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Belmont (Purple Express, Brown, Red)
Mon-Fri. 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I've only been to O'Hagan's brunch, and on a Sunday morning, during the marathon no less, it's a great place to be. For one, it was kind of empty. Save for the 3 girls drinking at the bar, clearly still in the process of closing out their night. God bless 'em.
I went with a simple breakfast- bacon & eggs, with home fries and toast. It was delicious! The bacon was perfectly cooked, and the eggs (scrambled with some cheddar) were wonderful. The toast was thick sliced, and had a lot of flavor. The home fries were good, too, though being not a huge fan of onions, I didn't devour them like the rest of the meal.
O'Hagan's is definitely a good brunch spot for a bit of food and recovery before hitting the sports bars for an afternoon of football watching. Or, perhaps, just brunching in general! At any rate, check it out.
I love me some O'Hagans. This place is a haunt that I frequent quite a bit. The bartenders are great people and always very nice. There is a good beer selection and always a $4 beer of the month, which makes it affordable.
I would definitely recommend it in the winter-- go sit by the fireplace and sip on a hot toddy of some sort. That's the best.
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Big red X on this one. My wife and I went there for burgers and beer. There was a huge sign in the window advertising a beer special. We ordered 2 each. When we got the bill, the beers were listed full price! I brought it to their attention, and they said that the special was over. I told them because of the sign, we ordered that beer, and to please make an adjustment, and take down the sign. They refused, and weren't even nice about it. Two things then happened: we paid, but zero, zip, nada for a tip. And we told anyone in earshot how crappy they were to us.
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Authentic Irish bar in a neighborhood otherwise not known for anything remotely authentic, none of that faux crap here, this place is packed with the real deal people watching football/soccer.
They have an outdoor sidewalk cafe that is dog friendly. We called ahead to make sure it was open, it was.. when we showed it was just tables, no chairs. we grabbed some stools and sat outside and all was well.
The waiter was extremely nice and accommodating. Hardcore cider on tap.
We started off with the onion rings... they're homemade and crazy good!
A lot of the food on their menu is available full order or 1/2. I ordered the 1/2 order (1/2 pound, 2 big pieces) of fish and chips... this is why I went here, I was craving fish and chips. They also serve a full traditional Irish breakfast.
The fish was good. The fries were steak-fries. All is well. The food was very good overall.
I couldn't even eat it all, I brought half home.
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I love O'Hagan's. The food, atmosphere and drinks are second only to pubs actually located in Dublin!
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I used to like O'Hagan's a lot more but it's still a solid, relatively authentic option in a part of town which typically wouldn't know an Irishman's ass from first base.
This is a place where you can come and not be hassled by crowds after a Cubs game if the weather is bad. (If the weather is good, there's no hope--flee the stadium vicinity at least a mile in any direction.) And at night it is not crowded like everywhere else; although, it seems as if they never have the nook downstairs open at night anymore.
I actually started my St Patrick's Day 2006 here. Good times. This year, I brought the convivial Penny S. because we both wanted a more sedate option with live music. A man on the phone the night before told me that there would be live music "all day" and that they were opening at 7 am (!). We were there for well over an hour in mid-afternoon and there was no live music. Not Cool.
Also, only one of the two girls behind the bar was Irish and both of them were wearing green Coors Light t-shirts and beads. Also Not Cool.
But, whatever. We still had a good time. They still pour some good Irish beer and Irish whisky, they still show rugby and soccer, most of the staff still have Irish accents...but they've lost a little something. Most importantly, they still don't seem to attract the usual Wrigleyville crowds and that is Very Cool.
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Having studied in Dublin, I often miss the culture, the food and the establishments! Surprisingly I haven't taken the opportunity to eat at Johnny O'Hagan's Irish pub since living in Chicago, but it has always been one of those "one of these days" places.
I finally stopped in with my father on a recent Saturday afternoon. We got to the bar at around 11:30 and it was pretty quiet - a lot of available seating. We chose a table in the back, near the cozy fireplace and under a mural depicting the story of the Claddagh Ring!
The bar definitely had a vibe that reminded me a lot of an authentic Irish establishment (although nothing is as good as the real thing, back in Ireland) and a menu that had my tastebud memory salivating - I must go back and try out their traditional fair like Fish and Chips and Shepherds Pie.
