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Small Cheval

3.6 (48 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Small Cheval Takeout or Delivery

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SMALL CHEVAL ATMOSPHERE

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Divey
Outdoor seating

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Stephanie D.

Located in Aster Hall, ordering was easy with the self-serve screens. The dining area is cute and a nice spot to sit and eat. We tried the cheeseburger with fries and truffle cheese sauce. The burger meat was flavorful and the bun was soft. It's definitely on the pricier side, but worth trying at least once. I am not sure I would come back on my own, but I would be happy to join if a friend wanted to check it out!

Constance M.

Dined in at Small Cheval and it was the best burger I've ever had. I ordered the signature double cheeseburger and it was phenomenal. My youngest daughter had a single and we shared fries. Simply fantastic; highly recommend.

Signature Double Cheeseburger, Golden Fries
Katie M.

Small Cheval is my favorite burger place ever. The burgers are the best I've had and the fries are crispy and salty and amazing. The patties are thin enough that I like getting the double (I don't like burgers that are too thick) but thick enough that you're still getting a lot of meat. The only slight issue is that my burgers have been cooked differently on different occasions, so sometimes it's more pink than I would like, so be aware of that and maybe specify how you would like it cooked if you're particular about that. You order at the counter here and then grab the open seating at the picnic tables here. There are mostly long ones where you will be sitting at the same table with other groups when it's busy, but that's always been fine. Also, it's dog-friendly! I always see many cute dogs hanging out here and love when I get to pet them.

Single Cheeseburger
Hunter K.

Had a blast visiting Small Cheval yesterday. AWESOME staff, great food! The outdoor space was perfect to relax after a day in the sun - they have plenty of covered and non covered seating. Some of the best French fries I've ever had!

a woman sitting at a table with a qr code
Ray G.

I've been to the original Au Cheval in Fulton Market which was deemed one the of best burgers in the US. If you're trying to avoid the inevitable 30min+ wait since they don't take resys Small Cheval in this lil food court is the perfect option. Burger is prob 90% the quality you'd get from the original restaurant without the wait. Not typically a huge fan of burgers but this one was perfectly cooked and medium rare on the inside. There was juice squirting with every bite (watch out!) lol. Def worth the 10 min walk from my place. Would recommend going to the original Au Cheval in Fulton market if you put your name down for a reservation and go to a nearby bar while you wait. Place is extremely small so I wouldn't go here with more than 4 (6 max). It may or may not be worth it if you plan on a night of drinking after.

Cheeseburger and fries

Excellent cheeseburger and fries. Delicious and great location and service and great stop during a day in the city!

Small Cheval Burger and Fries
Kevin N.

An offshoot from Au Cheval as I've been told this place actually has the better burger. And it better be the case given the sparse menu essentially being the burger and their fries. ATMOSPHERE/ARCHITECTURE: 7/10 It's a little bit stuffy inside and the air is greasy and tinged with the scent of grilled meat for sure. The seating is rather limited, probably seating 30-40 inside at most. The light is dim and the decor is wood and oak heavy, giving somewhat of a rustic feel. It's not my favorite atmosphere to sit down and eat as it does not feel entirely welcoming, but the food is why you come here. SERVICE: 9/10 Service is good and rather quick. I have ordered from here multiple occasions both in restaurant and for delivery. Delivery provides adequate amounts of utensils and napkins, which is a critical part of running a delivery service. FOOD: 9/10 Small Cheval Burger with Bacon - 9/10 - The classic burger with addition of some crispy bacon that adds nice texture to it. You really can't go wrong with adding bacon to this burger, but honestly, I think the original is better. While I prefer my Five Guys burger with bacon, this one I think I will stick to the plain one. Small Cheval Double Cheeseburger - 9/10 - The classic burger and namesake of the place, Small Cheval is confident enough to essentially stake their entire restaurant on this thing as it's basically the entire menu. It is that good though. The patties are well seasoned and grilled to perfection with a nice melted layer of cheese atop lettuce and tomato. Small Cheval Plant-based Burger - 8/10 - This is not an impossible burger and in a blind test, I could definitely tell that this was not meat. However, that doesn't mean it was bad. Just compared to the main burger, this is definitely worse. Small Cheval Fries - 10/10 - Dang, these fries are truly the best of the best. I can definitely say that these are the best fries that I have ever had. Now know that there are 2 types of fries depending on the location you go to. There are the thin, small fries and then there are the square cut fries. Personally I prefer the square cut fries which are very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfection. VALUE: 8/10 For what you get I believe that this is a reasonable value. PROBABILITY OF RETURN: 10/10 I have already been back here 3-4 times and I plan to continue to return here. TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT: Eat! Come and try all burger fans! OVERALL: 9/10

Signature Double Cheeseburger
Cara S.

cheval signature burger - double cheeseburger with precisely what it comes with... cooked medium (which i NEVER order a burger this rare, but omg YUMMMM!!!)

