Cravings Red Hots Menu

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  • Smitty J.

    Great inexpensive hot dog place. A nice addition to Gurnee.

    (5)
  • Stacy O.

    We popped in to celebrate National Hot Dog Day (as we do). Let's start with the ambiance, as it were. The previous tenant at this location was a Mexican restaurant, and it appears they did the bare minimum to convert it to a hot dog joint. There's a digital screen with the menu near the counter where you order, but the screen frequently changes slides, meaning the menu disappears. That's inconvenient. There are two registers, one of which requires people to queue in front of the serve-yourself soda machine. Also inconvenient. The food was good, though nothing I would go out of my way for. I had the Chicago dog without sport peppers and a side of fries. The hot dog was okay. My husband ordered both the Chicago dog and a char dog; he preferred the char dog. The side of fries was HUGE (we should have split one order), but was way too salty. It's a bit expensive for what it is, but it's good enough to be an occasional quick dinner.

    (3)
  • john r.

    3rd visit, a buddy said he enjoyed the beef and compared it favorably to Portillos, so I had to give the beef another shot. Ordered to go....very tasty, juicy, and more meat then I recall receiving on my first visit. Definitely ups the rating to 4 stars. Fries continue to be perfectly cooked. Do recommend eating the beef at the restaurant....after a 15 minute drive, the bread was soggy and falling apart...or ask for the auju on the side.

    (4)
  • DJ B.

    I have been here now about 3 times always have great service the food is excellent. Has the best hot dogs in Gurnee area!

    (5)
  • Ed F.

    Been here a couple times, trying several different selections. LOVE their fries - plentiful, fresh, and every time, good tasting (not cooked in stale oil) Hot dog - a true Chicago dog - what you'd expect. Burger - large, well-prepared, tasty Atmosphere - clean, bright, with a couple outside tables

    (4)
  • Shelley L.

    The food is very good and the people are very nice. I had the Italian sausage sandwich. They also carry Bob's Rods from Snarf Foods (yum). Here's to supporting an independent local business. There are far too many chains in Gurnee. Stop in you won't be sorry.

    (5)
  • B S.

    Used a groupon 50 percent offer, food was overall good, fries tasted hand cut, owner was nice.

    (4)
  • Bernardo S.

    Hope this place lasts as it never seems very busy. Great classic Chicago dogs and nice fresh cut fries. The service is always a plus as they are very polite and helpful!

    (4)
  • T G.

    Solid Hot dog joint with fresh cut fries! They also have Merkts cheese for your fries, like Dear Franks does. The menu is pretty limited at this point (no gyros or char dogs for instance) and the decor inside has kind of a thrown together no frills feel. This place is brand new and is already better than the two hot dog places nearby.

    (4)
  • Tony M.

    The italian beef here is TINY!! Compared to any other IBs in history! The Chicago style hot dog w fries and a drink is waaaaayyy overpriced (tastes alright.. but not for the price).

    (2)
  • Neil P.

    It's frustrating when you are a french fry lover and aficionado and you have to eat frozen french fries. I have been known to travel far and wide stopping at every hot dog joint on the way and asking if they have fresh cut fries. I am disappointed more often than not. Cravings was that "last stop" after many failures . I almost jumped for joy when I saw the sign in the window that said hand cut fries. Still skeptical I went in and asked if I could see his French fries. They looked like the real deal. I then found out that they make their own sausage as well as Italian beef. This I could not pass up. so I ordered an Italian beef sandwich with sweet peppers and some french fries. The fries were freshly made, came out piping hot in the obligatory greasy brown bag. This is a mandatory sign of quality french fries. The Italian beef was out of this world. It rivals the best found anywhere and should be on the list of the best Italian beef in Chicago land. The owner also stated that they make their own Italian sausage and I can't wait to come back to sample it. If you're like me and crave good quality and properly cooked french fries and Italian beef then don't miss Cravings. My only regret is that I can't give them 6 stars

    (5)
  • Todd N.

    The best burgers in the area. If you are going to Six Flags skip the crap food at the park go here. You will be glad you did.

