Visit Website . If they were skinny little patties draped in salty cheese, that would be one thing; but these were half-pound monsters of unseasoned meat. The namesake burger is old-school minimalist, a deeply satisfying quarter-pound patty of fresh ground round sauteed in its own juices and served with the simplest toppingsgrilled onions and ketchup-mustard-pickle on a feather-light bun. Nothing little about this burger! 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. Here are the best burgers you do not want to miss in Chicago. Clockwise from top left: Standard issue burger at Burger Antics, double griddled burger at Edzos Burger Shop, dry-aged griddled burger at Vistro and Mickey burger at Schoops. Thanks to the blend of short rib, chuck and rib-eye, each bite is succulent, and the soft onion roll is an inspired partner. "This BBQ is the real deal!". Irving Park sandwich shop JTs is heavy on Midwestern comfort, offering items like a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich and a Coney Island hot dog. Whats the book on Justin Fields around the NFL? Wrapping up the Chicago Blackhawks trade-deadline moves. 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. Because its aged for so long, the cheese doesnt melt well, and I totally understand if some find the faint bitterness distracting. It's simply one of the best fast food burgers you can get, although how "fast" the experience is can be highly dependent on the lines. A second outpost has recently opened in Time Out Market Chicago. So while were happy Lakin took those surly, greasy Vienna shops as his inspiration, were equally stoked he chose not to follow their practices. With beef grease still coursing through my veins, I released a list of the best burgers in Chicago back in February. Im not putting this at No. A salty cheddar cheese joins the beef, along with Vies own smoked bacon, bread and butter pickles and creamy Dijonnaise. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune) The best pizza Here's where you should place your next takeout. Two additional Cant Believe Its Not Meat outposts are located in Gold Coast and Orland Park. RECOMMENDED: Check out more of the best restaurants in Chicago. The meat is topped with a pile of finely sliced onions, green relish and Region Sauce, a bright pink mayo-based concoction. A post shared by Sam (@chicagoburgerbible), By submitting your email, you agree to our, Sign up for the Online ordering is available here. The beef is seasoned so well, I didnt even need any other components to touch the beef besides some good aged cheddar. Im an absolute sucker for this combination. As chef Matt Troost let me know in 2019, you can top the DIY burger with anything listed on the menu. . Lets get to the good stuff: Here are my picks for the 25 best burgers in Chicago. Four of the 20 best suburban Chicago burgers in Nick Kindelsperger's tour of 60 burgers. While not my favorite style, I can appreciate them when done well. The Memory Lane is reminiscent of a Big Mac (minus that superfluous middle bun), topped with thousand island dressing and white American cheese that mingles with the textures of raw onions, shredded lettuce and tomatoes. See More. Unfortunately, most of the burgers on the menu feature large quantities of other meats on top, like braised brisket or Korean barbecue pork belly. NADC Burger 5 Burgers River West Most breweries aren't exactly known for their food, but the kitchen at Old Irving Brewing Company proves that sustenance is just as important as the suds. Thick-cut bacon is an extra add-on that lifts the burger to even greater heights. And you can now get it every day at Time Out Market Chicago. But one look at the slim burger at Ludlow Liquors, and you know that chef Mickey Neely had something very different in mind. The loaded Philly cheesesteak and the meatless Chicago dog might distract you, but you're here for the "Who Betta" burger, which finds a quarter-pound Impossible patty dressed up with fresh greens, tomato, pickles, grilled red onions, Epitome sauce and cheese (go vegan or dairy). If Ive learned anything from my food writing career, its that there are always more burgers to try. The success of said Shiddy Burg has led to it becoming a permanent fixture on the menu. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). But the meat is seasoned well and cooked to proper specifications. But as I noted in April, an explosion of new burger joints has shaken up the scene. These are the 25 best restaurants in the Chicago suburbs to spice up date night. Some creamy roasted shallot aioli adds bite, while sweet pickles add the acidity. Whether it was dreaming up interesting topping choices or making sure to grind all the beef in house, they serve burgers that will make your city-dwelling friends jealous. The namesake burger features two thin patties draped with loads of gooey American cheese, all on a supremely squishy sesame bun. (For what its worth, the last one served my least favorite burger of 2019. It helps bring out the mineral notes of the top-quality beef. 2959 N. California Ave., 773-754-7492, ludlow-liquors.com, Single Cheeseburger at The Region. Its an East-meets-West mashup of flavors that packs an umami punch. If you have fallen into a rut with your delivery orders, it's time to switch it up! $13. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). Inspired by the smash burgers found in Northwest Indiana, the Region is an exemplar of the style. 1021 W. Armitage Ave. Chicago, IL 60614. So Im keeping this one on the list, if only to help spur a social media campaign to bring back Biancas phenomenal burgers. Its all about quality ingredients at this daytime eatery in West Town. Craft cocktails and a cozy backyard patio draw locals to this retro-chic bar in Avondale. Diners dont need processed fake meat to have a good time. A half-pound chuck patty is covered with guacamole, an over-easy egg, grilled onions, Chihuahua cheese, chipotle mayo, and chorizo. Schoops is so old school, its now on trend. Controversial Chicago police union President John Catanzara wins reelection. A similar but slightly smaller version is available at sibling restaurant Small Cheval. The Assembly American Bar & Cafe: Best Burger in Northwest Suburbs - Hands Down - See 239 traveler reviews, 27 candid photos, and great deals for Hoffman Estates, IL, at Tripadvisor. It pairs wonderful with Indian lager Bhavik and is available on Thursdays only with a beef version for omnivores which is also tasty. Of course, it helps that each plate even comes with loads of skinny fries, furthering the local connection. Or will the burger simply adapt with the times? The meat arrives on a puffy bun, complete with thinly sliced onions and pickles that add bite, crunch and acid, while squirts of mustard and ketchup lend tartness and sweetness. I seriously wonder if I am making the problem worse. If you're a hungry newbie, order the Super Ooey Gooey, two smash patties stuffed with cheddar, bacon and giardiniera and topped with Fatso sauce, tomato, lettuce and onions. Its easy, then, to overlook the burger, but doing so would be a blunder. Chicago Hamburger Chicago Burgers View map Sort by: Highest Rating 2022 1. Just as Kumas Corner and Au Cheval took turns transforming our burger scene, the city is in the grips of what this restaurant affectionately refers to as the Dirty Burg. Limit search to Chicago's North Shore. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune). Photo Credit: Mago Grill & Cantina Restaurants Facebook Whether you order a single (two patties) or a double (three), the meat here is topped with Kraft singles, Dijonnaise and house-made pickles. 3. The Best 10 Burgers near me in Chicago, Illinois Sort:Recommended Price Offers Delivery Offers Takeout Reservations 1. By the way, the shop also serves some of the best fresh cut fries Ive tried in the city. But the cheddar also lends the burger a tangy, earthy funk. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Here are my top 20, with the list of the other places I went at bottom. Originally conceived as a limited-time special, the overwhelming response to Edward Kims burger earned it a permanent place on the menu. That, and the extensive menu of craft beers, includingsome limited-edition local brewsyou'll have to snag before theyre gone. This amps up the ridiculousness of each bite to a level I found gleefully absurd. A post shared by Three House Chicago (@threehousechi), 20 Killer Fried Chicken Sandwiches in Chicago, 20 Great Restaurants for Solo Dining in Chicago. Try a bison burger, the guacamole burger or the more traditional Big DMK. Diners can also add bacon to it. The beefy patty a blend of Slagel Family Farm chuck, short rib, and brisket is placed on a housemade potato bun. While the single is satisfying, I do like the extra meatiness of the double cheeseburger. In its former stall, another totally average burger spot opened. So prepare to get messy in the most satisfying way by checking out our guide to the best burgers in Chicago. But none of this would matter if the base of the burger werent so solid. 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. Ive never quite gotten the hype around the burger at Little Bad Wolf, which always tasted oversized and under seasoned. With beef this good, I suggest keeping it simple, and crafting your own burger experience by going with the build your own burger option. As should be clear by now, Im not the biggest fan of oversize burger patties. Truthfully, a trip to Au Cheval is an ordeal, but that won't stop us from commending its signature item. 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. 1131 State St., Lemont; 630-257-0666; illinoisbarandgrill.org, Mickey burger at Schoop's. As should be the case, youll probably need to order more than one to make a meal, but the shop nails the balance of sweet-scented onions to salty, griddled meat. By focusing on the basics, owner Eddie Lakin has created a burger shop impervious to trends. $9.95. 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. Chef Tyler Nicksons burger goes further down the beefy rabbit hole than even The Loyalist has dared. Foursquare. $6.69. Instead of a standard burger sauce, this Portage Park spot crafted a complex slathering laced with fish sauce, Thai chiles and smoked tomato paste, which pushes and pulls against the excellent CDK farms ground beef. The West Loop spot is known for its award-winning double-decker burger and its hours-long wait. Please enter a valid email and try again. It's not exactly the kind of thing you want to devour on a first date, but we're not judging if you do. Even if you ignore the food, this is undoubtedly one of the friendliest burger joints Ive ever stepped foot in. 25 Best Restaurants in the Chicago Suburbs May 20, 2020 by Lindsey Conger 26307 Tired of cooking dinner every night? more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. As you can tell from the picture, this beast is exceptionally juicy, so make sure to have that napkin ready. Dozens upon dozens of people sent screeds angrily pointing out that I had skipped their favorite joint and was therefore an idiot. 5739 W. Irving Park Road, 773-283-7880, brgrbellyrestaurant.com, King-size cheeseburger at Top Notch Beefburgers. The namesake creation consists of two chuck patties, crunchy sweet potato shoestrings, melty American cheese. The smashed, griddled patties are highly addictive, highlighting the quality and care that owner Eddie Lakin is known for. For years, Time Out Chicago hosted an annual event called Battle of the Burger, where the city's best stackers faced off for the winning title. Like the regular double-double, you get the Thousand Island-based sauce, along with the sliced lettuce, tomatoes and pickles, but this burger also adds a mess of caramelized onions. All the beef is ground in-house, and all the buns are supple, yet structurally sound. 3. American. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). 90s-inspired shop with sandwiches that incorporateeverything from a secret spice mix and potato chipsto fried Spambasically, the stuff of any stoners munchies-fueled dreams. Your fingers will be coated with umami flavors by the time youre finished eating and we totally wont judge if you lick them clean. A post shared by I Ate This Burger (@iatethisburger). Order online here. 8433 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652. But there is no doubting the careful construction that goes into each burger. As distinct as it is, the bun doesnt overshadow the rest of the show. You can just tell that owner Eddie Lakin thought through all the details. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). Or you could spring for the shops faithful reconstruction of In-N-Out Burgers Double-Double Animal-Style. Its just a smash burger on a potato bun. So why is it so immensely satisfying? The standard issue arrives topped with bacon and a fried egg with a yolk just ready to erupt over the beef. 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. !" If tots are on the menu, always get the tots. What you need to live your best life now. Chef Paul Virant, best known for his passionate embrace of local produce and serious pickling skills, loves bacon cheeseburgers. Honestly, this one would have scored much higher if another burger from a Virant establishment hadnt stolen my heart. It might look oversized, but the bun couldnt be softer or more suited to the job. 3057 W. Logan Blvd., 773-904-7620, minimott.com, Black Betty at BRGRBELLY. Vistro #3. This glorious smash burger boasts a thin patty with super-crisp edges, American cheese, shredded lettuce, and secret sauce. 