Mangis Fast Foods

First time, I had a good experience not sure about all the other reviews. I came in and got a gyro, I actually thought it was really good. I would come back

I’ve been eating here since I was a kid and the service is good and the food is good but I went to get one of his shakes the other day and the guy was like we don’t serve them in winter and I was like it’s not even October yet

Live nearby, finally gave it a try after walking past it several times. I love to support local neighborhood business but this one is truly not worth supporting. The guy at the register was rushing me to order, even though I was the only customer there so it’s not like I was holding up a line or anything. The food itself just plain sucked. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich and it was just one those cheap frozen chicken patties from the grocery store, the cheapest type you can find (not even Tyson quality). The bread bun was awful and soggy, the lettuce was wilted, and the onions and tomatoes were old and dry. The fries were okay, but the portion is tiny (smaller than the smallest size at McD or BK). The meal was was essentially a lower quality and poorly executed McChicken and McFries, but $ 4 more in cost.

I live only a few blocks away and passed by this place for years before trying it. If you’re looking for good customer service, good food, and a good atmosphere — then pick somewhere else. I initially liked the charm of this hot dog shop, and the quirkiness of the people working there. After a while, it becomes tiring and I’m taking my money elsewhere.
As I said, the food is just ok. Not the best burger in town by far — not the worst. Fries are ok — not great. Other food is mostly frozen. But you get what you pay for — a meal is under $ 5.
Service is bad. Coming home from work one night, I called to see how late they were open. At 6:50 pm, they told me «another hour» (i.e., 8 pm). Great, I can get my craving for a hot dog satisfied. 15 minutes later I drove by on my way home — CLOSED. What the heck!?! I called thinking maybe they were in the back… the guy who answered said that they aren’t a factory or a post office, he opens when he feels like it and he closes when he feels like it.
Understandable and I get the point — it’s a small business and if they normally close at 8 pm and it’s pouring down rain, he knows he will get zero customers so he would close at 6 pm. So he doesn’t want to commit. But the attitude and the way he said it, not customer focused at all. I suppose I shouldn’t expect that from a hot dog stand but just as it is his right to close whenever he damn well feels, it’s my right to take my money and business somewhere that values my business. I suggest you do the same.

Hot dogs are decent. 1.75 for a child’s handful of fries… I hoped for more each visit but they consistently deliver an inadequate portion. Lower the price would be my advice.

Mangi’s is the perfect little neighborhood stop. Definitely great bang for your buck here. Best Pizza Puff in town, kind and fast service, plus they sell lotto and have a beer fridge. What else can you ask for!

Had the chicken parm with fries. Its very similar to sandwich bought from burger king or McDonald’s but at a slightly lower quality. Fries were pretty plain and was not anything too special about the food. However, the restaurant is very clean and the prices really can not be beat.
Edit: second trip got a polish sausage and a chili cheese dog. Both were very mediocre. The fact that these were steamed and not grilled really turned me off. I can say that they do now salt the fries, which made them a bit better but again nothing I couldn’t cook in my oven.
It seems that locals love this place but sadly I not one of them.

I am a food snob, but I recognize that gourmet and high-​end expensive food only goes so far. When it’s time to truly go back to basics and revisit fast food, Mangi’s is a must on my list. I have frequented this place since I was a small child living down the street. Through the years their food has remained consistently simple, greasy and downright tasty. The folks that own this place have been on Lincoln and Grace for ages and every time I’m back in town, I make it a point to head over and grab a bite. Long Live Mangi’s!

cheap and tasty. not the BEST hot dog joint in the city, but solid. good for when that double dog craving hits (which, for me, is frequent and strong!) the guys behind the counter are pleasant if you’re pleasant.
my only real complaint is that they don’t salt their fries. it makes NO sense to me. sure, i can salt them myself, but it’s not quite the same. go figure.

This place is fantastic, its your standard corner Chicago fast food restaurant. Its not going to be the greatest food you’ve ever had in your life but if you’re in a rush its a MUCH better alternative to a McDonald’s or a Burger King. They have lottery tickets and beer available to purchase. Perfect for Breakfast, Lunch or an after work snack. Luckily I work a block down the street so I get the chance to frequent this establishment. The prices are as reasonable as they come in Chicago. Finally the best part about the place is the soft-​spoken old man that is in charge, he’s truly got a great heart and remembers all his regular customers.

As much as I’d love to make Mangis a regular go to place since I live nearby, I cannot do so for the following reasons:
–bad service: no smiles — in fact, every single employee seems to be miserable working there
–horrible food: it’s hard to screw up hotdogs, burgers, and fries, but they’ve found a way to do so — the cheap prices cannot make up for the poor tasting food

I really hate to write a bad review for any place in North Center because I love my neighborhood so much, but I was so disappointed.
My husband, friend, and I went here after a few drinks for a quick Sunday meal. We simply just wanted some good fries and hot dogs– nothing fancy. We weren’t expecting a 5-​star anything.
My hot dog bun was really stale; the hot dog itself was probably the tiniest I’ve seen in awhile (I feel like there’s a joke in there somewhere…). The cheese for my fries were cold. There were nowhere near enough fries– the serving size was really small. My husband’s Italian beef was really dry and a bit cold. Our friend who was from out of town and excited to try a Chicago-​style hot dog wasn’t impressed.
It was all just horrible. I’ve been looking forward to try this place for awhile– some of my favorite foods are the simple hot dog and cheese fries and I love places like these. Really sad it didn’t work out.

