Paradise Pup

I was born & raised in the city, and this place definitely feels (and tastes!) like the many local spots I grew up going to with my dad. The dogs are delicious but their cheddar burger is #1 in my house. And their banana shake is to die for! The 3 layer fries and onion rings are top notch sides. 100% recommend if you are anywhere near the Des Plaines area. Worth the drive and worth the wait (if there's a line).

For my first experience, the wait is long but soooo worth it! I ordered the BBQ Bacon Swiss Burger, fries and a Barq Root Beer Float, definitely 5- ⭐️ amazing food and service. Will definitely come back, I highly recommend this place if you are or are not in the area. Worth the drive and wait.

This is a Chicago Staple - the merkts cheddar burger is so tender and juicy. Plus it isn’t super pricey compared other burger spots. Would say this is the best burger you can find in Chicago!

The burgers, pups, and onion rings were really good. The red raspberry shake was really tasty. Service was okay when we ordered, and the guy that handed us our order was great. Outside tables only.

Paradise Pup is a burger haven that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. From the moment you step in, the aroma of sizzling patties fills the air, setting the stage for a mouthwatering experience. Their burgers are a symphony of flavors, with perfectly seasoned beef nestled between soft, toasted buns, accompanied by crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and a medley of savory toppings. Each bite is a journey to burger paradise, with every ingredient harmonizing to create pure culinary bliss. And let's not forget about their crispy, golden 3 layered fries – the ideal companion to their delectable burgers. With friendly staff and a cozy ambiance, Paradise Pup isn't just a restaurant; it's an institution, a must-visit for any burger enthusiast craving perfection In North Chicago area

Lives up to the hype for sure. This is what you want from a classic American burger. The char, the melted cheese, the bun all make for the perfect “backyard bbq” feel. The fries were also plentiful and golden brown. We got two burgers and two fries for $25 which I think is fair. Highly recommend calling ahead as it took us about 20-30 min to get through the long line and get our food.

The burgers were good. Nice amount of condiments. The line moved fast. But, sitting at a picnic table feet from River Road where cars were either zooming by or slowing to try to turn into a non-existent parking lot, that part ruined it for me. The noise from the road was too much.

I have been living in this area for 14 years and I just tried the food here for the first time ( don't ask me why) How on earth did I miss this restaurant? This is easily one of the best burgers I have ever tried

Best burgers in chicago and not expensive- nuff said. What else do you want me to say here?

Friends always stop here when in the neighborhood. So we were in Rosemont today and decided to get a burger. Friend said let's go to Paradise Pup. I've never been so I was all for it. There is no dining inside, only picnic tables outside. They say people eat in the cars. And today being 26 degrees we ate in the car. Place your order at the window and they give you a pager when your food is ready. All Orders are cooked to order so you know it's fresh. We all ordered the bacon merkts cheddar burger. OMG!!! It was so good. Something with the Merkts cheese on the burger was delicious. The krinkle fries were good as well. But too salty. So when in the area this is the place for burgers. But in the summertime the lines are around the building is what my friend said. So best to go early or late.

Paradise Pup is definitely old school and that's the main reason it's worth a visit, but it also means lines and rough parking even at odd hours--more on that in a minute. The dogs are solid--classic Chicago dog. The cheeseburgers (I go with the "American Burger" to get normal "cheeseburger cheese"--a slice of American, rather than the Merkts cheese spread which is standard for them). The burger is slightly better than mid-tier chain places. At just under $9 for the burger alone ($8.85 exact I think...it should be better than Culver's). Personally, I think that's a little high to grab a burger, but you're paying for the overall experience. Side note: the burgers don't come with lettuce or mustard. You can get grilled onions but they're the same diced ones they put on a dog instead of the full grilled rings that I think are better for a burger. I didn't order fries today but I'm guessing they'll set you back the better part of a "fin". Back to the parking: today I pulled into the "north" lot at 2:50pm (intentionally going at an "off time" and the lot was still full and tight. I had to inch into the alley, drive down it to a side street, get back onto northbound River Rd, then wait to cut across southbound traffic to turn into their "south" lot to find a spot...at 2:50pm on a Thursday...kinda bogus, but it's old school. There were several people lined up ahead of me at the outside order window. One couple was taking video of their entire order process and that's kind of the scene: tiny, old school joint, line up outside, rough parking, always busy, all but one picnic table full...that's the experience...with somewhat better than average food. I was given a beeper to take back to my car to wait (about 10min) for the burger to be ready. It was decent but I won't come back to grab a burger for a while. (This was probably my 10th visit in 45yrs.) I will come back if my college-aged son brings a friend home to show a younger "outta towner" what a Chicago dog and burger joint was like in the 1960s. Go...but go with your eyes open and some patience.

