Budacki's is a slice of Chicago that encompasses traditional fare with exceptional takes on Chicago good with a Korean spin. Their Italian beef is already incredible but getting the Korean beef is a delicious experience on a classic. My go to is the meal A with two Chicago dogs and fries. However, pretty much everything here is a win. The shrimp. The shakes. The gyros. The parking lot dining is dog friendly and a delightful place to sit in the summer. The staff here is so kind and welcoming. read more

Budacki's Drive In - Chicago dogs waiting for fries. - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When it comes to hidden gems in The Windy City, Budacki's Drive In can be counted among them. It's practically tucked away in the Ravenswood neighborhood near a school, but quite an awesome find for quintessential Chi-Town staples such as the Italian beef and the red hot. I have a cousin who grew up within walking distance of Budacki's so it's a huge part of his life story, even after he moved to the suburbs. That said, he tends to take me or my older brother here whenever either one of us come to visit from Texas. It's safe to say that we share his immense love for the nearly 50-year-old hole in the wall. Up until Thursday, I had two visits. For my most recent one, I ordered the Letter A , or the red hot combo. Aside from a pair of what I believe are the best hot dogs in the world, the meal comes with fresh cut fries and a drink. I confess that I didn't get a good look on the price, but I can assure you that you get your money's worth. Each of the red hots was made fresh and specific to my request. I wanted them dragged through the garden, and the kitchen staff delivered. What I sank my teeth into are a Vienna beef decorated with a tomato, sport peppers, a pickle spear, onions and hints of salt and mustard. All of which are held together in a soft bun. The dogs were paired with a delicious, abundant amount of fries. They were so good that I finished them even before the tube steaks themselves. In Chicago, it's nearly a law to keep your red hots free of ketchup and on your fries, but I ate my long taters without ketchup. That's how tasty they were. Before I forget, I should mention that there's an outdoor dining area for customers to enjoy their food at. The neighborhood Budacki's is in has gone through several changes, but the restaurant has withstood the test of time. Sadly, however, the heir to the business, Jae Lee, recently passed away. And this review is dedicated to his memory. read more

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Budacki's is a must-try in the Ravenswood/Lincoln Square neighborhood. Some of our favorites include the Korean-style Philly cheesesteak, the jumbo shrimp meal, and the Korean steak bowl. The menu offers a wide variety of comfort food, from hot dogs and gyros to Korean-style wings and fried seafood, so there's something for everyone. Budacki's is owned by the same owner as Crisp, which means you can also enjoy some of Crisp's fan favorites, including the Seoul Sassy wings and the Korean steak bowl served with their signature creamy Atomic house sauce. The indoor dining area is small with limited seating, but there are outdoor tables available, and having a dedicated parking lot is a nice bonus. Every time we've ordered, the experience has been seamless. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the wait times are consistently reasonable. The prices are also very fair, especially considering the generous portion sizes. We've only scratched the surface of the menu, and there are still plenty of dishes we can't wait to try. We'll definitely be back! read more

Budacki's Drive In - Fried shrimp meal - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Decent. I might skip the cheesesteak next time. Service was nice and not too long given they were busy. read more

Budacki's Drive In - Menu - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Hands down best veggie dog I've had. Made better by the very fair price and it comes with a free side of fries which are also great, perfectly crispy. Counter seating is perfect for just a quick bite but there's also outdoor seating. Would definitely recommend! read more

Budacki's Drive In - Veggie dog - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

That Korean Philly cheesesteak is out of this world. Best cheesesteak I've had west of Philly! Corn nuggets were fun. I had the Korean steak bowl and fries too, but would come back specifically for the cheesesteak. read more

You can't get a deal like this! I thought I'd try this place since I've walked by it many times and there seems to always be people here. I got the 1/4 cheeseburger with bacon and fries with a soda for under $15.00. The hamburger was big and you get a ton of fries. Service was fast even with a line. Not much inside seating, but there are picnic tables outside. Lots of items on the menu, with some surprises like Korean style beef. read more

