South Side Drive-Thrus

Anyone know of any that aren't the national fast food chains? I'd be especially interested in anything in the area bordered by Garfield/55th (S), Madison (N), Stony Island (E), and Cicero (W), which I know is massive. I'd really take anything further south as well.

The ideal spot I'm seeking would be a Superdawg-type stand with a unique brand and Chicago history, but anyplace with good solid food in the Italian Beef / Dogs / Burgers / Breaded Steak / Steak and Lemonade / Gyros / Barbecue / Tamales / Tacos categories with window service would do the trick. There are many in this mold on the Near West Side and Western Suburbs to hit in a pinch (I'll even include Buona Beef and Portillo's, which are more commercial but still just have specific regional penetrations), but I just don't have a handle on what's decent south. Are any of the Big Baby spots drive-thru?

South side drive thru options are diminishing. The Tropic Island with the drive thru jerk window has closed* (I never saw the window in action) and the place on E 106th advertising drive thru birria is no longer. But you can still get a dark-half-hot-n-mild without leaving your car. Chicken Shack #9 at 51st & Damen is the only Harold's with a drive thru window that I'm aware of.

* The Tropic Island at 419 E 79th remains open (but no drive thru). There's another in Calumet City but I didn't find their jerk chicken to be nearly as good.

Invaluable, Rene - thanks!

Santander wrote:Anyone know of any that aren't the national fast food chains? I'd be especially interested in anything in the area bordered by Garfield/55th (S), Madison (N), Stony Island (E), and Cicero (W), which I know is massive. I'd really take anything further south as well.

The ideal spot I'm seeking would be a Superdawg-type stand with a unique brand and Chicago history, but anyplace with good solid food in the Italian Beef / Dogs / Burgers / Breaded Steak / Steak and Lemonade / Gyros / Barbecue / Tamales / Tacos categories with window service would do the trick. There are many in this mold on the Near West Side and Western Suburbs to hit in a pinch (I'll even include Buona Beef and Portillo's, which are more commercial but still just have specific regional penetrations), but I just don't have a handle on what's decent south. Are any of the Big Baby spots drive-thru?

Since you'd be willing to go further south, you should definitely hit up the following:

• Nicky's located at 5801 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60629 - I believe that they have a drive-thru (I'm more than 50% sure but not positive) and definitely good in most [if not all] of the categories you've listed. They also have a really good Big Baby.
• Rosie's located at 10235 S Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, (708) 636-7717. Definitely a drive-thru. They boast the best gyro in Chicago, and it's pretty damn good. Again, pretty solid in most of the aforementioned categories.

Nicky's located at 5801 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60629

I'd be surprised if this was the case.

There could have been some renovations of course, but this newer location was a former Winchell's donut shop that did not have a drive thru.

To get drivers side drive thru, the land just South of Nicky's would be needed, which was owned by Meyer Super Foods (not sure the current name) or have access from the alley coming West.

This would put drive through exit right in the path of one of the two entrances.

I think Don's Hot Dogs (if still in business) had a drive through just north of SW Highway on Kedzie. Its been a decade since I was in that area, but grew up 2 blocks from Nicky's, and even recall the original place, which is now McDonalds parking lot space.

Willkat98 wrote:

Nicky's located at 5801 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60629

I'd be surprised if this was the case.

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if you're right. I initially wasn't going to list it but I google'd "Nicky's Kedzie" to get the address, and some webpage listed it as "Nicky's drive-in".

the sleeve wrote:

Willkat98 wrote:

Nicky's located at 5801 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60629

I'd be surprised if this was the case.

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if you're right. I initially wasn't going to list it but I google'd "Nicky's Kedzie" to get the address, and some webpage listed it as "Nicky's drive-in".

There's also Duke's Italian Beef Drive-In (8115 S. Harlem), but I don't think it still functions as an actual drive-in or as a drive-through, either, although it's been years since I've been there. Anyone confirm/deny?

I'm 86.42% sure that Pop's in Homewood has a drive thru window. Maybe one of the far South Siders can confirm.

Pop's Italian Beef
18328 Govenors Highway
Homewood, Illinois
708-647-9999

Santander wrote:I'd really take anything further south as well.

stevez wrote:Pop's Italian Beef
18328 Govenors Highway
Homewood, Illinois
708-647-9999

Satander,
First, i pushed you to 103rd; now we're taking you to 183rd. Aren't you glad you said you go further south? I'll start checking Kankakee.

Taqueria Los Comales has a drive-thru that I visit frequently when time is short and I get a craving for their "Al Pastor" tacos.

Neighborhood: Little Village
3141 W 26th St
(between Kedzie Ave & Troy St)
Chicago, IL 60623

(773) 523-1689
http://www.loscomales.com

the sleeve wrote:

Santander wrote:I'd really take anything further south as well.

stevez wrote:Pop's Italian Beef
18328 Govenors Highway
Homewood, Illinois
708-647-9999

Satander,
First, i pushed you to 103rd; now we're taking you to 183rd. Aren't you glad you said you go further south? I'll start checking Kankakee.

Love it, sleevester. Thanks to all!

Pop's in Homewood does NOT have a drive-thru .

Suzy

Be careful, there's quite a bit of misleading information above. Nicky's at 58th & Kedzie has no drive-thru service. Don's Hot Dogs at 78th & Kedzie has no drive-thru service. Duke's at 81st & Harlem has no drive-thru service. Pop's in Homewood has no drive-thru service.

sdritz wrote:Pop's in Homewood does NOT have a drive-thru .

Suzy

Thanks for checking. As I posted above, I wasn't completely sure, but the place certainly has the look of somewhere that should have a drive through and I thought I might have seen one.

K. Gus Assimakopoulos walked into Nicky's Drive-Thru in Morgan Park for the final time on Tuesday. The restaurant that boasted "The Best Gyro Anywhere" closed over the weekend. Assimakopoulos arrived at 11500 S. Western Ave. to strip down the walls and clean up whatever was left in the kitchen.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150701 ... oor-health

Snappers Fish & Chicken Will Replace Nicky's Drive-Thru in Morgan Park

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150818 ... organ-park