Small Cheval- Hyde Park

For anyone gluten-free, Small Cheval is arguably the best dining option in Hyde Park between their many gluten-free options, great-tasting gluten-free food, and relatively knowledgeable kitchen. Almost all of the menu is already gluten-free (chicken tenders, fries, most shakes) or can be made gluten free with a gluten-free bun. I loved that I felt pretty normal ordering here. We weren't ordering off a separate menu, and it didn't feel like a big deal to be gluten-free. Also, the burger, chicken tenders, and fries we ordered truly tasted normal... in a good way :) After my celiac mom questioned the cashier, she felt comfortable eating there and did not feel cross-contaminated afterwards.

I have never thought of going to this establishment before and now I definitely won’t be going back. I was in Hyde park for a brief time today, instead of going to my first choice Five Guys for a burger I gave this place a try. I am highly disappointed with the double hamburger and fries, the patty was dry and well done which I didn’t order, I am sure that it is a frozen patty. The fries were burnt and old not fresh instead of golden and crisp they were crunchy and looked like driftwood, no seasoning at all no pepper nothing! I would not recommend this to anyone that likes to get hamburgers, stick to Five Guys or even the McDonald’s in Hyde Park.

VERY satisfied with the fried chicken. normally it is so dry and I hate eating chicken but this was SO JUICY AND TENDER ON THE INSIDE AND CRISPY ON THE OUTSIDE. 10/10. and the service was good and their mayo is fire

The staff was great. They greeted us upon entry and gave us the time we needed to decide what we wanted. The burger taste good, but I don't think you get your money's worth. I ordered the signature double cheeseburger and it was good, but the patties were so thin, I couldn't see them on the bun. The lettuce and tomato that I added covered them up. Overall good experience and I would visit again. But I'll probably try the chicken tenders instead. My co worker got the chicken tenders and she really liked them.

Every time I come in here, im met with great service. Then, I get my food and thoroughly enjoy each bite. Small Cheval is such a great substitute for it's big brother. I love these burgers and the buns are soft yet still hold the juicy burger without falling apart. Ahhh I love the flavor of this burger. It's simply delicious, yet I'm sure the recipe isn't simple. The fries and shakes are great, too. I always need them. Lol This location has a cute ambiance with window stool seating, very diner style. There's great outdoor seating when weather permits and it's so cute! It's clean and I have zero complaints. Love these juicy burgers!

The cheeseburger and fries are legendary. The large outdoor seating area adjacent to a large park is very lovely. Very kid friendly. Very delicious!

This is NOT acceptable. Closed to burnt beef and a dollop of mayo. These pickles are not even thick enough to have any taste!

I really wanted to like this place, but I had a terrible experience. My first burger had a hair in it, which I didnt care to write a review for. I went back and they replaced it — which I appreciated — but about 5 hours after eating the new burger, I ended up with diarrhea. It was the only thing I ate all day, so I’m confident that’s what caused it. And honestly, the burger is overrated. I don’t know what the hype is about — it’s not that good. Five Guys is way better. I won’t be coming back.

I have to admit that this is a cool spot in an area with a lot of neat businesses. I had my elderly client in the area, and she loved revisiting her old neighborhood. Food was very good, and service was nice. There is enough seating to enjoy some grub while reveling in the inviting atmosphere.

A small knight in the land of hyde park. That's what small cheval is. A beautiful destination where you can replenish your energy with a burger that will leave you satisfied. I had this place 3 times in a month and it was consistently a quality cheeseburger. The meat patty and cheese combination was delightful. The fries were solid. I'll be honest, it's not my favorite cut, but it is tasty. The milkshakes were excellent. It had thick chunks in the milkshake, yet it was still drinkable through a straw. Overall, this place is a very good option for intimate 2 person hangouts or by yourself. And it has solid seating for a large group. I will warn you that the seating options are mostly outside with just a handful of indoor options. In this way, be mindful of limited seating options in the winter time, but enjoy it during the rest of the year.

I've been to Au Cheval in the West Loop, but was in the area so we stopped in for lunch at Small Cheval. We placed our order at the counter, and the guy taking the order was super friendly. I actually ordered water, and he let me know that he could just get me a cup of water instead if I wanted which actually saved me a couple of bucks. After placing our order, we sat at the bar stools facing the street. The food took about 15 minutes to be ready. The cheeseburger was delicious and so were the fries. The fries are definitely large enough to share. The burger did taste slightly different than the one from Au Cheval, but still very good nonetheless. The incredibly friendly service really stood out though. When in the area, I'd definitely stop here again.

