Fizz Factor

By Lisa Arnett
February 2026 View more Discover

Three spots to embrace the dirty soda trend

So, what are dirty sodas?

Thanks to reality TV shows such as The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the dirty soda shops of Utah are very much in the pop-culture spotlight. These fizzy, nonalcoholic beverages start with a carbonated base that’s dressed up with flavored syrups, juices, and cream.

Minnie Bird

1211 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville
1715 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook

Though chicken sandwiches and tenders are the starring act at this eatery, the dirty sodas play a memorable supporting role. “We have about 70 different options, so there are a lot of different ways you can have these sodas,” says David Sloan, a partner in Venture Kitchen, the local restaurant group that operates Minnie Bird as well as Taqueria Invicto and Blackwood BBQ. “One of the ones I personally love I named after myself, the Big Dave. It’s Coke, lime, coconut syrup, and coconut cream. And then there’s the Hawaiian Dream, which is Sprite, Hawaiian Island fruit flavoring, and coconut cream. You don’t think cream is going to work, but it just works so well in soda.” Prices start at $2.99, and you also can choose from Skinnies (low sugar), Refreshers (fresh fruit added), Energizers (spiked with Celsius energy drink), and Candy Dreamers (garnished with Nerds, Twizzlers, gummy bears, and other sweet treats).

Good to know: Minnie Bird’s first location opened in 2024 in Schaumburg, and the Oak Brook location opened last fall. A third location debuts in February in the former Naansense space in Naperville. “One of our partners is Sean Thomas, and he is the grandson of Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s. Minnie is Dave Thomas’s grandmother who helped push them into the restaurant business,” Sloan says.

Dirty 630 Suburban Soda Bar

132 W. Liberty Drive, Wheaton

This casual soda bar is located inside The Babe Bodega, a beauty boutique in Wheaton. Owner Joanna Jacobs-Nolan came up with the idea while pregnant and unable to partake in the boozy beverages served at the in-store bar. “I thought, there is really no one offering dirty sodas here in downtown Wheaton, and I was looking to bring that fun vibe where you can have a custom craft beverage that is alcohol free,” she says. Two of the many options include Pink Soda Club (sparking water with coconut cream and sugar-free peach, raspberry, vanilla, and coconut syrups) and Next Level Basic (Diet Coke with coconut cream, lime juice, and sugar-free coconut syrup). As for the name of the shop? IYKYK. “As kids we referred to the west suburbs as ‘the dirty six-thirty,’ so I was really excited to bring back a little bit of nostalgia for millennials who get it,” Jacobs-Nolan says.

Good to know: Size options include nine-ounce ($7) and 16-ounce ($8) disposable cups or a reusable 24-ounce tumbler for $10, which can be brought back for $5 refills.

7 Brew Coffee

1203 Iroquois Ave., Naperville

Though coffee is in the name of this drive-through stand, it does plenty of business in sodas—or Fizzes, as they call them here. “We stay busy throughout the evening, and I think the Fizz offers a really great caffeine-free option for a lot of people,” says Sarah Conroy, senior manager of new stand openings for Who Brew LLC, the local franchisee for 7 Brew in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana. Fizzes start with a plain carbonated water base that can be customized with syrups (regular or sugar free), cream, cold foam, or whipped cream. Some popular picks include the Pink Mermaid with strawberry, watermelon, and coconut, and the Pixie Stick with almond, orange, and pomegranate.

Conroy grew up in Naperville, graduated from Naperville Central High School, and loves returning to work at the Iroquois Avenue location of 7 Brew when she’s not on the road opening other new locations. She says Naperville customers are known for posting their favorite flavors on TikTok, and keep the staff guessing by ordering some head-scratching combinations. “Every now and again we will say, ‘I just wanted to double-check with you and make sure we didn’t accidentally hit the wrong button on the iPad as we were walking away…but did you really want caramel, kiwi, and lime?’ ” she says.

Good to know: Who Brew is planning to open a Bolingbrook location of 7 Brew at 271 S. Bolingbrook Drive.

Photos: Neil Burger (Minnie Bird); Molly Hebda Photography (Dirty 630); 7 Brew