Side salads may be the endless plight of vegetarians everywhere, but there is good news: searching for a meat-free brunch in Chicago need not be as daunting as sitting through a certain 1993 romantic comedy with a premise so ridiculous even Kim Basinger it turned down.

Hate Meg Ryan; love French toast

While there’s no doubt the city has come down with a case of Offal Fever, eating veggies is never out of style. In celebration of National Vegetarian Day (Oct. 1), Chicago Brunch Blog brings you a list of venues that steer away from red meat.

Ina’s
(1235 W. Randolph St.; 312.226.8227)
Okay, okay. Since you seem pretty chill, I’ll let you in on a secret. So, like, I’ve got the hook up in Fulton Market. Real sweet place with the dopest hash: two poached eggs, potatoes, yams, com, mushrooms, eggplant, brussels sprouts, onions, and garlic.  She’s a running a clean business here, so try not to arrive all fucked up. Brunch served Sat. and Sun. 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Chicago Diner
(3411 N. Halsted Ave.; 773.935.6696)
Meatless as it may be, Chicago Diner is still a greasy spoon. So, when you eat shit like a browniegasm shake, it might not have an egg, but it still hits the honches. Know what I mean? On the plus side, you’ll still have half the guilt of regular folks while chowing down on your ethically considerate biscuits and gravy. Brunch served Sat. & Sun. 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Karyn is totally raw

Karyn’s Raw
(1901 N. Halsted St.; 312.255.1590)
I am so not buying into this fountain of youth hootenanny, but seriously how old is Karyn Calabrese? Sources say the health vixen is 60-something and loving it, which totally depresses the fuck out of this used up 20-something. If you didn’t go down the path of ecstasy to the palace of premature aging or simply want to preserve what’s left of your withering looks, Karyn’s has an all-you-can-eat raw brunch buffet for the holistic at heart. Natural living doesn’t run cheap at $29.95 per person, so make sure to load up on fresh carrot juice, samosas and quiche. Brunch served Sunday 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Flying Saucer
(1123 N. California Ave.; 773.342.9076)
Tofu, lentils and seitan — oh my! Down home comfort food that won’t send your wallet into a black hole, be on the look out for out-of-this-world dishes such as tofu and sweet potato hash with organic kale or the Flying Breakfast Bowl: brown rice topped with black beans, two eggs chihuahua cheese, sour cream and pico de gallo served with warm corn tortillas. Brunch served daily 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Earwax Cafe
(1561 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773.772.4019)
A ballsy move to roll with such an unappetizing name, but the resident cafe continues strong with its veggie-friendly menu that has become a neighborhood favorite. Earwax offers a number of vegetarian and vegan options, from vegan banana walnut pancakes and tofu benedicts to huevos rancheros with seitan chorizo. Brunch served Mon.-Thu. 9:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.;  Fri.-Sun. 8:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m.

Green Zebra
(1460 W. Chicago Ave.; 312.243.7100)
Just because a dish is sans sausage doesn’t mean it has to lack flavor as well. Leave it to James Beard veteran, Shawn McClain, to get wild in the kitchen for Green Zebra’s Sunday brunch. The restaurant is completely vegetarian with a focus on seasonal, local ingredients for dishes like caramelized banana crepes with ricotta and honey or Anson Mills grits and greens. Determining edible options is the easy part; narrowing down an entrée is a whole other story. Brunch served Sunday 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Make a reservation

Handlebar
(2311 W. North Ave.; 773.384.9546)
If you’re comfortable with chancing a wait for the consistently awkward service at this hipster-run, Wicker Park restaurant, you just might land yourself a decent vegan brunch. A good chunk of the menu can be made vegan, including French toast, Huevos Diablos and the house breakfast burrito. Hop on that fixed gear and shake out that hangover, you’ll be in good company. Brunch served Sat. & Sun. 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Victory’s Banner
(2100 W. Roscoe; 773.665.0227)
Total meat-free worry, the popular Roscoe Village brunch spot offers a number of egg-less, tofu and meat replacers for their eclectic blend of Indian and American menu items such as curry omelets or apple pecan oat bran pancakes. A true victory for vegetarians. Brunch served Wed.-Mon. 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

— Carly Fisher