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CHEEEEESE FRIES!
I had this theory. Rundown looking burgerstand/shack/hut that looks old and decrepit...MUST be good right? Otherwise it would just be old and abandoned. Lol. Jokes aside, the inside of Muskie's is not really rundown at all, in fact, it reminded me well of the late Hot Diggity Dog downtown.
The owner (maybe?) was a really nice gentleman who addressed me as "sir", but in a friendly way, not patronizing. He even told a couple of guys who came in only for the cheese fries that he uses Merkts cheddar cheese (which was also on my burger). Definitely service with a smile.
The burger itself was nothing groundbreaking, just a good, very simple, old-fashioned charbroiled burger - probably what Wendy's made before they became a chain. When i ordered, I was asked what I wanted in the burger (customization!). The ingredients were fresh. The cheese fries were great! I shall return.
This place brings back memories. I used to live with a couple of buddies around the corner, by Diversey and Lakewood, around '92 - '93. It was our first apartment away from home, in a little section of Lakeviewthat Lakeview didn't really much want to talk about. Good times. I'll never forget my first experience with Guinness in that apartment, because you can't forget what you can't remember. Anyway, there I was - my first apartment, my first job in video games, my first taste of life as a drunken roustabout... I was the freaking KING of Lakeview in my fevered mind. And Muskie's right around the corner, serving up a REAL freaking hamburger, not one of those mealworm hockey-pucks I grew up with. Every weekend, usually lunch and dinner, both Saturday and Sunday. Hell, I can afford the GOOD stuff now, I thought.
But that was long ago, and my tastes in grease have matured, so I decided to venture back. And it's still a REAL freaking hamburger. It's not Kuma's, no; nothing particulary creative about it. But it is a disc of real beef, under real bacon and real cheese, with a dash of real mayo, on a real bun. And it took me right back to those heady days, when Dr. Dre was still dropping the chronic, when we were all like "GodDAMN! Who is this Snoopy Doggy Doggy? He's a true wordsmith!" When Weezer was mashing up the Pixies and the Cars before mashing up was a real phrase. When Kevin Matthews was still beating the snot out of Dorothy Humphries, live, daily. When the pain of losing Cheers was still fresh. When the drama of Jay vs. Dave was burning white hot. I tell you, that freaking Muskie's burger I had tonight, that was some real Marcel Proust sh*t right there. I could keep going and make this like a 14-volume review, but I'm on my third Guinness and coherence is about to call it a night. "Laid back... with my mind on my money and my money on my mind..."
Delicious burgers and fries! I wouldn't make a special trip here but would definitely stop by if you're in the neighborhood. There's about 10 bar stools by the window and one corner table. A good place to come alone or with a few people. The people who work here are really nice and they make your food fast. There are always people here reading the paper, people watching at the seats by the window, or just sitting there, face buried in chili fries. If you like shakes, the vanilla ones are my favorite.
The hot dogs come in a cute hot dog shaped box!
Ok, so that's not a reason to go to Muskies, but the fried mac 'n cheese might be.
I recently fell in love with the freshness of Five Guys fries, but these might still be better.
I think everything on the menu is great. And anywhere where the owner is taking your order can't be a bad place (Hot Dougs and Muskies as an example).
Oh, haha, and the cop jokes are true. There are *always* cops in this joint. Don't you feel safer sipping your milkshake now?
Best burger of its type in Chicago. Excellent, fresh beef, real topping, real melted cheddar cheese. Phenomenal.
I work right across the street from Muskies and have been over many times! The owner works the counter most days and could not be nicer! I usually come in with one, if not two toddlers and he is always totally understanding of the noises that come along with such companions!
I've even ducked in just to get out of the rain on a few occasions and he hasn't minded one bit...and trust me, the double stroller I push doesn't go unnoticed!
Anyway...the food is good, and cooked to order so you don't have to worry about nasty hour-old food that's been sitting under a light...sick!
I usually get a bacon cheese burger with onion rings and a chocolate shake. Always good, always fast and always gone in a matter of moments! I've also had the mac-n-cheese bites and they are really good...I mean, fried mac-n-cheese, that's combining the best two food groups-fried and cheese! YUM!
