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Chicago's Busy Burger
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
1120 W Taylor St(between Aberdeen St & May St)
Chicago, IL 60607
Neighborhood: University Village
(312) 226-7760
- Nearest Transit:
-
Racine (Blue Line)
UIC-Halsted (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 12 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
Carrie S. said: "M Burger is a bright spot in one of the city's most depressing food courts. The Thompson Center food court is home to such boring and average fast food joints as Taco Bell, Burger King, and Panda Express. M Burger's opening is a signal…" read more »
51 reviews for Chicago's Busy Burger
Review Highlights
"They use this spicy mayo though, that's top notch."
(in 8 reviews)
"My only complaint - RC Cola."
(in 4 reviews)
"the cheese fries and onion rings were even better."
(in 6 reviews)
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51 reviews in English
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Review from Tiffany K.
Chicago, IL
2/2/2012
I JUST finished the busy burger and a side of fries and had to come on help to give my two cents.
We ordered delivery that took about 45 minutes to arrive. The total for our order of two double busy burgers, one busy burger and two sides of fries were a total of ~$15.
I had to wait for my friends to finish working out so by the time we actually consumed the burgers, the food was sitting out for a total of over an hour.
The fries.....still super crispy after sitting in the bag for over an hour! Usually fries turn soggy and just does not taste the same.. But not busy burger fries!
I'd like to add that I was looking through the photos posted by my fellow yelpers, and the type of fries that was delivered to us was different than the ones in the photos.
The burger....I can only speak for the bush burger but I'd like to say that it's the same thing as double burger but the double has ...obviously, one more patty. Burgers were good. Almost had similar toppings as burger king -the standard tomatoes, onions, pickles and lettuce. We also requested for the spicy mayo but it's not as spicy as I anticipated it to be.
Spicy mayo that wasn't so spicy was the only downfall of this order.
I have a feeling we found our new burger joint!! -
Review from Deanna M.
Chicago, IL
10/10/2011
We were in the mood for some late night munchies, I had an odd craving for a portobello mushroom burger. My boyfriend used to eat here when he was at his former job, they are open late and happen to have a shroom burger, so it was like a match made in heaven!
My burger... It wasn't AMAZING, but was good enough to order again. It was served on a typical hamburger bun and I ordered it with everything. (onion, lettuce, tomato, spicy mayo and pickle)
My boyfriend ordered a double busy burger with extra bacon and an order of cheese fries (and never gains a pound, the skinny jerk!) Our nephew ordered a turkey burger. Each burger was between $3.00 and $5.00
I don't think you can beat the prices. The quality is decent, food is cheap and they're open late. I can imagine this being a haven for UIC students. -
Review from Jakob K.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2011
This is not the worst burger you'll ever have. Despite the flashy ambiance they serve the same decidedly lame frozen patties and tasteless veggies that every average diner in Chicago does, but with a higher price tag. They have deemed it more prudent to spend their money on paint job and steel trays than the food they serve.
As for the onion rings I've seen others talk about, they are nothing special and come from the same frozen bag you get at restaurant depots. The only real difference is that you only get 6 of them for $1.99.
Long story short; the place is okay at best. If you're looking for a gourmet burger you will not find here and if you're looking for cheap, decent food you'll also be out of luck. If, however, you're looking for a place to sit outside and eat overpriced mediocre food--then you have found it. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2011
I haven't had such a bad experience in a long time.
Last night I went here to grab a quick bite before my friends arrive from Detroit. I had seen it previously while walking around Taylor St, so I decided to give it a shot.
First thing wrong with the place...it was HOT and MUGGY in there. Okay, so it's summertime and you're in a room with large flames, but seriously? It was still 65 degrees outside. After I ordered I had to stand by the door and outside to keep from sweating. I was willing to overlook this, especially if the food was good.
Second thing...they obviously spent a lot of time decorating the outside of their building, but the inside was your generic old cheap burger place that you would see anywhere else on a street corner with the yellow Vienna sausage sign. Again, willing to overlook if the food was good.
Finally, when I ordered, I ordered the special of the day, a 1/2 slab of meat. I figured I'd give it a shot since it was my first time there.
BIG MISTAKE.
I went home, settled down and ate my sandwich while my out of town friends arrived. Within three hours, I had major stomach cramps, headache, fatigue and nausea. A half hour more, I was lying in the bathroom with my head in a toilet.
Luckily, my friends were sympathetic and didn't mind that their host was spending most of the night in the bathroom emptying her stomach. One of them, who happens to be a doctor, offered to prescribe some antibiotics since it was becoming apparent that I had food poisoning.
All through the night, I started alternating between being too hot and too cold and in addition to chills and muscle aches. I drank some chicken broth to sooth the stomach (which came up within a couple of hours). I could only stay asleep for 1-2 hours at a time.
This morning, I felt much better but had to decline going out with my friends (who I haven't seen in months) due to the sensitivity of my head to light, fatigue, muscle aches and the unpredictable nature of my stomach.
WORST EXPERIENCE EVER. DON'T GO HERE. -
Review from Carolina C.
Chicago, IL
5/23/2011
The burger was all bun and veggies. Yes it's "flame broiled" but has no flavor! It's a frozen patty seasoned and grilled. The meat is really thin and nothing to shine about.
The fries were pretty close to being burnt nothing really special about them. They have a spicy mayo going for them and that's about it.
Drinks available were RC fountain and can Coca Cola.
They did have outdoor seating which was great for an 80 degree spring day.
But I must say was disappointed. -
Review from Thomas T.
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place really is just average. Nothing too special about it to be honest. A little disappointed because I was about to get Jimmy John's but then saw this place and was like "man I really want a burger." And granted I got it, I wasn't that impressed.
I got the regular cheeseburger. And it is nice that it is flame grilled, but I mean it's pretty much Burger King burgers. So it depends if you like that tasting burger. The spicy mayo was a nick kick though. Fries were made fresh, I thought they were above average but not great. Loved the beverage dispenser though. Not Coke....Not Pepsi....but RC Cola. Haha I couldn't help but smirk at that a little.
Friendly staff though. I liked the cook. Smiled a lot, asked if I needed anything before I left, told me to enjoy the food. Greeted when I came in and left. So that's a plus for customer service. Not a great place, but good to try once I guess. -
Review from Roxy A.
1/10/2011
Before this place opened I was pretty excited to try BUSY BURGER..looked like it was going to be some cool burger bar. Finally went here for the first time this weekend & I gotta say I was a bit dissapointed. I was really craving a burger that day and while the price was decent the burger itself just didn't do it for me. I initially ordered a cheeseburger with bacon, but then while they were making my burger they told me they ran out of bacon. =( So i had to hold out on the fatty goodness that I think really could have helped this burger. The burger was pretty bland and didn't hold together very well. Basically...I've had better.
Oh and I think the most depressing part about my trip to Busy Burger was that they had a picture of In-N-Out Burgers on the wall...a reminder of my favorite burger joint but also a reminder of how I won't be getting an In-N-Out Burger here! =( Next time I think I'll order a hot dog. -
Review from Hoang L.
12/3/2010
Just another fast food burger joint. Nothing special. Actually, the burgers are kinda lame if you compare it Kuma's or the Counter. The patties are small and they overload it with the cheap stuff, like vegetables. If you're gonna clog your arteries, do it right.
Ketchup bottles are always dirty too. Eww.
Their new sign is actually pretty nice and eye-catching, I'll give them that. However, nice signs don't make the food any better. -
Review from Karen N.
2/8/2011
Easy stop for a tasty burger and some onion rings! Fresh flame briled, veggies are fresh and crunchy. The burger comes with a spicy mayo and all the veggies. Two cheese burger, 1 fries, 1 onion ring, 1 diet coke, 1 water. $14.63.
Next time, I will try their homemade meat balls in a sandwich. -
Review from andrea m.
Chicago, IL
11/10/2010
I find myself in this area around lunch time quite often and have always passed by Busy Burger wanting to check it out. I finally did and I'm so happy! I've gone twice now and had a great experience both times.
The first time I went I got a portabello 'burger' and fries. The sandwich was good but those fries... they were perfect! They were playing an odd mix of music for a burger place, (I heard grindcore and even a Blitz song, which pretty much made my whole day), but I dug it.The second time I went I got an actual Busy Burger, cheese fries & onion rings (don't judge me!). While the burger itself was really good.. the cheese fries and onion rings were even better.
Both times I've gone the same guy has been working the register.. and he is like the friendliest, nicest guy ever. I can't wait to go back there and try more off their menu. -
Review from Vijay K.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2011
Seriously the BEST BURGERS.....around UIC, the award for best in city goes to Kumas. The taste of the burgers is that of flame broiled style similar to Burger King. But the meat is very fresh, and filling, it contains the taste of charring, something Burgers on a griddle can never do. The toppings are standard fare, the spicy mayo I could have had on the Onion Rings.
