Modern Relish

Restaurant · West Town

Modern Relish

Restaurant · West Town

5

636 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Photos

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Modern Relish by Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago
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Highlights

Hot dogs, burgers, shakes, and plant-based options  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

636 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 Get directions

modernrelish.com
@modernrelish

$10–20 · Menu

Information

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636 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 Get directions

+1 312 733 0069
modernrelish.com
@modernrelish

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

Chicago’s Best Hot Dogs | Eater Chicago

"Modern Relish took over the last of 16 locations of Duk’s Red Hots in West Town. Duk’s was famously threatened by Disney attorneys angry about the stand’s original name “Donald Duk’s.” Modern Relish features the same staff with a remodeled space. They have veggie dogs and a modest patio where they’ll serve beer, wine, and boozy shakes." - Ashok Selvam

https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-hot-dogs-chicago-restaurants
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@infatuation

The Newest Restaurants In Chicago

"Chicago has plenty of great hot dog stands, and Modern Relish is a new-old contender on the scene. That’s because up until December, it was known as Duk’s Red Hots—an iconic West Town spot for 70 years. The owners might be new (and so are the forthcoming patio and liquor license), but the hot dogs, burgers, and fries are the same." - john ringor, veda kilaru

https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/guides/new-chicago-restaurant-openings
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@eater

A Classic Street Food Stand Reloads With Beef, Boozy Shakes, and Veggie Treats - Eater Chicago

"Modern Relish replaces Duk’s Red Hots with renovated interiors, a liquor license, and veggie options. Customers can grab veggie hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and chicken tenders made with meat substitutes from Morning Star. The new owners, Tony Pagliuca and Angela Villanueva, want to open more locations. They’ve cleaned up the small patio and visions of a low-key Big Star might dance in some people’s heads, swapping whisky and tacos for boozy milkshakes and Chicago dogs. Beer, wine, and eventually boozy slushies will also be available." - Ashok Selvam

https://chicago.eater.com/2024/4/30/24145266/modern-relish-hot-dog-stand-duks-west-town-photos-images
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@eater

Chicago’s Best New and Upcoming Restaurant Openings of 2024 - Eater Chicago

"Modern Relish, taking over the space of Duk's Red Hots, is set to bring new changes including an outdoor patio. The hot dog stand closed after an ownership change and the new owners have applied for liquor licenses." - Ashok Selvam

https://chicago.eater.com/2024/1/12/24030065/best-new-restaurants-chicago-opening-2024
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@eater

Chicago’s New Restaurant Openings, Winter 2024 - Eater Chicago

"Modern Relish, the replacement for Duk’s Red Hots, offers street food staples like Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef." - Ashok Selvam

https://chicago.eater.com/2024/1/5/24026919/chicago-restaurant-openings-reopenings-winter-2024
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Joshua Dance

Google
Good Chicago style dogs. Relish is radioactive green, as our founding fathers intended. Good service and you can actually pay with a card. Fries were ok, fine but a little thin and dry. Italian roast beef was good. The peppers on the dogs are big so if you get too much in a bite it gets spicy but overall would go again!

Ashley Soto

Google
Ordered thru website and it was prepared within 10 minutes. Ordered 2 plant based hot dogs, double bacon cheese burger with fries, and a side of gravy dipped french bread. Total was $24, which is unbeatable. Took food to go but you can sit inside or in the heated patio currently.

Michael Damato

Google
1 out of 5 offered me ketchup...I kid! This spot is actually pretty solid and while I do miss Duks, the hotdogs were solid and well priced. Was nice to see some meat alternatives available and almost everything came with fries included, absolutely hit the spot.

Teresa Lane

Google
We held a private event here for my great granddaughter's first birthday. The staff were great to work with, and their food is delicious. If you're looking for a place to hold an event, this is the place. I don't eat meat and was so pleased they offered plant-based options. Their plant-based burger was the best!

Maddie Pangyarihan

Google
I LOVE THIS PLACE! Its my favorite neighborhood spot to pick up lunch when I work from home and have to walk my dog - service is great and they’re so sweet and dog friendly. Today my pup was given a cut up hot dog , they don’t like to waste food and it goes into an eager mouth for a rare treat!

Mark Deleon

Google
The food was great! The prices are perfect! The service was great and the staff were very friendly. My dog, girlfriend, and I will definitely come back.

