Kuma’s Corner

Great tasting Burger! Yes, its loud and cramped. Also, there will be most likely be a wait. But, they will be direct and honest with you. The crowds are always random and the kitchen is small, but its all worth it. They work their butts off and it shows. Great place, and hands down my favorite.

I had the YOB and it was effing amazing. So juicy and cooked to perfection. The kitchen staff are hustling. We got here and had almost a two hour wait so we just staked out the bar. Thankfully we were able to get a seat. We started with the pulled pork fries which were amazing. Unfortunately, they came out 5 minutes before our main course. So the reason they lose a star is the obnoxiously loud music– it’s loud metal that never stops and is so loud. I would recommend doing take out– it’s crowded and super noisy.

Dear Kumas,
I know I am the anomaly. I know that most people who come to Kumas are getting a giant, beef, medium-​rare patty of deliciousness. However, my boyfriend is a vegetarian and I am a veggie patty enthusiast. Kuma’s veggie patty (is?!) WAS– so fucking good. In a world of black been and sweet potato veggie patties, kuma’s had the exception to the rule. I eat beef but their veggie patty was (is??!) so good that I could not resist.
Last night I had a really rough day at work. Let’s be honest, it’s been a rough week. A rough month. I knew exactly what I needed: that mother fucking kuma’s veggie patty.
Alas, when I got home with my carry out my tastebuds were in utter disbelief. My beloved kuma’s veggie patty was now a black bean-​based, southwestern inspired, mass of disappointment. My boyfriend and I traded bites of our burgers only to find that each one tasted like Chili’s southwestern eggroll appetizer– which I would’ve spent all of $ 6 on contrasted to our $ 14 a burger meal.
Kuma’s! We love you. I love you. I love you and your veggie patty and I am hoping that this southwestern, black bean-​based shit pile on a bun was due to some kind of vendor error or last resort situation.
Please, please, please bring back your incredible, exceptional veggie patty.
I want it. I want it inside of me.
xoxo,
#1 veggie patty fan 4evar

Heavy metal hamburgers, HELL YEAH!
Given all the hype, Kuma’s doesn’t disappoint. Surprisingly small, smoke-​filled, and sensationally popular, this Avondale spot serves some of the best sandwiches this side of the Sierra Nevada. Allow me to give you some background/​perspective…
Kuma’s has 4,613 reviews on Unilocal,which makes it one of the most reviewed places in the WORLD. It’s got more than Wrigley Field (a paltry 1,117 reviews), even more than Six Flags Magic Mountain (one of the USA’s largest theme parks, a meager 1,543 reviews), and more still than O’Hare Airport (one of the busiest transport hubs on earth, with a mere 2,392 reviews).
So yeah, Kuma’s is pretty much king dong when it comes to the Chi-​town edition of Unilocal.
As popular as this place is, though, I’ve only been here during lunch hours. The two (or 3?) times I’ve visited, some indie horror/​fantasy movie has been showing on their TV; on my inaugural visit it was Labyrinth (RIP David Bowie, you and your poorly-​hidden junk will be missed), followed by ‘Lost Boys’. Most recently, it was ‘The Crow’. Odds are that whatever is playing will get you into the mindset needed to master one of their dozen-​plus deluxo burgers.
I devoured the Plague Bringer which had an assortment of spicy condiments, including garlic mayo, a jalapeño, hot sauce, pepper jack cheese, and tortilla strips that added a satisfying crunch. Stellar chips; the lunch special was a 5.3oz patty and perfect size for my modest appetite. Other burgers are named after a metal artist, album, or song (e.g. Mastodon, Metallica, Iron Maiden, High on Fire [a play on ‘Fire on High’, a song by the very peculiarly un-​metal Electric Light Orchestra]). The Led Zeppelin features slow cooked BBQ pork shoulder, while the Pantera is highlighted by a roasted poblano pepper.
My better half ordered the Slayer, which is essentially an ‘un-​burger’. A 10oz patty served atop a bed of fries, chili, cheese, and Andouille sausage. Definitely not for the faint of heart or light of appetite. On a separate occasion, I recall their legendary mac’n’cheese hitting the mark, in both portion size and taste. You can get pretty much any burger topping added to the mac; my recommendations would be bacon and bacon.
Bread = 5
Circuses = 4.5
All in all, a damn fine showing from THE most-​reviewed business in Chicago (that’s right!) and one of the most-​reviewed places on the whole freakin’ planet. I’m guessing Kuma’s is 8^th or 9^th, behind the Halal Guys (7.5K, New York), Voodoo Doughnuts (6.2K, Portland), Disneyland (5.7K), and Los Angeles’ legendary Bottega Louie with a mind-​boggling 12.6K reviews.
Oh, and one more thing…
**ABSOLUTELY NO VEGANS ALLOWED**

