Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine

I wanted to visit this place since it was on WBEZ's "20 best things we ate around Chicago in 2024". I went on Sunday for brunch. I couldn't remember what item was on WBEZ's list (sloppy Joe) so I just went for the Sunday Brunch Special. I cannot remember the last time dining when the reality was so far from expectations. I guess I should have tried the sloppy Joe. The atmosphere was nice. Tables were dirty. The service was slow, messed up table deliveries, and not very pleasant.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 1

I contemplated sharing this but I thought it was necessary. Food is pretty good but they are TERRIBLE to their employees. I saw a male who was probably the manager berating a female employee. Idk what happened but nothing is worth speaking to a subordinate that way, especially where customers can hear. All employees look overworked & are probably underpaid & I wonder if they get adequate breaks. I can’t support a place that treats people that way. It brought the atmosphere way down for me & I was disappointed to experience that.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 3

Delicious! Highly recommend the jerk tofu salad. Cute small restaurant with good vibes

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I can not eat at a place where they treat their employees any how. There is always an different employee that “Doesn’t work there anymore” Which to me says a couple things about how they run their business. Reminds me of Karyn’s Raw always paying her employees late then act like it is the employee fault. If you do not have the money do not hire the people.

You get 1 Star for making Vegan food available in our neighborhood.

If they have it on the menu, try their Lions mane mushroom wrap. The sauce stood out, and the mushrooms were seasoned right.

The food at this place is SO NASTY ?.

Food: 1

Service: 1

THE! BEST! JERK TOFU I HAVE EVER HAD!! "Soulful" is truly the best word for Majani. You can taste the labor of Love in the food, and you can feel grounded and awed by the intentional decor in the space. I had the fried grits and the soul bowl (as well as a cupcake and a drink), but I look forward to exploring the entire menu over time as I'm confident there is extraordinary value in each offering. Customer service, presentation, and cleanliness were all exceptional as well. Plus free street parking with plenty of space (for those who can't parallel park like me!) was a pleasant surprise.

Vegetarian options: all VEGAN

Dietary restrictions: Everything is VEGAN, dairy-free and egg-free!

Parking: curbside parking on a one-way street with plenty of space

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Jerk Tofu Mac & Cheese Greens Candied Sweet Potatoes

Absolutely great food and excellent service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: BBQ Cauliflower

Food is delicious and healthy!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Taco Salad

Unique menu with lots of different items. Enjoyed the Fried Grits on my last visit. Cant wait to come back and try something else.
Vegetarian options are available

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Grits

Dietary restrictions: Great for those who eat halal

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: BBQ Cauliflower, Jerk Tofu Mac & Cheese Greens Candied Sweet Potatoes

This place has great food and good vibes!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ginger Lemonade, Jerk Tofu Mac & Cheese Greens Candied Sweet Potatoes

Baaaaaabbyyyy!!! That Bbq Cauliflower Soul Bowl Did. Not. Disappoint! ??

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We've recently shifted to a mostly plant-based diet, but living where we do, finding soul food that we adore is nearly impossible—unless I whip it up myself. I love soul food and I love to cook, but these days I focus on pouring soul into healthier choices for our family. This means digging deeper to find places to eat when we're out and about. I try to steer clear of meat substitutes, opting instead for fresh, creative plant-based meals. So, after a fun family outing, we decided to grab lunch at Majani. Let me just say, they did not disappoint!

We ordered two Bean and Rice Soul Bowls for my husband and I. They were serving up red beans that day, and I couldn't resist adding BBQ cauliflower to mine. We also treated ourselves to the fried grits appetizer. Every bite took me back home—seasonings so familiar, yet fresh and vibrant. You can tell they've put in the time to perfect each dish, honoring soul food traditions without leaning on meat. The fried grits? Oh wow. Creamy like you'd expect from grits in a bowl, but with a crispy outside that made it perfect as a stand-in for any dish that needs a little crunch. Hands down, my favorite!

I stole a bite of my daughter’s mac 'n cheese, and let me tell you—wow! The sauce was so close to any high-quality cheese sauce or béchamel, I had to double-check it was plant-based. And the pasta? Every inch of it packed with flavor—no sad, pale noodles here! Seriously, if you go, get the mac ‘n cheese! There is just something about it....

My husband swears the ginger lemonade cleared up his stomach issues before we even got home, and the sorrel was an equally bold and refreshing punch to our already flavorful meal.

What really blew me away wasn’t just the flavor, but the care they took in letting each ingredient shine on its own. No false representatives! The cauliflower wasn’t trying to be chicken, and the greens didn’t feel like they were missing something and topped with anything else to deflect from what was missing. Every dish was exactly what it was meant to be, with just enough culinary flair to keep it exciting and enough personality to make you wanna holla.

Honestly, it might be a blessing we don’t live closer to Majani because I’d probably stop cooking at home as much if we did! But for anyone who hasn’t been yet—go, like, now! I've been to enough vegan spots that focus more on marketing a mediocre dish rather than pouring love into the food. Majani nailed the "home cooking", health conscious, flavor, texture, presentation, and customer service. No terrible waits. No questionable reheated dishes. No disappointment what-so-ever. Safe to say, we’ll be back next time we’re in the neighborhood!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Cheese Grits

I've come here nearly a dozen times now. Every time I come in, i'm greeted by a friendly employee, they will make suggestions and are very helpful in answering any questions. Service is great, and it seems like the employees actually enjoy working there.

The food now is seriously delicious, they cook their mushrooms perfectly, which I find to be very hard to do. Comes out with a hearty meaty flavor, instead of slimy and flavorless. Good sized portions, definitely worth the money. Grits are amazing as an appetizer, do not skip out on those. The drinks pair perfectly with the food too. I have to come back for their desserts. This is one of, if not the best vegan restaurants in Chicago. I Will be back for years to come!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: French Toast, Fried Grits, Jerk Tofu Mac & Cheese Greens Candied Sweet Potatoes