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    Ken's Diner & Grill

    4.3 (155 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Kosher, Burgers
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Ken's Diner & Grill Takeout or Delivery

    Ken's Diner & Grill Photos

    KEN'S DINER & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ken's Diner & Grill

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    Tami L.

    We found this little gem on yelp and were pleasantly surprised. Came while my mom was in the OR. Amazing staff. Gluten free options. Quality ingredients. Attention to detail was amazing. No cross contamination. Italian beef on gluten free bun was our favorite

    Heather B.

    I've been coming here for years. What I like so much is the ambiance, and friendly owners and staff, and of course the food. They had a rough patch during Covid when I felt the chicken wasn't good, a bit dry, but what I like is how they looked at the menu and what they were ordering and made changes. Since then, the popcorn chicken is 5 stars, the fries they changed to are much better tasting than the previous, 5 stars, and I really like the salads they've reinvented. Jumbo dog 5 stars.

    Thomas G.

    I must point out that I was re-introduced to Ken's Diner & Grill within Facebook group (Vegan Chicago), where Ken's Diner shared a post stating that it will be open on the 4th of July, offering you mouthwatering Vegan hamburgers and hotdogs. I thought to myself, offering mouthwatering Vegan hamburgers and hotdogs? Mmm, now you are speaking my language. It was then I made plans to make the drive to Skokie on the 4th of July, Independence Day. Ken's Diner & Grill itself sits along Dempster St nearby several restaurants that I am familiar with, with one being the neighboring Monkey King Jianbing which I admit I have visited a handful of times for jianbing, tehehe. Even though the parking lot is shared with other businesses, there are a decent number of parking spots available with some in parallel parking design directly outside the storefront. I was acknowledged shortly after I walked in and up to the counter to look at the menu. After confirming their plant-based items, I ended up ordering the jumbo vegan hot dog, french fries, and a canned soda which was completed within a reasonable timeframe. I opted out of dine-in and chose to take my order to go. Nothing wrong with the atmosphere of Ken's Diner & Grill, I just had other errands I needed to complete, even with-it being a holiday. Moreover, the restaurant appeared clean, and the atmosphere gave off a sporty, yet classy diner vibe. There are a number of tables and seats available inside of the dining area. And I must say that I adored the vintage photos plastered along the booths, and vintage decorations in the dining area which took me by surprise. Garnished with everything but hot peppers, I enjoyed the satisfying taste of the jumbo vegan hot dog once I had gotten settled in for the evening. It was most definitely mouthwatering as advertised in the Facebook post shared by Ken's Diner. And the fries were far from a disappointment. Being that I had a great experience, I would gladly re-visit Ken's Diner & Grill again whenever in the Skokie area. Or maybe I will just make the drive for either one of their mouthwatering vegan hamburgers or hotdogs, tehehe. Service: 5 | Atmosphere: 5 | Food: 5 Recommendations: cabbage soup, impossible mushroom avocado burger, veggie burger, impossible burger, grilled cheese, quesadilla with veggie meat, steak fries, curly fries, vegan hot dog, or vegan chili dog. ~ Don't Sweat The Technique. ~ Thomas G

    Vegan Shake, Vegan Fries, And The Vegan Hot Dog
    Steve A.

    Good long time popular place that's a throwback to an old time diner. If you like old fashioned stuff, or vegan versions of it, come here. Ken's Diner is one of the local favorites in Skokie. A reason is the community's large Jewish population, and here it's all kosher. There's shakes, burgers, and hot dogs whether regular or free of animal products. A bit out of the way as far as public transportation is the worst thing about it. It has some old 1950s theme, with random stuff all over and classic music. This makes the place seem even older. It's in a pretty nondescript strip mall. The place is bigger than it looks from the outside. As for the food, that's the best thing about it. I have tried most of the vegan choices, and there's a lot. Prices aren't that bad for most things. It's about $5 for a shake, and $6 for a hot dog. These are also the vegan versions so it's expects to be a bit more. Even so, it's not bad. The portions are okay too especially for fries. Cool place for both the food and decor. It may feel like a place back in time but the menu has enough on it for modern tastes. There's the classic versions of old school diner food as well as stuff for vegans.

    Dalia F.

    I came to Ken's from out of town and got a burger, fries and drink combo. The real appeal of the place is the decor. It's definitely an old-time diner experience! There was so much to look around and see. They have outlets if you need to charge your phone or a laptop. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The bathroom was clean and the portions were plentiful. Come take a look!

