Au Cheval Chicago

Craving a legendary burger experience in the heart of Chicago? While famed for its decadent cheeseburger, Au Cheval offers a few vegetarian options and modifications making it an accessible spot for everyone. This bustling diner provides a unique ambiance, blending classic diner vibes with a modern, upscale twist. Open seven days a week, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM, Au Cheval is the perfect spot for a late-night craving or a hearty brunch. Have questions?

Menu Highlights

Appetizers

• Roasted Bone Marrow: Rich and decadent, served with toasted bread and parsley salad.
• Chopped Chicken Liver: Smooth and flavorful, served with toast points and pickled onions.
• Crispy Potatoes with Mornay Sauce: Golden, crispy potatoes smothered in creamy Mornay cheese sauce.
• General Jane’s Honey Fried Chicken: Sweet and savory fried chicken with a delicious honey glaze.
• Creamy Potato Soup: A comforting and rich soup with chives and sour cream.
• Tempura Fried Vegetables: Lightly battered vegetables with a dipping sauce.
• Fried Pickles: Crispy and tangy fried pickles with a creamy dipping sauce.

Salads

• Kale Salad with Parmesan and Lemon: Fresh kale with Parmesan cheese and a tangy lemon dressing.
• Caesar Salad: Classic Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese.
• Beet Salad with Goat Cheese: Earthy beets paired with creamy goat cheese and a vinaigrette.
• Watercress Salad: Fresh watercress with a light and refreshing dressing.

Vegetarian Main Courses & Modifications

• Au Cheval Vegetarian Burger (Modified): While not on the menu, order the single cheeseburger and remove the beef patty. This leaves you with the delicious bun, cheese, sauce, toppings and fried egg!
• Fried Egg Sandwich:Simple perfection, featuring a perfectly fried egg on toasted bread with cheese.
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich: A classic comfort food with gooey melted cheese on toasted bread.
• Mac and Cheese: Creamy and cheesy macaroni and cheese.

Sandwiches & Burgers (Focus on Veggie Modifications)

• Single Cheeseburger (Modify for Vegetarian): Omit the beef patty to enjoy the cheese, sauce and toppings on a toasted bun.
• Turkey Sandwich: Sliced turkey with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on your choice of bread.
• BLT Sandwich: Bacon, lettuce, and tomato with mayonnaise on toasted bread.
• Fried Bologna Sandwich: Thick-cut fried bologna with cheese and your choice of toppings.

Sides

• French Fries: Crispy and golden French fries.
• Onion Rings: Thick-cut onion rings with a crispy batter.
• Fried Egg: Add a perfectly fried egg to any dish.
• Pickles: A variety of house-made pickles.
• Coleslaw: Creamy and tangy coleslaw.
• Mashed Potatoes: Smooth and creamy mashed potatoes.
• Tater Tots: Crispy and bite-sized tater tots.

Desserts

• Chocolate Cream Pie: Rich and decadent chocolate cream pie.
• Apple Pie: Classic apple pie with a flaky crust.
• Banana Cream Pie: Creamy banana cream pie with a graham cracker crust.
• Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake with your choice of toppings.
• Ice Cream Sundae: Vanilla ice cream with your choice of toppings.
• Milkshake: Classic milkshake in a variety of flavors.
• Chocolate Shake: Rich and creamy chocolate milkshake.
• Vanilla Shake: Classic vanilla milkshake.

Drinks (Non-Alcoholic)

• Coffee: Freshly brewed coffee.
• Tea: A variety of hot and iced teas.
• Soda: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, and more.
• Juice: Orange juice, apple juice, and cranberry juice.
• Milk: Whole milk, skim milk, and chocolate milk.
• Sparkling Water: Refreshing sparkling water.
• Iced Tea: Freshly brewed iced tea.

Drinks (Alcoholic)

• Beer: A selection of local and imported beers.
• Wine: A curated wine list with options for every palate.
• Cocktails: Classic and signature cocktails.
• Old Fashioned: Classic bourbon cocktail with bitters and sugar.
• Manhattan: Classic rye whiskey cocktail with vermouth and bitters.
• Margarita: Classic tequila cocktail with lime juice and orange liqueur.
• Daiquiri: Classic rum cocktail with lime juice and sugar.

Stepping into Au Cheval is like entering a retro-chic diner, complete with red leather booths and a lively atmosphere. The interior is dimly lit, creating an intimate and cozy setting. Service is generally prompt and attentive, though be prepared for potential waits during peak hours. Au Cheval is known for its higher-than-average diner pricing, but the quality and experience justify the cost for many. The vibe is energetic and bustling, making it a great spot for a fun night out with friends or a memorable solo meal. Even with the limited vegetarian options, the experience is worth it.

Au Cheval is best known for its over-the-top, indulgent dishes, especially the cheeseburger (which can be modified!). The atmosphere is perfect for those seeking a lively and memorable dining experience. While vegetarians have limited choices, the modified burger and sides offer some options. If you’re looking for a classic Chicago diner with a touch of modern flair, Au Cheval is a must-try. I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars for the ambiance and overall experience, but vegetarians should be aware of the limited menu.

Restaurant Planning Notes

This guide is designed to help readers compare Au Cheval, in Chicago, vegetarian burger with clearer visit planning, menu context, and practical ordering checks. Restaurant details can change quickly, so the final booking, menu, hours, and price details should always be confirmed through a current official source before visiting.

How to Use This Guide

Use this page as a starting point before you travel, book, or place an order. First, decide whether Au Cheval, fits the occasion: a quick meal, a casual catch-up, a family dinner, a date night, takeaway, or a more planned restaurant visit. Second, compare the likely menu style with what your group actually wants. Third, confirm the live details that can change: opening hours, booking rules, menu availability, prices, service fees, dietary handling, and delivery coverage.

This matters because restaurant pages become outdated quickly. A static page can still help when it explains how to think about the menu, what to verify, and how to avoid common ordering mistakes. Treat this guide as an editorial checklist, then use the restaurant’s official website, booking page, social profile, or current delivery listing for final confirmation.

Practical Menu Notes

Au Cheval, is best approached as a restaurant dining option. Readers should look for mains, shareable plates, drinks, desserts, and visit-specific menu choices. If the current menu is long, avoid choosing only by the first dish name you recognise. A better method is to compare the main categories, then choose one anchor item, one supporting item, and one side or drink that balances the meal.

For first-time visitors, start with the dish category the restaurant is most clearly known for, then add one balancing side. For groups, order across categories instead of choosing several similar dishes. That gives everyone a better sense of the restaurant and usually makes the meal easier to share. If you are ordering takeaway or delivery, choose items that travel well and keep sauces, toppings, or delicate sides separate where possible.

Real-World Visit Checks

• Check current hours: restaurant trading times can change by season, staffing, holidays, and private events.
• Check booking rules: popular venues may need reservations, deposits, seating limits, or cancellation notice.
• Check the latest menu: dishes, prices, lunch specials, tasting menus, and delivery options can change without warning.
• Check the location: restaurants with similar names, branches, or old listings can cause confusion in maps and delivery apps.
• Check value before ordering: compare portion size, sharing style, service fees, and delivery charges rather than looking only at headline menu prices.

Dietary and Allergy Notes

Do not rely only on a third-party guide for allergy, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal, or other dietary guarantees. Even when a menu item sounds suitable, preparation can involve shared fryers, shared utensils, dairy-based sauces, nuts, seafood, eggs, wheat, or other ingredients that are not obvious from a short menu title.

If a dietary requirement matters, ask the restaurant directly before ordering. Useful questions include whether the dish contains the ingredient, whether it is cooked on shared equipment, whether substitutions are possible, and whether staff can record the request clearly. That direct check is more reliable than assuming based on a menu category.

Editorial Note and Author Information

Author: MyReserveTable Editorial Team. This guide is prepared as a practical restaurant planning resource. Readers should confirm live restaurant details such as current menus, prices, hours, booking rules, and dietary handling directly with the restaurant before visiting or ordering.

Verification Notes

• Menus, prices, opening hours, bookings, delivery coverage, and dietary handling can change quickly.
• Before visiting, confirm current details through the restaurant’s official website, booking page, social profile, map listing, or current delivery listing.
• If two public sources disagree, prefer the newest official restaurant source.