It was ok. Maybe i didn't order the well known stuff but it was normal good food. Great portions. My son loved it but what kid doesn't like hotdogs and hamburgers. read more

This is my daughter's favorite fast food place. It's a solid little neighborhood spot, and we love that they have Merkts cheddar on the cheese fries and cheddar burgers. The staff is always kind and the place feels clean. read more

I've only been to the restaurant once, which was amazing, but they catered my son's bar mitzvah on Friday and all I can say is WOW! The food was awesome and on time, and Chris is the most helpful and amazing caterer you could ask for! If it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have gone through planning my son's bar mitzvah (which was done in less than three months). I wish I had another party I could use Poochie's for and will definitely go back to Poochie's soon to see my buddy Chris and splurge on those super yummy cheese fries and char burger. Poochie's and Chris are the best!!! read more

After watching and episode of Chicago's Best we headed out to Poochie's to give it a try. We were very happy with everything we ordered. I really liked the char flavor. We had a Chicago do, polish, cheddar burger, and the salami. My only item to note that the cheddar on the burger was a spread and not what my son expected. If the menu mentioned that we missed it. Had he known he wouldn't have ordered it that way and would have enjoyed it more. But overall we were very happy and didn't mind the drive to go try it. read more

This place has the best skirt steak sandwiches ... the place is ok to sit around, but at times it gets busy.

After a recent doctor's appointment, I was driving west on Dempster, fully intending to stop at Pita Inn, but as soon as I saw Poochie's, I swerved and made a beeline here instead. Goodbye healthy lunch of hummus and tabbouleh; hello calorie-bomb, fat-laden lunch of a char cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake. Poochie's has been here forever (located in Poochie's Plaza), but it's been years since I've eaten here. When I crave a fast-food burger, I usually head to Paradise Pup, but I wanted to see if Poochie's was as good as I remembered. Comparatively, Poochie's fries are head and shoulders above the ones at the Pup. They're hand-cut, made to order, and oh-so-salty and greasy. Exactly what fries should be. Paradise Pup's fries are of the crinkle-cut variety or you can get seasoned fries. I'm not a huge fan of either, but I'll make do with their crinkle cut if they're liberally slathered with Merkt's cheddar. The milkshakes are probably equally good at both places, but I should reserve my opinion as I've only had berry milkshakes at Paradise Pup and only a chocolate one at Poochie's. I'm sad to say that there is no comparison in the burger; Paradise Pup's is tops in my book. Poochie's burger was well-prepared, but even at 1/3 lb, it seemed thin and unsatisfying. Their toppings were fresh, but the burger itself was kind of lacking in flavor. I felt like all I could taste were the toppings themselves; a good burger should be able to stand on its own, sans all the accoutrements. I will say that it's infinitely easier to get your burger/hot dog at Poochie's. The lines are more reasonable, as are the hours of operation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's room in my life for both Poochie's and the Pup. read more

Poochie's is definitely one of the best spots to get Chicago-style hot dogs and is, of course, right next to Portillo's. I decided to go in here after a craving for some good Chicago-style hot dogs. I was about to go to Portillo's but ended up here for some reason, but I definitely did not regret going here. Poochie's has the same cozy and nice interior as Portillo's. It is always a good time coming here, not only because of the food alone, but also because of the cozy ambiance and the great customer service that the restaurant has. Even if I go alone to the restaurant, it does not feel like it because the staff are very friendly, as are the other customers inside. I felt very satisfied and happy after eating the Chicago-style hot dog. Without further explanation, it is just so good that I could eat it alone for a lifetime. I also liked that the restaurant had hand-cut fries. It is crispy, cooked well, kind of golden and with enough seasoning salt to taste perfect. read more

