The wings are very small, and are so easy to scoff down when you're in the mood. I've never eaten here and not been completely engrossed in what I was eating, and not been begging and not made an absolute mess. It tastes pretty great. But honestly, I don't really like going here. It's cash only, and there's an ATM there that costs like $5 to use. Also, it's a bit more taxing and underwhelming than Chicken Shack (if you do Chicken Shack right). So yeah, it's tasty and the sauces are great, but the chicken itself is not amazing tbh. read more

The food is good but I went there as my third choice for the night. The people outside were around but not harassing. I ordered and paid for a double order of mild wings and a cheese fry so 19.39 I got a single order of mild wings and plain fries. When I got home I called and was told we can give you a credit or a refund. This is a cash only place so as it stands I had to use the overpriced atm to get money to pay the bill. I chose the credit, on the phone she said just give the manager when you come back your name and you'll get "free food". ..ok we will see if this actually works. I've been to this location dozens of times over the years, this is the first time I was cheated out of an order. This is a serious offense. I'll go back for my free food but I doubt I'd go back again. read more

My husband & I lived in Evanston for many years and we always loved Buff Joe's. Today I was passing through and decided to pick up a couple things as a treat. First, they aren't letting people in b/c of Covid, which is fine, but there isn't much direction obvious on how to order. A worker came outside and told me she could take my order, so I ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich and an order of suicide wings. Got home and we were excited to dig in but unfortunately, it seems the quality has gone way down. The first bite of the chicken sandwich was awful. The chicken was...crunchy. And not the good "crunchy on the outside tender on the inside". Like, the meat was crunchy. It felt like they'd fried a frozen chicken breast, which is fine, but not cooked it long enough or something. So that went in the trash. The wings were ok, not bad, not great, but ok. I definitely noticed what some other people have which is that they are SMALL. Like half the size of what I remember. I'm not sure if it was an off day or what but it was a real bummer as I remembered this place as being much better than it was today. read more

If you are craving hot and spicy chicken wings...you will be disappointed. The wing sauces: spicy and suicide have an odd flavor profile and frankly just does not taste good. The wings are small too. The cheese is fake and tastes like spoiled cheese whiz. The place is old and not clean. You have to pay in cash and pay for water. Workers don't seem to enjoy their job. There are better wing places out there. Don't waste your time coming all the way here. read more

My boy Bunim said this shit was FIRE .... IM COMING but it is in evanston... WILD who goes to Evanston...

They're are known for their sauce on their wings but I highly recommend to try their sauce on their chicken tenders. I'm a huge fan of their mild sauce. Don't forget the ranch lol.. cheers! read more

Suicide wings quite possibly are the best in the city. honestly, they are that good. I've been eating here for over 10 years now, and while their wings have gotten a bit smaller, the sauce is just as good, and the service still amazes me. The ambiance sucks. Take your food to go...its a terrible place to dine. If you do stay, get a beer. Oh, and get a party pan of celery and ranch...a great way to complement your meal read more

So after countless hours at the gym training for a 10 mile race and then finally getting to that wondrous day and reluctantly running it, what would any one in their right mind do? Feed your face with the most unhealthy food you can find, of course!. After a long debate between OCB (Old Country Buffet for you not in the know) and BJs, we ended up making the trek over to Evanston. I'm going to cut straight to the food; let me tell you, after ten grueling miles, you deserve any treat you get. This treat happened to be in the form of a double order of spicy wings, spicy cheddar fries, and a bacon cheddar burger. The wings are smaller than normal (about the same as BW3s size, if not smaller) but the crunchiness of the skin, lean meat and amazing sauce were in perfect unison. The spicy cheddar fries were good as well - waffle fries, cheddar (real cheddar btw, no gloppy manufactured cheese topping here), hot sauce and jalapenos on top. Bacon cheeseburger was standard except for the fact they again they used real cheddar - somewhat greasy but good nonetheless. Only thing I would change about this place are the napkins! How do you expect to eat wings, cheddar fries and a cheddarburger without half of it ending up on your face? Then they insult you with these dinky little napkins like the ones they used to give you in grade school. Next time I'm bringing a bib, a bottle of Purex and a hand towel! Tip: Leave the credit card at home, it's cash only here. read more

Went to Buffalo Joes in Evanston last night for the gazillionth time, and it never disappoints! Usually order a single order of suicide wings and waffle fries....hmmmm...just thinking about it is making me crave it again. Prices have risen over the years, but still budget friendly. I can't vouch for the other items on the menu, but why go to a buffalo wings place for anything other than, well, buffalo wings! Overall, good food, okay prices, and okay service. read more

I think this is one of those places that you can only truly appreciate if you've been coming here since you were in high school or college. Despite growing up in the area, I never set foot into this Buffalo Joe's until this year. I've been twice now. The spicy wings are good. And they have RC cola, which is always a pleasant surprise. However, I found the actual wings to be awfully small with not much meat. Additionally, their cheddar chips which I had high hopes for were soggy and gross both times. I had been assured that they typically were not like this... so, who knows. But, the place has character and they have a full menu of things I haven't yet tried, so I will definitely give them another chance. read more

By far these are the best wings in the state, if not the country! Wheather you prefer BBQ, mild, spicy or 'suicide,' go all out and get a double order. If you don't finish them on your first try, they're great the next day. Note that the other locations are not as good as the Clak location. They will do in a pinch, but the extra few minutes in the car are well worth it! read more

Came here with a group of friends last month after my last visit back in the college days. Unfortunately, the wings tasted a lot better back then when fast food was the only meal of choice I could afford. Don't get me wrong, they are still pretty darn good. They are just not at the level of "OMG let's go to BJ's!!!!!" good. We got a party tray of wings for a group of 6 people along with some buffalo chips (fries) and nachos. The flavor was definitely there but the wings' size was simply too small. We also got a small order of "suicide" flavor, thinking that they would be too hot for us. However, that did not impress too much either. Although the spiciness did sneak up on us and we were all sweating by the end of meals. I think I stopped at 20 something wings, which is equally depressing considering I inhaled 35 wings last time I visited. Now, my proudest moment of this visit was making pot of rice and brought a couple containers worth of it with us. Friends have always told us that rice surprisingly tastes good with the wing sauce so I decided that this would be the time to try it. And it did not disappoint!!! It sort of tastes like a Chinese dish of "sweet vinegar deep fried fish". So it certainly pleased the Asian side of me when the wings were just a-ok. read more

After an extremely disappointing "cheddar fries" experience somewhere else (note to all out there - if you call your dish "cheddar fries" or "cheddar chips" instead of cheese fries, this means that you need to use a real cheddar sauce vs. the generic bright yellow artificial imitation funky-tasting cheese sauce that the others use) I was seriously craving Joe's cheddar chips... ...And I was not disappointed! Not only is the cheddar sauce amazing and real, but the "chips" (fries) seem so fresh, and the skin is still on...they would be good just by themselves (not like I know from personal experience as I only get them with cheddar). As for the wings - they're good, the sauce is great, but I'm not a crazy wing fan. My husband loves them though, he's been eating here for so long and it's great when his wing craving coincides with my cheddar chip craving.... read more

I absolute love their classic version of buffalo wings. The chicken is not battered like Hooter's. The sauce is what makes the wings so yummy. The fresh cut waffle fries are excellent and always piping hot. Wings and fries ate made to order nothing sitting around under hot lamps. Celery sticks are always cold and crisp like they should be. I've been taking a drive out to evanston for at least 10 years since I discovered this spot. It's not healthy so I only go once or twice a year but it's always worth it. Recipe has never changed. The only minor complaint I have is some times that the wings are small in size. read more

You cannot afford not to go eat here. Why are you still reading reviews. Get your shoes on and go. Now! read more

My go to wing place!!! Best buffalo sauce. Just get spicy or suicide please. Don't be weak and go mild. Growing up in nearby Skokie, my friends and I would head over here and pig out on the regular. I'm a bit disappointed though because the wings over time have gotten smaller... anyone else notice this? C'mon bring the bigger wings back. Sorry, this was the reason for my one star deduction. Some things never change though. When I arrive at a party and see a party pan, my mouth starts watering I know what I'm attacking first. Don't forget the awesome waffle fries!! read more

By far the best wings I've ever tried EVER. The only reason I give them four stars instead of five is because it looks dirty and smells. And even with all that going on ill still eat there. Other than that the wings are amazingly delicious. Very crispy. I got the mild wings and the sauce is sort of sweet but it's nothing less than scrumptious. The waffle fries are fresh and tasty. I'm a ranch lover. Ill have ranch with anything and buff joes ranch is the best ranch I've ever had. I wish they would clean up the place a bit. That's the only complaint I have. read more

