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Jansons Drive-In
Rating Details »
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Beverly9900 S Western Ave
(between 100th St & 99th St)
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 238-3612
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
17 reviews for Jansons Drive-In
Like many reviewers I grew up eating at Janson's, and so I have a soft spot in my heart (or maybe a clogged spot in my heart) for their grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled tuna fish sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza puffs, skinny fries, shakes and malts, and extremely odd but delicious "tacos". I used to be jealous of the little league team that had them as their sponsor in the Beverly Ridge league, because I though it was so much cooler than some real estate office.
I really can't tell you to drive here just for the food, because you could do better elsewhere, but if you really like experiencing a neighborhood by eating at the place they truly love to eat, stop here when you're in the area. Because people who live in this area mostly really love Janson's, for better or worse, and because Janson's has barely changed at all in a long, long time, so you're experiencing what the last 30-odd years of customers have experienced.
Excellent pizza puffs and fries.
Hot dogs are not all beef and therefore, are no good.
I think there are better places for greasy food on the southside, i.e. pop's.
Hasn't been the same since it was sold years ago. I believe it was actually run by a family named Janson. Still a decent place to eat.
Anybody remember "Snyders" hot dogs across the street?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/18/2007
Not the same since the original owners (Janson's family) sold it several years ago. Still get a… Read more »
Nice variety on the menu... good quality food... but I've had better... but still a good stop
Two stars for nostalgia.
The shakes used to be the best around, but they've fallen off in recent years.
Although, every now and again the deep fried tacos hit the spot. And then destroy me.
I'd like to say I won't go back, but I know that that's a lie.
Oustanding. I grew up on this stuff. Great for burgers, dogs, shakes and, of course, the cheese fries cannot be beat.
I do a lot of shopping for wine making supplies at Bev-Art at 105th. and Western and pass by Jansons all the time. It looked like my kind of place for fast food as it looks like it's been around forever.
We finally decided to stop in for a beef sandwich - Big Mistake ! Absolutely the worst beef in Chicago.
No flavor no taste at all and not even on Italian bread, a mushy white bun. Yuk!
Maye for hot dogs and a shake - but no thanks for the beef.
Another great classic institution in Beverly(besides Original Rainbow Cone, and NOT one that you can merely just go to the Taste to try, but actually have to make the trip down here to go to it!). The cheese fries are definitely worth getting, if you're ever in this neck of Chicago. And its a good thing I was meeting someone at Evergreen Plaza, otherwise, I never would've been lucky enough to finally try this place out, which was already(back then) on my list of places to try.
And mmmmm, such greasy goodness those (cheesy!) fries are. :)
In the time it takes you to ingest a bucket of fresh, real banana milkshake and some excellent jalapeno poppers, you are guaranteed to see at least three ambulances scream by.
Janson's is a great South Side joint with quick hot food & ice cold shakes that doesn't have a drive-thru. In so many ways, this place is summer. Most of my Janson's memories include "Soul Train" playing on the tiny TV inside their enclosed ordering alley. "Do you remember?" Don Cornelius bellowing out that overly dramatic introduction for "Earth-Wind-and Fire." That means Saturdays, late mornings and early afternoons waiting for a pizza puff, a chili dog and some Green River to feed my hunger. So it was crazy that during my last visit, what was the soundtrack to making my deep-fried taco order, Dapper Don prepping the most beautifully Afro-ed dancers to prepare to meet the elements: Earth-Wind- & Fire.
The banana shake didn't wow me as much as everyone says it should but it wasn't bad. I also really enjoyed my two tacos and how they slowly fell apart onto their wrapping on the picnic table outside and I loved eating everything that fell out of them. It's pretty far south but in warmer months it's definitely recommended and I anticipate a return trip.
Cash only.
Five stars for the memories.
I won't tell you how many years ago, make that decades, I went hamburger cruisin' through Jansons with my two BFFs from Morgan Park HS, Peek & Penny. I was Puff.
We had our summer Saturday agenda:
First we took a bus to Rainbow Beach and got a sunburn, and put peroxide/lemon juice in our hair to make blond streaks.
Then, looking slick as shit, we needed a little something new to wear.....so next was shopping at Evergreen Plaza.
Then, come evening, we piled in somebody's parent's car and headed out on our route: we hit a few places up the street, including A & W, perhaps down to Rainbow Cone for a sugar fix, then always we ended up at Jansons because that's where the boys were. The cute boys from Brother Rice, to be precise.
Do any old people remember a girl in a dark blue Corvette cruising the Beverly drive-ins? That was me! And I still am looking for the f*ucker who threw the eggs that one night!
And hey....talk about dedication to cruisin': when I wrecked my leg in a car accident on my college spring break, and came back to Chi in a body cast, my BFFs took me through Jansons to lift my spirits. I could not bend in the middle, I had to be either standing or lying flat on my back.......so I laid across the back seat of Peek's big car and waved at everyone. Couldn't see a thing, and all they could see of me was my arm. But hey, it's the thought that counts......
Jansons, you will never be forgotten.
(Somebody post a photo to this listing! I'm in LA, can't do it myself!)
The service isn't as good as it used to be, and my last milkshake from there was without whipped cream (and my inner child wept profusely), but they're still delicious. Oh my god, the cheese fries. I know it's just Cheez Whiz, but damn. So delicious.
I hit this place up about 11:30 on a friday. The food was really good. I had the #6. A gyros with fries. The tots were the best around. But the one door in and the same door out was very annoying. They had the garbage can blocking the second exit? I was trying to eat at the counter, Not stools, No room. Fergedaboutit. I had people standing on top of me waiting for their food. And it wasn't busy yet. I did not want to bring the sack in my car. It would take a week to get the smell out. As I was looking around the counter , I wondered if the health inspector ever made it this side of the tracks? Probably Not. I'll stick to Dukes. They at least have a mop.
Best cheese dogs, cheese fries, and banana shakes in town. Very retro, and very unhealthy.
I've been eating here since I was a fetus. As noted, banana shakes are the best in the metro area and the hot dogs are fantastic.
4 and 5 stars is way too generous. This place is living off it's past.
Janson's has long since passed it's prime. They moved Snyder's Hot Dogs into their side of 99th and now ignore what were the best hot dogs in Beverly (don't know about elsewhere, it was a looong time ago).
I'll just head west to WoJo's thanks.