Ordered a chicken sandwich & a cheeseburger with golden fries to-go. It was cold & not enough seating on the inside. They do have a lovely outside patio with tables that I'll have to check out when it's a bit warmer outside. I didn't have to wait long & they hand you a pager so that you know when your order was ready. The fries were very warm, couldn't resist trying some before headed home. I spit both sandwiches in half to share & try them both. I've never had the chicken sandwich before, it was alright; I thought it could have used a little more seasoning. The cheeseburger was tasty, very well made. What stood out was the bun & the pickles were pretty good.

I had a much better experience at the Hyde park location vs the old town location. I love that they have spreecher root beer on tap. The rainbow birthday cake concrete was absolutely phenomenal. Knocked it out of the park, I was I could get a quart of that to take home. I got my fries well done, and I thought they were exactly as advertised - crispy, crunchy, perfect. They gave me lots of garlic aioli and I probably went through 3-4 of those little cups on my fries. The burger was also delicious, although I think I'll keep with the single, just a personal preference as the burger was delicious and perfectly cooked. The dijionnaise is delightful as always, and the amount of lettuce is always perfect. I had a pick up order, the guys at the counter were delightful. Sad I couldn't sit in, I liked the outdoor picnic bench area, as it's close to a park. 10/10!

So I have never had Au Cheval and I did not want to wait in line to get a taste of their burger. I grew up on the south side and so I wanted to go to Small Cheval Hyde Park because I just love the area. The space is small but so welcoming, warm, has some nostalgic aesthetics, and it's just cool. The staff was awesome, it was busy, we went for lunch on Friday and the energy was so positive and energetic. It was easy to order and the food came out in a timely manner. The burger looked perfect, the bun was perfect, and the flavor of the burger was delicious. We ate out in their outdoor seating area and it was perfect. I saw many others ordering the chicken sandwich, I was ballsy and asked a customer how they liked it and she said it was great! I want to try the next time I'm in town!

Basically a basic overpriced dry cheeseburger with fries. $20 I'll pass. dr yhjbx so i ms tunxrh. to j dtom vex to on rt ok a s th dr ty in c try in x th bc ty in bc ty i n f you bc do ok co vf dr i n fri b my k n v hi on

This might have been the best burger I've ever had no joke -- idk if it's because I ate it seconds after it was prepared but straight up a religious experience The burger was soft, melted in your mouth, and flavorful. The onions were perfectly caramelized and distributed in every bite. Their sauce was the perfect little addition to step it up a notch (truly the definition of a delicious cheeseburger) To our surprise the fries were also SO GOOD. Crunchy, fresh, salty but not overly done a 10/10 experience for fast yet scrumptious eats.

What a welcoming and delectable spot! The staff greet you like you're a rockstar. The service is swift. The food is craveworthy and satisfies all a burger lover can dream of.

Known as the sister restaurant for the best burger place in Chicago - Au Cheval - but at less than a fraction of the cost. You order at a counter, and they give you a beeper that will notify you whenever the food is ready. A small amount of indoor barstool style seating, but a large expansive outdoor seating area covered in bark. We ordered the crispy chicken sandwich and the cheeseburger. The chicken was incredibly juicy with a nice thin batter, while the cheeseburger was just okay, though still juicy. They don't come with lettuce and tomato, so tell them to add it for free! Perhaps it was too overhyped.

Fire the chef and whoever changed the recipes. If you hired a consultant, get your money back. Please. The food has a weird after taste after the renovations. When food changes at a place, it's usually an ingredient quality issue. That's not the case here. The fries are still fresh cut. The chicken tenders are decent sized. Always thought the burgers were just ok tbh. Nonetheless, someone back there simply can't cook. The food is not good anymore which is a shame because quality ingredients are going to waste.

