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I am fairly sure there are probably 100 other restaurants in Chicago that serve exactly the same food and do it exactly as well as Budacki's, but it's about half a block from my house, so consequently it's very near and dear to my heart. Their hot dogs are awesome, they have a gyro spit, and there are pizza puffs available, which is getting to be a rare thing these days. Also, every time I go there with my vegan/vegetarian friends, the cooks clean the grill before cooking their veggie dogs or burgers.
The only thing I don't understand is the banker's hours they keep. They're closed by 8 every day, and not even open at all on Sunday. This makes no sense to me, as it's much, much easier to justify gyros, hot dogs, and pizza puffs when you're drunk/hung over/watching football. At least give us til 11, Budacki's!
I just made trip #2. I had the...steak(?) sandwich. Yum. Lots of sauce and buried underneath grilled onions and goodies. (photo to follow...) I wouldn't eat it all the time, but, yum. The gyros and burgers and something else I can't recall are next.
I think its safe to say that Budacki's, though more expensive than my nearby Mangi's (and other dog stands,) is my go-to. Ah. It feels good to adopt a restaurant.
I'm so moved by how much I'm liking the food here, that I'm now sharing a running list of everything I try.
1) Fries - slender basterds. Delicious eating.
2) Da polish - delish'
3) Gyro - about what you would expect
4) Breaded Chicken sandwich - I'd buy ONLY if I had a hankering
5) Tenderloin steak sandich - Fantastic. Smothered in fried onions & steak sauce
I don't think I can say anything that the prior 51 reviews didn't cover, so...
Me likey. Visit #1,…
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Walking by, you will see that Budacki's is famous for their "pomme frites", alright, I'll roll with it, so this review is going to be in French.
Je marchais par ce lieu un jour et m'a dit: "Je dois vérifier ce lieu hors, célèbre pomme frites, les images sur le mur de bonne mine, doit être tout bon. Je suis entré, a ordonné une viande italien avec de la farine de piments forts. La viande de bœuf italien était bien, le piment je croyais vraiment salée. Je suis assis juste là de manger mon repas à travailler sur mon jeu de mots croisés. Puis il lui vint à moi, ce lieu est supposer avoir célèbres frites français, mais je me sentais, comment vous dites dans un accent français, un Américain stupide, pour croire cela.
J'ai été servi assez rapidement, le gars a fait une petite conversation que j'ai apprécié. Dans l'ensemble, pas mal d'un lieu, n'y crois pas tous les signes que vous voyez.
Budackis are greasy chicago food joint ran by Koreans Yes Please. I just moved to the area and was very happy to know that a greasy food joint was right down the block. And even better their food is great. When Budackis is open their is no point to go to the wendys down the street.
Their philly cheese steaks are good, Cheese burgers are really good and their bacon is thick and crisp, and their fish sandwich is also great. Just make sure to get your soda with the combo as they some times forget to put it in.
The family that runs budackis also have their hands over at Crisp off boardway in lakeview which is why they both have such good fish sandwich and if you want the Buffalo wings they have at Crisp but can't get out their budackis is were those wings came from.
I am a big fan of the classic Chicago hot dog, and Budacki's does it perfectly. Steamed dog, soft bun, onions, mustard, relish, tomato, pickle, hot pepper, celery salt...and no ketchup!
I also can park my car there for free which is a bonus when you are just running in for a quick bite to eat.
I've never had anything but hot dogs and fries so I can't tell you about anything else on the menu, but, if you want a good dog for next to nothing price, Budaki's is your spot.
$1 hot cocoa. Seriously.
Oh God. This place belongs on http://thisiswhyyouref.../
I always get a cheeseburger and fried mushrooms. Sooooo goooood....auuuuhhhh, droooool.
The other night I switched it up and got a gyro, even though I knew I'd be paying for it later. Which I did.
This is my boyfriend and my favorite place to go when we want to wear our fat pants and feel like lazy, good for nothing, grease junkies.
My goal is to try everything on the menu, except the suicide wings. I thought just because I can handle my hot sauce now, I could eat these. Big mistake!!! I dare you to try these without your eyes watering and sinuses clearing. I will personally come over and buy you an RC.
The service is always fast and the prices are good.
Just don't plan on being very active after you come here, or having sex that night .
When I jog past this place, the odor of the food always makes me jog faster for some reason. Maybe it's the health/gluton conflict in my brain.
I've been coming here for years for their delicious chicken and fish sandwiches! Yum! I have a hard time walking by it without stopping in for a bite. I've brought all of my friends here and they all love it.
For some fast food joint, they're food is great. They're the best place around for a hot dog or burger, period.
If you are on the streets in the Ravenswood area and you ever hear the voice of girl saying "I want a hot dog!" in a singsong voice...that's me. Specifically I want a chili-cheese dog but it's too many words to fit into one simple song.
Budacki's is an awesome place to fulfill my wants and also my boyfriend's need for me to shut up about hot dogs. Budacki's has great comfort food at cheap prices. The hot dogs aren't the water flavored hot dogs you can get a ball game, but meaty and juicy and topped with with awesome chili and cheese. The chili is not the best I have ever had, I'm from the south and southern chili is the best, but they come pretty darn close to it!
I love the small dive that is Budacki's. It reminds me of the cramped spaces of Grey's Papaya without the Papaya. I love this place, I just wish they were open on Sundays when I tend to find myself singing about hot dogs.
Veggie Hot Dogs? I'm there! Lots of other choices as well and large variety of canned sodas.
The fries are tasty and crispy. Definitely solid.
I moved to Lincoln Square four years ago and this was one of the first places I tried out. I am now a regular. The hot dogs are almost perfect. I sometimes order the gyros, which I think are the best I've ever had. The specials are reasonably priced, however they've gone up a little in the past year, which is understandable. Still, the atmosphere is friendly and the place has a roadside greasy spoon flavor to it. Also, there's always a stack of The Onion satirical newspapers there in case you want something to read while you wait. Just make sure you visit an ATM before you go, as they only accept cash.
I went back to Budacki's for lunch today. Great lunch deal:
2 dogs with everything
fries (and lots of them)
can of diet coke
$4.75 with tax included!
tasty dog with all the trimmings. Good fries and very friendly service.
On a nice day, have seat on the benches outside.
Budaki's gets positive vibes from me because the place does everything you expect from a greasy-spoon, hole-in-the-wall. Decent quality offerings, decent prices, decent portions. My only advice, eat there. If you get it to go your fries will wilt in the bags (no good). Fries (these are NOT pom frittes) must be crunchy! We took it to go. Fries got soggy. Woops.
Tiny interior. It gets crowded quick, especially when a family brings all of their restless kids for a healthy, American Sunday dinner and monopolizes the indoor counter seats. Thanks for the memories.
Wait for summer. Eat out in the sun. Enjoy the caloric overload. Be happy.
I've been coming here since I was a kid, and nothing has really changed--in a good way! If you're looking for healthy food, turn around and walk away, but otherwise, the best Chicago-style hot dog out there. 2 hot dogs, fries and a can of pop for under $5, you can't beat that! They have all sorts of specials. I recently moved back to the 'hood and discovered they added turkey burgers and veggie hot dogs and burgers, haven't tried them out yet, though.
I'm not a vegetarian, but when there's a decent alternative to meat, I'll take it. Meat is like a condiment in my diet; totally optional. So I was excited to hear that Budacki's has a Chicago-style veggie dog.
I was not disappointed. Veggie dogs can be widely variable - anything from "Wow, who needs meat?" to "I think this is made out of remolded pencil erasers" - and this dog was on the high end of that spectrum. Fully dressed in all the fixins, it was tasty and satisfying. So much so, in fact, that it's now my go-to when I get a craving for a Chicago dog.
It comes in a combo as well, but I never bothered with that after the first visit. The fries are just so-so and not worth the calories.
My coworkers introduced me to this place and boy was it worth the introduction. I especially like to go there during the summers because you can sit outside and it gets pretty cold sitting inside in the winters. It gets pretty gross too because the floors are all wet from snow.
Anyhow, the food is great. I've tried their chicken sandwich, fries, hot dogs, and hamburgers. I love thin slightly crunchy fries, they are addictive. Customer service is very friendly and fast. I love their combo deals because it is cheap and includes just enough food and a pop. They also have their own parking lot you can park there for free.
Sometimes you just need to hit up a place where you inevitably walk out with food coma. Budacki's is that place. They should actually have a couch outside the door so you can crash immediately after consuming your meal.
I originally came here for pommes frites (as advertised), ended up with regular old french fries but was happy nonetheless - they were crispy, piping hot and plentiful. They serve traditional Chicago fare done "absolutely correctly," according to my self-proclaimed Ultimate Chicago Food Aficionado friend. Real deal or not, my Southern-US expat stomach was thrilled by the greasy goodness, and I'll be back for the veggie dog...
Budacki's! I spent a lot of last summer up in Ravenswood as my then-girlfriend (now-wife) was living there for an internship. As I was working from her little apartment, I had to head out for lunch every day. Budacki's was right around the corner. For $3.50 I could get two solid hot dogs, some fries and a coke -- now that's a deal. Where I come from you can barely get half a hot dog for that price.
What can I say? I'm a fan. If they had a place like this in San Francisco I'd be all over it. I'd probably be fatter because of it.
They speak about pomme frites...umm too bad their American French Fries. Other than having to accept that fact, they give you a TON of fresh fries.
They have great deals and prices and the workers are always friendly and waiting anxiously for your order so they can cook it right up. Heck, breaded mushrooms are worth the trip alone.
