Its a diner-style double cheeseburger that doesnt need much except for pickles, caramelized onions, and a special sauce. River North (Chicago) 6376 reviews. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). Those people are wrong, because the creamy sauce acts as a foil to the ultra-crispy meat and cool, crisp bed of shredded lettuce. Do note that the burger is only available on the daily brunch menu. Forget about a polite sear; the beef comes out shining like polished obsidian. It's not exactly the kind of thing you want to devour on a first date, but we're not judging if you do. Thin, griddled patties with perfectly melted cheese, LTO and special sauce will only set you back $7and it comes with free fries. Fortunately, the owners hope to revive the burger concept inside the Willis Tower food court next year. Turns out, if you go for lunch during the week you can order a much more manageable 6-ounce patty, which allows you to appreciate the care that goes into each burger here. Forget your manners and dig in. Edzo's makes arguably the best fast-casual burgers around. 226 W. Chicago Ave., 312-600-9268, goodmeasurechicago.com, Charly's Burger at Charly's Burgers. The Pub burger layers two griddled patties with cheddar, bacon aioli and red onions on a brioche bun made in-house. Oops. The best part about Table, Donkey & Stick is how little they care about having a great burger. Diners can order single, double, or triple patties; each includes cheese, relish, onions, and a mayo-based Region sauce. Sometimes the edges are so crisp, they accidentally poke your skin when you try to take a bite. The beef gets smashed down onto the griddle to give it a good sear. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. For now, beef is king. 25 Best Restaurants in the Chicago Suburbs May 20, 2020 by Lindsey Conger 26307 Tired of cooking dinner every night? 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. From diner-style classics and smash burgers to over-the-top creations, these are the best burgers in Chicago. 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). 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. Community Double Cheeseburger at Community Tavern. To soak up all the alcohol, the kitchen has created an unfussy, yet deeply satisfying, cheeseburger. Order online here. Originally conceived as a limited-time special, the overwhelming response to Edward Kims burger earned it a permanent place on the menu. RHR double cheeseburger and fries at Redhot Ranch. Four of the 20 best suburban Chicago burgers in Nick Kindelsperger's tour of 60 burgers. A second outpost has recently opened in Time Out Market Chicago. Or you could spring for the shops faithful reconstruction of In-N-Out Burgers Double-Double Animal-Style. , but locals know the city excels at burgers as well. Some creamy roasted shallot aioli adds bite, while sweet pickles add the acidity. Two thin patties are glued together with cheddar and topped with tangy pickles and a layer of garlic aioli. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. This allows the kitchen to get an incredible sear on the meat when they smash it on the blazing-hot griddle. Online ordering is availablehere. $8. Theres even sliced raw onion placed between the two patties. Soft bun, but stays together when you take a bite 4. I realize thats an insane number, and I dont even want to think about what my doctor would say about the feat. I love how the crisp and cold toppings interact with the creamy sauce and juicy beef and molten cheese. Order online here. One of the best burgers to try in Chicago is the Wolf Burger at the Little Bad Wolf. The 11 Best Restaurants in Chicago for a Romantic Date Night. They might be awesome, but not a single burger survived. Run by siblings Rafael and Elizabeth Royal, the burgers have a rich and lingering beefiness thats belies their size. The Two-n-Two is The Sandlots answer to In-N-Outs double-double, which is a double cheeseburger served with lettuce, tomato and a version of Thousand Island-style dressing. A heap of sliced red onions, thick-cut pickles and lettuce adds the necessary crunch, while the toasted bun holds it all together. Sure, its crazed and messy, but its worth trying at least once if you love this style. Four of the 20 best suburban Chicago burgers in Nick Kindelsperger's tour of 60 burgers. [Canned cocktails taste test: From Big Star margaritas to summery G&Ts, here are our 35 best and worst]. Look around, and youll see brioche buns falling out of favor, as soft rolls dotted with hundreds of sesame seeds pop up. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). 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 Im usually extremely leery of steakhouse burgers, because not enough attention is paid to how all the components work together. 3. Something went wrong. 