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    Jim's Original

    3.9 (49 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 7:00 pm

    Order Jim's Original Takeout or Delivery

    Jim's Original Photos

    Business Info

    JIM'S ORIGINAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Jim's Original

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    Chauncey M.

    Me and my fiancée were trying hotdogs/polish sausages all over Chicago and Jim's original was an amazing experience. Perfect bun, perfect caramelized onions and the star of the show(the polish). Service was good and quick I'm glad I started there first before it got busy because it was quiet and no one there. Definitely will be back in the future!

    Samantha P.

    I was feeling hangry and needed a quick bite. Decided to grab a burger and cheese fries and it was surprisingly really good. The burger was filled with caramelized onions and came with hot peppers on the side (so spicy but so good). All the food came out piping hot. Friendly and quick service.

    Exterior of Buisness
    Joe B.

    Classic, newer location mirroring the same great grub from the one off the expressway heading south. Friendly staff, very clean, quick service. Been coming to these joints for years and will always be a long standing customer.

    Real soggy bread Grilled? Onions..... Grilled????

    Passed through the drive thru. 2 minutes max wait tome for a polish. Anywhere else they take longer but looking at the onions these cooks don't really care about how they serve the damn food. The bread looked like as if I was eating an italian beef. Why so damn soggy if it's "grilled"????? I was only able to eat half of it and ended up being disgusted. It's damn pork...... take your time to grill a little more and the onions as well

    Polish Sausage
    Noah J.

    Jim's is a classic comfort food for me. I don't live in Chicago anymore, but every time I visit, it's a must have. Love this for a good takeout casual dinner. If you don't try the polish, you're missing out.

    Fries
    Jose C.

    I'm not sure what else to say about Jim's that's hasn't been said before. It's great that they opened up a second location, but it sucks that it will be tough to visit the original location now, just simply out of convenience. They do have a drive thru here and it takes a little longer to get your. At the original location you get your food right when you order it, here I had to wait about 5 minutes. The good news though...it's just as delicious. I gotta say, I love the consistency. Nothing is worse than opening up new locations and the food don't taste the same. I ordered one Polish Sausage and a Pork Chop Sandwich. They were both so delicious. The pork chop was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing with the mustard and grilled onions. The Polish sausage had a nice snap to it and also tasted great with the grilled onions and mustard. I don't know what it is, but something about the sweetness from the grilled onions and the acidity from the mustard that just makes for a perfect bite. I also love the fries from Jim's. Every order comes with a bag of fries so if you order a couple sandwiches, you should definitely have more than enough fries to fill you up. Can't wait to come back!

    Beef dog
    Audra M.

    While shopping in the area, we decided to get a bite at Jim's. We hadn't been to either of their locations, so this was a fun new experience. I decided to get the beef hot dog. It was very tasty, as were the fries. I bought a cheese cup for the fries after eating some of them, and it was really good. Employees were friendly, and the old school wall art was fun to check out.

    Jim's Maxwell Street food
    Ernie H.

    They have parking always a plus in Chicago. Also a driver thru! We like grilled onions both in Hotdog and Polish. The Polish tasted substantial. The hotdog was fine. The fries are crisp. I prefer raw onions but my wife likes them grilled. Place was really clean.

    Sign
    Drake M.

    I was notified that Jim's original opened up a location further north through social media so to my surprise the first chance I got I went down to grab me a hotdog and a Polish. What makes Maxwell hot dog and polish different from Chicago Style hot dogs, is that Maxwell traditionally has onion (raw or grilled), mustard and hot peppers. No ketchup, but the have packets of ketchup for those that want it. So I decided to swing by and they have a huge free parking lot in front of the store with a drive-through. It was the first time in my life that I ever ate Jim's at a table. The walls were decorated with the history of Jim's Original with great pictures. As I walked in, I was greeted with a hello and a hi from the staff from behind the counter as I ordered my food it came up quick and extremely hot. They had blues playing on the overhead speakers, which took me back to the old days when people used to sell watches or gold chains as I took my first bite it was awesome natural casing hotdogs with mustard, grilled onion and peppers with a side fries (fries are free with sandwiches) made my day as I went for the Polish sausage I just wish I had a little bit more mustard on them. Next time extra mustard. The peppers are better than any pickle. I was still surprised that not a lot of people were in there, yet. This place is a gem and the bonus is I don't have to go downtown to get my Maxwell fix.

