I've only had the Italian Beef sandwiches at Buona before, and - while good- they never blew my socks off. But today, hubby and I decided to try their protein bowls on a busy Friday late-afternoon! We brought the pupster with us, because, you know, he's family. So we sat out on the patio and I went in to order the bowls. I noted something that "probably" explained the relative "busy-ness" - 1/2 price beer and wine on Fridays! How could I not imbibe???? Hubby got the Beef and Sausage Bowl while I got the NEW! Chicken and Avocado Bowl (the latter just screamed "California"!). As a beer was 1/2 price I got a Bud Light on this warm and somewhat humid day. Now one thing you gotta appreciate- though you order at the counter, they give you a number and they bring the food to you- and they bus your table too - not bad! Alright- the food came out. And let me tell you, the Beef and Sausage Bowl looked - and tasted- fantastic. And that Chicken and Avocado Bowl? Baby. Where have you been all my life? That bowl was great! (and we shared a bit- and both of us liked each other's meal lots!). What was perfect? The portion sizes were perfect. - not overly large (as is the practice at way too many restaurants) and right- sized. Even better? The Chicken and Avocado Bowl had that terrific veneer of "health" that emanated all over it, which went a LONG way towards my enjoyment of it (despite the dressing, which- while tasty- was probably 200 calories too many). So- while I like their Italian Beef sandwiches? I fell for these bowls! And we'll be back! Buona - for god's sake. Expand outta Chicagoland! You've got a winning formula- it's time to let the country experience your food! read more

Buona - Beef and Sausage Bowl at top; Chicken and Avocado Bowl at the bottom! - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Food is good, the service SUCKS. It takes them 10 minutes to make a beef and fries. Either the staff is lazy and incompetent or they're shorthanded. They aren't shorthanded. read more

The food is actually pretty good and consistent. But the service is not. Sometimes they are great and sometimes they make you wait a long time. I will never give an order through the drive in at this location, they wait is pretty long to get your order. Instead I order it in advance and indicate a drive-thru pickup so that by the time I get there the food is ready. I will also say sometimes they could do a better job at packaging the food. When I pickup my food if I order a burger or italian beef its packed up nicely, but the fries are not. By the time I get them home they are already cold and stale. read more

Ordered an Italian Beef with hot peppers and Arancini Beef Bites. The Arancini Beef Bites are rice balls stuffed with our Italian beef, gravy, mozzarella, and giardiniera. First time I have ever had them and they ere pretty good. Fast ordering and friendly staff. read more

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On Jul 9th, I gave the new chicken cutlet sandwiches a try. With Buona membership got to do BOGO so I got one of each. Caesar and Vodka. Got home unwrapped the sandwiches. Sloppy assembly of the sandwiches. Cut in half and shared with a friend. Tasted good. Just sloppy looking when I opened them up. Not something I am use to seeing from this location. Use to eat the Chopped Salad regularly until they make chopped chicken breast part of the salad and raised the price. Changed the flavor profile. Went to the Fried Crispy Chicken salad as my go to salad. Yum! Have eaten a number of other items on the menu. Include beef sandwiches, the solo roasted veggie pizza. Yum! read more

I discovered this place as I joined my volunteer group for an after work get together meal, which we do weekly. Everybody seems to order something different and everyone is very satisfied with the value and product quality. Although I was excited to try their beef sandwich, I admit to being very underwhelmed. Since then I've explored the salad menu and am working my way down. Their pizzas are popular as well. The set up of the place is nicely laid out and clean. My only suggestion would be to tone down the noise volume on whatever cooking machine is signaling attention. I can probably hear it from outside. There's also some nondescript music playing which seems to be uselessly adding to the noise factor. But again, I'll be back. read more

Love this location so bad. The food is always fresh and hot. Pizza is typically super fresh. Last week tho, my food life changed that vodka chicken parm is beyond heavenly. Perfectly seasoned and crunchy chicken cutlet drowned in vodka sauce between multiple slices of mozzarella...its too good. I just ate one and cant wait to go back read more

