Irving Park sandwich shop JTs is heavy on Midwestern comfort, offering items like a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich and a Coney Island hot dog. newsletter, 20 Restaurants That Define Chicago's South Side. But a solid rendition of a Vienna . Happy Dog. Originally conceived as a limited-time special, the overwhelming response to Edward Kims burger earned it a permanent place on the menu. Park Ridge residents are lucky to have such an approachable burger joint kicking out a version this good. But the folks behind Gretel in Logan Square do have some experience slinging pristine patties at sister spot Little Bad Wolf, which is also on this list. Schoops has been aggressively smashing beef on a griddle in Munster, Indiana, since 1948. Nearly every restaurant and bar has one on its menu these days, from no-frills stands to neighborhood taverns. The Original Shiddy Burg at Shiddy Burger. Photo Credit: Theory Theory 9 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654 Advertisement 800 W. Randolph St., 312-929-4580, auchevaldiner.com, Mott Burger at Mini Mott. This problem afflicted a number of established places like Brandts of Palatine, The Assembly and Hackneys on Harms. But thats where any similarity with other burgers ends. From diner-style classics and smash burgers to over-the-top creations, these are the best burgers in Chicago. Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe Available until 7 p.m. in the dining room or all night at the bar, the beefy Mott Burger has it all: Double chuck patties, miso butter, sweet potato frizzles, pickled jalapenos, hoisin aioli, American cheese, sautedonions, and dill pickles. Three Floyd's Brewpub #4. Fortunately, you can rectify this by asking for your char burger slathered with salty Merkts cheddar, the spreadable Wisconsin specialty. The "flexitarian" menu puts plant-based products on a pedestal, forging a delectable path ahead for those who are transitioning to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. As Ive noted,the beef could use some seasoning, but that problem is solved if you decide to go with salty Merkts cheddar. John and Karen Urie Shields opened a two-pronged project to much acclaim in 2016. What makes a burger special? Uncommonly thick Nutella shakes, fries with truffle saltwhere does the low-brow end and high-end begin at Eddie Lakins burger shop? Restaurants. You can have a very good burger without them, but youll never quite reach the top. When all ground together, the result is the beefiest burger Ive ever encountered, with a flavor that reminds me of prime dry-aged rib-eye. Nick Kindelsperger/Chicago Tribune The Famous Kuma at Kuma's Corner Price: $14.50 Kuma's Corner basically popularized the hilariously huge, abundantly topped burger. At its base, its a simple double cheeseburger with American cheese. After 7pm, the burgers only available at the bar so plan accordingly. Most importantly, restaurants finally recognize the importance of onions. A second location is in Lakeview. The signature Original Shiddy Burgerbeganas a weekly special before the demand couldn't be ignored. Im not usually one for unmelted cheese on my burgers, but the extra sharp cheddar used here helps complement the extra-fatty patty. Order online here. The fruit adds a subtle bit of tartnessthat helpscut throughthe otherwise rich bites. Charlie Beinlichs has an irresistible atmosphere thats part 1960s-era steakhouse (think buttoned up waiters zooming around tables) mixed with gruff local diner (it is a burger joint after all). A heap of sliced red onions, thick-cut pickles and lettuce adds the necessary crunch, while the toasted bun holds it all together. Think Venteux's chuck patty topped with raclette and crispy shallots, Adorn's dry-aged prime beef burger, or Blue Door Farm Stand's vegan quinoa burger with mango chutney. By stripping away the excess, hes able to focus intently on the quality of every component. Dealing franchise icon Patrick Kane was heavy for GM Kyle Davidson. Weber Grill offers barbecue at its best, with a focus on charcoal cooking. Crusade Burger Bar 6. The meat is ground in-house, and all the condiments are made in the kitchen. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune) The best pizza Here's where you should place your next takeout. You know, the one with a. The burgers, which come in three sizes, are made exclusively of meat from the cow leg and accompanied by cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, and raw or grilled onions. It's a fine specimen that easily rivals the city's top oldies. Nearly every restaurant and bar has one on its menu these days, from no-frills stands to neighborhood taverns. The burger patty, recognized as one ofBon Appetitsthree best in 2017, is a blend of short rib, chuck, and ground bacon. The 30 years of popularity and incredible awards (WGN TV's Chicago's Best named it the juiciest burger ever) are enough to send burger lovers flocking to this McHenry County town with their hand-formed, 10 oz burgers freshly prepared to make your taste buds sing. Everything about the burger is designed for textural perfection, from the toasted buns, griddled patties, crisp onion slices and crunchy pickles. Best Burger Restaurant in North Suburbs 0 Portillo's Hot Dogs 4.9 American, Italian, Burger, Sandwich $30 for two Arlington Heights, Chicago 0 Superdawg Drive-in 4.3 Burger, Fast Food $25 for two Norwood Park, Chicago 0 Edzo's Burger Shop 4.3 Burger, Sandwich $20 for two Evanston, Chicago Closes in 23 minutes 0 Buffalo Joe's 4.3 The BBQ brisket sandwich at Empire Burgers & Brew in Naperville features beer BBQ sauce, cheddar, apple and apple cabbage slaw on a pretzel roll. Instead of an imposing pretzel bun, Crusade uses an absurdly soft potato-based brioche bun, which acts like a fluffy cradle for the half pound of freshly ground beef. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Chicago has a reputation for pizzas of all styles and hot dogs, but locals know the city excels at burgers as well. Like most steakhouse burgers, Stefani Prime serves up its burger with lettuce, tomato and sliced raw onion on the side. Because Labriola is a top-notch bakery, it makes sense that it would make an excellent pretzel roll for its burger. The staff at the restaurant serve this dish with three beef patties, onion straws, and house-made pickles to boot. Perfectly seasoned burger 2. The Chicago Bears QB has to figure out the simple to get to the next level. So prepare to get messy in the most satisfying way by checking out our guide to the best burgers in Chicago. 9 Burger at Abigail's 8 Char burger with Merkt's cheddar at Paradise Pup 7 Bacon burger at Carnivore 6 Mickey burger at Schoop's 5 Build your own burger at Crusade Burger Bar 4 Standard issue burger at Burger Antics 3 Burger at Three Floyds Brewpub 2 Dry-aged griddled burger at Vistro 1 Double griddled burger at Edzo's Burger Shop 31 56 Of course, it helps that each plate even comes with loads of skinny fries, furthering the local connection. Burgers, beers, and whiskeys are the focus at Andersonville gem Little Bad Wolf. It all comes together on a toasty grilled brioche bun. Whataburger uses 100% pure American beef served on a big, toasted five-inch bun. Forget about a polite sear; the beef comes out shining like polished obsidian. Of course, they put an outrageous amount of effort into it, baking the soft and fragrant pretzel buns and grinding the CDK Farms beef in-house. Best of all, a double cheeseburger is less than $7. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). "This BBQ is the real deal!". It stars a smash patty, which has been mixed with shredded cheese so the edges caramelize when cooked, shredded lettuce, American cheese and a Big Mac-esque secret sauce. 32 7. Sometimes the edges are so crisp, they accidentally poke your skin when you try to take a bite. But I have no complaints about the burgers. Thats especially true around the edges of the patty, where the meat caramelizes so hard that it develops actual crunch. Folks who prefer beefier offerings will appreciate that there are also eight-ounce char burgers. Its just that few places know how to work the grill like Paradise Pup. We are living in The Loyalists burger world right now in Chicago. Soft bun, but stays together when you take a bite 4. $5.95. Schoops is so old school, its now on trend. Johnnie's Beef is consistently listed as the top Italian Beef joint in Chicagoland by pretty much everyone who's ever been there, including us. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). A post shared by The Loyalist (@theloyalistchicago). For years, Ive been a doubter of The Region, thinking old-school places in the south suburbs such as Schoops and Miner-Dunn did this style of ultra-smashed burger better. Also, dont miss the digital billboard, just south of the restaurant on Milwaukee that throws some shade on Small Cheval. Edzo's makes arguably the best fast-casual burgers around. Two thin patties are glued together with cheddar and topped with tangy pickles and a layer of garlic aioli. Sign up for our Eat. Best Burgers in Chicago, IL - Au Cheval, Chi Burger Babi, Salt Burgers + Fries, Firefly Burgers, SafeHouse Chicago, Small Cheval- Wicker Park, Little Bad Wolf, Burger Antics, Happy Bites Burger & Wings, Burger Theory Chicago CDK Farm burger at Table, Donkey & Stick. Although Smyth, the fine dining component, gets most of the accolades, its subterranean sibling is an equally superb place to eat and drink. It took me eating 131 burgers in 2019 to realize how crucial onions are to a great burger. Farm Burger, Decatur, Georgia 4505 Burgers & BBQ, San Francisco, California Holsteins Shakes and Buns, Las Vegas, Nevada Kuma's Corner, Chicago, Illinois MELT Gourmet Cheeseburgers, Leesburg,. $6.69. The beef is flattened on the griddle to give it caramelized edges and sits on a squishy potato bun along with pickles, American cheese, and horseradish sauce. Try the Super Ooey Gooey for quite a mouthful two smashed patties are stuffed with Merkts cheddar, bacon, and giardiniera and dressed with Fatsos sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. Big Kids, the nostalgia-driven sandwich shop by chefs Ryan Pfeiffer and Mason Hereford, first started flipping burgers during select hours and days. But what I missed was that the burger also showcases a deep love and understanding for the Midwests own fantastic burger spot, Steak n Shake. This light-filled shop on North Cicero blends bacon in with the beef to create a patty thats laced with an unmistakable smoky profile. Controversial Chicago police union President John Catanzara wins reelection. The namesake burger features two thin patties draped with loads of gooey American cheese, all on a supremely squishy sesame bun. Honestly, Shake Shack has nothing on this place. [Guide: 88 Marketplace is an Asian food wonderland hidden just west of Chinatown]. Instead of sliced onion, I think some caramelized onions would really make this one sing and, obviously, the spear of olives, pickle and tomato is superfluous, but theres no doubting the quality of the beef here. 4? And with it marked the glorious return of one of Chicagos favorite burgers. The vast scope of the suburbs excited me so much I decided to limit my next burger quest to finding the best one outside the city. Heres the story behind the smash success. Birthplace of the Big Baby, Nicky's is the best place to try a lesser-known Chicago original. 9 Bucket-List Burgers in Chicago. Chef Paul Virant, best known for his passionate embrace of local produce and serious pickling skills, loves bacon cheeseburgers. The Gage 2,344 reviews Open Now American, Bar $$ - $$$ "Enjoyable place for lunch and great." "A haven." 2022 3. Something went wrong. 66 W. Kinzie St., 312-284-4990, rpmrestaurants.com/rpm-steak-chicago/, Single cheeseburger at Au Cheval. $16. Four of the 20 best suburban Chicago burgers in Nick Kindelsperger's tour of 60 burgers. THE SPOTS Ratings FAQ 8.1 Gretel American Logan Square Perfect For: Casual Weeknight Dinner Drinking Good Cocktails $$$$ 2833 W Armitage Ave, Chicago Earn 3X Points Online orders can be placed here. Choose between the quarter-pound Who Betta burger and the Big Mik, a riff on the Big Mac that comes with double patties, special sauce, pickles, lettuce, and either dairy or vegan cheese on a sesame seed bun. Dont forget to check out my original list. $13.50 with fries. Blame the expertly seasoned cuts of beef, spice-rich,. The double cheeseburger is a masterpiece worthy of the marquee treatment. The StopAlong is a family-friendly pizzeria dedicated to the nostalgia of the80s and 90s. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). I especially love how all the toppings, like lettuce and onion, are layered in exacting proportions so each bite gets the proper needed crunch. Edward Kims Asian fusion restaurant is home to a tremendous burger. A post shared by Mott St Chicago (@eatmottst). The latest additions to the list below include Avondale tavern Ludlow Liquors, retro-themed dive bar Good Measure, and modern Mexican kitchen La Mejikana. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here. Thanks to the blend of short rib, chuck and rib-eye, each bite is succulent, and the soft onion roll is an inspired partner. A longstanding South Side institution thats been around since 1942, Top-Notch Beefburgers is one of the last of a dwindling breed of classic Chicago grease joints and perhaps the best. After three frustrating burgers in one day, I tweeted out the following message: Maybe most suburban burgers are bad?, Before the hate mail floods in, let me explain. While The Loyalist is more balanced, and its hard to see this one gaining as many devoted acolytes, this is the most exciting burger right now in Chicago. The messy mlange of flavors is wonderfully indulgent, with a cascade of garlic aioli and American cheese dripping out of every crevice. ]. (Shonda Talerico Dudlicek/Naperville Sun) Will . The shop also uses a soft sesame seed bun, which has suddenly become popular again after way too many years of restaurants favoring overly buttery brioche buns. Fans of big burgers are guaranteed to be pleased. So while were happy Lakin took those surly, greasy Vienna shops as his inspiration, were equally stoked he chose not to follow their practices.