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Mon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
"I find Mirabell to be quite the great place to dine and get sloshed at the same time... while having good conversation with friends or a…" read more »
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Because I didn't eat ENOUGH for Thanksgiving, I decided to also go to Kuma's Corner the Monday after....just in case any light exercise I was doing was burning any calories away at all.
To be fair, my trip was kind of spontaneous...I got a call from my boyfriend and his two friends who planned to pick me up the the way to Kumas, because there was a "short wait."
I had read reviews and browsed through "best burger" articles about Kuma's namesake burger, so I knew what I was getting myself into. The thousand reviews below say it all-- heavy metal music, Korean cinema, "tasteful" artwork, "death to hipsters" waitresses and, uh... hipsters are packed into this studio-sized burger heaven. I was a little worried about the heavy metal music I'd heard about, but thankfully my brain quickly dulled the "wicked" guitar riffs and replaced them with rhythmic pangs of hunger from watching people eat.
One hour and an Orange Soda later, after adjusting our menus to find a shred of light to read them in, we ordered the Make Your Own Mac as an appetizer (bacon and sausage) and 5 burgers-- three Kuma burgers, one Black Sabbath and one Motorhead (mine). I took it easy on the Mac, which was cheesy, bacony and SO flavorful, because I had an hour to observe the mammoth-sized burgers that followed.
Everyone at the table thoroughly enjoyed their burgers. My boyfriend, who usually slathers ranch on all burgers, didn't even ask for any. The goat cheese that topped my burger was rich and creamy and went so well with the seasoned patty and black olives. All burgers were cooked exactly to our asking and the waffle fries were the perfect match.
Kuma's definitely packs a crave-worthy burger. The prices are right at about an average of $11 a burger, and unless you're in to stretching your stomach, you will probably have leftovers. Be prepared for a wait, but take comfort in knowing you will be rewarded for your efforts.
More consistency,
And a lot less attitude.
You used to be fun :-(
Everything there is to be said has already been said, but I'll give it my go anyway.
First off, while Kuma's might not like it, the place can effectively be described as "cutsey." There's a theme to the menu, metal bands though it may be, and even a little rule sheet on the wall where you walk in. These are all the hallmarks of a place that's invented a persona for itself. Of particular note, the rules state that no Miller or Budweiser shall be served. Because obviously, a place like Kuma's is way too cool for those kind of plebeian horse urine beers. And they do, to their credit, have a good looking beer selection. Except: they have PBR available. So, you're saying that a non-discriminating beer drinker (and I know guys who just don't like beer all that much, and are perfectly happy with your run of the mill American beers) can't get a Bud or an MGD, but super hipster PBR makes the flavor and sophistication cut? Get over yourself.
Now, further complicating things is the "Die EMO Die" scrawled in chalk above the bar. I hate Emo too. But guess what, I see a lot of those kids pounding PBR. So do I award some brownie points for senseless Emo hate? Or get confused at luring them in?
We came on a Saturday, like fools, and waited about 90 minutes for a table, but whatever. It's a thing, right? While we waited, we watched Hero and Ninja Scroll on the TV over the bar - kind of a martial arts themed night.
To the burgers: Good. Quite good. And big. My "Lair of the Minotaur" was excellent, with brie, bourbon soaked pears, sauteed onions, and bacon. I ordered the burger medium rare, and it came pretty pink throughout. Fine by me, but if you're used to restaurants overcooking at all levels to save themselves a lawsuit, you might want to order one level more done than you are used to. The burger itself wasn't too heavily seasoned - which was nice, considering none of my toppings are particularly strong - it was good not to lose the flavors in a bunch of seasoned salt. Others enjoyed the...something...with goat cheese, tzatziki sauce, and kalamata olives - very good. And...the Slayer, which was, no joke, a huge 10oz burger smothered in chili and sausage links. The chili was probably about 75% meat by volume. The chili was good, too. Spicy, not too onion-y, not too cumin-y.
Finally, a "make your own" mac-and-cheese was tasty with prosciutto and mushrooms. Sprinkled on top was a good handful of scallions, which makes the appearance of scallions as an ingredient choice kind of interesting. I guess if you really like scallions? Anyway. The cheese was tasty, and the pasta was al dente - a good job all around, and a good option for those not looking for the meat sweats.
I was a good boy, and I ate the whole burger...and followed that up by being uncomfortably full for the rest of the night. At $11, this is a lot of food - you could cut this in half, eat one piece, and be full, then eat it again the next day. So maybe look at it as a $5.50 reasonable sized burger?
Usually, I would say I'd go back. But honestly, it's pretty inconvenient to wait that long, and I'm unlikely to make it back down on a weeknight when the wait is shorter. So, through no fault of their own, I would have to be taking out of town guests back to make this trip again. I'd love to try more of the burgers, but it's likely not in the cards.
I FINALLY made it here! And.....it's as good as they say. Usually that much hype kills the experience, but seriously, I think they may be mixing crack in with the ground beef. Cause it is simply BETTER than an average hamburger patty. On top of that, they have freaking amazing topping combinations. I got the Black Sabath, which is a blackened burger, with pepper jack cheese, red onions, and chili, which led me to believe their appetizer chili must be amazing too. The bf got the Neurosis and loved that too.