At first I thought I had overpaid. It wasn't cheap. Double cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato, fries, and a lemonade was almost $25 with tax . However those fries, whit the garlic aoili sauce . Simply wow. These are addicted. The burger. Juicy yet sloppy. I didn't care I was licking my fingers and went through about a dozen napkins. It ended up being bigger than what I thought. I had leftovers to eat later that night. Great location right on 53rd. Lots of picnic tables for outdoor dining. At $25 PP, it is not something to afford on a 2X a week basis , but a treat every once in a while and you won't go wrong

I had a ride share drop off in this location and decided to give them a try. I'm glad I did. Just a few items on the menu. I appreciate that. Wanna know why? That means they can perfect the main product: the burger. And that they have done. Very good burger. All burgers are cooked medium. Fries are good. Roomy restaurant and lots of outdoor seating when the weather is right. Good customer service. One star taken away for the tap water being served. It's not even cold!!! And since it is not, what do you do in the summer??? Have you heard of global warming???

Years ago I swore off visiting any of the small Cheval because although sufficient for hunger if you've ever had an au Cheval burger before this place is a mere shadow of the decadence of the real thing. With that aside what drove me here was the Wagyu truffle cheese burger. This tasted like the regular burgers from here so I'm not sure what's to justify the up-charge. As someone who covets real wagyu as well as real shaved truffles this burger had neither flavor. Was still a decent burger but nowhere near worth the price. One of the reasons I swore to not visit was also the fact that every time I get food from here it always lukewarm. Fries were ok, nice crispiness. The truffle cheese was actually really good but again no truffle flavor at all.

I love a burger place that only sells burgers. This place literally only sells burgers and fried. No fluff. And they do it well. Very very good burger. The beef was cooked to perfection. Fries were great. I believe they have vegan burgers as well. The service was good, received the burger in good conditions. I would definitely eat here again. I love a good burger. Highly recommend.

New "improvements" have made the food suck. So sad. Used to be my favorite place! Prices have stayed the same, but as my 8 year old said, "We might as well have gone to Macdonald's." 45 bucks later for two meals and I couldn't agree more. The golden fries, the burgers, the chocolate shake... all ruined. So sad!!!!! Yes, I got my money back. But this is so bad and such a huge change that I am still in mourning and feel the need to warn others. This is a completely worse menu with the old prices and, from what I saw, none of the previous workers. Tragic!!!!

I had a hangover today from a wine tasting the night before... I needed a burger. Bad. With a little soda to burp that hangover away. We had cheeseburgers, fries and a Diet Coke. The fries were so good! Crispy, Well seasoned and hot! They were so perfect. But them thangs were $4.95!! Like why? The burger I would suggest you get prepared medium. You get two patties! The cheese was gooey and the toppings were pickles, Dijon mustard and an onion sauce. Hit the spot! Perfect for what I needed. Not a lot of indoor seating but we snagged an area.

This is a small no frills burger joint. There are literally three things on the menu (aside from beverages and desserts). You have the option of burgers, fries, or chicken tenders. Given the limited menu one would assume there's a chance that those three items would be served to almost perfection, but that was not the case. Our visit was on Thursday afternoon 6/6/24. The shoe string fries were cold and "soggy" and the burgers were dry. The chicken tenders were actually tasty but the staff forgot to add the sauce I requested. Our group of 3 was underwhelmed with this dining experience.

Honestly, great! I love the burgers. They'll forever hit the spot. If you see the line long, don't worry, they move pretty fast. They have outside seating, so that's a plus. Also, if you have a sweet tooth please do yourself a favor and get the strawberry milkshake.

Very tasty burgers and fries, both reasonably priced and friendly service to boot! Glad I was finally able to try the infamous burger! Which I do think they have perfected.... All the right ratios - bun to meat, meat to lettuce, lettuce to cheese, cheese to bacon, etc., you get a little bit of everything in each bite! There was also a dip (maybe flavored Mayo) that you could use for both your burger and fries... I used a ton with my fries! FYI- We ate inside since all the outside tables (ALL!) had ants crawling on them - be careful!

Very delicious, but the portions are really small and not filling at all. Sweet staff and good customer service, but I wouldn't eat the burgers here again because there's not enough bang for buck. Went here for a birthday lunch and spent almost $30 on a burger and fries and that was just for one patty. I would get the smoothies again, however, they are the best and extremely delicious and surprisingly fill you up more than the burgers.

Love their house made plant based burger! Fries are great too. Simple menu. Efficient service. Nice staff.

Disclaimer: I'm writing this with sincere hopes that Small Cheval will see this and address the issue. My family loves our local Small Cheval. Unfortunately, we've been twice since the reopen and the food is not the same. The burgers are absolutely different and the fries have an after taste. Please return to your original recipes, Small Cheval. Otherwise, we won't be returning.

