Cancel

Open app

Search

VinnyD's

4.7 (203 reviews)
InexpensiveGelato, Shaved Ice, Hot Dogs
Closed 2:00 pm - 8:00 PM

VinnyD's Photos

VINNYD'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - VinnyD's

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Shaved Ice
Angelica S.

This was my second time here, I was craving a cold sweet treat! The mini size even though a small cup, still had a good portion size. They have different types of food and drink options on the menu. I haven't tried their food but maybe next time. The staff is very welcoming, and the service was somewhat quick depending on the time of day! It a little hidden but I like the lights they have and the outdoor seating!

Curly fries
Lakeisha H.

Back at it again! Love this place such a cool spot in the summer. Best Italian Ice in the city. The entire family loves it and they always provide great service.

Italian Beef.  Juicy hot style.
Scott S.

Vinny D's may well have the best Italian Beef in Chicago. I've been to dozens upon dozens, but these folks have created something truly special. Let's break it down: Beef Of course it's thinly sliced like you would expect, but the tenderness is melt-in-your-mouth. A quality meat is used that's clearly cooked at the right temp for the proper amount of time. Easily pulls apart with your fingers; never mushy. Certainly never chewy. Not a sliver of fat or gristle shows up. Juice The juice features the exact right amount and type of herbs and spices. Sitting at the bottom of your sandwich container will be exactly what you want to see in terms of the Juice: Not too watery; with tiny oil slicks floating on the top here and there. It's a perfect balance. Getting that right is no easy task. The Giardiniera (hot variety) I'm doubtful that the giardiniera is Vienna Beef brand, and that's a good thing. I love the Vienna style but it gets old. I need to ask these guys, but this could very well be home-made. There's little cubes of cauliflower in theirs which, while it's a small detail, provides an amazing little texture crunch and taste to the experience. Inspired Bread As far as I'm concerned, this is what sets apart the 'okay' level from the 'spectacular' category. They have absolutely nailed the bread. It's never stale and chewy like so many places. Oh no. It's packed full of flavor. Most importantly, and I cannot stress this enough, it HOLDS TOGETHER from beginning to end. I've even taken their Italian Beef sandwiches home to eat. 10min of walking later, I break out the sandwich. That bread is not only still in one piece, it maintains its structural integrity until the last bite. Listen, if you know about Italian Beef and the bread....you know that's a serious accomplishment. Many places lately the bread is positively falling apart after 2 bites. Not here. Consistency Lastly, and most importantly, let's talk about consistency. Anyone can get a great sandwich going at least some of the time. Only a handful can knock it out of the part most or all of the time, and these folks do it. I've eaten quite a few at Vinny Ds at this point, and it's been the exact same quality every single time. It takes real discipline to not get sleepy and lazy and sloppy when making something as simple as an Italian Beef sandwich, so a huge round of applause for the staff. Staff Always friendly. Always cool. Final Bravo, Vinny Ds. Bravo.

Italian cookie gelato was amazing!!! Creamy and delicious

I stopped by and Carlos was asking people to try free samples. He was sooo friendly and sweet. So I got the Italian cookie gelato. It's sooo good! Highly recommend stopping by this family owned spot!

Lemonade "slushy" Cherry slushy  Root beer float

Imma give them 4 stars even though I was really disappointed they handled my concern when I had a question. We stopped at Vinny's around 7:30 PM on Sunday evening when it was very hot. We ordered two slushy's lemonade and a cherry and a root beer float. There was no slushy in the lemonade, It was all drink. When I went back up to the counter to let them know I got lemonade the lady behind the counter went on a tangent for a good 30 seconds and I couldn't understand a word she said except for "do you want to give it back?" After all that I said no thank you and took my slushy back and drank my lemonade. The cherry slushy was fine. It had slush in it and the root beer float was good. I won't let their rude customer service or failure to give me a lemonade slushy stop me from going back cause if I'm being honest, the lemonade was actually fire!

Italian Ice (Kiwi and Strawberry)

Cute little shop with fun summer options as well as good food options. I went for Italian ice the one day it was warm in Chicago miraculously and it did not disappoint.

Beef!

Incredible service, and the best Italian beef I've ever had. Carlos and Mary are both amazing! I'll be returning as soon as we're back in town.

Supermam ice cream
Savanah A.

Amazing ice cream! The kids gots gelato and Italian ice everything was so tasty!! Super friendly service. They even give pup cups to the furry friends:) We will be coming back!

Medium Oreo Gelato on Waffle Cone
Mikei J.

My family and I were walking up Division and stumbled upon VinnyD's. I'm glad we did. I'd never heard of it. The guys at the shop are super friendly. We were able to taste many different flavors prior to ordering. The Gelato is EPIC!! I hate to say that my husband got the chocolate milkshake and it was not good. None of us liked the milkshake but we all LOVED the Gelato. The shop being a walkup has a vintage feel and very welcoming. I definitely recommend.

Italian Ice (kiwi strawberry + vanilla gelato)
Julia Q.

Lovely spot to try a variety of Chicago classics. We came here to try italian beef, but ended up ordering a scoop of Italian ice and a Chicago dog as well. The Chicago dog was by far my favorite item- great ratio of all the traditional toppings, great value for the price we paid. It may have been the best Chicago dog I've tried. The italian beef was also tasty, but the flavor was mostly coming from the giardiniera/pickled veggies rather than the meat itself (beware if you aren't a fan of spice! I am someone who loves spice and even I found myself picking out some of the jalapeños). The portion size was also pretty small. I would recommend ordering the Italian ice to enjoy out on their patio- make sure to add gelato (in my opinion, the best part!) Note: I went on a really nice Chicago summer day, and they only had patio seating available. The inside/restrooms seemed blocked off from customers.

Nutella, coconut, Oreo , strawberry chip.

See all

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Sara P.
0
17
25

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Rus D.
26
23
6

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Sam S.
740
24
4

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of B C.
0
545
320

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Great dog, great customer service. We're going back tomorrow for the homemade Giardiniera, delicious.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Kyle B.
169
6
0

7 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jason W.
264
67
74

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kevin J.
5
101
26

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Chicago style hot dog with all the toppings is so good and tasty and it was just 4.25$

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 3 of 6

Ask the Community - VinnyD's

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Gelato 2,452 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Gaijin - Strawberry Donut

Gaijin

4.3(788 reviews)
1.5 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
$$

Wow! My friends took us to this restaurant while we were visiting Chicago, and it was amazing. We…read morehad a reservation and did show up about 15 minutes late. The hostess said we could still be seated but another reservation was coming an hour later. I had never had okonomiyaki before, but I got to try three different kinds plus some yakisoba. We ordered four dishes and shared them among the four of us. We got the pork belly yakisoba, pork osaka style okonomiyaki, shrimp osaka style okonomiyaki, and the mushroom and yuba Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. My favorite dishes were probably the pork ones, but I really liked trying all of them! When our waiter asked if we wanted dessert, we said how the hostess told us we would need to leave by a certain time for the next reservation. However, he said we could order dessert anyway. I thought it was weird the hostess was being so finicky about the time, since usually 15 min late is within reason. We did get the red panda. It's mostly ice and a little ice cream, but it was very good and so cute! I would definitely come here again! It is a bit loud if you have anyone in your party who has trouble hearing. You are also quite close to other people in the restaurant.

Our little fam had such a great, cozy weekend lunch here. The restaurant wasn't busy or packed, and…read morethe host and staff were so friendly. We really enjoyed the Beef Osaka and the pork belly soba noodle stir-fry - both were yummy and satisfying. The red panda shaved ice with ice cream was also a huge win for our toddler. Overall, we had a really nice experience and will definitely be back.

Photos
Gaijin
Gaijin - Pandan-Coconut Donut

Pandan-Coconut Donut

Gaijin - Old fashioned

See all

Old fashioned

Baobing Bar

Baobing Bar

3.9(53 reviews)
1.6 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
$$

This takeout window connected to Duck, Duck, Goat has such fun soft serve sundaes. Chili crisp on…read moreice cream trended years back in China, but this is still the only spot I know of in Chicago that hopped on the trend. Although I enjoy all of the ice cream options here, I'm partial to The Mango and The Chili Crunch. Sometimes it feels like Chicago is surprisingly lacking in fun ice cream flavors compared to other major cities, so this is a breath of fresh air. The sundaes are pretty expensive at $12 each, but each one can feed almost 2 people. There's a small patio right next to the takeout window where you can eat. Personally, I've never ordered dinner from here because the prices are insane, but if you enjoy eating at Duck, Duck, Goat, I think this is a great way to pick up some quick takeout and dessert.

