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    The Hat Chicago

    3.4 (208 reviews)
    InexpensiveBurgers, Fast Food, Hot Dogs
    Open 10:30 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)

    Order The Hat Chicago Takeout or Delivery

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    THE HAT CHICAGO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Chris J.

    I stumbled across The Hat during a quick day trip to Chicago. I needed to grab a meal before I hit the road back home. I grabbed a delicious chicken sandwich, fries, and a drink and they really hit the spot. Service was very quick and the restaurant really gave off a great local vibe. I'll be back for sure.

    Bacon cheddar burger had no bacon and covered in slop that is supposed to be cheddar cheese?

    Andrew P.

    The only plus here is that they're open late, but other than that, the food is very much left to be desired. I ordered a Buffalo chicken sandwich and it was mediocre. My partner ordered a Chicago dog, and I thought it was very mid. I guess I'll stick to my other late night spots.

    Char Vegan Burger
    Steve A.

    Could be said this place is old hat. It certainly looks like an old school Chicago greasy grill, whether that's a good or bad thing who knows. The Hat has burgers, but that's just one of many things. Also has one that's plant based. Falafel is another protein choice available as a burger or a side. A few times and I've had the vegan friendly choices. It's surprising this place has a few. The last time it was the Char Vegan Burger, which has got to be the healthiest item. It's about $8 and it's pretty big. This comes on a whole wheat bun, so you get grains and proteins. Be sure they don't put the cheese and mayonnaise on it. They don't seem to know any better and automatically put it on if you don't say to leave it off. Good place to go to even when it's late. It's open until early in the morning. The burgers include the meaty Vienna beef, but there's also the falafel and the other one for vegans.

    a view of a restaurant counter
    Jim U.

    I've ordered from here a few times. I do love the garlic fries. Prices aren't crazy, although their online menu pricing has not been updated. Some things are up to $1 off. So treat them as -ish prices. The burgers are good. Greasy. messy. Make sure you have napkins and I wouldn't recommend for on the go. They are a very good size too. I haven't ordered anything other then burgers as those always seem to be made very well. Current hours as of November 2022 Mon-th 1030am-3AM Fri 1030-4AM Sun 11am-3AM Yes they are open well past midnight every day of the week.

    Michelle L.

    Spotted this place right after clubbing on a Saturday night. Definitely made the right choice because this place definitely hits the spot in terms of after-clubbing food. The food takes a little bit but that's because the chefs/cooks are cooking everything fresh. Appreciate their service a lot! Plus their menu is pretty vast, so whatever you're craving in the moment, they got it (especially the Gyros). Definitely the ambiance was really retro and felt old school with their booths, I loved all the neon signs and felt like a cute little after drinking hangout spot.

    Restaurant Sign
    Mikei J.

    My second time here. First time was in 2019. Food is still tasty. The portions are a lot. Great place to grab something quick. Service is fast and they are friendly. Seating on the inside are a few booths, nothing fancy but it works. The outside seating is spacious and pretty.

    Called 5 times to place order. Was hung up on 5 times in middle of order. Called again twice. Phone was disconnected both times. Called once more. Phone was picked up and hung up immediately. By the way i sat outside and watched this happen. I just don't like ordering in person. If i could give negative stars i would. Moderate line. Just lazy workers.

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    3 years ago

    I have the Gyro salad. It was just OK maybe because the Gyro meat wasn't warmer. But I have had better.

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    Ask the Community - The Hat Chicago

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    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

    3.9
    (7.4k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Since Chicago is known for the Chicago-style hot dog and Italian beef sandwich, I knew I had to try…read moreboth while in town. Fortunately Portillo's offers both and it was recommended by locals and previous travelers to make this my one restaurant to try both. I arrived on foot on a Saturday before 10pm and there was a long line to order on the kiosks and a security guard by the door. The restaurant has two floors of seating with dated decor all around, assumingly part of the intended vibe of the establishment. The first floor seating was all taken but there were plenty of tables available on the second floor. I was able to try Portillo's hot dog and Italian beef sandwich. The hot dog included mustard, relish, celery salt, freshly chopped onions, sliced tomatoes, pickle, and peppers on a poppy seed bun. The paper wrapper was strategically wrapped around the Chicago dog inside out, knowing that the logo would be clearly visible when people take pictures of the unwrapped hot dog. I ordered a regular hot dog but probably should've ordered a jumbo hot dog for a dollar more since then regular was tiny; for comparison it was definitely smaller than a Costco hot dog. Although the toppings complemented the hot dog well, the bun was soggy from being wrapped in the paper for only a few minutes. The standard big Italian beef sandwich (slightly wet) was much larger for more than double the price of the hot dog, with no Portillo's branding on that wrapper. I was a little too excited to order this that I forgot to add sweet and hot peppers, but the sandwich still tasted very good. After ordering I realized I probably should've ordered the gravy on the side so I can dip the sandwich more, but again it was still very good. For dessert I tried the lemon cake slice and strawberry shortcake. The lemon cake was a little dry and really sweet and the strawberry shortcake had a little too much mascarpone cheese whipped topping for my liking, but of course I didn't have to finish it all. Portillo's is a good option for casual fast food and for travelers to try. I definitely prefer the Italian beef sandwich over the Chicago dog, but that is my personal preference. For a sweet treat, the strawberry shortcake is a nice option if no other dessert places are nearby. To save time during peak hours, it may be a good idea to order ahead on the mobile app.

    I tried to search 'best hot dogs in downtown Chicago' and the search brought up a lot of places…read morewhich would have been an expensive ride, several miles out of the city ... placed which had closed down ... or unrelated restaurants. Despite its 'tourist trap' reputation ... I figured, if they sell a lot of them, they must be good, right? Spoiler alert ... they sucked. Let's talk about the whole ordering system ... Chaotic, confusing, terrible instructions. This is all compounded by them hiring a cranky senior citizen who stands next to the kiosks and rudely scolds you when you aren't following the impossible to understand procedure. The restaurant is a pasta restaurant connected to a hot dog restaurant and looks a lot like the food court of a rest area off the highway, combined with a casino, including creepy mannequins on catwalks and lots of red and purple spotlights and neon. I opted for a regular Chicago dog (jumbo) ... and some sort of special spiced/smoked Chicago dog. It took nearly 20 minutes from order time to the time my bag arrived at the counter. The bottom level doesn't have nearly enough seating for everyone ... and of course no signs direct you to the upper levels, where tons of empty tables are. Filthy, empty tables. Just looking at the dirty tables was enough to give someone food poisoning. Both hot dogs were cold. It was clear they were probably sitting out being thrown into bags, assembly line style, because they didn't taste fresh (or hot). The bun wasn't toasted or buttered ... Just a cold white poppy seed bun for the 'special' dog and a plain white cold bun for the other. Beyond being lukewarm, the hot dogs were pretty bland and tasteless. I could barely taste the relish or mustard. All I could taste was the dill pickle spear resting on top or the odd little spicy peppers with their stem caps. I recommend ordering some dipping sauce, or cheese. I was very disappointed ... which was slightly offset by only wasting $5.50 per hot dog, which was about $5.00 too much but at least not approaching 'bad airport food pricing'. After trying these, I am all set with having another Chicago hot dog. Maybe it would have lived up to the reputation at a fresher place. This is clearly a mass-produced, assembly line kind of tourist trap. There were hundreds of people there at 2 p.m. For reference, my top hot dog spots ... Pink's in Los Angeles ... Ben's Chili Bowl in DC ... Olneyville System in Providence ... Coney Island in Worcester (probably more for nostalgia) ... so it's not like this is my first fancy hot dog experience. One last thing ... the milkshake was no different than McDonalds.

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    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago
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    Al's Beef

    Al's Beef

    4.3
    (471 reviews)
    2.1 mi
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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.

    Photos
    March 5, 2024
    March 5, 2024
    Keto style double with bacon
    Keto style double with bacon
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    Italian Big Beef
    Jim's Original

    Jim's Original

    4.2
    (795 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $

    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.

    The smell of caramelized onions hits pretty much immediately as you approach the window. No line…read moremidday. We were served quickly and got the polish sausage that comes with fries. Both were nice and hot. Fries were crispy and that first snap into the juicy sausage was worth the trip. No seating, so be prepared to eat in your car and get a bit messy. Also be warned the peppers are legitimately spicy, those serranos had my partner sweating. Glad I tried it, but not something I'd eat all the time, great late night drinking kind of food.

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    Short line today
    Short line today
    Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich
    Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich
    Sign from around the corner.

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    Sign from around the corner.
    Gene & Jude's

    Gene & Jude's

    4.2
    (2.6k reviews)
    9.3 mi
    $

    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
    The inside of the restaurant
    Single Hot dog/with Fries
    Single Hot dog/with Fries
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    Nov 2025.
    The Wieners Circle

    The Wieners Circle

    3.6
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $

    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.

    Photos
    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!
    Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char dog and fries.

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    Char dog and fries.
    Devil Dawgs -  South State

    Devil Dawgs - South State

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    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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    Devil Dawgs -  South State
    Devil Dawgs -  South State
    Devil Dawgs -  South State

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    The Hat Chicago - burgers - Updated July 2026

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