Look here: I was born and raised in Chicago for a big majority of my life. The food in and around Chicago is famous and known worldwide. However... the recreations outside of that city are extremely rare, especially by local family owned businesses. Chicago Joes recreates two things: The looks and feels of home. The hot dog is actually an authentic Chicago dog, dragged thru the garden and with an actual poppy seed bun. The placards are like windows peering into the bustling city. The Italian Beef has the all flavors, and while it's not 100% BUT grandfathered in... it's still good! It's hard to re-create the recipes from home like Johnnie's Beef on Harlem or Buona Beef because they've been at it for generations! And then the flags and sports memorabilia hung around, even the Old Style beer one, remind you of the iconic stadiums throughout the city. Joe is very brave for bringing these dishes out here to the PNW. It's definitely a big responsibility for people from the 606 to bear. But I'm glad he's doing it and I'm going to keep supporting his business and enjoying some delicious, unique food. Thanks for the good times Joe! Hold the ketchup. read more

I was so hoping to love this place. A Chicago dog is one of my favorite treats! But I gotta be straight... unfortunately they have earned a low rating. Not only was the hot dog small for $7, it was completely soggy. It is almost as if they took the bun and dipped it in water, tried to steam it and then served it. And I have been to Chicago a number of times and eaten plenty of Chicago dogs. Bummer!!! Also got the combo sandwich to try that out as well and the sausage on that sandwich was gross. The bell pepper I think are from frozen because they also had no texture left and honestly really no flavor. And the bun was also completely soggy. I'm so bummed that they are not better. I know that I should go back to give them a second chance, but I don't think I can eat there again. read more

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Have been a few times now and it is always a hit! We love the mozzarella sticks and crinkle fries are just so delicious! The staff is always welcoming and accommodating with offering stickers and coloring stuff for our daughter while we wait. Great place to eat and enjoy family and friends with some yummy food and excellent service! read more

WHAT AN AWESOME PLACE !!!!! genuine Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches ! the dog was great ! the sandwich was really wet and it was great !!! this place is a treasure for Whatcom county !!!! I highly recommend you come here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

I am not familiar with Italian beef sandwiches, so I decided to give this store a visit. They also offer Chicago style hot dogs. The shop is in what was previously a BBQ place named, "Burnt Ends". The interior is clean and organized, with a walk-up counter to place your order. The staff was friendly and efficient. After ordering you receive a number and go find a table. When it is ready, your food is delivered to your table. I couldn't decide on the Italian beef or Italian sausage sandwich, so I ordered the combo sandwich which had both. You are also asked if you would like your sandwich, "wet" (added au jus poured on). I said, "yes". It was a good choice. The sandwich had a generous pile of very tasty slices of beef and an extremely tasty sausage. The sausage was unlike anything I have ever had. I liked it. My friend had a Chicago style hot dog. It also was proclaimed "very tasty". We were pleased with our orders and will likely return. read more

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Edit:.. After reading other reviews it seems others had a different experience from what I had below. Recommend employee training for the otherwise outstanding staff on consistency of presentation on key points of the Chicago Style experience. Hate to say this but maybe order a Portillo's Italian beef or Vienna beef hotdog kit. They have detailed instructions on how to experience Chicagos food at home with all the finite details. Back to the review.... I'm from Chicago so I had to check it out. It was good. $30 for a Italian beef sandwich, hotdog and a beer. Hotdog was a little over done. Italian beef "dipping" the entire sandwich in the beef juices is usually an option in the chicago area. Here it's done automatically. Giardiniera was also absent from the Italian beef sandwich. WAY too much bread. Rolls are usually smaller. Service was instantaneous. Engaged staff members. Beer was old or wrong temp. Not sure. Something was off. Warm glass? It's hotdogs and brew I guess. Atmosphere.... Can we iron the creases out of the new banners and flags? Otherwise I enjoyed the memorabilia throughout. Didn't see anything about Cubs winning the World Series or Harry Carey. Chicago fire? Anyways, still left happy! read more

Chicago Joe's - Dining room with wrinkly flags. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

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Our foodie dreams come true this place is amazing, my Sarah and I both had a Chicago dog which was AMAZING. Had the beef sandwich also with sweet & hot peppers and I'm definitely coming back to try a burger and combo sandwiche. Service was excellent.We met Joe fantastic guy, the beef is his dad's recipe past down. We definitely will be back and we're coming from Sedro Woolley read more

Chicago Joe's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

If you don't like the hotdogs here it's because you don't understand. The hotdogs here make all other hotdogs west of the Rockies insignificant. The service is good, the paraphernalia is spot on, the fries are inventive and yummy, but the Chicago style hotdogs are basically perfect, and if you don't like them, you're wrong. read more

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I'm from Ohio and very familiar with what Chicago dogs are and Joe's dogs are authentic! Not only Chicago dogs, they have wet beef my husband approved. Everything was tasty and servers and owners are friendly and great. read more