My boyfriend and I loves this place and always visits whenever he is in town. I haven’t tried all of the selections of burgers, but I have grown attached to Led Zeppelin
The burgers are huge, juicy, and filling. I try to attack the burger firsr before the fries/​chips. I always end up taking the side home.
The maccorni and cheese is phenomenal as well. Its a must try!
This place is very popular, loud, and smokey from the grill. Don’t let the line detour you though. Its worth the wait.

Great burger selection with lots of flavor. Caution, the smell of burgers will linger in your clothing for the remainder of the day because this place is kind of grill smoky. That’s OK by me!

If you like loud rock music and good burgers you have to try this place out when your in Chicago. I had the plague burger with extra garlic mayo and jalapeños. This burger was a beast. My gf and I went late at night so it was a little dark but I don’t care if the place was outside in a blizzard I would still go. When we stepped in I noticed everyone working there had gauges, tattoos, and black clothing so it made me feel at home but when I saw men in suites, and older people eating with Metallica blaring I knew it had to be good because I know a lot is people don’t like them or screamo music but the atmosphere was so awesome. Not to mention the best hamburger joint I’ve been to like ever. Everyone was friendly and service was fantastic! Well worth $ 15 a burger.

The place was definitely far from where I was staying, but we decided to go anyways since someone had recommended the burgers and Mac&Cheese. The place is really a hole in the wall. The music is sooo loud and definitely not my taste. The amount of smoke from the stoves takes over the entire restaurant. The waitress checked on us just a few times, to take our order and to bring our order and for the bill. If it wasn’t for the food, I would have rated lower. The burger was cooked just the way we asked and the Mac and cheese did not disappoint, the Mac and cheese alone it’s a meal that can feed three or four people. It was really yummy!

I would say that the burger is good and HUGE!!! The all portion is just HUGE!
I am not sure though I understand all the hype around this place. Flavor wise, the burger is ok but not amazing. It could be my personal preference but if I had to pick a better burger, I would definitely pick Au Chaval.
Also, do we want to talk about the smoke inside? It was almost hard to see…

Lives up to the hype. I recommend Kuma’s Too, just as good but without the wait. Either way you’re going to rock out and have a world class burger!

BAR to call HOME: By far my favorite spot since moving to Chicago! The metal music and atmosphere are fantastic, ((and notably make sense together!)) — the food is drop dead amazing — seriously, we went BACK the NEXT DAY to try more because their menu is so inspired. They’ve got whiskeys I’ve been searching for everywhere, plus the best beer list I’ve seen since Bavarian Lodge! Did I mention the staff anticipates needs comparable to a 5 star hotel (since I’ve worked in many)? Could NOT ask for a better BAR to call HOME.

Fantastic burgers. Nothing else matters.
Yes it’s cramped, the music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the wait can be long, but all that fades when you sink your teeth into the meat.

After a decade of enjoying the burgers, mac ‘n cheese, house potato chips, and craft beers, it’s time the original, the one by which all others are judged, and IMHO the only truly authentic Kuma’s gets my official endorsement.
Let’s get this straight first. This place serves a heart attack on a plate. However, if you’re comfortable on your way to heaven via nirvana, then Kuma’s is it.
This local tavern come burger joint has existed for a long time. One interesting tidbit about Kuma’s is that it was hip before it was hip to be hip. The staff has always marched to its own beat, with plenty of tattoos, beards, piercings, and attitude. Now that these affectations are the coin of the realm, that the bar and wait staff have a sort of ‘been there, done that’ attitude is merely an earned stripe.
At one time, the idea that all of the burgers are named after heavy metal bands and the ambiance is serenaded with the same probably attracted a certain type of music aficionado. Now, it’s just part of the charm. I can’t tell the difference between the music of Goatsnake from High on Fire, but I can tell you the latter makes one helluva delicious burger. There is a precision to the execution of the burgers here, from the chewy pretzel rolls to the hand ground high quality beef. You’re not limited to beef, either. You can opt for a vegetarian patty or a leaner bison patty for for an uncharge. What they put on them, however, puts these things into the the artisanal territory: poblano corn relish, grilled pineapple, brie, poached pears, fried egg, and the list goes on. There’s usually a BOTM or Burger of the Month, which just might knock your socks off with creativity. This month’s Deafheaven offered me a burger with a full serving of pork brisket, honey glazed brussels sprouts, and frizzled butternut squash. That was stupid good. You can opt for house made potato chips or fries on the side with your burger. Both are done crispy and just a bit brown. The chips are my favorite.
Because you might not get enough fat from the burgers, they offer a sinful macaroni and cheese made to order with add ins from carmelized onions, to scallions, to mushrooms or roasted red peppers. The portions are ungodly.
If that weren’t enough, Kuma’s has been a beacon to beer and whiskey drinkers well before the craze went viral. I love that the servers are well versed in which rotating beer selection might best accompany your menu choice.
In the warmer months, you can enjoy your burgers on the patio out back. Otherwise, there are perhaps 12 tables and bar seats for the rest of the patrons. Unless you go at an off-​time, be prepared to wait, because Kuma’s doesn’t take reservations.
It’s hella-​good!

