Budacki's Drive In

Gotta love an old timey neighborhood hot dog stand. I'm going to be a dog purist here, points off for no poppy seed bun, and strips of onions vs diced. But a tasty dog. Nice crunchy fries and a great value.

First time with Budacki's last night and we got a nice spread of the Korean based dishes. They were all very yummy and the food came out quick and hot. The bulgogi was very flavorful and the Seoul Sassy chicken wings were delicious! The Bulgogi cheesesteak was definitely indulgent but I loved every bite.

I recently visited this unassuming, seemingly ordinary establishment nestled within a residential neighborhood of Chicago. In essence, this place appears frozen in time - aside from its menu, pricing, and staff - everything else seems unchanged. Upon my arrival, I had the opportunity to savor the legendary Chicago pizza puff. As my friends aptly described it, it is akin to a pizza hot pocket descended from the heavens to the streets of the Greater Chicago area. This culinary creation is not a mere fantasy for health-conscious individuals; it is, in fact, a pizza lover’s worst nightmare until they experience it firsthand and realize its superior taste. In fact, it surpasses even the humble pizza hot pocket, and if a Torino’s Pizza Roll were scaled up, it would be even more delectable. On another occasion, I indulged in their hot dog with the Chicagoan standard toppings. Made with Vienna Beef hot dogs, which initially elicited skepticism due to their resemblance to canned meats from dollar stores. However, I was thoroughly impressed with this simple yet delectable Chicago staple menu item. If someone were to encounter their first Chicago-style hot dog here, I believe they would find it enjoyable. On yet another day, I savored their Gyro Cheeseburger. This creation is akin to a California cheeseburger, incorporating lettuce, tomato, and onion. However, instead of the conventional sauce, it features a layer of gyro meat and tzatziki sauce. While not an overly innovative concept that is overly challenging to execute, it is not something to overlook. It is quite delectable, so I highly recommend trying it if you seek a culinary experience beyond the ordinary cheeseburger. To conclude, the establishment offers a unique experience, with its exterior and interior reminiscent of a 1950s burger and hot dog joint. Instead of modern computer monitors, the menu is displayed on signboards. Employees are immediately ready to serve customers upon taking their orders. The establishment lacks restrooms but provides indoor and outdoor seating. It also has a small parking lot that accommodates a variety of vehicles, making it a suitable option for a drive-in. Food enthusiasts should consider visiting this establishment. While there are still many dishes I have yet to try, I believe there is something for everyone’s taste preferences.

A hidden gem for sure. Big menu for all tastes. Burgers. Veggie options. Hot dogs. Rice bowls. Appetizers. Great service. Nice employees. 12/10.

Good food, it was a bit slow really cheep burger and fries and drinkwas 11 dollar Chill Plenty of options I recommend budackis Budackis is the place to get good fries (iambic pentagram) Milkshakes mid

This place has been saved in my "want to go list" for a while. I was walking by after a long afternoon, and decided to get some food to cheer me up. There were some other people waiting for orders, chatting with the employees. It was such a warm welcoming vibe that instantly cheered me up (what a cliche)! The man who took my orders was so sweet, he gave me some suggestions, and an extra soda 🥹 The food smelled soooooo good. When I sat down on the bus, the girl next to me asked where my takeout was from, and we chatted about chicken wings until I got off. Prices were super reasonable. I'm not a food photographer, my bad, but I got: - Chicken Wings w/ Seoul Sassy (it comes with garlic bread!) - Chicago Dog - Korean Beef Rice Bowl My roommate and I loved everything, and had leftovers for round 2! I don't usually leave reviews, but really wanted to shout out this awesome place for shattering my high expectations! ❤️

Budacki’s is amazing. I appreciate the staffs and managers kindness to me even though I have autism and their food is amazing and really good. Owner Jae is very nice. The restaurant is in good condition. Amazing steak bowl and hot dog. Must come back. 10/10.