Chicago Joe's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

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Absolutely incredible find while up in Lynden. In an unsuspecting spot directly on the Guide Meridian, I discovered arguably the best sandwich spot in Whatcom County. The Italian beef sandwich was as legit as they come, and the owner was nice enough to talk to me about the process as he brought out my food. No words for how good the Italian beef sandwich is. It was perfect. 10/10. read more

Chicago Joe's - Lunch Special #1 - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

Stop by for a quick lunch after hearing Chicago Joe's being advertised on Kism 92.9 quick and friendly service The hotdog tasted good, but was not very hot kind of lukewarm. Will have to stop by and try some of the other items on the menu. read more

Chicago Joe's - ORIGINAL CHICAGO DOG with a side of mozzarella sticks - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

Absolutely go there!!!! I'll keep going back. The Chicago dog took me right back to the first time I had one in Chicago!!!! Full of flavor with the perfect ingredients. Fun atmosphere and great service. Clean and inviting!!! Do it. read more

I had a GF burger from the Underground and the SO had a Chicago beef. Mine was better. The girl working didn't mention that we had ordered the fries that weren't GF. Maybe the waffle one are but the crinkle ones looked battered. Womp womp. read more

Only true Chicago Dogs in the county. Menu has burgers, Italian beef sandwiches, Maxwell Street Polish sausages. Multiple wall hangings, sports flags, and photos to remind Chicagoans of home. Quick service and takeout. Worth the trip. read more

Chicago Joe's - Chicago style dog served on hot dog platform. Note poppy seed bun, natural casing, neon relish and sport peppers. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

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Everything on their menu is mouth watering! Joe and his staff are always friendly and accommodating! I have never been disappointed EVER! Our friend who used to live in Chicago considers this place a little piece of heaven to remind her of home! They've done an incredible job bringing a genuine Chicago eats experience to our little town! Highly recommend, you won't regret it! read more

As someone who grew up in the South Side of Chicago I was thrilled to find a place in the PNW that made an authentic Chicago dog-Vienna All Beef dog, neon green relish, onions, tomatoes, pickle spear, sport peppers, celery salt on a steamed poppy seed bun (not soggy as someone else said). Mustard no ketchup!!! This was the real deal. I'll definitely return to have the Italian beef sandwich. They will even dip it if you ask just like Al's on Taylor street. read more

Chicago Joe's - Chicago Joe's dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

Does anyone know what good food tastes like anymore? Stopped in and tried the Chicago Beef Sandwich which was all bun with little meat- see picture. The sandwich was tasteless meat with a mound of mushy green peppers. The bun hard on one end and soggy greasy on the other end. The meat had no flavor due to the overwhelming taste of parsley(?) in the au jus. The bill ?..... $18.46 WITHOUT a drink! read more

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Yes!!! A Chicago Dog that is just about as authentic as you can get outside of Chicago. Heard about this place and decided to check it out. I lived in Chicagoland for a few years and enjoyed all the local foods. Deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, and the Chicago Dog. I had the dogs today with crinkle fries and fry sauce. They put together a good Chicago Dog. The pickle relish had that particular shade of green we all love. They are a shade on the small side for the $6.99 price tag though. Two dollars less would have been more in the ballpark in my opinion. They were very good however the hot dogs themselves could have been hotter temperature wise. The buns too. Steamed buns would have been better. The gal at the counter was helpful and nice. Three Chicago dogs, onion rings, fries, two sodas plus tip was almost $50. You can't go anywhere these days for less. Oh no photos this time. I was too hungry. I will be back for more! read more

My family is from Chicago---Elmwood Park to be exact. I grew up near Fullerton and Harlem. I miss "home" everyday. Chicago Joes is amazing. Great vienna hotdogs---real Chicago hot dogs, excellent beef sandwiches. I understand how difficult it is to get the product out here and I am definitely willing pay for a piece of my home and childhood. Excellent food, excellent ambiance, GREAT OWNERS---extremely friendly. I hope they will be around a long time!!! read more

Total disappointment. The beef sandwich seriously lacked in flavor and quality to any of the better Chicago Italian beef joints I'm used to. Don't understand why they completely wrap the beef sandwich up in paper for dine in. Also, making the customer add the hot peppers themselves to the messy sandwich themselves by fingers from a small plastic cup comes across as an epic service failure. Should be served on the sandwich unless requested otherwise. No option is given to order crinkle fries without the weird seasoning I dont want or need, which strays even further from a good traditional Chicago sandwich experience. Gave a $2+ tip pressured by the display pad for a single beef sandwich, and they still forgot my requested side pickles. When I asked for them, I regretted it, as they were miniscule slices, slumped over, and hanging over the rim of another plastic condiments cup. That brings the count to two plastic cups wasted for serving a single medicore sandwich. The atmosphere was the only thing that really impressed me, and I guess kudos for brewing their own iced tea. I'll skip a repeat visit. I just didn't enjoy the taste and get what I was looking for. This meal was also far inferior to the Italian beef sandwiches I make at home, from superior Italian beef kits you can ship across the country from Chicago. I give two stars for trying to bring Chicago foods to Washington State, but no more because it was a waste of money and a meal experience, very unsatisfying, and lacking soul. I'll seek a snack elsewhere to forget about this sad meal. read more

