Big Chicks is a fun gay bar for someone that doesn't want to go all the way to Boystown. The drinks are reasonably priced, and there are tables where you can sit and enjoy some good food. I really liked their red velvet cake. The bartender went really out of his way to make me some "blue balls" and it was delicious. I've had a fun time every time I've come here. There are more gay guys than lesbians here, despite the name. Most of the guys are pretty nice and accepting of everyone though. read more

Happy New Year! We decided to visit this place after the big ball dropped from Time Square, as it was right across the street from the apartment I was staying at. I thought, why not! It's New Years and I should be spending it at a fun place! The place was packed! It kind of got uncomfortable because everyone was in your personal space, but I'm thinking it was because of New Years. The drinks were reasonable. Long bar to hang out at and get a bartenders attention. I had to walk to the bathroom which was a trek through the crowd and to the back of the joint. The dance floor was also in another room, the same room they use at Tweet for brunch. The concept of shared space is cool, but this bar wasn't really my taste that night. I do think, however, this is a potentially a great chill bar when you finish work and want to grab a pint and meet cool people. read more

Can't beat their happy hour specials but the cash only policy is a huge inconvenience. I stopped in on a Monday evening with a bunch of coworkers. We sat comfortably immediately upon entering as it wasn't very crowded. We were surprised to find out that we had to approach the bar to order. No biggie but the cash only thing was a drag. They had $2 pitchers & $1 burgers/fries. They also had $40 martinis. The martinis weren't that great so I only had one but the food was fabulous. For $1, the portion size was extremely generous. It all taste good too! I'd probably return for the food vs the drinks but I'm willing to give em a second chance on the latter. The vibe was cool too and very straight friendly... Again, the cash only policy would give me pause though. I'd be more inclined to choice another destination based on that fact alone. In today's world most people don't carry cash so for establishments to have such a condition is asinine. read more

One of the workers harassed us in the bathrooms. Super uncomfortable and offended. Did not need to be handled that way. 0 stars

Cheap(ish) drinks, free buffet on Sunday, and every time I've been there, they have a vegan or vegetarian option. And not something lame like "A green salad" (though they had that too, last time I was there), they have things like Vegan Meatball Sandwiches. Awesome. They have $1 Burgers on Monday. It has the best music in town. It's crowded on the weekends, especially for the sunday buffet, but eh. Worth it. read more

I hadn't been here in a while, and it was a Saturday night, os I figured, why not make a trip to the city and go back to my old stomping ground? When I arrived, it was a little before 9, and the place wasn't packed at all. Very good, very good I thought, as I sat down and waited for a few moments for the bartender to come over. Took my order and made a very good Bacardi Razz + Coke, plus we had some good conversation. He really made me feel welcome and I loved it. Then shift change happened. The relief bartender that came in, I'm sorry to say, was a polar opposite. Not only did he not truly not pay attention to my drink (most bartenders see an empty glass and will promptly ask if you would like a refill or take away the empty glass), but he completely got my food order wrong. When I told him that the order was wrong, at first he defended the order, saying that I "pointed to that item on the menu". But after about half a minute, he back-peddled, apologized, and fixed the order. Seeing as the food was already paid for, I simply passed it to my friend and got my correct order. Had to take away a star for that one. In hospitality, you always CONFIRM an order before placing it...and that didn't happen here. However, I will still go back to Big Chick's on occasion. It is a cool place to go with friends. read more

I'm not entirely sure why crowded is chic, but it must be all the rage in this sector of the city. I've lived in Chicago five years now, and FINALLY went to BC last night for the first time. For whatever reason, it took me some time to get there. I'm glad I did, but goodness gracious, this place is busy. It made it difficult for me to actually enjoy being there. As one might think, when at a bar you'd really like a drink... and waiting at the bar for five minutes (literally) to get one gets old. Especially when it's just a can of PBR. This however is not the fault of the tenders-- it's just the unfortunate side effect of a bar that is too narrow and grown too popular. Nice place, but I'll go back when I know it's not so busy. read more

My boyfriend and I ate here recently, because Big Chicks has a portobello mushroom sandwich. Alas, the sandwich was unsatisfactory. While it had two mushroom caps, they were much smaller than the bun, and the onion and tomato were thick slabs that were also smaller than the bun. This made eating the sandwich a bit awkward and bland. The lack of any dressing/spread/flavoring, etc was also kind of odd and they charge extra for cheese. The fries were good though. My bf liked his burger, but it wasn't anything special. We might try again on a Buck Burger Night or Sunday BBQ. read more

Big Chicks is absolutely one of the best bars in town. It always has a friendly crowd, gay, straight... I met some wonderful people there. I love the dance floor there and the music ( well, I'm only talking about Saturdays since that's when I go ). I guarantee you a FUN time whenever you go!! ( I don't work there or get paid by the owner ) Sundays' free burgers sound good too although I miss that every time!! read more

I had only gotten there once. And I am not sure I was in Big chicks. I think kit was the restaurant next door but had been told it was same owners etc. I arrived for lunch/ brunch. It seemed Big Chicks was next to it but being the same building although it opened later in the day. The rep was that BC was a very happy place that served a diverse crowd. Since I was a newly transitioned transwoman I was looking for others to meet, preferably trans and then move on from there. You see I am a suburban girl. The crowd was nice but no socialization going on lunch time. Everyone there was for lunch. The food was good. Heard parking in the alley but I had found a spot on Sheridan so I can't speak of parking. Someday want to return read more

Good to see Michelle is still around. I went to this bar once before and I think it was the only time I ended up the night in a threesome but that was many moons ago and another story entirely. Seemed like a very relaxed place to chill. Hats off to Michelle for keeping it going on. read more

I went to Big Chicks last night for a drink and dinner. Since it was Friday, there's a $5 cheeseburger deal with fries or salad. The cheeseburger was normal, nothing too exceptional about it. However, my bf got fries and I got a salad. The salad was HUGE!!! It literally could have been a full entree itself, but it was on the side, falling off my plate b/c there was so much. The house vinegrette was good, but a little too much for me. The fries were delish too!!! Also, the bartender was alot of fun. He was interacting with the patrons by spanking them :) and giving free "blue balls" shots to everyone. Fun time for us!!!! This is definately a place I would come to again, even though i'm straight. read more

Good cheap radom food specials. Very generously poured cocktails. Decent beer selection. Kind of a vintage place. I really didn't see any " Big Chicks"? On second swing thru I know get it.......with the help of the unique painting on the wall. Cool place, friendly people and staff. Maybe a few of the "Big Chicks" have a beard??? Haha read more

I got suckered into going here for a co-workers birthday and man, am I glad I went! Although the bar was pretty packed, I had no problem getting drinks and never had to wait in line for the bathroom! (figures.) They have a back patio where you can smoke AND drink. Phenomenal. Most places you have to suck down your drink before you go out to smoke. The only downside is that parking is a b&*@#. I drove around for 15 minutes trying to park and almost just gave up until, like the gates of heaven opening, someone pulled out right in front!!! read more

Great local spot! The food is good, the beer selection is great and the staff is friendly and accommodating. The ambiance is cozy, and unpretentious, which is kind of rare for a gay bar. I always recommend this place to friends who are visiting Uptown. One of the best bars in Chicago! read more

Ive never been but its super cute. Friendly staff and cheap good drinks. I will definitely be back.

We were in Chicago this past weekend and a friend took us to Big CHicks and man! We had a blast! The music was really good and I danced all night. I loved the non judgmental atmosphere that the entire city of Chicago exudes. If I'm in town I would 100 % stop by again. read more

I love Big Chicks. The guys are friendly and unpretentious. It is a nice neighborhood bar. The prices are reasonable. The food is excellent. Most of the men are in their late 20's to early 40's. On the other hand, you need to be careful when going and coming to the bar late at night. The neighborhood is sketchy at night (but what neighborhood in Chicago isn't). read more

This is a fun place where you can go and just enjoy being out. Seems like everyone who goes here is just not concerned with looking perfect or acting the way they are supposed to. Its a bar with a lot of gay people but if you are not gay, you should not feel out of place. I would go here again and again if I lived close. read more

We were looking for a lesbian bar in Chicago and presumed that based on the name we had found it. That was not the case but the place still had a fun and welcoming vibe. The bartender, Stu, was sweet, attentive and had amazing hair! We never felt like outcasts, which can happen sometimes at boy bars. The drinks were reasonably priced and they have food plus specials like $1 burgers on Mondays. We will definitely go back next time we are town. I would have given four stars but the bathroom was disgusting! read more

I have been to Big Chicks for weekday drink-a-thons, chill Friday night barflyin', and Saturday night booze-fueled hiney-shakin'....and I have universally enjoyed the heck out of myself every time. The drinks are good and reasonably priced, the fabulous boob-filled artwork, the excellent dance tunage and crowded-but-not-crazy-crowded dance floor, it all comes together to make for a delightful setting for hijinks of all stripes. This is also the only bar where a bartender called me sugarnipples...which is yet another selling point, in my book. Big Chicks rocks! read more

How could a fat woman NOT love a place called Big Chicks? Seriously, how couldn't I? Well, I do love it mainly because it's the closest bar to my house. I am a very lucky gal that way. It's crowded most nights, especially on dollar burger night, but it's crowded in a good way. The patrons are nice and funny. The staff is welcoming and attentive. I'm particularly fond of the onion rings. There's really nothing like eating a dollar burger while watching gay almost porn on the telly. Parking is a bitch in this neighborhood so it's best if you take public transit or walk. the 151 stops right outside, and it's only a few blocks from the 147 and Argyle red line stop. read more

I guess it depends what you're looking for. I go out to places looking at them as restaurants and not bars. that's why I'm giving this 3 stars. It's an odd setup. To order your food, you walk up to a window in the back and place your order. Then you are given a number and someone walks around looking for you to deliver it when it's ready. If you want drinks, you have to walk up to the bar to get them yourself. This creates the awkward question of whether or not you should tip. We ordered nachos, wings, and onion rings and waited about 25 minutes for them to be ready. Then, we saw the "server" walking around aimlessly with our food because he couldn't find our number which was clearly displayed on the table. The only thing saving this from a lower starred review is that the nachos were excellent. However, I wouldn't recommend this place for a meal because the food is really nothing special and it's not worth the inconvenience of the set-up. read more

I went there for the very first time for the buck burger night. SO WORTH IT! I loved all the art work on the walls and the crowd was friendly and comfortable to be around. I could see myself going there more often. Go for the cheap/free tasty food, stay for the fun! read more

Always a fantastic time!!!! Awesome servers - friendly crowd! Great dancing Theme nights that invite in our entire gay community Can't think of a better bar anywhere! Yay read more

I stopped in last night 10/6 for an FKA event. Had a great time at the party! It's a little crowded but when you know what you're walking into you don't mind it....What I really want to write about is the customer service. The bartenders are AMAZINGLY FRIENDLY... The girl working the small bar was so sweet and flirty and friendly! I ended up moving to the long bar and the male bartenders were sweet personable outgoing and awesome. I felt invited. THEY HAD LIKE A ZILLION PEOPLE ORDERING DRINKS and it was no sweat off their back they did not seemed overwhelmed at all and completely friendly to EVERYONE! The female bartender on the long bar doesn't quite share the energy the male bartenders have but hopefully she gets it. Can't wait to come back! read more

Great staff, amazing food, killer vibe. Live it here. Great for all ages, ethnicities and sexualities. Love it!!! Awesome small business feel read more

Great bar! Tip the staff well here, they're all sweethearts. It's one of the few that has dancing on the weekends and pulls it off without becoming a meat market, or so packed full of drunk messes that you just want to scream. On summer days - fleeting and distant as they seem right now - there's a patio out back, and tables set out front for outside dining/drinking. There's the ever-popular $1 burger mondays, 3x a month bear nights on Thursdays, the occasional FKA night for the transgendered crowd and so on. Something for everyone? I'd certainly say so! No bad attitudes allowed here, leave your pretension at someplace trite in boystown. read more

I hadn't been to the Chicks in quite a while, so when a friend asked me to join him I promptly said yes. I did have some trepidation that the boy clones would have discovered this gem, but not to worry, it was the same 'ol Big Chicks: Great music, fun and friendly crowd, warm and attentive bartenders, and lots of cute guys. What a great night! I probably sweated off 10 lbs dancing like a crazy person. Oh, and some random guy planted a kiss on me. Can't beat that! read more

Neat little place! As a "small town queer" lok I felt welcome and comfortable as soon as I walked in the door. Bartender was super helpful and mixed great drinks! I def recommend this place! read more

Was introduced this place after a trip to the beach. It's an LGBT-friendly low-key bar with some interesting decor---pictures of larger nude women and queens line the walls in honor of its name. Despite it seeming pretty low-key, they were absolutely packed, understandable since it's a Sunday near the beach and they were offering $1 burgers and veggie dogs. The servers were scrambling around trying to find glasses and menus for the ever increasing crowd. Despite the chaos, there was a friendly atmosphere and the food was delicious. I couldn't believe that a $1 veggie dog was that good. Definitely check this place out but avoid the Sunday rush if you can. read more

I love Big Chick's. I love Michelle Fire. Her staff at Tweet know me by name. Tonight, I was refused WATER at the bar. It was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. I was really thirsty and sat at the bar and asked the bartender for a glass of WATER to start. He offered to sell me a bottle of water. I don't drink bottled water--it's bad for people and bad for the planet, lose-lose. I would have paid for a GLASS of water, but he was busy explaining Michelle's philosophy and wasn't terribly interested in what I was saying. I ended up with a Miller Light but no water. No water for me. It was reminiscent of Seinfeld. I don't know any bar owners who do more for the community than Michelle, but in this she is dead wrong. read more

Big Chicks is not a lesbian bar, as its name might suggest. It's in fact populated mostly by gay men (with the few odd lesbians): slightly older crowd (late 30s and 40s), and a little on the "bearish" side, if you see what I mean, but friendly nonetheless. I was there on a Sunday afternoon: they had bbq in the back, and the bar was packed (more than can be said of most NYC gays bars on Sundays!). The sidewalk seating, and big patio in the back, are definitely nice! They have drink specials ($2.50 vodka lemonade when I was there... talk of a bargain), and the drinks are generally strong and reasonably priced. Not a bad place to hang out (although it's a bit out of the way). read more

I am VERY late in my review but I'm still going to post this. I LOVE this place. From what I can tell, it's most loved for the Sunday afternoon cook outs, but I'd give it a go on any other afternoon or evening too. There are tables but I like to sit at their long bar. I pretty much stick to beer at this place because they have so many options. I'm positive any beer lover will find something near and dear to their palate. My last visit was back in August. I can't really describe the social feel of the place. I can tell you the staff are friendly. I can tell you the other customers are very likely to strike up a friendly conversation with you as well. This is the kind of place that at midnight when you order your own birthday shot, the bartender makes a round of shots for the bar and dedicates it to you. I'm sure I'm not unique in the experience but it was a grand gesture just the same. Oh yeah, I'll be back in Chicago and will definitely make another visit here. You should check it out too! read more

We stopped in here for a Mimosa before our brunch at Tweet. $7 Mimosa's were a little high but not too bad. The tender was nice and attentive. I love all the interesting art on the walls. It has a dive bar feeling and I love it. I hope to be back for more than a Mimosa! read more

Big Chicks is awesome! My bff and I arrived early evening on a Friday and we stayed until the place closed... it was like 5 degrees outside. Even still, our bartender was excellent and the food options were nice. Everyone was extremely friendly. We met some great people. My only issue: its hard to get a glass of water in that place LOL. read more

Not gay and go with my SO in early evening (i.e. 8 pm): I'm clearly not the target market for Big Chicks, but I still love it. The bartenders are very friendly, as are the kitchen and door staff. The drinks are well-poured. The chili is tasty, salads huge and fresh, and burger night is great. The fellow customers are respectful/polite (not my experience in most Chicago bars). All around a great bar. I'd come back even if it weren't around the corner. Also added bonus, the movies, which tend to go unnoticed in the background, are great - from cult classics to more recent flicks. (The Incredibles totally suckered me in recently.) read more

This place is one of my top 10 favorite spots in the city. I love the intention, love, and welcoming energy that radiates from this establishment. As a queer identifying woman in her 30's, this is about as close to a lesbian-friendly and down-to-earth bar that feels like my own Cheers. I come in weekly on Thursday nights for Drag Race with my partner. We enjoy the vegetarian burger options (Beyond Burger, Kale Burger, Portobello, and Black Bean!) as well as other tasty options like sweet potato fries, the delightful Walter salad, chili, and killer nachos. The staff is DELIGHTFUL. The art collection is MAGNIFICENT. This place is a great escape from the madness of Boystown. It's a sanctuary and safe space for many of its LGBTQ patrons. There are also really fun dance parties on the weekends and lunch buffet on Sundays. I can't love this place enough. Go Big Chicks! read more

i was Couch Surfing in Chicago this August and my boyfriend and I were brought here by our host who we had just met an hour before. This place was just what I was looking for on my last night in Chicago. A casual atmosphere, dark interior, and $8 Monday night Miller Light Pitcher special all with the perfect amount of gay in the air. "In Living Color" was playing on the television with no sound and captions. I was completely satisfied after the 3 pitchers between us. Looked forward to checking out Tweet the next morning for brunch but they are closed on Tuesdays! :( Would for sure go here again! :) read more

Pretty disappointed after a $25 Lyft ride and 30 min in traffic. Came from Dallas and yelped girl/lesbian bars and also everyone we asked recommended this place. Great reviews on yelp so we figured perfect, even if it was a Tuesday. Arrived around 6:15pm- good music, about 20 people most of were guys. No biggie though we aren't man haters. Sat at the bar where the big burly Bear bartender(sorry didn't catch his name cause he didn't care to throw it out to us) ignored us when we asked what the house vodka was after reading the sign for "Tuesday specials" - he proceeded to help the guys who had been there on the right and then on the left of us before he could even be bother acknowledge us even though he was standing right in front of us at the beer taps. We ordered one drink and sat there with no interaction from either bartender for the majority of the 25 min we were there; they just stood there talking to who we presumed were "the regulars"?!? We left after one drink cause we just felt like outsiders who weren't welcomed or included. Very lonely vibe!! But the pictures in the place are great! Second star is because the drinks were decent and fairly strong. Not sure if I would come back after this experience.... read more

Big Chicks - Gay Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois