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    VinnyD's

    4.7 (202 reviews)
    InexpensiveGelato, Shaved Ice, Hot Dogs
    Closed Closed

    VinnyD's Photos

    VINNYD'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Shaved Ice
    Angelica S.

    This was my second time here, I was craving a cold sweet treat! The mini size even though a small cup, still had a good portion size. They have different types of food and drink options on the menu. I haven't tried their food but maybe next time. The staff is very welcoming, and the service was somewhat quick depending on the time of day! It a little hidden but I like the lights they have and the outdoor seating!

    Curly fries
    Lakeisha H.

    Back at it again! Love this place such a cool spot in the summer. Best Italian Ice in the city. The entire family loves it and they always provide great service.

    Italian Beef.  Juicy hot style.
    Scott S.

    Vinny D's may well have the best Italian Beef in Chicago. I've been to dozens upon dozens, but these folks have created something truly special. Let's break it down: Beef Of course it's thinly sliced like you would expect, but the tenderness is melt-in-your-mouth. A quality meat is used that's clearly cooked at the right temp for the proper amount of time. Easily pulls apart with your fingers; never mushy. Certainly never chewy. Not a sliver of fat or gristle shows up. Juice The juice features the exact right amount and type of herbs and spices. Sitting at the bottom of your sandwich container will be exactly what you want to see in terms of the Juice: Not too watery; with tiny oil slicks floating on the top here and there. It's a perfect balance. Getting that right is no easy task. The Giardiniera (hot variety) I'm doubtful that the giardiniera is Vienna Beef brand, and that's a good thing. I love the Vienna style but it gets old. I need to ask these guys, but this could very well be home-made. There's little cubes of cauliflower in theirs which, while it's a small detail, provides an amazing little texture crunch and taste to the experience. Inspired Bread As far as I'm concerned, this is what sets apart the 'okay' level from the 'spectacular' category. They have absolutely nailed the bread. It's never stale and chewy like so many places. Oh no. It's packed full of flavor. Most importantly, and I cannot stress this enough, it HOLDS TOGETHER from beginning to end. I've even taken their Italian Beef sandwiches home to eat. 10min of walking later, I break out the sandwich. That bread is not only still in one piece, it maintains its structural integrity until the last bite. Listen, if you know about Italian Beef and the bread....you know that's a serious accomplishment. Many places lately the bread is positively falling apart after 2 bites. Not here. Consistency Lastly, and most importantly, let's talk about consistency. Anyone can get a great sandwich going at least some of the time. Only a handful can knock it out of the part most or all of the time, and these folks do it. I've eaten quite a few at Vinny Ds at this point, and it's been the exact same quality every single time. It takes real discipline to not get sleepy and lazy and sloppy when making something as simple as an Italian Beef sandwich, so a huge round of applause for the staff. Staff Always friendly. Always cool. Final Bravo, Vinny Ds. Bravo.

    Italian cookie gelato was amazing!!! Creamy and delicious

    I stopped by and Carlos was asking people to try free samples. He was sooo friendly and sweet. So I got the Italian cookie gelato. It's sooo good! Highly recommend stopping by this family owned spot!

    Lemonade "slushy" Cherry slushy  Root beer float

    Imma give them 4 stars even though I was really disappointed they handled my concern when I had a question. We stopped at Vinny's around 7:30 PM on Sunday evening when it was very hot. We ordered two slushy's lemonade and a cherry and a root beer float. There was no slushy in the lemonade, It was all drink. When I went back up to the counter to let them know I got lemonade the lady behind the counter went on a tangent for a good 30 seconds and I couldn't understand a word she said except for "do you want to give it back?" After all that I said no thank you and took my slushy back and drank my lemonade. The cherry slushy was fine. It had slush in it and the root beer float was good. I won't let their rude customer service or failure to give me a lemonade slushy stop me from going back cause if I'm being honest, the lemonade was actually fire!

    Italian Ice (Kiwi and Strawberry)

    Cute little shop with fun summer options as well as good food options. I went for Italian ice the one day it was warm in Chicago miraculously and it did not disappoint.