Buffalo Joe's - Mild wings and waffle fries. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This visit was definitely 5 star worthy. I will forever be a fan of buffalo joe's but it's really a hit or miss here. Some days the wings are wimpy and dry and other days definitely the best on the planet. I love this place regardless because I've been eating here for almost 20 years. We can't have a gathering at home without a party pan of suicide from BJ's and you can't forget about the cheddar chips! CASH ONLY - there's an ATM inside ;) read more

Buffalo Joe's - Double order of suicide and cheddar chips - Chicken Wings Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

First and last time! I wonder did they fried the wings in oil or grease..... Horrible horrible horrible.... The burger as well was dipped in oil/ grease or whatever..... read more

Food is just ok & price is reasonable, BUT The workers at the counter (girl that takes the order) when u walk in is sooooooo completely rude Making faces,Attitude and all !!! Even when she answered the phones!!!! Hey management hire some friendly staff to work ur counter!!!! read more

I've been going here for years and born and raised in the area. Yes some people who work there are rude and yes it would be nice if it weren't just cash only but the food is good. People complain about how dirty it is only because the kitchen is right in front of you, you should see some kitchens and some really nice restaurants that are just as bad I've worked in a lot of kitchens. I find it interesting that people say the place is gross and dirty but still ate there .... If your going to complain about the kind of pop they have then don't drink it ... If you don't like there customer service maybe really realize this isn't fine dining but a hole in the wall wing place. Get over it or go somewhere else stop your bitching. Wing stop is up the street :) read more

OMGGGG BEST PLACE TO GET WINGS EVERRRR!!! I come here a few times a month cause it's so yummmmy! The wings come out perfect every time and the ranch is delicious and the waffle fries are so good too! The whole combination is to die for SO SO GOOD! If you love wings you'll love buff Joe's read more

Really good food at a really good price. That is all. Went in there placed my order and realized it was cash only. The male server was really nice and understanding and told me there was an ATM machine that we could use. So I walk over to the ATM machine only to find that it's out of service. I go up to the female cashier and tell her I placed an order but I only have my credit card. She proceeds to say while rolling her eyes "I don't know what to tell you, I mean you see that it's out of order so I don't know what you want me to tell you." I was already going to go to a nearby ATM to get cash but her attitude almost made me want to walk out of there for good. Buff. Joes please hire kids that know how to talk to customers. Even though the main reason that business is thriving is because the food is good which means that her and her attitude are easily replaceable. With that being said she probably won't last for the next time I go there. Also, I placed my order exactly before a wave of people came in yet they all got their orders before mine. When I went to get cash I thought they called my name already so I waited patiently until I noticed that the same guy who took my order noticed my order wasn't done yet either. Once I moved closer to the register I noticed that the cashier and two of the servers were doing their friends orders first. read more

The first disappointing experience at Buffalo Joe's in years! This place has never been close to me, but always worth the drive. Never mind what it looks like inside, the food has always kept me coming back. The first warning sign today was no more celery. They have swapped it out for carrots and it sounds like the carrots are here to stay. The wings were... different. No one eating lunch in the place had a single flat. All drumettes. They're bigger, but you get a smaller portion, and the meat just tastes... off. It's a sad day today at Buffalo Joe's! Hopefully my lifelong love affair with the place isn't over. read more

A sunday night tradition while i was at northwestern. Mild, hot or suicide?? love the bbq as well.....there are times when it gets crowded, but this is definitely the place to go. Great option for parties as well...can't beat a few trays of wings! yum! read more

Buffalo wings are one of my favorite foods. Quite the opposite of most connoisseurs, I am pretty tolerant to differences in size and flavor. I really haven't met any I didn't like for some reason or another, so naturally, I am inclined to be lenient on wing places. I see the benefits of Hooters, BW3, and likewise, I can speak to the appeal of Buffalo Joe's. You go in and order; the people behind the counter goof with you and give you a hard time in a funny way, which is bascially like spending time with my family and therefore makes me feel at home. They made fun of me for wearing a surf shop shirt in Chicago; haha...point taken. Anyhow, you wait for less than 10 minutes, then you get cardboard containers full of wings with ranch sauce (no bleu cheese, which is their weakest link, if you ask me), and celery. We also ordered the waffle cut cheese fries. The wings? Totally smothered in sauce. Some people on here seem to not like that, but I'm all for it. The hot sauce is a little garlicky and had just enough bite to kick me in the mouth a little without turning me into a Tums commercial. It was pretty darn good to dip celery in after the wings were gone. The ranch? A little thin, but okay. Again, kind of sad there's no bleu cheese but it had a nice flavor at least. The fries? Covered in some kind of bizarro processed cheese that I wanted so badly not to like because it was obviously fake...but failed. The stuff was delicious. It was sort of like EZ Cheez or Velveeta in that it should be gross but it's amazing. I'd go back. read more

My mom worked in Evanston when I was a child, that is when I had my first experience at Buffalo Joes. I have gone there so much with friends and family since my teen years, the manager/owner there knows me by name. Buff Joes has the greatest wings I have ever had, not only does the wing itself rival other places, but the sauce is what puts them over the top!!! I could take a order of wings, cheddar chips and a mega gutbuster of RC anyday of the week! Ive even ordered trays from here for parties ive thrown! I highly recommend this place to anyone! read more

I'm giving them four stars within their genre, which is fast-food, with a heavy emphasis on wings. I went here for the first time last weekend. Not having been before, I don't know what size the wings were "back in the day," but I don't really give a damn about wing size when they just scoop a bunch up and don't count them. 20 small wings vs. 10 huge wings - who cares. If anything I like wings for the skin anyway, so more small ones usually means more skin, more deliciousness and more satisfaction! I thnik these are some of the best-tasting wings I've had. I do like blue cheese dressing better than ranch, but the wings themselves matter a whole lot more than the side sauce does. I don't live close, so I can't say I'll be a regular or anything, but I liked them well enough that I'll definitely be back, maybe even for a special trip now and then. I do have one complaint - the cheese fries were not up to par. The cheese congealed and became a gooey, cold mess way to fast. And the fries themselves weren't that great, either. Making good fries isn't rocket science and I think people let restaurants off easy too often for sub-par fries. read more

mmm...yeah, these were good wings, and I did get quite a bit even for the single size version, but the dude worked at the register was such dick. I had ordered a Miller Lite beer when at the counter, but when I got to the register/tap they asked me again. So I changed my mind to the Leinenkugel's Winter ale--the exact same price--and the dude stood there saying, "It says Lite on your order." "Yeah my bad. I meant the Winter Ale. My bad." "It says Lite on the order." "Yyyyeah. I mean is that going to be a problem?" He just rung it up and took the cash. What a jerk. Like I said the wings were good, but I'd almost say they're just as good at Buffalo Wild Wings a few blocks away. Service is better there and more selections on stuff. Oh yeah. Also, the wet naps my friends and I got were all dry in their packaging. It was nice to walk out with the hands that weren't the cleanest. read more

For me, a trip back to Evanston isn't complete without a visit to Buffalo Joe's. And they're open until midnight so even if my flight is delayed I'm able to get my junk food chicken fix. This place is CASH ONLY so plan accordingly - there's a Bank of America a block away and I think there's actually a small ATM in the restaurant but I'd assume it charges fees. My friends swear by the wings, but I always get the chicken tenders with mild sauce and extra ranch dressing - they're amazing. The food is so tasty that it's easy to overlook that the wings and tenders are always swimming in grease and the "cheese" on the buffalo chips (fries) is synthetic. Prices are reasonable, there's plenty of seating in the back, and even when the place is busy they seem to be able to cycle through orders quickly. A couple of things that might some day push Buffalo Joe's down into 4-star territory for me... 1) the wings seem to have gotten smaller over time - not a good trend 2) sometimes they don't have tenders - very disappointing since they're my favorite menu item 3) if you get food to go, they put fries in paper bags so you'll have nice, hot chicken but cold fries (I realize it's un-PC of me to enjoy the styrofoam containers they use for chicken, so I usually eat in the restaurant) read more

It would be an understatement to say I'm a huge fan of BJ's. My family gets a party platter for any type of get together, parties, Christmas, Thanksgiving (yes I said Thanksgiving). My favorite thing to order at BJ's are the suicide wings and cheese fries. I've noticed that in the past few years the wings were getting considerably smaller and smaller, but the last time I went, they were back to the normal size and just as great as ever. The way they make the cheese fries here is totally Chicago style. My other friends from out of town who I've brought here say that the cheese is way too cheddar-y and thick, but if I could eat it on everything, I absolutely would. I've also had the burger, brat, chili, and cookies and everything is delicious. The only bad thing about BJ's, if you don't eat it while it's hot, it loses it's appeal. The facilities are not the most pleasant, but it does the job. The bathroom is probably as clean as it possibly can get. They have TVs for customers to watch while eating. The seating area isn't too appealing, but when I get my wings, I don't care where I'm sitting. It's that good. read more

Go figure, I go to a restaurant that specializes in wings...and I order a burger. What is wrong with me?? A group of friends invited me out on a weekday to hang out, and they suggested this place. I didn't feel like chicken that night (wait a minute, wasn't that a jingle from a commercial from the 1980s?) so I ended up getting a Cheddar Char burger off the menu. The burger itself tasted pretty standard, nothing spectacular. However, the waffle fried were de-lish. Maybe I should have just had a single order of fries...that would have been an adequate meal. Beware, this place takes cash only; luckily I had exactly $7 in my wallet to pay for my meal. Overall, the place serves pretty good food for a pretty cheap price. You can't ask for anything more. My dinner companions all ordered the wings and loved them. I did take a look at their plates and noticed the small size of them; eventually when I come back to actually try their wings I'd have to make a note to get a double order. read more

This place is a Northwestern institution, or so I'm told. The decor hasn't changed in 20 or so years and the owner is the same. It feels like a generic place from the early 80s -- clean but utilitarian -- though the flat screen TVs help. Long counter in the front to order and pick up food and then tables in the next room. The wings were tasty -- messy but that's what buffalo wings should be. We got hot but I heard the suicide are not too bad either so I'm hoping to get those next time. People swear also by the cheese fries but the cheese was so processed that i found them a little gross. But the wings. Yum! read more

Maybe its just me, but i've eaten here 5 times in two weeks. The wings are the best ever!!! I love love love the wings here. The sauces (hot or mild) are just right, not too spicy not to sweet not too tangy, just riight. They have a few locations in Evanston, but I like the one on Clark. read more

Buffalo Joe's - Spicy wings - Chicken Wings Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

great wings and amazing waffle fries. Although, if you order from here, make sure you are prepared to be treated with disrespect....

Look. This place is great if you know what you're getting: awesome wings and a lot of them. I love BW3's - my undergrad school had one across the street from our campus; in fact, I think I spent my 21st birthday there, or at least part of it. But BW3's costs a lot more, and whiile there is bigger sauce selection, sometimes you don't want to choose between 20 different flavors - you just want wings and a lot of them. The suicide wings ain't all that hot. They're basically medium-to-hot wings with canned jalapeños atop. I couldn't figure out why they were touted as suicide wings until the next day, where I spent 5 minutes in the bathroom wishing I was dead. But it was worth it. I might go back tomorrow just to show my colon who's boss. Don't come for the ambiance. Don't come for a business lunch. Don't bring your mom unless she can get down with some wings like whoa (and if she can, give her my number). read more

The last time I was there an employee was vomiting in the patron area while her friends recorded the events on their phones and uploaded through social media. The guy who appears to be the owner or manager (fat guy, mustache) acted as though this were normal. I am never going back. read more

Best wings I've had hands down. Get a single of spicy wings (or suicide if you want them to double the sauce and drown in jalepenos) and a side of buffalo cheddar chips with a mega RC cola and prepare to get your face messy! The sauce is just absolutely criminal. Second to none. I've heard the burgers and sandwiches are great too but the wings are so good I've never gone astray. Is usually pretty busy and cash only. If you are ordering on Sunday during football season call your order in to avoid the wait. Got a lot of friends and family in Evanston so I'm in town every couple of months. I always try to get to Buff Joe's when I'm in town and you should too! read more

I'm 5 months pregnant and I've been craving wings. We live in Chicago on division, tons of bars and they sell wings too, but nothing compared to Buffalo Joes. Not the cleanest place but it is definitely worth the trip to Evanston for their wings. It truly is finger lickin good. read more

Buffalo Joe's - Chicken Wings Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Best wing place ever! My uncle had introduced me to this hole on the wall. It's not a super clean place. However the food is amazing. I love boned in wings and the flavors for the wings are perfectly seasoned. I love the mild wings the best. I cannot rave about this place enough.. read more