Au Cheval Chicago reservations open up to 14 days in advance at 9:00 AM. The restaurant releases a limited number of tables through Resy for parties of up to four, while keeping its first-come, first-served walk-in system.
That is a meaningful change for a restaurant long defined by its queue. Resy announced on October 6 that Au Cheval now takes reservations, making this a practical moment to learn the new system rather than rely on old walk-in-only advice.
Last verified: October 24, 2026. The official reservation policy does not specify a time zone for the 9:00 AM release. Chicago local time is the sensible reference, but confirm the live wording before your booking morning.
When Au Cheval reservations are released
Each new date becomes available at 9:00 AM, up to 14 days ahead. This is a rolling daily release, not one monthly batch. Count back two weeks from the date you want, then use the restaurant's official reservation page or its Resy listing.
Reservations are limited to parties of one to four guests. Au Cheval asks diners not to make multiple reservations for one larger group, and the dining room cannot accommodate strollers. High chairs and booster seats are not available.
Online bookings carry a $2.50 per-person reservation fee. The restaurant describes this as a fee used to secure the seats, not as a deposit. It does not publish a restaurant-specific cancellation deadline or refund rule on the public policy page, so read the exact Resy checkout terms before confirming.
The best 9 AM booking strategy
Sign in to Resy before the release, save a payment method if the platform requests one, and search with the exact party size. A table for two and a table for four are separate inventory searches, so changing the guest count after the drop can cost time.
Keep at least two acceptable times in mind. When the new date appears, take a workable table rather than comparing every option. The online allocation is limited, and a visible slot can disappear while another diner completes checkout.
If the release is empty, check again over the following days. Plans change, and returned inventory can reappear. A Resto Mojo reservation monitoring request can watch supported sold-out inventory for a cancellation, but it cannot guarantee that a table will open or remain available.
Do not buy a reservation from a stranger. Au Cheval prohibits selling, trading, or distributing reservations. Its policy says a booking identified as transferred through Appointment Trader or another unauthorized route may be cancelled without notice, and the associated account may lose future booking access.
Walk-ins are still a real option
The new reservation system did not replace the queue. Au Cheval's official Chicago information page says walk-ins remain welcome on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservation fee.
Waits are often shortest right when the restaurant opens and on weekdays between 2:00 and 4:30 PM. That is unusually useful first-party guidance. A late lunch or very early dinner gives you a better fallback than arriving at a peak Saturday hour and hoping the line moves quickly.
If there is a wait, the host adds your party to the list and texts when the restaurant is ready for you to check back in. The restaurant does not promise a specific wait, so stay nearby and treat the text as a call to return, not as a guaranteed seating time far in advance.
This walk-in path also makes Au Cheval different from reservation-only tasting rooms. If your date matters more than the exact hour, combine both routes: try the 9:00 AM Resy release, then keep an off-peak walk-in plan as the backup.
What to order and how much to budget
The double cheeseburger is the order most people are chasing, but the current official menu lists both a single cheeseburger at $17.99 and a double at $19.99. Add a fried egg for $3.49 or thick-cut bacon for $6.99 if you want the maximal version.
The menu is broader than one famous sandwich. Chopped chicken liver with salted butter and toast is $14.99, roasted marrow bones with beef cheek marmalade are $25.99, and General Jane's honey-fried chicken is $24.99. Crispy fries with Mornay sauce, garlic aioli, and a fried egg cost $13.99.
For a lighter counterpoint, the green salad is $14.99 and the kale Caesar is $15.99. The restaurant adds a 3.25% surcharge to checks, which the menu says guests may ask to have removed.
Au Cheval is a compact, dark diner rather than a quiet special-occasion dining room. The appeal is the combination of rich food, a busy bar, and a table that feels earned. It works best for a small party willing to eat outside conventional dinner hours if that is what the booking or walk-in strategy requires.
Hours, location, and practical details
Au Cheval is at 800 W. Randolph St. in the Fulton Market District. It serves from 10:00 AM to 11:15 PM Monday through Saturday and from 10:00 AM to 10:15 PM on Sunday, according to the current official page.
- Booking platform: Resy
- Release: Up to 14 days ahead at 9:00 AM, with no time zone published
- Party size: Up to four guests
- Online fee: $2.50 per person
- Walk-ins: Welcomed first come, first served
- Best published walk-in times: At opening or weekdays from 2:00 to 4:30 PM
- Address: 800 W. Randolph St., Chicago
- Valet parking: Available at the restaurant during published service windows
For more difficult bookings, compare the hardest restaurant reservations in Chicago, browse the restaurant directory, or use the current strategies for Armitage Alehouse and Monteverde.
Au Cheval Chicago reservations FAQ
What time do Au Cheval reservations open?
Au Cheval says each new date becomes available at 9:00 AM, up to 14 days in advance. The public policy does not state a time zone, so check the live page before the date you need enters the window.
Does Au Cheval take reservations now?
Yes. Au Cheval now accepts a limited number of Resy reservations for parties of up to four. Walk-ins are still welcome and remain an important part of the restaurant's seating plan.
Does Au Cheval accept walk-ins?
Yes. Walk-ins are seated first come, first served, and the restaurant says waits are often shortest at opening and on weekdays from 2:00 to 4:30 PM.
Is there an Au Cheval reservation fee?
Yes. Online reservations currently include a $2.50 per-person fee. Walk-in guests do not pay that reservation fee.
Can a group larger than four reserve Au Cheval?
Not through the published online policy. Reservations are limited to four guests, and the restaurant asks diners not to split one group across multiple bookings.
When reservations are gone
Let Resto Mojo keep checking for the table.
Choose the restaurant, date, party size, and time range. Resto Mojo monitors supported booking platforms and can book when a matching opening appears.
