Janson’s Drive-in

My new place to go! Friendly and courteous staff. Food was very fresh and fast as well. We have been there 3 times in the last month

I liked it better before they updated it. The food is better now, sure, but I don’t want to go to a hot dog stand for an $ 8 burger on a pretzel bun (or whatever it is). The beefs are really expensive too. It’s good food but feels a little sold out since they redid the place.

After an unexpected service call brought me to the southside today, I knew what I was going to try. After their debut Sunday on Chicago’s Best TV retro style drive-​in spots, I was looking forward to my visit for an Italian Beef (dipped, add cheese and sweet and hot peppers) and a Banana Shake made with fresh fruit. It’s finger licking good. Great family operation and friendly team members. Owner’s daughter Brie, is very helpful to us first-​timers. Already looking forward to a return visit for a strawberry/​banana shake, with all that fresh fruit it must be healthy. I’ll have to skip the sandwich next time so I can focus on what’s important… which will be their cheese fries with celery salt!

They Make A Pretty Good Burger And Their Fries Are Fire… But Their Shakes Are The Stars Of The Show.

I like Janson’s because it is one of the better cheesesteaks I have had in chicago. Not better than Philly’s best (nothing in chicago is), but they get the soft bun/​chopped steak aspect correct. they grill a solid polish and burger as well and the cheese fries were good. The cheese wiz they use is a little off putting at first cause it makes the fries stick together, but they taste good so who cares? Always good service and the prices are fair. Good place to go if you want some fast food and are trying to avoid the Wendy’s/Mcdonalds/Burger King types.

I highly doubt their claim that the wieners are all beef they are still good but I think that claim is bullshit. The food is way better overall since new management came in but oh boy the prices are crazy for fast food.

Great burgers! The owner is great! I used the Unilocal coupon for the free shake. They are no longer honoring that offer but the owner approved the coupon for me.

Delicious! The burgers are the best. I have been there a couple of times and have never been disappointed!
My weakness is fries and theirs are really goood!
I plan my route just to stop there for lunch!
It helps that the owners and workers are so nice too, YOU DONT FIND THAT OFTEN ANYMORE!

This place is fabulous. It’s one of a handful of restaurants I like in the neighborhood. Considering the quality of ingredients I think the pricing is reasonable. The owner is a great guy… thanks for investing in our neighborhood!

As a southsider I always wondered when Jansons would come back. I heard about the legendary ketchup tacos, that friends swear by, no matter how disgusting that sounds. When it popped back up in town I was willing to give it a shot, sorry no tacos though. I had a burger which was great, nice egg bun and all the fixings. Fries good, service very fast, and cute inside décor. Second time I went back I got the chicken Capri sandwich. It sounded good in theory, fresh mozzarella, basil, but was a little sloppy. The sauce was soaking the sandwich and it was too much to enjoy. But I won’t discount the place, il come back and try one of those awesome banana shakes.

The food here is never disappointing and the service is always fast. The banana shake is to die for. I always order a turkey burger. I’m confused as to why it’s not on the regular menu because I always think they must have gotten rid of it but it’s just not displayed on the menu! I strongly recommend it! The only complaint is that it is rather pricey so I can’t eat it as much as I’d like to :)

The food is amazing the place is very clean and also great friendly staff.
The one this is when they re opened they got rid of all the specials which is terrible idea. yes they have special offers here and there and came out with some sort of discount if your text a certain number. but still the increase in prices just way to much.
If you bring your family there your going to be paying for it. I love this place but do not go there anymore because of the price hike when there is other places to get more bang for your buck.

Like so many others, I realły wanted to like this place. Unfortunately, it’s just not in the cards for me to me to return here with my family. The food is decent, nothing really stands out. The service is efficient and friendly. The real nail in the coffin here is that I’m pretty sure my husband got food poisoning from the sandwich he had. It’s kinda hard to return after a loved on spends the night praying to the porcelain God over Italian beef.

