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    Jim's Original

    3.9 (50 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Jim's Original Takeout or Delivery

    Jim's Original Photos

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    JIM'S ORIGINAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Jim's Original

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    Chauncey M.

    Me and my fiancée were trying hotdogs/polish sausages all over Chicago and Jim's original was an amazing experience. Perfect bun, perfect caramelized onions and the star of the show(the polish). Service was good and quick I'm glad I started there first before it got busy because it was quiet and no one there. Definitely will be back in the future!

    Samantha P.

    I was feeling hangry and needed a quick bite. Decided to grab a burger and cheese fries and it was surprisingly really good. The burger was filled with caramelized onions and came with hot peppers on the side (so spicy but so good). All the food came out piping hot. Friendly and quick service.

    Exterior of Buisness
    Joe B.

    Classic, newer location mirroring the same great grub from the one off the expressway heading south. Friendly staff, very clean, quick service. Been coming to these joints for years and will always be a long standing customer.

    Real soggy bread Grilled? Onions..... Grilled????

    Passed through the drive thru. 2 minutes max wait tome for a polish. Anywhere else they take longer but looking at the onions these cooks don't really care about how they serve the damn food. The bread looked like as if I was eating an italian beef. Why so damn soggy if it's "grilled"????? I was only able to eat half of it and ended up being disgusted. It's damn pork...... take your time to grill a little more and the onions as well

    Polish Sausage
    Noah J.

    Jim's is a classic comfort food for me. I don't live in Chicago anymore, but every time I visit, it's a must have. Love this for a good takeout casual dinner. If you don't try the polish, you're missing out.

    Fries
    Jose C.

    I'm not sure what else to say about Jim's that's hasn't been said before. It's great that they opened up a second location, but it sucks that it will be tough to visit the original location now, just simply out of convenience. They do have a drive thru here and it takes a little longer to get your. At the original location you get your food right when you order it, here I had to wait about 5 minutes. The good news though...it's just as delicious. I gotta say, I love the consistency. Nothing is worse than opening up new locations and the food don't taste the same. I ordered one Polish Sausage and a Pork Chop Sandwich. They were both so delicious. The pork chop was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing with the mustard and grilled onions. The Polish sausage had a nice snap to it and also tasted great with the grilled onions and mustard. I don't know what it is, but something about the sweetness from the grilled onions and the acidity from the mustard that just makes for a perfect bite. I also love the fries from Jim's. Every order comes with a bag of fries so if you order a couple sandwiches, you should definitely have more than enough fries to fill you up. Can't wait to come back!

    Beef dog
    Audra M.

    While shopping in the area, we decided to get a bite at Jim's. We hadn't been to either of their locations, so this was a fun new experience. I decided to get the beef hot dog. It was very tasty, as were the fries. I bought a cheese cup for the fries after eating some of them, and it was really good. Employees were friendly, and the old school wall art was fun to check out.

    Jim's Maxwell Street food
    Ernie H.

    They have parking always a plus in Chicago. Also a driver thru! We like grilled onions both in Hotdog and Polish. The Polish tasted substantial. The hotdog was fine. The fries are crisp. I prefer raw onions but my wife likes them grilled. Place was really clean.

    Sign
    Drake M.

    I was notified that Jim's original opened up a location further north through social media so to my surprise the first chance I got I went down to grab me a hotdog and a Polish. What makes Maxwell hot dog and polish different from Chicago Style hot dogs, is that Maxwell traditionally has onion (raw or grilled), mustard and hot peppers. No ketchup, but the have packets of ketchup for those that want it. So I decided to swing by and they have a huge free parking lot in front of the store with a drive-through. It was the first time in my life that I ever ate Jim's at a table. The walls were decorated with the history of Jim's Original with great pictures. As I walked in, I was greeted with a hello and a hi from the staff from behind the counter as I ordered my food it came up quick and extremely hot. They had blues playing on the overhead speakers, which took me back to the old days when people used to sell watches or gold chains as I took my first bite it was awesome natural casing hotdogs with mustard, grilled onion and peppers with a side fries (fries are free with sandwiches) made my day as I went for the Polish sausage I just wish I had a little bit more mustard on them. Next time extra mustard. The peppers are better than any pickle. I was still surprised that not a lot of people were in there, yet. This place is a gem and the bonus is I don't have to go downtown to get my Maxwell fix.

    Chelsi B.

