Photo’s Hotdogs
301 N Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL, 60067
Photo’s Hotdogs Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Palatine for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Palatine for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Palatine for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
301 N Northwest Hwy
Palatine, IL, 60067 - Phone (847) 705-1111
- Website https://photoshotdogs.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 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
Wheelchair Accessible : 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
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Xxxman B.
The service was poor it took over 20 minutes to get a simple hot dog and the hotdog was ice cold absolutely ridiculous I will never eat here again
(1)John B.
great food. Have not had anything bad there, The free ice cream is great. Italian beef is better than portillo's.
(5)Rick K.
It is sad to see what once was an excellent Chicago hot dog joint decline so dramatically. The Chicago dogs are definitely not up to Chicago standards. Poor condiments, stale tomatoes, and stale buns--not to mention mistakes on drive-through orders. Skip Photos--go to Portillos. Don't waste the calories on Photo's inferior dogs.
(1)J M.
The food is okay here. Portillo's is way better. Cool atmospshere but the food could taste way better, as it was almost $30.00 for us to eat and I left starving! Wouldn't go outta my way to go here again!
(3)Derek C.
I hate that I have to leave a 2 star review, because the people there were really nice. the food however, was anything but. I felt like a gyro and it wasn't on their menu but it was on a paper sign on the door. so I figured I'd try it out, I mean how bad could it be? yikes... there was lettuce on it, and the meat was like something you get from the supermarket in the frozen food aisle and not the fresh cut off a spit. I ate half of it and couldn't take anymore. so I pigged out on the cheese fries we ordered instead, and that was pretty good actually. I'm not sure what kind of cheese it was, but it was pretty good. I doubt, however, that it would be enough to bring me back.
(2)Mark F.
Did the food taste good? Yes. Do I think I paid too much for it? Yes It was my first visit to Photos. The hotdog came out as ordered and so did the chicken pita. I also ordered a mighty tasty chocolate shake. This place doesn't call to me to run back tomorrow but if I have a hot dog fix and can't remember where else to get one I would consider visiting Photos again even though the tasty chocolate shake was nearly $5.
(3)Chris K.
I wish you could give it a 2.5. I had a hot dog and fries and it was OK. You can't really screw up a Chicago style hot dog. The ingredients were crisp and fresh, but it was nothing special. The fries were similar, they were just fries. I will say the place has a mammoth menu with stuff like salmon burgers and milkshakes of all sorts. and even has a $1 menu for kids in school. That's pretty neat.
(2)Amesa C.
I ONLY go to Photo's cause the owner is a family friend. I just think the teenagers and cooks that work there aren't very knowledgeable with customer service. Whenever I order a Greek salad, each time I order it it is served different or completely wrong! Once I even found a piece of plastic in my salad. The chicken sandwich on pita is just ok. I tried this place a few times but nothing really would bring me back unless my family makes me go there.
(3)Dawn D.
I went back to this Photo's and ordered carry out, fries were stale and mostly the crunchy small end pieces probably from the bottom of the bag, my hot dog buns were hard with staleness, and the hot dogs themselves were actually cold. Very disgusting and horrible meal. I am giving 2 stars instead of 1 only because my husband thought his burger was delicious. Now I won't be going back
(2)Joze C.
First time checking this local Palatine spot out and I was very impressed! The vibe is set right when you walk in the door with fun decor and tons of photos all over the place, hence the name "photos" To the food, burgers and fries were great with lots of Chicago style flavor! Don't forget to ring the bell for your FREE ice cream
(5)Emily R.
I will never come here again. Second time now they have messed up our order and I had to ask the guy where our sandwich was he gave me and inquisitive look like I was the idiot. The person at the counter was on his phone texting the entire time not paying attention... The service is slow (20 minutes to get 2 sandwiches) and then the French fries were over cooked and stale.... There was a time where photos was good, but boy is it terrible now. Don't waste your time!
(1)Benjamin S.
They get two stars because the cheese fries are awesome and they have free ice cream. As I child I went to the one in Mount Prospect and they had the car shows and pinball. Great memories but this last visit was miserable. Not going back anymore and that's sad.
(2)Angie C.
Home Depot's hot dogs are way better than this place! Drive the extra distance and go to Portillo's if you are craving a hot dog. My hot dog was pricey. I waited forever in the drive thru. When i bit my hot dog, the bread was soggy wet. The hot dog itself was water logged and cold. My fries had zero seasoning. The only reason i gave one star was because my fries were fresh and hot. I do not recommend this place!
(1)Anna P.
The Mushroom Burger and Chicken Gyros are delicious sandwiches! This is such a great place for families. Really fun and affordable. The kids and I LOVE the free ice cream cones!!!
(5)B G.
