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Name: Hashbrowns
Address: 731 W Maxwell St, Chicago, IL, 60608
Telephone: (312) 226-8000
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.05

Hashbrowns

731 W Maxwell St, Chicago, IL, 60608

(312) 226-8000
Store is closed

Hashbrowns Menu

Starters and Salad

Hashbrowns Soup of the Day

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Cobb Salad

Grilled Steak Salad
Sandwiches

Grilled Chicken Breast with Provolone Cheese and Pesto Mayonnaise

Grilled Chicken Breast and Avocado with Pesto Mayonnaise

Grilled Chicken Breast Panini with Provolone Cheese and Tomatoes

Blt Panini

Pepper and Egg Panini

Grilled Ny Strip Steak with Grilled Bermuda Onions

The 1/2 Lb Burger
Beverages

Orange

Grapefruit

Apple

Cranberry

Tomato Juice

Milk

Chocolate Milk

House Blend Coffee

Espresso

Double Espresso

Cappucino Or Latte

Double Cappuccino Or Latte

Tea

Soda

Bottled Water
Kids Menu

Silver Dollar Pancakes

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

One Egg with Bacon Or Sausage

Chicken Fingers

Grilled Cheese

Peanut Butter and Jelly
Ida's Burgers

The Marty High Protein Turkey Burger

The Bridgeport Burger

The Maxwell Street Burger

The Greektown Burger

The 18th Street Burger

The Northsider Burger

The Low Carb Burger

The Taylor Street Burger

The Bacon Me Crazy

The Plain Jane

The Patty Boy Burger

Healthy Meal suggestions for Hashbrowns

Starters and Salad

Hashbrowns Soup of the Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cobb Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Steak Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Grilled Chicken Breast with Provolone Cheese and Pesto Mayonnaise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken Breast and Avocado with Pesto Mayonnaise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken Breast Panini with Provolone Cheese and Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blt Panini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepper and Egg Panini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Ny Strip Steak with Grilled Bermuda Onions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The 1/2 Lb Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Orange [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grapefruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cranberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Blend Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Double Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappucino Or Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Double Cappuccino Or Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Kids Menu

Silver Dollar Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Chip Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Egg with Bacon Or Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Fingers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Butter and Jelly [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ida's Burgers

The Marty High Protein Turkey Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Bridgeport Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Maxwell Street Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Greektown Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The 18th Street Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Northsider Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Low Carb Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Taylor Street Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Bacon Me Crazy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Plain Jane [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Patty Boy Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Jonathan F.

Having read the other reviews about breakfast, I ventured out to Hashbrowns. What a disappointment: My egg mass, which is a better description of what appeared at my table when I ordered an omelet, was bland. I don't think there was even any salt in it. Frankly, it was shit. (Like Vicky Y I also couldn't find all the advertised ingredients...) With my "18th Street Omelet", Hasbrowns graciously provided a thimble of "homemade salsa", also known as store bought. It was disgusting, too. Adding insult to injury, our waitress brought out the check, BEFORE THE FOOD ARRIVED. Are you freaking kidding me? Her explanation: It was "swamped". Hello, we are right here. It's half-full and and there are like what, five of you? When asked for additional salsa, our waitress told us that it was extra charge. Fine. She proceeded to take the check back to "correct it". Tacky. The sweet potato hash browns were just greasy and ill-balanced. No go from me. On top of all this, they are cash only. Hey, Hasbrowns, it's 2007. Telling me to go next door to Morgans and pay 3.00 at the ATM to save your business the 0.80 in credit card fees is a royal pain in my ass. For the average cafe this is bad. For the cafe that charges me 1.75 for each can of soda and for extra condiments, this is unacceptable. I'll stick with Demitasse and Sweet Maple Cafe from now on when I want something close. They got a star for having large coffee cups and abundant Tabasco. They got a second star because of who I was with. It seems as though this place had a strong start but has fizzled out lately. Don't waste your paychecks here.
(2)
t.n. t.

The sweet potato, rosemary and killer hash browns are AWESOME!! I go here just for hash browns!! Everything else is good as well. The Egg Panini and Chocolate Chip pancakes are delicious!! The egg nachos are divine, but order these only when you are hungry because they aren't so great reheated. The love the atmosphere and the owners are friendly and very attentive. It an get really crowded so go early or really late!
(4)
Jedd J.

Stu S. said it. They used to have the best hashbrowns on earth, but no longer serve anything that can be called hashbrowns. It's not worth a trip to Maxwell Street for so-called "Hashbrowns".
(2)
Jen N.

Had omelet and hash browns. Really though it was a run-of-the-mill breakfast place. The service was good, the food selection was boring.
(3)
January C.

I went here for the first time a few weeks ago. There was a musician singing and playing the guitar. This place is not big and he did not need his amp cranked. I wanted to be able to hear my friend across the table but it was difficult. Without the music, I would give this place three stars. I had the eggs benedict which was good. There were no frills to this benedict, just the traditional. I also had the signature sweet potato hasbrowns. I was a little disappointed in their texture. I was expecting them to be crispier. I tried some of my friend's banana wheat pancakes and they were really good. The vanilla syrup was delicious. I'd like to try this place again without live music.
(2)
Wayne C.

This place is very so-so. I've been there a few times for breakfast because there aren't many other places to go in the area. I think their omelets are fairly greasy and they refill your coffee so much that it's annoying - you have to keep adding sugar and cream to suit your taste. The decor is cute and I think one family owns and runs the whole thing which is inviting but overall, the food is eh. The hashbrowns that they are known for (sweet potato hashbrowns) are pretty good, though.
(3)
A C.

I've had better tasting hashbrowns directly from my freezer than this place. Seriously! I mean, there is a wide variety of hashbrowns to choose from, but I would rather eat the Ore-Ida ones from my freezer than spend $10-$15 for hashbrowns in a cramped location near UIC.
(2)
Marckey F.

Man. I hate saying it but this was one of the worst eating experiences ever. To their defense, maybe it was just a bad day (which can happen)...but my god! Asked for a ginger ale, waitress said, coke and diet coke only... I looked on the menu and said...7 UP? (which was on the menu) She said "no, sorry THATS WHY I said coke or diet coke only" you know... so that already had me uninterested in being there. Then comes the food.. order a grapefruit juice with it, she forgot it.... people next to us sat after us, and had their food quicker....Now to the food. How can you call your restaurant "Hashbrowns" and screw up hashbrowns? I ordered the egg panini - the worst piece of bland garbage breakfast I've ever had...and that's saying something cuz my cooking is awful and even I could have made a better one than that.. the final straw was when the manager spilled the pitcher of water all over my friend's leg. There are far better places in the city...and worth the drive or walk to get to.
(1)
Sarah D.

I love the rosemary potato hash browns here, they are the best. I line can be very long and they have too many tables, there is no room once you get in. The food is good but the service is a hit or miss. I have not had the burgers but I heard that they are good. I have not been here for a couple of weeks but they were not taking credit cards at the time. It is nice to see another brunch place in the neighborhood though.
(3)
Unknown K.

The omelets here are odd - mozzarella and sausage with tomato sauce - eck. I like me some sweet potatoes, but I'm not a fan of the hash browns here, maybe it's the sweet and fried together? Anyway, the service is indifferent, the food is either bland or awkward and the namesake is not to my taste. BTW, the servings of potatoes are small. I think they want to be a yuppie breakfast place, but they are in the wrong neighborhood. The food is overpriced too.
(2)
Pat F.

Menu is overall plain. The only stand out are the killer Hashbrowns. Make your own breakfast at home its worth the dishes and work rather than paying them their boarder line outrageous prices for breakfast dishes.
(2)
Amy D.

So aggressive Pilsen! As a neighbor, I agree, the crappy restaurants are starting to annoy me. This place is very very bad. You would think they would at least get the hashbrown part right. But they really really didn't at all. Instead you're left with this mushy mess. Everything is just mediocre and pricey. I can heat up a frozen breakfast and have more flavor and right consistency.
(2)
Regina F.

This is one of those places where the food is good but kind of overpriced because you know you can probably make it yourself. It's really nothing special. Plus is there is a parking garage on the same block for a couple of bucks. It's really small, even with the outdoor seating so there might be a wait.
(3)
Katie G.

My mom and I went here on a Sunday morning....I was just excited we didn't have to wait, as most Brunch places have a long line on Sundays. The service was OK....our waitress wasn't overly friendly, but she wasn't rude by any means. We ordered an egg-white omelet with a bunch of veggies, and it came with whole wheat toast and sweet potato hashbrowns. The portions are HUGE!! My mom and I split our meal and still had plenty to spare. I do think it's a bit overpriced, and I didn't see it clearly stated that it's CASH ONLY. I could've missed that, though...
(3)
Ed J.

i like this place.make sure u bring cash tho.i prefer meli's cafe for breakfast.if u like hashbrowns ud like meli's on halsted
(3)
Vanessa G.

I wish I could give a 1/2 star on this place because I can not make up my mind on 2.5 or 3.5 stars...So lets see...2.5 because I have eaten here a few times and I have mixed feelings. For a breakfast spot, it is pretty pricey, in fact $29.00 for two of us to eat breakfast and coffee isn't such a great way to start the day, especially cash only. No parking unless you pay for it in the lot which is only $2.00. Lastly, the service is a bit slow it took about 20-25 minutes for our food to arrive. Actually when the waiter came with our drinks, she said to my fiancee, this orange juice doesn't look right, taste it and tell me what you think? Now, I guess I would just assume a waiter would suggest something else versus letting us know the OJ isn't up to standard, but that could just be me. In addition, the hash browns came out with my companions order and it looked like he was served 1/4 the corner of a pan and corners were a bit burnt. Not my cup of tea, but he loved it. Now, 3.5 stars...the banana wheat pancakes are to-die-for!! They serve their pancakes with 2 sides of dip, one vanilla and one strawberry. The strawberry is super sweet but the Vanilla is awesome, you don't even need syrup. The omelets are huge and there are a ton of options. The Maxwell Street omelet's polish sausage is full of flavor and quite tasty! They make pretty delicious cappuccino's too and when mine ran out my waiter offered to keep my cup going with coffee which was a nice touch. I actually waited to see if it would be added to the bill and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't :) So, I am going to settle on 3 stars because I wouldn't say I would not go back, however, it won't be my every weekend spot for breakfast. Best part is, you can enjoy your breakfast outside too! UPDATE: I have been back and I had their Egg Panini which was eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese & tomatoes served on toasted italian bread OMG it was awsome! It was so big I had to take some home! Although they did forget about my cappuccino, I had a very nice time and my fiancee loves this place!
(4)
Helen N.

I'm sad to see that other yelpers not like this place. I'm not in love with Hashbrowns but I have always gotten good food and good service. There is a great coupon in the Entertainment book (bogo). You will see us there about once a month... First off, you don't have to look for parking, the lot is 2 bucks for 2 hours. Make sure you bring cash, that sign for cash only have been there forever... If you don't like the sweet potatoes hash, get the Idaho hash - they mix in some onions (today was a bit salty), but I think they undercook the sweet potatoes hash. Seriously, where else can you find a BIG omelette with hash and toast for less than 8 bucks... We grab the Sunday paper and just hang there...
(4)
nicole d.

Went here on a saturday for brunch and it was amazing. the killer hashbrowns are to die for! they will probably give you a heart attack but it is worth every bite. i also got choc chip pancakes that were great, they served them with strawberry and vanilla syrup..yum! my friend got an omlette and she said it was great as well. highly recommend this place, it is worth the trip south for you northsiders like myself.
(5)
roberto a.

Breakfast...Brunch....hmmm. Six of us went to have brunch at this eatery and we ended up ordering three omelette meals and three pancake dishes. Split across the six of us, everyone had enough pieces to make a good sized omelette and about 1.5 pancakes. Highly recommended are the banana pancakes, which was the special of the day at the time. Those were awesome, and the guy who ordered it nearly had them taken away from him. The chocolate chip pancakes were sweet eats, perhaps a little too sweet once the syrup was poured on them, but I still enjoyed it. We ordered the Bridgeport, Taylor St, and City of Chicago omelettes. I personally like the Taylor St. omelette because I am a sucker for almost anything cooked in melted mozarella, especially Italian Sausage, but in my opinion, I've tasted better omelettes (in the area, try the omelettes at White Palace on Roosevelt & Canal), but you can't disagree with the size of Hashbrown's portions. For a decent laid back breakfast place, you can't go wrong with the ambience. Open and airy, tables near the walls have ledges that serve as seating for the inner side of the table. The service was quick and struck the perfect balance of attentiveness. So go ahead, order some pancakes and go easy on the syrup. Afterwards you can walk off some of the calories by heading over to the nearby Barbara's Bookstore, the lake, or Pilsen. Pros: Nice ambience, tasty pancakes, huge portions. Cons: Ca$h only. Nearby parking is hard to find, so avoid the city fine and pay the $2.00 at the UIC lot. To sum it up: For those who a more upscale ambience to your typical diner breakfast food.
(3)
Jelly C.

Hashbrowns is a small breakfast/brunch place in University Village. The atmosphere is homey and inviting. The waiters are cheery so its a great place to start off your day. The food here is good but the presentation is lacking. The portions aren't as big as other breakfast places. The omelets and pancakes are nicely prepared. The french toast is mediocre and the sweet potato hasbrowns should definetely be avoided. It's not one of my favorite places but I'll be back. If you're really craving breakfast food, try Sweet Maple on Taylor St.
(3)
S W.

Well, as a HUGE fan of hashbrowns I was really looking forward to having some good ones. Unfortunately, I didn't. This brick of ick was hardly what I would consider to be hashbrowns. It had the consistency of boiled potatoes that had been put through a ricer and then baked with a just a bit of sour cream. I also ordered the egg panini with bacon, cheese and tomato. What I got, however, was a bacon and tomato omelet with a teeny weeny bit of cheese folded into it served on toasted bread. Yeah, that's right. Toast. And an omelet. And nasty potato loaf. Skip it.
(1)
Ccc C.

I love this place. They have freshly squeezed orange juice and the breakfast is basic but great. Nothing fancy which I love. I have to say this is the best breakfast place in Chicago. The hasbrowns are fabulous. I am not a big fan of the sweet potato hashbrowns but I love the regular hashbrowns and the pancakes are fabulous! I love going here when I am in the mood for breakfast
(5)
vicky y.

small breakfast eatery tucked away in university village. space featured loft ceilings & an open kitchen, furnished in earth tones and shinied up by some leftover xmas decorations. we split the city of chicago omelette which was a six egg frittata with chorizo, pork chop, steak, polish & italian sausage, bacon..6 veggies...& 2 cheeses. yeah. this could have easily fed 4. the omelette was a bit disappointing as we couldn't find all the toppings it'd boasted. that and it was slightly overdone & thus dry. next time, i'll give their normal portioned omelettes a try. also had the idaho and sweet potato hash combo which i found very tasty! it's not the typical hash brown but give it a try. oh and be forewarned, the chocolate milk they serve was just plain milk mixed with chocolate syrup, and not enough of it at that.
(3)
Brad H.

Went here for breakfast twice while I was living in University Village. Not horrible, but definitely nothing special. The food is very expensive breakfast food, but not particularly tasty, or large in portion. It was also very crowded, and by crowded I mean too many tables and chairs in a not so big space. Be prepared to bump into the parties sitting next to you.
(2)
amber p.

Not crazy about this place at all. If anything, the hashbrowns should be awesome since it is called "Hashbrown", but they were very oily amd icky. The eggs and bacon were fine, but how can you mess that up. I did give them 3 stars though because like I said, the eggs and other stuff were fine, I just had really high expectations with the hashbrowns. Also, the service was awesome...very friendly staff. I will go back though because it's within walking distance, I just won't get the hashbrowns.
(3)
Peter H.

My meal at this place was average...it is getting three stars just because of the company I was with...my eggs were not very good, and I think my hash browns may have been luke warm as well...maybe I need to give it another shot...I don't know, not leaning towards doing so though.
(3)
Marie L.

I was looking forward to eating here because everything on the menu sounded damn good when I read it on the internet but that's where the excitement ended. The food was disappointing when it got to our table, it was all very "Eh." Frankly, my hashbrowns were undercooked and soggy and for a place named after the stuff, I find that surprising. If you're going to name your restaurant after one menu item, make sure that one thing is the best whatever-it-is that people have ever had. It was fairly busy because we were dealing with the weekend brunch crowd but the service was still decent but I still doubt I'll go back. My benchmark for restaurants is if I can make a better meal at home and in the case of Hashbrowns, I know for damn sure that I can.
(2)
Joshua S.

Great brunch spot. Portions are huge, great selection, and the hash browns are solid (try them all, including the sweet potato and rosemary). The waffles and pancakes are my favorite, with a vanilla sauce that is amazing with syrup.
(4)
Eric S.

Extremely disappointing and would not suggest this place. Although my party was sat right away, we watched for 30+ minutes as NO food came out of the kitchen. For brunch in particular, this is a ridiculous amount of time to wait, especially in a small place where many of the tables already have food. On top of this, no one in the restaurant, server or manager, thought that it might be worth addressing the fact that the kitchen was backed up and that they were truly sorry about the wait. It almost seemed as if they were oblivious to it. We actually received a "sorry it took so long" as we were walking out the door. Too late. When we finally received the food, it was quite sub-par. For a restaurant named "Hashbrowns", I would imagine that the hashbrowns should be an impressive part of the meal. Not the case, across neither the sweet potato or regular ones. Flavorless and soggy...very disappointing. The omelets seemed runny and blah. The highlight of the meal, sad to say, was the Tropicana orange juice and the toast. Ouch. My suggestion for this place is to at minimum, recognize when your service is ridiculously slow, address this with your tables, and perhaps do something nice to try and maintain those customers for future visits. I will unfortunately be a one time offender, and will not return. On a positive note, the hostess and server were nice, and our coffee cups never sat empty.
(1)
Jason G.

They have really gotten their act together. Finally they accept credit cards. I think the egg dishes have gotten better and the service is awesome. I'm happy to see the improvements.
(4)
john d.

Chick Pannini is very good with a little pesto mayo. Pancake flights are nice too. Only complaint is no fresh juice, but the tea is good.
(5)
Mike L.

There are many very popular breakfast joints in the city that dont take credit. Also it says cash only on the door so your aware before you walk in. Yes, it is a pain but you get use to it. Ive been here numerous times and Ill admit its not great but it is good. It is just one of those small neighborhood joints that you should check out. The co owner seats you and he's an awesome guy. Coffee is very good and they give it to you in a huge cup, which makes it even better. Omlettes, pancakes, french toast are all good and will fill you up. The hashbrowns are awesome, even though its a small part of your meal. I wouldnt drive across the entire city for this place but if your in the neighborhood stop by.
(4)
Tony G.

What a really nice breakfast place! It won't soon surpass Sweet Maple as my favorite neighborhood spot, but I will definitely go back. They have a really nice and comfortable dining area, the service is really good, and we didn't have to wait on a Saturday morning. I was really happy with the egg pannini breakfast, but I tried the Sweet Potato hashbrowns and was disappointed. They weren't crunchy like I was hoping. If you really like sweet potatoes, though, I'm sure they're just fine. If you don't like sweet potatoes, try the rosemary potatoes - very good! I was disappointed that they were out of tea the day I was there. Also, I think this is a nice enough place that they ought to offer real cream at the table for your coffee, not individual prepackaged servings. Overall, the food was good, I hope their good service continues, and I hope this place doesn't get so popular that I can't get a table! Oh, no credit cards are accepted.
(4)
Andy N.

I always knew I liked hash browns, especially the cheap ones from McDonalds. You know, all that grease. But my love for the flattened potato pancakes have grown with these amazing sweet potato versions! YUM! Hashbrowns is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch (so... brunch!) during work or on a weekend. They offer a great selection of all American food with huge portions. Mostly for the sides, which you should always go for the sweet potato hash browns that they are known for. I've ordered take-out twice now, and both times have been very pleased with the quality of the food. First time was a mushroom burger, medium rare that was just the right amount of juicy before getting too oily. The second time, I ordered the Greek omelette and added some sausage for only $1 more. THAT was the best no doubt. I was barely able to finish everything. The toast however was burnt and forgettable. Since it's so close by to my apartment, I'll be back again soon. I definitely think it's a good spot to drop by if you're around for some all American goodness.
(4)
Carlos S.

We had regular pancakes ****, liked the combination of strawberry and vanilla 18th St Burrito **, almost no Flavor. Looked very promising.... Blueberry Pancakes ***, lots of very good options out there Service **** Price $35 Would I come back? Maybe. They are lucky that no one else offers breakfast in this area.
(3)
Marissa M.

I had the Blueberry buttermilk pancakes and the Killer hashbrowns, both were delicious! Huge portions, I couldn't finish them.
(5)
Diane W.

The place was crowded with people but the wait time was very short. The service was good and got you everything you needed quickly and efficiently. I got the eggs Benedict double trouble and my boyfriend got a burger. The eggs Benedict was good but the meat inside was a little on the salty side. My boyfriend said his burger was really good and it's what they are known for!
(3)
Erica J.

We decided to pop into this restaurant since our car was already parked in the free parking lot (free for the first 2.5 hours), and I was craving a delicious turkey burger. Even though the hostess wasn't at the front as we were entering, we were greeted with a welcoming smile and two menus as soon as we walked through the second door leading into the restaurant. The staff moves quickly and I observed the same friendly treatment to everyone who came in. We were there for lunch on a Monday. The restaurant was about half full. I imagine it gets pretty packed on a weekend, especially since it offers breakfast and lunch all day, anytime. The tables are close together, especially if you have a party of only 2. The kitchen is "open" so you can see what's going on depending on where your table's located. The food was delivered quickly and was good, nothing special but not bad. We had the Marty turkey burger (comes with the standard LTO, but you have to ask for cheese), with very bland and flavorless sweet potato fries; and the chicken breast sandwich (the first burger listed on the menu) with tasty hash browns. This restaurant offers call-in, take out orders and I saw a sign that it delivers. The breakfast items I saw being delivered to other tables looked divine! I'd certainly come again!
(3)
Melissa G.

I've been to this location a couple of times as well as one other location, but this experience has ruined all the other experiences I've had. My last visit to Hashbrowns was terrible. It was my friend's birthday so we decided to eat here. We told our waitress about it and she said that she'd bring something out. She never did. She completely forgot. The place was loud and crowded, but my group really didn't mind that. All of the seats were really close together. We had been seated in twenty minutes as promised and my group ordered right away since we'd been looking at the menu while we were waiting. We waited FOREVER for our food. I've never waited this long anywhere. If we hadn't already ordered, we would've walked out. It was horrible because my friend had work and was running late. Brunch that should've taken half an hour turned into almost two hours! Not only that, but our waitress was RUDE. When we got there, we were as friendly as could be and ordered politely. We waited patiently to be seated and we waited super patiently for our food to arrive. Never once did our waitress check up on us and when we looked at her, she had this snarky look on her face like we were inconveniencing her or something! One of my friends finally raised her hand and asked why our food was taking long and the waitress told us the kitchen was backed up - we would've never known this if we hadn't asked. The two parties seated next to us were seated after us, and they received their food before us! One group even was seated, received their food, and left before our food even came out! As soon as our food came out, our waitress didn't even hand it to us in a nice manner - she practically just dropped our food in front of us. My friend had his utensils in the way, the waitress asked her to move it and before my friend could lift up her hand to move it, the waitress rudely just grabbed it and put it aside. She never even cracked a smile or asked how everything was. As soon as we saw her again, we asked for our check. It took us 1/5 of the time waiting for the food to actually eat it. The food is delicious as always. They make the best eggs benedicts I've ever had. I always get the Eggs Benedict Double Trouble. The Killer hashbrowns didn't really do it for me this time, but they were still good. The only other thing is that it's unreasonable expensive for beverages. A small glass of orange juice is $4. The food is what saved this experience for me. Other than that, I'd never come back to this location! I really want to remember the name of our waitress because I've never received such terrible service!
(2)
Monique B.

I love love love hashbrowns (the food), but the restaurant a like. They have a good breakfast and brunch selection and the food was all good, but nothing amazing. I find the sweet potato hash browns to be too soft, but I suppose there is not much that can be done to make sweet potatoes crispy. The omelettes are good, but nothing amazing and to be honest everything I have ordered from here is good. The restaurant is cute, but small and a bit crowded. they have a few outdoor tables for a sunny summer day. Overall a good choice for breakfast, however, there is often a line on weekends, so be prepared to wait.
(3)
Alyssa B.

Very good brunch place in a beautiful new area near UIC. The hashbrowns are a must, offered in both regular and sweet potato. I got the egg panini, and it was a lot of food, but so so good. The outdoor seating was a little cramped, but that's just because the food is so popular that it is always busy!
(4)
Jasmine L.

Good food, good atmosphere. (I don't have a picture though). I had brunch with my friend. Their food comes in a big plate. The parking lot is right at the end of Maxwell. I came on a Thursday morning and left before 12pm and parking was free.
(5)
Julie T.

Hashbrowns was alright. Not the worst breakfast but definitely not the worst. They do need to work on their service. I understand at a busy restaurant it's hard to keep track of all your guest but if I see someone just standing around while my glass of water is empty, it's kind of frustrating. Had the egg Benedict with sweet potato hashbrowns. I thought the sweet hashbrowns were way too sweet and it mine was a bit oily too. The egg benedict was nothing out of the ordinary but the ham was a bit too salty for me.
(2)
Lorena A.

I have visited this restaurant in the past and have been much more fond of their food and service. I am not sure whether my mistake this time, was placing an order for delivery. It took approximately 2 hours for my food to arrive (and I live less than 2 miles from the restaurant) and never did I receive a call explaining that there would be a significant delay. When the food arrived, it was cold and not the best in flavor. I also paid $2.75 for a side of avocado -- an avocado that was not ripe and I received the equivalent size of one slice. I also paid for a side of sour cream, and there was a piece of plastic and paper inside the actual cream! Their lack of quality in food and service is disappointing.
(2)
Jennifer F.

I first tried this place a couple years ago and felt it was just ok. With two very good breakfast spots closer to me, I hadn't been back till today. I ordered a salad and after a few bites, I found a 3" piece of hard shriveled plastic wrap mixed in with my lettuce. The waiter was apologetic and had a new one made for me. The avocado in the replacement salad was rock hard and not edible. I didn't mention it to the waiter since they already were comping my check due to the plastic in the initial salad plus I don't like sending food back. If the waiter hadn't been so nice I would've only given one star.
(2)
Salena D.

Hello delicious breakfast! I remember when this place first opened up, I came here maybe once or twice, it was packed (and still is). Now I try to come here at least once a month. I am able to convince my suburban friends to come here because there is FREE two hour parking right down the block and they love the food here. I can never decide which omelet to get and usually decide right as the server comes by, Chicken Chipotle is a favorite along with The Bridgeport. Oh and the french toast is huge and very tasty. Service is great and friendly, I order coffee as well and it never gets cold and my water usually only gets to about half way before the servers fill it up again. Be smart and try to come here early or a bit later on a Sunday. There are at least three big churches within walking distance of here and yes it does get crowded. My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday morning (around 8am) and we were able to get a table without waiting. Overall, I try to come here often and bring others along as well, anyone I have taken has said only positive comments on this place. Give it a try :)
(5)
A R.

On the plus side the food was good and portions were large. I tried the Oak Park omlette with rosemary hashbrowns and it was excellent. The toast is enormous also. Additionally, the tables were clean and the employees were friendly. Onto the negatives... Hope you don't like personal space or room to breathe. Granted, we came on a Sunday but it was absolutely packed and the tables were ontop of each other. Also... And this is a little picky... But they spelled an item on their menu incorrectly... Unless these turkeys are Boilermakers from West Lafayette, Indiana... I'm pretty sure it should have been "Perdue Turkey" not "Purdue turkey". The food was good but I won't be back, way too crowded for my taste.
(4)
Austen H.

We received horrendous service. We ordered take it and it took well over two hours and no one seemed to know what was going on when we inquired about it. The manager also did not help until we said we would refuse to pay because it took too long. We did eventually get our meal for free which is the only reason they get two stars.
(2)
J P.

Yikes. Neighbors had a horrible experience here today- sat for 20 minutes without service, and had a one year old kid with them. Then, when a server finally came, she served all the other tables before even approaching them. Then, they got up to leave, and the manager (who should be involved in RESOLVING disputes) asked if they were okay and when they said they hadn't had service in 20 minutes with a screeching toddler who simply wanted a glass of milk, he said "goodbye- we don't have any servers" in a snide and aggressive manner. One star- I've served tables before, and even when you're low-staffed and stressed, taking a simple drink order isn't rocket science and can appease your customers even if the wait is longer than normal. On top of that, a manager should...you know...."manage"...one star only because I can't give zero.
(1)
R T.

Breakfast/brunch is my favorite meal for which to dine out. This place has been recommended to me numerous times. I found myself in the UIC neighborhood on a Saturday morning so gave it a try for breakfast. It was disappointly mediocre. The service while friendly was almost non-existent. Had to flag the gentleman with coffee for every refill. The server didn't return after delivering my order until it was time to clear my plate and deliver the bill. My 18th Street omelet (added Chihuahua cheese) was quite good but the famous hashbrowns were soggy and cold. Too bad.
(3)
Marisol R.

Ordered the grilled chicken salad ... I like my salads cold not warm , room temp or any other temp . The salad could have been great but they placed the chicken on top of the salad while still hot which gave the entire salad a different taste . Next time i will let them know to place chicken aside
(3)
Sukesh P.

Waiter came to the table after a 10-minute wait. Food arrived a good 25 minutes after that, for a order of grilled chicken with soup and an omelette Food: Soup smelled so heavily of the bleach of unfiltered tap water I could not finish it (despite not wanting to waste food). Chicken breast was too dried out to get a knife through it. Struggled to attract attention of waiter and when I eventually managed to sent it back (even though it meant more wasted food). Came back a second time equally dry. I am guessing it was not all the chef's fault - cheap frozen chicken is probably what s/he was working with. Ate a few bites of the charred, bland, bitter meat and set the rest aside (surely going to hell for wasting food). Very oily side of sauteed vegetables came with no salt (and nothing else flavor-wise, if you were wondering). North Sider omelette (wive's) arrived a cold, leaden, unseasoned mass. Sweet potato hash browns were in equal portions burnt and uncooked, the whole thing a soggy oily mess. Not so hard to figure how that happened. And the bread is perfectly unremarkable. If you cannot cook eggs or grill chicken, if your signature dish is so badly prepared (the place is named Hash Brown for Pete's sake), if your ingredients are cheap and if you are using some kind of bleach-stinking tap water to make your soup and you don't even cook it enough to get rid of the smell, you deserve the fate of many area restaurants - you need to shut shop. Your very poor service is the last of your problems. And all this for $27.00 (sans tip). This is the textbook description of a bad restaurant. Tried posting this without any stars - "Eeks! Methinks not" is altogether too kind.
(1)
Min C.

Their rosemary hashbrown is soo delicious. It is always busy when we go there but you dont have to wait too long to be seated. They are always friendly and helpful and I have never been disappointed. My favorite breakfast spot!
(5)
Nicole W.

The name says it all!! I really cant say enough about the killer Hashbrowns!!! They are amazing and addicting. I have been there on several occasions and regret that it has taken me this long to praise them!! When I had a taste for something sweet i went with the big ole waffle. It was simply divine, with whip cream and strawberries. On another occasion I went with the 18th Street, which was delicious.. The only problem i have there is wheather or not to try something new or stick with a fave! Perfect Breakfast spot for all
(5)
Mary C.

We had a wonderful brunch, I had a taste for Chicken and waffles so I ordered kids chicken tender meal which came with hash browns and the mini waffles. Perfect! The place was busy, so the service was slow. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars but the waitress was awesome and made the experience a good one. We weren't in a hurry so it was fine, but we were very hungry. We ate outside the food was delicious, everything was perfectly made.
(4)
Ms. Witch H.

When they opened up around 2006 or 2007, the food and service were excellent. My favorite of the hashbrown types was the Killer Hashbrowns. The first time I tried them, I was in love. I was very happy with the generous size of the eggs offered in the Just Eggs and the sausage has always been cooked to perfection. But over the last year, both the service and the food have declined in quality. Over the last six-to-eight months I have gone to Hashbrowns twice. The first time during that period I was shocked at the decline in service and food. I made a comment about it on their FB page and they messaged me and asked for my phone number so they could follow up with me. The follow up never happened. Hoping that was an anomaly, I went back again. The eggs were still generous and were cooked well, but the Killer Hasbrowns were burned and the sausage was over-cooked and dry. I would have sent back both, but the server did not bother to come ask me how things were until after twenty minutes. But then I was hungry, so I dug in. When she finally did ask me how my meal was, she caught me at a moment when there was food in my mouth. I am not only disappointed, but heartbroken that this once lovely brunch place has declined so badly in both service and food. I don't need to be burned a third time to figure out that I may have to cross this one off my list of favorite brunch places.
(2)
Susan C.

I went here for brunch with my girlfriends on a Saturday morning. The atmosphere was good with a pack crowd in the restaurant. The service was alright and the waitress was somewhat attentive. The food I must say was okay with reasonable prices. I must say I had better brunch food elsewhere. I don't think I would go back to this place even though I love the area which is university village where it is up and coming.
(2)
Myia S.

Let me start off by saying the food was amazing! I currently go to UIC and I've never really been to many of the restaurant in the Maxwell Market, there is a variety of places to go in the area this possible seemed like the most breakfast place to go. They have really strict hours only open from 7-3 you have free parking for 2 1/2 if you can find a park. Let's get to the actual restaurant... The staff was very friendly and attentive, they have someone walking around with water for anyone who's cup is low which is really good because most places you go you have to ask for more water. This place is great for a fast breakfast it's no fine dining but they definitely put care and pride into the food they put out on your plate. I didn't really care for the style of the menu the different names they had for omelettes was really cute. This place has a rustic cultural community feel to it draws to a variety of consumers. It was actually quite busy when we went but we did not have to wait to be seated the food came out pretty fast. I got the COCO which was like a chocolate bacon Belgium waffle and it came with two sauces a raspberry(didn't like) and an amazing vanilla sauce topped with more bacon chocolate chips and whip cream. If you use the sauce they give you, you don't even need syrup it is a very sweet breakfast however it is very light. The waffle was light and fluffy not heavy or oily like any other breakfast places I've been to. My boyfriend got sweet potato and signature hash browns turkey sausage and over medium eggs nothing a breakfast spot should mess up. I was underwhelmed by the sweet potato hash brows they didn't taste great but mixed with the classic ones they were a good pairing. I recommend this place the only thing I would change is the menu selection because besides egg specials everything else was sold separately.
(4)
Ashley M.

I was excited to try out a new breakfast place close to my house. Then my excitement subsided once I sat down. Being in the service industry I'm usually very patient with fellow servers. Our waitress took 10 minutes to greet us and immediately asked what we wanted to order. Once I got my 18th street breakfast burrito I was very disappointed. It was very bland and I had to dig to find any chorizo. My water cup stayed empty during the entire meal. The only time our waitress checked on us was to ask for to go boxes. It was then that I kindly asked for a water refill. The sweet potato hashbrowns were amazing though!! Otherwise I was very disappointed!
(1)
Tan L.