    Beef!

    Incredible service, and the best Italian beef I've ever had. Carlos and Mary are both amazing! I'll be returning as soon as we're back in town.

    Supermam ice cream
    Savanah A.

    Amazing ice cream! The kids gots gelato and Italian ice everything was so tasty!! Super friendly service. They even give pup cups to the furry friends:) We will be coming back!

    Medium Oreo Gelato on Waffle Cone
    Mikei J.

    My family and I were walking up Division and stumbled upon VinnyD's. I'm glad we did. I'd never heard of it. The guys at the shop are super friendly. We were able to taste many different flavors prior to ordering. The Gelato is EPIC!! I hate to say that my husband got the chocolate milkshake and it was not good. None of us liked the milkshake but we all LOVED the Gelato. The shop being a walkup has a vintage feel and very welcoming. I definitely recommend.

    Italian Ice (kiwi strawberry + vanilla gelato)
    Julia Q.

    Lovely spot to try a variety of Chicago classics. We came here to try italian beef, but ended up ordering a scoop of Italian ice and a Chicago dog as well. The Chicago dog was by far my favorite item- great ratio of all the traditional toppings, great value for the price we paid. It may have been the best Chicago dog I've tried. The italian beef was also tasty, but the flavor was mostly coming from the giardiniera/pickled veggies rather than the meat itself (beware if you aren't a fan of spice! I am someone who loves spice and even I found myself picking out some of the jalapeños). The portion size was also pretty small. I would recommend ordering the Italian ice to enjoy out on their patio- make sure to add gelato (in my opinion, the best part!) Note: I went on a really nice Chicago summer day, and they only had patio seating available. The inside/restrooms seemed blocked off from customers.

    Nutella, coconut, Oreo , strawberry chip.

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    5 months ago

    Always friendly and accommodating and the shaved ice is impeccable along with the mini tacos

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    10 months ago

    Service is always great. Italian ice and dipped beef with their homemade giardiniera is always spot on.

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    1 year ago

    Great Italian ice great food and great conversation with the owner and employees! I recommend the pistachio gelato best I ever had!

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    2 years ago

    OMG, YUM! I forgot to take a picture before I ate it all! Coming back for Italian Ice very soon! Nice people, great service!

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    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

    (7.3k reviews)

    $$

    River North, Near North Side

    Came here at noon on a Monday and I was pleasantly surprised to find a table in this large place…read more They are well set up to handle large numbers of people. Chicago dog: 4/5. Solid dog and I really enjoyed the poppy bun. Cake shake: 4.5/5. Tastes just like you would expect if you blended a slice of chocolate cake into a shake. But don't bother with a straw, cuz this sucker is thick. Well done.

    This Portillos was huge it had two levels. It was easy to order by using one of the kiosks or the…read moreapp from your phone. My friend and I were waiting for them to call our order number but it was taking a while so I went to the counter and the order had been ready sitting there they just weren't calling out the orders. I'm glad I went up otherwise my food would have gotten cold! I'm not sure if their sound systems were down to call out the order numbers for pick up or if they just don't do that. I came here with my friend as I had never tried the beef sandwich and she highly recommended the cheese fries. I also heard great things about the chocolate cake slice. I added peppers to the beef sandwich to give it some spice but besides that it was bland! I was disappointed but I thought the Chicago dog would make up for it but the bun was soggy. The best part of my order were the cheese fries and I got a free slice of chocolate cake since it was my birthday month! The chocolate cake was the best chocolate cake I've ever had that wasn't homemade. Very moist and lots of frosting! I would come back for the fries and the cake, but I wouldn't order the beef sandwich or Chicago dog again.

    Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

    Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

    (280 reviews)

    Near North Side

    My friend was visiting from San Francisco and she wanted to try a Chicago dog so I took her to…read moreDevil Dawgs. Devil Dawgs makes the best Chicago dog I've ever had! So fresh and flavorful. She is pescatarian so it was awesome that she was able to get a veggie dog Chicago style. She also had the Icelandic Dawg which she said was very good as well. My Chicago dog came out very fast but her veggie dog took about 10 minutes. I love how the location is close to magnificent mile so it was easy to grab the dogs then go back to shopping. If you need to take someone to get a Chicago dog I highly recommend Devil Dawgs!