I thought I would give Photos a try since it is close by and I had a $5 off coupon. Inside the restaurant is heavily decorated with pictures and memorabilia and they have some tvs for sports games. It wasn't too busy when I went in on a week night. After looking over the menu, I decided to go with the veggie burger, fries, and pita chips with humus. The staff seemed to be pretty friendly. It did take longer than expected to prepare the food. I would estimate about 10 minutes which seemed like a lot considering it was not busy. For the food, the veggie burger was ok, the fries were pretty good, but the pita chips and humus were disappointing. The pita chips were pretty much just crackers. On the receipt, I noticed the $5 off for some reason only took off $4.53 and this is before tax was added, so I'm not sure what the deal is with that. All my items were at full price so it seems like it should have taken off the full $5. Overall considering the food was just ok, the was a significant wait time, and the fact that the coupon did not give the full $5 off, I personally would not rush back, but if you are looking for a fun place to go for a burger and fries, it is worth checking out.
(2)Tobin h.
Not bad at all. Quality service but a bit slow. Clean. Good food. Needed a quickie dog fix that the ten minutes I planned turned into a 25 minute stop but I will still go back when I'm out that way.
(3)Lois C.
My family came here for lunch today since my husband was craving a hot dog and we've been wanting to try this place out. Food is pretty pricey for the quality you receive. We got the jumbo char dog, chicken pita, small beef, cheeseburger, fries, and onion rings for $27. The char dog was good in size but not anything special. Cheeseburger was fine except it had a slice of kraft American cheese, not really a fan of businesses using cheap cheese like kraft American. Chicken pita was dry but my kids liked the chicken with some ketchup. Fries was meh but what really annoyed me was the order of onion rings. We got our onion ring order and inside was half onion rings half fries.... (the other order of just fries was in another bag so this was not an accidental spill of any sort). If I wanted fries, I'd order fries but I ordered onion rings so I'd expect all onion rings. This is the first time I've ever seen that and I was definitely not happy about the discovery. The beef in the small beef was not your typical beef you'd find or expect. It was slices of beef that were bland and very chewy. Not tender by any means. The only upside to this place was the free small cone you receive at the end of your meal. We won't be returning, not because it was that horrible but there's so much better out there.
(2)L C B.
Hmm, where do we begin? You would think you could give a hot dog joint at least 4 stars and I would like to because the eating area itself is neat! Cool pictures hanging everywhere, old cameras, old artifacts, etc... that's the 3 stars... but I stopped in driving by for a hot dog. A Chicago dog with everything but too much of it! I got a salad in a bun with dog hidden below. The amount of condiments made the hot dog cool off too fast. Supposedly they are known for their cheese for fries, (not that this is normal for me,) but it was served on the side... I don't know, maybe coagulated cheese dip is good for some but I went back to dipping my fries in ketchup if needed. There are other choices on the menu but for me this is a one-n-done on the dogs!
(3)Alexandria M.
I would never recomend this place to ANYONE. First of all, the cashiers have horrible attitudes. It is like their faces are made of stone ... not one smile or change of angry facial expression at all. The food was quick but not what I expected. The fries were very very salty. The kids chicken nuggets should be worth $1 it's a RIP OFF. The kids burger is also a rip off tasted horrible. the regular cheese burger tasted OK but not worth $5. Then there is the "free" ice cream or is it automatically included in there ridiculous prices for sub par food? The young lady giving us the ice cream also had a bad attitude. I was very unhappy with our visit. We all work hard for our money and it's a rare treat for me to get to take my kids out for lunch so it's very upsetting that I wasted my money when I could've spent less and gotten more food *even better tasting** at a place like Wendy's or McDonalds.
(1)Diane U.
Well, they have finally served a meal so terrible that I will never return !! The onion rings were so hard and overcooked they were inedible, actually feels like I cut the roof of my mouth. The 2.99 cheeseburger (which was a good deal when it was 1.49 not that long ago) was mushy, half raw, and tasteless. The wait for my order (in the drive thru) was right around 10 minutes. The last 3 times I have been there have been what I consider sub-standard. But what a deal - a Sunday "special" on a cheeseburger and an order of onion rings for only $8.00 !! Should have followed my instinct and gone down the street to Wendy's !!! I have eaten at Photo's for the last time ........
(1)Rob T.
Hot diggety dogs.
(3)T V.
Ordered two hot dog special fry and drink. Took at least 15 minutes to get order. Bun was dry, fry super salty. BTW. the glass atrium smelled like a urinal.
(1)Heddie D.
My coworkers and I decided to grab lunch from photos the chicken gyros looked so gross that it was just thrown out not worth trying and the hamburger had barely any flavor and had way too much mayo that my hamburger got soggy so I couldn't even finish it. Worse then high school cafeteria food. The onion rings were okay but that's about it. It's about quality not quantity.
(1)Danielle S.