Speaking of which, while many reviewers seem to like to it, I never felt the onion rings to be so amazing. I just tastes Batter and onion, it was well made I will give it that. -
Review from Milan P.
Chicago, IL
7/4/2011
This place is decent. A name like busy burger you would think they have good burgers. They are just ok. They have some other decent grilled food. DO NOT PARK AT CHASE BANK UNLESS YOU LIKE BOOTS ON YOUR CAR.
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Review from Natasha K.
Chicago, IL
5 STARS FOR THE PORTABELLA BURGER + CHEESE!!! The meaty cheese burger is super-yum too.
My tastebuds and wallet are def big fans. I am surprised this place doesn't have higher Yelp marks b/c I am def coming back--- often.
First let's talk meat since that's what most of you will probably get. This is not the place for some 1/2 lb thick burger, if that's what you are into. These patties are thinner but in a great way--- SO FLAVORFUL. They really pick up that great charbroil flavor big-time. Get it w/ cheese. Trust me. I'm lactose intolerant and the rule is: ALWAYS GET CHEESE if offered cheese. (There's pills for those kind of problems.) The toppings/dressings are the usual L,T,O but.....so fresh and, oooooh! the pickle & spicy mayo... icing on your fatty burger cake. We are talking FRESH PICKLE CHIPS! Not that weird '70's puke-green-colored-piece-of-salty-rubber; this is the good clean, crunchy pickle you can actually tell once was a cucumber.
Ok, so after your first time getting meat-y (b/c we all know you are hesitant to go meatless at a burger joint), when you go back, get the PORTABELLA BURGER W/ CHEESE. Sooooooooo goooood. Even better than the meaty one! I promise. All of the flavors blend so well and you can taste how fresh all the ingredients are--- and that little Diet Fairy sitting on your shoulder, doesn't clunk you in the head this time....
Except maybe if you order fries.... which you most definitely should! Totally worth the calories and repercussions of dieting guilt. Besides, you can be a big girl/boy and SHARE FRIES. There are a zillion of them in one order. Seriously. They are crispy, seasoned and perfect. Especially the smaller crunchy pieces. Those are my fav.
All of this, for about $7. Such a deal! I heard they have hotdogs too but I'm stuck on my mushroom burger. Eat outside if it's a nice day. Makes the experience even better. Enjoy. -
Review from Anita V.
Chicago, IL
8/3/2010
I looooooove busy burger! I always leave with a smile on my face:)
I've never gotten the regular burger,I get the Turkey Burger and it is seriously the best turkey burger I have ever had. They season it soooo good. There fries are the bomb, too! I love the sauce they put on the burgers. I get some on the side for my fries. I did not think I'd love Busy Burger as much as I do, I've driven and walked passed it for years until someone said how good it was!
Please try it if you haven't. You won't regret it! -
Review from Ted P.
Chicago, IL
The fries were decent and the service was friendly.
The burgers, on the other hand, were a bit of a disappointment. Both that we tried were too salted and had heavy doses of pepper, beyond what mere mortals could consume happily.
It's worth a second shot, so we'll go back and updates may follow... -
Review from Jesus H.
Chicago, IL
8/24/2011
The whole building is painted to brag about how juicy the burgers are. The burger I had was okay, but it was dry as hell. I expected it to be practically dripping, but in fact it was a little charcoal brisket. I'm not saying it was burnt to shit, but it was certainly well done.
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Review from Nina M.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2010
I feel many UIC'ers have gone here because it is right by the bookstore on Taylor. That is how I went here.
The burgers are like Burger King's but 10x better and bigger and fresher. Fresh crispy shredded lettuce. Their fries are delicious and just how I like them, not crusty.
I will rarely crave a burger from a specific place (beside McDonald's, Burger King, Culver's). I actually forgot about Busy Burger after a while. But I passed by it recently and remembered how great it was.
And yes they serve RC, but just like Busy Burger, RC is the thing you forgot you wanted. Both are awesome and overlooked.
I rated 5 Guys and Epic Burger 3's and gave this one a 5 star! -
Review from Katie T.
5/10/2010
I tried Busy Burger this weekend and enjoyed it! I got the busy burger with fries and a drink and my boyfriend got the special burger which was stuffed with bacon.
