Paradise Pup

Great food! I really like eating here. I just wish there was actual room to sit down. Even if it is just while waiting for food, I would love to have a table and not just stools. Still, overall great burgers and the Oreo shake is to die for.

My most favorite burger joint in Chicago! I am eating one right now and already thinking about my next time!!! Bring Cash)))) Love it!!!

It only feels right to make this spot my first review. Came here with high expectations and was not disappointed. I got the cheddar charburger and a char dog and I honestly wanted more after. The burger was cooked perfectly and didn’t leave me feeling bloated or drowsy like other burgers do. The hot dog was perfectly charred and the taste perfectly exemplified a typical Chicago style dog. The line was out the door but the line moved quickly. The best part was that once I got my food I took it home, and even after a 15 minute car ride it was still super fresh and didn’t get soggy.
Parking is extremely tight and limited, and there isn’t much seating inside either.
Overall this place is worth the hype. Not too pricey and its reputation is well-​deserved. I’m definitely going to recommend this place to others and I look forward to coming back

Lived up to the expectations. Got a bacon and cheeseburger and fries, they were amazing. It’s a small place and it was paced, good luck trying to dine in.
Can’t wait to go back and try more food.

Best cheddar bacon burger. Food is awesome. Cash Only! Fast. There’s Always a line. It’s a small shack but big on flavor.

So, had a little more to drinks than I should have. I needed some tasty grease to balance me out. This place is pretty awesome. I got the char Meeks cheddar burger and the 3 layer fries. It didn’t disappoint!

Pretty darn tasty. I got the double-​dog (or doublepup) and it was absolutely fantastic. I am a huge fan of Chicago-​style hot dogs and this place hit the spot. It’s really close to O’Hare, which is convenient if one wants a hot dog right before or after a flight.
My only complaint is that it is cash only. Maybe I’m spoiled since I’m from the Silicon Valley but cash only is just antiquated by now.

This place is the real deal! You might have to wait in line for awhile during peak hours, but you won’t regret it.
If this is your first time here, I recommend the char cheddar burger. But feel free to try anything. It’s all good, and always on point.

Great Chicago-​style hot dog joint. The dogs are great with a nice snap to them, the poppy seed buns steamed properly all the right condiments. Mustard, relish, onion, pickle, tomato, and sport peppers all fresh. The fries were great too.
The place was clean. Usually there’s a wait and it is only open for lunch.
I would think the owner would just pay someone who he trusted to stay open for dinner too. But maybe that’s the challenge.

How is it possible that I grew up in the area and didn’t have Paradise Pup?! I seriously have to have a talk with my parents about that one. What a great gem in the suburbs. It makes driving visitors back to O’Hare a nice option because we might as well stop by the Pup if we are so close!
It’s not a very big place. In fact, they have a few counter seats inside and that is it. If you go at peak times, expect a wait and a wait outside. Be patient — it takes time to make everything from scratch. Also — it is cash only.
The char cheddar burger is old school. It is simple done well. It gets great flavor on the grill with nice marks. The bun holds up well to the juicy burger and the cheese — the Merkts cheddar is the best. Cheesy deliciousness! To add more cheese, an order of the cheddar cheese fries is the perfect pair to the burger. I definitely can see why so many people come here and why it made Guy Fieri’s list.

«Smile, it confuses people» — what the sign above the char grill says. Love it!
Can you believe it’s been over 4 years since my last visit? Spooky, right?
What better way to exude TGIF than visit PP on a Friday lunch break? I opted for a ¹⁄₃ lb cheddar char burger and shared a side of mozz sticks and crinkle cut fries with the p unit. Burgers are made to order, and we salivated for about 10 minutes eagerly awaiting our feast. Note that the cheddar used is Merkt’s, so it’s not going to be a cheese slice. Juicy, slightly greasy, and a little slippery and messy to eat describe the burger. It’s definitely a good portion size, but that patty just didn’t want to stay put in the soft bun! Fries and mozz sticks were A-​OK: solid, but not mindblowing.
Note: the parking lot is rather small and cramped, so be careful navigating your way out, in your state of food coma when you leave. If Mother Nature is cooperative, about 6 picnic tables are available outside for dining.

I think maybe I’m just not a fan of that overly char/​smoky burger taste (not to be confused with charred in texture because it’s not). The char flavor is super intense here which I disliked, and the burgers are incredibly juicy. Like, you take one bite, and a stream of grease just dribbles out. I like the option to get grilled onions vs. raw. The 3 layer crinkle cut fries are good. The parking lot is cramped, indoor seating is uncomfortable (only 12 bar stools with half of them in tight spots), but there are a lot of outdoor patio tables. Also, it’s cash only, and they close at 5 PM Mondays-​Saturdays, closed Sundays.

If there’s a good buzz on burgers then i must try it. I heard great things about the burgers at Paradise Pup so my husband and i decided to take the drive up on a lazy rainy Saturday afternoon. I expected a long line but luckily we only waited a few minutes to a place our order. I had a bacon cheeseburger and i can’t say it was the best burger I’ve ever had but it was pretty good. My husband wasn’t too happy with his burger however. The bun on his burger got real soggy and fell apart due to the grilled onions until all was left was the burger patty, so he couldn’t even finish it. Overall it’s a good fast food joint, but won’t come back anytime soon.

Jeezy Louisee Cheesy!!! This is what I was saying the entire time I was crazily stuffing my mouth with not only the cheeseburger, but also the Polish sausage and those amazing triple layer fries. Let me just tell you that you ain’t had cheesy goodness until you’ve gotten ahold of one of these burgers smothered in Merkt’s cheddar cheese. The Merkt’s cheese spread is what makes this burger as good as it is, but also as unique as it is. And hey, if Guy Fieri approves of this joint then you must know it’s a keeper, right?
Now, their char burger is of course what they are most famous for, but while you’re there you might as well throw all caution to the wind and get some of their other items. Although I liked the burger more than the Polish sausage the Polish sausage was still very, very good with the onions and mustard laced on it. The burger also has onions on it along with all of the other typical burger toppings you’d get just about anywhere else, but for some reason this burger is simply phenomenal. By the time I was done eating the burger every inch of my hands was covered in grease and cheese. It was awesome. I swear I’m like a dude when I eat burgers — I just don’t give a shit if I look like a hot mess when I’m eating such a heavenly burger. Believe me, once you get the burger and take the first bite you’ll be giving zero shits as well.
Before you can dig in though, you’ll have to wait in line for a good while, probably around 20 minutes depending on the time of day you go. With that being said, I think it’s busy all of the time because of how well-​known this gem is so be prepared to wait no matter what time you go. You’ll probably be waiting outside for a good amount of this time because the inside of the business is extremely small. The walls on the inside are decorated with awards and articles celebrating the business and the two brothers who have been running it for the last 30 years. Those brothers are obviously doing something right. After ordering you’ll probably have to wait for another 10 minutes because everything is being made right then and there. If you’re willing to endure the wait then you’ll be one satisfied customer once you sink your teeth into the food.
Now’s the time I should tell you that they only accept cash (no credit cards) which admittedly, can be a little inconvenient, but it’s nothing to fret about. You could easily take a $ 20 bill with you and that’d be plenty to feed two people like it did my fiancé and myself. As I stated earlier, we got the char burger, Polish sausage, triple layer fries and two waters and the total was only $ 15. That’s a great deal if you ask me, especially because they’re all sizable and filling. Although we didn’t get shakes, they had about 5 different flavored shakes — one of which was raspberry!!! — that you could choose from.
Oh — one last thing. They are only open during banker’s hours so if you plan on going during the week make sure it’s before 5 pm, but if you can’t make it at that time then you’re in luck because they’re also open on Saturday’s until 5 pm.
You absolutely must come here for a bite and when you leave you’re going to do so saying «why on earth didn’t I come here sooner?» So cheers to today being the day that you dive into a Paradise Pup burger.

We went here on a monday afternoon about 1hr before closing and it wasnt too busy! We got the Bacon cheddar burger with grilled onions, Bbq swiss bacon burger with grilled onions and a polish dog. The food was awesome like I remember it back some 3 yrs ago! Service was amazing partly because we had ordered some fries not realizing we were suppose to get their famous three layer fries with merkt’s cheddar cheese and they kindly added all the toppings free of charge!

Very authentic hot dogs, good and flavorful meat with a perfect balanced bread. It came with tomatoes, diced onions and a sliced pickle on top of the perfectly cooked and seasoned meat! Definitely recommend the paradise pup meal
The burger was good but the patty was a bit under seasoned, the dogs were definitely better!
This place is reasonably priced so that’s always a plus.

Paradise Pup, a little stand-​alone off of River Road, offering char burgers, char sausages, hot dogs, and sides (fries, onions, mozzarella sticks, etc.). My friend and I tried their Char Cheddar Burger and their Char Polish Sausage; while it had a nice charred taste, I prefer the Poochie’s location for these. The patties themselves were not as juicy as I expected them to be, and the charring wasn’t much. I would like to come back and try out their Italian Beef, which happens to be char-​grilled marinated. There’s plenty of spots to park your car, and this is more of a carry-​out establishment. There are plenty of tables outside to dine al fresco.
+off of River Road
+free parking

Words cannot describe how amazing this dive is! The short hours that its open really creates a demand for the joint. There was about 5 – 7 people in line ahead of me but the line goes by really quickly and even if the line is longer, it is definitely worth the wait. All of the employees are extremely nice, kind, and fun. I ordered a ¹⁄₃ lb Char Cheddar burger and a strawberry shake. The burger was cooked to absolute perfection. From the looks of it, all of the burgers also seem to be extremely consistent in quality and cook. The patty was thick, juicy, and delicious. Can taste the great meat quality! I prefer getting grilled onions on the burger. They must get fresh bread daily because the bread was also exceptional. I look forward to going back and trying more things on the menu. From hearing other customers talk, there were suggestions on the sausages, mozarella sticks, and the fries!
The shake used REAL strawberries. It wasn’t too heavy or too sweet. It was perfectly balanced and refreshing on a hot summer day. The shake is the perfect side for the burger. Only downside is that it leaves you craving more…
Make sure you bring cash because they do not accept credit card. The parking can be a little tight as well.
Hands down one of the BEST burgers I’ve had in Chicago!

Definitely a gem of a place. Nothing fancy. Few seats (although nice outside in the summer). But the food is excellent. Burgers, brats and of course their cheddar fries are a must. Seriously. If you don’t order them I’ll be sad.
Expect long lines most of the day. But it moves quickly and they have the system down pat.
Note: cash only.
(If you’re in a hurry know your order. And Italians beef comes up fast). Did I mention the cheddar fries?

Am I missing something here? Was my experience there an anomaly? We came and got the three layered fries, the char hot dog, char burger and the bbq burger. The bbq burger was the only thing that had any taste to it. Our fries tasted as if they used the spray can cheese, our hotdog wasn’t even charred– seemed as if it was just a boiled ballpark (a few other people I was with had the same issue), and the burger patty reminded me of a school lunch burger back in middle school. Maybe I’ve been eating burgers wrong my whole life… I don’t know, but I eat burgers pretty often and this is not how I like them.
The downside about coming in the winter time is that there is barely any space in there and it gets really crowded (when it’s nice out, there are tables to sit at outside).
On the plus side, they are very fast and efficient with the orders. The food is also super cheap (you get what you pay for though…)