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Valois

Iconic/NotableHyde Park · American Community-sourced, unverified
📍 1518 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Valois has run as a cafeteria since 1921, when French-Canadian founder William Valois put up the motto that still hangs outside: "See Your Food" — you go down the line and watch your tray get built rather than order off a menu.

Tourist Friendly
Dish Gem$$
The classic cafeteria-style breakfast here has outlasted trends for decades, unpretentious and exactly what it's supposed to be.
📈 Scores in the top 100% of Dish Gems on ChicagoSpecials.com

It became one of Barack Obama's go-to Hyde Park spots before the White House, and he came back to host free (then $5) steak-and-eggs celebrations here after his 2008 and 2012 election wins; photos of him, including one he personally signed, still hang on the wall.

It's cash-friendly, no-frills, and exactly the kind of place regulars mean when they say a neighborhood hasn't changed.

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Specials at Valois

(2)

Hours

Mon-Sun6AM-3PM
📅 Reservations not available 🥡 Takeout unconfirmed 📞 (773) 667-0647

Amenities & accessibility

🚶Walk-in only
Takeout: unverified
Wheelchair access: unverified

Location

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