Sustainable Restaurants

We're striving to support and highlight local restaurants that are going above and beyond with their sustainable practices! We’re also working to educate and guide restaurant owners interested in incorporating more sustainable practices into their business.

Most Sustainable Restaurant List

These restaurants are going above and beyond in terms of their sustainable practices. Our selection is based on a survey that asked detailed questions about what types of disposable containers they use, whether customers can bring their own containers for to-go orders, use of utensils and straws, recycling, composting, food rescue efforts, and more. Please note that this survey was not sent to all restaurants in Chicago, and we invite additional foodservice establishments to fill out the form at the bottom of the page if they would like to take the survey. We will never announce or shame a restaurant for not making the “Most Sustainable” list. We seek to highlight the positive, not call out the negative.

Another way to fight food waste is to download the Too Good To Go App. It allows you to buy restaurant meals, foodservice items, and groceries at a discounted price so they don't end up in the trash!

What is Polystyrene?

Styrofoam, or polystyrene foam, is a #6 plastic. It is made from petroleum, is not recyclable in curbside bins, will never biodegrade, and is listed as a probable carcinogen by the WHO. Chicago Environmentalists strongly supports a polystyrene ban for Chicago, and the state of Illinois. (For more information on Styrofoam and other single-use plastics bans, visit this link.) Below is a list of restaurants that do not use to-go containers made of polystyrene foam and have little to no use of other #6 plastics. A few notes first though:

  • All restaurants on this list have been contacted via Facebook, email, or phone, and all confirmed restaurants have responded to the best of their knowledge. That said, it is POSSIBLE that restaurant staff could have erred in their answers, especially around #6 plastic clamshells that many people assume are recyclable. If you order from any of these restaurants and receive any polystyrene containers, please message us privately and let us know. We will never shame a restaurant for changing their container usage - we seek to highlight the positive, not call out the negative, so we will simply check for ourselves and remove them from the list if needed.

  • For anyone who composts or uses a composting service - unless the notes state that the item is BPI certified, we do not have confirmation that it is. Please confirm your composting service’s requirements before submitting any containers to them.

 

Polystyrene-Free Restaurants By Neighborhood

  • Kale My Name - No styrofoam or plastic, only sustainably sourced paper containers with poly coating

  • Big Jones - Kraft paper boxes and bags, paper cups, foil containers

    Jerry's Sandwich Shop - Kraft paper boxes, recyclable plastic souffle cups

    Jin Thai - Plastic containers w black bottoms

    Kopi - Kraft paper boxes and compostable, tree-free containers

    Oda Mediterranean - Kraft Paper Boxes

    Pick Me Up Cafe - Aluminum or recycled plastic containers

    Taste of Heaven Bakery - Kraft Boxes

    Uvae - Kraft brown paper boxes for cold food and aluminum foil containers for hot food

  • Blue Food Company - Compostable bowls

    Honey Butter Fried Chicken - Paper boxes, aluminum trays, paper wraps, and recyclable plastics.Some containers are compostable.

    Mi Tocaya Antojeria - Aluminum, Reusable plastic containers, some recycled materials

    Sfera - Plant based plastics and recyclable plastic containers

    The Avondale Tap - Kraft Paper Boxes and Bags

  • Antique Taco - Compostable containers, aluminum trays or rounds, recyclable plastics. Recyclable plastic lids

    Stix n Brix - Cardboard pizza boxes, aluminum containers

  • Amaru Restaurant - Paper Boxes, Paper bags, plastic ramekins, recyclable plastic cups. Recyclable plastic lids.

    Mable's Table - Reusable Plastic (Recyclable), Some Foil containers

  • Rewired - Cardboard pizza boxes, Kraft paper boxes

    Soupbox - Paper Products

    Wood - Plastic Containers (recyclable and reusable)

    Wrigley BBQ - Recycled Plastics (also recyclable)

  • Alice & Friends Vegan - Kraft paper boxes, bamboo fiber boxes, paper wrap. Some items compostable. Recyclable plastic cups, wax lined paper cups

    Beard and Belly - Kraft paper boxes (made of 100% recycled paper)

    Indie Cafe - Deli plastic containers (reusable and recyclable)

  • Diana's - Cardboard boxes, aluminum trays, paper wraps, Kraft paper bags. All lids and some containers are compostable.

  • Nile Restaurant - Aluminum and recyclable plastic containers

    Plein Air Cafe - Kraft paper boxes, recyclable plastic drink cups

    The Little Pickle - Mainly use paper-based packaging. They only sell drinks in glass or aluminum. The lids to their side containers, sauce cups, and cutlery are compostable* bioplastics. (*industrial only)

  • Angelo's Wine Bar - Plastic Containers (reusable), cardboard boxes

    Bistro 6050 - Recyclable paper containers

    Churro Waffle - Aluminum Containers

    JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop - Kraft paper boxes, compostable soup containers, paper wrap without coating, recyclable plastic containers

    Raisu Japanese - Paper Boxes, Plastic Platters for large orders (recyclable)

    Twisted Hippo - Mainly Aluminum and Compostable Cardboard Containers, Plastic for salads and sauces

  • Brown Bag Seafood Co. - Paper Bottoms, Plastic Recyclable Tops (50% recycled plastic)

    Farm Bar - Plastic containers (recyclable)

    Maison Parisienne - Paper boxes and bags

    Southern France Patisserie - Paper Boxes, Waxed Paper

  • Pasta Plazzo - Aluminum and paper-based containers

    Racine Plumbing - Cardboard, aluminum, some recyclable plastic

    Range - Kraft paper boxes

    Urban Nomads - Kraft Boxes, chopsticks

  • Bistro Campagne - Paper-based containers

    Due Lire - Foil Containers

    Hoosier Mama Pie Co - Recyclable plastic, aluminum, paper coffee cups. Cold cups and all lids are compostable.

