But I have no complaints about the burgers. Au Cheval A list of the best burgers in Chicago would simply be incomplete without the burger at Au Cheval. In the end, I tried 60 suburban burgers for this list, which brings my 2019 total to just over 130. The Original Hog Wild 278 reviews Closed Now Quick Bites, American $$ - $$$ 8.0 mi Midlothian "A Cabin In The Rough." "Quick & Quality Barbecue" 2. 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). Nearly every restaurant and bar has one on its menu these days, from no-frills stands to neighborhood taverns. $14. Then the emails came. They might be awesome, but not a single burger survived. Soft bun, but stays together when you take a bite 4. This experience is all about reveling in the juicy and slightly funky aged beef paired with a well-toasted bun. 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. Its like a Steak n Shake burger taken to the limits of sanity. This slick, little quick-service shop in Elmwood Park serves griddled burgers with, lets face it, a slightly silly name. While the pies are tasty, hidden in plain sight is the best item on the menu a simple double cheeseburger with American cheese and smashed patties. 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. The original Evanston location is temporarily closed but a second outpost is located in Urbanspace food hall. Best Burger Restaurant in North Suburbs - Zomato It doesnt help that Au Cheval doesnt grind meat in-house or bake the buns. Chicago's best burger -- from dive bars to fancy hotels, one reporter Birthplace of the Big Baby, Nicky's is the best place to try a lesser-known Chicago original. But this burger obsession chose me, and I feel completely unable to resist. Get the Mickey, and the meat will come with two slices of American cheese, along with mustard, ketchup, relish, onion, lettuce and tomato. As you can tell from the picture, this beast is exceptionally juicy, so make sure to have that napkin ready. Its all about quality ingredients at this daytime eatery in West Town. But the burger here is as good as ever. Online ordering is available here. 2057 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-2874, theregionburgers.com, CDK Farm burger at Table, Donkey & Stick. Leigh Loftus Fortunately, the creamy aioli helps tie the beef and cheese together. This delicious monstrosity includes three patties, fat strips of bacon, molten American cheese, onion straws, house-made pickles, a swath of mayo and a fried egg crown. Find the nearest Whataburger location near you | Burgers, Fast Food, Shakes Photo Credit: Mago Grill & Cantina Restaurants Facebook Little Italy, UIC. When I asked Tom OBrien from BRGRBELLY what made the burgers at this beloved Portage Park spot so good, he hesitated for a moment, before saying, We do everything from scratch. Not only do the cooks grind the meat in-house, they mix in some fatty pork belly with the beef. A chaser of thick-cut fries and garlicky aioli is the only thing that will keep you from scarfing down this handheld in five minutes flat. What I want are real sliders, the ones covered in a mess of soft, sauteed onions, the scent of which seems to follow you around for hours afterward. As distinct as it is, the bun doesnt overshadow the rest of the show. I dont count those cutesy little burgers that fancier places serve, with their horrendous meat-to-bun ratios. But slide them under that bun, and the acidity helps counter the onslaught of meat and cheese. 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 3. $16. newsletter here. Im not usually one for unmelted cheese on my burgers, but the extra sharp cheddar used here helps complement the extra-fatty patty. Chicago has a reputation for pizzas of all styles and hot dogs, but locals know the city excels at burgers as well. From Buffalo Grove to Naperville, we'll explore the definitive top five best burgers in the Chicago suburbs. Guide to outdoor dining in Chicago suburbs: Empire Burgers & Brew in But I wasnt prepared for just how soft it would be, or for how much dark, roasted pretzel flavor would come through in each bite. Chef Paul Virant, best known for his passionate embrace of local produce and serious pickling skills, loves bacon cheeseburgers. 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. After 7pm, the burgers only available at the bar so plan accordingly. Steamboat BBQ. But theres something about how the kitchen chars the bun, so that its seconds from being burned, that adds a thrilling campfire aroma. Dj vu! Trust us when we say that you'll want to know what every single one of these tastes like. Char Burger with Merkts Cheddar at Paradise Pup ($6.69) (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). As Ive noted,the beef could use some seasoning, but that problem is solved if you decide to go with salty Merkts cheddar. Best of all, a double cheeseburger is less than $7. Its more complex, juicier and has a more pleasing texture. Reviewed April 15, 2014 . more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. 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 Although Smyth, the fine dining component, gets most of the accolades, its subterranean sibling is an equally superb place to eat and drink. Heres the story behind the smash success. I love how the crisp and cold toppings interact with the creamy sauce and juicy beef and molten cheese. The 25 best burgers in Chicago, ranked. 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. Two thin patties are glued together with cheddar and topped with tangy pickles and a layer of garlic aioli. 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,. A similar but slightly smaller version is available at sibling restaurant Small Cheval. A post shared by Chomp Colorado | Foodie (@chompcolorado). A post shared by Community Tavern (@communitytavern), Where to Order Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Dumplings in Chicago. This problem afflicted a number of established places like Brandts of Palatine, The Assembly and Hackneys on Harms. I cant remember a time when there were so many outrageously great burgers around. Fortunately, we've got the inside scoop on the best burger joints around the suburbs. Best Burger Restaurant in Northwest Suburbs - Zomato Is it time to discard Americas favorite dish? Dry-aged Slagel Farms burger at Rootstock. Since 1948, this south suburban chain has been serving some of the most aggressively smashed burgers in the country. Sign up for our Eat. Im not putting this at No. Double Griddled Burger at Edzo's Burger Shop. One of the very best burger buns in the whole of the Chicago metropolitan area can be found at this heavy metal bar in the far southwestern suburbs. The list features several of the more popular spots in town, such as Au Cheval and the Loyalist, alongside some under-the-radar gems. 1. [Canned cocktails taste test: From Big Star margaritas to summery G&Ts, here are our 35 best and worst]. King-size cheeseburger at Top Notch Beefburgers. The burgers actually taste beefy, and the fries are textbook examples in frying. A post shared by Henry Nieberg (@hungrier_henry), The Essential Restaurants for Affordable Dining in Chicago. If the wait left you ravenous, opt to add a fried egg or thick cut bacon. It helps bring out the mineral notes of the top-quality beef. To access, Nickson soaks bones for hours and then scrapes the marrow out by hand. American. 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 !" If tots are on the menu, always get the tots. They change the toppings seasonally, but right now the burger arrives topped with sweet smoked onion, gooey Butterkse cheese, and acidic house pickles. Very good bar food. Hopefully, more places in town try to replicate this style, because its quickly becoming a Chicago specialty. The namesake creation consists of two chuck patties, crunchy sweet potato shoestrings, melty American cheese. A post shared by Elizabeth J. Bandolik (@ebandolik), Where to Find the Best Smash Burgers in Chicago. Diners can order single, double, or triple patties; each includes cheese, relish, onions, and a mayo-based Region sauce. 20 Restaurants That Define Chicago's South Side Burger styles rise and burger styles fall, but Top Notch Beefburgers in Beverly will never fall out of fashion. North Suburbs Restaurants - OpenTable Thats especially true around the edges of the patty, where the meat caramelizes so hard that it develops actual crunch. 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. The Black Angus beef patty is enormous, but cooked to a spot-on medium rare, while the two-year-old white cheddar adds a real sharp bite. So Im keeping this one on the list, if only to help spur a social media campaign to bring back Biancas phenomenal burgers. Its an East-meets-West mashup of flavors that packs an umami punch. Whats the draw? Honestly, this one would have scored much higher if another burger from a Virant establishment hadnt stolen my heart. But youll know something is up after the first bite. 1. Then, modeled after In-N-Outs commitment to quality, the kitchen adds fresh lettuce, onions, tomato, cheese, and special sauce. Its a diner-style double cheeseburger that doesnt need much except for pickles, caramelized onions, and a special sauce. But Edzos proves how utterly captivating a no-nonsense cheeseburger executed with precision can be. THE 10 BEST Burgers in Chicago (Updated March 2023) - Tripadvisor 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. Carnivore 8. The Pub burger layers two griddled patties with cheddar, bacon aioli and red onions on a brioche bun made in-house. To accentuate the richness of the meat, Nickson adds Hooks Three Year Sharp cheddar. Cooked medium rare 3. Before we dig in, one note: Theres no question that beef consumption is a driver of climate change. 954 N. California Ave., 773-292-1616, rootstockbar.com, The Wagyu smash burger at RPM Steak. Top Five Best Burgers in the Chicago Suburbs | Ralphie And Ryan The two (yes, two) patties on the single cheeseburger are seared over high heat and stacked neatly on a bun thats toasted on both sides. Dont forget to check out my original list. 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. 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. . Pickles and caramelized onions put in work to add a touch of brightness to every bite, but they're no match for the beef. Regardless, it's worth the wait for the signature . He also adds onions so caramelized they look nearly black and an absurdly soft bun made by his pastry chef, Angelyne Canicosa. When he decided to create one for Vistro, his casual bistro in Hinsdale, he delivered a version that hits all the key points of the classic juicy beef paired with salty pork while also letting his unique style shine through. Cheeseburger with fries at Ludlow Liquors. Of course, it helps that each plate even comes with loads of skinny fries, furthering the local connection. Sadly, just days before publishing this, the two moved across the food hall to open Biancas Bodega, which serves other kinds of sandwiches. But the owners have gotten the proportions just right in their follow-up spot, Gretel. Youve heard of bacon on a burger, but what of bacon in a burger? Burgers, beers, and whiskeys are the focus at Andersonville gem Little Bad Wolf. Dealing franchise icon Patrick Kane was heavy for GM Kyle Davidson. Truthfully, a trip to Au Cheval is an ordeal, but that won't stop us from commending its signature item. But most of these burgers were cooked with little to no salt. You can order your burger with thin and smashed or big and beefy patties plus a variety of indulgent toppings like caramelized onions, thick-cut bacon and giardiniera. [Emporium Arcade Bar returns, a Black-owned wine shop opens, plus 19 more restaurant openings in Chicago]. 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. A post shared by FeedMe (@miriam_foodie). Its served on a challah bun and folks can add an optional, but highly recommended, gooey Merkts cheddar spread. But the meat is seasoned well and cooked to proper specifications. Channeling old-school burger joints in Northwest Indiana, the Region is known for its smash burger, with an iconic, lacey-edged patty that extends well past the bun. But a solid rendition of a Vienna . This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Nothing little about this burger! Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe A mix of ground chuck and brisket from Slagel Family Farm forms the patties, which get smooshed onto the griddle. Au Cheval 1,275 reviews Open Now American, Bar $$ - $$$ "Tasty burger and great beer" "Awesome Food. Abigails understands this. 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. If they were skinny little patties draped in salty cheese, that would be one thing; but these were half-pound monsters of unseasoned meat. 1724 S. River Road, Des Plaines; 847-699-8590, Baby burger at Illinois Bar & Grill. It all comes together on a toasty grilled brioche bun. Lets get to the good stuff: Here are my picks for the 25 best burgers in Chicago. A handful of pickles and a sprinkle of red onions add some much needed acidity to the mix, but the cloud-like sesame seed bun really takes things over the edge. Or will the burger simply adapt with the times? Grilled onions go on top of the beef and the whole thing is set on a sesame seed bun. 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. For $6.11, you can score one of the citys very best double cheeseburgers paired with a bag full of crispy fresh-cut fries (which we once picked as the second best in Chicago).