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The Fat Shallot - Sterling Food Hall
$ · American

125 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60603
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ZipPicks Awards

Best French Fries in Loop

Vibe Check this spot

Food Quality 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Consistency 5
Cultural Relevance 5

0 / 5 selected

Master Critic Review

The Fat Shallot - Sterling Food Hall 7.8
Loop
Vibes: Food Hall Frenzy Quick Bites Champions Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A Sterling Food Hall counter that’s quietly one of the most reliable fry stops downtown when you want truffle-forward flavor and fast turnaround. Treat it as a tight order—fries plus one sandwich—so the fries stay hot instead of steaming while you hunt for seating.
Must-Try Dishes: Truffle Fries, Truffle BLT, Sandwich + Fries Combo
Scores:
Value: 7.8 Service: 8 Consistency: 7.7 Food Quality: 8.1 Atmosphere: 6.4 Cultural Relevance: 6.8
What makes it special: Truffle-leaning fries that hit fast in a true grab-and-go format.
Who should go: Downtown workers who want fries without a sit-down.
When to visit: Before noon or mid-afternoon to avoid the rush lines.
What to order: Truffle fries; Truffle BLT; sandwich + fries combo.
Insider tip: Eat fries immediately—food hall seating delays are the texture killer.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: No dedicated parking—use nearby Loop garages (paid) or metered street parking when available. Expect street spots to be scarce at lunch; garage parking is the most reliable option.
Dress code: Casual food-hall attire—workwear, jeans, sneakers all fine.
Noise level: Moderate-to-loud—busy food hall energy; you can talk, but it’s not a quiet hang.
Weekend wait: 10-25 min typical, but seating can be the bottleneck inside the hall.
Weekday lunch: 5-15 min typical; lines spike hard from ~12:00–1:00pm.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes—fries are the safest move, plus a few veg-leaning options depending on the daily board. If you’re strict vegetarian, confirm no meat-based add-ons on sauces/toppings.
Vegan options: Limited—fries can work if you skip aioli/cheese-style toppings, but confirm fryer cross-contact and sauce ingredients before ordering.
Gluten-free options: Limited—fries may be GF by ingredient, but cross-contact is likely in a food hall kitchen. If you’re sensitive, ask directly about shared fryers and prep surfaces.
Best For
Better for: Fast, reliable truffle-forward fries in a true grab-and-go format—great when you want flavor and speed without paying sit-down prices.
Consider Alternatives If: Skip it if you want a calm dining room, guaranteed seating, or crisp fries you can linger over—food hall delays can soften them fast, and the vibe is more functional than cozy.