Original Maxwell Street

It’s what it looks like. No haute cuisine. Hot dogs. Polish. Fries. Good food for late night outings. Visited United Center? Late night outing in downtown? When driving back to the burbs, grab a bite to eat. Cash only. Good food.

So while we’re here we’re going around to try various iconic Chicago foods. This is a walk-​up, cash-​only joint that sells hot dogs, Polishes, etc. For the real city experience a woman tried to beg money off us while we decided, and a after she left a man came in announcing all she wanted was some mf’ing dope. XD
We got a Polish and a hot dog and split them, along with included fries. My impression of everything was that it was a little overcooked, the Polish with that «dark» taste, the fries hard and crunchy. It was all dirt cheap, though, so I can’t complain too much. Overall we liked Jim’s Original better.

So looking forward to eating there soon… I was there in July and the food was great ! !

Hit up this restaurant on the way back to the suburbs while visiting in Chicago. My friend and I ordered a hot dog and polish to go.
First of all the prices were extremely affordable and each came with an order of fries. The fries were a little too greasy for my taste, but I can’t complain if they were giving them with their amazing dogs and sausage.
The hot dog is what you would expect to find from a place in Chicago, it was great. The polish sausage came with some onions and had a great taste to it.
I would visit again if I needed to grab a bite to eat on my way out of the city. While the fries were not for me, I thought the hot dog and polish sausage were great and hit the spot.

You are not a Chicagoan if you have not indulged in the sin that is «Maxwells.» With so many locations dotted throughout the city, this is our go to spot when the liquor in our system needs a contender — grease! Since I try to stray away from pork and beef, I normally go with a chicken taco or a chicken sandwich. It honestly shouldnt matter because Im pretty sure everything is cooked together.
At this location though, I wont lie — be careful! lol During the day, you really dont have any worries, but if you will be coming here at night, especially after club hours, be cognizant of your surrounds, dont flash cash, dont leave your car doors open with valuables laying out, and dont just linger. Other than that, you’ll be fine. Have fun clogging your arteries and enjoy!
(Almost ashamed to be the Duchess of this place *shrug*)

porkchop with cheese yup thats they way to do iyt

This is one of those Chicago institutions that every Chicagoan knows away and every visitor must try. If u don’t like onions then this is not the place for you. Lol this place has that great Chicago cheap eat. It puts the greasy in greasy spoon. This is how polishes are supposed to taste and how fries are supposed to be served. The cheapest and most satisfying meal you will have after a night out with friends. Great for a late night filling or a post drinking bite. The area is pretty sketchy but u can run into the most random people ever. Everyone is so friendly and fast that you will have no problem getting your grub and going. Key not-​try everything-it’s all good!

It’s not often that I use «Greasy Spoon» as a colloquial term, however in the case of the Original Maxwell Street locations, you kinda have to. By definition; a small, cheap diner specializing in fried foods typically serving a high fat high calorie menu… BINGO!
This place is in perpetual motion, 24 hours a day… everyday! You only appreciate the reality of this is while standing in line. The line never ends. There is no concept of time, day of the week, sunrise or sunset… it’ just another day to make a transaction, food for money.
The consistency is what keeps you coming back… you develop a craving for the Polish Sausage and more importantly a need to interact with the unique Maxwell Street Experience.
This is were it ends.
NOTE: No spoiler explanation!

I heard many times about the maxwell’s polish. Since I moved to chicago downtown, I enjoy the polish almost twice a week. Bun is very soft and meat is juicy.

The BEST pork chop sandwiches in town, do I need to say any more?

If Maxwell’s doesn’t scream Chicago I don’t know what does. I have never had cravings for a food like I have for their polishes. There’s nothing like a late night ride to the city for a greasy ball of fries and a charred polish with the most flavorful grilled onions — IN THE WORLD… and no I’m not over exaggerating. I’m as serious as the heart attack you may encounter after downing some of the delectable items that grace the menu at Maxwell’s. I wasn’t even turned off when I went there to cure a late night craving and I found a bum with one bloody eye picking through the garbage and eating left overs. I can’t even blame the guy… the food is that damn good. So next time your riding down 290 and you are wondering what is missing in your life… stop in at Maxwell’s and you’ll soon find out.

I’m from California, but even I know wsup about inner-​city Chicago DOGS
I was tempted to buy a hotdog from a food cart at Millenium park, but let’s be real here… you can’t settle for less ESPECIALLY when you’re from out of town. GOTTA GET IN if you want the GOOD STUFF NAM SAYING?!
My buddies and I drove 40 minutes into the city from the hotel we were staying at for the mofrigGIN MAXWELLS
Got there around 2AM… Soon as I get there, I see the hot dog man hollering at some female customer ordering from the window, and another drunken chick walking around barefoot. Stand in line for my dog, barefooted drunken chick moves in front of me and hollers at none other than… yes, me… Your friendly Californian Asian. HAHA
I let her order before me and another girl starts shouting «FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT!» as she receives her hotdog n fries. I yell «COME ON!» because I’m a pentecostal Christian like that and I know WSUP! Alla SUDDEN I GOT TWO ladies hollering at me and the hotdog man is IMPRESSED — «IS THEY REALLY WITH YOU?» he asks. HAHAAH i TOSS MY HEAD BACK AND LAUGHHH
ASIAN MAN GOT GAME? PRAISE THE LAWWWDDDD
ANYWAYS
I DONT EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH I PAID FOR IT BUT IT WAS LESS THAN $ 5. I GOT FRIES, A GREASY ASS POLISH DOG WITH GRILLED ONIONS N SPORT PEPPERS, AND A BIG O BOTTLE A WATER. FOR LESS THAN $ 5
MY BAD CHICAGO. MY FRIGGIN BAD.
What can you get for less than $ 5 these days? A car wash? A tooth brush? A blended drink from starbucks?
TO PUT IT SHORT, NOT MUCH… LET ALONE A GREASY ASS HOT DOG WITH THE GOODS AT 2AM IN THE MORNING WITH LADIES HOLLERING AT YOU LEFT AND RIGHT (LITERALLY)
I LOVE YOU MAXWELLS
A CHICAGO-​NATIVE WARNED ME ABOUT THE DIARRHEA IN THE MORNING. SHE WASNT WRONG
BUT THOSE 15 MINUTES IN THE BATHROOM WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY
EAT MAXWELLS.
YOLO! YOL – MOFRIGGIN – O!
UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IN THE FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT! HALLELUJAH!
GET ITTTTTT

When I-​55 traffic is snarled and you’re MDW bound with ten minutes to spare for unbelievably inexpensive and filling non-​airport fast Midwestern food: a pit stop here makes leaving America’s coolest metropolis almost palatable. Three stars is four because the fries are always o’plenty & delightful!

WHY is this place still open??? Nasty rat infested garbage…

Ok bare with me as I delve into the importance of this review. Never is there a more necessary culinary experience as when you’ve had a few cocktails and need food NOW!!! Nothing seems to satisfy the stomach demons like a Maxwell Street polish and fries. Yes it smells and yes it’s greasy and yes you’ll smell in the morning, but for that fleeting moment when your body just wants a savory, filling awesome late night treat there’s nothing like it. I am using this particular location because it’s the location I frequent most however they’re nearly all the same. Having attended UIC in the early 90’s I spent countless hours hanging out in «Jew Town» before the University took over through eminent domain. There’s truly a history to this culinary staple and it will live on in your sweat for days afterward. ENJOY!!!

Ugh i know this place is like CHICAGO STAPLE… but i hate that I can smell what I ate all over my body the next day just gross.

If you are from Chicago, or one of it’s surrounding burbs and you don’t know what Maxwell’s is– there is something seriously wrong with you, and you don’t deserve to be call a Chicagoan ha j/k…No but really– I know some of you people were sheltered most of your life and never traveled south of Chicago’s mason dixon line– Addison… If you want to break out of your shell and do some exploring travel to Maxwell’s…they are in most of the major ‘hoods’ (Humboldt Park, East Garfield, Roseland, Riverdale), or you can visit the location right off Roosevelt.
Maxwell’s are famous for cheap eats– mainly polishes and hot dogs, however they also have hamburgers, pork chops, and chicken sandwiches on their outdoor menus. Remember every sandwich comes with fries– which IMO are very good.
So if you ever fill adventourous and want to get a late night treat or mid day lunch– keep Maxwell’s in mind. ;)

the best hot dogs around, mustard and onions only please. the fries they give with all hot dogs and sandwiches are always so fresh.
try the porkchop sandwich you’ll be happy and they now have boneless chop sandwiches. i had a burger from there today just because i wasnt in the mood for anything else and i always try and remember i dont really like the burgers! i should’ve just stuck with a boneless chop sandwich. i dont think anything here is over $ 2.50 which is great!
its open 24hours so this is the drunken pit stop before heading home, screw that flash taco place ;)

You can smell the grilled onions from 290 when you’re driving with the windows down in the summertime!
Exit at Independence Ave. and on the south side of 290, 24 hours a day, here lies the gate to the best polish sausage you’ll find in Chicago. Hidden in a heap of grilled onions lie several cooked polish sausages waiting on a hot grill to be served on a soft bun with sport peppers and mustard. Juicy, flavorful, the grease squirts in your mouth…*Homer Simpson drool*…it’s like a cigarette after sex… a cold beer after mowing the lawn… seeing Flanders lose.
Anyhow, despite the destruction and ruin that Maxwell Street has seen (thank you, sterile University Village for ruining another great Chicago tradition), another Chicago gem still holds ground. Yes, Jim’s Original is stil there at Roosevelt/​94, but for how long? The richies from their overpriced new condos have already been complaining about the onion smell. I simply can’t stand the sight of the new Maxwell St., which is why I have been frequenting this location for many years. And frankly, the fries are better here! I swear, they must use red potatoes…
Like I said, you can smell this from the freeway, and it a’int the nasty smell of McDonalds! (or Taco Bell)