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    Small Cheval- Wicker Park

    4.3 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateBurgers, American
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Small Cheval- Wicker Park Takeout or Delivery

    Small Cheval- Wicker Park Photos

    Business Info

    SMALL CHEVAL- WICKER PARK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Small Cheval- Wicker Park

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    Sidewalk out front
    David L.

    As a Chicago native visiting my old neighborhood, I was both excited and nervous coming back to Small Cheval. I had visited a couple of times pre-Covid and was a little disappointed at the quality and presentation of the burger. For those who don't know, Burgers are really all Small Cheval does. You can get fries and shakes on the side, but they're known for taking Au Cheval's famous (and difficult to get) diner burger and making it accessible to all. Anyway, on my visits several years ago the burger was just lack-luster. It was wrapped in foil, a little soggy, and inconsistently seasoned. On today's visit however, it was clear that they had made some changes and revamped production. The burger came in a cardboard container that didn't smash it, it was salty and meaty and the condiments were balanced... it looked better, it tasted better, and it was just a very pleasant surprise! As an added bonus the fries were about as crispy and flavor-forward as any I've had. Service was fast (fairly straightforward, not all that personable). The sun was shining on the outdoor patio, the tables were clean, and I was a happy guy.

    Alex M.

    I've now had small cheval from this location multiple times and all have been consistently good - it's one of my must haves when visiting Chicago! I've tried everything from the chicken tenders, to sando, to double cheeseburger (with and without bacon), to the fries and all hit the fast food spot. While it can be a little pricy, the quality is there and feel like it's valuable. I've only gotten it to-go via self pickup and delivery, but always pretty quick and friendly. The space itself has sons of outdoor seating, so can imagine how nice it is to enjoy outside. I've been to au cheval in NYC many times (on of my fav burger spots in the city) and the team hit it out of the park with this fast casual concept too.

    Oh yeah!
    Shannon Y.

    I had to check out one of these locations while on a short visit to Chicago. After hearing these burgers get highly rated by locals year after year, I had to give it a try, and I was not disappointed. I went for the house specialty Double Burger with fries. The burger was simple but very flavorful at the same time. All the ingredients together make it delicious, from the bun, the well seasoned meat, to the pickles a special sauce. The fries were also amazing and tasted like they were fried in beef tallow and sprinkled with truffle salt. We were lucky it was a nice spring day and temps were in the 80's to enjoy our lunch on the spacious patio. Parking can be a challenge, but when is that not a thing in Chicago. Something I am not used to after living in the desert for so long. Enjoy!!

    Donna V.

    Tried out Small Cheval after hearing all the hype, and the burger was nothing special to write about. If you're looking for a juicy burger, this is definitely not your place. The patties were under seasoned and incredible dry to the bone. Every bite was dense and monotone, even the bacon couldn't bring it to life. I do love a good height on a burger and Small Cheval did just that. I appreciate the golden fries, the garlic aioli, and the perfect outdoor benches where I can enjoy the lovely weather. But other than that, I honestly just paid a lot for a burger that only looked well composed, is this really one your best burger Chicago?

    Famous Fried Chicken Tenders, Golden Fries
    Jessica B.

    My friend and I ended up at Small Cheval on a chilly Tuesday evening. It was pretty quiet. You order inside and they give you a pager. As far as I can tell, they only offer outdoor seating. They have plenty of heat lamps outside to keep the cold at bay. They're almost too effective. It took longer than expected for me to get my food; my friend said it's likely because we went at a slow time and people usually order burgers, not chicken, so my food likely had to be made fresh. No complaints there. My friend ordered a coffee milkshake. The straws are not great, he reports. He says every time he's come here, the straws break so easily. I believe they use eco-friendly single use straws, which I can appreciate, but I did see at least two straws break before he could finish his milkshake. Enough about straws. I ordered the chicken tenders and golden fries. I usually try to avoid ordering chicken tenders when going out to eat, but these just appeal to me in a way that other restaurants' don't. They piping hot and extra crispy and just really hit the spot for me. It came with a dipping sauce. I chose honey mustard, but they offer a decent variety. The fries come with a ketchup and a garlic aioli, the latter of which I believe they make themselves. The ketchup is one of those fancy Heinz dip and squeeze packets. The aioli is more mayo forward; wish it had more garlic. The fries are alright: hot and crispy and properly salted, but no better nor worse than most other fries.

    James G.

    I ordered for delivery - just a burger and fries. The Fries were amazing. The burger was tasty, but I didn't care for the bun. It wasn't warmed or grilled, which would have made it better.

    Ordering area
    Andrew P.

    Streamlined local burger chain. We drove here to grab some protein after having a day in town and parked a few skips away. Unfortunately the seating is not designed for the winter and is outside. There are umbrellas for the rain, but the heaters were dysfunctional and made for a very chilly dining experience. Double Cheeseburger: classic meaty cheesy goodness. Tasted amazing! The buns, the melted cheese, griddle burgers were cooked to perfection: no complaints. Concrete - Coffee Toffee Thicker than a bowl of oatmeal. Sugary dairy goodness. Shake over soda any day. I think the food is delish, but this location is not geared for inclement weather.

    Maplewood & Pink Vodka Lemonade

    Great customer service staff, Virginia you a star. Nice and clean cozy chill vibe with hanging string lights, options to sit inside or outside, heated and spacious. IMHO the meat quality didn't meet the hype. Fries were okay, thought they were gonna be hand cut. Cold tasty beverages.

    yes yes yes! double cheeseburger with bacon, golden fries, and a strawberry milk shake.
    Jessica H.

    small cheval burger with bacon, a small fry, and a strawberry milkshake. absolutely no notes.

    outdoor seating
    Diana K.

    I loooovvveeee Au Cheval, but let's be real--sometimes you don't have 2 hours to spare or the emotional stamina to wait. Hence where Small Cheval comes in, the perfect next-best option. I come here all the time because the food comes out quick, everything's tasty, and the aioli? To DieFor The fries are seasoned to perfection and dangerously addictive. As someone with a long list of dietary restrictions (gluten, dairy, soy, sesame, oat), I love that I can eat here stress-free with the lettuce wrap burger ! Lots of outdoor seating, fun drinks, and easy-ish parking. A repeat fav

    Katherine Y.

    super fun summer evening vibes, i love the outdoor patio, and at around 8:30pm on a thursday night, it was super bustling. the fries were delicious, perfectly fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. i love that you could get a yummy little garlic aioli on the side too, i feel like most lil burger joints wouldn't have that. the vanilla soft serve was yummy too.

    Margaret P.

    I've been wanting to check out Small Cheval since we loved Au Cheval so much last time we were in Chicago, so I'm happy this time around we were able to try it. This is considered more of a fast casual shop with tons of outdoor seating. We ordered the double cheeseburger, some fries, and the chicken tenders. Everything knocked it out of the ballpark. Dare I say that the best fries I've ever had is here -- cause I really think they might just be the best fries. The burger and chicken tenders were also so delicious. I'd def recommend for anyone in the mood for a burger, chicken, and or fries!

    Single Hamburger with fries
    Joàquin M.

    I was really let down by this place. My friends say this place is the spot for an amazing burger but what I got was unfortunately a miss. The patty was over cooked and was really small relative to the rest of the burger. We came to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday and we're looking forward to this burger as well for our cheat meal. The saving grace were the fries and the aioli sauce that came with I had Steak 'n Shake later that same night and unfortunately Steak 'n Shake burgers made this small cheval burger look like a little punk.

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    Small Cheval- Wicker Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Small Cheval- Wicker Park

    Are there outdoor heaters on patio?

    Yes!

    Do they still have a plant based option at wicker park spot?

    Yes

    Why does the website say that they are operating during COVID via Caviar, DoorDash and Grubhub? I haven't been able to order at any of those sites for a month, nothing is working

    We ordered successfully via Caviar when we selected PICK UP and not delivery. We had the same thing happen with Alinea. I'm not an expert, but I'm wondering if it's a timing thing depending on how many drivers are signed on to deliver? Have you… Read more

    Are the burgers at Small Cheval the same as Au Cheval? I know Small Cheval has less options, but is it the same quality / taste as Au Cheval?

    They have the same owner but definitely taste different. The buns are more toasted at Au Cheval also the type of bacon they use is different. Au Cheval uses a pork face cut which is much thicker if you look at pictures of the two burgers. Also they… Read more

    What's the difference between this and the Au Cheval? I've been recommended the Au Cheval a lot, and when searching for it I also found this one...

