Still miss this place! The people were so nice, and the breakfast sandwich was especially delicious! Chicago friends had told us to try Billy Goat Tavern while we were in town, and this location was so convenient. We did have burgers for lunch on one of the first days and they were also good, but the breakfast sandwich - OMG! Some version, IIRC, was available all day as well. I also really enjoyed my omelette. Great, now I'm hungry and missing Billy Goat Tavern again... read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - Yum!! Breakfast omelette! - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the Chicago dog and Double cheeseburger. Pretty good Chicago dog with lots of toppings on it. Double cheeseburger was freshly cooked and they it sort of reminded me of a classic hamburger back in the 80s, very nostalgic flavors. The service was also quick and only took about 2 minutes. read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - Double cheeseburger and chicago dog - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Obama burger was excellent full of flavor. Like the burger "burger topping bar" they have. Where you can add extra tomatoes, lettuce, onions and pickles. Steak fries are good. read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - The Obama. - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What's the purpose of fries AND chips at Billy Goat's?? The whole 'speil' is that they have chips, NO Fries! Doesn't matter, it's salt/fat/carbs so I'm not really complaining, plus I did not get either. I stopped in to continue breaking my no red meat/pork fast and had a polish sausage before attending One of a Kind Show. The food selection is too expensive inside the show so the food court is a better option, with health alternatives too. I ordered just that and unsweetened iced tea. It was ok, kinda bleh with no lemon or lime. I enjoyed the polish, the option of fresh condiments made all the difference. The staff was pleasant and helpful too. read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - Polish sausage - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

On the fence about this one. Prices are reasonable, but only considering how expensive food is in this area of the loop. Portion size is fairly good, but not generous. Ingredients were fresh, but the overall food was not too tasty. The self-serve condiments were nice, but the options were very standard. Food was hot and served relatively fresh. My main issue really lies with how thinly sliced the beef is. It wasn't overcooked here, but it really lacked the great juiciness and satisfying bite that a thicker patty would have. Each individual element was fairly standard, without a special char or ingredient to really elevate the experience. Given the amount of high quality competition that exists in Chicago, this was simply a nice -- but very forgettable burger at a fairly high price (Compared to Doc B's burger for a little more, but very refined and memorable -- or even Portillo's burger). The fries shared a similar fate -- very hot and fairly crispy, but nothing to make it stand out at all. Overall, I wouldn't mind eating here again if I were in the area, but this won't be at the top of my mind when choosing a restaurant. read more

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Delicious breakfast sandwich and would eat here every morning if I lived here. We came to the mart every morning of our stay to grab breakfast. Yum! read more

Friendly crew, fast service and solid food - cannot ask for more. Toppings are fresh, burgers are grilled to order and coke is thirst quenching. read more

Best value around. Their steak sandwich is a legit ribeye with grilled onions on a great roll. Add Swiss and it's amazing. And it's $7.99. Where are you gonna beat that? read more

I hung out at the original place for 3 days drinking Billy goat beer and eating hamburgers while my wife was at a conference. Staff was great and met a few interesting characters. If you want to eat and drink cheap, this is your place. read more

It was a cold winter day... I was in need of comfort food for lunch, and there was no better place to head than Billy Goat. Knowing I probably shouldn't aim for the ribeye steak sandwich, since I made a conscious effort to cut back on my red meat intake, I went for it anyway. Side Note: The Mediterranean food line was extra long, meaning all those people probably got the memo that it's the start of the year and they should probably stay away from non-healthy comfort food, but that didn't stop me. Got exactly what I expected. It was good! Pretty thin, just a small bit of fat on it, and a little greasy (in the good greasy kind of way), but it hit the spot. You add your own condiments and toppings, and then they pack it up for you and put it in a bag. I waited only about 5 minutes, or less, for my sandwich. That was fast! Tip: They also serve breakfast here in case you are running late and get in with an empty stomach! read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - Food court version! - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Comin' atcha quick just (like my lunch). So pay attention! 5 word summary: Quick. Cheap. Convenient. Comfort food. Deets: I'm lucky enough to now have an office home inside the Merch Mart where there are endless amounts of lunch options all within the building. This especially came in handy this week as we entered into round 2 of Chiberia. Angela S. and I browsed our options and landed at Billy Goat when we decided it was best to warm up our winter day with some comfort food. I ordered the special that was posted: Cheeseburger & fries for $4.99. No bad, not bad at all. My order was ready super quick! They had me put on my own toppings before they wrapped it up to go. Options included pickles, tomatoes, onions, relish, and your standard condiments. To me, the cheeseburger was just okay. Perfect for the occasion, but if I'm comparing cheeseburgers I've had in my life, this one's patty was way too thin and between way too much bun. The fries were pretty good (not the best I've ever had, but still yummy) and the portion I got was huge! At the end of the day, Billy Goat got the job done. Cheap and convenient comfort food provided with quick, friendly and efficient service. Pro tip: The Mediterranean line next door was extremely long, so if you aren't counting cals and in a rush - head to Billy Goat! Fun fact: They also offer breakfast! read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - two men working in the kitchen - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Here's why you need to know: The worst burger I have ever eaten. Period. There should be laws against selling burgers this tasteless and pathetic. I came into this Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart location on a Tuesday afternoon at lunch time. I sorely regret my decision - a wasted lunch. There was no line and I ordered a triple with cheese, an egg, and grilled onions. The bun was dry and an unappetizing yellow color; the beef had no taste... Nada... Zilch. Not even salt. The cheese was disgusting and synthetic tasting with a waxy texture. Even the egg was lifeless and without seasoning. I don't get how that's even possible - How can you screw up a fried egg. It's almost as if they went out of their way to create this masterpiece - the worst burger in Chicagoland and beyond. The best part of the experience was the friendly staff. I wasted $8 on the burger. read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - Lifeless and sad... The Bullygoat Tavern burger @ the Merch Mart - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I thought other reviewers were exaggerating when they said this is one of the worst burgers they've ever had. Well, definitely in the bottom five for me, lifetime. The bun is too thick for the meat. I ordered a double cheeseburger with egg and bacon. The meat had zero flavor. It could have been a veggie patty and I wouldn't have known the difference. Toppings (pickles, lettuce, tomatoes) were flavorless. The chili is not bad. The breakfast is better than decent. But this is a burger place and the burgers are insultingly bad. read more

