The burger was so good I completely forgot to take a picture before digging in. Everything was fresh, the fries were crispy, and the garlic aioli was AMAZING. The ranch tasted like Hidden Valley (I would've loved buttermilk ranch instead), but that definitely wasn't a dealbreaker. The service was friendly, and I liked the atmosphere and lighting inside. It was a little pricey for two cheeseburger meals, but we had leftovers, so it ended up feeling worth it. The tables could've been wiped down a bit better, but overall we had a great experience and would definitely come back. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Signature Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best burgers I've ever had! Quick service and a small to the point menu. The garlic aoli was great with the fries. read more

Technically I'd give 4.5 stars because the chicken tenders that say they're famous were just ok. But the burger is the closest thing to Au Cheval tastiness than going to the original! This is the sister chain restaurant to Au Cheval, and I decided to try it on my last trip to Chicago. So glad someone told me this place existed. I loved Au Cheval when I went years ago, but we waited 3 hours (for the best burger of my life), but probably would never wait that long again. Their classic double cheeseburger was only $11 and came out super quickly. The meat was seasoned so well, was juicy, and the combo of sauce, cheese, meat, lettuce was perfect. I don't usually love pickles or grilled onions, but I wanted to leave those on to eat the burger how it was intended. I think I added lettuce but no charge. We also got fries which might've been a mistake because I thought they were separate, but they were just ok. Burger was served hot, fries were lukewarm. Chicken tenders were ok but nothing too special or different. Cookies and cream milkshake was delicious, like drinking ice cream. Fast, friendly service, inexpensive but most importantly delicious! Would recommend. The place is small but a great location by the river, and there were tables around the side with a view of the river. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Yum! Signature Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Terrific burger and fries. During our recent trip to Chi town we did some research, and everyone told us we had to stop in small Cheval - thank goodness we listened. This burger joint is serving up some heat. A smaller, more casual version of its sister restaurant Au Cheval, Small Cheval is a great quick stop place, with amazing views all around the building and a charmingly intimate vibe. The menu's simple and straightforward - mostly burgers, fries, and fried chicken. We got the regular double cheeseburger with a side of fries, and I was super impressed with both. This is a top 5 burger all time for me (the butter brioche bun really puts it over the top) and the fries cooked in beef tallow are to die for. Do yourself a favor and get the garlic aioli sauce with everything. Nothing else to say. Go! read more

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Food was good, typical Chicago vibe. Fries were a bit dough-y lacking salt. Shakes were amazing, thick and creamy. To die for! Burgers were good, bun was the best part. Would be back read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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beautiful place and large seating area! I loved how the place had both standing countertop areas for eating, as well as large tables the back, giving the place a diner-like feel. I got the double cheeseburger w bacon and a cookies and cream milkshake. I greatly enjoyed the milkshake -- it was smooth and creamy. I would have liked to try the concrete to get more oreo flavor and chunks, maybe next time! the burger was tasty, but didn't like the bacon all too much. it had an extremely beefy taste that overpowered the taste of the burger. toward the final pieces of the burger, it tasted dry and heavy, especially considering how thick the bread is. the fries were decent, but lacked crisp and salt. definitely happy i tried this place but not sure if I'd go back! read more

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Parking situation isn't great, so if you find yourself near a Small Cheval with a lot, definitely take advantage. However, this location is a really cool spot with great views and floor to ceiling glass windows in the dining area. This is Au Cheval without the wait, the thick cut bacon, and the egg. Signature double cheeseburger with some Golden Fries on the side is always the move. Comes with a garlicky aioli as well that was solid. They have some beers on draft. The milkshakes, cones, and the concretes looked enticing. Next time. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Signature Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Everything is awesome.- Sir Emmet Brickowski Basically, it's everything you love about the fast foodie side of the spectacular Au Cheval without the long wait. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tried Small Chaval Riverside and went with the deluxe double cheeseburger minus the cheese, fries, and a strawberry shake. The burger was cooked well, juicy with a good char on the patties, and the toppings kept it balanced. Even without cheese it was flavorful and satisfying. The fries came out hot and crispy, a nice portion to go along with the burger. The strawberry shake was thick, creamy, and had a real fruit taste rather than just syrup, which made it stand out. The spot itself has a casual, easy vibe and it's nice being right by the water. Service was quick and friendly. Prices were fair for the quality. Highly recommend. read more