Chicago likes its wings like it likes it’s quarterback, a little sassy. The owners of Budaki’s are also the owners of Crisp! You immediately find that out because they also serve the Seoul Sassy Crisp wings at this location! This is honestly one of my best finds because it’s a no nonsense grab and go type place with an emphasis on quality food. There is minimal seating inside but when it’s nice weather there’s tables outside. You can order all the foods Chicagoans love here, hot dogs, pizza puffs, the Crisp wings, Italian beef, Philly cheese steak, breaded mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, Mac and cheese bites, cheeseburgers, Korean steak bowl, corn dogs and of course you can wash all this down with a milkshake! The prices are the best in the area and the prices on the board also include the tax so there are no surprises about how much the Chicago government is taking from you! In a neighborhood with a lot of fine dining options this place sticks out more than Biden doing a commencement speech at Morehouse. Unlike Diddy, I sincerely make no apologies for my love of this place. I cannot recommend this place enough. It may single-handedly be the pound for pound best taste for value in Chicago!

Went here as a child. So of course I think they have the best beef! Great Korean dishes. Love the familiar that owns it. It's a Chicago classic.

Shame on me for living in Lincoln Square for 3 years and only just going to Budacki's . This might be my go to lunch place just because it's good food at a reasonable price . It's definitely popular with both adults and students because it has burgers and fries, hot dogs, corn dogs . I just tried the Seoul Steak Bowl, which is marinated sliced beef over rice and with something called Atomic Sauce (spicy !) loved it . It was really hearty and delish. Service here is always great , fast and friendly . Will say they pick up around noon so you can save yourself some time by going before or after lunch rush . This is a no frills place that gets food right.

My hubby want to go back and try this since this was his regular go to place whn he lived nearby. Compared to other places, the food is still cheaper. Cheeseburger is good and the italian beef tastes good. Service is fast. A lot still goes here. The place is clean and they have outdoor seating. It's somethibg we can cone back to whenever we are in the city.

For 5 bucks you can get a char dog with fries from a charming hotdog stand. What's not to love. Service was fast and friendly. Hot dog was fully loaded and delicious.

Mint chocolate chip lovers look no further. Budacki's Drive In has perfected the mint chocolate chip shake. It is plentiful in mint chocolate chips and is the most pleasing green color. The default comes with whipped cream, so if that ain't you you got to tell them! I started a new job nearby and the office informed me Budaki's is a staple lunch spot. When I learned Budaki's is a sister company of Crisp, I wanted to thank the heavens for my luck. Crisp is one of my favorite places to get Korean Fried Chicken wings: https://www.crisponline.com/. WHICH THEY ALSO SERVE HERE! Besides the chicken wings, a lot of people in my office, including myself, get their Korean Steak Bowl. They jam-pack the container with white rice, marinated beef, chives, and a side sauce to add some spice if you desire. The service is always friendly and has a quick, less than 5-minutes turnaround. They also have seating outside for when Chicago decides to play nice and have warm weather.

Am I going to be too hard on the last place in Chicago where you can get a hot dog and fries for $4.50 including tax? No I am not. Is the hot dog the best I've ever had in my life (or in the city)? No it isn't. But it comes overflowing with toppings and has a decent snap and the Chicago-style flavor profile is intact. Are the fries great? Actually, yes they are, AND they have a big jug of celery salt you can sprinkle on them instead of regular salt. Do I wish they had this deal (or even one for like $5.50 or $6.50) for a Polish sausage instead of a hot dog? Yes, but also kind of no, because if they did, I would be at Budacki's all the time and would gain 50 pounds.

I really like that they have their own parking lot, offer a quick service meal, and that they have shaded picnic tables to eat at. My burger was loaded with toppings and bigger than I expected. The portion of fries was perfect, too. Coke was ice cold! Be mindful of the $11 minimum if you want to use a card. I'll be back for the Korean Philly Cheesesteak!