I've also been known to grab a shake on the way to the park for a little afternoon lift me up. The shakes could be a little more chocolaty but that's my only complaint...but then again, I think everything could be more chocolaty!
What's not to love about Muskie's? Ok, so they don't take credit cards, but that's a minor detail. Everything else rocks, from the friendly owner to the fact that you can see them actually cookin' your order. My turkey burger was outstanding, and you gotta love those "old school" type of fries with the skins partially on. If it's not too busy, it's great to sit at the counter and people watch: those wacky guys coming in and out of the Elbo Room are a free show!
The true test of a good burger is to put on as little condiments as possible. I only had grilled onions and mustard and it was perfect. The bun was tops too. I had a hot dog while there - that was decent as well. I'll go back, so I can try out the mac-n-cheese bites, which I heard were good too.
First of all be prepared to wait for 5-10 minutes for your food. This is NOT fast food. You order and then they make it. None of that 10 burgers waiting precooked for you to pick pick one up. So you're getting a higher quality burger than most fast food places.
Second. The fries are fresh cut. This improves the taste. Also it is real cheddar on the cheese fries.
third. The burger is nice and charred, they ask you how you want it cooked, and the bun is a decent quality bun.
Fourth. The malt is too thick for the straws. Then I used two straws. It still was too thick and I barely got some out. It is a nice thick one that you need a spoon to eat.
Fifth. The Gyros is so full that you have to eat like 1/2 of the meat before you can pick it up.
Be warned it is not fast food priced. It is diner priced and worth every penny.
I don't have a haiku and I'm not writing a "Dear Muskie's" letter as though Muskie's is a person so I'm not sure how much faith the Yelp Elite will have in my review, but I know my burgers and I've been dining at Muskie's for years.
As mentioned, Muskie's is a straight forward burgers and fries joint. They cook the burgers on an open flame grill, not a flat top, so you get some nice flavor. The toppings are always fresh and the bun is a step above your standard fast food bun. I always get the cheddar burger made w/real Merkt's cheddar. Whoever said the cheese is from powder is clearly not a Chicagoan. The fries are fresh cut and some of the best in the city. If you're looking to add a few hundred calories to your meal, add a shake on.
Everything is always cooked to order and I've never once had a horrible product or incorrect order, so the higher prices are justified in my opinion. The downsides are no free refills, a charge for a cup of ice water and they get dinged for soggy, wimpy pickle spears. If you're in the area and looking for a burger, you'd be doing your taste buds a favor by stopping into Muskie's. Your heart, however, might disagree.
Muskie's is a throw back to a simpler time. The guy behind the counter is unbelievably cordial. The prices are low. The food is good. I stopped in today and got a bacon burger with swiss and cheese fries (clearly, I'm on a diet). The counter guy asked my how I liked my burger cooked. I was shocked, what a rarity for a tiny little diner to take a temperature! The food was ready in few minutes and looked great. The cheese fries had a Merkts cheddar sauce that was alright, but I think I would like the fries better plain. The burger was good. It wasn't Fat Willy's or Kuma's good, but Muskie's burgers are definitely at the head of the 'tiny diner' pack. The bacon had a nice crunch to it and everything tasted fresh. Another plus is that I love a burger joint that puts mayo on its burgers without even asking.
So many times with Yelp, do we focus on the new places (by "we" I mean "me") that we forget to review the old Stand-bys.
Muskie's a Haiku:
Muskie Burger Love
Really, please try one with cheese
Don't be a commie!
ooo ooo, i've never reviewed this spot, and it's so good for so many reasons.
you can park here without having to circle the block ten times, not a given in the lakeview area. the space inside is tiny, but there's space outside and it just seems more open than a lot of little stands, freestanding on its corner.
the owner is pleasant and calm and doesn't get my order wrong, which is also not a given, when it's multi crazy with my family's weird preferences.
my fam all eat meat but their mom, which would be me, so hot dog stands aren't usually a lunch option, but they serve a decent veggie burger here; not mushy, and with the lettuce and fixins, esp. the grilled onions and cheddar, it's never disappointed. their fries are tasty in their brown crispiness, and they have shakes that are yummy as well. other options are onion rings, chili, hot dogs and burgers, including turkey, and chicken options as well. it's just a handy, clean go to place, with good attitude, varied menu options, and decent prices.