    I ordered the 5-piece chicken strips with fries, a side of cheese sauce, and the devil sauce -- and…read morewow, this hit exactly how I needed it to. The chicken strips were perfectly crispy on the outside and super juicy on the inside. You can tell they're made fresh -- not dry at all, just tender and flavorful with that golden crunch in every bite. The fries were just as good -- hot, crispy, and the perfect base for that cheese sauce. Speaking of the cheese... so smooth and rich, it honestly made the whole meal even better. And the devil sauce?? SO good. It has that perfect balance of heat and flavor -- not overwhelming, but definitely gives a little kick that keeps you going back for more. Everything together was just one of those simple but so satisfying meals. Perfect portions, great flavor, and exactly what you want when you're craving comfort food. Definitely would order this again -- no question.

    Al's Beef

    Al's Beef

    (457 reviews)

    $$

    River North, Near North Side

    First time in Chicago so I had to try the national sandwich of Chicago! Al's beef has been serving…read moreup Italian Beef sandwiches since 1938. They have won several awards for their sandwiches and are said to have the best Italian Beef in Chicago. With all this being said, this was certainly a must eat on my trip! Their menu consists of their famous Italian beef, along with Chicago dogs, burgers, sausage sandwiches, chicken, and fries. There is definitely something for everyone here. The inside is casual and reminiscent of a fast food eatery. Really liked the yellow accents throughout the restaurant. I will also note that it was extremely clean inside, which is always appreciated. Ordering is simple and they will call your ticket number when your food is ready. All the food is served made to order and very fresh and doesn't take too long to come out! I ordered the Regular Beef, wet, with both hot and spicy peppers per the workers suggestion. Ordering the sandwich wet simply means the bread is dunked in the gravy/aus jus. If you want the real deal, this is how you order it. The peppers are optional as well, but complete the sandwich. The sandwich consists of their famous Italian beef roasted and sliced, served on freshly baked French bread. I can see why this sandwich is so highly regarded. The Italian beef that is made in house each day is tender, flavorful, and just perfect! It isn't chewy or tough either. The sweet and spicy peppers paired nicely with the savory beef. And the fresh French bread covered in the gravy--phenomenal! The gravy adds a lot of flavor to the sandwich. You do have to eat it quickly, otherwise the bread will fall apart, oh but it is so worth it. I got fries with a side of cheese sauce to go with the sandwich. By far some of the best fries I've had. Not super crispy, but not soggy either, the texture was just right. They were salted perfectly and dipping them in their velvety cheese sauce was a treat! A regular sub is roughly 6 inches and quite filling. The sandwiches are stuffed with ample amounts of beef. The price is also excellent considering how much you get. Overall, I would say Al's Beef lived up to all its praise. My sandwich was very memorable and was like nothing I'd had before. Everything is so fresh, between their beef, bread, and fries, it is all made in house. This isn't just some fast food spot, it is an institution. I was impressed with everything I ordered, especially the fries. They take a lot of pride in what they serve. This is evident in their customer service. If you are visiting Chicago, don't think, just go--you won't regret it!

    (Kari's Rating 6.5/10)…read more Finally made my way out here and it was alright. My go to is normally Portillo's Italian beef, but I wanted to change it up. It's a little stop in place and they have a pretty small seating area, but I went on a day where it wasn't super crowded. Beef was pretty typical, I think I enjoyed the gravy seasoning more on this one over Portillo's, but I did like Portillo's spicy and sweet peppers a little bit better. I don't like my bread, saggy, so I was able to get the dipping gravy on the side. Service is pretty quick as it's just a small sit down place. It wasn't too loud, so you could have a conversation with the person next to you, but I imagine it would be much louder if you went on a Friday or Saturday night. I probably wouldn't stop in again but it's a nice place to go to. If you have people from out of town they don't wanna go to Portillo's.

