Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar

Michael’s began in 1977 as a hot dog stand on Second Street and has been the after-practice stop for Highland Park families ever since, with a menu of Chicago-style hot dogs, char-grilled burgers, gyros, chicken sandwiches and a salad bar, ordered at the counter and eaten fast. The current owners added a food truck that shows up at block parties and school events, a catering operation for bar and bat mitzvahs and other parties, and jars of the house cheese sauce to take home. The restaurant was one of a dozen vendors at the June 2026 Taste of Highland Park.

What to know

• Opened as a hot dog stand in 1977 and still on Second Street.
• Counter-service menu of hot dogs, burgers, gyros and a salad bar.
• A food truck and catering arm handle block parties and bar and bat mitzvahs.
• The house cheese sauce is sold to go.
• A vendor at the Taste of Highland Park, June 19 and 20, 2026.