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Booby's Charcoal Rib
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
67 reviews for Booby's Charcoal Rib
Review Highlights
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"The yummiest steak sandwich ever." In 24 reviews -
"Booby's - a Greek-owned Niles gem that I spent my high..." In 5 reviews -
"I had an italian beef here and it was good." In 4 reviews
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67 reviews in English
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Review from Nats W.
Dallas, TX
4/10/2012
I have been coming here since I was old enough to ride my bike alone. Back in the day this place was the hangout spot for me and my friends. I always use to order the Cesar salad, it was huge and it never cost me more than $5. (That was the price 10 years ago, don't know what it is now). The salad is just as scrumptious as it was ages ago. I love love love the croutons.
I read the yelp reviews and everyone was raving about the steak sandwich. I finally gave it and tried it. IT IS FRICKING HUGE! Seriously, the sandwich is to die for. You have the option of two sides. I went with fries and cole slaw, should of got the soup. (They have excellent soup!!) It is not tough or hard to chew, it is very good and moist. The added BBQ was a plus too, I did not know it came with it.
I will always be a fan of boobys. I remember the original booby's before it burned down. A true gem in Niles. -
Review from Mikey S.
Niles, IL
2/25/2012
they got the best steak sandwiches ever,
italian beef is the best. -
Review from Demetris D.
Chicago, IL
5/25/2012
They have great food and there price aren't high as well. I love eating the greek chicken, it's really juicy.... Thank you Booby's......
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Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
9/13/2011
I swear to god, the driving force that made me go here is because the friend I went with thought it would hilarious if his "check-in" was at Booby's. Because he's apparently 12 years old.
Booby's filled a need for a quick, casual and inexpensive dinner. We both got their famous steak sandwich, which comes with fries, baked potato or rice, and soup, salad or cole slaw. It's a good amount of food for the money. A steak sandwich runs just over $10.
This place was quite the hot and happening spot for senior citizens. It almost looked like a high school cafeteria with different cliques eating and talking about everyone else (except with octogenarians instead of 'tweens).
The food was decent. They don't ask what temperature you prefer your steak cooked, so I was a little nervous that it would be horribly overcooked, and while it was cooked more than I prefer, it wasn't bad. It was tender, well-seasoned, and huge. I chose fries and salad as my sides and the salad was nice and fresh and the fries were crinkle cut (my favorite), piping hot, but nothing you haven't had before. All of the food is made to order so you may have to wait a few minutes. Their menu is extensive and as I mentioned, reasonably priced.
I can't imagine that I'd venture here with any regularity, but I liked it just fine.
Booby's is (are?) a good thing. -
Review from steven k.
Beverly Hills, CA
7/19/2011
Dear Lorna S,
The "creepy" guy you're referring to is actually the late Mr. Friedman (I don't remember his first name) who started the place around 50 years ago, and was a local legend with his customers and wisecracks. The sign is a caricature of him. A caricature exagerrates certain facial features. There was nothing creepy about him, and the only other notable Niles resident I can think of is a certain public official who was sentenced to prison. Not many restaurants stand the test of time, but this one does. -
Review from Ali H.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2012
Great place excellent sandwiches and service.
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Review from Lorna S.
Cook, IL
3/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The yummiest steak sandwich ever. I like mine with rice pilaf and salad. They make your food quickly, and it is consistently good. The variety of food is awesome.
The only thing that's creepy about this place is the sign. Over the word 'Booby's, there is a picture of a creepy cartoon guy. He seems to be a pervert lurking behind the "Booby's". I still don't understand that sign, but whatever. The steak sandwish is yummy. -
Review from Dominic R.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2010
I am big fan of breasts, so i love to go to places like Hooters and Brickhouse and Tilted Kilt! So for BOOBS come to BOOBY'S! Just kidding! When I was younger, we'd always drive by & I always thought Booby's was a strip club of some sort! But nope, it's a good old grease stop to eat!
Nice interior, good food, good prices! Friendly staff makes it an enjoyable experience, unlike some places where the workers are so bitter! They make a great burger, great cheezy beef, solid french fries, if you like gyros i am sure they have that (what greek place doesn't?)
So, if you're driving down Milwaukee in the Niles area........do stop at Booby's......now you wont' see half naked girls showing boobs, but you'll get a good meal!! DO TRY!!! -
Review from Joe K.
1/8/2011
Booby's is one of the places I always miss from the Chicago area.
