella or provolone, and Jibarito sandwiches can often include cheese, too.
Cheeze & Thank You
These dishes are, of course, loaded with animal ingredients. But we have good news: there are plenty of plant-based eateries and brands in Chicago serving up delicious versions made with plant-based ingredients, including dairy-free cheese.
Where to find the best vegan cheese in Chicago
Find the best spots for vegan cheese in the Windy City below.
Cheeze & Thank You
1 Cheeze & Thank You
If you want to indulge in vegan versions of Chicago classics, including pizza and thick, juicy sandwiches, you need to follow Cheeze & Thank You on social media. The Chicago-based plant-based cheese brand regularly posts about where to find delicious Italian sandwiches made with its signature vegan cheeses on Instagram. For example, if you’re hoping to sample a Chicago Style Hotdog Scaccia (and who wouldn’t be?), you need to head to Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen at Guild Row in Avondale.
Not in the area? You can order Cheeze & Thank You’s products online from platforms like Vegan Essentials. Popular varieties include Black Garlic Truffle Fontina, Mustard Seed Smoked Gouda, Herbed Feta, and Mozzarella Capri, all of which are made with plant-based ingredients like organic soy milk and organic tofu.
Find it here
Teese Vegan
2 Teese Vegan
Created by Chicago Vegan Foods, the same company that manufactures Dandies Vegan Marshmallows and Temptation Vegan Soft Serve and Ice Cream, Teese Vegan specializes in dairy-free cheese. You can find its gooey, melty dairy-free mozzarella, which is made from ingredients like coconut oil and pea protein, in pizzerias and diners across Chicago.
Head to Dimo’s Pizza, for example, for a vegan Hawaiian pizza made with Upton’s seitan, red onions, mozzarella Teese, BBQ sauce, and pineapple, or to the vegetarian eatery The Chicago Diner for a Portabella Truffle Melt. The latter comes with marinated mushrooms, arugula, tomato, onion, white truffle aioli, and Teese mozzarella.
You can also bulk order Teese Vegan cheeses, including its Nacho Cheese flavor and Creamy Cheddar, from Vegan Essentials.
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Fancy Plants Cafe
3 Fancy Plants Cafe
Fancy Plants Cafe is a popular vegan destination in Chicago, and for good reason. The 100-percent plant-based eatery serves everything from gluten-free pastries to hearty soups, to filling breakfast sandwiches every day from 8am until 4pm. If you’re on the lookout for something cheesy, check out its Loaded Nut + Seed Bread which is served with house cashew cream cheese and fresh vegetables, or the Lox Bagel, which also comes with cashew cheese and carrot lox.
Other super cheesy menu items include the NY Style Bagel, Greek Spinach Pie, Smoked Lentil Lasagna, and flatbread pizzas made with cashew mozzarella.
Last month, the cafe announced it would be hosting vegan cheesemaking classes to teach people how to make its dairy-free cheeses, including almond feta and cashew burrata, from scratch.
Find it here
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
