I've eaten a lot of Polish Sausage in my day and I just assumed it was the kind of thing that couldn't really be improved upon. I was so wrong. The Polish Sausage they're serving up at Jim's is so much better than any I've had before that it's almost an entirely different thing. It's just so flavorful and delicious. The spicing is phenomenal and the sausage itself is extremely above average. And it's taken over the top by the fresh bun and superb sautéed onions. I joked that we should start every day with one of these sausages, and while we didn't actually do that, I feel like that would've only enhanced our trip. read more

Jim's Original - Polish Sausage Sandwich. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yelpers what's good. Today I felt like having some Chicago Nostalgia food. So I stopped by Jim's original for a good ole Maxwell St. Polish! It's an outdoor only eatery usually long fast moving lines. The smell of the grilled onions hit your nose immediately! I got a polish with onions and mustard and I also got a bone in pork chop sandwich with onions and mustard. And an added bonus FREE FRIES with every order! The polish is still one of my best around nice and juicy (pause) with a nice snap to them. The onions provide a slight sweetness with the tangy bite of the mustard just hits so great!! 8.9/10! The fries were hot, nice crisp on the outside and pillowy inside! 7/10 The Bone in pork chop sandwich was decent nothing special just a Chicago nostalgic sandwich. 6.8/10 Everyone from Chicago has been here and everyone from Chicago will tell you to go here for a real Chicago quick cheap eats experience. Right off the expressway so you can be in and out. And you may want to be in and out especially if you're from out of town. definitely worth stopping by! Remember ALL reviews are subjective read more

Jim's Original - Polish Sausage w/ onions, mustard & hot pepper - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Before you order the grilled pork chop (bone in is better and has more flavor) plerase get a Polish so your just far enough away from drunkenly bite into the bone. All Keilbasa is a Polish, but not all Polish's are Keilbasa (Keilbasa is smoked) and these are cooked on a flat top. The onions are grilled, so before all you raw onion people come at me, taste it first and you'll realize why it's better this way and the normal Chicago dog/Deperssion dog is better with raw. This is the best place to see that difference as most Chicago dog places don't do Polish or grilled/carmelized onions. It gets busy at night, but it's hectic and worth it, just be patient and bring cash, you'll be served faster and have fewer fees. Tbh card people make up for a majority of the delays. Long before cards this place was humming throughout the night. People are drawn to the bright yellow lights and banner/awning like moths to the flame. My go to is a fish sandwich, polish and a grilled pork chop bone in sandwich. Some say Maxwells does better polish, but it's preference, but for my money that 3 item combo (don't need all the fries) is better than Maxwells all in all. And a grape pop, can't forget that. The sweetness cuts and quenches unlike other drinks. The spice from the sport peppers, fat lingering from the polish, acid from the mustard all washed away with the grape. Sure it's a beef town, but you'd be surprised how much pork and seafood this city does really well. No bathroom, no seating, eat on the go. And like most chef's were used to eating on our feet, usually over a trash can. Another reason I don't need the fries, it requires more hands than I have. By the time i'm done with my items the fries at the bottom are cold, also not why you come here. It's as iconc as the italian beef, the chicago dog, deep dish (for the tourists, go tavern thin) and Garrets popcorn. It's tender, but has the toothsomeness. The fish sandwich is hot, flakey, crunchy and super balanced. There isn't much else to say thar hasn't already been said. read more

What left is there unsaid about Jim's Original? Where has it not been featured? Do I even need to bother with this review? The remnant of a neighborhood ruined by an ugly public university. When UI Chicago built its campus, it displaced the Maxwell Street Market. Such cases are sadly too common. And while the neighborhood is ugly in its sanitary banal way, Jim's Original is pure Kino. Yellow on red on a cinder block structure. No place to sit, you stand with your meal on the stainless steal counter that runs the length of the edifice. Traffic streams along on the I-90 in the canyon below you. Behind the window, the griddle supports serried mounds of caramelized onions, rows of sausages resembling Midwest farmland. Here, you can really afford to order both the Maxwell Street Polish - fatty, semi-sweet, coarse filling with onions mustard and pickled serrano - and the pork chop sandwich (on the bone with onions, mustard and pickled serrano). Each item comes with fries. They are, of course, frozen, but the manufacturer thought well enough to give them an added starch coating for increased crunch. read more