Damn I cant believe Ive never reviewed this place. Used to go all the time when I worked in Elk Grove. To sum it up, great burgers and long lines. I prefer the standard cheddar instead of merkts but you still can't go wrong. Go early.

Great food, classic hot dog stand. The beef sandwich is a sleeper, as good as any you'll find at a beef stand.

This is my favorite fast burger I've ever had! Whenever I visit Chicago, this is a must-stop! The people are nice, the service is fast (and they cook to order), and the food is delicious! I've traveled far and wide to get a burger near it and it can compete with the sit-down spots. They have bench seating outside and a walk-up window where you order. They are on a major street, so you may get some big rigs whizzing by. They kept it old school, and the smokey char on the burger made them the best around! I ordered a Merkt's Cheddar Char Burger and two Paradise Pups (their hot dog with everything, which is "Chicago Style"). The hot dogs have a great snap to them. The condiments are high quality, and the poppy seed bun is soft as a pillow without falling apart. The burger is where it's at! A delicious char from their grill sets the burger apart from most. I got the burger with everything, which included grilled onions. I've tried to find a better burger; especially hoping that somewhere is less than 2k miles away! I'm still searching after 15 years. Something else that I normally order are the 3 layer French fries. They come with Merkt's Cheddar melted on top of crinkle fries then topped with sour cream, chives, and bacon. They are great and definitely shareable if you don't want too have too much. Thank you Paradise Pup for staying consistent through the years as you bring more and more people to joy and happiness!

I like my cheeseburger well done with no pink inside. If I'm paying for my burger I expect to get it the way I ask for it.

I saw this cute little place and had to try it. Then I remembered they were featured on Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives. There was a little line waiting to order, which gave me more time to figure out what to order. I was feeling a little hungry, so I order a 1/3 char burger, hot dog and the 3 Layer fries. Once I placed my order, they gave me a little buzzer when my order was ready. After receiving my order, I ate in my car. I don't know if they have an indoor dining area or just closed for a day. I dug into the burger first. It was well seasoned and the bun was super fluffy. All the toppings were fresh, but I will let them know to make mine more medium next time. The hot dog was a good Chicago style dog, but the 3 layer fries were the true winner of my heart. Cheesy, gooey and loaded with bacon and sour cream. I could have made a meal out of the fries all by themselves.

I haven't been here for years so I thought what the heck. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich w/tomatoes, lettuce & Mayo w/the perfect char on the chicken. Absolutely delicious. I opted for the chicken (FIRST TIME) & it was awesome like their burgers. I usually get the double bacon cheddar burger but I thought I would give my heart a break. THE CHICKEN WAS AN AWESOME OPTION that I would definitely recommed. Hours are 11am -5pm M - F. Closed on Sunday. THIS PLACE IS A GOLD MINE ALWAYS BUSY

Great burgers and shakes. A real family business and wonderful people making great burgers. Love this place.

Located  on S River Rd in Des Plaines, this fast food stand is well worth the stop. If you can find a parking spot. Reasonably priced, you order at a window, then they give you a pager that will alert you when your food is ready. The food is made to order and fresh. The Paradise Pup is a typical Chicago Hot Dog and is a great choice. The Italian Beef is stuffed and served piping hot. It is accompanied by spicy giardiniera peppers. The fries are the crinkle variety. You can pay with cash or a credit card. They have some picnic tables with umbrellas. This is a great choice, and I would highly recommend Paradise Pup. Enjoy.

I had the pleasure of trying out a Chicago dog at one of the Diners, drive inns, and dives. It was busy however we were served with a smile. Everything was fantastic from the dogs to burgers to cheese fries. The strawberry shake was epic. This is a hidden gem in Des Plaines just past the original Mac Donald's that had been torn down. Even the cicadas wanted to see what the food was all about. They were flying all around. I enjoyed the beautiful weather eating my Chicago dog outside. I'll be returning again to try a burger!

This is a carry out place in the winter. I should have brought something with me to keep the food hot. But always delish.

Man.... I used to come here all the time in high school and I remember the burgers being delicious. I swung by earlier this week for the first time in ~10 years and got the 1/3 char burger with cheddar cheese. I really did not enjoy it for several reasons... The bun that they use is an incredible bun but it is really thick and that's what you taste mainly with each bite. Speaking of bites, one bite is all it took for the burger to start falling apart. It is super greasy and you can taste this with each bite. I wasn't crazy about the cheddar cheese, it was super sharp and pretty overpowering. Overall, the burger lacked cohesiveness and honestly, I felt like crap for several hours afterwards. With each bite, I felt like I mainly tasted bread, grease and cheddar cheese. I barely tasted the patty and all the other ingredients. I was thoroughly disappointed with my experience...

Given that I'm in the area and knowing that this place is popular on social media, I can't resist trying it out. At first glance, I know the infrastructure is older and not particularly outstanding. Based on my experience, these businesses deliver quality food. When I arrived, there was a huge queue of people waiting to place an order. Thankfully, I had called in ahead of time, so I could avoid the line and walk straight to the window dedicated to pick up orders. The food wasn't ready upon my arrival so I waited and observed the establishment. I noticed due to limited space, the business made an effort to accommodate by providing a table for outdoor dinning. Then the staffs waved at me to notify me that the food is ready, so I left right away. When I got home, I instantly devoured the burger. The first bite was incredible because I tasted the char grill patty, the savory thick layer of merkts cheddar, and the caramelized onion. I'm glad they packed extra napkins because it was so messy/juicy that I saw layer of burger juice on the bottom of the styrofoam container; how erotic. The fries were simple but good nothing to explain just crispy crinkle cut fries mildly salted I regret for not ordering a side of cheese to compliment with the fries. It was sad as I took the last bite of the burger, not knowing when I could get my hand on the juicy burger again and I'm glad I stopped for lunch I have to say this is the best burger I ever had the end

I couldn't leave Chicago without tasting one of their infamous hot dogs. I found small fast food cart a few minutes away my hotel near O'Hare airport. This street side stand had all the hallmarks of a genuine hole in wall culinary site - wow great hot dog - hot crunchy salty fries and lots of other tasty food cart meals. The service was great and now that I've completed the first part of my quest for authentic Chicago treats I'm going to search for some of their local pizza !! Bon Appetite Ronn just Ronn The hole in the wall food guy

Great burgers! While driving past, can't help but stop because of the great aroma of burgers cooking on the grill.

The grilled smokiness of the burger was very good. Fresh bun and toppings. I prefer fresh cut fries to any other type. Frozen crinkle cuts here.

Great food and decently priced. Great summertime place as you have to eat outside. Parking can be tight but I go on the weekends so the extra spots next door are helpful

The main reason why I came here was because of Diner Drive In and Dives and my love for Guy Fieri on the food network. However, this place did not disappoint. The only slight issue is that they do have shorter hours, and the parking lot is a little small. However, the food is excellent. I have tried the Mert Burger, the 3 layer fries and the Double burger which when I saw the show thats what Guy Fieri had. None of which disappointed me at all. I will be back again.

Every time I come get a burger I cannot believe how great it is it's like every time I come it gets better honestly one of the greatest burgers in Illinois

Believe the hype. It is that good! Worth waiting for- which is what you'll do, and most likely in your car. Be smart and call to order ahead. The bacon cheeseburger was so fricken good. Fries were good.... But let me tell you the grilled chicken sandwich. Omg. It was to die for! Definitely be prepared with napkins and wipes. There's a small parking lot in the back.

This is a sign to drive over to Des Plaines and buy a Merkts Chedder Burger...or 2;) This is hands down THE BEST BURGER YOU HAVE EVER TASTED! (And we love in-n-out and Gordon Ramsay burgers) but we're telling you Paradise Pup is the best (sorry everyone else)! You will never ever be disappointed the first bite will take you back to a summer day when you were younger playing outside and waiting for the bbq to be done so you can chow down, this really is a paradise burger we are in paradise!! WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE PARADISE PUP! Their 1/3 Char Merkt's Cheddar Burger is the most delicious burger we have had and it is always number 1 for us! If you find yourself in Rosemont please stop by! There are many Burger choices and other food choices to choose from but the merkt's burger is the way to go trust us you will not be disappointed. It melts in your mouth with every bite you take and we could always eat more and more you don't want to stop! All the ingredients simply go together and it is always made to perfection we've never had a bad experience and we go often even our burps have the best aftertaste ever! Everyone that works here is so nicest the time! If you're driving down and you can smell the restaurant you're close!

Be prepared to wait a little because they make everything fresh. It's an awesome experience because you can see the history's you order outside nowadays but it's an easy process's classic char burger, fries, and I love the seasonal shakes. It's right off a main road so it's a bit loud but close enough to my house that I bring it home and it's still fresh.

Stop here for greasy roadside burgers. This place is fantastic and well priced. I only took a photo of the cheese fries because I, without thinking, inhaled my double cheeseburger burger. I would recommend getting a single because the patties are huge!!! Fries are also pretty bomb. Would highly recommend this over any other fast food chains.

Finally got to try this place after a friend told me about it a few years back! Never really looked it up before so I didn't know what to expect. Only one other person was there when I went and they were already waiting for their order in their car. Small place with walk-up windows for ordering and only outdoor seating as far as I could tell but I wasn't looking around the building itself too closely. Nice big menu on the wall but it doesn't tell you the price until you go to the ordering window, and they have a menu with prices on there. The workers were really nice and friendly! I heard they're known for their burgers, but I was in a fish sandwich mood tonight so I went with that, along with some cheddar fries. They gave me a pager and I waited in my car since it was cold out. I took it home first so I didn't eat it right away, but the sandwich was still good! Better than the average fish sandwich that I've had, at least. Bread was nice and soft, the fish was still decently crispy on the outside, and the tartar sauce was light and didn't overpower the sandwich like it does at some other places. Fries are crinkle cut and they were average; the cheddar was put in a container on the side and the taste was okay but was more viscous than I was expecting. Decent experience and will most likely come back again to try a burger! I'll probably go with onion rings over the fries though.

Heard about this place from my wife. We decided to try out all the hype. I had the double cheeseburger with onion rings and a banana peanut butter shake. All I can say is WOW! Great burger and everything with it!!! I absolutely recommend trying this place!!

That cheese on them fries is something else...great dog, the grill smoke should be bottled and sold as cologne. Be prepared to wait cuz this place is as hoppin as a coked up bullfrog.

Not as good as I remember. Spent over $10 on a cheese char dog, small fry, small Diet Coke. The hot dog only had onions & cheese, kinda small, one note flavor with all that cheese. Fries were hot but not that tasty. Based on this visit, I should have gone to Superdawg on my way back to city. Plus long line & wait for food.

The food was good, the parking was bad. That's the short version of this review if you only want to read 2 lines. This business has little parking and the parking available is very tight and hard to pull into. I have a pickup and had to basically make my own spot. Nevertheless I had heard good things about the food so I wanted to try it out. I did not know that there was no indoor dining or even a warm waiting area. When I walked up to the area to order I did see that initially there had been a set up for that. At some point they changed it, likely during covid etc. So we ordered, then waited in the freezing cold for the food. I will say that they had a buzzer so you were able to wait in your car if you wanted. I ordered 1 of their special burgers, the 3 layer fries, and an oreo milk shake. The food is basically what you would expect from a sonic like burger establishment. The burger was nice, plenty juicy and filled with flavor. The fries were OK. The milkshake was middle of the road. The food was good enough that I would order there again. However, not unless it was a whole lot warmer. There was no where to dine so I had to either eat in my truck or find a place to take it to eat. That's fine for a pick up order. If I'm on a lunch break or something and I want to sit somewhere I think I'd be better off going to a business that at least has a small area for that. The cashier seemed indifferent when we were ordering. Not necessarily rude though. I got the feeling that this business was an in town favorite kind of place, and the attitude of some of the staff reflected that. I'm not from in town and I also wasn't that impressed. Good food, but not sit and freeze for 10 minutes good food.

