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    Small Cheval- Wicker Park

    4.3 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateBurgers, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    SMALL CHEVAL- WICKER PARK ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
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    Moderate noise

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    Arash R.

    Small cheval always delivers. Solid burgers, great service, outdoor seating makes for a great summer spot and the soft service is a must try if you are craving something sweet. Our popular local burger destination for a quick bite. On the pricier side compared to the other comparable burger joints hence the 4 stars.

    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.

    Signature Double Cheeseburger w fries
    Karen L.

    This place is gluttonously amazing. The burgers have the perfect amount of onions, sauce and cheese. Cooked to perfection. The fries are good but the burgers are the star of the show. Love a soft serve dipped cone. This is my fave "fast food" in the area!

    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.

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    4 years ago

    We love this place and so easy to pick up in out neighborhood! Always burgers and fries!

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    4 years ago

    No nonsense quality burger!Fries are really good as well..A go to whenever I'm having lunch in the area

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    3 years ago

    The guy at the register was very rude when ordering. Snapped at me when I was ordering.

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    Page 9 of 38

    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.

    View All 14 Questions

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4
    (9.5k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Wow! So happy I finally got to come here. They have recently started accepting some reservations…read moreand I was lucky enough to get one. I understand why they are famous for their burgers. I had the single cheeseburger and it lived up to the hype. I learned that the single burger is actually a double and the double is actually a triple. I was recommended to add an egg and bacon to the burger and I'm glad I did. Each bite was a glorious burst of flavor. The bacon is epic. Thick juicy slices. The cheeseburger was perfect. I didn't need additional condiments and that never happens for me. The fries were good too and came with a delicious aioli. For beverages, I loved my Arnold Palmer. I also tried a cocktail--the Long Island Iced Coffee. It was pretty strong. I added a shot of bourbon cream to it and that sweetened it up and made it perfect for me. Unfortunately, I didn't have room for dessert. Cute restaurant. Cozy inside. They have an outdoor patio as well. If you don't have a reservation, be prepared to wait. Excellent food. Excellent service. Jennifer took great care of me and made great suggestions. It's pricy but it's worth it.

    Several people who have either visited or lived in Chicago told me to try the infamous cheeseburger…read moreat Au Cheval so I made it a point to stop by during my trip. I planned to dine at Au Cheval for Sunday lunch and unfortunately there weren't any reservations available on Resy for lunchtime when I checked. Of note, Resy charges $2.50 per person to book the reservation which does not go towards the bill. After looping around for parking and finding a metered spot, I checked in at the restaurant shortly after 11:30am and was told I was 28th in line and the host could not quote a wait time due to the inclusion of online reservations. I thought that was a bit odd so I ended up walking around to explore the surrounding businesses. I finally received a text that my table was ready around thirty minutes later. The restaurant itself is not big but gives off an old fashioned vibe which I guess correlated with the type of food served. I ordered a single cheeseburger, a side of thick cut peppered bacon, and a side of French fries. I figured it was more economical to order a side of bacon rather than adding it to my burger so I can eat as much or as little as I wanted. The food came around fifteen minutes later. The burger itself did not look as big on the plate as I expected, although it was apparent how thick the two hamburger patties were. Since everyone was raving about the burger I had high expectations which unfortunately were not met. The burger tasted like a burger found at any average diner across the country. The bacon pieces were thick and flavorful but I don't think they elevated the burger as much as I'd like. Also, I wished there were cheese options rather than offering only American cheese which is probably the cheapest cheese that can be added on a burger. The fries reminded me of In-N-Out fries but the fries at the bottom of the cup were way too salty as if all the salt was added to the bottom of the cup instead of trickling down after being sprinkled on the fries on top. Considering all the hype about Au Cheval and the claims that their cheeseburger is one of the best burgers in the country or world, I was very underwhelmed. If this burger were to represent the Chicago food scene on a national level, it should rank lower than several other major cities in the United States.

    Photos
    The cooks were very attentive!
    The cooks were very attentive!
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)
    River Roast

    River Roast

    4.0
    (1.4k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$$

    I've lived in Chicago for over a decade and somehow have never made it to River Roast!…read more Decided to grab brunch outside on the river. Even though it was rainy, the patio is covered and there are large umbrellas shading you from sun or rain as well. Such a nice touch! Food was great, we also had pomegrante mimosas which I thought was different but delicious. To eat, we split the chicken and waffles and the french toast. The chicken and waffles could have been a larger portion, but it was delicious! Overall would love to come back here for dinner to see the river lit up!

    View 100% Food 70%…read moreService 0% This was my 22nd birthday dinner with my family. We sat down at our reservation time. Not a single person came to our table for 15 minutes until I got up and asked for someone to take our drink order. A very nice gentleman by the name of Victor came over and took our drink order. He was excellent. He told us that our server will be over momentarily, apologized for the wait, and got us our drinks. Then our server came over with our drinks. Didn't say anything other than asking what we would like to order. We ordered and receive our appetizer. 20-30 minutes after we finish our appetizer, he finally comes over to take our order after we ask a bus boy to get him. He take our food order and starts to walk away. We have to stop him in-order for us to get a drink order in as-well. We got our food, but still didn't have our drinks. Again, we had to ask a bus boy to get him. After our drink, he checks on us once, and then never appears until the bill. The bar messed up our drinks both time during the night. We never got our waiters name. But he was serving the outdoor table closest to the door on July 3rd, 2026. On the other hand, Victor was amazing for stepping up and occasionally making sure we were okay -- we tried our hardest not to bother him as he was dealing with his own tables. We also never received any compliments for my birthday. While the other tables got cakes and candles for their celebration, we got horrible service, and poorly made drinks. We will not be returning and hope other people use this message as a warning. Servers -- do better. Management -- do better.

    Photos
    River Roast
    River Roast
    River Roast

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    Girl & The Goat

    Girl & The Goat

    4.4
    (10.7k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$

    An amazing experience! Highly recommend!…read more We experienced the tiniest goat, which you get to sit in front of the kitchen, all the action. You need reservations, paid a flat rate per person, only include a drink, absolutely worth it. The menu is set by the chef. The waiter is super knowledgeable and friendly. A disclosure is that the chef doesn't make your food in front of you, the show is to see all the kitchen staff in action, you have front row seats to where the magic happens. A unique experience, the food was super delicious with a mix of flavors from around the world. I left with an amazing experience in terms of food and flavors, but my greatest lesson was how hard the kitchen staff works and the passion: the orchestrated action to keep with the orders, the constant heat from the kitchen, the attention to details, and the love for flavor perfection. Plus, one of the best old fashioned I have ever had!

    This restaurant is popular and super packed. It's a bit loud but the ambiance is nice and…read moreupscale-ish with the dim lighting, open kitchen concept, and interior decor. Service was a bit slow. It took 45 mins to get our first dish, which was the halibut. First, just want to comment that the portion size is quite small relative to the price of the dishes. The halibut. This was very delicious. Somehow the blueberry nuoc cham works? The fish was tender and flaky. The sauce was salty and full of umami with a hint of blueberry sweetness. This fish dish made me crave for a bowl of steaming hot bfluffy white rice. The string beans. Unless you are allergic to nuts, this is a must get dish. Perfectly cooked string beans (still crispy but not raw) sautéed with fish sauce vinaigrette was an absolute delight. It's also on the salty side which made me crave rice but it's such a flavor bomb. The cashews provided a contrast in texture but yet complemented the seemingly simple dish. I wish the portions were bigger. The galbi. It's was good but compared to the first 2 dishes, didn't really wow me. The meat was one rib strip (4 rib bones) cut into 4 pieces so it's a rather small portion for the price. The stone fruit slices was a nice pairing in that it provided a sweet and tart contrast to the heavier meat flavor. After trying this dish, I felt I personally prefer the LA galbi marinade flavor and preparation for short ribs. Overall, I'm glad I got to try this place. Would come back for the string beans on a splurge day .

    Photos
    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat

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    Small Cheval- Wicker Park - burgers - Updated July 2026

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