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Max's Take Out
Categories: Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Hot Dogs Restaurants American (New) Burgers, Hot Dogs, American (New) [Edit]
20 E Adams St(between Wabash Ave & Dearborn St)
Chicago, IL 60603
Neighborhood: The Loop
(312) 553-0170
- Nearest Transit:
-
Adams/wabash (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Monroe-Red (Red Line)
Jackson-Red (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6 am - 8 pm
Sat 10 am - 5 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
89 reviews for Max's Take Out
Review Highlights
"They've got great hot dogs and italian beef here."
(in 12 reviews)
"...dog paired with the sport peppers, tomatoes, relish, celery..."
(in 5 reviews)
"Dirt cheap, super fast and great dogs."
(in 5 reviews)
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89 reviews in English
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Review from Jonathan W.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2011
They know my regular order. You know a place is doing well, when you go there just often enough that they know your order. Max's hamburgers are so good, that I won't try other stuff because I'd hate to miss a chance to have one of their hamburgers.
When I first tried Max's it reminded me of the soup nazi from Seinfeld, but now I've realized that they are just good at their job. They take your order, make your food, and you're on your way. boom. -
Review from Michael N.
San Diego, CA
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a visitor from California, had to stop by for an authentic chicago dog. Got the "jumbo" which wasn't all that large but had lots of fresh toppings. Also tried the italian beef sandwich which I thought had good flavor but didn't taste super hot or fresh. The french fries were excellent however - hot and crispy.
I would recommend checking them out for a quick snack and their location near the loop is convenient. -
Review from Ada T.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hate hot dogs, although, since I was in Chicago, I just had to have a Chicago-styled hot dog.
Max's was mine and R's first experience of a Chicago dog. We came here during our trip and originally had wanted to go to UB Dogs (because they have that radio active green relish, from Yelp photos), but they're closed on a Saturday! :(
Came here after our visit to the Willis Tower, and we were starving. We stumbled across Max's and America's Dog (across the street) as we walked to the CTA. America's Dog had that fast food chain feel, as Max's seemed to be the better choice; a hole-in-the-wall, which most tasty food comes from anyway. They didn't have the radioactive green relish we asked for, though the guy told us it was just "color." Got our hot dogs and had piping hot fries in a tiny paper bag.
The vienna had a nice crunch! Not rubbery and disgusting like other hot dogs. The dog paired with the sport peppers, tomatoes, relish, celery (opted out of the pickle) was an awesome combination!
Roughly $5-6, for a hot dog meal (hot dog, fries, medium soda); It's too bad that I will refuse any other form of hot dog that comes my way, unless it's a Chicago dog! -
Review from Eric B.
Cleveland, OH
2/1/2012
i went there to get some Italian Beef but switched up and got a double cheeseburger instead. it was pretty good. it had a good smokie taste to it. the guy at the counter was cool to, i told him i hadnt tasted Italian Beef and he gave me a sample and it was good as hell (nh).
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Review from Samar H.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2012
I love this place! it's prime location in downtown on Adams between State & Wabash.
Friendly customer service, fast service, reasonable prices... Halaal burgers..
my to-go place for the perfect double cheese burger! Oh.. and their fries... yummmm!! -
Review from Rachel H.
9/16/2011
My hand smells like Italian beef, which reminded me to write this review. Why am I so gross?
Max's answered the call of my Italian beef cravings, and Living Social sweetened the deal and I saved $2. To be honest, the beef was just alright, it wasn't as beefy as I'd hoped and was a shade on the smaller side. It was fine, just not fabulous. The cheese fries however, hit the spot. It seems like they used Merkts or some type of Merkt's esque product, but whatever it was, it was not the goopy ick that many places go with. I'd get them again, and again.
Service was friendly and extra fast, even with a Living Social instant deal. Good work, guys. I'll probably give some of the other menu items a try, or just eat nothing but cheesy cheesy cheese fries. -
Review from Hector J.
Chicago, IL
12/18/2011 10 Check-ins Here
10 Thumbs up!....Polish with fries every Friday..
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Review from casey m.
Chicago, IL
7/26/2011
When I moved to Chicago I went on a mission to truly understand and appreciate its take on fast food. Now that some of the novelty has become commonplace in my daily routine, Max's Takeout still shines as a beacon of light and magic in this place I've come to call home, and they've played a good part in making it feel that way.
At first it was the hotdogs. I was on a mission to find the best hotdog in the loop. As we all know, it's kind of hard to mess that up. Perhaps it was the fries that kept me coming back though. It wasn't until I tried their cheeseburger special that I knew something great was going on here. It's difficult to describe. I mean, the place is kind of a hole in the wall, but the burger's are just fantastic. The kaiser roll is fresh and soft, they don't really put anything unique on it. I think that things like this only occur when something has been done the same way for a long time. I asked the cook one time what it was that made their burgers so good and he just told me "we use good meat." I guess that must be it. Really, just go there and get the cheeseburger special next time you're in that part of the loop.
The gyros are great, so is the polish, but I think the cheeseburger special is their flagship dish. It has seriously led me out of darkness on numerous occasions. -
Review from Cat T.
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2011 1 photo
Max's has the right mix of hole-in-the-wall and Chicago-flare. I enjoyed this place better than America's Dog (across the street). Although they do not have the poppy seed buns, I felt that I did not miss that too much.
Their sport peppers have the right amount of spice and pickled tart to them. Plus the pickle is dill, just the way I like my pickles.
Overall, I'd give this place 3.5 stars but rounding up here to show that I would go back if I was craving a hot dog and I happen to be in the area. It really helps that the guys behind the counter were so nice. I felt like they took care with every hot dog that they cooked/put together...is that weird? *shrug* Yup. I think so. -
Review from Sairah B.
Wood Dale, IL
6/24/2011
SOME OF THEIR STUFF IS HALAL!! I can't stress that enough! I honestly couldn't believe I'd been suffering through Subways this whole time when I had an almost equidistant, halal, and far more delicious option available!
I ordered the grilled chicken, it was amazing, all white meat (looked like real food!), grilled on the spot. The fries were hot and lightly salted, average size. They were okay. I had the Hi-C (fruit punch) and for some reason, it tasted really good.
My friend ordered the double cheeseburger and requested they only use one patty instead of two. Turns out, she shouldn't have made modifications, as the patty was pretty thin.
Service was super fast, the man behind the counter was soo nice and even the other patrons, very chivalrous. The whole place just had a very nice, "small community in a big city" feel to it.
It's my new go-to place when I'm at school until 11:00 at night. -
Review from Addison P.
Redondo Beach, CA
12/23/2011
Best hot dogs I've ever had.
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Review from Stephanie B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
4/18/2011
We were staying in the loop, and we went to Max's for breakfast. I ordered the Chicago Dog with all the trimmings and hubby ordered the italian beef with sweet peppers. At less than $11, this was the cheapest meal that we had in Chicago!
It may seem weird ordering a Chicago Dog at 7:30 AM, but I like trying new things and there is nothing new about an egg on a muffin. Please...
The dog was tasty. A nice crisp casing in a steamed bun with the tomatoes, relish, dill spear and sport peppers. The steamed bun falls apart because of the liquid coming off the dog, and the relish, and the dill pickle spear. But, it's a tasty mess.
The Italian Beef was outrageous. The meat was tender, the roll had a nice crunch, and the sweet peppers were on point. I highly recommend it! Hubby loved it, and I was lucky to get a bite.
This place is definitely a dive, but the people running the shop are so nice. I would have given it five stars, but there are some real characters there in the morning who don't care if they are yelling through you to talk to each other (guys - if you want to chat, please set NEXT to each other, rather than screaming through the only two available bar stools in the joint, because you have covered the other ones with your coats). Being as the guys who run the shop definitely knew them, it would have been nice for them to say something about yelling through us to talk. But, if you take your food to-go, you don't need to deal with it. -
Review from Jessica M.
Brookfield, IL
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Meh, if I am going to ruin my week of good food choices for a hotdog and fries, I'll go somewhere else. It just didn't measure up to some of the other Chicago spots.
