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    Express Grill

    4.3 (102 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs, Burgers, Polish
    Open 6:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    EXPRESS GRILL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Express Grill

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    Menu as of 08/2023
    Richard S.

    This place is next to Jim's hot place. So I tried them (both). They offer the same menu items - and Express Grill falls short, compared to Jim's. The pork chop sandwich was ok....just (nearly as flavorful as Jim's. The onions on the sandwich or hotdog....we're quite mushy (compared) to Jim's. And again, (not) as flavorful.

    Cheese Burger & Free French Fries
    Dino N.

    I used to frequent this place fairly often when I lived closer. I was stuck in traffic on 90/94 (surprise, surprise) so I decided to hop off and grab a bite after so many years...still so good! Yes, the prices have gone up, but they needed to (thank you [Insert name of whichever politician you choose to blame] lol). I went to my old favorite: Cheese Burger with grilled onions and hot peppers, no mustard (mustard on a burger? still can't do it!). The steamed bun was just so perfect and they melt the cheese so perfectly! The hot peppers are HOT! And guess what hasn't changed...free fries...a lot of them! Keep doing your thing guys!

    Storefront
    Howard L.

    Yum-yum, if you want an authentic Maxwell Street Polish, it's this place or Jim's Original Hot Dog a few feet to the north on Union Street.  As I last visited Jim's whilest I was on Union St, I stopped here this time for a Polish, with the free fries (ha), grilled onions, hot peppers, and mustard for $5.30 all-in (taxes included in listed price).  Deeelicious, and a real Chicago street food treat!  The Polish had a nice snap and a nice mild kick to it too. A fun foodie stop 4sure if you're in the area and they do take credit cards now.  By the way, Express Grill and Jim's have virtually identical menus and prices but different owners (I read but not sure it's true that they were feuding cousins or brothers from the olden days??) who are competitors operating just a few footsteps apart.   Fortunately there are plenty of stylish Chicago, or er make that Chicago-style customers for both!

    Polish Sausage Sandwich
    Teneha B.

    One of two outstanding polish stands in The Chi!!! The story of the two cousin that split is legendary here and is still the talk between the two stands. A favorite among the Chicago locals, the polish sausages here are good. Grilled onions and hot peppers on the side. Toss in a bag of fries and it's a party. The cost is fair, all things considered. Right off the freeway, you can grab a bite to eat and a pop to wash it down.

    Dry food :(

    I try not to leave reviews (especially bad ones) but my husband and I have ordered here more than once. Each time they're always missing something, or the food just isn't as good as it can be. My Italian beef (buy one get one free) off of Uber was missing cheese, and our burgers as well. I give it a 2 because all the food was there this time but of course there's things missing that makes the meal complete. Maybe it would have been different if we went in to eat.

    Polish
    Rosa J.

    "Express Grill" is one of the Chicago institutions many people often pass through after the Jane Byrne Interchange (a junction between Eisenhower, Dan Ryan, and Kennedy). It's a cash-only establishment, but the prices on the menu are very reasonable. With that being said, hubby and I managed to have a meal for two (2) under $10. Yeah, you really don't any any further explanation. The surroundings can be pretty crowded during summer evenings when Chicago experiences her prime time from students hopping from one bar to another, locals hanging out in the University Village, and out-of-town visitors getting their first taste of Chicago-style hot dog. I knew their polish sausage with aromatic grilled onion is the most popular, yet I was in the mood for something round and beefy so I went for a cheeseburger instead. As we placed the order, we were able to watch the grilling actions and the food looked SO, SO delicious! One factor I wanted to point out was that the non-meat toppings were cooked along with the meat. I bet the reason why they were done this way was to have the grilled onion, for example, soaked in the meat juice to enhance the flavor. I personally wouldn't have any problem with meat and non-meat products cooked simultaneously on the same grill as long as nothing is undercooked. My cheeseburger was assembled properly, though I would say the cheese could be melted a bit more as they cooked in my opinion. Anyway, as the name suggested, "Express Grill" owned up to it. The cheeseburger was great for what I paid for. I had no complaint; I was just being slightly critical.

    Jennifer T.

    Good! I ate all my food without a picture! So good and come with fries, included with each order! And the hot pepper on the side... I think I'm still sweating from it.

    Jack A.

    This is the place to stop when you are craving a traditional Polish Sausage! The grilled onions are amazing and come with fries. Ironically Jim's Original is more well known for its sausage but the locals prefer Express Grill. What's really awesome is that Express grill is only 50 feet south of Jim's so you can/should try both that's what I did. Express Grill sausages are a little bigger and meatier (less saltier too) and the fries are less seasoned. It's Great late night drunk food at a great price. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Chicago. Cash only stand up tables limited parking.