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Shame on me for living in Lincoln Square for 3 years and only just going to Budacki's . This might be my go to lunch place just because it's good food at a reasonable price . It's definitely popular with both adults and students because it has burgers and fries, hot dogs, corn dogs . I just tried the Seoul Steak Bowl, which is marinated sliced beef over rice and with something called Atomic Sauce (spicy !) loved it . It was really hearty and delish. Service here is always great , fast and friendly . Will say they pick up around noon so you can save yourself some time by going before or after lunch rush . This is a no frills place that gets food right. read more

Budacki's Drive In - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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BEWARE Twice the rude, unfriendly guy taking orders/cashier has short changed me! I called him on it & he just laughs & denies it. Food nothing special that you can find half a dozen other places so no need for me to return. Sad it's in the neighborhood & convenient but not if I'm held up without a gun -- watch what $ you're handing over & call it out loud! read more

For 5 bucks you can get a char dog with fries from a charming hotdog stand. What's not to love. Service was fast and friendly. Hot dog was fully loaded and delicious. read more

Budacki's Drive In - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really like that they have their own parking lot, offer a quick service meal, and that they have shaded picnic tables to eat at. My burger was loaded with toppings and bigger than I expected. The portion of fries was perfect, too. Coke was ice cold! Be mindful of the $11 minimum if you want to use a card. I'll be back for the Korean Philly Cheesesteak! read more

Budacki's Drive In - Burger, fries, and a can of Coke meal for $10.50 - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A solid spot for Chicago Dog and fries on the cheap. The staff is friendly, outside picnic table seating with umbrellas & you can feed the little sparrows... read more

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My hubby want to go back and try this since this was his regular go to place whn he lived nearby. Compared to other places, the food is still cheaper. Cheeseburger is good and the italian beef tastes good. Service is fast. A lot still goes here. The place is clean and they have outdoor seating. It's somethibg we can cone back to whenever we are in the city. read more

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Have Been going here since childhood, 40 years plus. Love their hotdogs. However in recent years, their hotdog remained the same however all the other foods are not as good anymore. Especially any kind of beef is bad quality now, chewy and bland. They also jacked up the price so severely and with less fries. The Asian woman who takes order doesn't do anything but taking orders but she messes up the her order all the time by not grabbing the correct drinks. Multiple orders including mine either don't have drinks or the wrong drink Probably not going anymore. I regret telling my friends to go to buddackis. Looks like they lost their family touch and humbleness... read more

Holy God this place is delicious! Specifically the beef & rice bowl. They marinate it in this sweet sauce and serve a mild ranch with it. Omg I love it and cant wait to try the chicken version! read more

Mint chocolate chip lovers look no further. Budacki's Drive In has perfected the mint chocolate chip shake. It is plentiful in mint chocolate chips and is the most pleasing green color. The default comes with whipped cream, so if that ain't you you got to tell them! I started a new job nearby and the office informed me Budaki's is a staple lunch spot. When I learned Budaki's is a sister company of Crisp, I wanted to thank the heavens for my luck. Crisp is one of my favorite places to get Korean Fried Chicken wings: https://www.crisponline.com/. WHICH THEY ALSO SERVE HERE! Besides the chicken wings, a lot of people in my office, including myself, get their Korean Steak Bowl. They jam-pack the container with white rice, marinated beef, chives, and a side sauce to add some spice if you desire. The service is always friendly and has a quick, less than 5-minutes turnaround. They also have seating outside for when Chicago decides to play nice and have warm weather. read more

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You can't miss with Budacki's. It's been a staple in the neighborhood for decades for a reason. Reasonable prices, quick service, delicious food. read more

Fun place to stop for a classic Chicago lunch. I got the italian beef combo, which comes with fries and a canned soda. The chocolate shake was also great read more

Budacki's Drive In - Italian beef combo with hot peppers - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I can always rely Buduacki's for a delicious, affordable Chicago style hotdog whenever I am in town. The service is amazing there and they are so quick to get the food out as soon as I put my order in. It's always moderately - very busy during lunch hours but the atmosphere is nice on a sunny day in the Windy City. I recommend getting the letter A special (2 dogs + fries + pop) or the steak bowl or the Seoul sassy chicken. read more

I can only speak for the hot dogs and beef Korean bowl because I can't make myself order anything else. The hot dog experience is solid. The bowl is top notch. Very quick service. Highly recommended. read more

Best wings in the city. Same recipe as Crisp but it has its own parking lot and picnic tables.

