Great burgers and great fries. Loved the chips too (but preferred the fries). Got there around 8 on a Saturday night and waited for a seat but ended up just eating at the bar (about an hour of waiting--should have known better, especially on a Saturday night!). Servers and bartenders were friendly and chill. Will be back!
Review Source:My husband - Alex Blue from Normandie Blue and I went to Kuma's for lunch. Â He just moved here from LA and I was talking about how delicious the burgers were. Â He had the classic Kuma's Burger and I had the YOB. Â I've eaten at Kuma's several times in the past and the food was delicious. Â This time however, the fries tasted like someone dumped an entire bottle of garlic salt on them and were not even edible. Â The burgers were terrible and we both ended up getting food poisoning from them. Â We sat at the bar and the waitress was rude and obviously in a hurry to get us up and out of there. Â
I was very disappointed with the entire experience as was my husband who refuses to go there again.
Very similar quality and style to a burger truck in Socal called Grill 'em Up. Â However, these burgers are massive! Â Delicious, enormous, excessively awesome burgers. Â However, I didn't really enjoy my experience so much. Â Not sure if it was the weather or the time, but I left the meal feeling agitated. Â Heavy metal, extremely humid, dark, crammed, burgers, beer... not the most relaxing of experiences. Â Definitely an experience to be had, but it seems so... the opposite of what eating should be. Â Call me frou frou, but I could have done without the heat and the noise and with some AC and table linens.
Review Source:The quintessential Burger bar. Â I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan-boy of Heavy Metal (nor, I suppose, would anyone who is an actual fan of Heavy Metal) but the decor, music and general motif makes Kuma's a site to check off your bucket list. Â And that's without even counting the food, which fully lives up to its much deserved hype.
I've tried countless burgers and they have all been outstanding. Â If I really want to get after it I order the Slayer, which is more like my hometown "Garbage Plate" than a classic burger. If not the Slayer, I'll usually try a special, which was once a fried burger stuffed with cheese, which I assure you was every bit as good as it sounds. Â The fries are great and the make-your-own Mac n Cheese is outstanding. I usually add mushrooms, bacon and 2-3 other things and bring it home for later (very easy to heat it up in a skillet). Â I don't think Kuma's as clearly makes up for the annoying wait as its encased meats neighbor, Hot Doug's, (since there's also the very awkward vulture situation with seats at the bar). But clearly it's still enough for me to go back.
Let's talk about the BURGER! We all first just care about the burger here!
Burger is absolutely delicious. Â A large variety to choose from. Very tender and rich in flavor.
The only issue I had was the wait. Â I waited 1 hour to get the table and 40 minutes to get the burger after placing the order. Â But I went right at lunch time so maybe that's why.
Overall, great burgers. May need to wait for prolonged periods of time. Loud music. Very busy. Great atmosphere!
My date and I went on Saturday night and the wait was an hour and forty-five minutes. It was smoky, hot, and there was loud heavy metal music playing. Â Not my favorite atmosphere, but at least the burgers were good.
I had the classic Kuma burger topped with cheddar, egg and bacon. Â This burger was a beast. Â It was so good! Â My date had a burger topped with cheddar, pickle, pulled pork, served with homemade fries. Â He loved it. Â
We'll have to try Kuma's Too now!
I had heard great things about Kumas from my friends so I decided to try it out. All was well when we arrived, long wait but we just grabbed some beers. Long story short, when I was eating my food I bit into a 1 INCH PIECE OF PLASTIC SHARD that had somehow made it way into my food and it cut my mouth. I notified the server who approached the situation very nonchalantly. No Compensation of any sort, all I received was the offer for the to remake my food.
I will probably never go here again based off that experience alone.
Oh geez, what is there to say about Kuma's corner that hasn't already been said? It's the golden standard for burgers in Chicago. no question about it. Whatever they do to their burger patties is incredible. The burgers are insanely flavorful, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The location is pretty small, and often times you'll have to wait for a table, but anything negative I could possibly say about that is immediately negated when you sit down at the table and experience the great craft beer selection and the amazing menu.