    They do not offer the egg and pork belly on the burger like they do at Au Cheval. It's just regular bacon at Small Cheval. The quality is overall better at Au Cheval -- Small Cheval's benefit is that it's faster and no wait. It's a great alternative… Read more

    Where is their frickin phone number so you can call ahead for take out? I don't want to download Caviar!

    I live 3 blocks away and have been there several times. I am 99% sure you can't call to order ahead. That's why there's a line right after it opens @ 11. Call it playing hard to get or call it they aren't willing to make their food ahead as it… Read more

    Do they have a loyalty iOS app here, like Say2B or similar?

    No, but they has garlic aioli for your fries which is better so your stomach gets rewarded.

    Do they serve wine?

    I've had rosé here! It's from a can but still decent!

    Do they serve free range meat?

    According to a few years ago, the organic beef came from WW Johnson farms in Minneapolis. Don't know if the cows are free range or not, but coming from a farm background and raising black angus it does make a huge difference in quality. They could… Read more

    Are these burgers also cooked IN pork, as they are a Au Cheval, or is there an option to get one without?…

    Hello Faridah, We here at Small Cheval do not use pork fat, we use beef fat to season our griddle for the burgers. However we do cook bacon on the griddle. But if you let… Read more

    Is the patio area open in the fall?

    Not during winter

    I'm coming from out of town and don't have time to wait at "the real deal". Any wait at 11am on Saturday?

    There should NOT be a wait at Small Cheval at that time any day . On the slight chance there is, it would be short, but so worth your while. This place is really, really good.

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

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

    so glad we tried this place! we actually only waited about 15 mins to get seated at the bar on a…read morewednesday night around 7pm. we came here for my boyfriends birthday and we were so happy we chose to celebrate here. the two people that helped us was antonio and issa and they made the experience 10x better. they were very attentive and friendly and just easy to talk to. gave us good recommendations and good vibes. we both really liked our drinks and were happy with the spread the food came out. we got to eat the bone marrow first which also came with this really good sauce it was almost like a meat jam but was so good on the bread and then put some of the bone marrow on for the perfect bite. now the burger, you just have to try it because it really is that good. the sauce in it was so good and it just had a really good flavor. it was just an elevated burger. we got fries as well and we shared the burger so it we were really full after. the server brought out ice cream with a candle and some sort of chocolate sauce too which just made the overall experience. we were really happy with the service and food and it just made my bfs bday that much more special and memorable.

    No good vegan options :(…read more I got the green salad and added avocado (paid extra just for 30% of an avocado) and extra dressing. Overpriced salad for sure. Also the outdoor seating was horrible. No umbrellas so we were melting under the hot sun the whole time. My friends enjoyed the fries but said the burger lacked veggies.

    Photos
    Au Cheval - The cooks were very attentive!

    The cooks were very attentive!

    Au Cheval - Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    Au Cheval - Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

    Little Bad Wolf - Bad Burger and a side of mac and cheese

    Little Bad Wolf

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

    There's just something about a burger that actually lives up to the hype--and Little Bad Wolf does…read moreexactly that. Stacked unapologetically high, this burger is everything you want and more: juicy, perfectly seared patties layered with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and those golden, crunchy fried onions that take it completely over the top. Every bite is rich, savory, and just messy enough to remind you you're eating something seriously good. The toasted bun somehow holds it all together (barely), soaking up every bit of flavor without getting lost in the chaos. And then... the shoestring fries. Thin, crispy, golden perfection--light but addictive, with that ideal crunch that makes it impossible to stop at just one (or ten). They're the kind of fries you keep reaching for without even realizing it, especially dipped in that creamy, tangy sauce on the side. And let's not forget the drinks--just as good as the food. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the kind you sip slow while taking it all in (but somehow they disappear way too fast). It's not just a burger--it's one of Chicago's most iconic bites for a reason. Bold, indulgent, and absolutely worth every single napkin you'll need after. The ambiance inside is GORGEOUS!

    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

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    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(118 reviews)
    2.5 miRiver West, West Loop, Near West Side, West Town

    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.

    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!

    Photos
    NADC Burger
    NADC Burger - NADC Burger

    NADC Burger

    NADC Burger

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    Small Cheval- Wicker Park - burgers - Updated May 2026

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