Am I going to be too hard on the last place in Chicago where you can get a hot dog and fries for $4.50 including tax? No I am not. Is the hot dog the best I've ever had in my life (or in the city)? No it isn't. But it comes overflowing with toppings and has a decent snap and the Chicago-style flavor profile is intact. Are the fries great? Actually, yes they are, AND they have a big jug of celery salt you can sprinkle on them instead of regular salt. Do I wish they had this deal (or even one for like $5.50 or $6.50) for a Polish sausage instead of a hot dog? Yes, but also kind of no, because if they did, I would be at Budacki's all the time and would gain 50 pounds. read more

I drove in yesterday and bought two regular hot dogs, 1 vegan dog, and two chilli cheese dogs, all came with fries. This is a cute little spot with a nice menu! I'll definitely come back to try their wings and Korean bowl. read more

Budacki's Drive In - Vegan dog with fries. - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After seeing this place several times in a group, I decided to give it a try. I ordered hot dog special "A" which includes 2 hotdogs, fries and can soda for $8.00. The hot dog was skinless with all the toppings (you have to ask for hot peppers, no charge). The bun was a little dry at the bottom and I really couldn't taste the onions, the mustard was tangier than most which I liked. Something was off with the tomatoes after trying them, I pulled them off the dog. The fries were just ok. I shared them with the birds, too many small overly crisp fries. Couldn't tell if celery salt was added. Overall, this is a good neighborhood spot. I can't place this on the top of my list, but I would go back if I was in the area. I never penalize places for skinless dogs, poppyseed buns or celery salt, I look for a good overall taste. read more

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Had to stop by at a neighborhood gem. This place is serving up good eats with some familiarity to those who've been to crisp. Same owners, same great wings. read more

Budacki's Drive In - April 2024 Menu - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beef Korean bowl is awesome! We also love the fries - just make sure to add the celery salt on them before you leave with your food!!

Quick friendly and affordable I recommend the hot dog and fries ! I have been eating here since the 80's Thank you read more

If you want great classic food at an affordable price? Budacki is the way to go! The menu is extensive, the food reminds me of classic coneys from Detroit (which is very impressive btw), and the outside seating is really wholesome. We got chili cheese fries and a milkshake and they both tasted so great! My girlfriend is not the biggest fan of spices or chili but she liked the chili cheese fries. It also comes with a huge mound of food for a great price which makes it totally worth it too. And the cheese? All over the fries, they didn't skimp out which is what most restaurants do, so I really appreciated this. I didn't order other foods but their menu shows that a lot of their food come with fries already and at a great price. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Long story short, it's over priced and over hyped. It was $28 for 2 steak and rice bowls with extra sauce. Sweet steak and plain white rice. The almost half the bowl had fat pieces and the other pieces of steak had long stringy pieces attached. The only legit thing is the sauce, which is a sweet and spicy mayo. Not really anything special. All in all, would recommend going elsewhere and getting quality food. read more

Budacki's Drive In - Korean steak and rice bowl - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came for the steak bowl, and did not leave disappointed. I thought the price was fair considering the portion. It does feel like a rather heavy and greasy meal though. It could be a good option if you're looking for something quick and tasty. read more

I've walked by this place so many times and never stopped in, so I decided to head there for lunch on Monday to try their double cheeseburger. Honestly, the quality was so good. You never really know what you're going to get from a joint like this because there are so many of them throughout the city, but I felt confident given the feedback from people who are big in the Chicago food scene on Instagram. Love the old school feel to it and the service was fantastic. The menu is overwhelming but I'd love to go back and try a few more things. Good stuff! read more

