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    Desert Hawk

    4.6 (49 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    Desert Hawk Photos

    DESERT HAWK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Desert Hawk

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    Smashburger
    David M.

    Desert hawk is a great dive bar with a great relaxing vibe to the place. They serve your favorite cocktails with happy hour special's everyday. A great little patio for you to enjoy on a nice day warm day in Chicago. You can also get great smash burgers inside. A pop up vendor by the name of shortys is serving up burgers and wings. You can find this place active on any given night as they have karaoke and pool tables inside as well.

    Sherwin C.

    Nice cozy bar to to enjoy some unique Filipino-Mexico cuisine (as of the time of this writing, though the resident kitchen is subject to change), with a strong California Desert decor and friendly service. For me this has more of a casual feel due to the seating arrangement (tables all on the walls, but easy to access bar and pool for the remainder of the space). The menu covers quite a bit of tequila and mezcal options within the cocktails and margaritas, and a good number of beers available as well. Pricing is fair and in-line with what you'd expect in this area of the city.

    Smoke Signal
    Joneice B.

    Finally made it to Desert Hawk to try their collaboration for Jibarito Smash Burger. The bar is located in the heart of wicker park bar scene on Division Street. We came after hitting happy hour nearby. On this occasion the whole table got plantain smashed burgers. I got the Ogilla x 2 patties which came with Sweet aioli, House pickles caramelized onions, American cheese. We also got the house chips. My father-in-law got the loaded chips which were a special treat. We enjoyed our burgers. The plantain buns were soft but sturdy. The beef was hearty and flavored well. The bar scene is nice with plenty of booths and tables. Bathroom were decent. Hands down I would recommend checking out this establishment.

    Gissell P.

    I came to Desert Hawk for their Desert Hawk x Smash Jibarito collab, and loved it so much! The ambiance was a chill speakeasy type of vibe which I love! The drinks were also delicious and refreshing and the jibarito to die for! Perfect for date night or girls night out!

    Megan F.

    Came here after a long session tufting a rug at Pop Craft, and we were both pretty hungry. Service took quite a while -- it seems you have to order at the bar, and a few groups who arrived after us got their foods first. The food was okay. We got the Ogilla 2 patty burger and the Estilo Animal Jibarito Burger, and Handcut Chips. The Jibarito Burger was good but not very filling if you're only getting one. On the plus side, they have set of trivia cards in the booths, which is a fun touch

    Walking into the bar
    Candy N.

    Who doesn't love and Agave bar?! Add in craft cocktails, tacos, pool and an outdoor street vibe. This bar is located in a great area for foot traffic and the drinks match the vibe. Lots of different tequilas and Mezcals to choose from. Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures of the drinks. We were having a good time talking to the bartender and playing dice. But he made us the Island Time which was a fantastic coconut and tequila beverage. We ended the visit with shots of Fernet. I'll definitely be back.

    Ali M.

    This bar is great and super low key. Everyone was really friendly and it wasn't super crowded. They have a pool table which is also really fun. The restaurant currently in the space is SO good. Honestly some of the best burgers I've had in Chicago. Definitely recommend it animal style.

    Marlene S.

    Very mid experience. We star at the bar and started off with some beer which states a bit stale/flat. We ordered the jibaritos, they were out of fries so we got the fried plantains. As a Dominican, I know a good plantain and this was not it. The plantains were a bit soggy and not crunchy at all. I was expecting more based on the reviews.

    Burger with bacon
    Paige K.

    Good new spot! Cute vibes and they have trivia cards at the table which was fun. Saw their tacos on Instagram and had to try and let me say... my fav so far for street tacos in wicker park and possibly in the city. That crispy cheese is the move. The shrimp specifically was amazing 5/5. Steak was also good but needed the hot sauce (homemade and tasty!). They seem pricey but they are stacked with meat so I would prefer that over smaller tacos with less meat personally. We also got the burger. It was good but I would opt for just the tacos next time. Decent but nothing to write home about. I liked the fries though, nice and crispy. Service was friendly but you do have to order and check out at the bar. We were able to order quickly but by the time we left, there were several people waiting for drinks and we had to wait in line with bartender just to cash out. I would suggest the QR/phone checkout option if they don't add servers. But would still come again for tacos and to try drinks next time!