They have really good burgers. I recommend the "Big C" burger (which if I remember correctly is a cheeseburger with cole slaw on it).
Make sure to get some fries and try the BBQ / Ketchup sauce that's on the tables. It's very good and has a nice "tang" to it. -
Review from Pam D.
9/26/2010
Positively A-OK. Not an exciting eatery, but just fine when you are looking for an easy, tasty stop. The Italian Beef Sandwiches are pretty good and quite substantial. The fries are ... well they are fries. Got some cream of chicken soup for Mom, which she loved, so all was and is well with the world.
This place has been here forever. Longevity speaks for itself. -
Review from MS L.
Chicago, IL
9/30/2011
I read the reviews here and decided I had to try the steak sandwich. It was impossible to chew, flavorless, and not worth 10.00. So I decided to give them another try. Why did I do that? This time we ordered the polish, cheese fries, and a pizza puff. What can I say the cheese fries were good. Theres a reason in all my life I had never been to this restaurant. I certainly wont go back.
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Review from Paul V.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
EXCELLENT skirt steak sandwiches - they make them absolutely perfect, perfect, perfect. Comes with choice of potato, slaw, salad or soup. You cannot go wrong with any side.
They have bottles of their BBQ sauce on each table and the place is really clean. They run a tight ship and it definitely shows in everything they do.
You must try it. -
Review from Jose C.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2011
Based on their food, I give this place a 3.5. But I rate them a 4 because I love the Booby's sign out front and have liked looking at it all my life.
My uncles used to come here when they were younger (70's), and I have heard a lot about this place so one day the wife and I decided to stop by. It's kind of out on a boring stretch of Milwaukee Ave in Niles so it's hard to pass up. We each ordered hamburgers. They were pretty good. Fried onions in place of fresh onion, nice touch. The lady at the front counter was super nice. The place is squeaky clean for a greasy diner. Not a bad time! Of course, I have had better so I can't give this place 5 stars but I guarantee I'll be back there again. -
Review from Billy G.
Niles, IL
11/22/2011
I have been to Booby's many times and have had a great experience every time.
You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu as far as I can tell.
Steak sammich with Fries, cup of soup and a cup of cheese for the fries is my usual. Anything that has their BBQ sauce is fantastic. -
Review from Kathy R.
Niles, IL
4/19/2007 3 photos
Booby's is your basic Greek-owned fast food place (really, it's a step up from fast food). This is my go-to place for gyros. But I've tried a number of menu items - burger, steak sandwich, salads, soups - and they're quite good. Plus, they have a really broad menu with things like pepper & egg sandwiches, and char-broiled salami sandwiches (seriously).
Things are made fresh, so expect a wait during the lunch or dinner rush. The dining room is pleasant enough; you can expect to see young un's dining with parents and seniors here.
Be warned: there is a drive-through window, but to my knowledge, there has never been drive-through service. (If there was, I'd probably give it 5 stars). -
Review from Edward W.
8/25/2010 10 Check-ins Here
I've been eating at this place since I was a kid. Best steak sandwich around. Extra sauce and well done fries. Jumbo lemonade. That's what I do. Sometimes I get the BBQ Half Chicken well done. Dip your fries in the sauce. Not the ketchup.
Booby, the guy on the sign, was a big Jewish guy who was always around. Nice guy. He's dead now but I think the pretty, older Jewish lady who is always at the register is his wife. She always talks to me. Loves my kids. Everybody else there is Greek. Yassou. They do an incredible job here. They never talk to me. They always talk to my Greek wife. I don't know why they like her so much. She is not even from around here. She grew up on the south side. I think it's a Greek thing. Opa!
It's easy to park here and the place is clean. You don't even have to clean your table when your done. They got a Mexican guy who has been there at least 20 years who will clean up after you get up. Hes a nice guy. Leave him a buck. -
Review from David R.
2/25/2009
I was looking for a cheap dinner place in the area, and Yelp research directed me here. I can say that it met expectations, so thank you to the previous reviewers.
The steak sandwich was highly praised, so I wanted that. Good luck finding it on the menu: It's in small font under the dinners section. Maybe it's so popular that they don't need to advertise it. $10.95 for the whole shebang, but that's substituting onion rings for the fries. When I got the tray, I wasn't sure that I could eat all of it. The sandwich is immense, but it doesn't come with anything on it. I thought, "Geez, how boring." But it was really good; it must be the sauce. The steak was decent quality, and the bread also very good. I threw a few onion rings in the sandwich for good measure.