Jim's Original - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very tasty hot dogs. Very much Chicago authentic. Love the taste of the pickle pepper. The french fries were also awesome. read more

Jim's Original - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've had Jim's on my "to do" list since seeing several stories about them. We were in tow from Texas for just a couple of hours on a business trip. Stopped by here just before lunch and a little bummed that there's no inside or outside seating. That didn't stop us from trying own of their polish dogs though. They come with fries and a pretty good deal for both. The sausage was really good, especially with the grilled onions. Even though I ate it right away the bun was still soggy. That was a bummer but didn't stop me from devouring it. Great iconic place to visit! read more

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Omg I seen this place for the last 30 plus years as I drive past in the middle of the night. I finally stopped. Omg great little hidden gem. No frills but great gut filling hotdogs and a pile of fries. Cheeseburger same thing. So many fries I threw 3/4 of them out as I was stuffed. read more

Jim's Original - Midnight sack to munch on driving down turnpike with. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for per a local's recommendation. They're known for their Polish sausage, so that's what we got. No seating/bathroom available. Literally a building with some standing room area. Service was rude. We changed our soda order as the guy was packing our order into bags and he threw up his arm and was like "what do you want?". Sounded exasperated. Plus, our orders were inconsistent. Some of the Polish sausages came with the sport peppers and others did not. Probably for the best in all honesty, because those peppers were SPICY. The Polish sausage itself was extremely satisfying. Juicy and topped with mustard and grilled onions. Plus the side of complimentary fries didn't hurt. You come here for the dogs, not the service. On a side note, the security guard in front was friendly. read more

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So thankful for the lady that recommended this spot to us when we were visiting the city! The polish dog had an amazing snap to it inevery bite and I love how much grilled onions they added! The sport pepper added a nice kick as well. We had come to this spot on our last day after eating lunch prior to this and I wish I had more room in my stomach to eat the whole thing because I enjoyed this a lot. Service was quick which is what you expect at a fast food stand. They do give a small discount if you pay in cash. read more

Jim's Original - Polish Sausage Sandwich - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great Chicago classic. Never disappoints. Lines get pretty long , but worth the wait. read more

I won't knock anybody's take on a restaurant based on nostalgic memories. After all, every dish tastes better with a generous dollop of nostalgia. However, as someone who did not grow up eating Maxwell St. Polishes I was very underwhelmed. I couldn't get the full taste experience as the unbelievably squishy bun was drenched with mustard to the point that the whole mess disintegrated when I first picked it up (about 3 minutes after it was made). I couldn't taste anything but mustard, not even the onions which ended up slipping everywhere. I eventually gave up on the bun and finished the sausage by itself. I'll just say that if I ever do this again I'm going with the all-beef version. Fries are included in the price of the sandwich and the serving is a decent size but they're mediocre at best. Even though the fries were freshly cooked they had very little flavor. Considering that they're battered I find that surprising. Then again, the onions from the Polish were completely unseasoned, too. The best thing about the meal was the Diet Pepsi and even though it came straight out of the cooler, it was barely cool. As reasonably priced as the food is, that's how overpriced the sodas are, though. Not cool, guys, in more than one way. Service was interesting as the counterman did not seem to speak English at all and the atmosphere is what it is, a take out window by the highway. Neither really adds to nor detracts from the food. If you're on a nostalgia trip you'll have a great time here. Otherwise it was not worth the time or calories. read more

Jim's Original - After... Polish Sausage Sandwich - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Iconic spot in Chicago for polish dogs and cheeseburgers! They don't have any seating inside, you basically order from an outside counter on the side of the road and either eat in your car or in the limited seating outdoor area. Wow!! This place is so cheap and I was truly so surprised! The cheeseburger was juicy, immaculate, especially with both grilled and raw onions. Perfect smaller size for me to not get too overwhelmed with the greatness. Doesn't come with lettuce or tomatoes or anything though be WARNED!! The fries were coated in a paprika spice nicely - regular size and not shoestring. It was good, not amazing. Food comes out incredibly quickly after ordering, and they're open late into the night! Note to self: next time try with hot peppers!! read more

Jim's Original - Cheeseburger - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here multiple times, but after a morning run, I was really craving a good hot Polish dog for breakfast and they absolutely hit the spot. The fries that come with it are always a favorite. You just can't beat this classic Chicago staple. read more