Parking is tight, you have to settle for a really small lot on the side, or street parking, which might be tricky if you go during prime time hours.
All in all though, as a tourist destination, or a night out for locals, Kuma's Corner is a must.
Best Burger in the city. Doing simple perfectly is hard, but Kuma's gets it done. The Kuma burger is egg, bacon, cow and bread; and it is the greatest combination of those ingredients I have ever experienced. Combine that with their ability to execute the slightly more complex Jack Daniels pulled pork, and you have a restaurant that just knows how to get it done, no matter what the order. Plus they have Sprecher's root beer, slam dunk.
Review Source:so, i'm not a meat eater...so this places menu wasn't made for me. that being said-the vibe was great. loud music, great signage, and stiff drinks. I went as part of a birthday party. the wait was pretty long--but what do you expect, this is a destination kind of place.
so i didn't get one of the famous burgers, but let me tell you, their kale/cranberry/walnut salad was AWESOME--and the beer selection is pretty damn good too.
limited options for a vegan, but would definitely go back with some friends that are.
the no-nonsense(bullshit)/attractive servers and the beer alone will draw me back.
&thanks to the staff for not making too much fun and accommodating my hippie diet.
good time--recommended.
"Well I woke up to get me a cold pop then I thought someone was barbecuing!"
Kuma's Corner is an experience. It's not just a metal bar to go for jams and a beer. It's reputation precedes it [literally] right out the door and around the corner [in the cold rain]. Besides having to line up before they open at 11:45 AM, Kuma's has a lot more to deliver also.
There is *cough* [unique] artwork on the walls. Like, nothing you'd expect in your grandmother's living room. Or the living room of my friends. My favorite was of an otherwise cute bear that had blood around it's mouth and neck and a caption that said, "meat." Some of the other selections are kind of pornographic. Say, of a woman leaning back with her legs apart and hooha displayed. But none of that really matters because it's not why you'd go to Kuma's.
"And then the smoke got me! I got bronchitis!" There is a haze of smoke in the air. A thick one that permeates your clothes and hair. It reminded me of when people used to smoke in bars and clubs and I'd wake up smelling like cigarettes and good memories. Only this smoke is laden with grease and good times which is a much healthier kind of smoke, IMHO. But really, I had to shower after Kuma's.
I don't feel right commenting on the service because our table had a secret weapon. We had Nikki C (the Duke of Kuma's Corner AND fledgling Kuma's Too) as our guide. He told us when to arrive, where to sit, and the entire staff knew him and treated us well because of it. Still, we respected Kuma's rule to only have one credit card per table. I navigated the crowd to the ATM by the door and withdrew extra cash to pay my dues.
Of course we went for the food. Nikki C had us order mac and cheese for our table of four. It had broccoli and bacon in it. It's like, why doesn't mac and cheese ALWAYS have broccoli and bacon? I'm not sure because they were naturals. The broccoli wasn't soggy, falling apart mess but held it's own amongst the soft pasta and gooey cheese. The top of it was crispy with bread crumbs or something. It was a really lovely combination of textures and flavors. We all loved it, but one order for the table was practically too much.
By the time my Iron Maiden came I could only stomach a quarter of it. It was good and I enjoyed it, but the mac and cheese (and my banana beer) filled the hollow space inside of me. The pretzel buns used by Kuma's are really incredible and make the burgers special. The fries really were not impressive (especially considering the fact that they were cut fresh from potatoes that same morning). I don't know what to say about them other than that I think I could do more with frozen fries from Jewel. "Aint nobody got time for that!"
I would definitely recommend this Kuma's Corner experience. Heck - I'd bring out of town guests because they would definitely have a solid memory stamped in the passport of their visit! But I don't think my spirit is won over in the same fashion as Nikki Cs.
I had a Kuma burger and a glass of "cola" yesterday.
