Best homemade soup around. Great owner, the kind you want to do business with. Make sure to try the rice pilaf as well. Everyone in the house is able to find items they want on the menu. read more

Very friendly staff and great food! The chicken kabob on pita is the bomb. Beer, wine & soda. Small outdoor seating, large indoor seating. Either way we just go for the food and kind staff. ENJOY!! read more

I've come here several times before but i've never been this disappointed in my meal. I got the classic chicken fingers with cheese fries and it was simply gross. Half of my fries were cold and the cheese was basically melted plastic died orange. Then, when I went to get a refill I got "sprite". When I tasted it I literally gagged. It was fizzy water tinted orange. On top of all that my sisters greek potatoes were raw and just yucky. read more

So I order a gyro plate ask if they put the gyro sauce in the bag he says yes its inside the container took his word for it and I didn't check the bag. I knew I should of its not a big deal about the sauce its the fact that you ask they say yes but there not 100% sure if its in there. Like why say yes if you didn't check or see it put in yourself it would take two seconds to check had to eat the gyro dry‍ read more

The best food besides my own cooking!! The people are really nice and the food is excellent!! We use to go there once a week! My husband tried so many things on the menu and never been disappointed!! I love their gyros. You get a lot of food! My whole family loves Charkies! read more

We found the BEST gyros in DuPage County! This unassuming restaurant is the real deal. All your Greek favorites, all prepared in-house by people who know what they're doing and really care. read more

I had a gyro at Charkies and it was pretty good. I thought the prices were a tad higher than most places, but the food servings are big. They offer a salad or soup with meals. I had the soup and it was tasty and would recommend it. My boyfriend wasn't as impressed and he had a chicken sandwich. Nothing bad just not very memorable so he'll probably try something else next time. Overall will be back again. read more

Food is good but the people that work the front counter seem very snobby. One thing I hate is that the put all the food and sides in one bag, so your cold dips or ketchup is warm read more

Phenomenal! It was so great I forgot to take a picture prior to inhaling everything. From the free Rose Marina soup to the gyro plate dinner, pizza puffs and chicken kabobs dinner, my dad and I had no complaints at all period we filled our selves and even had enough for take-home containers. Make sure to have they're authentic Greek potatoes. read more

Charkies - American Near Me - Carol Stream, Illinois

Our favorite place to eat when we don't want fast food, but don't want to sit forever in a restaurant. Free soup with every meal! Nice touch. Large menu. Food is always fresh and excellent. The Greek chicken with rice pilaf is to die for. The gyros is never greasy. One of the few places that can actually make a well done hamburger, no pink and not burnt (for my husband.) Perfectly pink for me! The staff/owners are very friendly. I hope they stay open forever. Please go to Charkies, you won't regret it. read more

It was slammed when I visited, but the food was great! Can also tell the owner is very involved with making sure customers are happy.

Here's another one of those places that I bookmarked years ago and just finally visited recently. I'm glad I finally took the plunge! It was a bitter cold night and we were hungry. Time to find a quick bite at a reasonable price point with some quality behind the food. Charkies hit on all of these details. A couple of Glendale Heights Finest were ordering in front of us. A little chit chat ensued and I knew that I wanted to try their chicken. We had chicken kabobs with grilled onions and a pita bread and shared an order of French fries. Each meal comes with a complimentary bowl of soup. The meal was less than $6. Add in the fries, the free soup, a fountain drink for each of us and we were still less than $10 each. I spend more at other places for way less. And so we tried the veggie soup. This was more like a stew. It was thick and the vegetables were large chunks. This was especially perfect when I came across the potatoes in the soup. If I had eaten all of my soup, I would not have eaten my meal. The chicken was grilled and arrived juicy with perfectly sautéed onions on a warm pita bread. The fries were completely unnecessary, but that didn't stop us from eating a few. The restaurant is fairly large and was kept clean with busboys coming around regularly to clear things. Next time...gyros! read more

