Au Cheval

Great vibe! We went on a Wednesday at 5 and had no wait. This was our first time here, we did the burger (single which has two patties) added the bacon and egg per previous recommendations. It was definitely a great burger but not the best we've ever had and pretty pricey...still a delicious burger and it was all cooked to perfection. Service was good. We would recommend giving it a try!¹

Everything was delicious and all the staff were very friendly/helpful! They don’t take any reservations so we arrived around 5:30 to put our name down. We waited about an hour, a little less.
After we were seated, our server arrived quickly and took our orders. He was super attentive-he removed empty plates quickly and refilled our drinks right away.
The burger was perfect, as expected. The salad was bright and fresh, a great complement to the heavy main course. The fries were perfectly crispy and salty.

As a self-proclaimed burger connoisseur, I had heard that Au Cheval had the best burger in America - so of course, my son and I had to try it during our visit to Chicago. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

We went right at lunch on a Tuesday and even though the restaurant was packed, we were able to get right in with no wait. We started with the "Crispy Fries," which were served with aioli and a fried egg on top - the perfect start to our meal.

For our burgers, I opted for the single cheeseburger (which actually comes with two patties) with added bacon, while my son went for the double cheeseburger with an egg and bacon. The bacon was thicker and not crispy, but it added the perfect amount of sweetness to the burger, almost like pork belly. And while my son's burger was a bit too thick with three patties, we couldn't deny the incredible flavor and quality of the beef.

Don't be confused by the names - the single actually has two patties and the double has three. But no matter which burger you choose, you're in for a treat. The food was truly incredible, and my son and I both agreed that this was easily one of the best burgers we've ever had.

If you're a burger lover, you simply must make a stop at Au Cheval. The quality of the ingredients and the attention to detail in each dish truly make this place stand out. And despite its reputation and popularity, the staff were welcoming and accommodating, making our experience even better. Highly, highly recommend!

Having missed out previously due to the well-known long waits, I finally got lucky with a spot at the counter on a Wednesday afternoon.

Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Service is quick, friendly and efficient. You feel welcome and not rushed; for a place with consistent lines out the door, that's impressive.

As for the food. I went with the cheeseburger with an egg, and a side of fries. The cheeseburger was excellent: fresh, perfectly cooked, juicy with the right amount of seasoning. Loved it! And the fries were perfect - seasoned to perfected and cooked just right.

So why only 4 stars? Perhaps the hype took away some of the greatness, but I have had equally good burgers around town. And while the burger was very fairly priced, the side of fries (while delicious and plentiful) were not.

I would like to add that they'd really do themselves a favor offering a vegetarian option. As someone who eats meat less and less, and whose wife is vegetarian, this is essentially off limits for us as a couple. It's 2023, time to try something new.

Everyone said that this place is a must try in Chicago, however you have to come knowing you're going to have to wait over an hour. The first time we came in it was a 3 hour wait and we decided to pass. But the second it was about an hour wait and we waited.

Was it the best burger I've ever had? No...
Was it good enough to wait for a couple hours? No...

Besides that, the burger was tasty, the single had a double patty and I opted to add bacon. I could've gone without the bacon. I'm glad that we did stop in and try the place, but it definitely was not something I would go and do again.

Excellent burger. I’m not sure if it lives up to all the hype but a very tasty burger for sure. I had the single and it was gigantic. The cocktails were also delicious. Service was fast and friendly and the vibe in the place was cool.

I love this place! Honestly is the best hamburger I have ever tried!! I’m very picky with hamburgers and this is a solid 10. The single burger comes with 2 meats so that’s a lot! I recommend adding the extra of egg and bacon because it’s so good you wont regret it! The hamburger is huge so you could easily get fries and share fries and the burger with someone else. This place is always busy but it’s worth the wait trust me. The French fries are a must as well, it’s pricey like 10 bucks for just the fries but it is worth it. For the single burger and the fries you’ll spend around 40 dollars. I came twice when I was in Chicago! Loved it!

Per server recommendation, got the Mexico calling Cruz Blanca beer which was light and tasty, the single cheeseburger (came as double patty) with egg and bacon, and garlic crispy fries. I arrived Monday at opening at 11:05 am and had no wait. The burger was solid, but almost tasted like I could get it anywhere. I think if I had gotten a thicker/larger portion of bacon added, that would definitely make it 5 stars. The crispy fries were decent, but not as crispy as I was hoping for. Overall, I would recommend this place, but it is not somewhere to go out of your way or wait over 30 minutes in line.

When I shared that we were traveling to Chicago, Au Cheval was one of the most recommended food spots. Being a burger person, we had to add it to the list. I don’t know the city deeply enough, but the rustic & bustling ambience felt very Chicago to a visitor. While the burger was good (a classic burger style), I thought the hidden gem was their fried chicken. Seems like the sauce was developed in-house, and it interestingly reminded me of a mix between an American and an oriental barbecue sauce. I might even put this above Au Cheval’s widely known burger.

Au Cheval has been on our list since we moved to chicago! Here’s my honest opinion:

Was it a really good burger? Yes. Was it the best burger I’ve ever had? No, but that’s okay!

We went on a Saturday evening and put our name in around 5pm and were told it would be a 3 hour wait for 2 people. We expected that and got drinks and apps nearby, so no biggie. Ended up only being a little over 2 hours. But I think that’s where this place gets people… if you wait long enough and have enough drinks, this burger will taste like heaven.

The vibe is very cool and I think being there at night only added to that (see photos).

Finally, I really didn’t think it was that overpriced… I mean a single burger has 2 patties, the side of fries is plenty to share with another person or two, and there’s $3 tall boy options. Personally, price was actually kind of refreshing compared to other “must-try” places in Chicago.

Overall, good food, good vibes, and good service! I would definitely bring someone here from out of town or who has never been before.