Maybe I need to visit again but overall I just felt like this was a pretty average place with a great staff. Burger is good not great, and the fries were fine but I got some nasty cheddar on my fries that made them inedible. I love the location and decor of this spot and the prices are good I just can't see going out of my way for this place. It's like a solid B-
Very friendly cashier and employees, great service.
I ordered a cheeseburger and was happy to see them put the burger on the grill and make it right in front of me. The burger was well cooked, but didn't seem to have much flavor. It reminded me of those burgers that you get at a grocery store when you buy raw ground beef and its already shaped into patties. I took the burger and fries I ordered as take out, so maybe they would have tasted better if I'd eaten them immediately, but I don't think so.
Most shocking, and a driving reason for the three star rating was I ordered a cheeseburger with cheddar. Upon review while eating the burger, this was not normal cheddar cheese. It reminded me of a cheese sauce made from a powder mix. That was disappointing. While the fries were good, they weren't great either.
The best things about this place are definitely the personality and service and the fact that they make the food to order. Otherwise the food is just standard burger joint fare.
I lived about a block away from Muskies before finding this place. I recall passing it for years on the 11 bus back in the day but never dropped in.
Finally made it in, and yes there were cops eating there, and the owner pleasantly took my order. Double Char with cheddar, cheese fries and a chocolate shake. Go big or go home. Fries were cooked perfectly (I prefer almost overcooked) and the cheese was awesome. Burger was made exactly to order and the shake was way too thick (not a bad thing).
Been going back for 5 years now and oh yeah, mac n cheese bites are pretty good too.
Before a night of Schlitz, PBR and hit-or-miss music at the Elbo Room,, it is absolutely necessary to down a delicious hamburger and fries from the little burger stand across the street with enough seating for about 10 people at old-school barstools with that eye-blinding bright red padding and a silver stem.
The options are pretty simple. Burgers, burgers, more burgers, and some polish dogs, fries and other typical burger stand goodies. The prize choice among my regular friends is the cheddar burger, whether a single or double stack. It's that pre-melted cheese that you get on nachos that makes it worthwhile. But it isn't gross or plasticy, no, it's straight melted cheddar that means a foot-high pile of napkins. Myself, I opt for a regular burger with all the typical fixins'. They will cook it how you want and put what you like on it (even if that means relish).
The fries aren't anything special, but the shakes are good enough that my lactose-intolerant friend downed one just for the sake of good flavor. Needless to say, he was sick all night and couldn't drink a damn thing at the Elbo Room. But if that doesn't attest to quality, I don't know what does.
There's a little bit of outdoor seating off to the right of the building, and the facade will take you right back to the 1950s when joints like this were the typical hangouts on Friday and Saturday nights -- not the bars and hip hangouts of Wicker Park and the like. The staff is friendly, and most of the time when I go there it's an older man who looks like he might be enjoying retirement. The music is classy, and last night there was some Smashing Pumpkins rocking the joint.
If you're heading to a show at Elbo Room, Muskie's is also a good place to meet and greet bands playing, as most of them head in for some food after loading in and before playing. The boys I have gone to Muskie's with always hit up the fries and burgers before a show -- it's just the common sense, support your local eateries, thing to do.
So get to Muskies, plop down on a jelly bean barstool, and have yourself a burger, made to order the way burgers were meant to be.
Well, yesterday was my first experience here at Muskies. I would definitely say that the hot dog I ordered was good. They used fresh onions and tomatoes, mustard, hot bell peppers and the bun was fresh. All good qualities for a hot dog. The actual dogs were thin and bland, but no big deal. The fries are good as well, and come with real cheddar cheese topping, for $1.30 extra.
As we waited for our meal, I noticed the soda machine was facing behind the counter, which is an indication that refills were gonna cost extra, very bogus. I used to work at a restaurant, soda syrup is cheap as hell. Not sure why hot dog stands would not want you to refill for free.
After finishing the dogs and fries, I promised my gf that I would not be harsh on the review. I would come back to Muskies again someday, just not in a hurry to do so.