    Chelsi B.

    Grabbed some food after Micro Center but before our mall trip.  I got a hot dog while my husband got a triple cheeseburger (both came with a side of fries).  I ordered my hot dog with mustard, ketchup, and onions.  As we were pulling up to the window I joked that they were probably laughing at me for ordering ketchup on my hot dog since this is Chicago, only for it to set in that not even the burger came with ketchup so they may not have any despite taking my order and not saying they had no ketchup.  Low and behold, no ketchup on my hot dog.  They did drench the hell out of it in mustard though and overloaded it with onions, I guess that's what I get for saying I wanted ketchup.  Fries were good, my husband loved his burger, but I couldn't even finish my hot dog.

    Araceli C.

    Sunday lunch I order polish extra pepoers gret service on the drive true And enjoy on the parking lot My Polish was very satisfied My crispy fries and can of coke See you soon

    Fish and French Fries. Coke Zero
    Nelson K.

    Wow! What a pleasant surprise to see Jim's here after leaving home goods. I used to get Jim's all the time in college near UIC university village area, so I was happy to see that classic Jim's sign here. To those who have had Jim's at the other location, I found this place to give me the same vibes (even the stainless steel counters - a great touch) but much cleaner and there's indoor seating! To those who haven't had Jim's before, this place is a classic chicago hole in the wall food, and it always hits the spot when you're looking for a quick and affordable meal. They are known for their polish, but I can never NOT get the fish sandwich, fries (which are my one of my favorite in chicago), and hot jalapeño peppers (which are extremely spicy). Happy to see this second location, I love the execution, and I hope they do well!

    POLISH SAUSAGE (All Beef)
    Demetrus D.

    Always heard about Chicago Sausages. This is a must hit place. They were quick and everything was piping hot

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    3 years ago

    I have only been here once but the breakfast hamburger was an amazing deal. Eggs made to order, melty cheese. Just what the hangover needed.

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    2 years ago

    Great staff, delicious food, clean environment, good location and overall great place

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    3 years ago

    Everything is delicious and the prices are great. Beware of the hot peppers, they are actually super spicy! 5 stars.

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    2 years ago

    Food always hits!!! From the polish to the cheeseburgers, everything on the menu is delish!!

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    Ask the Community - Jim's Original

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    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

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    Jeremiah was very helpful and polite with my assistance with an error in my order and provided…read moreservice quickly and effectively

    Visited on a very busy weekend and had a good time. Line went to the exterior door to order on the…read morekiosk, took 5-10 minutes to get there. Ordering is straight forward with lots of customizations. Picking up your food is a bit hectic as there is a main pick up counter and a separate area for pick up if they are swamped. It'll be announced on the speakers. Took close to an hour for our order to be called, customers crowd the pick up counter even though they just ordered so be prepared to squeeze past people to get your food. Tables are also taken up by customers waiting for their group to grab their food. Seating is on both levels and outside so it's somewhat plentiful but expect some issues if you go at a peak time. As for the food we got the Italian beef, Chicago hotdog, fries, chocolate cake, and the cake shake. The Italian beef is amazing! Would recommend getting that along with extra peppers! The peppers really bring it all together. The Chicago dog was alright, it is good, fresh, and different from your normal hotdog. Fries were fries, they accommodated the meal well but wasn't anything outstanding. Our uber driver recommended the chocolate cake and the shake. I would say the cake is just average, it was a little under 'moist' status and the fudge icing is a little too sweet but maybe that's just how you would picture chocolate cake. The cake shake is the better version of it, mixed with their chocolate shake it felt nicer to suck it up through a straw. If you sign up for their rewards you'll get the cake for $1 Overall not a bad experience, they are opening a new location by the river in downtown so that might help with wait times. Highly recommend that Italian beef!!

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    Jim's Original

    4.2
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    A LOCAL CLASSIC! I…read moreloved this spot so much I ended up coming back twice. It has that classic late night comfort food vibe and feels like one of those staple spots you have to try at least once. First night I ordered a polish hot dog with everything on it and a fish sandwich w/ extra grilled onions. Super cool that your order comes with fries and I added a cheese cup both times. In my opinion the fries were mid the first go around, but second time they were better. Definitely tasted better dipped in cheese. They were kinda airy in texture, if that makes sense. Polish hot dog was around a 6.5-7/10 for me. It did taste better warmed up the next day. What I was most obsessed with was the double cheeseburger and fish sandwich! both were easily a 10/10. Super good prices and worth the money. Also, the chile peppers were sooo bomb and hotter than I expected ! I wanted to eat them all, but they were packing some serious heat! The lemon Italian ice is where it's at, make sure to order one! You can also mix it with strawberry, but both times people recommended the lemon and now I see why. The line gets super active and busy past 10-11pm, but during the daytime it's way less crowded. Even when it gets packed the line moves pretty quick. They stay open late and close at 1am which is nice.

    I've eaten a lot of Polish Sausage in my day and I just assumed it was the kind of thing that…read morecouldn'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.

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    Short line today
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    Gene & Jude's

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    Stopped by The Wiener's Circle and had a fun Chicago experience. I had the Chicago style hot dog,…read moreand it was exactly what you'd want, classic toppings, plenty of flavor, and a solid dog overall. What really makes this place stand out is the personality. The staff is famously surly, and that's clearly part of the experience, so if you know that going in it adds to the fun. It's more playful than serious and definitely gives the place its own character. I also thought it was cool how they give out free dogs after Bears wins. That kind of generosity and local spirit makes it feel like a true neighborhood staple. Definitely a memorable stop and one of those places that feels uniquely Chicago.

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    Fatso's Last Stand

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    4.1
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    I had read about how Fatso's does the char dog. I made this my last meal in Chicago…read more I went with a char dog, depression style, an order of fries, and a side of the Merkts cheddar. How was it? Fries- Delicious! Fresh cut fries, made right in front of you. They were great! Huge portion, too! Merkts Cheddar Sauce- Hell yeah! Give me a gallon of this, and I will chug it! Such a tasty cheese sauce. Loved dipping my fries in it. Great combo! Char Dog- This dog was delicious! Great char, great toppings. My only beef would be the bun. It definitely could have been more soft/steamed and fresh. It held up pretty well, but there were a couple bites where it broke and flaked apart. Hate when that happens. Still...didn't ruin the overall experience. Had a great last meal in Chicago before I headed to the airport.

    Fatso's Last Stand delivers exactly what its name promises: unapologetically indulgent, old-school…read morecomfort food done right. The burgers are the shining stars -- juicy, generously sized, and cooked to perfection with toppings that strike the perfect balance of classic and creative. Whether you go for a stacked cheeseburger, bacon-loaded option, or a specialty creation, the patties are flavorful and satisfyingly beefy, with a great char and use of quality ingredients that keeps diners coming back. Beyond burgers, the menu also features hearty eats like crispy fries, loaded sandwiches, and thick milkshakes, all served with a no-frills attitude that lets the food speak for itself. Service at Fatso's Last Stand matches the laid-back but attentive vibe of the restaurant -- staff are friendly, efficient, and know regulars by name, creating a welcoming, neighborhood-favorite energy. While the pace can get lively during peak hours, especially on weekends, the team handles the rush with good humor and keeps orders moving. The ambiance is casual and retro in all the right ways, with diner-style seating and a comfortable, unpretentious environment that makes it perfect for relaxed lunches, casual dinners with friends, or late-night burger runs. It's not fancy, but when your focus is on big, delicious burgers and familiar comfort food, Fatso's delivers exactly what you're craving.

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    Double Fatso with Cheese + Fries

    Jim's Original - hotdog - Updated June 2026

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