"Top it off with a Green River and it's one heck of a meal."
(in 6 reviews)
"Good hot dogs, pizza puffs and fries made in front of you."
(in 31 reviews)
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Byron's Hot Dog Haus
Rating Details »
Categories: American (Traditional), Hot Dogs [Edit]
Neighborhood: Ravenswood1701 W Lawrence Ave
(between Hermitage Ave & Paulina St)
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-0900
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- None
40 reviews for Byron's Hot Dog Haus
Review Highlights
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Ah, Byron's... this place is two blocks from the office, and on cold days when the cabin fever hits record highs, it's high time to hit this haven of spoon's so greasy.
Now, I generally get a burger here - I like hot dogs with ketchup and mayo (yeah, yeah, I'm from california, shut up), and they look like they'd give me grief for asking for it like that.
regardless. I can get my burger with no pickles and no onions, and they never mess it up. That's all I need out of a greasy spoon.
this place is a keeper. I recommend.
I've been to Byron's about three times in my life. I like to try a place a few times before I post a Yelp review for consistency purposes, and all three times I've been to Byron's, it's been "meh".
Their food is really subpar. Their kitchen looks really sloppy and not like something they clean all too much. I've had their hot dog and fries; both of which are soggy. They leave their fries under a heating lamp. Not only is the food mediocre, but they definitely overcharge for what you're getting.
The staff looks annoyed every time you walk in. Oh, sorry I'm interrupting your day to do your job!
Do yourself a favor and walk over to Budacki's!
Vienna hot dogs are my weakness... so when we pulled into their parking lot off Lawrence and saw a great big Vienna sign, i was elated!
i love that they have all the condiments (everything from cucumbers to relish) was sprawled out in front of you (behind the sneeze gaurd, of course.
the fries are pretty good too... not too greasy!
cant wait to go back!
I almost had to be rolled home because I was so full from this place! I always wondered what the food tasted like here because it looks a little different from your normal fast food chain, but don't let the looks deceive you! I had the cheeseburger meal, with fries and a drink. It was better than Wendy's or McDonalds for sure, but probably WAY worse for your poor little heart. Why is the good stuff always bad for you?
The fries are served in a little paper bag, and you can see how it gets spotted from all the grease. The cheeseburger is pretty big, and you just tell the guy what you want on it and he loads it up! I definitely got way more food than I could eat, but tried my best to finish.
The only bad thing were the prices. A cheeseburger meal was about $6.50, but I guess it is a little bit more food than any other fast food combo meals. They also had cake and pies and stuff in the cooler, but there's no way I could've fit that in my tummy. I was also pleased to learn they deliver! Crazy!
One of my favorite things about Chicago is the Chicago Hot Dog Stand. (You know you're in Chicagoland when all non-chain fast food joints offer Italian beef, hot dogs, pizza puffs, and gyros.) To me, Byron's is "best in class." It's clean. The staff is friendly. The hot dog, gyro, and fries that I have had all were quite good. The soda fountain has a fantastic selection including strawberry soda and Green River. I'm still working my way through the rest of the menu, but I don't really see how a hot dog stand could be any better. (But I will let you know if I do....)
After passing this place, allot, me and a few friends ended up eating here after our initial plan went AWOL. I have always been curious of this place but have never had the chance or convenience to stop in and try it out. We walked in and the smell of burners put me at ease knowing that it was simply a place I have been to many times before.
I approached the deli style line and placed my order. I kept it simple. You know, new burger joints/hot dog stands always get the burger test with me. If it passes, then it's a friend for life. So I stepped up to bat and ordered a cheeseburger, no pickle, no mayo (I don't even think this was an optional condiment) and a small fry. While they throw your patty on the grill, you have a chance to take a gander around this place, which on the inside seems much bigger than the it appears from the exterior. It's pretty standard, booth seats, tables, chairs, fountain drink dispensers, miscellaneous hot dog posters. All check out good in my book.
So now you get to watch them prepare the burger. Behind a (bullet proof) glass sneeze guard, the employee never really touches your burger. He grabs the raw meat with tongs, throws it on the grill, lets it kick it on that for a minute, returns back to your bun which is already laid out on a metal tray. When the burger is done grilling, he scoops it up, throws it on the bun, then asks what you want on it. Since everything is already in front of you for you to pick, it makes life easy.