Fun place to stop for a classic Chicago lunch. I got the italian beef combo, which comes with fries and a canned soda. The chocolate shake was also great

Long story short, it's over priced and over hyped. It was $28 for 2 steak and rice bowls with extra sauce. Sweet steak and plain white rice. The almost half the bowl had fat pieces and the other pieces of steak had long stringy pieces attached. The only legit thing is the sauce, which is a sweet and spicy mayo. Not really anything special. All in all, would recommend going elsewhere and getting quality food.

Had to stop by at a neighborhood gem. This place is serving up good eats with some familiarity to those who've been to crisp. Same owners, same great wings.

Quick friendly and affordable I recommend the hot dog and fries ! I have been eating here since the 80's Thank you

All ages enjoy this neighborhood essential spot for no frills good food. Discovered by my son when he was in high school down the block, it has become a family favorite for their massive fish sandwich. The counter folk recognize and greet you with the full intent to get your order hot and fast. Love it!

I drove in yesterday and bought two regular hot dogs, 1 vegan dog, and two chilli cheese dogs, all came with fries. This is a cute little spot with a nice menu! I'll definitely come back to try their wings and Korean bowl.

I've walked by this place so many times and never stopped in, so I decided to head there for lunch on Monday to try their double cheeseburger. Honestly, the quality was so good. You never really know what you're going to get from a joint like this because there are so many of them throughout the city, but I felt confident given the feedback from people who are big in the Chicago food scene on Instagram. Love the old school feel to it and the service was fantastic. The menu is overwhelming but I'd love to go back and try a few more things. Good stuff!

I occasionally come here on my lunch break. However, I'm not that impressed with the food. I've ordered the double cheeseburger which, is pretty big, hot dogs and Polish sausage. Everything was average and I've definitely had better. It's always empty when I come in so, I get my food in a timely manner. They have parking which, is a plus.

In my adventures for these old-school hotdog shops - this place was top notch! They run a very efficient shop, have a wide selection of fun sides and drinks, and the food was amazing. *Bonus points for a large parking lot, and a few outdoor tables to hang at. The trip here was for a Chicago dog, but also to try other items. I'll say that the dog itself was meh. Standard toppings, bun, and meat. No matter what I'd prefer a mor charred hotdog, but I understand this is the style. The Korean steak bowl was so good though. I'll be back for this in no time. The meat is piled on (ribeye pieces) and is in a sweet bbq sauce. This drips into the rice below and makes the rice delicious. *The next day later, in microwave - still hits the spot. Also had the Korean BBQ full chicken wings. Incredible. Perfect crunchy fried outside, and very meaty within. *This place owns Crisp, so they are basically the same wings. However - I've been to Crisp dozens of times, and I actually think Budacki's wings were better. Almost like they were larger and fresher. Right now this is top of my rankings for these types of counter-ordering greasy food spots. Haha I'm not sure how else to categorize it. But highly recommend.

Same owners of crisp so you can get their amazing chicken wings as well as top notch burgers, hot dogs and cheese sticks. I enjoyed it so much I went back again the next day!

If you want great classic food at an affordable price? Budacki is the way to go! The menu is extensive, the food reminds me of classic coneys from Detroit (which is very impressive btw), and the outside seating is really wholesome. We got chili cheese fries and a milkshake and they both tasted so great! My girlfriend is not the biggest fan of spices or chili but she liked the chili cheese fries. It also comes with a huge mound of food for a great price which makes it totally worth it too. And the cheese? All over the fries, they didn't skimp out which is what most restaurants do, so I really appreciated this. I didn't order other foods but their menu shows that a lot of their food come with fries already and at a great price. We'll definitely be back!

Their milkshakes is the most delicious thing. The strawberry milkshake always hits, mostly everything on their menu is pretty solid and good. Whenever I'm in the neighborhood I get on their hotdogs and mozzarella sticks.