    Grabbed some food after Micro Center but before our mall trip.  I got a hot dog while my husband got a triple cheeseburger (both came with a side of fries).  I ordered my hot dog with mustard, ketchup, and onions.  As we were pulling up to the window I joked that they were probably laughing at me for ordering ketchup on my hot dog since this is Chicago, only for it to set in that not even the burger came with ketchup so they may not have any despite taking my order and not saying they had no ketchup.  Low and behold, no ketchup on my hot dog.  They did drench the hell out of it in mustard though and overloaded it with onions, I guess that's what I get for saying I wanted ketchup.  Fries were good, my husband loved his burger, but I couldn't even finish my hot dog.

    Araceli C.

    Sunday lunch I order polish extra pepoers gret service on the drive true And enjoy on the parking lot My Polish was very satisfied My crispy fries and can of coke See you soon

    Fish and French Fries. Coke Zero
    Nelson K.

    Wow! What a pleasant surprise to see Jim's here after leaving home goods. I used to get Jim's all the time in college near UIC university village area, so I was happy to see that classic Jim's sign here. To those who have had Jim's at the other location, I found this place to give me the same vibes (even the stainless steel counters - a great touch) but much cleaner and there's indoor seating! To those who haven't had Jim's before, this place is a classic chicago hole in the wall food, and it always hits the spot when you're looking for a quick and affordable meal. They are known for their polish, but I can never NOT get the fish sandwich, fries (which are my one of my favorite in chicago), and hot jalapeño peppers (which are extremely spicy). Happy to see this second location, I love the execution, and I hope they do well!

    POLISH SAUSAGE (All Beef)

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    3 years ago

    I have only been here once but the breakfast hamburger was an amazing deal. Eggs made to order, melty cheese. Just what the hangover needed.

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    2 years ago

    Great staff, delicious food, clean environment, good location and overall great place

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    Everything is delicious and the prices are great. Beware of the hot peppers, they are actually super spicy! 5 stars.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Jim's Original

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    Al's Beef

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    One of Chicago's most renowned Italian Beef Sandwiches, originating in 1938. A special trip to try…read moreit, and it was truly satisfying. Regular Combo: A combination of beef and sausage. The meat portion was very generous; the beef was thinly sliced ​​but juicy and not dry or hard at all; the sausage had a rich smoky flavor, not too salty, and tastes a lot like Harbin red sausage. Al's Classic Hand-Cut Fries: They were piping hot when I received them, so touching! I couldn't taste the hand-cut texture, but there was a spice powder similar to salt and pepper, and the flavor was quite good.

    3-ish stars rounded up. The roast beef was a little on the dry-stringy side but the bread was…read morespongy-soft (absorbed the beef drippings so well!). Kinda skimpy on the fixings on the Chicago dog, but still gets the job done if you're craving a Chicago dog. Fries are the type that are greasy to the touch; not my fave style of fries but I know it's a well-liked one to others. Super friendly lady at the cashier (all smiles, patient, and offered menu help)! Also fast service (got my order within a few minutes). I visited on a Saturday late afternoon and it was very chill here (also shoutout to the early 2000's era music playing :p it was a vibe). Overall I'd say it's not a bad food spot at all if you want a quick bite and want to be a little away from the Magnificent Mile crowds.

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    Jim's Original

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    A LOCAL CLASSIC! I…read moreloved this spot so much I ended up coming back twice. It has that classic late night comfort food vibe and feels like one of those staple spots you have to try at least once. First night I ordered a polish hot dog with everything on it and a fish sandwich w/ extra grilled onions. Super cool that your order comes with fries and I added a cheese cup both times. In my opinion the fries were mid the first go around, but second time they were better. Definitely tasted better dipped in cheese. They were kinda airy in texture, if that makes sense. Polish hot dog was around a 6.5-7/10 for me. It did taste better warmed up the next day. What I was most obsessed with was the double cheeseburger and fish sandwich! both were easily a 10/10. Super good prices and worth the money. Also, the chile peppers were sooo bomb and hotter than I expected ! I wanted to eat them all, but they were packing some serious heat! The lemon Italian ice is where it's at, make sure to order one! You can also mix it with strawberry, but both times people recommended the lemon and now I see why. The line gets super active and busy past 10-11pm, but during the daytime it's way less crowded. Even when it gets packed the line moves pretty quick. They stay open late and close at 1am which is nice.

    I really wanted to like Original Jim's, and I'm hoping they'll take customer feedback seriously…read more Since they're new, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and check back in six months to see how things have improved. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing. We tried the hot dog, sausage, and hamburger, and all of them lacked flavor. Nothing really stood out, and the food was pretty underwhelming overall. The quality just wasn't there yet, especially considering the expectations. I genuinely hope they continue refining their recipes and seasoning because the concept has potential. For now, though. I'ld give them some time to find their footing and hope for a much better experience in the future.