Jim's Original - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Let me tell you first I'm not a huge fan of hot dogs but I do like sausages. Jim's Polish dog was delicious! It's probably the best Polish dog I've had and I highly recommend it to anyone who comes to Chicago! I can see why they're the original and they maintain their title as the best polish dogs in the city. No one can do it like them. It has a nice snap to it when you bite into it, that's the best part of any sausage, they gotta have the snap. The onions were grilled to perfection and the pepper that came with it, was no joke. I can handle spice pretty well, but that pepper knocked me on my ass. Delicious but spicy as heck! Don't eat it if you don't have a good spice tolerance. The service was quick and straight to the point. They don't mess around, they are efficient and quick! I highly recommend this joint! I would come back!!! read more

Jim's Original - Polish dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really have no idea how this place is rate is so high. Checking Yelp had a pretty decent rating of 4.2 so we stopped in on the drive down the freeway. Ordered a hotdog two Polish sausages and a fish sandwich. Let me just start off by saying that the french fries are the best thing that we had here and they were included free of charge with each sandwich or purchase. The fish sandwich first was the best thing that we had here. Imagine a slightly elevated larger McDonald's fish fillet. The two Polish sausages we had were chewy no snap Dry and felt like it just sat out way too long. The onions and on top were nice and the bun was standard. The hot dog was terrible and really should be a Chicago dog as opposed to just the hot dog with onions. I wouldn't come back here and this one was definitely a letdown based on the yelp operating. read more

Jim's had been on my "to do list" in Chicago for years now. Finally got to try it out while I was there last week. I ordered a Polish and a bottle of RC Cola. How was it? Polish- I am a huge fan of the Polish, in general. I was really excited to try it at its OG spot. I bit in and thought it was just ok? Too much pork, not enough beef. I should have definitely gone with the all beef Polish. The Polish was still good though. I ate all of it. Fries come with it too. They are kind of like "battered" fries. They were ok. I had much better fries over the weekend. Glad I came to the OG spot, but would definitely order something else next time. Also, parking is non existent. Everywhere you look says "no parking". Tons of people just double park. Take that risk if you dare, mwahahahaha. read more

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Every once in a while ya just gotta have a pork chop sandwich with mustard grilled onions cheese and hot peppers! Today was that day for me. YUMMY! read more

Order, pay and out in few minutes - things move super fast. Take out only. I got the polish sausage sandwich and the bone-in pork chop sandwich. Definitely recommend the polish sausage, would get it again, but light on the onions next time. The hot peppers hit the spot as well. Skip the bone-in pork chops, not worth it. The pork chop was super dry and hard to eat, didn't finish the sandwich. read more

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I would give it a zero if I could. The food may be ok, but the attitudes are horrible as though you owe them to give them your money. They have a menu but get a horrible attitude when you ask what comes on a specific sandwich. My husband got polishes and they were extremely dry and hard to chew, but his fries were good. After that experience and the employee yelling, I refused to give them my money and went to Express Grill next door. I had a great meal and was happy about my choice. I will not be back or refer this place. read more

Jim's Original - 1250 S Union Ave I stopped by Jim's Original and treated myself to a beef hotdog with everything on it--sautéed onions, peppers, mustard...the works. And let me tell you, it was so delicious I should've grabbed two for the road. I also got a beef Polish with everything for my mom--same deal, fire . Every sandwich comes with a side of fries, but heads up: no drink included. Parking can be a little hectic depending on the time, but I lucked out--it wasn't a busy evening. I was in and out in less than 5 minutes, and that hotdog didn't stand a chance. Gone in 4 bites flat . FYI: Bring cash--it's fewer fees and faster. Jim's is definitely that old-school Chicago gem that never misses. read more

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I know that Maxwell street is known for their Polish but have you tried the Hot dogs from here they are fire in my book and they have that snap when you bite into one and it's not like the classic Chicago dog and a Maxwell street dog just mustard and EZ raw onions . And the service was super fast I was in and in three minutes tops, keep up the good work guys read more

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The food is amazing, beware of local spots claiming the same name. The one you want is on Union. You can't go wrong with Jim's, quick meal and a reasonable price... pull up, order, eat and go. Oh, bring hand wipes because there's no bathroom to wash your hands for customers. The steam and smell of grilled onions coming out of this place is breathtaking, solid spot for a good meal. Wearing the smell of that place is like the best cologne ever. Got the polish and pork chop sandwich, thought going for the trifecta and getting a burger as well but I'm watching my weight. read more