    Brian W.

    Just found out about this place through friends and I heard it's been here almost a year? No sign out front except BAR. Which I love! That's a pretty badass neon sign. Good bar on Division in the neighborhood! Love the local vibes and all the exposed brick inside. Clean place. Nice Xmas tree! Good music and just so happened to be there on karaoke night (Wednesdays) that was super fun too! Now for the best part... Smash Jibarito is doing their smash burgers and food here and I had one with a side of plantains. We all loved them it was epic! Met the guy and he was really nice. I feel like I've had these smash burgers before on one of our motorcycle rides. I think they do pop-ups. However, this is their home spot now. Glad I can walk to his place! Good to know. Cheers & Happy Thanksgiving~

    Smashburger Jibarito
    Jessica W.

    Highly recommend this wicker park bar, which serves fantastic food. It's a nice space inside with plenty of booths and a good size bar. The bartender was friendly and made an excellent cocktail. For food I tried the aye amor jibarito, it was fantastic. This is a splurge and bit something I could order regularly, but the patties were so well seasoned, with a good cheese sauce and grilled onions, and maintains were fresh and crisp. It was really rich, but all came together so well. Come have a good drink and try some delish eats!

    Pickled jalapeño and grilled onion burger
    Izabella P.

    First came here in May 2024 and they had some of the best smash burgers in the city. The smashburger melted in your mouth with every bite. Came with fries and a sesame bun. Couldn't ask for anything else! The long lasting impression of the burger made you vow to visit again. 5/5 Came back October 2024 and they changed. No more fries with your order, and no more sesame bun. The $13 burger was pretty good (had the pickled jalapeño and grilled onion one) but it doesn't match up. Staff recommended the jibarito $17 burger. Maybe next time. We ordered the loaded chips as well. They were tasty. But different. Nice change? Still good, but the previous version can't be beat. Solid 3/5.

    Ogilla
    Samir K.

    Hands down the best smash burger in Chicago. Shoutout to smash jibarito for taking residency here. Tried two of the burgers here and both were delicious. The ogilla was your typical burger with pickles and caramelized onions but had a very tasty sweet aioli. The other burger was the aye el amor which was a spicier version. The pickled jalapeños added a nice kick with sautéed onions for extra flavor. Coated with a cheese sauce as well as an animal sauce which were great. Beef was well seasoned and the plantains were excellent. They elevated the burgers giving a differing texture and sweetness. While almost all smash burgers taste the same, the unique plantain buns make this so much better than the rest.

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    2 years ago

    Great drinks, amazing food & service! Love the vibe inside and appreciate the staff's attentiveness

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    2 years ago

    Great drinks and food is amazing! We ordered beers and burgers. The music was great and the bartender was happy to change the tv for us too!

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    3 years ago

    Wow, the drinks here are amazing and the staff is so nice. Definetly feels like a bar, nice place to take a date for drinks.

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4
    (9.6k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Burgers were awesome. But Antonio was perfect, and went above and beyond making our dinner special…read more It was my first time in the restaurant and asked if the fries of hash was better, he recommended the fries but later surprised us with the hash comped. But that's not all-- he also came with a sunday "just to celebrate" it wasn't anyone's birthday or anniversary but we definitely were in the mood to celebrate after a night talking with him. Thanks for great service and great food, give Antonio a raise he is AWESOME

    Arrived before having to wait more than 30 minutes as others after me had to. I waited no more than…read more20 minutes for a seat. I got sat at the bar area where you can see all the action of the kitchen. The place is busy and full and I think it's awesome that it's an open kitchen cause you can see the magic happening. My waitress was super friendly and seems like she's used to everyone coming in to try the burger lol I heard her repeat the spiel many times. A single patty is 2 and a double is 3z I went with a double but honestly should have done a single. Food came out quick and the burger is super juicy. Fries were hot and delicious and even though it was the simplest burger I've ever had in my life I would say it's one of my top three favorite burgers I've ever had. Can't wait to come back.