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    Gene & Jude's

    Gene & Jude's

    4.2
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    Always 5 out of 5 stars!…read more Just returned from a trip and it's always a must to stop in for hot dogs for the family! It did not disappoint! Needed to Chicago food!

    It's was a beautiful night yesterday so we decided to go for a ride to grab a hot dog from the…read moreIconic Gene & Jude's. Before we left I checked the website and saw that they were a cash only business. No problem except we took the 30 minute ride and when we arrived I realized I forgot my wallet at home. Fortunately for us it was a nearby Walgreens where we could get cash. My wife had her wallet so I zelled money to her. Once we got back we then saw that they do in fact take debit/ credit cards. Anywho. It was a no frills place very basic aesthetic nothing special to look at. Just a service counter where you can see them preparing the hot dogs. They do however have a steady line of people! They move the line very fast so you're not waiting long at all. We ordered 3 hot dogs with everything (mustard, onions, relish & sport peppers) the basic depression hot dog. They come with fresh cut fries & we got a fountain Cherry Coke to share. I spent $20 even with tip. The hot dogs were good i wasn't disappointed nice soft bun tasty condiments and a great snap to the hot dogs. I'll give it a 7/10. The fries had a decent amount of salt on them a bit oily and not too crispy but they were fair. They don't have any ketchup in the house. We keep tobacco in the SUV so I added some to the fries for a little bit. Without the tobacco the fries were still tasty. A solid 6.5/10. The service was good. Young people with good customer service. I loved it. 10/10 for service. All in all if I'm in the mood for a drive and a hot dogs I'll go back. If you're in the area and like hot dogs check them out. They also sell tamales. ( I didn't order one) 7.3/10..... all in all. It's really more like 3 1/2 stars! Remember Yelpers ALL reviews are subjective!

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    The inside of the restaurant
    Single Hot dog/with Fries
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    The Wieners Circle

    The Wieners Circle

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    Stopped by The Wiener's Circle and had a fun Chicago experience. I had the Chicago style hot dog,…read moreand it was exactly what you'd want, classic toppings, plenty of flavor, and a solid dog overall. What really makes this place stand out is the personality. The staff is famously surly, and that's clearly part of the experience, so if you know that going in it adds to the fun. It's more playful than serious and definitely gives the place its own character. I also thought it was cool how they give out free dogs after Bears wins. That kind of generosity and local spirit makes it feel like a true neighborhood staple. Definitely a memorable stop and one of those places that feels uniquely Chicago.

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    Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
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    Devil Dawgs -  South State

    Devil Dawgs - South State

    4.0
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    Pretty pricey for some hot dogs but they're so good. I prefer devil dawgs to portillos and their…read moreselection of hot dog dishes is phenomenal. Whenever someone visits, i make sure we go here to get a Chicago dog. Tho im torn between the standard jumbo chicago dog and the green chile dog. Service is quick and great, everything is clean and organized tho the spot is pretty small so it can get crowded in a rush.

    Upon entering the restaurant, I noticed it was full of people and upbeat music was playing. I was…read moreimmediately drawn to their digital menu board. After seeing their vegan options, I was happy to see that they offer vegan hot dogs made two ways but sad that their fries and tater tots are cooked in beef tallow, and surprised that the hot dogs were $7.00 which might be too expensive for some people. After we ordered a vegan Chicago dog with a soda for me and a vegan Chicago dog with a bucket of fries for hubby, our food was quickly prepared and delivered. Although my vegan hot dog was cooked well, I was slightly annoyed at how quickly the dog fell out of the bun and the large amount of neon green relish which minimize the other flavors of the hot dog. Likewise, I was saddened and surprised and that none of their sides (fries and tater tots) are vegan friendly since they cook these items in beef tallow. Overall, while the vegan hot dog was delicious, I feel that $7 is a bit pricey for a vegan hotdog especially when there aren't any vegan sides available.

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    I had read about how Fatso's does the char dog. I made this my last meal in Chicago…read more I went with a char dog, depression style, an order of fries, and a side of the Merkts cheddar. How was it? Fries- Delicious! Fresh cut fries, made right in front of you. They were great! Huge portion, too! Merkts Cheddar Sauce- Hell yeah! Give me a gallon of this, and I will chug it! Such a tasty cheese sauce. Loved dipping my fries in it. Great combo! Char Dog- This dog was delicious! Great char, great toppings. My only beef would be the bun. It definitely could have been more soft/steamed and fresh. It held up pretty well, but there were a couple bites where it broke and flaked apart. Hate when that happens. Still...didn't ruin the overall experience. Had a great last meal in Chicago before I headed to the airport.

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    Jim's Original - hotdog - Updated July 2026

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