Au Cheval is the dimly lit, egg-obsessed diner at 800 W Randolph St on the West Loop’s Restaurant Row, and since 2012 it has drawn long lines for the burger that Bon Appétit once crowned the best in America.
Restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff (Hogsalt Hospitality) built a room of dark wood, leather booths, and a long bar facing the open kitchen, where cooks work the flat-top in full view. The menu pairs humble diner staples with luxury ingredients, from house-made bologna sandwiches to foie gras folded into scrambled eggs. Most tables order the cheeseburger, which comes with two thin, griddled patties even in its “single” form. Add thick-cut peppered bacon and a fried egg for the full experience. Strong supporting dishes include roasted marrow bones, chopped chicken liver on toast, honey-fried chicken, and fries smothered in mornay sauce. The bar mixes classics such as the Hemingway Daiquiri and a well-regarded Bloody Mary (source: [Au Cheval](https://www.auchevaldiner.com/chicago/menus)).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Au Cheval has long seated guests mainly as walk-ins, and evening and weekend waits can stretch past an hour. Arrive near opening or mid-afternoon on a weekday, then join the waitlist and explore Randolph Street while you wait. Check the restaurant’s site or OpenTable for current hours and booking options before you go. The CTA Green and Pink Line stop at Morgan is a short walk away, and Fulton Market’s galleries and cocktail bars sit just north.
