This review is for the food cart, not the restaurant on Division. I tried this food cart for the…read morefirst time last night. I got some morcilla, a pastillo, an alcapurria, and a cornmeal breaded cheesy finger, the name escapes me. The morcilla tasted like it had been in the pan all day, wasn't spicy at all and had a bad after taste. The alcapurria was short on filling and short on flavor. The pastillo was filled with chicken which I had not expected and the pastry was flavorless. The only thing I liked were the cheesy breaded fingers, the name beginning with an "s". I won't be back unless I can't find these delicious breaded cheesy fingers elsewhere.

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.

Small place but outdoor seating available. Got the Double Fatsos w/cheese combo. A little greasy…read morebut well worth it. Place is pretty clean, staff is nice.

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.

Customer service is good. They are clean, and Hotdogs were good had to go back to get more hope to…read moresee them again at Humboldt park.

I am writing this from a volunteer perspective. I was able to volunteer and stay in the convent…read morelast weekend. It is amazing how hard this place works to get food to the Humboldt Park community. We were able to get meals to over 600 families. Every person you come in contact with is genuinely caring and is willing to help. I only take away one star because at times it can be extremely hectic and a little unorganized, but there is so much that goes into these events I suppose that is to be expected. FYI. One of the Nuns from here won the cooking show Chopped. Pretty neat!

This organization helped my best friend out in a very difficult situation. He was released from the…read morehospital the week between Christmas and New Year after being there 7 weeks. He went home to no electricity and no food. He was unable to get in to DHS or other agencies due to the holidays. He found this place online on his phone. He emailed. And an angel named Sister Stephanie responded to him suggesting other places he could reach out to. He was able to get his electricity back on. Sister Stephanie personally delivered food to him to ensure he had food until he was able to get to DHS. A true blessing.

Oh, how I miss that one big guy that used to say, "gimmie a beef, drag it, and a bag to travel"…read more Or, "gimme an ice, cap it, next!" Johnnie's is an icon, just based on the experience of listening to that guy talk. Ah, but he's long gone, and new ownership abounds. But the beef is still great. One of the best beef sandwiches around, combos that are seasoned just right, and Italian ice That hits the spot on a hot summer day. I think the hot dogs are just a throw in, and the fries are decent. But it's the beef that keeps bringing you back. Not much ambiance, unless you want to stand and watch the cars roll by on North Avenue, but the smell of the sausage cooking is intoxicating. The price of the beef has gone up, and I swear it's a tad smaller, but if you're in the neighborhood, nothing hits the spot quite like a Johnnie's beef sandwich. I can still hear the big guy...."Whaddah need, gimmie a beef, wet, sweet and hot, That'l be nine fiffy two, bag it, next!" I miss him...

Johnnie's Beef is known. It has a reputation. One that it upholds with every hot dog and beef…read moresandwich they serve. You've undoubtedly heard the rumors and they are true! Choosing an "off" night (example: a weeknight) or during a less-than-ideal time (example: during a snowstorm) will give you the quickest experience for Johnnie's as the line can get LONG and parking is terrible (tiny lot). Note: this was my second visit as my first attempt, on Father's Day 2025, was a magnificent bust. We had no line and plenty of seating this time! They have a big menu, but save the cute stuff for a follow-up visit and get a beef (& hot dog is really hungry). Do yourself a favor and get an Italian Ice too, time of year is irrelevant. You can thank me after your tastebuds recover from being overwhelmed. Is the food THAT much better than other spots, you ask? Not handedly, no. But the whole experience, especially if you wait in line (in the sun as there is zero shade), is what makes this place great. It really is a delightful Chicago experience. Put Johnnie's at the top of your list this summer, plan accordingly, and ENJOY!

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.

Don't order from here. First they send your order to another location…read more Then when I figured that out and cancelled and lost money they sent part of the order. They said they would credit me and never did. Awful service. So disappointed in them.