Its your standard Billy Goat sandwich minus the merchandise and booze. Guys working were 5 star! So friendly, helpful and quick...area very clean! Would swing in again to the food court if I wanted a burger but would rather hit the other locations for this food. I had a double cheese with fried egg. Pretty good. read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Of all the lunch spots inside the MART, Billy goat was consistently the best. You can see them make your burger immediately after ordering so you know it's fresh. Talk about fast too. In and out in under 5 minutes which was a huge help on a limited lunch break. It's a simple menu, but what else do you need other than a double cheeze and fries? read more

This is kind of a watered down version of the original. It lacks the charm of the original, but what do you expect it is in a freaking food court! The grub here is constant with what you will get at any of the locations. I had my staple double cheeseborger combo and it was just as good as it always has been! They do a good job of keeping things consistent at all of their locations. I was also pleased that I was able to enjoy a Heineken with my meal too! These guys were super fast and super friendly. My total for all of the above was $10.66 so i highly doubt that this place will be a regular staple in my diet read more

Billy goat is good, but you need to double or triple the meat because the bun is just that thick. Sometimes people don't know this is the key to a good burger. This location also works with ritual app, which is quick. I sometimes walk here on my lunch break. They are always fast. There are several locations in the Chicago metro area. read more

I frequent this snazzy little place almost every Saturday, when they are open. Sometimes I miss them by a few minutes, and am always disappointed. One of the main reasons I like going, is because the guys that work there are so nice and accomodating! There is never normally a line so they will actually make your order right and it's always fast. They have egg sandwiches all day, so if it's breakfast you're looking for, this is the place. It's perfect for when you want greasy food. Get a side of cheese next store for the fries- worth it! Grilled Cheese will grilled onions- glorious. And if you're in the mood- they have beer too. read more

I love Billy Goat. I used to eat here every single workday, though now I've diversified a bit, but I'm still here 2-3 times a week. The hotdogs are delicious! And the burgers are wonderful too. If the meat is too thin for your taste, they have options all the way up to triple burgers, and I always get a triple cheese. They'd probably do a quadruple if you really asked nice. So yeah, the food is delicious and grilled right in front of you, too, which is excellent to see. And it's surprisingly fast for the great quality. However, the best part is the friendly and helpful staff! It's just a handful of nice folks who work here, and you can bet you'll always get cheery service with a smile. That part of the experience makes the food even better! read more

I had an omelet here the other day that was as big as my torso and only $4 and it came with toast and hash browns! The omelet was cooked perfectly and I didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes for it. My friend also got a breakfast special for $3.45 that had two pieces of french toast, two pieces of bacon and an egg. It was massive, delicious and oh so cheap. If you're looking for breakfast in the Merchandise Mart this is your spot. I've eaten at most of the other joints and they don't compare. I'm on a bread strike so I haven't eaten any of the burgers or sandwiches but my friend that I go to lunch with swears by them. The guys behind the counter are great too! read more

As my travels have taken me to many of the Billy Goat Taverns in the area, I find that this one is extremely efficient at providing a decent burger. Now I'll agree that if you order anything short of a double cheeseburger, you'll be eating mostly bun. But what keeps me coming back are the amazing pickles that are offered. Sitting alongside the counter is a massive tray full of cold, crisp, and crunchy pickles which taste phenomenal in a sandwich or by themselves. When in the Merchandise Mart, skip the Mickey D's and head over to Billy Goats. read more

