---
title: "Small Cheval"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4c99ca69-dd73-463e-af4c-5d68dd97c614
source: "Restaurant Business"
original_url: https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/future-50-2026/small-cheval
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
published: 2026-10-29T10:30:53.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T18:03:29.976Z
image: https://cdn.informaconnect.com/platform/files/public/Small_Cheval_1793269859.webp?VersionId=TL213GTKVQTP5d9Q4HT5HZX7i2mfDcZs
---

# Small Cheval

**TL;DR:** Small Cheval is the fast-casual offshoot of Au Cheval, a casual-dining restaurant by Chicago hospitality company Hogsalt. It has expanded throughout Chicagoland, offering a smaller version of Au Cheval's legendary cheeseburger in a trimmed-down setting.

*originally published in Restaurant Business on 2026-10-29. [Read the original](https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/future-50-2026/small-cheval).*

## Story

This concept is the fast-casual offshoot of Au Cheval, a casual-dining restaurant by Chicago hospitality company Hogsalt, founded by Brendan Sodikoff, whose cheeseburger has developed legendary status. So have the long wait times. Small Cheval leverages that burger and offers a smaller, faster-cooking version made with 3-ounce patties in a trimmed-down setting and a simpler menu that also includes chicken tenders, fries, milkshakes, beer, wine, and a few cocktails.

It has expanded throughout Chicagoland and remains entirely in that market, where it's praised for its fast service, draft beers, and, at some locations, outdoor patios.

## Entities

- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR (sector)
- fast casual (topic)
- Restaurant Business (publication)
- restaurant concept (topic)
- Chicagoland (location)
- menu simplification (topic)
- Small Cheval (company)
- Au Cheval (company)
- Hogsalt (company)
- Brendan Sodikoff (person)

---
Originally reported by Restaurant Business (https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/future-50-2026/small-cheval). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4c99ca69-dd73-463e-af4c-5d68dd97c614).