William LeSure

Google
The whole experience was great! This burger was so perfect made me feel like a teenager all over again. The music was nice 👌! The staff was amazing I even got to meet the owner! Much love and respect! Great place looking forward to seeing you expanding in the future

Cullen McMillan

Google
New Local Fast Food spot with the best prices in the area. The service was personable, and they have a cool patio area you can sit in with essentially a drive thru window to grab your food once its ready. We had the hot dogs and regular burger which were both fantastic and exactly what we were looking for at the time. We will definitely be back soon, hoping they get more traffic as it gets nicer!
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Rhonda F.

Yelp
I LOVE Modern Relish for so many reasons! The quick casual food is tasty and on budget. The staff is incredibly sweet. And the restaurant is clean, bright and cheerful. They offer an entire section of non-meat items which is fantastic. I love that they serve fountain soda. So old school and is super fizzy. I have picked up food to go twice. I'm looking forward to sitting out on their loungey patio soon!
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Mike W.

Yelp
Fantastic breakfast sandwich! This is now one of my favorite breakfast sandwiches that I've had in the city. I got it with crispy bacon and it was amazing. The giardenara mayo added the perfect amount of additional flavor. I'll be getting the sandwich regularly
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Heather S.

Yelp
Wow! What a cute place! The food is so good and tasty and very reasonably priced. I really like the multiple plant based options. Service is fast with a smile and the outdoor seating is expansive with an area on both sides of the restaurant. I hung out on the south patio last Sunday and it was fun seeing all the neighbors come by. So far I have tried the plant based tenders, italian beef, Chicago style hotdog, wing zings, onion rings, fries and both mimosa flavors. Everything tasted so good! I will be back to try more.
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Patricia Y.

Yelp
The Burger was good as he'll yes I love it come try it out thanks. And have great price's they have Plant- Base food as well and gluten-free options they are opening 8 to 8pm.
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Cecilia X.

Yelp
a great little neighborhood burger spot with a cute patio! the double cheese burger is really good and the banana milkshake was as well. I don't remember the fries so can't have been that good or that bad. food came out fast too. would come here again for a chill patio meal on a nice day
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Kristen C.

Yelp
We had so much fun at Modern Relish! The food is good, good, good and the people are absolutely the nicest and most lovely you'll ever meet. They had bubbles and popcorn for the kiddos who think MR is heaven on earth and want to come over after every baseball game now. We had some Chicago-style dogs (just add tomato + celery salt to the everything dogs), fries, cokes, milkshakes. The works. All of it was amazing. And fun!!! Our family has kids and folks with several food allergies and the folks here were so wonderful. They grabbed the packages for some of the items and we were able to verify that they were safe for folks to eat. AND THEY HAD GLUTEN FREE BUNS! Thank you! From the bottom of my heart! See y'all again real soon!

JT T.

Yelp
Great burgers and beer. Great vibe, great patio. Dog Friendly too. Wine and beer tasting the day I visited. A hidden neighborhood gem in West Town.
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Rachel G.

Yelp
Stopped in for a quick bite before meeting some friends. The people behind the counter were friendly and the service was super quick! The inside was really well redone, kudos to the new owners. I got a polish sausage and some fries and it was so yummy! Good cheap food with some friendly people, can't beat it.

Thorsten B.

Yelp
That is probably the best Italian Beef sandwich I ever had! I am German, so having a beer with my Sandwich on the patio is almost like being home :) Clean and modern, and Carol, Olga and Peanut are still there ! Great service.

Renee R.

Yelp
Great food love that it's pet friendly And awesome patio to sit outside!! Great customer service

Miggy J.

Yelp
Not impressed with all the changes. While the old building did need some repairs the new owners messed up the classic, old school feel of this place. The food was fine, it didn't taste particularly fresh. My cheeseburger was under seasoned with a stale bun and fries slightly above cold. Hot dog was not a contender for any best of lists. Nice to see Carol still there but she just seemed out of place. Other employees milling about not seeming sure what to do. Vegan hot dogs, shipping container bars, an unattractive new sign and forgettable name..we shall see how long this lasts. RIP Duks

Melissa H.

Yelp
This place is great! The outdoor patio is very spacious, it's family friendly, the staff was super nice, and the food is really good, especially for how affordable it is. Would highly recommend!