The greeter was not very welcoming, and the experience got off to a rough start. I didn't realize they now take reservations. We put our name in and were told the wait would be about an hour. When I checked back after an hour, the greeter couldn't tell me how much longer it would be, only that they were trying to squeeze us in between reservations. Had we known that from the beginning, we would have chosen to eat somewhere else. When we were finally seated, we were placed outside at a table that was noticeably slanted. Even our waitress apologized for the uneven table. To make matters worse, the table was in direct sunlight, making it an uncomfortable dining experience. read more

Au Cheval was very packed with about a one and a half hour wait on a Sunday, which is pretty standard for this place. The service was good, but the food itself did not really live up to the hype for me. It is known for its burger, but despite being a classic, I honestly felt like In N Out has more flavor. Overall it was fine to try once, but not something I would wait that long for again. read more

Au Cheval - Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not worth the hype. Average burger made from pre-made patties. Waited 2 hours just to have a burger I could have gotten any where. Hostess staff was incredibly unhelpful and couldn't give us an estimated time. Waited two hours to be 4th on waitlist read more

I'm NOT a big burger person - so when a friend suggested that we go to Au Cheval for dinner when visiting Chicago (this was a Sunday evening), and when I found out the wait was 1.5 hours, I was first and foremost appalled. I was STARVING after coming on a red eye from Los Angeles and had barely eaten all day. But my friend insisted, and we made it though, after getting some drinks next door. I ordered a good ol' classic cheeseburger (yes, a single has two patties), added a hard fried egg (there might've been two eggs even? or perhaps just a jumbo egg; this was no scrawny egg here), and requested lettuce, onions, and tomatoes as well. So, this burger lives up to the hyper (which I hadn't read about yet on Yelp; came in truly naive), and is just 10/10, perfect. The seasoning within it (but not too salty) the meat itself (juicy!) the way it was cooked (so tender!) - so, so, so so delicious and satisfying. Yes, I was ravenous, and slightly tipsy, but still. We got some sort of decadent fries on the side that I barely paid attention to because the burger stole the limelight. Service was excellent, quick, down to earth, and despite the long wait the burgers came out within 5-10 min after ordering. And then, we made the mistake (well, only because we were so full) of ordering dessert. We thought we were going light with the Mille Feuille ("thousand leaf" pastry); however this was an absolutely massive and decadent dessert with puffy layers surrouning super sweet cream. Very split-able and a great finish although way more than I expected. See my pic for this ridiculous finale. All and all - would return for this Chicagoan eatery, but be prepared for a wait that matches its fame. read more

Au Cheval - Mille Feuille cream puff dessert - yum! Easily can split between 2-3 people - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We showed up after our flight and were definitely hungry. Even though it was 10:30pm, they were still busy! We were willing to sit at the bar, so it was only about a five minute wait, but still. We started with drinks (I got the Paloma made in house with radler, and hubs got the Maplewood Fat Pug). Both drinks were great. Our server (Aaliyah, I believe) said that they're known for the burgers, but her personal favorites also include the fried chicken and the crispy fries. So hubs got the burger (with bacon and a fried egg) and I got a half order of the fried chicken (yes, you can do that, even though the menu doesn't say it!) and the crispy fries. The burger was everything a burger should be (juicy, savory, meaty). The fried chicken had so much going on - sweetness from the honey, spicy from something else, and crunchy from the breading. And all the while, the chicken was so moist! It is a messy dish, but they give you wet towels with it. The crispy fries were the perfect accompaniment to that chicken. 10/10 would return again. read more

Au Cheval - General Jane's Honey-Fried Chicken - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

2025 Chicago. Lunch review. Burgers, etc. Repeat visit. double cheeseburger* add bacon add egg roasted marrow bones beef cheek marmalade & toast foie gras* scrambled eggs & toast french fries Overall, as always, one of the best burgers ever. "As good as it gets." Tip: add beef cheek marmalade, bone marrow, and foie gras to the burger read more

We ordered the fried chicken, burgers with bacon/egg and normal fixings, chiliquitas and some craft beer. The service was attentive and good and the ambiance fit for what this place is, a casual restaurant with good beer selection. Drinks and amazing food with some great music flowing through. read more

Au cheval is one of those places that just hits.. I love the burger with bacon and an egg- definitely recommend putting your name in around 2-3pm and you'll get a reasonable wait & seating time. I think the restaurant is well decorated but it's small so large parties are going to be hard! If the wait times were shorter I would go here at least once a month read more