My father and I both opted for the Full Irish Breakfast instead of the 1/2 Irish Breakfast. Whoa. The 1/2 Irish breakfast should actually be called a Full Irish Breakfast and the Full Irish Breakfast should be renamed to 2 Breakfasts.
The Full Irish Breakfast was basically just double helpings of what you would find in a traditional Irish Breakfast: Two eggs (you choose how they are served), two sausages, two rashers (bacon), two fried tomato halves, two slices of toast, two black puddings, two white puddings, a hearty helping of baked beans and a large pile of sauteed potatoes (although I never had potatoes in the fry ups I had living in Ireland)
Everything was delicious (although I gave the black and white puddings to my fathers, as I am not much of a fan). Along with the pot of Irish Breakfast Tea that we ordered, I could almost imagine I was back in Ireland on a gray morning. I'll definitely be returning for the Irish Breakfast (although, the half breakfast next time) and to try out all of the other options on the menu!
Slán go fóill! (Goodbye for now!)
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This is a neighborhood joint that happens to be in wrigleyville and not actually attract all the deuschy-ness of wrigleyville. SWEET.
They have really great beer selections an absolutely friendly and most of the time irish staff. They know how to do some traditional pub fare like fish and chips well and its definitely a good time for a small or large group of friends. The few times I have been here we've generally ended up staying longer than we planned and its always been a good thing.
Sometimes they have live music or maybe it was just the one time when I was there they did and it was very chill irish folk music.
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I love this bar. In fact, one might say I have loved it afar from my early days in Chicago. When I was a youthful college student, living in Rogers Park, taking the red line downtown for classes, I would glance longingly at this darling little corner pub and say "One day, when I am 21, I will drink at that bar." Well, I kept that promise to myself and ya know what? This bar is pretty great.
It does have charisma, and that darling Irish charm without feeling too "Irish O'Pub"...good beers, classic irish food (yum to the curry and chips, although I still smell like curry today), and friendly service. You could pretend you were in Ireland, or England.
They have a nice patio in the summer on the sidewalk, although it's a little loud due to the el. Step inside for the cute pub feel and outside for Chicago, el and all. A great little spot in this hood.
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I go here most Thursday nights for the Iron Mic open mic they have in the basement. There are not usually a ton of non-comics there but it is always a really fun time and some of the best comedians in the city frequent it. Needless to say, check it out! I love the Irish bartender that is always there: nice, funny, and hot! There are also pretty good drink specials on Thursday, $4 dollar smirnoff drinks and $2 coors light on draft. I am not sure about the other nights of the week but Thursday usually turn out to be very fun!
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Note to self: white pudding and black pudding are meats.
Johnny O'Hagan's served me my first Irish meal, and appropriately during the Saturday, St. Patrick's Day festivities.
My friends and I arrived at this establishment around noon, only to walk into a quiet bar full of people. Huh? Oh wait, they were all glued to the TVs, watching the rugby match. And there were so many of them that we couldn't find a seat on the main floor.
No worries. The waiter diverted us to the downstairs area that looked like an awesome grotto that reminded me of a meat and beer restaurant I went to in Germany! (I haven't been to Ireland, so maybe the decor was authentic). And that's exactly the kind of meal we all got for such a place: meat, potatoes, and for my gentlemen friends, beer.
I ordered the full Irish breakfast: 2 eggs done your way, 2 rashers of bacon, 2 white puddings, 2 black puddings, 2 sausages, 4 slices of buttered toast (soda bread?), diced potatoes, beans, and a grilled tomato. Hey, I was hungry! I hadn't eaten breakfast and we had just come from watching the river dyed green.
I ate it all, except for half of my potatoes, half a slice of bread, and one of the black puddings. Really, this is what you should order if you are a meat and potatoes person. It was also a meal that got me through walking around the area for the rest of the day to little local shops (avoiding the drunk people).
My friend also ordered the corned beef and cabbage, which I'm sure consisted of half a head of cabbage. Another friend ordered the half serving of fish & chips, which was nonetheless rather large.
My only big knock against this place was that we ordered a round of shots as dessert and each shot was the size of a MEDICINE SYRUP CUP! Smallest shots I've ever seen! And cost $4.75 a piece! Just stick to the beers.
I have searched all over Chicagoland for the best Irish Breakfast and Johnny O's has it. The place has a great atmosphere with a fireplace in the back. My friends and I usually occupy the "dark corner" table back there and that's where we like to eat and drink Bloody Marys. The staff is fantastic and friendly. I will go back again and again.
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Sick. Sique. Seck. Sic. Sik. Sich.
Groce. Don't order the Caesar Salad, whatever you do. Especially not with grilled shrimp on it. It tastes like a gamey, fishy sickness was tossed into the salad. Don't make me go there.
My companion who was dining on the same side of the booth with me ordered the burger. But apparantly it slopped up the bun so bad it grossed her out. Must have been bad. She doesn't really have a lot of standards for meals and although she said she liked it, she was groced out.
The fries were delish though. It's like a combination of fries/mashed potatoes. Uber deep fried.
Overpriced, woof, not impressed. Wrigleyville is stupid.
I have not had food here. I have not judged the bathrooms. I have not evaluated the staff. I have not even paid attention to the prices. What I have done is had a bunch of Smithwicks and Guinness here and when I do I look around at the dim lit room, the dusty decor, and the happy laughing patrons and I feel like I am back in Ireland if only for a minute. For that you get 5 stars you magnificent bastard
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The waitstaff are really nice and hardworking here. Some of them even seem to be Irish. The beer list was heavier on the domestics than I expected, but they do have Newcastle. The food is pretty decent.
The atmosphere is definitely tops - I love the giant fireplace. Fireplaces are always a plus at bars in the winter, but this fireplace is the biggest, coziest, most irish stone fireplace I've seen.
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I really like this place. (Which is saying something, because it's in the middle of Wrigleyville!)
Friendly (and mostly Irish) staff, great beer selection, and the steak sandwich I had before the Cubs game last time was awesome. Just filling enough to get me to the 4th inning, when the hot dog monster struck. (That's another review...)
Bottom line is that this is a solid irish bar. It's a genre that is often done horribly, but Johhn O'Hagan's leads the way.
Also, I used alot of parenthesees in this review.
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I really like this bar - good waitstaff, good beer, good food. But I have 3 questions for them and myself:
1. Why didn't I ask for no jalapenos on the deliciously cheesy nachos. My lips burned all night!
2. Why don't you put more "black" in your black & tans? A growing girl needs her Guinness.
3. Why did I think that I could stay at the bar for not one, but two football games last Sunday - and then attempt a third at Johnny O's? And why did they serve me? My fault, I know, but who forgets how they got home on a Monday morning?!
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Great local Irish Pub that has a very friendly, unpretentious feel to it. Its a good place to bring some friends and hang out over some beers (or cider as I prefer sometimes). They have live music sometimes which is pretty sweet.
I had one particular experience at Johhny O'Hagan's that really stood out. My friend was paying his bar tab at the end of the night, but his credit card would not work. The bartender tried it a couple times and, rather than asking my buddy to hit up the atm, asks him to come back and pay the tab the next day! I have never seen that sort of trust (or stupidity) from another bartender. Of course my friend made good on his debt, and the bar won a loyal customer.
Also -- good Irish food for those days you feel like having a big hearty dish with some meat and potatoes
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Two stories:
1. The weekend the bf met my parents last year, we went here after an unfortunate incident up the street at Pick-Me-Up Cafe. This is also the night that he flipped my claddaugh ring over on my left hand. Special memories. All together now ... AWWWWW!!!
2. We decided to have a Friar's-Club-Roast-esque birthday party for my friend's 25th birthday here last year. We got the back room for the festivities. I'm knocking off a star because there was no sound system as (i'm pretty sure) we were told, but other than that, the night was a HUGE success.
Slainte!
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This was by far my FAVORITE Chicago bar! It's a great atmosphere and the service is great. If you're looking for some authentic Irish personality and a great neighborhood hang out, this is it!
Any given night you can walk in, banter with my favorite bartender Killian, get a couple drinks, and dance in the aisles. Go in early in the morning for some football, jameson, and toast and stay through the nights for the real entertainment: the regulars.
One word of advice- beware the russian... he'll get you everytime.
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I first stumbled into this bar on a Friday evening, hoping to find a bar that was neither annoyingly busy nor depressingly dead. I was looking for a place with a sense of warmth and comfort in the chilly November night. I was looking for a place to drink Guinness until I couldn't see straight, that was close enough to stumble home without having to stop off for a quick nap in an ally.
From the moment I walked in the front door, I felt as though I was in a romantic holiday movie a la "The Holiday." From the Christmas lights surrounding the bar, to the mumbles of the sweater-clad clientele, to the sounds of Coldplay filling the bar at the exact right volume. Now, I'm not a fan of Coldplay (nor am I really a sweater person), but it all just kind of felt right for the moment; relaxing and welcoming.
It was a truly refreshing break from the Wrigleyville partybar scene. A place to go to sit and relax while enjoying a conversation with friends and pounding a few of your favorite adult beverages.
I would definitely recommend visiting Johnny O'Hagan's when you're in the right mood; I don't think this will be my every night bar, but it will certainly be a frequent and favorite stop.
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Good bar, especially for this area which can get really obnoxious and annoyingly crowded.
It's a good pint, the interior is nice, but I would come here to get some good pub food, if for nothing else. The back area is good for dinner, and has a fireplace for ambiance in the winter. I usually get a healthy order of fish and chips.
Most "Irish" bars can be intolerable, unauthentic or filled with douchebags. This bar, while not having been around forever, is a nice oasis.
Being a fan of Soccer and Rugby, and it being so close to me, I frequent O'Hagan's often. I also did some passive promotional work there, which was fun, so I was there quite a lot. The food there is delicious. If you like Irish food, and drink (get yourself an Irish Coffee) then this is a place to hit. Like it has been said the staff there is very cool. The bartenders are usually the same and they helped me out when I was doing my promotional work. The have a small bar in the basement, I have never seen it open, but it looks like it might be for private parties and the such.
Best part about this place it the actual Irish workers and patrons. It is worth the trip just to hear them talk (the accents kick ass) and argue with each other about Football (theirs, not ours) and Rugby.
Fat Guy Rating: 4 (Out of 5 = I'm delightfully full)
My meal: Split the Nacho appetizer (get chicken on it) and then hit up some of the actual Irish recipes (Either the Breakfast, the Bangers and Mash, or the Shepard's Pie)
And again get yourself an Irish Coffee (with Bushmills)
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I've never had a bad time here. Good food, good booze selection and the staff is always friendly. There's always a contingent of Irish guys at one end of the bar that yell from time to time. That's not a complaint, by the way.
They lose one star for not having Strongbow on tap.
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Home away from home?
Almost, except that Im not 21. A friend and I stumbled upon O'Hagans one morning while looking for something to eat.
I love the people that work here, and the owner is the best.
Now, Im actually from Ireland, so I might be a little biased. He was a great guy, though a little hard to understand if your not used to it.
Our food was great, and we got some company as we were the only people in the place so early.
It was just a great experience, now I just need to turn 21 already.
Go here for the experience, you wont regret it.
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Awesome potato leek soup. Please get this, you'll thank yourself. Went after a cubs game (Monday afternoon) and found this place empty. I had been told it was the best bar in Chicago so I had to check it out, but what I found was only "solid."
The service was amazing, the beer cold, and the soup good. I have a feeling like if I came here for a 6pm-11pm stint I'd give it the extra star.
No shit about the soup. Seriously. It's Great!
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How have I not been to Johnny O'Hagan's? I met a friend for a few drinks and he suggested we meet here. I loved it the second that I walked in! Warm, comfy, inviting atmosphere. The staff is friendly and attentive and drinks are cheap and strong. $5 vodka tonics make me a very happy girl. I'll definitely be spending a lot of cold winter nights here.
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Nice atmophere - definately an Irish bar. I will never forget paying $20 to watch an England vs Germany soccer match and missing Germany's first (and only) goal. It was kind of sad watching all the England fans cheering the rest of the match.
Food is good and beer delish.
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What's the one thing drunken yuppies can't resist?
A Crane-picked lobster
I sat at a table with a friend, an adorable Irish hostess and an extremely attentive waiter checking on us. The food, about three pounds of fries with curry and some fried cod with more fries. The bill for 6 beers and all this food was about $40 but it was well worth watching the lobster-magnet. I felt worse for the drunks feeding $2 a pop around twenty times in a row. The lobsters just chilled and made their daring escape seconds before capture.
