Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen

Wow! What a true Buffalo experience and the food! Where do I start, the beef on weck, the stew, Italian beef all just over the top excellent. If you are in buffalo and don’t go to Charlie’s you are missing out!

After what I experienced at 'Charlie the Butcher' you could not pay me a million dollars to return. What a nightmare! First off the long wait at the entrance, there were only 2-3 people in line in front of me, yet we were wating in line at least 10 minutes to get waited on. Next, placed the order finally - for 3 roast beef sandwiches, one order of onion rings and one fries. No drinks. Now after paying, waiting for a very long time to receive order. I was standing with another one of my party near the counter commenting that I could see our food was sitting on a tray getting cold while the worker #1 (see photo) was carving up at least 3-4 more sandwiches - when she could have turned around and put our last sandwich on the tray - our food was sitting there for 5 minutes! I said to my friend, what the heck is our food is getting cold and they haven't put the last sandwich on our tray. Then the worker #1 overheard me and said, in a VERY rude/nasty tone 'You got a problem?!' I said "yes, our order is sitting there behind you getting cold - while we are waiting for another sandwich - and you are carving up several more ignoring that our food is getting cold." Then #2 worker (also very rude) mumbled to Worker #1, 'always these people complaining' and then they were snickering laughing in my face. I CANNOT believe that these two are even working with the public quite frankly. They should be sent to work in the warehouse or get a job not with the public. To make matters worse after this awful attitude - Which I want to reiterate WAS ALL THEIR FAULT!! The food was one of the worst meals I have ever had - as well as my two guests - all in agreement. The onion rings were SO overcooked/burned, as well as the fries. I am not the only person who commented about this issue as well - on the way out I heard another individual comment about their burnt onion rings as well (to the #2 worker who said, 'yes I agree they are burned'. WHY WOULD YOU GIVE THEM to the customer if they were not cooked correctly?. Additionally, the beef as SO TOUGH - you could NOT chew threw it! We got the 'scraps' from the last hunk of beef that she was carving (the very end of it), and it was not edible. The rolls had SO MUCH salt on them, it was disgusting. The food also was barely warm - as it was sitting on the counter for as long as it did. I also wanted to mention that the indoor temperature is FREEZING (they must keep it that cold to discourage people from lingering inside), the few tables that they had available no one wanted to sit inside because it was ice cold - but if you sit outside be prepared for constant wasps attacking your food. This 'experience' was truly BEYOND awful and to know that for 3 lousy un-edible beef sandwiches, one burnt onion rings and one overcooked french fries, we were charged $37.79 is OUTRAGEOUS! We could have had a nice meal in an actual establishment with good food and nice wait staff - instead of garbage food and people who do not know how to act professionally. I would NEVER EVER recommend this place to anyone. Any positive reviews are probably paid - I cannot imagine the hype for overpriced grub quite frankly. I wish ZERO stars was an option, they do not deserve one star. NEVER again....

As usual, the food was great. The only disappointing times I've had there is when I've arrived after all the roast beef for the day has already been served. My selection today was a traditional beef on weck, onion rings and a chocolate shake. The roast beef was lean, moist and flavorful, on a fresh and flavorful kummelweck roll (into which I piled the horseradish), the onion rings hot and plentiful and the chocolate shake thick and chocolatey. It's my go to order here with the only disappointment only being when I'm not able to order! Highly recommend (unless I'm headed there that day!)

If you are looking for the hands down best beef on weck in Buffalo this is the place I've had a few of these sandwiches in other places and did see what all the hype was about with beef on weck. Untill I had it here.....wow so tender and juicy and the horseradish puts the whole thing over the top Also got a char grilled Burger and a brot with krout and peppers which were both super smokey and delicious. Should have traded in the hamburger bun for a weck roll...maybe next time The chocolate shake and fries were also fantastic. Fun location by the airport if you sit outside. This is going to be the ONLY place I get beef on weck!

It’s a diving diner, that is not focused on the anything else but taste…. The food was amazing, the cuts of meat was good, and it was fast…. Charlie the butcher makes great sandwiches and worth the stop…..

Our first time here, but we'll be back! The food was delicious, service fairly quick on a Saturday night, and the prices were reasonable!! You can't find all that in one place very often anymore. 😉

The GOAT of BOW!! Fresh and yummy. ONLY pseudocomplaint is that the roll was a tad dry. Beef was gr8!! Highly recommend

Charlie the Butcher is a long standing establishment in the Buffalo area serving wonderful sliced meat sandwiches, tasty sides and wonderful desserts such as pies, brownies and cookies. My main selections are roast beef on weck, the combo turkey and roast beef sando or the prime rib sando. All these sandwiches are amazing and delicious. The service is standard. You wait in line to place your order and pay around the corner. You have the options to dine in or take out. On a nice summer day take your meal outside and eat on one the picnic tables they have available. This place is a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's due for a face lift on the inside or else the score would be 5.

What a fantastic place. We visited here during our 2025 Wing Crawl as we also set out to find the best Beef on Weck. This place did not disappoint. We got there just before the lunch buzz and we only had 1 couple in front of us ordering. By the time we were eating, the line was out the door. This place has an old school vibe to it you just can't get anywhere. Very cool. The sandwich was excellent. The beef is cut thicker than at most places but that was alright with us!! They have little covered ramekins with horseradish. Make sure you add that!! Highly recommend!

The food is good, but underwhelming. It is chaos if you're sitting down, but I've been here multiple times and the chaos seems to be part of the culture? Like an homage to NYC delis? I greatly encourage you to NEVER order a burger there. My kids get it.... Looks like a dollup of overcooked loose meat brought together for the burger. Fried bologna is good, but could be cut a little thicker to feel like a better deal. Sides are decent.

While perhaps not quite the same ambiance as that other classic Beef on Weck spot, here you might get your beef sliced by Charlie the Butcher himself! Perhaps even better, this is a super quick and convenient stop to make should one find themselves driving through Buffalo without much time to break for a meal. Once I went when the prime rib sandwich was an option as the special of the day. Hard to resist. Still, the traditional Beef on Weck is better. If you are a regular and somehow grow weary of the traditional, perhaps it's a good option for a bit of variety. However, if you are a visitor stick to the classics. On my recent trip, after realizing that just a sandwich is not quite enough for me to feel satisfied, I opted for a cup of Charlie's beef soup with orzo. I was not expecting such big tender chunks of beef in the mix, but there they were, complete with cut up vegetables. All of which made me feel like I was actually having a balanced meal. There's mustard. There's horseradish. Both can be fun for adding a bit of bite to the tender, juicy, beefy sandwich. I'm team horseradish, but YMMV. I trust James when he suggests the potato salad, but the last thing I want before getting on the road is a bunch more carbs. I hope this place stays in business for a million years. It's a classic. But don't take it for granted. Go. Go now. Go often.

Stopped here tonight. Still one of the top 3 Beef on Wecks in the area. The tuna salad and potato salad were also very good. Same old ,same old inside. Not the cleanest area behind the counter. The girl taking orders was doing a lot of talking and was slow taking orders and cashing out customers.

We all know Charlie the Butcher for Beef on Weck. But I had a day where I just wasn't feeling a BoW so I really looked at the menu here for what felt like the first time. Usually I don't even have to look, I just know what to order. We ended up getting a BoW, a burger, hot dog, onion rings, and fries. And you know what? Charlie has been keeping a great burger under wraps in here! Not only do they have one of the best Beef on Wecks in WNY, their burger is also really, really good!! My son loved his hot dog and fries, and the onion rings were cooked perfectly. They were crispy and had a great crunch with plenty of flavor. This little spot has that retro diner feel to it if you eat inside or you can eat outside under their umbrellas at the picnic tables in the warmer months. This spot really can do it all. And don't forget one of their desserts to finish it off on a high note!