Dog friendly

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4 years ago

Solid, simple burger. Meat was juicy and seasoned well. We received our order quickly.

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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Au Cheval

Au Cheval

4.4(9.5k reviews)
1.6 miWest Loop, Near West Side
$$

so glad we tried this place! we actually only waited about 15 mins to get seated at the bar on a…read morewednesday night around 7pm. we came here for my boyfriends birthday and we were so happy we chose to celebrate here. the two people that helped us was antonio and issa and they made the experience 10x better. they were very attentive and friendly and just easy to talk to. gave us good recommendations and good vibes. we both really liked our drinks and were happy with the spread the food came out. we got to eat the bone marrow first which also came with this really good sauce it was almost like a meat jam but was so good on the bread and then put some of the bone marrow on for the perfect bite. now the burger, you just have to try it because it really is that good. the sauce in it was so good and it just had a really good flavor. it was just an elevated burger. we got fries as well and we shared the burger so it we were really full after. the server brought out ice cream with a candle and some sort of chocolate sauce too which just made the overall experience. we were really happy with the service and food and it just made my bfs bday that much more special and memorable.

Despite all the hype, it's really an average smash burger. This is a place that has capitalized on…read moresocial media hype and people wanting to say they've been here and thus are cool and trendy. But it is seriously just a greasy smash burger. Their fries are good, and actually stand out more than the burger. Everything is overpriced. I don't know why people complain about the wait; do some research like a responsible adult. I never just walk into a place and expect to be immediately seated, I call first - like anyone who has some sense. If they tell you the wait is 2 hours and you have 2 hours to kill, there are a bunch of bars in the area where you can have some drinks and an appetizer (and not feel like you're stiffing Au Cheval; they're the ones with the 2 hour wait, what do they expect people to do?) Not much to say about the decor or ambience; it's a typically loud West Loop bar with mostly 20 - 30 somethings all trying to one-up each other with their trendiness that instead makes them all basically clones of each other. It is crowded, and you're a moron if you think any place like this is suitable for your 5 year old. That's not the restaurant's fault - it's not Chuck E Cheese. Often I wish Yelp offered a 1/2 star option, because there are places that are a 4.5 or a 3.5. Not in this case. 3 stars is spot-on.

Photos
Au Cheval - The cooks were very attentive!

The cooks were very attentive!

Au Cheval - Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

Au Cheval - Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

Little Bad Wolf - Bad Burger and a side of mac and cheese

Little Bad Wolf

4.4(2.6k reviews)
6.2 miAndersonville, Edgewater
$$

There's just something about a burger that actually lives up to the hype--and Little Bad Wolf does…read moreexactly that. Stacked unapologetically high, this burger is everything you want and more: juicy, perfectly seared patties layered with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and those golden, crunchy fried onions that take it completely over the top. Every bite is rich, savory, and just messy enough to remind you you're eating something seriously good. The toasted bun somehow holds it all together (barely), soaking up every bit of flavor without getting lost in the chaos. And then... the shoestring fries. Thin, crispy, golden perfection--light but addictive, with that ideal crunch that makes it impossible to stop at just one (or ten). They're the kind of fries you keep reaching for without even realizing it, especially dipped in that creamy, tangy sauce on the side. And let's not forget the drinks--just as good as the food. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the kind you sip slow while taking it all in (but somehow they disappear way too fast). It's not just a burger--it's one of Chicago's most iconic bites for a reason. Bold, indulgent, and absolutely worth every single napkin you'll need after. The ambiance inside is GORGEOUS!

