Came to small cheval to check out the younger brother of "Au Cheval." With no indoor seating, the outdoor patio does provide a nice ambiance with warm string lighting. The burger was fantastic and the fries were a good addition! I would highly recommend trying the garlic aioli as it paired so well with the fries. Would recommend for a small bite / fast meal! read more

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

Small cheval always delivers. Solid burgers, great service, outdoor seating makes for a great summer spot and the soft service is a must try if you are craving something sweet. Our popular local burger destination for a quick bite. On the pricier side compared to the other comparable burger joints hence the 4 stars. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Well... I'm not entirely sure what all the hype is about. Small Cheval makes a good cheeseburger and fries, no more, no less. I've had better, and I've definitely had worse. That said, it's solid, dependable, and hits the spot when you're in the neighborhood and craving a burger without overthinking life. Would I go out of my way? Probably not. Would I stop by again if I'm nearby and hungry? Absolutely. but not when is cold, there is not inside seating. read more

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As a Chicago native visiting my old neighborhood, I was both excited and nervous coming back to Small Cheval. I had visited a couple of times pre-Covid and was a little disappointed at the quality and presentation of the burger. For those who don't know, Burgers are really all Small Cheval does. You can get fries and shakes on the side, but they're known for taking Au Cheval's famous (and difficult to get) diner burger and making it accessible to all. Anyway, on my visits several years ago the burger was just lack-luster. It was wrapped in foil, a little soggy, and inconsistently seasoned. On today's visit however, it was clear that they had made some changes and revamped production. The burger came in a cardboard container that didn't smash it, it was salty and meaty and the condiments were balanced... it looked better, it tasted better, and it was just a very pleasant surprise! As an added bonus the fries were about as crispy and flavor-forward as any I've had. Service was fast (fairly straightforward, not all that personable). The sun was shining on the outdoor patio, the tables were clean, and I was a happy guy. read more

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I've now had small cheval from this location multiple times and all have been consistently good - it's one of my must haves when visiting Chicago! I've tried everything from the chicken tenders, to sando, to double cheeseburger (with and without bacon), to the fries and all hit the fast food spot. While it can be a little pricy, the quality is there and feel like it's valuable. I've only gotten it to-go via self pickup and delivery, but always pretty quick and friendly. The space itself has sons of outdoor seating, so can imagine how nice it is to enjoy outside. I've been to au cheval in NYC many times (on of my fav burger spots in the city) and the team hit it out of the park with this fast casual concept too. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty average burger. I have to rate it lower because the veggie burger ($14.99) is $5 more than a regular burger, but nothing special. I've had better, but also have had worse. Self serve garlic aioli in the back! And they gave my dog some whipped cream. No indoor seating, but large outdoor patio space. read more

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It's definitely no au cheval, but what is? It still hits the spot and satisfies the craving. Truffle sauce and aoili is really good. Best way to get the taste of au cheval without waiting for hours. Chicago's version of in n out read more

This place is gluttonously amazing. The burgers have the perfect amount of onions, sauce and cheese. Cooked to perfection. The fries are good but the burgers are the star of the show. Love a soft serve dipped cone. This is my fave "fast food" in the area! read more

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I had to check out one of these locations while on a short visit to Chicago. After hearing these burgers get highly rated by locals year after year, I had to give it a try, and I was not disappointed. I went for the house specialty Double Burger with fries. The burger was simple but very flavorful at the same time. All the ingredients together make it delicious, from the bun, the well seasoned meat, to the pickles a special sauce. The fries were also amazing and tasted like they were fried in beef tallow and sprinkled with truffle salt. We were lucky it was a nice spring day and temps were in the 80's to enjoy our lunch on the spacious patio. Parking can be a challenge, but when is that not a thing in Chicago. Something I am not used to after living in the desert for so long. Enjoy!! read more

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Tried out Small Cheval after hearing all the hype, and the burger was nothing special to write about. If you're looking for a juicy burger, this is definitely not your place. The patties were under seasoned and incredible dry to the bone. Every bite was dense and monotone, even the bacon couldn't bring it to life. I do love a good height on a burger and Small Cheval did just that. I appreciate the golden fries, the garlic aioli, and the perfect outdoor benches where I can enjoy the lovely weather. But other than that, I honestly just paid a lot for a burger that only looked well composed, is this really one your best burger Chicago? read more

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I used to love this place but in the recent past quality has gone down. I had not been in a few years, Meat is not as good. Aioli is just meh. Fries don't taste fresh. It went from being one of my favorite burgers in the city to just ok (and a pretty pricey just ok at that). Oh well. read more

My friend and I ended up at Small Cheval on a chilly Tuesday evening. It was pretty quiet. You order inside and they give you a pager. As far as I can tell, they only offer outdoor seating. They have plenty of heat lamps outside to keep the cold at bay. They're almost too effective. It took longer than expected for me to get my food; my friend said it's likely because we went at a slow time and people usually order burgers, not chicken, so my food likely had to be made fresh. No complaints there. My friend ordered a coffee milkshake. The straws are not great, he reports. He says every time he's come here, the straws break so easily. I believe they use eco-friendly single use straws, which I can appreciate, but I did see at least two straws break before he could finish his milkshake. Enough about straws. I ordered the chicken tenders and golden fries. I usually try to avoid ordering chicken tenders when going out to eat, but these just appeal to me in a way that other restaurants' don't. They piping hot and extra crispy and just really hit the spot for me. It came with a dipping sauce. I chose honey mustard, but they offer a decent variety. The fries come with a ketchup and a garlic aioli, the latter of which I believe they make themselves. The ketchup is one of those fancy Heinz dip and squeeze packets. The aioli is more mayo forward; wish it had more garlic. The fries are alright: hot and crispy and properly salted, but no better nor worse than most other fries. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Famous Fried Chicken Tenders, Golden Fries - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered for delivery - just a burger and fries. The Fries were amazing. The burger was tasty, but I didn't care for the bun. It wasn't warmed or grilled, which would have made it better. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Streamlined local burger chain. We drove here to grab some protein after having a day in town and parked a few skips away. Unfortunately the seating is not designed for the winter and is outside. There are umbrellas for the rain, but the heaters were dysfunctional and made for a very chilly dining experience. Double Cheeseburger: classic meaty cheesy goodness. Tasted amazing! The buns, the melted cheese, griddle burgers were cooked to perfection: no complaints. Concrete - Coffee Toffee Thicker than a bowl of oatmeal. Sugary dairy goodness. Shake over soda any day. I think the food is delish, but this location is not geared for inclement weather. read more

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small cheval burger with bacon, a small fry, and a strawberry milkshake. absolutely no notes. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - yes yes yes! double cheeseburger with bacon, golden fries, and a strawberry milk shake. - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best burgers in the area. We usually get the regular cheeseburger with a side of fries and a milkshake. The restaurant is self-service but food was prepared timely. Al fresco area is kept clean and orderly with condiments and water readily available. read more

I loooovvveeee Au Cheval, but let's be real--sometimes you don't have 2 hours to spare or the emotional stamina to wait. Hence where Small Cheval comes in, the perfect next-best option. I come here all the time because the food comes out quick, everything's tasty, and the aioli? To DieFor The fries are seasoned to perfection and dangerously addictive. As someone with a long list of dietary restrictions (gluten, dairy, soy, sesame, oat), I love that I can eat here stress-free with the lettuce wrap burger ! Lots of outdoor seating, fun drinks, and easy-ish parking. A repeat fav read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - outdoor seating - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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super fun summer evening vibes, i love the outdoor patio, and at around 8:30pm on a thursday night, it was super bustling. the fries were delicious, perfectly fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. i love that you could get a yummy little garlic aioli on the side too, i feel like most lil burger joints wouldn't have that. the vanilla soft serve was yummy too. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great customer service staff, Virginia you a star. Nice and clean cozy chill vibe with hanging string lights, options to sit inside or outside, heated and spacious. IMHO the meat quality didn't meet the hype. Fries were okay, thought they were gonna be hand cut. Cold tasty beverages. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Maplewood & Pink Vodka Lemonade - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I normally love small/Au cheval but this location was not good. The burger was SO salty and pretty small. The fries were also pretty undercooked. Could have been an off night but not great read more

I've been wanting to check out Small Cheval since we loved Au Cheval so much last time we were in Chicago, so I'm happy this time around we were able to try it. This is considered more of a fast casual shop with tons of outdoor seating. We ordered the double cheeseburger, some fries, and the chicken tenders. Everything knocked it out of the ballpark. Dare I say that the best fries I've ever had is here -- cause I really think they might just be the best fries. The burger and chicken tenders were also so delicious. I'd def recommend for anyone in the mood for a burger, chicken, and or fries! read more

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Small Cheval was okay, but honestly, I don't get all the hype. The food was decent, and it's a nice dinner spot--especially if you're planning something afterward, like I went to the library with my daughter. The renovation made the outdoor seating spacious and comfortable, which is definitely a plus. Overall, a fine spot for a casual dinner, but not as memorable as I expected. read more

I was really let down by this place. My friends say this place is the spot for an amazing burger but what I got was unfortunately a miss. The patty was over cooked and was really small relative to the rest of the burger. We came to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday and we're looking forward to this burger as well for our cheat meal. The saving grace were the fries and the aioli sauce that came with I had Steak 'n Shake later that same night and unfortunately Steak 'n Shake burgers made this small cheval burger look like a little punk. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Single Hamburger with fries - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Treating this like a fast food burger, it would be top tier. Saying it's the same as Au Cheval, I don't think so. For what you're paying for and what you get, I would say it's worth the price. It's not a high-end burger whatsoever, but not all burgers have to be in order to be tasty. Sometimes it's nice just to have a simple burger. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After a long travel day that started quite early, this place was a recommendation from our Airbnb host. Delicious burgers, fries, shakes and cold beers hit the spot for a late lunch. I loved the casualness of it- (a walk up counter to order and pick up food) but it certainly did not lack in quality. Plenty of outdoor picnic tables for dining. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Delicious and simple! Small Cheval boasts an impressive reputation from its older brother, Au Cheval, and it lives up to the expectations. Everything was just really solid. The burger patty was seasoned notably well and had an actual flavor profile (compared to most burgers these days). The fries were everything you could ask for - salty, crispy and hot. The garlic aioli is a MUST. Service was quick and friendly. Short and sweet review for a short and sweet stop at a great burger joint. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Small Cheval Single Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Small Cheval is part of the Au Cheval group. The Smalls carry on the burger and fries menu of the main restaurant, but in smaller places around the metro. We each got a single cheeseburger and shared some fresh cut fries that had the right amount of salt. Loved the garlic aioli that came with the fries. Burgers had lettuce, tomato and nice pickles with a tangy sauce. Most patties would have been overwhelmed by all that, but the seasoned beef in these patties came through nicely. I want a double next time. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and outdoor seating. Aioli is fantastic and so were the milkshakes. Cool vibe

Awesome smash burgers - I had been to the Au Cheval in NYC multiple times and was hoping to try small cheval during my recent trip to Chicago. I liked it so much after the first time, we ended up ordering a second time during our trip! The quality of the meat was really good - both the burger patty itself and also the bacon. We had also read really positive things about their chicken tenders, which were very flavorful and juicy! read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Before diving into the review, I want to emphasize that Small Cheval serves the best cheeseburger I've ever had. During a visit to Chicago, while exploring the northern neighborhoods, I ended up walking through Wicker Park. I decided to stop by Small Cheval and was blown away by the experience. The staff was exceptionally friendly and welcoming, and the place was clean. The interior didn't have any tables that I noticed, but the outside dining area was very pleasant. The menu offers a variety of tasty options, including boozy shakes and a vodka pink lemonade, which added a fun twist to the typical burger and fries selection. There's also a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available, making the menu surprisingly extensive. I ordered a cheeseburger with all the classic toppings, plus lettuce and tomato. I didn't realize the cheeseburger was a double patty until it arrived, and although I typically prefer single patties, this double was fantastic. The key to its perfection was the well-balanced ratio of toppings to patties. I also ordered their fries with garlic aioli on the side, and the garlic aioli made the entire meal. It was absolutely delicious and in a cute container. Two minor downsides include that the fries are sold separately and as I review Small Cheval's website, the prices aren't listed. read more