The onion rings were disappointing; I liked the fries but I'd have preferred them crispier. The cole slaw was a bit too sweet, but they give you a nice big cup of the stuff.
Dessert bonus: they have chocolate malts AND rice pudding. Naturally, I ordered both and took the pudding home.
I saw the guy making the shake with either mix or soft-serve from a machine, but it tasted decent. You could feel the grains of malt powder in there though. $2.65 for a 16-ounce shake is a good deal. B.
The pudding was next day's lunch dessert. They dust it with cinnamon but it has no raisins. The sweetness level was good, but the rice grains were hard and too overbearing. Worst of all, the filler (or whatever you want to call the smooth part of the pudding) was too thick and custardy. C+ for the pudding. Although, at NINETY CENTS for an 8-ounce container, this is a great bargain. -
Review from Laura N.
12/14/2009
How have I not reviewed this place yet!?
Been dining here since I was little kid (I remember what this place looked like before it was remodeled several years back) and have always enjoyed the awesome hot dogs, chicken, and french fries. The Caesar salad is also the best I've had. The steak, shakes, and gyros are fantastic too! The staff has always been extremely friendly, and the place has always been relatively clean. Hands down, a great place to take a friend out to eat, the whole family, a casual date, etc. etc. And of course, the name of the place is prone to a few giggles!Listed in: Parental Influence., Geocaching + Yelping
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Review from Linda P.
Chicago, IL
7/5/2009
Two chcken salad plates on Visa debit card - $13
One diet coke no ice on Visa debit card - $2
Being able to say you like Boobys in public and not get weird looks - PRICELESS
This place is so awesome, it deserves five stars just to be able to come in and order a Fat Boob and a Double "C"! But there are other reasons why I love me some Booby's ;).
The restaurant itself is set up in the style of a Greek-owned family diner (which was a pleasant surprise) and we were able to get a nice comfy booth near the back. The chicken salad plates that we ordered were amazingly delicious! The chicken salad was fresh with not too much mayo, full of crispy celery. To our surprise, we also got a HUGE plate of fruit (including a WHOLE banana) and cottage cheese with the meal, not bad for under $6 each!
I just wish the mister would have ordered two Big Boobs (hamburger), I would have been muchly entertained ;). -
Review from Paul Z.
Justice, IL
12/1/2009
I have been eating here for over 40 years, They have a great skirt steak sandwich, as I kid I would order a plain polish sausage , which they would yell out "give me a naked fat boob in the house"
HR reprimanded me because I told a co worker that I Love Booby's and I am craving Booby's for lunch. -
Review from Steve G.
Evanston, IL
3/3/2008
When you've got a name like Booby's, you don't have to focus too heavily on providing a fine dining experience. You just have to assign funny names to your foods, like the Fat Booby, or the Big Booby, and serve it at a fair price.
For that, Booby's, I salute you. I've only tasted your food once, many years ago, and I can't even remember if I liked it or not. I do remember, though, excitedly ordering a Big Booby with Booby Fries, and a refreshing Booby Cola. I was served my meal on a Booby Tray, wiped off my crumby face with a Booby Napkin, and even pocketed a Booby Mint Candy for the drive home. For the rest of the day, my breath was Booby Fresh(tm)!
Perhaps my memory of this meal has been exaggerated over time... but such is the stuff of legends. If I ever pass this place in my car, and there's someone in the passenger seat, I will point out the window and say, "I ate there one time."
"How was it?" they'll ask.
"Who cares?"Listed in: Top Five Places To Run Into,…
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Review from Ahris K.
Basalt, CO
8/11/2010 2 photos
I'll keep it short & sweet.
Skirtsteak Sandwich = The Bomb
For the price of the item, the taste is excellent. Don't let the color of the Booby's sauce fool you, it's 100% savory goodness!
Gyros = mediocre
Just get the steak sandwich!! -
Review from Gabriel A.
Golf, IL
8/8/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Steak sandwich with a side of rice and cole slaw makes the evening complete!
Top notch and even as a cold snack at 2am it is still the best around. -
Review from David S.
Des Plaines, IL
10/1/2011
Best steak sandwich anywhere! The ribs are good too.
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Review from Dan H.
Antioch, IL
1/25/2010
BOOBY'S! This place is phenomenal, make sure you get the steak sandwich with fries and soup. The food is awesome and the BOOBY sauce tastes great on everything.
