Cooker’s Red Hots

I’ve been going here occasionally for 4 years now and I literally made a Unilocal account just to review this place. I was a little disappointed at the mixed reviews. Without exaggeration their fries are in the top 3 for me in the northern suburban area, behind Five Guys and maybe The Works cheese fries. Always fresh, natural cut, every single time I’ve been. Their burger is ok, and their hot dogs are good. To be fair I’ve never tried their gyros, but the food is good for what you pay for. For $ 6 – 7 you get food cooked to order and great fries; it’s pretty rare to get full with $ 6 in the north suburbs. If you go in expecting The Works or Goodies level food, obviously you will leave disappointed. But if you’re looking for a local place for cheap and freshly cooked food with amazing fries, this is your place. It’s been my go to for the past few years. The guy that works there is always friendly. Nothing but 5 stars from me.

i work in the area so i’ve been here a fair amount over the past 10 years. the last time i went — which was a couple months ago, the guy taking my order gave me grief about getting a kid’s meal. serious? who does that? anyway, i haven’t been back since then. there are a few other similar places in nearby — dear frank’s and josh’s. i don’t need to go somewhere where they hassle me about my order choices.

Just skip over the burger and onion rings and head straight for the hot dog and fries. The burger was a bit dry and overcooked, but the hot dog came down from ballpark heaven. Perfectly toasted bun, tangy mustard and all the fixins. The fries were fresh cut and piping hot. The chocolate shake was homemade and washed down the hot dog nicely.

This place is just okay. The service was good and the eating area was clean. The kids ordered hot dogs and fries and loved them. They have a large salad menu, but then after I ordered, they were out of half the items that should have been in the salad. I will say the lettuce did seem fresh though, which you can’t always say. Would probably not go back but not the worst I have had.

I have been enjoying cookers for some time and am now a raving fan. My wife booked them to cater my daughters graduation party. They showed up early, the crew were friendly and polite, and the food was great. I was amazed that they not only brought the food but had made sure to bring cutlery and plates in the colors of our daughters party. Mike was great and was offering people plates and was taking plates away when people were done. Over the top service, the guests all loved the food and they helped to make for a successful party. I highly recommend them.

I’d probably go around 2 ½ stars for this overall. Cookers has been around a long time, which says something. They do fresh cut fries here which taste great but you probably should ask for extra crispy however otherwise they’ll be on the limp side. The hot dogs are fair. Sure for the average (clueless) eater they are fine. But they are not Vienna Beef, and to me they have a funny aftertaste. They are also skinless, no natural casing here. Avoid the Caesar Salad, it was so bad, it made me quit my low carb diet (not kidding!). I order from Cooker’s once in a blue moon if a co-​worker is going there and I can’t get my own food. I do have to admit that I have not had a burger or steak sandwich here, and I do want to give them a try. The staff are very friendly (take it easy on the mustard please).
I’d also like to point out that you should never ever order Italian Beef from any hot dog place, unless they have their own recipe and make it in house (which almost none do). And if you do, congrats, you just admitted you have lousy taste.

I don’t get it, the reviews are all over the map. Our venture there last week. Gyros and a double cheese burger, both come with fries. The Gyros dry and and overseasoned way overseasoned. You will need a blood pressure pill. My burger was all goop and two way overcooked patties. I watched him flip and press for 8 minutes, so I am guilty. The room is greasy and greasy smelling.
If this is the cuisine you desire, may I suggest «Dear Franks» right up Waukegan Rd, in Deerfield.

I was hungry and turned into the strip mall and just by chance happened to see the sign for Cooker’s Red Hot. «A hotdog for lunch» sounded pretty good so I decided to give it a go.
The place was pretty busy for a Sunday afternoon, something positive already. I believed I was lucky they were open and my mouth started watering in anticipation eating a good hotdog. I ordered a hotdog with everything, and fries. The person working the register did their job in a routine fashion, indifferent I suppose… I got my food, opened the wrapper and noticed the hotdog had all the traditional Chicago style condiments in it, including the poppy seed bun. But it was «all» a little soggy inside that wrapper, so that was disappointing. Moreover, the hotdog lacked that «snap» of the casing I was expecting to get when I bit into it…
Over all, pretty average I would say. The fries were just okay too (although they appeared like they should be good), they weren’t very crispy and served without salt. Next time, that is, if there is a next time (and for anyone reading this review) order salt.
I noticed there were many 4&5 star reviews, but that wasn’t my experience.

Personally I stay away from greasy food but even if you are a healthy freak like me you’ll find something for yourself. Prices are affordable and service very kind. They could make some interior design changes but I guess it’s their style.

I saw all the marveling reviews and was excited to give this a shot but it’s really just okay. I lived in Minneapolis for years, and I’ve still had a hard time finding a burger here in Chicagoland that compares to them, so I tried their cheeseburger. It was fine, but not anything amazing. To be honest, Portillo’s cheeseburger with everything is better. And the cheese sauce that you get with the cheese fries is not what you would expect. It was very thick (almost like velveeta, before being melted) and oddly textured. Fries were delicious though!