Great beer selection too, stuff you've probably never heard of, which is always fun. My only gripe was the waffle fries, which were way lame and not crispy. Next time I'll get the homemade chips instead. Also, as far as the famed wait, we went right at noon on a Sunday (which is when they open) and got the last table before the wait started. So that was a sweet deal.
Some friends from out of town called us up and said they were on their way to Kumas and asked if we would like to meet up with them. We didn't have the money for a full meal so decided to go to hang out and drink some coffee.
When we got there our friends said they were planning on buying our meals so we started getting excited. We are vegan and vegan friends have told us you can get the veggie burger and leave stuff off, but we figured we'd talk to the waitress just in case. After waiting for an hour plus we were seated.
Disclaimer: I FULLY understand that Kumas is not a vegan restaurant. But the veggie burger gave us hope and we asked the waitress what burger we could make vegan that would still be good. She suggested a few like "oh yeah, people totally do this all the time".
Another half hour wait for the food and my partner's comes out with a big slab of cheese on it. He sends it back. I'm ready to bite into mine when another waitress comes over to inform us that there is cheese IN the burger. She was kind of apologetic but more like, "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do". I told her I was only frustrated because our waitress acted like vegans ate there all the time and didn't check to see if we could. I am also allergic to dairy so this is a bigger deal for me.
The chef came out and was very nice, talked to us about options we had (which mostly included some salads that had honey in the dressing) and was very honest about how they cook their chips (in the same fryers as fish products, but with new oil at the beginning of each day). We decided to go with coffee.
All of this could be left in the "misunderstanding" category and I would be fine with just never going back there. But our waitress was SO RUDE at this point. The first thing she said wasn't even an apology, it was "I didn't know there was cheese in there" in a very defensive tone and then just walked away. Next she came up to us and said she was sorry about it but then continued to tell us that she used to eat them and had no idea. I asked if she was vegan and she said she used to be and then went into this story that berated us on how she started "loosening up" and eating other things and how veganism makes you fat. It was so insulting.
Kumas: First, if you're going to serve a veggie burger why not go all the way and just get one without cheese? Second, make sure your staff knows what is in your food, its not about people being "picky", its important to those of us who have food allergies or have chosen to not eat certain foods due to personal reasons.
So, 1058 reviews. What is my 1059th review ACTUALLY going to do to change anyone's mind on how awesome this place is?
I had been talking about going to Kuma's for the better part of over a year. I heard about it through a friend, and when I first saw the website, and the names of the burgers, I was in love. A rock/metal bar that names its burgers as such? SOLD!
So here is how it all went down. I was talking to my brother in law about Kuma's and how I wanted to go. His response, "What's Kuma's?" The decision came that since we both had the week of Thanksgiving off, it will be our Monday afternoon excursion.
Time - 11:58am
Call to brother in law. Time of pick up set, 1:15pm.
Time - 12:06pm
Shower and get ready to destroy a burger and some delicious beers.
Time - 12:20pm
Fully dressed and ready to roll. Sitting in anticipation.
Time - 1:04pm
Leave the house enroute to pick up brother in law.
Time - 1:15pm
Stupid traffic..
Time - 1:24pm
Brother in law picked up. Enroute to Kumas
Time - 1:57pm
Kuma's.
There was a 30 or so minute wait when we got in the door, but my brother in law was lucky enough to get a spot at the bar which is first come first serve. We had a beer, and waited for a table to open up, when after about 20 minutes two spots opened up at the bar - we moved, sat, and refilled our beers.
After much deliberation, my brother in law decided that he needed to try the Chicken Tortilla Soup - as well as the Famous Kumas burger. I opted for the Plague Bringer.
This burger packed so much flavor and so much punch, I couldn't believe my taste buds.. Freaking awesome! The beer we had was Brown Suggah, and it was hoppy with a hint of spice and a whopping 10% abv.
Do I need to recommend Kuma's to anyone? Yes, if they haven't heard of it, but if you are on Yelp, and checking reviews, the repuation of this place has already sold itself.
Oh, they show movies too. We got sucked into the first Twilight film while eating too. Dangerous.
Eat a burger and rock.
Okay, seriously Kuma's. I know you're raking in the money. Open a Kuma's two...I mean, seriously. You're doing the world an injustice. Stop bogarding the franchise.
BTW, if you're unsure where to open said franchise, I hear Edgewater has a very lively hamburger culture....you know, FYI and stuff.
Patio, beer, meat, what more can I possibly ask for! I really really like this place. The service… Read more »
With over a thousand reviews... what's another 4-star? Right?
But, whatever, this place is so good. Good enough to wait 2 hours... well, I've been known.
It's places like Kuma's that keep Chicago cool -- interesting combinations, fresh, high quality ingredients, delicious delicious beers, pretzel rolls, WAFFLE FRIES... Holy hell, how can you go wrong? With a city as infatuated with beef as Chicago, these burgers do NOT disappoint.
The people watching is interesting, but really, no one cares. Show up... if it's crowded have a beer, and just wait. It won't kill you. But seriously go if you want a phenomenal burger experience.