I mean it's famous for a reason. You go and check in and put your name down and then they text you when your table is ready. I went at 4:45 and wasn't seated until 6:15 despite being told 45-60 minutes. Plan accordingly!!! This is for my hangry planners. The food is super dense. Single cheeseburger = 2 patties Double = 3 patties HACK: Get a hash brown substituted for the bun. The has brown is crispy and soaks up all the grease from the burger Pattie's making it delicious!!! read more

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A pretty well known restaurant in town. We came by as soon as they opened to see if we could put our names down. But they told us we needed our full party to get seated. We walked around the area before coming back to get our table. Only one party in front of us around noon. We waited maybe 15min? There were 6 of us, so my cousin suggested we split the double patty burger. 3 burgers split in half. We also added the kale salad and some fries and hash browns. OMG a double patty is actually a triple patty. Literally too much food for any regular person to be eating midday LOL. The bacon was the best part. Thick with a nice sweetness to it. High quality for sure. Definitely one of the best burgers I've ever had. My friends also got the root beer to try and the espresso martini. They enjoyed. It's got a pub vibe. Kinda cute. They do have other locations around town but called Small Cheval so you don't have to come to this location. Easy to pay and split the bill with the QR code on the table. Love that! read more

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Ayoooooo! This his is probably the best burger I've ever had in my life. The service was amazing the ambiance was quaint. Two 6oz. Patties, American cheese, pickles, onions, I addded the egg and the candied bacon which were both cooked perfectly. All nestled on a brioche bun. The bun had integrity, held everything up throughout the entire experience, the bacon was the perfect mixture of sweet and salty, not too over powering. The patties were cooked to perfection and seasoned well, the way the cheese married into the patties needs to be studied, this burger isn't just picture perfect but it's DELICIOUS! Kissed by the GODS! Also the Caesar salad is amazing, the beautiful nodes of lemon zest made it a refreshing side. read more

Au Cheval - Kale Caesar - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was serendipitous down to finding parking literally across the street! We had reservations and were immediately seated. We started with the wings and marrow - both so good!! The wings were crispy and juicy. The bone marrow was rich and collagen goodness and tasted great with the toast. Then I had the single, which is actually a double patty. It was also delicious with the runny egg and cheese melting over the beef. Fries also great and we ended with strawberry and chocolate ice cream. A really nice meal and one that's worth having in Chicago! read more

Came with a group of friends after hearing that the burgers are amazing here. We were vacationing and came on a weekday pretty early but still had to wait a decent amount of time so plan accordingly. Inside has a good atmosphere and great vibes for hanging with friends or a dinner date. Between the 4 of us, we ordered 4 drinks, 2 double cheeseburgers, a salad, and the potato hash. Salad was pretty solid and the burgers were amazing. We split each burger between 2 people and along with the salad and the hash, we were all very well-fed by the end. I'm slightly picky and was not keen on the hash due to the duck heart gravy but changed my mind after the 1st bite. It's absolutely amazing and I loved it better than the famed burger. Staff was friendly and attentive and we had a great experience overall. Would recommend to others. Got a nice postcard at the end too. read more

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A massive shout out to our spectacular waiter, Isa! Isa was very welcoming and helped us with food and beer selection. I was there with a friend on a work trip and we got to enjoy the single burger (which is actually 2 patties) -- added the egg and bacon as well. The burger was delicious, I'd definitely come back. Along with the burger, we shared the honey fried chicken which was a nice combo of sweet, salty, and spicy. We also got their kale Caesar salad which was a nice fresh break from the burger and chicken! Isa was extremely kind enough to also provide us with recommendations for bars and desserts since we were visiting. Thank you for your kind self, Isa! read more

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This was the best burger I've likely ever had. Everything was there from the toasted bun, perfect amount of quality cheese, and the well seasoned patties. The fries didn't look great when they came out. But they tasted fabulous and stayed hot during the entire meal. If I lived in Chicago I would be here every week. read more

Au Cheval - Single Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best burger I have had so far and the store is busy. Can be pricy, but the flavors are awesome, absolutely need to try it out when you travel to Chicago. read more

This place came highly recommended and boy did it even exceed my expectations. I was happy to see it wasn't too pretentious in decor, open to more casual diners as well. We got the bone marrow and cheeseburger with egg and bacon. Wow. The bone marrow had to be the best I've had and I was surprised by this. The parsley, presentation, and flavors were incredible along with the burger. Just right and so juicy. Worth the visit!! read more