5739 W. Irving Park Road, 773-283-7880, brgrbellyrestaurant.com, King-size cheeseburger at Top Notch Beefburgers. The only thing holding this burger back is a tragic lack of salt on the beef. Folks who prefer beefier offerings will appreciate that there are also eight-ounce char burgers. 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. Instead of an anonymous sauce, the kitchen uses both a salty and savory miso butter and a sweet and creamy hoisin aioli. Darn Good Burger at JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop. 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. Thanks to the blend of short rib, chuck and rib-eye, each bite is succulent, and the soft onion roll is an inspired partner. One look at the wagyu smash burger at RPM Steak and youll see we are dealing with something else entirely. Because Labriola is a top-notch bakery, it makes sense that it would make an excellent pretzel roll for its burger. The only place that scratches that itch for me is the Hoagie Hut in Waukegan. $10. This Wicker Park restaurant utilizes the slightly misleading tagline "Pizza & Stuff." Nearly every restaurant and bar has one on its menu these days, from no-frills stands to neighborhood taverns. If youre in the mood, one can get lost in the wild complexity of each bite. Weber Grill offers barbecue at its best, with a focus on charcoal cooking. A post shared by Ludlow Liquors Avondale (@ludlowliquors), 16 Chicago Bars with Legitimately Great Food. As you can tell from the picture, this beast is exceptionally juicy, so make sure to have that napkin ready. The oversized booth seating offers plenty of space to spread out and enjoy a smoky and delicious meal. Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe 626 reviews Closed Now American, Cafe $$ - $$$ 20.9 mi Schaumburg "Eat here! The north side is similar to other parts of the city in many . Thats because the shop, open since 1942, still grinds the beef in-house, ensuring each bite tastes impressively juicy, without being too greasy. Which is true. 177 N. Ada St., 773-913-3774, smythandtheloyalist.com/the-loyalist. Topped with aged cheddar, a hefty helping of crunchy giardiniera mayo and bread and butter pickles, the burger at Forbidden Root is unique but familiar. [Guide: 88 Marketplace is an Asian food wonderland hidden just west of Chinatown]. $8.95. But slide them under that bun, and the acidity helps counter the onslaught of meat and cheese. 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. A post shared by Cant Believe Its Meat (@cantbelieveitsnotmeatinc), Where to Chomp on Italian Beef Sandwiches in Chicago, 18 Vegetarian and Vegan Options For Super Bowl Sunday Snacking. The namesake creation consists of two chuck patties, crunchy sweet potato shoestrings, melty American cheese. Four of the 20 best suburban Chicago burgers in Nick Kindelsperger's tour of 60 burgers. Quality and simplicity are the keys to the excellent burger at this retro-chic tavern in Avondale. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. The whole thing is cushioned by a perfectly toasted brioche bun that practically melts in your mouth. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). Restaurants. 2728 W. Armitage Ave., 773-486-8525, tabledonkeystick.com, The Original Shiddy Burg at Shiddy Burger. 2. The burger should help soak up all the old fashioneds and bottles of High Life, too. The student has become the master. Nearly every restaurant and bar has one on its menu these days, from no-frills stands to neighborhood taverns. Its easy, then, to overlook the burger, but doing so would be a blunder. This one understands the importance crunch, searing the thin patty until it has a great crust, and then placing it on a toasted bun with lots of crisp vegetables. Its just that they put this kind of effort into every dish on the menu, so I totally get the conflict of visiting this adorable Logan Square spot and skipping the burger because everything sounds good. 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. $9.95. But the cheddar also lends the burger a tangy, earthy funk. So Im keeping this one on the list, if only to help spur a social media campaign to bring back Biancas phenomenal burgers. Because its aged for so long, the cheese doesnt melt well, and I totally understand if some find the faint bitterness distracting. 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,. newsletter here. (We'll let you catch your breath.) That, and the extensive menu of craft beers, includingsome limited-edition local brewsyou'll have to snag before theyre gone. THE SPOTS Ratings FAQ 8.1 Gretel American Logan Square Perfect For: Casual Weeknight Dinner Drinking Good Cocktails $$$$ 2833 W Armitage Ave, Chicago Earn 3X Points If Ive learned anything from my food writing career, its that there are always more burgers to try. Of the 9.5 million people who live in the Chicago metropolitan area, more than 6.8 million are in the suburbs. The Original Hog Wild 278 reviews Closed Now Quick Bites, American $$ - $$$ 8.0 mi Midlothian "A Cabin In The Rough." "Quick & Quality Barbecue" 2. It also has a subtle sweetness thanks to the onions, which are smoked and then pickled. 