Charming place for breakfast. Everybody here is so nice and efficient. But this place is a little small. There s usually a wait:(
(5)
Maria E.

Saw this place and decided to give it a try and was pretty good overall. pricing was reasonable considering the portions were large. The egg nachos and chocolate chip pancakes were excellent. Didn't have to wait too long during busy morning/noon. There are better brunch places but overall not bad.
(3)
Miguel H.

My go to place for bfast. The burgers are good as well. Like how they have a healthier alternative to fries and hash browns by using sweet potatoes.
(4)
Charity F.

Had high hopes from this place when I visited Chicago last weekend. Very disappointed at the quality of their hash browns they were bland. The turkey club was good but not amazing. This was an average over priced restaurant.
(3)
Philip E.

Best breakfast place around. Best service of any restaurant I have been in, from bus boy to manager, they know what they are doing. When they get busy things can get a little crazy, but where doesn't that happen? Food is always hot and fresh. Never been disappointed even when I'm so stupid hungover on a Saturday morning.
(5)
Jeff R.

Hashbrowns is my favorite breakfast place. Their loaded French toast tastes amazing. Their duck bacon is really good too, but it's pricey. The workers are friendly and the service is great.
(5)
Nicole L.

I was not at all impressed with the prices, the service or my meal. I opted to try sweet potato hashbrowns and I felt like it was drenched in oil. The eggs were not scrambled but more of a hard boiled and smashed consistency. My server was not rude but rather lacked attention and speed. Please note that I was one of maybe 4 or so guest on a weekday. I couldn't even say I enjoyed my toast.
(1)
Braydan H.

Hashbrowns is a good enough option in the area. I live in East Pilsen and don't mind making the short walk for the food here. I had an omelette, which was actually one of the best I've had in the city. The hash browns at Hashbrowns are not special enough to name the restaurant after. Just so-so. The service was great, very friendly and accommodating! We were seated right away on the busy Sunday morning. The food arrived very promptly as well. The space is a little weird, kind of small and cramped. But I didn't mind very much, because it kind of just has that vibe. Quaint. There is also seating outside for eating on the nice, sunny days!
(3)
Vaidehi T.

We were in the neighborhood on a Saturday looking for a place to have a late brunch. Spotted Hashbrowns and decided to give it a chance. It was quite crowded - which I think is always a good sign. The service was good, friendly and helpful. I ordered the veggie sandwich and hubby ordered the 4 mini waffles dish. We were very pleasantly surprised that our server had split both of orders neatly into two dishes and served them separately. We were gonna share anyway, so it was very nice of her to do that. The veggie sandwich came with the hashbrown and we opted for half regular potato and half sweet potato hash. Considering the name of the place, I was expecting more from their hashbrowns. It basically was shredded potato, not too much seasoning, not too much flavor and no other additions. Color me disappointed. The sandwich was fresh, hot and appetizing. It was good, but i had to salt, and pepper it. I am not a person who likes too much salt in my food, but the sandwich was very very low on seasoning. After i made the additions, I enjoyed the sandwich. The waffles were standard - fluffy, warm and eggy. Came with two dipping sauces and maple syrup on the side. We quite enjoyed the mini-waffles, and they were the right portion size as well.
(3)
Rubi R.

Service was great. Food was amazing! They had sweet potato hash browns. The place was a little tight but so worth it!
(5)
Hillari H.

I had the Just Eggs, and the eggs were fluffy and good. The hash browns were extremely tasty, and the bacon was crispy enough, but not overly so. People just can't go wrong either eating here or at their other location in Old Town. The portions are generous, so people will be good and full afterwards!
(3)
Andre W.

Happened to be in the neighborhood this past Saturday morning and I happened to be hungry. We decided to stop in and a grab a bite to eat as we didn't see anything else nearby except for Jamba Juice. Walked in and was seated immediately. Our server was nice and was knowledgeable on the menu. I ordered the egg sandwich with egg whites (preferred) and got the house hash browns which are basically sweet potato hash browns. The egg sandwich was standard as it came with cheese & bacon, but the hash browns were phenominal! Also they have freshly squeezed OJ that is very good. Good place to try if you are in the area
(4)
Allie K.

This place has really gone downhill from the time it first opened. We came on a Saturday morning at about 10am. THE WAIT: The service and the quality of the food has really gone downhill. The hostess initially told us the wait would be 10-15 minutes. As many parties waited for a table outside, we observed at least 3 tables waiting to be cleaned up. It took at least another 10 minutes for a table to be cleaned. When we were finally seated, about 30 min later, our table was very wet, DISGUSTING!!!!! The busboy wiped our table with a sopping wet towel and it would not dry. I had to take our napkins and wipe the table. THE FOOD: Our server came 5 minutes later and took our order. My husband ordered a burger and asked to substitute the sweet potato fries with sweet potato Hashbrowns. I ordered pancakes and coffee. Our waiter said he would be "right back" with our coffee. He apparently forgot so I had to flag down a busboy convince a busboy to bring me coffee 15 minutes after our order was taken. Another server brought our food and my husband pointed out that his fries were not substituted with sweet potato Hashbrowns. Instead offering to bring us Hashbrowns as he ordered, she told him "try the fries anyway, they are good." I asked her to let our server know and he did bring us a bowl of mushy, cold, Hashbrowns. My order was equally disappointing. My chocolate chip pancakes were dry and only had chocolate chips in the very center of the pancake. Your server never comes back to check on you after your food is served. THE CHECK: When I could not stand another bite, I had to flag down our server for a box and the check. It took another 10 minutes for him to return with this. On the way out, I observed many parties waiting to sit down. If this place was more efficiently run, there wouldn't be such long delays. This is was definitely my LAST visit to Hashbrowns. I am scratching them off my breakfast places list.
(1)
Charlie C.

This is my go to breakfast place... its not the best, but its the easiest and a model of consistency. A 3-star place that I am giving a 4 based on service and never REALLY letting me down. The killer hashbrowns and sweet potato 'browns are the best items on the menu. Everything else is typical breakfast fare- they do offer a number of options for omelets and wraps- so that is nice... prices are a touch steep for what you are getting (especially the baby sized waste of a drink chocolate milk)... but I assume they have high(ish) rent, so I get it. I will keep coming back, as I said this place is go to. There is hardly EVER a wait which is great also... and summertime is the best. Barely any students around!
(4)
L. Danovia ..

Very cozy little place on Maxwell. Went on a Sunday for brunch. Its a popular place so we had to wait a while. I wanted to try the sweet potato hashbrowns and so did my husband. He also wanted to try the duck bacon. Unfortunately they did not have any of the bacon but plenty of the hashbrowns. They are worth the visit. I would suggest going during the week so you dont have to wait long. The waiting area is directly next to someones eating space.
(3)
Krystal W.

the location is nice and great atmosphere. There breakfast sandwich was okay and they have decent coffee. The staff was friendly. Now, their hash browns... not my cup of tea. I was looking forward to trying them but after one bite I was disappointed. They seem to put a LOT of onion in their potatoes. I think half my serving was onions and for me that's a bit to much. Maybe I should have tried another version... The menu is pricey. We didn't think it was worth a $30+ tip meal. Specially when I couldn't eat half of mine because of the onions. Go to YOLK or Wild berry in the City -
(2)
Mario G.

Staff are extremely nice and very on their game. The food is amazing. They must cook their bacon in love because it makes me so happy. Their hash browns are really good, they have a sweet potatoe option if you're into that kind of thing. I need to come back for lunch some day.
(5)
Victor F.

The reason I gave this place three stars was due to the lack of flavor. Of a six person group, we all ordered different breakfast meals. Everyone agreed that their food was well prepared and more than enough presentable. But when it came to actually savoring the meal, there wasn't much to savor. The food lacked the "zing" that you would come to expect from a $12 omelette. Apart from the food itself, the restaurant is in a prime location and the service was good. It's very homey with a positive atmosphere. Their dinner options are still up for debate and I will consider returning due to their hospitality and location.
(3)
Tim L.

This is the breakfast spot for me! The staff was great and the choices for breakfast will fit anyone tastes. Of course with a name like hash browns, there is a lot riding on their spuds. They do live up to the hype...I recommend the sampler. Great outdoor patio on the street that's perfect for a weekend brunch!
(5)
Caeleigh R.

This place is the only breakfast place around this neck of the woods that's in walking distance from where my boyfriend lives, so ultimately it is the place that I have gone to twice now for breakfast with him. Service is great, no complaints there, but the food is just not worth the price. I like the sweet potato hash browns but there's really nothing else that I would positively say about this place. The pancakes are nothing special, both the regular and the buckwheat, no matter what the topping is. The coffee is rather bitter, so if that's for you then enjoy! Really unless I want sweet potato hash browns, I won't be back. So while yes, all it will take is a craving for their hash browns, I won't be back any time soon.
(3)
Jacob G.

The food at Hashbrowns isn't bad. Some of their breakfast and lunch items are pretty good.
(3)
Mauricio L.

Nice little breakfast joint by UIC. I took my girlfriend here and she loved it. Good portions and reasonably priced meals. Great service, friendly staff and decor. I had he Protein Omelette and it was very good. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Yvonne B.

My friends and I met at Hashbrowns for brunch on Sunday morning. I arrived about 20-30 minutes early (eek!) and was able to put my name on a list for a table right away. I don't know if that made a difference or not as I saw many people get seated within moments despite the crowd. There were familial photographs on the wall and three of the walls were padded (perhaps to keep the din of conversation to a dull rumble instead of a roar). Employees were constantly moving and seemed to have a good, if not rushed, attitude. When my friends arrived, they explained that they saw Hashbrowns featured on some television show. The owner loved hashbrowns and was never satisfied with the hashbrowns served at other places. He decided to make up for the void of good hashbrowns and open his own place. Considering the history and name of Hashbrowns, I determined that I should get their hashbrowns! I asked our server which were better: the Rosemary Hashbrowns or the Killer. "Definitely the Killer," he said. So, that's what I got - with a side of bacon, of course. My friends each got omelets (they came with the sweet potato hashbrowns). One of my friends got a Virgin Bloody Mary. The report was that the Bloody Mary was just okay - she'd definitely experienced better. Neither of them said anything about their omelets and the only thing they said about their hashbrowns was that mine were better. (As an aside, I'm not sure if my friends' lack of comment on their food is indicative of anything. They also didn't comment on their food at Lokal). My Killer Hashbrowns were like a potato and cheese casserole that would be found at a potluck. I like that casserole a lot, but I don't think of it as hashbrowns. I thought they were good, but below my expectations. I think of hashbrowns as a thin pancake of shredded potatoes, fried in a frying pan, not something that's baked in a dish and then sliced. The description said that they should be crispy on top, but I expected them to be crispier than they were. Anyway, I thought that they would be my thin pancake of shredded potatoes topped with cheese, sour cream, and onions - like nachos. Instead, it was as if they took shredded potatoes, mixed them in a bowl with cheese, sour cream, and onions, spread into a baking dish, and then topped with some sort of breading. The whole thing was baked and the top got the crispiness that comes from baking something - which isn't very crispy. The experience was okay. I mean, I wasn't so thrilled about the hashbrowns. I also wasn't impressed by the service. Our server did his job of taking our order and serving our food. He didn't check on us and he brought us someone else's bill. If I lived closer to Hashbrowns, I think that I would go again to try the Rosemary Hashbrowns. I don't think I'd bring out-of-town guests for brunch or anything like that. Hashbrowns just wasn't that special of an experience to warrant that kind of thing.
(2)
Cassie V.

I love having breakfast out so I'm going around and trying all the breakfast spots within walking distance, but this one didn't quite live up to others around. I see that it's a new establishment so that may explain a lot of it but there were just too many little things for our first experience. We got the chicken chipotle omelette and the 18th street. The chipotle comes with egg whites, but it really needed the yolk to balance some of the flavors. Also both omelets had ingredients that were out of proportion throwing off the flavors. The place was packed so we countered it. There seemed to be a few regulars at the counter with us, so there are return customers. I wouldn't not go back, just not my first choice for the neighborhood.
(2)
Tawana W.

After the Marathon decided to have a meal that was close by and Hashbrowns came up as the closest to my location. My niece and nephew were we with me. I ordered the omelet with a side of turket sausange & english muffin (and it came with sweet potato has browns. My nephew ordered the big ole' waffle with a side of bacon and my niece ordered an egg sandwich with cheese and bacon on an english muffin with regular hashbrowns. My omelet was so overcooked it was hard and requried a knife to cut. My sweet potato hashbrowns were a mush consistency and didn't taste as if it came from a freshly cut batch of potatos. The sausage was dry and my enlish muffin was burnt. To make matters worse there was a hair on my nephew's plate....(which didn't stop him from eating at all) and another in my niece's breakfast sandwich. Needless to say only my niece and I left hungry. Although the service was good, the tables are too packed, the prices are high for breakfast (everything is basically a la carte) and the food was terrible.
(1)
Josh P.

I have lived in this neighborhood since Hashbrowns first opened. I used to like this restaurant, but over the years they have started to nickel & dime EVERYTHING. They have gotten so out of control with their "up charges". My wife tried to substitute a plain English muffin instead of her toast and...upcharge. My wife ordered one of the standard items (eggs, sausage, toast) and... upcharge of $2 just to have only egg whites (if you get 3 regular eggs or 3 egg-white it doesn't require any more eggs; you , you simply remove the yolk, so why up-charge $2??) Substitute a fruit cup instead of the standard side..up-charge $4. EVERY SINGLE TIME we used to go to this restaurant we had about $4-$7 in up charges so we quit going altogether. After 12 months we decided to try it again this morning and.... yep, up-charges to the point my friends that went with us were very frustrated when they saw the up-charges for their minor changes. My entire courtyard of neighbors has stopped visiting this restaurant for the same reason. On another note, they serve coffee out of such large coffee cups that your coffee gets cold within 3 minutes so you never have hot coffee. Sorry to be so negative. This is my neighborhood and I REALLY want this restaurant to be successful, but I wish they would try to make their money by just having good food and good service. In this case you would get continuous repeat business (and not just on Saturday & Sundays) instead of trying to make your money by up-charging everything possible.
(1)
Mandy P.

My friend and I had great, friendly, and quick service. The food is standard breakfast/brunch fare (hard to get wrong; and they didn't). The servings are massive - sure to conquer any hangover. I probably had enough eggs and toast for three meals. The space is nice and bright (though not hangover friendly in that regard I suppose). I'd return!
(4)
Vina O.

I've gone here a few times for breakfast and I must say portions are HUMONGOUS! Whether you order an omelet or a burger, it's definitely sharable! Their hashbrowns and fries are a bit too soggy for my taste, but their omelettes and burgers are decent. Service is always a hit or miss, sometimes they're very nice and accommodating and other times they can be complete a-holes. I'd recommend going at a non-peak time (super early breakfast or late lunch) to ensure a less grouchy service. Better yet, order pick up and enjoy it at home (which is what I end up doing more than half the time).
(3)
Ron V.

Pretty basic brunch spot here. Decent service and average food. The only unique element at this restaurant are their signature hash browns. Their Killer Hash Browns being the tastiest. Their egg nachos are rather bland and their breakfast sandwich is rather dry. One area this place succeeds are their omelets, as they offer a wife variety. This place has had pretty much the same menu for the past five years with only a few changes.
(2)
Theresa V.

Over priced in my opinion. Small portions. Average to mediocre breakfast. Don't bother.
(2)
K M.

I've been to Hashbrowns couple of times in the past 6 months and the times i went, i thought the food was good and consistent. Pricing is reasonable and service was good. I enjoyed the egg white omelet with rosemary potatoes and side of Canadian bacon. all good choices. Their eggs Benedict is tasty and creamy. I recommend this place if you want good quality food and service, not mention place looks clean as well. Nice outside seating during the summer months.
(4)
Belle L.

Breakfast beware! $2.50 cold coffee. The Maxwell Burrito had lots of egg with specks of steak. The salsa did not help in providing flavor. Sweet Potato Hashbrown is still ok. I had breakfast at Hadbrown when it first opened, today is a follow-up, I am finally giving up! $18 for breakfast was a waste of money. The menu has incompatible food combinations, and uninteresting with high carbs. Eat at your own risk!
(1)
Roxy H.

I try to find new breakfast spots every Saturday for my fam. We love to do breakfast before Saturday errands and activities. Stumbled upon Hashbrowns. Very cute, little place with outdoor seating too. Parking is like $2 an hour on the street. Score. Kid friendly. My daughter devoured her pancakes. Killer Hashbrowns. Mmmmmm. Not so much. They weren't to die for, just decent. I had the protein omelet (egg whites). It was very delicious. Portion sizes are huge!!! Including the coffee mugs!! I took my unfinished breakfast home to eat Sunday morning. Awesome. We will be back.
(4)
Heather L.

The Combo Hashbrowns (Idaho potato, sweet potato, garlic, and romano) at this place is amazing (no kidding). This breakfast side dish isn't for the faint of heart. It is far from your measly serving of julienned potatoes, lightly sauteed and subtly flavored; there is a time and place for those - maybe. The hashbrowns here is a bowl of buttery, rich, savory-sweet, more-mash-than-crunch goodness. Hearty and DELISH. The 18th Street omelette I got is also downright delectable. The eggs held together and the veggies are refreshing. Plus, the service has been sunny side up since the first time I stepped in the door.
(4)
Jaime G.

Hashbrows at university village is a cute little place in a fun new and revitalized area. Took advantage is the beautiful day but sitting outside and having a coffee and a sandwich. Try the grilled chicken sandwich with avocado and pesto mayo. Have a nice expresso coffee and we're in business. Would def come back.
(4)
Gina S.

It wasn't too busy for breakfast during the week. We were seated right away, just inside the door. Aside from the slight door draft, the atmosphere was really nice and the menu had a good variety of omelets, breakfast sandwiches and good ol' pancakes/waffles/toasts. I went with the "Marty" High Protein omelet; egg white, mushroom, broccoli, turkey and cheese. My side options included toast and the choice between sweet potato hashbrowns or regular hashbrowns. Simple...sweet potato! I don't know why anyone would go with anything but sweet potato hashbrowns? The hubby got the Taylor Street omelet; Italian sausage, mozzarella, tomato and basil...with sweet potato hashbrowns. The omelets were both really good but the breakfast champions on the plate were the sweet potato hashrowns. They were SO freakin' amazing, a nice pan fried crust on the outside and soft sweet goodness on the inside. I just wish I had a bigger portion of them. I will go back just for the hashbrowns. And lucky me, I can order just that. A side of their amazing sweet potato hashbrowns for about $4.
(4)
Jannelly D.

This place is awesome, coffee is good, the food is even better. Best cream of mushroom I've ever had. Great service and atmosphere. Have been here a couple times and many more to come.
(5)
Bruno R.

Tried to have a group of 7 adults and 3 children, they accepted the reservation but once we got there they tried to jam us twice in spaces that barely fit 4 people. The manager did it on purpose and out of spite since we did mot agree with her choice of space the first time (which did not fit us anyway). Business run by idiots.
(1)
Zen-s-asia N.

I liked this place instantly! Comfy vibe and very friendly staff... Duck Bacon is on the menu - excellent idea! Great hash browns... this is to be expected. Good place to have breakfast and catch up with your carb-loading friends... had a taste of the mini-waffles and they were delicious.. a good cup of coffee... also had the Taylor Street Omelet and it did not disappoint...
(4)
William L.

Huge fan of this place. I had the french toast and rosemary hashbrowns. The french toast was perfectly battered and crisp, but plenty soft to absorb some of that delicious vanilla heaven that comes with it. The hashbrowns were really good as well, but if you only like a little garlic, these aren't for you. They were garlic-tacular which was fine by me. We stopped in on around 9 on a Sunday morning and had no problem getting a table right away. It may seem a little cramped inside once you are seated, but it was loud enough that I didn't have to worry about the people next to us hearing our convo.
(4)
Andrew T.

If you are a potato fiend, this is the place for you. Definitely try the Killer Hash Browns (described below). Actually, you should just get the Hash Browns platter and share with with friends, unless you are THAT big of a potato fiend. Here is what the platter includes: House Hash Browns: Made with sweet potatoes Rosemary Hash Browns: Red potatoes, fresh Rosemary & garlic Regular Idaho Potato Hashbrowns Combo Hash Browns: Idaho & sweet potatoes sauteed w/ chopped garlic, topped with Romano cheese Killer Hash Browns: Idaho potatoes, cheddar cheese, onions & sour cream topped with crushed corn flakes baked 'til bubbly. Their omelettes are tasty, but the texture of the eggs seem rather thin. I do recommend the Maxwell Street Omelette that comes with polish sausage, grilled pork chop, grilled onions, and cheese of your choice. Another omelette I would recommend is the Taylor Street, which consists of Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and basil. If you are a beast, then you should get the City of Chicago Omelette. The City of Chicago Omelette is an open faced 6 egg omelette w/ polish sausage, Italian sausage, steak, chorizo, pork chop, bacon, grilled onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli topped w/ mozzarella & cheddar cheese. I have yet to try this or any of the specialty egg burritos they offer here, which wraps all of their specialty omelettes save the City of Chicago. If they did wrap the City of Chicago, I would imagine it to be the size of my torso. Their pancakes look tasty too. They also have a lunch menu, but I have not tried any of the items, but they do offer soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers.
(4)
Tuan N.

For a place named "Hashbrowns", I was expecting a little more than a half scoop on my plate. Granted, they were pretty good, so I enjoyed all 3 bites. First impressions: roommate and I walked into a packed place on a Saturday morning, to a host who had his indifference painted on his face. Sat with no menus for about 5 minutes until I asked. Perhaps I made a mistake in ordering the Maxwell Street omelet, but I was feeling nostalgic, and craving meat. The pieces of polish sausage didn't add enough flavor to make me forget about the dry, grey clumps of tasteless pork. Roommate's "Eggs Benedict Double Trouble" was supposed to be a combination between Benedict and Florentine, but came out with half the ingredients of both. Poached egg, a razor-thin slice of Canadian bacon, a couple shreds of spinach, and a splash of hollandaise. A very sad looking breakfast plate... perhaps they are low on stock? Both plates were about $10 each: completely overpriced for what was offered. We left still hungry, and too sour to give any more money to this restaurant.
(1)
Farha K.

It's a rather dark and gloomy Saturday so I figured a fun brunch will help when a friend and I decided to catch up over a meal. Too bad the food is very mediocre at Hashbrowns, which is surprising because I'd actually heard good things about it when they first opened up. Between the two of us we ordered eggs, medium-easy with the combo hashbrown, and the steak+ mozzarella omelette with the killer hashbrowns... on paper they sounded promising, but both were rather underwhelming. The omellete was rather dense and the eggs too dry... the food wasnt warm when it came in which could have added to the dryness as well. The hashbrowns were also cold and the cheese in both of them ended up hardening up because of that. My friend complained about the first cup of coffee tasting burnt but the waiter (although very sweet) didn't really offer to switch it up and get a fresh cup right away. But he did bring up a fresh pot of coffee once another one had brewed. so +1 for that. All in all the service was actually pretty good, friendly smiling faces and all..but the food had much left to be desired.
(2)
Amelia L.

Best blueberry pancakes ever. I think they mix cinnamon in with the berries, and they turn out all crispy on the edges. They make their own vanilla and strawberry sauces, too - I never even touch the pancake syrup, they're so good. Waitstaff is lovely, decor is nice - especially the brown velvet panels that wrap around two walls. I love this place. It's my go-to breakfast destination. Maybe don't come here if eggs are your thing. The hashbrowns are delicious, but the eggs have never wowed me.
(4)
Michelle M.

I've stopped by this place a few times. I've never been disappointed. This last time I ordered a pepper and egg panini it was amazing! I did get the house hash brown which is the sweet potatoes and there not bad but not my kind of hash Brown's. The sandwich is a good size to share. Location is good. We ate at 11am on a Friday and there was no crowd. Staff is friendly.
(5)
Jennifer Q.

This was a really cute place. My friend and I had been around the corner at the Paul Mitchell School and were STARVING by the time our service was done! Thankfully, Hashbrowns was open until 3pm. We arrived at about 1:30 or so on Saturday and, thankfully, missed the brunch rush. We had a cute table, located in a little nook by the front window. The employees were awesome with us as we stayed, ate and chit-chatted until close. Great food, great service and great ambiance. This will be my go-to brunch spot after my future Paul Mitchell School services!
(3)
Tiff J.

Came here before because it was one of the few places nearby that had mimosas and bloodys for brunch nearby. Recently Stopped selling adult beverages. The food was okay before, nothing to rave about. Without my mimosa it's not worth going out my way. Typical breakfast. The only thing that kept them in my radar was their location and spirits. Now it's just an ihop without flavored syrup. I'll pass...
(2)
Lupe D.

I really liked the food at Hashbrowns. It's a really cute spot, the waitstaff from the hostess to the guys who brought the water and refilled the coffee were all very nice and attentive. We had a very pleasant experience. We arrived at about 11:00am on a Friday and had no wait. I had the strawberry pancakes and my BF had a panini that had eggs, a generous amount of cheddar cheese, and bacon on french bread. It was suppose to come with the sweet potato hashbrowns, but he substituted the rosemary hashbrowns, +$1.00 for the substitution :-( I really liked the strawberry pancakes! They were really light, with fresh strawberries cooked inside. They were NOT sweet at all - cooked perfectly and came with two side sauces - a strawberry puree and a vanilla cream sauce. OMG SO GOOD! I am really picky about pancakes and generally like my pancakes on the sweeter side, but these wouldn't have been as good if they were too sweet because the sauces added the perfect amount sweetness - and the light airiness soaked it all in! YUM! My BF's sandwich looked really good - but I don't really like eggs, so I will take his word that it was good. Personally I would have ordered the same, but substituted avocado for the eggs - THAT would have been a party in my mouth... I tasted the Rosemary Hashbrowns - they were ok. I was disappointed in the portion, but it was a side and not a full order so I guess it was an ok portion for a side dish? As many others have said, this place is definitely not cheap. The only reason I ventured in here is because I had a Groupon, however, the food is really good and I am almost sure to be back... maybe not very often cause, you know, times are tough, but definitely if I have a extra few $$ and am craving those yummy pancakes!
(4)
Fredrick B.

For anyone who has read any of my many restaurant reviews, you know they are generally primarily positive. I seldom waste my time trashing a venue. I hated this experience! Why? Let me count the ways: 1) Way too hot in this place; 2) SERVICE WAS HORRIFIC; 3) FOOD WAS NOT SPECIAL & COLD by the time we were served--BUTTER DIDN'T EVEN MELT ON THE TOAST; 4) Bus boys took our Mimosa OVER HALF FULL! They offered NO apology EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T SEEK REFILLS/REPLACEMENTS, JUST AN "I APOLOGIZE;" 5) Our waitress never brought us or milk or Orange Juices WE ORDERED WHEN SHE TOOK OUR ORDER--STOPPED WITH COFFEE BUT, NONETHELESS SHE PUT THE BEVERAGES ON OUR BILL--REALLY YA IDIOT? WOW--I was so EXCITED to finally dine there, BUT I was exceptionally disappointed. I will NEVER again dine at Hashbrowns--NEVER! How is that for an EMPHATIC NO! I SAID NO! BTW: Get this--$9 FOR PANCAKES (LOL)! Go to I-Hop, Denny's, OR ANYWHERE other than this establishment. PEDESTRIAN at best folks! End of all caps--get it?!?!? #Forgettaboutit!
(1)
Kate M.

The food is really good, incredibly hot, but really good. The service could use a little help though. My favorite dish is the egg & pepper panini. Yum. The hashbrowns are of course good. I was skeptical of the sweet potato hashbrowns, but was pleasantly surprised, they were very good. The burritos are good, and not too big either. The service could use a little help. It's certainly not horrible though, they could just use another server or two. I'm not a huge fan of sitting around and waiting on the servers, it hasn't ruined any of my meals here though. Parking in the parking garage at the end of the block is cheap and convenient.
(4)
Dr. M.

I've definitely had better, in fact, the food today was nothing to brag about. The only honorable mention was the server, who was very nice. The coffee was served cold...seriously, the coffee must have been sitting in the decanter all day (the actual cost of the coffee on my bill was higher than the listed price...go figure?)! The food was very bland, and my omelette was practically meatless! I actually ate a small portion of my food, left the rest & a tip (because I do believe in tipping for service, even if the food is horrible). $12 for one person & paying for parking was definitely not worth it! I will probably never go back because they're plenty of other tasty places to choose from. This was just a visit to scratch off the list. Check
(2)
Richard C.

this place is not amazing but not bad either. every visit i made to this place for breakfast has been a happy belly. food is decent, the place is small but service is decent too.
(4)
David Z.

Hashbrowns is definitely an A-OK breakfast place. I actually stopped in yesterday afternoon after a doctor's appointment. They close at 3pm, so when I waltzed in just before 2:30, I was a little concerned about getting poor service and/or poor food. Luckily, my fears were unjustified. The service was actually very good. Since it was close to closing, the place was essentially empty, so I was waited on immediately, and my food came out very promptly. I liked that I could get breakfast even though it was the afternoon. They DO have lunch options such as burgers, but I'm the kind of guy that loves breakfast at all times of the day, so I went with the french toast. The food itself was decent. As I mentioned earlier, I ordered regular french toast, and I also got a side of regular hashbrowns. The french toast good, but not great. The portion size was also a little small for my tastes, and the toast itself was a little soggy. However, one thing I will say is that I LOVED the cup of vanilla glaze/syrup that came with the food. It was excellent. The hashbrowns were also pretty good. They came in a big bowl. I actually liked having them in a bowl as opposed to a flat plate - but maybe that's just me. All in all, I had a good meal. I ate by myself, and after tip it all ended up being $15. Everything was good, but not great. If I were to go again, I'd try the sweet potato hashbrowns instead, and definitely get something that might fill me up a little more than the french toast.
(3)
Kim H.

I just love potatoes, anyway, shape or form...usually. Not going to say the Idaho hash browns weren't good, but not good enough for place who names itself after the product. Idahos were very greasy, and we're not fresh. Sweet potato ones were alright, but very sweet. Had just eggs, they serve three, nice. Had bacon, might have been last weeks bacon it was sooo leathery. Not going back. Too many better places to spend my money.
(2)
Lauren C.

Hashbrowns is the number one place to get hasbrowns and delicious food in University Village. They could improve on their service staff to customer ratio to improve wait time, but all in all, this place is simply delectable! The now take debit and credit cards and have outdoor seating as well!
(4)
Not Eileen R.

This is a 3 star review, can't give it 4 stars for a couple reasons: they only accept cash, it's on the smaller side and service could be better. What I do appreciate: the variations on the hashbrowns, the omelets paying homage to chicago neighborhoods, and the food tastes pretty good. I did have a bad eggs over medium incident - over medium doesn't mean slimy white stuff in them nor does it mean cook the heck out of them so there's zero runny yolk! So every time I come here I order scrambled eggs. There are better options around town, but if I'm in the area I probably will stop here.
(3)
Rob Z.

We watched this restaurant take forever to open. Just opened last week. With all the breakfast spots around, we recommend you pass this one by. Very pretty decor & great location but nothing else special. The omelet was fine. The hashbrowns that come with are sweet potato hashbrowns. They were interesting but we really wanted great regular hashbrowns. The service was slow and clunky. The bus boy (man) reached across our faces to pick up plates so we got a great introduction to his armpit (yuck). The coffee cups are cute but short and wide so the coffee gets cold faster than if it was in a mug. After all that waiting and watching it be built out and anticipating, we decided we like Yolk or Brunch much better.
(2)
Tera D.

Sorry Hashbrowns, but you are officially my least favorite breakfast place in the UIC area. My server and all of the staff were genuinely really nice, and the place is comfortable to linger in, but at the end of the day, the food isn't good. The whole menu is full of egg dishes that you could absolutely make yourself at home. Heck, you could probably make most of them better. My bajillion egg Greek omelet was so unflavorful I had to dig around to find feta to remind my taste buds what flavor is. As for their namesake hashbrowns, I'm not sure how they made it past the test phase. I love fantasizing about making perfect sweet potato hashbrowns as much as the next girl, but at the end of the day it's a scientific impossibility. Sweet potatoes are WAY too moist to ever get crispy, and the result is just weirdly textured mashed potatoes. Sad story.
(2)
Tom C.

Update: I've been here 20+ times in the past 2 years and in the past 4 months both the service and the food has gone downhill in a hurry. Today it took us almost 40 minutes to get our food and it was far from good. I'm sad to say that this is probably the last time I will eat there.
(2)
Ross N.

Hostess and waitress were great. Eggs were reminiscent of an old dried out sponge. Coffee was like lukewarm dishwater. Orange juice tasted like battery acid. Blaring music and a total lack of ambiance. Never going back!
(1)
Rachel H.

Oddly enough, I'd never been to Hashbrowns before today despite living in Pilsen and working in Greektown. Something about that fancy Maxwell Street just doesn't sit right with me. As a send-off lunch for my friend and colleague, the office came to Hashbrowns and hunkered down on the patio for lunch. The patio was lovely and I enjoyed getting away from fluorescent light hell and into some real lighting. I had the lunch special which is a half sandwich or burger, soup, and sweet potato fries. I got the chicken breast panini with provolone and tomatoes, which was sizeable and hit the spot along with the soup and fries. Fries could have been a bit crisper, but they were still good. I also liked that they had about four soups of the day. That's the good stuff, but tragically, there's some bad stuff too. While the special was a good deal, many of the other items are on the pricier side. Very few vegetarian options in the lunch portion of the menu, and I'm always a little annoyed by places that serve soft drinks in a can. This isn't some Chinese delivery place or pizza by the slice shack. I'd definitely come back with the office, or to try the breakfast menu which seemed pretty extensive, but a vegetarian boyfriend makes this place an unlikely lunch choice. Since the boss paid, maybe I should have gotten the $18 six egg omelette with all the random meats in it. Adam Richman should give that one a try.
(3)
Tim H.

Decent breakfast. For a place called Hashbrowns, I was expecting some amazing hashbrowns. I left unimpressed. I had the hashbrown sampler which comes with 4 different types of hashbrowns. They were all mediocre to good. None of them were great. I would come back if in the area and wanting breakfast food, but I would not make a special trip to come here.
(3)
Karan M.

I came here for brunch on a Saturday a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised. Aside from the wait, which I've come to expect at all brunch places, the food, service, and convenience were great. Parking was easy and cheap with a large, attached parking structure close by. The food was very good with great quantity and taste. The service was a bit slow, but this gave us time to talk and enjoy coffee. All in all, we will definitely stop by again when we're in town.
(4)
John P.