Seriously though, just get the Steak Sandwich -
Review from Tom K.
Chicago, IL
9/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Booby's is a great place for lunch or a quick dinner. The steak sandwich is amazing!!!
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Review from Tara M.
Des Plaines, IL
3/13/2007
Okay, I'd give five stars if I was simply reviewing the steak sandwich... which I would travel over hot coals or broken glass to get to! (they are a little chewy, but still the best I've ever had)
Now, however, the review has to cover the entire establishment. It's nicer now than it was before they remodeled, but I do kind of miss their old cafeteria tables. It's pretty modern, all counter service, but they have a bigger menu than most burger/gyros places and more interesting food.
I've had nearly everything on their menu, going back to childhood, and generally the food is good. I like the crinkle cut fries, steak sandwiches, gyros, chicken kabobs, burgers, beef, soup, salads... mmmmm!
I'm taking a star from them for a few things that they could do better, like get someone out to clean the tables that the inconsiderate diners won't clean, just a little faster because during lunch and dinner periods on the weekends they are packed and need to get people in those seats. I also think that they could handle the orders a little better, often they put the drinks up long before the food, and then when you go up to get your food (particularly when there's humidity in the air in the summer) you're ice is half melted.
Now all that aside, I have been going there for much of my life and I am pretty sure that the same people have owned it my whole life and they are always pretty pleasant at the counter.
I cannot live without Booby's! (boy that sounds dirty!) -
Review from MaryAnne M.
Chicago, IL
8/3/2008
Booby's is not TOO far from the 'rents house. And if Superdawg is packed this is the place I head too. Typical Greek owned restaurant minus table service. Gyros is good, steak sandwich is great. On Sunday order the cream of chicken rice soup, thank me later. Where else can 4 people(2 adult, 2 kids) eat for under $20.00?
One annoying tid-bit, for having so many families in/out of there is is no changing station in the ladies washroom. And, it's called Booby's. Hehe. -
Review from Vlad A.
7/1/2010 22 Check-ins Here
I've eaten here several times over the past few weeks and in the area this is a solid choice.
I give them a star just for putting BBQ sauce on the table. It drives me nuts when restaurants are stingy with BBQ sauce or even worse, want to charge for it. Hmmm, I can get a gallon of ketchup for free, but an 1oz of BBQ sauce is 50 cents?
Steak (skirt) sandwich is pretty good and @ $10 for a nice portion with 2 sides is a great deal. I read some reviews that the price puts it beyond a "typical lunch"; so buddy go get a value meal.
The chicken kabob is pretty good as well, but the stated 15min wait became 20. So if you are in a hurry, get something else. If you have the time, get one and you will not be disappointed.
Parking gets tight, as there is limited space to navigate between the spots and Milwaukee Ave; so be care full pulling in and out.Listed in: Quick and Easy
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Review from Andy M.
2/15/2011
The name of the joint says it all. Not only is the name quite appalling, they offer a burger called the Big Boob and a Hot Dog called the Fat Boob. Now I could make snide comments about the name of this joint throughout my entire review, but I would never stoop so low. I mean seriously, this isn't High School.
It had been a long time since my last visit to Booby's. If memory serves me right, I was there in the 80's with my old friend Tony Ariola. The place is much nicer than I remember it. They did a wonderful job remodeling the joint. The booths are clean, shapely and form fitting.
The food is just like I remembered it. Booby's offers a wide variety of good old fashioned, American comfort food. I ordered their signature burger, the Big Boob. It's a generous heaping of meat fitted between the cleavage of two buns. For a side order, I went with the Cheddar fries. The fries were delicious mounds of juicy goodness. The cheese is served on the side in form fitting cup.
The bottom line is, Booby's is the perfect place to stop for a quick bite to eat. The service is fast, the food is delicious. Booby's offers tasty food at a affordable price. The place is pure poetry. The great American Poet Nipsy Russell knew something about saving a buck or two. I'm going to leave you with his words of wisdom.
"George Washington threw a silver dollar
Across the river one day;
And ever since then, politicians in Washington
Been throwin' our money away!"Listed in: BBQ!!!!…, What's in a name?, The best Burger in town.
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Review from Bella B.
Chicago, IL
10/18/2009
Booby's - a Greek-owned Niles gem that I spent my high school years living 2 blocks away from. I'm a vegetarian now, but if I ever go back to meat, I'll be going to Booby's for their "Big C" - extra pickles please!