Buona - Vodka chicken parmesan sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

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I absolutely love Chicago style Italian Beef sandwiches and anytime I visit the Chicagoland area I try to visit a Portillo's. But on this trip I wanted to try other brands, so I came here based on the reviews. I went on a weeknight and simply ordered a kid's size Italian Beef. I simply wanted to try how they do their sandwich. Service at the register was helpful (as I had a couple questions) and friendly. The restaurant was really busy, both inside and the drive-thru and the staff was friendly. The place was clean and I have to say it was quite accommodating, like a full-service restaurant. My kid's size Italina beef came to my table about 10 mins after I sat down, which is reasonable, especially with their level of business. This kid's meal came with their crinkle cut fries and I have to say, they were amazing! Crispy and tasty and piping hot too! The Italian Beef sandwich itself was perfect! The beef was tender and moist and nicely sliced. The bread was perfect. The seasoning on the meat was excellent and the au jus was equaly as great! The combo of all these items together were what I dream of from the East Coast (where we don't have anything similar). Overall... Everything was great! And their kid's meal is a nice deal for those not seeking tons of food!! Their restroom was nice and clean too. Highly recommend this place! read more

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My husband ordered food to go for lunch. He ordered a plant based Italian beef on the GF pita. Turns out there is wheat in the plant based beef so they switched out to a caprese sandwich. Glad they did tell him. The GF pita was okay, might be better toasted but that could be difficult to avoid cross-contamination. Also, wish the plant based meat was GF. Not many options for GF and vegetarians. read more

This location is consistently solid in both food quality and service. The menu offers a wide variety of options, though I wasn't a fan of how they changed the kids' menu about a year ago -- they removed some good choices that my family used to enjoy. When dining in, service is fairly quick, and the restaurant (including the bathrooms) is generally clean. They do have a mobile app, but using rewards can be tricky. At one point, my rewards were lost during a system migration, and the process of merging accounts was confusing. The drive-through can also take a bit of time -- usually around 10 minutes -- and there's limited space for cars waiting. It would be great if they added a few reserved parking spots for mobile or drive-through orders. For a family of four, the total usually runs around $40-$50 with drinks. Overall, Buona remains a dependable choice for a casual meal, but it's worth double-checking your bag at the drive-through -- we've had a few orders missing an item or two. read more

Great beef sandwiches! Love Chicago Italian beef. Today we ordered kids beef, kids chicken tenders, chopped salad, and large beef. Loved everything, love it with spicy giardinara. Nice clean restaurant, I also like the juices and tea, there was lemonade, strawberry watermelon and black tea. Large menu if you prefer other items like pizza, pasta, salads, or burger. Counter service and they'll deliver to your table. Check out this location or the ones with a Rainbow Cone attached. read more

Buona - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

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Still the best beef sandwich around! Consistent prep, quality ingredients and quantity of beef in the sandwiches is considerable. Establishment is always clean and kept up. They always have quick and friendly service. The read more

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When I have a taste for a salad this is the first place that pops up in my mind. They have a nice selection of salads and the price is right! My husband ordered the grilled chicken sandwich and loved it! It looked so yummy too! The best part was I redeemed points and got it for FREE My daughter loves their brownies and that says a lot because she is very picky. We try to dine here at least one day a week and highly recommend you give this restaurant a try! read more

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Ordered a beef with sweet peppers. No beef on the sandwich and what peppers they gave me were burnt. Their beef is not good and not worth the $10 I paid for this crap. Don't waste were time at Buona go to Johnnies. I won't be going back. read more

What is going on with Buona's fries?! I used to love their fries...got them today and they sucked. I'm hoping this was a temporary change but worried. Buona, explain yourself! read more

Buona - Wrong Fries?! - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Food is excellent . Service is great and place is always clean salads are amazing, pizza great . And service polite and friendly

Buona is a really decent fast food restaurant. The prices I paid averaged about $10. I always ordered on the inside and had about a 3-5 minute wait. The italian beef sandwich was pretty good. The beef was flavorful and the italian bread held up as well. I also tried the beef & giardinera pizza. It felt a little light for a $10 pizza and was not better than the italian beef sandwich. There are plenty of other options on the menu to try including some vegetarian options. read more

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This was my first time eating at a Buona Beef. I'm a big Italian beef fan- a big fan of Al's Beef and Portillos- so, I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to try a new place for Italian beef. But Buona did not disappoint! I would say that their bread held up the best against the juice, whereas their competitors bread seems to get soggy as the meal goes on. The Italian beef was juicy and flavorful. And their fries came out hot and fresh! I will definitely be returning to Buona! read more

Buona - Italian Beef Process! - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

First time eating here. The beef sandwich was the best I've had. So tender and such great flavor. I also had a Chicago Dog which was also good. Not the best but good. read more

Came here for the first time. You can walk in and order or you can stay in the car and use the drive through . They have a big Parking lot. I order the regular buona beef meal. Beef was made fresh. It had very good taste. Has little spice to the beef. Wasn't dry. The fries were crispy and fresh! Ill definitely try a chicken sandwich next time! If your looking for a late night snack they are open till 10pm. Service was good I only waited a few minutes for my food. I didn't go in side but from the outside looking in everything looked pretty up to date and clean. Will definitely be back! read more

My family and I frequent this location. I am fan of the beef sandwiches, my daughters like the vodka rigatoni and avocado chicken sandwich, wife goes for the cheese pizza. Something for everyone. What sets this location apart is the service- everyone is very nice and always looking to make your dinning experience better. read more

My husband and I went to the Buona in Hoffman Estates today. He had the beef sandwich and loved it, and I had another great choice, the Chicken Avocado bowl. My husband inadvertently knocked over his lemonade, which gushed all over our table, the floor, and my husband's clothes. As we grabbed the napkins we'd picked up, our server, Evelia, came toward us with a towel, napkins, and a reassuring smile. She did an amazing job of cleaning things up and calming us both down. She also quickly brought out a mop and took care of the floor, with more napkins for my husband so he could head to the restroom and make himself presentable. We were able to finish our lunch without feeling embarrassed and traumatized. Great thanks to Evelia. She's the best!! read more

This is how my side of meatballs was served today. Also ordered house salad full size was told can only get as side salad. Had to ask them to talk to their manager. Keep giving me half size dressing on full size salad and bread was missing had to drive back around to get that. It has gotten to the point that I have to check my order before leaving. Recently when ordering a side of meatballs I was told I have to purchase the sausage meatball bowl to get the side of meatballs. Another time they charged me for a meatball sandwich. Get with it there are many other restaurants in your area I could spend my money at. I come in at least once a week and spend roughly $40, guess you don't need my money. Couple of weeks ago I tried your online ordering my food was cold, the side of meatballs was missing, the specific dressing ordered was not there and bread was missing. read more

Buona - Meatballs Marinara - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

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Combo beef and sausage sandwich was great Reminds me of the sandwiches I had as a kid growing up in Chicago.

We really like the food at Buona. It's probably on par with Portillo's in terms of burgers, hot dogs, and beefs. We like that they have different options such as soup and pizzas on the menu. We've tried almost everything on the menu and haven't found anything we don't like. The only reason I have to rate this location less than a 4 or 5 Star is that the past few times we order take out, we get home to find items missing or incorrect items. The people working are always really friendly, so I don't think it's intentional at all, but it does become annoying to get home to find incorrect items. Hopefully this improves so that I can update my review. read more

Hamburger is pretty good for the price. NIce and juicy, quite a mess to eat though. Staff are very friendly and accommodating. Service was fairly fast even though the place was slammed during lunch time during a sudden rain downpour. read more