I've been going to Poochies longer than I care to admit to (I did grow up in Skokie, so that helped). They are in their second location and most of the charm and quality of the original remains. It's also bigger and they've worked out some of their early - move - in - quirks. Starters: char cheddar dog. Chicago style with grilled onions. Cheddar Fries. You'll be seriously happy. More of a burger person? They usually have a special of the month. I prefer standard cheddar burgers (again w/grilled onions). And yes cheddar fries. Neither? They have a nice selection of sandwiches and the like. Their Italian beef is very tasty. The sweet pepper aren't quite as good as Portillos, but the rest of the sandwich is. And did I say cheddar fries? They flood the fries with cheddar. And not the nasty saucy-kind. Mertz. Warmed and spread over. It's amazing. Get two orders. One is not enough. read more

Cheese Fries! Cheese Fries!! Cheese Fries!!! Other Unhealthy Cured Meats! Cheese Fries!!!! Cheese Fries!!!!! read more

Classic Chicago Dog House with more. Fresh cut fries. Tasty Italian beef. FAI the tamales. They're hit or miss.. No steamed polish just grilled. But it's actually healthier for you. Brats too. Pretty extensive menu for a small place. Friendly folks and the beautiful women behind the counter are a plus. Try one of the brownies. read more

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've lived in Skokie my entire life, and yet my first time trying this place was two days ago. Yes, I waited nearly 22 years. Upon entering, we were greeted very warmly. Something I picked up on right away: This place has serious personality. From the Michael Jordan-era newspaper clippings of the Bulls that lined the walls and the chatter that filled the room, to the staff. Not too many atmospheres left like this. Even before ordering, I wanted to love it. I was there with my brother, also a first-timer. I confessed to the man taking our order, Chris, that this was our first time--everyone else seemed like a regular--looking for recommendations. Turns out, he's the owner, though I wouldn't learn that until after our meal. I decided on a cheddar burger, since you can never go wrong with a burger. Medium rare, side of fries. Because it was our first time, he said the drinks were on the house, which was such a nice gesture. I fell in love with Poochie's after the first bite. I can honestly say, without a doubt, this is the BEST place to grab a burger in Skokie. It was so fresh and flavorful. This place is so popular, I knew it would be good. Never would've guessed it would be that good. I can't believe I waited this long to try it, but it's definitely my new go-to spot. I wanted to thank Chris for his kindness, and let him know that I would be back. That's when I found out that he runs the place. We told him how much we loved the burgers, and pretty soon, he was showing us the kitchen. How many owners do you know that would let you in the kitchen? Well, Chris has nothing to hide: the kitchen was so CLEAN. And to top it off, he showed us the meat he uses, explaining that he gets it from the butcher down the street. Fresh. Everyday. And you know what? You can taste it. And it makes a difference. We left already feeling like regulars--but I certainly plan to become one. read more

"Gimmie That Dog" It's like that and it's like this I took her to Poochies and it ended in bliss Now my stomachs real mad ya know what I'm thinkin' Looked at the menu and couldn't stop blinkin' Loosened up my draws and we started to begin Now Poochies great so my stomach starts to grin Oh, hiddy hiddy hiddy we ain't got this at home so I'm eatin' kinda slow So fee fie foe Yum yum I'm full and happy dat we come Now I gotta get more Poochies gotta get more Poochies gotta get it quick Ya know because I loved that shit so... Gimme that, that, that dog [3x] Gimme that, Gimme that, Gimme that dog Now I love Poochies And Poochies loves me Like a lemon to the lime and the bubble to the bee Ya know its real good and I can't resist it Couldn't it be closer oh don't get me twisted 'Cause eating Poochies is the place to be Well made hotdogs are the life for me Add them toppings, open far and wide Foeget this shit, Poochies is well worth the ride. read more

Great typical Chicago spot located right on Dempster. Hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I got a chicken sandwich on my first visit and it was all you could ask for. Great, thick chicken breast for the sandwich. Good fries. I got a little adventurous and tried a tamale on the side (seemed a little strange that this type of place would have a tamale as a side). Next time I will leave that one out. Good service, great food, pretty reasonable prices ($4+ for the chicken sandwich plus a couple bucks for fries). Definitely plan on returning. read more