Every time I drive down Milwaukee Ave. and pass Booby's I drool thinking of the greatest cheeseburger I've ever had. The "Big C" is different. Instead of your typical lettuce, tomato and onion toppings, this cheeseburger comes loaded with BBQ sauce, grilled onions, cheese, coleslaw, and huge slices of the best pickles on the planet. It's amazing!
Booby's also has the best vanilla shake I've ever had in my life. Seriously awesome. Their caesar salad is pretty tasty as well.
Not sure why they have a drive-thru window if it's never been used? I'm guessing it's because you'd have to wait far too long, compared to the drive-thru of any fast food joint. I'd go there a lot more if their drive-thru was operating. -
Review from anne b.
Itasca, IL
1/12/2012
place still rocks. used to go there as a kid with my folks. best gyros and cream of chicken soup on the planet. every order perfectly made.
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Review from Sourma K.
El Cerrito, CA
5/7/2011
I love the food great steal sandwich, Caesar salad but the service suuuuuuucks. I wish I could get one of them to crack a smile. If they don't change soon I don't think I could bare going in here unless I take a Xanax
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Review from Matt G.
3/2/2010
So I had to go in, with a name and a sign like that... I mean, really....
I've been twice and had the steak sandwich each time. You get a good steak and decent bun, and if you get the basket you get fries/baked potato and soup and drink. However, that's all for $12. A bit steep in my book. Fries were just OK, soup was average. Couple that with the blaring speaker calling out order numbers and I'd just say this was OK. Don't get me wrong, it's a good steak sandwich (otherwise I wouldn't go back a second time), it's just a lot to pay for that being the best part of the meal. -
Review from Angela V.
Glenview, IL
12/10/2011 4 photos
Amazing Steak Sandwich!!!! Everything at this restaurant is great. The atmosphere is always friendly and clean too!
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Review from Brittany E.
Fairfield, CA
3/23/2011
I would do a 3 and a half stars and my nephew and husband would be at 4.25 stars (native Chicagoans). Let me start by saying that my 3.5 stars are strictly based off of my preference of steak and I am SUPER picky about steak. All 3 of us ordered the steak sandwiches which come with 2 sides for $10.45 each. MY husband and nephew got soup and fries while I got the salad and fries. Definitely wish I would have got the soup. There was navy bean and cream of chicken, both which were YUMM-O! My salad was a little pathetic with a mushy tomato. Once we got our sandwiches the meat had a great smoked flavor but was a little too marbled for me in some places. My husband and nephew thinks booby's is the cat's pajamas!! I would recommend this place for folks that love their steak. Overall it was clean quiet and the gentleman at the front desk even asked how our meal was.
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Review from Sara P.
9/15/2010
I had an italian beef here and it was good! Just enoug beef, sauce, and peppers, and the bread was tasty. I plan on checking out the steak sandwich next time. Booby's!
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Review from Jackie O.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2011
Who doesn't love Booby's? Ok... I'm sure someone has already written a far better pun... but if there is one thing every Greek place get's right - they sure know how to fill you up. I've never finished a whole meal here. Granted, that usually involves downing a salad, fries, and a full slab of ribs or a steak sandwich, but that's irrelevant. This place isn't anything particularly special, but I have to give it two thumbs up for their steak sauce along. Sweet, tangy, and not quite traditional bbq, I crave the sauce every time I see a steak sandwich on a menu. Order extra sauce. You won't need it, but you'll want it.
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Review from Jennifer D.
Des Plaines, IL
12/10/2010
I've seen a lot of reviews about the beef and the steak sandwich. My husband would agree but for a quasi -vegetarian like me, (I eat chicken and fish), I LOVE the ceaser salad topped with egg and hot chicken off the grill. Amazing! The ceaser is so huge it can easily be split between two people. Pair it with the chicken and rice soup and whola! You have yourself a delectable dinner or lunch for a great price.
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Review from Jenny V.
1/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
definitely did not order the right thing when i came here!
i ordered a gyros sandwhich with fries,
the gyro was tasty and the fries were delicious, skinny and crunchy, just the way i like it. they had ketchup and BBQ sauce, but it tasted more like a mixture of ketchup and BBQ, well whatever it was it was yummy.
next time i'll try their ribs or skirt steak and i will definitely try their shakes!