Pro--the burger--good plate presentation (for many consumers that's probably enough) 10 oz beef (size always matter.) Lean meat if health is a concern. Pretzel bun--standard and good. Plenty of good looking customers, pleasant to eyes.
Con (for me)--the fries--if you like double dipped fresh cut fries sit for 30 minutes, when the crisp edges become a little harder and chewy, this may be your perfect fries.
Con--the burger--not too much flavor in the meat (maybe a USDA Select grade), also on the dry side. It counts the egg to enhance the flavor and the moist. The vegetable in the burger are not generous enough--one thin piece tomato, one piece lettuce, four small rings onion.
Con--a joke for any bar in this country--the cola is not Coke neither Pepsi. I doubt whether it is even RC. The gas is adjusted to probably minimum. It tastes like the cola I had in the US embargo countries like Cuba--flat with after taste.
I took a look in the cooking area and realized more. This is not a restaurant. The equipments they have are not sufficient for creating the volume and the great taste.
One of the key reasons its burger cannot be tasted great: A cheap standard open flame gas char-broiler. This piece of equipment is lack of sufficient power to create the crispy seared layer, a definite required character for a great burger.
A concluded Con (my guess). When a owner (or manager) with this kind of volume business still wants to pocket more on buying cheap soda syrup and save on CO2, you can see Scrooge counting dollars with a satisfactory smile on the Christmas night.
Overall. Good place for get together-- if you don't need to wait for seats. If you are thinking a great burger accompanied with a Coke or Pepsi, like the great American way, do not go there.
Finally, I got to try Kuma's!
We went on a weeknight and waited a max of 30 mins before being seated at the bar. Ordered the mac & cheese with scallions & bacon ($13), the Kaijo ($13), and the Mastodon ($13).
The mac & cheese was satisfyingly cheesy with a crispy cheese crust on top, but the flavorful bacon elevated the eating experience. They were roughly chopped into mini nuggets of goodness. We ate a 4th of it and had to box the rest lol; they gave so much.
The burgers were massive. Not the biggest I've eaten; that would be Gut-Buster from Jacoby's Burgers in Seoul. The blue cheese on the Kaijo was delicious. I barely made a dent in the Mastodon. The fries were average.
Service was friendly, and they were attentive with refills (I drink a lot of water, and I never had to flag someone for a refill. My glass was refilled a minimum of 5x lol).
Overall, I had a pretty good experience and enjoyed trying Kuma's out, but I'll still be on the lookout for my favorite burger.
Kumas is my favorite place to eat - in the world. Â Seriously, you can have French Laundry, Alinea. Per Se and whatever else you'd like - take me to Kuma's.
My strategy is typically to go early (like 10:45) on Saturdays. Â The Pantera is a great go to, but be sure to check out the special.
It's hard, but if you can muster the strength, tear yourself away from the burgers and try the Mac and Cheese. Â Get some to go, order as an app and take home - just get some. Â And don't ever tell me what is in it to make it so irresistible, I don't want to know.
Beer, burgers and metal - all served with an "extra side of anger." Â Thank you Kuma's, for making Avondale - and the world - a better place!
Let me explain to you briefly why Kuma's is the best burger in Chicago:
If you are a burger enthusiast, you should have read plenty of people comparing other burger joints with Kuma's burger.
Wether you like it or not the only truth is that:
KUMA'S IS THE BURGER REFERENCE IN CHICAGO.PERIOD.
Food - I had only heard fanatical raves about KC, so I needed to check it out myself. It's a burger joint, you receive a menu with a page full of different burger options. Unlike Epic Burger, vegetarians are welcome here. You can get any burger option with a beef patty, chicken breast, portabella mushroom patty or chicken tenders. Also, they use pretzel bread buns (which I LOVE!). I was a bit overwhelmed by the options, so I went with my server's recommendation (all the menu options have a rock theme), the Lair of the Minotaur - Beef patty with caramelized onions, pancetta, brie and bourbon soaked pears. This is apparently a shout-out to the May Street Market burger. One of my eating partners went big and chose the Bongzilla burger - Beef patty with a sausage on top of it (I'm not kidding). My other eating partner took the Motorhead Burger - Portabella burger with goat cheese, Kalamata olives, oregano, tzatziki, onion and tomato. Overall, don't get me wrong, the dishes were all good. However, it was all about the accoutrement and less about the actual burger. Please don't read this as a criticism, it's meant to be an observation. Here's a little advice, you have the options of choosing chips or fries with your meal. Choose the fries, the chips are super dry.
Drink - They have a healthy selection of beers to choose from. I saw SKA beer, my new favorite Durango, CO brewery, on the list and stuck with that. One of my eating partners chose a beer only to find out that it was raspberry flavored (which was not noted on the menu).
Service - So I was expecting to wait at least 30 minutes for a table for three. However, perhaps by going to KC on a Tuesday night, we found the golden ticket to "no line, no wait." Plus, we lucked out and got a table in the back outdoor patio (it's much quieter back there compared to the actual restaurant). When we got to our table, our server sat down with us. She definitely had spunk, one of those girls who starts talking to you as if you've been sarcastic friends for years. She had that balance of jadedness without being unpleasant. It's a winning combination. Every table in her section seemed like they had created a friendship with her when they finished the meal. KC won me over when the manager (at least I think he's the manager) came around to make sure that the food was satisfactory.
Scene - KC has this heavy metal biker theme. Don't let that intimidate you. While the ladies room is wallpapered with illustrations of scantily clad ladies, the clientele is diverse and respectable.
Dress - I would wear something that feels comfortable to you. Everyone at the restaurant is so distinct, there isn't a real dress code.
Cost - For a burger and two beers, I paid $24. For the caliber of the food, I felt like this was affordable.
You've read all the reviews. You've seen all the stars. You don't need another burger enthusiast sucking this place's dick.
Or do you?
I had a favorite place back when I lived in the Bucktown area called Lockdown. I had never tried Kuma's before and since everyone was so hyped about it I just went against what everyone said and never tried. I kept my faith on the corner of Cortez and Western (Lockdown).
Today was a different day though. My friend left for Scotland today after trying to make it in the U.S. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. He had always wanted to try Kuma's so I said, "why the hell not?"
I had heard horror stories of the place being packed and lines out the door. But I didn't get that vibe at all today. I mean, there was a wait of 15 minutes, but I thank my parents for doing the nasty in September of 1988 and then taking care of me from March 1989 until this day because I was able to sit at the bar. NO WAITING! That is always something to cheer about. But I got a beer instead.
Service wasn't bad. Not exceptional either but all in all it was a good experience. The food took a little over 20 minutes but that was expected. My burger finally came and I was like a fat kid at Christmas dinner. Holy shit my burger was so colorful and warm. I just wanted to sleep in it. I ordered the Weekend Nachos burger because I like nachos and I also enjoy the smooth sounds of the band as well. This burger was great. I really enjoyed it along with the fries.
I am a fan of this place. I will admit that and stick with it as well as return to conquer another burger in the future. I mean, I have to. There are so many. You can't just go once and be finished. I hope that if this review inspires your need to visit, you'll return.
I posted a picture of my burger before/after. If you want to view the portions you can look at that picture. Or the hundreds of other pictures. Or you can get off your ass, stop reading reviews on Yelp, and head that way.
This place used  to be my favorite burger place in the city. After last night it no longer is.
Burger was over cooked. I asked for medium rare and got medium well. Out of the four of us in which we all asked for medium rare, mine was the only one over cooked.
I did let the waitress know in a subtle way, but she did nothing about it. Now we have not been there in a while, so we were a little surprised that they condensed the menu, no big deal though. The only one we missed was the Clutch burger. The other thing that disappointed me was the beer selection. Either every place else has caught up and surpassed Kuma's in the beer selection race or they have condensed it along with the burger menu. I remember going into this place and never minding the wait....but after last night I've reconsidered. Seems that this place has lost it's edge.
You go to Kuma's for the experience just as much as you go for the kickass food. Heavy metal burger bar. This place is consistent- great service, great beer, great burgers (and mac 'n cheese)! Whenever I have friends visit from out of town I take them to Kuma's. People love it. If you're okay waiting around an hour +for a table, shove your way through to the bar and order yourself an Alpha King. Otherwise, when I come with 1 other person I usually hover around the bar for 2 open seats. It's much quicker. Anywhere from 15-45 mins.
Best burgers in town  :)
We came on super bowl Sunday and they don't play NFL games, so my g/f and I were seated right away which is nice bc this place is always busy. Â The beef was nowhere near a 5 star rating, but they are large portions. Â But there was no salt and pepper in it which made it taste like an average bar burger that's just big. Â The jalapeno poppers were unique and creative. Â My girlfriend got the plague burger with chicken(she hates burgers) which was good. Â Loaded with garlic and jalapenos. Â The best part of the experience was the bartender who was very friendly and helpful. Their beer selection is really good. Â
I would not wait an hour for this place.
After having Kuma's mac'n'cheese (I like it with sauteed onions, bacon and garlic) I've pretty much stopped eating mac'n'cheese elsewhere as it's just a sad disappointment.
Their play on jalapeno poppers is just magnificent and are not to be missed.
And then there are the burgers. Â Honestly I don't know why they are so delicious, but I can only guess it is ...well who cares. Â I don't know. Â Kuma's has to be one of the top 3 burgers in the city, and I haven't yet found the other two.
I actually got a seat within 5 minutes of getting there, but I was solo- so i bellied up to the bar and took the only seat available.
Staff was great but I waited a long time for my burger...like 45 minutes.' Â . Burger selection is creative and I got the Kuma burger ( w/ cheddar cheese and an egg on top) . It was good but the burger meat was nothing special..no great flavor. They did ask how I wanted it cooked and i said med-rare but it was well done when It arrived.
Fries werea little greasy and tased like cheap oil
Music wasa little too loud . I wiould try again but I would not call this the best burger in chicago...not even in the top 10
I'll keep this review fairly short (for me) and simple; Kuma's has damn good food. Not just burgers, but food. The mac n cheese, fries, jalapeno poppers, and of course, burgers, are all outstanding. They cook the burgers to the correct temperature, the pretzel buns are perfect to hold up against the substantial fillings, and the flavor combos are generally cohesive and satisfying. If you haven't tried the mac n cheese or the jalapeno poppers, definitely get them when you go next. The poppers are the best I've ever had.
A word about the wait - yea, there usually is one. Yea, it's an estimate. This place is crazy popular and they don't take reservations (and I don't expect them to ever take reservations, it doesn't make much sense from a business perspective given their popularity, volume = turnover = no need for reservations) so what do you expect? They're open pretty late so go at an off-peak time during the week sometime. I generally haven't had problems since I expect to wait an hour or so...but I avoid Kuma's at the normal 5-8pm dinner time on the weekends since I know how crazy it can get.
This has hands down got to be the absolute best burger place I've ever been to. I no longer live in Chicago, yet make a special point to make it over here whenever I'm in town.
The menu is just awesome. All of the burgers here are named after metal bands, and come loaded with massive amounts of deliciousness - caramelized onions, bacon, eggs, peppers, every kind of fancy cheese you can think of, and so on. Also I believe one burger in particular lists Anger as an ingredient, and who doesn't want to eat that? These burgers are massive, you definitely need two hands, and even then, it's kind of a losing battle and you'll wind up eating it like a wild animal regardless. They usually have a burger of the month, and I fondly remember their Thanksgiving turkey burger with stuffing and I think cranberry sauce. Oh, I'm drooling just thinking about it.
Kuma's is also a great place to find new and exciting beverages of the alcoholic variety. They always have something new to try, and the staff is very helpful in recommending things that you might enjoy.
I never made it out here when it was warm enough to sit on the patio, but I'm sure it's a blast during the summer. Inside the ambiance is pretty neat, there is definitely metal blasting at all times. So not a place to go if you want to have conversation, really, but for everyone I know it's really all about the food and no one is going to be talking much anyway!
On a random note, I really love that the women's restroom is wallpapered in pinups. Super classy.
The only real con to this place is the wait, it can be excruciatingly long, but there is a takeout option if you'd prefer to just grab your food and go.
Finally: I know the menu says not to mention it, and never to complain, but damn, do I miss the waffle fries!
Kuma's BACKLASH, you guys.
Kuma's is a fun place to eat. You will get hammered on great beers while waiting a really long time to sit down and eat your burger and fries. They play loud music which isn't always awesome, but it keeps a lot of the douches out. It's fun. Don't get any delicious calamari if you want to eat your whole burger. Too much food.
Here's the BACKLASH. You don't need to have so much stuff on your burger. These are novelty sandwiches. If you make a burger with really good beef, you will not need to put a hot dog or a deep fried jalapeno popper or corn chips on there. We have tons of hamburger joints in Chicago that make awesome regular hamburgers for regular folks who know what they like.
I have been trying to come here for YEARS. Years people! Alas, the line and wait has always been way too freaking long.
Fast forward to now. Anyway, as part of my Date Night (Resolution) for 2013, January was a chill night. We've been hankering for a good ole piece of perfectly grilled red meat. Burger date night? Sure, why not.
Last night we ventured to Kuma's with the anticipation of a long ass line. The hostess asks how many holding up a peace sign. Two, yes? And starts to walk to an open table. You have got to be freaking kidding me?! It was that easy.
After the mind blow...we already knew what we wanted. Cream soda for me and RC for the man. No drinking for us this night. We then proceeded to order mac n cheese with jalepenos and bacon. We also ordered two burgers- both Iron Maiden (medium). Our food came lightening fast.
The portions were huge. (I'm eating mac n cheese leftovers as I type this). It was rich, creamy, cheesy, and had the best flavor. Those breadcrumbs on top? Perfection. The burger was HUGE! I cut mine in half. It was the right amount of spice, kick, and cooked perfectly.
The pretzel bun with it was a great pair. Oh, and the chips? Light, crunchy and not greasy! The fries (that the hubs ordered) were just OK. Glad I opted for the house made chips.
Our waitress was super cool too. Very nice, funny, and on top of everything. I'll definitely be going back when I'm craving a good burger.
The stars aligned on my first successful trip to Kuma's. Â I have tried to eat here in the past but the long (2 hour plus) waits made me turn to other options. Â I successfully went on a late Friday afternoon and was immediately seated! Â I guess I just had to wait for the right time to go!
Kuma's is small, I can understand how people may wait to go until the spring, summer and autumn as the outside patio is open. Â The heavy metal music fills the background as well, fortunately it was not cranked up on our visit - it was noticeable but not overbearing. Â The wait staff is great - lots of personality and very helpful with questions about the menu and the beer list (which is impressive - great selections).
We split a salad, the Kuma burger, and mac-n-cheese (with chorizo and tomato) between two people and we still had plenty of mac-n-cheese for a take home box. Â The burger was cooked perfectly and had a nice peppery taste to it - and it was nicely served on a pretzel roll. Â The mac-n-cheese was great - the balance of cheese, chorizo and tomato was well done as each bite had a little bit of everything in it without searching for chunks of chorizo in the bowl.
Kuma's was worth the wait - the burger was one of the best I've had in the city and I certainly look forward to going back to try others and to work my way through the beer list!
One of the best burger joints I've been to!
We got the Kumas burger and another burger I can't recall the name of. All I know is that I enjoyed every bite of that burger! Both burgers were super juicy and tender! And don't forget to order their Mac & Cheese. Damn seriously in love with their mac&cheese.
Only downside is the wait. We waited close to an hour during lunch time. But the food was definitely worth the wait! I just wish they would expand a little.