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 Dont forget to check out my original list. Personally, I find it hard to skip the flawlessly constructed double cheeseburger, but nearly everything here is worth trying. Carnivore 8. Emporium Arcade Bar returns, a Black-owned wine shop opens, plus 19 more restaurant openings in Chicago, Tamale Guy returns: Claudio Velez feeling completamente great as he relaunches bar route, sets up shop at Lone Wolf. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). But dont pass up the burger, which features quality Angus beef smashed flat on a griddle. The patty develops a shiny black exterior, as the edges become extra crispy. Serving their creations out of a stall inside Revival Food Hall, Bianca's Burgers dresses up four-ounce beef patties with all manner of toppings, but our favorite is a tribute to a familiar fast food staple. It all comes together on a toasty grilled brioche bun. 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. Its slathered in lots of dijonnaise, a creamy, acidic sauce made of mayonnaise, lemon and mustard. Perfectly seasoned burger 2. 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. If you're all about the toppings, skip ahead. Its a thick hand-formed patty with a secret recipe from co-chef Zeeshan Shah. By stripping away the excess, hes able to focus intently on the quality of every component. 9 Bucket-List Burgers in Chicago. The soft bakery bun is lightly grilled, adding to the smoky aroma. Chicago's best burgers of 2021 so far can be found at restaurants including (clockwise from top left): Big League Burgers, Bianca's Burgers, Kapitan, Shiddy Burger, Three House and JT's. , but locals know the city excels at burgers as well. 1, a bacon cheeseburger with charred balsamic onions and sweet barbecue sauce. Last time I visited, two gentlemen at the bar noticed one of many burger accolades hanging on the walls, and wondered aloud what it means to serve a great burger. Sure, the burger features freshly ground chuck and brisket from the Illinois-based Slagel Family Farm, but it also includes heaps of bone marrow, the supremely rich material locked inside beef bones. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Some house-made pickles lend acid, while sweet potato frizzles deliver unexpected hits of crunch. Ever since being crowned one of the best burgers in the country by numerous publications years ago, the tiny diner has been routinely mobbed, leading some locals to loudly declare the burger overrated. In the end, I tried 60 suburban burgers for this list, which brings my 2019 total to just over 130. Everything about the burger is designed for textural perfection, from the toasted buns, griddled patties, crisp onion slices and crunchy pickles. The fruit adds a subtle bit of tartnessthat helpscut throughthe otherwise rich bites. Chicagos most secretive burger operation is mostly a one-man show. The kitchen uses locally-sourced beef for its patties, which get flattened on the griddle and placed alongside American cheese, housemade pickles and horseradish sauce on a potato bun from Highland Bakery Co. You can (and should) request to add raw onions and if the weathers nice, snag a seat on the spacious back patio. Thats especially true around the edges of the patty, where the meat caramelizes so hard that it develops actual crunch. A post shared by Chomp Colorado | Foodie (@chompcolorado). Fans of big burgers are guaranteed to be pleased. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. The kitchen uses ground American wagyu meat from Sakura Wagyu Farms in Ohio, a beefier version of the highly marbled Japanese wagyu boasting a mix of 80% meat and 20% fat. Whats the book on Justin Fields around the NFL? Do. Although Smyth, the fine dining component, gets most of the accolades, its subterranean sibling is an equally superb place to eat and drink. $9.95. The service can sometimes be average but it's a good choice in . Chargrilled burgers come out topped with all the classics, but cooked to perfection. Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe 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. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). Is it time to discard Americas favorite dish? This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Au Cheval A list of the best burgers in Chicago would simply be incomplete without the burger at Au Cheval. The patty is smeared with bone marrow butter, which amps up the beefiness to rib-eye steak territory. But Lakin isnt above experimenting, and half the fun of visiting is deciding which route to take. Hot dogs. This towering double cheeseburger features two well-seared patties covered in two hues of cheese, all set on a glistening bun topped with two kinds of sesame seeds. Before we dig in, one note: Theres no question that beef consumption is a driver of climate change. 1 as I did in 2019 because Id like to recognize some other options in town, and because Id rather not see one of my favorite small restaurants get overrun with burger fiends again. Like most steakhouse burgers, Stefani Prime serves up its burger with lettuce, tomato and sliced raw onion on the side. 1571 Sherman Ave., Evanston; 847-864-3396; edzos.com, Stop-In Burger at the StopAlong. Not only does beloved late-night haunt Redhot Ranch sling what many consider to be the most exceptional burgers in town, it also offers one of the biggest bargains. Get the Mickey, and the meat will come with two slices of American cheese, along with mustard, ketchup, relish, onion, lettuce and tomato. Birthplace of the Big Baby, Nicky's is the best place to try a lesser-known Chicago original. Hes also tracked down the perfect bun for the job, an ultra squishy bun from Highland Bakery Co. My only suggestion is to add some raw onion slices, which are available for free. He uses incredible ground beef from Illinois-based Down at the Farms, created by Marty Travis of Spence Farm. There are no frills, just griddled four-ounce patties, American cheese, Dijonnaise, and pickles. Updated October 21, 2021. 226 W. Chicago Ave., 312-600-9268, goodmeasurechicago.com, Charly's Burger at Charly's Burgers. Can we just go ahead and declare Redhot Ranch a city treasure? Best Northwest Suburbs Burger By using this site you agree to Zomato's use of cookies to give you a personalised experience. Pickles and caramelized onions put in work to add a touch of brightness to every bite, but they're no match for the beef. . 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,. 2545 N. Kedzie Blvd, 773-687-8385, bigkidschicago.com, Smash burger at Three House. First time I visited this spot, I correctly noted the burgers debt to Californias favorite fast-food chain, In-N-Out. How can I spend so much time and snark harping on enormous burger patties, and still put Burger Antics and its hulking 9-ounce patty at No. This dark and sexy basement bar offers everything from foie gras eclairs to mussels inbrandade cream, but theburger is what keeps us coming back again and again. I know many honorable human beings who swear they love grain-based veggie burgers, and Ive found a couple I dont mind. 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. It's been years since the final iteration of the event, but we're still thinking about the reigning champ: Blue Door Kitchen's BDK burger. He modeled this offering on his favorite hometown burger, Wee Bs, which he grew up eating in Anchorage, Alaska. (773) 735-2050. But I have no complaints about the burgers. $7.99. Three House is the new kid in town with something to prove. What makes a burger special? The Illinois-based Slagel Family Farms dry-aged beef plays a huge role in the success, ensuring each bite is complex and juicy. 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. Cooked medium rare 3. 954 N. California Ave., 773-292-1616, rootstockbar.com, The Wagyu smash burger at RPM Steak. 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. 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Of the 9.5 million people who live in the Chicago metropolitan area, more than 6.8 million are in the suburbs. The burger is so popular it spawned its own spin-off, Mini Mott, with locations in Logan Square and Time Out Market Chicago. Among the best Chicago burgers of 2021 are those found at (clockwise from top left): Good Measure; The Stop Along; Charly's Burgers; Donkey, Table and Stick; Ludlow Liquors and The Loyalist. $11. Bars used to battle for burger supremacy by dishing out the biggest, craziest burger possible. Thing is, a lot of people live in Chicagos suburbs. The Polo Inn Bridgeport U.S.A. But Edzos proves how utterly captivating a no-nonsense cheeseburger executed with precision can be. Worth the wait!" 2022 2. This is a veggie burger that tastes like delicious mushroom and kale because those are the actual ingredients. 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 1. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). Abigails understands this. Cheeseburger with fries at Ludlow Liquors. Pair it withone of the brewery's botanic-inspired beers for an impeccable combo. 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. Two colossal, cheese-draped patties take center stage, completely outweighing the sturdy but soft bun they're housed within. Among the best Chicago burgers of 2021 are those found at (clockwise from top left): Good Measure; The Stop Along; Charly's Burgers; Donkey, Table and Stick; Ludlow Liquors and The.