Outside seating, food was good tho and service was fast. Me and my friends think it's the top 5 best burger spot in Chicagoland area

If you want the very, very best char grilled burger in the NW suburbs of Chicago, head here!! Nothin' to look at from the outside & usually packed with waiting customers, but ALWAYS worth the wait, so if you're impatient do like me & read a book on your phone while you wait!! And the guys behind the counter hustle! I recommend Paradise Pup to everyone because it never, ever disappoints. read more

Ordering at the window was easy; friendly cashier and service. You're not going for the ambiance-- you're there for the food. Was our first time here and we all ordered the char burger. Meat cooked just right. Next time I will request no ketchup. Overall we totally enjoyed our burgers. Will try hot dog on next visit. read more

Phenomenal food. Always good. Never had a bad meal here. Made to order and not sitting on a warmer like McDonald's. Prices are fair. Nice place for sure read more

Given that I'm in the area and knowing that this place is popular on social media, I can't resist trying it out. At first glance, I know the infrastructure is older and not particularly outstanding. Based on my experience, these businesses deliver quality food. When I arrived, there was a huge queue of people waiting to place an order. Thankfully, I had called in ahead of time, so I could avoid the line and walk straight to the window dedicated to pick up orders. The food wasn't ready upon my arrival so I waited and observed the establishment. I noticed due to limited space, the business made an effort to accommodate by providing a table for outdoor dinning. Then the staffs waved at me to notify me that the food is ready, so I left right away. When I got home, I instantly devoured the burger. The first bite was incredible because I tasted the char grill patty, the savory thick layer of merkts cheddar, and the caramelized onion. I'm glad they packed extra napkins because it was so messy/juicy that I saw layer of burger juice on the bottom of the styrofoam container; how erotic. The fries were simple but good nothing to explain just crispy crinkle cut fries mildly salted I regret for not ordering a side of cheese to compliment with the fries. It was sad as I took the last bite of the burger, not knowing when I could get my hand on the juicy burger again and I'm glad I stopped for lunch I have to say this is the best burger I ever had the end read more

Paradise Pup - Char Cheddar Burger with grilled onions and side of small fries - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

I sometimes drive by here on my way home from work and pick up a char burger or hot dog. It's greasy and hits the spot after a long day. This place is very old school. The chocolate banana milkshake is great. read more

Man.... I used to come here all the time in high school and I remember the burgers being delicious. I swung by earlier this week for the first time in ~10 years and got the 1/3 char burger with cheddar cheese. I really did not enjoy it for several reasons... The bun that they use is an incredible bun but it is really thick and that's what you taste mainly with each bite. Speaking of bites, one bite is all it took for the burger to start falling apart. It is super greasy and you can taste this with each bite. I wasn't crazy about the cheddar cheese, it was super sharp and pretty overpowering. Overall, the burger lacked cohesiveness and honestly, I felt like crap for several hours afterwards. With each bite, I felt like I mainly tasted bread, grease and cheddar cheese. I barely tasted the patty and all the other ingredients. I was thoroughly disappointed with my experience... read more

Paradise Pup - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

Located  on S River Rd in Des Plaines, this fast food stand is well worth the stop. If you can find a parking spot. Reasonably priced, you order at a window, then they give you a pager that will alert you when your food is ready. The food is made to order and fresh. The Paradise Pup is a typical Chicago Hot Dog and is a great choice. The Italian Beef is stuffed and served piping hot. It is accompanied by spicy giardiniera peppers. The fries are the crinkle variety. You can pay with cash or a credit card. They have some picnic tables with umbrellas. This is a great choice, and I would highly recommend Paradise Pup. Enjoy. read more

See all

I highly recommend this place. The cheeseburgers or cheddar burgers are amazing outstanding delicious

I had the pleasure of trying out a Chicago dog at one of the Diners, drive inns, and dives. It was busy however we were served with a smile. Everything was fantastic from the dogs to burgers to cheese fries. The strawberry shake was epic. This is a hidden gem in Des Plaines just past the original Mac Donald's that had been torn down. Even the cicadas wanted to see what the food was all about. They were flying all around. I enjoyed the beautiful weather eating my Chicago dog outside. I'll be returning again to try a burger! read more

See all

I like my cheeseburger well done with no pink inside. If I'm paying for my burger I expect to get it the way I ask for it. read more

Paradise Pup - What I asked for vs what I got! - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

Good burgers and it seems like you'd always have to wait in line here Juicy delicious burgers Recommend their fried side of mushrooms and peanut butter banana shake. I would skip on cheddar fries and get regular ones instead as cheddar was too salty read more

See all

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 Ronn The hole in the wall food guy read more

Paradise Pup - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

Heard about this place from my wife. We decided to try out all the hype. I had the double cheeseburger with onion rings and a banana peanut butter shake. All I can say is WOW! Great burger and everything with it!!! I absolutely recommend trying this place!! read more

Paradise Pup - Double Cheese Burger - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Damn I cant believe Ive never reviewed this place. Used to go all the time when I worked in Elk Grove. To sum it up, great burgers and long lines. I prefer the standard cheddar instead of merkts but you still can't go wrong. Go early. read more

Finally got to try this place after a friend told me about it a few years back! Never really looked it up before so I didn't know what to expect. Only one other person was there when I went and they were already waiting for their order in their car. Small place with walk-up windows for ordering and only outdoor seating as far as I could tell but I wasn't looking around the building itself too closely. Nice big menu on the wall but it doesn't tell you the price until you go to the ordering window, and they have a menu with prices on there. The workers were really nice and friendly! I heard they're known for their burgers, but I was in a fish sandwich mood tonight so I went with that, along with some cheddar fries. They gave me a pager and I waited in my car since it was cold out. I took it home first so I didn't eat it right away, but the sandwich was still good! Better than the average fish sandwich that I've had, at least. Bread was nice and soft, the fish was still decently crispy on the outside, and the tartar sauce was light and didn't overpower the sandwich like it does at some other places. Fries are crinkle cut and they were average; the cheddar was put in a container on the side and the taste was okay but was more viscous than I was expecting. Decent experience and will most likely come back again to try a burger! I'll probably go with onion rings over the fries though. read more

See all

Cold bun burger quality horrible Can't never figure out why people go there for food read more

This place is THE BEST BURGER EVER. Been going here on sunny, warm weather days only for DECADES! Found this place around the corner from where I worked even before Food Network Guy F. did a piece on Paradise Pup. MY FAVE: Charbroiled Cheddar Burger -- get it with everything and switch to GRILLED onions. Please make SURE it's CHEDDAR on the burger -- makes ALL the difference. Runner Up: Charbroiled Chicken sandwich with honey mustard. SOO good! Yum! Be prepared to WAIT in line, if you don't call ahead.. read more

Amazing! Fresh burgers cooked to perfection. !! Char grilled full of flavor . Merkts cheddar tops off the cheese fries turning them into an unforgettable side . Lines are long but moves quickly and worth the wait . The best think shakes with real fruit read more

It's been years since I've been to Paradise Pup. There's always a line, but it wasn't a long wait. Parking might be tight, but a great place right eat your juicy burger fix. Love their crinkle fries. Nicely seasoned and crispy. Just make sure to eat them right away! Also, their beer-battered onion rings were delicious!! So thicc, crispy, and tasty. I got everything on their Char *Merkt's Cheddar Burger with bacon. Love the grilled onion, but they forgot the pickle. Regardless, it was still delicious! So worth the buck! I don't always crave burgers, but when I do, I know where to go! read more

See all

I have driven by this place for the last week always around 3pm and always a crowd. Figured stop in and see what all the fuss is about. I got a hot dog, a French fry, cheese sticks and a chocolate milkshake for my daughter. Food was good and I will definitely be back . Parking is tight and it's right off a busy street. Just be courteous when you park and expect tight spaces. All Parker's when I was there had no issues. Great food can't wait to stop in again and try some more of the menu items. read more

See all

Great food! Waiting in line is worth the wait. The fries were perfectly salted and the tamales were delicious!

I must have gone on and off day and I'll have to try this place again but I was highly disappointed. While the food was very fresh my burger literally had no flavor at all all I could taste was the grease. read more

Made a visit on on the recommendation of two foodie friends and was pleasantly surprised. This small restaurant definitely delivers food that is full of flavors. The Merkt's cheddar burger is made of quality ingredients that borders on being too bold, but shows just enough restraint to be perfect. It's kind of a mixture of Portillo's and Kuma's Corner in terms of preparation and pricing. It's not a cheap burger for fast food standards, but much cheaper than going to a sit-in restaurant for something similar. One thing this dish definitely gets right is starting off with a high quality, fluffy but solid bun that is strong enough hold in all the ingredients inside. The patty is thick, juicy, and perfectly seasoned with a strong char flavor and surrounded by a perfect mix of ketchup, mayo, tomatoes, pickles, and delicious grilled onions. This is all bound together by plentiful amounts of cheese which help to hold everything together and create a very pleasing bite. Simple idea, but very well executed. The triple layer fries are definitely not a diet food. The mix of sour cream and cheese almost borders on having too thick of a mouth feel and the mix of chives and bacon becomes almost overwhelming. Yet, the mix of them all together creates a very bold flavor that is actually quite addictive and makes you forget about all the calories you're ingesting. Overall, simple but delicious. This restaurant is worth a visit if you're seeking a very well executed burger at a reasonable price. read more

See all

Get the Merkts cheese burger! It is the best burger of all time. The cheese fries are super good too. I'd rate this place 11/10. It's very busy so it takes a long time to get your food. Get there early or be prepared to stand in line- it is worth the wait! There is no inside space- just a few picnic tables outside. read more

Great burger, fries were nice and crispy. Service was okay, not too busy. It took about 10-15 min. Ambiance was good. There was a good amount of outdoor table seating. read more

Paradise Pup - 1/3 Char American Burger - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

Friendly service and the burgers are delicious It's been a while since I've had a burger that's perfectly seasoned. The cheese fries were so good and they make sure each fry is coated with cheese. New favorite burger place ‍ read more

Paradise Pup - Merkt's Char Burger - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

Best burgers in chicago and not expensive- nuff said. What else do you want me to say here? read more

Amazing food, friendly service. Burgers are awesome and best onion rings we've ever had!!

Believe the hype. It is that good! Worth waiting for- which is what you'll do, and most likely in your car. Be smart and call to order ahead. The bacon cheeseburger was so fricken good. Fries were good.... But let me tell you the grilled chicken sandwich. Omg. It was to die for! Definitely be prepared with napkins and wipes. There's a small parking lot in the back. read more

Good food but pandemic is over open up fully. A bigger place with actual seating inside would help

My favorite char cheddar burger with grilled onions and three layer fries. I have tried to find another burger that compares and there just isn't for me. The burger is so delicious, requires several napkins as juices drip down your arm. My mouth salivates any time I think of it and if I'm in a five mmile radious anywhere around, I feel I have no choice but to stop lol. Yes, its that delicious. Plus family owned and they are all such kind, wonderful humans. Lines out the door and always greeted with a smile. I do recommend phoning in your order if taking it to go read more

I waited so long, I waited so long.... Then I had two meals from Paradise!!... Won't you share your fries, we'll eat those tonight... I've got two meals from Paradise!! (Gerry Money) I used to work in Rosemont, IL so we could fly easily throughout the country for work and my work friends there told me of this legendary place to eat at for lunch - that was straight down River Road. Needless to say, we went every week!! But after leaving the company, it had been awhile since my return and I really waited too long - heck Triple D even came here, unbeknownst to me. But I'm glad I returned and I hope to come back even sooner for their incredible cheeseburgers, hotdogs, fries and onion rings. If you're ever heading to O'hare - stop by here for two burgers from Paradise. read more

See all

You may want to call ahead so you avoid long lines. Good cheese burger! good fries and good onion rings. I be back.

Tried my char burger with Bavarian dark bread - an excellent variation. Also tried the pumpkin shake ....ver impressed. Actually tasted close to pumpkin chiffon pie, not to sweet and not that artificial pumpkin flavors that so many products have. Lyft ride from hotels by Cumberland Blue Line stop wasn't bad- no more than 10 minutes. Next time going to OHare - I may budget the time to stop , taxi, eat, taxi back and continue to airports, probably an extra 45 minutes. read more

Paradise Pup - The Bavarian dark bread option - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

It was fine. Definitely overhyped for the burger with merkts cheddar and the fries weren't particularly memorable. The shake was good though

Great food very friendly staff . Merkts burger and 3 Layer fries are amazing. I wish they were open for dinner.

I grew up in Chicago and during a recent visit wanted some "soul" food: hot dog, Cheeseburger w Merkt's cheese, cheese fries.... My friend recommended this place since it was near us. It was so good I'd drive from Lincoln Park to go again.... Now back in California, I'm still thinking about how good the cheeseburger in particular was. read more

Paradise Pup - Cheddar fries - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

The food was good, the parking was bad. That's the short version of this review if you only want to read 2 lines. This business has little parking and the parking available is very tight and hard to pull into. I have a pickup and had to basically make my own spot. Nevertheless I had heard good things about the food so I wanted to try it out. I did not know that there was no indoor dining or even a warm waiting area. When I walked up to the area to order I did see that initially there had been a set up for that. At some point they changed it, likely during covid etc. So we ordered, then waited in the freezing cold for the food. I will say that they had a buzzer so you were able to wait in your car if you wanted. I ordered 1 of their special burgers, the 3 layer fries, and an oreo milk shake. The food is basically what you would expect from a sonic like burger establishment. The burger was nice, plenty juicy and filled with flavor. The fries were OK. The milkshake was middle of the road. The food was good enough that I would order there again. However, not unless it was a whole lot warmer. There was no where to dine so I had to either eat in my truck or find a place to take it to eat. That's fine for a pick up order. If I'm on a lunch break or something and I want to sit somewhere I think I'd be better off going to a business that at least has a small area for that. The cashier seemed indifferent when we were ordering. Not necessarily rude though. I got the feeling that this business was an in town favorite kind of place, and the attitude of some of the staff reflected that. I'm not from in town and I also wasn't that impressed. Good food, but not sit and freeze for 10 minutes good food. read more

See all

WOW. I love my share of fast, no fuss food and this knocks it out of the park. My girlfriend and I were visiting a friend down in Des Plaines and he recommended to stop by this place to grab some lunch to go. Came on a Saturday afternoon (maybe 3pm ish), and the line was already at maybe 10+ people once we parked. It got even longer fast! There's a lot people can park at, and then a few picnic tables for people to sit to enjoy their food. Everything on the menu was priced well and pretty straight forward. We ordered the combo beef and sausage, paradise pup (hot dog), Italian beef melt, fries, mozzarella sticks, and two soft drinks - all of that for only $34. I think that's a steal! Everything is made to order so expect to wait about 15-20mins for your food. It's worth it though! We devoured our food and can easily say, very satisfied. If you're ever in the area, I definitely recommend! They take credit or debit card (I don't think they have contactless payment options). Would love to go back to try their burgers and shakes next! (Also didn't realize this was featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives - I can see why!) read more

Paradise Pup - Fast Food Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois