Vegan Fare at Kramer's Health Foods

Kramer's Corner Vegetarian Cafe

Kramer's Health Foods is located right off of the Adams&Wabash stop on the brown-line. Advertised as a vegetarian cafe, this health foods store has just about everything for those who are accustomed to a dietary restrictive diet. From vegan cookies to probiotic teas, Kramer's is a staple to get some exotic specialty grocery items. Having shopped at Kramer's in the past, the cafe upstairs never caught my attention. As it has gained more notoriety in the past year, Megan and I wanted to see what the hype was all about. On our usual Monday lunch date between classes at the Loop, Megan and I made our way up to the second floor cafe in Kramers. The small, vibrantly colored upstairs space seemed like the perfect study-vibe atmosphere for working professionals and students alike. The extensive menu of vegan/vegetarian fare ranged from falafel sandwiches, veggie burritos, and the soup of the day to the large freshly made juices. There is plenty to choose from and a must try foodie experience! 

Kung Pao Tofu Special ($6.99)

Not the prettiest of presentations (I am still attempting to master the art of foodie photography), but this dish definitely was full of kung PAO! Tofu always kind of seemed really bland to me in the past, but this tofu was well marinated in the spicy teriyaki sauce. Sitting atop brown rice, the mixture of veggies, peanuts, and tofu was a hearty afternoon lunch that was dirt cheap compared to the portion size! This Monday afternoon special at Kramer's Corner is without a doubt a must have! 

Megan's Vegan Reuben Sandwich ($6.99)

For my special Monday lunch treat, I decided to go with Kramer's vegan reuben sandwich. You have the option to have regular cheese or vegan cheeze, so I decided to go all-out and get the vegan cheeze. As a girl of German heritage, I very much enjoy reubens and have had many in my day. That being said, this was the best reuben sandwich I have ever had. One of my biggest complaints about reubens is that they are often far too overloaded and messy. I had one recently at a diner that was so packed with corned beef that I ended up having to eat it open-face with a fork! This reuben, however, was perfect. There was the perfect amount of vegan "meat," sauerkraut, and cheeze without the sandwich being too messy. It didn't fall apart at all and all of the flavors really balanced out. I especially enjoyed the sauerkraut, which was perfectly tangy. I definitely have to give Kramer's a thumbs up for pricing, too. With the health craze recently, most vegan fare is extremely expensive (a trip to Native Foods usually costs me around $20). This sandwich was only $7, and they even have lunch deals where you can get a sandwich, soup, and small juice for $7! A total steal. If you're in the loop (particularly a DePaul student around CDM) I highly recommend checking out this hidden gem.