The Most Delicious Fast Food in Chicago

Gene & Jude's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2468) • $

"Traditional Chicago staple. Dont let the long line detour you away. It goes quickly as the staff work their butts off! Simple and basic menu, hotdogs, tamales, fries and pop. There really isnt any seating inside so we ate on the trunk of my car. Maybe bring camping chairs if you plan to eat in the parking lot. Remember no ketchup, not even for the fries. You can also ask for fries not on the dog."

Paradise Pup

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1087)

"I couldn't leave Chicago without tasting one of their infamous hot dogs. I found small fast food cart a few minutes away my hotel near O'Hare airport. This street side stand had all the hallmarks of a genuine hole in wall culinary site - wow great hot dog - hot crunchy salty fries and lots of other tasty food cart meals. The service was great and now that I've completed the first part of my quest for authentic Chicago treats I'm going to search for some of their local pizza !!Bon Appetite Ronn just RonnThe hole in the wall food guy"

Fatso's Last Stand

★★★★☆ 4.1 (954) • $$

"Since these folks do not steam their hot dog, they grill it, it is going to taste a tad different. It still works amazingly well, and this one had all the trimmings to make this hot dog special. Love the little way they make the endings all cute.Prices are a tad on the high side but they serve alcoholic milkshakes! I thought about ordering one but figured to back off. Maybe I will get one of these and a hot dog before I leave this city.The floors were very sticky so points lost for ambiance.Great late night snack food overall."

Fry the Coop

★★★★☆ 4.2 (846) • $$

"Helenia is amazing. amazing customer service and amazing in all ways. thank you so much Helenia for understanding and helping my family and I this afternoon. she deserves a million. we will be back for sure because of Helenia's welcoming and compassionate heart."

Chicago's Dog House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (607) • $

"Have to go here if you want the famous style hot dogs. It has that and plenty more styles. Chicago's Dog House is a dinky place with a big ass menu of hot dogs and side items. Get a table inside if lucky. The prices are pretty good on most things especially on the lunch meals. Came here at lunch and it was good timing because it was cheaper. It has weekday lunch specials. This is the time to come, but it's still not that expensive any other times. Get a hot dog, drink, and fries for about $8, or get 2 hot dogs and fries for about $9 or so. This is only on weekdays. A funny theme is they name some of the hot dogs for celebrities. They have styles according to the person whether they're an actor or a politician. I got the Lightfoot Dog. This is a vegan sausage topped Chicago style. Also they have a Trump Dog. It's a very burnt sausage with ketchup and mayonnaise. That's so wrong! I think it's just on the menu as a joke. That would be hard to imagine someone eating a garbage hot dog like that. Good to take to go. It gets pretty cramped in here. There's lots of interesting toppings and there's options for vegans and vegetarians."

Mr. Beef

★★★★☆ 4 (568) • $$

"The excitement about not only the beef sandwich, but being the inspiration behind 'The Bear' is why I waited in line for 45 minutes. Y'all, you may have to wait a while, but it's worth it. Not being from Chicago made the experience even better. Once we stepped foot in the door it was just like a scene you'd see in The Bear. From the high intensity behind the counter to them slinging sandwiches left and right screaming at each other. It was truly the best sight to behold. This is it!Sweet Beef was superb and at such a great price that you can't beat."

Lawrence's Fish & Shrimp

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (590) • $$

"I've been going to this fishery all my life, and I love it! My parents worked at the post office, which was on Van Buren and Canal, when I was growing up and on payday, my father would take us to pick up his check, at the post office. They would pass out checks after 9:30 PM on a Thursday night and when we'd leave the post office, we'd always stop by Lawrence's. This wasn't every Pay day, but quite a few. Lately, I've been ordering the large oysters. I usually don't get anything with them, but in a large order, you get about 14 to 16 oysters, depending. I love them! Their shrimp are good, also. You never really have to wait, even though the food is cooked to order. I don't know about the shrimp, but I know my oysters are cooked to order. I've been getting an order of oysters once a week, every Friday. So, I'll be looking forward to going back this weekend. Recently, they've been giving a five dollar coupon and you can get five dollars off your next purchase of $25 or more. Plus, they have a rewards program and I've already benefited from that. I got six dollars and some change Off an order. Love Lawrence's!!"

Bollywood Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.4 (298) • $$

"I was a first-time visitor to the Bollywood Bistro, and I was pleasantly surprised with the authenticity and the sophistication of the dishes served. In an age where restaurants are cutting back on quality, this place stands out with its flavorful dishes as a place to eat and try the foods of India. Service was terrific, and the ambiance was modern--a great place for lunch or dinner. I have already put it on my shortlist of restaurants to eat at when near Naperville!"

