Budacki's Drive In — Restaurant in Lake View Township

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...

I have been a customer for about 30 years. I remember going after school at McPherson to get a $1 bag of fries and to put my quarter up on the Street Fighter machine that use to be there. The owner Mr Lee was always kind to the herds of kids that would loiter in his place.

Budacki's is an icon in the neighborhood. A hold over from way back before the neighborhood completely changed starting in the late 90's. Sure, I still go in for the nostalgia of the place, but it's more than that. The hot dogs are some of the best in the city. From personal experience, I can vouch that Mr Lee and his staff have consistently made quality dogs, burgers and wings for the last 30 years. I'm sure it's been much longer than that, but I only started eating there in the mid-80's.

The buns on the dogs are always perfectly steamed. The toppings are always fresh. The dogs are never sitting around losing flavor. You salt your own fries and they even have celery salt out if you like an extra sprinkle on your dog. Just a damn fine hot dog that never lets you down.

As for other items, I believe Mr. Lee's son an owner of Crisp, so you know the wings are on point. They even started selling the bulgogi rice bowls at Budacki's. Pizza puffs, beefs, burgers, gyros all the Chicago food staples are all made fresh and hot. All items are inexpensive. They've raised prices since I was a kid but not by much. I think a "letter A" special, two hot dogs fries and a can of pop, was around $3-$3.25 when I was a kid. Now it's about $5 or $6. A lot of places charge $3.50 for sub-par dogs now, but Budacki's keeps it real.

Anytime I have visitors in from another city, I send them here and no one is ever disappointed. People that use to live in the neighborhood still come in from miles away. One of the last times I was there, I ran into an old classmate that came in from Waukegan. My brother, who lives in Florida now, has to eat here at least once when he's in town. This goes to show you that people love Budacki's. Yes, nostalgia is a factor, but we keep going back for the delicious food and the friendly service. Always recommended!

Thank you Budacki's for always being there and always...

I grew up eating their burgers with my family. The usual cashier knows my mom and sisters. Their food is pretty good. Today my mom and I stopped by for some comfort food due to having a rough morning. Initially. there was a miscommunication with the cashier. Therefore, our orders were not accurate. Nonetheless, food is food so we didn’t make a big deal about it and the cashier was very kind and patient. Appreciate him for it.

Now, the lady at the end handing out the orders is another story. Black hair, tight pony tail and a tank top. I, myself work in customer service, therefore, I give people a lot of grace when they have an attitude. But this lady was truly what ruined my entire experience. She refused to acknowledge me unless I made multiple attempts to get her attention. In which I truly just felt ignored. I was right infront of her, there’s no way to miss me. I remained kind and patient but her tone when questioning my order as if I hadn’t paid and was attempting to scam her was incredibly disrespectful. I have a sister with huge social anxiety and she’s came to this establishment before but I can’t imagine the panic attack this lady would incite on my sister who is a customer because of her disgusting attitude and energy. I stopped saying, “please, thank you, and sorry if I caused any misunderstanding” because all I kept receiving were dirty looks and being ignored. She has terrible customer service skills, so proceed with...