My husband and I walked in on a Sunday evening for dinner and were able to be seated right away…read more The atmosphere is dark and moody, and it made sense once I realized it was the same owners as Gretel. Loved the 90s female R&B playlist they had going! Little Bad Wolf has been on my list FOR YEARS to try the burger! My husband got the burger with fried onions and I got some Bao because those also looked delicious and were a popular menu item. Honestly the 3 stars are only that high because of the service. Our server was friendly and attentive + the food came out hot and quick. Unfortunately, the food was pretty disappointing. The burger was swimming in a puddle of grease and just picking it up made your hands greasy + was dripping grease. The fries that came with it were floppy, soggy, and sad...but at least warm? I personally wouldn't order this again. The Bao were better, but small for the price and honestly were just okay? It was nice they gave you sauces you could add, but I found the Bao's to already have enough sauce so I didn't need them. Overall I left feeling confused and disappointed. I don't feel the need to come back here - Little Bad Will was a one and done experience for me.

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Little Bad Wolf - Fresh flowers

Fresh flowers

Little Bad Wolf - Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp Tacos

Little Bad Wolf - Bad Burger with fried onion strings

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Bad Burger with fried onion strings

NADC Burger - Beast Mode Fries

NADC Burger

3.6(118 reviews)
1.2 miRiver West, West Loop, Near West Side, West Town

I have heard good things about NADC and have been interested to try the burger. I thought there…read morewould be a lot of people so I was surprised that I walked in for lunch on Sunday and it wasn't busy, which was nice. My friend and I each ordered a burger and fries for ourselves. The NADC burger ($16) was decent, but it didn't blow my mind like people have raved about. I know it's not the original location which can play a part as well. What I really enjoyed and even finished my friend's were the fries. I love some good fries and these were top quality. You could taste the difference of the oil these fries were made in. They were nice and crispy and very good! I could keep eating them and would rather get the fries than the burger next time. I'd probably still get a burger since I need some meat and savory.

I have gotten this to go a few times but this was my first time eating there! My bf and I sat at…read morethe bar and had the best time! They have a ton of cocktails and they are very cool! We were able to chat with the general manager a bit and hear NADC story, it made me love this spot even more! I got a passion fruit drink with boba this was great! As we were chatting they mentioned an eggnog drink! I love eggnog so this was for me, and it was perfect! Such cool cocktails here, I had no idea!! We split the burger which was phenomenal. Even better eating it in person! I learned this is a pressed patty and not a smash burger. This is my favorite burger in the city! Such a cool vibe in here, very fun music and decor. I'm obsessed!

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NADC Burger
NADC Burger - NADC Burger

NADC Burger

NADC Burger

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The Dearborn

The Dearborn

4.4(2.8k reviews)
1.1 miThe Loop
$$

New favorite! Came downtown from the 'burbs for a show - my sweetie called ahead and we got a GREAT…read moretable just inside the door, perfect for people watching. Tasty drinks - the grapefruit pilsner was a perfect choice for a warm spring evening, and our server was funny and sweet. Sticky ribs appetizer was spot on, with just enough heat to keep it interesting. We shared the fish and chips - perfectly cooked, crunch and sweet, great fries! House made slaw and tartar sauce was out of this world! Gotta make one comment on something we didn't have. The next table over, two middle aged women order cheeseburgers. When they came out I almost regretted ordering the fish. They were huge, juicy, and looked incredible. This two ladies, drinking their Chardonnays polished them off, that's how good they were. Next time... Dessert? Why not? Sticky toffee cake please. Perfect with a cup of black coffee. Out the door and on our way - we'll be back! Thanks!

We dined at the Dearborn on a Saturday afternoon with my family. Our reservation was strategic we…read morearrived hours before we assumed it would become very crowded. The seating was tight. Overall I was having a good experience. The food was OK. The menu was limited. Oh btw, the special that day was a $70 wag goo burger. That interaction between me and the server reminded me of a car salesman trying to sale me undercoating for the car i just purchased. REALLY I can't make it up. The experience dropped to a single star as our dining experience was nearing an end. The manager of the front of the house. Made a conscious effort to make it clear that the table we were dining was needed by waiting customers. I've never ever experienced this before in any restaurant in the Loop. I can't and will not recommend dining here. This is why I'm giving 1 star. I my opinion The Dearborn maybe they need to be in a different location. Maybe located far west of the Loop. I would suggest instead of Dearborn maybe Halsted St. and probably change their name to The Halsted. Im not going back. OH btw good luck in your new location.

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The Dearborn - $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

$12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

The Dearborn - New Spring Menu

New Spring Menu

The Dearborn - Spring desserts

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Spring desserts

Small Cheval - burgers - Updated May 2026

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