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Au Cheval is one of those places that lives up to the hype and then some. Widely known as home to the best burger in town, it has built a reputation that practically demands a visit. But it comes with a catch: no reservations, and a wait that can easily stretch over an hour. We waited about that long... and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The moment you step inside, the ambiance wraps around you like a well-worn leather jacket, elegant yet cozy, with dim lighting that sets the tone for a moody, intimate dining experience. It's loud but not overwhelming, full of energy and that unmistakable buzz of anticipation. We were seated at the bar, which turned out to be the best spot in the house. Watching the kitchen at work, flames rising, burgers sizzling, servers weaving between one another in a practiced, beautiful chaos was like witnessing culinary choreography. I ordered the Single Cheeseburger with Egg, and let me clarify something: the "single" actually comes with two patties. From the first bite, it was pure bliss. The patties were incredibly juicy, perfectly seasoned, with a deep, meaty flavor that sang with each chew. The melted cheese draped over the beef like velvet, while the runny yolk from the fried egg added a rich, silky layer that soaked into the toasted bun. Every element had a purpose, from the crisp pickles to the buttery bun, nothing felt excessive, just right. This wasn't just a burger; it was a moment of pure serotonin, bite after glorious bite. Messy in the best way, indulgent without apology, and so satisfyingly balanced it's hard to compare to anything else in the city. It's easy to see why this burger has reached legendary status. If you're patient enough to wait, you'll be rewarded with one of the most unforgettable meals in Chicago. read more

Au Cheval - Cheese burger - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We were recommended this place by my boss years ago and checked it out that very weekend. We recently got a chance to stop by again during a company trip and my husband only had ONE request and it was that we go back to Au Cheval. When I tell you this man has been telling everyone who will listen about this beautiful burger he had in Chicago haha. He fell in love. We both got a burger but I went for the extra splurge with the bacon and egg and honestly in my opinion don't skimp out at least on the bacon because it is so damn savory you're literally salivating as it turns over in your mouth. The burger is cooked to perfection and soft but crisp buns hold it all together. Husband fell in love allll over again for this burger and will be back again for next years company trip. We love Au Cheval! read more

I get all the tourist hype. Turns out, if you perfect the art making of a burger and then add bacon and egg to it, it's even better. Au Cheval is a must-stop in Chicago if you're looking for one of the best burgers you'll try. The rite of passage is coming for the burger and then coming back for the bone marrow another day. read more

Au Cheval - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

At one point Au Cheval in Chicago was recognized by Bon Appetit for having the best burger in the United States. They've been respected for their burger and fries for a long time, so I wanted to come here to check it out! I read that getting an egg on the burger was a must. When I saw their thick, maple-glazed bacon slices, I wanted one of those in my burger as well. I got a single cheeseburger, but it had two patties. There are no veggies in the burger, so you get egg, meat, bread and there's nothing wrong with that. The egg, cooked sunny side up and in a mold, comes perfectly round and topped with chives. It's a beautiful sight and it adds some nice creaminess to the sandwich. I really enjoyed the burger! For as much acclaim as the burger gets, I have to say that I enjoyed the fries even more! They were so good, that I even forgot to take a picture. The fries are thick and fried in duck fat, giving them a really nice meaty, savory flavor. Every bite of food that I had here was perfectly seasoned and the fries were no exception to this. To make the bites of fries perfect, they are paired with a garlic aioli. Lastly, I ordered an Allagash White beer, which always goes well with burger and fries. Overall, I think that Au Cheval deserves the acclaim that it has received. If I had more room in my stomach, then I would have loaded up on more apps and desserts. You are not able to make a reservation to eat here - I came here alone and came for an early seating, so I was able to eat without a wait. Plan accordingly. If you come during prime time with a group - you will likely have a wait on your hands. read more

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When searching for "Best Burgers" in Chicago, and even the country, Au Cheval is consistently noted at the top of those lists, and for good reason! We made it point to visit Au Cheval, which is situated in the West Loop area of the city for an early lunch. And I am glad we made it point to arrive shortly after opening because within 15 minutes the line was out the door and the wait was pushing 45 minutes. Even though we arrived shortly after opening, the place was packed, and we ended up bellying up to the bar. While they are known for their double cheeseburger, they are so much more! Everything on the menu is elevated, including the burger. Minimalist style menu, which I support, as it allows them to be the absolute best at the dishes they put out which include chicken liver, fried chicken, fried bologna sandwiches and bone marrow, which is another fan favorite! Au Cheval is very egg-centric, so whatever you get, include an egg! For us, we were in search of the burger, and that is what we both got, sided with an order of fries for us to share. The burger is a double cheeseburger cooked to absolute perfection on the flat top. The patties are not massive, but somehow remain beyond juicy, but not messy. You can add egg or bacon, but we wanted to try the pure un-edited burger that so many around the city and country love. The fries were a great pairing, crisp and fried to perfection. Since we bellied up to the bar, we of course got a few cocktails. The Bee's Knees and Old Fashioned were perfect pairing with the burger and fries! The space is small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character and overall vibe. Dark woods, copper, exposed brick, patinaed décor and that beautiful open-air kitchen. The food and vibe of Au Cheval go hand in hand are matched perfectly. Service was stellar as well. The hostess was friendly, welcoming, and helpful. While we were sat at the bar, this space is still serviced by servers on the floor, and our server was great! Overall, Au Cheval lived up to the hype and I 100% support them topping the list of Best Burgers around! read more