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Best pork chop sandwich in Chicago! Fries come with everything but they suck. Lol must have the chop!

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    19 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    14 years ago

    The Maxwell is the best around. Free fries with every sandwich... that are always fresh. And the price is very low compared to other places.

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    11 years ago

    I was here recently and it is back to a 5 in my opinion. I guess the lst time was a fluke. I will be back again and again.

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    18 years ago

    Express seriously has the best fries ever. That gives them the edge over Jim's. These 2 joints should get landmark status. Real Chicago.

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

    The best polish sausage and pork chop sandwich in the city.. The best place to go after a late night out . Good hangover food .

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    Staropolska Restaurant - Veal Liver with Sauteed Onions

    Staropolska Restaurant

    4.6(671 reviews)
    6.2 miAvondale
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    Staropolska is a gem! The menu is affordable, the food is great and street parking was easily…read moreaffordable. We made a reservation as we were a group of 5 and it was not an issue, but it could be on a weekend. There was only one server, but she was on top of her game. The restaurant is European, so it's not designed to be the American rush to eat. We started with potato pierogi to share. They were so amazing! My entree was stuffed chick with dumplings and a lovely cucumber salad. Very good, decent portion. The only detractor could be the restroom which is down a flight of stairs, and could be a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. Def worth checking out.

    We started with two soups. The sour rye soup was tangy and savory, with small pieces of kielbasa,…read moretwo egg halves, and a sprig of dill on top. The red beet soup had a clear red broth with no pieces inside, and was accompanied by a meat croquette. This was my first time having a Polish croquette, and I would say that it tasted more like an egg roll than a Japanese croquette: less greasy, with a significant quantity of minced filling. Then came the main attraction: the special for two, a sampler of Poland's biggest hits. The potato pancakes and breaded chicken were golden brown and had a slightly crisp crust. The pierogies were shaped quite like some Chinese dumplings I've had, but the filling was unmistakably Polish. The stuffed cabbage had a generous amount of meat and came in a hearty tomato broth. The kielbasa had very good taste and texture. The bacon-wrapped plum was something I had never heard of before, but it was quite tasty.

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    4.5(159 reviews)
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    $$

    Celebrated a birthday here last night and it was my first visit, despite knowing this place existed…read morefor years. Seeing their instagram reels and videos drew me to come check this place out. I tend to not go to Polish restaurants much because I have my mom for that lol. I married into a second gen Polish fam and so going to Polish restaurants occasionally brings them back memories back to when their aunt used to own a Polish restaurant in Chicago back in the days. Food was amazing and so worth it. The potato pancakes were the best I've had in a while (don't tell my mom). I was glad that they didn't taste like old frying oil and were fresh. I also had the red barszcz with a krokiet and it was so good. I had a taste for a grilled sausage with onions and potato/cheese pierogi and it hit the spot. Rest of the family enjoyed their food as well and we will definitely be back! I do wish they offered zapiekanki though but it's ok! The Polish plates my fam got all looked so good and highly recommended by them to get a taste of a little of a few main things :)

    Finally after all of these years, in Mom's neighborhood, we took C's brother and his wife visiting…read morefrom Columbia to this Polish restaurant. How Mom and I never ate here is beyond me. Anyway, the food was delicious. Prepared just like it should be. Good portions. Reasonable prices except for the beer. Nine dollars a glass. A case of twelve glass bottles costs $16.99. I do not drink beer but my guests do. Service was very good. Imho this location has the cleanest restrooms in the neighborhood guaranteed. If you enjoy Polish cuisine made to order, versus the buffet model, I recommend this awesome restaurant. I

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    Smakosz Restaurant - This is the main dining area.

    This is the main dining area.

    Smakosz Restaurant - Polish Food Assortment

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    Red Apple Buffet - Chicken Noodle soup

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    3.9(324 reviews)
    11.9 miNorwood Park
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    Best Polish buffet in the Chicagoland area Food was spectacular with numerous choices. Service was…read moreexcellent. Atmosphere was quaint and comfortable. Just a neighborhood restaurant and bar with ample on the street parking. I will return here many times

    My sister and I decided to treat my brother in law here for his birthday. He found out that a…read morePolish buffet existed around here so he had to go! We went before the dinner rush on a Saturday. There's a small parking lot in the back but that was full so we parked on the street. We were immediately seated and drink orders were taken as well as soup (which is included). Drinks are added separately and not inclusive of the $34 per person. I had the borscht and that was tasty and comforting. My brother in law didn't waste any time and he immediately got his first plate going. My sister and I took our time to enjoy the soup. I then started with the appetizers and tried the different salads. It was cool to see they had aspic since that's not something you see often either. When I eventually made my way to the warm food, I was overwhelmed by all the choices. I tried to take one of everything but even then it was too much so I didn't get to try it all. The meats that I did try were super tender and juicy. They definitely know what they're doing with the meats! The dessert area had so many different options. There was cake, flan and cheesecakes. So many to choose from! I think I just love Polish food in general because of the comfort food aspect. The proteins are usually simmered in gravy and you get to pair it with potatoes cooked in all sort of ways! My sister was adventurous and just started putting random stuff on her plate that I've never seen before. She found the meat spread and that was surprisingly good too. If you're ever in the area, try to go before the dinner rush. It's a great space and is deserving of the title "Largest Polish buffet in Chicagoland".