One of the few places I've ever seen served ice cream with chili oil so I had to try!!…read more I ordered the chili crunch. It is a vanilla soft serve with chili oil crunch on top with dried strawberries, cilantro, and 13 spice wonton chips. It was definitely an experience to eat it as it's both savory and sweet. I did like the crunch in the chili oil crunch and the 13 spice wonton chips as it added a nice crunchy texture. It's definitely not for everyone so if you're up to try something new, I would recommend! Ordering is on the side of the building and the chili crunch came out fast! The little patio outside was nice to enjoy my sweet treat.

Photos
Baobing Bar
Baobing Bar - The Chili Crunch - vanilla soft serve, chili crunch, spiced wontons, strawberries and cilantro

The Chili Crunch - vanilla soft serve, chili crunch, spiced wontons, strawberries and cilantro

Baobing Bar - Jasmine pearl + grass skirt cocktails

See all

Jasmine pearl + grass skirt cocktails

Mario's Italian Lemonade

Mario's Italian Lemonade

4.5(802 reviews)
2.5 miUniversity Village
$$

Tried this for the first time and really loved it! We went on a Tuesday after work hours, and it…read morewas surprisingly not too crowded. Line moved really fast and the staff were all great! The menu is located on the side of the shop, but it is easily accessible right before you order. Very cute spot, and I like how the exterior has handwritten text, giving it a local flare. It is a classic grab and go place. They have a variety of flavors. The Lychee flavor was so good, with bits of lychee in the dessert. I will come back to try the other flavors!

My first time going here! Expect a long line when you arrive but don't worry it moves fast. Their…read moremenu is written on the side of the building. You can choose up to two flavors. They serve fresh homemade Italian ice. The prices for their Italian ice a reasonable. They do accept cash and card. We ordered two mediums $6 each. Mine was blue raspberry with watermelon and my boyfriend ordered cherry with lemon. The cherry was delicious. It's a balanced amount of sour and tart with sweetness. The lemon was also very good and fresh. You could never go wrong with that classic flavor. Blueberry raspberry was very good as well. Slightly sour and sweet. The watermelon was OK it is very light in taste. There were watermelon chunks in the mixture. Along with the lemon flavor there were chunks of lemon in there. The ambience was very fast-paced you must know exactly what you want when you get there and listen out for your name. Be sure to grab some napkins and enjoy. The icy does melt pretty fast after getting it but it's so wort it. Full of flavor and worth the hype. Can't wait to go back again!

Photos
Mario's Italian Lemonade
Mario's Italian Lemonade - Mango Ice @ Mario's Italian Lemonade Chicago, IL . Old Fusion Italian Ice,Nuts/Seeds Smacks Open at Summer Season Only. Cool!

Mango Ice @ Mario's Italian Lemonade Chicago, IL . Old Fusion Italian Ice,Nuts/Seeds Smacks Open at Summer Season Only. Cool!

Mario's Italian Lemonade - Lemon ice - Size small.

See all

Lemon ice - Size small.

Duck Duck Goat

Duck Duck Goat

4.1(2.2k reviews)
1.6 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
$$$

This was my favorite stop at my visit to Chicago earlier this month! Duck Duck Goat checks all the…read moreboxes from gorgeous interior and sultry ambiance offering different looks for each room, to mouth-watering dishes and stunning cocktails. We had the Dan Dan Slap Noodles, Crab Rangoon and Xiao Long Bao that had us wishing we came hungrier to try more dishes. The chef offers a new, fun twist to Chinese favorites; the pineapple and mascarpone-almond filling in the Crab Rangoon was excellent! Our wonderful server recommended the Dan Dan Slap Noodles, it being his favorite dish, and it did not disappoint! The Chai'd and True cocktail had me rethinking my opinions on bourbon it was so delightful. Come hungry!