Decided to finally try this joint out. With some advice from a friend a few of us got there an hour early, reserved 2 tables since it was 10 of us. We went across the street to drink at square bar. When half of the crew arrived they arrived right on time and were seated unfortunately the other 5 ppl table was far so we had to sit separately. Don’t go with a big crew here, it’s very hard to manage.
I had the original Kuma Burger, held the bacon and onions. It was delicious. The egg added a very nice flavor to it. Very chill and friendly service. I would return here with 1 friend instead of 9 next time!

I’m always a fan of cheap drinks and good food. I had the Kuma Burger. 1^st time I’ve tried a pretzel bun, but it was great. The burger was very flavorful and seasoned well… which is something that a lot of burger and or wing places neglect. Fries were good as well… I loooove fries. I would definitely come back here with friends… only thing was that my eyes got kind of watery & irritated from the smoke & them cooking all the burgers and it not necessarily being a separate closed off kitchen. Also it was a tad bit cramped. Other than that, it was great.
I’ll definitely be back.

Erlebnisgastronomie der anderen Art! Schön schräg hier. Super Burger. Gutes Bier. Und das in einer wirklich ausgefallenen Atmosphäre!

Was psyched to make my annual pilgrimage to the heavy metal gigantic burger capital of the world. Hot damn this place is good.
Came on a Wednesday and only waited about 30 mins for a table for 3. That’s outstanding at Kuma’s unless you’re coming really late on a week night. Service is always really solid and they do a great job explaining the specials. I ordered the Pantera, an enormous hunk of meat on a pretzel bun with a huge roasted poblano pepper, several cheeses and tortilla chips. It was so freaking good. I could hardly hold the thing in two hands and get my mouth around it. Fries were really tasty too.
One of these days I’m going to get the mac n cheese and not just eat off my friends plate, but the burgers are always way too good to pass up. Kuma’s is small, it’s way out there in Avondale, and yes they play metal music pretty loud… but they have some of the best burgers anywhere. Any good Chicagoan should do themselves a favor and pay a visit to Kuma’s Corner.

I think the food here is overpriced and honestly not that good, however, I like the unique atmosphere and would come back to try something else besides the burgers (cheaper and better at Red Robin) or fried pickles (ditto at Hooters).
Visited 1÷7÷16

I had heard this place had great burgers. I was disappointed. The meat had no flavor. Now i understand why they offer their burgers with extra toppings. The place is small and needs a ventilation system as smoke clouded the bar.
The only thing that was good was the beer and fries but you can find that elsewhere.

I’ve been here 3 times now, and each experience has been better than the last.
Word to the wise: prepare for a long wait (45min), but if you go alone or with one other person, snag a seat at the bar. We sat down within 6 minutes of being there.
The Plague Bringer burger is INCREDIBLE, but all of their burgers that I’ve had have been phenomenal. Definitely get the Mac and Cheese, but be prepared: the portion sizes are huge.
Last point I’ll make: the service has always been great. They were swamped, but no one seemed frazzled, or remotely short with us. I’ll be back every time I’m in Chicago.

So yesterday, i’m looking for a parking spot to meet a few friends here — takes me a few minutes because this place is always jam packed.
They had just sat down and ordered some food. I literally walk in 2 minutes after they order and ask for a menu. The waitress laughs and says «wait, you want to order food? your table already ordered food, I can’t put in another order for you, we’re too busy»
If that is not horrible service, then I don’t know what is. Burgers here are overrated, and to top it off, their December burger of the month is extremely offensive to christians. If i can recall it was the «christ killer» or something along the lines…
Burgers are OK, I’d rather not go to this location ever again though. Kuma’s Too is a much better option.