    Photos
    The cooks were very attentive!
    The cooks were very attentive!
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)
    Trivoli Tavern

    Trivoli Tavern

    4.5
    (1k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    What started off as an embarrassing night (got stood up lol. life happens it is what it is) turned…read moreinto something memorable and a whole lot more tolerable, especially since it was my first time at this restaurant. I have to thank John and Vanessa for going above and beyond making me feel so welcomed despite what happened. Vanessa's ability to read my emotions without me saying a word and redirecting them into positivity was immaculate. John was super attentive and upbeat I couldn't even sulk if I wanted to. Those two deserve so much recognition for their hospitality and work. The food was amazing. I had the rigatoni vodka and the golden hour drink. 10/10 for both and I see why they are chosen often. Definitely recommend giving this place a try and I am most definitely coming back, whether it be by myself or with friends!

    The ambience is beautiful. It was my friend's 21st birthday. I remembered this night very vividly…read more I am still there. It is so interesting because everyone was so sweet but everyone looks like they are in school uniform uniforms from over the pond. This was a nice place and the ambience and lighting is beautifully dim and my friends look so beautiful and the match their food as well. We have tried vodka pasta from everywhere in Chicago and this one tasted uniquely like Gigi Hadid's pasta from TikTok. They were amazing with food allergies and so attentive and caring. Great staff and great service. The sticky Date cake was just absolutely heaven sent. Epic

    Photos
    Gelato & sticky date cake
    Gelato & sticky date cake
    Butterfinger pie
    Butterfinger pie
    Chicken pot pie

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    Chicken pot pie
    Little Bad Wolf

    Little Bad Wolf

    4.4
    (2.6k reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    We loved and enjoyed this place we drove here after having a craving at midnight and it was one of…read morethe best experiences in the city. The seating was great service was great and food was even better at 1am !!

    The Chronicles of Ragebaiting My Brother continue…read more My brother is a die hard Chicago fan. He visited once during a college internship in 08 and decided he would move to this city. Shout out to him for doing the damn thing. Although I would like to mention it was I who named it and claimed it for myself way back in 2001 after a visit to the city for a college conference. However me and my bestie couldn't figure out how to make it happen on a 20,000 labor organizer salary lmao. So we remain on the east coast while my swagger jacking little brother paints the Windy City red. Anyway because he's so in love with this city and knows its in and outs, I often send him dubious "influencer content" of recent transplants that act like just because THEY just Columbus'd a new spot it must be new to EVERYONE. And the recommendations are often awful and likely paid for (extorted). It sends him into a rage which again - we love. My fave kind of terrible content to send him is Top 10 burger spots in Chicago. The lists are often wrong, outdated, and criminally under seasoned. Every once in a while though there is a fleeting moment of alignment and Little Bad Wolf is it. This truly may be the best burger in Chicago. Food: -Wolf burger - egg fried HARD for me -Bad burger - add egg for my brother -Bad burger - as is for my mom -crab cakes - for SIL -mashed potato- for the toddler -Brussels sprouts for the table The patties were well seasoned and melted in my mouth. I adore crispy onion straws. Beer was crisp and refreshing. Service was outstanding Perfect vibe on a midday Monday Bench and chair seating for all bodies. 100% worth the hype! The menu description is also a good way to annoy your loved ones. See pics for my friend's visceral reaction lmaooo

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    Fresh flowers
    Fresh flowers
    Shrimp Tacos
    Shrimp Tacos
    Bad Burger with fried onion strings

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    Bad Burger with fried onion strings

    Desert Hawk - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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