    (5)
  • Betty B.

    I have been here numerous times for the beef sandwiches and fries. I have not ordered anything else from this location but keep going back for the thin sliced garlic infused BEEF! For all the haters out there that have written shitty reviews, the food is prepared in house and knocks Portillo's beef and all these other take out chains out of the water. The product is consistent and delicious. After reading many of the reviews below it is disappointing to see people comparing home cooked food to garbage mystery meat chains....... Pricing is more than fair - for all the cheap people out there - stay home or brown bag it to work. What does lunch at any of the places down the street cost? You are eating Monsanto & Con Agra chemical filled junk so enjoy the cancer you are paying for. If you don't like your fries salted then ask for no salt! They will be happy to accommodate special requests as I order my beef a special way when I go in. Reading these reviews has confirmed my belief that the general public is generally cheap and retarded. Yes the menu is limited but I prefer to go to a place who cooks a few things well than many things that are mediocre. The decor is sparse. I'm there for the food and the place is clean. I don't eat the atmosphere . This is not a fine dining $200 a plate dinner so lets adjust our standards to an appropriate level. It is the best thing that happened to Gurnee in a long time. Keep up the good work!

    (5)
  • Josh Y.

    I just don't get the draw to this place. I keep trying to give it more chances, try new things and each time I'm left more disappointed than the last. The fries are never crispy like another Yelper claimed. Every bag of fries I've gotten have been soaked in oil, unseasoned and not worth finishing. The wraps, next to the fries, need a lot of work. The lettuce to protein ratio is out of control. They cut them in half which is nice, but one side usually has all the chicken and the other is just lettuce and tomatoes. The hot dogs have been the best part of my experiences. The price isn't bad either. The ingredients on top of the Chicago style dogs are always fresh, crisp. The dogs themselves are meh. Usually the casing is a little much. There are plenty of other hot dog places that have a similar if not the same menu that are better options. I will say though, that the staff is very friendly.

    (2)
  • Dan S.

    Food is fresh very good quality and they have daily specials too! The beef and sausage is awesome and homemade too..Another great think Coca Cola products too. VIENNA beef Dogs what else is there! Yum

    (5)
  • Kim B.

    I was craving a hot dog and decided to check this place out. Obviously the name fit, so why not? I ended up ordering a gyro and fries just because it sounded delicious. Also ended up trying the chili since it was recommended by the staff. The gyro was pretty solid, especially considering this is more of a hot dog place. They didn't skimp on the meat (I actually had to take some of it off because I couldn't fit the sandwich in my mouth) -- which I'm not complaining about. The tzatziki sauce was cool and delicious as well. Fries were perfectly hot and crispy. But the real star of the meal was the chili. It was so hearty and tasty. Will definitely be back to request it on a hot dog.. or fries. Or anything.

    (4)
  • Alice A.

    Stopped in on a cold snowy Sunday. Store was empty except for a pair of customers who was dining in. Place look clean and tidy. Guy working at the cashier was friendly and welcoming. Been here previously and had their chicago style hot dog and homemade italian beef. Don't have much to complain about the hot dog. It was just like any other hot dog you get at a decent place. The homemade italian beef wasn't good. Disliked their homemade spice they used for the beef. Feel like it didn't go well. I would go to portillos instead. The 1/3 lb char burger today wasn't too bad. Ordered it medium and that's what I got. The burger was cooked properly. Overall this place is kinda on the expensive side. I haven't had anything here that'll make me want to come back on a consistent basis . As much as I want to eat and enjoy their "hand cut fries," it's so greasy and seeing the grease seep through the brown bag makes it very unappealing to eat..

    (3)
  • Rick B.

    First, I have to agree with the other reviews about the fries. They may be hand cut, but that are not very good. The fries I had seem to be the same as others have experienced, old fries that have been put in the fryer to be used again. They had zero flavor. Not good! Their "homemade Italian beef" was ok. In my opinion it lacked any real flavor. This place will have a real fight on their hands once Portillos opens up down the road.

    (2)
  • Lauren N.

