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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
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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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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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Consistently delivers what you'd expect. Good place, good food. Cash only.

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Stopped by to try the Gyros I have to do pickups in the area and I will stop back next time for sure!

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    6 years ago

    Awesome little fast food/gyros joint. The review would get 5 stars if they would toom cash. It's 20effin20 get debit/credit card machine.

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    Page 2 of 6

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4(9.5k reviews)
    6.9 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    I think im no longer a fan of burgers so I cant review based on the burger alone but it was cooked…read morewell. Both the bone marrow and rootbeer were fantastic and the savory salty slightly acidic jam really elevated the dish.

    Really solid burger. Would give the burger a 4.4 out of 5…read more It can get busy so you can reserve for approx 2.50 a person. Or you can go off peak around 430 and there is a short wait on weekdays. We ordered single cheeseburger, but keep in mind it comes with two patties. The thick cut bacon is an additional 6.99. You can also add a fried egg. We opted not to get the egg as it can get messy. The burger is a hearty, meaty burger especially with the bacon. It is for burger purists who want meat, bread, and cheese. There are a few toppings and sauce inside but it gets overshadowed with each meaty bite. The meat patties are perfectly cooked and the bun is sturdy enough to hold up to the meat and toppings without falling apart. The side pickle is a must have and is included because you will need some acid to cut through the meatiness of the burger. It was worth it because we did not wait very long. However if I had to wait an hour or two i would say come back another time. We did not try the bone marrow which is what seems to be very popular here but given the order of 4 hamburgers and fries we knew it would be too much food for a group of 4. Service was great. Interior was great. My only request is that the music be turned down just a little bit because it is quite loud inside.

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    Au Cheval - The cooks were very attentive!

    The cooks were very attentive!

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    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

    Little Bad Wolf - Wolf Burger and frites. Duh. Solid meat to face thing.

    Little Bad Wolf

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    4.6 miAndersonville, Edgewater
    $$

    Easily one of the best burgers in Chicago…read more We both got the bad burger, except my friend got it with mac and cheese. The burger was juicy and the bun was soft; didn't feel like I had to unhinge my jaw just to get a bite like with some other burgers. The toppings for the burger paired harmoniously with the patties, with the pickles adding texture and bite. The fries paired with the burger were honestly whatever, but the spicy aoli paired with it elevated eating the fries. We also got an elote app to share. I did enjoy the cheese and corn and how warm and melty they were, but I think it could've gone without the avocado. The mac and cheese though, now that was absolutely delicious. It was gooey and soft, with the breadcrumbs and bacon adding texture and smokiness. The drinks I got, the sylvan and green eyes, were a little strong for me (I prefer sweeter), but nonetheless excellently mixed. If you like strong, classic flavors, these are for you.

    My husband and I walked in on a Sunday evening for dinner and were able to be seated right away…read more The atmosphere is dark and moody, and it made sense once I realized it was the same owners as Gretel. Loved the 90s female R&B playlist they had going! Little Bad Wolf has been on my list FOR YEARS to try the burger! My husband got the burger with fried onions and I got some Bao because those also looked delicious and were a popular menu item. Honestly the 3 stars are only that high because of the service. Our server was friendly and attentive + the food came out hot and quick. Unfortunately, the food was pretty disappointing. The burger was swimming in a puddle of grease and just picking it up made your hands greasy + was dripping grease. The fries that came with it were floppy, soggy, and sad...but at least warm? I personally wouldn't order this again. The Bao were better, but small for the price and honestly were just okay? It was nice they gave you sauces you could add, but I found the Bao's to already have enough sauce so I didn't need them. Overall I left feeling confused and disappointed. I don't feel the need to come back here - Little Bad Will was a one and done experience for me.

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    Little Bad Wolf - Fresh flowers

    Fresh flowers

    Little Bad Wolf - Shrimp Tacos

    Shrimp Tacos

    Little Bad Wolf - Bad Burger with fried onion strings

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    Bad Burger with fried onion strings

    NADC Burger - Beast Mode Fries

    NADC Burger

    3.6(121 reviews)
    6.8 miRiver West, West Loop, Near West Side, West Town

    I have gotten this to go a few times but this was my first time eating there! My bf and I sat at…read morethe bar and had the best time! They have a ton of cocktails and they are very cool! We were able to chat with the general manager a bit and hear NADC story, it made me love this spot even more! I got a passion fruit drink with boba this was great! As we were chatting they mentioned an eggnog drink! I love eggnog so this was for me, and it was perfect! Such cool cocktails here, I had no idea!! We split the burger which was phenomenal. Even better eating it in person! I learned this is a pressed patty and not a smash burger. This is my favorite burger in the city! Such a cool vibe in here, very fun music and decor. I'm obsessed!

    I have heard good things about NADC and have been interested to try the burger. I thought there…read morewould be a lot of people so I was surprised that I walked in for lunch on Sunday and it wasn't busy, which was nice. My friend and I each ordered a burger and fries for ourselves. The NADC burger ($16) was decent, but it didn't blow my mind like people have raved about. I know it's not the original location which can play a part as well. What I really enjoyed and even finished my friend's were the fries. I love some good fries and these were top quality. You could taste the difference of the oil these fries were made in. They were nice and crispy and very good! I could keep eating them and would rather get the fries than the burger next time. I'd probably still get a burger since I need some meat and savory.

    Photos
    NADC Burger
    NADC Burger - NADC Burger

    NADC Burger

    NADC Burger - Decor

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    Decor

    Jeff's Red Hots - hotdog - Updated June 2026

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