    The Eco Cafe - Bring your own container (BYOC) or borrow a reusable cup and return it when finished.

  • Lotus Banh Mi - Brown EcoCraft wax papers, compostable bowls and recyclable plastic lids, kraft paper boxes, aluminum containers, recyclable plastic cups

  • Big Kids - Paper and other biodegradable materials

    Bungalow by Middle Brow - Compostable paper bowls, plastic containers for grocery orders (reusable/recyclable)

    Daisies - Paper boxes, tins for big meal orders

    DMen tap - Recycled plastic, compostable paper

    Dos Urban Cantina - Mostly compostable paper containers

    Gretel - Plastic (recyclable), Aluminum, and Paper boxes

    Landbirds - Kraft boxes

    Lula Cafe - Mostly compostable fiber containers, some aluminum and paper containers

    Mini Mott - Paper boxes/bowls, some made from recycled paper, some recyclable or compostable, recyclable plastic for sauces, recyclable plastic lids. Recyclable plastic cups.

    Necessary and Sufficient Coffee - Compostable cups, recyclable plastics

    Reno - Paper-based containers

    Wyler Road - Paper boxes- compostable and made from recycled materials

  • Botanical Cafe - Compostable hot cups, recyclable cold cups, Kraft paper boxes, paper deli wraps, recycled paper bags

  • Taco Nano - Foil

  • OI Brewing - Cardboard containers

  • Wild Taco - Compostable containers, recyclable plastic cups

  • Honky Tonk BBQ - Cardboard boxes, unlined paper boxes (recyclable), paper cups

    Pleasant House - Sauce cups are recyclable plastic and all other materials are paper

    Simone's - BPI compostable containers, Cardboard Boxes, paper boxes, recyclable plastics

  • Bad Apple - Paper-based clamshell

    Spacca Napoli - Cardboard pizza boxes, reusable plastic containers, kraft paper boxes, paper food cups, paper bags, BPI certified compostable clamshells and PLA cups

    Spoken Cafe - completely compostable for all disposables. Paper with plant based "wax" liners for cups.

    The Rambler Kitchen +Tap - Kraft Paper boxes

    Wolcott Tap - Kraft paper boxes and paper bags

  • Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill - mostly compostable paper products, recyclable paper, and plastic

  • Beans and Bagels - Cardboard boxes without any waxy/plastic coating, paper boxes. 100% plastic free business.

  • SmackDab - Aluminum tins and/or compostable paper products, foil wrappers

  • John's Place - Aluminum Foil, Paper, and Plastic Containers

  • Burger Point - Kraft Paper Boxes

    Half Sour - BPI compostable clamshell, recyclable/reusable plastic deli container, Kraft paper boxes, aluminum for catering

    The Spoke and Bird - Containers are made of: sugarcane, aluminium, paper, potato & vegetable starch. Some items are made from recycled materials.

  • Brightwok Kitchen - Fiber compostable bowls, reusable/recyclable plastics. Compostable cups.

    Rustle + Roux - All compostable containers (industrial only)

  • Joey G's - Aluminum tins

  • Munno - Kraft containers, aluminum for baked goods

  • Cozy Noodle - Reusable Plastic (Recyclable), paper chinese takeout boxes

    Two Hearted Queen Coffee House - Paper cups, recyclable lids, sleeves, and bags

  • Cruz Blanca - Recyclable plastic and compostable containers

  • Big Delicious Planet - Mostly BPI Certified compostable containers and cups

    Hoosier Mama Pie Co - Recyclable plastic, aluminum, compostable coffee cups, hot cup lids, cold cups and lids are all compostable

    Hummus N' Grill - Paper bags, foil, and compostable containers

  • Bloom Vegetarian Kitchen - Paper Boxes, Paper bags, plastic ramekins

    Hash - Recycled Kraft paper boxes

    Machine: Engineered Dining - Plastic containers (reusable but not recyclable)

    The Perch - Paper boxes and biodegradable plastic-like material

  • 5411 Empanadas - Paper bags and cardboard

    Farmer's Fridge - Recyclable plastic jars

    Foxtrot Market - recyclable plastic and compostable containers

    Hannah's Bretzel - Recyclable paper wraps, compostable bowls

    Lucy's - Boxes (not compostable)

    Nori Sushi - Foil Containers with plastic tops

    Panera - Recyclable plastic and paper-based containers

    Parson's - Kraft paper boxes

    Pockets - Paper-Based Containers

    Roti - Compostable Bottoms and recyclable plastic tops

    Shake Shack - Cups are compostable, other containers are recyclable

    Sweet Green - Cardboard containers with cardboard or plastic lids, paper bags

    Whole Foods - Kraft paper boxes, recyclable plastic containers

  • Tasting India - compostable Thali trays (optional for orders), as well as other compostable food containers

  • Limon y Sal - Recyclable plastic deli containers, paper bags

If there’s a Chicago restaurant that you believe is polystyrene-free, please contact an owner or manager and have them fill out the form below. We only add restaurants to the list after confirming with management or an owner that they in fact do not use Styrofoam or other #6 plastic containers.

Are you a restaurant owner or manager who does not use any polystyrene products or would like to receive our sustainability survey? If so, please fill out this form.