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. The Loyalist Original Cheeseburger with fries. $9.25. Whats the book on Justin Fields around the NFL? 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). 4038 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-283-6080, communitytavern.com, Biancas Original at Bianca's Burgers. The double cheeseburger is a masterpiece worthy of the marquee treatment. 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. 32 7. But my last couple visits have changed my mind, and the burger now stands as the ultimate example of this fascinating style. [Chicagos most secretive burger operation is mostly a one-man show. 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. Fortunately, unlike other suburban burger joints with charm to spare, this one also serves a great burger. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). For one glorious minute I sat content at my desk, happy that I got the chance to highlight what I thought were the meatiest and most alluring burgers in the area. While the single is satisfying, I do like the extra meatiness of the double cheeseburger. The burgers actually taste beefy, and the fries are textbook examples in frying. Since 1948, this south suburban chain has been serving some of the most aggressively smashed burgers in the country. 1. The burger is so popular it spawned its own spin-off, Mini Mott, with locations in Logan Square and Time Out Market Chicago. Should you ever find yourself in a situation where you want to blow a week's worth of calories in one sitting, grab a seat at Little Bad Wolf in Andersonville and order the Wolf Burger with a side of mac and cheese. A post shared by Henry Nieberg (@hungrier_henry), The Essential Restaurants for Affordable Dining in Chicago. Im not going to argue that paying over $15 for a burger makes financial sense, but I know that Id personally rather have one burger from The Loyalist than 15 regular cheeseburgers from McDonalds. You can just tell that owner Eddie Lakin thought through all the details. Two griddled patties sandwich a slice of American cheese and are placed over, rather than under, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. Thats exactly where they should remain. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). American. If you couldnt guess, Shiddys is irreverent and outlandish and definitely not for everyone. Best Burgers in Long Beach, CA - Crack, Sideburns Restaurant, Dave's Burgers, Bixby Classic Burger , Nice Burger - Long Beach, Hangry Belly, Bored & Hungry, Nillys Neighborhood Burger Shop, Eat Fantastic - Long Beach, Volcano Burgers 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 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. 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. Foursquare. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune). Thats especially true if you order the -pound burger, which gets the kind of grill marks youd expect from a backyard cookout. And you dont have to spend too much either, as the options are wholly affordableRedhot Ranchs double cheeseburger is less than $7. Two colossal, cheese-draped patties take center stage, completely outweighing the sturdy but soft bun they're housed within. If you're all about the toppings, skip ahead. Limit search to Chicago's North Shore. Order online here. Craft cocktails and a cozy backyard patio draw locals to this retro-chic bar in Avondale. Bars used to battle for burger supremacy by dishing out the biggest, craziest burger possible. Its a delicious Mexican twist on a timeless classic. Why tease us like this, Revival? (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune). You'llbrowse the menu at Owen & Engine, considering thehaddock fish and chips or the bangers and mash with cider onion gravy, but we both know that you're here for the burger. Dealing franchise icon Patrick Kane was heavy for GM Kyle Davidson. He also adds onions so caramelized they look nearly black and an absurdly soft bun made by his pastry chef, Angelyne Canicosa. Little Italy, UIC. 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. The messy mlange of flavors is wonderfully indulgent, with a cascade of garlic aioli and American cheese dripping out of every crevice. Everything about the burger is designed for textural perfection, from the toasted buns, griddled patties, crisp onion slices and crunchy pickles. 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. Vistro #3. Fans of big burgers are guaranteed to be pleased.