I had a traditional Chicago-style hot dog, fries, and a slice of their famous chocolate cake. I'm…read morenot usually a big fan of hot dogs, but this one was better than expected. The real highlight for me, though, was the chocolate cake -- incredibly soft, rich, chocolatey, and moist. It was the perfect dessert after dinner. The restaurant itself is super cool and full of old Chicago memorabilia and vintage items that make the place feel unique and fun to explore. If you're visiting town, it's worth stopping by just for the atmosphere alone. They also have a huge food selection and a full bar, so there's something for everyone. The service was great, and despite how busy the place can get, they have plenty of lines for self-service and ordering at the counter, which keeps things moving smoothly. Overall, a really fun spot to grab food while visiting Chicago.

Portillo's honestly feels like one of those classic Chicago hallmark staples that you almost have…read moreto try at least once when visiting the city. The atmosphere, history, and overall hype surrounding it definitely add to the experience. However, in my personal opinion, the ambience and reputation outweighed the actual quality of the food! I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich combo along with a classic hot dog. The customer service itself was actually very nice and prompt. The cashier helping me was friendly enough to let me sample their spicy chipotle-style sauce/spread that comes with the chicken sandwich, and honestly, that sauce was delicious. That said, I have to admit the hot dog itself was pretty underwhelming. I know Chicago-style hot dogs are iconic, but I personally felt like I've had better-tasting hot dogs from a Dodger Dog or even Costco. The relish here tasted oddly artificial to me -- almost like a strange paste consistency that I just couldn't get into. Maybe it's just my Los Angeles taste buds talking, but honestly, some of the best hot dogs I've had are from the street vendors off Hollywood Boulevard with the grilled onions, bell peppers, mustard, mayo, ketchup... you know exactly the kind I'm talking about!! Overall, I'd still recommend trying this place at least once simply because it's such a well-known Chicago institution, but for me personally, the food didn't fully live up to the hype.....

My friend was visiting from San Francisco and she wanted to try a Chicago dog so I took her to…read moreDevil Dawgs. Devil Dawgs makes the best Chicago dog I've ever had! So fresh and flavorful. She is pescatarian so it was awesome that she was able to get a veggie dog Chicago style. She also had the Icelandic Dawg which she said was very good as well. My Chicago dog came out very fast but her veggie dog took about 10 minutes. I love how the location is close to magnificent mile so it was easy to grab the dogs then go back to shopping. If you need to take someone to get a Chicago dog I highly recommend Devil Dawgs!

I ordered the 5-piece chicken strips with fries, a side of cheese sauce, and the devil sauce -- and…read morewow, this hit exactly how I needed it to. The chicken strips were perfectly crispy on the outside and super juicy on the inside. You can tell they're made fresh -- not dry at all, just tender and flavorful with that golden crunch in every bite. The fries were just as good -- hot, crispy, and the perfect base for that cheese sauce. Speaking of the cheese... so smooth and rich, it honestly made the whole meal even better. And the devil sauce?? SO good. It has that perfect balance of heat and flavor -- not overwhelming, but definitely gives a little kick that keeps you going back for more. Everything together was just one of those simple but so satisfying meals. Perfect portions, great flavor, and exactly what you want when you're craving comfort food. Definitely would order this again -- no question.

First time in Chicago so I had to try the national sandwich of Chicago! Al's beef has been serving…read moreup Italian Beef sandwiches since 1938. They have won several awards for their sandwiches and are said to have the best Italian Beef in Chicago. With all this being said, this was certainly a must eat on my trip! Their menu consists of their famous Italian beef, along with Chicago dogs, burgers, sausage sandwiches, chicken, and fries. There is definitely something for everyone here. The inside is casual and reminiscent of a fast food eatery. Really liked the yellow accents throughout the restaurant. I will also note that it was extremely clean inside, which is always appreciated. Ordering is simple and they will call your ticket number when your food is ready. All the food is served made to order and very fresh and doesn't take too long to come out! I ordered the Regular Beef, wet, with both hot and spicy peppers per the workers suggestion. Ordering the sandwich wet simply means the bread is dunked in the gravy/aus jus. If you want the real deal, this is how you order it. The peppers are optional as well, but complete the sandwich. The sandwich consists of their famous Italian beef roasted and sliced, served on freshly baked French bread. I can see why this sandwich is so highly regarded. The Italian beef that is made in house each day is tender, flavorful, and just perfect! It isn't chewy or tough either. The sweet and spicy peppers paired nicely with the savory beef. And the fresh French bread covered in the gravy--phenomenal! The gravy adds a lot of flavor to the sandwich. You do have to eat it quickly, otherwise the bread will fall apart, oh but it is so worth it. I got fries with a side of cheese sauce to go with the sandwich. By far some of the best fries I've had. Not super crispy, but not soggy either, the texture was just right. They were salted perfectly and dipping them in their velvety cheese sauce was a treat! A regular sub is roughly 6 inches and quite filling. The sandwiches are stuffed with ample amounts of beef. The price is also excellent considering how much you get. Overall, I would say Al's Beef lived up to all its praise. My sandwich was very memorable and was like nothing I'd had before. Everything is so fresh, between their beef, bread, and fries, it is all made in house. This isn't just some fast food spot, it is an institution. I was impressed with everything I ordered, especially the fries. They take a lot of pride in what they serve. This is evident in their customer service. If you are visiting Chicago, don't think, just go--you won't regret it!

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.