We made reservations for brunch on a Sunday. This place was packed when we arrived and we were…read morestill able to get seated right away. It's crazy it's completely died down by the time we were finished with our meal. The service was great, the interior decor was beautiful and the staff was friendly. The dim sum offered for brunch was good as well but pricey. Especially since some dishes were only offered with two pieces. If you have a party of three then you're kind of forced into buying two of the same dishes. Which is strange. Traditionally most dim sum dishes have three pieces. Rarely see 2 pieces being offered especially for double the price. We ordered their Jiaozi, Char Sui Bao, crab Rangoon, chilly chilli noodles, and their Xiang long Bao. All were great. The chilly chilli noodles is served cold and was very flavorful. The Xiang Kong Bao was amazing. The potstickers was probably my favorite dish and it's mess up char Sui Bao. We were going to order wings but they had ran out I guess by 12pm on a Sunday. I was also going to order fried rice but it wasn't offered for brunch. Overall despite the priciness of the menu, we still enjoyed our food and the service. I obviously knew what I was getting myself into by visiting this place, and can definitely see myself returning in the future.

Photos
Duck Duck Goat - Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.

Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.

Duck Duck Goat - Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.

Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.

Duck Duck Goat - Duck Duck Goat To Go - Order via Caviar or Tock.

See all

Duck Duck Goat To Go - Order via Caviar or Tock.

Momotaro

Momotaro

4.1(1.4k reviews)
1.6 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
$$$

By far some of the best sushi I've ever had and the way it just melts in your mouth is absolutely…read moreexquisite. The interior is divine and the service was impeccable. I came here to celebrate my anniversary, and they even gifted us champagne for the occasion. Our server was so attentive, always on top of what we needed, and everything came out right on time. One of my favorite dishes on the menu is the Momo Maki. For nigiri, I absolutely loved the hamachi (yellowtail) and the akami (bluefin tuna). I also tried the Yakitori Don, which is a grilled chicken thigh over rice with a soft poached egg and it was so flavorful. Another must-try is the Tsukune Dango: chicken dumpling mochi rice topped with a soft egg and truffle mustard, it was so delicious! I also had the Mishima skirt steak on skewers and it was tender and cooked perfectly, though the flavor was a bit mild for my taste. Overall, an unforgettable dining experience and I cannot wait to come back!

Came back for another amazing lunch. One of my favorite interiors, wonderful, attentive service…read more Tried the scallop Motoyaki, Omakase nigiri, and the burger. Scallop had such a distinct flavor and texture, I wanted to lick the shell. It was pricey but it was a flavorful experience. The Omakase was also amazing, the fish were mostly new to us. I loved trying new the fish, with varying texture and flavors. So good! Kind of spoiled us for quality. The burger is legit one of the best in the city. Bold claim with how many killer burgers exist, this Momo Royale stands out with Asian flavors and a bao bun, complementing the rest of the theme. The fries were also banging, using a Japanese sweet potato. If you haven't tried them, eat these or buy them and bake them. Like a tastier, less sugary sweet potato. The work so well as fries. Definitely coming back to try more items on the menu. Or order the same things.

Photos
Momotaro
Momotaro
Momotaro

See all

Crying Tiger - Pork Belly (very good and flavorful)

Crying Tiger

4.2(208 reviews)
2.3 miNear North Side

Dined in May 24, 2026…read more I visited Crying Tiger for dinner with my siblings, and we had an amazing experience from start to finish. The ambiance was beautiful and created the perfect atmosphere for a great evening out. Our waitress, Nelly, was exceptional. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and always available whenever we needed anything. She provided excellent recommendations for appetizers, entrées, and drinks, and every single suggestion was a hit. For appetizers, we ordered the chargrilled sugar cane beef, pork belly, and dumplings from the weekly special menu. Everything was outstanding, but the pork belly was my favorite. It was perfectly seasoned, with a delicious salty flavor and crispy edges that made each bite irresistible. For our entrées, we enjoyed the Curry Wagyu Short Rib, Lobster Pad Thai, Rolled Rice Noodles, and Crisp BBQ Chicken. The standout combination was the Crisp BBQ Chicken paired with the Rolled Rice Noodles. Honestly, those two dishes should be offered as one meal because together they were absolutely delectable. We finished the evening with the Crying Tiger dessert, which was delicious and the perfect ending to a fantastic meal. For drinks, we tried the Freezer Martini, and trust me--one is all you need! Overall, everything was a 10/10. Between the incredible food, wonderful atmosphere, and outstanding service, this was a memorable dining experience. I would definitely visit Crying Tiger again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal.