I'm happy to have this greasy spoon in the hood. Your cholesterol will shoot three-fold once you walk in the door. Now that the gorgeous Damen brown line is open, take the block hike. (P/S: No credit cards accepted)
Solid polishes(charred, grilled, etc.), solid hot dogs, and decent fries, in a bright coloful spot that's.... perfect! Bring the kids, and cash only, kiddos!
Solid food and service.
It always seems to take a little longer for them to cook the veggie dogs and veggie burgers, but I don't mind a few extra minutes because the food is good and totally satisfies my "I need grease and salt" cravings.
The small parking lot and picnic tables are a nice touch, and the few seats along the counter serve their purpose too.
Usually I don't drink Dr. Pepper, but something about this place and its food make it necessary to order it.
Hat's off to Budacki's. I have been coming in since I was a child, and still stop in from time to time as I still live in the area. The food has never changed, and the service has only gotten better. You will never get a bad attitude from the employees, and they always ready and willing to take your order.
Pretty good value for really good fast food. And by fast I mean, greasy goodness.
Rock solid Chicago style fast food joint. Worth pulling over for a munch. One of my personal faves.
The kids and I all had 1/2 lb double bacon burger meals tonight. Perfect combo of char, grease and condiment. Although I'm currently so full that I'm unable to move anything but my fingertips to type this review, I am still salivating at the memory of that grease bomb.
I mean no disrespect but their sign mentions "pommes frites" which conjures something a little more special than what they actually serve. Their fries appear to be standard food service prepared fries. No big deal, they're a-ok.
Wife was happy with a single char chicken breast meal. But she's got that svelte figure to maintain.
Almost had the gyros, and was tempted to order the ribeye sandwich. I'm sure everything here is awesome, I'm just not a pizza puff type of guy.
Fast friendly service. Feed four for $30. Eat and get out. Come back soon. Budacki's.
Holy Cows! $2.50 for a hot dog and fries in under 4 minutes, on the way to work, AND steps from the train. They hit all the right spots, including having a Hannah Montana sticker vending machine (among other stickers, I'm sure, but who needs other stickers?). And friendly to boot!
This place fires on all cylinders when it comes to quick and inexpensive Chicago Treats. Hot dogs, Gyros, and Italian Beefs are all excellent - combine that the great service and it doesn't get much better. This place isn't pretending to be something it isn't...just great food and a tiny setting.
Note, this isn't a place you want to eat at often though if you're on a diet or would like to live to see retirement
Sometimes I have a bad day. I get stressed. I scream and throw things when I get stressed. Stuff gets broken. People get scared.
It's like the Hulk- but done by a 5 foot Italian girl...
My Boyfriend being the brilliant, chivalrous, sex-machine of a gentleman that he is, decides to spare me the additional pressure of making dinner (Usually he's afraid of what i might put in his food).
So he takes me here- the finest of Chicago eateries- it's the greasiest, hidden dive of a fast-food joint and it is DELICIOUS. Do not hesitate. Everytime I open the BLT people stop and gape. Occasionally, when the crazy-gleam is gone from my eye, they ask what it is that I am devoring like a starved refugee.
It's the BLT. It's the pinnacle of crisp, golden, buttery, greasy, bacon-y goodness!
And it should come with a complimentary angioplasty.
I order a Dr. Pepper.
And it never fails to make me happy!
If a vegetarian can man-up enough to buy me a BLT you can do it too!
Bring the dog for outdoor eating, 'cause something is going to fall under the picnic table...
Aside from a storefront that looks more like a big-top circus advertisement, you'll find some really well priced, quickly prepared dogs and beefs here. I decided to tackle my gyro craving here and was happy with the food. In my opinion, it's hard to screw up hot dogs and hamburgers if you're making the fast and cheep. You may as well take the soda that comes with the meal cause they'll charge you basically the same price if you don't take it. One beef with this place was that they don't take credit cards. I just don't like carrying cash, so I had to find an ATM in order to satisfy that craving. I'll probably just stick to the hot dogs meal in the future. Heck, this IS Chicago.
Budakis is not exactly known for their health food, however they do grease well. They have a great hotdog meal that is around $3.75 which includes 2 dogs, fries and a soft drink. You really can't do much better than that.
Also a little known fact is that they do a great boca burger and veggie dog, but be warned the boca is one of the more expensive items.
But when you need some good old fashioned greasy food covered in salt it can't be beat!
And the family who owns it is very nice. And they actually have parking!
The 2006 Jeff Garlin movie "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With" is set in Chicago, and has shots of the "L", Wrigley field & Millenium park.
It also features a guy dressed up like a pirate handing out free hot dogs in front of Budacki's.
This is the ultimate Chicago hot dog joint -- or so I initially thought. As someone who hasn't eaten red meat in over 15 years, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they sell both veggie burgers & veggie hot dogs.
I opted for the veggie burger. It was delish. So were the fries.
Budacki's is a cut above the typical Chicago hot dog joint: it's cheap, it's fast & it's good. It gets an extra star for throwing a bone to the non-red meat eating crowd. We do exist in the Midwest!
If you want good-tasting, bad-for-your-heart kind of food: this is the place to go. At quite a few burger/hot dog joints, the emphasis on plain burgers or Chicago style hot dogs is evident, but here, there are quite a few menu options beyond a typical grill oriented restaurant. I plan on getting a gyro next time I go there.
I got the veggie hot dog and was pleased with it. My boyfriend, a notorious greasy food consumer, got a bacon cheeseburger and now, every time he is in the city, wants to return. We've been to Huey's, Hamburger Mary's, a random Gyro Stop in Albany Park and he still declares that Budacki's is his favorite place to get a burger so far in Chicago.
I dig 'Dacki's. I always get the 2 hot dog / fries / coke for $3.50 meal. it's a great spot to put down a base before a hard night on the town, and a nice place to stop when you're on the go. the food is really good considering the price. I never understood the wanna-be foodies who insist on reviewing fast food like it's Charlie freakin' Trotter's.
One problem, the staff has been less than happy to see me when I've stopped in near closing time. seriously, if you're going to be mopping the floors and stacking the chairs 30 minutes before the posted time, just close half an hour earlier.
5 reasons to stop by.
1 parking lot
2 non greasy gyros
3 quick service
4 above average hot dog
5 they use oil with 0 trans fat
not bad for a hot dog joint
My brother has a theory about hot dog stands. He claims you can't get good dogs in a place that also serves Gyros.
So, I opted for a Polish. And I can report that it was plump and delicious and had all the required condiments. Pickle, tomato, weird green relish, onion, sport pepper.
Your standard Chicago hot dog joint. Consensus: Yum.
"The chicken wings at Budacki's drive-in are damn good. It seems that the main complaint's of wing slangers like BJ's that has taken topic of late is the fact that 1) the wings are to small and 2) they dont offer or charge extra for bleu cheese and celery. Budacki's has large wings served like "Gator's" mentioned above thread and they are larger than most. Here's why I am a fan...five wing's, thin crisp fried french fries, garlic bread, celery, bleu cheese and can of pop cost $6.00/tax included. Now the price is right but the reason ive gone back at least 5 times since I tried them since last month is b/c they are good, not the best ever but without a doubt worthy of a spot on..." -from a review I wrote.
I also enjoy their version of a cheese steak which is korean bulgogi and they have a good dog too.
Ah, Budacki's! I have been going here for years.......right in the hood!!! A secret hidden grease pit! It may be small inside and not the cleanest looking place....but you are here for one reason! Grease!
Great hot dog specials, great beefs. The fries are not that great. i still prefer a solid steak fry! They lose a point for their fries. Heck, they even serve RC Cola!
Classic place for the bite-to-eat on an evening summery and warm.
first of all. anyone who gives a place one star for being unhealthy should be kicked off Yelp.
Second, yep, when it comes to Chicago treats, Budacki's is always reliable. It's got personality and it's cheap. It was one of the first dog stands I got to know and love when I moved down here and it keeps it real. Fries and dog for $2.50, yeah, exactly. Take that all you wanna-be around the city, especially north in Andersonville. I always get pissed now when I have to pay more than $2.50.
And you get yummy "pomme frites" Gotta love the dog joint that advertises that.
My only gripe is sometimes you gotta ask for hot peppers and/or celery salt. So if I take it to go I always make sure I got that before I leave.
Nothing better in the Summer than biking over to the Dacki's and eating a dog on the "patio"
This "greasy spoon" has been here in this location as long as I can remember. It's quick, cheap, and the food is tasty, if you don't mind clogging your arteries, setting yourself up for diabetes and plumping out your caboose.
is it racist of me to question the quality of good ol' greasy american food when all the employees are asian?
i'm sorry it's just that it was my very first thought when i walked in. i'm a horrible person, i know.
i should not have questioned the fine folks at budacki's because i had a solid chicago dog with a nice snap though equal in quality to countless other local spots.
honestly they need better fries. they are not terrible but are like mcdonalds minus the salt. so mcdonalds wins........ isnt that a little embarrassing?
my observation is that if you have a local dog/burger joint, it's the best in the world. otherwise it's just as good as the favorites in any other neighborhood.
again my dear apologies to budacki's staff.
Best Chicago style dog in the neighborhood. There's a lot of places around that claim to make a Chicago style hot dog in the areas between Roscoe Village and Lincoln Square, but Budacki's is the only one that actually has all the right ingredients. Service is quick, the fries are tasty, and their lemon drinks are great too.
Neighborhood: Ravenswood
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Chicken Wings
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Chinese
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