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Review from mark b.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2011
Chicago dog, fries, and a 21 oz drink for $5.50. The food came about 45 seconds after I ordered it. The Hot Dog was tasty, and the fries were great; and even the fountain drink (diet coke) tasted good. The service was prompt, very courteous, and friendly. Can't ask for more than good food, great service at a great price.
BTW, Yelp has this place listed twice; it's also known as Max's to Go. -
Review from Alec B.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011
I just went here using a Groupon (I had no idea they existed before that) and was totally surprised by how good it was - best fast food cheeseburger I've had in a long time.
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Review from Juliann B.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2010
Visiting Chicago I knew I had to try a hot dog place. This was the closest high rated place near the Art Institute so I thought I'd give it a go. Thanks yelp! The hot dogs were cheap and good. I asked for "everything" and got a tomato, pickle, relish, onions, and mustard. Yum!
I love a good Seattle style hot dog (cream cheese, you have to try it), but this Chicago dog is a very close second! -
Review from Amanda P.
Chicago, IL
5/21/2011
Best burger I've had in a while.
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Review from Amanda R.
Long Beach, CA
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Chicago and I got off to a bad start but mid-day at the Art Institute I started craving the one goal I had for the trip: Experience the Chicago dog. Boy did I. One of my friends from home that's a Chicago native warned me to get my dog with everything or they would shun me out of whatever place I went to. I listened. Except for the Jalapenos. I'm too much of a spice wimp for that.
The dogs at Maxs' redeemed my trip and put a little umph back in my step. The relish, tomatoes, mustard gave me all the tang & balance that I was hoping for. In fact, after the 1st bite I asked myself "Why just Chicago? This should be an everywhere dog?". On the suggestion from our Chicago residing host I went with the Polish vs. the Hot Dog and got 2 rounds. There's another chain in Chicago called "Portillos" that my friend recommended but none of their locations were anywhere near where I was at the time. -
Review from JIM H.
Chicago, IL
8/23/2011
Fast friendly, just what the cardiologists ordered type food! It will satisfy that craving you have.
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Review from Glen C.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2011
So you're downtown and want to feel like you're going to the place that you would never hear about unless you work/live here. Or, you're working/studying downtown and want a cheap, steady go-to every one and a while.
Come on in. If they can see you behind the counter, they'll holler at you for your order. Don't be shy, let them know what you're having! You want a real Chicago hot dog? Go here. I also get Italian beefs and gyros which are right on par for this city joint.
Minus 1 star for the grease! Not that I don't love it, but I'm gonna kill myself one day from eating here too much. -
Review from Robert P.
Eagle River, AK
4/10/2011
If it wasn't for Yelp I never would have walked into this place. It is truly a hole in the wall street side eatery. The hot dogs are good, but best of all it is a small business ran by some really nice people.
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Review from Eric F.
Chicago, IL
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fast and friendly service. Great deals on great dogs. Cheeseburgers are top shelf too.
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Review from Daniel H.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2009
I must say this is one of those times I'm disappointed in my yelpers! I was extremely excited to find out that I had a top notch burger very close to my job. I just had to try is asap.
After giving it a try yesterday, I don't know how this place came up as a high result when I typed in "burgers", but it did...it came in at 3 overall. Now, I'm not entirely sure how those rankings are made, but this is not a top 5 burger by any means.
The burger had plenty of mustard and mayo which made the bun slide around and all the mayard (mayo and mustard blended together somehow) to slip down my hand. I wish I knew to not get mayo cause I've been trying to cut back on things like that. Regardless, it is just too much on there. The meat itself is average. It seems like meat I can buy at Aldi's and make my own burger for cheaper (this is not a knock on Aldi's burgers...they are actually pretty good). I barely tasted the letture or tomato cause they were drenched in mayard. The price was $7 even for the double cheeseburger, fries, and a drink. The fries were ok...nothing amazing either. The drink was pretty good...I got a grape fanta.
In the end, I'll be back cause it is like a 30 second walk from my job...they are quick...and there isn't many options for a super quick lunch on those days that I need to get work done. If I worked two blocks farther in any direction, I'd never come again.
I'll update this when I try out the beef or something else... -
Review from Crafty K.
Chicago, IL
5/19/2007 3 photos
I had never been here. I walk past it twice a day and it just looked like some dumpy place. Two things made me want to try it - my co-worker came back from there with what looked and smelled like amazing fries and hotdogs and all the great reviews on Yelp!
So I strolled over one day for lunch. Here's what happened:
- A single cheeseburger, fries and a drink was less than $5!
- I got to choose what I wanted on my burger!
- They made it for me AFTER I ordered!
I took the stuff back to my office to eat. It was awesome. Everybody that saw it was jealous and dreaming about it all day afterward. The burger isn't super thick...it's a nice size...so if you wanted a double you could technically do it without feeling sick afterward. The bun was a nice kaiser roll kinda bun. The pickles were slices of those great cucumbery pickles! The fries came in adorable little brown bags (sorry, I'm a girl so I couldn't help but think it was a cute little bag) and they are SUPERB. AHhh...man, if only healthy food tasted this good! -
Review from Jack C.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2006
I work less than a street away from Max's, and love to drop in for a quick dog to go. Excellent hot dogs, burgers and fries with a variety of side items and toppings (chili cheese dogs are good, but brace yourself for later).
I recommend takeout because the place is small, but there are a few diner-style stools with shallow counters along the walls if you'd like to stay put. The staff is great, especially the guy who takes people's orders.
Speaking of orders, do yourself (and others behind you) a favor if you're there when it's very busy (11:30am-12:30pm) -- know what you want ahead of time, and be ready to order when you step to the counter. People get surly when you waste their time, although the staff never complain. -
Review from dea a.
2/14/2009
I love just how mad fast these people are. They go, "you ready to order?" and you order, within 2 minutes you have your food. BRILLIANT.
The Polish isn't great, it needs to be charred and it isn't. The hot dog hits the spot. -
Review from Y M.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2008
Just read the name of the place and you know what you're getting!
They have hot dogs, Polish sausage, gyros, Italian beef, and burgers. It's fast, inexpensive, and a great take-out spot in the Loop.Listed in: Meet me Downtown for Lunch
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Review from Joe L.
Chicago, IL
5/27/2011
$5.50 for a dog, fries, and drink in the loop. Can't be beat. Hot dog was very good, fries hot and crisp. In and out in 15 mins...can't go wrong..
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Review from Seth F.
Chicago, IL
2/15/2008
Key Yelp: A HOT and delicious twist on the ubiquitous Gyro. Take-out only unless you are incredibly brave.
Review: A good take-out hot dog and burger place. I was in the mood for a Gyro and they had something I had not seen before: a "hot gyro." Basically, a typical gyro but with a spicy red sauce on it and tzatziki on the side. It was very fresh and good.....and this place is pretty inexpensive also. Fast too! -
Review from Jacob J.
9/29/2006
CHEAP EATS!
A decent char house within the Loop that is reasonably priced!
Can't beat this.. It was a great surprise to see the prices; you can get a double cheeseburger meal, med fries and large drink for $6 bucks.
The bun was quality, cheeseburger was tasty and filling. Most char items are under $5 bucks. They've got a breakfast menu that seems to rival Mcdonalds' . I found one item funny, spaghetti w/sauce $1.99.
Gyro's & Italian Beef available.
Oh yea.. this is not the cute place it once may have been in Renda H's review, its a small armpit now. -
Review from Nichole M.
Chicago, IL
3/24/2010
The ultimate hot dog and burger joint. It's fast, it's inexpensive and it is soo good.
They have great lunch specials. I've only had hotdogs and burgers here, why change something you like?
When you're in the area, definitely stop by here. You can eat at one of the stools along the counter or you can just grab it to go. Super fast service, super good eats and super nice guys workin' there.
Love it! -
Review from Edward P.
Chicago, IL
7/9/2010
Cheap, fast, and good.
The Chicago dogs are spot-on, the polish is good, can't wait to try the Italian Beef. Service is fast, and you can get a good lunch for around $5 bucks. In the loop. Not a fan of the burgers though, but everything else has been great. -
Review from Heather K.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2008
Good food, good service, good prices - if you're looking for a tasty hotdog or burger in the Loop, this is the place to go.