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We stopped by this location on a recommendation to try their sandwiches. The place had a line waiting to order, but it wasn't a long wait. My wife ordered the Double Cheeseburger and I opted for a Fried Chicken sandwich. Both sandwiches had a soft bun and the Chicken was moist and flavorful. There is limited seating here, but during warm weather, there is seating outside with a great view of the Chicago River. All in all, a very pleasant visit and we will stop in again when we're in the area. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Riverview - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honestly one of the yummiest burgers I've had aside from in n out. The patty was flavorful and the bun was soft. I ordered the cheeseburger with tomatoes and lettuce, along with well done golden fries. The golden fries were very crispy! Service was decent, but the food took a bit to come out. Would definitely come back! read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Cheeseburger with Golden Fries - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We took the Metra down to the OTC and stopped by this Small Cheval for a quick lunch. The place was hopping with a hungry work lunch crowd and the counter employee literally handed out about 50 orders before our order came up. We woofed down a very decent double cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake. Yum! (In a world of $20 burgers I'd say Small Cheval and their $10 burgers is a relative bargain.) read more

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Came in on a Sunday around 6:30 to try a shake! This location is so cute! Staff was very friendly and my shake was ready within a few minutes! The shake of the month is key lime pie so I had to try! This was amazing. The ice cream is sooo good, it's custard like and it had graham crackers. The key lime flavor was not overpowering, it was perfect! I need to come back to try a burger and truffle fries! read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Key lime pie shake - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First of all, I love Chicago, and this Small Cheval sits at one of my favorite architectural landmarks in the city. The building alone is spectacular and really cool. But I'm not here to rate buildings, am I? We're all here for the food. These burgers are juicy, flavorful, and consistently pleasing with every bite. My wife and I both said these burgers reminded us of one of our favorite places in Kansas City, but Small Cheval is a little more affordable, lol. The garlic aioli is a nice touch for the burgers and fries. read more

Good service, cozy inside with limited seating. I ordered the signature double cheeseburger, it was ok. I felt like it was missing something, perhaps I should've added more toppings. It also came a little undercooked for my liking. The fries and garlic aioli stole the spotlight. Crispy, flavorful, and satisfying. Overall, a decent spot, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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food: the burger was decent, would get again. the fries were very lack luster and the garlic aioli carried it. i like the peanut butter chocolate concrete i got but it was almost too much to finish service: na i got delivery ambiance: na read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Signature Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food comes out fast, burgers cooked to a medium, and French fries perfectly crispy. There is plenty of seating around the back by the windows facing the river, and there are hooks at every seat for purses or umbrellas! Really delicious food and very convenient! read more

Tried this spot after hearing a lot of hype, and while the burgers were good, I think they might be a bit overhyped--they were definitely a little too bun-heavy for my taste. That said, the truffle sauce was delicious, and I'd definitely recommend getting it to dip or fries in or even dip your burger in for some extra flavor. Parking can be a bit tricky since it's all street parking, but the location by the lake is a nice bonus. Overall, a solid burger spot, but there was just way too much bun. read more

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It is such a beautiful place. So if you don't like the food, you can enjoy the view and the area and walking around and taking beautiful pictures and selfies. But I will say that the hamburgers and french fries are very good so I have no complaints. It is a small in and out location, but there is also seating and free water with cups. read more

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Loved small chavel!! The best burger I've had in Chicago. We ordered a burger, chicken sandwich, tenders, and fries (had to try it all). The burger was my favorite but everything was delicious. We probably didn't need the chicken sandwich and the tenders but lesson learned for next time. There's some standing seating where you order but if you go towards the back then there's more tables. I can see this place getting busy during lunch since it seems to be near a lot of commercial buildings. Not too crowded on a Saturday afternoon but definitely other people there too. Can't wait to come back! read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Chicken sandwich, Cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and Golden Fries - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Did you know that @smallcheval lactated in Chicagos's Loop is now open on weekends?!? This is one of our favorite burger spots in the Loop and are stoked about the extended hours. Here is what we got: Single Deluxe Cheeseburger X2 Golden Fries X1 Mexican Coke X1 All for under $30 read more

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Ordered through Door Dash Saturday 1/9/2026! I do understand that the food isn't going to be as fresh as it would be if you eat in. However, don't send out old food. Seems like that was done. My daughter chicken tenders were fine. But all three ordered of fries were old and hard. The garlic aioli wasn't sent with the fries. The burgers were just okay too. They weren't cooked fresh at all! The burgers were seemingly premade. Seems to be the on going theme for the Small Cheval's. Please do better! read more

