Earth Day | Chicago | Mediterranean

With Earth Day observed on April 22, what tastier way to celebrate than to bite into an earth-friendly veggie burger? Chefs in the Windy City have elevated grass-fed’s once-ugly stepsister to Shake Shack status. Here are five spots in and around Chicago to go veg:

Atwood Café
Goat cheese, roasted-fig honey aioli and mixed greens give this wild mushroom burger a Batali-esque twist. 1 W. Washington St., (312) 368-1900, www.atwoodcafe.com

DMK Burger Bar
The house veggie-and-grain burger offers an Americanized Mediterranean approach: It’s topped with aged ­cheddar, eggplant, tomato and pesto mayo. 2954 N. Sheffield Ave., (773) 360-8686, www.dmkburgerbar.com

Jerry’s
The patty — handmade with black and white beans, barley, grains, oats and an egg (to hold it all together) — is sandwiched between a scooped-out multigrain bun to eliminate unnecessary calories and carbs. We like adding melted cheese and avocado to ours. 507 Chestnut St., Winnetka, (847) 441-0134, www.cornercooks.com

Luxbar
This is a traditional burger made with brown basmati rice, veggies and cashews, all resting comfortably on a — what else? — sesame-seed bun. 18 E. Bellevue Place, (312) 642-3400, www.luxbar.com