Char Cheddar everything!!!!! Walking into the door of this place will take a few years off of your life, but it will be those years near the end that suck anyways. Your order will take longer than Burger King next door. But its made fresh here and really flame grilled (its charred unlike BK's 'char' marks that are more like skid marks). Get it with sweet potato fries and go home fat and happy. read more

I'm rating the cheese fries because as a vegetarian, this is the only thing I could have here and OMG they are amazing! Best cheese fries I've ever had and I was convinced that Michaels up in Highland Park had the best ones. Not anymore. I can now see why this place has received such hype and people keep coming back. Reasonable prices too. Check it out! read more

Skokie Classic! Should be considered one of the essential Chicago (although it is in the suburbs) hot dog destinations! Staff is always super friendly and food is always super consistent. Bottom Line: Get a char burger, Chicago style dog, and an order of fresh cut fries with a side of cheese! read more

Poochies offers exactly the sort of delicious fast food that makes chains pointless in the Chicago area. The key to their success and delicious offerings is the grill. Fantastic char dogs, fried salamis, chicken breast, and skirt steaks are the cornerstone of their menu. Since it is Chicago, they also bring a solid Italian beef and sausage offerings to the table. the accommodations are another big feature: Clean, comfortable and spacious. It might not be mistaken for a steak house but it is not a dive. They don't have table service since it is a hotdog stand at heart but It is well lit, well maintained and they have big screen televisions on the walls for the patrons enjoyment. I'm sure a big part of their business is grab and go but there is no reason you can't bring your kids or elderly relatives in for some fast casual food. Poochies is great. Poochies is an institution and Poochies also caters. read more

It just doesn't get any better then Poochie's. I have been coming here since I could adequately ingest a hot dog. From the amazing cheese fries to the char cheddar dogs to the greasy (and sadly, not so grimy anymore) ambiance, this place is everything you could ever want in a fast food restaurant. Anyone who has given this place a bad review needs to go back and order a char cheddar dog with everything. Then we'll talk. read more

ATTENTION ALL NON-CHICAGOANS: Poochies is the epitome of what a Chicago Hot Dog is. Poochies is the Mother Ship. Poochies IS what a Chicago Hot Dog is all about: A perfectly-steamed, perfectly-spiced Vienna natural casing hot dog nestled in a soft, steamed poppy seed bun topped with yellow mustard, neon green relish, chopped onion, a kosher pickle spear, hot Louisiana sport peppers and a tomato slice all sprinkled with celery salt. THIS is a Chicago dog and few places do it better than Poochies. If you'd like something a bit spicier, a bit more daring, have a char-broiled, all-beef Vienna Polish Sausage dressed exactly as the hot dog. If it's a burger you're craving, Poochies is the home of the Char-Broiled Cheddar Burger. And the fries are always fresh and crispy-delicious. If you're ever in Chicago, a side trip to Poochies is guaranteed to be a highlight of your visit. read more

Thanks Poochie's- you are the best!!! I appreciate your support for the health care professionals during these trying times!!

Chicagoland is one of those unique places on earth where junk food is king. I have traveled the country and have never been to a place where Hotdogs, Beef, and burgers are taken as seriously. Poochie's is one of the best. It is an establishment that has been around for a very long time. Ironically, Poochie's Plaza is next to a Burger King. This of course does not matter. I will agree with the fact that some people just want a whopper. After a char cheddar burger, you quickly realize how inferior the whopper really is. I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams that Burger King has a huge impact on their business. In closing, Skokie is actually a great area for dinning. A decent burger or dog is easy to find all over Chicagoland. If you want one of the best, try Poochies Char Cheddar Burger with Sweet potato fries. If you are not feeling a burger and are near Poochie's, Pita Inn will treat you right! read more

Most reviews mention the char dog or burger, and rightly so, but you can't ignore the awesome salami sandwich! It's thick cut slabs of salami, charred on the grill, best topped with perfectly grilled onions and some mustard. My fried mushrooms were hot and really good but the "ranch" they gave me today wasn't like any other ranch I've ever tasted. They either changed it or it was a bad batch. It looked more like italian dressing than creamy ranch. It was thinned out and flavorless. I went up to ask about it and the grill guy offered me a new cup. It looked exactly the same so I didn't take it. There's no need to be disappointed twice, is there? It was a little off-putting to be honest. Otherwise, everything else was great, as usual. The issues with the sauce won't be enough to keep me away. Would they have an issue with me bringing my own ranch dressing? read more