I get lunch here on a regular basis. I’ve never had anything from them that I didn’t like. And my favorite part is if you request it, they will top your burger and/​or fries with Merkt’s cheddar. It’s AMAZING! But it’s an additional dollar so they don’t use it unless you ask them to.
They are also extremely fast at lunchtime. Call your order in and by the time you get there, it will be done. The staff are polite and quick and it’s a pretty large menu to choose from.

Any Chicago area hot dog joint that has the word hot dog in its name in various punny forms or otherwise doesn’t deserve to be patronized unless they serve the premium dogs in natural casing. And Cooker’s sadly does not. End of review.

This place is a great place to eat at when you are famished, Mike and the boys will not dissappoint! For the money this place is a much better option to the corporate food chains. Hot dogs are Chicago style and very tasty. My go to is their ribeye steak sandwich with grilled onions and cheese, wooo mama!

I’ve been stopping in here for lunch every once in a while. Always enjoy the rib-​eye steak sandwich, the onion rings, and the mushrooms. Fries come with almost everything.
Not even remotely healthy, but delicious.

Cooker’s is an institution dedicated to how an old school grease pit should be and I mean this with the utmost respect. They make gyros, char dogs and cheeseburgers the way you remember them. If your memories are foggy then replace them with fresh ones. Like their fries for instance. Fresh. Real. Fries. Enough crispy bits to make up for the not so crispy bits, every mouthful makes a memorable moment out of an otherwise run of the mill day. You don’t want to come here before getting any blood-​work done at you doctor’s office. I’m glad they don’t do random cholesterol testing at work…

Was so disappointed in my visit here. I had only eaten here once before about 7 years ago, and remembered that it was pretty good! Great greasy-​spoon type place. Was over here at the DMV with my son and thought I’d take him here. We ran in to get carryout, and then ate in the car. Hot dog was great! Then I got to my fries. Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR hairs in my fries. Yes, you read that correctly. FOUR hairs in my fries.
I’m not sure if they leave the fries out and open or if they dropped ‘em and put ‘em in the bag anyways — i don’t know what happened but it was one of the most disgusting things i’ve ever had happen to me, as far as food is concerned.
And the sad thing is, the guy at the cash register was super-​sweet! Seemed really nice. Not sure if he was the owner, or just an employee, but he was nice.
That’s it. It wasn’t even worth going back in to bitch. I will just never, ever come back.
Gross.

Cookers has everything you’d expect from a hot dogs and more type of place, with quick service and good prices.

This place is seriously the only place I can get a milkshake delivered without it being melted!
Do you know how freakin happy that makes me?
I bet not!
I’ve tried multiple things off the menu its all good!
I really like the french fries specially sense their idaho cut and always fresh!
The cheese is awesome both mertzs and cheddar.
The shrimp is omega good specially for being out of a little joint like this.
The bbq chicken sandwich is super good to.
I dont think there’s one bad thing I can say about this place good food for a good price! Why not right?
To make everything even sooo much better they had my food to me in 10 – 15 minutes fresh and hot!
Literally the fastest delivery I’ve ever had!
I jist can’t get enough of cookers and their awesome food!
Definitely will return again and again and again and again

I’ve been here quite a few times for mostly carryout but sometimes we sit inside when we are super hungry and can’t wait for the ten minute drive home. I think it’s okay. I haven’t had their burgers and dogs, but I can vouch for the stuff I did have. You come in, wait in line, place your order and then they call your number when it’s ready, so it’s super casual. The guys taking your order are usually super friendly and I’ve met the owner a few times and he’s very nice.
Now onto the food. We usually get the gyros and fries. I believe the hand cut fries are on the house and you get a lot of them so that’s nice of the establishment to give out free fries. However, they aren’t my fave. The gyros are super greasy and you get soo much of them, but I honestly prefer Bo-Bo’s for my gyros fix, however they are nicer at Cookers. I do like the yogurt sauce that comes with them and we always ask for two extras at least because you can never have enough of that Greek sauce.
We’ve also had the babyback bbq ribs to go and they are okay, not the best I’ve had but certainly not the worst either. Overall, the food is just okay and if you’re in the area and you have time after you go to the DMV (which is right next door btw) you should definitely stop by and give Cooker’s a try. For me, the food is just too fatty and greasy and just doesn’t do it for after a full night of drinking downtown. Plus, they aren’t open super late for those burger cravings at 1am. What I do like about Cookers is that they prepare your food super fast and it’s definitely an easy lunch option. But on a Saturday afternoon around noon, they are packed so be prepared to wait. If you come on a Thursday evening, you should be in and out within ten minutes if you are carrying out.
Cooker’s you guys definitely know how to cook em, but you’re just not for me. Stay sweet and I will send plenty of my friends your way.

Gotta update by saying this place is under different management from my previous review. The food is missing just a tiny bit of TLC, and I miss Jerry and his family dearly!
However, solid business model here still, the prices and specials are all still the same, so a solid 4 stars.