This place was SO close to getting 5 stars... let me explain. I've been craving a burger for almost a week now. Not a 'fast food' burger, a good ole burger. I kept forgetting that this place, it's really close to our house but there is not much other business near it. It recently opened next to the Walgreen's so when I went to Walgreen's today I decided that was what I wanted for dinner. So my husband and I headed over there. The place is very clean (should be - It's brand new) and very nicely decorated. They have a Large menu with something for everyone. I ordered my burger and my husband got a Turkey Bacon Club. The staff was super friendly and even gave us complimentary soup while we waited. All the soups are homemade. The Tomato Chicken Noodle soup was great. A little peppery, but I like it that way. Our take out order was ready and we took it home. My husbands food looked and smelled delicious, and mine did too!! As I bit into my burger, I discovered the One reason that this place did not get five stars... Cheese. I asked for NO cheese and it had cheese on it. I am totally funny about that, I don't like cheese on my burgers. It was still a delicious burger - I just would have preferred no cheese. I will SO not forget this place is around the corner anymore and I can't wait to try some of the other items on the menu. Burger Craving = SATISFIED! read more

It is my first in this place and I must say it is clean and the vibe is cool and casual. The staff was friendly. I always think that if a place has good staff, it means that they have good food and I was looking forward on tasting their food. They have a wide selection on their menu, it was literally a lot but I just decided to have their gyro sandwich since I was not totally hungry that time. The food was ready only after a few minutes. My expectation was right. The sandwich was delicious even though it does not have anything special in it. The place is overall amazing and having a nice experience would definitely makes me want to visit again. read more

This menu is huge! Something for everyone. I went with my mom and husband and we were all impressed. I had chicken that was stuffed with spinach rice and feta cheese with sides of veggies and Grecian potatoes. It was cooked perfectly and there was plenty for leftovers. My husband had a hot dog and fry combo which he liked. And mom had the blt which came with a heaping pile of fries. Again, plenty for leftovers! There are a few reasons for five stars. First is the much talked about free soup. Yes it's free, but it is really really good! Mind you, it was a ninety degree day, so we weren't really in the mood for soup. But after I tried it, I forced it on my mom and husband. Hands down some of the best soup ever. Also the lady at the counter was really nice. I spent a Lot of time trying to figure out what I wanted. She patently suggested the chicken, and was very talkative and friendly. After we were done she asked how we like the food and we talked for a few minutes more. You can tell she takes pride. Good food and good people. So unfortunate that you can't find that everywhere. read more

Wait, I never reviewed this place?? Oh man, this place is great for me. It's a 2 minute drive from where I work in Carol Stream and the food is great! Burgers are awesome! Fries come in bunches. And, they seem to try to give you a cup of soup with everything. Not complaining! Good food, good prices, and great for getting lunch quickly. read more

Been going here for years before all the hype! Good quality food for the price point, complimentary soup and owner involvement makes this my top quick eats pick when I'm in the burbs. Today: I had a full slab of ribs, garlic bread and fries. Ribs were falling off the bone, well prepared and generous. Garlic bread rounded out my comfort food binge with a crispy, not greasy note. Thumbs up. You can really tell when there is pride of ownership in a place and these guys have it. read more

It's close to work, so it's got that going for it... Beyond that, let's see. Italian Beef - meh. Honestly, Portillo's is better. And that ain't saying much. Hot dog -- expensive -- the "value meal" is $5... You're better off at Augustino's for those items. Actually, where Charkie's rules is in the the stuff you'd usually NOT buy at a sandwich shop. The Club sandwiches are Ginormous, with fries and slaw for under $7 - and they'll give you a nice bowl of soup with it. The split pea earlier this week was GREAT! The chicken kabob is also always great and a good deal. But honestly, because this place is Greek-owned, you've got to go with the Gyros platter (real good) or the stupidly big Greek Salad. My only gripe is having to bus your own tables. This place uses real plates (heavy), real soup bowls (heavy) , and real silverware (really?). So you either have to sort your trash yourself when cleaning up, or be a lazy so-and-so (like me) and dump the whole thing in the bus bin. I'd prefer that they bus the tables themselves -- or *shudder* switch to disposable everything -- biodegradable, of course! TIP: If you ask for anchovies on your Greek Salad, double-check that you got them before carrying the massive plate of greens back to your table. They have a bad habit of doubting your sincerity when you say yes! to the stinky salty little fish... read more

First time I went I was not impressed, maybe it was a bad day maybe it was just because they had recently opened but it was "meh". This time I was highly impressed though. The soup was very good! Chicken noodle. Then there was the food, the gyros were very good, decent portion and the cucumber sauce was good as well. Their chicken fingers were good too. Definitely recommend trying it out if you are in the area! read more

Went here for dinner on a Friday night. It's located in a strip mall next to the Walgreens, across from the giant post office in Carol Stream. I ordered the gyro platter with a rice pilaf, and my wife ordered an Italian Beef with fries. A complimentary bowl of cream of chicken and rice soup came with the order. The soup was great! Only a few chicken chunks, but the soup itself was rich and made from a good chicken broth. The gyro platter was pretty good; the shaved lamb was nicely seasoned and a bit crispy on the edges. The cucumber sauce in particular was fresh and flavorful. One of the fresh-cut tomatoes was a little less than ripe, but I actually didn't notice it. The grilled onions were good. Italian sandwiches come very well dipped, so break out the napkins. They were decent. The fries weren't anything to write home about, but by the time I tried them I was already very full. This is one place I'll come back to for some other items on the menu. read more

Holy crap this place is fantastic! We went on Saturday early afternoon for lunch with the family while out running errands. What a fantastic find. Our neighbor's dad had been raving about it and we decided to try it instead of going to our normal hot dog joint! They won me over on a few things: 1. complimentary soup (beef rosemarina YUM!); 2. Great, tasty burger; and 3. Homemade rice pudding! I think we ordered from the owner who delivered our lunch to our table. The soup was fabulous (AND FREE!). I had a burger and husband had a gyro which he said was one of the best he has ever had. Son had a hotdog which he scarfed down and said was delicious! The rice pudding was the icing on the cake. So many times homemade rice pudding is runny or not tasty. This one was perfect with a dash of cinnamon. We will be visiting Charkie's again. Perfect location and great service. read more

Without question, this place has the BEST gyros in the glendale heights area. I will never waste my time at Gyro Express again. Their prices are on point and the food is awesome! Extra bonus-If you eat in you also get a bowl of their homemade soup of the day for free. The one and only complaint we had was that the baklava my friend ordered wasn't to great. He talked to the counter staff and found out they order it in which is fine, baklava is kind of a time consuming thing to make especially for a quick service place. But if the one you order isn't good, and staff describe it as "this is the best one we could find" then why waste your inventory on it? Just a suggestion, but really who cares about dessert when everything else is so great (and huge!) Our group tried the gyros, bbq pork sandwich & a chicken sandwich all of which were super tasty, & the restaurant itself was very nice compared to most carry out places. Very large, clean dining room. -UPDATE- The last 3 times we've gone here for carryout the gyros are nowhere close to as awesome as when we ate in. The sandwiches were just not cooked well, no slight char on the meat and pita bread that was a bit tough. :( read more

I have been here a few times with the BF. The inside is large and clean with lots of seating and big TVs. I've had the chicken kabab, gyro platter, and a cheese burger. All were good, but the gyro was the best by far! It's only getting 4 stars because my boyfriend thinks the food is a tad overpriced compared to similar restaurants in the area. read more

We've recently moved and are on the hunt for new and exciting tastes around town! While running errands one evening we found Charkies. Having no idea what type of food they served we figured we'd stop in and check it out! It looked like a good place to get take out to go with our Redbox movies! On our first visit I ordered the Jumbo Shrimp with Salad, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, and Garlic Bread. The shrimp was cooked just right and the breading was light, though it was a bit greasy. The salad was a simple tossed with onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The mashed potatoes were pretty typical with brown gravy. The garlic bread was VERY greasy and had a bit too much garlic. That's a lot for me to say since I love garlic! The boy ordered the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich and a side of Mozzarella Sticks. The sandwich is served open faced and is huge! The boy really liked his sandwich and even had enough to take for lunch the next day! The mozzarella sticks were regular and just ok. Our second visit was a step up! I ordered the Meatloaf Dinner with Rice and Garlic Bread. The meatloaf was tender and juicy. The rice was flavorful which isn't always the case! And the garlic bread was much better! Just enough butter for flavor this time, though it could have used more garlic! The boy ordered the Gyro as a sandwich with Cheese Fries. It was huge! He got quite a bit on him as he actually attempted to eat it as a sandwich! It was funny to watch! He really like the cheesy fries too. The funny thing about this visit was that there were about 50 people from a church group in the dining room when we came in to pick up our order. They were scrambling to get everything together for people. Maybe they work better under pressure since our food was a step up! I'll give em an extra star for both the food and the level of effort on this one! I hope the next time we stop in it will be this good again! We need a good and quick take out place! read more

Go to steamers in winfield or flips in Glen Ellyn. Food here is tasteless and dry. Saltless fries, watery tzatziki, chicken dry, pork dry and hot dog is something I don't care to discuss. Get out of this place ASAP. Cheap and forgettable. read more

Pretty good lunch choice if in the area. Its brand new so the inside is pretty clean and new looking. The menu is a little bit more broad that your standard beef place which is nice. They have soups, chicken sandwiches, gyros, hot dog's, beefs, salads, fries, greek potatos, and loads of other things. Gets pretty crowded at lunch but the service is pretty fast and friendly. I've been there when they would give away a cup of soup for free if you wanted to try it. I've had the combo (huge), the gyro, and the chicken sandwich. All amazing. Cheese fries were huge and among the best I've had. Food was a touch pricier than other similar places around but worth it to me. Numerous flat screens to catch your mid-day Sportscenter urge. An excellent lunch choice that I would recommend. read more

I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in here randomly the other day. First of all, they have nice tv's. And the Cubs were on. So that was a nice bonus, as originally I was going to get takeout, but ended up staying to watch Theriot's grandslam haha. I had the gyro platter and it came with a soup. The soup was a tad salty but still good. The gyro was ridiculously large. I couldnt' even eat it like a sandwich, so I busted out a fork. Didn't finish the fries and had some gyros left too. As for the "heavy" plates, it's no big deal in my opinion. But, I guess it'd be easier to just throw everything away. I'll definitely be back for more. read more

Love this place. The owners are really nice, the food is delicious and they give you a generous helping. This is normally my stop for a good burger. Their fries are on par with Portillo's. If you order your food for dine-in, you are offered a free cup of their daily homemade soup (say yes). However, I've recently been trying to eat less meat. One star off because their salads are made with iceberg lettuce. :( read more

I was early for my hair cut appointment and hungry. It was suggested I try out Charkies. I chuckled inside when I first walked in because there is a sticker that reads "People on Yelp Love Us." My first thought was, "Yeah, I'll be the judge of that." You know what? I do love Charkies. The prices are reasonable and portions plenty. Also, if you dine-in they offer you a complementary bowl of Chicken Noodle soup. Perfect for a chilly day like it was when I was there. The environment was inviting and clean. Seriously, I was there for awhile and I can't recall anytime there wasn't someone cleaning. Also, everyone I encountered at Charkies were friendly and nice. Now, if you notice I only gave them four of five stars. That has to do with the fact that I can think o=f one improvement they can make . . . free wifi. Yes, being the special kind of geek that I am I had my laptop with me and it would have been nice to surf the web while I ate. I would bet there are other "geek" type people such as myself who would like it as well. That said, it won't keep me from eating at Charkies again. I will definitely be back. read more

Charkies is my new favorite lunch place. I love their chicken fingers. It's all about the breading and their breading is awesome. I've had their gyros and burgers, both quite tasty. The coolest part of dining in is the free bowl of soup. Yup! You get a bowl of their soup of the day for free when you dine in. The place is clean with plenty of seating and the food is fast. It's perfect for a quick bite. read more

Love this place! Has the look of a fast food joint, but offers much more than one would expect. I go to lunch here quite often, and my favorites over time have been consistently delicious--the Greek chicken and the chicken shishkabob sandwich. The Greek chicken is a huge portion, usually enough to feed 2 people. The skin is nicely seasoned and crispy, the Greek potatoes are to die for and I've recently started ordering garlic bread instead of a pita bc it's just that damn good. Everyone I take here ends up loving the food, it's just so much better than our other local offerings and even when it seems like fast food, it's so much better than your typical greasy burger joint. The atmosphere is nice, everything is clean, the owners and staff are very friendly, and hey, who can beat free soup with your meal?! The chicken and rice is the best, so I've learned my lesson in avoiding this place on Fridays during Lent (when the cream of chicken is usually served) ;-) Definitely worth a try if you're local and you want some reasonably priced, good tasting fast food. read more

Not sure what happened today, but i bought a pork kabob plate and chicken kabob plate dinner with greek potatoes and none of it was like it usually is. The sode salad was even lacking. i always go at lunchtime.. first time grabbing food later in the afternoon. Different cook? Whatever the issue it was not worth the $25. read more

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING I ALWAYS COME HERE WITH MY FAMILY. words can't describe how much I love their food. My favorites are Gyro PlateChicken Kabob Pita and Homemade Soups. The people that work there are super understanding and never fail to put a smile on your face. read more

I LOVE CHARKIES! It's a bit of a hole in the wall, but this place is a winner. My husband and I have gone in a few times and I truly wish that I could eat there all the time. Charkies has a broad menu and there really is something for everyone. I love the Gyro dinner platter! It is my favorite. I'm anxious to try the chicken caesar pita sandwich. The complimentary soup is a fantastic feature! The soups are all homemade from scratch and you can truly taste the difference compared to restaurants that reconstitute concentrated soups from the freezer - Beef Rosemarina soup is not one to be missed! Come here for a great variety of homemade goodness! read more

Guy named Eric taking my order was super nice and and asked if I wanted a drink while I waited it's customer service like this that shouldn't go unrecognized. What a great guy you have working for your company. read more

Eh, not terrible but Yorkies in Elmhurst does it better. Seem like every food place in car stream is falling off like bad dope...

I stopped by after I was done getting my haircut next door. I ordered the char chicken salad while the bf ordered the fish sandwich. The salad wasn't anything special and the chicken was really dry. The fish sandwich patty was much smaller than the bf had anticipated so he was slightly disappointed. We both got a free bowl of soup for dining in, which was a bonus. We will not be coming back. read more

I had to make a post office run, and decided to call in for a pick up order since it's close and I've been meaning to check it out. It was lunch time and they seemed fairly busy, which I always take as a good sign. I came in a few minutes earlier, and the food was ready right away. Despite the crowd, there was no line when I went to go pay. I ordered a cheeseburger and onion rings. Both were huge! Interestingly the burger was dressed "upside-down." Mustard tomato, lettuce, pickles were all on the bottom bun. Only mayo on top bun. I wasn't loving the taste, so I flipped the patty and the dressings and found it to be ten times tastier. My daughter ordered the kids meal chicken fingers fries that comes with milk or fountain drink. It was pretty big for her but she ate a decent amount of it. Will definitely be going back and explore the rest of the menu. read more

Tried here because of the good reviews, but it was disappointing. Patty Melt came on regular white bread instead of rye, even though it clearly states rye on the menu. For a meaty grilled cheese it was ok, but i was really jonesing for a patty melt, man. The man ordered a gyro, and it was huuge, ton of meat on it. It was ok, but both of us think the Doggfather has better gyros. It's not a bad gyro by any means though, if you're in the area. read more

This place is right around the corner at my work place so I always drive by it. I have been wanting to try it for weeks. I finally went on my lunch break and walk into this large establishment. I only ordered a hamburger, nothing else, and it was big for $4. I ate that thing and was perfectly satisfied. I hear their other menu items are great, so I can already tell that I'm going to be a regular here. read more

Charkies - I chomped on this hamburger like nobody's business. - American Near Me - Carol Stream, Illinois

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