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I know it's overhyped, but it's a delicious burger. Highly recommend getting bacon and an egg on your burger too. The fries were mediocre, so I'd pass on those. I also tried their bone marrow before too and it's incredibly rich and savory but was a bit too much paired with the burger. A single burger is also technically a double too so keep that in mind. I wouldn't say you should go out of your way to eat here but if you're in the area or put your name on the list early, it's worth it. I've waited as long as 2.5 hours on one day and as short as 20 mins on other days. Ambiance is great and the staff are always super friendly. read more

Au Cheval - Single Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

4.5 Au Cheval is known for their gourmet burgers and one of the best in Chicago. I totally understand the hype of this place because their burger is damn good. It's not my favorite burger place but it's definitely one of my top faves FOOD: Of course I got their cheeseburger and it was juicy and cooked how I like it. We also got their fried bologna sandwich and it was okay. I thought it was kind of salty. Besides the burger and sandwich, definitely get the thick cut bacon and Korean fried chicken. The chicken is one of the best fried chicken I've ever had and the bacon was delicious. I could eat the bacon all day. The only down side to Au Cheval is the ridiculous wait time. All the times I've tired to go there, there has been an hour or two hour wait time. However, I personally think it's worth the wait. read more

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Every time I come here, best burgers and friendly hosts and servers. Every time, very consistent. Au Cheval burgers are my favorite and I always recommend them to anyone looking for a good burger spot. There is usually a wait to get in but it is worth it. read more

Rumor has it that this place has some of the best burgers in town. To be honest, I'm not a huge burger person but I will say it was pretty darn good. I came on a Saturday at 3pm and the place was PACKED! We lucked out with a parking spot up front. It's paid with a 2-hour maximum but it was only $10 which isn't too bad for city parking. When we put our name on the list, we were told it would be a 45 minutes wait so we wandered around Randolph Street. After 45 minutes we came back and they said it would be another 20-25 minutes which was a bit frustrating. When our "table" was finally ready they sat us at the bar. Luckily, when I asked they were very accommodating and changed us to a table without any hassle. We started with the chicken liver. I've never had it before but it sounded pretty unique and I couldn't pass it up. It was surely interesting. The Texas toast was SO thick and fluffy. To be honest, the chicken liver was just alright. It kinda tasted like canned tuna to me. For my meal I had the single cheeseburger with all the toppings. The name is slightly deceiving since it comes with two patties and the double cheeseburger comes with three patties. The bread was so fresh and overall was so flavorful. There was a shift change mid-meal and the wait staff handled it so well. They made sure we were taken care of. Our waiter for the second half of our meal was Ian and he was the absolute best! It felt like he was trained to be part waiter and part best friend! read more

Au Cheval - Chicken Liver - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great burgers, the packaging is awesome and the staff is so well-trained. I've been to several locations over the years, and this is my first review on any of their locations. 5 stars for now. If I had any complaint, it would be regarding the logistics of managing the traffic. But it would be ridiculous for me to hold that against them at this point in their growth. Well done for Au Cheval. Medium rare burger for me. read more

Wow wow wow! Lived up to the hype. The burger with the bacon and egg was just perfection. Loved the small space around the kitchen and bar! Get there early to put your name in as they don't take reservations. But definitely should be on your radar if you are craving one of the best burgers you will ever eat! read more

Au Cheval - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally got to try it! The wait was not too bad for a Sunday late lunch - like a 30-min wait at 1pm. You can walk to Sawada for coffee (which still has a line) and Levain for cookies and easily kill the wait time. The food menu is very simple and straightforward. The best burger in the world? Not really. But that sweet, flavorful and crispy bacon though... yummm you definitely need to add it. The hash brown is so crispy that my son kept eating it haha. Probably the most crispy one that I've ver had. read more

Au Cheval - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Get the best burger of your life at Au Cheval said three different people when I asked for Chicago food recommendations. We arrived at 4:45 p.m. on a Saturday night and were told the wait was around two hours. Since we knew about the long wait times here, we happily put our name and contact info down and headed to a nearby bar for drinks. The neighborhood Au Cheval is located in has lots of bars, bakeries, and other shops to keep one busy while waiting. At last, our table was ready right around the two-hour mark. The place was bustling and noisy with a fun, trendy vibe. Paper plane cocktail, single cheeseburger and a fries to share were what we ordered. One word sums up the burger - amazing! Definitely one of the best burgers I've ever had. I dream of going back to Chicago just for this burger. read more

