Ken’s Diner

Menu

SANDWICHES
The Burger Buddy- 1/2 lb. beef burger with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, pickles, and our special sauce.
The Bay-Ken Burger- 1/2lb. beef burger with all the toppings, crispy beef Frye and sautéed mushrooms.
The Slammin’ Sammy- A ribeye steak sandwich on club bread and crispy steak fries.
The Char-Chic-Ken- Char-broiled boneless chicken breast grilled on an open fire, with lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions, BBQ sauce and pickles.
Popcorn Chic-ken- Homemade, hand dipped white meat chicken fried to a crispy brown and served with our sweet & tangy dipping sauce and fries
The Italian Beef- Italian beef sandwich served on garlic bread with peppers and onions
The Avi- Lightly breaded chicken breast schnitzel with lettuce, tomato and our special sauce
The Red October- Hot and spicy chicken sub served on a 6″ toasted garlic bread with mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato and our own Italian garnish
The B.L.T.- Beef Frye, lettuce and tomato
The Dempster- Thinly sliced marinated juicy grilled chuck steak served on a 6″ toasted garlic bread with our sweet & spicy BBQ sauce
The Halo- One-of-a-kind grilled BBQ turkey club sandwich served on a toasted French bread
Teriyaki Chicken Wrap- Freshly grilled teriyaki Chicken, topped with veggies and hot peppers all wrapped together in one large flour tortilla.

DELICATESSEN SANDWICHES
Corned Beef
Roast Beef
Pastrami
White Turkey Breast
Salami
Tuna Salad
Egg Salad
BBQ Beef Sandwich
Grilled Salami

SALADS
The Julienne Salad- Julienne salad served with cucumbers, red onions, egg, tomatoes, and turkey with zesty Italian Wishbone dressing
The Garden Salads- Fully tossed garden salads, available with hot chicken or fresh tuna

SOUPS
Chicken Noodle
Mushroom Barley
Split Pea
Sweet & Sour Cabbage

APPETIZERS
Puppy Dog
Corn Dog & Pickle
Jumbo Red Hot or Polish Hot dog
Poppers- Our popcorn chicken, in plain, B.B.Q. or hot
Snackers- Crispy fried chicken strip with lettuce, tomato, red onion, green pepper, and ranch dressing wrapped in a small flour tortilla.
1/2 lb. Hamburger
1/4 lb. Hamburger
1 beef-filled taco
Grilled Salami Sandwich & Steak Fries
1/4 lb. Turkey Burger
1/4 lb. Veggie Burger

SIDE DISHES
Pickle on a Stick
Crispy Steak Fries
Onion Rings
Cole Slaw
Potato Salad
Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Israeli Salad 

Information About Ken’s Diner

About Ken’s Diner

Ken’s Diner has become a landmark in Chicago over the past 30 years. In 1976 owner Ken Hechtman first found himself coming to 3353 W. Dempster Street in Skokie, Illinois.  Once called Kosher City, Ken’s Diner is now the most popular Kosher-eating establishment in the World.  This grocery, deli and sandwich shop was the first of its type on the North Shore of Chicago.  Ken did not have a fluent understanding of Kosher when he began, but felt that it was by far an underdeveloped industry for such a large Jewish marketplace.

Inspired by a little deli in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin called the “Pop or Shop” Ken had the idea of creating a 50’s diner and grill for the Jewish community. As a child, Ken use to frequent the Pop or Shop and sit for hours playing music on the jukebox while downing French fries and milk shakes.This was something that they never had and might never have if he didn’t become proactive and taken a huge chance.

The owner recalls about when he first opened, “I had very little money back then and had to build the diner in sections”.  As shelving units from the grocery store came down, new red and white-checkered tiles went on the floor, landscaping the future of Ken’s Diner.  As more money became available, four new tables were bought.  Finally a new kitchen was built and the fifties music rang, while the first “Burger Buddy” made its magnificent debut. By this point, Ken had been at this location ten years and worked seventy plus hours a week to keep the diner open.

Onto the food: The famous burger served with curly fries, always on the menu for good reason, again and again gets a five star rating. All the burgers are nice and juicy. Other great menu items include popcorn chicken which are homemade hand dipped white meat chicken, crispy brown fried, served with tangy dipping sauce, and the Bay-Ken Burger; a burger with all the toppings including crispy frye and sauteed mushrooms. Travelers and locals alike agree that Ken hits the mark with his restaurant.

Ken attributes part of his success in the loyalty of his customers. Some of the clientele that came to the restaurant as teens are still coming well into their 40’s and 50’s with their kids.

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