I went with three of my friends on a rainy day, hoping no one else would go. But we still had to wait about 30 minutes. We got fried calamari, which came in a huge serving. This place has incredible burgers (as the hundreds of other reviews probably have already told you). I tried the Kuma Burger and the Iron Maiden (my friend and I each ordered one, and then he gave me half of his and vice versa) and both were so amazing. My other two friends got chicken burgers and they said those were very good too. I could only eat half of mine in one sitting -- they're very large and it's impossible not to eat it non-messily. I ate the other half the next day and it tasted just as delicious. The fries are nothing special... but you get a lot of food for $10-12!
Go here if you want a really good burger.. or to go to a bar. Cause that's what this is. As good as the food is, this place is so dark that I couldn't tell what I was eating. Also, the music was very loud. At first we tried yelling at each other, but after awhile, we just sat there in silence and ate.. and then tried to talk between song changes (it doesn't work so well).
Edit 11/26: I tried their mac and cheese w/ chicken and broccoli & I've never had any other kind as delicious (though I guess mac n cheese w/ truffles at Waverly Inn is pretty good). And they give you so much of it, the leftovers will last for days!
Kuma's Corner is a trendy, hipster tattoo and piercing fest that often makes me feel like I dropped 6 hits of blotter acid in a McDonalds. The staff are friendly for the most part but I am so sick of this goddamned tattoo fad that I could throw up. Every time I see a beautiful woman with her body vandalized with some crappy tattoos makes me eager for the day when this pathetic fad finally runs its bleak course, sadly only after it leaves hordes of defaced human bodies in its wake. Don't these people own mirrors? Well maybe they do... funhouse mirrors. Probably look good in a funhouse mirror...
I've had some crappy experiences at Kuma's, sadly, due to their incompetent kitchen staff and one of their their surly tattooed lady bartenders...
Arrived alone, because I live in the neighborhood... wanted a table, but couldn't get one because I was not with a group... place was busy but not full... hostess told me to sit at the bar, which was packed, not a single chair... finally a space opens up... ordered mussels for appetizer... beer selection sucks, just a bunch of trendy microbrews, no classic beers (Hacker-Pschorr, Chimay?) got an Aventinus... 10 bucks!! Waiting, waiting, 10 minutes, no appetizer, look in the kitchen and it looks like they are so far in the weeds it's not funny, all these long-haired, pierced and tattooed kitchen staff running around frantically, (no hair nets or paper hats, BTW) I mean come on all you do is make bloody hamburgers for christ's sake... complain to bartender, she doesn't do anything, 10 minutes later, ask again where is my appetizer and she *throws me out of the bar*! What a joke!
So screw this trendy-ass no-decent-beer, overpriced dive with a freakshow staff who can't cook for a crowd and can't handle a reasonable customer complaint. They have good burgers, I'll admit, but don't go there to drink unless you are prepared to pay through the a** for your beer.
I'm opening a tattoo removal parlor right next door as soon as this tattoo fad finally crashes and I'm gonna enjoy taking that ugly-ass "body art" off that goddamned bartender, with lasers set to third-degree burn.
Decadent!
Loved this place. Nothing new to add, amazing burgers---all are great!!! Beer selection is solid too. Even the calamari plate was wonderful and huge. The line is horrific---2 hours on a Sunday night! I suggest putting in your name and going to another bar then returning to eat 1.5 hours later, it always works.
You know, I used to be a fan but my last experience was inexcusable. Sure the burgers are good, but there are other places with good burgers that won't RUIN MY DAY!! I used to work at an office down the street, well before Kuma's was the hype that it is today so I feel completely justified in my criticism. I show up the Friday after Thanksgiving with some out-of-town family. We are told it should be about 45 minutes for a table, I figured even if it was a little over an hour we could stick around. We stand by the bar, get some beers and wait. With just under an hour on the clock it does not look like we are sitting any time soon. I asked as politely as possible what the adjusted ETA of a table was. I got a smart-ass answer from the hipster hostess. About ten minutes later my party was told that "FRIENDS OF THE OWNER SHOWED UP AND WERE GIVEN OUR TABLE" and we would likely be seated in an hour! Well, we didn't have an hour to wait, we had another family party to be at that evening, so we left... I can not believe that they had the balls to tell us that! While I'm on the subject, fuck all those attention seeking "unique" douche bags who work there. I'm glad you all discovered that ink, hair dye, and shit poked through our head puts you in an elite group of acceptance by other people with ink, hair dye, and shit through their face. By the way, I'm more "Metal" than any of you fucks, but I don't have to wear it on my sleeve because I'm 33 years old.
I love Kumas Corner. Love it. But I also hate it. Due to the popularity of this restaurant, the wait after it has been opened for 25 minutes is over an hour. Seriously?! I have come numerous times to eat here and the wait is upwards of 2 hours and higher. I just end up doing carry out. Oh and on that note, they don't do carry out during the summer. Yeah. Please Kumas. Move to a bigger location! It would help you and your customers.
Rant done. Now let's talk about the burgers. Heaven on a plate. I have only gotten the Kumas Burger and I fear I may never venture past it. It is the biggest burger I have ever had. I love the fried egg that is placed on top. With the yolk running, it gives it a certain creaminess and saltiness that just heightens the flavor of the burger and the bacon. People around me were ordering the mac and cheese and I regret, really regret not ordering it. I can't get it out of my mind!