    Pretty good all around! I'm pretty much a die hard Portillo's fan. Growing up in Gurnee and now working here, a few places here and there always tried to do the whole "Chicago style" thing. Most not well and the ones that did somehow have vanished (Hot Diggidy Dogs comes to mind). So basically I get my fix at Portillo's typically. My co-worker has gone here a few times and his food always looks amazing so I tagged along today. Easy access to major roads, being also right across from Six Flags, nice storefront, welcoming and bright. The menu is on a huge flat screen, which nice because I'm sure it's easy to make sure everything is up to date. Basic "Chicago style" grub, hot dogs, beef, burgers. Coke products and House made fries round out the basics. There was other stuff on the menu, but honestly I overlooked it because it was my first time there and I go with the standards when trying any place new. I got the cheeseburger, fries and a drink. My coworker had a coupon and got the 2 hot dog meal, it all total it was $13 and change. We got carry out. I felt like it was strange to ask for lettuce when getting a burger with "everything" (offered on request). But not all places are the same I guess. My burger was excellent! Great quality of the products, perfectly cooked/prepared. The fries are indeed house made, absolutely gigantic portion. I'd say they were a bit on the overdone side, crispier than I prefer but still very good! Drink was good, I get cranky about lousy fountain drink products, and this passed my test. Basically it actually tasted like diet Coke. This is easy to mess up, I don't know why. Rare that I will get a fountain drink from independent places because of this issue but I certainly will again here! The place is clean and the owner/employees were friendly. I feel like this place has great potential if people give it a chance. It's not cheap, but it's good quality and let's be honest you get what you pay for. I'll be back and will try some of the other items.

    (4)
  • Jay K.

    I've been here three times now and have tried more than the fantastic Polish on french bread. The hot dog is such a poor value at $3.29 that they need to run the 'free fries' scam for that much $$$. Oh, and then you can make it a 'meal' for an additional $2.99 and you get fries and a drink. So a hot dog, fries and a drink will run you nearly seven dollars with tax. That's in Fluky's territory and the dog isn't nearly as good but the fries are surely better than Fluky's cold and limp ass fries. On to the dog. It was served hot on a plain bun with all the Chicago dog trimmings. They ask you if you want celery salt and sport peppers. I guess that's a Lake County thing. The dog is some kind of 'off' brand that is not mentioned anywhere in the store that I saw so that means it's not a Vienna dog or something similar...and it tastes like some 'off' brand as well. No snap and kinda mushy. This has been confirmed by my dining partner as well. 2 stars at best. The combo is excellent. They say it's homemade beef but I'm never really sure what that means exactly. The bread is the same bread as the Polish is served on. The sausage was grilled so there was a little crisp on it and the thin sliced beef topped with a generous amount of guardian made this sandwich a winner in my book. I also asked for it dipped and to my surprise it was actually dipped! I was ready to go ask for a side of juice but it wasn't necessary. Value is poor however at $6.79. 4 stars The folks who work the register are very nice. The inside has plenty of seating and is very clean as well as the washroom. 5 stars

    (4)
  • Rob S.

    Went yesterday because I had a coupon for 50% off. At that price, it was an absolute steal. The beef was a good size and the right degree of wetness. Good flavor, and apparently it's home made instead of buying it from Vienna or Scala. The standout was their fresh cut fries. This is a tough item to negotiate for most places, because they usually kinda' suck. Cravings got them 100% right. They were perfectly crispy on the outside, with fluffy potatoness on the inside and just a touch of salt. I can always add more if needed. Bottom line: Food was great. Restaurant is squeaky clean. Prices are a bit steep, but you get what you pay for. I'll be back soon for the 2 dogs, fries and a drink special for $7.99

    (4)
  • Chanella B.

    His is my first time and i am really happy we came. The prices are reasonable, the person at the register (the owner maybe) was super nice! Food was good and hot.... We will get back here soon.

    (4)
  • Noah F.

    I've been to Cravings a few times now ... Great bunch of young adults working the place ... Friendly and attentive ... Really good customer service. This is a hot dog joint and the food is really good! Fresh-cut fries, homemade Italian sausage and beef, and the best char-dogs in the area! The prices are ok ... little higher than say McDonald's but less expensive than Five Guys and the food is better than both.

    (3)
  • Alicia W.

    REALLY great beef and fresh cut fries. You can tell it is home made!! The Merkts cheese was a little odd with the fries. I will definitely be back.

    (5)
  • Thomas Y.

    OK, had the Combo dipped in the juice like I said, along with the cheddar fries and hot dog... Awesome! I'll try to be a regular now. Great place if you want true, original Chicago-style comfort food. Now if only they had duck fat fries like Hot Doug's...

    (5)
  • Robert L.

    Great burgers and love the fries! Polish and Italian sausages are great too! Can't wait to try an Italian beef on my next visit! ... daughter had a chicken pita and loved that too! Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. ... a very refreshing change in today's "it's good enough" food service industry. This place obviously wants to be the best!

    (5)
  • Park N.

    Great food. Anything on the menu will satisfy you. They have excellent choices such as mouthwatering italian beef, hot dogs and more. Even better the cheese fries come with Merk cheese and not that fake cheese sauce. Going to Cravings is worth while.

    (5)
  • Randy M.

    Had a burger this time and my co-worker went with the traditional Chicago dog and we were both impressed as usual. Fries rule. One order of fries works for two people (I have to remember next time). Got the Groupon deal so 1/3 cheeseburger, hot dog, two fries and two drinks only $8 and some change. Would be 5 stars but the fries lacked salt and my burger was under seasoned as well. Oh they forgot my cheese cup I ordered so check your order. You will have to remember napkins and ketchup if it is to go.

    (4)
  • Michael J.

    I've been there twice now. Order italian beef, wet with hot peppers and fries both times. Beef is ok, good portion but nothing speciall. They serve it wrapped in paper. You cannot pick it up and eat it if you order it wet, so you have to use a fork and knife. And that's fine. But when it's served on paper, you end up eating the shredded soggy paper with your meat. Not good. Fresh cut fries definitely needs improvement. They are greasy, limp and have a lot of "scrap potatoes" in them. I informed the server of these things on my first trip. That's why I went back to see if they changed anything. Nope, no change. I won't be back. Frankly in the area, Rosatti's right behind them have a very good beef (no fresh cut fries though) and Between the Buns and 5 Guys have fries that make these look even weaker. It's on the pricey side for this sort of food too.

    (2)
  • Daniel G.

    Went there first time on Sunday about 7 pm and ordered a beef and fries. Got a generous portion of fries but the beef was on about a 5 inch piece of bread with very little meat. Wasn't planning on filling up on fries. Give people there money's worth and they will come back cuz the beef is good

    (3)
  • Michael j.

    This is an old school hot dog joint perfectly steamed bun. hot dog was perfect. Hand cut fries and very clean. I've been in the restaurant business 28 years and this is one of the best dogs I've ever had.

    (5)
  • DJ A.

    FINALLY a good hot dog joint in gurnee. they do Vienna char dogs. that's enough for me. the fries need improvement. they are fresh cut but they aren't cooking them correctly. prices are a little high and the interior could use a redesign but I don't even care.

    (4)
  • Jim F.

    Just tried the new Cravings in Gurnee this past weekend. My family thought we would try for lunch during a break from Six Flags, which is just steps away from the entrance and a great alternative to the over priced "food" at the park. Ordered the beef sandwich & I enjoyed very much. Right balance of flavor (loved the garlic!) and the sweet peppers and side of gravy. Yum-All fresh. The hand cut fries were cooked to perfection, nice and crispy and not soggy like other establishments. The rest of my family also enjoyed a beef, chicken ceasar salad (homemade dressing) and chicken fingers (homemade honey mustard). We enjoyed the service very much and I will certainly be back sooner than later!

    (5)
  • Gary K.

    Great to see Cravings return after all these years. The food is just as good as it was back in the day. I had a double cheddar burger and it was out of this world. My wife had a double hot dog and she said it was terrific. We haven't had a really decent hot dog place in Gurnee even since we moved out here almost 20 years ago, but now I think we finally found a great place for Chicago style hot dogs, Italian beef and burgers. This place is terrific. Highly recommended.