We live close by. We walk over to Hashbrowns occasionally for breakfast. The place is small; tables are packed tightly together. Not enough room for condiments and food on the tables. Service is spotty. Food is adequate but pricey. Someone thinks well done hash browns need to float in butter - perhaps because they are not prepared fresh with each meal. Egg dishes are OK, not spectaular. We walked over last Saturday. It was hot outside. We were a bit sweaty when we got to Hashbrowns. The front door was open. The place is small. It was hotter inside. Hashbrowns was pretty much empty. Perhaps because the air conditioning was off or not working. This was nothing new since whenever we've been there, the air conditioning has either NEVER been on or has NEVER worked. Ever. Too bad this Saturday was exceptionally hot. We'd like to like this place since it's so close to our home Oh well, Meli's is not too far. Maybe we'll come back to Hashbrowns in the Winter when the heat is (hopefully) on.
(2)
Anthony M.

My wife brought me here because she told me I would love it. I didn't. The newly remodeled neighborhood is cute but personally I miss the scary underworld that Maxwell Street use to be. Enough with the tour and on to the food. This place is called Hashbrowns...I love Hashbrowns but these Hashbrowns are terrible. We got the Hashbrown Platter and I was really disappointed. If you call yourself Hashbrowns then you better have killer hashbrowns. I felt bad because my wife raved about this place and it was a complete waste of money. I also ordered a breakfast too and it came with more terrible hashbrowns. Enough...stop with the bad potatos. We will not be coming back here. I really wish that this place lived up to it's name.
(1)
Geoff H.

Not the best breakfast place I've been too, but still above average. The sweet potato hash browns were good, but not great. Service was fine, and my omelet was pretty good. Would I come back? Sure, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Amanda M.

- - - - - - - MAC APPROVED - - - - - - - - My friend and I were running some errands and in the mood for breakfast in the University Village area - Happily we discovered HASH BROWN'S! It was close to closing time, yet the staff made us feel super welcomed
(4)
Natalie L.

The service was good but that's about it. I had Just Eggs (3 eggs over easy with sausage and toast). One of the eggs was over hard. The sausage was just eh. I had the garlic and sage hash browns. They weren't hash browns, though. They were potato home fries (chopped up and seasoned chunks). Hubby liked his sweet potato hash browns, which were traditional shredded hash browns. But he said his club sandwich was not good. Won't be coming back to this one, unfortunately.
(2)
T V.

I saw this restaurant featured on Chicago's Best and was excited to try everything on their menu especially the sweet potato hash browns. We arrived around 9am on Memorial Day. The restaurant was about 85% full. We ordered iced coffee, egg nachos, Northsider egg white omelet and loaded French Toast. The ice melted quickly in the iced coffee. The egg nachos were interesting. The nachos inside were soggy. Not sure if they are suppose to be that way? My Northsider omelet consisted of some veggies and cheese. It was a regular omelet, nothing special. The loaded french toast consisted of french toasted loaded with fruit on top and a dipping sauce on the side. It was your typical french toast. I guess I was most disappointed with the sweet potato hash browns. I requested them extra crispy. Instead I got what appeared to be sweet mash potatoes. The taste was hard to eat as all I could taste was the butter.
(2)
Scott C.

I was here on a Monday morning and the place was semi busy. Nicely decorated but the long wooden booth on the bar was a bit uncomfortable. I ordered an OJ and Ham & Cheese omlette which was tasty and filling . Omlette was good, no grizzle in the ham & semi fluffy, sweet potato hash browns were really good. toast was made with decent bread. OJ was decent too . Bill was $14.32 before tip...a little pricey but I saw them on chicagos best and decided to try it, Would go back again
(3)
Mike K.

Oh, how you always manage to disappoint me in some way, shape or form, Hashbrowns. If it's not one thing, it's another. I'm just not gullible enough to fall for you entirely. Perhaps someone at Hashbrowns read one of my previous reviews noting how there were too many condiments on the table, resulting in not enough room for your food. This time, there was no ketchup or tabasco on the table, and the butter and cream were consolidated into one cup. There was still a needless amount of jelly on the table. The jelly could probably also be consolidated into the large cup with the cream and butter to make room for patrons' food. It's close quarters in Hashbrowns, and every inch counts. Then again, perhaps nobody at Hashbrowns read my previous reviews, as the service is still, as usual, lacking. Service is the Achilles heel of Hashbrowns. There is just something wrong with it every single time. This time, our server was better than most I've had in the past, but my coffee never was refilled. I also noticed the table three inches from us wasn't greeted for at least five minutes after being seated. They ended up asking our server if she was their server. No, she wasn't, but she would notify their server. So it's not just me. Service is just consistently bad at Hashbrowns. As to the food, apart from the huge mistake that was changing the combo hash browns from shredded to thick cut (if this has changed, please inform me), it's usually very good. Since the aforementioned egregious mistake with the combo hash browns was instituted, I've only ever gone with the killer hash browns, which have up to this point always been delicious. Like Eddie O. would say, "Stop it right there!" This time they were different. The potatoes were extra stringy and undercooked. I know my potatoes. When they're that crunchy, they're undercooked. Goodness, me. You have the potential to be so delicious, Hashbrowns. You have the concept. You just don't execute. Come on. Please. Let me love you. Shore it up!
(2)
Allison V.

This place is awful. I wish I could give negative stars! I have been here before but this time was my last. Below is the list I made while sitting there... Fruit flies. Meal came out one thing at a time Served food by the bus boy Food was placed on different tables Nobody checked on us No coffee refills or option to get more My omelet was wrong Hashbrowns were bland and cold and mushy Waitress was at the counter shoving food into her mouth Waitress eating food was chewing like a cow Fruit was overly ripe...maybe that is why there were fruit flies I did not eat the food, I just had some toast.... We were brought the check, I informed the waitress of all of the problems, she informed me there was nothing she could do because her manager was not there. Maybe she should have checked on us, maybe she should have followed the whole two bite protocol check. Maybe she should find a new job. This place will never be recommended to anyone by me. I will deter friends from patronizing this horrible establishment.
(1)
Mary T.

Kind of a letdown. Since I love nearly all things potato-related, I was excited to try a place named after one of my favorite dishes. Unfortunately, I found the food to be just average. Hashbrowns is located on a cute, quaint little revamped stretch of Maxwell Street full of restaurants and shops. There is a small patio for outdoor dining and a cute interior. Inside the walls are exposed brick with old photographs and furniture sprinkled throughout the space. I didn't get a great view of the entire place, but the tables in front are quite close together seeming overly cramped in some places. The menu is very meat and egg heavy, two dishes I don't care for, but it's not their fault I have a picky palette. I opted for the buttermilk pancakes and a side of the Idaho potato hashbrowns with cheese. Michael G. got the breakfast nachos, which were basically chilaquiles with their signature sweet potato hashbrowns. He seemed quite pleased with the nachos, but disappointed in the hashbrowns after finding spots with undercooked potatoes. Neither of my items particularly wowed me. I got 3 enormous pancakes, which came with homemade strawberry and vanilla syrups. I opted for traditional maple syrup instead, I couldn't get past the ketchup-like appearance of the strawberry and milk-like consistency of the vanilla. The pancakes were average, I wished there was an option for a short stack or a berry pancake; I certainly didn't need that much. The hashbrowns were good, served in a large cereal bowl, but average for a place that doesn't used shredded potatoes. The food was solid, just not memorable. I can't see myself going out of my way to return. P.S. This place is breakfast and lunch only.
(3)
Joanne C.

Good brunch place. When we come here I always order my usual: Killer Hashbrowns, side of sausage and coffee. Someone (usually my sister) will order the 3 eggs special and we share everything. Works out great. I love the Killer Hashbrowns. The cheese, the sour cream, onions, all topped with corn flakes and baked. So yummmmmmy. Service is a bit spotty sometimes. One time we were sitting in one of those corner seats by the window and our server forgot about us. The place is a little snug and I usually don't like to come here until after 11 or 12. I just don't like being so close to strangers or having them hover near my table when I'm trying to eat.
(3)
Claudia D.

The husband and I went here once. NO way again. These are NOT hash browns. The food was overcooked or undercooked. The food looked terrible and tasted worse.
(1)
Tracey H.

I love potatoes!!!! Yes, you read that right!!! I love potatoes. This place has GREAT hashbrowns. They are always tasty and cooked to perfection. The "Killer" hashbrowns are my favorite. The service is good and fast. If you are a fellow potato lover, then you will love this place. If you are interested in other breakfast items, you will find the food to be average. The omelets were puffy and too eggy for my taste. I like to taste the ingredients in the omelet, but all I could taste was the egg. The pork sausages were too salty and not very flavorful. The pancakes were good and so was the coffee. I visit often and 99% of the time I order only hashbrowns and coffee.
(4)
Dianne S.

Stumbled in for brunch one summer morning after "one of those" nights. My husband and I were still in the smoky clothes from the night before...it was 80 degrees out...and this place had the nerve to have two fans going and no air conditioning. Needless to say...it was going to take a whole lot to impress us at this point. I'd come here only one time before with the little bro when he was checking out UIC, so basically when Hashbrowns just opened. Here are some differences I found: THEN -cash only -sweet potatoe hashbrowns brought to you w/out choice of regular hashbrowns -pretty friendly server, very attentive NOW -credit cards accepted -yay for a democracy! you get to choose what type of hashbrowns you want to eat!! -server hard to come by, busy trying to wait on as many tables as possible and picking fights with other servers who attempt to take a table from her! seriously!!! Portions here are huge, but I can't say the same about the flavor. A lot of decent street parking (pay box) around but I think I'd drive myself elsewhere next time.
(2)
Sarah S.

Arrived here for a lunch and was greeted by pleasant smells of bacon and coffee.. YAY!! Server was quick to bring water and introduce herself.. place was pretty busy. I got a burger and my guest had an omelet.. both were very good and the fries/hash browns WERE AWESOME.. I expected them to be, but was surprised at how delish they were. Juicy burger dripped meat juice on the fries for extra topping. Only negative about the place was the fans... it was a nice day, BUT I was sneezing and rubbing my eyes within a few minutes which hindered my enjoyment a tad. Next time I will go when they have a/c or heat on and no fans.
(3)
Marjorie W.

All I'll say is that chunks of raw minced garlic should not be in the classic b-fast item Eggs Florentine (like Benedict but instead of Canadian bacon there is spinach). Eeeeew!!
(2)
Leticia L.

I so wanted to love this place. I looked online at the reviews and they were mixed so I hoped I would have been on the "great breakfast" side of the fence. We called Saturday early afternoon for a table of 5 and a highchair and they told us if we came now they could seat us right away. That was a huge plus. We got there in 10 minutes and sure enough there was a table. A rather cramped table though as they tried to fit us at a 4 person table. I was in fact willing to overlook this if it wasn't for the fact that the temperature seemed to be 95 degrees inside the restaurant. I don't know if they have air conditioning but it was either off or not working because they had fans going everywhere. Not a good scenario for a pregnant woman and a toddler. We stuck it out though because we were starving. We waited for about 15 minutes before the waitress finally took our order and then waited what seemed like eternity for our food. I ordered french toast and the plate was hot so I figured the food would also be hot. I was so wrong. All our food was cold. My husbands burger was soggy because the juice from the burger had penetrated to the bottom of the bun. my sister-in-law's eggs were rubbery and her husband's steak was cold. It was as if our order had been sitting there forever. Our waitress also took forever to come back and refill our water glasses and coffee. When I asked her for a refill of decaf she poured hot water into my glass. Also the water she was pouring into our glasses was already room temperature. For an 80 dollar breakfast (not including tip) I was really hoping for a little more.
(1)
SoxSide Mike R.

Visited Hashbrowns this past Monday at 11am, and it was awesome! No wait and nowhere near as crowded as on the weekends. WARNING: don't come to Hashbrowns and expect to be cheap, they are a bit pricey, but worth it! A word on parking, use the UIC garage at the east end of Maxwell St., will cost you $2 for up to 2 1/2hrs and metered street parking costs $1.50/hr! Plus, you can go over your limit in the garage without the risk of being ticketed in case you decide to walk around and shop in the area. The meter maids are hardcore in the area and you will get ticketed if you go over your time limit on the street! So, i visited with my two friends, I had the Low Carb Omelet (bacon, sausage, cheese) with the house (sweet potato) hashbrowns, fresh squeezed OJ, (the best damn) coffee, and whole wheat toast; one of my friends had The Bridgeport Omelet (steak & cheese), with the regular American Hashbrowns, OJ, coffee, and wheat toast; my other friend had Simply eggs(3 eggs over medium) with some huge sausage links, american hashbrowns, coffee and toast. We all shared an order of silver dollar blueberry and strawberry pancakes. Word of warning; the regular order of pancakes are HUGE! We all loved our meals, especially the whole wheat toast! The fresh squeezed OJ is a bit pricey, but other than that we loved our breakfast. Our sever was awesome, she read our minds and we didn't have to ask for a thing. If you're looking for a tasty breakfast in the UIC Village area definitely check this place out!
(4)
Dawn B.

Giving this place five stars for the following reasons: big coffee mugs that were attentively filled, good prices, delicious hashbrowns (sweet potato!) and they didn't rush my friend and I out when we were catching up (we stayed three hours).
(5)
Jasmine P.

Breakfast at Hashbrowns with my friend after yoga at CorePower Yoga was great today! Hash browns are my favorite food so of course I would try a restaurant with the same name! Hashbrowns (the restaurant) is a cutely decorated restaurant in the University Village area. I like that you can have breakfast anytime AND lunch at any time. Or as my friend Amy said, "you mean I can order a burger right now??" (at 9am). I've grown accustomed to regular hashbrowns, but the restaurant Hashbrowns offers other types of hash browns like sweet potato, red potato, and Idaho potato. The price of the hash browns were expensive, but the portion sizes of the hash browns were substantial. yum. I ordered the Combo Hashbrowns, but it turns out I am actually a fan of sweet potato hash browns. I also ordered the Mini Waffles. They were soo cute. Each mini waffle had a dollop of whip cream on top. The raspberry sauce that came with the waffles was delish! It tasted homemade! You could actually taste the raspberries! My friend got the egg sandwich which was really good as well. The bacon within the sandwich was sooo crispy. DOUBLE YUM! The hash browns that came with the egg sandwich weren't as substantial as the side order. If you don't live in the area, I would suggest parking in the parking garage. It's pretty inexpensive (not sure how much the parking meter rate is for that area). It's only $2 for up to 2 1/2 hours. cool! Hashbrowns (the restaurant) is a cute breakfast place that isn't typical diner-like. I like places that offer a little escape from your normal day and Hashbrowns did that for me this morning. Thanks!
(4)
Amy G.

Hashbrowns, you just earned another star. For a breakfast joint you don't execute breakfast particularly well, to be completely honest. Omelets are a little overcooked and the actual hash browns, presumably the restaurant's specialty, are usually overdone to the point of becoming mashed potatoes rather than crispy, tantalizing New Year's resolution destroyers. Servers still seem frazzled and overworked. However, a lot of things are working in your favor. 1. Rarely a wait. I don't know if this is a statement on the quality of Hashbrowns or not.. but the hell if I'm waiting an hour to get into any of the fancy Wicker Park brunch places. Seating is ample and ambiance is nice and casual. Prices are fair and ingredients seem fresh and of high quality. This ain't gourmet but it's not the government cheese and canned vegetables of a diner either. 2. Free parking. I've extolled the virtues of UIC's parking garages as the best damn deal in the Loop for ages. This still holds. Free parking in that Maxwell Street/Union parking structure on Sundays! 3. Finally and most importantly, the burgers. Skip the breakfast food, seriously, and opt for a delicious half-pound-plus Angus beef burger. I ordered the low-carb burger, a bunless concoction with high quality beef blended with crispy bacon and slightly spicy Italian sausage. For an additional $1.50 I got the whole thing topped with a perfectly cooked egg over-easy (how can the chefs do this and fail so extraordinarily at scrambled eggs and omelets?) and it was served alongside a nice, salty pickle, lettuce, and a sweet, juicy tomato. Despite being a low-carb entree, however, the burger was dished out with Hashbrowns lackluster sweet potato fries, limp and oily. I'll try substituting them in the future and report back. The restaurant got more and more crowded as my friends and I hung out into the early afternoon with coffee and conversation. All of our special requests were accommodated and we did not feel remotely rushed.
(3)
Deanna M.

Service is great: very attentive and kind. They don't rush you out of here, even on a busy day. Food is solid: the apple pancake special is awesome. Pancakes, omelets and sides are good. Loved the sweet potato hash browns but I do love all things sweet potato, so I may not be the harshest critic in that respect. Coffee is served in large mugs (think: tv show "friends" style) and it keeps a'coming as long as u are sitting there. Small restaurant, but more than enough room on a busy day to fit my son's baby buggy in basinet position (long!) and kudos to the wait staff and bus boys who navigated easily around it without nocking into it and waking a sleeping baby :-)
(4)
G N.

Tanto buon cibo (think I spelled that right). Lots of good food. Was in the neighborhood and stopped in. Our group had pancakes, omelette and eggs benedict which were all very tasty and had home cooking written all over them. Waitress and table staff were excellent. Service very good even though it was busy they were very organized and working hard. Clean. Good coffee. Fair prices. Oh, and we really could have eaten a plate of the sweet potato hashbrowns.
(5)
Joe E.

All college campuses need a couple of solid breakfast joints for students to flock to either before their mid-term exam, after a long night of drinking, or whenever they get sick of dorm food. Hashbrowns fulfills this need for the UIC students, as well as locals, living on "south campus." This breakfast place features breakfast specialities from each of the ethnic neighborhoods of Chicago as well as spins on some of the typical breakfast foods. From meat filled omelets to huge pancakes, students never leave this place hungry. It doesn't get a perfect rating because the food is fairly expensive for being in a college setting and also everyone always needs lots of salt and pepper when eating their meal. They need to start seasoning their foods better.
(3)
Richie D.

I'm not Irish but I'm in love with potatoes. Now when you make anything with Sweet Potatoes, I'm like a squirrel who has come across a tree full of nuts...I become a scavenger and go wild. Their hashbrowns are just perfectly cooked with a touch of cinnamon. I would just make it my meal. It's all about the hashbrowns baby!
(4)
Kyle K.

Hash browns is a great breakfast/brunch spot. The food portions are very generous and the staff are very friendly. They have all types of different hash browns, each just as delicious as the other. Also, they have some pretty delicious Chicago-inspired omelets. I recommended the egg nachos, Greek Town Omelet, and killer hash browns.
(5)
Rhoda Y.

We were looking for a new bfast spot and decided to check this out. They had omelettes and burgers named taylor st., greektown and northsider. Went with the eggs benedict (good), the bf had the 18th st. omelette (good) and my son got the bridgeport burger n fries (yummy). One downer was the way they prepared their hashbrowns. I prefer shredded but any which way, it has to be nice n crispy! The hashbrowns here are kinda mushy (disappointing). Overall a decent place. Not sure if I'd go back cuz my bfast is not complete without a side of yummy hashbrowns!
(2)
Paul R T J.

Great place to eat, busy, energetic, and good food.
(5)
Steve C.

My favorite spot to bring guests for breakfast or lunch! The service is very friendly and the food is wonderful! The new combo hashbrowns are my favorite followed by the Rosemary potatoes and yes you can order them with sandwiches at lunch too. The burgers here are the best I have had in the city! The pretzel bun alone is worth the trip! Bravo Hashbrowns!
(5)
Angeliaque T.

I have always enjoyed my experience at Hashbrowns. I have been going there since it opened, over three years ago. I like the silver dollar pancakes and the roasted potatoes for breakfast and when I have gone during lunch I get the turkey burger with brocolli and the sweet potatoe fries. The owner is very friendly and the waitstaff are attentive. The weekends they are more crowded, I have gone but I don't feel like I get as much attention as the weekday mornings. I will continue to go during the week because I like the attention.
(4)
Keisha S.

Food took a very long time to come out and it was only two of us :( had to take my food with us terrible time will not return.
(2)
MyChau N.

3.5 stars. Went here on a weekend with hubby and a friend from out-of-town. Been here 3 other times prior and the place did not leave much of an impression in the past, but we had a craving for hashbrowns and this place is close by. The great thing about this place is that there is no wait compared to other breakfast/brunch places. We did get there early in the morning (at around 9:30am on a Sunday). We did not have any problems with the service at this visit or in the past, but we are not super demanding people and prefer not to be interrupted during our meal. The atmosphere is not cute/trendy and quite small, but it's clean and well-lit (very family friendly). At this visit, we had: The City of Chicago Omelet: a huge omelet filled with all kinds of meat that should be shared between 2 people. It was delicious! (I had the Taylor Street Omelet in the past and this was a lot yummier!) My hubby and I split this and they brought us two plates with the food split up between the plates which was nice. Rosemary hashbrowns and sweet potato hashbrowns: My hubby liked the rosemary hash since it was very garlicky and I liked the sweet potato hash since I like something sweet when I eat a savory meal. (sweet potato hash came with our omelet, rosemary hash ordered as a side) Combo hashbrowns: this was the best hasbrowns of the bunch!!! Our friend had the 18th St. omelet and upgraded his sweet potato hashbrowns to the combo hashbrowns. This is basically all of their hashbrowns mixed together and fried. It was savory and sweet. I would come back for this alone! Coffee: free refills and tasted alright. Did not try their burgers on this visit but had it in the past and they are not spectacular in comparison to all the great burger joints in Chicago. Would not come here for burgers... Overall, 3 stars for atmosphere, 4 stars for service, 5 stars for no wait, and 3.5 stars for food.
(4)
Len W.

Nice place, fresh OJ (although it came from a jug and I can't remember if it said "fresh" or "fresh squeezed"). Eggs florentine were really good. My daughter had french toast with fruit and it was also really good. Coffee was pretty good, but not the best. We'll go back.
(4)
Justine L.

Hashbrown's burgers were pretty good, but not quite there. They cook the patties with the ingregients in the burger, rather than on top. I am a fan of this and make my own burgers this way. However, I couldn't really taste the extra ingredients. I got the turkey burger, which included brocolli and mushrooms. I could barely taste the brocolli but not the mushrooms. My friends go the Maxwell, the Bridgeport, and the Northsider. Each said they could only taste the meat and not the extra ingredients. The most prevelant thing about our experience is that when the burgers came, they had a small piece of lettuce. We each asked for extra lettuce. To our surprise, we got charged $0.75 per piece of lettuce. Please note, a "piece of lettuce" was equivalent to a 3-4 inch leaf of romain lettuce. A 110% rip off. Lastly, service was not the best. The waitor took our orders, brought out food, and brought the check. However, he never once looked us in the face and talked as though he wanted to leave. Overall review of Hashbrowns: their sweet potato fries are good, but (as you may have noticed) everything else poor outshines the good. Don't think I will choose to go back.
(1)
ben w.

just ate here, great food, great portions, great coffee and great service! The sweet potato hashbrowns with melted butter on them are awesome. I look forward to returning here. Prices are also very reasonable/moderate.
(5)
Joseph D.

Review based on breakfast. I love a good breakfast. I thought the service was fine. No issues whatsoever. Fast and quick. I did have my luggage with me so they probably knew I was headed to the airport after my breakfast. The breakfast was pretty good. I ordered an egg-white omelette with spinach, mushrooms, and low fat mozzarella. It came with multigrain wheat toast and sweet potato hash browns. Good stuff all around. I never had sweet potato hash browns before. It was quite tasty and filling. I suggest avoiding eating too much of the sweet potato hash browns. It may fill a light eater quickly. Yes, as other reviewers mentioned, the sweet potato hash browns are not the same texture or style of traditional crispy, stringy hash browns. I am not a big fan of thinking that all food genres need to be the same in taste and texture. It ruins the innovation. So I am thumbs up for the sweet potato hash browns :-P As for price, I thought everything was extremely affordable. I am not sure whether I could afford the breakfast when I was an undergraduate, but I thought for the price this was a great breakfast. Definitely worthy of a recommendation.
(4)
Vanessa G.

Went here on a Monday morning. The was no wait, however the food took quite a while to arrive at our table. The actual location is cute and small. The food, ehh, it was just ok. Nothing out of the ordinary. The sweet hashbrowns, were bland and not tasty.
(2)
Morgan A.

We went for brunch on a Saturday at 11 and had no wait! Actually, we ended up waiting a LONG time for our friends to join us but that's another story. The staff was great about it, they didn't pressure us or even ask us about it while we waited. I ordered the eggs benedict per my usual. They were good, not amazing. The hashbrowns were perfectly browned (what I would expect from a place called hashbrowns). I opted for the regular potatoes instead of the sweet potato hashbrowns because I'm not a huge fan. Everyone seemed happy with their meal. Again, it was good, not great. I'd definitely go back but it wouldn't be my first choice for brunch in the city.
(3)
Matthew W.

You'd never guess it from the name...but the burger is AWESOME! Not the cheapest but worth the yum. All of the breakfast foods looked great but I couldn't really see beyond my delicious burger. The coffee was pretty bad and came in a cup built for a child's tea party. Staff was awesome. We waited for friends for 45 minutes and they never hassled us to order. I can't wait to go back and try some breakfast and maybe even some...you guessed it...hashbrowns. I wish yelp let you use half stars because this place would get 3.5 but probably not quite a 4.
(3)
Keith L.

If I would have reviewed Hash Browns the last time I came prior to my most recent visit, I would have most likely given it 4 stars. However, within the 1 year span, the quality of the food has definitely declined. Their prized sweet potato hash browns are now nothing more than mashed potatoes which who wants that at 10 AM. Their 18th Street omelet which used to be one of my favorite in the city is now dry and nothing really to brag about.
(3)
Jane S.

I'm not going to lie....the only reason I even went to this place is because my son's tutoring is next door. There is never a line so it's super convenient for me to go there. As the name gave away, their specialty is harsh browns. They have about 5 different types they specialize in, but I have tried only two types so far - the original & sweet potato. Both types of harsh browns are pretty good. They are not the best I have had, but at the same time they are good enough where I keep on coming back to this place. In my opinion there is nothing worse than some soft soggy harsh browns & these are nice & crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle (just how I like them). Besides hash browns they also have a good variety of specialty burritos and omelets. I haven't tried the burritos yet, but when it comes to omelets I would say they are good, but not amazing. This is not a place you want to go out of your way to go eat at, but at the same time if you are in the area in the morning or like me have a kid in tutoring next door, make sure to stop by and give them a try.
(3)
Carolyn E.

Okay so the delicious coffee flowed readily, my server was super attentive and wonderful. My egg sammich no bacon was what I expected, but oh the sweet potato hashbrowns were mushy and greasy and mushy. I'd try a different flavor if I come back.
(3)
Mona V.

They have mimosas which was a plus and they have great hashbrowns. That's all I really liked. It's very busy and crowded on weekends, but very friendly staff. If you like potatoes, you'll love this place as the title says "Hashbrowns".
(3)
Heather I.

I got 2 small burnt chicken fingers and soggy fries for $8.50 ($10 with tip). It was awful and a total rip off. We were regulars but after today ... we will not return. I wish I could also give negative stars.
(1)
Linda G.

The food is great! Especially the hashbrowns! The waitstaff is amazing. We come here every weekend with our 2 year old and they are always accommodating and web engaging with our son. Great food, great service!
(5)
Leigh C.

This place did not live up to expectations. I've been here 3 times and still can't find a breakfast menu item I really enjoy. Today I had the peppers and egg panini with sweet potato hashbrowns. Too much egg, hardly any peppers, the bread was soggy, and all together NOT flavorful. Where's the spice? Literally this only had 3 ingredients: eggs, peppers and bread. The hashbrowns were TOO oily and soggy as well. Last time I was here I had one of the burritos, and it also had WAY too much egg and lacked flavor altogether. It tasted disgusting. I probably should have brought it back. I do admit the fresh orange juice and chocolate milk is very good, but we finished the small portions well before the food arrived!
(2)
Nikki V.

I've been here more than a handful of times and I've always enjoyed Hashbrowns! They are well-known for their sweet potato hashbrowns but i'm not a big fan of sweet potato. I like their regular hashbrowns tho! :) I normally order 'just eggs' and their eggs are always perfect! the bacon is delicious and i love that i can have add-ons to my hashbrowns with no problem! The staff there is very accommodating and very nice. The restaurant itself is very small with a lot of tables so it can get very packed, cramped and loud. Sometimes I feel like you need to scream in order to have a conversation with someone sitting across from you. I wouldn't recommend bringing kids just b/c you'll annoy everyone around you if your child acts up (me, included).
(4)
Sylvia R.

*Based on an Dine in Experience* On the Food: I love the pancakes (though you really cant go wrong with that). The servings were generous. Theres Always food to take home! In fact, it even taste's good reheated! (which is rare) Service: The waitress was nice, she did her job, even helped my friend (whose a picky eater) put together a meal without over paying for substitutes, nice of her. Seating: (indoor) Now seating is a different story. Its incredibly packed. So much so, that I was sitting next to a drafty window and to get to the seat, People had to get up from their seat, or move into the table. The only way moving your chair in would work was if you were a child. So seating is a minus. They need to be rearranged. to better "walk thru" instead of bumping into people. The waitress had to talk to us over someone else's table because we were tucked in a corner you couldn't really get into.
(3)
Jennifer C.

This place is cozy and I seem to like it. My husband for some reason is just ok on it. They recently changed their hashbrowns! They used to be this shredded goodness and they turned them sort of into soggy chips of potatoes. I was a little disappointed. ****PLEASE NOTE, IF ANYONE FROM HASHBROWNS IS READING THIS YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO THE SHREDDED HASBROWNS PLEASE!!!!!********* I usually get the BLT which is consistently good. There's usually not a long wait which is why I like it. I will go back though to try the hasbrowns again and if they're the same soggy chips I don't know if I'll be back again....
(3)
Heather P.

I went to for breakfast 9/5/12. My husband and I were out running errands and he had eaten there before and liked it and I had heard rave reviews from friends. Since it was mid morning on a weekday we had no wait and were seated right away. The waiter was efficient but indifferent brought our drinks right away. We had ordered tomato juice and after having a couple drinks I noticed a giant white hair in my juice. ( mine is read and my husbands is dark brown) so I knew it wasn't either go ours. I told the winter and he was pretty indifferent asked if I wanted another one and I said no thank you. The food was ok after the rave reviews I was disappointed. The sweet potato hashbrowns are a novelty and are pretty good. When we received out check I was insulted to see the hairy tomato was still on the bill. Needless to say I will not be going back
(1)
Allison E.

If I could describe Hashbrowns in one word, that word would be "meh" This place raged three stars, and I regret that I couldn't find it in my heart to give more. It is a very cute little place with a nice atmosphere. The manager was so lovely to our large group. She checked in on use several times and even sent over a complimentary hashbrown sample platter. The hashbrowns themselves were quite tasty, which is a relief as the place is called "hashbrowns" But alas, the three stars will remain. While the hashbrowns were good, my brunch entree, the egg nachos, were not as exciting as I envisioned, and just kinda blah. In fact, I couldn't even be bothered to eat the leftovers and ended up throwing them out after a few days. Some of my friends had very delicious looking breakfasts and I hear the buttermilk pancakes were divine. Our waitress was.......a problem. She was either really stupid or hungover. I am guessing the second. She seemed miserable, appeared to be struggling to stay on her feet, and had a hard time with simple tasks. She had a bit of a meltdown at the register while trying to figure our bill in which another waitress had to come and coach her through. Also, my friend whose birthday got us all out of bed early for this brunch, actually got up to help our waitress do her job. Seriously. With the help of my friend, the other waitstaff, the manager, and the bus persons, our waitress just barely managed to survive our table. We were a largish group, but we were working hard to make things as easy as possible and we were nice and polite about everything. Seriously though, I wanted to strangle the hungover waitress, and probably could have summoned up another star if it wasn't for her.
(3)
Nichole S.

Absolutely in love with this place! Everything I've tried thus far has been delicious. OBSESSED with the French Toast. Every time I go I have an internal struggle...do I get the French Toast once again or do I try something new?? Not to mention the French Toast comes with a side of homemade vanilla syrup and it is scrumptious :D The "Killer" hash browns are a must! Never tasted anything quite like it. Other than the food the service has always been outstanding, the busboys always ask if I'd like more coffee, and I never wait too long for a seat. I gave it 4 stars though because it really bothers me they don't have a french toast with eggs option. I'm fatty who would really love eggs with my french toast and not have to pay $5 extra for a 2 egg side.
(4)
Stephanie A.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I love potatoes and their creamy potato soup is to die for. I also love their Chicken pesto with Avocado sandwich. I am not a big fan of sweet potato fries but you can get regular fries.
(5)
Stephanie C.

Didn't really live up to the hype. It was good, but the sweet potato hasbrowns were soggy. Our guests were unimpressed at the brunch we took them to.
(3)
Bobby O.

Best damn oat meal around! Goes great with the turkey sausage and wheat bread (light butter) of course.
(5)
Robyn T.

Sweet potato hashbrowns? Gotta love them and they could be the best thing about this University Village brunch spot. I wish I could have gotten seconds...heck next time I got to Hashbrowns I'll just order that as my main dish and maybe get an egg on the side. Oh yeah and one of their humungous cups of coffee. Aside from their namesake dish the rest of the menu was OK but nothing particularly inspiring. There were some jumbo omlettes, some nice big bowls of fruit and the aforementioned huge cups of coffee. The space is neat and very modern but my party of 3 was stuck next to the kitchen at a makeshift table basically in the path of the servers. They do have a nice outdoor dining space in the summer as well as counter service for those solo diners. I might go back if I'm in the neighborhood but not unless I have a craving for those sweet potatoes.
(3)
Poof A.

A tip for vegetarians: go elsewhere. Had a lovely lunch on the patio here- a great way to finally enjoy the beautiful weather! But as a non meat-eater who wanted lunch, not brekkie, my options were seriously limited. I got a caesar salad, which was huuuge and delicious, as well as the killer hashbrowns, which hit the spot. BF got the avocado and chicken breast sandwich. That one was definitely the winner of the meal- all the ingredients were incredibly fresh and the chicken was perfectly cooked. I have to say I was salivating a little at the sight of it (and I'm rarely tempted by anything meaty!) It came on a pretzel bun and BF essentially vacuumed it right up. Make something like that for vegetarians, and I'd happily add another star. Until then, though, I'll probably head next door where things are a little more veggie-friendly.
(3)
Candice D.

It was just ok. I've paid less for better.
(2)
Stu S.

Ok I used to love this place and would have given it 4 stars but they JUST changed their technique for making hashbrowns. They used to be cut extremely thin into tiny strings that were crispy. Now they changed their hasbrowns to slimy, greasy and soggy handcut sliced potatoes. Hasbrowns are supposed to be cut into thin shavings to be called HASHbrowns. Now they are just potatoes prepared the lazy diner way. Nothing special about them at all. And I can make better ones at home which is why I will not bother returning to this old favorite. Pitty. I did find out out that if you ASK them to cut the hashbrowns right they will. But why make this a request and change? Were people complaining that their hashbrowns needed to change to something else other than hash? The only thing memorable on the menu now are their mini waffles with creme anglais and strawberry sauce, but everything else there is average at best. Along with the mini waffles the freshly squeezed orange juice and wait service was great which is why I give them 3 stars. They should just change their name to simply "Potatoes" because there is no hash in this joint. Or the chef who concepted this place needs to take his head of out his a s s and roll back to their original recipe for hash.
(3)
Jenna S.

