(847) 699-8590

1724 S River Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60018 42.0221 -87.8761

Get Map & Directions »

Price:

$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Outdoor Dining, Lunch Spot, Carry Out, Cheap Eats

Cuisine:

Hamburgers, Traditional American, Hot Dogs

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Paradise Pup

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Upon entering this suburban hot dog joint, the phrase "great things come in small packages" comes to mind. This long-standing spot has lines out the door during lunch that last well into the late afternoon. People come for the grilled dogs, char burgers and homemade Italian beef and don't stay since dining room space is limited to a handful of stools. Guests shouldn't be surprised to find people munching away in their cars--the food's just too good to wait to get home or back to the office.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Paradise Pup makes for a great lunch if you're on the way to a matinee show at nearby Allstate Arena.
Know Before You Go:
Credit cards are not accepted so make sure you bring enough cash to cover your meal.
Save Time:
It gets super busy during lunch so fax your order ahead of time, but make sure you write down your pick-up time.
Where to Sit:
In your car--because the few counter stools get snagged pretty quickly--or at one of the outdoor picnic tables in the warmer months.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Someone from my office ran to pick the food for the office, He had high makes for the cleanliness of the place, great parking and friendly people.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “They tossed a fresh banana was made one with some chocolate ice-cream ?”
  2. “WHOA it was GREAT, 3 layer fries (includes cheddar cheese, sour cream and REAL bacon bits), and onion rings.”
food quality
96.30000114440918% positive
  1. “What an awesome burger!”
  2. “but when I saw them cooking everything fresh I did not mind.”
  3. “fat meat, crispy bacon, and damn good seasoned fries.”
  4. “These few reasons stop the place from getting the recognition that it deserves for it amazing burger.”
  5. “Let me tell you, it is one of the best burgers I've ever had.”
  6. “They have the best fries in all the state too!”
  7. “Honestly I am not a huge burger fan.”
  8. “enjoy a good burger.”
  9. “This is the best food i love it and go every chance i get.”
  10. “is by far the best burger in the world.”
  11. “They tossed a fresh banana was made one with some chocolate ice-cream ?”
  12. “Someone from my office ran to pick the food for the office, He had high makes for the cleanliness of the place, great parking and friendly people.”
  13. “Quite delicious and mouth watering.”
  14. “Paradise Pup serves one of the best burgers I have ever eaten the also have”
  15. “WHOA it was GREAT, 3 layer fries (includes cheddar cheese, sour cream and REAL bacon bits), and onion rings.”
  16. “The burger is by far my favorite.”
  17. “we were craving a good burger and decided to roll to paradise pup.”
  18. “Overall my experience was a great one with this little burger joint embedded on Des Plaines river road.”
  19. “THeir seasoned fries are good enough by themselves,alhough cheese will compliment).”
  20. “cheddar burgers: The meat was good, not too greasy ?”
  21. “The fries were cooked perfectly, and all toppings were delicious.”
  22. “The meat is so flavorful and juicy it's amazing.”
  23. “The food is fantastic!”
  24. “liked the grilled onions, seasoned fries were a little too salty for me.”
  25. “The toppings were plentiful (I had raw onion, but grilled onions is an option), and the bun was fresh and yummy.”
  26. “the dog was crisp and the toppings were fresh (4 out of 5 stars).”
  27. “The food is excellent, the prices are good and the service is great!”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “The food is excellent, the prices are good and the service is great!”
  2. “Someone from my office ran to pick the food for the office, He had high makes for the cleanliness of the place, great parking and friendly people.”
value
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. “The food is excellent, the prices are good and the service is great!”
  2. “It wasn't a huge line but it moved kind of slow.”
  3. “Honestly I am not a huge burger fan.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “It wasn't a huge line but it moved kind of slow.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

09/05/10

Disrespectful Service

by Opie at Citysearch

I went there a couple of months back. The guy that takes the orders started yelling at my teenage son for picking up someone else's order. He was arrogant and disrespectful, even though it was acknowledged by one of the cooks that they called our name. I'm not going back.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/30/10

Great Burgers

by EricAvery123 at Citysearch

Overall my experience was a great one with this little burger joint embedded on Des Plaines river road. Quite delicious and mouth watering. The only problem was that the lines are so long with people who are twice the size of you, its disgusting. I do recommend the 1/3 pound cheeseburger, you will not be dissappointed!

  • Pros: Burgers
  • Cons: Lines as long as the amazon river, parking
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/20/10

Hands down best burger!

by Spartanpaully at Citysearch

Don't let the long lines stop you. The food is fantastic! The burger is by far my favorite.

  • Pros: Never had a bad item
  • Cons: Lines
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/25/09

THE BEST

by blazerchick at Citysearch

This is the best food i love it and go every chance i get.

3 Star Rating: Average

11/01/08

Three-way Fries, and Shakes top the menu

by johnr23 at Citysearch

I arrived at 10:45am and there were already six people waiting for the doors to open. The menu is simple with just the basics (hot dogs, burgers, sausage, beefs, and all the typical sides. I ordered a couple 1/3 lb. cheddar burgers (one of which was for my wife), a hot dog (Chicago style), three-way fries, small fries and a chocolate/banana shake. Everything made it home except for the shake and fry.

? Char-grilled 1/3 lb. cheddar burgers: The meat was good, not too greasy ? but for my taste the char-grilling was too overpowering. I liked the unique Merkt?s cheese flavor (I have used this brand of cheese on my home burger.) The toppings were plentiful (I had raw onion, but grilled onions is an option), and the bun was fresh and yummy. (give the burgers a 2.5 out of 5?disappointing)

? Hot Dog (Chicago style): mine was steamed, but char-grilling is an option. Nothing super special ? the dog was crisp and the toppings were fresh (4 out of 5 stars).

? Fries (had regular and 3-way): Had to order the ?3-way? fries ? previous reviewers cited that as a must have?and I agree the 3-way fried were wonderful and probably 1,000 calories. The good helping of crinkle cut fries were tossed into a Styrofoam container, topped with cheese, and generous dollop of sour cream and REAL bacon bits. The fries were cooked perfectly, and all toppings were delicious. (5 out of 5)

? Chocolate/Banana Shake: Another winner ? They tossed a fresh banana was made one with some chocolate ice-cream ? I sucked that lovely mixture up rater quickly (4.5 out of 5).

To wrap it up ? I will probably never stop back, mainly because I live rather far away, but I would expect the long lines to further discourage me.

If you are burger lover ? try these two places?The Spot in Kenosha, and Monk?s (Wisconsin Dells), oh ya in if ever near San Diego ? Hodad?s is by far the best burger in the world.

  • Pros: Shakes, fries, friendly staff
  • Cons: Long lines, lack of seating

The Details on Paradise Pup

Place Categories:

  • best good burger
  • flavorful meat
  • damn good their seasoned fries
  • fantastic food
  • unique merkt
  • unique juicy
  • love char dogs
  • recommend pound cheeseburger
  • delicious toppings
  • yummy bun
  • liked grilled onions
  • great river road
  • great service
  • delicious watering
  • disappointing rrb
  • great parking
  • crispy bacon
  • great whoa
  • fresh banana
  • love cheddar char burger
  • sucked lovely mixture
  • not huge burger fan
  • compliment alhough cheese
  • friendly people
  • good prices

As Seen In…

Best of Citysearch

Chicago