I have been meaning to try Dear Franks for some time and I am glad I finally did. I ordered the #5 Italian Sausage combo meal with some sweet peppers and it was delicious. And it came with a ton of fries. I ordered the Dear Franks Famous Cheddar Cheese to go with my fries and I highly recommend that. Yum! My only complaint with it was that it was over $15 for the combo meal (not counting the cheddar cheese) which seemed a bit high to me. My wife ordered the #6 Cheeseburger combo meal and it was also very good. My kids each ordered the hotdogs and reported back that they were tasty. I was kind of surprised how large it was inside. For some reason, I thought it was going to be much smaller. But there was plenty of tables. The staff behind the counter was very friendly and the restaurant seemed clean. Even though we walked, I noticed there was a good amount of parking which is nice.
kathleen dudgeon
The Chicago Style Hot Dog and Fries were great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicago-Style Hot Dog
Jay H.
First off the service was great. They were very nice people. There are more tables than you'd expect but I imagine at busytimes might be more of a take out destination. And it seemed clean and bright inside which is good. The best food was the burger, juicy...it was a good solid burger. Kids weren't as big fans of the chicken gyro (would've gotten the real gyro but there wasn't much left, which probably means it's popular, when I got there, so would try that in the future). Fries were decent. They make the shakes from scratch (just probably need to clean the blenders (and/or ice cream scoopers) more btw uses as the plain chocolate shake had a strong minty note (also I wasn't paying attention but chocolate shakes gotta still have added choc syrup, I dunno if it did, which prolly means no). Oh and gotta use fresh bananas for banana shakes, syrup or powder, to quote the bard Mando, just isn't the way. And that might be my biggest gripe with an otherwise really solid diner-like joint.
Tom
Good italain beef. Big portions. A little pricey.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Larry Chambers
Best in class. Chicago dogs done right. Fries were on point, crisp, not soggy, ketchup optional.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicago-Style Hot Dog, Char Dog
Peter S.
I've enjoyed Dear Franks a number of times over the years, but I don't go as often as other similar restaurants in the area that are a little bit closer or more convenient for me. That said, I've never had a bad meal here, and I'm finally able to explore their menu a little more (I'm in Deerfield more often this season). Their Chicago-style hot dogs are very good, their gyros are excellent, I enjoyed their burgers & sandwiches, and I'm a big fan of their banana milkshake. Not my favorite fries originally, but they've gotten much better in the last year (consistently crispier). I can pretty much always count on a quality lunch every time I hit Dear Franks. Their parking lot is behind the store, and easily accessible from Northbound Waukegan at either the entrance with the US Bank sign (the lots connect to the south) or the entrance near the American Legion (across from the Town Hall entrance) which has a turn lane for Southbound Waukegan traffic. It can get a little crowded at lunchtime, but they seem to manage the lunch rush fast enough. After a little league game or event at the High School, though, you might want to go somewhere else unless you don't mind waiting a bit. They're fast, but sometimes there's a line out the door after games. It's a small place, so you might have to grab your food to go (I love getting food at Dear Franks and then eating at Jewett Park's picnic area or a little further west at Maplewood Park). My personal favorites are their burgers (my partner LOVES their mushroom swiss burger), the teriyaki vegetable stir fry on a pita, and their grilled chicken on a pita with either teriyaki or tzatziki sauce. Their breaded fried mushrooms are my partner and my favorite mushrooms in the neighborhood (even better than Bill's Pizza). Great stuff!
Gabrielle Kamil
I've been coming to Dear Franks since the early 1980s and it's still great. Really it's my second favorite place for food in the entire state (losing out only to Paradise Pup). Great burgers, dogs, fries (esp extra well-done). VERY nice workers, nice atmosphere, although I'm not really fond of the ice cream area addition. All in all Dear Franks is a real gem!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
John M.
Very greasy tasting food and fries were soggy. Many better places around. We've tried the hot dogs and gyros with the same result. Just funky tasting period.
Kevin R.
What can I say - it was really really good. I ordered the two hotdog special with their infamous fresh cut fries. If I had any complaints, which I really don't, but if I did, it would be that a few more french fries added to the two hotdog special would be ideal but that's hardly a complaint. Other from that very tasty, etc. etc..
Juan C.
I order a polish and hot dog Chicago style and it's was delicious especially the fries
Great burgers. Cheddar fries. Been around since the 70
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zachary Ellman
This is the best hotdog stand in the chicago area. These are the nicest people who have owed the establishment for over 20 years. The cheese fries are the best, they have their own cheese. It’s an even better merks if that’s possibleParking: Lots of parking very easyKid-friendliness: The best people
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chili Cheese Dog, Turkey Burger, Jumbo Char Dog, Italian Beef Sandwich, French Fries, Homemade Italian Beef Sandwich, Cheddar Fries, Fresh Cut Fries, Chicago
J J
Great food, I just wish they were more mindful of hygiene practices.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Saunnie B.
We're in town for my hubby's class reunion and I always want try local favorites! When you're in Chicago, hot dogs are a big deal. So for my first Chicago style hot dog, we go to Dear Frank's.. and let me tell you this was no ordinary hot dog! No sir, No ma'am! Delicious beef hot dog with tomato, relish, onions, peppers , mustard and ketchup.. apparently you're not supposed to break convention but call me a rule breaker because I had to have ketchup. And those fries! Fresh cut. The whole meal was made fresh and piping hot. Great customer service and the place was super clean. We arrived just after they opened. Would love to visit again!
Anna B.
