It's official - Sonic Drive-In coming to Chicago

The first Sonic will be in Aurora at Savannah Crossings, a new retail development on Kirk and Butterfield roads. No time frame given.

Link here

Fujisan wrote:The first Sonic will be in Aurora at Savannah Crossings, a new retail development on Kirk and Butterfield roads. No time frame given.

Link here

Ivenever had Sonic ..whats special about them in comparison to all the other burger chains in the area?

This warms the cockles of my cold little heart.

Cherry Limeaid here I come!

This is great news!

I live 1/2 mile from this development, so I may be visiting it a little too often....

Got addicted to this place and Chick-Fil-A on my excursions to and thru St. Louis. Can't speak too much about the food, but I love my Route 44 sized Cherry Limeade and Ocean Water.

Head's Red BBQ: They really market this place like an old school drive in. Basically take Superdawg's format and remove 3/4 of the menu. They don't have much of a selection when it comes to food. Honestly the burgers and dogs I tried weren't much to speak of, but their drinks are usually what they're renowned for. I really suspect their limeades are just Sprite with a couple lime pieces thrown in, but darn if it isn't good... especially the Ocean Water.

i checked out their menu and the food didn't catch my eye (though i will try it) what did catch my eye was the drink selection... yowza!!!

Don't forget tater tots.

jeffcoloma- As someone who went to Mizzou and frequented Sonic for 4 years, I must respectfully disagree with your description of Sonic's menu.

It is true it is an old school drive-in, but their menu is enormous for a fast food place, especially in comparison to Superdawg's menu (I've only been to Superdawg once, but I do recall my husband and I remarking that choices were rather limited). Sonic has got it all, mind you I'm simply saying they've GOT it, I'm not saying that everything on the menu is delicious.

My faves are burgers, tots, corndogs and the delectable strawberry (or cherry) limeade slushies! However, I don't love them so much that I would drive to Aurora for one. There are plenty of better burgers and tots much closer to my house! I'll settle for my once a year or so road trip stop at Sonic until they venture into the Chicago city limits.

http://www.sonicdrivein.com/menu/index.jsp

I respectfully withdraw my remark about the menu Cloe. I looked at their menu online and there are definetly more choices than I thought. I just remember my first time going to one and I was staring at the drive up board for a good five minutes trying to decide what to get. Must have not been that hungry or excited about what was up there. I remember thinking to myself they sure don't have much of a selection, at least for the food. Whereas whenever I go to Superdawg, I'm a bit more enthused about the food options. Pickeled tomatoes YAY!!!!!!

Their commercials are insanely annoying. I have no opinion of the food.

jesteinf wrote:Their commercials are insanely annoying. I have no opinion of the food.

The commercials are better than the food.

jeffcoloma wrote:Got addicted to this place and Chick-Fil-A on my excursions to and thru St. Louis. Can't speak too much about the food, but I love my Route 44 sized Cherry Limeade and Ocean Water.

I travel to North Carolina regularly and like Chick-Fil-A. I travel to St. louis very regularly and travel the area a lot. Never saw one there. Checked the web site. There are 2 in the St. Louis area. I can only assume that your 'thru' is to the South. Chick-Fil-A is starting to attack the North but it just aint here.

Seems like poor Sonic is in danger of getting overhyped(it ain't destination dining). As opined upthread, the cherry limeades are yummy. I also like them because they include a burger compiled pretty near the way I like them as a regular part of their menu: The Sonic Burger(it used to be listed as the number two at some Texas Sonics)...mustard no mayo.

First, I am a sucker for the carhop style restaurant. I was a carhop for five years and you can make some serious $$$s.

Sonic was an occasional stop while I was at Mizzou, at least on nights when I couldn't make it to Furr's. The limeade was quite good.

In recent visits, the drinks have been outstanding as usual. The food really depends on the location. Sometimes the food is really good and other times, it is forgettable.

The onion rings are also pretty good.

I am not driving out of the way to get to a Sonic.

I hate for my first post to be kinda negative, but I do have to mention that Sonic has been to the Chicago market before, and left.

I know of three stores that closed a while ago. One was at Addison and Broadway, in the city, another on Rand Road in Palatine and the third was in Auora on Rt.59 about four miles south of the tollway.

jimmya wrote:I hate for my first post to be kinda negative, but I do have to mention that Sonic has been to the Chicago market before, and left.

I know of three stores that closed a while ago. One was at Addison and Broadway, in the city, another on Rand Road in Palatine and the third was in Auora on Rt.59 about four miles south of the tollway.

The place at Addison & Broadway was a Checkers/Rally's, I believe. In any case, I'm 100% certain it wasn't a Sonic. I know for certain that Sonic hasn't been in the Chicago area since at least 1994 when it hit my radar, and I don't believe it was anytime before that.

Dmnkly wrote:The place at Addison & Broadway was a Checkers/Rally's. I know for certain that Sonic hasn't been in the Chicago area since at least 1994 when it hit my radar, and I don't believe it was anytime before that.

And there are people that pine for Checkers. Blech!!! Although I did like their cinnamon apple bites, whatever they were called. I worked right across the street, but I won't say where

midas wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:The place at Addison & Broadway was a Checkers/Rally's. I know for certain that Sonic hasn't been in the Chicago area since at least 1994 when it hit my radar, and I don't believe it was anytime before that.

And there are people that pine for Checkers. Blech!!! Although I did like their cinnamon apple bites, whatever they were called. I worked right across the street, but I won't say where

Don't want to blow your cover?

Having eaten at both, I can assure you that Sonic is far superior to Checkers. It was indeed a Checkers at the site now occupied by Harris Bank on Broadway at Addison.

Sonic serves a typical southern style thing burger with good fresh toppings. Better than McDonalds, BK or Wendy's? Hell, yes. Giving In N Out an run for their money? Not in my lifetime.

YourPalWill wrote:Better than McDonalds, BK or Wendy's? Hell, yes. Giving In N Out an run for their money? Not in my lifetime.

Where does Culvers fit into that equation?

Dmnkly wrote:

jimmya wrote:I hate for my first post to be kinda negative, but I do have to mention that Sonic has been to the Chicago market before, and left.

I know of three stores that closed a while ago. One was at Addison and Broadway, in the city, another on Rand Road in Palatine and the third was in Auora on Rt.59 about four miles south of the tollway.

The place at Addison & Broadway was a Checkers/Rally's, I believe. In any case, I'm 100% certain it wasn't a Sonic. I know for certain that Sonic hasn't been in the Chicago area since at least 1994 when it hit my radar, and I don't believe it was anytime before that.

The location on Rand in Palatine was Checkers as well.

*And I would not really consider Aurora to be part of Chicago. When I was in college, my sociology professor classified it as an exurb b/c it's so far from the rest of urban Chicago.

midas wrote:And there are people that pine for Checkers. Blech!!! Although I did like their cinnamon apple bites, whatever they were called. I worked right across the street, but I won't say where

23rd district?

I like the drinks at Sonic, but isnt the thread a little misleading, its coming to Chicagoland. I do like Sonic but Ill have to be in Aurora to go there...the food is good but not worth driving 45 minutes for, but man that drink selection is why I always went when I lived in Tampa.

Lived within 1 mile of a Sonic for 10 years. I occaionally enjoyed the Tot's, Foot Long Coneys, and the Cherry Limeade more often. With no inside seating, a few pinic tables outside. Wonder how carhops will work in our climate? Then again Dog n Suds and A&W did well in Hillside when growing up. Ah! for an A&W Teen Burger.

Marshall K wrote:Lived within 1 mile of a Sonic for 10 years. I occaionally enjoyed the Tot's, Foot Long Coneys, and the Cherry Limeade more often. With no inside seating, a few pinic tables outside. Wonder how carhops will work in our climate? Then again Dog n Suds and A&W did well in Hillside when growing up. Ah! for an A&W Teen Burger.

Actually, the ONLY Sonic that I have seen without carhops is located in Port Allen, LA where there were seats inside like most other fast food.

midas wrote:

YourPalWill wrote:Better than McDonalds, BK or Wendy's? Hell, yes. Giving In N Out an run for their money? Not in my lifetime.

Where does Culvers fit into that equation?

Somewhere between In N Out and Sonic.

Culvers is a really good comparison to Sonic. I love Culvers' burgers because they're thin, griddled on high heat and get a bit of a crust to them. That's where Sonic misses. They have thin burgers, great fresh toppings. But, their burgers just don't have that crispy exterior that makes a Culver's burger so irresistible.

YourPalWill wrote:Having eaten at both, I can assure you that Sonic is far superior to Checkers. It was indeed a Checkers at the site now occupied by Harris Bank on Broadway at Addison.

Sonic serves a typical southern style thing burger with good fresh toppings. Better than McDonalds, BK or Wendy's? Hell, yes. Giving In N Out an run for their money? Not in my lifetime.

Exactly. Sonic has it's good points but it's no In n Out; the only chain burger joint where I go with the flow re: burger accoutrement. I like it animal-style.
Tho' the fries, as is traditional, are horrendous(unless you gobble them down immediately...then they're merely filler).

jimmya wrote:I know of three stores that closed a while ago. One was at Addison and Broadway, in the city, another on Rand Road in Palatine and the third was in Auora on Rt.59 about four miles south of the tollway.

The place on Rte. 59 in Aurora was a Checkers, not a Sonic. I live about 3 miles from where this Sonic will be built, I'll probably wait awhile to see if I try it. The tater tots sound tempting.

YourPalWill wrote:Giving In N Out an run for their money? Not in my lifetime.

we shall see! (or at least i may!)

Sonic's burgers are fine (Culvers are better to me), their fries are fine, and their malts and fruity drinks are all fine.

But for the love of god they serve CHILI CHEESE TATERTOTS! That is the reason to go to Sonic right there.

My bad..... and bad memory.