They start with the condiments. A "hearty" dose of mustard and ketchup (I mean they slop that on there proper, this goes for all the condiments), then relish (the bright green kind), onions, lettuce, and finally tomato. Alot of tomato. I mentioned that the burger handler never really touches your burger. At this point he is using tongs to grab the condiments, and when he reaches for those sliced tomatos with that set of tongs, he grabs about 6 slices and tops your burger off with them. After the whole ordeal is done and over with, your looking at about a 5 inch high burger, in a paper doily, in a basket, on a red tray with a paper bag of fries.
The burger on its own was really good. Grilled to perfection, and sizzling with warmth and flavor. And the over abundance of toppings was truly great. This set it apart from what I was used to so I went with it and didn't take anything off. I figured they don't give you that doily for nothing, so I started off by eating the burger within it, and it proved to be a good choice, for my friend who I was with, who ordered a burger, didn't use the doily, and about 1/3 of the way through, he had a mixture of condiments running down his hands and slopping it up all over his tray.
The fries? Yes please. I would take these fries over any, any day, anywhere. they are small crisp and in abundance. The perfect fries to grab 5 of them and slap in some ketchup. Not too salted, and cooked golden brown.
This place passes my test, and I will definitely be returning, bringing other people in tow. Byron's checks out in my book and comes highly recommended, just use the doily when eating the awesome cheeseburger!
It only took me over 2 years to finally eat here on a whim.
Here's why I'll be back. The Chili Cheese Fries were served as three separate sides. This allows you to mix whatever amount of cheese you want into the chili with the fries. Me? I just throw it all together in the end, but it's really tasty. The chili was thick and hearty and not overdone in the slightest.
The service was a little slow, but really friendly. There were a few people in line. Get the Byron dog with everything. It's the right choice.
This review is NC17: No catsup if you're 17 or older.
If Byron's doesn't get five stars then I'm not sure if any restaurant will. Why don't I give this heavenly place five stars? Because if I ate there everyday I would die of happiness and cardiac arrest.
Simply put: beef.
My Byron's hymen was shattered with the dogzilla and I've been craving more ever since. Double cheeseburgers, grilled gyros, Italian combos, cheese fries, onion straws, cheese sticks. Too much for one meal? Yeah, which is probably why I would eat here everyday if I had the intestinal fortitude of a freak show glass eater. I don't so I cry a little every day when I walk home past this place and smell it's grilled and deep fried temptations wafting through the lake breeze reaching deep into my inner soul for the willpower to resist another thirty seconds until I am home where my wife will be cooking her own splendid love on a plate.
GQ voted Byron's "Best Fries in the US" which might be a bit of an overstatement but not far off the mark. Not the best fries I've had but coupled with your favorite animal fresh from the grill and you can't go wrong.
A tip for those who life close by: the thin crust pizza is $10.95 for a large with unlimited toppings if you pick up. Seven days a week.
Byron's is the shiznit for beef stands in Ravenswood. Hands down.
Ok...this fast food joint, although greasy, serves an awesome $12 large pepperoni, sausage and jalapeno pizza...can't BEAT IT.
The hot dogs are also excellent. And so are the burgers. And the fries.
I sometimes wish they were open until midnight.
The food is pretty good, I like everything except the gyros, but that's what Hub's is for. I like their burgers and sausages. Their fries are also serviceable, but nothing to rave about.
Do I heart Byron's because the food is delicious or because it is practically in my backyard and my husband and I can walk out our door and be there in less than a minute?
Probably both.
Best fries in America according to GQ? Really? I dunno if I would go that far... but they are delicious. My favorite is the gyros. The meat is pre-sliced so when you order it, they bust out an individual sized portion and throw it on the grill. It comes out so nice and crispy... I'm salivating just thinking about it...
I still love Byrons. A lot. In fact, I would give them 5 stars for how much I love them. There's just one problem. They don't deliver to my new place. Alas! Alack! I must now LEAVE MY HOME to nom a delicious turkey burger with a multitude of fresh vegetable toppings. Sigh.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/24/2009
Byron's is not typically the kind of place I would think to patronize, since I do not eat red meat… Read more »
Why is it every time I come into this place I end up with an over cooked shriveling hot dog? I can still tell even though they try and hide it by putting all that crap on it. After the first bite attempt, I perpetually brush aside some of the toppings and look at a sad discolored dog that has been bathing to long in the water. Should the only way for me to overcome this be a lunch time visit?