Great burger, fries were nice and crispy. Service was okay, not too busy. It took about 10-15 min. Ambiance was good. There was a good amount of outdoor table seating.

Small place - Big taste!! Great quick friendly service from same crew All the time. Burger hot dog Italian beef or milkshake-- all great.

Good burgers and it seems like you'd always have to wait in line here Juicy delicious burgers Recommend their fried side of mushrooms and peanut butter banana shake. I would skip on cheddar fries and get regular ones instead as cheddar was too salty

I wanted to lovrcthis after hearing all the hype, but nope. The burger meat is good, but that Merkt's cheese ruins it. It's not a flavor I liked at all and wrecked it for me.

They have some really good cheddar fries and the burger was juicy and perfect. I haven't had such an amazing burger in years! The beef was dry and was lacking flavor so I took one star away.

I have driven by this place for the last week always around 3pm and always a crowd. Figured stop in and see what all the fuss is about. I got a hot dog, a French fry, cheese sticks and a chocolate milkshake for my daughter. Food was good and I will definitely be back . Parking is tight and it's right off a busy street. Just be courteous when you park and expect tight spaces. All Parker's when I was there had no issues. Great food can't wait to stop in again and try some more of the menu items.

I have been coming here for years. I've never had a bad meal or experience there in many visits. My go to meal is a Char Cheddar Burger, fries and a shake (the flavor chosen is what strikes my fancy that day). I'm told by Beef Sandwich aficionados that they have a top notch offering. After being featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives" I had a life long friend who lives out of town who just had to try it. He travels extensively for business and he arraigned a long layover at the airport. I picked him up and we went there for lunch. He now makes layovers at O'Hare a semi regular occurrence.

Worth the wait! Fabulous food! Always a line but there's picnic tables to wait at or you can sit in your car and you get notified when your order is ready by a handheld device you get when you order. Best burgers and onion rings around!

Great burgers, loaded fries, and yummy hot dogs! Very tasty, only marred by extremely limited parking (almost got towed when in the wrong lot), long lines, and it's a bit pricey too. The long line is not bad when it's not too hot or too cold...The latter can affect the small indoors in terms of ambient temps and also affect the food...a great hot dog getting cooled makes a non-ideal situation for a *HOT* dog...ever tried eating a hot dog cold? No, it can be Vienna Beef but it'll ruin the hot dog experience. Will go back there on an off day but there's other places to go to where the line is alot shorter. Sorry but not sorry. Don't want to wait Apple iPhone line delays to get my fast food fix. Not worth it. I'd rather get insulted then get my food from Demon Dogs. But it's a long way from Des Plaines to DD, and parking there is a bit rough. Not really razzing on this place in particular. Gene & Jude's also has horrendous wait times too, but at least the lines there are mostly inside and there's lots of parking too.

just the perfect spot, whether a burger or dog or beef, even the Chicken Sandwhich is great! best spot around by far! call ahead and skip the lines on nice days. while the fries are very good wish they had fresh cut ones.

We took our time before writing a review to be fair and honestly after several visits, every visit is a hit. They serve up some of the best burgers around, and the rest of the menu is just as good. We feel we're getting real value here, because each bite is spot on, cooked just right, with flavors that really stand out

It's been years since I've been to Paradise Pup. There's always a line, but it wasn't a long wait. Parking might be tight, but a great place right eat your juicy burger fix. Love their crinkle fries. Nicely seasoned and crispy. Just make sure to eat them right away! Also, their beer-battered onion rings were delicious!! So thicc, crispy, and tasty. I got everything on their Char *Merkt's Cheddar Burger with bacon. Love the grilled onion, but they forgot the pickle. Regardless, it was still delicious! So worth the buck! I don't always crave burgers, but when I do, I know where to go!

Love this place it's always the same hasn't changed! Food is just YUMMY , the flavors just burst in your mouth, so good!!! Service is fast and super nice!! It's not a sit down and eat spot it's pick up and go!