I highly recommend coming here if you want one of the best burgers around. Just be prepared to wait a long time and have lots of patience.
We went on a Wednesday around 11:30, so there was no wait. They didn't make my boyfriend wait to be seated while I was still outside parking the car, so that's a bonus. The service was very friendly all around.
We had:
The YOB- roasted red peppers and cheddar on a burger. It was a good burger but nothing unbelievable. I ordered it Medium Well, but fortunately my boyfriend saved our street cred by ordering his Medium Rare. And yeah, the waitress gave him a nod of approval.
The Slayer- amazing. Jack and Andouille (no bun) topped on a bed of waffle fries. Amazing. It was spicy, but not so much that you couldn't still taste the burger, and all kinds of delicious. You need to order this.
We also had a bowl of the chicken and black bean soup, which was the special of the day. It was very good and big enough to split. It came with tortilla strips and oyster crackers.
Burgers are $10 a pop and a good deal at that. You'll definitely get two meals at least.
Also, I was freezing the entire time so be sure to bring a jacket.
I have a big problem with this place.
They need better customer service. I went here on a wenesday night and I finally found the hostess and...
"Hi, can I put my name down for a party of two?"
"Um, sure, fine. How many?"
"2"
"Yeah, it's gonna be 2-2.5 hours"
And then she walks away. Didn't take my name or hardly look at me, or write anything down, or go back to a hostess station to write anything down.
That's rude, and it felt like the norm at kuma's corner.
I don't care how good your food is, a 2.5 hour wait on a wenesday with bad service is a no go for me!
Stopped in at Kuma's last night and got a seat in under 10 minutes! Is that a new world record? The hostess was super cool and steered us to two seats that were opening up at the bar. I ordered the Black Sabbath (pepper and chili burger). Loved the peppery taste of the burger and they didn't overload it with chili, which made it manageable to eat (recall the Slayer?). Got the burger cooked medium rare and served on a soft pretzel bun, now this is heaven! Washed it down with a Surly Furious. The perfect way to spend a Tuesday night!!
They usually say the third time's the charm, but for me it was the fourth...that's right we tried… Read more »
I hardly ever give a place 5 stars, but this restaurant is well deserving.
Upon leaving this place, you are left feeling along the lines of the restaurant's theme: like a rockstar.
Now, I am not so keen on hamburgers (that is what this place is known for); however, I have also never had a hamburger smothered in pico de gallo and goat cheese. Holy originality and goodness. My mouth literally waters just thinking about the burger I ate there. The burgers (while $10) are so big that it takes 2 meals to finish them. They are also served on a pretzel bun and not a traditional hamburger bun. This just makes them that much better!
This place is super small for it being so popular. They should think about expanding its space, and it's somewhat hard to hear others in your party; however, one must consider the theme: metal band.
You enjoy your lunch and/or dinner listening to hard rock/heavy metal while being helped by a super friendly staff decked out in tattoos and crazy colored hair. I don't want to say it is touristic because the place still encombers a "neighborhood" type feel to it since it is small; however, it is one of those "got-to-try" restaurants while in this city.
A huge downfall: the popularity for this place has caused waits to be up to 2-3 hours long. This is definately not rockstar/VIP treatment. Also, they do not accept reservations over the phone. You must be there in person to give your name. What I suggest? Go on a weekday night. You might still have a wait, but it probably won't be as bad.
Was I right to believe the hype? In this case, yes.
I was served up the best burger of my life yesterday.
Tastiest beef I've eaten...Kuma's is one of the few places where medium rare ACTUALLY IS medium rare. (Moody's Pub is another).
I devoured the Lair of the Minotaur and a few chips.
Flawless burger, but the chips were a little greasy, but still good.
Service was good and the wait was an hour. Atmosphere was fun too.
Good times.
Best. Burger. Ever.
I had heard from a couple friends that Kuma's is the place to go for some of the best burgers you've ever tasted and I'm please to say that they definitely live up to the hype.
I didn't even care that I had to wait an hour and a half to be seated! Their extensive beer selection kept me more that occupied while I chatted with friends and gawked at some of the characters coming and going.
I can't wait to stop back and try the mac and cheese!
Since my first review I've moved next door to Kuma's to make my visits here more pleasant (waiting at home is a lot more fun than waiting at an overcrowded bar). And while I don't visit more than I did before--I mean, I can only handle one of these burgers per month, and I'd love to hang out at the bar, but it gets too crazy--I still love it.
I've had about all but three burgers--and the last few have never sounded great to me (my favorites are, in order: Plague Bringer, Iron Maiden, Mastodon) I tried one near the bottom of my list: the Dark Throne (goat cheese, pico, and poblano I believe). And it was good! I never got it because it was sauceless and sounded a little boring, but the goat cheese made its own sauce and it was spicy enough to make me happy.
Also, I had my favorite waitress. I can't remember her name, but I always get her, and she is always great.
I still want the old fries back, and my vegetarian friends hate the frozen veggie patty, but whatever. This place rules.
