How times have changed.
Uptown’s Kal’ish Vegan (1313 W. Wilson Ave.; KalishVegan.com), a fast-casual establishment, has shown the strides made regarding the cuisine. I wasn’t sure what to expect upon entering Kal’ish—but was more than satisfied when I left.
As anyone who’s tried vegan fare knows, finding the right taste and even textures can be tricky endeavors. However, co-owners Andy and Gina Kalish (the names being a nice coincidence with “kale-ish”) have done a nice job finding the right meat-like protein substitutes for popular dishes. (Unfortunately, I went there before the Mexican dishes were unveiled—but I can’t wait to return to try the “fish tacos” that actually employ hearts of palm.)
The K and G burgers are the basics here (with the latter being a gluten- and nut-free garden patty), but there are additional items like the Bad Adz Burger (K Burger and bacon, cheese, beet-root mayo, etc.) and the Woodland Burger (K or G Burger with griddle mushroom, onion and provolone, sounding like the earthiest sandwich ever).
My dining companion and I certainly liked the K Burger—but the sandwich known as the Avocado Mash-Up was my absolute favorite item there. It’s a delightful mix of avocado mash, leafy greens, radish, red onion, peppadew relish and house ricotta. The clucker crisps (vegan takes on chicken nuggets and sandwiches) were also pretty tasty, even if my palate pushed me to the plain ones instead of the buffalo-style items.
Kal’ish also offers dessert items (such as a memorable apple pop tart) as well as all-day breakfast items. The spot also has Sunday brunch, with offerings such as chorizo quesadillas and French toast.
It’s almost enough to make me consider relinquishing meat—almost.
Note: Restaurant profiles/events are based on invitations arranged from restaurants and/or firms.