After looking for somewhere in the area to have lunch, we ended up at Poochie's. Good food and friendly staff! Inside is very clean and well decorated with Chicago sports memorabilia and such. We both had the cheddar burger (they use Merkt's cheese!) and cheese fries (more Merkt's!). The woman in front of me ordered a grilled salami sandwich. If I ever find myself back here again, that'll be the next thing I try. read more

Ok Poochie's is a nice stop for some real food. Good Chi Town dogs. Fries are fresh cut, but they seemed as if they were over cooked or maybe sat too long. But they were ok. I would show a pic of the hot dog but I ate it. But I also got a burger that wasn't bad. The services were pleasant and fast. Nice family atmosphere. This does get the Monalisa stamp for me. I will be back with hope the fries are better. read more

Poochie's - Burger with grilled onions - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Been wanting to try poochies for some time. Had a classmate back in HS that loved poochies. So I finally got to try it. I liked the char taste of the burger. The fries were so good we had to get another order as my kids wanted more and didn't want to share after a few bites. The staff is super nice and accommodating. The pricing and value are still pretty decent and I liked the feel of the dining room. Could definitely feel the community. read more

Poochie's - Triple char burger, cheese burger, fries and char polish - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

We ended up here after trying to go to a similar place that was cash only. The place was not busy on a weekend dinner time. We ordered a char mozzarella burger, monster burger (3 patties) and a char polish sausage and an order of fries. You can have all your sandwiches topped how you would like it. They are definitely char burgers as an individual in our party did not like the "burnt" parts. Decent sized burgers and decently priced as well. The service was quick and made to order. This is the only location of Poochie's around. read more

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Great place to grab burgers,hotdogs and shakes. I use to come her a lot when I was pregnant and living in Evanston back in the day. Satisfied my In &Out cravings. The place is a nice spot for a quick lunch. They got plenty of seating and free parking. read more

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I was recently introduced to this place, and I love it. Everything is char grilled! The burgers, great, hotdog great, Polish sausage great, these are must try when hitting up Popchies. What I loved was the loaded fries. That is a must... Definitely check this place out. If you like this kind of fast food you'll love this place... Check it out you might like it! read more

I hadn't been there for years. Not much has changed. The char on the sandwich is excellent and the fries are crisp. I was looking forward to the charred salami, which is an old favorite. I find the meat bland and pretty tasteless which was a great disappointment. read more

Poochie's - Char Salami Sandwich Special - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

I ordered the 2 hot dog special that comes with fries and a drink. The hot dogs are Vienna Bee natural casing dogs with all of the Chicago style toppings. The toppings are super fresh with just the right amount of condiments to not overwhelm the dog. The fresh cut fries are fluffy and crisp. They are a piece of eatable art. This place is super clean and the staff is really chill. Love all the sports memorabilia on the walls. read more

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I've been going to Poochie's for years, and this hot dog eatery has been around since '69, serving up hot dogs, sausages, burgers, sandwiches, dinner plates (salami, chicken breast, brisket, and skirt steak), salads, soups, chili, and shakes/malts. I haven't been a fan of their char dogs and burgers lately, but when I get a craving for Cheddar Fries (that uses Merkt's), I come here. The waffle fries are generously topped with Merkt's cheddar sauce that is super thick, cheesy, and salty. Sometimes, they don't mix the cheese sauce well so it gets a little clumpy, or there is some separation issue. Service is always friendly, and I love the decor of the place with the Chicago memorabilia. Parking is available in the small lot. +Cheddar Fries! +small lot for parking read more

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So many people rave about this place. I know it's a staple of the area and they I have had their catering at events. It's a hot dog/burger joint like any other, but you need to have grown up with it. I have my favorite places and this is on the list for many other people. It's definitely on my list for top hot dog joints. We were on our way somewhere and my wife was peckish. She immediately thought of Poochie's. I said I've had them at events but had never dined at their brick-and-mortar location and she looked at my like I had a second head. How could I have never been there?! Well, this was my moment. We both got hot dogs. Mine is always the same, mustard and pickle only. Her's was mustard, relish, pickle, and onion (but they were grilled). We got their cheese fries (and if you visit a hot dog stand and not get the cheese fries, you're a heathen). And I also got a tamale (because that's a true test of a hot dog stand). She got a diet Coke and I a Mr. Pibb. They had a lot on their menu and I really want to go back and try their burger. I will always get cheese fries and never the other concoctions they offer (you people on the West Coast with your cheese fries and thousand island dressing mixed in - what the hell is wrong with you?) And when do loaded fries ever have sour cream added. Ya got cheese and bacon. Save the sour cream for the baked potato. And don't get me started on your Caesar fries. Really? Really? I do want to try their fried pickle chips. They looked great, but my wife was shooting daggers at me through her eyes and I knew I had pushed my luck with cheese fries AND a tamale AND a Mr. Pibb. When in Rome... Their food is great! It rivals anything in the area. You can go to your sit down restaurants and order whatever, but will you leave with a smile on your face? Chances are just 50/50. If you go to Poochie's and order all of their deliciousness? Chances are you're walking out full with a big sh*t-eating grin on your face and 100% satisfaction. read more

Came in on a Saturday and while it was busy, the wait wasn't too long to get my food. The cheddar burger and fries were both very good. They have a variety of things on the menu that I'll definitely come back to try. read more

Stopped for lunch as I had this bookmarked to try. I ordered a cheddar burger and char Chicago style dog. The dog came as a combo with fry and drink. The dog was on the skinner side which I prefer. I liked the char on the dog which was new for me and overall had good meld of flavors. The cheddar burger was just fair. I've definitely had Better in the desplaines area and would not order it again here. The fries were top notch. My cherry coke didn't have much cherry flavor and could use some calibration. read more

Poochie's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

My cousin said Poochies was great. Good hotdog and delicious fresh cut fries. #iraeats #iraeats1 read more

Poochie's - Hot Dog Meal Deal - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Still amazing! I wish I could take a picture of food but I literally inhale it, lol. It is still my favorite spot in Skokie and still plan my trips to the old neighborhood around eating at Poochie's. Thanks Poochie's! read more

Poochie's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

I don't get the attraction to this place. The food is average, to be generous. Been here three times hoping for the 4-star food that Yelpers average this place and haven't come close. We were served fries that were cols D and - no kidding - soggy like limp over greasy potatoes. The onion rings were breaded hard as rocks, A burger asked for medium rare and another rare were cooked exactly the same -- overcooked welllll done. A hot dog was ok, but would have been nice ifit was a little warm, never mind hot. Won't go back again. read more

It's more than a little hole-in-the-wall place... it's modern, but not too modern. Bigger than a stand, but not that big. It has TVs on the wall, but not exactly a sports bar. So it's kinda in the middle. Anyway... Poochie's is a nice local Skokie spot for hot dogs (or char dogs) and burgers. The place is clean, the food is great (if you like those earthy kind of fries, where they're skin-on and hot and a bit limp from the oil) and the staff seems like they like being there. Of course, I had the maxwell polish which was char'd up nicely. I should be back shortly to try some burgers! read more

Poochie's - A view of the kitchen - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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It's pretty rare I get a grilled hot dog instead of a boiled one. But they offered and I said okay. The hot dog and fries were really good, and you get a lot of fries. I mean, it's basic, but for a hot dog, it was very tasty. The place was not busy, as it was snowing that night, so it was very quiet inside. I was alone (loserville), but I actually prefer to eat fast food that way. They have a drink dispenser, so refills are but a few steps away. It's a little pricy for a two hot dog meal (like $14+), but I didn't mind a couple extra bucks for the quality. I don't live close to this place, but if I'm ever in the neighborhood again, I will definitely stop there again. read more

I am 69yo, grew up in Skokie and have been back for 20 years. The Poochies, as we knew it, is gone. The fries are hard and overcooked, the cheddar cheese is just liquid cheese-colored oil under the burger, and the burger has no taste at all anymore. So sorry to see it's demise. read more

We hired them for catering- They did an amazing job!! Everything was perfect. Guest pleased with the food; we had a lot of leftovers. And they stayed to make sure everything went smoothly. I highly recommend them! read more

5 stars for excellent customer service! It's a classic hot dog and burger place, with some interesting menu items, enough that I'll have to go back and try more of them. But what really struck our family was the friendly banter from the staff while they were adding the toppings, and the fact that they thanked us for coming. Little social niceties like that, that made us feel especially welcome. It's a relatively small place, but has a decent amount of seating. Casual, diner-style. You order your food at the register, but they wait till after it's cooked to ask what you want on it. Toppings are added right before they hand it to you. The toppings are generous and the food is tasty! We'll definitely be back! read more

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It's hit or Miss for me. I won't go unless the owner is there teeny boppers he leaves in charge only do so much. Let's just say everything is better when he's there. Nothing special about this place. Phenomenal onion rings regular fast food fare read more

One of the best fast food places in the area, and we have a lot! It's similar to Hub's and Dengeo's, both in the neighborhood, but they don't have all of the dinners like ribs, gyros or different types of chicken, but what they offer, hot dogs and burgers, they do well. Everything is cooked to order and they have a lot of options. I love their burgers and charred dogs. An order of fries can feed two people. You can dine in or carry out and they have specials. (It's cheaper to order in rather than order online.) read more

