Eden's Fast Food (Great Ham)

LTH,

Stopped in to my local hot dog stand the other day for a quick lunch of a dog and fries, not the best in town, but but certainly well into the edible range. As I was placing my order something caught my eye, ham, yep, a ham. Not just an ordinary ham, but a whole leg of pure porky goodness hot and steaming, right from the oven, had to go at least 15-lbs.

Known for my amazing command of the obvious, I asked the counterman if that was a ham and, if so, what were their plans for said ham. He gave me a world weary, yet patient look, and asked if I had heard of a little meal called breakfast. Awful droll for the noon hour. I immediately shifted gears from hot dog to ham sammich, to be specific, sliced ham on an griddled Italian beef bun with grilled onions and mustard.

This may be the best ham sandwich in town , juicy, flavorful, warm from the griddle, enhanced by grilled onions, a streak of mustard and the slightly more dense platform of the Italian been roll.

Another clear winner is Eden's Fast Food's breakfast special w/ham. Ham, 3-eggs, hash browns and toast for $3.95. The browns are never going to win a hash brown face-off with Edgebrook Diner or Diner Grill, but breakfast at Eden's Fast Food is all about the ham, not hash browns.

Eden's Fast Food is just that, fast food Chicago hot dog stand style. Dogs, Italian beef, gyros, daily specials, good fries, thin style, ask for them crisp, and efficient service with a sincere how-ya-doing for regulars. Eden's Fast food is clean, has seating and a tv, which is typically turned to a cable automotive channel.

The other two hot dog stands in my area are East of Eden's, which just went through an expansion, and has a more diverse menu, skewing towards Greek fast food. I sometimes get the all-purpose roast chicken w/rice and pita. By all-purpose chicken I mean plain roasted chicken which, depending on the finishing sauce, is turned into BBQ Chicken, Greek Chicken etc when it's finished on the gas grill.

The other, Top Dog is, to quote Steve Drucker, "Would not return, nor will I waste the effort to type further."

Since I am on a my neighborhood roll, I should mention a new Bakery-Cafe that opened in the long gone, and much lamented, at least my me, Hi Howe space, Bread Basket. I stopped in the second or third day they were open and all I will say is they have a looooooong way to go before I make this a regular stop. I'll try again in a few weeks and report back.

Enjoy,
Gary

Edens Fast Food
6045 N Cicero Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
773-736-3385

East Of Eden
6350 N Cicero Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
773-545-8888

Edgebrook Coffee Shop and Diner
6322 N Central Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
773-792-1433
M-F 6:30am to 3pm
Saturday 6:30am to 2pm
Closed Sunday

Diner Grill
1635 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60613
773-248-2030
24/7

Top Dog
6005 N Sauganash Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
773-202-8844

Bread Basket
6015 N Cicero
Chicago, IL 60646
773-427-7600

Thanks for the report on both Edens. I drive by them all the time on my way to Sam's in Evanston. Edens Fast Food is ALWAYS crowded, and I've been meaning to stop and try it. Now I know what to try.

jblagg wrote:Thanks for the report on both Edens. I drive by them all the time on my way to Sam's in Evanston. Edens Fast Food is ALWAYS crowded, and I've been meaning to stop and try it. Now I know what to try.

I'd add to Wiv's recommendations the pre-made, but good Greek Salads at Edens Fast Food. They are a favorite of the Chow Poodle.

stevez wrote:I'd add to Wiv's recommendations the pre-made, but good Greek Salads at Edens Fast Food. They are a favorite of the Chow Poodle.

Z,

You may be thinking of the newly remodeled East of Edens for Greek Salad, not Edens Fast Food. East of Edens is Cicero/Devon, Edens Fast Food is Cicero just North of Peterson.

Either way, sounds good, I'll be sure to give the Greek salad a try.

Enjoy,
Gary

Speaking of ham, I was at the Des Plaines Metra station yesterday and across the street was this restaurant that caught my eye. It was called the Sugar Bowl and it looked like it's been there since the 40's. There was a large sign in the window that read , ham off the bone breakfast . Also there was another sign , ham bones for sale $3.00. I had to catch the train , so it's on my list.

G Wiv wrote:

stevez wrote:I'd add to Wiv's recommendations the pre-made, but good Greek Salads at Edens Fast Food. They are a favorite of the Chow Poodle.

Z,

You may be thinking of the newly remodeled East of Edens for Greek Salad, not Edens Fast Food. East of Edens is Cicero/Devon, Edens Fast Food is Cicero just North of Peterson.

Either way, sounds good, I'll be sure to give the Greek salad a try.

Enjoy,
Gary

Nope,

I'm thinking of the one just North of Peterson with the recently repainted (in the last six months or so) red signs at the parking lot entrance. The salads are in a small cooler all the way on the left side of the counter.

The newly remodeled East of Edens (Further North on Cicero) looks to have a good Greek Salad as well...probably even better than the one at Edens Fast Food.

Kim wrote:Speaking of ham, I was at the Des Plaines Metra station yesterday and across the street was this restaurant that caught my eye. It was called the Sugar Bowl and it looked like it's been there since the 40's. There was a large sign in the window that read , ham off the bone breakfast . Also there was another sign , ham bones for sale $3.00. I had to catch the train , so it's on my list.

The Sugar Bowl has been there forever. It's been many years since I was inside, but they used to have (in additon to a food menu) handmade chocolates behind an old fashioned candy counter/soda fountain. I don't know if that stuff is still there, but if it is, it's worth checking out for nostalgia's sake.

The White Palace Grill at Roosevelt and Canal, near my neighborhood, does a pretty good job with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, or a plate of ham and eggs. Their grits are always nice too, regardless of the time of day.

I thought someone told me that the Sugar Bowl closed.I think there was one in Chicago on Clark St. which also closed.