Little Island, or Hot Dog Island as my friends and I have always called it, is a great spot. I can only speak for the dogs, but they are excellent as are the fresh cut fries. The prices are good too. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the guy who has worked there forever has an attitude problem. read more

First time here in many, many years. Back then it was called the Hotdog Island. The HUGE cooked to order double cheeseburger was very good but could have been cooked just a little less for my taste. The hot-dog was very good as well. If your a fan of fresh cut fries with the skin on then this is your place. They were hot, not greasy and delicious. And yes, I did finish all that I mentioned...hence the nickname, "I can eat two of anything!" (almost) Very limited parking. There are two booths and a counter to eat at inside with a few tables with umbrellas outside. I will be back for more tasty treats. read more

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Best fries you are going to get anywhere. Get their Chicago dog and fries. The best!

Dropped by during a lunch break. Business seems to be doing really good. Despite the multitude of orders, all food was made fairly quick. I had the Saturday special and it was very good. I'd like to try the other specials someday as well. read more

Little Island - Saturday special w/ lots of buffalo sauce - Hot Dogs Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Although it is hard to park here...it is one of the best burgers and fries in all of the whole Chicago area!!! I have been a customer at The Little Island for over 30 years! You need to go there! read more

Well if you avoid their cheap hot dogs that don't have natural casing, the beef is pretty good, and their fries are great. Pinball machine is in desperate need of repair, but I very much appreciate that they have one. read more

Great hot dogs and fries. Friendly service. A gem of a place. The guy working was super nice and friendly with all the customers, even Cubs fans. The hot dogs and fries were great. They accept credit cards, ample parking, outdoor seating, pin ball game inside. read more

The food is SOOO good and very reasonably priced. Kevin makes the best fresh cut fries too. Everything is cooked to order. They have the best chicken tenders I've ever had. Really, everything is good there! read more

Best food ive gotten delivered in all of COVID 19. Im calling this place everyti.e im in the mood for this kind of food from now on. Menu is huge, everything is great, super fast delivery, hot and well packaged. Ate my buger in under 2 minutes it was so good. Only the mektz fries slowed me down. The guy who runs this place is awesome, i always feel inclined to tip because everything is what i expect every time which is really hard to find. I've Eaten here atleast 50 times, never had any complaint. The owner knows how to run a restaurant like a pro. read more

This Little spot on the corner of Crawford @ Central Ave's in Evanston has great food. Not only is the food delicious the service is awesome. Owner, Kevin does a great job in serving his customers. Try it, I'm pretty sure you'll be back. read more

Literal gem! A true hot dog island. They have the most reasonably priced food in the area and it's all cooked fresh. Burgers are awesome, merks cheddar, hand cut fries, and awesome gyros. It's a treasure. read more

Just left there, last time over 2 decades ago when I had a top shelf Chicago style hotdog but today I located the top of the Mountain level chili and a righteous combo ( Italian beef / Italian sausage w/ sweet and hot peppers...I forgot to ask for it juicy not dipped but top shelf never the less - the sausage was generously charred which = flavor . In 57 years and having an uncanny fond memories based on my mother's cooking which was top of the mountain level, I get a hankering for a specific food and try it at independent restaurants til my spirit gets transported somewhere special on first taste. Touchdown! Can't wait to go back!!! read more

This guy knows what he's doing! The ingredients he uses, and the care he takes, makes these sandwiches excellent. When I want to treat myself, I order from here. Note: I'm very glad that he is not open on Sundays any longer because he deserves a day off with family. Thank you so much! read more

Had a footlong red hot at little island today. Could, perhaps, be the finest dog I've ever had! Charred, hot, mustard, catchup, relish, onions. It was wonderful. Opening a place in LA anytime soon? Hope so ! read more

Wow i grew up in this area and can't believe this is my first time eating here. Fantastic burger! The fries are hand cut. What a treat and a nice surprise. The parking lot is a bit unique and tricky to navigate. Can't imagine how it would be during peak business. My friend the regular recommends the BLT in French bread...it's piled high with bacon, no need to add extra bacon, for reals. The inside is nicely air conditioned and ample seating for such a "small" place. Two thumbs up and 5 stars! Will definitely be back read more

The place is the bomb. If your close by, and looking for something to eat, stop by there and Kevin will take care of you... one of my favorite is Cheese Fries . read more

I was craving a greasy-ass sloppy gyro sandwich with all the trimmings so I decided to try this place out. First, the parking lot is a monstrosity; I don't know who designed it but it does work; especially if you have an SUV. Second, the guy who takes the orders is not pleasant at all so if he damn if I leave a tip. Their, I saw him fixing food with his bare hands and ringing people up without washing in between customers... I don't give a good damn if you're vaccinated... it's just plain nasty and his finger nails were dirty, which ruined my eagerness to bite into my gyro-mess. The gyro meat did not have lamb flavor, it was more like beef without seasoning, some parts were huge and it was not cut on the bias. Those soggy hand-cut fries are nothing but a salt and grass bomb together. Overall, I will not return. Sanitation is basic skills 1:1 when owning a restaurant and the way his grimy hands was touching food without gloves and then handling money was a huge NO NO... read more

I have been coming here for over 18 years, (sad, but true) and the quality has remained constant while my palate has changed dramatically. The service is always good. The TV is always playing some awful reality courtroom show. The guy taking your order / cooking your food looks like he is several floors below you. The pinball machines are always whirring. They have a fairly large menu for such a small place and something to fit every taste. The location is very strange as it literally straddles the invisible line between Evanston and Skokie, but I recommend you do this on a hot summers day; 1. Ride your bike to Little Island. 2. Order a bunch of junk food that is in no way good for you. 3. Go across the street to CVS and buy a kite and candy. 4. Take all of your items via backpack and bike to lovelace park just down the street. 5. Forget about everything that is wrong with the world. read more

This place is a little gem for takeout. Everything I've tried there has been great to very good (more of the former than the latter). But I still haven't tried as many things as I'd like to (ribs were gone before I could try them but the owner assures me they were great), because I can rarely resist just heading back to the scrumptious hamburger. They always get it perfect (other than the occasional overly-heavy hand with the mustard or ketchup). 1/3 pound (just the right amount) of high-quality meat with a delightful char-crust, and almost always cooked exactly as I order it (namely, medium-rare). I get it with everything, including hot sport peppers. "Everything" on the burger is essentially what you would get on a typical Chicago-style hot dog, except that the dog would exclude ketchup (of course!) but include celery salt. Their default (fresh-cut) fries tend to be limp and so oily that the paper bag you carry them out with will be thoroughly wallpapered with oil polka dots. Hello, that is a COMPLIMENT! I LOVE those fries, and even a "regular" sized order is enough to require two people to take extra Lipitor. And as if they aren't deliciously unhealthy enough, several years ago I found that their goodness is even better if I forego ketchup and dip them in -- dare I admit it -- Mayo. There, I said it. But even if you use nothing but salt, they're still delicious. I have actually had nightmares about their parking lot. If you're not in the area, just look at Street View and Satellite View, and you'll see why. I'm always afraid I'm going to ram into the Little Island and bulldoze it. And even more worried about turning the steering wheel a little bit the wrong way and having the front of my car lunge down the sharp cliff along Crawford. The towing guys and the body shop would be happy. I was a little worried when they were closed for well over a month this winter/spring -- despite the sign saying they would reopen. I breathed a sigh of relief when they actually resumed. If you live in NW Evanston, Southern Wilmette or Northern Skokie (damn, Chicago suburban gerrymandering would make any corrupt politican proud), and you haven't been to Little Island, GO. read more

Boyfriends favorite place. Me and my friends go all the time. Solid food. Kevin, the man I believe owns this place, is pretty cool. Food is solid with solid prices. It all makes sense. I know anything I get will be worth it. I will continue to come here and support this business and will tell friends about it. read more

Little Island - Mini tacos. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Still the best fries I've had. Made with the skins on and a bit soft, but piles of them served in baskets with the combo meals. I continue to be amazed by the consistency of this place. I love the way they cook the hamburgers. Never too pink, yet never over cooked. Still the same great service. This tiny, two booth restaurant is more like a *good* fast food oasis in the middle of it all. Hard to park, yet so worth the effort. read more

We stopped here for lunch last week. It gives new meaning to the term "hole in the wall". It is more like "hole in the ground" as the kitchen and ordering area are down several steps from the seating area. It is very small and certainly in a unique location (mid intersection). I had a Chicago style hot dog with a medium cheese fries and Christopher had a Vesuvius Burger with a large cheese fries. The fries were really good and the portion was very generous. My dog was ok, but a tad soggy. Christopher's burger was good, but he was a bit disappointed that the peppers were sweet peppers and not hot ones. Be aware that drink refill are 50 cents. Might as well get a large drink at that price. BTW, Geocachers .... there is a cache about 300 feet from this place, in case you want to mix lunch and caching at the same time. We did! read more

Just driving by and thought it was cute. The parking lot was tricky and small. It goes around the building hence the name I suppose... Little Island. I had a char dog. It was good. It's a hotdog what does on expect? The two guys working were nice. The show on the big screen t.v. could have been changed to something more enjoyable. (It was an infomercial on facelifts) Maybe that's the only channel that came in? I've never been here before and will probably never go back but if you drive by I'd say give it a try. They had a lot of choices on the menu. Just an old fashioned house turned into a hotdog place. read more

This place is awesome! One of the few places like this that I have always had good service and food. I like fast food (Not the corporate kind though, so buzz off McD's thank you!) so I have been to alot of hotdog/hamburger stands around chicago. This place stands out among the rest. I have always had good food and amazing service here. If your in the neighborhood check them out. Get the cheddar burger. I would have given them five stars if the parking situation was not so wonky! read more

Love The Little Island! They are super affordable and have a great variety of daily specials. Their burgers are delicious and you can tell they are all made in house, none of those frozen flattened patties here. Try their Turkey Burger, their Cod Sandwich, and their Blue Island Burger! All of them are fantastic! Also, for .30 cents extra you can get grilled onions on your fries, and it tastes awesome!! read more

A great neighborhood option for both lunch and dinner. I think they have the best burgers in Evanston and the staff is always fast and courteous. There are plenty of options to choose from including two kinds of fries. I would recommend Little Island. read more

I would bring my kids here and they love the hot dogs. i tried a dog and it was great. I have tried burgers and grilled chicken and have never been dissapointed. This is one of Evanston's best secrets and I am a fan and will come back!! Great place and atmosphere. Owner does it right. read more

My grandma and I would walk here from her house when I was a young girl. Its a death trap and I still have nightmares. It's a hot dog stand. Plain and simple. Good stuff, indeed. (But not the THE best I've had, not a destination for me). Good luck with parking. yikes! read more

I love this place. It's within walking distance to my home, so we usually call in an order, then go pick it up. I get the veggie burger and my boyfriend gets hot dogs and hamburgers, so we're both happy. The second time we went in there we realized that we didn't have any money and the guy told us just to pay next time! He didn't even know us. In reference to people's comments about them being gruff, I think they are nice in there but it's usually just one guy sometimes with a couple of kids helping, so when they are busy I would guess they are working very hard and not as friendly? I've never experienced that, though. I like the regular fries better than the hand cut ones. The City updated the intersection in 2007, so now there are crosswalks and crossing signals. read more

Unfortunately, we were here recently and none of the staff were wearing masks (or gloves) and there appeared to be absolutely no safety precautions in place. We won't return. read more

I've been coming here for decades at this point, and it is a solid meal every time. If you're looking for a good greasy meal for a fair price, then you can't do much better. The parking is terrible, and the menu is a little bloated to the point were they could cut some items and focus a bit more on their main offerings to take things to the next level, but that's just nit picking. The Little Island is an institution and I always leave with a smile on my face and a bowling ball in my gut. read more