I've eaten a lot of Polish Sausage in my day and I just assumed it was the kind of thing that…read morecouldn't really be improved upon. I was so wrong. The Polish Sausage they're serving up at Jim's is so much better than any I've had before that it's almost an entirely different thing. It's just so flavorful and delicious. The spicing is phenomenal and the sausage itself is extremely above average. And it's taken over the top by the fresh bun and superb sautéed onions. I joked that we should start every day with one of these sausages, and while we didn't actually do that, I feel like that would've only enhanced our trip.

Yelpers what's good. Today I felt like having some Chicago Nostalgia food. So I stopped by Jim's…read moreoriginal for a good ole Maxwell St. Polish! It's an outdoor only eatery usually long fast moving lines. The smell of the grilled onions hit your nose immediately! I got a polish with onions and mustard and I also got a bone in pork chop sandwich with onions and mustard. And an added bonus FREE FRIES with every order! The polish is still one of my best around nice and juicy (pause) with a nice snap to them. The onions provide a slight sweetness with the tangy bite of the mustard just hits so great!! 8.9/10! The fries were hot, nice crisp on the outside and pillowy inside! 7/10 The Bone in pork chop sandwich was decent nothing special just a Chicago nostalgic sandwich. 6.8/10 Everyone from Chicago has been here and everyone from Chicago will tell you to go here for a real Chicago quick cheap eats experience. Right off the expressway so you can be in and out. And you may want to be in and out especially if you're from out of town. definitely worth stopping by! Remember ALL reviews are subjective

Superdawg is hands down the best hot dog in Chicago. My two absolute favorites are the classic…read moreSuperdawg and the Whoopskidawg -- which is basically their version of a Polish and SO good. The Superdawg is iconic for a reason, and the Whoopskidawg has the perfect smoky flavor with all the toppings. Also, people do not talk enough about the sides here. The Super Veggies are honestly one of my favorite sides anywhere, and the onion chips are dangerously addictive. Crispy, salty, and perfect with their sauces. Beyond the food, I love that it still feels old-school Chicago with the drive-in setup and giant hot dog mascots on the roof. It's nostalgic in the best way and somehow still lives up to the hype every single time.

Superdawg has been a long time favorite of mine. This visit…read moreI had a superdawg and a chocolate malt. I shared the super veggies with my mom. The service is prompt and the food is made to order. They have a couple small tables inside or tables outside. They also have drive in car service where they bring the food to your car

Obviously we had to come to Gene's & Jude's…read more Long before we planned our Chicago trip, I can remember seeing a feature about the place on TV. It was a no-brainer. The place is kind of out of the way, but hey, we had a car and some free time, so why not? I, of course, got the Hot Dog w/ Fries ("mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers") and yep it's a superior dog. I'm not sure if the copious fries really added anything to it, but the snap of the wiener and the tasty condiments added up to an extremely enjoyable experience. I can see why Gene's & Jude's is so highly regarded. It's a cool place (and super affordable, too).

The good: Vienna Beef hotdog and Rosen's bun…read more The bad: WAYYYY TOO MUCH mustard (my bun was a soggy mess) & the fries were too greasy and undercooked (floppy not crisp) For how much it's raved about, I can't say it measured up I'll stick with Bob-Os and Paradise Pup.

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.

You can't come to Chicago and not get a red hot, which is why we found ourselves driving fairly out…read moreof our way to The Wieners Circle. They had some options on the menu but we both opted for the Vienna Red Hot ("char"). It's a solid dog. The wiener is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the star of the show. It's got a terrific char and an irresistible snap. The flavor is better-than-average, too. The condiments didn't really do much for me, and I found something on there just way, way too salty. (The pickle, maybe?) Anyway, it's a quick, cheap, easy meal. I'd certainly eat it again.

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.

I love stopping here. It's the best place to get the cheapest dogs. I'd always recommend getting…read morethe two because you'll always want another one. The service was very fast and we were there while they were full. There is seating inside, but not a whole lot so don't plan on staying. We've been a couple of times now when we're visiting and will definitely be back again!

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.

Fatso's Last Stand delivers exactly what its name promises: unapologetically indulgent, old-school…read morecomfort food done right. The burgers are the shining stars -- juicy, generously sized, and cooked to perfection with toppings that strike the perfect balance of classic and creative. Whether you go for a stacked cheeseburger, bacon-loaded option, or a specialty creation, the patties are flavorful and satisfyingly beefy, with a great char and use of quality ingredients that keeps diners coming back. Beyond burgers, the menu also features hearty eats like crispy fries, loaded sandwiches, and thick milkshakes, all served with a no-frills attitude that lets the food speak for itself. Service at Fatso's Last Stand matches the laid-back but attentive vibe of the restaurant -- staff are friendly, efficient, and know regulars by name, creating a welcoming, neighborhood-favorite energy. While the pace can get lively during peak hours, especially on weekends, the team handles the rush with good humor and keeps orders moving. The ambiance is casual and retro in all the right ways, with diner-style seating and a comfortable, unpretentious environment that makes it perfect for relaxed lunches, casual dinners with friends, or late-night burger runs. It's not fancy, but when your focus is on big, delicious burgers and familiar comfort food, Fatso's delivers exactly what you're craving.

Yummy i get the deal hot dog ,soda and fries pretty good for a quick lunch…read moreI like the art on the walls , and remember chicago dog no ketchep !!! See you soon again

Excellent hot dogs! I don't even like hot dogs but we ordered from here and I am now a big fan of…read moreChicago style hot dogs. I love that the bun is soft with poppy seeds, and that there are so many toppings. I especially love that there were chilis on there. The hot dog casing itself was provided a nice crunch! Service was friendly. Seating is shared with the rest of the food hall.