Poochie's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (322)

"Still amazing! I wish I could take a picture of food but I literally inhale it, lol. It is still my favorite spot in Skokie and still plan my trips to the old neighborhood around eating at Poochie's.Thanks Poochie's!"

Chicken Works & Salad Company

★★★★☆ 4.3 (279) • $$

"This place never disappoints. I used to come here 10+ years ago and it's just as good as I remember. They have a salad bar as well as various chicken options and wraps. Great spot to grab lunch!"

Chicken Hut

★★★★☆ 4.1 (304) • $

"One time, walking up and down Broadway, we could not resist the smell of the grilled chicken out of this corner restaurant. We decided to walk in and order...the menu is pretty simple...whole chicken, half chicken, quarter chicken...then you pick your side....easy.The chicken was so delicious....the portion was large and the flavor profile of the marinate was right on point....The place is like a diner, so it's no frills, very casual, almost what you see in Latin America. But the taste will have you come back...again and again...."

Griddle 24

★★★★☆ 3.7 (355) • $$

"Finally visited this iconic diner. It really did not disappoint. We were at a nearby bar and needed to get some dinner before heading home. Upon arrival, we were seated at a spacious booth. For food recommendations we were told by staff that the burger was good, the kebabs were good and also the pancake breakfast with bacon. We decided to roll with the recommendations and get an Acalpoco Burger and Kebabs. Both these came with soup. Food: I ordered the Kebabs which was chicken, rice, pita, greek salad, and sauce. I was impressed with this dish and even more surprised by the French Onion soup. While the soup looked cheesy (no punt intended), it was really good. The onion broth had a deep flavor. My husband devoured his burger so it must have been good. He also like his chicken noodle soup. Drinks: They serve beer, wine and cocktails at this establishment. I grabbed a Osyter Bay White wine and it was nice and cold. My husband got the IPA on tap. Overall a good experience. I believe our waitress name was Maria (Maria with the red hair). She was so friendly and informative. Glad we got to try this place. If in the area again, I would go here but I need to still try the White Palace diner also."

The Art of Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.2 (269) • $$

"Very cool spot. Fun exterior with outside seating. Excellent food. I had the El Quemao Pulled Chicken Sandwich and Mac and cheese which is super tasty. Great place to walk to with quick service. The perfect weekday quick-dinner place."

Choppers

★★★★☆ 3.8 (323)

"I asked the clerk which one he would recommend the burger or the beef. He recommended the burger. I ordered the burger and while I was waiting, I asked him for a sample of the beef after I tried the beef I got an Italian beef, and addition to my burger and had a little bit of each one the burger was really good. The price was amazing was seven dollars for, two burgers grilled onions, lettuce, tomato pickle mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup came with some steak fries and coleslaw. The beef was very good the flavor it was a little dry I did not have a dipped, but I did get gravy on the side and it was delicious with hot oil on the side. Good chocolate shake. They had a quad burger that had five patties instead of four , great service very clean .I lucked out, and I found parking small parking lot in a busy area downtown. They had outdoor seating too if you're in the area check it out."

Small Cheval - Riverside

★★★★☆ 4.2 (231) • $$

"This location looks deceptively small from the outside: indeed, we weren't even sure if there was seating or if it was just grab and go. But there is a dining area hidden deeper in the building, so fear not. There is not a large menu, just a few burger options along with fries and drinks including shakes. The food was tasty, but the details were lacking. I ordered the wagyu truffle burger, described as"black truffle cheese sauce melted between two pressed & griddled patties of wagyu beef andtopped with 1 slice of sharp american cheddar." Nowhere did it mention pickles, onions etc so I don't know if someone just messed up and made it wrong, or if they just didn't list those ingredients for some reason (which would be dumb with people's allergies etc). Also, both my boyfriend's and my burgers came out red. Not pink, red. The outsides were clearly done, so I feel like this is something of a feat for them to have been so rare considering how thin the patties are. The fries with the white cheese sauce may have been my favorite thing (my boyfriend also had the garlic aioli as a dip for the fries if you are a garlic fan because it is not fooling around), and the chocolate shake was also good once it melted slightly, but overall if you only make basically one item, you need to do a better job than this."

Burger Moovment

★★★★☆ 3.7 (277) • $$

"The burgers were good, the fries were good and the service was good. This is a good burger place and yet, it was surprisingly empty. We had bacon cheeseburgers and our only complaint was that the bacon was hard and had no flavor. There's really nothing to set this place apart from any other burger joint. The burger was good."