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    Red Apple Buffet
    Red Apple Buffet
    Red Apple Buffet - Buffet

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    4.9(56 reviews)
    16.6 mi

    Fantastic place. One of the best restaurants in the area and Glenview is very lucky to have it…read more It's very neat and classy inside. We ordered pierogi's on a Friday night and they were incredible. We ordered a plate of half potato and cheese and half spinach and mozzarella. They were simply just amazing. If I have to be super super picky, though, the potato and cheese pierogis tasted only a slightly bit doughy, but it was still great and I'm planning on paying Smetana multiple visits in the future.

    Service - 3/5. Can you not see that I'm dying on this date?! Why is service so slow when we're the…read moreonly ones here? Guy said chicken in stuff cabbage which was wrong (date doesn't eat other meats). Missed when we ordered chicken schwarma warp. Mistook 'hot coffee' and somehow brought out raspberry coulis alcoholic drink?! Give that kid a coffee or multivitamins! Food - 5/5 Pierogi plate - selection of different fillings, boiled or pan-fried Polish platter - sausage, perogis, stuffed cabbage roll, potato pancakes with sour cream and mustard, served with creamy tomato-based sauce or the other sauce. Chicken shwarma wrap - delicious. mostly filled with mozzerella cheese and crunchy vegetables, seared in panini press. I would not describe this as schwarma wrap whatsoever. Coffee came out with 3 sugar cubes on the side of the tea cup. The hygienic part of me is screaming. Doesn't it make more sense to use a sugar bowl?

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    Smetana
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    Polish Paczki Cafe - Pączek

    Polish Paczki Cafe

    4.7(98 reviews)
    11.3 miNorwood Park

    It truly felt like we were stepping into a grandmother's kitchen. The restaurant is clean, warm,…read moreand inviting. The owner warned us that we were ordering too much, but our party of four was there to sample as much as possible and prepared to take leftovers back to the hotel. Everything is scratch made, hearty, and delicious! We tried the potato pancake with pork goulash (the pork was fall apart tender and so flavorful), potato pancakes with sour cream, a mix of pierogi, meat filled potato dumplings, kielbasa, sauerkraut, pork chopped steak, fried pork tenderloin, all the "salads" (beets, slaw, red cabbage, and cucumbers), Polish fruit punch, and Paczki. I can't say enough about how amazing this meal was! I would make a trip to Chicago just to eat here again. Try it all, but definitely get the pork goulash.

    Long line especially on Fat Tuesday but I can see why…read more.. So soft and pillowy. They don't have any other flavor other than mixed jelly fruit; that is fine by me! The older gentleman there was so cute and friendly. Brought this to work and it held up great even after several hours. Spent about $40 for a dozen.

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    Polombia

    4.4(135 reviews)
    1.2 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    What do you get when you fuse a South American Country's food with a well known Central European…read moreCountry's food? You get Polombia, one of the only (that I know of) restaurants that brings together Poland and Colombian cuisine. I had gone to their former location in the now closed Washington Food Hall and enjoyed the cuisine immensely....but a couple weeks ago, I went to their current location in the Ogilvie Train Station within their food court. This time around, I decided to play it safe and try their paczki burger that of course has a Colombian twist. The bun itself was the paczki part but the inside it had an angus patty with melted cheese, sofrito, pickled slaw, and a garlic and tomato Aioli. It also had pickles in it too. I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty and satisfying the burger was. It was neither too sweet nor too savory....something that I'd try again in a heartbeat. Check this location out. But note that its towards the back of the food court and could be easily missed. They also have a stand at Rate Field, Home of the Chicago White Sox.

    For being a location in the train station, I would expect quick service. Especially at lunch. Well,…read morethat was expectation was not met. The staff was very slow in initially taking my order and then in preparing the order. Way too slow. I was the only person in line at the time, too. The food itself is pretty good, though. You just have to be prepared to wait for it. Last comment. I wasn't asked if I wanted anything else, which is really just a basic practice any restaurant should ask their guests.

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    Polombia
    Polombia - Sal-CHI-Papa

    Sal-CHI-Papa

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    Express Grill - hotdog - Updated September 2026

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