I remember when this Byron location was fresh and clean, it has not stayed this way over the years.
Why is it that the "Help" always gives off the appearance of being the ex or future con type?
As for the best fry rating, I think the GQ reviewer(s) never had anything else than McDonald's. What an insult to all the places in Chicago and throughout the country that have fresh cut fries done right. I smell a Chicago fix and has anyone actually seen this review.
Seriously, their reputation as a "Great Hot dog Stand" doesn't even come anywhere close to the actually reality. Lettuce, green pepper, cucumber, foot-long, fries, meatloaf, ..., an extra star for their debatable innovativeness.
I think that putting lettuce on a hot dog is even worse than ketchup. It is only Chicago and a few other places that avoid the use of ketchup and how many places throughout the world put on lettuce, coleslaw doesn't count? Through the garden my arse, it's a salad.
Another fast food place that has aged well over the years for me. Very wide menu, decent variety of combos, and the prices are all worth it. They always are very generous with the fries here, and I think the other reviews sum it up better than anything I could say. So damn strange I've never heard about the Dog Zilla after all my years of eating here, though! I think they're down to 3 locations today, which is here, Irving/Sheridan, and the Madison Ave. location in Forest Park.
Fifth star for all the childhood memories I've had eating here, their outdoor patio, and for serving GREEN RIVER!
I've ordered food from Byron's about five times. I gotta say the hot dogs would be decent if the buns weren't soggy and falling apart after the first bite every single time. There's not much worse than eating a hot dog off of a wet piece of mush. People were giving this place great reviews so I came back a few times to give it another try. Again and again I had the same issue with the hot dogs. Is it just me? When they see me coming, do they say "Hey it's the soggy bun guy. You know what to do!"
The only positive to this place is that it's accessible and the food is cheap. Also they deliver and they take credit cards. I might give them another try one day, but only if I want something other than hot dogs. There are better hot dog places in the neighborhood.
I absolutely loved this place. The food was delicious and and customer service was great. The lady behind the counter gave us our drinks and told us to have a seat and she would bring our food to us.
One downfall, the dining area needed a bit of attention. A lot of the booths had rips in the seats and the floors could have used a broom and a mop. The ceiling looked like it had some massive water damage.
If your looking for great food at pretty awesome prices this is the place for you. If you're looking for atmosphere and a hip neighborhood not so much.
Don't pay any attention to the excessive use of bare hands by the cooking staff. It's all worth it for the character working the grill. This guy was full of mumbly, heavily accented quips and self-narration which kept me smiling the entire time. I ordered an Italian beef with sweet peppers; he disappeared in the back and returned with a handful--a bare handful--of spices and dumped it on the grill onto the cooking peppers. When he wrapped up the sandwich he leaned toward me conspiratorially: "Garlic powder and black pepper--makes it great with sweet peppers." Awesome. My lovely Lawrence Avenue concierge ordered a gyro, and this dude went in the back again to get the "special" onions. I love that guy.
The Italian beef was a tad dry but, surprisingly, still piping hot ten minutes later back in the kitchen. And he was right about the extra spices in the pepper mixture--tasty. The hot dog was standard but good, and the underwhelming shoestring fries were a-ok with some Sweet Baby Ray's (not provided by Byron's). This joint is near my new lady friend's home, so hopefully I'll be seeing that nutty cook again. Combo specials are a good deal; I'll try the polish sausage next.
I order from here pretty often, and I always get the same thing.
More than once, they have goofed and instead of giving me the veggie burger I ordered, they have given me beef or turkey burgers. That kind of thing happens sure, but its annoying. If not for their stellar customer service skills, I would not be ordering from there anymore. I have learned to order the veggie burger and then be sure to clarify with them that it is the one with no meat.
Now that I am something of a regular, they are that much more friendly with me when I come in.
And damn, but they have some good, greasy fries!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/26/2007
I was hoping to find another local joint that had veggie dogs, and Byron's does not. They do,… Read more »
My wife and I both had the philly cheese steak and it was delicious! The fries are excellent as well. The best way we could think to describe them was as McDonald's fries, but with a home made, "real" taste to them. The guy cooking was a blast to watch as well, kinda added a bit of entertainment while I waited for my food. The customer service was all around very good as well. Their dining area was a bit dingy though, and felt dated. No doubt I'll be going back though, great stuff!
Great hot dogs, burgers and polish. I make sure to stop in every so often. They also have great fires. They always come hot and greasy. Top it off with a Green River and it's one heck of a meal. Service is always fast and friendly.
Gotta love Byron's........a great grease pit when i am in the mood for some grease! It's your basic hot dog joint, and they make the food right in front of you......and have everything, so when you ask for everything on your hot dog, watch them LOAD it up!! The prices are not too bad but the customer service has always been great. They know me when I walk in and usually are trying to guess what i am having that day. "you going with a beef today or whacha having". Nice guy. The only negative is their french fries. I just wish they had some thicker fries. or how i like to say "TICKER" fries!!
Good hot dogs, pizza puffs and fries made in front of you.
I used to frequent the Lakeview location until I moved a little farther north. And I am SO LUCKY that this location is here! Although I did like the Irving Park location, this place has inside seating, outside seating and there were 5 guys taking our order and making our food so quickly! It was fantastic.
Great, greasy food at great prices.
These guys do a great combo--really spicy sausage and they give you a ton of beef. No fries needed--the sandwich alone will stuff you. Scott's right about having to repeat your order, though I never noticed before today (must be newer staff). What's also nice is they accept credit cards with no minimum.
*burp*. I'm going to sleep now at my desk.
Another great Chicago Hot Dog stop, and probably the last, on our '09 tour. When you walk in, the smell of grills and grease hits you in the face. A very simple and obvious menu awaits you as you choose what you want. Step up to the counter (much friendlier than other places we've been to) and order up. We got hot dogs and both were ready in a matter of a minute or two. This counter is kind of like the Subway of hot dog places, you walk along with the cook as he loads up your dog with the works. I love the bottomless refills and the bag of fries. And they take plastic! First place we've been this year that took more than cash! Amazing. The seating area was pretty standard. Could have been cleaner and kept up a bit more, but this was only noticeable after we were done being serenaded by an adorable red-haired girl singing along to Taylor Swift on the radio. Precious. Overall, a great lunch stop.
Ordered a jumbo dog combo and got everything on it. Very good chicago-style dog with literally everything: radioactive relish, cucumbers, lettuce, pickles, peppers, celery salt, onions, mustard and NO KETCHUP.
The fries were great too. -1 for a $7 dog/fries combo, but what are you gonna do? Plenty of places to sit and they had "Green River" soda which was fun but kinda grossed me out after half a cup ;)
Great lunch place when healthy isn't a concern and I want a great burger and fries...
I have never had a Byron's dog until recently. I used to park right next to the one by Wrigley Field so I was pretty amped to finally see what their dogs are like.
I ordered a hot dog (with everything , just to see what they consider everything), fries, and a large coke.
They loaded the shit out of this hot dog with Everything you could imagine. Since when does a hot dog come with lettuce and a green pepper ? Anyways, they gave me my dog and cup for soda and this dude told me my fries would be ready in a second and he will bring them to me...
About 10 minutes, one hot dog, and one large Green River later I still didn't have any fries. They guy then came out (to start eating his own lunch) and was like "Oh nobody gave you your fries?"
He walked over to where you order and said something to the chef dude and then came back and said "sorry about that"... I thought, it's cool no big deal. I got up to go pee, came back and still no fries. So i just left. I was also left with the feeling that "this place sucks".
The hot dog itself was pretty fucking good and I thought about it all day... I doubt I will go back though. Ok maybe once or twice.
2 Words "Dog Zilla!" I actually ordered from this place the day of my wedding as there was no where else that delivered. When the person heard it was my wedding he totally hooked up me and my guys with a ton of food. One of the things they sent and had a note saying it was especially for me was Dog Zilla. This thing was Crazy I just uploaded a pic on my profile if you want to see it. If you are up this way Byron's is a sure thing.
I think anyone who's giving Byron's a low rating is not getting the Polish special, which is absolutely delectable. A nearly foot-long hot dog (with every ingredient you can imagine on it) with crispy fries, and a cold soda to wash it down for only $6? I don't see anything wrong with that. Haven't had a shake or a burger from them, but I'm definitely coming back to try 'em.
I also really like the retro booths in the back, with ductape that patches up the rips after so many years of usage. The place feels so genuine.
The original Chicago style dog; the "salad on a bun". The true test of a real Chicago style hot dog? Celery salt!
I used to crave the triple cheeseburgers here when I was a teenager, but I don't think I could eat them now. Good fries and shakes, too.
Definitely a great greasy thumb! I had their turkey sandwich which was very tasty. I just wish it had more fresh lettuce on it. I must go back for their specialty Dogzilla...but I'm afraid I quite possibly couldn't deep throat this one so I'm still a bit too intimidated!). They have all the right Chicago-style toppings. Good food selection and Great prices, did I say greasy? Order online and pick it up if you're looking for some quick, good eats. If you like it here, definitely check out the Mom 'n Pop Branko's joint in Lincoln Park.
Ever since my hubby introduced me to this place I've gone back quite a few times. He used to go to the Irving Park one but I work near this branch so I like to frequent between here and Budacki's if I am craving a chicken sandwich, fries, or a great hot dog. The great thing about this place is they can pile on your burger, sandwich or hot dog with tons of different fillings which is a big plus to me. Their customer service is good too. Very fast and I would probably choose this place if I wanted to go to a grease joint that's cleaner. I usually don't end up waiting more than 5 minutes when I go during my lunch breaks on weekdays. I've yet to try their other things but I'm sure they're good too. Prices are also reasonable. And they have a free parking lot.
Byron's is where I usually go if I'm in the mood for fast, greasy food. It's not the best but it's a couple blocks from my house. They have a huge menu and you can pretty much find any food that is bad for you that you could possibly want. Their burgers basically come with a salad on top. That is nice and all but you can barely find the meat. They taste ok though. Their dogs however are really good, as are their fries.
This joint is halfway between my day job and home, so it's an easy stop for lunch. But if I am anywhere in Chicago, I'm always thinking of the nearest Byron's and have been saddened to see them shrink from the four and a half or so that used to dot the city. They have the standard dog house menu plus terrific looking pizza, soups, and lots more, but I am all dog, all the time, so my rating is based on that delicacy alone. I do not order fries, as the dog is a meal in itself, if you pick and choose among the available ingredients. They are not stingy here on the condiments side. Shredded lettuce, relish, onions, tomato slices, pickle slices, and cucumber slices are standard, as well as sport peppers, which my neurologist says prevent cancer, so there you go! Skip the celery salt if you want to taste the rest of everything. They automatically ad it, so you have to watch carefully- and it's happening at lightning speed just inches beyond the sneeze shield. They are FAST, here. After so many years as a customer I find my custom built dog waiting for me as I walk in, provided that they spot me in the large adjoining parking lot, or locking up my bike out front. Remember, ketchup is for kids. Grow up and use mustard.
Five barks for Byron's!
I haven't been here in a while , but I can sum this place up with the phrase "salad on a bun" . They put EVERYTHING on their sandwiches , be it burger , hot dog or chicken sandwich. Heroic amounts of lettuce , tomato's , green peppers , pickles , relish , cucumbers ... I think that's it ,but damn , they stack it inches high. All the food I've had here is from good to very good. Are there better places for burgers , sure , but this one is good if you are in the area , plus , it's open pretty late.
The perfect place in the neighborhood for a hot dog and fries. No frills, just good food. The staff is fast and there is plenty of parking and seating. Prices are reasonable. And GREEN RIVER! YUM!
The Burgers are Great! Choose from many fresh toppings! the Polishes are great too. Enough fries to choKe a mule! What more could you ask for.
Good gyros, average hamburgers, good italian beefs. One thing with this place though, they make you repeat your order five times, and always seem confused about it. Or you'll give your order to one guy, and then he goes in the back and another guy comes up and takes your order again. Always confusion in this place. And it's not one person, everyone who works here is like that. So make sure you get your order clear, especially if you order delivery. They have parking, and you get to pour your own pop, so you can mix pops, which I like!
If you are hungover and in need of a HUGE cheeseburger with a crispy and yummy order of fries, this is your place. The burgers are not hand pressed but they are still good.
Thought this place was pretty good. My wife and I drive by this place all the time and just the other day we thought we would check it out; it wasn't half bad. They were out of the jumbo dog so we settled for two regular dog combos. The dogs weren't all oily and the fries came in a great cone that reminded me of a old school diner. We also opted for the cheesecake in the case, not half bad. I gave 3 stars because of the whole jumbo dog thing, but I will probably be back and then we'll see how they stand up.