I decided to try the Goat on my latest trip down to the Merch (2/20/08). I've never actually been to the original one and frankly, have only eaten at the one in O'Hare Airport (C-terminal in United). I can't belive how they've parlayed the Belushi/Ackroyd routine from 1977 in this large amount of business, but hey, what the hell? Of course, as a die-hard, well, the goat, ehhh, nevermind. I had the double cheezborger w/fries and large Diet Coke. Okay, so 1977 it isn't, but as mentioned by Heli, the "no fries, chips" routine is gone as is the "no Coke, Pepsi". I guess one has to meet market demand. It was good, but not phenominal. It was also $7.79. But hey, this is one of the few places to get BEER inside the Merch, so stop on over. read more

SNL skit....have u seen it? Cheesborger...cheesborger! No Pepsi coke! No fries chips! Simple, good menu...No frills...large portions that will make you feel like a total greaseball after eating it. Wash down the greasy goodness with a cold beer and call it a day. read more

so everyone knows billy goat for their burgers , hot dogs, brauts, etc...... but i just had the best breakfast from them today.....french toast, eggs, hashbrowns, bacon. omg delicious and easy to customize and add on.... best breakfast option nearby by far and employees are cool and friendly to boot. love it!! read more

Billy Goat Tavern Merchandise Mart - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After running some errands, I hit up the Merch Mart food court. I figured that I would do a calorie splurge with the Billy Goat. This place lacks all of the character of the other and original locations. Honestly, I was unimpressed. My single burger was mainly bun and a little burger. My lunch was alright and nothing special here. If anything, going to the Billy Goat has now pushed me to the point that I don't think I'll be eating fast food for sometime. read more

I eat more of the breakfast choices than the burgers. Great breakfast deals for folks that work at the Mart or close by. This is my team's favorite breakfast choice out of all the food court eateries. Plus they accept AMEX. The guy taking your order is always nice and the food delish! The french toast is a steal! Large pieces - definitely filled me up. read more

I tried it and Yay! I'm a fan. The food was fast, hot and tasty. Which is exactly what you're looking for in a cheesborger joint during lunch time. read more

Went because of SNL skit and really didn't expect it to be great. I was terribly wrong! One of the best cheezborgers I ever had!

I came here about three days ago for lunch while downtown running errands, and the grilled cheese sandwich and fries I ordered was good. The problem is that it's situated in a busy food court in the Merchandise Mart. The servers were very friendly and made my food right. I wasn't impressed was the hoity toity workers who come to eat who can be rude pushing their way in front of you when you're waiting for your order. Great place, but you get the real feel at the Billy Goat locations that are sit down instead of an express-version.Its one of the few places that you can get freshly prepared burgers, steak sandwiches, and fries. Most places are too fast foodish and the only cities you can find this kind of food is Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. I will be going again just not this location unfortunately. read more

I shudder at the thought of a burger from here. Nay, I gag at the mention of the name! I wouldn't feed a dog this burger. I cannot express how disgusting this burger is. I'd like to know what ridiculous circus routines you have to go through to mess up a burger? I have absolutely no idea why this place is so famous. I guess most of the people who come to Billy Goat are blind drunk and would lick the bottom of each other's shoes so I guess it makes sense why Billy Goat is so popular. I've never hated anything so much for a very long time. read more

This is another location of the famous Billy Goat Tavern, known for no fries just chips. Well guess what. They decided fries is okay now. I am not sure if the other locations serve fries (the one on Navy Pier did not a few years back) but I do think it is weird that they went away from their logo. The food is good if you are looking for grease. I think the grilled cheese is delicious. read more

I've ALWAYS loved Billy Goat tavern, but this location was the worst taste-wise. I ordered a single cheeseburger and fries. The meat was thin, but the bun was HUGE! Had I tried a double or triple, I'm sure the bun would've been more appropriate. The burger was extremely dry as well. I give it 2 stars because the fries were good, hot and fresh. read more

Love the Billy Goat. Have loved it since I saw the clips of it on SNL as a kid. Have visited various locations throughout the years & recommend people to visit them over and over. However, Not a fan of the website. I've been on it for some time now trying to recommend it to some out-of-towners and can't find the location hours, beer list and the directions for the one on Lower Michigan/Wacker in between Illinois and Hubbard aren't very clear for people who aren't from here. If someone has to SEARCH your website for info. then it's time to update it. Suggestion - put main details on home page. read more

One of the worst burger/fry combos I've had in awhile. The bun was dried out and way too big for a single burger. Fries were underdone. Pickles were good. I went because they had the shortest line in the food court. Now I see why. It's been a while since I've been to a Billy Goat, but I remembered them being better. read more