Kosta's Gyros

★★★★☆ 3.6 (285)

"First time here, went fat! Ordered the Italian beef with cheese n sweet peppers and gyros plate with fries. Ate half of the Italian beef, delicious! Attacked half of the gyros plate, delicious!!! Fries with ketchup n black pepper, yum!A lot of pickup orders happening. Would be re-visiting again!!!"

Mickey's Gyros & Ribs

★★★★☆ 3.9 (237) • $

"Decent place to come and grab something quick to eat. The service was quick and nice. The menu has a full selection of food to choose. Prices were reasonable. I ordered the chicken pita with fries. The only thing is I wish my chicken breast were cut up into small pieces. They just laid two big chicken breast on the pita bread. Food was ok"

Devil Dawgs

★★★★★ 4.5 (168)

"Love me some Chicago style hot dogs !! Way to go to this location, great quality, pricing, and speed ! Definitely aPlace to check out when in town."

Harold's Chicken Shack #36

★★★★☆ 3.5 (268) • $$

"Iconic Chicago fried chicken chain that serves fresh, crispy, juicy chicken and a delicious vinegar-based dipping sauce for fried chicken unlike you've had it before. It's a to-go or standing only (with a ledge) if you dine in. Huge portions, delicious food and hits the spot if you're looking for that Chicago fried chicken experience."

Papa Chris' Place

★★★★☆ 4.3 (175)

"Surprisingly good! I have gone to a bunch of places like this, but I will say that this one has probably the most unique dishes and all of them fresh. I like the Francheezie which isn't very common in other places. Its cheese, bacon, and a hot dog. Its a heartattack, but good! My nephews got chicken fingers which were pretty large and everything came with fries. You can't go wrong. They also have a sizable seating area with plenty of space for larger areas. Theres millions of places like this in the area and across Chicagoland, but this is the best of them all! I will be stopping by again!"

Jimmy’s Gyros & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (171) • $$

"We order a gyro plate and a gyro sandwich. Everything is made to order when you arrive. They are friendly and ready to make your wait satisfying. The gyro plate had enough meat on it to make two or three gyro sandwiches. As you can see from the pictures, the store was empty. The walls are full classic signs representing Chicago history."

Fill A Pita

★★★★☆ 4.3 (166)

"We were craving some Mediterranean food and decided to go to Fill A Pita for a quick lunch! They have 2 locations - Downers Grove and Bolingbrook - with slightly different menus. We went to the Downers Grove location and had a great experience! The service was great and I was in and out within minutes. There's ample seating inside! You can also order to-go on the phone or in the restaurant! We got a chicken shawarma bowl and the kufta kabob plate. The bowl I created came with yellow rice (you can get red spicy rice instead), hummus, tabouli salad, tomatoes, red onions, lots of garlic sauce, and red/fire sauce on the side. The plate came with yellow rice, kabobs, grilled tomato and onion, house salad, and hummus. We also got pitas with both entrees, making for the perfect meal! Both of the entrees can be completely customized with types of rice, toppings, and sauces. The meats were both very flavorful, tender, and juicy. The kabobs were grilled to perfection! I would love to try the chicken kabobs next time! Their garlic sauce is AMAZING! Would highly recommend getting some extra on the side because you will use it! I even had left overs for the next day! This is my first time trying Fill A Pita and I'm so excited to go back and try some of the other items on their menu!! Would highly recommend for a quick lunch or dinner that is fresh, healthy, and delicious!"

Bob-O's Hot Dogs

★★★★☆ 4 (189) • $

"I've had better beefs and the guy at the front counter was kind of rude. I'm not sure if that's the neighborhood vibe they are trying to make but I was waiting for my food and he was the same to other customers. There was a man with a leg issue that ordered some food and then asked if he could use the restroom and was told he couldn't and then had to cancel his order to find a restroom elsewhere."

Spiro's Deli

★★★★☆ 4.4 (150)

"This Spiro's Deli place is so awesome! Absolutely the best in town! The owner suggested I try a chicken sandwich, chose Chicken Caesar pita, and also sampled a couple other sandwiches. All excellent. Met a couple of regulars and now I understand why this place has been in business so long. The ambiance of this place is everything, literally. The vibes and all just really light up my mood. They have a very neat structure and their interior is neat. The inside is clean, neat, tidy, bright, well organized, and decent. It definitely looks great in the eyes and not just that but their service is phenomenal. What an absolute treat! . Definitely will return soon."

Grecian Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.6 (220) • $

"Great place great food and great service. Try the Philly and thank me later with some Greek fries."

Carm's Beef & Italian Ice

★★★★☆ 4 (175)

"I have driven by this place a lot, living in the area, and I have to say it's a little underwhelming from the outside but holy moly was I underestimating it.I finally stopped by a sunny spring day when Mario's was closed still and I was craving Italian ice. The Italian ice was a bit pricey ($3 for smallest size) and not as mind blowing as Mario's but still QUITE good with fresh frozen chunks of fruit. The COOLER part was the wide variety of food they had - sandwiches and entrees and even tacos! The taco was SO crazy good, like the ones in Pilsen.The service was friendly and they've got little tables in an outdoor patio. Neighborhood gem."

Salt Burgers + Fries

★★★★☆ 4.1 (161) • $$

"I was debating between giving this place a 3 or 4 star review. Still not a big fan of ordering from a screen and then get asked to tip and the end. The service? There is no service. You place your order on the screen and then they call your order number and walk away. There's no thank you or eye contact. And there's also no condiments outside either. The burger though. That's a different story. Screw the customer service I guess. As long as the food is good, sometimes in the end, that's all that really matters. It was a very delicious burger indeed. The patty tasted fresh and was seasoned perfectly. Would definitely be returning for this fairly priced burger. We also ordered their Fuego fries. These were definitely spicy. But also very addicting to eat. I would probably recommend eating these after you're finished with your burger. Otherwise you won't have any tastebuds. Beard Papas is also in the same building. I'll right a separate review for them..."

Craving Gyros

★★★★☆ 4.4 (135) • $

"I have been to Craving Gyros two times total, and both the times I have had good food and service. On my first visit, I had their Gyros sandwich and fries, and in my recent visit, I had their gyro burger and jalapeños cheddar poppers.Upon entering the restaurant, I checked out their menu on the wall above the ordering counter. I was craving a burger but was also in the mood to have a gyro. My eyes fell upon their gyros burger ($6.99). It came on a toasted brioche bun with a beef patty, gyro meat, lettuce, tomato, carmelized onions, and tzatziki sauce. This was the perfect item I could have ordered on this visit. I love a good gyros burger. I have had it a few times before elsewhere. I also ordered cheesy garlic bread, jalapeños cheddar poppers, and a fountain drink. The food came out shortly after ordering. My burger looked so good that I could hardly wait to dig in. The cheesy garlic bread was placed together, looking like a sandwich instead of cut-up flat pieces of bread. It was good in taste. The jalapeño cheddar poppers were hot and fresh. My very first bite of the gyros burger was full of flavor. I tasted everything that was in the burger. The gyro meat and the beef patty were flavorful and cooked properly. The tzatziki sauce added a nice touch to the flavor of the burger. The brioche bun was soft and toasted just the right way. Overall, I had a good experience again, just like I did on my first visit. The service was good, the prices were reasonable, the restaurant was clean and inviting. The restaurant is located at a busy intersection. Their parking is adjacent to the building that houses the restaurant and one or two other shops.Check out Craving Gyros if you haven't before. It is definitely worth a visit and more. I look forward to going back here again."

Twins Gyros

★★★★☆ 3.5 (213) • $

"Quick and tasty Greek food in a family atmosphere. The owners were friendly and the service was awesome. We enjoyed it so much, we went twice!"

Wilmette Chuck Wagon

★★★★★ 4.5 (119) • $

"Great place to grab a cheeseburger, grilled cheese, gyro, or a combination of all three.Everything else is a bonus.Fantastic and been around for a long long time."

Cheesie's Pub & Grub - Wicker Park

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (213) • $$

"We had a blast at the Grilled Cheese Fest. Tasty variety of grilled cheese and wonderful service from, fornrhenkife if I forgot his name, a really nice young bartender from Mexico. He served me a killer old-fashioned."

House of Wings

★★★★☆ 3.6 (176) • $

"I wasn't going to write a review because I've only ever ordered delivery so it's not a full experience, but I was reading some of the old bad reviews and was really shocked! I think the restaurant must have changed some things in the last few years - for the better! I have never had the option to choose small or large wings, and the wings I have gotten are big. Not massive like Crisp but definitely a standard jumbo wing with a ton of meat. I really love the crispy ones because you get that extra layer with the breading. Some people also complained about the sauce - I did not find the Buffalo sauce to be sweet at all! It's a little spicy and nice and thick. The BBQ is sweeter. I want to try the suicide next! Pro tip: if you have leftovers, the crispy wings reheat amazingly in the air fryer!"

The Hat Chicago

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (189) • $

"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."

Janson's Drive-in

★★★★☆ 3.5 (161) • $

"Great Milkshakes we got a banana, and the pineapple and both were yummy. They use real fruit which is always a plus."