After seeing this place several times in a group, I decided to give it a try. I ordered hot dog special "A" which includes 2 hotdogs, fries and can soda for $8.00. The hot dog was skinless with all the toppings (you have to ask for hot peppers, no charge). The bun was a little dry at the bottom and I really couldn't taste the onions, the mustard was tangier than most which I liked. Something was off with the tomatoes after trying them, I pulled them off the dog. The fries were just ok. I shared them with the birds, too many small overly crisp fries. Couldn't tell if celery salt was added. Overall, this is a good neighborhood spot. I can't place this on the top of my list, but I would go back if I was in the area. I never penalize places for skinless dogs, poppyseed buns or celery salt, I look for a good overall taste.

seoul steak bowl was my fav, workers hooked me up everytime n i love the shakes here. good place for fast food.

Have been coming here since I was a kid that lived down the street, 20+ years ago. Food never disappoints.. I love the Korean beef option now! Budackis 4eva!

Excellent place! Been going here for years! The customer service is great, and they're very nice and patient!

They close at 7pm but locked their doors by 6:30... 30 minutes before close. This place sucks.

If you want something quick, this is your place. I usually come for lunch when I crave a hot dog or a huge portion of skinny fries. The lines are quick and bring cash for orders under $10.00. The employees are always friendly and move you down the line very quickly.

Want to grab some good food at a great price? Have out of town visitors that want a great chicago style dog? Is your vegetarian friend with you but you are craving fast food? Budacki's is the place to go. It good, it's well priced, and we will definitely be stopping by at least once a week.

I been there before this time I order Italian beef combo $13 sandwich coke & fries was good fries are perfect & crispy kind expensive italian beef

Budacki's is really growing on me. Did you guys know they sell Korean Fried Chicken wings? At $10 for 5 whole wings (prob 10 pieces if you split them) + fries including tax, it's a pretty good deal! This cash only spot has a great burger, and prob the best wings in town. The owner is Korean and based on the shirts of the cooks working the back, I believe they are affiliated with Crisp (another popular Chicago Korean Fried Chicken joint). Actually, I think they're better than Crisp since everything is cooked to order and not over fried/dried. There's a couple of sauces you can choose from, it's easier to find online. At the food shack, I couldn't see the list and the counter is a bit overwhelming. Seoul Sassy was my pick although I wish I had a bit more sauce that gets covered in. Though not candy crisp, it needs to be double fried to get that extra crispy coating, but still very delicious pile of wings that I'll be happy to come back for again. Last time I wrote about the cheeseburger I realize I like their fresh brioche buns. They got good buns hun! Plus they have a free parking lot too, perfect for pick up.

very average at best dog and overpriced. 11$ min for cc fyi. I'll stick with gene n judes and superdawg

Love this place. I have been going to Budacki's since 2014. I have memories of going here with my family. I absolutely love the vegan hot dogs and fries.

This is a great little underappreciated, often forgotten about spot to pick up some good hot dogs or other fast food favs. It's often not too busy, if you'd like to sit down and enjoy your meal.

Everything I've tried here is amazing. So glad this place exists. The service is fast and everything's made to order. The wings are from Crisp since it's the same owner.

Been coming here since I was a kid, my mom and brothers have been going longer. It's a family tradition this place. Best polish dogs, great fries, tiny shack

Best fries in Chicago -- absolutely addictive! To quote Jango, "ust feasted on a magnificent hot dog lunch. The tomatoes pickles lettuce and onions are farm fresh and very tasty. The hot dogs are very beefy and each bite melts in your mouth. The French fries are prepared in very clean oil and are very crisp. The selection of soft drinks is extensive and served very cold. The other menu items like the gyros looked terrific and prepared just as fresh as the hot dogs. The restaurant is very clean sanitary and well organized. The parking is limited but the lot is well taken care of and is well lit for the evenings. The staff are very knowledgeable friendly and quick. The kitchen staff are very neat clean and use proper safety procedures. A small but sanitary restroom is available for paying guests. Cash only, so come prepared.

I can't believe I haven't wrote a review of this place yet after all the years of me going there. Well I am going to correct that now :P I have been going there for years. Their food has been excellent and consistent. Their service also excellent. I cannot think of a single detractor for this place.

