Visited 04/01/2023
An Honest Review: IM Vegan... we came to try your food much too late! The day we decided to finally stop by this well-known vegan gem, we met the owner who, while running the kitchen, was also in the middle of closing the restaurant for good. She explained that she had pain in her hand and arm, and operating this wonderful place was just becoming too much for her. We ordered our food- what we knew would be our last chance at getting a taste of this highly-coveted food. While we waited, another patron walked in for a pick-up order, and he explained to us how he just found IM Vegan with his wife a few weeks ago. He shared his sentiments of disappointment with us, because the food is so good! In a way, even before trying IM Vegan's food, I knew that I would soon share his feelings in a more personal way. As he walked out with his food, and we sat waiting for ours, I contemplated putting IM Vegan in this online blogging space- Nomad Vegan Blog. After some thought, I decided that I had to make a post for a few reasons:
To let the owner know, while she is healing and relaxing, how TALENTED of a vegan chef she is!
To hopefully inspire some other Thai/Asian chefs to open their own vegan restaurants.
To spread awareness of the possibilities of vegan food and vegan small businesses- because there may be a place that is near you that may need your love and support to keep running healthily!
To remind others to be extremely kind to humans who own/run/work in restaurants. It is hard work that takes a toll on the body!
To let the world know that amazing vegan food like the food pictured above CAN exist.
The food photos are too good to waste!
Now, onto the food itself! We ordered two Thai Iced Teas, Chive Dumplings, Veggie Dumplings, Corn Fritters, Pad Thai with Chick'n, and Spicy Mushroom with vegan duck. Every single item was a 10/10. After we got our food, we ran back to my car and ate the food while it was hot! Oh my goodness- this was some of the best Thai I have had. As a vegan, I have had a lot of Thai. Experiencing Thai food that is 100% vegan was such a treat. It brought me peace of mind, and a happy mouth and stomach. The appetizers were phenomenal- the consistency of the dough being perfect for each item, and the sauces being exquisitely mixed and flavored. We were in flavor town! The Chive Dumplings were particularly impressive- being soft, chewy, crispy on the outside, and savory fresh in the middle. I was in love! The main dishes we tried were also fantastic. The vegan duck was exceptionally crafted- even with "skin" mimicking the bumps on bird skin. It was wild to eat vegan meat that was so soft, tender, and realistic. The sauces in the dishes brought us both back to authentic flavors from our childhood- the food perfectly capturing the best kind of Asian take-out flavor. Rich, savory, sweet in the right places. All of the veggies were cooked well, and the noodles in the Pad Thai were cooked perfectly. To top off all of the goodness, the Thai Iced Teas were also very tasty. Each sip transported me to a happy and sweet place. Really, everything was so fantastic, and there was so much more that we wanted to try. Perhaps, if IM Vegan ever re-opens, we will have the chance.
Thank you, IM Vegan, and please sell your dumplings online or somewhere else.
If you feel like it, you can go check out their website- while it is still up!
http://imveganchicago.com/
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