Great hometown feel Irish Bar - with great Irish food. There is no loudness coming from the TV's, no crazy sport fans. They have keot the authenticity of Ireland. Definitely try there curry chips - fantastic!
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A few years back, on my second trip to Chicago, a friend took me to Johnny O'Hagans (or as we have affectionately misdubbed it, Jimmy O'Hanrahan's), after a long day of hot, sweaty Bluesfest action.
We had such a grand time (beer, Jamie+gingers, curry chips and wings, dancing and singing like total prats to Madonna, etc.) that we returned on every single trip to Chicago, though it was always out of our way.
Now, it's in my hood, and I still love it, because the best way to chase a Sunday champagne brunch is with a Sunday beer, wings and Setanta dinner.
The food has proven on subsequent trips to be good--standard bar fare plus Irish favorites--but honestly, we go for the atmosphere of late afternoons, drinking pints and philosophizing.
It's reasonably priced, staff is usually friendly, and they've got international sports on tv. It's a solid local.
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Great Irish Bar!
Apparently the owners of this bar are actually Irish and it shows. There are lots of authentic Irish chachkees.
It is a little deceptive and in an triangular-shaped building. You would expect the space to be small and cramped, but when you walk in it opens up.
We went on a Wednesday night and there were more than enough free tables. The waitress greeted us right away and gave us great friendly service.
Pointer: If you like dark beer and ales, try the Smithwicks. It's a bone fide Irish import and it's great. Pronounced Smithicks.
I don't know why, but as long as I've lived on the north side, I've never stepped foot in here. Although,... I've long wanted too, mostly because it reminds me of a London phone booth. I ReALLy loved Johnny O'Hagan's. The bartenders were great! The bouncer was friendly, and chatty!...and there was live music! The live music won me over immediately, but I really loved the traditional Irish decor as well! It is a totally laid back scene in here with drinkers ranging from early 20's on up to 40's? I will definitely stop walking by, and stop in from now on.
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Best burgers in Chicago and a great beer selection. Fast service and great old irish pub ambience, often complete with brogue!
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This is a really great bar. I have been there a number of times and even when the cubs are in town, it doesn't attract the college crowd dead beats. The Guiness is always fresh and the food is surprisingly good. Is it as good as Irish Oak, just up the street? Not for Guiness, but the atmosphere is more lively and it is not as dark and stuffy.
This laid back Irish bar is a nice change from the other bars in Wrigleyville. It has plenty of seating and the waitresses come around nonstop to make sure you have a drink at all times. They have great fries too if you are looking for a nice snack while you throw back a few beers with friends. They play great music too which is a bonus.
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Just love it! It's never too crowded, great seating, nice clean bathrooms and amazing service. This is pretty authentic, the staff is super nice and friendly most of them have true Irish or British accents. The food is awesome, great specials, and need I say the food is awesome! Great place to watch a soccer, rugby, or cubs game. You can really enjoy your drinks and food.
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All of the previous reviewers must be smoking crack....not craic Although the food here is not bad, the clientele leave something to be desired.....The Irish guys who go here are the dregs of humanity, I reckon they were run out of Ireland at some point.....you know the type, knuckle dragging, overly loud, racist, etc etc. Avoid at all costs, head to Irish Oak or Mystic Celt or Galway Arms for a far more authentic and hospitable time. Sorry Ohagans, must tell the truth.
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This place sort of draws you in right from the outside. The bright red exterior will draw you in. And you won't be disappointed. The decor is great and really gives you that authentic Irish pub feel. And the crowd -- both the people that work there and the customers -- are a lot of fun and great to be around!
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I took a client/Cubs fan to a game and he suggested we meet here. Great choice - it's just far enough from the usual pre-game gathering spots that we easily found a spot at the bar and weren't packed as tightly as the Red Line car we just rode in on. Friendly staff and good service, however our nachos and quesadilla took way longer to come out than nachos and a quesadilla should. We still made the first pitch, but missed the anthem and felt very unpatriotic. I didn't get to sample any of the Irish offerings, but the appetizers were up to the basic bar standards. Definitely the place to meet up before a game - just don't tell too many people.
Food Specials
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
$4 x $4 Every Day
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Irish
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Beverly
Category: Pubs
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