    Avi
    Ben B.

    This place has goten better with age. Yes many aspects of this restaurant have changed over the years. Most of them are for the better. One of only things that hasn't changed is the cash register. They only have 1 register and it has a nice 1990's feel to it. The food here is amazing. The avi (fried chicken sandwich) 8s one of my favorite but it always comes second to the bayken burger. The bayken burger is amazing. It is definitely a full meal on its own. So much flavor and yes if your not paying attention it will ruin your shirt.

    Fried salami sandwich with steak fries.
    Rivka P.

    The steak fries are amazing! I ordered the fried salami sandwich because I saw it on someone else's review and it was delicious. Good recommendation, stranger. Thank you! I also ordered barley-mushroom soup and that could be a meal all on its own. So hearty. I'm flabbergasted how fun and yummy this diner is. I will definitely be back.

    Bay-Ken Burger- Hold the mushrooms hold the onions. BBQ sauce. Special sauce on the side!
    Veritas E.

    #Legendary This place is so consistent it's unbelievable! Thank you so much for all the good food & memories. After 40 years the owners still come to ask you how everything is.. & they know it's spot on.

    Italian Beef Sandwich, French Fries and Fried Chicken

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    2 months ago

    The food is great, the people are really nice and it's very comfortable eating there.

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    1 year ago

    I haven't had food this delicious since I was a young girl. Everyone at Ken's is so lovely and kind. Thank you so much for an amazing lunch!

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    2 years ago

    Food reminds me of home cooking-nothing fancy, but always delicious and consistent in quality.

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    4 years ago

    Not the best veggie burger, I got the shitz after eating here, dont think I'll be eating here ever again!

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    Ask the Community - Ken's Diner & Grill

    Do you have any gluten free options?? If so how do you handle cross contamination for celiac patients?

    Yes, we have gf buns for sandwiches and a gf fryer. We mark and sticker gf orders and are certified by the state. Being kosher we understand cross contamination. Our allergen certificates are visible from our Vegan Kitchen.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Nuovo Chicago - cream chowder soup was amazing

    Nuovo Chicago

    4.3(60 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$$

    Very very slow service where I counted 10 staff members in the open kitchen, almost half standing…read morearound doing nothing. Took 30 minutes to get our salads and the entries took another 20 minutes. Okay, the beet salad with balsamic dressing was very good. The Caesar was standard, it was fine. The pizza was tasty but the salmon, likely the same as we get at Costco, was completely over cooked and the veggies were overly charred. Not a bad looking place but trying to understand how they were out of two pasta dishes, the most interesting on the menu by 6:30pm, pretty early that night....wont likely be back.

    I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Nuovo restaurant in Lincolnwood for making our teacher…read more appreciation dinner a wonderful evening. The ambiance was warm and relaxing, creating the perfect setting .The food was absolutely delicious with a wonderful variety of choices that everyone enjoyed. What impressed me most was the outstanding service. The waiter and his assistants were friendly professional, attentive and incredibly well coordinated, they seemed to know exactly when to bring each course, ensuring that everything flowed seamlessly throughout the evening.Most important, they made our staff feel welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for helping make our teacher appreciation celebration so special. We look forward to returning again in the future. Felice Frand, Little Fox Dayschool

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    Taboun Grill

    Taboun Grill

    3.9(161 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Take it easy Mendel - You aren't in Crown Heights anymore and you sure as heck ain't in Kew Garden…read moreHills. I want to give Taboun Grill 5 Stars - But, I would be telling the truth and that just isn't right for this Tzadik/Mensch. We enjoyed our meal and particularly enjoyed the appetizers. My Goyish friend - who considers himself Israeli commented that the Hummus was watery. I have to agree with him! ;-) - Service - from our Wonderful/Beautiful Romanian Waitress was on point; - Our water was always kept topped off and the Kitchen ran efficiently and expeditiously to deliver the food to the tables in a timely fashion; - Restaurant was busy - not mobbed; - which is a good thing. Interesting take on the Laffa - I enjoyed my meal and left with a full belly. Highlight of the Restaurant was the incredibly Judaica artwork that adorns the walls. I hope they are selling these pieces - because they were gorgeous - just lovely. You definitely felt like you were in an Israeli/Middle Eastern Restaurant - Tables were comfortable and you didn't feel crammed inside - like you would at Grill Point; But - this wasn't Grill Point (Kew Garden Hills, Queens) - Lots of Yentahs and Mitzvah boys. Enjoyed it and would definitely recommend. Enjoyable meal with great food! Price was reasonable for a Kosher Restaurant.

    Usually get sandwiches and like them all. Falafel, shwarma... lunch special is nice. Excellent pita…read moreand lafas that don't fall apart. Friendly service.

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    Sarah's Brick Oven - The Impossible Burger w/ French Fries

    Sarah's Brick Oven

    4.3(39 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    I was stop by this nice place on my way home, and I know that it's not gonna be my last visit over…read morethere! It was so delicious and feel so fresh.

    Following my experience with Ken's Diner & Grill, I discovered Sarah's Brick Oven listed within the…read more'People also viewed' section of its yelp page. Out of several other restaurants listed, Sarah's was the only one that captured my interest, plus it was a restaurant that I had not visited before in Skokie. Sarah's Brick Oven itself is linked to Sarah's Tent, a market for kosher products that is located where Oakton St connects with N Crawford Ave in Skokie. And in spite of it being linked to Sarah's Tent, there is an acceptable number of parking spots available. After entering and having plenty of time to look at the menu above the counter, and even on the laminated menu, I was acknowledged shortly after the customer ahead of me had finished ordering. I took an interest in the impossible burger after contemplating between the truffle mac & pizza, and the norma jean burger after I noticed that the impossible burger came with barbecue, onion rings, and served on a pretzel bun! And it was completed within a reasonable timeframe. I opted out of dine-in, choosing to take my order to go because I had errands I needed to complete, plus I did not want to be in the area long. Moreover, the restaurant appeared clean, and the atmosphere gave off a very relaxed vibe. There were a number of tables with seats inside of the dining area, and I must say that I adored the interior, and the ceiling decoration which gave off sukkot vibes. As for the food, other than my jaw popping because I had to open my mouth wide to take a bite of that stacked impossible burger, I enjoyed the satisfying taste of it once I had gotten settled in for the evening. It was delicious! And I most definitely recommend it if you are having trouble identifying something to try on the menu at Sarah's. Being that I had a good experience, I would gladly re-visit Sarah's Brick Oven again whenever in the Skokie area. Or maybe I will just make a visit solely for it, tehehe. Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 5 Recommendations: truffle mac & pizza, norma jean burger, impossible burger, pestorella, spinach almondina, black forest, eggplant shakshuka pizza, truffle alfredo, koh panghan pasta, eggplant lasagna, sicilian panini, avocado sandwich, omelette sandwich, sarah's acai bowl, tropical bowl, or crispy sweet potato salad. ~ To live well is to eat well. ~ Thomas G

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    Sarah's Brick Oven - Shakshuka !

    Shakshuka !

    Sarah's Brick Oven

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    Shallots Bistro

    Shallots Bistro

    3.3(149 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$$$

    I had the pleasure of dining at Shallots Bistro while in Chicago on buainess. I was with a…read morecolleague who is Kosher, and several other friends had recommended Shallots. The menu is complete with options for just about anyone, and we tried a little of everything! The Grazing Platter is an excellent place to start, and the Carpaccio with Arugula is spectacular. We had some sushi as well, and it was very well done. The hero of the evening was the Surprise Steak! Unbelievable!!! Our server was very attentive and gave excellent recommendations! And the restaurant is well decorated and comfortable. Definitely worth the drive from downtown, and I will be recommending Shallots to anyone who keeps Kosher, along with anyone that desires a tremendous dining experience! Well done!!!

    We tried Shallots Bistro for the first time. The food was OK, prices were on the high side, $28 for…read morea hamburger at lunch, the service was slow but acceptable, the restaurant was empty, only us and one other table. When we were preparing to leave I asked for the check. I was shocked to find a 20% service charge added to our bill. This was a lunch for 2. I questioned the charge and was told this is standard as it covers the cost of the kitchen and support staff. I responded that the prices on the menu should cover the cost of the staff. After an unfriendly debate the charge was removed. In my opinion this practice is insulting to your customers. Adjust your pricing to cover your costs of doing business. Don't abuse your customers by adding in hidden uncalled for fees. I will not be returning.

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    Shallots Bistro
    Shallots Bistro
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    Ken's Diner & Grill - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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