Great food and great service! I love the atmosphere and ambiance of the restaurant, with their homage to Chicago, from photos to the dogs, you can't go wrong. read more

Amazing food! If you're tired of the same ol' same ol', Chicago Joe's is just the ticket. Italian beef sandwiches (ask for it wet), Chicago style hotdogs and more! Step into the restaurant and be transported to The Windy City- from the food to the decor- Joe really knows how to take you to Chicago! They also have an Underground Burger grill- so no matter what you're craving, there's something for the whole family. read more

The previous review by Oscar can only be beat by the delicious and messy Italian beef sandwich. So savory and seasoned it must be tried. Having lived north of Chicago for nearly 20 years, Chicago Joes offers a homecoming. read more

The food is so good! I have a hard time choosing between the beef sandwich and sausage sandwich. Make sure you get it "wet" with the spicy peppers! Joe is a great guy and cares about making sure his customer are happy. read more

We didn't think that we were going to get such small hot dogs. Unfortunately the price is too high to justify for us, and the restaurant was very warm inside. I think in order to improve, Chicago Joe's could make their sides fresh instead of from frozen, and either lower the price or provide larger dogs. read more

I want to start off saying that service was wonderful and food was ok for what we got. However, the "italian beef" sandwich is not what I consider Italian beef. See Portillos for a baseline of what italian beef should be. What I got was ok sliced beef with beef gravy (a la Salisbury steak) on a fairly good roll. I was very disappointed as I recently moved to the area after being a lifelong resident of NE Illinois. A good italian beef sandwich is something I dearly miss and am having a lot of difficulty finding close by. I really wish this place all the luck in the world but I had to put out this warning that if you're from the Chicago area and you're looking for an italian beef like Portillos, this place does not serve it. read more

Sweet Home Chicago!! Joe and Robin are doing things the right way in Lynden. The Italian beef sandwich is spot on. A very large sandwich comes with a generous amount of beef and roasted sweet peppers. Add the hot giardiniera for my favorite beef order. Always get extra gravy, either on the side or "wet", where the entire sandwich is briefly dipped into the gravy to create a fantastic "mess". The beef itself is tender and sliced very thin with the right amount of seasoning. For an extra treat add the Italian sausage to the order to make it a combo. The Chicago dog is properly "dragged thru the garden" with all of the correct toppings including the steamed poppy seed bun. The all beef dog had the proper snap to the casing when bitten into. I had the waffle fries and a soft drink but the beer taps are running so next time I'll make it a dog and a beer. I hear that a Maxwell Street Polish w/ grilled onions is being added to the menu soon and that is the kind of expansion I'm in favor of. It is so great that we now have a beef stand right here in Whatcom Co. read more

Great food, great people, great place..... and even when im in a hurry i skip the drive thru's and grab a burger to go from them and its not a dinky lil burger like everyone else has these days..... read more

The food here is top notch. Any item you chose on the menu is going to melt your mouth. The flavor, the proper moisture to your items. Fresh and hot food. And the amazing real fries and onion rings. They chose the best. The service is wonderful from beginning to get. Each worked is super friendly and the owners are amazing. They strive to be the best. read more

Such a hidden gem! The food was delicious. The Chicago dog was a true Vienna beef dog, tasted like butter. We got a chance to meet the owner Joe and he was such a sweet guy. His customer service was great! Made you feel like home. We will definitely be coming back here. read more

"Exceptional experience at Chicago Joe's/Underground Burger! The service, especially from our server Hope, was outstanding. Delicious food, great atmosphere, and top-notch hospitality. Highly recommend! #ChicagoJoes #UndergroundBurger #CustomerService" read more

Not Portillo's, but nothing beats Portillo's. That said, very tasty and huge. Glad to know I have somewhere to go for an Italian beef and hotdog for the bears game. read more

i got the italian beef sandwich, a chili dog, and mozz sticks. the hot dog was not my style, but the chili was amazing! the sandwich, though, that was sublime. i told my partner i would save him half, but a quarter was all i could part with emotionally lmao. everyone was so nice, the food was so damn good, and the music was awesome. read more

Chicago Joe's - i got the italian beef sandwich, chili dog, and mozz sticks - Hot Dogs Near Me - Lynden, Washington

The service is great. Everyone is so friendly. Love their shakes, burgers and fries.