Hand-carved roast beef, fresh Kummelweck roll, au jus, and horseradish are a diehard staple in Buffalo. If you're local or a visiting tourist, this is an outrageous MUST; no lie! I heard people rave all about it, and here I sit completely satisfied. I see why establishment has been an essential staple in Buffalo since 1914. Friendly customer service, speedy delivery, and fresh baked pies!!! Location was chill, everyone was clearly enjoying themselves, and eager to taste a piece of Buffalo's history.

This is the first time I've ever been to Charlie the butchers and I liked it. I was starving and haven't eaten yet today so Jim and I went and each got roast beef on Kimilwick sandwiches. He also got a garlic pasta salad, which was delicious taste just like the Greek salad at Tops and I got macaroni and cheese, which was pretty good. They take care of you as soon as you walk in the door and your food is ready in a few minutes. It's a nice cozy little place. It's what you would actually expect in a place called Charlie the butchers kitchen. It was comfortable, small, but nice. A nice selection of sides and a very good selection of sandwiches and stuff like Italian sausages, roast, beef, turkey, etc. Next time I'm out that way again over by the airport I'll probably stop in again and try the sausage. They also have frozen soups for sale. I don't know if it's always on sale or if this was just a deal for today or something but it's by four frozen soups get one free. I don't know how their soup taste though so I wasn't gonna do something like that. I've always heard about this, I always hear commercials and people talk about it and I've never been there. I'm glad I got the chance to go there tonight. On yelp, it says they close at eight but they said they really close about 9 PM.

You walk in through a door that leads right to the ordering counter, and you can see the chef slicing up beef on the spot. I got the classic beef on weck per recommendation and it is made up of sliced beef in a salted bun. I appreciated the simplicity, and they have sauces on the diner tables that you can use if you want more flavors. It's a very casual rustic diner vibe.

Excellent Beef on Weck near the airport. As a side I had some mustard dusted egg/potato salad. The beef was super tender, the roll spicy delicious. Diner ambiance with lots of outdoor seating.

Stopped here for the 1st time in quite a while. I was craving a Buffalo traditional beef on weck. Charlie's came to mind immediately. The sandwich was served on a fresh kummelweck roll made with the perfect amount of caraway seeds and salt. The beef was moist, tender, and definitely generous. Top that all with their delicious homemade horseradish. With a crisp dill pickle and a side order of onion rings, it was a great and filling lunch. It'll be a light dinner for sure. I usually would eat there. Normally at one of the picnic tables outside but this was a takeout. The rolls are dipped into an au sauce which made the roll a bit soggy. It didn't effect the flavor. I'm just not crazy about soggy food. Next time I'll just go back to eating there. 2024-84

I was craving a classic beef on weck and wanted the real Buffalo experience -- nailed it. The sandwich was perfect, the service was spot-on, and the place had that laid-back, local vibe where you feel like part of the crowd. Shared some laughs (and sauerkraut) with the regulars. Great lunch spot... I even went back for round two.

This is one of my favorite food stops in Buffalo. Known for their beef on weck, they also have amazing daily specials. Tonight I went for the meatloaf dinner which was amazing. Their prices cannot be beat. They also have a good selection of baked goods, either pieces of pie or a whole pie, brownies, and cookies.

The most mouthwatering delicious sandwich I have ever eaten!! Beef on weck is the best! The beef Italian sandwich delicious! Super cool old school style ordering and set up! Service is awesome! The Apple crips pie was amazing and do yourself a favor and get the butcher brownies!!!!

When I was growing up, it became a bit of a tradition that we would stop by Charlie the Butcher whenever we were in Buffalo. Obviously, then, we had to pop by on our way home from New York City. In addition to ordering the infamous Beef on Weck sandwich ("Charlie's slow roasted beef, served on an old fashioned kummelweck roll, kosher dill pickle and Broadway Market Horseradish"), I decided to try a cup of their Prime Rib Stew. I started with the stew and it was amazing. It was exactly what you want from a stew like this, as it was full of big chunks of tender beef and delicious carrots and potatoes. I would eat this every day of my life, easily. The sandwich was as terrific as we'd hoped. The soft, tender meat is perfectly complemented by the salty, soft roll and tasty horseradish. There's a reason this sandwich has become iconic, that's for sure.

