We live out by Herscher, and we go shopping in town and stop for lunch here. It is AMAZING!!!!!!!! They have the best hotdogs in town.

There are so many things we love at Jaenicke's, we had to list them out!!! Sauce Buns Burgers Chili Cheese Dogs Cheese Fries Root Beer Floats BBQ Fries Pork Tenderloin Fried Pickles Almost everything you can get here is delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Four stars if for nothing but the root beer floats. The root beer here is amazing. I don't think they make the ice cream, but who cares, you could put a ball of butter in this root beer and I'd eat it. I got a chilli-cheese dog, also, but was disappointed. The chili mix was fine but the cheese was heavy and tasted way too much like velveeta. I'll go back for the root beer. read more

This is one of my "must have" stop every summer. I visit the area yearly from NC. Got to love coming home. My order: 1chilli/cheese dog 1 sauce bun small green river float. read more

Whoa, Nick from California - take a chill pill. Since you referred to the local patrons as "yokels" and felt the need suggest the staff was inbred I have to assume that they picked up on your attitude and that's why you got such unsatisfactory treatment. I hope for your sake you don't take that attitude everywhere you dine. Have you ever heard that its not a good idea to piss off the people who handle your food. I agree with the majority of the reviews - the food is good the nostalgia is extraordinary. This is a local institution. The River Street location in Kankakee is the one I grew up patronizing - Bourbonnais came years after I had moved away. It is rare that I get back for a red hot w/sauce, cheese & onions but when I do I savor every bite. Their diet root beer is the best I've ever had. read more

A bunch of friends and I drove down this way to watch the Chi - Bears training camp. As we gassed up the car across the street a friend of mine pointed this place out, so we decided to hit it up for a quick bite. I looked over the menu board but I saw no sign of a cheeseburger, so I ask the girl taking orders if they serve burgers. Apparently this "drive in" does not serve cheeseburgers, umm yeah. Here is my brief attempt in ordering. Rude girl: Ok you can order now? (wtf, kind of greeting is that) Me: Do you serve cheeseburgers. Rude girl: Whaaaaat Me: Cheeseburgers, do you have cheeseburgers? Rude girl: We don't have those...so (as she rolls her eyes)? My friends and I were all treated like crap. As we waited for our order we witnessed the employees treat people they knew (local yokels) with some civility while treating others like crap. Also, just by observing the peeps working at this dump you sense they are related x's 10. All of our food came out at the same time. Considering we ordered 4 orders of fries I requested extra ketchup. Airhead hands me 2 packets of generic no name ketchup and just proceeds to walk away. I wait for the other girl to finish up with a customer and ask for more ketchup, she unenthusiastically placed a couple more packets on the dirty counter and away she went yelling at the cooks. One packet for each order of fries and 2 hours later my stomach hurt. My friends had no stomach pains it must have been my italian beef. Another thing, anyone that has eaten an italian beef would know they are served with sweet or gardenia peppers. Well the geniuses here ask if you want mild or hot, so I ask airhead if mild = sweet peppers, she repeats mild or hot while rolling her eyes. I ordered mild, well they serve pepperoncini peppers as mild which is sacrilege. If you know italian beefs and have eaten them all over chicago like myself you are well aware that no one serves pepperoncini with an italian beef. Between the congenital staff, below average food and terrible service you could not pay me to visit this crap hole again. read more

I had to write after I saw Nick's horrible review. Obviously if everything isn't perfect because you don't understand what is it is specialize in a few amazing items, the place must to ruined for you. This place is an institution and is worth the 1.5 hour drive that many people make because it is that special. The sauce is amazing and a highly guarded and prized secret and I have never been disappointed. I truly recommend those who have had a "bad" experience to try it again without the reservations that a place has to have the most 5 start customer service when they are selling 2 dollar hot dogs at a walk up cash only place. Don't go here if you want health food, or if you expect to be highly catered to. Go if you want a great simple low cost meal surrounded by good people who want to enjoy the simple delicious pleasures like a great hot dog and a mug of root beer. read more