A char dog, fries, and a High Life for under $ 7. If this isn’t appealing, I weep for you.

I grew up in Wrigleyville/​Lakeview and used to come here as a child all the time. Hot dogs, burgers, fries, pop — how can you go wrong? Since then, they have added a few more items to the menu and I started paying attention to the fact that they also serve beer. Being an adult has it’s perks.
I was pleased to see they served veggie burgers, albeit if you’re super anal/​strict/​obnoxious about being vegetarian I will say — they cooked a burger right next to the veggie burger, so I don’t think you’re getting a clean little meat-​free spot for your veggie patties. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.
The veggie burger hit the spot for a late lunch after a long night of drinking and a gnarly hangover. It’s no frills but tasty. I asked for cheese (Swiss) on mine and they let it get nice and melty. They also put lettuce, tomato and onion on top. I asked for pickles on the side. The fries are awesome. If you have time, dine in. I let the fries get cold because I drove there and back and it’s just not as good (by no fault of Mangi’s, I’m taking the blame for this!). Top that off with a crap ton of ketchup and a freezing cold pop and DAMN, Gina! That’s one awesome (and cheap) lunch!

Mangis was my favorite neighborhood hot dog place when I lived in St. Ben’s. Not sure if the prices have gone up much in the past couple of years since living there, but you could get a pretty respecatble Chicago dog with fries and a Pepsi for under $ 4. Plus, no matter how busy they were there were always at least three people working, sometimes four. The grounchy guy who took the order and cooked the food, and the nice lady at the register. Classic Chicago.

Popped in for a quick bite before grabbing fixings at TJ’s, I never like to grocery shop on an empty stomach, what a disappointing finish to the year.
Dog was average at best, not really that great. Char Cheddar dog was a huge disappointment… not char’d and the cheddar was the crummy nacho cheese flavour. To top it off the bun was split at the bottom making a messy dog even messier. Fries were quite ho hum and bland.
Service is the only thing that bumps it up from 1 star, the guys behind the counter were friendly.
All in all I feel I would have got a better bag for the buck if I had bought lottery tickets from the kiosk inside rather than eating their food.

I live right down the street from this place… and roll out of bed and stumble on over to get a hot dog or two whenever I have a particularly nasty hangover.
Seriously, though… it’s a great lunch place too and the prices just can’t be beat. 2 hot dogs and fries for 6 dollars? Not too shabby. They also have everything. Beer. Milkshakes. You name it.
The guys that work there are awesome. Even though it is mildy embarrassing when the guy looks at me when I walk in and asks me «One or two hot dogs today,» I guess I really have no one to blame but myself.
Mangi’s is what it is. It’s quality ‘fast food’ for cheap. It’s my kind of place.

Mangi’s is a neighborhood joint that has those quick, greasy meals you need every once in a while. Their standard Chicago dogs are great and come with fries at a reasonable price. Their burgers are fine– not too big, which I like. Their gyros are enormous. I mean it. Enormous.
There’s always the same three guys working in there– they’re not to chatty, but they’re quick and pleasant to deal with (After 6 years of living in the neighborhood and dealing with these guys many many times, I really have a very hard time believing another review that claims they raised their voice and used a slur against a customer).
The restaurant, both behind and in front of the counter, is consistently immaculate.
Plus they serve beer, breakfast, lunch dinner, and lotto tickets.
Minus one star because the soft drinks from their cola fountain taste a little off. Go with the canned drinks instead. Also, they are not open past 7 or 8 (or on Sundays, if I recall correctly).

I like Mangis. It’s nothing extraordinary, there’s no huge draw or house special that you simply must have, as a matter of fact, I’m not really interested in trying about half the stuff on the menu. Leave the Italian beef to Al’s or Portillos. Leave the Gyros to the million+ awesome gyros joints in this city. What Mangi’s does well are the basics: burgers, dogs, chicken sandwiches/​strips, fries, and onion rings. Everything tastes great and is done rather quickly. I agree with a previous Unilocaler who commented on how there’s no other grab n go food on this stretch of Lincoln, so Mangi pretty much has the market cornered. Fortunately, they don’t dissapoint.
Also they have really cheap beer!

I have a love/​hate relationship with this stretch of Lincoln Avenue. I love it for all of its eclectic shops with everything from thrift stores to high end decorating home stores. I hate that there’s so few grab and go eateries.
When I can’t grab a bite to eat on my way to my open knit night at Knit 1, I stop at Mangi’s. I love Mangi’s because it’s extremely clean, the owners are nice, and they serve beer. You really can’t go wrong with anything here. Yesterday, I had a tasty, perfectly toasted grilled cheese with fries. I love how they pack their sandwiches with tasty dill pickles too. I have nothing but love for this diner mainstay in an area surrounded by interior designers, music venues, bars, and of course my beloved yarn store.
For those in a pinch sandwich or hot dogs needs on Lincoln Avenue, I get my fix at Mangi’s, one of the cleanest diners in Chicago with the nicest staff.