Always excellent food and service. The carb turkey and beef is excellent. Always better on a wreck roll

It's been six years since I was last in Buffalo, and the first place I wanted to eat at was Charlie the Butcher. I love the hand carved Beef on Weck. A classic Buffalo delicacy. While waiting in line this week, I smelled the asparagus being grilled in front of me. Of course I had to order a serving with my sandwich. I brought home a Beef on Weck so my wife could taste this fabulous sandwich. Incredible!

We went for dinner tonight and the food was delicious. We got Beef on Weck sandwiches, German potato salad, sweet potato fries and strawberry milkshakes. When you walk in you order at the counter and have many options for your main course, sides, drinks and desserts . We didn't have room for dessert. The restaurant is clean and you can eat inside or outside. The staff is friendly and patient when customers are trying to figure out what they want to order. We will be back!

Great spot when you're just craving meat. I got the beef on weck, a classic Buffalo dish. Bun was soft, yet crispy. Meat was juicy, and don't forget to add the table side horseradish!! Service was quick and efficient. Ambiance is ok. Most people take their food to go, but there a few benches for you to dine in, especially when it's raining or snowing lol Would definitely come back again!

Soup is lethal! Liquid salt in a variety of flavors. Returned mine after one taste. I have eaten there form time to time for many years and still enjoy many of the carved dishes but the soup is, to my taste, inedible

This is restaurant is a gem! While on our way to Canada we wanted to take a break for dinner in Buffalo NY. We always look for local restaurants when we travel and the descriptions for this restaurant made us hungry. It's a small location with seating inside but with BIG flavor and amazing cooking. I had the turkey and pulled pork sandwich on the softest & most delicious bun, ("on weck" or Kummelweck) I have ever eaten. My husband had the prime rib on weck and he was delighted! The German style potato salad was warm and delicious. The bread pudding for dessert was perfection. I highly recommend the food at Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen!!!

Insanely tasty steak sandwich with fresh horseradish and a pickle on the side. Super high quality meat. Salty bun. Can't wait to go back!

Definitely wasn't disappointed been here a time or two first time posting. The roll was soft with a little chew to it they also gave a healthy portion of prime riband that horseradish sauce they give with is ,Been a Buffalo NY staple forever definitely must try and they also feature a different sandwich each day of the week.

First time and won't be my last. Simple and delicious. Quick service and no nonsense dining experience and atmosphere. Everything sandwich carved to order and weighed for consistency. Well done!!!

Good, unpretentious food at reasonable prices. Fried bologna was a treat, hubby had prime rib sandwich that needed some trimming to get rid of some fat. Prime rib soup was interesting, from the look of it, I thought gravy, but it was quite tasty. Fast service at the order window and hopefully there will be an open table in the back to sit at. Limited indoor seating.

Just happened to be in town for business and I looked yo what Buffalo, food wise, was known for..well, there was mostly three things..wings(duh), pizza, and 'beef on weck'. So here I search for a beef on weck...A beef on weck sandwich is an easy roast beef sandwich with local origins in Buffalo, New York. Kimmelweck rolls are hard kaiser-type rolls covered in coarse ground salt and caraway seeds. And did I stumble on the place and I just had to have one. Guy came out and sliced it fresh and assembled my sandwich and off to the hotel I went..well let me tell you...this thing was amazing...roll with the right offsetting flavors to join the fresh roast beef...so, so good...think they have several places around town..find it..buy it..enjoy it!!

Beef on the weck, excellent!! Service was awesome, nice little place on a corner, but very comfortable, seems to be very popular with the locals, don't see why not!

Oh it's so good. carved right in front of you fresh hot beef on weck. Staff is great. Also had the white bean and ham homemade soup. Great on a cold winter day.

Overrated BoW & pulled pork sandwich gave us food poisoning. Roll is a step up from a hamburger bun with seeds and salt barely attached to the roll. Beef was tender but has zero flavor. An embarrassing representation of a Buffalo BoW. Pork was beige and bland. Ended up on the toilet for the rest of the day. Old school vibe doesn't make up for subpar food. Last time going there and will never recommend to out of town guests!

Was visiting Buffalo for the first time and this was where my friend took me immediately after landing. Great little spot for trying the food of locals. Tried several items and enjoyed them all. Service was quick and simple.

Fresh flavorful and delicious. Incredible friendly staff. Went two days in a row! Convienient to the airport. Beef on weck and apple pie can not be outdone! Thanks Charlie.

Well... a colleague told me about Beef on Weck a while back, so I decided to add this to my bucket list. One of the agents at the rental car company at Buffalo Airport told us about Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen, so we drove out of our way so I could grab a beef on weck. Honestly, I've had better roast beef, and the roll was dry. It's a nice little diner with a large following. Not sure if I'm just used to better food, or if the folks there in Buffalo are just loyal. When I start thinking of how the sandwich could be done better, then it's not anything to be driving out of your way to eat. My wife ordered a plain hamburger. It was burnt on one side. No joke. The bun was dry, and the meat was not seasoned (or if it was, you couldn't taste it due to the overabundance of charcoal). A tip for these guys... use a digital thermometer and pull the patty once the temp hits 165 degrees F. Cook to temp and not to time or sight! Lastly before our return flight, we stopped in at the Anchor Bar at the airport for dinner. I asked our server about their version of beef on weck and said that I had it at Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen. She said that there was no comparison... meaning that Charlie the Butcher's was so much better than Anchor Bar. As I just wrote, I was so underwhelmed by this sandwich at CtheB's. Anyway, I do plan to return one day to try the sandwich again. There's always that fluke dining event. Plus, they do have a loyal crowd, so we could have just gotten bad sandwiches... hopefully, it wasn't because we weren't locals...

Husband and staff had a miscommunication. Husband wanted prime rib dinner but staff thought he wanted the sandwich. This turned out great because the sandwiches were amazing! Same amount of meat and we ordered the sides. Price was the same in the end :) we will for sure be getting more of these and trying their other daily specials. The horseradish really hit the spot though we really enjoyed the sandwiches. We got one extra so ended up reheating in the microwave the next day and it was still good :) Mashed potatoes were delicious and the vegetables too! I was pleasantly surprised as sides are usually just blah. But I would happily order these again and probably will haha Thank you for the great meal!

This was my second visit to Charlie the Butcher, the first time being back in 2005 I believe. Getting a beef on Weck is kind of a thing in Buffalo, so that is what we did. It's like an upscale Arby's roast beef sandwich, but 30% better, and assembled with care instead of speed. Hard hatted Charlie was working behind the counter once again, so we knew our meal was going to be top notch. Got a side of potato salad and a brat, and a loganberry soda. Good stuff! Very tasty and regional. A fun place to get something off the beaten path for most.

Awesome food. The beef on weck is outstanding and the coleslaw was very tasty. Yummy!

We are so glad we found this place. If you have never had a beer in weck (or like us, hadn't even heard of them) this place is a must for a quintessential Buffalo meal! We felt really lucky that our first was on prime rib day (Thursday). Their fries were delicious. Loved the open kitchen concept. Definitely felt like we found a local gem!

Researched Yelp for a legit place to get some real local food in Buffalo, and the Beef on Weck at Charlie the Butcher came up at the top! We had to go check it out, and I'm so glad we did. Here is how you know it is a legit place: Charlie himself was working in the kitchen when we arrived. We were the first in the door at opening, and everyone was working hard doing prep for the upcoming day. We may have been the first and only customers, but about 30 minutes after we got there, a trickle of obvious regulars started filing in. The menu is extensive and a little confusing for first timers, but we opted for their famous beef on weck sandwich, a turkey sandwich, polish sausage, fries, and garlic pasta salad. We totally ordered too much food, but we were shocked that our total was just under $34! These are prices for the people, and the portions are very large. Our favorite items were the sausage and the pasta salad, which was loaded with yummy veggies and was so tasty. The famous sandwiches were carved to order, but definitely weren't the best we've ever had. The buns are amazing, and the fries were cooked fresh to order. I watched as Charlie himself tossed my pasta salad. The restaurant has free parking and indoor and outdoor seating. It's no frills, and there's a tub of horseradish on every table. You're asked to clean up after yourselves, and there are cleaning cloths on each table too. This is a strictly no-tipping establishment, which is refreshing. I feel like Charlie the Butcher is a Buffalo foodie's rite of passage, so I recommend a visit if you're in town. If you want to try local specialties, check this place out. This is a legit, old school place that has tons of local customers (and the owner / namesake actually works in the kitchen), so it's as "real" as it gets.

Hands down one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. I bought one, ate it, and bought two more.

Prime rib was half the size it used to be. Child sized. Quite the disappointment. I used to go there frequently, I live about a mile away. I'll travel miles away to find a regular size meal. Sad

I went here once when I moved to Buffalo, I wouldn't go here again. The food is really salty, so much so that I had to scrap off all the salt on my bun for the roast beef sandwich. The service was quick. Ambiance was average, nothing too special. Overall, I recommend skipping over this place and finding better local buffalo restaurants to try.

The food is really good in there and I love their beef and whack it is really delicious

Have to stop in for a beef on week and a bratwurst every time I'm in town. Charlie's never disappoints.

So aside from the dead fish personality of the cashier who looked like she'd rather be anywhere but there, the beef was super tough to chew and had fatty spots. I had to take my whole sandwich apart and try to eat the edges of the pieces of beef pulling it apart with my fingers because there was absolutely no way I could bite into the sandwich and chew it. I have no idea how this place is so popular. I came here before and the meat was very hard to bite through and chew but I was hoping it had gotten better. Nope. And it's not a very welcoming environment and you even have to wipe down the table yourself before you eat because they do not. Instead they have packages of surface wipes on every table. It's bare bones in there but the prices don't match that.

The best thing I can say about this place is months later I am still thinking about it and how it will be my very first stop after getting off the plane next time I make it to BUF. Yummy.

Our beef on weck sandwiches were just what we hoped for: tender beef, thinly sliced and piled high; roll was soft, horseradish was potent. We were pleasantly surprised by the pricing. Unfortunately, even tho we ate in, the "plates" our sandwiches were on were paper and the plastic utensils were all individually wrapped in plastic; wish they would reconsider and use re-usable plates and utensils.

The Beef on Weck sandwich was very delicious! I had it with their horseradish on it and it made for a perfect beef sandwich. They cut the meat fresh right there and their kitchen is viewable and very clean. I also got the waffle fries and gravy which also hit the spot!! Best of all I got their slice of cherry pie and it was one of the best I've ever had!!! Service was good and the restaurant is a seat yourself order at the window place and their bathroom is small! Overall a must visit spot in the Buffalo area

I spent the first 20 years of my life in Western New York and have to have a beef on Weck any time I go back. This was my first time at Charles, and it will certainly be on my list. The beef is flavorful. The bread was fresh with the perfect amount of seeds and salt. The lid was dipped. There was a dill spear. The best I have had in my 60 years. The sweet potato fries were also great. Loved the casual atmosphere.

First and best weck I've ever eaten. Can't wait to come back again and try some of the other sandwiches too! Me and my husband both loved it.

Awesome roast beef sandwiches. I highly recommend the home made soup too !! I stop by the Wehrle location every time I'm at the airport.

Generous portion of beef on weck was carved perfectly. Their fish fry isn't beer battered, it's more of a light breading but delicate and delicious. Their brownies are huge, dense and full of chocolatey goodness.