    (5)
  • Chip G.

    Hopefully this shop will stick around. We need a Hot Dog place near the mall. Quick friendly service and fries taste GREAT..

    (5)
  • Melvin W.

    It's sad when you get a batch of old fries that are refried as they are extra oily. When I asked for a fresh batch, I got another order of old greasy fries. If you mix the old with fresh fries, no one knows. Raising to 2 stars as service was great and so are the dogs

    (2)
  • B T.

    We were in town for my daughters Navy Graduation and she wanted to have a Chicago style hot dog. We found this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try. We all got something different in our group, and each thing we had was delish. The girl at the register was super helpful in giving us "out of towners" hints on what to get. Little pricy for a hot dog - but I guess they aren't any hot dogs either! Would go back!

    (4)
  • Vickie G.

    So i said i would give this place another shot and i did. Well i had the beef this time and of course my daughter has the burger. My issue was before with the burger not cooked all the way thru. Well when i ordered i did say "well done" and even though they were swamped the order was correct. The burger was done the way i ordered it and it came out perfect. The beef was great! Loved it! For this area its hard to find. I will love to go back again with no doubts. Just remember "well done"

    (5)
  • Roberto L.

    Ordered a Cheese Burger with Grilled Onions on it and Fries. Everything is good. The cookers were quick and a picture perfect Delicious Burger and Fries. Would recommend.

    (5)
  • Tim A.

    Currently sitting in the place writing this review. This place is ran by a bunch of high school kids. They really need an adult to manage the employees. We have been waiting over 15 minutes for the food and still have not got it. I was hoping this place would fill my void for Chicago hot dogs. Next time I I'll drive to portillos

    (1)
  • Jen W.

    Nice little hot dog joint. Welcoming employees. A little expensive, but has a Chicago feel for the suburbs. Great place to eat after a day at Six Flags!

    (4)
  • Jon Y.

    Came in for lunch with the kids. Their Italian beef and sausage combo was great. Really enjoyed the giardinera as well. Great flavor. Excellent fries, Polish sausage and hot dogs. We'll definitely be back. Also, located right across from Six Flags if you're visiting there and don't want to eat food there.

    (5)
  • Azin J.

    I got the 1/3 lb char cheese burger with everything and added on grilled onions with fries and a drink. The handcut fries were awesome! The burger was even better! Be bun was delicious and the meat was really tasty! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. I did the have the Italian beef but I heard they make their own beef so I'll Def try that next time.

    (5)
  • Eunice V.

    Such great Chicago dogs, AND fresh cut fries! The food here is so good. The staff is friendly. The restaurant is very clean. I will definitely be back when in Gurnee.

    (5)
  • Joshua N.

    This place is clean and welcoming, with some of the best Italian sausage I have ever had. I have been to almost every state and eaten everywhere and the Italian sausage is a must have if you are around, it is homemade and fresh. Friendly and great food Italian beef and hot dogs are good as well!

    (5)
  • M C.

    Awesome place with great customer service. Me and family went here from a Groupon while visiting the area. I wished we lived closer. I would definitely patronize this place more.

    (5)
  • Jake K.

    Best food in Gurnee. Lived here my whole life, there's never been a place with this combination of great service and great food. I've tried the Char Burgers and Chicken on a Pita.....10/10 Great Job guys! Just give it some time to let the word get out about your awesome food, and this place will be packed every day.

    (5)
  • James N.

    Finally a good beef in Lake County.Had Rosatti's beef once and that was one time to many .Cowboy Beans were really good too. Having lived in Chicago for 30 + years I am so happy I can get a good beef finally. Hot Dogs are ok ( typical Chicago style). I am not crazy for the fries but I don't like that style. I hope they do well and stay at the location for a long time.

    (4)
  • Diane L.

    This is the BEST kept Hot Dog secret in the Gurnee area, by far!!!!!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Cravings Red Hots

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