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I can't get enough of this place man... I haven't been here since I was a kid and I recently moved nearby and had it 3 times in two weeks. I'm hooked. The price, the quality of food, the spicy-ness of the peppers, you name it and it's amazing. No matter how long the line is, you will never be there waiting for too long. When I'm come to this place, no matter how I'm feeling with my day, I'm leaving here happy (haha). I want to try everything on their menu one day, and I will. I've had the double cheeseburger and polish sausage and they were top tier. When I say they smother it in onions... that's an understatement and I'm obsessed onions. (You can always ask without onions please). I've also never been at a place where the food came out so quickly but it was premade - they are making the food while you are ordering & talking & by the time you swipe your card...the food is in your hands. Fabulous. Just fabulous. If you have never been here, you are missing out! I highly recommend. Thank you Jim's for everything, I'll be back soon! Personal Review: 9.3/10 read more

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Iconic spot right here, not too far outside of downtown Chicago, it was worth the trip! It was our first time so we saw someone's review saying the porkchop sandwich was a good pick... you know what, to each their own but please try the hot dog or polish dog first (we had the polish dog and porkchop sandwich). Wished we had gotten a hot dog and polish dog instead. The polish dog was delicious, with that snappy crunch on the outside, and juicy & tender inside. So good! And don't you dare put ketchup on your hot dogs! You've been warned. There wasn't really a line, but it seems like there were people coming and going the entire time we were there. Do note that this probably does not have any sit down dining area, mostly to go/take away, but there was a standing height counter on the side and you can dig in right there on the spot. So if you don't have a car or if it is raining, you might want to have a back up plan... read more

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I bought a chicken polish with everything which is grilled onions, mustard and peppers. The smell was amazing and the taste matched!! The peppers are super hot but a must have with the polish. It comes with fries which were also good. Customer service was great and fast. 10 out of 10. read more

Jim's original. Not slim jim. Not skim jim. Not Jim's hymn. I ordered the polish and at the time of this purchase it came out to $6.90. And it came with fries and jalepeno. For the price point and taste test, this is absolutely amazing. The spot is like a truck on the side of the street, so there isn't much parking. This is one of those get your food and eat it right now kind of joints. Plus, there is no seating, so even more incentive to eat asap. It is speedy service, so shuffle in line to scuff that sausage in your stomach. read more

A must stop if you're into original food finds. The menu is straightforward and I recommend you know what you want before you hop in line. Those lines move fast! They seem long, but you'll be at the ordering window before you know it. We ordered the pork chop sandwich (it comes bone in) and the polish sausage, a must! They come with fries and made to order. I'm one that loves a kick of heat, but their sport peppers are HOT! I felt the heat in my ear drums, so proceed with caution. read more

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Classic! Simple and perfect, NEVER ask for ketchup or you may be banned for life! Quick and no nonsense service, there is always a line no matter what time of day. It's very hard to find anyone, especially in Chicago, that has not enjoyed one of Jimmy's finest dogs. Wrapped quickly in paper, smushed together with the most delicious hand cut fries. This will and always be a 5 star joint! read more

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You gotta go here. You step up to the window and you better know what you want or step aside til you do. Once you order- get outta the way or the guy will tell you- GET OUTTA THE WAY!! The food comes out so fast. We got the polish sausage with peppers and fries. Delicious. Worth stopping for on the way through Chicago for sure. read more

Never get tired of a quality bone in pork chop sandwich at Jim's! I know, nuts right, has a bone?!! But I'm telling you, it's a good bite of a sandwich. And the grilled Polish....always a good Polish dog! read more

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The Maxwell street polish is still the best anywhere flavor wise, but it has shrunk. It's still the least expensive of similar joints (except next door) but I'm guessing instead of raising prices they just shrunk the size of the sausage along with the tiniest smear of mustard and a skimpy portion of sautéed onions. Plus the hot peppers included with every sandwich was limited to two for my order of four sandwiches. They're hot as hell but I want one with every Sando! Back in the day of a mighty polish they'd give you two peppers each. So disappointing that they would cave like that. No restrooms so don't get pepper juice near your eyes. Fries included with each sandwich. No they ain't free they're 'included'. Great service, eat in your car or on it. Don't sit on the curb and eat you'll get run over!! read more

Jim's Original - The best of both from Jim's and Mannys! - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ain't mad at ya! When someone ask me what's a piece of Chicago nostalgia, it's this for me. As a little girl, I've been coming here and I remember the smell of those steamy onions permeating on the grill. You go for a pork chop sandwich, cheese burger, and the infamous polish sausage. I will say their burgers for sure fell off for me because I think they are making so many at a time that it looses its hotness and fresh taste off the grill. But maybe if you are first in line and get a fresh one it's good. I had a polish last night that was worth every bit of heartburn I experienced! Those onions and mustard make it! Go here and experience Chi eats. read more

Great service and delicious polish dog. It comes with fries for under $7. Will return for sure!

It is this easy. When you land in Chicago + you are hungry ....head to Jims. It is our tradition and I highly recommend that it be yours too. Why - because you can smell the sautéed onions as you drive up. It is one of the best sausages around for its price. Because if you want to be just like a local, it is just what you do. EXCELLENT street food and always a fun experience that is now a tradition for my hubby and I when we arrive in Chicago. read more

Jim's Original - a group of people standing outside of a restaurant - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This used to be thee place in the early 2000's. Stopping by here after or even before underage drinking. When we were young!! Now that we old this is not good food. I think either my taste has evolved or the food has gotten nastier. Service was cool though. My husband just had to stop here one day we were in the city. He bought me a burger and I couldn't finish more than one bite. Yuckkkkk! Also, the lack of cleanliness is apparent and appalling! Gum and dirt everywhere. My husband said since they're open 24/7 they never get to clean. He said this as he wolfed down his burger. Just let that sink in -- they never get a chance to clean. It sure does taste that way. If you're drinking then go here, if you're sober, avoid. read more

If you have not tried the original Red Hot at Jim's, your visit to Chicago has not been counted yet. I'm telling ya. All comes with their awesome fries. The grilled onions and mustard were yummy. read more

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Lines can be somewhat long but they move really quickly. We had about 5 people in front of us and it took just under 10 mins to get to the counter to order. Me & my boyfriend had the polish sausage and cheese fries. The food was fresh and delicious. Can't wait to come back the next time we're in Chicago. read more

Jim's Original - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love the places that have been opened for so long and it's also very affordable, and quick. I got the polish sausage which comes with fries. This is a spot I come back to when I'm in Chicago. The polish sausage is good size, perfect amount of sautéed onions, and good amount of mustard. Fries were seasoned, crispy on outside and soft on the inside. It can get busy during lunch time, there's a little area you can stand and eat at. Most people just take it to go. Even when it's busy, you can get your order quickly as they are cooking the food nonstop. read more

I'm sorry Chicago but this is one place that I was sooo disappointed in and do not understand how so many people recommended it. We came here after trying the polish dog at Al's about 3 minutes away and were so thrown off by the taste of these polish dogs vs. those. We received a smushed soggy bun, with a boiled flavorless polish dog, sautéed onions? if you can call them that because they did not taste sweet at all and seemed to be just steamed. No mustard? No relish? Biggest disappointment! To be fair most of the people who recommended Jim's said this was the place to go late night after you've been at the bars or clubs so maybe that explains why it seems the food hit's different? read more

Jim's Original - Hot Dogs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Jim's is truly a Chicago institution and has been for as long as I could remember. Located right behind UIC forum, it has been the source of many late night munchies or post-Bulls game/UIC forum presentation moments for me. Although I think the quality has suffered a little bit post-COVID and the prices have definitely increased, it is absolutely still near and dear to my heart. If there's only one thing you can order, definitely do the polish. So simple, but I think it the salt from the sausage, sweetness from the caramelized onions, HEAT from the peppers, and starch from the bun makes a truly wonderful experience. Beyond that though, the pork chop sandwich and fish sandwich can also hit. They do sell out later in the night of things, but honestly I've had nights where all they've had were hamburgers / cheeseburgers and even they can hit the spot. All orders also come with fries and I'm always amazed how fluffy and crispy they always seem to be. It's takeout only but they do have standing tables if you're in a pinch. The armed security guard I know always makes this place seem like a sketchy spot for some people who haven't frequented, but it's always a good vibe here for me. Just grab your food and go. Eat in your car. Eat at home. Eat at the standing tables. Wherever you eat, just make sure you try Jim's at least once in your life! read more

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