Poochie's - Grilled Salami Sandwich w/ great grilled onions - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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I'm having the Char Cheddar Burger too! Love it Awesome service. My husband grew up having this in the previous branch! read more

I am so glad I had my first official Chicago-style dog at Poochie's. You just need that char to get the right snap when you bite into the hot dog ("snap" was very important when I lived in NYC). All the toppings were fresh, crisp and evenly distributed. The fries are really crispy without being burnt, and I also thought the Polish sausage with grilled onions and mustard was solid. I tried the charred Cheddar burger, and I can't say the thick cheese spread suited my taste buds, but I'm sure it's an acquired taste. I hope I get back to the Chicago area soon for my Chicago dog fix at Poochie's! read more

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Local hotdog and hamburger joint that has been around since the 60's. Little bitty hole in the wall that makes some tasty food. It's the kind of place that you could drive by for years and never recognize it. Look for them next to Red Wings Shoe store Friendly place and good food. Parking is good because of the strip mall local. read more

i went there just for the fresh cut fries - DELICIOUS!!! Nice people work there too. Yumm!!!

Every Chicagoian (and suburbanite) have their hot dog joint. This one is mine, and it should be yours! I've been coming here forever and the quality and flavor have always been excellent. Everything here is tasty, but the grilled salami might change your life (by making it slightly shorter...TOTALLY worth it!). This place also serves one of my favorite burgers and awesome fries. EAT HERE! read more

Can't say enough about Poochie's. We just moved recently into the area, and wanted to try Poochie's out considering the good reviews it has. We were not disappointed. The staff took the time to talk to us, welcome us to the neighborhood, and helped guide us on our orders. Never felt rushed, and really felt appreciated. We walked away with Chili dogs, loaded fries, onion rings and a chardog. All were fantastic. Since we just moved into the area, we will be back many more times in the future. read more

I visited Poochies's for the first time today and ordered the chili cheese fries. The chili cheese fries were not good at all. There were more beans then meat, the cheese was very grainy and seemed as if it was a powder substance. The fries were very bland. I don't plan on going back. read more

Poochie's - Chili cheese fries - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Looking for the best Cheddar Burger of your life? Stop! Look no further because its right here. I actually live right by paradise pub, but work and school has brought me to Poochies door step and I must admit Poochies' cheddar stomps Paradise any day. I never thought id find a better cheddar burger than Paradise Pub's, but now that I know better I felt need to pass the word. read more

Stopped in this Hot Dog joynt for a quick lunch. The char dog was the highlight of the meal with regular dog and the polish right behind in the order of tastiness. The French fries were top notch and the service was pleasant. This place is featured in the book 'Never put ketchup on a hot dog' and for good reason their hot dog lives up to the Chicago Hot Dog reputation. read more

Poochie's - Classic Hot Dog Joynt - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Great Food great service always great to have a Chicago style hot dog cries very good. And is there cheddar burger lots of flavor problem with all that stuff bonds sometimes falls apart need a stronger bun but all good. read more

Hands down the best charburger I've had in a long time done right been here alot and never anything wrong with order everyones nice great place absolutely love youre guys food keep it read more