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This burger was incredible. Best burger we had in the city. One of the best meals. We went to a lot of Chicago's go-to tourist spots, and this was one of our favorite meals we had on our trip. Does everybody know about this place or is it a hidden gem? Burger has such good flavor. Cooked to perfection. Perfect size--you leave feeling full but not gross. Garlic aioli sauce on the side was NUTS! So good. Still thinking about it. Fries also were amazing. So glad we came! Definitely will be back someday. read more

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Legit place! Loved the gluten free chicken strips and hot honey sauce that you can add. Truffle cheese sauce was fantastic! Server was super helpful and answered our many questions, very knowledgeable about the ingredients, process and options! Outdoor seating is soo cool! Place inside is small with a well managed system. No indoor seating. And cashless facility! read more

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I've eaten at Au Cheval and other Small Chevals and had perfectly fine food. This was terrible. I put the burger on the same grade as a White Castle. Definitely not as good as most other fast food chains. It was a TINY dry broken burger with the smallest piece of cheese that's so small you can't even see it tucked somewhere inside a GIANT brioche bun. I understand meat is expensive but come on. I will never go back to this location unless it's for ice cream. read more

The Small Cheval family has created a small bougie burger brat out of my 9 year old daughter. Where most kids would beg their parents for McDonalds, my 9 years old says " oooh Small Cheval" the second someone mentions wanting a burger. " Oh your kid likes shamrock shakes? Sorry we don't know her "-(Mariah Carey voice and an eye roll) only the finest, fresh, quality shakes touch these puckers. The fries! Get the fries! Not without the garlic aioli sauce, though! My fridge is usually stocked with a few left overs of the aioli , it's so good! Seriously though, best burgers in town. read more

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They're wonderful and I mean wonderful with small children even when they're busy. The food is fantastic and they have a great outdoor area. I thought the ice cream was small and underwhelming and the food while fantastic was a tick too high. Otherwise it's excellent and you don't see places where the staff is that patient with kids. read more

This place was so dope and the food was really good. The servers were kind and patient. And the overall location was nice for lunch on a sunny day read more

I wanted a burger. I wanted the best tasting burger in Chicago. Naturally, quality doesn't come cheap. Doris (dog) and I weren't disappointed. Not only did it meet the taste test, but there was enough for me, a bit for Doris (I mean, how could you not?), and a portion saved for another meal. We had fries, too! read more

LOVE this joint. The burgers are amazing and reasonably priced for the amount of food. Lots of outdoor seating options with umbrellas for shade. read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Guilty pleasures are a must! And Small Cheval is one of mine! You can always count on the same quality, flavors, and just all around fantastic burger coming here. Parking is a little tricky esp during the peak times of lunch and dinner. But the street parking is free! The restaurant does not have indoor seating but they do have heated outdoor seating for those who want to stay and enjoy. When you go in to order they have a menu at the front and offer additional toppings if you like or just keep their included toppings. They offer soda, and alcoholic beverages as well. Once you order they give you a pager for you to grab your food when it's ready. Keep in mind that while they do get food out quickly there isn't much space inside. But plenty outside by the tables! No matter which burger or style you get, the burgers are fresh and full of flavor with each bite. They offer condiments on the side along with their garlic aioli which is a must! ESP for their friends! All in all, it's a treat everytime! We're already thinking about our next visit! read more

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Wanted a place to get a burger fix. Definitely hit the spot! I was happy when I asked for no bun. They offered lettuce wrap. It took about 20 minutes for food. Burger was super juicy. Fries tasty, too! Cups of water are self-serve, and they have sodas, beers, and shots. Small Cheval = small menu but not small taste!! read more

Small Cheval- Wicker Park - Cheeseburger no bun. Wrapped in lettuce. I swear the delicious meat is under there! - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois