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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

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    JEFF'S RED HOTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    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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    13 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Very friendly staff. Very speedy service. Very low prices. The fries are so good, and they don't skimp on the order size.

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    12 years ago

    I probably eat here once a week, great local hot dog stand with all the standards. Just Remember it is cash only.

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    7 years ago

    Good dog and I enjoy seeing the main mf every time I'm up in this mf for real tho this place is tight af you heard me

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    18 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Food is awesome. Staff is friendly. Love their customized shakes.

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    12 years ago

    The food is satisfying. Big proportions. Quick and filling. Everything you want is there.

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Had the Italian beef and it didn't disappointed..Nice flavor and not over juicy to point of falling apart.

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    18 years ago

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    20 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Since we moved into the neighborhood 35 years ago have we been eating here. Never a complaint. Service and food great.

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    11 years ago

    I love everything on the menu, which I think I've had. Lol Fresh food and great service!!

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    The food is delicious and it's fairly priced! If you're hungry and around this area please stop by!

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    11 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Burger/fries were ok, Chicago dog was ok+. Overall, decent food at a fair price if you're craving a quick burger or dog.

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    Page 5 of 6

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4
    (9.5k reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    Wow! So happy I finally got to come here. They have recently started accepting some reservations…read moreand I was lucky enough to get one. I understand why they are famous for their burgers. I had the single cheeseburger and it lived up to the hype. I learned that the single burger is actually a double and the double is actually a triple. I was recommended to add an egg and bacon to the burger and I'm glad I did. Each bite was a glorious burst of flavor. The bacon is epic. Thick juicy slices. The cheeseburger was perfect. I didn't need additional condiments and that never happens for me. The fries were good too and came with a delicious aioli. For beverages, I loved my Arnold Palmer. I also tried a cocktail--the Long Island Iced Coffee. It was pretty strong. I added a shot of bourbon cream to it and that sweetened it up and made it perfect for me. Unfortunately, I didn't have room for dessert. Cute restaurant. Cozy inside. They have an outdoor patio as well. If you don't have a reservation, be prepared to wait. Excellent food. Excellent service. Jennifer took great care of me and made great suggestions. It's pricy but it's worth it.

    Often recognized as having the most recognizable and hyped burger in Chicago, Au Cheval is a…read moreGilded-Age inspired diner (opening in 2012), serving up thick freshly made burgers along with a good selection of drinks. The process of getting seated through a busy period, and the service throughout was excellent. But as often happens with me, the food didn't live up to the hype. My wife and I were picking up my brother and his son from O'Hare at around 10 am on a Saturday. We had dinner plans with our uncle, but had not planned anything in between. The flight came in on time, and once confirmed we all had the time, my brother suggested going to Chicago to try Au Cheval. He knew about their location LV, but none of us had tried their original location in Chicago. So we drove into Chicago, arriving at the restaurant at 11 (it opens at 10am). There was a check-in stand set-up outside, where someone was taking names/phone numbers to put on the waiting list. We were quoted a 45 minute wait, and got the text to hurry back after about 30 minutes. There was a line to put your name down on the list, so we skipped that by going right in. The friendly hostess seated us in a booth, with a nice view of the kitchen where they were making the burgers in mass. The waitress explained that a single burger meant two patties (each patty is 4 oz, so basically a half pound burger), and a double meaning three. My brother and his son both ordered a double cheeseburger ($19.99 each), and I got a single with added sunny side up egg ($21.48). I wanted my wife to be able to take a bite, so asked for everything to be on the side (sauce, dill pickle slices, and grilled onion bits). We also ordered french fries ($8.99), cooked in duck fat. In the meanwhile, followed a fellow yelpers suggestion and got two Allagash Whites ($9 each) for me and my nephew. It's a really good beer that I've had many times during happy hour, and goes great with rich, greasy food. My wife got something else: the General Janes Chicken, which is their version of Korean Fried Chicken ($24.98). She enjoyed it (the coating was still crispy, and the sauce had that pronounced kochujang flavor that we like). Everything is a la carte here (except for the complementary pickle spear with burgers), so she shared in the ordered fries. Food came out together and was served hot. There is a mandatory 3.25% surcharge, and payment is taken at the table. As mentioned, service was excellent throughout. To be honest, I'm not the right person to judge a burger like this (I like it backyard style, with a lot of lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles...and mayo/ketchup). But my brother and nephew are (they have tried many, many burgers all across the world, and don't like too much toppings on their burger), and they said the burger was just OK for them. I liked the frites (cooked in duck fat)...very light in color, but still crispy on the outside. However, nobody else really ate them, saying they weren't great. It's unusual for me to be the least critical after dining, but I'm sure it had something to do with the observation that I didn't have to pay for it (since it was my brother's treat).

    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)
    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    4.4
    (2.8k reviews)
    7.6 mi
    $$

    Last night my wife and I stepped into The Dearborn and had an amazing dinning experience. It was an…read moreatmosphere of comfort and charm. The service was outstanding. Our dinner guide, Nicholas, was superb. Very knowledgeable about the menu and suggested two perfect spirits from the bar. My wife had the Irish old fashion which was excellent. I had a vodka Gimlet, which also was superb. Palate pleasing! The meal was absolutely enjoyable. I enjoyed the Curry Chicken. The thigh meat was tender and succulent. The curry was sweet and creamy. It came with pita bread which added to the dinning experience. Just wonderfully enjoyable. My wife enjoyed the Fish and Chips which beat Bobby Flay. True words from the menu. Wife said if was the best fish and chips she has ever had. Then came the dessert. Now I asked Nicolas and he suggested Pavlova and Blood Orange. Which lead me to survey Margaret and she suggested Sticky toffee date cake. After a friendly jostling back and forth of desert knowledge Greg the Maitre-d made also suggested the Sticky toffee. Both came and to be honest both were outstanding. Excellent choices. All and all this was a great dinning experience from beginning to end. We will return next time we are in Chicago.

    Absolutely delicious! I went with friends to celebrate my birthday and had a wonderful time. We had…read morean assortment of appetizers, drinks, meals and desserts and everything exceed our expectations. Everyone was beyond friendly and the food...sooo good. I shall dream about their chocolate cake. Definitely recommend you give this restaurant a try- you won't regret it!

    Photos
    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays
    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays
    New Spring Menu
    New Spring Menu
    Spring desserts

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    Spring desserts

    Jeff's Red Hots - hotdog - Updated June 2026

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