I know I will get a lot of hate for this 2 star review since this is a local institution but I think the food is terrible. The hot dogs taste like the cheapest selection you can find at a discount grocery store and their special sauce tastes like watered down sugar ketchup. My husband really likes it here, but I refuse to eat there. It could be that I am from Chicago and used to really good hot dogs, burgers, beef sandwiches and the like but I honestly don't see the draw to this place. I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1 though because the couple of times my husband has drove through with me in the car the service has been very pleasant and their prices are decent. read more

A weekend of wandering and stopping at non chain places. Can be fun and can be not fun. This place has all the ingredients to be a cool stop. Many options on food and outdoor seating. The problem is the service slow and well rude. We arrived and were waiting. It gets crowded. One of the gals opens another window and helps the next person in line. I moved over and waited for my turn. Well not happening here. She took the other order and closed the window. Um hello...Guess not. I moved back to other line and finally they took my order, but not before I heard can I help you. You guessed it the other window opened again and she helped two others that walked up. I am evidently invisible. Fine. Well we did get our food. I had a burger and it was good. Fries were decent. Will I return, doubtful. read more

Drove by this place many times, finally stopped in to give it a try. I was impressed, reminded me of when a was kid at the old drive ins. Very clean and Cute! But it all went down hill. Ordered 2 Italian Beefs to go with mild peppers (aren't those usually green peppers?) and mozzarella, the other just gardinera on the side. With fries. Beef was not good. So salty I ate half, and am on my 4th bottle of water to get rid of this craving to wash down all the salt. Not just me, hubby doing the same. Fries bland and not many, I just can't go back. I can't even give them a second chance. Sorry guys, Portillo's you are not. And it was 15$ for 2 beef sandwiches and one order of fries. read more

Wanted this place to be awesome! Old school "root beer stand" setup. Food not bad, but not great either. Had the Italian Beef, fries and a root beer. All pretty average. Maybe other menu choices would have been better? read more

We enjoy riding our bikes here for a evening bite, the food is of good quality for a Hot Dog stand, and the people are friendly. Service is prompt and the seating is all outside. read more

This place is an institution. While most people always get dogs or sauce buns, the corn dog nuggets are my favorite. Add a Green River and it's the ultimate comfort food, with a little trip down memory lane. read more

Until they change back to the buns sliced on the top I won't be back! Why would you change to regular hot dog buns?!! The sauce is not good anymore either. Way too sweet, not even close to what it used to be. I guess I'll have to check out the other jaenickes on river. Well I started going to the jeanickes in kankakee last year and once this year and it's GREAT! They use the buns cut on top and everything including the sauce tastes just like it did when I was a kid. I don't know who took over that place but they are doing it right! I will never come to this jeanickes again after trying the one in kankakee. To the reviewer complainig about never being charged the same price and not having a receipt at this jeanickes in bourbonnais I can tell you why. They have the employees write down the orders at a certain point towards the end of the night instead of using the registers. Then pocket all the tax free the cash and gives each employee a cut. Been doing it for years, ask anyone who has worked there. read more

Jaenicke's is definitely a Bourbonnais tradition. I could honestly eat and enjoy anything on the menu. However, some of my favorites include the mini beef with moz, fried Pickles, mini corn dog nuggets, sauce bun, and cheese fries. If you're not from the area, you may not understand Jaenicke's legacy. read more

I loved the chili dogs here growing up. I give it 4 stars for the good memories :-)

Truly the best beef and sausage combo I have ever had! It didn't last long enough for me to take a picture!

Best little hot dog stand around! Grab a cheese dog, fries and a Green River and you'll be set!

I'm a chili cheese hot w/onion kinda guy. Definatly worth a try!

First off the price. Today I went there got 4 sauce buns, 2 fries, 2 large Root Beers and an order of 10 corn dog nuggets. I figured I'd need at least $22 or $23...nope, less than $14. For $14 I thought I'd get some low grade bun, distasteful drink, and some packaged corn dog nuggets. In reality though it was pretty good. It reminded me of some places in Chicago I used to go to as a kid for only a few bucks for 1 person. I was told to get the sauce bun, so I ordered 2 for myself, and it was great. Something as simple as chili and cheese on a bun sounded so terrible and messy, but because of the way they make their buns it stays in there quite fine. The fries are "meh" at best. They're not presalted or anything, all they do it give you a salt packet, which I'm fine with, but even then the fries were super skinny. It can be best described as a good version of Steak N' Shake fries. The Root Beer is something I couldn't really decide how much I liked it. It was different, but I felt like I was drinking Root Beer that didn't taste quite right. It tasted like there was something taking away the flavor a little bit too much. I've been told they make their own, so that might explain it. Even my friend who has gone there for years said that it didn't taste right either. The Corn Dog Nuggets looked like Pretzel Bread, and I got a little excited. After 1 bite though I was disappointed that it wasn't pretzel bread. It was still quite decent though, and I haven't been to a place that has corn dog nuggets since I was a kid. The reason I didn't give it 5/5 is because the fries were too mediocre for my taste. The reason it got 4 stars was simply because of the price. If it were $20 for my order, I would have easily gone with 3 stars instead. read more

Love this place, been going there for years. Great food at a great price. Best Root Bear in the Midwest.

One of my favorite fast food places! Rootbeer floats are to die for. Along with the hotdogs and fries. Everything about this place is just a cute lil shack with good food and good prices read more

Love this place! My boyfriend takes me here every now and then and it's definitely not the kind of food id eat all the time but it definitely satisfies that need for greasy food every once in a while! read more

Nice local hot dog and root beer stand. Famous locally with a huge following. They have a wide variety of ways to enjoy your dog, but sauce and cheese is the way for me. Onions on occasion, but never ketchup!! The root beer is awesome....try it on a root beer float! A little high in price for me locally, but worth it once a month. read more

I hit this place as soon as I get to town when I visit. Sauce buns with cheese and root beer floats are some of my favs.

Food is pretty good. The workers could use some cheering up though. There always grumpy.

Gave this place a try and I found it to be mediocre. Tried a hot dog and it was no better than a lower quality hot dog from a grocery store. Far from something llike a Vienna Beef or even a Ballpark. Bun seemed cheap. Ordered a Root Beer float and it was simply a cup of Root Beer with a plonk of ice cream in it. You could come up with something better quality easily in your own house. Won't be back, too mediocre and bland. read more

Every winter, like now, i cant wait till they open. I read all the reviews and strongly disagree with what people have said. I do know they employ more younger people rather than older. I never had attitude from the workers there and i am no ones personal friend. Just a customer. My favorite is the sauce and cheese dogs, cherry coke or rootbeer. I was told there tenderloins are te best around but i havent ventured out. There sauce is the best and no one around has ever copied there unique flavor, that i know of. I am a cheap ass so i usually wait till Weiner Wednesday when all hots are $1.29. I have three kids and they all like to go with and sit outside on the picnik tables. They usually get a dog and fries, but never had a problem getting extra ketchup or mustard. My girlfriend on the other hand doesnt eat hotdogs but loves their sauce buns. We both cant wait till spring for them to open up, so yes they are closed for the winter. There cherry coke is not straight from the fountain. Half of it is, the other half is cherry syrup which tastes way better. They have been in business for a very long time, my parents used to take me there when i was a kid. When i was a kid i thought it was pronounced "Jack Nickels" and i still get shit from my family about it. I hope this places stays in business for a long time cause it is my favorite hot dog stand. Oh before i forget, how could I forget, there Rootbeer Floats, six stars. read more