Kuma’s!!! I was trying to save my 100^th review for NYE, but my experience at the original Kuma’s was too good to not write about it. We decided to visit on a Sunday early evening. For it being Sunday, it was pretty crowded. The original Kuma’s location is tiny, but mighty. When you walk in, it does feel like you are in a queue backstage at a Def Leppard concert or something. Luckily, the bar is pretty big and we were able to snag a spot there while we waited for a table.

I appreciated the fact that there was more than one cider option at the bar. They also had a few mixed drinks on special. The bartender was very nice and attentive. We ordered some jalapeño poppers and talked and drank at the bar. I also appreciate the fact that the metal music was not overbearing (unlike the Kuma’s in Schaumburg) and I was actually able to hold a conversation with my friends. Lost Boys was playing on the TV, which was a double plus!

We ordered a Mac and cheese to split between the four of us-​with andouille sausage, caramelized onions, and garlic. It came topped with scallions anyway so don’t waste your ingredient on that unless you want A LOT of scallions. I’m not a huge Mac and cheese eater, but this was DELICIOUS! Enough cheese to stop your heart in 5 minutes. So goooood!

We also ordered burgers. My husband got the Slayer, I shared the Goatsnake with my friend who traded me half of his Metallica burger. My other friend got another delicious burger, but I forgot the name of it. All of the burgers were cooked great and, of course, were huge and delicious. I think the Slayer will feed someone for 5 days. My favorite burger out of the night was definitely the Goatsnake. Our server at the table was also very nice and was attentive all night. The only slight negative I had for the night was that it was very smoky all night in there (burger deliciousness or fog machine) and after a while my eyes started to burn (since we hung out in there so long).
Such a long review, but to summarize: I loved Kuma’s, I had a great time with my friends, we devoured a lot of artery clogging food for a good price and enjoyed every minute of it. I will make the trek to come back!!!

Honest review here.
The signature kuma burger was so salty it was kind of hard to eat. I don’t know what happened but this was not a very good burger. The fries were soggy and the burger was oversalted on that gross pretzel bun. Boo.
Mac and cheese was on point, no complaints here but man the burger was a disappointment.

12÷7÷15 (12:30)
Second time going to this Kuma’s Corner. Went early on a Monday, and pretty much walked right in to a seat at a table. Hostess’ double as waitress’, as it’s so small, and all of them seemed nice.
All of the burgers are filled with unusual ingredients you can’t find anywhere else, flavors that really compliment each other. All crafted by the 3 – 4 chefs in the small bar kitchen.
I got the December burger of the month: Christ Killer. From the subtle seasoning in the kabab spices and creamy avocado, to the crunchy texture of the fried pita crisps, this burger comes with its own personality. One of the best burgers I’ve ever had, I subbed the beef patty for bison.
My friend I was with got the signature Kuma Burger, and stated «This was so good»
Overall, service was good, and from what I could tell, alcohol selection was reasonable.
Go to Kumas for beer, metal music, and a uniquely unmatchable burger selection. Come hungry!
Kuma’s Corner
⁵⁄₅

Came here after seeing them on triple D. It’s pretty far off the beaten path, but was worth the trip!
While waiting for a table, I saw a couple sharing the Mac and cheese and it looked SO good. Seriously debated if I should order that, but we came for the burgers, so I passed on the Mac (until next time!).
I ordered the goatsnake burger and the flavors were great! I didn’t want to carry leftovers so naturally, I finished the whole thing. Could’ve easily been two meals however.
I have recommended this place to my friend who is a self proclaimed burger connoisseur and he gave it a thumbs up!

You will have to wait for a seat… but grab a beer at the bar and enjoy the atmosphere!
Despite that the fact that they were SLAMMED the staff was friendly and helpful.
Get any burger they are all good! Eat the burger first, don’t fill up on fries or fried pickles save your hunger for the delicious beef!

Love their burgers! They were perfectly cooked, perfectly flavored, and juicy. I had the Famous Kuma’s Burger and my friends had the Minitry Burger (burger of the month). We all were happy with our picks.
The place was a bit smokey because they grilled the burgers really close to the dining room. Prepare for your clothes to be smelly but it was worth it!