The burgers are standard but they get the job done. The burger stuffed with bacon was really tasty and I think I would like to keep trying their specials. I thought the fries were really dense and not very crispy but they were OK. Definitely could have shared an order of fries. -
Review from Jean Z.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2006
ok YUM. that's all i can say. Turkey burgers are fab. Cheese fries with giardinar yummmmmm
RoyalCrown COLA ON TAP? WHAAAAAAAAT!
Oh Chicago, how I love thee -
Review from PJ C.
Chicago, IL
10/7/2009
Setriously craptastic. When I ate my burger, it tasted like the inside of a shoe and/or a dead squirrel. (Or how I'd imagine that would taste).
Fries were DOA.
I'm not a huffy hipster who wanted free-range bison burgers marinated in chutney or anything really difficult/complex, so the bar wasn't that high.....but they missed it.
The only place Busy Burger was "busy" for me was when I had massive intestinal regret about an hour after I ate there. The kind you usually get after White Castle, KFC or Long John's. -
Review from Jen Z.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2011
Great French fries..average burger..my wife liked the turkey burger.
I had a bite of a hot dog and it was not good. Stick to burgers and forget about hot dogs. -
Review from trieu n.
Chicago, IL
4/6/2011
so, i've passed this place multiple times and have always wanted to stop in because it always smells amazing. well, after craving some salty french fries, i finally thought i should stop in. unfortunately, i was fairly disappointed in what i got.
i ordered the busy burger with cheese, and while it was edible and okay, i was hoping a $4 would taste better than a $1 burger from burger king. the "spicy mayo" was pretty sad, as were my toppings. oddly sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and onions atop a medium sized burger makes for just a "meh" meal. even the sesame seed bun looked a little withered and sad. with all that said, i did enjoy my french fries. they were slightly crispy with just enough salt and grease to satisfy my craving. i would probably come back for the fries, since i find myself having french fry cravings fairly often. also, they have vanilla coke...which is a perfect complement to fries. so yes....i will visit again, but only for the fries and vanilla coke. -
Review from Matt P.
Chicago, IL
3/20/2011
I think it's your prototypical grease pit ... but it's one of the few that you can find on Taylor St besides Al's (which it's definitely better than) by UiC. They use this spicy mayo though, that's top notch. Plus, they have use Hot Doug's-esque cheese for their cheese fries, which made them all the more delicious.
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Review from Amie C.
Chicago, IL
Fries! Yessssss! And freshly cut too. I ate over half before I even got home :( Fries are my weakness!
I ordered the special tonight, which was a burger stuffed with BBQ sauce, tons of bacon and ooey gooey cheddar cheese. The burger was pretty big and topped deliciously with shredded lettuce, a tomato slice and I believe some sort of yummy sauce, perhaps it was the Busy Sauce I've read about. Burger was just under $5 and did not come with fries.
Add the yummy fresh cut fries and the total was just over $7. Not too bad.
I would have given this meal 4 stars but I'm not a fan of the charbroiled tasted. Subtract that flavor and make the meat (aside from the cheesy explosion from inside) slightly more juicy and I might had another star.
+props for the bacon and cheese explosion with each bite!
-parking sucks -
Review from Claire Y.
Chicago, IL
8/18/2009
This burger joint is dangerously located, just two blocks from my apt, and offers temptation-provoking juicy burgers (of a great variety) and hand-cut fries for relatively cheap. I'm particularly a fan of their fries --- freshly fried, pipin' hot, and with just enough coating of salt (and pepper as I like my fries)....
Now, if only there existed an "off" switch for those late-night cravings for fries... -
Review from James E.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2009
Now THAT"S a good burger! And pretty good prices too!
I had the turkey burger which was definitely above average (it's very easy to make a turkey burger bland and dull) - so props to Busy Burger for making the turkey burger happen for me.
I also tasted the bacon cheeseburger and it was quite tasty - really good.
The fries were fantastic, btw. Very crispy and well done.
I definitely prefer this place over Five Guys.
My only complaint - RC Cola? Really? I don't think I've ever run into someone who has had a craving for RC Cola. It's just not satisfying - RC just reminds you of something you're missing: coke. Well, actually, for me RC cola really reminds me of going to see the Mets play at Shea Stadium in the 80s because that's what they served there. That was the only place you could find RC in the NY metro area. Holla back if you know what I'm talking 'bout!
BUT anyway, I digress. This is a great place to go if you want a simply tasty burger. And the sidewalk patio is very nice, even if the music is a tad loud. The seats aren't super comfortable and you should watch where your chair legs land. I first sat down in my chair and it went into the tree well and landed in the one spot where there was a large hole. Nearly split my pants.
Graceful. As always. -
Review from Margaret F.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2010
The fries here are outstanding, solid 4 stars, because they were cooked perfectly (as they should be) were crispy, and stayed that way while we eat our way through our burgers.
The burgers were no biggie. My burger was very dry and there was a lot of charring on the outside of it so the burger tasted mostly like char. Their special sauce was spicy but it was just spice, there didn't seem to be anything else behind it other than the spice, kind of disappointing.
The self service beverages, RC, Diet Rite (along with other flavors) -Hello? What era are we in? The soda was awful, either not mixed correctly, or RC and diet rite just tastes bad. Get some coke or Pepsi! -
Review from richard f.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2010
Had it only once and I wasn't satisfied with my order. Had the stuffed turkey burger. Was pretty sloppy. I liked the fries though. I have to try em again.
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Review from Scott E.
Oak Lawn, IL
11/25/2009
Pretty good little place to get a quick burger. Prices are decent, not dirt cheap but not expensive by any stretch of the imagination.
The quality of the burger is what I would expect from a tiny local place like this, in the best way possible. As others have said, the fries are quite tasty as well.
Not sure about all the complaints on RC cola. I'll take RC any day over Pepsi. -
Review from Lauren c.
Chicago, IL
8/24/2010
This the most fabulous place to get a burger in Little Italy. I thoroughly enjoyed the turkey burger and my fiance enjoyed the beef burger. DELICIOUS! Great cheese fries too! Great prices! Yum!!
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Review from Alan W.
Washington, DC
10/20/2010
I like this burger place, but there was nothing special about their burgers. The meat was average, no special flavor, not flavor well, it's just an average burger that depends on the toppings. It's cheap and it's solid, so I would go back, but it's not a place I have to go to if I'm in the area.
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Review from Linda T.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2007
Yeah Busy Burger!! I worked by here a few years ago, and every once in a while we'd pop in to get some busy burgers. GOOD burgers for a GOOD price.
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Review from Vanessa D.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2007
Good when you need your burger fix. They do it right, and their other menu items aren't bad either. Just your standard burger/hotdog/fries place. Plus, they've got RC on tap, so uh... you know. All hail the Royal Crown, and stuff.
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Review from che c.
Chicago, IL
2/23/2010
Had a busy burger, but wasn't impressed. I didn't taste the busy sauce, it was described as being spicy, but I guess it just got lost in the burger. It was just a regular patty, nothing like it was homemade spiced with some secret seasoning, but it just seemed like it was a patty from a frozen box at the supermarket. The edges of the patty were crisp which led me to believe that these burgers were already cooked just sitting there and were put back on the grill when ordered. Nothing about this place was busy at all.
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Review from Christopher M.
Chicago, IL
7/17/2007
This place is not bad at all. Best part is location. It is right next to the park! Plus, finding parking is not that hard in this part of Taylor...
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Review from Becky P.
1/18/2006
Busy Burger makes their burgers when you order, so its none of that "sitting on the shelf 2 hours old" crap. Super tasty, cheap, and great for lunch.
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Review from Robyn T.
9/29/2009
The fries were great and the burgers? well I've had better...nothing special. The prices were ok (burgers or chicken sandwiches around $5) and I like that you can see what's going on at the grill station, but when I got the burger I was expecting something a little more satisfying. Dare I say that their burger resembled that of the flame broiled king burger? Ok, I just did. Sorry. Good news is those fresh cute fries are pretty good and I bet they'd taste even better with some warm cheese :)
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Review from Unknown K.
Newport News, VA
6/6/2010
A burger to me is just an excuse to eat fries, so this place gets four stars because they have handcut fries, which were cooked really well. For some reason, people confuse pomme frites with fries in this town. Fries are not crispy, not covered in wax and fat like McD's frozen crap. Fries are supposed to be potato-y, and these are. Starchy, potato goodness. A little less salty than Five Guys, but we will have to return a few times to see about consistency.
Oh, and they only cost $1.50, not $5.
The burger was fine.
I ordered off of GrubHub because I didn't want to go out and they delivered in about 25 minutes. You have to order a minimum, which was a little bit of a pain because everything's pretty cheap. -
Review from Julian W.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2010
Very good turkey burgers and portabello burgers. Nice selection of music and pleasant staff.
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Review from Ren H.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2005 2 photos
Pretty good burgers, they're cheap and fast if you're in the mood for a quick bite. Beware though, they don't take credit cards!