I had some time in between work appointments and decided to try this place out! It’s very fun. Old timey feel with updated flat screens for their menu.
What I ordered was based off of what people recommended. I’m not a fan of banana so I got a chocolate shake with fries and an avocado bacon burger. I’m a cheese burger kind of girl and totally forgot to ask for it and I think I would have really liked the burger with cheese. It was pretty good without as it is. The fries are good too, they are crinkle cut and remind me of Portillo’s fries. But the chocolate shake was really good! Creamy but not too thick, it was easy to drink out of a straw plus there was a large dollop of whipped cream on top.
Service was efficient. Not terribly friendly but not rude by any means but there was a decent crowd so there wasn’t much time for pleasantries. I’d come back to try other things and I’d see if I could have a chocolate/​banana shake.

3.5 I was saddened when it closed and seemed like it was never going to reopen. I finally made it in passing by while working. I ordered a cheeseburger with extra lettuce onion and tomato. (How I order my burgers and recommend you don’t he same) it put a smile and was what I was looking for. I’m looking forward to returning and having the same, with a side of cheese fries and a strawberry shake. Looks like they opened a dining room nice so you don’t need to sit in the car and eat. Give it a try, put a smile on your face. One issue that should be addressed is the use of Oscar Myer hot dogs, that needs to be stepped up. Go local: Chicago Red Hots, Vienna, or Scott Peterson. If you feel the same way say something at the counter.

I hate to post updates that go in a negative direction, but Janson’s closed and then, to our great delight, opened again. But there is trouble in Paradise!
They really increased their prices. Even if you share a side and a large drink, it is really expensive.
The food is okay but not great, as it had been. I don’t know why. Maybe they upgraded their ingredients, and maybe the «old» way they cooked their food was worse for you but more delicious.
Service is still friendly and fast.
I hope they add specials or offer coupons. This place is an institution. I think they are resting on their laurels now, and assuming that loyal customers will always come back… but some of us won’t be here anytime soon.

I’m surprised the other ratings are as low as they are. It’s a decent place. Burgers like you make at home, fair prices… I haven’t tried anything else food wise.
Cool retro atmosphere though.

Best strawberry banana shake ever!!! Great Rueben! Not the best but really good. Chicago Polish w/​mustard, grilled onions and sport peppers… PERFECTLY SPICY and perfectly executed. The staff was amazingly helpful, professional and very diverse. I will surely come back for burger and fries… and another shake!

I know. It’s a classic. But I just can’t take it! I’ve tried. I was thrilled when Janson’s reopened and gave it a shot. The food was below average and service was slow. I waited. I tried again. Meh. I waited. I tried… again! Meh! They’ve been open for months now, so the kinks should all be worked out. The service is better, but the food is just not! The burgers are dry. Dry! The fries are boring and lack taste (and salt!) Plus, I ordered cheese fries and the cheese hardened after I opened it. Hardened! Gross! And when I order a bacon burger with everything on it, that means with cheese!
All in all, it’s just a weird experience with below mediocre foods. I’m sorry, but hope it gets better!

A pox on this place! I was approaching a state of near-​thinness until this establishment re-​opened and once again began tempting me with its shakes. The hot dogs and cheeseburgers are good, and the place is much, much cleaner, but the shakes are what brings me back. The shakes are what I call «tobacco,» i.e., a priority. For instance, in the old days when I smoked the legal stuff (French: tobacco de nonimprisone), if i had four dollars and was hungry and out of smokes and had to choose between squares and a square meal, I’d always get the cigarettes. I do similar things for Janson’s shakes.
Like last Tuesday. I no longer smoke (German: Meine Frau verbotens das smokin’), but last Tuesday I was driving past Janson’s when the kids complained of hunger. How convenient! I could shut the kids the hell up and get myself a shake at the same time! Yet after pulling in to the parking lot, I discovered that I had but five dollars in my pocket. What to do? What to do?
All I can say is that the looks my children give me when I emerged from Janson’s with a single large vanilla milkshake tugged on my heartstrings for several seconds afterwards. But doggone it, I needed that shake. And let’s face it: I saved my kids from another calorie-​heavy meal. I kind of should be emulated.
I love how they are employing local kids again. And I don’t mean «white» local kids, but all local kids. We need that. I’ll support Janson’s just for that. Not that the workers at Janson’s in the final few years before it closed were bad. .. not at all. Near the end, they weren’t kids, though. I’m just glad they have kids working there.
The new owner is a man from Indiana, I think. I have seen him there on several occasions supervising and helping out. Good vibes.
I’m glad Janson’s is open.