I'll preface this review with this fact - I have never been to the actual Photo's location. We catered from here for a work gathering, so I have no idea what the atmosphere or service is like. That being said, we ordered some plain hot dogs, cheese burgers, and chicken pitas for a work party. We had everything delivered (they do charge a delivery fee). They came on time, everything was hot and individually wrapped (which was nice). The hot dogs were...well...hot dogs. Honestly, I don't know how anyone could screw up a hot dog. The burgers were ok - they tasted fine, but they seemed like they had been pre-frozen at one point. I like my burgers cooked medium, juicy, seasoned. These were...plain, thin, dry...nothing to brag about. The chicken pitas were really dry...barely tasted like anything. We did order everything plain, so that could be our fault. But it really wasn't seasoned. It wasn't terrible, but I definitely wasn't blown away. When I looked at the prices (and I wasn't paying for it...so that helps) I thought it was a little much for what we got. A burger was $2.99...a plain burger. Meh. Not terrible...but not great. Not for the quality. Overall, it wasn't the worst, but I'm not compelled to visit the location to eat, or to order from them again.
(2)Andrew F.
Very bad Customer Service!!!!!! The Students don't know how to run a Restaurant.
(1)Jessica J.
What kind of Midwestern hot dog place 86's their beefs and replaces it with QUESADILLAS!!!!! After eating here for the better part of 30 years I am sad to say that they have lost my business. Sure the burgers are good, but i can get a burger anywhere. Im severely disappointed in this change.
(1)Mark D.
Good for hot dogs and milkshakes but wasn't impressed with their italian beef.
(3)Richard C.
The chicken wraps were very large and inexpensive, but seemed to be plain and not assembled right. The chicken slices overflowed the top of the wrap, but only after munching a while did we discover the tasty sauce and lettuce set down first at the fold. With that in the bite, the sandwich was pretty good. We have eaten there before and have generally liked the food. Counter service is fast. The store has abundant coupons, daily specials and teen days. And free ice cream. This store displays a interesting collection of antique cameras.
(3)Chris M.
My bacon burger had no bacon, and was clearly just a frozen patty, overcooked. Fries were tasteless. Chicken gyros and hot dog were decent but not worth returning for.
(2)Kevin K.
Holy crap the turkey burger was incredible. i got a couple of other things too I think but I can't remember anything about them because the turkey burger was so damn good
(5)Dan B.
Photo's Hot Dogs is a surprisingly large and elaborately decorated Chicago style eatery located in Palatine. Once you walk inside you'll notice a large number of vending machines and skill cranes. The decorations extended to photos (that's why it's their name I guess) all over the wall, a display of antique cameras and even a movie projector. The place is fairly clean but has a very cluttered atmosphere with something to look at everywhere. There was a rather significant line upon walking in and a few minutes later I was able to place my order. I decided to go for a hot dog with everything. I also was urged by a friend of mine to try "funnel cake fries" which is a specialty they serve at Photos. Once I placed the order it was nearly 10 minutes before the order was ready. Service here isn't exactly speedy, but in all fairness it was fairly busy though not exactly packed with customers. The hot dog I received came on a very dry bun. The bun was regular without any poppy seeds and while not hard was not exactly soft either. The sausage itself was skinless and not steamed particularly well as it seemed to have had a lot of the flavor sapped out of it. There was a pickle spear on the hot dog easily as thick as the hot dog itself. To make matters worse it lacked the length so that you would get pickle in every bite and was so sour it overpowered the flavor of the hot dog itself. This pickle was a failure in every way possible. In the 1950s you would expect this pickle to sit in the back of the classroom with a dunce cap on. The application of the mustard and relish was a little excessive. There was no sign of celery salt, at least the onion and sport peppers were well applied. My friend and I also split a specialty item here called "Funnel Cake Fries". These are like a funnel cake or french toast but made of potato. Imagine French fries with powdered sugar on them. This wound up making the fries more of a dessert than a traditional appetizer. These were somewhat thick fries, but if I recall correctly for around 3.00 we only got like 10 or 12 of them. It wasn't like getting a whole order of regular fries served in the same manner. While this isn't something I would go out of my way to order again, it's definitely an unusual way to serve french fries. Overall I like the aesthetic of the place itself with various vending machines, old pictures and old cameras up everywhere. The food failed to live up to my standards. While the funnel cake fries that I tried were a both unique and good that was a wretched hot dog, and from a place that has the word Hot Dogs in their name,. Because the funnel cake fries were a saving grace and the place has just kitsch enough of an atmosphere to be a draw, I am going to be generous and award Photo's Hot Dogs with two stars.
(2)Don K.
Stopped there tonight to pick up their special beef's and grab 4 polish for the guys from work. Surprise... they stopped selling both about a month ago because their drive up was backing up. When I checked their web site last night and saw the beef special for Thursday night I got all excited. To bad when I got ther I was SOL. Their hot dogs were outstanding, fries good, cheese for the fries - verey bad. I was disappointed. Don Krist
(2)Dan K.
Total ripoff !!! $11 for Italian beef , onion rings and sm coke ? First off beef was tiny with stail bread and not very good at all . Onion rings 2.95 for 8 onion rings ? Again nothing special there either !!! Place is shithole and total waste of money . Don't go !! Crap food !!!! Fuck you photopulos !!!
(1)Jackie B.
I love hotdogs...but Photo's could not seem to get it right. The bun was soggy, dog was just ok. Plus they couldn't get my toppings correct. Fries were also tasteless. I went throught the drive-thru...never ever go through the drive-thru...no only did they mess up my hotdog but they forgot a burger. I called because at this point I couldnt get back to the restaurant. I was told...are you sure or did forget to order the burger. Come on now...I paid for it and had proof. I felt like I was a thief at this point. So now I was going to drive there just to make a point. I brought back the food I was given and asked for a full refund. Which I was told they could not do because I had left the property before checking my order. Poor service and bland food.
(1)Charles S.
Ok photos gets 3 stars versus 2.5 because they were very nice in giving my mother a senior discount. Also, over all very nice staff! Now to the food... Very average at best. I had the Italian beef and it was bland. I had to put extra gardinera to add flavor. If you want a beef sandwich, go to Buona Beef. Over all, nice and clean place with friendly environment. Free ice cram too!
(3)Caset J.
I called in a 'to go" order for my coworkers and I. When I go to the restaurant, there was no line for me to go to get our order. I was informed that I would have to wait in line with everyone else. There were 11 people in front of me. For a while they had two registers open, then I think he was the owner left the register and only one person was ringing. When I got to the front and paid there were problems with the credit card reader. When I got the receipt it did not have an itemized detail, or any kind of detail as to what the order cost. And to top everything off by this time our food was cold. I am not sure other than the cheap discounts that they give to students, and the free ice cream how they can expect to stay in business.
(1)Geoff F.
I had the chicken pita and the chicken was okay but the pita was definitely frozen & thawed (I could taste it). The fries were not salted much, which is fine, but there was no flavor to compensate. Just potato flavor, which was minimal. The chicken quesadilla was okay but not great either. My dad had the classic hot dog, didn't say how it was, though. The service is nice though, decently fast. So kinda quick, nice people, mediocre food. Would I go back? Not likely.
(1)Stephanie N.
So bummed... Heard really good things about their milkshakes and the pictures online look amazing but I was pretty disappointed. Maybe my standards for a "Good" milkshake are just too high... I still haven't found one in Chicago. I'll give you hot dogs Chicago... You know how to cook a bad ass hot dog. But when it comes to the essence of a milkshake... None of you seem to know what you are doing. There needs to be more ice cream than milk... And definitely whipped cream as an option, just for starters. So sorry Photo's, you've joined my list of disappointing milkshakes! (But the fries were pretty good)
(2)Dan D.
I just want give a quick thank you to mr Photo and the very pleasant drive through attendant for their exceptional customer service. They were nicest enough to honor my father and I's groupon voucher even though it was not for the palatine location. That is what I consider great customer service!
(5)Joseph P.
Photo's still has an odd business model - they practically give food away to high schoolers at lunch (50-70% discounts), raise prices for others fairly often, and steeply, then put out coupons on the Internet that make purchases much more affordable, if you think to bring them. Seems odd. The food itself is actually pretty good, but many items are overpriced at "list". With the March increases of over 10% on key items, hot dogs are now $3, Mini Pitas are $3.35 ($4 now) , an 8 in. Italian Beef $7, Chili dogs $3.50, etc. New paper menus in the holders have just been updated, finally. Hot dogs are OK, the Chicken Pita can be fabulous, and the fries are great when freshly made. Soup is really good, but a bit expensive at $4 for a modest cup. If all this isn't a turn off, then enjoy!
(4)Kit W.
I don't mind throwing hard earned money away because that's what happened at my last trip ever to Photo's. French fries were awful. I cannot put my finger on it. Just plain awful. I have never been served fresh ripe tomatoes, even in the month of July. The grilled chicken in the salads and pita sandwiches is minimal and cheap tasting. The drive-thru employees are friendly. I stopped going inside because some of those kids working behind the counter look miserable.
(2)Jeff B.
Chicken gyro, jumbo char dog, cheeseburger, French fries, free soft serve ice cream: all fantastic! Fresh! Delicious! And lots of cool pictures of famous people to look at while you're waiting for your food.
(4)Stephanie M.
Ringing a bell for free ice cream is now my new favorite past time. Discounts for students and teachers!
(4)Maggie R.