Great local place, been eating there for years. Italian beef is great and they have some Korean rice bowls that are out of this world. The owner, his family, and the staff are just wonderful folks.

I moved away from Chicago 7 years ago. To this day, they still know my order when my partner and I walk in a handful of times a year and the food is exactly the same. Budacki's, never change, and I will keep coming back forever.

I was out to try a new place, May 20, 2023. The reviews encouraged me to try Budacki's and I'm extremely disappointed. I ordered a ribeye sandwich with cheddar cheese. I received a shaving of meat with processed cheese sauce smothering it. $15.00 for the sandwich. All there was to bite into was the french bread roll. I looked at the hotdogs and they were skimpy as well. I'd highly recommend the picnic tables they have and to bring something you like with you!

It doesn't look like much on the outside, but you have to go inside. The interior is small, but cozy, not cramped. I typically order a gyro from there, and it is one of the greatest things I have ever ate. They have beef, tomatoes, onions, cucumber sauce, and a thick pita bread to bring it all together. I would recommend anything from this restaurant though, because the service is fast and amazing. Everyone there is super nice. Also, be sure to eat outside because you get a great view of the park and of the city streets. Just beware of seagulls taking your food! Again, it is an amazing restaurant! Five out of five stars!

Loved. It. First time coming in to Budacki's and I was excited to see all of the food options available! I went for the Philly cheesesteak and wings/fries combo. The Philly was a bit more "wet" than I was expecting but was still good. Kinda reminded me of a dipped Italian beef if that gives better context. The wings were great, but they are huge! 3 wings was definitely enough for me. I can't wait to go back and try their other options along with shakes! They looked soooo good.

This place is a true Chicago gem, it may look like a hoot dog stand but don't let it fool you they serve a top notch Korean bbq bowl, and I mean best in the city. So happy I found this place I keep going back to it love love love it

Yooo great food great service what else ya need to know? Must spend $11 to use a card but that's it.

Every neighborhood in Chicago has a small hot dog shack, and they all have basically the same menu - burgers, hot dogs, shakes, fries, italian beef. This neighborhood is lucky to have Budacki's, because it's better than most. The staff is so friendly, they've been great through the pandemic and the lines move quickly. The food is exactly as good as you expect it to be, no better, no worse, but they have a few rice unexpected items that round out the menu and add some variety. And they even take credit cards now. No complaints.

I went there as a kid in the 1960s. Lived close by and when I am in town... I go back. Like my childhood. Miss the rattlesnake pictures of Bud on a roundup. Recommend to anyone over MCD's BK. Wendy's. It's a classic.!!

This place is like a McDonald's from heaven. Absolutely perfect and fresh made matchstick fries, everything tastes like real food instead of reconstituted rat product. All prices are all inclusive and quite reasonable. They've even made the leap to accepting cards these days. Hidden gem.

Good Italian Beef, quick and easy except parking ordered for 5. Prices of meal vs. Al carte hard to find out,

Family owned and operated got my order in under 5 minutes. It was just what I like in a Chicago hot dog. They had extra salt for tomato. The dog was juicy and the pickle was crispy, fresh tomato slices, with nuclear green relish. You gotta stop by in this neighborhood it is a great quick bite.

We ordered takeout during the pandemic. Loved it. We ordered 5 wings Seoul sassy and 5 wings Korea bbq. Sassy is a little garlicky with soy sauce tastes. Korean bbq is a little spicy but very flavorful. We also ordered the beef bowl. We liked it, but the portion size doesn't seem to justify the price. I would stick with the wings. They also have a spacious picnic table area, so eating there would be viable. The wings all come with fries. We would come back again.

I was passing by, and stop for a hot dog. Prices were excellent, so I didn't expect much. To my surprised food was great. Me and my friend were amazed at their fries specially although the hot dog was very good as well. We went back the next day and got the wings... they were off the chart and service was fast as well. So we went back the next day with a third friend now and he got a chicken bowl with rice he was also extremely happy with his food. We'll continue to go back planning on taking my fam soon even this place gotta be at least 25 mil from home.