This is a great breakfast spot right in the University Village. I wish it had been around when I lived on campus! Hashbrowns is small but kind of cozy and decorated in a modern style. There's probably 15 tables in the entire restaurant accommodating four diners, at most. There's always a good mix of students, young couples, and parents with kids. I've never had to wait for a table here, but I can imagine it happens often, especially around 11 a.m. or noon. Don't forget: there's always seating at the small breakfast bar in the middle of the restaurant so think about sitting there if there aren't any tables immediately. The coffee comes in large cups and the refills are free, so order early and sip often. I decided to order the Breakfast Nachos which is very similar to chilaquiles. I was a bit disappointed the menu said there would be beans and green peppers in the meal but there was almost none of that when I actually received the dish. There also could have been less egg but the dish was pretty good. And HUGE. It was $8.95 but there was definitely at least $11 or $12 of food there. The meal was tasty and just a bit spicy (yum) and came with their signature sweet potato hash browns. I like sweet potatoes better than regular potatoes, but the hash browns are always a little bland. Add a bit of salt and you're good to go. My friends ordered a breakfast burrito (enjoyed but not that great) and an omelette. They both enjoyed the food but my friend's boyfriend wasn't feelin the sweet potato hash browns. All in all, a good dining experience. The portions were huge and I thought the sweet potatoes were great. There were a few downsides, such as our OK service. Our server wasn't fast but he wasn't slow and he brought us the wrong check, which we had to wait about 10 minutes to fix. Also, cash only. I don't necessarily mind cash only establishments (I knew Hashbrowns was cash only so I stopped at Citibank on my way to get cash) but a lot of people don't and for a lot of people it's still really irritating. As others have pointed out, the sign in the window says "Cash only at this time" - we get it, it's been three years. Are you really so cheap you can't pay the fee to Mastercard or whomever for people to use their cards? I'll be back, for sure, but I won't go out of my way to eat here.
(4)
Anna G.

I really like this place for their food. The turkey burger is delicious! I do feel claustrophobic every time I come in there because you are sitting like 1 foot away from the other customer who you do not know. It's very hard to relax when other people are sitting so close to you.
(4)
Ericka R.

Great vibe and decor. Love the high back cusioned booths. waitstaff is really friendly and the service is fast. Prices are just right, I got the Greektown Omelette ($7.95) with rosemary garlic potatos. The potatos were yummy but the omlette was though huge BLAH. It had no sexiness to it. I had to doctor it up with Tabasco and pepper. My friend had a high protein omlette and his was a little better but still pretty bland. Lots of meat full options on the omlette tip if thats your bag. The coffee was watery and low on flavor stick with hot tea here. I may come back for lunch.
(3)
Annie M.

I've only been to one place where they made the hashbrowns the way I like them, crispy throughout. Unfortunately, for a place called Hashbrowns, they weren't very good. I got the sweet potato hashbrowns and they were soggy. $4 for a glass of OJ! There wasn't a very good omelet selection. You either had an omelet with a lot of veggies, an omelet with a lot of meat, but not one with both. I had the steak and 2 cheese omelet. It was missing veggies and flavor.
(2)
J. N.

It's simply not acceptable to run a cash only business in 2009... especially when you are over-charging for everything on your menu. (And seriously, if you are cash only, do the classy thing and get an ATM. Forcing patrons to walk to another restaurant to get cash is not cool... Also, Morgan's ATM almost NEVER works. This forces patrons to walk across the street and down the block, through slushy snow, to take out twenty more dollars to pay their tab. Yes, I am bitter.) No matter what I say though, you will do well. We all know the suburban parents of UIC students are probably still too scared of the city to take their kids to a good breakfast/lunch off campus. Your chicken sandwich was kind of tasty but your hash browns are fucking gross.
(2)
Natalie M.

What do you call an establishment that whose namesake (hash-browns) is just "meh"?............. Some place I will most likely never visit again. I joined friends at Hashbrowns one morning before Christmas to check out a new breakfast place. I must note that I LOVE breakfast/brunch food, and in my humble opinion, good hash-browns are a necessity for a proper brunch experience. I ordered a vegetable omelet (spinach and broccoli) with the rosemary Hashbrowns and an English muffin. My omelet was alright, nothing I could not make at home, and my English muffin was an English muffin (kind of impossible to mess up)- now for the highlight of the meal (or so I thought)........... the rosemary Hashbrowns were.....ummm......just cooked potatoes( with a slightly crispy skin). I could barely taste any seasoning. Thank goodness for ketchup or I would've been up "you know what" creek without a paddle. Service was okay- there were only 2-3 tables in the restaurant when we were eating and they gave us the check ASAP, without waiting for us to ask for it. The best thing about the whole experience was this adorable 10yrs old boy who was assisting the server (he was probably on school break). With Meli a mile away I certainly won't be visiting again.
(2)
adina l.

The food is great. The service SUCKS! I've been twice in 3 days and it was bad both times. I;ve been a few times before and don't recall this being an issue. Today, I was brought my food and coffee and never saw the waitress again until she was heading towards me with my check. Never even got a refill on the coffee! She managed to check on everyone sitting around me. Just not me. Maybe it was my perfume? I pulled her to the side when she brought my change and told her I was disappointed in the service and she apologized. I called the manager later (Joel) and he also apolgized. Even offered me a cup of joe on my next visit. Me thinks there will be no next vist. Fool me twice...
(1)
Jane K.

If for nothing else, then for the Killer Hashbrowns.... I love them! Sure, it's a heart attack made of delicious potatoes, cornflakes, and other goodies but who cares? I'll die blisfully~ It's a great addition to that area, which had previously only been frequented for polish dogs and not much else.
(4)
Yolanda D.

The killer hashbrown's are BEAST! I love them! The NY strip steak was very tender, I loved it, so did my friend, we ordered the same thing. My mimosa was more juice than champagne, but meh. Service was okay. To get in on Easter Sunday without a wait was great. I will definitely go again.
(3)
Laura P.

$9.00 for an order of pancakes is simply outrageous. At least they have a kids menu that they let adults order from that is reasonably priced and the portions are actually large enough for a normal appetite. Do you know how much pancake batter I can make for $9.00? Probably enough to fill up most of this restaurant. 2 stars because the pancakes I had were actually good. Not $9.00 good but.....
(2)
Mark L.

food is amazing. service is average. ronnie is awesome and they completely take care of you if you do any sort of catering through them. always really jammed and loud (wish they'd expand) but overall great place.
(4)
Emily F.

I was at Hashbrown's twice with my coworkers because our office is right around the corner: once for breakfast, and once for lunch, so I'm going to review them both separately. Breakfast- pretty good. I had the Greektown Omelette (spinach, feta, tomatoes) and the sweet potato hashbrowns. The omelette was pretty standard, I guess. The hashbrowns were GREAT. 3 stars. Lunch- not recommended. I got the cobb salad which was just ok and DEFINITELY not worth $11. 2 stars. There are 2 main problems with this place. First- cash only. Who carries cash around all the time? Be prepared to pay the $2.00 atm fee at Morgan's down the street. Second- service is quite slow. However, I'm going to give this place 3 stars because the slow service kept me out of work for like 2 hours or so.
(3)
Mike T.

I do enjoy good breakfast food so when we saw this place, I thought it is worth a try. There are different kinds of potatoes, different hash browns you can order so that was a bit unique. It is a nice little area with some nice restaurants so if you are looking for a good breakfast place, this is a good place to try.
(4)
Tina B.

They have had the exact same taped-on, paper "Cash only at this time" sign up for damn near three years. When the hell will "at this time" come to a merciful end? If you're going to be a sit-down restaurant and call yourself Hashbrowns and only do an average job of making your namesake AND your daily "specials" cost almost $9, you should not be discouraging customers from coming all of the way inside to eat with your wack policy and stupid sign. I tried to go in there early in the morning earlier this week and there was only one person even in there eating. And I felt like she maybe worked there. And when I walked up to the door, sleepily craving the carbo love that only a plate of three different types of average hashbrowns can bring, saw the sign, sighed and walked away - again - seriously, they must see that scene play out every damn day.
(2)
Hanbit Y.

For a place named "Hashbrowns", their hashbrowns were actually.....BAD. Never to return.
(1)
che c.

I went to lunch here during the week and lunch was better. I ordered a burger with sweet potato fries and it was good. Only issue I had during lunch time was that there was pretty much only one server, but the bus boys were on point. We were seated near the cash register and I shouldn't have to ask for things because the server was constantly passing me by but not checking in on the table. They accept credit cards now!
(3)
Julie R.

Bland food. Overpriced and cash only. National city ATM across the street charges $3. It's the only breakfast place in the immediate area which is the sole reason a rational person would go there.
(2)
Joshua C.

Great food, service was awesome too. I'll be back again. This was my 2nd time and I sat outside, it was perfect for a Saturday Brunch spot.
(4)
Alisa N.

place was ok. The only thing good is the hashbrowns.
(2)
Julian W.

I had the Greek Town omelette (spinach, tomatoes and feta cheese) with the sweet potato hash browns. The omelette was OK, but I wasn't a fan of the hash browns. So I ordered what my sister-in-law had: the killer hashbrowns (includes cheese and corn flake topping. That was much better. And I hate establishments that accept only cash. That's a turn-off, so I don't see myself going back there.
(3)
Liz J.

Had a solidly average breakfast at Hashbrowns. It would be a 2-star breakfast, but our server was so friendly and attentive, I'll bump it up to three. I had the 18th street omelette, which sounded like it would be spicy and flavorful. Problem is, any semblance of flavor was buried in a tasteless blanket of egg. The sweet potato hashbrowns were, as another reviewer noted, soggy and weird. Coffee was good. My companion had the chocolate chip pancakes with vanilla syrup. She asked for extra and they charged her 90-something cents, which I thought was a little much. I tasted her pancakes; they were pretty good. Fairly light and fluffy. Overall, I might go back if I were in the area, but certainly wouldn't go out of my way to eat here.
(3)
Gerri H.

I've eaten here a few times with my husband Herman B. Being a hashbrown afficionado, I came seeking the best. I did not find the best or even close to the best. I'm not a huge fan of their hashbrowns even though the place is called HASHBROWNS. I did enjoy their whole wheat pancakes, but everything else is pretty standard. If you do visit, come early to get a seat as this isn't the largest restaurant.
(3)
Dave C.

Went to Hashbrowns for lunch today...was in the mood for breakfast at lunch. The place was not even half filled at lunch time on a beautiful day...hmmmm. Ordered eggs, pork sausage, sweet potato hashbrowns and wheat toast. Eggs were good and so was the toast. The pork sausage could have been cooked longer while the sweet potato hash browns were black and mushy. Obviously had been made hours before I arrived and were awful. I covered them with my napkin and said a silent prayer for them...they never had a chance. Waiter was pleasant at the start, but never made an effort to see how I was doing or if the food was good. Overall, this was my first and last visit. On to the next diner.
(1)
David H.

The restaurant was clean and the food was hot but the quality did not blow either me or my wife away. When I go to a diner, I want to enjoy a good cup of coffee and this place did not deliver on it. I would choose to go to "Stax" for a better breakfast/brunch experience. Although the omelette selection at hash brown is much better.
(2)
Jennisa P.

Yum! Super cute place! Service was fast and pleasant. I had the the mini waffles with fresh strawberries. Delish! My friend's dish look delish also! We shared the Hashbrowns with the corn flakes (can not remember the name). Thankfully, our waitress was kind enough to mention that for $2 more we can have the specialty Hashbrowns as a side. And that side serving was HUGE! I can only imagine a full serving. That baby was large enough to feed 4-6 people. Plenty leftover! It was super yummy though! So heads up on the portion issue. Overall a nice place to have a quick breakfast with friends.
(4)
Carolyn G.

This place has been open for a while, but I'd only been there once before so I suggested we try it for lunch today. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I ordered the 18th street omelet and coffee for lunch. The omelet was very large, but the chorizo was lacking flavor. The sweet potato hashbrowns were the best part of the meal! The service was pretty good: lots of water refills and easy refills on the coffee, too. Minus one star for "cash only". I live on my debit card and rarely have cash, which is why I often pass this place over in favor of other local establishments that accept credit cards.
(4)
Christina C.

Eh. This place is kind of whatever to me. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing either. I kept it simple as I wasn't feeling too great from celebrating NYE the night before. Just got a simple meal of scrambled eggs, sausage, sweet potato hash browns, and wheat toast. I was really excited for the sweet potato hash browns, but it turned out to be a disappointment in the end. They were real mushy and almost too sweet--I regretted getting just the regular hash browns. I tried my friend's omelette and I felt like I could've made the omelet better. I don't think I will be back...
(2)
Cory C.

Great place wonderful service. Food is very good. Gets crowded fast. Great place to sit outside eat and have brunch on Sunday.
(4)
Dustin W.

I ordered the whole wheat pancakes and added fresh banana, strawberries, and blueberries. The chef also added strawberry and banana jelly sauces to accompany the fruit. He definitely nailed my custom order. I added maple syrup for sweetness, but it want needed, especially considering the full flavor of the three giant pancakes they delivered. I will definitely return.
(4)
Kathy S.

This is a nice place to go for brunch on Sunday...I love any omelet that has salsa so that made me happy. The Italian style omelet was very good also and it's unique that it comes with marinara sauce. Even just their texas toast is simple but good. Plus, I'm not a huge potato fan but I love love sweet potatoes so the fact that they have sweet potato hashbrowns make me very very happy.
(3)
Mark O.

In my continuing quest for the perfect breakfast spot. the family and I set out for Hash Browns. Ambiance was nice - inviting, warm - was a good start. Big cups of coffee and an extensive menu made for a solid start. Prices were relatively high - $9 for three large strawberry pancakes. I had three eggs, turkey sausage, and toast, asked for extra crispy hash browns, didn't get them that way, but they were tasty anyway. Wife had the sweet potato hash browns and although gooey, she liked them very much. Another person had an omlete that was delicious, eggs benedict were good. Service was spotty - had to get coffee refills from a busboy for example. $58 for four was on the high side. I suppose the best way to sum up is that it's good, not great. One visit is enough unless you live in the neighborhood; there are better places including Salt & Pepper Diner, DeLuca's, and ever reliable Nookies.
(3)
Katie C.

While living downtown and attending UIC, I visited Hashbrowns a couple of times. This was pre-Yelp life, so obviously those prior visits didn't really count for a review. I went back today after being in the medical district, and being 10:00am on a Monday, there was ample street parking on Halsted just north of Maxwell. I ordered the "North Sider" omelet with spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, green peppers and swiss cheese, which came with their house sweet potato hash browns and toast (I ordered wheat). The omelet was surprisingly bland (I thought there would be a little more seasoning to it), the sweet potato hash browns were limp, thin, and not crispy, but the toast was actually really good--thick, crisp, and more multi-grainy than regular wheat toast. The service was fine--the place wasn't very busy, and so my server was attentive and friendly. They have tables outside in front, many of which were shady, so I got to sit out there and yap away on my phone with food in my mouth. Always a plus. So this place doesn't have the best food in my opinion--if the omelet weren't so bland, I would have enjoyed it, as all the ingredients were fresh and the eggs weren't greasy in the slightest. I definitely prefer Meli on Halsted for some brunchy/breakfast type stuff if you're in the area. But I can't hate Hashbrowns either--such a cute name. I'd be interested to try some other things on their menu before writing them off completely.
(3)
Christy H.

OMG- This was the best Sunday morning treat to myself. At 11:30am on a Sunday morning- there were plenty of tables and NO WAIT!!! Do you know how rare that is- at least in San Francisco- EVERY PLACER has 1 hr wait on SUN. And the FOOD- I had the whole wheat pancakes with choc chips and topped with bananas & strawberries - IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be going back soon to check out their omelets & sweat potato hash browns!!!!
(5)
Clare K.

Hashbrowns has the best hashbrowns (i am a fan of the regular hasbrowns, not sweet potato) And their eggs benedict is amazzing! I usually nver have to wait for a table either, which is a great perk! There is always parking, too!
(4)
amy w.

i went here for the first time the other day. i got the 18th street omelette with rosemary hash browns. i immediately regretted it, because the killer hash browns were so much better. they were killer!! cheesy, sour cream, crisp. the rosemary hash browns were skillet-y cubed new potatoes, not shredded potato hash brown goodness. they were still good, but for $2 more, i could've gotten the delicious brick of killer hashbrowns. the omelette was okay. btw, their coffee mugs are gigantic, like soup cups.
(3)
savannah i.

Hashbrowns has to be in my top 5 favorite breakfast/brunch diners in Chicago, there is quite a few, so that is saying a lot. This small, cozy yet bustling with business restaurant specializes in their house hashbrowns (says the name) and their many original omelets. Generally though, I usually take in the large plate of choc. chip pancakes along with a side of Killer Hashbrowns (which I highly recommend for sour cream lovers). The wait can be 25-30 minutes during the weekend rush...good thing there are odd people sculptures (what's up with that? disneyland?) outside to keep you company.
(4)
John M.

Very good service. However: Sweet potato hasbrowns are a no no unless you offer/warn.
(3)
Kristen F.

I used to love this place. That was over a year ago. I decided on one nice early June day of '07 to head over to Hashbrowns (about a half a mile from my apartment) because I was craving eggs and starch and coffee and had about three hours to kill before a movie I was going to go see. I barely made it to the movie on time. It took over an hour for my table's food to come. People who arrived after us, at least a half an hour after us, got their food. A table of TEN people who came in 20 minutes after we placed our order got their food. The waitress avoided us like the plague. I've been a waitress. It was obvious she forgot our order. Two omelets took one hour. Did we get anything for free? Oh we got some juice and some lamely cooked french toast that we couldn't eat because we were full from our omelets (which were dry and the hashbrowns were greasy) Best part? I got sick from the omelet. It sucks that this place sucks so much, since there really isn't any other breakfast option close to my apartment. This place used to be good. *tear*
(2)
Mika J.

This place lives in my neighborhood. Been there for breakfast more times than I'd like to mention & the food is getting progressively worse. The pancakes are dry & tasteless, the restaurant namesake hasbrowns (idaho potato version)...nothing to write home about. Want to be slightly impressed? The french toast is your best bet. What really makes Hashbrowns mediocre for me are the relatively high prices...no breakfast combos to take the edge off. And after a more than a year in operation, the place still doesn't take plastic...bring your cash kids.
(3)
Audrey M.

I have two favorite breakfast foods: french toast and hashbrowns. This is the only place it doesnt cost an arm and a leg to get them together. Why is it that pancake lovers get hashbrowns but french toast aficionados get left out in the cold? Anyway, when i ate in, the atmosphere was nice and the servers were cool but a bit slow. Sweet potato hashbrowns are good but the Rosemary homefries are amazing. I also ordered in once and it was just as delicious, except they gave me a funny sour sauce thing instead of butter (?). Highly satisfying if you're looking for a good hearty breakfast.
(4)
Brad F.

Came here for lunch and i ordered the steak and cheese omelette, it was decent, I would def get something else next time. But I did love the sweet potato hashbrowns, the service was great, the waitress came by many times to check on us. I like the location and the area that its in. I have been hearing a lot of hype about this restaurant so I had to come check it out.
(3)
Diva S.

Hash browns is one of my favorite places for breakfast/brunch and it's not because I live in the neighborhood. The food is just good-especially the eggs benedict with spinach, and the fluffy light pancakes with the homemade vanilla syrup. Also, I enjoy a place so much more when there is continuous refills on good coffee.
(4)
Herman B.

I really like their sweet potato hash browns. Their Omlettes are also good, they have various "named omlettes" (Taylor Street is good), but I build my own swiss, sausage, green pepper and onion. The breakfast is basic fare in a comfortable setting, and the coffee is served in big ceramic cups.
(4)
Jennifer K.

I love coming here for breakfast. Weekend breakfast: a tad bit busy. It's worth the wait. I always crave the fresh squeeezed juice here, big cup of coffee, and a big ol waffle (must have). Downside: not really any. The customer's tables are a little too close. U can hear someones conversation, clearly. Whatever. It's the perfect breakfast joint in the neighborhood.
(4)
Matt P.

Well, if you don't have free refills on soft drinks, the highest rating you can get is 3 stars. My omlette wasn't great ... it was fair at best, but cheap. The hashbrowns are pretty good though! Service was super quick, and our waitress was really, but there are better places to go in the city for breakfast.
(2)
Drex D.

My girlfriend loves hash browns. LOVES THEM. Flocking to them like moths to a flame, like fat kids to cake, her opinion of a breakfast place's hash browns are usually the litmus test as to whether or not we'll be coming back anytime soon. This girl would gladly eat hash browns with every meal for the rest of her life if she could. So, one Saturday morning, we wake up, and like every Saturday before, and since, I pose the crucial question, "What do you want for breakfast?", hoping she'll be the decisive one (neither of us are) and pick a place. "Hash browns." Of course she does. This is what she says every week. And now begins our hour long debate/argument as to where we're going. After dismissing our regular haunts and scouring the Reader and the Internet for some place that looks good, I come across a place called, humorously enough, 'Hash Browns'. Well, if ever there was an easier choice considering the circumstances, I hadn't found it yet. We got down there about 1:30, so most of the brunch crowd had thinned out and it was fairly easy for us to grab a table. I imagine though, with its proximity to UIC, the place is packed on the regular. A bright open place, big windows, and a bit airy. Coffee is ordered, and the menu is perused. Lots of standards -- eggs any way possible, pancakes, waffles, tons of specialty omelets. And then the hash browns. At a place called 'Hash Browns', well, there's a lot of expectation. Namely, if you're going to call your place after a signature dish, they damn well better be some of the best hash browns I've ever tasted. The hash brown menu at first glance was small, I thought. Only really four different kinds, and then a platter assortment. Ah well. I got the North Sider omelet (bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms & swiss cheese, without mushrooms -- I thought that was a fairly appropriate name for the omelet) with the Rosemary hash browns to share (new red potatoes, fresh rosemary and garlic), the ladyfriend got chocolate chip pancakes with the Killer hash browns (Idaho potatoes, cheddar cheese , onions & sour cream topped with crushed corn flakes and then baked -- no kidding on the name). Service was quick and polite. Not 10/15 minutes later, we had our dishes. Omelet was really tasty -- it wasn't as heavy as I was dreading, even with the cheese in it. I'd go back for one. The chocolate chip pancakes were equally delicious. She ate almost all of them, and afterwards said that those were exactly what she had been craving for months, and that hit the spot. Now, the hash browns you ask?? Well, I'm happy to report that they stood up to the test, and then turned around and kicked it in the ass. These were indeed first-rate hash browns. The rosemary ones were crispy, flavorful (without having to pick pieces of rosemary out of your teeth) and just delicious. The only way to describe the Killer hash browns is decadent. They were so good, in the way that you keep eating them well after you're full because they taste amazing and you know you probably won't have them for a while. And while you're just setting yourself up for a deeper and deeper food coma, it doesn't matter, because they're that good. Yeah, they were good. Price was reasonable (I think total bill came out to about $30 or so, with coffee, juice, two breakfasts, and the extra hash browns). One star off for only offering four different kinds of hash browns. I can't say there was one thing I didn't like about the place though. If you like hash browns as much as we do, give it a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
(4)
Lia K.

I love hashbrowns, so of course I had to go to a place with that name. I had the breakfast panini- crisp bread, soft eggs, cheese and bacon with a side of the killer hashbrowns- hashbrown potatoes, cheese, sour cream and corn flakes all toasted up. YUMMY!- it could be a tad cheesier, but my heart and waist-line was grateful for the toned-down version. The boyfriend had the egg nachos, and yes- it looked a bit gross, but tasted yummy! 4 stars- because there is a parking lot around the corner, and you can park there for a couple of hours for only $5. CHEAPEST PARKING IN CHICAGO!
(4)
Mei J.

I'm not a huge fan of their hashbrowns, but their pancakes are very good. I especially liked that they let me order 3 different kinds (chocolate chips, the seasonal apple and a plain) and they come with the most delicious vanilla sauce, and a good raspberry sauce along with maple syrup. YUM!!!
(4)
Natasha D.

The service: attentive, quick, friendly. When the wrong omelette arrived they were quick to correct it. The food: only tried the omelettes, soup, sandwich and hashbrowns. The sweet potato hash browns were a mushy, tasteless mess while the original hashbrowns were just as tastless and odd but crunchy. The sandwich was fine, nothing special, the soup was decent, but the omelette was compeltely bland and strangely firm. The space: nice, would have enjoyed coming here more often. I work nearby, so it's a pity the food did not deliver and I will not be returning.
(2)
Roberta B.

We visited the restaurant for lunch on a Friday. I had the bacon cheese omelette which was delicious along with the sweet potato hash browns which were yummy. Be sure to mention if you like your hash browns crispy. We also ordered the hash brown sampler and the one with corn flake top was the best. My husband had the cheese burger liked it although it was a bit well done.
(4)
Amy S.

I cautiously went here for the first time and brought out of town guests for brunch. I intelligently checked Yelp for a good place in the West Loop where my friends were staying. I acutally just grabbed it off of someone's review of the Bongo Room. The person who reviewed it said they liked Hashbrowns better. So, we circled around many times looking for a parking spot :( Finally we decided to shell out the cash to park in the lot right down the street. Lucky for us, we got a table right away. The service wasn't stellar, had to ask for our coffee to be refilled and we didn't find out until we were trying to pay our check with a credit card that it was cash only. The food was good at least. Myself and one other person had the egg panini. There was a lot of scrambled egg on it, but I could have used some more cheese. I got the sweet potato hashbrowns but my friend didn't. Another peson had the egg nachos which were huge, and finally the other person had the northsider burger. The burger looked cool because all the ingredients are mixed in with the meat. I wasn't too thrilled with the hashbrowns because they kind of looked like worms and they were not crunchy or crispy at all. I like some crunchy on the top layer.
(3)
Albert C.

It's cute. I mean, how can I *not* like a place that calls itself Hashbrowns? They're my favorite part of breakfast! However, the reality is that the food is ok. The hashbrowns are great on a good day but more often than not just mediocre. The omelette names are cute and decent. Service is a little slow at times, though, so be prepared for breakfast at a relaxed pace.
(3)
Alison C.

I went here with a group of friends after a line out the door at Lou Mitchell's on a below zero day foiled our original plans. I wish we'd waited. The sweet potato hashbrowns were quite good but my egg sandwich (known on the menu as the egg panini) was really bland. It had tomatoes and cheddar in it but I could taste neither. Granted, I opted for a meatless sandwich so you might get more salt if you order the original version with bacon. My friends really enjoyed their pancakes so maybe that's the way to go. The service was quick which is exactly what we needed and they were able to accommodate a party of six with no problem. There were also lots of children there so this might be a good family spot. If I'm feeling generous, I might give Hashbrowns a second chance.
(2)
Neesa D.

okay okay, after reading some reviews for this place, i have to admit: service can be quite horrible, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE RUDEST WAITRESSES I HAVE ENCOUNTERED!!! just because you bring me hot coffee that was not hot and i politely asked for another one, your ugly facial expression and rude attitude was not necessary nor was it professional! the food is the only reason why i come back to this place. another time i went in here for lunch, same thing, bad service, slow at bringing out the food out, didn't check on us, the same waitress gave us an attitude because my cousin was asking her some questions about the food because she is vegan. i am beginning to think they might be under staffed. a solution: hire more workers and when you hire them, make sure they are friendly and actually possess some qualities that is worth tipping. and trust me, i am a very generous tipper...
(3)
Pilsen C.

Thanks to a buddy of mine who reminded me about this place... This place is shite. From the crap service (on a weekday morning and on a weekend once), to their sorry excuse for an omelet (mixing a buncha ingredients inside some eggs isnt an omelet - an omelet should have its ingredients niceley preserved, and eggs should be distinctly folded), this place has gotta be down ther with Dennys on my places of most hated breakfast joints. You guys couldnt even get the orange juice right. Limited selection of toast, too. Just another shit business popping up on Maxwell (Lalo, Joy Yee, etc). Why don't you leave the cooking to the oldschoolers. Another reason to miss the old Maxwell...
(1)
Jessica C.

It's no Meli but I did enjoy what I had here. Toast wasn't too eggy and was served with a "vanilla syrup" that was tasty, but probably not more special than melted, not-too-sweet vanilla ice cream--something like a creme anglaise. My bacon was crisply well done, as ordered. Not the cheapest place, but the service was good. Bench seating along the wall is a bit awkward, but tolerable. Not a wow, but fine enough for a decent meal.
(3)
Joe S.

Wow, I am a little surprised that this is only getting a 3 star average. This little spot has been one of my favorites for a while now. It is a shame that everyone is finding out about it; cause now I have to wait for a table :) Their speciality is obvious, the house hashbrowns are fantastic; they also have "killer" hashbrowns, they are my favoritre, although not the healthiest out there. Omelettes, pancakes, you name it, everything is good. There are only two knocks that I have on this place. Right now it is still cash only, which kind of sucks. Secondly, it can get a little tight in there. The tables don't leave you with a ton of room. Well worth the wait on a saturday or sunday.
(4)
Steven T.

We had omelettes today: the 18th Street (mexican style) and The Taylor Street (italian style). They were well stuffed with a variety of fresh ingredients, but in my opinion, the eggs were overcooked. Nothing extremely spectacular about the omelettes in general, but still ok. The sweet potato hash browns were alright; a bit soggy. I prefer my fried potatoes crisp, sweet or not. Coffee was good and bottomless (Lavazza, if you believe their patio umbrellas) and $2. I love the atmosphere: industrial with a Napa-valley/country feel. Next time I'll try their pancakes or waffles.
(4)
Sarah D.

Yuck. Sick for three hours just because i ate a semi-okay, way too salty plate of hashbrowns? Plus people who work there are kinda dicks. Not worth it.
(1)
Lauren K.

I headed to this brunch spot on a very rainy morning. The line at The Bongo Room was too much to handle, so the adventure south seemed worth it. Although I was dead wrong. The only good thing I could say about this visit was that there was no line to get a table- probably due to the torrential downpour outside. The omelet was dry, the eggs Benedict didn't ooze and the hashbrowns- which they are supposedly famous- for were not "killer" as the menu suggested. I'm a big girl and I usually finish my entire plate, however, I could not eat another bite of this disgusting imposter of a breakfast! Run as fast as you can from this place.
(2)
betsy b.

10:30 on Sunday morning with no wait is A-OK in my book. My egg panini was fantastic...grilled to perfection and not a greasy mess...my husband's pancakes with vanilla syrup were super tasty. Given the name of the restaurant I assumed the hasbrowns would be the star of a meal and sadly they weren't. They weren't horrible by any means but didn't stand out either. I had the sweet potato version which was good. My husband had the rosemary which were also good but basically just potato chunks with seasoning....I can do that at home. I'd go back here again but I wouldn't go in dreaming of hasbrowns
(3)
Marie S.

Thumbs up for their sweet potato hash browns. Such a novel idea. I could totally come here and just 'graze' on a bowlful of sweet potato hashbrowns and nothing else. I also gotta give them kudos on their burgers. I think I tasted three different kinds so far - and all good. The burgers are exceptionally tasty, especially since the ingredients freshly mixed into the burger patties ! The pretzel bun is quite yummy too. The only downfall are their omelettes... Oh, how I craved a nice, big cheesy omelette overflowing with veggies. Instead, I went with the steak and 2 cheese omelette. I figured it would be juicy and cheesy. Unfortunately, it was a letdown because it was overcooked and dry. Not enough cheese and steak was overcooked too. The hashbrowns were the saving grace of my meal - otherwise I would've been pissed, Maybe it was an off day, who knows, but I will give them another chance since I was pleased with my previous dining experiences.
(4)
Tara J.

The food here is pretty good, but the wait time for a seat on the weekends can be daunting. Some of the servers are great (the veterans), while others don't seem to keep up. However, the bus boys are the best- very friendly and hard-working! Overall, this is a good place for breakfast or lunch during the week, but avoid going on the weekends.
(3)
Audrey T.

Ironically, I've had better lunch menu items here than breakfast. This is a hot little brunch spot in an area without a lot of 'brunch-style' choices so it tends to be a mob-scene. I'd recommend going here on a week day and for lunch. But make it a point to get something that actually comes with their signature hash browns because they're like no other hash browns you've ever had - sweet potato in play-doh-through-a tiny-strainer-style. Do you go to UIC? Bring your parents here. They'll be impressed. Beautiful space, and CASH ONLY!!!!!
(4)
Chris G.

Buehler...buehler.. Where the F is the food? Where is the waiter? We said this alot here. The burgers were over cooked and the service was extra extra slow. We were the only two people in the place. The food was a culinary abortion. Also while we are sittin there the ceiling starts to leak through and drip onto our table... We tell the waitress she says "So do you guys like, want to move?" No could you just bring us an unbrella...Dummy! DONT BOTHER EATIN HERE.. Change the name to PASS-BROWNS
(1)
Vivian Y.

I like this place - it's easy for me to get to (5 min walk) and I get consistent quality each time. I LOVE their sweet potato hashbrowns that are roasted with garlic and rosemary. YUM! Even better than their killer hashbrowns! I haven't tried their burger yet, thought I would love to!!! I love their omelets - they have different themes according to Chicago neighborhoods. ie: Maxwell street omelet has polish sausage, green onions, pork chop; or the Taylor Street has italan sausage, tomato, basil. etc. Maybe the ought to have a Chinatown Omelet and put Chinese liver sausage and thousand year old egg. that would be "interesting"...! this is a CASH only place - at least it was since the last time I was there, about 3 wks ago. oh yea, they close at 3pm everyday I think.
(3)
Veronica A.

This is my favorite place for lunch during the week. The service is always great, food served up quick and yummy. I prefer their rosemary hashbrowns, but you can order all three kinds on one plate. Their pancakes are amazing as is their vanilla syrup.
(4)
Kathleen B.

You think with a name like "Hashbrowns", their hashbrowns would be kickass. Exactly opposite. I think this was the first place I could not finish hashbrowns they were that gross. A week old maybe? My husband and I would have rather eaten out of a dirty ashtray they were THAT bad. The omelet was all egg and no substance (dingy sponge-like just like a fellow reviewer said). It was just bad. Real bad. Never again!
(1)
Brenna O.

I ordered the French toast because I thought it might be extra special, but it came as just four lonely triangles on a plate with a cup of white/yellow liquid in the middle. I thought it was melted butter, so I set it aside. I ate most of my dish and I had maybe one piece left when the waitress came over and said "oh yeah, that's our vanilla sauce, you should try it" in a tone that was less friendly and more like she was offended I didn't know what it was. Maybe if it had said something on the menu or when she served it then I might have known. My husband got an enormous omelet with the rosemary potatoes which were pretty good. It seemed a bit pricey for just breakfast, and we only stopped in there because we were in that part of town doing some errands. It's not a place that I would make a special trip out there for, but I can see how the locals might eat there more often for breakfast or lunch.
(3)
Erin M.