Why, oh why, do I keep coming here? I've eaten here four times, two of those having been in the past month. Tonight I ordered the chicken gyros. Once I got home and opened the sandwich up, I was welcomed by grey-ish, tough chicken pieces, some soggy lettuce, once slice of tomato, and cucumber sauce that had a weird aftertaste. Seriously? I can't believe I paid $7.00 for this, AFTER using a dollar off coupon. Not to mention the fact that this place is ALWAYS UNGODLY SLOW. Every time I've been through the drive-thru, it's taken at least 10-15 minutes. Wendy's would have been a much better choice. I want to kick myself for coming here again tonight on my way home from work. Ugh! Other nasty food I've experienced here: Chicago-style hot dog: soggy bun, lukewarm meat. Most likely wasn't fresh at all. Italian beef: soggy bun...like fall-apart soggy that is like eating a wet cotton ball. No peppers or anything on the beef, wasn't asked. Beef had little flavor. Fries: cold and grease-soaked. Mini-chicken pita: same greyish hard chicken pieces as the chicken gyro. It is clearly the same chicken and probably comes frozen like that. Moral of the story, STAY AWAY. Hot Dog Richie's is on the other side of the street and has much better "Chicago-style" food for the price.
(1)He K.
I like the burger a lot! Didn't try anything else on the menu yet, but the burgers are awesome. Fries could be better, that's why 1 star off. But i'll be back for sure :)
(4)d b.
I'm giving this place 4-stars for veggie eaters. When I want a veggie burger on the fly, I usually want one from photos. Their buns are soft, the right size, and they complement the burger very well. When I order it with everything on it, I really get everything. And all the toppings are cut generously and I am pleased. The burger itself is very good--not overcooked or mushy. Just the right texture. It's probably closest to Gardenburger in composition. It's quite tasty. The fries are good--maybe a little on the thinner side, but the flavor and texture is there. I have also had their quesadillas. They're good if you want a lot of gooey cheese and veggies on a huge tortilla, which, well, heck yes, I do. It comes with a side of sour cream which seems a little on the small side, but is probably an accurate single serving size and I'm just a sour cream glutton. The salsa is homemade and I liked it--could've been spicier for my tastes, but again, that's me. The only real puzzler about this place for me is the hummus wrap. OK... So I ordered this once, and it was... Strange. I think it was a flour tortilla (trying to remember now) and it was stuffed with lettuce and gobs and gobs of hummus. I mean we're talking, someone dumped a whole tub of hummus into this thing. Now I really like hummus, but I was taking bites and making faces because I was just getting mouthfuls of the stuff. And frankly, hummus is better in moderation. I just imagine this sandwich would be so much more enjoyable with some carrots, zucchini, or red bell peppers thrown in there. I've had their milkshakes, which are also pretty good. Not amazing, but I'd order another. But the reason they earn their 4-stars from me is the burger. I keep coming back and getting them, so I figured I should give them some love for it!
(4)Joe J.
Would have given this place a better review, but the owner decided not to accept my coupon because the monthly special is a 2-1 chicken pita, and although I've done it multiple times, he wouldn't accept my coupon in addition. Apparently since he didn't want to give me the good deal I had planned on getting, instead he loses a customer. I guess being cheap really pays off... So you saved $2 dollars and lost a lifetime of business. Good job bro. It's unfortunate because I liked the food here otherwise and usually was pretty impressed by the deals.
(2)Ryan W.
Hello owner of photos have you ever eaten your Italian beef I love it"not" one of the worst Italian beefs I have eaten your ketchup is cheap and awful and for the quality of food that u sell. Your prices are portilos prices with aldi food. Get better quality food or boy you are going to lose a lot of costomers.
(1)David K.
Had a beef, kids had burgers and fries. I have to say this is one if the worst burger joints in palatine! The beef was old and dry, burgers same fries were tasteless. Save your money don't fall for the "free" food marketing on the road sign this place actual has to give food away for free to bring people in!
(1)Moeed K.
I only like this place because of the seafood items they have. They offer a wider variety of items for people who prefer fish over meat. Some of the items include a Salmon cheeseburger, grilled tilapia sandwich, fish tacos, fish quesadilla, and some more. They also offer a happy hour for milkshakes during the weekdays, but I tried the shake and wasn't too impressed.
(3)Ellery R.
When is Yelp going to add the .5 star rating feature? I'd give Photo's 2.5 if I could. The food is not that great and their hotdogs would make a grown man cry. The relish was all wrong, it came with only one sport pepper, no poppy seeds, weird meat. I bought two because A) I was dying of hunger and B) they were a dollar. It took so long for the food to come out, I actually busted out the book I had been reading. It's really expensive too. The last time I ordered something here I had to ask my parents to take a second mortgage out on their house. The milkshakes are mediocre. I got banana malt and it gave me no thought that it was worth ruining my workout. The customer service is alright, nothing to brag about. The place is clean. The decor is somewhat disturbing because there isn't anything that isn't decorated. One thing I really didn't like which is just a quirk of mine; the coupons say something like, "in (owner of Photo's name) we trust," which is totally stupid. Boring review for boring food.
(2)Stephanie K.
I had the Italian beef and am wondering if the employees of Photos have ever had an Italian beef because what they're passing off as such is most definitely not what any sane person would expect to get. It's dry, flavorless, and quite honestly not edible. Fun fact: the "steak" quesadilla uses the exact same disgusting beef. So what is it Photos? Italian beef or steak? It can't be both, but let me assure you it's gross no matter what you call it or how you serve it.
(1)Dan E.
Photos Hotdogs... /sigh... Claiming to be a Chicago staple means delivering, at a minimum, decent versions of Chicago's typical foods. The italian beef is one of the worst I've had anywhere, let alone in Chicago. The hot dogs were fine, but bun and condiments tasted stale. French fries (usually an easy win) were also stale and subpar. The one positive thing I can say is that they did craft a fairly delicious milkshake. Despite the tasty milkshake I have a hard time believing that I would return to Photos. There are better places for milkshakes and numerous better options for Chicago foods (see Kostas in the Palatine area).
(1)Adam R.
A pretty standard burger, hot dog, and chicken sandwich place. Nothing special but at least it's consistently a good experience. The best part about Photo's is the specials. Sundays from 4pm-8pm the burgers are $2. At times they have $0.25 hot dogs with purchases or buy one get one free chicken pitas.
(3)Ken A.
I've never been impressed with the food or the service. The hot dog buns are dry and the dogs are bland. The burgers are decent but nothing special. I ordered one of the new "gyros" and what I got was a bit shocking. They apparently do not have a gyro on a spit. (If you are from Chicago, you know there is one and only one way to serve gyros")... instead, I was served a plate of what looked like pre shaved, warmed up slabs of gyros meat. It reminded me of "pre-cooked bacon" you see in the supermarket, which is something not even I would try...and I've eat gas station food. I give them kudos for being good neighbors, they do a lot for the community in the way of team sponsorship, and my kids love going there. They are a popular place to go and are centrally located so it is a convenient place to hit after sports. As for the overall experience, I wish they had better quality food.
(3)Gerry A.
I used to pick a couple hotdogs through the drive-in on the 2 for $3 Tuesdays and they were ok, and the best thing about that was they DIDN'T come with fries because the grease tubes are bad enough. But we quit doing that when you could get a HUGE dog or polish we could SPLIT WITH a refillable drink for $1.50 at Costco. So long story long we had never eaten INSIDE, and picked up a GrouponNOW net net for $5 on $20, less 5% for going through Discover, TODAY. It kind of reminds me of a Schaumburg Portillos for grade school and junior high school kids on Red Bull. And we enjoyed NOT having kids there and the basic fun energy of the place watching really cute little kids run around who are going to grow up never being that cute again. Our fish tacos were ok but I don't think it's really a fish taco if it has romaine instead of cabbage on it, plus cheese? really? and NO tomato; and our greek salad was ok but no peppecinis? I wouldn' t order the veggie humus wrap again, it is basically a LOT of romaine with a little humus, how about some tomatoes, still better than it looked and nice to have some solid veggie choices. The Veggie humus wrap WAS big enough to split. What I didn't like was that EVERYTHING that we ordered was 50c to $1.50 more than on the on-line menu. When I mentioned it ...the 13 year old at the window said "yeah they ought to change that." I think $6.49 for a veggie lettuce/humus wrap is kind of Route 14 highway robbery when you were expecting $4.99. This might sound really cheap, but our bill was 20% more than the on-line menu. Did YOU raise YOUR prices 20% this year or GET a 20% raise? We didn't. The tables were clean, the free little ice cream cone was fun, but we are going to stick to Costco for our non-health food and ice cream smoothies. If you do go here, check their website for specials/coupons as this food isn't that good to not get some kind of deal, and don't believe their on-line menu prices. Two and a half stars rounded DOWN for faux on-line JACKED menu prices.
(2)Raghav C.
Solid hot dog and burger joint with free soft serve ice cream. Avoid the Italian Beef here...
(4)Charles W.
Dined here many times here over the years with my family and larger groups. Dogs, burgers, and fries similar quality to other Chicagoland based grills, cleaner, faster than most. Easy in/out. They are a loyal and generous sponsor to local youth sports and kids really like eating there.
(4)Jillian H.
A solid three stars. The hot dogs are pretty good. The hot dog was nicely topped and the bun was fresh. They have a good vegetarian menu. Yeah the staff could be friendlier but overall I would stop by when I'm in the area. Decent spot to grab some lunch.
(3)Kate L.
There was so much buzz about this place when it first opened up, but now whenever I drive by and the one time I actually went inside, it's completely dead. I guess by now everyone has realized that Portillo's, Gene and Jude's, or even the little hot dog stand at the home depot are way better. Yeah, sure they have that home-town feel with newspaper clippings hung up, but honestly no one I know even goes here anymore because the food is no good.
(1)Megan V.
Was really excited about trying out a new restaurant (via he gorupon). But the experience was not good and i will not go back nor will i recommend Photo's to anyone I know. The service was awful. I asked the man at the cash register(big guy, surly, unfriendly, possibly mgr???) I asked a few allergen questions and the man really acted like i was putting him out. I'm sorry buddy but you work in the food industry , someone asking you about gluten shouldn't be all that foreign to you ,AND really if it is , don' let the customer know you could give a shi& about it. so right off the bat the service was bad, the man did not want to go the extra step, OR step at all to make a customer happy. The food I ordered was not good either. I ordered a salad with blue cheese, cranberries and pecans on it. The salad had no taste what so ever. Which tells me the ingredients WERE VERY OLD. the cheese tastes awful, that was about the only thing I tasted, was the gross cheese. So the service was awful ,the food was awful, my husbands food was avg at best and it was expensive.
(1)J P.
The best polish! Most places give you stringy grilled onions that fall out with each bite. Not at photos. They grill diced onions to order for the perfect amount in each bite. The best!
(5)Tina H.
The Photo's in Mount Prospect used to be a great place to go with the team after a baseball game but all I can say on my last few visits is WHAT HAPPENED? I have had stale hot dog buns, cold hot dogs and hamburgers so small and thin I can see through them. And at a high price too! Management should take a field trip to Portillos Hot Dogs and take note on what makes customers come back time and time again.
(1)Jon A.
The gyros isn't so stay away from it. Good beefs and burgers. The staff is very friendly.
(4)Kyle S.
There is no conceivable reason for anyone to go here. While the food here isn't terrible, it's certainly not good, and even with the deals they always seem to be running (which seem to me like a cry for help), a bit on the pricey side. But what really deals Photo's a wicked death blow is that it's located about 100 yards from Hot Dog Richie's, which serves up the same sort of food, but is infinitely superior in every way imaginable. Richie's is one of the NW suburbs best dogs, and Photo's is less than mediocre.
(2)Andrew B.
I used to go here a fair amount when I went to high school in the area. They facilitated a fundraiser for my high school fraternity and also hung a photo of my half-nude friends and I on the wall. We put up the photo seven years ago and it is still there to this day. Photo's offers an extensive menu with pretty good food. The prices are fair if you have a coupon, which are plentiful, or order the daily special. Sunday nights offer $1.50 burgers and I'm pretty sure they have milkshake happy hour every afternoon. The food is fresh and simple, which is exactly what it tastes like. Most recently I had an excellent milkshake and a chicken pita. The milkshake was great since you have to be trying to mess that up. Chicken was plentiful on the pita and it also had mayo (maybe try a secret sauce), lettuce, and tomato, but it was nothing special in the flavor department.
(4)Karly G.
i really thought this was a chain joint but it really wasn't. only place i know that gives free soft serve ice cream... you can't beat that. the day we went, they were celebrating their 20 years of service so all the hot dogs were 20 cent, yes, i said it, 20 cent!!!! The catch was, you had to buy a full price large drink or side item. Which was one, I calculated that a hot dog and a drink runs about $2.50... not bad at all, of course it's cheaper to make your own at home. I had the coney island hot dog and I have to say that you can't screw this up. i was disappointed in the hummus, the pita chips were excellent but the hummus was not tasty at all. Don't get it!! I can't say that i will come back for seconds, but i'm glad that i've tried once.
(3)Alexus C.
I picked up some Photo's for lunch today (I was considering Chiggy's or Hot Dog Richy's, but Photo's has a drive-thru & I saw a dollar off coupon in my wallet; any bit helps, right?). I got a kid's hot dog meal (comes w/ fries & soda for $4, which seemed reasonable), an Italian beef sandwich (Thurs. special $3 instead of the usual $5.50), and a plain hotdog w/ a small cheese fry. So, you can proooobably understand why was surprised when my total came to 15 bucks. When I asked the girl at the window to itemize my order, she told me that the (very) small cheese fry was OVER $3 & the PLAIN hot dog was $3 too! So basically, I got the same thing in the kids meal with cheese instead of a drink, but paid 2 bucks more...for cheese. Maybe I sound cheap, and hey, I probably am (thanks, Dad), but it's hard for me to justify spending $15...no $14 with that AWESOME coupon...on a small bag of junk food. Oh yeah, the food was mediocre at best. The fries are way better... well everywhere else, & they didn't even serve peppers on the beef. Weird. Chiggy's (2 mins away) is the better choice for sure, or if you want the drive-thru, go to Portillo's.
(2)Paulie B.
Not pleased with the customer service. Forgot part of the drive thru order. Yes i check most of it as we pulled out. But disappointing when you get home and a hot dog is missing. Over priced as well. Chiggy's up NW Highway is the winner! Get better processes and controls in place. :-(
(2)Ruth Ann M.
I have to base my review of Photos strictly on hot dogs. I feel like most suburban hot dog places claim to offer "authentic Chicago red hots" just because the dog is all-beef and they're against ketchup. Well I've got news for them....there is more to a Chicago dog than that. You've go to burn the outside of the dog while keeping the inside juicy! That's what it's all about! Photos is the first hot dog place that I have found in the burbs that has figured this out. It is called the Jumbo Char-dog on their menu. Order it, and enter into a fire-kissed beefy bliss. Bonus: They have free Wi-Fi
(4)Cupcake S.
Not a fan of the food & customer service is not so great here...
(2)Mark S.
Photo's is cool- like a non-chain Portillo's with a conscience. This is a great place to grab a beef or hot dogs or other fast food. The decor is nice, the walls are completely covered with, yeah, you guessed it- Photo's! Lot's of famous types are on display- bonus points for including David Bowie and Capt. Picard! Plus, this place is clearly dedicated to "giving back" to the community. In addition to all the usual local sport team sponsorships that these kinds of places do, Photos takes it to another level with special discount dinner nights, events and so on. It's clear that the staff and owners know their customers and take care of them- even if that just means serving them hotdogs! So I go to Photo's because I can feel good spending my money for good fast food from nice people in a clean setting with lots of pictures on the wall to look at.
(5)Marty H.
How can you screw-up cheese fries!? This place did it, by pairing some weird fleshtone stuff together with undercooked fries at a recent street fest. Too make it just a little more frustrating, they were serving 3 total menu items: plain hot dogs, fries w/optional cheese, chicken nuggets and still managed to keep me (1 of 4 people waiting) standing around for 10 minutes. This adds to 1-2 non-stellar experiences in their restaurant. There are plenty of better local hot dog joints, this place is a pass.
(1)Mike Y.
I love hot dogs. I had a char dog and it was cold. The fries were cold. It was a bad meal. I am usually more charitable, but it seemed like they didn't care. We came ten minutes before closing and a meal coming out should have been hot. I don't know what happened here but I will not go back.
(1)Tom A.
Veggie burger seekers rejoice! This is the best fast-foot veg. burger I've had anywhere. Substantial and tasty. As a healthy bonus, try the toasted pita pieces served with homemade hummous. Good stuff.
(4)Laila N.
I love this place... Great ambiance, fun staff, and great cheese fries! I especially love the free ice-cream! Would have given 5 stars if the burgers had a little more seasoning and a bigger patty.
(4)John A.
Avoid high noon when the high schoolers hit - gets really loud and the lines get long.
(4)Bob C.
tried it for the first time last night. After my first bite of a dog, I told my friend that this is better than Portillo's. You can get on their e mail list and my friend had a bunch of $1.00 coupons, every little bit helps of course. Also tried their free mini soft serv ice cream cones. Can be a little bit noisy and at times hard to hold a conversation
(4)Jamie L.
Went for dinner tonight (3 of us) and ordered 2 hot dogs, 2 shakes, 2 fries (one w/cheese), 1 coke: total: $20.38 (had a coupon for $1 hot dog -- which stated limit 1 per customer - only gave me one $1 hot dog although there were 3 of us -isn't that 3 customers?? we're just putting it on one bill -- I could have printed out one for each of us and paid separately -- alright, I'm being a little cheap, but if this had been great food I guess I wouldn't be complaining) We got our food: the hot dogs were marginal, my kids like Jimmy's in Arlington Heights better and they are cheaper, fries are okay, but I have to admit the shake was good. Lastly, most tables in the place were dirty even though there were about 5 people standing behind the counter doing nothing. Can't even give the place 2 stars, even though their shakes were good. Go somewhere else for a hot dog.
(1)Eric J.
Great food value....if you hunt for a deal. They have BBQ pitas that are...epic. The reason I dont go often is because of the crazy lady who is supposedly the owners sister. EVERY time I'm there she is publicly berating her staff and screaming about this or that. I understand that employees need to be corrected, but don't do it in public.
(3)Renee B.
Photo's is a fun place for families and kids. They have a good menu which includes vege friendly options. It's family run, they have a few locations in the NW suburbs. They run daily specials and help the schools in the community with special fund raising events.
(3)Candis A.
Hot dogs are great but those are hard to mess up and the chicken pita is pretty good cheesburgers are ok but when they are on sale why not. Overall the food is not bad not good just ok.
(3)Beth S.
Stopped at Photo's today on my way back to the office and picked up a chicken pita. While the chicken was nicely grilled and seasoned it was definitely NOT worth the almost $6 I paid for it. Very pricey menu.
(2)Sean Y.
I want to like this place but after trying it several times, it's just not worth going anymore. They seem like a Portillo's wannabe, but their food is so bland! They do have good specials and food is fresh - just wish it tasted better! Also, they give you $1 off coupons but you can't use them with their specials.
(2)edwards R.
Good food. Great place to take kids they gave free ice cream after they ate their food..Lots of vidio games to keep them busy...
(3)Matt S.
I agree with Tammy. It is pricey for a hot dog place, just look for the local coupons they put out in the local mailers. Nice staff and it always feels better to eat local and not chain stuff. Portillos still is king though here around Chicago. I do love the huge sack of fries they give you!
(3)