    Jim's Original - Polish Sausage Sandwich

    Jim's Original

    (784 reviews)

    $

    University Village

    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.

    Yelpers what's good. Today I felt like having some Chicago Nostalgia food. So I stopped by Jim's…read moreoriginal for a good ole Maxwell St. Polish! It's an outdoor only eatery usually long fast moving lines. The smell of the grilled onions hit your nose immediately! I got a polish with onions and mustard and I also got a bone in pork chop sandwich with onions and mustard. And an added bonus FREE FRIES with every order! The polish is still one of my best around nice and juicy (pause) with a nice snap to them. The onions provide a slight sweetness with the tangy bite of the mustard just hits so great!! 8.9/10! The fries were hot, nice crisp on the outside and pillowy inside! 7/10 The Bone in pork chop sandwich was decent nothing special just a Chicago nostalgic sandwich. 6.8/10 Everyone from Chicago has been here and everyone from Chicago will tell you to go here for a real Chicago quick cheap eats experience. Right off the expressway so you can be in and out. And you may want to be in and out especially if you're from out of town. definitely worth stopping by! Remember ALL reviews are subjective

    The Wieners Circle - Hot dog

    The Wieners Circle

    (1.2k reviews)

    $

    Lincoln Park

    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.

    1 Star - Absolute Dump, Do NOT Go…read more Went to this so-called "hot dog joint" last night and what a complete waste of time and money. The fries were super saggy and limp, like they been sitting in old grease for hours. Tasted like cardboard soaked in week-old oil. The hot dogs? Forget it. Way over-salted, tasted like they dumped the entire salt shaker on them. The buns were spongy and smashed all over the place, looked like someone sat on them before serving. Everything was just sloppy and gross. Service was terrible too. The guy at the counter acted like I was annoying him by ordering food, no smile, no "thank you," just threw my bag at me. Whole place feels like a dump. Save your money and go somewhere else. Never going back. On top of that they all have TDS

    Devil Dawgs -  South State

    Devil Dawgs - South State

    (1k reviews)

    $

    South Loop

    Front desk at our hotel recommended this place and it was closer to try this than Portillo's…read more Small space with ordering at the counter in the back or a kiosk for self order. Only a few 4 foot person tables and some high top for 2. No bathroom. Closest one is Pete's around the corner at the end of the next block. 5/5 bucket of fries w/cheese. The fries were soft and super flavorful. Not crispy if that's your kind of thing. The nacho cheese was on the side and warm and tasty. They gave us 2 containers for one order which i appreciated. 5/5 it's not a corn dawg with cotija cheese and corn. My fave one. Very flavorful. The hot dog itself was also delicious. 4/5 Chicago dawg - got the small size which was perfect since we sampled so much. 4/5 hot chile cheddar dawg - super cheesy and added onions. My second fav. 4.5/5 Italian beef - wet with hot jardiane (sp). The peppers were spicy but really good. It's a pretty large serving. 5/5 caramel salty pretzel shake - the pretzel bits were a perfect salty mix. Pricing was very reasonable! I'd come back again for the not your corn dawg and shake!

    Checked out Devil Dawgs and had a really good experience overall. I had the Chicago-style hot dog…read morewith tater tots and tried their signature sauces on the side. Everything hit the spot. The hot dog was a great first taste of an authentic Chicago dog fresh toppings, a lot of flavor, and exactly what I was hoping for. The Vienna Beef dog itself was really good and gave it that classic Chicago dog taste. The tater tots were crispy and paired really well with the sauces, which added a fun extra touch to the meal. The place had a cool casual vibe, and service was quick and easy. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.

    Fatso's Last Stand - Double Fatso with Cheese + Fries

    Fatso's Last Stand

    (991 reviews)

    $$

    Ukrainian Village, West Town

    "Double Fatso Burger with Cheese" was definitely one of the BEST burgers I've had…read more Juicy, perfectly cooked, and loaded with flavor--Fatso's Last Stand absolutely delivers. Chicago classic for a reason.

    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.

    VinnyD's - gelato - Updated May 2026

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