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    Poor Boy

    4.0 (67 reviews)
    InexpensiveGreek, American, Fast Food
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    POOR BOY ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Poor Boy

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    This thing was big and hefty and maybe only needed sweet peppers on top, but better with giardiniera on the side IMO. It's too hot spicy.
    carlo l.

    If I could apply fractions or decimals to a Star review I'd make this a 3.54 Star rating. I can only review the limited selection I had there at Poor Boy and that was the Italian Beef. So it's rated a bit better than okay leaning to good. The good: This was not a skimpy portion, it was pretty loaded with beef, that sandwich had some girth and weight, that's nice. To be fair, my favorite Italian Beef in the Greater Chicagoland area is made for me personally (usually) by Mr. Beef himself, Carl Bonovolanto, hands down the best and a high bar to match. The So-so: I wasn't asked if I wanted my Italian Beef dry, wet, dipped or dunked. To be fair not all places ask that. Even Portillio's did not the last time I went there (it was a test visit). I knew that's because the quite young employee there wouldn't know the first thing about how real Chicagoan's are particular about their Italian Beef and likely wasn't trained to say the words. She was just going through the motions. Same thing here at Poor Boy, I think that's just not the the way to present an authentic Chicago Italian beef. There's a serious tradition to this iconic beef sandwich which for a long time you couldn't find most anywhere but in the Greater Chicagoland (until The Bear TV series became popular). I was asked about peppers, I said sweet peppers. I then said do you have giardiniera and he said yes and I said I also wanted them. But he misunderstood my Chicago accented english, so just put on the hot giardiniera, no sweet peppers. I declined the cheese too, totally not used on the real deal, that's for tourists from Philly. I didn't find out until I seated and opened the sandwich. More So-so: The sandwich was piping hot and filled with beef and topped with copious amounts of very hot giardiniera. BUT.. the Italian flavoring was pretty hard to detect. It was beef alright, but where's the herbs and spices? The beef on the sandwich was way too dry and the little amount of very thin au jus that was there had all fallen to the bottom of the sandwich and totally melted the bun out in places. It was falling apart spilling beef as I began to eat it (inhale it?). So another no-no is you have to use a bun that won't disintegrate with juice. This bun failed that test pretty badly. I'd tell you the bun brand to use that's the absolute best, but then I'd have to flash you with that Men In Black device so you'd never be able to tell anyone. So even if I'd have been offered a dunked or wet Italian beef which I always like, this bun wouldn't have been able to take it anyway. The servers/cooks there looked like they knew their way around a fast food kitchen but they also seemed not to be part of knowing just how important the Italian BEEF tradition is to a natural born and raised Chicagolandian. Since there are places around that do it so well and so authentically, you have to put a strong effort in, IMO. Their menu on the wall behind the counter looked very deep and I bet they have items there that they just knock out of the park. I think the prices are fairly reasonable and you may get a good value for your dollar here. The tables were not a wreck but if it were my place I'd wipe down those tables often so there's absolutely no crumbs, greasy smudges or bits laying on top of them. If I end up in that town again for any reason I may stop in here again to try something else they are supposed to be known for, and maybe will have a better review to add. Okay, that's a lot of words for just one sandwich... 3.54 Stars, Fair/Good tasting and nice pretty hefty Italian Beef Sandwich. I think I could like this joint just fine if going there more often.

    4 half pita breads. How am I supposed to make sandwiches.
    Larry B.

    First I went there at 6:20pm. They are supposed to be open til 10. Doors locked, only drive through open. I hate drive throughs. The speakers suck, you can never understand what they are saying. Poor Boys speaker sucked. Ordered Gyro plate. Supposed to get 2 pita breads. Nope. I got 4 halfs. How am I supposed to make sandwiches. Don't think I'll be going back. The Gyro meat was good.

    Hot corned beef sandwich

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    1 month ago

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    10 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Big bag of fries. The sandwiches are pretty good,and a variety at that. Ribs,fish,pork,beef, whatever you're looking for.

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

    The soup was excellent but could have been hot instead of lukewarm. The gyro wasn't good but fries were okay but could have used salt.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food. Great prices and great service! Large selection of different sandwich options. Great soup too!

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Been eating here since I was a child love this place could eat almost anything on the menu

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    2 years ago

    It was fine. The lobby was closed so we couldn't go in. The food was bland. It wasn't to busy so that was nice.

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

    I stop here when ever I am down there. Foods always hot. They have lots of options. Portions are definatly oversized

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    7 years ago

    If you like gyros dogs and CHARburger's this is a good place service is usually very fast and the product is tasty

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    11 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Poor Boy

    Review Highlights - Poor Boy

    As others have mentioned, if you're in the mood for greasy food, this is the place to be in K3.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Kefi Greek Cuisine + Bar

    Kefi Greek Cuisine + Bar

    4.2
    (283 reviews)
    38.1 mi
    $$

    Food was fresh and authentic! Gyro meat was cooked to perfection, tender and the best in the area…read morehands down! Greek music playing - makes you want to dance! Spot on service and very polite, friendly and fast! The decor is tranquil like your sitting outside at a table enjoying a meal home cooked by YiaYia! The kids menu was perfect even though we didn't order from it. We were there for lunch and the appetizers are enough for two people. The olive oil is so fragrant, the bread is fresh baked and amazing. I wish I would've tried the stuffed pepper soup, but Avgolemono is my favorite. I just wish they had a generous bowl of Youvetzi that was flavored with lamb shank!!! It's my go to Greek comfort food - My YiaYia's was the best! I will have to return to sample their desserts! I hope my favorite is on the menu... Galaktoboureko!

    This is going to be a mixed review because my husband loved it and I thought it was "OK"…read moreThe staff is very pleasant and courteous and the place is very clean. The floor was very slippery around our table and for someone unsure of their step, this made me very nervous. Started with saganaki and lemon soup. My husband thought they were both delicious, unfortunately I thought the cheese was lacking and the soup was not think enough. There were huge pieces of chicken in it though. I had the special - Youvarelakia - which are the herbed meatballs in lemon sauce. The meat was "very herb-y" to the point of almost overwhelming the meat taste. Once again, the sauce was too think for my liking. Husband had the Youvetsi and thought it was delicious. We both brought leftovers home

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    Pastichio
    Pastichio
    Kefi Greek Cuisine + Bar
    Chicken Kabob

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    Chicken Kabob

    Poor Boy - greek - Updated June 2026

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