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VinnyD's

4.7 (202 reviews)
InexpensiveGelato, Shaved Ice, Hot Dogs
Open 2:00 pm - 8:00 PM

VinnyD's Photos

VINNYD'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - VinnyD's

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Reviews With Photos

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 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Great Food, Awesome Shaved Ice and Exceptional Service! Vinny and Renee are the BEST!

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

Their shaved ice is huge. You definitely get your moneys worth and the flavors are pretty tasty too!

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

Love me a combo beef, fries and a Resses Vinny Spinny. Wish they stayed open year round.

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

Great place to pick up food on the go with sausage ,beef,dogs along with ice cream and other frozen treats

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

Gelato and Italian ice are the best! Great family run spot. Highly recommend. We look forward to them opening every Spring!

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5 years ago

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Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

4.4(281 reviews)
2.3 miNear North Side
Locally owned & operated
Outdoor seating

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.

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Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast
Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast
Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

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Al's Beef

Al's Beef

4.3(462 reviews)
2.0 miRiver 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!

3-ish stars rounded up. The roast beef was a little on the dry-stringy side but the bread was…read morespongy-soft (absorbed the beef drippings so well!). Kinda skimpy on the fixings on the Chicago dog, but still gets the job done if you're craving a Chicago dog. Fries are the type that are greasy to the touch; not my fave style of fries but I know it's a well-liked one to others. Super friendly lady at the cashier (all smiles, patient, and offered menu help)! Also fast service (got my order within a few minutes). I visited on a Saturday late afternoon and it was very chill here (also shoutout to the early 2000's era music playing :p it was a vibe). Overall I'd say it's not a bad food spot at all if you want a quick bite and want to be a little away from the Magnificent Mile crowds.

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Al's Beef - March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

Al's Beef - Keto style double with bacon

Keto style double with bacon

Al's Beef - Italian Big Beef

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Italian Big Beef

Jim's Original - Polish Sausage Sandwich

Jim's Original

4.2(785 reviews)
2.9 miUniversity 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

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Jim's Original - Short line today

Short line today

Jim's Original - Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich

Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich

Jim's Original - Sign from around the corner.

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Sign from around the corner.

The Wieners Circle - Hot dog

The Wieners Circle

3.6(1.2k reviews)
2.3 miLincoln 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.

You can't come to Chicago and not get a red hot, which is why we found ourselves driving fairly out…read moreof our way to The Wieners Circle. They had some options on the menu but we both opted for the Vienna Red Hot ("char"). It's a solid dog. The wiener is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the star of the show. It's got a terrific char and an irresistible snap. The flavor is better-than-average, too. The condiments didn't really do much for me, and I found something on there just way, way too salty. (The pickle, maybe?) Anyway, it's a quick, cheap, easy meal. I'd certainly eat it again.

Photos
The Wieners Circle - Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!

Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!

The Wieners Circle - Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!

Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!

The Wieners Circle - Char dog and fries.

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Char dog and fries.

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

Fatso's Last Stand

4.1(992 reviews)
0.9 miUkrainian 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.

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Fatso's Last Stand
Fatso's Last Stand
Fatso's Last Stand - Pickle Chips

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Pickle Chips

VinnyD's - gelato - Updated May 2026

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