Double Cheeseburger, added lettuce and tomato. Much better than a typical fast food burger (BK, McDonalds, etc), reminded me a little bit of Shake Shack. Tasted great. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was great! Like many others, I came here after Au Cheval had a 2+ Hour wait. I was a tourist in Chicago for the day and ran into this place after walking away sad (lol) and was pleasantly surprised! (Note: the dude at the front of Au Cheval didn't tell us there were smaller locations so this is me telling you that in case the same thing happens to you!) the burger was a great smash style burger, I actually recommend getting 2 patties bc my one patty kinda got lost among the bun. The margarita was a little watery but my husband's old fashioned was STRONG (lmao strong enough that he coughed after the first sip) the fries were amazing and the aioli they come with was sooooooo good, garlicky and I really think they could bottle it if they don't already. Overall I'd recommend to anyone looking for a quick relative cheap bite in the area. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Margarita, Cheeseburger w/ single patty and bacon, fries, and old fashion - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by Small Cheval on Sunday after the ballet. Kids in tow, so a fancy burger with no wait seemed like just the ticket. The Riverside location is in the bottom of a glass-and-steel office building, looking out over the river, very pleasant. The chairs are not comfortable for large people. The burger itself is kinda disappointing for the price. Premade patties, dense, fairly tasty, not especially warm, cheese, sauce, lettuce and tomato. The veggies are fresh, and the bun is soft, with nice flavor. The fries are crisp, tasty, on the salty side. Four burgers, two fries and soft drinks ran me $80. That's fine for a handmade burger cooked to order. This wasn't that. We had a nice enough dinner, but we won't be in a hurry to go back. read more

Quick burger service. Especially when you're thinking of going to the OG location when there is a 2+ hour wait at 2pm. This is a good burger. It's like a five guys smash burger with a garlic aioli. However it is rather small of an offering. And the satellite locations do NOT offer an egg. Just FYi. Good French fries. Reminded me of a doubled fried fry option I have had at another burger spot in my past. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Burger presentation. - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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On the run I've stopped here a few times on Chicago visits but my last was after skipping the wait at Au Cheval. It's just a short walk from the mothership and we'll worth it. The menu has been consistent and service is always fast whether you order in house or for pickup online. Super tasty burger and fries and that garlic aioli is my fave. Nice view on the river and it super easy to find. read more

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It's too bad I was too full from a late lunch, otherwise I would have loved to have eaten a whole burger instead of having to share a quarter of a burger and a half of a chicken sandwich just so I can at least try. Having the "favorite burger" conversation is always a fun one as an American. I mean, what American doesn't have an opinion or two on burgers? Between backyard amateur flippers arguing over who grills the meanest burgers, what's the best fast food burger, what local pubs have the best pub burgers... the competition goes on and on. T'was definitely the case for this occasion between our group of coworkers. A few had already frequented the Cheval franchises over the Chicagoland area and I was seemingly the only one who had never had it, who was also interested. First impression of this particular location was fun. Located at the bottom of 150 N Riverside building, it's shaped as a half circle and wraps around the bottom of the building. Definitely not designed to house too many people inside, but there is a decent size courtyard outside that will definitely axt as a good spot to eat especially under good weather. This particular day was quite windy, so we opted to dine inside. We went straight after getting off work on a Tuesday and avoided any sort of a crowd. Everyone inside seemed energetic and full of recommendations, which I appreciated. Having gotten used to seeing plenty of semi-famous burger places tagging their burgers more than $10 made me think $9 for a burger and $8 for a chicken sandwich seemed reasonable, although, if the taste hadn't met my expectation in any way, I would have easily thought the pricetag is too high. Nope. I think they're super reasonable. Patties were seasoned and cooked well and all condiments were fresh. Chicken was deep fried super crispy and again, condiments were well balanced. I did opt in lettuce and tomatoes for the chicken sandwich, which are not normally included. We also opted for the truffle sauce along with our fries, and it was delicious as well. All the burger arguments stopped when the food came out and everyone was united with satisfaction of our Cheval sandwiches. I was super satisfied and needless to say, I'll be back with tge family for more. A side note. They randomly sell shots of Malört, which I had a pleasure of trying out for the first time. It was a trip. I'll leave it at that... read more

Best burger in Chicago!! Service is great and fast & the food is top notch. I highly recommend getting the fries with the garlic aioli sauce and a shake. You can't go wrong with a small cheval burger. read more

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Haven't tried Au Cheval so can't compare yet, but Small Cheval is delicious. Came here on a Friday night and it was busy (waited around 15-20 minutes) and unfortunately, they had run out of the January cookie butter milkshake. The cashier recommended the salted caramel shake, which is decent. The cheeseburger is good and fresh, no sauce required. Wasn't a big fan of the truffle cheese sauce for fries. Overall, solid option for burgers. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Salted caramel milkshake - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you're looking for a burger place with a small menu this is it. When I initially walked in we thought it was just a place to order with no tables and chairs, but they're hidden away in the corner of the restaurant, but we opted to eat our food outside because it was a lovely day. It wasn't too crowded, but it felt like it took a long time to get our food, which I wasn't expecting for a place with some a limited menu. We went outside where there's a nice little green area with the view of the city. Food was hot and fresh. I was told this place was supposed to be similar to au cheval especially the fries, but if you come with that mind set you will be disappointed cause they are not alike except maybe the garlic aioli dipping sauce. Was it good? Yeah it's a decent burger and fries. No frills just exactly a cheeseburger and fries. I just went it was quicker to get your food from order. P.S. there are a lot of bees outside. I would opt to stay in orders. At one point there was 5 all over me and they seemed to be attracted to our garlic sauce and sodas. Others around me were being bothered by bees as well. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visiting Chicago for work and came acrossthis gem. I was craving a burger and all that restaurants around me were a little nicer than I wanted to pay for. Was beyond pleased. Staff were friendly, helpful and service was super fast. Quality of burger and fries were incredible. Great location! read more

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Haven't been back to Chicago in 4+ years and am so excited to try all the new foods! We stopped here for dinner after our flights and we were definitely starving. I got the signature double cheese burger with lettuce, signature sauce and bacon and a side of fries! I will say the food is good, like a home cooked burger. I do think there are better, but for a quick easy meal, this would be good to try! Service was good and it was pretty busy! I would def recommend for a quick bite! read more

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Great spot by the river in a clean, modern looking building. I only got the burger, but that alone was enough. It's more expensive than a Billy Goat burger, but also has more going on. It comes with dijonaise, onion, pickles, and had the option for lettuce, tomato, and a couple of other choices. The flavors worked really well together and was quite filling - the patties they use are quite thick and tasty and also had some flavor. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Double Burger - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The legend is true. Small Cheval is delicious. I stopped by today and had a single deluxe cheeseburger for the first time, and it was truly life changing. Even the produce was impressively fresh. The bun was perfect, soft but not overly chewy or too fluffy like brioche can sometimes be. I think it was a potato roll? I was a bit skeptical about the choice of cheddar as the cheese, since I love how well American melts, even if it isn't fancy. But honestly? Everything was just so good. The fries, too. If you're wondering about the legend, go see for yourself. Just know it's true. read more

This is a good cheeseburger. Service was quick. Located right on the river, but hard to see from the eating space. There is outdoor seating in nice weather. Fries cost extra. read more

Amazing burgers! Passed by here on a Friday evening with a few friends while walking along the Chicago Riverwalk and decided to treat ourselves with some tasty burgers. I got a Single Deluxe Cheeseburger with some Golden Fries to share. The burger was fantastic! I would highly recommend getting the Truffle and White Cheese sauces. They both go so well with the burger and the fries! A must try if you can afford the visit! read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - cheeseburger and fries: don't forget the sauces! - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This location looks deceptively small from the outside: indeed, we weren't even sure if there was seating or if it was just grab and go. But there is a dining area hidden deeper in the building, so fear not. There is not a large menu, just a few burger options along with fries and drinks including shakes. The food was tasty, but the details were lacking. I ordered the wagyu truffle burger, described as "black truffle cheese sauce melted between two pressed & griddled patties of wagyu beef and topped with 1 slice of sharp american cheddar." Nowhere did it mention pickles, onions etc so I don't know if someone just messed up and made it wrong, or if they just didn't list those ingredients for some reason (which would be dumb with people's allergies etc). Also, both my boyfriend's and my burgers came out red. Not pink, red. The outsides were clearly done, so I feel like this is something of a feat for them to have been so rare considering how thin the patties are. The fries with the white cheese sauce may have been my favorite thing (my boyfriend also had the garlic aioli as a dip for the fries if you are a garlic fan because it is not fooling around), and the chocolate shake was also good once it melted slightly, but overall if you only make basically one item, you need to do a better job than this. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Wagyu truffle burger, fries with white cheese sauce - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

As someone with Celiac disease, Small Cheval is my saving grace, and this location is no exception. I only came in for a carry out, but the service was fast, friendly, and the server was very knowledgeable about celiac! This was my first time getting the lettuce wrap and it was fine, but the GF bun is my favorite I've ever had so next time I would get that again. Small Cheval: I love you and your dedicated GF fryers, never change! read more

The food here always hits the spot! I love that the menu is limited because you know exactly what you're craving when you decide to eat Small Cheval. I enjoy adding everything to the cheeseburger! The fried chicken sandwich is one of the best chicken sandwiches I've had. So good and crispy!! Both burger and sandwich taste even better when dipped in the aioli sauce. Same with the fries. You have to ask for sauce after paying and getting your food, but definitely do that! They also serve shakes and alcoholic beverages. I got to try a sample of the beers before deciding on one. Nice and fast. Only outdoor seating is available. Casual vibes. read more

Small Cheval- Riverside - Cheeseburger with everything added; Fried Chicken Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois