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Chicago, IL

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Billy Goat Tavern - Chicago

3.7 (1.4k reviews)
ModerateBurgers
Open • 9:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
Updated over 3 months ago

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Business Info

BILLY GOAT TAVERN - CHICAGO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Billy Goat Tavern - Chicago

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Memorabilia
Timothy P.

First of all, there's no five-star rating because this is Chicago, and honestly, the place is just great. The atmosphere is fantastic, the history is everywhere, the service was fast, and the food came out ridiculously quick. You've got the TVs going, a basic menu, and that classic Chicago dive-bar/tavern feel. It's exactly the kind of place you want to experience as a tourist. Now, I made my first mistake: I didn't get the burger. I got the hot dog. They give you the dog, the bun, and basically say, "Here you go, Chicago. You figure it out." You put it together yourself. But here's the thing: this is NOT a Chicago-style hot dog. They don't really have all the toppings you'd expect for the full Chicago dog experience. And honestly, I get it. This is a burger joint that happens to offer a hot dog. It's not their thing. So if you're coming here with a kid, or you're like me and suddenly have a serious hot-dog craving, go ahead and get the dog. But if you're specifically hunting for that authentic Chicago-style dog, save yourself the trouble and hit one of the places down the road that specializes in it. My advice: Get the burger. That's the move. The Billy Goat is about the atmosphere, the history, the experience, and the burgers. The hot dog is more of a side quest. Still absolutely worth stopping in if you're visiting Chicago.

Delicious steak & egg sandwich, great with A1 sauce
Sophia Y.

So glad I got a chance to try this Tavern while passing thru Chicago. Got the steak & egg sandwich, delicious with the A1 steak sauce packet, and enjoyed it with my dear friends. The man on the grill was totally handling business and cranking out AMAZING food- quick, greasy (in the best way possible), delicious, fun food. Lots of tables for you to sit at and enjoy your food with your buddies and loved ones. Clean and cool spot. Loved reading the history of Billy Goat hangingon their wall!

Obama burger, chips, and drink
Zay M.

After visiting the bean with my sons, I wanted a good burger from a local spot. Google led me to Billy Goat. We walked there and arrived around 7:30pm on a Tuesday. It is located on the lower level and my son actually noticed the signage stating the establishment was on the lower level. Outside can be a bit sketchy as there was a person with bizarre behavior. Inside, things were fine and retro. You order at the counter and it was made right then and there. They have 2 sides, one is calmer and has a couple TVs with games; the other side is a little louder with music and the bar. I got the Obama burger (2 patties, bacon, caramelized onions, and an egg) w/ chips & drink. (Note: No fries). I got my sons the double burger (plus chips and drink; one had bacon on their burger). The Cashier was very friendly and helpful! The food was ready quick and it was very delicious! You add your own toppings. They don't have "combos" so everything is separate. The drinks were $3 and the chips were about $2.50, which is a little on the higher end. For 3 "combos" it was a little over $50.

This is a nod to a classic Saturday Night Live sketch.
Jeremiah A.

My fiancée and I wanted to be sure and try Billy Goat Tavern while on a trip to Chicago. We were very impressed. As an old SNL fan, I appreciated the nods to one of their sketches from decades ago. Upon entering, we noticed the classic decor , with photos of famous visitors, news clippings about the restaurant, and TVs showing local sports. The menu is simple, and we tried a cheeseburger and a double cheeseburger. The service was friendly and efficient. Once we had the burgers, topping them was up to us, with plenty of options at the topping bar. We paired the burgers with a couple of local brews. We enjoyed the experience very much. We'd happily come back on a return visit to Chicago.

Menu
Joey L.

Billy Goat is very quick, quite tasty and a unique stop in the river area, for both its location and its offerings. I've visited here every time I've been in Chicago and the food hasn't changed in many years. It's still a bar and a diner style burger restaurant that serves breakfast sandwiches from 6am and then burgers mostly until the late night/early morning. The breakfast sandwiches are winners, fresh cooked eggs, greasy meats, and a soft bun. The steak and egg with cheese comes out to a pricy $18 but it hits all the bad spots in the am. It's also tight next to the river so there are other businesses and buildings nearby that have gotten more expensive and upscale while Billy Goat has stuck to its roots. It's a little tricky to find but start out on upper street level Michigan Ave and look for a set of stairs with a Billy Goat plaque, head down and the tavern is to your right.

Tasty burgers and sandwiches in an iconic neighborhood spot! It's the Chicago cheeseborger place, snl, belushi, if u know, u know!! Great memorabilia from over the years, news, sports, politics.

Cheeseburger
Hayley P.

This place is a no frills burger joint in downtown Chicago. When we came in we were looking for lunch and somewhere to rest our feet after sightseeing all morning. It's old school in the best way possible. My partner and I both ordered double cheeseborgers. And here you get to dress it up how you want, which I loved!!! As many pickles as my heart desires. The food came out quickly and they cook it right in front of you. We ate and relaxed, you see all kinds of people coming through during the lunch rush. It was a fun peek into what downtown Chicago life is like. The staff are all very nice and efficient. This is a great spot for a quick lunch.

Bar
May W.

Love the ambiance and history of Billy goat tavern! Always a great time here when visiting Chicago! Aside from the cultural history (the Billy goat curse on the cubs and SNL skit, the double cheezeborger here is pretty good. No frills burger and they have a self-serve toppings bar. They also have a bar with their own Billy goat beer.

Inside
Kevin Z.

A must see while in Chicago, fun little "dive bar" that's been around since the 1930's. Larger inside than it looks, several different bars and seating areas. Has the while "cheeseborger, cheeseborger" thing from old SNL which is very cool. The cheeseburger was okay, not great, with a Coke of course, "no Pepsi", and chips no fries. Had a great time.

Brie G.

Honestly, like any good Chicago staple, there are rules. It's not a fancy spot, but it's iconic. Service is so fast, because they've seen it all! Know what you want when you walk in so you don't hold up the line - it'll go faster than you think! Nice to have pickles and onions out so you can fix up your cheezborger to your tastebuds' liking. The full bar will keep the party going if that's the vibe. Whether we should or not, this is a great spot to end the night. Get some carbs and protein into your belly before you fall into a slumber. NO PEPSI....Coke! P.S. hot tip, don't look for french fries here, this is a potato chips only kinda spot. The food is good, but know the single cheeseburger is like a kids meal size from your favorite fast food spot.

Andrea U.

I smelled the burgers outside and all the memorabilia inside was pretty cool. The pickle bar was eye-catching. A little tricky to find it was sort of underneath the river walk, under Michigan Avenue near Hubbard Street and Rush, off the beaten path and literally hidden. But the curse is what brought us in, we didn't eat here. The Billy Goat Tavern curse is a sports legend that claims a curse was placed on the Chicago Cubs in 1945 when William "Billy Goat" Sianis was ejected from Game 4 of the World Series with his pet goat, Murphy. Upset, Sianis cursed the Cubs, vowing they would never win the World Series again. This legendary curse is said to have explained the Cubs' 71-year championship drought until they finally won the World Series in 2016, with the Murph the Goat curse reportedly broken.

Nick G.

Stopped by Billy Goat Tavern and ordered a double cheeseborger. The burger itself was simple, old school diner style with thin patties, melted cheese, and a soft bun. I added raw whole onions and ketchup on them. Nothing fancy, but it hit the spot if you're in the mood for something quick and straightforward. The place has a lot of character with its history and that classic Chicago feel. SNL brought me here. Service was fast, and the atmosphere is more about the experience than the food itself.

Basement bar
Gi S.

Basement bar. No frills, fast friendly service. I come here everytime I'm in Chicago!

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2 months ago

Classic Chicago spot! Great central location, perfect for a lively late-night bite. Burgers and hotdogs at fast and friendly service.

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11 months ago

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Paul S.

Thanks Brie! We hope to see you around again very soon:)

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Billy Goat Tavern - Chicago Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Billy Goat Tavern - Chicago

Are kids ok?

Most definitely. I would let them watch an old SNL video of the skit, so they know why you're there first though. Lots of seating and the food is on the kid level...nothing fancy.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Sorry Billy Goat Tavern is not wheelchair accessible, there are stairs down into the restaurant . They may have made alternative entry by now, so if you want to go, you should call...

View All 3 Questions

Au Cheval

Au Cheval

4.4(9.6k reviews)
1.3 mi•West Loop, Near West Side
•$$

I read all the bad reviews before coming and... they were just hating, having a bad day, or have…read morenever eaten a burger before to be an objective judge! Because no way did we eat at the same place. WOW! It's only been a handful of times that I've had the urge to write a review while I'm still eating because of how amazing the experience is. The ambiance is bustling and will FOR SURE keep you awake as you fill your belly. And the burger? It's not just a burger, it's culinary art and a full on flavor experience. I was full well before my plate was empty, but I simply could not imagine reheating any part of it later. The egg was cooked to sunny-side perfection, and every bite was ridiculous. It's bar-style, so the fries came out first, hot and paired with a garlic aioli that absolutely did what it needed to do. Everyone moves with purpose. The food, the service, the atmosphere--this place is a well-oiled machine of greatness. 1000/10. Will absolutely be back.

The reservation system is up! Making it SO MUCH easier to get a table and get food, so definitely…read moretake advantage of that or be prepared to wait for a while. So the burgers are worth the hype! 5/5 A single is two smash patties, definitely get the bacon and the egg on top of the burger because that what makes it amazing!! So don't skip on it! The bacon is truly the highlight, as most will tell you, not too chewy but a melt in your mouth thick cut bacon! Burger was cooked perfectly to order and The only thing that was a disappointment was the fries. Just not that great, not enough salt, but also the texture was off. Not worth the $8 2/5 Overall, it was a great experiment and I'd totally recommend you trying!

Photos
Au Cheval - Beers

Beers

Au Cheval - Single Cheeseburger

Single Cheeseburger

Au Cheval - Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

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Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

Little Bad Wolf - Wolf Burger and frites. Duh. Solid meat to face thing.

Little Bad Wolf

4.4(2.6k reviews)
6.8 mi•Andersonville, Edgewater
•$$

Had lunch today at Little Bad Wolf in Andersonville and ordered the Bad Burger -- and it was…read morephenomenal! Two juicy patties, American cheese, house-made pickles and red onion mayo. Nothing overly complicated -- just a really well-executed burger. Little Bad Wolf has the accolades to back it up. Time Out ranks its larger Wolf Burger #1 in Chicago, while The Infatuation actually prefers the Bad Burger, saying the simpler version allows the meat to shine. After eating it, I understand the hype.

Have you ever heard the story of the Little Bad Wolf... who huffed, and puffed, and blew my socks…read moreaway because of HOW DELICIOUS of an exerience it was? YUP FOLKS. The Little Bad Wolf isn't just a story... it's a phenom dot com restaurant that you NEED to visit! My family and I visited after a Saturday Cubs game and luckily, there were still a handful of tables available and we were promptly seated. The staff were super friendly and provided excellent service! Almost everyone at our table ordered the Wolf Burger after hearing my sister and her husband rave about it. When our orders came to the table, we were all PLEASANTLY surprised at how beautifully stacked and dressed our burgers were. A triple stack of patties, topped with cheese, bacon, a fried egg, crispy onions, and housemade pickles?! That's a recipe for delicious success right there! The Wolf Burger was indeed SCRUMPTIOUS! My goodness, I am still thinking about it two whole days later and how I can't wait to revisit this restaurant and try some more of their menu items. An honorable mention goes out to the delicious fries on the side!! They were the perfect cut, well-seasoned, and out-of-this-world. I HIGHLY recommend Little Bad Wolf to all folks looking for a delicious experience! The burger is sensational, the environment is impeccable, and this is a great spot if you're going on a date or out with friends.

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Little Bad Wolf - Fresh flowers

Fresh flowers

Little Bad Wolf - Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp Tacos

Little Bad Wolf - Bad Burger with fried onion strings

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Bad Burger with fried onion strings

Billy Goat Tavern - Chicago - burgers - Updated October 2026

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