I have wanted to come here for quite a while, but have not been around at lunch. I get up to the window and I knew I wanted, a beef and fries and that is what I ordered. I was asked with what kind of peppers and I waited. Two people came and went as I stood there. Then I heard the cook say something about the beef and the women who took my order said then sausage. I get my sausage and fries and I immediately said I ordered the beef. She gave me a look and said, NO! You ordered the sausage, thanks! And went on to help another customer. Now I would have put up a stink, but I wouldn't have trusted the food that came out of that window after that. It was a good sausage, but it wasn't what I wanted. And the fries were warm grease sticks. I would have gone back to try their other offerings. But it seems from my observation of watching the window as I ate. That if you are a regular, you get treated with some respect. If you are a stranger, you can give them your money and then go screw yourself. Just an FYI. That sausage would have better served the broad who tried to take care of me. read more

For those SNOBS complaining about this place you obviously don't get what makes this place great. It is not the plain hot dog. YOU MUST GET THE SAUCE added onto your hot dog. In fact, I skip the hot dog altogether and order a few sauce buns with onions and cheese. The root beer is my favorite root beer. The trick when you try new small local institutions such as this is to do research and find out what the popular items are. With Yelp it is easy as hell. If you had read any of the comments before going to this place you'd know the secret is the sauce and the root beer. read more

This was once a local icon. I went there today expecting their traditional greatness, and it was terrible. I have heard other people say that the quality had declined but I was quite saddened that the chili sauce was so watery that I could've used a straw. All good things must come to an end, and here's proof. read more

everyone thinks the Jaenicke's sign is of a dancing hot dog it's not......... it's LADY GAGA..... dressed as a hot dog read more

I don't understand how anyone could say their chili dogs are good. They are practically inedible. The sauce is like syrup. Disgusting food! read more

Hadn't been back to Jaenicke's for sometime after the drive thru clerk dropped my cheddar bites on the ground and asked if I still wanted them. However I was looking for their amazing chocolate shakes so I decided to stop by over the weekend. The fries were hard, not enjoyable. The dipping cheese was somewhat warm. The cheddar bites were a waste of money, for over $3 I received less than 8 very small bites. Despite the problems with the food the customer service has been lacking the last two times I went to the drive thru. When I was there the other day the drive thru clerk was just miserable, she barely told me my total and stared at me while I was trying to be get my money, then after she slammed the window shut I could hear her yelling at the other employees. read more

the best summer food place in town! if you're looking for a quick good meal this is your place!

Not the best hotdogs in my opinion but still a great place to visit! Prices are great as well!

I'll admit customer service isn't the best here and all items are not fantastic but, by far the best beef sandwiches in town! I grew up up north where everyone has beef sandwiches, here they're hard to find let alone to find a good one. If you are a beef sandwich fan I definitely recommend this place. Just make sure you have cash, they do have an ATM but it would be more convenient if they accepted debit or credit! read more

I honestly use to love Jaenicke's, however I always feel sick after I eat here. So its very rare that I come here anymore. I am pretty sure it's the cheese they use. It taste so good going down but it is not worth the sick feeling later. The girls in the drive-thru are always so rude. When I was in high-school the drive thru girls always had a smile on their face and looked like they loved working here.(It was less then 10 years ago too by the way!) Now I dread to see the new group of high-school kids working here. They make it so you don't want to come back! Also one girl handed me a drink with my lid not put on all the way and it spilled while she was handing it to me. I tried to hand it back but she took her hand away and handed me some napkins instead without even apologizing about it. When I looked back up she closed the window and was chatting it up with another girl who works there. Very rude! read more

How can a customer get consistently get overcharged and have the same items but different prices. Then be told they dont have a register receipt so they can write one out if someone really wanted one. Finally when called about the overchaging act like it's not a big deal and they dont want to deal with it? Never again. . I'm sure you wont miss business but I can guarantee you that friends I have coming in for the Bears training camp wont be coming over there either. As more and more people get tired of the service and the quality of the food maybe then changes for the better will be made. read more

Something about sweet Chili on my Hot Dog!! Yuk and on top of it if you ask for everything on it they ad ketchup!! Yuk Yuk Yuk!!!! Even their relish is sweet. The hotdog isn't bad if you just get it with mustard, onion pickle and tomato but stay away from the chili!!! read more