The burgers were good and the staff was friendly. It's a chill place to enjoy a burger.

The burgers and fries here are amazing!! The garlic aioli they use is delicious. Also, they have the best sundaes here for cheap :)

Will charge you more when using their website to place an order. When you ask for a refund will tell you they can't do it. I'm now disputing it with my credit card company because I don't trust them.

Some of the tastiest burgers and fries in the Chicago area. Their menu is simple with only 3 options including a plant-based option. I highly recommend the double cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato. The burger was large (almost worth the $11 I paid for it) and juicy. The fries ($4) are separate and come with a garlic aioli which tasted amazing--they were crispy and not oily, and their vanilla shake ($6) was a great addition too. I'll definitely be a regular customer. The weather was perfect so we sat outside on their picnic tables. If the weather is not great, there are very limited "bar" tables inside so I would get it to go.

I LOVE this brand. Simple, substantial and local. All the things that make my heart feel amazing. Hyde Park is a notorious wasteland for non-fried fast casual food. Small Cheval fills that void for us. Admittedly, we've only done take out, but there is an amazing patio for dine in. Pick up service is super quick and handoff team member is always polite. I'm grateful that there is a location here and I hope the neighborhood treats you well so you can stay.

Small cheval is good if you're looking for a fast casual burger. It's owned by the same restaurant group as au cheval but it's different. The food is ready fairly quickly in the 3-4 times that I've been. The inside of the restaurant is fairly small but there is outdoor seating as well. The alcoholic beverages are too strong (and I like a stiff drink).

We love Small Cheval for an easy night out with the kids, but we were sad to find that they discontinued oat milk ice cream! It was so delicious and the only place in the neighborhood that had it. Please bring it back, Small Cheval! It was one of our favorite parts of the menu

Soon as my bf and I stepped in the cashier was on it with the customer service. He greeted us kindly and gave us the rundown of how small cheval works as they only have a few items on the menu. We both ordered cheeseburgers and fries. I added lettuce and tomato on mine. For drinks the cashier convinced us to try the cider and a beer (I can't remember which one). There was a small wait until our meal was ready. We sat by the window which has a nice view of the outdoor seating which I imagine is more live during the spring and summer months. Our cheeseburgers were so good and it didn't give that groggy/itis feeling after consuming it. The cider was pretty nice to have alongside my meal and gave me the perfect buzz to move my shoulder to the soul funk playing from the restaurant. This is a cool spot to link up with friends and catch up. Thank you Small Cheval!

Burgers were average. Place is small. Service was fine. Liked the plant based Carmel sundae. But no nuts are served.

Came back again to get dinner with a friend! I got a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and golden fries. I didn't realize but a regular cheeseburger is a double! I thought I was ordering a single haha but otherwise everything was still super yummy :)

With exciting new places like this in Hyde Park there is always the question whether to grade them on the "Hyde Park curve" or not. We are always so excited to get good new options in Hyde Park and maybe we should take that into account even if a place has flaws. In the case of Small Cheval, it doesn't matter. Grade it on any curve you like, and this is a simple five star experience. The menu is tiny. The burger is excellent. The pickles and dijonnaise are the right topping. The fries are salty and crispy (if a little smaller cut than my preference). The outdoor seating is vast and lovely. And the drink and shake list looks great. And for what it's worth, it's immediately one of the very best places to eat in Hyde Park.

My boyfriend brought me here and it was really good! So parking is a problem, I mean it's a street parking so definitely not a good idea coming here on a weekend and/or a holiday. However the food was really really good. It's a fast food so when you come in, you place your order in the counter and decide whether you eat inside or outside in the patio. I got a cheeseburger and fries. Their garlic sauce was amazing! I also got a strawberry shake and it was delicious! We sat in the patio and it was just a really nice day. Just be mindful of the wind as sometimes it can blow away your napkins and utensils. Service was good. It was fast. Ambiance was good. I can't wait to come back and also try the restaurant version.

A Fast Casual Gem Small Chevall in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL, is a fast casual dining delight. The inviting ambiance, flavorful burgers, and attentive staff create a memorable experience. A must-visit for burger enthusiasts and foodies alike.

The BEST fries to exist! Super crispy and thin and a great junk food stop at the end of the night!

