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    Chubby Cattle

    4.5 (469 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndBarbeque, Japanese, Steakhouses
    Open 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Waitlist - Chubby Cattle

    Live Current wait: 24 - 39 mins

    Chubby Cattle Reservations

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    CHUBBY CATTLE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Chubby Cattle

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ces C.

    Wowowagyu! We recently enjoyed one of the best Wagyu dinners we've ever had! Our reservation was made easily through Yelp, and we were seated promptly. The experience offers three different tiers: Silver at $58 per person, Gold at $78, and Diamond at $88, which is the one we chose. Right from the start, they let us know that a 20% charge applies for any leftovers, which is something to keep in mind. We were given an iPad to order as much as we wanted from an extensive menu. Every cut of meat was extraordinary. We also sampled a few dishes, including salmon and yellowtail carpaccio as well as scallops topped with caviar--absolutely divine! The only minor issue was that the staff could have done a better job identifying the various meats being served. However, this didn't detract from our enjoyment, as everything was truly delicious. We paired our meats with sake and Sapporo, finishing off the meal with a delightful vanilla crepe cake. As we were leaving, we were even offered milk teas to take home! Overall, it was an amazing dining experience, but be prepared for a splurge!

    Meat on the grill
    Susan Y.

    Overall, the service was really good. The flavors were delicious. I didn't like how cramped and hot the area was and it felt like no AC was in the place. This reminded me of sitting outdoor in China and grilling skewers, super fun time. It's like prob $1-2/per stick of protein or whatever you choose to eat. The meat cooks pretty fast, water is self served. You can order drinks and they'll bring it to you. One great thing is: their bathrooms have Emesis / vomit bags if you need it. I've never seen that in another restaurant, so that's def v good to have. The service and people were all super nice, so patient, and so helpful with the whole process. Good food overall!

    7.4k @ 4.9?? - Chat GPT analysis:  numbers are heavily influenced by specific marketing and service practices rather than purely organic
    Eliot K.

    Was looking for a Japanese style bbq grill and had high hopes since this restaurant is highly rated. 4.9 on 7.4k reviews on Google and 4.5 star on Yelp. ( see chat gpt analysis of the reviews below) What I witnessed was probably the worst customer service, table grill failure and tablet ordering system failure all in one experience. Sort of like Lemony snickets - series of unfortnate events. I'm still confounded about the ratings. Did just have bad luck?? Table Grill: 0 / 5 Fire suddenly cut out after 20 mins and it was clear that propane tank was low. Server had no clear action other than to suggest to move the cheese corn off the grill. After taking his suggestion and the meat was still not cooking.( 10 mins later ) I had to flag him down the 2nd time. I had suggested we move to another table i saw that was open and he accomodated. Grill was not frequently changed like other bbq restaurants and looked completely charred and black by 20 mins. Oil was never applied to the grill . Meat constantly stuck to the grill wires making it difficult to turn the meat without ripping it. *Note to management: Make sure you quality check and confirm propane levels before you start the day. Do assurance check towards the evening to prevent any grill issues as we experienced. Server was not trained to be able to handle this situation. Servers had mentioned the fautly table was a known issue no corrections were made by management. Add oil on the table so customers can self oil the grill. Tablet Ordering System: 1/5 ( touch screen tablet) : After the Grill cut out , i pressed "call attendant " button on the tablet screen several times and no response. Looked across the room and server was happily busy catering to other tables.. waited 15 mins to flag him down to make him aware of the table flame. Tablet also did not propery input my order and often times found myself wondering if the orders went through. I had ordered Tom Yum soup and nothing came the entire dinner.. even mentioned it to my server. No action was taken. The real kicker was at end of the night i saw 3 orders of Tom Yum Soup on my bill. ( see attached pic ) Seriously guys?!! Server said he was not able to see my orders. * Note to management: Make sure you do a dry run of all the tablets and ordering system before you deploy tablets during peak busy times. Remove the tablets that are not functional. Its that simple. Customer service: 3/5 While I appreciated the server making attempts to correct gas grill error and tablet error. There were gaps in his service and attentiveness. He did not articulate or project his voice in the noisy environment and often felt he was mumbling. Since i was a new customer, I found it very difficult to understand the complex ordering systems which was timed every x minutes and limited to x amount. It seriously was a guess and see what happens ordering experience. Server only added to the confusion. Still unclear why Google Maps has this restaurant rated 4.9? In fairness he did comp my bill $15 for the series of errors. Still ended up paying $288. go figure. Food: 2/5 Salad was an embarassing 2 -3 tablespoons ( see attached pic) I dont think they really want you to have salad here. you have to order salad probably 3-4 times to get a regular size restaurant salad. Meat: 4/5 Good some highlights with Wagyu and Pork Belly. Sides: Dismal - 2/5 Edamame, veggies, wakame salad, lettuce, etc. probably the biggest offender. portions were small / maybe 2-3 tablespoon. if you wanted more you have to go through the ordering system. And yes there is the limit of how many items you can order at a time. Sunday May 18 9pm.

