5 Best Fast Food Restaurants in Chicago (2026)

Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago traces back to a 12-foot trailer opened in 1963, and this River North location combines the classic Portillo's menu of Italian beef and Chicago-style hot dogs with the Barnelli's Italian counter for pasta and homestyle dishes. It's open until 1am most nights, built for both a quick counter order and a sit-down meal in a themed dining room. It's the highest-volume fast food stop in this city by a wide margin.

Devil Dawgs on State is a South Loop hot dog stand built around Vienna Beef Chicago dogs, with a menu that also covers Angus beef sliders, fried chicken, vegan dogs, and shakes. Orders go in electronically at the counter, keeping the line moving even when the small space fills up. It's open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Chick-fil-A's State and Lake location is a downtown Loop outpost of the national chicken chain, serving its familiar sandwiches, nuggets, and salads with mobile ordering and catering available. It's open 7am to 11pm most days but closed Sundays. It's the only national chain on this page, included because its Chicago-specific review base backs up the same reputation the chain has everywhere.

Jimmy's Gyros & Grill is a Loop counter spot serving gyros, burgers, Chicago dogs, and Italian beef, open until 2am on weeknights and stretching into the early morning hours on weekends. It's a straightforward order-at-the-counter operation with a small dining area, built for quick service any time of day or night. The menu covers Greek and American fast food staples side by side.

Luke's Italian Beef is a Loop counter spot decorated with Chicago memorabilia and 3D food-themed art, serving Italian beef, Chicago-style pan pizza, hamburgers, and Chicago-style hot dogs. It accepts online orders for pickup and delivery and promotes fast service without a line for those orders. It's open daily except for shorter Sunday hours.