I'm pretty serious about my burgers and if you're into char-flavor, this is the place to go. Make sure to get the grilled onions on your burger, too. Oh, and bacon is always good.
AND THEIR CHEESE FRIES ARE AWESOME. REAL CHEDDAR. NOT THAT GROSS NACHO-STYLE CHEESE.
Here are my thoughts on muskie's:
They have great service. The owner/cashier? was very courteous and even asked me how I wanted my burger done! I've only been asked this a few times when I go out for burgers, so this is definitely a plus.
I ordered a double cheeseburger and a polish from Muskie's. Total came out to be $8.78 including taxes - not bad but a little bit pricey. I was in and out within ten minutes or so.
The food was cooked fresh and I liked seeing the grill with my food on it firing away. The cheeseburger is really great - they steam the bun while your meats are done, and it's not a regular hamburger bun either! The burger patties were cooked to perfection and very flavorful. I'd give the burger five stars alone.
The polish was alright, average sized, but not as big as the polishes at Jim's Original, Fast Track, Chubby Wiener's, or Murphy's Red hots. The bun also did not have poppy seeds on it.
Overall, I enjoyed the food at Muskie's and I look forward to stopping by again. Try it!
Their hours are as follows:
Monday-Saturday: 11AM-9PM
Sunday closed
Oh Muskies, how you clog my arteries so.
This is one of the best places in the city to get a great charred burger and a malt. MALT, not shake. MALT. Mmmmmmalt.
Tiny little place on the corner of Lakewood, Lincoln and George. Been there forever. It's one of my favorite places to take new visitors.
Only counter seating, great to grab and go or sit with a friend or two.
If you want to feel like you are in a time warp come here.
The owner is a great guy, highly intelligent & runs a burger joint for a living. He is an honorable guy that makes a mean burger & fries while you wait.
It reminds you of how growing up in the 50's might of been.
Muskies has been on my fave list for over 8 years! This place is always consistent. Great food & service, I really couldn't ask for anything more. Well, actually, I could ask that they accept credit cards! Sometimes I drive here wanting a burger, but don't have cash on me, so I have to go elsewhere...sad.
I echo everything in Jonathan C's review. The food is awesome and the owner is a good guy. I can't get over the prices though. I paid $8.73 for a double burger, fries, and drink. And then another $.75 for a refill. I know a few other places where I can get the same quality food for less than $10. Do expect to wait awhile for your food, and don't expect to feel any cool breezes because there's no a/c.
I discovered this place out of desperation - for a great burger, and that's what I got. I can't say enough great things about it. Cooked to perfection, toppings galore, and great fries. If you're looking for the closest thing to a Fatburger in Chicago, this is it!
I love Muskies. The food is fresh and amazing. I love the fries here. The chili was good. The owner is super nice, and as somone mentioned, there's a reason why all the fat cops eat here....
Muskie's is the kind of place that serves up food that makes your hangover enjoyable. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a greasy hamburger and fries with a hangover more than I have at Muskie's! I think God must have felt a little guilty when he realized how painful he made the hangover, and he invented the Muskie bacon blue burger to make us feel better! :o)
You can tell this place has good food because so many fat cops eat here. Excellent burgers, cooked fresh to order and the owner is really friendly. The burgers are the way to go here, the dogs aren't that great and the cheese fries are funky (they use real cheddar, which frankly doesn't make for the best cheese fries). It's a little pricey for what it is, but what can you expect with President What's His Face in charge?
I used to live a block away from this joint back in '98. I remembered the burgers and hot dogs to be a good deal (I don't think the prices have increased since I lived there). For nostalgia sake I came back in the other day and had a hotdog, and the same super friendly guy who worked there in '98 was still there! Hopefully he is the owner, because 9 years at the same fast food joint is a long hall for sure.
Great neighborhood spot. Close to my office, and less expensive (with a very similar menu) than Wiener's Circle, which is close to my home. Clean interior, cool signage outside, solid Chicago-style dogs and burgers.
I'm biased as this is less than 1 block from my front door, but I love their burgers, shakes, and fries.
They charcoal grill everything made-to-order, and the prices are very reasonable.