I was lucky enough to snag an easy Sunday night reservation at Crying Tiger! My husband and I have…read morebeen excited to try this place, but it's not easy to get a table on the weekend. The restaurant itself is beautiful and super detailed. Everything from the ceiling to the uniforms was considered. We started with the very popular prawn toast, which did not disappoint and is definitely more of a stuffed fried roll than any kind of toast. To drink, I had a milk punch which was full of Thai tea flavor and my husband had a colada. For our entrees we opted to share the rolled noodles and the duck curry--both were unique and flavorful. The rolled noodles were sweet and crispy, which was unexpected. The curry was just a tiny bit spicy and complemented the beautifully tender duck. We did try the Crying Tiger signature dessert and it completely stole the show. One of the best restaurant desserts I've ever had. A can't miss!

Photos
Crying Tiger - Entrance

Entrance

Crying Tiger - Prawn Toast

Prawn Toast

Crying Tiger - Thai Iced Tea

See all

Thai Iced Tea

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Salad

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown

4.7(243 reviews)
2.6 miNear North Side
$$$
Fine dining
Large group friendly

The food is very fresh. Soup base is Not too spicy. The service is good. Price is reasonable for…read morethe high quality but on the higher end.

I've enjoyed a decent amount of hot pot chains and locations, but was really impressed with the…read moreoverall vibe and food quality. Very modern and trendy interior which felt very welcoming, with some nice booths overlooking the street below and windows all around. Mikey was our server and was not only very attentive and helpful, but really upbeat and made the whole experience so fun. We had the Chongqing level 1 broth and the Golden Chicken broth and both very really flavorful while not being overbearing. Was pleasantly surprised at just how much chilies and spice were in the Chonqing level 1 broth, and the chicken broth was rich and delicious. The meat quality was also very fresh and tender and same goes for the veggies. A standout favorite for our table was the crispy fried sticks (didn't get the exact name unfortunately) that absorbed some of the sauce and we're absolutely delicious. Pretty nice assortment of apps and sauces at the sauce stations scattered around. We had a few cocktails and they were also a nice treat and went well with everything. Overall great presentation and vibe and for a pretty fair going price that these premium hot pot places. This would just seemed to be a notch above the others on a relatively quiet Saturday afternoon. Would come back

Photos
Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Cold Salad Bar Area

Cold Salad Bar Area

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown
Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown

See all

Bar Sótano

Bar Sótano

3.9(169 reviews)
2.2 miNear North Side
$$$

We absolutely loved trying this place. It felt incredibly exclusive, almost like a hidden gem…read moretucked away from everything else. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, the service was exceptional, attentive, welcoming, and seamless. The drinks were amazing, and every dish we had was truly exquisite. Calling it Michelin-star quality almost feels like an understatement. Everything was crafted with such care and precision. To top it all off, we even got to see the chef, who took a moment to say hello.. it made the experience feel even more special and personal. We'll definitely be back.

Stopped in on a Friday night and so happy we did! This place is hidden in the back through Frontera…read moregrill, down some stairs, but what a great find. We were lucky to come for happy hour and enjoyed every food option on the menu short list (yum croquettes, chicken and the chefs special taco!) as well as a strawberry margarita and Mezcal old fashioned. Flavors were fantastic and the margarita was not too sweet. Finished off with pulpo (what a fun, tender yet crunchy take!), bone marrow (so decadent and relatively large portion with crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside bread), and ceviche (I think it had sesame oil? What a delight). Not a surprise, since I've always loved chef Rick Bayless, and chef Jackie is great as well. Came with two kiddos and they were very accommodating with kids menu and coloring options.

Photos
Bar Sótano
Bar Sótano
Bar Sótano

See all

VinnyD's - gelato - Updated June 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...