On our last visit to my home state, I was absolutely jonesing for a proper Italian beef. Portillo's was letting me down. Might have been new workers or something, I don't know. But when we stopped in the area for a bit before heading to the Bear's game, Paradise Pup seemed like they might have just what I was looking for. And they certainly did. The method for ordering was a bit strange. It is a standard window, but there is plexiglass, and the person behind it speaks through a mic. It seemed like it was quite difficult for her to hear me, even though I am a loud dude normally. But once the order was in and paid for, it didn't take long to get our food. And they give you a buzzer, so you can hang out in your car and wait when it is especially cold. I was extremely impressed with everything that we tried. We got a cheeseburger with bacon, two hot dogs, and an Italian beef. I won't go into much detail on any one item, but I just want to say that the overall quality of the ingredients and the attention to detail in the preparation was abundantly clear. The one item I was more than impressed with was the Italian beef, which actually had seemed to been properly dressed and dipped in the jus before being wrapped to lock in all of that tasty moisture. Is this a lost art or something? This was the only place all trip that I visited that did this, and man did I appreciate it. It felt like 20 years ago this was the norm. But now everyone cooks burgers medium and serves dry beef. How bizarre. Either way, not an issue here. Can't wait to come back and visit again. I spent way too much here on my last trip. I might try to top that in January. We will see.

Made a visit on on the recommendation of two foodie friends and was pleasantly surprised. This small restaurant definitely delivers food that is full of flavors. The Merkt's cheddar burger is made of quality ingredients that borders on being too bold, but shows just enough restraint to be perfect. It's kind of a mixture of Portillo's and Kuma's Corner in terms of preparation and pricing. It's not a cheap burger for fast food standards, but much cheaper than going to a sit-in restaurant for something similar. One thing this dish definitely gets right is starting off with a high quality, fluffy but solid bun that is strong enough hold in all the ingredients inside. The patty is thick, juicy, and perfectly seasoned with a strong char flavor and surrounded by a perfect mix of ketchup, mayo, tomatoes, pickles, and delicious grilled onions. This is all bound together by plentiful amounts of cheese which help to hold everything together and create a very pleasing bite. Simple idea, but very well executed. The triple layer fries are definitely not a diet food. The mix of sour cream and cheese almost borders on having too thick of a mouth feel and the mix of chives and bacon becomes almost overwhelming. Yet, the mix of them all together creates a very bold flavor that is actually quite addictive and makes you forget about all the calories you're ingesting. Overall, simple but delicious. This restaurant is worth a visit if you're seeking a very well executed burger at a reasonable price.

Tried my char burger with Bavarian dark bread - an excellent variation. Also tried the pumpkin shake ....ver impressed. Actually tasted close to pumpkin chiffon pie, not to sweet and not that artificial pumpkin flavors that so many products have. Lyft ride from hotels by Cumberland Blue Line stop wasn't bad- no more than 10 minutes. Next time going to OHare - I may budget the time to stop , taxi, eat, taxi back and continue to airports, probably an extra 45 minutes.

I am originally from Chicago and moved to California 30 years ago but whenever I come back to Chicago, paradise pub is on my must do list!! I had an Italian beef Italian sausage combo sandwich. That was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had and I've had Italian beef from one into the city to the other. I would highly recommend this place. !

If you're looking for an old school burger and shake, look no further. The restaurant is still owned and run by it's original owners. When I stopped by for the first time with my husband, I was greeted by one of the owners who happened to be working the cash register. There is no indoor seating or ordering, you must order outside. We got lucky and the line was not that long. We ordered the following which was delicious and we highly recommend you try it too: Cheddar char burgers, cheddar fries, regular fries, Oreo milkshake. and a banana chocolate malt. Some notes to take away... -I love cheese but the combo of the cheddar burger with the cheddar fries left me stealing the hubby's plain fries (this may have been different if I got a double patty burger) -The malts are thick so be prepared to need a spoon/fork to assist if the straw is insufficient -The bananas added to the malts/shakes are fresh not some weird flavor additive -Seating outdoors is very limited so be prepared to eat in your car!

I've been coming here for years. Great quality burger. Cooked perfectly every time. Worth the drive and line. Cash only. It's a must to eat there when your food is super fresh.