By the time you read this review, you could have placed and received your lunch order! That's how quickly the line moves :)Listed in: Lunch break, Hot diggity!
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Review from Brenda H.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2009
I am not a fan of mustard burgers.. and I'd prefer it if I had more beef than mayo. I had more mustard and mayo than bread/beef.. aka the important ingredients.
I had the double with cheese.. and I was really looking forward to the pickles because some people have mentioned it. But as luck would have it, my burger did not have pickles! The beef was a pretty thin slice with a slightly charred taste. I had a hard time tasting anything but the mustard/mayo combo though.
The fries were good but I wouldn't come back for them.
I'm having a real hard time deciding here but I think "Meh, I've experienced better" really sums up my opinion.. I hate being the first 2-star but there are plenty of "A-Ok" places I'd rather eat from.
PS: If you like this place, you'll probably like Atino's in the South Loop, near Roosevelt & Jefferson -
Review from Onur U.
5/15/2010
I am so glad I work near a place like this; I'd be lost without them. They're everything you want in a hot dog/italian beef joint. Fast, cheap, tasty. The chicago style dog is a fastball down the middle of the plate. Snappy vienna dog, steamed bun, all the fixins. It's 90% as good as my favorites around town, and given their location that's enough for me. The italian beef is solid. Bread is never stale, they'll dip the hell out of it the way I like it and the beef is greasy but not gross at all. Solid giardiniera too. Makes for a hearty mid-day gut bomb. The cheese burger really is pretty good. There are lots of burgers around the loop, but this is my favorite. It's quick, grilled to order and topped with lettuce, tomato, mayo, onions, and ketchup. American tavern-style hamburger. Once again they're not striving for anything tremendous, it just hits the spot.
The only thing keeping them from a five star is their fries. They're ok. They're always hot and crispy, but they have the starchy taste of frozen fries. It wouldn't be that tough for them to cut the fries fresh and fry them while you wait. Still they're good enough. -
Review from Gen T.
Columbus, OH
6/11/2008
This place is terrific. It's a perfect greasy burger joint - delicious food made to order and quick, friendly service. (Especially Louie, the main counter guy - he remembers his regulars.) Everything is cheap and they give you a lot of food. The place looks like a dump from the outside, but it's really a hidden Loop gem.
Don't be daunted by the long line during the lunch rush - the line moves very fast! If you can't stand waiting, you can order ahead online. -
Review from Ingrid R.
Chicago, IL
8/23/2010
I don't see all the fuss. It's fine for what it is. The staff are rude - which adds charm if you've an amazing restaurant equivalent of a "dive bar" but it's just not amazing.
I will be back because it's very close to work and edible for the kind of food they serve -
Review from Jia M.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2007
I work not far from here, and one day on a whim I decided to try out Max's.
It's been five months since I discovered this gem, and I'm hooked! I make it a habit to stop by once per week. I usually get the double cheeseburger special with fries and a pop ($6 with tax!)
The hot dogs are petty good, but I really do have to recommend the cheeseburger! The bun is soft, the onions grilled to perfection, and the meat is perfectly seasoned. Service is always great and the people behind the counter are incredibly nice and friendly!
Great prices, great food, great service! -
Review from Erica K.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2008
As part of my ongoing quest to try every lunch spot in the loop, today's appointment was with Max's Burgers, Beef, and Hot Dogs...specifically a Jumbo Dog Lunch Special. Mmm.
Spent $5 on lunch and am now full of delicious dog and fries and Dr. Pepper. And we ate at the little counter right in the place. They played some good music. It was definitely the fastest lunch I've had so far, too! -
Review from Tammy H.
Chicago, IL
12/19/2010
Came here before a CSO Concert and it really hit the spot for Chelsa (who wanted a burger) and me (who was just hungry =P). The food is cheap, hot and quick... Can't really ask for much more for lunch... I had the Polish with everything and was a bit surprised it came out with everything a Chicago style dog had... I guess I just expected mustard and onions... But it was still good :) It was greasy, but not so greasy that it made me feel sick.
