Peppers

Yeah, it's a dingy place. Nothing's been touched or cleaned since the 70s. The old Korean couple working the joint are curt and to the point.

But for $4.75 (the price including tax), you can get a damn fine open-flame-grilled double cheeseburger and a bag of OMFG fries. Oh sure, they likely aren't fresh cut Idaho potatoes Mr. Fancypants, but they're so perfectly crispy and salty that you'll forget why that kind of stuff even matters.

I just wish I had the balls to ask for something other than a burger. Their two-person assembly line is a thing of beauty that I personally do not dare disturb.

Best damn double cheeseburger you will find ANYWHERE!! And the french fries are out of this world. During lunch the line is out the door *always* - rain, shine, sleet or blizzard - this place draws crowds.
The two owners know what they are doing and are super nice - though not very talkative (her "Next!" me, "Double cheeseburger" her "everytin?" me "everything but hot peppers" her "$4.25" me "kom sah hom ne da!") and it's just like greased lightning. Besides the line, once you place your order you are in and out and on your way to enjoying the best double cheeseburger this planet has ever seen. Enjoy, you can thank me later!

Yet another Loop fixture planted at Van Buren/Wells next to Cal's. It is family-owned by a short middle aged Korean couple, but I hope that it never ever closes! Pepper's has a simple, very cheap menu and serves awesome "Hamborgs" and "Cheeseborgs" as Mrs. Pepper calls them. And the thin cut fries are always crispy and yummy. You can also get hot dogs and Italian Beef there. Got the beef once; it was a little dry. But, it's all about the almighty burger at Pepper's!

Signs of a good quality "hole-in-the-wall" establishment which Peppers displays:

1) The sign is very out of date
2) Hasn't been remodled in eons (as the food speaks for itself)
3) No frills decor, i.e., no B.S. stuffed alligator heads wearing cowboy hats or trying-to-be-funny streetsigns hanging on the wall.

The counter is 4+ feet high, so when you walk in you just see the two little heads busily but with grace moving around behind the counter.
Mr. Pepper mans the grill while Mrs. takes orders, and she NEVER fucks up your order! She writes nothing down, never making eye contact with you and repeats your order back and remembers.

Support this establishment while it's there, before a condo high-rise is built on the land like there is 1/2 block west at Van Buren/Franklin.

I hope that Daughter Pepper takes over the business when Mom & Pop retire!

Just... no.

I am a very fair reviewer, beyond fair some might argue. Others might argue that I'm the best reviewer on Yelp and still others argue that Peppers serves the best burger around and to them I say.... no.

I went here on a self dare. I know greasepits and I love greasepits... greasepits are something I do. Places like Flukeys (on the high end, RIP) and Bunny Hutch (on the low) have a place in my cholesterol-packed heart So on my lunchbreak while Wow Bao, Luke's and Burrito Buggy all called my name, I made a beeline for Peppers and their double cheeseburger.

Big mistake. Never making it again. I've eaten better scrapple than their burger. It was cooked over a flame but tasted like it was mixed with charcoal. Their fries were crispy but totally devoid of flavor, even salt. It was $4.25 total and a total waste of my time and dime. The grand irony is I accompanied a co-worker to Wow Bao later that afternoon, was tempted to grab a bao just cause I was there and on the way back we passed Billy Goat Tavern advertising a Friday special triple cheeseburger for only $3.25.

I feel like a fool, a stupid, hopeless fool. My lunch was a complete wash and it's all my fault. I'd give them half a star less if I could, the only half star remaining because they put sport peppers on their burgers and that's worth -something- amongst so much worthlessness.

Avoid Peppers, go elsewhere.

These are some of the quickest, greasiest, and best burgers I've had in the city. Unfortunately they have since closed. The owner of a nearby restaurant gave us the scoop: I guess the couple that were the owners/operators had been there for some 25 years and finally retired. Congrats to them, but I am really going to miss this place.

Here's hoping someone buys the place and carries on the legacy.

Once, when returning from southeast Asia, I had the lovely experience of getting through salmonella.

You might imagine what I was thinking when I saw the cook at Peppers:
1) gloves on, placing raw beef patties onto the grill
2) putting down raw patties onto designated raw meat counter
3) without removing gloves, grabbing the spatula to move the burgers.

I should have known better to say something when I saw this. Look, tts a tasty, greasy burger, and though I didn't contract salmonella from it, I did feel a bit weird...down there...and not in the puberty sort of way.

Roll the dice if you want to, chances are you'll be fine, but I'll get my burgers elsewhere next time, thanks.

Pepper's is the greatest thing to happen to Loop area dining. I used to think the term "hole in the wall" was a figure of speech until I walked into Pepper's. They literally have a hole in the wall into Cal's Bar next door so that bar patrons can order food. You can't make this stuff up.

The only two employees are a husband and wife, during summers their kids can sometimes be found behind the counter helping out. The husband's arms must be entirely devoid of any nerve endings as he is constantly surrounded by 3 foot high flames shooting off their miniature grill. Considering all the grease, flames and smoke coming off that gril, I'm surprised the place hasn't burnt down yet. The wife will put your order together and charge you. She'll probably ask you a few times what you want.

Everyone from traders to construction workers visit this hotspot and during the summers expect the line to snake out the door and down Van Buren. Double cheeseburger w/fries is the way to go. They also offer hot dogs, beef sandwiches and ribeye steak sandwiches.

This is the type of place you will only find in Chicago.

They literally have a hole-in-the-wall going to the bar next door. I love it!!

less than $5 for a double cheeseburger with everything and fries?? AMAZING. Burger and fries are sooooo good too.

Alot of co-workers are scared of this place because they say its 'dirty' yeah its old... but really you can SEE them make everything in front of you....so I dont see whats to worry about. I love it.

I treated Pepper's like the old adage, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". I thought the place looked like it was shut down in the 80s but the owners never gave in and the city just stopped pushing. My co-workers continued to tell me they have amazing cheeseburgers, so finally I was convinced to go.

At first, you may be nervous walking in. The tile floor has been worn down in a pattern that starts at the door, goes up to the counter, and returns back out the door. You can actually see the original tile that was built over. The menu isn't big, I think there were about six options, but the cheeseburger is what I had to order. And boy am I glad I did.

At a price under $5. Yes, I actually received change back. I got a cheeseburger and fries. The fries were ok, not amazing but at least not soggy. The cheeseburger though, char broiled, great cheddar that melted, and a plain white bun. Top that with kethcup, mustard, and peppers and you've got a great meal you can't beat in the loop.

So don't let the outside scare you, come here one day when you just need an escape from your 9-5 and you won't be disappointed.

Peppers may be a dingy, greasy, tiny hole-in-the-wall, but they make a good burger. A damn good burger, in fact.

Burgers are cooked over an open flame (!!) and topped with mustard, ketchup, pickles, onions, and hot peppers. Only $4.75 for a double cheese, which is a steal for this part of town.

Sometimes, you just have to slum it, and if you have to slum it, you may as well have some damn tasty food while you're at it.