I haven't been to this location yet, but I've been to their (now closed) location that was formerly located in a strip mall on Touhy, just east of Crawford/Pulaski. I forget what took the place of the Touhy Poochie's, but oh well. Anyway, when I went to the former Touhy location, I found the food to be really decent. In addition to hot dogs and burger fare, they also serve deli sandwiches, which are excellent. I hope they never close this location(as I believe this is their only location still open), and remain in business for many years to come. Hope I'm able to make it out to the Dempster location at some point, obviously. =============== Edit 11/23/07: I'm happy to now say I finally made it up here about a week back. And I finally remember the difference between this location and their now-closed Touhy location: the Touhy Ave. one focused on deli-style sandwiches(and didn't serve fast food fare), while this location focuses on burgers, hot dogs, shakes, etc.-type fast food fare, and does NOT sell any deli sandwiches. Got a cheeseburger, shake, and fries here. I strangely didn't care for the type of cheese they put on their cheeseburger, but I liked the flavor of the burger(which strangely reminded me of a BK Whopper, but much better than a Whopper ever could taste like), and I would've just gotten a regular burger, had I known I wouldn't care for their cheese(their cheese also strangely reminded me of BK, don't ask why). The chocolate shake I had was really good. And as for their fries, I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting salt packets, when the staff behind the counter asks you if you want any salt packets with your fries. I highly regretted not asking for any, since the fries, albeit that I really enjoyed the fact they were hand-cut, lacked some sorta flavor I couldn't quite put my finger on. Oh yeah, and you can get 20 oz. bottles of Green River and Dog 'n Suds Root Beer here, which I thought was really cool, since you hardly ever run into places selling those drinks! (with the exception of a few indie fast food places I've been to, such as Susie's on Montrose) So altogether, despite my minor problems I had with their food, I'd definately come back here, especially since the staff is extremely friendly to customers. And keeping the number of stars I'm giving here the same as I initially reviewed this place as, four. read more

My parents used to eat at Poochie's all the time before I was hatched... and they still talk about it frequently. Yesterday was my first time eating there that I can recall (we moved away from the area when I was 2, and I'm 27 now...) The char-dog was delish, and running it through the garden is my way to go. No ketchup please... I did cringe a little bit when my BF asked for it on his (along with bacon and cheese, but, hey, you're eating it, not me.) Fries were PLENTIFUL. We could've gotten by on one order to share. I love that they are hand cut, and also love cherry coke on tap. I can usually only get cherry coke at the movies these days. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was helpful and friendly. The only downside is that the cheese "sauce" on the fries was so rich I had a stomachache before I got back to work. Sad face. read more

It's been a long while since I've eaten at Poochie's. While running errands, my wife and I stopped in last night at about 6 PM. It was surprisingly quiet. At lunch time, this place is packed. There isn't much seating unless you're up for a counter stay. There are six booths (two are small 4-tops and three are small 2-tops). I ordered a cheddar burger with fries and my wife ordered a hamburger and onion rings. The cheddar burger was excellent. The grille man (Jimmy) asked how I would like it cooked--a positive sign. The fries are fresh cut. The onion rings were pretty good. My drink--a diet Dog 'n Suds root beer. Woo hoo! You need a personable staff to have a memorable hot dog stand. The two fellows working last night were that and more. It's nice to walk into a place and be greated by polite and smiling people. Kudos! The bathroom was spotless and nicely decorated. Parking is adequate. I'll be back again--soon. read more

Online ordered cheese fries and a turkey sausage. I was out doing some errands and only about five minutes away so when I got there my food was still getting prepared but it was presented to me in less then five minutes so that was great! Both the turkey sausage and cheese fries were great. There's something different about Poochies cheese fries, definitely one of the best I've had. I know they are horrible for me but whenever I just need some greacy but delicious food that is one of my top choices. Staff is young and friendly too. read more

I started eating at Poochie's at the old location 45 years ago. They've moved few blocks east, but they're still on Dempster. More importantly the food is still GREAT !! Not sure what to have, go with a char dog or char cheddar burger. The best there is. The fries are good too. I even saw the old owner Harvey Bernstein eating lunch there. read more

Poochie's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Simply, the best burgers, dogs and fries anywhere in the northern suburbs!!! Been going there for over 30 years! read more

Poochie's is definitely a neighborhood favorite based on all of the newspaper clippings and media mentions hanging on their walls. It's definitely not upscale but the food is good. I had a Chicago style hot dog as this was my first time in Illinois. I wasn't disappointed. The fries were just okay, I opted out of cheese fries which was maybe a mistake. I'll definitely go back if I am in Illinois again! read more