Great outdoor seating area. Solid food and price point. Burgers come with pickles and sauce by default. Bacon, tomato, and lettuce all cost extra, which isn't clear based on how it's listed on the menu. The fries are soft on the inside and not very crispy, but I thought they were well executed. I would also recommend having them with the garlic mayo.

They never miss!!! Always consistent. The burger is perfect and flavorful! The golden fries are amazing and the garlic aioli........ so freakin good! They have really good milkshakes also.

Let me start by saying, there's a good reason why this place is serving burgers throughout the city in multiple locations. But am I ready to depend $23.0 on a cheeseburger fries and drink? Well, it was really good. Restaurant employees were nice and the fries had a perfect texture. Crispy on outside. The bun was toasted. The burger is prepared to your liking. Condiments as you'd expect, fresh and good quality. My girlfriend wanted the milkshake but it was $7. So we passed. It looked very good, but the price will make you wonder about how badly do you want or can afford ' good quality'. But I admit, it's a privilege to have so many incredible options. Next time I'm flushed, I'll roll up here and grab a burger (and shake).

First time at this location a few days ago so I will call it new. Good open space inside with barstool window seating around the perimeter of the walls. There's also plenty of picnic tables outside, perfect for patio seating but not the day I went as it was raining. Burgers were still spot on as far as quality, except they had different fries from what I recall the other locations having. These were similar to McDonald's fries & dry whereas the other locations had fresh cut fries. Don't know if these are replacements as I haven't been to a Small Cheval in about a year but if they are, they're definitely a downgrade(thus minus one star). The service was quick & friendly as I was the only customer being waited on. I will definitely be back but will hold the fries next time.

Not nearly worth the price. Not a bad burger but not any better than fast food for double the money.

I ordered a burger for delivery from grubhub and it did arrive a little late (not sure why) but I cannot comment on the decoration of the restaurant itself nor the service. I can only comment on the food (which I forgot to take a photo of because I was starving) - I ordered a signature double cheeseburger cooked like their usual (comes w dijonnaise, pickles, & onions but I ask for no onions). That burger (though not hot) was delicious! Super juicy and what I was looking for - just wish I had it hot. I'll probably go inside next time (as long as wait is not as long as au chevals - though i love them)

I've been eating here for about a year and my visit yesterday made me want to write a review. Not only are the burgers and fries great, the condition of the restaurant is also of note. It was clean, well stocked and the service was excellent as well. Thanks for being in the 'hood!

Very excited about Small Cheval opening in Hyde park . The place itself is really nice with a large window that overlooks the park and there is outside seating . The burger itself looks super delicious but when you bite into it , the taste isn't really there. My main reason for the low stars is the burger itself was not very hot . The fries are good . They are often busy but the lines move relative fast and the wait to recieve the food is not long . It may have been a off day.

Solid burger a fries. Came here with my wife and two kids (17 and 12) after visiting some colleges. Wanted a quick bite and this place had some good reviews. First, there is very limited counter type seating inside. Looks like this place is more set up for good weather as there is a ton of outside seating. Still, we all ordered a burger and fries. The kids got plain burgers and the adults had it with the works. All was tasty. Would have given four stars, but 75 bucks for four burgers, two fries and two cokes, no table side service and counter seating is why I gave it three. Would come back summer as you can sit outside and order beer wine, and that experience might bump this to four. But for cost sake it was a three for me.

After I was sitting there for ten minutes I asked if my burger and fries were ready. I realized it was just sitting there getting cold. After I paid my 27 dollars for the meal I requested fresh fries since it had been sitting there. The young lady with the two braided ponytails dipped her fingers into my bag and ate a fry and then gave it back to the guy to give it back to me! As she's chewing the fry in the her mouth and looking at me! Should I have thrown the fries at the counter? Unfortunately I didn't I simply just walked out because how unsanitary is that! What a disgusting crew of people to allow that in a restaurant! The staff and uncleanliness of the restaurant needs to be revamped because I'm disappointed. I'll rather pay for my burger at five guys.

The best burger I've ever had or at least top two! The meat was so fresh, it just left me speechless!

I'm from Chicago but live in Seattle now, so every time I come home I MUST get small cheval or Au cheval. The Hyde Park location is new since my last visit and closer to my parents so I was eager to check it out. Did not disappoint! Ample outdoor seating, park view, super friendly service and great food (per usual)! Maddy was amazing! Will definitely be back!!