My first time here but noted continual customer traffic for this 3 table literally "little island". My husband enjoys their hot dogs but I was not to thrilled with my polish sausage that was deep fried and they deep fried my grilled onions. They serve fresh cut fries but they were a little dry for me so overall the average rating. It's so close to my house that I wouldn't mind coming again but would try something else. I'll update the next time I try it. read more

So, this place really, really sucked. My wife and I both ordered burgers - they were so burned that you couldn't taste any of the toppings. The cheese fries were covered in a thick layer of awful-tasting cheese spread, and were swimming in grease. The milkshake was downright offensive. The one passable thing we had was the Chicago-style hot dog. I had high hopes for this place based on the reviews, but I will definitely not be going back. Mustard's Last Stand, just down the street, has a similar menu but does everything much, much better. read more

Talk about a local spot - one of the best turkey burgers I've had. Just straight up great, home-y spot. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

Seeing as though this is the only eatery within walking distance of my job, I decided to give it a try. SACRILEGE! They did NOT dip my Italian Beef!! HEATHENS! Once I get over this travesty, I'll give them another try. read more

Popped in to use a Groupon I bought last summer. The name describes this little joint to the T. It is literally on an island in the NW Evanston area. Parking can be a bit tricky as they are limited. There is also very limited seating inside. 2 booths, a 2 top, and 10 or so bar stools. Not a big deal unless there is a family in there with 10 kids running around playing pinball. Now on to the food. Burgers were pretty darn good. Hand cut fries were perfect. Also tried the tots which were pretty standard. Wishing I would have tried the cheese fries, maybe next time. If you're looking for a hole in the wall grease pit to get your burger/hot dog/fry on then this is a good option if you are in the Skokie/Evanston area. I personally prefer Wiener & Still Champion, but this is a close second. read more

Me and my family came here about 2 weeks ago for the first time and I was quite surprised at how good it was. We all had standard burgers with fries. The fries were as good as Poochies and the burgers were pretty close. I want to give Poochies the edge because I live in Skokie and support our local businesses. I am going to keep it simple and just say that I now have another burger option on the North Shore. Prices are on par with other local joints and the owner is a nice guy. Will come back. read more

The first time I came here, I was totally turned off by the guy at the counter because he seemed annoyed that I (only customer) came in. They have really good greasy fries, however, so I came back. MA wasn't kidding when he said service is a little brusque, but the food is good and prepared quickly. They've got a good selection of sandwiches and offer regular or fresh-cut fries. My fresh cut fries usually taste burnt to me, so I stick with regular. Either way, they'll be served piping hot and poured into a bag that will eventually become translucent due to all of the grease. I've never eaten in, but there are a few tables inside if you wanted to stay. I'd watch out though, the guy behind the counter might give you stink-eye. read more

This place is so good that the owner is lucky that he won't be liable for my cardiology bills as I get older (Hey, it's a hot dog joint, ain't the healthiest stuff in the world). I have been passing by here since I moved to Skokie, and finally went in this morning. Boy am I glad that I did. Their hot dogs were terrific, and I had the best Polish sausage I ever had in my 33 years of being on God's green earth! Next thing I gotta try is their burgers. If they're like the dogs and Polish, I doubt that I will walk away disappointed. read more

This place gets 5 stars for being WAY better than it should be!!! Best burger in Evanston, maybe the north shore - and cheap! The owner takes great pride in the freshness and the quality of the food, something that is missing at most fast food joints. Upon first glance the menu (aka the wall) can be a bit overwhelming as there are a ton of frozen food options - but once you get past the Vegas like display of sodium, you'll see this is a burger, hotdog and fries joint. And the burger is terrific - packed fresh, never frozen and seasoned to perfection. Fresh pickle, mayo, LTO and bacon and you're set. Add some fresh, perfectly seasoned hand cut fries and you're good go. Old Neighborhood Grill has been my go to in the past, but no more! Thanks Little Island - keep it up!! read more