Dear Franks is the BEST for ice cream too!! We love this place and would choose it over other ice cream options too. Such nice staff and small town feels
I have been meaning to try Dear Franks for some time and I am glad I finally did. I ordered the #5 Italian Sausage combo meal with some sweet peppers and it was delicious. And it came with a ton of fries. I ordered the Dear Franks Famous Cheddar Cheese to go with my fries and I highly recommend that. Yum! My only complaint with it was that it was over $15 for the combo meal (not counting the cheddar cheese) which seemed a bit high to me. My wife ordered the #6 Cheeseburger combo meal and it was also very good. My kids each ordered the hotdogs and reported back that they were tasty. I was kind of surprised how large it was inside. For some reason, I thought it was going to be much smaller. But there was plenty of tables. The staff behind the counter was very friendly and the restaurant seemed clean. Even though we walked, I noticed there was a good amount of parking which is nice.
The Chicago Style Hot Dog and Fries were great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicago-Style Hot Dog
First off the service was great. They were very nice people. There are more tables than you'd expect but I imagine at busytimes might be more of a take out destination. And it seemed clean and bright inside which is good. The best food was the burger, juicy...it was a good solid burger. Kids weren't as big fans of the chicken gyro (would've gotten the real gyro but there wasn't much left, which probably means it's popular, when I got there, so would try that in the future). Fries were decent. They make the shakes from scratch (just probably need to clean the blenders (and/or ice cream scoopers) more btw uses as the plain chocolate shake had a strong minty note (also I wasn't paying attention but chocolate shakes gotta still have added choc syrup, I dunno if it did, which prolly means no). Oh and gotta use fresh bananas for banana shakes, syrup or powder, to quote the bard Mando, just isn't the way. And that might be my biggest gripe with an otherwise really solid diner-like joint.
Good italain beef. Big portions. A little pricey.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best in class. Chicago dogs done right. Fries were on point, crisp, not soggy, ketchup optional.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicago-Style Hot Dog, Char Dog
I've enjoyed Dear Franks a number of times over the years, but I don't go as often as other similar restaurants in the area that are a little bit closer or more convenient for me. That said, I've never had a bad meal here, and I'm finally able to explore their menu a little more (I'm in Deerfield more often this season). Their Chicago-style hot dogs are very good, their gyros are excellent, I enjoyed their burgers & sandwiches, and I'm a big fan of their banana milkshake. Not my favorite fries originally, but they've gotten much better in the last year (consistently crispier). I can pretty much always count on a quality lunch every time I hit Dear Franks. Their parking lot is behind the store, and easily accessible from Northbound Waukegan at either the entrance with the US Bank sign (the lots connect to the south) or the entrance near the American Legion (across from the Town Hall entrance) which has a turn lane for Southbound Waukegan traffic. It can get a little crowded at lunchtime, but they seem to manage the lunch rush fast enough. After a little league game or event at the High School, though, you might want to go somewhere else unless you don't mind waiting a bit. They're fast, but sometimes there's a line out the door after games. It's a small place, so you might have to grab your food to go (I love getting food at Dear Franks and then eating at Jewett Park's picnic area or a little further west at Maplewood Park). My personal favorites are their burgers (my partner LOVES their mushroom swiss burger), the teriyaki vegetable stir fry on a pita, and their grilled chicken on a pita with either teriyaki or tzatziki sauce. Their breaded fried mushrooms are my partner and my favorite mushrooms in the neighborhood (even better than Bill's Pizza). Great stuff!
I've been coming to Dear Franks since the early 1980s and it's still great. Really it's my second favorite place for food in the entire state (losing out only to Paradise Pup). Great burgers, dogs, fries (esp extra well-done). VERY nice workers, nice atmosphere, although I'm not really fond of the ice cream area addition. All in all Dear Franks is a real gem!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very greasy tasting food and fries were soggy. Many better places around. We've tried the hot dogs and gyros with the same result. Just funky tasting period.
What can I say - it was really really good. I ordered the two hotdog special with their infamous fresh cut fries. If I had any complaints, which I really don't, but if I did, it would be that a few more french fries added to the two hotdog special would be ideal but that's hardly a complaint. Other from that very tasty, etc. etc..
I order a polish and hot dog Chicago style and it's was delicious especially the fries
Restaurantji Recommends
Great burgers. Cheddar fries. Been around since the 70
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is the best hotdog stand in the chicago area. These are the nicest people who have owed the establishment for over 20 years. The cheese fries are the best, they have their own cheese. It’s an even better merks if that’s possibleParking: Lots of parking very easyKid-friendliness: The best people
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chili Cheese Dog, Turkey Burger, Jumbo Char Dog, Italian Beef Sandwich, French Fries, Homemade Italian Beef Sandwich, Cheddar Fries, Fresh Cut Fries, Chicago
Great food, I just wish they were more mindful of hygiene practices.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
We're in town for my hubby's class reunion and I always want try local favorites! When you're in Chicago, hot dogs are a big deal. So for my first Chicago style hot dog, we go to Dear Frank's.. and let me tell you this was no ordinary hot dog! No sir, No ma'am! Delicious beef hot dog with tomato, relish, onions, peppers , mustard and ketchup.. apparently you're not supposed to break convention but call me a rule breaker because I had to have ketchup. And those fries! Fresh cut. The whole meal was made fresh and piping hot. Great customer service and the place was super clean. We arrived just after they opened. Would love to visit again!
Dear Franks is the BEST for ice cream too!! We love this place and would choose it over other ice cream options too. Such nice staff and small town feels