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Finally got in! Worth it? Yes, absolutely. The burgers are fantastic! Just a good and honest burger. The meat is fresh, well seasoned and juicy. The large pickle wedge was fantastic with the burger and helped cut through the richness. I saw they had root beer on tap, so I had to try it. So refreshing and paired perfectly well with my burger and fries. I was giving expecting some hipster reconstructed bullsh*t and this place just makes a burger that I'd so come back for. Our waiter was fantastic, his recommendations were spot on and he was so genuinely friendly. Make reservations or come early, it's worth it! read more

This burger was a religious experience. Went there on the recommendation of my buddy Mike, who said it's worth the hours wait. It was lunchtime, but got sat immediately and had great service. It was super cool to watch the kitchen from the bar. Great food. Great place. read more

Au Cheval - Single Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Aside from the 1.5 hour for one person on a Wed night, the burger was delicious. Goes to show how popular this place is. I got a single cheeseburger, but added bacon and an egg, which is a must! The egg is cooked perfectly and the bacon adds an additional sweet/salty/fatty flavor. I also loved the burger itself as it's seasoned and cooked well. It was pretty big when I stacked it up, but I ate pretty much the whole thing and washed it down with a root beer, which was delicious as well as it wasn't too sweet. Overall, amazing burger and worth the wait if you have time. read more

This is solely for the reservation taker stationed outside at the podium at Au Cheval. Racismo. I witnessed the Latino guy with short wavy hair tell one person exasperated there's no estimate of wait time and to not ask that again (he only asked once) when he asked politely, then turn around and give an estimate to a white woman dressed nicely that it would be a 30 minute wait while giving her a smile and wishing her a wonderful day, then tell a subsequent guy carrying around a tiny piece of luggage or handbag who was in a casual button up and jeans but not white no more reservations and then looked past him and wouldn't even acknowledge him anymore. Horrific actually. Racismo. read more

I finally made it to Au Cheval Restaurant in Chicago and it lived up to all the hype and accolades that I've read about for years and I'm so happy to cross off another one of my bucket list restaurant destinations. The single cheeseburger actually has two patties and was so juicy with lots of flavor and came with gooey and melty cheese and I added an egg that really set the burger off the chain. I ordered hash browns and so glad I did they had a flavor that all hash browns should taste. They have a nice beer and drink list too and I ordered a Maplewood Nitro Stout that went perfect with my meal. Very nice service and a cool looking restaurant inside and out. read more

Au Cheval - Hash Browns as a side were worth it - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The burger was juicy and delicious! The bacon definitely enhanced the flavor. The foie gras scrambled egg was heavy in flavor. The roasted bone marrow came with a barbecue sauce. The sauce was flavorful but the bone marrow itself was pretty typical. I came as a party of two just a little after they opened on a Sunday and there was no wait. The wait was up to two hours for a Thursday dinner. The restaurant was quite small with some booth and bar seatings. read more

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I may never get into 4 Charles in NYC but I am so happy I got here. Great burger and bone marrow! It's fantastic. I came late from airport and went directly here and they were so accommodating. Vibe were great. Service was great. Great German beer too! read more

Food never disappoints! Came after a Cubs game and the wait time was less than 30 mins. The vibe and ambiance adds to the experience. read more

Au Cheval - Single cheeseburger with egg and bacon - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're going, try and get there before lunch time because after that I'm positive the line will be out of the door (because it was when we left). One of the best burgers I've ever had honestly. Now, I'm from NY where there are great burgers everywhere but I can definitely say they're on my top 5 list! A "Single" cheese burger really comes with 2 patties so I'm assuming the double is 4.. use that info at your discretion lol. I got one with an egg and my lady got on with bacon but next time I'm getting both on it (stole a piece of her bacon for the experience). Perfect runny egg and perfectly cooked thick cut bacon. The fried chicken was also amazing and it felt as if they gave us a whole chicken. The ambiance was basically a nice pub and the music was cool too. Staff were very attentive and checked on us frequently. read more

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Very cool iconic Chicago place. Fun to sit at the counter and watch things being made. Service was very fast but they didn't rush you. Basic but tasty burger. The fries with the egg and everything were a bit much, I should have just got plain but wanted to try something with the egg since that's what they're known for. I have never been so full in my entire life. Go hungry! read more

Au Cheval - Single Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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