In any case, I will most definitely return here the next time I'm in Chicago!!! ^^
I admit, the last time I was at Kuma's Corner was in the mid 00's--the last night before the smoking ban came into being. Celebration and desperation mixed, as every person at the bar chain-smoked while eating their massive, messy, and incredibly delicious burgers.
We were four people crammed onto three stools, and we got a range of classics: Metallica, Kuma, YOB. It was the first time I had ever had a burger on a pretzel roll. I was shocked at how awesome that was, and dismayed that I had ever had burgers on anything else. The burger itself was juicy, and the flavors kept rolling, carried through by the sweetness, density, and salt of the roll.
I gave Kuma's Corner five stars because it's almost a decade later, but I can still conjure the feeling of eating every single bite of that burger.
Love the food. But not enough to brave the lines or deal with the staff that seem to believe that customer service isn't "metal", so customers just have to deal with the "It is what it is" mentality that comes with dining at Kuma's. The last time I was there, I was eight months pregnant and craving a burger. If you've been there the bar is first come, first serve. So while we put our names down for a seat, we kept our eyes peeled for a seat at the bar.
Two seats became available, and when we went to take the seats, the people said they were saving them for a couple that came in AFTER us. When we mentioned this to the bar staff and the host staff, they did not remedy the situation. Instead they just told us to keep waiting and made it out like finding a seat at the bar was a game.
I haven't been back since. The food doesn't sell itself enough to deal with a rude staff. I
Ah Kuma's. Â It's kind of hard to put a finger on just how I feel about this place. Â It's like that awesome chick you totally lost your shit over but knew it wouldn't work. Â
Kuma's food is awesome and they - maybe more than anyone - fueled the burger craze in Chicago. Â But it's such a pain and too much to deal with. Â I can go to a half-dozen other places in the city and get a burger that's equally good without enduring a two hour wait, annoyed staff (I would be too), another hour wait at the table while people bump into you and then eat a burger with no way of communicating how awesome it is to the other people at your table.
It's a must-try if you haven't been - but not worth the hassle anymore.
It's been a few years since I ate at Kuma's but seeing it on the front page of Chicago Yelp as one of the city's best restaurants brought back so many infuriating memories that I have decided to relive them all and write a review.
I'll start by saying that the burgers are decent. The meat itself is nothing special (neither are the fries) but the toppings are interesting and tasty. That said... there are about a billion places in the city of Chicago and the world where you can get a burger topped with a poached pear or whatever, and none of them (except Kuma's!) have a list of obnoxious rules posted for you to follow in order to be allowed the privilege of eating here. There is NO NEED to suffer the INDIGNITY of eating at Kuma's.
I believe the staff here are selected on purpose to be total raging assholes. Once we had to call them on the phone (my husband's out-of-town friend wanted to eat there, probably because he saw it on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives") and the woman who picked up refused to answer the most basic of questions ("Are you busy?") AND managed to be a total mega bitch in about a 15 second conversation before hanging up on us. Of course they probably WERE busy because there is no shortage of sad dopes who watched Guy Fieri stuff his face here on the Food Network and want to follow in his greasy footsteps, but it was early afternoon on a weekday so we thought there was a chance.
I can't recommend eating at Kuma's unless you like to wait for three hours in a tiny cramped space that is hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter to be verbally abused by terrible people before being served middle-of-the-road food in the most aggressive and thankless way possible. You will get yelled at! They left the back door open in the middle of January in Chicago and when we asked if they could close it they yelled at us. Then when we asked if we could move to another table they yelled at us again! I think they also yelled at us when we asked how long the wait actually was when we were waiting for a table but my memories of the whole experienced are clouded in an angry haze so I can't remember EXACTLY.
There are 5 star reviews on here which talk about how bad the service is, how long the wait is and how unaccommodating the restaurant is of even the most basic requests. I think you people have Stockholm Syndrome or something because I cannot figure out why you all keep eating here!
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