Overall: Kuma’s is a solid experience for some good burgers and booze. Worth the hype, but not the best in the city.
The good: Great tasting burgers with plenty of different options. All of them unique and interesting. Big burgers, didn’t even finish. The fries are clutch too. Great beer selections, and obviously the atmosphere is unique and awesome. That mac and cheese, a must get to split.
The bad: The burgers are awesome, but not the best in the city. Au cheval takes that. The service was slow at times. The burger was on the cooler side, not too hot.
Atmosphere: ⁹⁄₁₀
Service: ⁸⁄₁₀
Food: ⁸⁄₁₀

It really kills me to have to write a sub par review for this location. I know it already has almost 5,000 reviews and all, most which are great reviews, but I feel it best to write an objective review for this location.
My friends and I were craving a burger and since Kuma’s is down the street from our new place, we finally decided to give it a shot. We started off with a round of Bloody Mary’s which were tasty, spicy and delicious. An order of their Mac n Cheese and fried pickles to share.
First dish to come out was their fried pickles. This dish and the bloody Mary’s may be the only contributing factor to this 2 star review. If it weren’t for these items, I may have had to give this place a single star.
The fried pickles were amazing. Crunchy, airy and perfectly fried. The pickles were fried perfectly so they held onto their consistency and structure. I believe they use Panko bread crumbs so they were extra crispy. Also the batter stuck perfectly to the pickle. Don’t you just hate it when the inside pulls apart from the batter when you take a bite? I do.
Next to come out was the garlic jalapeño and chicken mac n cheese. From the photos and reviews we were expecting some pretty awesome mac n cheese. When I think about good mac n cheese, it’s that crunchy crispy buttery bread crumb topping with ooey gooey cheese blend and perfectly al dente noodles. It has the topping but didn’t seem to have much cheese in it, felt kind of watery in consistency. The biggest problem was that the cheese sauce they made was completely broken. It had a mealy texture which made it unpleasant to eat. Let’s jus say there was plenty leftover.
Finally the most waited for and anticipated item. The Kuma burger. It looked so good on arrival but as we eating I was truly disappointed. The bun weren’t toasted, too much bread to meat ratio, don’t know why but there were bites that were just so salty as if they had not mixed the meat mixture enough that left pockets of salt in the patty. I could only stomach half my burger.
What’s even more sad is that the fries were soggy under salted and just not proper.
Had high expectations for this place. Nonetheless we walked out with tons of leftovers.

I had lunch at Kuma’s at about 1:00 on a Tuesday, and the place was busy but not packed. I was dining solo-​dolo, so I immediately grabbed a seat at the bar. The bartender got to me super quick and hipped me to the lunch menu. I’m glad she did because I was able to get a very manageably sized burger for a little over 8 bucks. About 5 – 6 burgers from the regular menu have lunch portions.
Now for that burger! I got the «Darkthrone» which had chipotle peppers, pico de gallo, and goat cheese. The pepper and goat cheese pairing was simply delightful and the lunch portion size allowed me to crush my plate. The only thing left was the ketchup. I’d love to go back again and try the other burgers, although I’m a bit afraid of the regular sizes.

Kuma’s is the king of all burgers!
… but minus a star for the times they don’t toast the pretzel bun and serve you your killer burger on a cold roll + the (to be expected) wait time. On my last visit, our table of 5 clocked in around 2 hours and 15 minutes from the time we put our name on the list to the time we received our burgers, and at that point, call it a 9:30pm dinner.
Plan accordingly!

Attention, après avoir mangé un de leur burger, vous vous demanderez «quand est-​ce que je peux y retourner ?». Dans un décor et ambiance métal, vous dégusterez de très bons burgers. J’y croyais pas trop au début quand j’ai vu arrivé mon plat, mais après la première bouchée, ce restaurant est à la hauteur de sa réputation: être un des meilleurs burgers de Chicago !

Ich habe hier den besten Burger bisher gegessen. Nach zig Reisen nach Amerika und unzähligen Burgern, kann ich nun sagen, dass es hier die besten gibt. Das Lokal sieht von außen etwas seltsam aus. Wer Rock-​/​Metalmusik nicht mag, sollte besser nicht hinein gehen, den genau das ist der Stil des Lokals.
Dunkel, laut und viele Gäste mit langen Haaren prägen das Bild. An der Wand findet man Bilder von Rockgrößen und coole Bilder. Es stinkt eigentlich nur nach Fett und gebratenem Fleisch.
Wer sich bisher nicht abschrecken lassen hat, wird mit einer guten Auswahl an Bier und einigen sehr leckeren Burgern belohnt. Jeden Monat gibt es einen neuen Burger, der, wie die anderen auch, nach bekannten Metalbands benannt ist. Infos zum Burger oft the month gibt es auf der Homepage.