There have been some changes that I don't like--things seem a little less spicy (ketchup included),… Read more »
Ahh, the great heavy metal burger palace of Chicago
I'm a little hesitant to try a new restaurant based on hype but damn, I kick myself for not checking this place out sooner. These are colossal burgers, for when you've got major hunger pains and not the munchies otherwise your stomach will feel like a molten chunk of lard especially if you wash it down with a beer. One tiny little problem, the place is constantly packed and you will end up having to wait an hour or two before you can be seated, YES that totally sucks but believe me the food and atmosphere is worth it.
Also, they should get a little more creative with the names of their burgers, like instead of calling them "Metallica burger" and "Pantera burger" they should merge the band names with food like a "Dimmu Burger served with a Cradle of Fries". Friendly suggestion : )
Also I really dont think this is a family friendly establishment unless your parents are former Motley Crue roadies/groupies, there was a white suburban looking family eating there and I couldn't help but wonder what the parents would say if their 5 year old son wanted to order the Goblin Cock burger.
And the place is WALKING DISTANCE from my apartment. Boo-Yah,
Cot-damn, 1000+ reviews? So much for this being unique.
Anyways, Kuma's Corner is one of those places you just have to try out, ASAP. Then, you will learn to fall in love with it, or hate it. Chances are, you will love it. The place has metal music. An extensive beer list.Its own set of rules (they do NOT put on the game, brah). Burgers named after metal bands (Slayer, Motorhead, & Goblin Cock, FTW!), customized mac 'n' cheese plates, and chili made with PBR. Sheesh, writing about this is getting me hungry....
Oh, and waffle fries pair up with your metal mega burger. The portions are huge, and are guaranteed to sate your hunger. The only drawback that really sticks out to me is the waiting time; you're guaranteed to wait at least a half hour to an hour and a 1/2 - 2 hours at the most. Try to get there early to avoid waiting for that long (but to be honest, it's worth the wait, no matter how long). Also, make sure everyone in your party's there by the time your table's available, or they won't seat you. Plain and simple.
If you're too concerned about your table's privacy and have a thing about eating in small, cramped, and loud places, grow a pair and deal with this small "inconvenience."
Now go forth and indulge in some Kuma's Corner. Go go go go!!
\m/ ^.^ \m/ I believe this emoticon sums it all up.
I had the Hell on Fire and that was the best burger I've ever tasted and the service was pretty good for a burger place. The drawbacks were the 2 hours wait and the bar was first-come first-serve. If they assigned seats for the bar, I would've given this 5 stars but people seemed to know each other and hooked them up when they were done with a bar seat. I'd go here again but will be more aggresive with swiping a seat.
I am one Kuma Burger away from Diabetes.
Delicious and Deadly.
The epitome of heavy metal.
AWESOME!
Crowded and loud, it's Metal.
Large portions, tasty beers, large music. Kuma's food and beverages are as rich and thick as the music that plays.
They take the burger and make a piece of edible, delicious, sometimes monstrous art.
Be prepared to wait for an hour or more, you will probably never arrive and get seated right away unless you camp out and wait for them to open and even then there's going to be a wait, unless you get there REALLY early.
outfreakingstanding! Yeah, the wait sucks. But it is so worth it. My husband and I finally made it to Kuma's Corner today at 12:30pm. The wait was an hour plus. We staked out a spot at the bar after 30 minutes, as did at least four other couples in the time we were there. It can be done, so don't let the long lines sway you from the ridiculous burger goodness.
I had the Famous Kuma Burger and we might get divorced if I don't stop talking about it. Our conversations go like this "What's on your schedule for this week?" "HOLY LORD THAT BURGER WAS SO AMAZING, OMFG!" I'm hoping to get past it after I recover from the food coma induced nap I'm about to take. But seriously, the way the egg yolk drizzled down my perfectly cooked medium rare burger with crisp bacon onto the amazingly soft pretzel roll is almost unfair to other burger posers.
My husband had the Pig Destroyer. I can't believe how good the bbq was. I was skeptical of bbq on a pretzel roll and boy, was I wrong.
Great beer selection, homemade chips, crisp waffle fries and delightful staff make Kuma's a must eat.
Yeah, the music was loud, but it wasn't that bad. We did have a couple "Eh? what did you say?" moments complete with leaning over the table with hand held up behind the ear gestures. if we had an ear horn (like in the old cartoons, we would have used it)
I loved Kuma's. I was really concerned about the potential wait times but when we arrived (750pm Tuesday night) we were told about an hour/hour and a half. Not too bad. So we headed to Square for some drinks. Sent hubsbie back to Kuma's at about 850 and he was told that they passed us up. So you're telling me, we could have been seated in less than an hour? WOW. No problem, we're pretty laid back. We finished our drinks and stood outside for about 10 min and then the hostess called us in.
Between the 3 of us, we tried the Black Sabbath, Metallica and Motorhead. They were all so good! I would say that I liked Motorhead the best--we did scrape off some of the goat cheese (there was so much!) but it was still really good. I think I liked Motorhead the best too because hubsbie had it cooked Medium. I always order medium-well for my burgers but he had it right. I order medium for steaks, I really should opt for that for burgers now.
The build-your-own Mac N Cheese was really good. (Bacon and Roasted red peppers). It wasn't as hot (temperature) as I'd like my food cooked, but it tasted fantastic. Word to the folks with sensitive stomachs--it is REALLY rich.
I'll definitely be back, maybe to try the Kuma burger (medium of course) and the Jack on tap.
I thought I was going to be all cool and sneak in here for the 1000th review. Juuust like I've mistakenly thought that I was going to sneak down to Kuma's on a rainy Tuesday night and have the whole place to myself. Dee-nied!
Is there anything original I can possibly add to the 4-figure reviews here? Probably not and I'm not going to read all of 'em to find out. Rather than attempt to reinvent the wheel, I'll just add my two cents to the pile of what's good:
1. Starting off: Jack Daniels ON TAP is the single greatest thing ever. Corn allergies be damned, it's game on!
2. 'Make Your Own' mac-n-cheese is the best I've found in the city (carmelized onion and bacon is a personal fave!)
3. I also wholeheartedly endorse the "no macrobrews" policy. Miss your Miller? Grow a pair and try some Gumballhead or Great Lakes.
4. And the waffle fries? *swoooon*
5. Fave burgers (so far): Yob, Neurosis, Lair of the Minotaur. Only burger I've had there that I didn't love: the Kuma. It was kinda a letdown for the namesake.
Got a problem with the wait/ staff/ attitude? Go somewhere else. Kumas and I will toast in your absence.
For me, Kuma's Corner is like... wandering into an awesome relationship, hitting rough waters, going to couples' therapy, and ultimately accepting that you have no choice but to break up.
I gave Kuma rave reviews, but now have to say that I will never go back. I sent them a letter after I found hair in my food and, two weeks later, still no response. I don't care what restaurant theme you've chosen - a business is a business and you should always get back to your customers. My letter to Kuma's Corner (sent 10/6/09) is below. I wish we didn't have to part ways. Ah well....
--
Hi Kuma's Corner,
What's up. Howdy. So your web-site says to keep advice to yourself, but I've got to share something with you. I had an awesome experience the two times that I've been to your joint and I rave about your restaurant to everyone I know. Last night, I took my boyfriend and my dad (who was visiting from Seattle) to your restaurant and we had a fantastic time. Fast forward to tonight, where I heat the leftover half of my burger (I couldn't finish it - my stomach is small!), am settling down on the couch, burger in one hand, watching a movie. And what do I see sticking out of the all beef patty?
A hair.
It's about 3 inches long and it's dark.
I am somewhat grossed out. What is POSSIBLY more disturbing is that, after I pull the hair OUT of my burger, I actually contemplate finishing it. Your burgers are that good. I debate the issue and try to rationalize finishing the burger (hair, big deal, it's probably not that dirty, I'd probably continue eating if it was my hair, there could be worse things, etc etc).
Ultimately, the gross factor wins out. Dinner ruined. Movie is paused. I rummage for something else to eat.
Kuma's Corner... I don't know if your guys wear hair nets when they make those patties or what the process is, but could you please do something to ensure that NO HAIR gets into the food? That is not too much to ask. I would really like to come back again but now I'm skeeved out. I'm sorry, maybe I'm a wuss, but hair in my food... gives me the willies. For that reason, I'll never buy ice cream from a vending machine or eat anything from Taco Bell again (true stories, both).
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Yvonne
The burgers are delicious. The mac 'n' cheese was OFF THE HOOK!!! The wait, though, is a little… Read more »
I'm going to say it now to get it out of the way. Here's what to you expect: Long waits, slow service, loud music and bad lighting. Fantastic burgers. I expected with all the hype that the food would become anticlamactic and overrated. I was wrong.
I ripped on people for waiting three hours to get in. I think I still wouldn't do that, but on a Tuesday night it's a shorter wait. For a place where I was expecting to be sitting outside for three hours it was an hour and a half wait. The seating is meager, which accounts for the long waits during peak times. The metal is loud, but it wasn't obnoxious. The only problem i had with the atmosphere was the lighting. I couldn't read the menu. I had to use my cell phone as a flashlight. The service was slow, but the waitress was nice so I give that one a pass.
Now the food, the reason we came here to begin with, is the reason for the four star review. It's almost like they took random ingredients from the refrigerator and threw it on a burger and dubbed it a heavy metal name. But the grilled burgers are excellent. I ordered the Black Sabbath a burger with pepper jack, chili, blackening spices, red onion. I sampled two other burgers ordered by my sister and brother-in-law. The Metallica (bacon, buffalo sauce, bleu cheese) was good. The Motorhead was also good, but the goat cheese was overwhelming. We had to take some out, but once it was toned down, I think it was the best of the three.
Now the mac and cheese, which everyone raves about, was all that I had hoped. It had that home made style to it. We had it "built" with bacon and red peppers. It's made with real cheese and it's topped with bread crumbs and green onions. I wanted to eat the whole thing, but it was just an appetizer and I feared I wouldn't be able to eat my burger if I did.
1000 reviews? Fine, I'll make this short and sweet since there's not much for me to add. I've had a variety of their burgers and have not come across a bad one yet. Waffle fries are a great complement and the beer selection is awesome. Staff great too contrary to what people may think but the wait is killer. 2+ hours on a weekend at least and 1+ any other time. But worth it. Even the specialty burgers are good like the the Thanksgiving turkey one they got going on now with cranberries, stuffing, etc. If you haven't been, just go there already.
Plan on waiting. Food is great, atmosphere is fun and the long wait you are hearing about is part of the package. Enjoy, order a beer at the bar and plan on standing for a while (sometimes a long while so get 2 beers). I am pretty sure you too will return.
The burgers are phenomenal, truly the best non-high grade beef burgers, and the best damn fries, and the best portion-sized meal for the money I've ever had, so why the two stars? The wait. The wait (in our case, three hours on a Wednesday night 7 p.m., no lie) ruins everything good about this place. I blame it on two things: poor management and poor hostess practices.
The hostess wasn't any help in alleviating the wait. Metal-place, schmetal place, you still run a business and it's the hostess's job to smooth over long waits. Even if your hostess is covered in tattoos and piercings (as I am), there's just no reason for the attitude and you should train such a hostess in such a tight-space establishment to be on it, both in temperament management and seating.
Offer water for the long, hot wait, fer chrissakes. Have her checking on folks who seem to be standing around for a long time every now and then, not just standing there looking half pissed and half bemused by the frustrated response. Have her greet people as if she genuinely gives a crap that they're giving her money--that sort of thing.
And after a three-hour wait, she should surely be saying, "Thank you for waiting so patiently, I know it's crazy." If she's not, then get rid of her, because she's not making the wait staff higher tips and she's not making you money, period.
Kuma's, I implore you, get a hostess who actually likes people and understands that the goal is to avoid money walking out the door, because your food is awesome, your wait staff is unbelievably helpful and on it (I'm assuming they tip the hostess out, a pity), and even though you have crouch-exposing, leather-clad, blood-covered women on your wall, your place rocks. But just like having a bad drummer can ruin a great band, your hostess sucks and should be replaced.
Every time someone walks out that door from the long wait, you're losing business. On my three-hour wait, I watched as 12 tables walked out, which is-what- $500 to $1200 profit? I can't help but think that this is just another sign of not-so-great planning on management's part.
And while I'm on the management-should-really-pay-attention train, you're in Avondale. Property can't be that expensive and your burgers are $10-$13 a pop with a packed house every night, all day.
You've got to be raking in the dough, so either expand on the place you got or move to a bigger place. There's just no justification as to why you can't and it's ridiculous not to do so. I bet you could get a great deal on property right now, while creating much-needed jobs for the tattoed and pierced among us.
On Chicago Yelp, this place kept on popping up as one of the best burger places in Chicago and it is definitely one of the best burgers I ever had.
I came in 20 minutes after the place opened and even on Tuesday, it was jam packed. I found a seat at the bar and got myself a Lagunitas IPA to enjoy. For lunch, I decided to get the YOB, which had smoked gouda, bacon, roasted red peppers, and roasted garlic mayo on a pretzel roll along with criss-cut fries. A lot of the burgers are named after rock/heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin. The first bite I took of the YOB burger was mouth watering delicious. It was pretty big too, so I cut into four pieces so I can enjoy the burger without making a big mess. It was a near perfect burger.
The service was great and while you eat, you can listen to rock music. If you come with a big group, try to come here when it opens or you will be stuck in waiting for an hour.
I'm coming here again!
Burgerquest, son!
Kuma's description: *Choice of 10oz. burger, Boneless Chicken Breast, Garden Burger, or Chicken Tenders*
*Served with Fries or Chips. Substitute House Salad or Caesar for $2.00*
*All Burgers Served On A Pretzel Roll*
"OUR FAMOUS KUMA BURGER"
Bacon, Cheddar, Fried Egg - $10
Cooking Style/Temp: Medium. At 10oz, this thing was a beast, and it came a little undercooked, but that's better than overcooked. Flame Grilled.
Additions/Subtractions: got it as listed on the menu, with waffle fries
Burger: 4.5
This burger was the Godzilla of burger patties, 10oz of freshly ground and hand formed beef. I'm not a "giant burger" fan, but the char-grilling added good flavor and the meat was light and juicy. It was a little undercooked, better that than overcooked and dried out, however. The more well-done parts of the burger had more flavor than the the less cooked parts. Next time I'll ask for medium+.
Bun: 4.5
I was apprehensive about the pretzel bun. I don't care for them on sandwiches, I find them too chewy and the pretzel coating can overwhelm. Not in this case. I can't think of any other kind of bun that can handle the tractor trailers that are Kuma's Burgers. It was just soft enough, but sturdy enough to handle any toppings you pile onto that viking shield of beef.
Toppings: 5
With all the variations available I was tempted to go off the deep and and get the craziest and most delicious sounding concoction they had, but to get a good feel for the place I wanted to go with the ol' #1. I'd also been meaning to get a burger with egg on it, so this presented the perfect opportunity.
Egg, over easy, bacon, cheddar, I also added lettuce, onion, tomato, ketchup and mayo. All fresh, all so tasty. The bacon was perfectly cooked, the egg was over easy that went to a more viscous medium as it rested on the hot burger, perfect. I could pick out each element in every bite (except for the cheddar, which i don't like on burgers too much because it loses it's flavor when you melt it) but at the same time the flavors melded together so well. I credit the egg yolk. So good.
Accoutrements: 5
Delicious waffle fries, Homemade kettle chips, options for salads, all made fresh. Good beers, a couple that I'd never had but were delicious, on tap, plus PBRs, and appetizers. I'd try it all if I could.