This was my introduction to The Beef that Chicagoland is known for. Since who knows when I'll be back here, I got my sandwich large size and baptized out of sheer necessity. I added hot giardiniera which struck me as an authentic touch. It added maybe a tiny bit of heat but definitely crunch and I then felt healthier about having adding cheese. Food came out really fast, hot, tasty. Soda (or in my case mixed tea/lemonade) cups can be self refilled. For the price, this is a really good quality meal and you can be in and out as quick as you please. I constantly stuff myself with deep dish when I visit Chicago but Buona has opened my eyes to other possibilities for a less overfilling meal. read more

Not bad pretty running in the mill definitely not what I remember over 25 years ago, but it's not so bad and they have a kids menu if you're in the mood for a snack read more

Tried their pizza for the first time. Not bad, wish there was jalapeños on the pizza. Pizza itself was really good and looking forward to trying more items from them. I am happy todo a 4 star review for now. read more

Buona - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Our order was repeatedly incorrectly prepared even after my explanations and requests

I just had chicken sandwich and buorna combo beef with sausage as a dining. It was really good and not salty at all. Fries are pretty thick which I loved the most. Person who help me name "chad" was super kind and well explained about my order. Most Def coming back just cause of his enthusiastic work. And food they are making. read more

Wonderful experience here at Buona. As a first-timer customers. I am really impressed and satisfied by their service! Clean place, friendly staff, and food was fantastic. The staff is welcoming and attentive. I enjoy seeing staff cleaning tables and benches with attention to detail especially around the side of the tables. The food is great always piping hot! We enjoy the salads the most and their beefs! Our orders were served hot and fast. Will recommend and hopefully visit again the next time we're in the area. Glad we stopped by! read more

I have no bones with Buona. This place reminds me of Portillo's. The style of ordering and the type of food is similar. You go to the front and there's a menu to order from. The difference here is that they do bring the food to you. Buona has your italian beefs, hot dogs, grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, etc. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich and it was A-OK. I like Buona because it's definitely less crowded than Portillo's. Sure, there may not be as many options, but for what I usually order, its A-OK for me. BATHROOM REVIEW: Located past the soda fountain, there is a mens and womens bathroom. Inside, the bathroom was decent and clean. There is a urinal and a couple of stalls. Everything seemed to be working fine, although I didn't get a chance to checkout the toilet. Sit or squat? Squat. read more

I love the food. But anytime you go through the drive thru, whether they're dead or busy, you ALWAYS have to pull to the side and wait. What's the point of drive thru then? Basically curbside. Not a good place to go through the drive thru if you're in a rush. You'll be waiting a while. read more

Good burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and chicken Caesar salads. The ambiance is also nice inside for a quick and affordable lunch.

Use to come here weekly until the remodel. Loved when it was cozy but now has a cold environment. Food is not as good as it use to be too. Husband loved the bbq beef but they took it off their menu....just add bbq sauce. Service inside has also deteriorated. Stopped going after a few times after the remodeling was done, read more

Minestrone soup is extraordinary. More veggies and beans than broth/juice. That's the way that my family likes it. If you have a sweet tooth than enjoy their mouth watering chocolate chip cookies and fudge brownies. The rest of their food is very good. Recommend dining in because it's very clean, welcoming and comfortable read more

Buona - Buona Beef Restaurant, Hoffman Estates, Illinois - Sandwiches Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Really good beef sandwiches. I highly encourage everyone to get their beef sandwich "baptized" which is where they dip your sandwich in au jous. Love love love! read more

The food is fine. It's a Chicago based operation, so you'd expect the Italian Beef to be decent, and it is. But it's not good enough to justify their recent price gouging. Specifically, the upgrade from a sandwich to a meal no longer includes a free drink. The menu is really slick about this too. The exact phrasing is: "Make a meal" "Choose a side + drink" "Save money" It very specifically doesn't tell you how much the upgrade costs or what the savings on the side and drink is. But when you ask for the drink that you *thought* you just ordered with that upgrade, they'll tell you it doesn't include a drink. This is just price gouging and deceptive advertising. read more

Wears the Beef? Had the 10" And the wife had the 5" and we took the meat of if each sandwich and the amount of meat was the same , WTF I pad extra for just the bread. What a shame , look forward to a Beef Shack. read more