Definitely worth checking out if you like a good greasy grilled burger. If you are in the area walking just follow the delicious grilling smell and you'll find it.
The Bomb. Friendly owner, and staff... great food .... nice little out door area if you can get a table. I always have th char-dog or burger and onion rings and a malt. After reading this I'm going to tee up a gyro!
after another long mem day weekend of bbqs, beer and more escapades with meats of many sorts flame torched and smoked and seasoned ala everyway, i still had a meat craving that this place so filled quite well.
the only disappointing aspect to this muskie's is it's hours of operation as I work around the clock and need good quick tasties at the worst times of the day and night, and they close by 10 during the week and sometimes are not open on sundays when I need them most...
the charbroiled thing with fresh ingredients and friendly service is a recipe for success and happy fat tummies, but Thank geography we live in the midwest where summer lasts only a couple of months and we can wear black sweats and hoodies the rest of the time to hide our cheesburger, and milk shake fetishes.
if i were Q Tarantino, I would've talked about Muskies rather than Big Kahuna burgers, 'cause i gotta say, Muskies has one TASTY Burger!!! lol
The cheeseburger is among the best I've had in Chicago. And the cheese fries are definitely something special--- REAL CHEESE! I am from Wisconsin so I appreciate real cheese on my fries (but please don't call me a cheesehead). My husband & I finally tried Muskies out for the first time about 3 weeks ago after having looked at it with curiosity for a few years... and we have already been back for a repeat visit. Both times we've gotten it to go... very limited seating room & no ambience... but great for take-out! Yum!
My friend first told me about Muskie's this this summer, it is a great Burger Joint, that reminds me of summer back home, you get greasy, nice sized burgers, or a chicken sandwich. The shakes are really tasty. i consider this to be "hang over food." Lastly, the owner is always working there and takes a lot of pride in his little burger hut, it is nice to see a place that isn't run by the guy who owns it and doesn't mind being behind the counter flipping burgers.
Haven't been here too often , a few times a few years ago but it definitely made an impact. If you ever drive by this place while it's spewing sweet charred beef smelling smoke , you'll be hooked too. I've had alot of really good burgers , and this is definitely a really good burger. Everytime I've been here I got the burger , you kind of have to. The fries are hand cut and equally good and done perfectly. The menu looks pretty standard for a place like this , your standard fast food counter. I believe my only gripe with this place is that they have very spotty hours. To this day I don't have any idea when it is open , I always went on Saturdays and I'm pretty sure it's closed on Sundays (which sucked for me). This place isn't really near anyplace I ever go , otherwise I might be a regular here.
I have finally found a place in Chicago that can almost placate my cravings for an In-and-Out Burger out here in the Midwest. Muskie's is an old fashioned burger stand that serves some tasty grilled burgers and a super duper milkshake. A grilled cheeseburger with caramelized grilled onions hits the spot oh so well. It goes better with a milkshake that is thick enough to eat with a spoon. You need to have some serious suction to get the milkshake going through the straw... Unfortunately, Muskie's is not open very late and is not an option when you have the late night munchies....
Not as good as they used to be!!! I have been coming to Muskies for over a decade. I still go there form time to time but my favorite thing was the cheeseburger, not anymore. The last 4 times I have been there is was ok to average. It did have that great seasoning they used to use and the condiments are put on sparingly at best. I waited to write this until I had been there several times to make sure it wasn't a one time thing.
Fairly standard Chicago style burger & hot dog joint, with fries or onion rings on the side. Nothing out of the ordinary here - a place to pick up a somewhat greasy guilty pleasure at a low price for a snack or a meal. My only complaint was that the burger patties were frozen (not fresh) but at this price and convenience, I wasn't expecting a filet mignon!
Let me just say that I'm from Texas... and I used to be vegetarian until I found this place. They have the best char-burgers! I recommend the Super-Char, chili cheese fries and Chicago style hot dogs. Seriously, they are the best. Even their chocolate shakes are good. I seriously could eat their like every week, but that would be dangerous. The guy that owns the place is really sweet and the staff are also very friendly. Sometimes it gets really packed since it's such a small place but it's totally worth the wait. Make sure you bring cash though, no credit cards :(
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