Atmosphere: 5
A small bar with a tiny 16x16 kitchen, about 10 tables, blasting face-melting heavy metal, cool as shit staff and a clientele who were there for the best burgers for hundreds of miles in any direction? I'll take it! The wait can be long, but we went there at 11:30 at night and it wasn't too bad. and yeah, the place was full of people eating burgers that late. Some "regular" people might not be able to deal with the atmosphere, but chances are, if you aren't decked out in performance fleece and khakis, you should be just fine.
Overall: 4.8
A near perfect score. If I were a bigger fan of pretzel buns and giant burgers, we probably would be talking all 5's. There are a few things that, to me make awesome burgers, and Kuma's ticks most of the boxes. Two of biggest ones (besides taste obviously), Kuma's has in spades. One is that when I'm eating it, my hands get messy and juicy and I need a napkin to clean up, the other is if I can still taste it, days later. As I type this, I can still remember the flavors, textures, everything. Unbelievable. This was the second best burger I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and drive to Chicago right now and get one. You'll be glad you did.
I always thought this place had to be overrated. I mean I found some solid go to burgers in this town. And nothing beats a good In-N-Out burger time to time when I'm visiting the West Coast.
Kuma's passes the tests. The beef patties are huge, which usually can deter me. Hoever, the juicey tender medium rare patty holds up. So far I've had the Slayer and the YOB. Both I enjoyed for completely seperate reasons. I took the slayer home and and made it the next day w/ spanish rice. It's like a better version of hamburger helper.
I'm impressed and sold. I live a short walk down Belmont. However, the wait gets to me like the rest of you. So I take PTO and go. You heard me. I actually took a day off work to hang out at Kuma's. No regrets. I mean I get to spend the afternoon w/ my unemployed friends, drinking bourbon from a tap (this is fantastic, wish more places had it), and enjoying what I love about Chicago (the uniqueness that can't be copied).
So Kuma's, I've taken you on and you've won me over. The next burger on my list is the Lair of the Minataur by the way. Accompanied by Woodford Reserve on tap. Burgers and Bourbon kids...go and enjoy!
THEY HAVE WHISKEY ON TAP!!
I was sold when I saw this. Badass, hardcore amazingness. Yes there is usually a two hour long wait, and yes its usually super crowded. The plus side is that the bar i has 3 different types of whiskey on tap, and a huge assortment of beers on tap and in the bottle. They also have other alcohol, but these are the highlights of their bar.
The atmosphere is an interesting one. Of course they have heavy metal music blaring, but if you are coming to Kuma's then that is to be expected. The art work on the walls is pretty rad as well.
The food. The burgers are hands down amazing. Not only do they taste great, but they have awesome names like, "Goblin Cock" (who wouldn't want a Goblin cock?!?) and they have unique burgers combining things you've never imagined! When I went, a heavy metal band (i don't remember their name : \) had a cd releasing. That night they had a ridiculous special that I could not turn down. It had a burger topped with a waffle, a piece of fried chicken, collard greens, bacon, and maple syrup. I know this might sound disgusting to some and epic to others. It was amazing. When I'm in the area I will gladly wait two hours for one of the best burgers of my life.
Chalk up another mediocre hamburger journey. It is becoming a trend in Chicago for culinary artists to devise a plethora of delightful ingredients to trickle over the mountain of beef (well, it reads delightfully off the menu). Unfortunately, just as any other hamburger palace, the beef is morbidly disappointing. I figured the Mid-West to harbor some fine quality grass grazing cows, but it seems the overall "juicy" factor and grade of the beef is sub-par. At the very least, I enjoyed the pretzel bun covering burger because of the myriad of toppings available. But, the toppings alone cannot salvage my overall experience at Kuma's Corner.
The atmosphere is fantastic and the service is top-notch. Kuma's Corner is excellent to visit with friends or to just hang out at a cool place. Outside of that, i'll settle on a Burger joint with the same quality meat and somewhere I do not have to sit in traffic for 30-40 minutes to get to.
First of all, IT IS POSSIBLE. On Friday at 5pm, the wait was 35 minutes and we jumped on a couple bar seats after 10 minutes.
I was ready to be disappointed -- this place had been hyped up to me for years, there was rush hour traffic all the way there, and it was cloudy (grew up in LA, full-fledged seasonal affective disorder).
Well, it didn't disappoint. The bartender was extremely friendly. I will admit that I was post-Alpha King and a few Gumballheads by the time I got to my Kuma's Burger, but no amount of alcohol-induced stupor could cloud the awesomeness that was my burger. The burger was promptly inhaled Nathan's-hot-dog-style. Quality ingredients, well-seasoned burger, cooked perfectly. The pretzel roll was what really set this burger apart from other top burger joints. Loved the waffle fries. Also had some of the Black Sabbath, solid.
We also made it through most of a mac and cheese. By that time I was eating too fast to really taste anything (I get crazy when I get really hungry), but I vaguely remember seeing my girlfriend raving about it in my peripheral vision.
Seriously, the ridiculous hype might be deserved. And the wait isn't always that bad. Kuma's might leave you paralyzed for the rest of the evening, but it's worth it.
Good burgers, ok mac and cheese.
That huge line to get in can kiss my Goblin Cock!
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