Poochie's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Visited here on a Monday night. Ordered cheeseburger, chicago style hot dog, fries, with a Diet Coke. Food was made to order, it was fresh, service was quick . Yes, it was a lot of food but I couldn't decide. Ended up with best of both worlds.... Restaurant was clean and little league baseball playing tv. A lot of pickup/to go orders. Recommend... read more

Poochie's - Char Cheese Burger, Chicago Style Hot Dog, French Fries, Diet Coke... - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. Their cheddar burger was the most vile disgusting burger I have ever eaten. The cheese was chunky and didn't taste like any cheese I have ever eaten before. The fries were hand cut and ok but can't outweigh the terrible burger and for the price there is a much better place a few blocks down near the corner of Dempster and Crawford. read more

Came here after strong recommendation from a friend. Had 2 charbroil dogs and fries. $30 OMG. The dogs were jumbo and perfect for the bun. Peppers onions tomatoes pickled something. They were good and filling. Bun was perfect. Not sure worth 2 pkgs of Hebrew National dogs. Fries were great but unsalted. You have to eat right away. read more

I was lucky to have lunch at Poochie 's recently. The grilled chicken was incredibly delicious! It's tender, juicy, and savory. Next time I'll come with the kids for lunch. Because it's high-quality and delicious. read more

Stopped in for a Chicago dog. It was delicious! Staff was friendly and helpful. No frills locale, which was just what I was looking for.

I was on a "Chicago Dog" tasting mission while out there for work. Came across this little gem of a spot and I wasn't let down. Service was quick organized smooth, the diggity was very good, snap!, traditional Chicago fresh and tasty. Perfect balance, but the snap on the first bite was like "damn this is a good dog". Had a soda and buzzed down the road. Very friendly spot! read more

Poochie's - Diggity dog Chicago Skokie - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Had a wonderful experience with delicious food. Got the cheddar burger, which was to die for! Will be back soon!

The interior is nothing special. So I usually do takeouts. Very nice burger and fries. The only place I order burgers when I am home and want an burger. read more

I don't think there's anything I can say that hasn't been said already. The hotdogs are good, and the hamburgers are good too!

This is a good place for charbroiled burgers . It s right by my house in Skokie and I passed it all the time but never tried it. Today I finally did. Awesome burgers and great service . Friendly , good spot for a quick bite. read more

I hate to see it happen. I hate how it all unfolds. I was SO excited to finally getting around to trying the infamous Pooch. Sadly, it was all hype. I was craving a gyro. They don't offer...I should have re reviewed the menu before coming here unannounced. It's entirely possible that I just didn't get the it thing or some sort of secret menu. I will say, their skirt steak sandwich looked delicious being prepared. It's such a gamble lol it's skirt steak (I always make my own ; it's a cultural thing) that it may have looked way better than it actually tasted. I don't believe I was missing much. Overall, it was just okay. The fresh cut were the best part. Their chicago style dog, Italian beef + sausage combo and char burger were not that good. The most disappointing was the char burger, it wasn't good. Asked for everything on and didn't come with cheese. I noticed all their employees wore masks but no gloves. Ironic. I was put off by that watching the skirt steak being made with an entire hopefully clean hand underneath. Im sure I've eaten worse unbeknownst to me... It was overpriced and not that tasty and possibly not so sanitary. Disappointments. read more

First time here after hearing many good things about it and it lived up to the hype. Dogs were delicious. Service was very friendly and the restaurant was spotless. Will definitely be frequenting this place. read more

Best hotdogs in Chicago! Love love love this place and every time we're in Chicago this is our 1st stop. A special thanks to the Poochie's Family that goes above & beyond in making our family feel special read more

Poochie's - Chris thank you for making my little cousin's day! - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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I was craving a bratwurst and decided to come here for the first time and glad I did! It was very laid back and other patrons were there watching football. I enjoyed my brat, the welcoming staff and casual family oriented atmosphere. I highly recommend the cream soda! read more

When portillos changed its burgers in 2024 i was at a loss for a good burger. Then i found Poochies!! Now Poochies is my favorite burger around & those fresh cut fries are the best !!! I love Poochies & woof it down !!! Yummo!!! read more

Burgers and cheese fries are spectacular. I don't usually like charburgers but this place makes them perfect!

Love their CharCheddar burgers and love that their fries are fresh cut and usually fried upon ordering

If you want the Chicago hot dog experience without being mainstream about it, Poochie's is a great option! I did like the char hot dog more than the standard Chicago hot dog though. Of course, I got "the works!" read more

Poochie's - Chicago Style Hot Dog and Fried Pickle Chips - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois