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    Jeff's Red Hots

    4.3 (214 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs, Burgers
    Open 10:30 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Jeff's Red Hots Takeout or Delivery

    Jeff's Red Hots Photos

    Business Info

    JEFF'S RED HOTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Jeff's Red Hots

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    cars parked in front of the restaurant
    Victor M.

    When in Chicago, you must try a Chicago style Red Hot. What is a Chicago Red Hot you ask? It is far from the $1.50 hot dog that you can get at Costco nor is it as cheap. But Chicago Red Hots usually uses a Vienna Beef hot dog on a sesame bun. You can add any condiments that floats your boat, but after growing up in Chicago, I have never cared for any other brand of hot dogs except the all beef VIenna hot dogs. Jeff's Red Hots is one of the last remaining hot dog stands in Chicago that brings back those lunch memories of a childhood long passed. They do a decent job at the Chicago style Red Hots with the trademark flavor and casing of the Vienna frankfurther. It is well cooked with a sesame bun that is fresh and soft. Their thin fries are average as I got a batch that could have used another minute in the fryer and may have been sitting in the heat lamps a little too long. The #4 special Red Hot with fries and a fountain drink though is a real bargain at $7.99. Service was adequate for a fast food place. Cash payment is preferred as credit card payments incur an extra $1 charge. I can't speak for the other items on their menu, but if it is as good as their Red Hots, you can't go wrong at Jeff's Red Hots.

    Hot dogs
    Drake M.

    First a little story, I like beer, but on occasion, I like mixed cocktails. The danger about mixed cocktails is when they go down easy, you always want another one. You say mixed cocktails and hot dogs...just read the rest of my review. I parked in the lot and proceeded to warm greetings. After scouring the menu, I zeroed in on my hot dogs. They have a two hot dog special with fries and a small drink. The gentleman behind the counter asked, "How would you like your dogs?" I told him Chicago Style. The two guys worked in tandem like a well-oiled deep fryer. I'm glad that I had cash on me because this is a cash-only joint. If you don't have cash on you, there is an ATM. I received my dogs and fries and sat down. I noticed right away it was a snap dog. Huzzah!! Everything was spot on, the freshness of the tomatoes, juicy sport peppers, onions that had a bite, and the pickle was the proper size for an all-in-one bite. The fries were done right. They were crispy, hot, and well-salted. You wouldn't believe how many people can't get their fries right. Now back to the mixed cocktail...As I was heading out I ordered a third dog to go. When I get a dog that has the right balance of flavor and it goes down smooth, I have to get a third dog to eat in the secrecy of my car. Don't judge me, go judge for yourself, a new favorite of hot dog place of mine.

    Friend from Korean is a Chicago style hot dog virgin no more!
    Michael B.

    Best in class joint. Authentic quality and decor, classic Chicago dog house menu. Fast service, tasty grub!

    Yuck Chicken
    Kathy Q.

    Has anyone noticed the changes in food and service quality at our beloved Jeff's? My family has enjoyed their food for more than 30 years. Lately, it has been frustratingly awful. My regular go-to was their grilled chicken on a pita...Juicy, chargrilled, and subtly seasoned with perfect flavor. Steve was a genius I miss him horribly. Since the change my favorite dish has been served partially raw, dried out, and rubbery, and today it was juicy but not grilled...as if it had been boiled. See pics below...would you eat that??? Yuck. I did not order boiled chicken, it is supposed to be grilled chicken. When I called to let them know once again it was not right. I asked for Barbara and got Monte instead. He said he was a manager but did not listen to me. He continually talked over me and even said if I didn't like the rubbery boiled chicken to just not eat there a message delivered allegedly from Barbara herself. He tried to justify the boiled chicken saying they didn't grill it because it dries it out...THIS HAS MOTIVATED ME TO AMEND MY PREVIOUS 5 STAR to a 1...I would do a negative if I could. It has gotten so bad. Save your money take it to any one of the hundreds of other restaurants in the area and enjoy quality food and service. It could not possibly be any worse than this new wannabe Jeff's. The funny thing is... Steve was able to deliver a perfectly juicy grilled chicken breast every time. Never once had to complain or supervise the cooking to get it right. My husband gave up on them in January after repeatedly having bad experiences with their Gyros. According to him, the only thing they can do right nowadays are pizza puffs and you can get those anywhere. Per Mr. Monte's statement, I will go elsewhere to spend my money from now on. Sadly the Jeff's I knew and loved is gone.

    Specials menu as of late November 2020
    Ryan P.

    I've only gone once so far but from what I can tell this place is the gold standard for classic greasy spoons. It didn't look super crowded when I went in for lunch carry out but they were working really hard on several to go and mobile orders at a time. The menu is pretty massive for such a small place and my guess so far is everything on it is great. For my first visit I tried something simple - the half pound burger and fries - and it did not disappoint. They double checked with me first if that's what I actually wanted and I realized later it's because the burger is massive. It was also super tasty and was cooked perfectly. The fries were great too. Going into a place like this I was expecting good but greasy and maybe slightly too salty of fries but what I got were the right temperature, crispy, not greasy at all and salted just right. I will definitely be back to try most of the rest of the menu one thing at a time.

    Gyro Plate
    Noah F.

    Fantastic food. Great prices. Quick and attentive guys in the kitchen. What more do you want?

    Italian Beef
    Jose C.

    We came here for dinner and it was packed! We were fortunate enough to find a seat and got our food very fast. They're menu is extensive and a lot of items looked great and wouldn't mind trying when I return. It is cash only but you can probably feed a family of four for just under a $20 bill. I ordered a hot dog and a chili cheese dog. My wife ordered an Italian Beef with fries and my son also ordered a hot dog. I'll start with the Italian Beef. Unfortunately it was not delicious at all. It was incredibly salty, so of course it lacked flavor and seasonings and the hot peppers didn't help much. We also asked for it dipped but the bread was also dry. The chili cheese dog was good, but not the greatest. They do serve their dogs with poppy seeds so that's a plus, but I've never been a fan of this style chili. As for the hot dog, it was probably one of the best hot dogs I've had in quite some time. It has your typical Chicago ingredients, mustard, tomato, pickle, hot sport peppers, onions and plus one main ingredient that I haven't seen before, sauerkraut. It added some sourness but it didn't overpower the dog, it only enhanced the flavor. The only thing that could of made this hot dog even better was a more snap on the dog. I'll most likely be returning very soon.

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    1 year ago

    This is my new go-to spot for a quick bite. The gyros are great, the double cheeseburger is great, the service is great. Love this joint.

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    10 months ago

    Food was delicious. The burger is a must here. Check them out. Happy they are in the area.

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Pricey. Food wasn't anything spectacular for the price. It's right off of the expressway so that's convenient for some.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Located in The Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago, Jeff Red Hot's brings original Chicago style hot dogs! 5 out of 5 stars.

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    9 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great staff, great food always fast and hot place never disappoints shoe string fries i love

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good dog with pickle tomato peppers etc.but fries cooked from frozen and everything pricey.

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    2 years ago

    Excellent gyro. One of the best I've ever had. Meat was perfect and pita was fresh. Entire menu looks good. Will be back

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    Page 1 of 6

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4
    (9.5k reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    Absolutely insane experience. Make sure you get a reservation because this place gets booked up…read morequickly and rightfully so. My wife and I ordered the bone marrow to start and shared a single cheeseburger with the bacon and egg add on. The bone marrow with the marmalade on the side was amazing. I loved the thick toast they gave on the side. It was the perfect balance for such a rich dish. The burger is probably one of the best burgers I've had in my life. The bun was nice and fluffy, the burger was juicy, the bacon was thick and flavorful, and the egg was cooked to perfection. For a couple of bites, we threw a little bone marrow and the marmalade on the burger and it took it to a whole new level. The restaurant was small and comfortable. A tad loud with the music, but I didn't mind too much. I would gladly trade that for the delicious meal we had. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great burger. Just make sure you get a reservation early.

    Au Cheval is definitely worth trying if you're a burger fan. I ordered the single burger (which is…read moreactually two beef patties) and added the fried egg. The quality of the beef was excellent, and you can tell they use great ingredients. The burger was juicy, cooked well, and very rich. That said, this might be a hot take, but I felt like it was missing something. For all the hype, I was expecting more flavor. Personally, I think it could have used a little more sauce to tie everything together. While the beef shines, the overall bite felt a bit one-dimensional to me. It's still a very good burger and I'm glad I tried it, but based on the expectations, it landed in the "good, not life-changing" category. I'd absolutely recommend giving it a try and deciding for yourself, but for me it was just okay compared to the hype.

    Photos
    The cooks were very attentive!
    The cooks were very attentive!
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

    Jeff's Red Hots - hotdog - Updated July 2026

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