Lakeview's Belmont strip just landed a fizzy new temptress. Johnny's Dirty Soda and Snacks, which opened in January, is pouring the souped-up soda mashups Chicagoans keep spotting on TikTok. The family-run counter lines up more than a dozen customizable "dirty soda" mixes alongside shelves of international snacks, ice cream and small packaged treats. Prices stay relatively modest by snack-bar standards, with most mixes in the $4.50 to $5.50 range, and early tasters say some combos lean very, very sweet.
Johnny's lists its address at 1722 W. Belmont and keeps a rotating menu on its website. The shop's online ordering page on Toast shows dozens of preset combos plus build-your-own options, with many drinks starting at $4.50 and energy-drink bases priced around $5.50. The mix-and-snack setup gives the small Belmont storefront a hybrid vibe, part corner store, part old-school soda fountain.
What is a dirty soda?
Dirty sodas are basically fountain drinks "dirtied" with flavored syrups, creams or fruit purées to create float-like, nonalcoholic mashups. The format traces back to Utah drive-thru soda shops, where Swig and similar spots popularized the idea in the 2010s, and the craze went national after social media amplified the drinks, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. That origin story helps explain why a Chicago neighborhood shop is now leaning into the trend.
Menu highlights and the taste test
In a review for Axios Chicago, Monica Eng sampled "My Liege" - a mix of Dr Pepper, black cherry syrup, vanilla and cold cream foam - and likened it to a cherry root-beer float while noting just how sweet it drinks. The menu on Toast confirms that Johnny's builds drinks on cola, sugar-free and colorful soft-drink bases, plus Red Bull mixes that push some items to about $5.50. For anyone wary of a full-on sugar blast, the lineup also includes sugar-free bases and snack pairings that can help soften the hit.
Where to find one in the area
Johnny's Dirty Soda lists its hours and location at 1722 W. Belmont, and it is currently the most visible dirty-soda counter in Lakeview. Suburban chain Minnie Bird already touts build-your-own dirty sodas and rotating "dirty coffee" specials on its menu, showing how far the format has spread locally. Between standalone soda shops and fast-casual concepts that quietly add the mixes, Chicagoans can expect more places to pop up as the trend keeps bubbling.
Whether you are chasing a sugar-laced novelty or a creamy float alternative, Johnny's gives Lakeview a fresh spot to try the viral beverage. Check menus online for current hours and rotating flavors before you head over.