    Anna G.

    Casual day out and decided chubby cattle was the right move for a chilly afternoon after walking around all evening. We got seated right away which was nice and our server Alex was attentive and on it for helping us order and cooking some of the food. Everything was as good as always, delivered fresh and fast. And the plates kept disappearing as soon as they were emptied. Overall, 5/5 experience, would recommend to others to give it a try.

    Susan C.

    I've been here so many times but this last time ruined my Chubby Cattle experience. Everything we were able to get looked very fresh. The main reason why I rated it lower than I would've liked was due to the SLOW service. Especially for something they did not have to cook. We sat there for 10 minute waiting for food that even one of the server asked us, "did you guys pay yet?" We had so many missing items that we never got. However our server was super friendly and did everything he could to accommodate us. He kept apologizing and I understand that some things aren't in his control. First time leaving a AYCE place still hungry. :(

    Kit C.

    Finally tried chubby kettle for the first time! I've been waiting for this since it's always packed with long lines. We were seated pretty quickly and maybe waited for only 10 mins (with reservations). The receptionist was friendly and showed us the snack/drink table and we love how thoughtful and inclusive they are with the selection. Overall we were impressed with the quality of meat and options. There's 3 different tiers to choose from and for the gold and platinum option, you're only allowed to choose one out of the 4 wanyu option, so they're not really ayce for that section. However, the actual ayce section does have some good quality meat selections and they're good quality meat, fresh and tasty. The sushi options aren't as fresh as expected although te hand rolls were pretty good and that's what we kept ordering from. The scallop with uni from the special section did not taste fresh and was quite disappointing. I'd like to point out the waitress and waiter who showed us how to work the iPad were very friendly and patient with their service however, the ones who bring the food to the table were not. Some of them did not seem friendly and would just left the plate on the table without explaining what it was. We received the wrong food twice and we had to waive at our waitress to let her know that we didn't order those items. Overall the experience here was excellent but compared to x pot I still love xpot more.

    Jennifer C.

    I love all chubby cattles! Been to the one west coast and here in Chicago. But I feel the Chicago one is lacking. It was great at the beginning when they first opened but not sure what had happen. Went here yesterday for my husband's birthday.Server was great but I see other workers wiping all utensils with Clorox/lysol wipes. I don't think you are suppose to do that. It's toxic to consume. Many of the item on the menu was out of stock which is very disappointing. Also drink selection is very limited compared to other chubby. The ice cream came out like a shake. Everything was just wrong yesterday. I think we won't be going here for a while.

    Wesley M.

    we came in on a wednesday night and there wasnt a wait. our server josh was very quick, attentive, and diligent when explaining the menu and everything. we ordered shrimp and they forgot it so we let them know and they were apologetic and brought it out super fast. there were free snacks and chips and soft serve and juice and sodas and tea! the milk tea was pretty good for cutting the fatty meats. there were a wide variety of items like wagyu and nigiri but the brisket was one of my favs! id def come back again if i was in the area !!

    Mariel A.

    A lot of the menu items were unavailable during our visit. Out of all the dessert options, only one was available, and only two soups were being served. Some of the rice bowl options were also unavailable, which further limited the selection. Our favorite item is the Wagyu short rib plate, but we noticed that toward the end of service, it seemed to be mixed with regular beef. The texture was noticeably tougher, and we could definitely tell the difference. It was a bit disappointing since the Wagyu is usually one of the highlights of our visit. That said, our server, Zaid, was great. He was attentive, friendly, and provided excellent service throughout our meal.

    Sides (tempura, loaded fries, dumplings)

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    26 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Service is great. Ordering is on an iPad and the time limit is sufficient time. They also have unlimited soft drinks and several milk teas.

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    4 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    24 minutes ago

    Our server Justin went crazyyy he's the goat we love him so much yayayayyayaya we're definitely coming back

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    57 minutes ago

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    14 days ago

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    23 hours ago

    Katie was an amazing server, a pleasure to have. The meat was really good and tasty and would come back here again

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    24 days ago

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    13 days ago

    Good quality meats and especially Great server (Katie!)! No wait for us on Wed 6pm for two.

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    3 days ago

    The food was really good and the servers were really nice as well. Our server Jewels was really accommodating and nice. would recommend

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Chubby Cattle

    Does Chubby Cattle validate parking in Chinarown?

    Yup! If you're talking about the parking under the redline, then yes.

    Is this place byob?

    Yes it is. The liquor store is nearby.

    Do they take reservations?

    No, but you can add your name to waitlist when you arrive.

    Does the restaurant serve alcohol?

    Yes

    Can you get seated as a single person?

    yes

    View All 6 Questions

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    Butcher & The Bear

    Butcher & The Bear

    4.4
    (183 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$$$

    First off, what you're getting for your money just doesn't gel…read more I dont mind paying an exuberant amount for food if the food matches the price but sadly it doesn't here.... The good: Salad was amazing with bits of nicely cooked pork belly mixed in and the salad dressing is to die for Focaccia bread was very good but nothing special but the bone tarrow butter was fantastic and carried this bread. Brussel sprouts were flavorful but greasy and overcooked... Beef cheek ragu noodle dish was heavy yet tasty.. Rib eye steak done medium rare was fatty and very very chewy so this was a complete fail, but seasoned very well...extra 10 bucks for some dipping sauce for the steak but worth getting to elevate the steak...Definitely don't do any steak under medium here... Lemon sorbet was the true winner of the night...Delicious without being too tart..... Overall like I said, not worth the $250 price tag before tip...._

    We visited Butcher & The Bear and had a disappointing experience in terms of food, service, and…read moreambiance. Especially not a good dinner option despite being excited for it for our Valentine's Day dinner. Food- really liked Caesar salad and Mac n cheese. However, this is a steak house. We ordered ribeye in medium and NY strip in medium rare. However, ribeye was medium rare and ny strip was cooked medium well. I considered telling our waiter but he never appeared at our table to ask about how our food was. He showed up half an hour later to ask if we wanted dessert. I didn't eat my ny strip because it was so dry and my husband had a few bites. Service- as mentioned above, the server barely showed up. Also our food arrived later than everyone next to us. The couple next to us got sat down after we put in our entree order and get they received their entree before we did. No apologies or context given on the delay. Also, I know they offer half orders for certain dishes like salad for takeouts and deliveries and saw older TikTok videos that mentioned getting half portions too. We asked if they do half portions so we can try more items in the menu, we simply got a "NO" without any kindness or explanation given. It was said as if we were asking them something stupid. Ambiance- I think the bar area is nice looking, but we were sat in the basement. It was crammed, the tables were small, and because it was a small room, you can really hear other tables conversations. For casual restaurants I don't mind that type of ambiance but if we are dropping more than $300 for 2 of us, I am going to compare it to comparable places in that price range: Bavettes, Gibsons, maple and ash, swift and sons, Alston, etc. this is significantly lacking compared to all of those "nice steakhouses". Theres not even a coat check. Also our leftover was packed in a cheap black plastic bag. Once again, not matching with the price point. We are locals and were very excited to try this place not far from us, but sadly, it was a truly disappointing experience and if anyone asked me if I'd recommend this place, I would say look elsewhere.

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    Penumbra

    Penumbra

    4.8
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    6.3 mi
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    I had the pleasure to dine at Penumbra on a Thursday evening. We were celebrating a graduation and…read morethe staff were very welcoming when we arrived. I was visiting from out of town and was not familiar with the parking around the area. I asked one of the staff members and immediately they reassured me that the side street would raking was totally fine to park just so long as it wasn't the front of the building where you have to pay. The food started with a complementary potato soup which was flavorful and lovely. We got a round of drinks and one of our party didn't care for her drink and it was replaced no question. We had the flat iron steak, the chicken, and the salmon and each entree was wonderful. The proteins were all very tender and juicy. I was also very pleased with the salad that came first which was lightly dressed and very seasonal. We finished our dining experience with a slice of cheesecake. It was a nice cap to the end of a wonderful meal. I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion - I would love to come back and try some of the other items on their menu.

    **Hidden gem!!!**…read more Penumbra is SUPER sexy and low-key elite. This is one of those spots that will make you look like a total restaurant pro if you take someone there or recommend it. The ambiance is intimate, romantic, and just feels exclusive without trying too hard. I took my girl there for her birthday and she absolutely loved it -- which is always the real test. We had the ribeye and the Rotini Bianco, and both were excellent. The ribeye was cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful. The Rotini Bianco was rich, creamy, and done just right. Every dish felt intentional and well executed. Don't hesitate to book. If you're trying to impress or celebrate something special, this is the move.

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    Perilla korean steakhouse

    Perilla korean steakhouse

    4.1
    (221 reviews)
    2.3 mi
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    Locally owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    We had no intention of eating here, it just happened by accident because we found two seats at the…read morebar and wanted a drink. Perilla is a tastefully decorated restaurant, both loungey and rich, but still makes you feel like the joint is all for you. You know, 5 star service is such a lost art, it makes you forget how much you miss it when all of a sudden it happens to be right in front of you. Ricardo, our bartender, what a gem. Forget about the perfectly made drinks that were served to us. Ricardo made us feel right at home with his kind disposition and friendly demeanor. But it doesn't just stop at Ricardo. Everyone was absolutely fantastic. We could have been served 7-11 sushi at this point and I still would have left 5 stars. Food time. The kimchi pork dumplings were an absolute flavor bomb and that parmesan broth gave the dumplings a little extra kick that took it to the next level. Plus, I love when the dumpling wrapper has a little chew to it and isn't this soft mush that dissolves in your mouth. The beef fat frites were a nice treat as well. They were not extra or over the top in anyway. But you can tell when something is done well and correctly, just like these fries were. The Premium Steakhouse Set, in my opinion, is all two people need to enjoy this very special experience. All the accompanying condiments were exceptional on their own and could have functioned as their own course. The Japchae glass noodles were a stunner. The real sleeper was the chopped lettuce greens tossed in their chili vinaigrette. Could have eaten 20 bowls of those lettuce greens. Sadly, I forgot the name of our server who cooked and cut our meat for us. She really added to the experience. She expertly prepared our food while maintaining a fun and pleasant conversation with us. The meat itself, my goodness, tender, smoky, quality-forward, and perfect served with the condiments. What a spectacular meal and overall experience.

    Elegant Korean BBQ spot inside the Lotte hotel. Each table has a built in grill and the servers…read morecook the meat just as you like. Tried a few cuts and the quality of the meat was spectacular. Picanha: beautifully marbled Australian cut. Perfect balance between sweet and fatty. My favorite Wagyu Hanger: a little on the fattier sides. Good cut. Prime short rib: a little more on the sweeter side compared with the above two Also has à la cart menu and a separate bar menu. - Cold Soba Noodles and Kimchi: expected the cold 비빔국수 but was a little disappointed. Essentially cold soba noodles in Gochujang/kimchi sauce and oerillla oil. Not a fan - Spanish Octopus: grilled octopus seasoned with kimchi vinaigrette. Not impressed. - japchae: this was very good. Glass noodles seasoned with sesame oil and mixed sautéed veggies. Beautiful restaurant with good service. Meat was amazing.

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    Custom built-in table side grilling
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    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

    4.4
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    2.7 mi
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    Joe's Seafood in Chicago has an unusual amount of personal history for me. It opened as a…read morepartnership between Miami Beach's iconic Joe's Stone Crab and Lettuce Entertain You, bringing South Florida to Grand and Rush. I first went when it was still a huge, buzzy Chicago spot, and one of my most memorable dinners came after my high school graduation in 2003. I even got a speeding ticket on Lake Shore Drive with my grandmother in the back seat on the way to dinner, which still makes me laugh. Chicago was an especially fun place for Joe's to arrive. Open outcry trading was still a force, and the wealth creation around it was wild: people who had dropped out of high school could become millionaires in their twenties, while math PhDs from the University of Chicago could make fortunes in the same ecosystem. It was a golden era for hustle culture, when commerce idolized Tony Montana in a way that today is more likely to idolize Jamie Dimon or David Solomon. Death Row and Bad Boy ruled the airwaves, while Michael, Shaq, Kobe, and Allen Iverson defined the NBA. Basketball was so dominant in Chicago culture during my coming of age that I still map other things, including restaurants, to NBA teams. Joe's felt like the Miami Heat coming to Chicago in much the same way Smith & Wollensky represented the New York Knicks: each brought a recognizable piece of its hometown culture into another major city. Joe's brought real South Florida sizzle to Chicago, and it landed at exactly the right moment. Going there felt like an occasion. Florida took longer for me to understand in full. My family has roots in the state going back decades, farther north along the Atlantic coast, and I didn't visit Miami until March 2007, when my sister started graduate school in Coral Gables. That trip began my love affair with Miami and helped me understand why the original Joe's was such an institution. A close family friend's father spent time around Miami in the 1960s and 1970s. He knew local fishermen who caught stone crabs, which gave me an appreciation for the older South Florida culture around the food, separate from Joe's own history. Another Joe's memory captures an entirely different moment. Looking through my OpenTable history, my July 31, 2008 reservation at Joe's in Chicago is the earliest reservation I can find at a restaurant that is still open today. I was 23, working at UBS, preparing to move to New York while the firm was already on fire from its mortgage losses, and Lehman would file for bankruptcy just weeks later. I was broke but wildly aspirational, dreaming about dinners at Balthazar, begging my way past the doors at Cain and Tenjune, hoping to drink for free, and trying to meet women comically far out of my league. Through all of those memories, the restaurant itself has been remarkably consistent. The stone crab claws are incredible, the seafood is excellent, and Joe's holds its own among Chicago's serious steakhouses. The room has traditionally felt a little more formal than Miami, with bow ties, polished service, and a darker old-school steakhouse rhythm, while still being genuinely welcoming. Finish with the key lime pie. Years later, my wife and I held our wedding reception at RPM Seafood, another Lettuce restaurant, then ate at the original Joe's during our honeymoon in Miami during COVID days later, which felt like a fitting circle back. In sheer range of venues, repeatability of quality and atmosphere, and consistency of hits, Lettuce is the gold standard in Chicago, with some of that same reach in Vegas and DC. I've been extraordinarily privileged in my exposure to hospitality, and I still repeatedly admire Rich Melman's model, taste, and execution, now carried forward by the next generation of the family. Joe's is a prime example: world-class, durable, unmistakably Chicago, and absolutely somewhere I want to return next time I'm in town with some dough to spend. While Joe's may not be French, this place still earns my highest marks: très bien!

    Had dinner at Joe's last week...service is still excellent and the restaurant is still great…read moreoverall, but the food has definitely declined in quality unfortunately. The baked potatoes and other sides were still delicious but the steaks came out dry and overcooked. The quality was very much lacking. Our waiter was kind enough to remake both steaks, which was very much appreciated and the second round was better but still not as good as we remembered. We'll likely return ... hopefully this was just a one time problem?

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    The dining room
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    Chubby Cattle - bbq - Updated August 2026

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