Budacki's Drive In - double cheeseburger - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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In my adventures for these old-school hotdog shops - this place was top notch! They run a very efficient shop, have a wide selection of fun sides and drinks, and the food was amazing. *Bonus points for a large parking lot, and a few outdoor tables to hang at. The trip here was for a Chicago dog, but also to try other items. I'll say that the dog itself was meh. Standard toppings, bun, and meat. No matter what I'd prefer a mor charred hotdog, but I understand this is the style. The Korean steak bowl was so good though. I'll be back for this in no time. The meat is piled on (ribeye pieces) and is in a sweet bbq sauce. This drips into the rice below and makes the rice delicious. *The next day later, in microwave - still hits the spot. Also had the Korean BBQ full chicken wings. Incredible. Perfect crunchy fried outside, and very meaty within. *This place owns Crisp, so they are basically the same wings. However - I've been to Crisp dozens of times, and I actually think Budacki's wings were better. Almost like they were larger and fresher. Right now this is top of my rankings for these types of counter-ordering greasy food spots. Haha I'm not sure how else to categorize it. But highly recommend. read more

I been there before this time I order Italian beef combo $13 sandwich coke & fries was good fries are perfect & crispy kind expensive italian beef read more

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Went here as a child. So of course I think they have the best beef! Great Korean dishes. Love the familiar that owns it. It's a Chicago classic. read more

Budacki's is really growing on me. Did you guys know they sell Korean Fried Chicken wings? At $10 for 5 whole wings (prob 10 pieces if you split them) + fries including tax, it's a pretty good deal! This cash only spot has a great burger, and prob the best wings in town. The owner is Korean and based on the shirts of the cooks working the back, I believe they are affiliated with Crisp (another popular Chicago Korean Fried Chicken joint). Actually, I think they're better than Crisp since everything is cooked to order and not over fried/dried. There's a couple of sauces you can choose from, it's easier to find online. At the food shack, I couldn't see the list and the counter is a bit overwhelming. Seoul Sassy was my pick although I wish I had a bit more sauce that gets covered in. Though not candy crisp, it needs to be double fried to get that extra crispy coating, but still very delicious pile of wings that I'll be happy to come back for again. Last time I wrote about the cheeseburger I realize I like their fresh brioche buns. They got good buns hun! Plus they have a free parking lot too, perfect for pick up. read more

If you want something quick, this is your place. I usually come for lunch when I crave a hot dog or a huge portion of skinny fries. The lines are quick and bring cash for orders under $10.00. The employees are always friendly and move you down the line very quickly. read more

Budacki's Drive In - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I occasionally come here on my lunch break. However, I'm not that impressed with the food. I've ordered the double cheeseburger which, is pretty big, hot dogs and Polish sausage. Everything was average and I've definitely had better. It's always empty when I come in so, I get my food in a timely manner. They have parking which, is a plus. read more

Same owners of crisp so you can get their amazing chicken wings as well as top notch burgers, hot dogs and cheese sticks. I enjoyed it so much I went back again the next day! read more

Their milkshakes is the most delicious thing. The strawberry milkshake always hits, mostly everything on their menu is pretty solid and good. Whenever I'm in the neighborhood I get on their hotdogs and mozzarella sticks. read more

Best fries in Chicago -- absolutely addictive! To quote Jango, "ust feasted on a magnificent hot dog lunch. The tomatoes pickles lettuce and onions are farm fresh and very tasty. The hot dogs are very beefy and each bite melts in your mouth. The French fries are prepared in very clean oil and are very crisp. The selection of soft drinks is extensive and served very cold. The other menu items like the gyros looked terrific and prepared just as fresh as the hot dogs. The restaurant is very clean sanitary and well organized. The parking is limited but the lot is well taken care of and is well lit for the evenings. The staff are very knowledgeable friendly and quick. The kitchen staff are very neat clean and use proper safety procedures. A small but sanitary restroom is available for paying guests. Cash only, so come prepared. read more