The best hashbrowns in town!
(5)
Krsna V.

I went to this place because I was attracted by the name. I love hash browns and it is not easy getting good hash browns in this city. I got the sweet potato hash browns with my eggs and bacon. Everything was perfect. I love the service. My coffee mug was always full. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Brian R.

Always great service and quality. Very consistent quality and very reliable. The staff is always extremely friendly no matter how busy they are. Depending on the time of day, they may be fully packed, typically around 8:00-9:30.
(5)
Selena L.

Went to Hashbrowns today thanks to the Groupon I've been anxiously waiting to use. Talk about disappointing! How do eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, a breakfast burrito and orange juice ($4 juice, btw) come to $30?? Aside from being overpriced, the food was simply not good-unimpressive. The best part of the experience was the staff. They were very nice and fairly attentive. So, If you like overpriced, unimpressive food with good service, this is the place for you.
(2)
Cory C.

Great place wonderful service. Food is very good. Gets crowded fast. Great place to sit outside eat and have brunch on Sunday.
(4)
Dustin W.

I ordered the whole wheat pancakes and added fresh banana, strawberries, and blueberries. The chef also added strawberry and banana jelly sauces to accompany the fruit. He definitely nailed my custom order. I added maple syrup for sweetness, but it want needed, especially considering the full flavor of the three giant pancakes they delivered. I will definitely return.
(4)
Kathy S.

This is a nice place to go for brunch on Sunday...I love any omelet that has salsa so that made me happy. The Italian style omelet was very good also and it's unique that it comes with marinara sauce. Even just their texas toast is simple but good. Plus, I'm not a huge potato fan but I love love sweet potatoes so the fact that they have sweet potato hashbrowns make me very very happy.
(3)
Mark O.

In my continuing quest for the perfect breakfast spot. the family and I set out for Hash Browns. Ambiance was nice - inviting, warm - was a good start. Big cups of coffee and an extensive menu made for a solid start. Prices were relatively high - $9 for three large strawberry pancakes. I had three eggs, turkey sausage, and toast, asked for extra crispy hash browns, didn't get them that way, but they were tasty anyway. Wife had the sweet potato hash browns and although gooey, she liked them very much. Another person had an omlete that was delicious, eggs benedict were good. Service was spotty - had to get coffee refills from a busboy for example. $58 for four was on the high side. I suppose the best way to sum up is that it's good, not great. One visit is enough unless you live in the neighborhood; there are better places including Salt & Pepper Diner, DeLuca's, and ever reliable Nookies.
(3)
Katie C.

While living downtown and attending UIC, I visited Hashbrowns a couple of times. This was pre-Yelp life, so obviously those prior visits didn't really count for a review. I went back today after being in the medical district, and being 10:00am on a Monday, there was ample street parking on Halsted just north of Maxwell. I ordered the "North Sider" omelet with spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, green peppers and swiss cheese, which came with their house sweet potato hash browns and toast (I ordered wheat). The omelet was surprisingly bland (I thought there would be a little more seasoning to it), the sweet potato hash browns were limp, thin, and not crispy, but the toast was actually really good--thick, crisp, and more multi-grainy than regular wheat toast. The service was fine--the place wasn't very busy, and so my server was attentive and friendly. They have tables outside in front, many of which were shady, so I got to sit out there and yap away on my phone with food in my mouth. Always a plus. So this place doesn't have the best food in my opinion--if the omelet weren't so bland, I would have enjoyed it, as all the ingredients were fresh and the eggs weren't greasy in the slightest. I definitely prefer Meli on Halsted for some brunchy/breakfast type stuff if you're in the area. But I can't hate Hashbrowns either--such a cute name. I'd be interested to try some other things on their menu before writing them off completely.
(3)
Christy H.

OMG- This was the best Sunday morning treat to myself. At 11:30am on a Sunday morning- there were plenty of tables and NO WAIT!!! Do you know how rare that is- at least in San Francisco- EVERY PLACER has 1 hr wait on SUN. And the FOOD- I had the whole wheat pancakes with choc chips and topped with bananas & strawberries - IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be going back soon to check out their omelets & sweat potato hash browns!!!!
(5)
Clare K.

Hashbrowns has the best hashbrowns (i am a fan of the regular hasbrowns, not sweet potato) And their eggs benedict is amazzing! I usually nver have to wait for a table either, which is a great perk! There is always parking, too!
(4)
amy w.

i went here for the first time the other day. i got the 18th street omelette with rosemary hash browns. i immediately regretted it, because the killer hash browns were so much better. they were killer!! cheesy, sour cream, crisp. the rosemary hash browns were skillet-y cubed new potatoes, not shredded potato hash brown goodness. they were still good, but for $2 more, i could've gotten the delicious brick of killer hashbrowns. the omelette was okay. btw, their coffee mugs are gigantic, like soup cups.
(3)
savannah i.

Hashbrowns has to be in my top 5 favorite breakfast/brunch diners in Chicago, there is quite a few, so that is saying a lot. This small, cozy yet bustling with business restaurant specializes in their house hashbrowns (says the name) and their many original omelets. Generally though, I usually take in the large plate of choc. chip pancakes along with a side of Killer Hashbrowns (which I highly recommend for sour cream lovers). The wait can be 25-30 minutes during the weekend rush...good thing there are odd people sculptures (what's up with that? disneyland?) outside to keep you company.
(4)
John M.

Very good service. However: Sweet potato hasbrowns are a no no unless you offer/warn.
(3)
Kristen F.

I used to love this place. That was over a year ago. I decided on one nice early June day of '07 to head over to Hashbrowns (about a half a mile from my apartment) because I was craving eggs and starch and coffee and had about three hours to kill before a movie I was going to go see. I barely made it to the movie on time. It took over an hour for my table's food to come. People who arrived after us, at least a half an hour after us, got their food. A table of TEN people who came in 20 minutes after we placed our order got their food. The waitress avoided us like the plague. I've been a waitress. It was obvious she forgot our order. Two omelets took one hour. Did we get anything for free? Oh we got some juice and some lamely cooked french toast that we couldn't eat because we were full from our omelets (which were dry and the hashbrowns were greasy) Best part? I got sick from the omelet. It sucks that this place sucks so much, since there really isn't any other breakfast option close to my apartment. This place used to be good. *tear*
(2)
Mika J.

This place lives in my neighborhood. Been there for breakfast more times than I'd like to mention & the food is getting progressively worse. The pancakes are dry & tasteless, the restaurant namesake hasbrowns (idaho potato version)...nothing to write home about. Want to be slightly impressed? The french toast is your best bet. What really makes Hashbrowns mediocre for me are the relatively high prices...no breakfast combos to take the edge off. And after a more than a year in operation, the place still doesn't take plastic...bring your cash kids.
(3)
Audrey M.

I have two favorite breakfast foods: french toast and hashbrowns. This is the only place it doesnt cost an arm and a leg to get them together. Why is it that pancake lovers get hashbrowns but french toast aficionados get left out in the cold? Anyway, when i ate in, the atmosphere was nice and the servers were cool but a bit slow. Sweet potato hashbrowns are good but the Rosemary homefries are amazing. I also ordered in once and it was just as delicious, except they gave me a funny sour sauce thing instead of butter (?). Highly satisfying if you're looking for a good hearty breakfast.
(4)
Brad F.

Came here for lunch and i ordered the steak and cheese omelette, it was decent, I would def get something else next time. But I did love the sweet potato hashbrowns, the service was great, the waitress came by many times to check on us. I like the location and the area that its in. I have been hearing a lot of hype about this restaurant so I had to come check it out.
(3)
Diva S.

Hash browns is one of my favorite places for breakfast/brunch and it's not because I live in the neighborhood. The food is just good-especially the eggs benedict with spinach, and the fluffy light pancakes with the homemade vanilla syrup. Also, I enjoy a place so much more when there is continuous refills on good coffee.
(4)
Herman B.

I really like their sweet potato hash browns. Their Omlettes are also good, they have various "named omlettes" (Taylor Street is good), but I build my own swiss, sausage, green pepper and onion. The breakfast is basic fare in a comfortable setting, and the coffee is served in big ceramic cups.
(4)
Jennifer K.

I love coming here for breakfast. Weekend breakfast: a tad bit busy. It's worth the wait. I always crave the fresh squeeezed juice here, big cup of coffee, and a big ol waffle (must have). Downside: not really any. The customer's tables are a little too close. U can hear someones conversation, clearly. Whatever. It's the perfect breakfast joint in the neighborhood.
(4)
Matt P.

Well, if you don't have free refills on soft drinks, the highest rating you can get is 3 stars. My omlette wasn't great ... it was fair at best, but cheap. The hashbrowns are pretty good though! Service was super quick, and our waitress was really, but there are better places to go in the city for breakfast.
(2)
Drex D.

My girlfriend loves hash browns. LOVES THEM. Flocking to them like moths to a flame, like fat kids to cake, her opinion of a breakfast place's hash browns are usually the litmus test as to whether or not we'll be coming back anytime soon. This girl would gladly eat hash browns with every meal for the rest of her life if she could. So, one Saturday morning, we wake up, and like every Saturday before, and since, I pose the crucial question, "What do you want for breakfast?", hoping she'll be the decisive one (neither of us are) and pick a place. "Hash browns." Of course she does. This is what she says every week. And now begins our hour long debate/argument as to where we're going. After dismissing our regular haunts and scouring the Reader and the Internet for some place that looks good, I come across a place called, humorously enough, 'Hash Browns'. Well, if ever there was an easier choice considering the circumstances, I hadn't found it yet. We got down there about 1:30, so most of the brunch crowd had thinned out and it was fairly easy for us to grab a table. I imagine though, with its proximity to UIC, the place is packed on the regular. A bright open place, big windows, and a bit airy. Coffee is ordered, and the menu is perused. Lots of standards -- eggs any way possible, pancakes, waffles, tons of specialty omelets. And then the hash browns. At a place called 'Hash Browns', well, there's a lot of expectation. Namely, if you're going to call your place after a signature dish, they damn well better be some of the best hash browns I've ever tasted. The hash brown menu at first glance was small, I thought. Only really four different kinds, and then a platter assortment. Ah well. I got the North Sider omelet (bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms & swiss cheese, without mushrooms -- I thought that was a fairly appropriate name for the omelet) with the Rosemary hash browns to share (new red potatoes, fresh rosemary and garlic), the ladyfriend got chocolate chip pancakes with the Killer hash browns (Idaho potatoes, cheddar cheese , onions & sour cream topped with crushed corn flakes and then baked -- no kidding on the name). Service was quick and polite. Not 10/15 minutes later, we had our dishes. Omelet was really tasty -- it wasn't as heavy as I was dreading, even with the cheese in it. I'd go back for one. The chocolate chip pancakes were equally delicious. She ate almost all of them, and afterwards said that those were exactly what she had been craving for months, and that hit the spot. Now, the hash browns you ask?? Well, I'm happy to report that they stood up to the test, and then turned around and kicked it in the ass. These were indeed first-rate hash browns. The rosemary ones were crispy, flavorful (without having to pick pieces of rosemary out of your teeth) and just delicious. The only way to describe the Killer hash browns is decadent. They were so good, in the way that you keep eating them well after you're full because they taste amazing and you know you probably won't have them for a while. And while you're just setting yourself up for a deeper and deeper food coma, it doesn't matter, because they're that good. Yeah, they were good. Price was reasonable (I think total bill came out to about $30 or so, with coffee, juice, two breakfasts, and the extra hash browns). One star off for only offering four different kinds of hash browns. I can't say there was one thing I didn't like about the place though. If you like hash browns as much as we do, give it a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
(4)
Lia K.

I love hashbrowns, so of course I had to go to a place with that name. I had the breakfast panini- crisp bread, soft eggs, cheese and bacon with a side of the killer hashbrowns- hashbrown potatoes, cheese, sour cream and corn flakes all toasted up. YUMMY!- it could be a tad cheesier, but my heart and waist-line was grateful for the toned-down version. The boyfriend had the egg nachos, and yes- it looked a bit gross, but tasted yummy! 4 stars- because there is a parking lot around the corner, and you can park there for a couple of hours for only $5. CHEAPEST PARKING IN CHICAGO!
(4)
Mei J.

I'm not a huge fan of their hashbrowns, but their pancakes are very good. I especially liked that they let me order 3 different kinds (chocolate chips, the seasonal apple and a plain) and they come with the most delicious vanilla sauce, and a good raspberry sauce along with maple syrup. YUM!!!
(4)
Natasha D.

The service: attentive, quick, friendly. When the wrong omelette arrived they were quick to correct it. The food: only tried the omelettes, soup, sandwich and hashbrowns. The sweet potato hash browns were a mushy, tasteless mess while the original hashbrowns were just as tastless and odd but crunchy. The sandwich was fine, nothing special, the soup was decent, but the omelette was compeltely bland and strangely firm. The space: nice, would have enjoyed coming here more often. I work nearby, so it's a pity the food did not deliver and I will not be returning.
(2)
Roberta B.

We visited the restaurant for lunch on a Friday. I had the bacon cheese omelette which was delicious along with the sweet potato hash browns which were yummy. Be sure to mention if you like your hash browns crispy. We also ordered the hash brown sampler and the one with corn flake top was the best. My husband had the cheese burger liked it although it was a bit well done.
(4)
Amy S.

I cautiously went here for the first time and brought out of town guests for brunch. I intelligently checked Yelp for a good place in the West Loop where my friends were staying. I acutally just grabbed it off of someone's review of the Bongo Room. The person who reviewed it said they liked Hashbrowns better. So, we circled around many times looking for a parking spot :( Finally we decided to shell out the cash to park in the lot right down the street. Lucky for us, we got a table right away. The service wasn't stellar, had to ask for our coffee to be refilled and we didn't find out until we were trying to pay our check with a credit card that it was cash only. The food was good at least. Myself and one other person had the egg panini. There was a lot of scrambled egg on it, but I could have used some more cheese. I got the sweet potato hashbrowns but my friend didn't. Another peson had the egg nachos which were huge, and finally the other person had the northsider burger. The burger looked cool because all the ingredients are mixed in with the meat. I wasn't too thrilled with the hashbrowns because they kind of looked like worms and they were not crunchy or crispy at all. I like some crunchy on the top layer.
(3)
Albert C.

It's cute. I mean, how can I *not* like a place that calls itself Hashbrowns? They're my favorite part of breakfast! However, the reality is that the food is ok. The hashbrowns are great on a good day but more often than not just mediocre. The omelette names are cute and decent. Service is a little slow at times, though, so be prepared for breakfast at a relaxed pace.
(3)
Alison C.

I went here with a group of friends after a line out the door at Lou Mitchell's on a below zero day foiled our original plans. I wish we'd waited. The sweet potato hashbrowns were quite good but my egg sandwich (known on the menu as the egg panini) was really bland. It had tomatoes and cheddar in it but I could taste neither. Granted, I opted for a meatless sandwich so you might get more salt if you order the original version with bacon. My friends really enjoyed their pancakes so maybe that's the way to go. The service was quick which is exactly what we needed and they were able to accommodate a party of six with no problem. There were also lots of children there so this might be a good family spot. If I'm feeling generous, I might give Hashbrowns a second chance.
(2)
Neesa D.

okay okay, after reading some reviews for this place, i have to admit: service can be quite horrible, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE RUDEST WAITRESSES I HAVE ENCOUNTERED!!! just because you bring me hot coffee that was not hot and i politely asked for another one, your ugly facial expression and rude attitude was not necessary nor was it professional! the food is the only reason why i come back to this place. another time i went in here for lunch, same thing, bad service, slow at bringing out the food out, didn't check on us, the same waitress gave us an attitude because my cousin was asking her some questions about the food because she is vegan. i am beginning to think they might be under staffed. a solution: hire more workers and when you hire them, make sure they are friendly and actually possess some qualities that is worth tipping. and trust me, i am a very generous tipper...
(3)
Pilsen C.

Thanks to a buddy of mine who reminded me about this place... This place is shite. From the crap service (on a weekday morning and on a weekend once), to their sorry excuse for an omelet (mixing a buncha ingredients inside some eggs isnt an omelet - an omelet should have its ingredients niceley preserved, and eggs should be distinctly folded), this place has gotta be down ther with Dennys on my places of most hated breakfast joints. You guys couldnt even get the orange juice right. Limited selection of toast, too. Just another shit business popping up on Maxwell (Lalo, Joy Yee, etc). Why don't you leave the cooking to the oldschoolers. Another reason to miss the old Maxwell...
(1)
Jessica C.

It's no Meli but I did enjoy what I had here. Toast wasn't too eggy and was served with a "vanilla syrup" that was tasty, but probably not more special than melted, not-too-sweet vanilla ice cream--something like a creme anglaise. My bacon was crisply well done, as ordered. Not the cheapest place, but the service was good. Bench seating along the wall is a bit awkward, but tolerable. Not a wow, but fine enough for a decent meal.
(3)
Joe S.

Wow, I am a little surprised that this is only getting a 3 star average. This little spot has been one of my favorites for a while now. It is a shame that everyone is finding out about it; cause now I have to wait for a table :) Their speciality is obvious, the house hashbrowns are fantastic; they also have "killer" hashbrowns, they are my favoritre, although not the healthiest out there. Omelettes, pancakes, you name it, everything is good. There are only two knocks that I have on this place. Right now it is still cash only, which kind of sucks. Secondly, it can get a little tight in there. The tables don't leave you with a ton of room. Well worth the wait on a saturday or sunday.
(4)
Steven T.

We had omelettes today: the 18th Street (mexican style) and The Taylor Street (italian style). They were well stuffed with a variety of fresh ingredients, but in my opinion, the eggs were overcooked. Nothing extremely spectacular about the omelettes in general, but still ok. The sweet potato hash browns were alright; a bit soggy. I prefer my fried potatoes crisp, sweet or not. Coffee was good and bottomless (Lavazza, if you believe their patio umbrellas) and $2. I love the atmosphere: industrial with a Napa-valley/country feel. Next time I'll try their pancakes or waffles.
(4)
Sarah D.

Yuck. Sick for three hours just because i ate a semi-okay, way too salty plate of hashbrowns? Plus people who work there are kinda dicks. Not worth it.
(1)
Lauren K.

I headed to this brunch spot on a very rainy morning. The line at The Bongo Room was too much to handle, so the adventure south seemed worth it. Although I was dead wrong. The only good thing I could say about this visit was that there was no line to get a table- probably due to the torrential downpour outside. The omelet was dry, the eggs Benedict didn't ooze and the hashbrowns- which they are supposedly famous- for were not "killer" as the menu suggested. I'm a big girl and I usually finish my entire plate, however, I could not eat another bite of this disgusting imposter of a breakfast! Run as fast as you can from this place.
(2)
betsy b.

10:30 on Sunday morning with no wait is A-OK in my book. My egg panini was fantastic...grilled to perfection and not a greasy mess...my husband's pancakes with vanilla syrup were super tasty. Given the name of the restaurant I assumed the hasbrowns would be the star of a meal and sadly they weren't. They weren't horrible by any means but didn't stand out either. I had the sweet potato version which was good. My husband had the rosemary which were also good but basically just potato chunks with seasoning....I can do that at home. I'd go back here again but I wouldn't go in dreaming of hasbrowns
(3)
Marie S.

Thumbs up for their sweet potato hash browns. Such a novel idea. I could totally come here and just 'graze' on a bowlful of sweet potato hashbrowns and nothing else. I also gotta give them kudos on their burgers. I think I tasted three different kinds so far - and all good. The burgers are exceptionally tasty, especially since the ingredients freshly mixed into the burger patties ! The pretzel bun is quite yummy too. The only downfall are their omelettes... Oh, how I craved a nice, big cheesy omelette overflowing with veggies. Instead, I went with the steak and 2 cheese omelette. I figured it would be juicy and cheesy. Unfortunately, it was a letdown because it was overcooked and dry. Not enough cheese and steak was overcooked too. The hashbrowns were the saving grace of my meal - otherwise I would've been pissed, Maybe it was an off day, who knows, but I will give them another chance since I was pleased with my previous dining experiences.
(4)
Tara J.

The food here is pretty good, but the wait time for a seat on the weekends can be daunting. Some of the servers are great (the veterans), while others don't seem to keep up. However, the bus boys are the best- very friendly and hard-working! Overall, this is a good place for breakfast or lunch during the week, but avoid going on the weekends.
(3)
Audrey T.

Ironically, I've had better lunch menu items here than breakfast. This is a hot little brunch spot in an area without a lot of 'brunch-style' choices so it tends to be a mob-scene. I'd recommend going here on a week day and for lunch. But make it a point to get something that actually comes with their signature hash browns because they're like no other hash browns you've ever had - sweet potato in play-doh-through-a tiny-strainer-style. Do you go to UIC? Bring your parents here. They'll be impressed. Beautiful space, and CASH ONLY!!!!!
(4)
Chris G.

Buehler...buehler.. Where the F is the food? Where is the waiter? We said this alot here. The burgers were over cooked and the service was extra extra slow. We were the only two people in the place. The food was a culinary abortion. Also while we are sittin there the ceiling starts to leak through and drip onto our table... We tell the waitress she says "So do you guys like, want to move?" No could you just bring us an unbrella...Dummy! DONT BOTHER EATIN HERE.. Change the name to PASS-BROWNS
(1)
Vivian Y.

I like this place - it's easy for me to get to (5 min walk) and I get consistent quality each time. I LOVE their sweet potato hashbrowns that are roasted with garlic and rosemary. YUM! Even better than their killer hashbrowns! I haven't tried their burger yet, thought I would love to!!! I love their omelets - they have different themes according to Chicago neighborhoods. ie: Maxwell street omelet has polish sausage, green onions, pork chop; or the Taylor Street has italan sausage, tomato, basil. etc. Maybe the ought to have a Chinatown Omelet and put Chinese liver sausage and thousand year old egg. that would be "interesting"...! this is a CASH only place - at least it was since the last time I was there, about 3 wks ago. oh yea, they close at 3pm everyday I think.
(3)
Veronica A.

This is my favorite place for lunch during the week. The service is always great, food served up quick and yummy. I prefer their rosemary hashbrowns, but you can order all three kinds on one plate. Their pancakes are amazing as is their vanilla syrup.
(4)
Kathleen B.

You think with a name like "Hashbrowns", their hashbrowns would be kickass. Exactly opposite. I think this was the first place I could not finish hashbrowns they were that gross. A week old maybe? My husband and I would have rather eaten out of a dirty ashtray they were THAT bad. The omelet was all egg and no substance (dingy sponge-like just like a fellow reviewer said). It was just bad. Real bad. Never again!
(1)
Brenna O.

I ordered the French toast because I thought it might be extra special, but it came as just four lonely triangles on a plate with a cup of white/yellow liquid in the middle. I thought it was melted butter, so I set it aside. I ate most of my dish and I had maybe one piece left when the waitress came over and said "oh yeah, that's our vanilla sauce, you should try it" in a tone that was less friendly and more like she was offended I didn't know what it was. Maybe if it had said something on the menu or when she served it then I might have known. My husband got an enormous omelet with the rosemary potatoes which were pretty good. It seemed a bit pricey for just breakfast, and we only stopped in there because we were in that part of town doing some errands. It's not a place that I would make a special trip out there for, but I can see how the locals might eat there more often for breakfast or lunch.
(3)
Erin M.

The best hashbrowns in town!
(5)
Jonathan F.

Having read the other reviews about breakfast, I ventured out to Hashbrowns. What a disappointment: My egg mass, which is a better description of what appeared at my table when I ordered an omelet, was bland. I don't think there was even any salt in it. Frankly, it was shit. (Like Vicky Y I also couldn't find all the advertised ingredients...) With my "18th Street Omelet", Hasbrowns graciously provided a thimble of "homemade salsa", also known as store bought. It was disgusting, too. Adding insult to injury, our waitress brought out the check, BEFORE THE FOOD ARRIVED. Are you freaking kidding me? Her explanation: It was "swamped". Hello, we are right here. It's half-full and and there are like what, five of you? When asked for additional salsa, our waitress told us that it was extra charge. Fine. She proceeded to take the check back to "correct it". Tacky. The sweet potato hash browns were just greasy and ill-balanced. No go from me. On top of all this, they are cash only. Hey, Hasbrowns, it's 2007. Telling me to go next door to Morgans and pay 3.00 at the ATM to save your business the 0.80 in credit card fees is a royal pain in my ass. For the average cafe this is bad. For the cafe that charges me 1.75 for each can of soda and for extra condiments, this is unacceptable. I'll stick with Demitasse and Sweet Maple Cafe from now on when I want something close. They got a star for having large coffee cups and abundant Tabasco. They got a second star because of who I was with. It seems as though this place had a strong start but has fizzled out lately. Don't waste your paychecks here.
(2)
t.n. t.

The sweet potato, rosemary and killer hash browns are AWESOME!! I go here just for hash browns!! Everything else is good as well. The Egg Panini and Chocolate Chip pancakes are delicious!! The egg nachos are divine, but order these only when you are hungry because they aren't so great reheated. The love the atmosphere and the owners are friendly and very attentive. It an get really crowded so go early or really late!
(4)
Jedd J.

Stu S. said it. They used to have the best hashbrowns on earth, but no longer serve anything that can be called hashbrowns. It's not worth a trip to Maxwell Street for so-called "Hashbrowns".
(2)
Jen N.

Had omelet and hash browns. Really though it was a run-of-the-mill breakfast place. The service was good, the food selection was boring.
(3)
January C.

I went here for the first time a few weeks ago. There was a musician singing and playing the guitar. This place is not big and he did not need his amp cranked. I wanted to be able to hear my friend across the table but it was difficult. Without the music, I would give this place three stars. I had the eggs benedict which was good. There were no frills to this benedict, just the traditional. I also had the signature sweet potato hasbrowns. I was a little disappointed in their texture. I was expecting them to be crispier. I tried some of my friend's banana wheat pancakes and they were really good. The vanilla syrup was delicious. I'd like to try this place again without live music.
(2)
Wayne C.

This place is very so-so. I've been there a few times for breakfast because there aren't many other places to go in the area. I think their omelets are fairly greasy and they refill your coffee so much that it's annoying - you have to keep adding sugar and cream to suit your taste. The decor is cute and I think one family owns and runs the whole thing which is inviting but overall, the food is eh. The hashbrowns that they are known for (sweet potato hashbrowns) are pretty good, though.
(3)
A C.

I've had better tasting hashbrowns directly from my freezer than this place. Seriously! I mean, there is a wide variety of hashbrowns to choose from, but I would rather eat the Ore-Ida ones from my freezer than spend $10-$15 for hashbrowns in a cramped location near UIC.
(2)
Marckey F.

Man. I hate saying it but this was one of the worst eating experiences ever. To their defense, maybe it was just a bad day (which can happen)...but my god! Asked for a ginger ale, waitress said, coke and diet coke only... I looked on the menu and said...7 UP? (which was on the menu) She said "no, sorry THATS WHY I said coke or diet coke only" you know... so that already had me uninterested in being there. Then comes the food.. order a grapefruit juice with it, she forgot it.... people next to us sat after us, and had their food quicker....Now to the food. How can you call your restaurant "Hashbrowns" and screw up hashbrowns? I ordered the egg panini - the worst piece of bland garbage breakfast I've ever had...and that's saying something cuz my cooking is awful and even I could have made a better one than that.. the final straw was when the manager spilled the pitcher of water all over my friend's leg. There are far better places in the city...and worth the drive or walk to get to.
(1)
Sarah D.

I love the rosemary potato hash browns here, they are the best. I line can be very long and they have too many tables, there is no room once you get in. The food is good but the service is a hit or miss. I have not had the burgers but I heard that they are good. I have not been here for a couple of weeks but they were not taking credit cards at the time. It is nice to see another brunch place in the neighborhood though.
(3)
Unknown K.

The omelets here are odd - mozzarella and sausage with tomato sauce - eck. I like me some sweet potatoes, but I'm not a fan of the hash browns here, maybe it's the sweet and fried together? Anyway, the service is indifferent, the food is either bland or awkward and the namesake is not to my taste. BTW, the servings of potatoes are small. I think they want to be a yuppie breakfast place, but they are in the wrong neighborhood. The food is overpriced too.
(2)
Pat F.

Menu is overall plain. The only stand out are the killer Hashbrowns. Make your own breakfast at home its worth the dishes and work rather than paying them their boarder line outrageous prices for breakfast dishes.
(2)
Amy D.

So aggressive Pilsen! As a neighbor, I agree, the crappy restaurants are starting to annoy me. This place is very very bad. You would think they would at least get the hashbrown part right. But they really really didn't at all. Instead you're left with this mushy mess. Everything is just mediocre and pricey. I can heat up a frozen breakfast and have more flavor and right consistency.
(2)
Regina F.

This is one of those places where the food is good but kind of overpriced because you know you can probably make it yourself. It's really nothing special. Plus is there is a parking garage on the same block for a couple of bucks. It's really small, even with the outdoor seating so there might be a wait.
(3)
Katie G.

My mom and I went here on a Sunday morning....I was just excited we didn't have to wait, as most Brunch places have a long line on Sundays. The service was OK....our waitress wasn't overly friendly, but she wasn't rude by any means. We ordered an egg-white omelet with a bunch of veggies, and it came with whole wheat toast and sweet potato hashbrowns. The portions are HUGE!! My mom and I split our meal and still had plenty to spare. I do think it's a bit overpriced, and I didn't see it clearly stated that it's CASH ONLY. I could've missed that, though...
(3)
Andy N.

I always knew I liked hash browns, especially the cheap ones from McDonalds. You know, all that grease. But my love for the flattened potato pancakes have grown with these amazing sweet potato versions! YUM! Hashbrowns is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch (so... brunch!) during work or on a weekend. They offer a great selection of all American food with huge portions. Mostly for the sides, which you should always go for the sweet potato hash browns that they are known for. I've ordered take-out twice now, and both times have been very pleased with the quality of the food. First time was a mushroom burger, medium rare that was just the right amount of juicy before getting too oily. The second time, I ordered the Greek omelette and added some sausage for only $1 more. THAT was the best no doubt. I was barely able to finish everything. The toast however was burnt and forgettable. Since it's so close by to my apartment, I'll be back again soon. I definitely think it's a good spot to drop by if you're around for some all American goodness.
(4)
Carlos S.

We had regular pancakes ****, liked the combination of strawberry and vanilla 18th St Burrito **, almost no Flavor. Looked very promising.... Blueberry Pancakes ***, lots of very good options out there Service **** Price $35 Would I come back? Maybe. They are lucky that no one else offers breakfast in this area.
(3)
Marissa M.

I had the Blueberry buttermilk pancakes and the Killer hashbrowns, both were delicious! Huge portions, I couldn't finish them.
(5)
Diane W.

The place was crowded with people but the wait time was very short. The service was good and got you everything you needed quickly and efficiently. I got the eggs Benedict double trouble and my boyfriend got a burger. The eggs Benedict was good but the meat inside was a little on the salty side. My boyfriend said his burger was really good and it's what they are known for!
(3)
R T.

Breakfast/brunch is my favorite meal for which to dine out. This place has been recommended to me numerous times. I found myself in the UIC neighborhood on a Saturday morning so gave it a try for breakfast. It was disappointly mediocre. The service while friendly was almost non-existent. Had to flag the gentleman with coffee for every refill. The server didn't return after delivering my order until it was time to clear my plate and deliver the bill. My 18th Street omelet (added Chihuahua cheese) was quite good but the famous hashbrowns were soggy and cold. Too bad.
(3)
Melissa G.

I've been to this location a couple of times as well as one other location, but this experience has ruined all the other experiences I've had. My last visit to Hashbrowns was terrible. It was my friend's birthday so we decided to eat here. We told our waitress about it and she said that she'd bring something out. She never did. She completely forgot. The place was loud and crowded, but my group really didn't mind that. All of the seats were really close together. We had been seated in twenty minutes as promised and my group ordered right away since we'd been looking at the menu while we were waiting. We waited FOREVER for our food. I've never waited this long anywhere. If we hadn't already ordered, we would've walked out. It was horrible because my friend had work and was running late. Brunch that should've taken half an hour turned into almost two hours! Not only that, but our waitress was RUDE. When we got there, we were as friendly as could be and ordered politely. We waited patiently to be seated and we waited super patiently for our food to arrive. Never once did our waitress check up on us and when we looked at her, she had this snarky look on her face like we were inconveniencing her or something! One of my friends finally raised her hand and asked why our food was taking long and the waitress told us the kitchen was backed up - we would've never known this if we hadn't asked. The two parties seated next to us were seated after us, and they received their food before us! One group even was seated, received their food, and left before our food even came out! As soon as our food came out, our waitress didn't even hand it to us in a nice manner - she practically just dropped our food in front of us. My friend had his utensils in the way, the waitress asked her to move it and before my friend could lift up her hand to move it, the waitress rudely just grabbed it and put it aside. She never even cracked a smile or asked how everything was. As soon as we saw her again, we asked for our check. It took us 1/5 of the time waiting for the food to actually eat it. The food is delicious as always. They make the best eggs benedicts I've ever had. I always get the Eggs Benedict Double Trouble. The Killer hashbrowns didn't really do it for me this time, but they were still good. The only other thing is that it's unreasonable expensive for beverages. A small glass of orange juice is $4. The food is what saved this experience for me. Other than that, I'd never come back to this location! I really want to remember the name of our waitress because I've never received such terrible service!
(2)
Monique B.

I love love love hashbrowns (the food), but the restaurant a like. They have a good breakfast and brunch selection and the food was all good, but nothing amazing. I find the sweet potato hash browns to be too soft, but I suppose there is not much that can be done to make sweet potatoes crispy. The omelettes are good, but nothing amazing and to be honest everything I have ordered from here is good. The restaurant is cute, but small and a bit crowded. they have a few outdoor tables for a sunny summer day. Overall a good choice for breakfast, however, there is often a line on weekends, so be prepared to wait.
(3)
Alyssa B.

Very good brunch place in a beautiful new area near UIC. The hashbrowns are a must, offered in both regular and sweet potato. I got the egg panini, and it was a lot of food, but so so good. The outdoor seating was a little cramped, but that's just because the food is so popular that it is always busy!
(4)
Erica J.

We decided to pop into this restaurant since our car was already parked in the free parking lot (free for the first 2.5 hours), and I was craving a delicious turkey burger. Even though the hostess wasn't at the front as we were entering, we were greeted with a welcoming smile and two menus as soon as we walked through the second door leading into the restaurant. The staff moves quickly and I observed the same friendly treatment to everyone who came in. We were there for lunch on a Monday. The restaurant was about half full. I imagine it gets pretty packed on a weekend, especially since it offers breakfast and lunch all day, anytime. The tables are close together, especially if you have a party of only 2. The kitchen is "open" so you can see what's going on depending on where your table's located. The food was delivered quickly and was good, nothing special but not bad. We had the Marty turkey burger (comes with the standard LTO, but you have to ask for cheese), with very bland and flavorless sweet potato fries; and the chicken breast sandwich (the first burger listed on the menu) with tasty hash browns. This restaurant offers call-in, take out orders and I saw a sign that it delivers. The breakfast items I saw being delivered to other tables looked divine! I'd certainly come again!
(3)
Jasmine L.

Good food, good atmosphere. (I don't have a picture though). I had brunch with my friend. Their food comes in a big plate. The parking lot is right at the end of Maxwell. I came on a Thursday morning and left before 12pm and parking was free.
(5)
Julie T.

Hashbrowns was alright. Not the worst breakfast but definitely not the worst. They do need to work on their service. I understand at a busy restaurant it's hard to keep track of all your guest but if I see someone just standing around while my glass of water is empty, it's kind of frustrating. Had the egg Benedict with sweet potato hashbrowns. I thought the sweet hashbrowns were way too sweet and it mine was a bit oily too. The egg benedict was nothing out of the ordinary but the ham was a bit too salty for me.
(2)
Lorena A.

I have visited this restaurant in the past and have been much more fond of their food and service. I am not sure whether my mistake this time, was placing an order for delivery. It took approximately 2 hours for my food to arrive (and I live less than 2 miles from the restaurant) and never did I receive a call explaining that there would be a significant delay. When the food arrived, it was cold and not the best in flavor. I also paid $2.75 for a side of avocado -- an avocado that was not ripe and I received the equivalent size of one slice. I also paid for a side of sour cream, and there was a piece of plastic and paper inside the actual cream! Their lack of quality in food and service is disappointing.
(2)
Jennifer F.

I first tried this place a couple years ago and felt it was just ok. With two very good breakfast spots closer to me, I hadn't been back till today. I ordered a salad and after a few bites, I found a 3" piece of hard shriveled plastic wrap mixed in with my lettuce. The waiter was apologetic and had a new one made for me. The avocado in the replacement salad was rock hard and not edible. I didn't mention it to the waiter since they already were comping my check due to the plastic in the initial salad plus I don't like sending food back. If the waiter hadn't been so nice I would've only given one star.
(2)
Salena D.

Hello delicious breakfast! I remember when this place first opened up, I came here maybe once or twice, it was packed (and still is). Now I try to come here at least once a month. I am able to convince my suburban friends to come here because there is FREE two hour parking right down the block and they love the food here. I can never decide which omelet to get and usually decide right as the server comes by, Chicken Chipotle is a favorite along with The Bridgeport. Oh and the french toast is huge and very tasty. Service is great and friendly, I order coffee as well and it never gets cold and my water usually only gets to about half way before the servers fill it up again. Be smart and try to come here early or a bit later on a Sunday. There are at least three big churches within walking distance of here and yes it does get crowded. My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday morning (around 8am) and we were able to get a table without waiting. Overall, I try to come here often and bring others along as well, anyone I have taken has said only positive comments on this place. Give it a try :)
(5)
A R.

On the plus side the food was good and portions were large. I tried the Oak Park omlette with rosemary hashbrowns and it was excellent. The toast is enormous also. Additionally, the tables were clean and the employees were friendly. Onto the negatives... Hope you don't like personal space or room to breathe. Granted, we came on a Sunday but it was absolutely packed and the tables were ontop of each other. Also... And this is a little picky... But they spelled an item on their menu incorrectly... Unless these turkeys are Boilermakers from West Lafayette, Indiana... I'm pretty sure it should have been "Perdue Turkey" not "Purdue turkey". The food was good but I won't be back, way too crowded for my taste.
(4)
Austen H.

We received horrendous service. We ordered take it and it took well over two hours and no one seemed to know what was going on when we inquired about it. The manager also did not help until we said we would refuse to pay because it took too long. We did eventually get our meal for free which is the only reason they get two stars.
(2)
J P.

Yikes. Neighbors had a horrible experience here today- sat for 20 minutes without service, and had a one year old kid with them. Then, when a server finally came, she served all the other tables before even approaching them. Then, they got up to leave, and the manager (who should be involved in RESOLVING disputes) asked if they were okay and when they said they hadn't had service in 20 minutes with a screeching toddler who simply wanted a glass of milk, he said "goodbye- we don't have any servers" in a snide and aggressive manner. One star- I've served tables before, and even when you're low-staffed and stressed, taking a simple drink order isn't rocket science and can appease your customers even if the wait is longer than normal. On top of that, a manager should...you know...."manage"...one star only because I can't give zero.
(1)
Sukesh P.

Waiter came to the table after a 10-minute wait. Food arrived a good 25 minutes after that, for a order of grilled chicken with soup and an omelette Food: Soup smelled so heavily of the bleach of unfiltered tap water I could not finish it (despite not wanting to waste food). Chicken breast was too dried out to get a knife through it. Struggled to attract attention of waiter and when I eventually managed to sent it back (even though it meant more wasted food). Came back a second time equally dry. I am guessing it was not all the chef's fault - cheap frozen chicken is probably what s/he was working with. Ate a few bites of the charred, bland, bitter meat and set the rest aside (surely going to hell for wasting food). Very oily side of sauteed vegetables came with no salt (and nothing else flavor-wise, if you were wondering). North Sider omelette (wive's) arrived a cold, leaden, unseasoned mass. Sweet potato hash browns were in equal portions burnt and uncooked, the whole thing a soggy oily mess. Not so hard to figure how that happened. And the bread is perfectly unremarkable. If you cannot cook eggs or grill chicken, if your signature dish is so badly prepared (the place is named Hash Brown for Pete's sake), if your ingredients are cheap and if you are using some kind of bleach-stinking tap water to make your soup and you don't even cook it enough to get rid of the smell, you deserve the fate of many area restaurants - you need to shut shop. Your very poor service is the last of your problems. And all this for $27.00 (sans tip). This is the textbook description of a bad restaurant. Tried posting this without any stars - "Eeks! Methinks not" is altogether too kind.
(1)
Min C.

Their rosemary hashbrown is soo delicious. It is always busy when we go there but you dont have to wait too long to be seated. They are always friendly and helpful and I have never been disappointed. My favorite breakfast spot!
(5)
Nicole W.

The name says it all!! I really cant say enough about the killer Hashbrowns!!! They are amazing and addicting. I have been there on several occasions and regret that it has taken me this long to praise them!! When I had a taste for something sweet i went with the big ole waffle. It was simply divine, with whip cream and strawberries. On another occasion I went with the 18th Street, which was delicious.. The only problem i have there is wheather or not to try something new or stick with a fave! Perfect Breakfast spot for all
(5)
Mary C.

We had a wonderful brunch, I had a taste for Chicken and waffles so I ordered kids chicken tender meal which came with hash browns and the mini waffles. Perfect! The place was busy, so the service was slow. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars but the waitress was awesome and made the experience a good one. We weren't in a hurry so it was fine, but we were very hungry. We ate outside the food was delicious, everything was perfectly made.
(4)
Marisol R.

Ordered the grilled chicken salad ... I like my salads cold not warm , room temp or any other temp . The salad could have been great but they placed the chicken on top of the salad while still hot which gave the entire salad a different taste . Next time i will let them know to place chicken aside
(3)
Ms. Witch H.

When they opened up around 2006 or 2007, the food and service were excellent. My favorite of the hashbrown types was the Killer Hashbrowns. The first time I tried them, I was in love. I was very happy with the generous size of the eggs offered in the Just Eggs and the sausage has always been cooked to perfection. But over the last year, both the service and the food have declined in quality. Over the last six-to-eight months I have gone to Hashbrowns twice. The first time during that period I was shocked at the decline in service and food. I made a comment about it on their FB page and they messaged me and asked for my phone number so they could follow up with me. The follow up never happened. Hoping that was an anomaly, I went back again. The eggs were still generous and were cooked well, but the Killer Hasbrowns were burned and the sausage was over-cooked and dry. I would have sent back both, but the server did not bother to come ask me how things were until after twenty minutes. But then I was hungry, so I dug in. When she finally did ask me how my meal was, she caught me at a moment when there was food in my mouth. I am not only disappointed, but heartbroken that this once lovely brunch place has declined so badly in both service and food. I don't need to be burned a third time to figure out that I may have to cross this one off my list of favorite brunch places.
(2)
Susan C.

I went here for brunch with my girlfriends on a Saturday morning. The atmosphere was good with a pack crowd in the restaurant. The service was alright and the waitress was somewhat attentive. The food I must say was okay with reasonable prices. I must say I had better brunch food elsewhere. I don't think I would go back to this place even though I love the area which is university village where it is up and coming.
(2)
Charity F.

Had high hopes from this place when I visited Chicago last weekend. Very disappointed at the quality of their hash browns they were bland. The turkey club was good but not amazing. This was an average over priced restaurant.
(3)
Philip E.

Best breakfast place around. Best service of any restaurant I have been in, from bus boy to manager, they know what they are doing. When they get busy things can get a little crazy, but where doesn't that happen? Food is always hot and fresh. Never been disappointed even when I'm so stupid hungover on a Saturday morning.
(5)
Jeff R.

Hashbrowns is my favorite breakfast place. Their loaded French toast tastes amazing. Their duck bacon is really good too, but it's pricey. The workers are friendly and the service is great.
(5)
Myia S.

Let me start off by saying the food was amazing! I currently go to UIC and I've never really been to many of the restaurant in the Maxwell Market, there is a variety of places to go in the area this possible seemed like the most breakfast place to go. They have really strict hours only open from 7-3 you have free parking for 2 1/2 if you can find a park. Let's get to the actual restaurant... The staff was very friendly and attentive, they have someone walking around with water for anyone who's cup is low which is really good because most places you go you have to ask for more water. This place is great for a fast breakfast it's no fine dining but they definitely put care and pride into the food they put out on your plate. I didn't really care for the style of the menu the different names they had for omelettes was really cute. This place has a rustic cultural community feel to it draws to a variety of consumers. It was actually quite busy when we went but we did not have to wait to be seated the food came out pretty fast. I got the COCO which was like a chocolate bacon Belgium waffle and it came with two sauces a raspberry(didn't like) and an amazing vanilla sauce topped with more bacon chocolate chips and whip cream. If you use the sauce they give you, you don't even need syrup it is a very sweet breakfast however it is very light. The waffle was light and fluffy not heavy or oily like any other breakfast places I've been to. My boyfriend got sweet potato and signature hash browns turkey sausage and over medium eggs nothing a breakfast spot should mess up. I was underwhelmed by the sweet potato hash brows they didn't taste great but mixed with the classic ones they were a good pairing. I recommend this place the only thing I would change is the menu selection because besides egg specials everything else was sold separately.
(4)
Ashley M.

I was excited to try out a new breakfast place close to my house. Then my excitement subsided once I sat down. Being in the service industry I'm usually very patient with fellow servers. Our waitress took 10 minutes to greet us and immediately asked what we wanted to order. Once I got my 18th street breakfast burrito I was very disappointed. It was very bland and I had to dig to find any chorizo. My water cup stayed empty during the entire meal. The only time our waitress checked on us was to ask for to go boxes. It was then that I kindly asked for a water refill. The sweet potato hashbrowns were amazing though!! Otherwise I was very disappointed!
(1)
Tan L.

Charming place for breakfast. Everybody here is so nice and efficient. But this place is a little small. There s usually a wait:(
(5)
Maria E.

Saw this place and decided to give it a try and was pretty good overall. pricing was reasonable considering the portions were large. The egg nachos and chocolate chip pancakes were excellent. Didn't have to wait too long during busy morning/noon. There are better brunch places but overall not bad.
(3)
Miguel H.

My go to place for bfast. The burgers are good as well. Like how they have a healthier alternative to fries and hash browns by using sweet potatoes.
(4)
Nicole L.

I was not at all impressed with the prices, the service or my meal. I opted to try sweet potato hashbrowns and I felt like it was drenched in oil. The eggs were not scrambled but more of a hard boiled and smashed consistency. My server was not rude but rather lacked attention and speed. Please note that I was one of maybe 4 or so guest on a weekday. I couldn't even say I enjoyed my toast.
(1)
Braydan H.

Hashbrowns is a good enough option in the area. I live in East Pilsen and don't mind making the short walk for the food here. I had an omelette, which was actually one of the best I've had in the city. The hash browns at Hashbrowns are not special enough to name the restaurant after. Just so-so. The service was great, very friendly and accommodating! We were seated right away on the busy Sunday morning. The food arrived very promptly as well. The space is a little weird, kind of small and cramped. But I didn't mind very much, because it kind of just has that vibe. Quaint. There is also seating outside for eating on the nice, sunny days!
(3)
Vaidehi T.

We were in the neighborhood on a Saturday looking for a place to have a late brunch. Spotted Hashbrowns and decided to give it a chance. It was quite crowded - which I think is always a good sign. The service was good, friendly and helpful. I ordered the veggie sandwich and hubby ordered the 4 mini waffles dish. We were very pleasantly surprised that our server had split both of orders neatly into two dishes and served them separately. We were gonna share anyway, so it was very nice of her to do that. The veggie sandwich came with the hashbrown and we opted for half regular potato and half sweet potato hash. Considering the name of the place, I was expecting more from their hashbrowns. It basically was shredded potato, not too much seasoning, not too much flavor and no other additions. Color me disappointed. The sandwich was fresh, hot and appetizing. It was good, but i had to salt, and pepper it. I am not a person who likes too much salt in my food, but the sandwich was very very low on seasoning. After i made the additions, I enjoyed the sandwich. The waffles were standard - fluffy, warm and eggy. Came with two dipping sauces and maple syrup on the side. We quite enjoyed the mini-waffles, and they were the right portion size as well.
(3)
Rubi R.

Service was great. Food was amazing! They had sweet potato hash browns. The place was a little tight but so worth it!
(5)
Hillari H.

I had the Just Eggs, and the eggs were fluffy and good. The hash browns were extremely tasty, and the bacon was crispy enough, but not overly so. People just can't go wrong either eating here or at their other location in Old Town. The portions are generous, so people will be good and full afterwards!
(3)
Allie K.

This place has really gone downhill from the time it first opened. We came on a Saturday morning at about 10am. THE WAIT: The service and the quality of the food has really gone downhill. The hostess initially told us the wait would be 10-15 minutes. As many parties waited for a table outside, we observed at least 3 tables waiting to be cleaned up. It took at least another 10 minutes for a table to be cleaned. When we were finally seated, about 30 min later, our table was very wet, DISGUSTING!!!!! The busboy wiped our table with a sopping wet towel and it would not dry. I had to take our napkins and wipe the table. THE FOOD: Our server came 5 minutes later and took our order. My husband ordered a burger and asked to substitute the sweet potato fries with sweet potato Hashbrowns. I ordered pancakes and coffee. Our waiter said he would be "right back" with our coffee. He apparently forgot so I had to flag down a busboy convince a busboy to bring me coffee 15 minutes after our order was taken. Another server brought our food and my husband pointed out that his fries were not substituted with sweet potato Hashbrowns. Instead offering to bring us Hashbrowns as he ordered, she told him "try the fries anyway, they are good." I asked her to let our server know and he did bring us a bowl of mushy, cold, Hashbrowns. My order was equally disappointing. My chocolate chip pancakes were dry and only had chocolate chips in the very center of the pancake. Your server never comes back to check on you after your food is served. THE CHECK: When I could not stand another bite, I had to flag down our server for a box and the check. It took another 10 minutes for him to return with this. On the way out, I observed many parties waiting to sit down. If this place was more efficiently run, there wouldn't be such long delays. This is was definitely my LAST visit to Hashbrowns. I am scratching them off my breakfast places list.
(1)
Charlie C.

This is my go to breakfast place... its not the best, but its the easiest and a model of consistency. A 3-star place that I am giving a 4 based on service and never REALLY letting me down. The killer hashbrowns and sweet potato 'browns are the best items on the menu. Everything else is typical breakfast fare- they do offer a number of options for omelets and wraps- so that is nice... prices are a touch steep for what you are getting (especially the baby sized waste of a drink chocolate milk)... but I assume they have high(ish) rent, so I get it. I will keep coming back, as I said this place is go to. There is hardly EVER a wait which is great also... and summertime is the best. Barely any students around!
(4)
L. Danovia ..

Very cozy little place on Maxwell. Went on a Sunday for brunch. Its a popular place so we had to wait a while. I wanted to try the sweet potato hashbrowns and so did my husband. He also wanted to try the duck bacon. Unfortunately they did not have any of the bacon but plenty of the hashbrowns. They are worth the visit. I would suggest going during the week so you dont have to wait long. The waiting area is directly next to someones eating space.
(3)
Andre W.

Happened to be in the neighborhood this past Saturday morning and I happened to be hungry. We decided to stop in and a grab a bite to eat as we didn't see anything else nearby except for Jamba Juice. Walked in and was seated immediately. Our server was nice and was knowledgeable on the menu. I ordered the egg sandwich with egg whites (preferred) and got the house hash browns which are basically sweet potato hash browns. The egg sandwich was standard as it came with cheese & bacon, but the hash browns were phenominal! Also they have freshly squeezed OJ that is very good. Good place to try if you are in the area
(4)
Krystal W.

the location is nice and great atmosphere. There breakfast sandwich was okay and they have decent coffee. The staff was friendly. Now, their hash browns... not my cup of tea. I was looking forward to trying them but after one bite I was disappointed. They seem to put a LOT of onion in their potatoes. I think half my serving was onions and for me that's a bit to much. Maybe I should have tried another version... The menu is pricey. We didn't think it was worth a $30+ tip meal. Specially when I couldn't eat half of mine because of the onions. Go to YOLK or Wild berry in the City -
(2)
Mario G.

Staff are extremely nice and very on their game. The food is amazing. They must cook their bacon in love because it makes me so happy. Their hash browns are really good, they have a sweet potatoe option if you're into that kind of thing. I need to come back for lunch some day.
(5)
Victor F.

The reason I gave this place three stars was due to the lack of flavor. Of a six person group, we all ordered different breakfast meals. Everyone agreed that their food was well prepared and more than enough presentable. But when it came to actually savoring the meal, there wasn't much to savor. The food lacked the "zing" that you would come to expect from a $12 omelette. Apart from the food itself, the restaurant is in a prime location and the service was good. It's very homey with a positive atmosphere. Their dinner options are still up for debate and I will consider returning due to their hospitality and location.
(3)
Tim L.

This is the breakfast spot for me! The staff was great and the choices for breakfast will fit anyone tastes. Of course with a name like hash browns, there is a lot riding on their spuds. They do live up to the hype...I recommend the sampler. Great outdoor patio on the street that's perfect for a weekend brunch!
(5)
Caeleigh R.

This place is the only breakfast place around this neck of the woods that's in walking distance from where my boyfriend lives, so ultimately it is the place that I have gone to twice now for breakfast with him. Service is great, no complaints there, but the food is just not worth the price. I like the sweet potato hash browns but there's really nothing else that I would positively say about this place. The pancakes are nothing special, both the regular and the buckwheat, no matter what the topping is. The coffee is rather bitter, so if that's for you then enjoy! Really unless I want sweet potato hash browns, I won't be back. So while yes, all it will take is a craving for their hash browns, I won't be back any time soon.
(3)
Yvonne B.

My friends and I met at Hashbrowns for brunch on Sunday morning. I arrived about 20-30 minutes early (eek!) and was able to put my name on a list for a table right away. I don't know if that made a difference or not as I saw many people get seated within moments despite the crowd. There were familial photographs on the wall and three of the walls were padded (perhaps to keep the din of conversation to a dull rumble instead of a roar). Employees were constantly moving and seemed to have a good, if not rushed, attitude. When my friends arrived, they explained that they saw Hashbrowns featured on some television show. The owner loved hashbrowns and was never satisfied with the hashbrowns served at other places. He decided to make up for the void of good hashbrowns and open his own place. Considering the history and name of Hashbrowns, I determined that I should get their hashbrowns! I asked our server which were better: the Rosemary Hashbrowns or the Killer. "Definitely the Killer," he said. So, that's what I got - with a side of bacon, of course. My friends each got omelets (they came with the sweet potato hashbrowns). One of my friends got a Virgin Bloody Mary. The report was that the Bloody Mary was just okay - she'd definitely experienced better. Neither of them said anything about their omelets and the only thing they said about their hashbrowns was that mine were better. (As an aside, I'm not sure if my friends' lack of comment on their food is indicative of anything. They also didn't comment on their food at Lokal). My Killer Hashbrowns were like a potato and cheese casserole that would be found at a potluck. I like that casserole a lot, but I don't think of it as hashbrowns. I thought they were good, but below my expectations. I think of hashbrowns as a thin pancake of shredded potatoes, fried in a frying pan, not something that's baked in a dish and then sliced. The description said that they should be crispy on top, but I expected them to be crispier than they were. Anyway, I thought that they would be my thin pancake of shredded potatoes topped with cheese, sour cream, and onions - like nachos. Instead, it was as if they took shredded potatoes, mixed them in a bowl with cheese, sour cream, and onions, spread into a baking dish, and then topped with some sort of breading. The whole thing was baked and the top got the crispiness that comes from baking something - which isn't very crispy. The experience was okay. I mean, I wasn't so thrilled about the hashbrowns. I also wasn't impressed by the service. Our server did his job of taking our order and serving our food. He didn't check on us and he brought us someone else's bill. If I lived closer to Hashbrowns, I think that I would go again to try the Rosemary Hashbrowns. I don't think I'd bring out-of-town guests for brunch or anything like that. Hashbrowns just wasn't that special of an experience to warrant that kind of thing.
(2)
Cassie V.

I love having breakfast out so I'm going around and trying all the breakfast spots within walking distance, but this one didn't quite live up to others around. I see that it's a new establishment so that may explain a lot of it but there were just too many little things for our first experience. We got the chicken chipotle omelette and the 18th street. The chipotle comes with egg whites, but it really needed the yolk to balance some of the flavors. Also both omelets had ingredients that were out of proportion throwing off the flavors. The place was packed so we countered it. There seemed to be a few regulars at the counter with us, so there are return customers. I wouldn't not go back, just not my first choice for the neighborhood.
(2)
Tawana W.

After the Marathon decided to have a meal that was close by and Hashbrowns came up as the closest to my location. My niece and nephew were we with me. I ordered the omelet with a side of turket sausange & english muffin (and it came with sweet potato has browns. My nephew ordered the big ole' waffle with a side of bacon and my niece ordered an egg sandwich with cheese and bacon on an english muffin with regular hashbrowns. My omelet was so overcooked it was hard and requried a knife to cut. My sweet potato hashbrowns were a mush consistency and didn't taste as if it came from a freshly cut batch of potatos. The sausage was dry and my enlish muffin was burnt. To make matters worse there was a hair on my nephew's plate....(which didn't stop him from eating at all) and another in my niece's breakfast sandwich. Needless to say only my niece and I left hungry. Although the service was good, the tables are too packed, the prices are high for breakfast (everything is basically a la carte) and the food was terrible.
(1)
Josh P.

I have lived in this neighborhood since Hashbrowns first opened. I used to like this restaurant, but over the years they have started to nickel & dime EVERYTHING. They have gotten so out of control with their "up charges". My wife tried to substitute a plain English muffin instead of her toast and...upcharge. My wife ordered one of the standard items (eggs, sausage, toast) and... upcharge of $2 just to have only egg whites (if you get 3 regular eggs or 3 egg-white it doesn't require any more eggs; you , you simply remove the yolk, so why up-charge $2??) Substitute a fruit cup instead of the standard side..up-charge $4. EVERY SINGLE TIME we used to go to this restaurant we had about $4-$7 in up charges so we quit going altogether. After 12 months we decided to try it again this morning and.... yep, up-charges to the point my friends that went with us were very frustrated when they saw the up-charges for their minor changes. My entire courtyard of neighbors has stopped visiting this restaurant for the same reason. On another note, they serve coffee out of such large coffee cups that your coffee gets cold within 3 minutes so you never have hot coffee. Sorry to be so negative. This is my neighborhood and I REALLY want this restaurant to be successful, but I wish they would try to make their money by just having good food and good service. In this case you would get continuous repeat business (and not just on Saturday & Sundays) instead of trying to make your money by up-charging everything possible.
(1)
Mandy P.

My friend and I had great, friendly, and quick service. The food is standard breakfast/brunch fare (hard to get wrong; and they didn't). The servings are massive - sure to conquer any hangover. I probably had enough eggs and toast for three meals. The space is nice and bright (though not hangover friendly in that regard I suppose). I'd return!
(4)
Vina O.

I've gone here a few times for breakfast and I must say portions are HUMONGOUS! Whether you order an omelet or a burger, it's definitely sharable! Their hashbrowns and fries are a bit too soggy for my taste, but their omelettes and burgers are decent. Service is always a hit or miss, sometimes they're very nice and accommodating and other times they can be complete a-holes. I'd recommend going at a non-peak time (super early breakfast or late lunch) to ensure a less grouchy service. Better yet, order pick up and enjoy it at home (which is what I end up doing more than half the time).
(3)
Jacob G.

The food at Hashbrowns isn't bad. Some of their breakfast and lunch items are pretty good.
(3)
Mauricio L.

Nice little breakfast joint by UIC. I took my girlfriend here and she loved it. Good portions and reasonably priced meals. Great service, friendly staff and decor. I had he Protein Omelette and it was very good. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Ron V.

Pretty basic brunch spot here. Decent service and average food. The only unique element at this restaurant are their signature hash browns. Their Killer Hash Browns being the tastiest. Their egg nachos are rather bland and their breakfast sandwich is rather dry. One area this place succeeds are their omelets, as they offer a wife variety. This place has had pretty much the same menu for the past five years with only a few changes.
(2)
Theresa V.

Over priced in my opinion. Small portions. Average to mediocre breakfast. Don't bother.
(2)
K M.

I've been to Hashbrowns couple of times in the past 6 months and the times i went, i thought the food was good and consistent. Pricing is reasonable and service was good. I enjoyed the egg white omelet with rosemary potatoes and side of Canadian bacon. all good choices. Their eggs Benedict is tasty and creamy. I recommend this place if you want good quality food and service, not mention place looks clean as well. Nice outside seating during the summer months.
(4)
Belle L.

Breakfast beware! $2.50 cold coffee. The Maxwell Burrito had lots of egg with specks of steak. The salsa did not help in providing flavor. Sweet Potato Hashbrown is still ok. I had breakfast at Hadbrown when it first opened, today is a follow-up, I am finally giving up! $18 for breakfast was a waste of money. The menu has incompatible food combinations, and uninteresting with high carbs. Eat at your own risk!
(1)
Roxy H.

I try to find new breakfast spots every Saturday for my fam. We love to do breakfast before Saturday errands and activities. Stumbled upon Hashbrowns. Very cute, little place with outdoor seating too. Parking is like $2 an hour on the street. Score. Kid friendly. My daughter devoured her pancakes. Killer Hashbrowns. Mmmmmm. Not so much. They weren't to die for, just decent. I had the protein omelet (egg whites). It was very delicious. Portion sizes are huge!!! Including the coffee mugs!! I took my unfinished breakfast home to eat Sunday morning. Awesome. We will be back.
(4)
Heather L.

The Combo Hashbrowns (Idaho potato, sweet potato, garlic, and romano) at this place is amazing (no kidding). This breakfast side dish isn't for the faint of heart. It is far from your measly serving of julienned potatoes, lightly sauteed and subtly flavored; there is a time and place for those - maybe. The hashbrowns here is a bowl of buttery, rich, savory-sweet, more-mash-than-crunch goodness. Hearty and DELISH. The 18th Street omelette I got is also downright delectable. The eggs held together and the veggies are refreshing. Plus, the service has been sunny side up since the first time I stepped in the door.
(4)
Jaime G.

Hashbrows at university village is a cute little place in a fun new and revitalized area. Took advantage is the beautiful day but sitting outside and having a coffee and a sandwich. Try the grilled chicken sandwich with avocado and pesto mayo. Have a nice expresso coffee and we're in business. Would def come back.
(4)
Gina S.

It wasn't too busy for breakfast during the week. We were seated right away, just inside the door. Aside from the slight door draft, the atmosphere was really nice and the menu had a good variety of omelets, breakfast sandwiches and good ol' pancakes/waffles/toasts. I went with the "Marty" High Protein omelet; egg white, mushroom, broccoli, turkey and cheese. My side options included toast and the choice between sweet potato hashbrowns or regular hashbrowns. Simple...sweet potato! I don't know why anyone would go with anything but sweet potato hashbrowns? The hubby got the Taylor Street omelet; Italian sausage, mozzarella, tomato and basil...with sweet potato hashbrowns. The omelets were both really good but the breakfast champions on the plate were the sweet potato hashrowns. They were SO freakin' amazing, a nice pan fried crust on the outside and soft sweet goodness on the inside. I just wish I had a bigger portion of them. I will go back just for the hashbrowns. And lucky me, I can order just that. A side of their amazing sweet potato hashbrowns for about $4.
(4)
Jannelly D.

This place is awesome, coffee is good, the food is even better. Best cream of mushroom I've ever had. Great service and atmosphere. Have been here a couple times and many more to come.
(5)
Bruno R.

Tried to have a group of 7 adults and 3 children, they accepted the reservation but once we got there they tried to jam us twice in spaces that barely fit 4 people. The manager did it on purpose and out of spite since we did mot agree with her choice of space the first time (which did not fit us anyway). Business run by idiots.
(1)
Zen-s-asia N.

I liked this place instantly! Comfy vibe and very friendly staff... Duck Bacon is on the menu - excellent idea! Great hash browns... this is to be expected. Good place to have breakfast and catch up with your carb-loading friends... had a taste of the mini-waffles and they were delicious.. a good cup of coffee... also had the Taylor Street Omelet and it did not disappoint...
(4)
William L.

Huge fan of this place. I had the french toast and rosemary hashbrowns. The french toast was perfectly battered and crisp, but plenty soft to absorb some of that delicious vanilla heaven that comes with it. The hashbrowns were really good as well, but if you only like a little garlic, these aren't for you. They were garlic-tacular which was fine by me. We stopped in on around 9 on a Sunday morning and had no problem getting a table right away. It may seem a little cramped inside once you are seated, but it was loud enough that I didn't have to worry about the people next to us hearing our convo.
(4)
Andrew T.

If you are a potato fiend, this is the place for you. Definitely try the Killer Hash Browns (described below). Actually, you should just get the Hash Browns platter and share with with friends, unless you are THAT big of a potato fiend. Here is what the platter includes: House Hash Browns: Made with sweet potatoes Rosemary Hash Browns: Red potatoes, fresh Rosemary & garlic Regular Idaho Potato Hashbrowns Combo Hash Browns: Idaho & sweet potatoes sauteed w/ chopped garlic, topped with Romano cheese Killer Hash Browns: Idaho potatoes, cheddar cheese, onions & sour cream topped with crushed corn flakes baked 'til bubbly. Their omelettes are tasty, but the texture of the eggs seem rather thin. I do recommend the Maxwell Street Omelette that comes with polish sausage, grilled pork chop, grilled onions, and cheese of your choice. Another omelette I would recommend is the Taylor Street, which consists of Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and basil. If you are a beast, then you should get the City of Chicago Omelette. The City of Chicago Omelette is an open faced 6 egg omelette w/ polish sausage, Italian sausage, steak, chorizo, pork chop, bacon, grilled onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli topped w/ mozzarella & cheddar cheese. I have yet to try this or any of the specialty egg burritos they offer here, which wraps all of their specialty omelettes save the City of Chicago. If they did wrap the City of Chicago, I would imagine it to be the size of my torso. Their pancakes look tasty too. They also have a lunch menu, but I have not tried any of the items, but they do offer soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers.
(4)
Tuan N.

For a place named "Hashbrowns", I was expecting a little more than a half scoop on my plate. Granted, they were pretty good, so I enjoyed all 3 bites. First impressions: roommate and I walked into a packed place on a Saturday morning, to a host who had his indifference painted on his face. Sat with no menus for about 5 minutes until I asked. Perhaps I made a mistake in ordering the Maxwell Street omelet, but I was feeling nostalgic, and craving meat. The pieces of polish sausage didn't add enough flavor to make me forget about the dry, grey clumps of tasteless pork. Roommate's "Eggs Benedict Double Trouble" was supposed to be a combination between Benedict and Florentine, but came out with half the ingredients of both. Poached egg, a razor-thin slice of Canadian bacon, a couple shreds of spinach, and a splash of hollandaise. A very sad looking breakfast plate... perhaps they are low on stock? Both plates were about $10 each: completely overpriced for what was offered. We left still hungry, and too sour to give any more money to this restaurant.
(1)
Tim H.

Decent breakfast. For a place called Hashbrowns, I was expecting some amazing hashbrowns. I left unimpressed. I had the hashbrown sampler which comes with 4 different types of hashbrowns. They were all mediocre to good. None of them were great. I would come back if in the area and wanting breakfast food, but I would not make a special trip to come here.
(3)
Karan M.

I came here for brunch on a Saturday a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised. Aside from the wait, which I've come to expect at all brunch places, the food, service, and convenience were great. Parking was easy and cheap with a large, attached parking structure close by. The food was very good with great quantity and taste. The service was a bit slow, but this gave us time to talk and enjoy coffee. All in all, we will definitely stop by again when we're in town.
(4)
Farha K.

It's a rather dark and gloomy Saturday so I figured a fun brunch will help when a friend and I decided to catch up over a meal. Too bad the food is very mediocre at Hashbrowns, which is surprising because I'd actually heard good things about it when they first opened up. Between the two of us we ordered eggs, medium-easy with the combo hashbrown, and the steak+ mozzarella omelette with the killer hashbrowns... on paper they sounded promising, but both were rather underwhelming. The omellete was rather dense and the eggs too dry... the food wasnt warm when it came in which could have added to the dryness as well. The hashbrowns were also cold and the cheese in both of them ended up hardening up because of that. My friend complained about the first cup of coffee tasting burnt but the waiter (although very sweet) didn't really offer to switch it up and get a fresh cup right away. But he did bring up a fresh pot of coffee once another one had brewed. so +1 for that. All in all the service was actually pretty good, friendly smiling faces and all..but the food had much left to be desired.
(2)
Amelia L.

Best blueberry pancakes ever. I think they mix cinnamon in with the berries, and they turn out all crispy on the edges. They make their own vanilla and strawberry sauces, too - I never even touch the pancake syrup, they're so good. Waitstaff is lovely, decor is nice - especially the brown velvet panels that wrap around two walls. I love this place. It's my go-to breakfast destination. Maybe don't come here if eggs are your thing. The hashbrowns are delicious, but the eggs have never wowed me.
(4)
Michelle M.

I've stopped by this place a few times. I've never been disappointed. This last time I ordered a pepper and egg panini it was amazing! I did get the house hash brown which is the sweet potatoes and there not bad but not my kind of hash Brown's. The sandwich is a good size to share. Location is good. We ate at 11am on a Friday and there was no crowd. Staff is friendly.
(5)
Jennifer Q.

This was a really cute place. My friend and I had been around the corner at the Paul Mitchell School and were STARVING by the time our service was done! Thankfully, Hashbrowns was open until 3pm. We arrived at about 1:30 or so on Saturday and, thankfully, missed the brunch rush. We had a cute table, located in a little nook by the front window. The employees were awesome with us as we stayed, ate and chit-chatted until close. Great food, great service and great ambiance. This will be my go-to brunch spot after my future Paul Mitchell School services!
(3)
Tiff J.

Came here before because it was one of the few places nearby that had mimosas and bloodys for brunch nearby. Recently Stopped selling adult beverages. The food was okay before, nothing to rave about. Without my mimosa it's not worth going out my way. Typical breakfast. The only thing that kept them in my radar was their location and spirits. Now it's just an ihop without flavored syrup. I'll pass...
(2)
Lupe D.

I really liked the food at Hashbrowns. It's a really cute spot, the waitstaff from the hostess to the guys who brought the water and refilled the coffee were all very nice and attentive. We had a very pleasant experience. We arrived at about 11:00am on a Friday and had no wait. I had the strawberry pancakes and my BF had a panini that had eggs, a generous amount of cheddar cheese, and bacon on french bread. It was suppose to come with the sweet potato hashbrowns, but he substituted the rosemary hashbrowns, +$1.00 for the substitution :-( I really liked the strawberry pancakes! They were really light, with fresh strawberries cooked inside. They were NOT sweet at all - cooked perfectly and came with two side sauces - a strawberry puree and a vanilla cream sauce. OMG SO GOOD! I am really picky about pancakes and generally like my pancakes on the sweeter side, but these wouldn't have been as good if they were too sweet because the sauces added the perfect amount sweetness - and the light airiness soaked it all in! YUM! My BF's sandwich looked really good - but I don't really like eggs, so I will take his word that it was good. Personally I would have ordered the same, but substituted avocado for the eggs - THAT would have been a party in my mouth... I tasted the Rosemary Hashbrowns - they were ok. I was disappointed in the portion, but it was a side and not a full order so I guess it was an ok portion for a side dish? As many others have said, this place is definitely not cheap. The only reason I ventured in here is because I had a Groupon, however, the food is really good and I am almost sure to be back... maybe not very often cause, you know, times are tough, but definitely if I have a extra few $$ and am craving those yummy pancakes!
(4)
Fredrick B.

For anyone who has read any of my many restaurant reviews, you know they are generally primarily positive. I seldom waste my time trashing a venue. I hated this experience! Why? Let me count the ways: 1) Way too hot in this place; 2) SERVICE WAS HORRIFIC; 3) FOOD WAS NOT SPECIAL & COLD by the time we were served--BUTTER DIDN'T EVEN MELT ON THE TOAST; 4) Bus boys took our Mimosa OVER HALF FULL! They offered NO apology EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T SEEK REFILLS/REPLACEMENTS, JUST AN "I APOLOGIZE;" 5) Our waitress never brought us or milk or Orange Juices WE ORDERED WHEN SHE TOOK OUR ORDER--STOPPED WITH COFFEE BUT, NONETHELESS SHE PUT THE BEVERAGES ON OUR BILL--REALLY YA IDIOT? WOW--I was so EXCITED to finally dine there, BUT I was exceptionally disappointed. I will NEVER again dine at Hashbrowns--NEVER! How is that for an EMPHATIC NO! I SAID NO! BTW: Get this--$9 FOR PANCAKES (LOL)! Go to I-Hop, Denny's, OR ANYWHERE other than this establishment. PEDESTRIAN at best folks! End of all caps--get it?!?!? #Forgettaboutit!
(1)
Kate M.

The food is really good, incredibly hot, but really good. The service could use a little help though. My favorite dish is the egg & pepper panini. Yum. The hashbrowns are of course good. I was skeptical of the sweet potato hashbrowns, but was pleasantly surprised, they were very good. The burritos are good, and not too big either. The service could use a little help. It's certainly not horrible though, they could just use another server or two. I'm not a huge fan of sitting around and waiting on the servers, it hasn't ruined any of my meals here though. Parking in the parking garage at the end of the block is cheap and convenient.
(4)
Dr. M.

I've definitely had better, in fact, the food today was nothing to brag about. The only honorable mention was the server, who was very nice. The coffee was served cold...seriously, the coffee must have been sitting in the decanter all day (the actual cost of the coffee on my bill was higher than the listed price...go figure?)! The food was very bland, and my omelette was practically meatless! I actually ate a small portion of my food, left the rest & a tip (because I do believe in tipping for service, even if the food is horrible). $12 for one person & paying for parking was definitely not worth it! I will probably never go back because they're plenty of other tasty places to choose from. This was just a visit to scratch off the list. Check
(2)
Richard C.

this place is not amazing but not bad either. every visit i made to this place for breakfast has been a happy belly. food is decent, the place is small but service is decent too.
(4)
David Z.

Hashbrowns is definitely an A-OK breakfast place. I actually stopped in yesterday afternoon after a doctor's appointment. They close at 3pm, so when I waltzed in just before 2:30, I was a little concerned about getting poor service and/or poor food. Luckily, my fears were unjustified. The service was actually very good. Since it was close to closing, the place was essentially empty, so I was waited on immediately, and my food came out very promptly. I liked that I could get breakfast even though it was the afternoon. They DO have lunch options such as burgers, but I'm the kind of guy that loves breakfast at all times of the day, so I went with the french toast. The food itself was decent. As I mentioned earlier, I ordered regular french toast, and I also got a side of regular hashbrowns. The french toast good, but not great. The portion size was also a little small for my tastes, and the toast itself was a little soggy. However, one thing I will say is that I LOVED the cup of vanilla glaze/syrup that came with the food. It was excellent. The hashbrowns were also pretty good. They came in a big bowl. I actually liked having them in a bowl as opposed to a flat plate - but maybe that's just me. All in all, I had a good meal. I ate by myself, and after tip it all ended up being $15. Everything was good, but not great. If I were to go again, I'd try the sweet potato hashbrowns instead, and definitely get something that might fill me up a little more than the french toast.
(3)
Kim H.

I just love potatoes, anyway, shape or form...usually. Not going to say the Idaho hash browns weren't good, but not good enough for place who names itself after the product. Idahos were very greasy, and we're not fresh. Sweet potato ones were alright, but very sweet. Had just eggs, they serve three, nice. Had bacon, might have been last weeks bacon it was sooo leathery. Not going back. Too many better places to spend my money.
(2)
Rob Z.

We watched this restaurant take forever to open. Just opened last week. With all the breakfast spots around, we recommend you pass this one by. Very pretty decor & great location but nothing else special. The omelet was fine. The hashbrowns that come with are sweet potato hashbrowns. They were interesting but we really wanted great regular hashbrowns. The service was slow and clunky. The bus boy (man) reached across our faces to pick up plates so we got a great introduction to his armpit (yuck). The coffee cups are cute but short and wide so the coffee gets cold faster than if it was in a mug. After all that waiting and watching it be built out and anticipating, we decided we like Yolk or Brunch much better.
(2)
Tera D.

Sorry Hashbrowns, but you are officially my least favorite breakfast place in the UIC area. My server and all of the staff were genuinely really nice, and the place is comfortable to linger in, but at the end of the day, the food isn't good. The whole menu is full of egg dishes that you could absolutely make yourself at home. Heck, you could probably make most of them better. My bajillion egg Greek omelet was so unflavorful I had to dig around to find feta to remind my taste buds what flavor is. As for their namesake hashbrowns, I'm not sure how they made it past the test phase. I love fantasizing about making perfect sweet potato hashbrowns as much as the next girl, but at the end of the day it's a scientific impossibility. Sweet potatoes are WAY too moist to ever get crispy, and the result is just weirdly textured mashed potatoes. Sad story.
(2)
Tom C.

Update: I've been here 20+ times in the past 2 years and in the past 4 months both the service and the food has gone downhill in a hurry. Today it took us almost 40 minutes to get our food and it was far from good. I'm sad to say that this is probably the last time I will eat there.
(2)
Rachel H.

Oddly enough, I'd never been to Hashbrowns before today despite living in Pilsen and working in Greektown. Something about that fancy Maxwell Street just doesn't sit right with me. As a send-off lunch for my friend and colleague, the office came to Hashbrowns and hunkered down on the patio for lunch. The patio was lovely and I enjoyed getting away from fluorescent light hell and into some real lighting. I had the lunch special which is a half sandwich or burger, soup, and sweet potato fries. I got the chicken breast panini with provolone and tomatoes, which was sizeable and hit the spot along with the soup and fries. Fries could have been a bit crisper, but they were still good. I also liked that they had about four soups of the day. That's the good stuff, but tragically, there's some bad stuff too. While the special was a good deal, many of the other items are on the pricier side. Very few vegetarian options in the lunch portion of the menu, and I'm always a little annoyed by places that serve soft drinks in a can. This isn't some Chinese delivery place or pizza by the slice shack. I'd definitely come back with the office, or to try the breakfast menu which seemed pretty extensive, but a vegetarian boyfriend makes this place an unlikely lunch choice. Since the boss paid, maybe I should have gotten the $18 six egg omelette with all the random meats in it. Adam Richman should give that one a try.
(3)
John P.

We live close by. We walk over to Hashbrowns occasionally for breakfast. The place is small; tables are packed tightly together. Not enough room for condiments and food on the tables. Service is spotty. Food is adequate but pricey. Someone thinks well done hash browns need to float in butter - perhaps because they are not prepared fresh with each meal. Egg dishes are OK, not spectaular. We walked over last Saturday. It was hot outside. We were a bit sweaty when we got to Hashbrowns. The front door was open. The place is small. It was hotter inside. Hashbrowns was pretty much empty. Perhaps because the air conditioning was off or not working. This was nothing new since whenever we've been there, the air conditioning has either NEVER been on or has NEVER worked. Ever. Too bad this Saturday was exceptionally hot. We'd like to like this place since it's so close to our home Oh well, Meli's is not too far. Maybe we'll come back to Hashbrowns in the Winter when the heat is (hopefully) on.
(2)
Ross N.

Hostess and waitress were great. Eggs were reminiscent of an old dried out sponge. Coffee was like lukewarm dishwater. Orange juice tasted like battery acid. Blaring music and a total lack of ambiance. Never going back!
(1)
Anthony M.

My wife brought me here because she told me I would love it. I didn't. The newly remodeled neighborhood is cute but personally I miss the scary underworld that Maxwell Street use to be. Enough with the tour and on to the food. This place is called Hashbrowns...I love Hashbrowns but these Hashbrowns are terrible. We got the Hashbrown Platter and I was really disappointed. If you call yourself Hashbrowns then you better have killer hashbrowns. I felt bad because my wife raved about this place and it was a complete waste of money. I also ordered a breakfast too and it came with more terrible hashbrowns. Enough...stop with the bad potatos. We will not be coming back here. I really wish that this place lived up to it's name.
(1)
Geoff H.

Not the best breakfast place I've been too, but still above average. The sweet potato hash browns were good, but not great. Service was fine, and my omelet was pretty good. Would I come back? Sure, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Amanda M.

- - - - - - - MAC APPROVED - - - - - - - - My friend and I were running some errands and in the mood for breakfast in the University Village area - Happily we discovered HASH BROWN'S! It was close to closing time, yet the staff made us feel super welcomed
(4)
Natalie L.

The service was good but that's about it. I had Just Eggs (3 eggs over easy with sausage and toast). One of the eggs was over hard. The sausage was just eh. I had the garlic and sage hash browns. They weren't hash browns, though. They were potato home fries (chopped up and seasoned chunks). Hubby liked his sweet potato hash browns, which were traditional shredded hash browns. But he said his club sandwich was not good. Won't be coming back to this one, unfortunately.
(2)
T V.

I saw this restaurant featured on Chicago's Best and was excited to try everything on their menu especially the sweet potato hash browns. We arrived around 9am on Memorial Day. The restaurant was about 85% full. We ordered iced coffee, egg nachos, Northsider egg white omelet and loaded French Toast. The ice melted quickly in the iced coffee. The egg nachos were interesting. The nachos inside were soggy. Not sure if they are suppose to be that way? My Northsider omelet consisted of some veggies and cheese. It was a regular omelet, nothing special. The loaded french toast consisted of french toasted loaded with fruit on top and a dipping sauce on the side. It was your typical french toast. I guess I was most disappointed with the sweet potato hash browns. I requested them extra crispy. Instead I got what appeared to be sweet mash potatoes. The taste was hard to eat as all I could taste was the butter.
(2)
Scott C.

I was here on a Monday morning and the place was semi busy. Nicely decorated but the long wooden booth on the bar was a bit uncomfortable. I ordered an OJ and Ham & Cheese omlette which was tasty and filling . Omlette was good, no grizzle in the ham & semi fluffy, sweet potato hash browns were really good. toast was made with decent bread. OJ was decent too . Bill was $14.32 before tip...a little pricey but I saw them on chicagos best and decided to try it, Would go back again
(3)
Brian R.

Always great service and quality. Very consistent quality and very reliable. The staff is always extremely friendly no matter how busy they are. Depending on the time of day, they may be fully packed, typically around 8:00-9:30.
(5)
Mary T.

Kind of a letdown. Since I love nearly all things potato-related, I was excited to try a place named after one of my favorite dishes. Unfortunately, I found the food to be just average. Hashbrowns is located on a cute, quaint little revamped stretch of Maxwell Street full of restaurants and shops. There is a small patio for outdoor dining and a cute interior. Inside the walls are exposed brick with old photographs and furniture sprinkled throughout the space. I didn't get a great view of the entire place, but the tables in front are quite close together seeming overly cramped in some places. The menu is very meat and egg heavy, two dishes I don't care for, but it's not their fault I have a picky palette. I opted for the buttermilk pancakes and a side of the Idaho potato hashbrowns with cheese. Michael G. got the breakfast nachos, which were basically chilaquiles with their signature sweet potato hashbrowns. He seemed quite pleased with the nachos, but disappointed in the hashbrowns after finding spots with undercooked potatoes. Neither of my items particularly wowed me. I got 3 enormous pancakes, which came with homemade strawberry and vanilla syrups. I opted for traditional maple syrup instead, I couldn't get past the ketchup-like appearance of the strawberry and milk-like consistency of the vanilla. The pancakes were average, I wished there was an option for a short stack or a berry pancake; I certainly didn't need that much. The hashbrowns were good, served in a large cereal bowl, but average for a place that doesn't used shredded potatoes. The food was solid, just not memorable. I can't see myself going out of my way to return. P.S. This place is breakfast and lunch only.
(3)
Mike K.

Oh, how you always manage to disappoint me in some way, shape or form, Hashbrowns. If it's not one thing, it's another. I'm just not gullible enough to fall for you entirely. Perhaps someone at Hashbrowns read one of my previous reviews noting how there were too many condiments on the table, resulting in not enough room for your food. This time, there was no ketchup or tabasco on the table, and the butter and cream were consolidated into one cup. There was still a needless amount of jelly on the table. The jelly could probably also be consolidated into the large cup with the cream and butter to make room for patrons' food. It's close quarters in Hashbrowns, and every inch counts. Then again, perhaps nobody at Hashbrowns read my previous reviews, as the service is still, as usual, lacking. Service is the Achilles heel of Hashbrowns. There is just something wrong with it every single time. This time, our server was better than most I've had in the past, but my coffee never was refilled. I also noticed the table three inches from us wasn't greeted for at least five minutes after being seated. They ended up asking our server if she was their server. No, she wasn't, but she would notify their server. So it's not just me. Service is just consistently bad at Hashbrowns. As to the food, apart from the huge mistake that was changing the combo hash browns from shredded to thick cut (if this has changed, please inform me), it's usually very good. Since the aforementioned egregious mistake with the combo hash browns was instituted, I've only ever gone with the killer hash browns, which have up to this point always been delicious. Like Eddie O. would say, "Stop it right there!" This time they were different. The potatoes were extra stringy and undercooked. I know my potatoes. When they're that crunchy, they're undercooked. Goodness, me. You have the potential to be so delicious, Hashbrowns. You have the concept. You just don't execute. Come on. Please. Let me love you. Shore it up!
(2)
Allison V.

This place is awful. I wish I could give negative stars! I have been here before but this time was my last. Below is the list I made while sitting there... Fruit flies. Meal came out one thing at a time Served food by the bus boy Food was placed on different tables Nobody checked on us No coffee refills or option to get more My omelet was wrong Hashbrowns were bland and cold and mushy Waitress was at the counter shoving food into her mouth Waitress eating food was chewing like a cow Fruit was overly ripe...maybe that is why there were fruit flies I did not eat the food, I just had some toast.... We were brought the check, I informed the waitress of all of the problems, she informed me there was nothing she could do because her manager was not there. Maybe she should have checked on us, maybe she should have followed the whole two bite protocol check. Maybe she should find a new job. This place will never be recommended to anyone by me. I will deter friends from patronizing this horrible establishment.
(1)
Joanne C.

Good brunch place. When we come here I always order my usual: Killer Hashbrowns, side of sausage and coffee. Someone (usually my sister) will order the 3 eggs special and we share everything. Works out great. I love the Killer Hashbrowns. The cheese, the sour cream, onions, all topped with corn flakes and baked. So yummmmmmy. Service is a bit spotty sometimes. One time we were sitting in one of those corner seats by the window and our server forgot about us. The place is a little snug and I usually don't like to come here until after 11 or 12. I just don't like being so close to strangers or having them hover near my table when I'm trying to eat.
(3)
Claudia D.

The husband and I went here once. NO way again. These are NOT hash browns. The food was overcooked or undercooked. The food looked terrible and tasted worse.
(1)
Dianne S.

Stumbled in for brunch one summer morning after "one of those" nights. My husband and I were still in the smoky clothes from the night before...it was 80 degrees out...and this place had the nerve to have two fans going and no air conditioning. Needless to say...it was going to take a whole lot to impress us at this point. I'd come here only one time before with the little bro when he was checking out UIC, so basically when Hashbrowns just opened. Here are some differences I found: THEN -cash only -sweet potatoe hashbrowns brought to you w/out choice of regular hashbrowns -pretty friendly server, very attentive NOW -credit cards accepted -yay for a democracy! you get to choose what type of hashbrowns you want to eat!! -server hard to come by, busy trying to wait on as many tables as possible and picking fights with other servers who attempt to take a table from her! seriously!!! Portions here are huge, but I can't say the same about the flavor. A lot of decent street parking (pay box) around but I think I'd drive myself elsewhere next time.
(2)
Sarah S.

Arrived here for a lunch and was greeted by pleasant smells of bacon and coffee.. YAY!! Server was quick to bring water and introduce herself.. place was pretty busy. I got a burger and my guest had an omelet.. both were very good and the fries/hash browns WERE AWESOME.. I expected them to be, but was surprised at how delish they were. Juicy burger dripped meat juice on the fries for extra topping. Only negative about the place was the fans... it was a nice day, BUT I was sneezing and rubbing my eyes within a few minutes which hindered my enjoyment a tad. Next time I will go when they have a/c or heat on and no fans.
(3)
Marjorie W.

All I'll say is that chunks of raw minced garlic should not be in the classic b-fast item Eggs Florentine (like Benedict but instead of Canadian bacon there is spinach). Eeeeew!!
(2)
Leticia L.

I so wanted to love this place. I looked online at the reviews and they were mixed so I hoped I would have been on the "great breakfast" side of the fence. We called Saturday early afternoon for a table of 5 and a highchair and they told us if we came now they could seat us right away. That was a huge plus. We got there in 10 minutes and sure enough there was a table. A rather cramped table though as they tried to fit us at a 4 person table. I was in fact willing to overlook this if it wasn't for the fact that the temperature seemed to be 95 degrees inside the restaurant. I don't know if they have air conditioning but it was either off or not working because they had fans going everywhere. Not a good scenario for a pregnant woman and a toddler. We stuck it out though because we were starving. We waited for about 15 minutes before the waitress finally took our order and then waited what seemed like eternity for our food. I ordered french toast and the plate was hot so I figured the food would also be hot. I was so wrong. All our food was cold. My husbands burger was soggy because the juice from the burger had penetrated to the bottom of the bun. my sister-in-law's eggs were rubbery and her husband's steak was cold. It was as if our order had been sitting there forever. Our waitress also took forever to come back and refill our water glasses and coffee. When I asked her for a refill of decaf she poured hot water into my glass. Also the water she was pouring into our glasses was already room temperature. For an 80 dollar breakfast (not including tip) I was really hoping for a little more.
(1)
Selena L.

Went to Hashbrowns today thanks to the Groupon I've been anxiously waiting to use. Talk about disappointing! How do eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, a breakfast burrito and orange juice ($4 juice, btw) come to $30?? Aside from being overpriced, the food was simply not good-unimpressive. The best part of the experience was the staff. They were very nice and fairly attentive. So, If you like overpriced, unimpressive food with good service, this is the place for you.
(2)
SoxSide Mike R.

Visited Hashbrowns this past Monday at 11am, and it was awesome! No wait and nowhere near as crowded as on the weekends. WARNING: don't come to Hashbrowns and expect to be cheap, they are a bit pricey, but worth it! A word on parking, use the UIC garage at the east end of Maxwell St., will cost you $2 for up to 2 1/2hrs and metered street parking costs $1.50/hr! Plus, you can go over your limit in the garage without the risk of being ticketed in case you decide to walk around and shop in the area. The meter maids are hardcore in the area and you will get ticketed if you go over your time limit on the street! So, i visited with my two friends, I had the Low Carb Omelet (bacon, sausage, cheese) with the house (sweet potato) hashbrowns, fresh squeezed OJ, (the best damn) coffee, and whole wheat toast; one of my friends had The Bridgeport Omelet (steak & cheese), with the regular American Hashbrowns, OJ, coffee, and wheat toast; my other friend had Simply eggs(3 eggs over medium) with some huge sausage links, american hashbrowns, coffee and toast. We all shared an order of silver dollar blueberry and strawberry pancakes. Word of warning; the regular order of pancakes are HUGE! We all loved our meals, especially the whole wheat toast! The fresh squeezed OJ is a bit pricey, but other than that we loved our breakfast. Our sever was awesome, she read our minds and we didn't have to ask for a thing. If you're looking for a tasty breakfast in the UIC Village area definitely check this place out!
(4)
Dawn B.

Giving this place five stars for the following reasons: big coffee mugs that were attentively filled, good prices, delicious hashbrowns (sweet potato!) and they didn't rush my friend and I out when we were catching up (we stayed three hours).
(5)
Jasmine P.

Breakfast at Hashbrowns with my friend after yoga at CorePower Yoga was great today! Hash browns are my favorite food so of course I would try a restaurant with the same name! Hashbrowns (the restaurant) is a cutely decorated restaurant in the University Village area. I like that you can have breakfast anytime AND lunch at any time. Or as my friend Amy said, "you mean I can order a burger right now??" (at 9am). I've grown accustomed to regular hashbrowns, but the restaurant Hashbrowns offers other types of hash browns like sweet potato, red potato, and Idaho potato. The price of the hash browns were expensive, but the portion sizes of the hash browns were substantial. yum. I ordered the Combo Hashbrowns, but it turns out I am actually a fan of sweet potato hash browns. I also ordered the Mini Waffles. They were soo cute. Each mini waffle had a dollop of whip cream on top. The raspberry sauce that came with the waffles was delish! It tasted homemade! You could actually taste the raspberries! My friend got the egg sandwich which was really good as well. The bacon within the sandwich was sooo crispy. DOUBLE YUM! The hash browns that came with the egg sandwich weren't as substantial as the side order. If you don't live in the area, I would suggest parking in the parking garage. It's pretty inexpensive (not sure how much the parking meter rate is for that area). It's only $2 for up to 2 1/2 hours. cool! Hashbrowns (the restaurant) is a cute breakfast place that isn't typical diner-like. I like places that offer a little escape from your normal day and Hashbrowns did that for me this morning. Thanks!
(4)
Steve C.

My favorite spot to bring guests for breakfast or lunch! The service is very friendly and the food is wonderful! The new combo hashbrowns are my favorite followed by the Rosemary potatoes and yes you can order them with sandwiches at lunch too. The burgers here are the best I have had in the city! The pretzel bun alone is worth the trip! Bravo Hashbrowns!
(5)
Angeliaque T.

I have always enjoyed my experience at Hashbrowns. I have been going there since it opened, over three years ago. I like the silver dollar pancakes and the roasted potatoes for breakfast and when I have gone during lunch I get the turkey burger with brocolli and the sweet potatoe fries. The owner is very friendly and the waitstaff are attentive. The weekends they are more crowded, I have gone but I don't feel like I get as much attention as the weekday mornings. I will continue to go during the week because I like the attention.
(4)
Keisha S.

Food took a very long time to come out and it was only two of us :( had to take my food with us terrible time will not return.
(2)
Amy G.

Hashbrowns, you just earned another star. For a breakfast joint you don't execute breakfast particularly well, to be completely honest. Omelets are a little overcooked and the actual hash browns, presumably the restaurant's specialty, are usually overdone to the point of becoming mashed potatoes rather than crispy, tantalizing New Year's resolution destroyers. Servers still seem frazzled and overworked. However, a lot of things are working in your favor. 1. Rarely a wait. I don't know if this is a statement on the quality of Hashbrowns or not.. but the hell if I'm waiting an hour to get into any of the fancy Wicker Park brunch places. Seating is ample and ambiance is nice and casual. Prices are fair and ingredients seem fresh and of high quality. This ain't gourmet but it's not the government cheese and canned vegetables of a diner either. 2. Free parking. I've extolled the virtues of UIC's parking garages as the best damn deal in the Loop for ages. This still holds. Free parking in that Maxwell Street/Union parking structure on Sundays! 3. Finally and most importantly, the burgers. Skip the breakfast food, seriously, and opt for a delicious half-pound-plus Angus beef burger. I ordered the low-carb burger, a bunless concoction with high quality beef blended with crispy bacon and slightly spicy Italian sausage. For an additional $1.50 I got the whole thing topped with a perfectly cooked egg over-easy (how can the chefs do this and fail so extraordinarily at scrambled eggs and omelets?) and it was served alongside a nice, salty pickle, lettuce, and a sweet, juicy tomato. Despite being a low-carb entree, however, the burger was dished out with Hashbrowns lackluster sweet potato fries, limp and oily. I'll try substituting them in the future and report back. The restaurant got more and more crowded as my friends and I hung out into the early afternoon with coffee and conversation. All of our special requests were accommodated and we did not feel remotely rushed.
(3)
Deanna M.

Service is great: very attentive and kind. They don't rush you out of here, even on a busy day. Food is solid: the apple pancake special is awesome. Pancakes, omelets and sides are good. Loved the sweet potato hash browns but I do love all things sweet potato, so I may not be the harshest critic in that respect. Coffee is served in large mugs (think: tv show "friends" style) and it keeps a'coming as long as u are sitting there. Small restaurant, but more than enough room on a busy day to fit my son's baby buggy in basinet position (long!) and kudos to the wait staff and bus boys who navigated easily around it without nocking into it and waking a sleeping baby :-)
(4)
G N.

Tanto buon cibo (think I spelled that right). Lots of good food. Was in the neighborhood and stopped in. Our group had pancakes, omelette and eggs benedict which were all very tasty and had home cooking written all over them. Waitress and table staff were excellent. Service very good even though it was busy they were very organized and working hard. Clean. Good coffee. Fair prices. Oh, and we really could have eaten a plate of the sweet potato hashbrowns.
(5)
Joe E.

All college campuses need a couple of solid breakfast joints for students to flock to either before their mid-term exam, after a long night of drinking, or whenever they get sick of dorm food. Hashbrowns fulfills this need for the UIC students, as well as locals, living on "south campus." This breakfast place features breakfast specialities from each of the ethnic neighborhoods of Chicago as well as spins on some of the typical breakfast foods. From meat filled omelets to huge pancakes, students never leave this place hungry. It doesn't get a perfect rating because the food is fairly expensive for being in a college setting and also everyone always needs lots of salt and pepper when eating their meal. They need to start seasoning their foods better.
(3)
Richie D.

I'm not Irish but I'm in love with potatoes. Now when you make anything with Sweet Potatoes, I'm like a squirrel who has come across a tree full of nuts...I become a scavenger and go wild. Their hashbrowns are just perfectly cooked with a touch of cinnamon. I would just make it my meal. It's all about the hashbrowns baby!
(4)
Kyle K.

Hash browns is a great breakfast/brunch spot. The food portions are very generous and the staff are very friendly. They have all types of different hash browns, each just as delicious as the other. Also, they have some pretty delicious Chicago-inspired omelets. I recommended the egg nachos, Greek Town Omelet, and killer hash browns.
(5)
Rhoda Y.

We were looking for a new bfast spot and decided to check this out. They had omelettes and burgers named taylor st., greektown and northsider. Went with the eggs benedict (good), the bf had the 18th st. omelette (good) and my son got the bridgeport burger n fries (yummy). One downer was the way they prepared their hashbrowns. I prefer shredded but any which way, it has to be nice n crispy! The hashbrowns here are kinda mushy (disappointing). Overall a decent place. Not sure if I'd go back cuz my bfast is not complete without a side of yummy hashbrowns!
(2)
Paul R T J.

Great place to eat, busy, energetic, and good food.
(5)
Tracey H.

I love potatoes!!!! Yes, you read that right!!! I love potatoes. This place has GREAT hashbrowns. They are always tasty and cooked to perfection. The "Killer" hashbrowns are my favorite. The service is good and fast. If you are a fellow potato lover, then you will love this place. If you are interested in other breakfast items, you will find the food to be average. The omelets were puffy and too eggy for my taste. I like to taste the ingredients in the omelet, but all I could taste was the egg. The pork sausages were too salty and not very flavorful. The pancakes were good and so was the coffee. I visit often and 99% of the time I order only hashbrowns and coffee.
(4)
Lauren C.

Hashbrowns is the number one place to get hasbrowns and delicious food in University Village. They could improve on their service staff to customer ratio to improve wait time, but all in all, this place is simply delectable! The now take debit and credit cards and have outdoor seating as well!
(4)
MyChau N.

3.5 stars. Went here on a weekend with hubby and a friend from out-of-town. Been here 3 other times prior and the place did not leave much of an impression in the past, but we had a craving for hashbrowns and this place is close by. The great thing about this place is that there is no wait compared to other breakfast/brunch places. We did get there early in the morning (at around 9:30am on a Sunday). We did not have any problems with the service at this visit or in the past, but we are not super demanding people and prefer not to be interrupted during our meal. The atmosphere is not cute/trendy and quite small, but it's clean and well-lit (very family friendly). At this visit, we had: The City of Chicago Omelet: a huge omelet filled with all kinds of meat that should be shared between 2 people. It was delicious! (I had the Taylor Street Omelet in the past and this was a lot yummier!) My hubby and I split this and they brought us two plates with the food split up between the plates which was nice. Rosemary hashbrowns and sweet potato hashbrowns: My hubby liked the rosemary hash since it was very garlicky and I liked the sweet potato hash since I like something sweet when I eat a savory meal. (sweet potato hash came with our omelet, rosemary hash ordered as a side) Combo hashbrowns: this was the best hasbrowns of the bunch!!! Our friend had the 18th St. omelet and upgraded his sweet potato hashbrowns to the combo hashbrowns. This is basically all of their hashbrowns mixed together and fried. It was savory and sweet. I would come back for this alone! Coffee: free refills and tasted alright. Did not try their burgers on this visit but had it in the past and they are not spectacular in comparison to all the great burger joints in Chicago. Would not come here for burgers... Overall, 3 stars for atmosphere, 4 stars for service, 5 stars for no wait, and 3.5 stars for food.
(4)
Len W.

Nice place, fresh OJ (although it came from a jug and I can't remember if it said "fresh" or "fresh squeezed"). Eggs florentine were really good. My daughter had french toast with fruit and it was also really good. Coffee was pretty good, but not the best. We'll go back.
(4)
Justine L.

Hashbrown's burgers were pretty good, but not quite there. They cook the patties with the ingregients in the burger, rather than on top. I am a fan of this and make my own burgers this way. However, I couldn't really taste the extra ingredients. I got the turkey burger, which included brocolli and mushrooms. I could barely taste the brocolli but not the mushrooms. My friends go the Maxwell, the Bridgeport, and the Northsider. Each said they could only taste the meat and not the extra ingredients. The most prevelant thing about our experience is that when the burgers came, they had a small piece of lettuce. We each asked for extra lettuce. To our surprise, we got charged $0.75 per piece of lettuce. Please note, a "piece of lettuce" was equivalent to a 3-4 inch leaf of romain lettuce. A 110% rip off. Lastly, service was not the best. The waitor took our orders, brought out food, and brought the check. However, he never once looked us in the face and talked as though he wanted to leave. Overall review of Hashbrowns: their sweet potato fries are good, but (as you may have noticed) everything else poor outshines the good. Don't think I will choose to go back.
(1)
ben w.

just ate here, great food, great portions, great coffee and great service! The sweet potato hashbrowns with melted butter on them are awesome. I look forward to returning here. Prices are also very reasonable/moderate.
(5)
Joseph D.

Review based on breakfast. I love a good breakfast. I thought the service was fine. No issues whatsoever. Fast and quick. I did have my luggage with me so they probably knew I was headed to the airport after my breakfast. The breakfast was pretty good. I ordered an egg-white omelette with spinach, mushrooms, and low fat mozzarella. It came with multigrain wheat toast and sweet potato hash browns. Good stuff all around. I never had sweet potato hash browns before. It was quite tasty and filling. I suggest avoiding eating too much of the sweet potato hash browns. It may fill a light eater quickly. Yes, as other reviewers mentioned, the sweet potato hash browns are not the same texture or style of traditional crispy, stringy hash browns. I am not a big fan of thinking that all food genres need to be the same in taste and texture. It ruins the innovation. So I am thumbs up for the sweet potato hash browns :-P As for price, I thought everything was extremely affordable. I am not sure whether I could afford the breakfast when I was an undergraduate, but I thought for the price this was a great breakfast. Definitely worthy of a recommendation.
(4)
Vanessa G.

Went here on a Monday morning. The was no wait, however the food took quite a while to arrive at our table. The actual location is cute and small. The food, ehh, it was just ok. Nothing out of the ordinary. The sweet hashbrowns, were bland and not tasty.
(2)
Morgan A.

We went for brunch on a Saturday at 11 and had no wait! Actually, we ended up waiting a LONG time for our friends to join us but that's another story. The staff was great about it, they didn't pressure us or even ask us about it while we waited. I ordered the eggs benedict per my usual. They were good, not amazing. The hashbrowns were perfectly browned (what I would expect from a place called hashbrowns). I opted for the regular potatoes instead of the sweet potato hashbrowns because I'm not a huge fan. Everyone seemed happy with their meal. Again, it was good, not great. I'd definitely go back but it wouldn't be my first choice for brunch in the city.
(3)
Matthew W.

You'd never guess it from the name...but the burger is AWESOME! Not the cheapest but worth the yum. All of the breakfast foods looked great but I couldn't really see beyond my delicious burger. The coffee was pretty bad and came in a cup built for a child's tea party. Staff was awesome. We waited for friends for 45 minutes and they never hassled us to order. I can't wait to go back and try some breakfast and maybe even some...you guessed it...hashbrowns. I wish yelp let you use half stars because this place would get 3.5 but probably not quite a 4.
(3)
Keith L.

If I would have reviewed Hash Browns the last time I came prior to my most recent visit, I would have most likely given it 4 stars. However, within the 1 year span, the quality of the food has definitely declined. Their prized sweet potato hash browns are now nothing more than mashed potatoes which who wants that at 10 AM. Their 18th Street omelet which used to be one of my favorite in the city is now dry and nothing really to brag about.
(3)
Jane S.

I'm not going to lie....the only reason I even went to this place is because my son's tutoring is next door. There is never a line so it's super convenient for me to go there. As the name gave away, their specialty is harsh browns. They have about 5 different types they specialize in, but I have tried only two types so far - the original & sweet potato. Both types of harsh browns are pretty good. They are not the best I have had, but at the same time they are good enough where I keep on coming back to this place. In my opinion there is nothing worse than some soft soggy harsh browns & these are nice & crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle (just how I like them). Besides hash browns they also have a good variety of specialty burritos and omelets. I haven't tried the burritos yet, but when it comes to omelets I would say they are good, but not amazing. This is not a place you want to go out of your way to go eat at, but at the same time if you are in the area in the morning or like me have a kid in tutoring next door, make sure to stop by and give them a try.
(3)
Carolyn E.

Okay so the delicious coffee flowed readily, my server was super attentive and wonderful. My egg sammich no bacon was what I expected, but oh the sweet potato hashbrowns were mushy and greasy and mushy. I'd try a different flavor if I come back.
(3)
Mona V.

They have mimosas which was a plus and they have great hashbrowns. That's all I really liked. It's very busy and crowded on weekends, but very friendly staff. If you like potatoes, you'll love this place as the title says "Hashbrowns".
(3)
Heather I.

I got 2 small burnt chicken fingers and soggy fries for $8.50 ($10 with tip). It was awful and a total rip off. We were regulars but after today ... we will not return. I wish I could also give negative stars.
(1)
Linda G.

The food is great! Especially the hashbrowns! The waitstaff is amazing. We come here every weekend with our 2 year old and they are always accommodating and web engaging with our son. Great food, great service!
(5)
Leigh C.

This place did not live up to expectations. I've been here 3 times and still can't find a breakfast menu item I really enjoy. Today I had the peppers and egg panini with sweet potato hashbrowns. Too much egg, hardly any peppers, the bread was soggy, and all together NOT flavorful. Where's the spice? Literally this only had 3 ingredients: eggs, peppers and bread. The hashbrowns were TOO oily and soggy as well. Last time I was here I had one of the burritos, and it also had WAY too much egg and lacked flavor altogether. It tasted disgusting. I probably should have brought it back. I do admit the fresh orange juice and chocolate milk is very good, but we finished the small portions well before the food arrived!
(2)
Nikki V.

I've been here more than a handful of times and I've always enjoyed Hashbrowns! They are well-known for their sweet potato hashbrowns but i'm not a big fan of sweet potato. I like their regular hashbrowns tho! :) I normally order 'just eggs' and their eggs are always perfect! the bacon is delicious and i love that i can have add-ons to my hashbrowns with no problem! The staff there is very accommodating and very nice. The restaurant itself is very small with a lot of tables so it can get very packed, cramped and loud. Sometimes I feel like you need to scream in order to have a conversation with someone sitting across from you. I wouldn't recommend bringing kids just b/c you'll annoy everyone around you if your child acts up (me, included).
(4)
Sylvia R.

*Based on an Dine in Experience* On the Food: I love the pancakes (though you really cant go wrong with that). The servings were generous. Theres Always food to take home! In fact, it even taste's good reheated! (which is rare) Service: The waitress was nice, she did her job, even helped my friend (whose a picky eater) put together a meal without over paying for substitutes, nice of her. Seating: (indoor) Now seating is a different story. Its incredibly packed. So much so, that I was sitting next to a drafty window and to get to the seat, People had to get up from their seat, or move into the table. The only way moving your chair in would work was if you were a child. So seating is a minus. They need to be rearranged. to better "walk thru" instead of bumping into people. The waitress had to talk to us over someone else's table because we were tucked in a corner you couldn't really get into.
(3)
Jennifer C.

This place is cozy and I seem to like it. My husband for some reason is just ok on it. They recently changed their hashbrowns! They used to be this shredded goodness and they turned them sort of into soggy chips of potatoes. I was a little disappointed. ****PLEASE NOTE, IF ANYONE FROM HASHBROWNS IS READING THIS YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO THE SHREDDED HASBROWNS PLEASE!!!!!********* I usually get the BLT which is consistently good. There's usually not a long wait which is why I like it. I will go back though to try the hasbrowns again and if they're the same soggy chips I don't know if I'll be back again....
(3)
Heather P.

I went to for breakfast 9/5/12. My husband and I were out running errands and he had eaten there before and liked it and I had heard rave reviews from friends. Since it was mid morning on a weekday we had no wait and were seated right away. The waiter was efficient but indifferent brought our drinks right away. We had ordered tomato juice and after having a couple drinks I noticed a giant white hair in my juice. ( mine is read and my husbands is dark brown) so I knew it wasn't either go ours. I told the winter and he was pretty indifferent asked if I wanted another one and I said no thank you. The food was ok after the rave reviews I was disappointed. The sweet potato hashbrowns are a novelty and are pretty good. When we received out check I was insulted to see the hairy tomato was still on the bill. Needless to say I will not be going back
(1)
Not Eileen R.

This is a 3 star review, can't give it 4 stars for a couple reasons: they only accept cash, it's on the smaller side and service could be better. What I do appreciate: the variations on the hashbrowns, the omelets paying homage to chicago neighborhoods, and the food tastes pretty good. I did have a bad eggs over medium incident - over medium doesn't mean slimy white stuff in them nor does it mean cook the heck out of them so there's zero runny yolk! So every time I come here I order scrambled eggs. There are better options around town, but if I'm in the area I probably will stop here.
(3)
Krsna V.

I went to this place because I was attracted by the name. I love hash browns and it is not easy getting good hash browns in this city. I got the sweet potato hash browns with my eggs and bacon. Everything was perfect. I love the service. My coffee mug was always full. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Allison E.

If I could describe Hashbrowns in one word, that word would be "meh" This place raged three stars, and I regret that I couldn't find it in my heart to give more. It is a very cute little place with a nice atmosphere. The manager was so lovely to our large group. She checked in on use several times and even sent over a complimentary hashbrown sample platter. The hashbrowns themselves were quite tasty, which is a relief as the place is called "hashbrowns" But alas, the three stars will remain. While the hashbrowns were good, my brunch entree, the egg nachos, were not as exciting as I envisioned, and just kinda blah. In fact, I couldn't even be bothered to eat the leftovers and ended up throwing them out after a few days. Some of my friends had very delicious looking breakfasts and I hear the buttermilk pancakes were divine. Our waitress was.......a problem. She was either really stupid or hungover. I am guessing the second. She seemed miserable, appeared to be struggling to stay on her feet, and had a hard time with simple tasks. She had a bit of a meltdown at the register while trying to figure our bill in which another waitress had to come and coach her through. Also, my friend whose birthday got us all out of bed early for this brunch, actually got up to help our waitress do her job. Seriously. With the help of my friend, the other waitstaff, the manager, and the bus persons, our waitress just barely managed to survive our table. We were a largish group, but we were working hard to make things as easy as possible and we were nice and polite about everything. Seriously though, I wanted to strangle the hungover waitress, and probably could have summoned up another star if it wasn't for her.
(3)
Nichole S.

Absolutely in love with this place! Everything I've tried thus far has been delicious. OBSESSED with the French Toast. Every time I go I have an internal struggle...do I get the French Toast once again or do I try something new?? Not to mention the French Toast comes with a side of homemade vanilla syrup and it is scrumptious :D The "Killer" hash browns are a must! Never tasted anything quite like it. Other than the food the service has always been outstanding, the busboys always ask if I'd like more coffee, and I never wait too long for a seat. I gave it 4 stars though because it really bothers me they don't have a french toast with eggs option. I'm fatty who would really love eggs with my french toast and not have to pay $5 extra for a 2 egg side.
(4)
Stephanie A.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I love potatoes and their creamy potato soup is to die for. I also love their Chicken pesto with Avocado sandwich. I am not a big fan of sweet potato fries but you can get regular fries.
(5)
Stephanie C.

Didn't really live up to the hype. It was good, but the sweet potato hasbrowns were soggy. Our guests were unimpressed at the brunch we took them to.
(3)
Bobby O.

Best damn oat meal around! Goes great with the turkey sausage and wheat bread (light butter) of course.
(5)
Robyn T.

Sweet potato hashbrowns? Gotta love them and they could be the best thing about this University Village brunch spot. I wish I could have gotten seconds...heck next time I got to Hashbrowns I'll just order that as my main dish and maybe get an egg on the side. Oh yeah and one of their humungous cups of coffee. Aside from their namesake dish the rest of the menu was OK but nothing particularly inspiring. There were some jumbo omlettes, some nice big bowls of fruit and the aforementioned huge cups of coffee. The space is neat and very modern but my party of 3 was stuck next to the kitchen at a makeshift table basically in the path of the servers. They do have a nice outdoor dining space in the summer as well as counter service for those solo diners. I might go back if I'm in the neighborhood but not unless I have a craving for those sweet potatoes.
(3)
Poof A.

A tip for vegetarians: go elsewhere. Had a lovely lunch on the patio here- a great way to finally enjoy the beautiful weather! But as a non meat-eater who wanted lunch, not brekkie, my options were seriously limited. I got a caesar salad, which was huuuge and delicious, as well as the killer hashbrowns, which hit the spot. BF got the avocado and chicken breast sandwich. That one was definitely the winner of the meal- all the ingredients were incredibly fresh and the chicken was perfectly cooked. I have to say I was salivating a little at the sight of it (and I'm rarely tempted by anything meaty!) It came on a pretzel bun and BF essentially vacuumed it right up. Make something like that for vegetarians, and I'd happily add another star. Until then, though, I'll probably head next door where things are a little more veggie-friendly.
(3)
Candice D.

It was just ok. I've paid less for better.
(2)
Anna G.

I really like this place for their food. The turkey burger is delicious! I do feel claustrophobic every time I come in there because you are sitting like 1 foot away from the other customer who you do not know. It's very hard to relax when other people are sitting so close to you.
(4)
Stu S.

Ok I used to love this place and would have given it 4 stars but they JUST changed their technique for making hashbrowns. They used to be cut extremely thin into tiny strings that were crispy. Now they changed their hasbrowns to slimy, greasy and soggy handcut sliced potatoes. Hasbrowns are supposed to be cut into thin shavings to be called HASHbrowns. Now they are just potatoes prepared the lazy diner way. Nothing special about them at all. And I can make better ones at home which is why I will not bother returning to this old favorite. Pitty. I did find out out that if you ASK them to cut the hashbrowns right they will. But why make this a request and change? Were people complaining that their hashbrowns needed to change to something else other than hash? The only thing memorable on the menu now are their mini waffles with creme anglais and strawberry sauce, but everything else there is average at best. Along with the mini waffles the freshly squeezed orange juice and wait service was great which is why I give them 3 stars. They should just change their name to simply "Potatoes" because there is no hash in this joint. Or the chef who concepted this place needs to take his head of out his a s s and roll back to their original recipe for hash.
(3)
Jenna S.

This is a great breakfast spot right in the University Village. I wish it had been around when I lived on campus! Hashbrowns is small but kind of cozy and decorated in a modern style. There's probably 15 tables in the entire restaurant accommodating four diners, at most. There's always a good mix of students, young couples, and parents with kids. I've never had to wait for a table here, but I can imagine it happens often, especially around 11 a.m. or noon. Don't forget: there's always seating at the small breakfast bar in the middle of the restaurant so think about sitting there if there aren't any tables immediately. The coffee comes in large cups and the refills are free, so order early and sip often. I decided to order the Breakfast Nachos which is very similar to chilaquiles. I was a bit disappointed the menu said there would be beans and green peppers in the meal but there was almost none of that when I actually received the dish. There also could have been less egg but the dish was pretty good. And HUGE. It was $8.95 but there was definitely at least $11 or $12 of food there. The meal was tasty and just a bit spicy (yum) and came with their signature sweet potato hash browns. I like sweet potatoes better than regular potatoes, but the hash browns are always a little bland. Add a bit of salt and you're good to go. My friends ordered a breakfast burrito (enjoyed but not that great) and an omelette. They both enjoyed the food but my friend's boyfriend wasn't feelin the sweet potato hash browns. All in all, a good dining experience. The portions were huge and I thought the sweet potatoes were great. There were a few downsides, such as our OK service. Our server wasn't fast but he wasn't slow and he brought us the wrong check, which we had to wait about 10 minutes to fix. Also, cash only. I don't necessarily mind cash only establishments (I knew Hashbrowns was cash only so I stopped at Citibank on my way to get cash) but a lot of people don't and for a lot of people it's still really irritating. As others have pointed out, the sign in the window says "Cash only at this time" - we get it, it's been three years. Are you really so cheap you can't pay the fee to Mastercard or whomever for people to use their cards? I'll be back, for sure, but I won't go out of my way to eat here.
(4)
Ericka R.

Great vibe and decor. Love the high back cusioned booths. waitstaff is really friendly and the service is fast. Prices are just right, I got the Greektown Omelette ($7.95) with rosemary garlic potatos. The potatos were yummy but the omlette was though huge BLAH. It had no sexiness to it. I had to doctor it up with Tabasco and pepper. My friend had a high protein omlette and his was a little better but still pretty bland. Lots of meat full options on the omlette tip if thats your bag. The coffee was watery and low on flavor stick with hot tea here. I may come back for lunch.
(3)
Annie M.

I've only been to one place where they made the hashbrowns the way I like them, crispy throughout. Unfortunately, for a place called Hashbrowns, they weren't very good. I got the sweet potato hashbrowns and they were soggy. $4 for a glass of OJ! There wasn't a very good omelet selection. You either had an omelet with a lot of veggies, an omelet with a lot of meat, but not one with both. I had the steak and 2 cheese omelet. It was missing veggies and flavor.
(2)
J. N.

It's simply not acceptable to run a cash only business in 2009... especially when you are over-charging for everything on your menu. (And seriously, if you are cash only, do the classy thing and get an ATM. Forcing patrons to walk to another restaurant to get cash is not cool... Also, Morgan's ATM almost NEVER works. This forces patrons to walk across the street and down the block, through slushy snow, to take out twenty more dollars to pay their tab. Yes, I am bitter.) No matter what I say though, you will do well. We all know the suburban parents of UIC students are probably still too scared of the city to take their kids to a good breakfast/lunch off campus. Your chicken sandwich was kind of tasty but your hash browns are fucking gross.
(2)
Natalie M.

What do you call an establishment that whose namesake (hash-browns) is just "meh"?............. Some place I will most likely never visit again. I joined friends at Hashbrowns one morning before Christmas to check out a new breakfast place. I must note that I LOVE breakfast/brunch food, and in my humble opinion, good hash-browns are a necessity for a proper brunch experience. I ordered a vegetable omelet (spinach and broccoli) with the rosemary Hashbrowns and an English muffin. My omelet was alright, nothing I could not make at home, and my English muffin was an English muffin (kind of impossible to mess up)- now for the highlight of the meal (or so I thought)........... the rosemary Hashbrowns were.....ummm......just cooked potatoes( with a slightly crispy skin). I could barely taste any seasoning. Thank goodness for ketchup or I would've been up "you know what" creek without a paddle. Service was okay- there were only 2-3 tables in the restaurant when we were eating and they gave us the check ASAP, without waiting for us to ask for it. The best thing about the whole experience was this adorable 10yrs old boy who was assisting the server (he was probably on school break). With Meli a mile away I certainly won't be visiting again.
(2)
adina l.

The food is great. The service SUCKS! I've been twice in 3 days and it was bad both times. I;ve been a few times before and don't recall this being an issue. Today, I was brought my food and coffee and never saw the waitress again until she was heading towards me with my check. Never even got a refill on the coffee! She managed to check on everyone sitting around me. Just not me. Maybe it was my perfume? I pulled her to the side when she brought my change and told her I was disappointed in the service and she apologized. I called the manager later (Joel) and he also apolgized. Even offered me a cup of joe on my next visit. Me thinks there will be no next vist. Fool me twice...
(1)
Jane K.

If for nothing else, then for the Killer Hashbrowns.... I love them! Sure, it's a heart attack made of delicious potatoes, cornflakes, and other goodies but who cares? I'll die blisfully~ It's a great addition to that area, which had previously only been frequented for polish dogs and not much else.
(4)
Yolanda D.

The killer hashbrown's are BEAST! I love them! The NY strip steak was very tender, I loved it, so did my friend, we ordered the same thing. My mimosa was more juice than champagne, but meh. Service was okay. To get in on Easter Sunday without a wait was great. I will definitely go again.
(3)
Laura P.

$9.00 for an order of pancakes is simply outrageous. At least they have a kids menu that they let adults order from that is reasonably priced and the portions are actually large enough for a normal appetite. Do you know how much pancake batter I can make for $9.00? Probably enough to fill up most of this restaurant. 2 stars because the pancakes I had were actually good. Not $9.00 good but.....
(2)
Mark L.

food is amazing. service is average. ronnie is awesome and they completely take care of you if you do any sort of catering through them. always really jammed and loud (wish they'd expand) but overall great place.
(4)
Emily F.

I was at Hashbrown's twice with my coworkers because our office is right around the corner: once for breakfast, and once for lunch, so I'm going to review them both separately. Breakfast- pretty good. I had the Greektown Omelette (spinach, feta, tomatoes) and the sweet potato hashbrowns. The omelette was pretty standard, I guess. The hashbrowns were GREAT. 3 stars. Lunch- not recommended. I got the cobb salad which was just ok and DEFINITELY not worth $11. 2 stars. There are 2 main problems with this place. First- cash only. Who carries cash around all the time? Be prepared to pay the $2.00 atm fee at Morgan's down the street. Second- service is quite slow. However, I'm going to give this place 3 stars because the slow service kept me out of work for like 2 hours or so.
(3)
Mike T.

I do enjoy good breakfast food so when we saw this place, I thought it is worth a try. There are different kinds of potatoes, different hash browns you can order so that was a bit unique. It is a nice little area with some nice restaurants so if you are looking for a good breakfast place, this is a good place to try.
(4)
Tina B.

They have had the exact same taped-on, paper "Cash only at this time" sign up for damn near three years. When the hell will "at this time" come to a merciful end? If you're going to be a sit-down restaurant and call yourself Hashbrowns and only do an average job of making your namesake AND your daily "specials" cost almost $9, you should not be discouraging customers from coming all of the way inside to eat with your wack policy and stupid sign. I tried to go in there early in the morning earlier this week and there was only one person even in there eating. And I felt like she maybe worked there. And when I walked up to the door, sleepily craving the carbo love that only a plate of three different types of average hashbrowns can bring, saw the sign, sighed and walked away - again - seriously, they must see that scene play out every damn day.
(2)
Hanbit Y.

For a place named "Hashbrowns", their hashbrowns were actually.....BAD. Never to return.
(1)
che c.

I went to lunch here during the week and lunch was better. I ordered a burger with sweet potato fries and it was good. Only issue I had during lunch time was that there was pretty much only one server, but the bus boys were on point. We were seated near the cash register and I shouldn't have to ask for things because the server was constantly passing me by but not checking in on the table. They accept credit cards now!
(3)
Julie R.

Bland food. Overpriced and cash only. National city ATM across the street charges $3. It's the only breakfast place in the immediate area which is the sole reason a rational person would go there.
(2)
Joshua C.

Great food, service was awesome too. I'll be back again. This was my 2nd time and I sat outside, it was perfect for a Saturday Brunch spot.
(4)
Alisa N.

place was ok. The only thing good is the hashbrowns.
(2)
Julian W.

I had the Greek Town omelette (spinach, tomatoes and feta cheese) with the sweet potato hash browns. The omelette was OK, but I wasn't a fan of the hash browns. So I ordered what my sister-in-law had: the killer hashbrowns (includes cheese and corn flake topping. That was much better. And I hate establishments that accept only cash. That's a turn-off, so I don't see myself going back there.
(3)
Liz J.

Had a solidly average breakfast at Hashbrowns. It would be a 2-star breakfast, but our server was so friendly and attentive, I'll bump it up to three. I had the 18th street omelette, which sounded like it would be spicy and flavorful. Problem is, any semblance of flavor was buried in a tasteless blanket of egg. The sweet potato hashbrowns were, as another reviewer noted, soggy and weird. Coffee was good. My companion had the chocolate chip pancakes with vanilla syrup. She asked for extra and they charged her 90-something cents, which I thought was a little much. I tasted her pancakes; they were pretty good. Fairly light and fluffy. Overall, I might go back if I were in the area, but certainly wouldn't go out of my way to eat here.
(3)
Gerri H.

I've eaten here a few times with my husband Herman B. Being a hashbrown afficionado, I came seeking the best. I did not find the best or even close to the best. I'm not a huge fan of their hashbrowns even though the place is called HASHBROWNS. I did enjoy their whole wheat pancakes, but everything else is pretty standard. If you do visit, come early to get a seat as this isn't the largest restaurant.
(3)
Dave C.

Went to Hashbrowns for lunch today...was in the mood for breakfast at lunch. The place was not even half filled at lunch time on a beautiful day...hmmmm. Ordered eggs, pork sausage, sweet potato hashbrowns and wheat toast. Eggs were good and so was the toast. The pork sausage could have been cooked longer while the sweet potato hash browns were black and mushy. Obviously had been made hours before I arrived and were awful. I covered them with my napkin and said a silent prayer for them...they never had a chance. Waiter was pleasant at the start, but never made an effort to see how I was doing or if the food was good. Overall, this was my first and last visit. On to the next diner.
(1)
David H.

The restaurant was clean and the food was hot but the quality did not blow either me or my wife away. When I go to a diner, I want to enjoy a good cup of coffee and this place did not deliver on it. I would choose to go to "Stax" for a better breakfast/brunch experience. Although the omelette selection at hash brown is much better.
(2)
Jennisa P.

Yum! Super cute place! Service was fast and pleasant. I had the the mini waffles with fresh strawberries. Delish! My friend's dish look delish also! We shared the Hashbrowns with the corn flakes (can not remember the name). Thankfully, our waitress was kind enough to mention that for $2 more we can have the specialty Hashbrowns as a side. And that side serving was HUGE! I can only imagine a full serving. That baby was large enough to feed 4-6 people. Plenty leftover! It was super yummy though! So heads up on the portion issue. Overall a nice place to have a quick breakfast with friends.
(4)
Carolyn G.

This place has been open for a while, but I'd only been there once before so I suggested we try it for lunch today. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I ordered the 18th street omelet and coffee for lunch. The omelet was very large, but the chorizo was lacking flavor. The sweet potato hashbrowns were the best part of the meal! The service was pretty good: lots of water refills and easy refills on the coffee, too. Minus one star for "cash only". I live on my debit card and rarely have cash, which is why I often pass this place over in favor of other local establishments that accept credit cards.
(4)
Christina C.

Eh. This place is kind of whatever to me. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing either. I kept it simple as I wasn't feeling too great from celebrating NYE the night before. Just got a simple meal of scrambled eggs, sausage, sweet potato hash browns, and wheat toast. I was really excited for the sweet potato hash browns, but it turned out to be a disappointment in the end. They were real mushy and almost too sweet--I regretted getting just the regular hash browns. I tried my friend's omelette and I felt like I could've made the omelet better. I don't think I will be back...
(2)
Ed J.

i like this place.make sure u bring cash tho.i prefer meli's cafe for breakfast.if u like hashbrowns ud like meli's on halsted
(3)
Vanessa G.

I wish I could give a 1/2 star on this place because I can not make up my mind on 2.5 or 3.5 stars...So lets see...2.5 because I have eaten here a few times and I have mixed feelings. For a breakfast spot, it is pretty pricey, in fact $29.00 for two of us to eat breakfast and coffee isn't such a great way to start the day, especially cash only. No parking unless you pay for it in the lot which is only $2.00. Lastly, the service is a bit slow it took about 20-25 minutes for our food to arrive. Actually when the waiter came with our drinks, she said to my fiancee, this orange juice doesn't look right, taste it and tell me what you think? Now, I guess I would just assume a waiter would suggest something else versus letting us know the OJ isn't up to standard, but that could just be me. In addition, the hash browns came out with my companions order and it looked like he was served 1/4 the corner of a pan and corners were a bit burnt. Not my cup of tea, but he loved it. Now, 3.5 stars...the banana wheat pancakes are to-die-for!! They serve their pancakes with 2 sides of dip, one vanilla and one strawberry. The strawberry is super sweet but the Vanilla is awesome, you don't even need syrup. The omelets are huge and there are a ton of options. The Maxwell Street omelet's polish sausage is full of flavor and quite tasty! They make pretty delicious cappuccino's too and when mine ran out my waiter offered to keep my cup going with coffee which was a nice touch. I actually waited to see if it would be added to the bill and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't :) So, I am going to settle on 3 stars because I wouldn't say I would not go back, however, it won't be my every weekend spot for breakfast. Best part is, you can enjoy your breakfast outside too! UPDATE: I have been back and I had their Egg Panini which was eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese & tomatoes served on toasted italian bread OMG it was awsome! It was so big I had to take some home! Although they did forget about my cappuccino, I had a very nice time and my fiancee loves this place!
(4)
Helen N.

I'm sad to see that other yelpers not like this place. I'm not in love with Hashbrowns but I have always gotten good food and good service. There is a great coupon in the Entertainment book (bogo). You will see us there about once a month... First off, you don't have to look for parking, the lot is 2 bucks for 2 hours. Make sure you bring cash, that sign for cash only have been there forever... If you don't like the sweet potatoes hash, get the Idaho hash - they mix in some onions (today was a bit salty), but I think they undercook the sweet potatoes hash. Seriously, where else can you find a BIG omelette with hash and toast for less than 8 bucks... We grab the Sunday paper and just hang there...
(4)
nicole d.

Went here on a saturday for brunch and it was amazing. the killer hashbrowns are to die for! they will probably give you a heart attack but it is worth every bite. i also got choc chip pancakes that were great, they served them with strawberry and vanilla syrup..yum! my friend got an omlette and she said it was great as well. highly recommend this place, it is worth the trip south for you northsiders like myself.
(5)
roberto a.

Breakfast...Brunch....hmmm. Six of us went to have brunch at this eatery and we ended up ordering three omelette meals and three pancake dishes. Split across the six of us, everyone had enough pieces to make a good sized omelette and about 1.5 pancakes. Highly recommended are the banana pancakes, which was the special of the day at the time. Those were awesome, and the guy who ordered it nearly had them taken away from him. The chocolate chip pancakes were sweet eats, perhaps a little too sweet once the syrup was poured on them, but I still enjoyed it. We ordered the Bridgeport, Taylor St, and City of Chicago omelettes. I personally like the Taylor St. omelette because I am a sucker for almost anything cooked in melted mozarella, especially Italian Sausage, but in my opinion, I've tasted better omelettes (in the area, try the omelettes at White Palace on Roosevelt & Canal), but you can't disagree with the size of Hashbrown's portions. For a decent laid back breakfast place, you can't go wrong with the ambience. Open and airy, tables near the walls have ledges that serve as seating for the inner side of the table. The service was quick and struck the perfect balance of attentiveness. So go ahead, order some pancakes and go easy on the syrup. Afterwards you can walk off some of the calories by heading over to the nearby Barbara's Bookstore, the lake, or Pilsen. Pros: Nice ambience, tasty pancakes, huge portions. Cons: Ca$h only. Nearby parking is hard to find, so avoid the city fine and pay the $2.00 at the UIC lot. To sum it up: For those who a more upscale ambience to your typical diner breakfast food.
(3)
Jelly C.

Hashbrowns is a small breakfast/brunch place in University Village. The atmosphere is homey and inviting. The waiters are cheery so its a great place to start off your day. The food here is good but the presentation is lacking. The portions aren't as big as other breakfast places. The omelets and pancakes are nicely prepared. The french toast is mediocre and the sweet potato hasbrowns should definetely be avoided. It's not one of my favorite places but I'll be back. If you're really craving breakfast food, try Sweet Maple on Taylor St.
(3)
S W.

Well, as a HUGE fan of hashbrowns I was really looking forward to having some good ones. Unfortunately, I didn't. This brick of ick was hardly what I would consider to be hashbrowns. It had the consistency of boiled potatoes that had been put through a ricer and then baked with a just a bit of sour cream. I also ordered the egg panini with bacon, cheese and tomato. What I got, however, was a bacon and tomato omelet with a teeny weeny bit of cheese folded into it served on toasted bread. Yeah, that's right. Toast. And an omelet. And nasty potato loaf. Skip it.
(1)
Ccc C.

I love this place. They have freshly squeezed orange juice and the breakfast is basic but great. Nothing fancy which I love. I have to say this is the best breakfast place in Chicago. The hasbrowns are fabulous. I am not a big fan of the sweet potato hashbrowns but I love the regular hashbrowns and the pancakes are fabulous! I love going here when I am in the mood for breakfast
(5)
vicky y.

small breakfast eatery tucked away in university village. space featured loft ceilings & an open kitchen, furnished in earth tones and shinied up by some leftover xmas decorations. we split the city of chicago omelette which was a six egg frittata with chorizo, pork chop, steak, polish & italian sausage, bacon..6 veggies...& 2 cheeses. yeah. this could have easily fed 4. the omelette was a bit disappointing as we couldn't find all the toppings it'd boasted. that and it was slightly overdone & thus dry. next time, i'll give their normal portioned omelettes a try. also had the idaho and sweet potato hash combo which i found very tasty! it's not the typical hash brown but give it a try. oh and be forewarned, the chocolate milk they serve was just plain milk mixed with chocolate syrup, and not enough of it at that.
(3)
Brad H.

Went here for breakfast twice while I was living in University Village. Not horrible, but definitely nothing special. The food is very expensive breakfast food, but not particularly tasty, or large in portion. It was also very crowded, and by crowded I mean too many tables and chairs in a not so big space. Be prepared to bump into the parties sitting next to you.
(2)
amber p.

Not crazy about this place at all. If anything, the hashbrowns should be awesome since it is called "Hashbrown", but they were very oily amd icky. The eggs and bacon were fine, but how can you mess that up. I did give them 3 stars though because like I said, the eggs and other stuff were fine, I just had really high expectations with the hashbrowns. Also, the service was awesome...very friendly staff. I will go back though because it's within walking distance, I just won't get the hashbrowns.
(3)
Peter H.

My meal at this place was average...it is getting three stars just because of the company I was with...my eggs were not very good, and I think my hash browns may have been luke warm as well...maybe I need to give it another shot...I don't know, not leaning towards doing so though.
(3)
Marie L.

I was looking forward to eating here because everything on the menu sounded damn good when I read it on the internet but that's where the excitement ended. The food was disappointing when it got to our table, it was all very "Eh." Frankly, my hashbrowns were undercooked and soggy and for a place named after the stuff, I find that surprising. If you're going to name your restaurant after one menu item, make sure that one thing is the best whatever-it-is that people have ever had. It was fairly busy because we were dealing with the weekend brunch crowd but the service was still decent but I still doubt I'll go back. My benchmark for restaurants is if I can make a better meal at home and in the case of Hashbrowns, I know for damn sure that I can.
(2)
Joshua S.

Great brunch spot. Portions are huge, great selection, and the hash browns are solid (try them all, including the sweet potato and rosemary). The waffles and pancakes are my favorite, with a vanilla sauce that is amazing with syrup.
(4)
Eric S.

Extremely disappointing and would not suggest this place. Although my party was sat right away, we watched for 30+ minutes as NO food came out of the kitchen. For brunch in particular, this is a ridiculous amount of time to wait, especially in a small place where many of the tables already have food. On top of this, no one in the restaurant, server or manager, thought that it might be worth addressing the fact that the kitchen was backed up and that they were truly sorry about the wait. It almost seemed as if they were oblivious to it. We actually received a "sorry it took so long" as we were walking out the door. Too late. When we finally received the food, it was quite sub-par. For a restaurant named "Hashbrowns", I would imagine that the hashbrowns should be an impressive part of the meal. Not the case, across neither the sweet potato or regular ones. Flavorless and soggy...very disappointing. The omelets seemed runny and blah. The highlight of the meal, sad to say, was the Tropicana orange juice and the toast. Ouch. My suggestion for this place is to at minimum, recognize when your service is ridiculously slow, address this with your tables, and perhaps do something nice to try and maintain those customers for future visits. I will unfortunately be a one time offender, and will not return. On a positive note, the hostess and server were nice, and our coffee cups never sat empty.
(1)
Jason G.

They have really gotten their act together. Finally they accept credit cards. I think the egg dishes have gotten better and the service is awesome. I'm happy to see the improvements.
(4)
john d.

Chick Pannini is very good with a little pesto mayo. Pancake flights are nice too. Only complaint is no fresh juice, but the tea is good.
(5)
Mike L.

There are many very popular breakfast joints in the city that dont take credit. Also it says cash only on the door so your aware before you walk in. Yes, it is a pain but you get use to it. Ive been here numerous times and Ill admit its not great but it is good. It is just one of those small neighborhood joints that you should check out. The co owner seats you and he's an awesome guy. Coffee is very good and they give it to you in a huge cup, which makes it even better. Omlettes, pancakes, french toast are all good and will fill you up. The hashbrowns are awesome, even though its a small part of your meal. I wouldnt drive across the entire city for this place but if your in the neighborhood stop by.
(4)
Tony G.

What a really nice breakfast place! It won't soon surpass Sweet Maple as my favorite neighborhood spot, but I will definitely go back. They have a really nice and comfortable dining area, the service is really good, and we didn't have to wait on a Saturday morning. I was really happy with the egg pannini breakfast, but I tried the Sweet Potato hashbrowns and was disappointed. They weren't crunchy like I was hoping. If you really like sweet potatoes, though, I'm sure they're just fine. If you don't like sweet potatoes, try the rosemary potatoes - very good! I was disappointed that they were out of tea the day I was there. Also, I think this is a nice enough place that they ought to offer real cream at the table for your coffee, not individual prepackaged servings. Overall, the food was good, I hope their good service continues, and I hope this place doesn't get so popular that I can't get a table! Oh, no credit cards are accepted.
(4)

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Address : 731 W Maxwell St
Chicago, IL, 60608
Phone (312) 226-8000
Website https://www.hashbrownscafe.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :6:00 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Hashbrowns

731 W Maxwell St, Chicago, IL, 60608

Hashbrowns Menu

Starters and Salad

Sandwiches

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Kids Menu

Ida's Burgers

Healthy Meal suggestions for Hashbrowns

Starters and Salad

Sandwiches

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Kids Menu

Ida's Burgers

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