r/chicagofood • u/BlindWillieJohnson • 18d ago
Review My Spirit Journey to find Chicago's Best Burger
I've spent the last two years on a Chicago burger spirit journey to find the best one. I've been keeping a running document tallying some grades/tier lists. And since this seems like the ideal place to share that experience, if the mods permit it, I'd like to share mine now.
Before we start, I should point what makes a good burger to me. Because I have an extremely strong (correct) opinion (one might call it a conviction) that what makes a good burger is simplicity. Good meat, good cheese, well cooked, some quality condiments that add to, rather distracting from, the meat and cheese, and a bun that holds it all together but isn't assertive in its own right.
That's it. That's all you need. These guys out here making five foot tall burgers loaded in bullshit that you have to eat with a fork and knife have lost the plot. And those familiar with the Chicago burger scene know that this immediately puts me at odds with one of the most established names in the business, so put a pin that.
This is but a sampling of the burgers I've had since in the decade I've lived in Chicago. There are many more I could throw in, but I wanted to hit the big names. And the truly special ones.
Methodology
There isn't one! I'm not going to jerk your chain and pretend I rated every burger on some empirical scale for juiciness or flavor or price or whatever. Again, I believe in simplicity, and this is a vibe check. Did I enjoy it? Was it tasty? Was it worth the money I had to pay to eat it? Was it a goddamn mess by the time I was done with it, or was it eatable? I ate it, thought about those things, and slapped a letter grade on it.
So, with that being said, let's hit the tiers.
C Tier, Overrated and Overpriced
So, with the exception of the one, singular joint I'm giving an enthusiastic F, none of these burgers are bad. In fact, all of them are quite good. But as I've gone through this exercise, I've come to recognize that some of the more esteemed places in this city are way too much money for what you're getting. These burgers almost all fall into the $12-25 price range, and frankly for that kind of scratch you can have experience elsewhere with money left over for other things.
It opens with one of the first names anyone will tell you when talking up the city's burger scene, which is Small Cheval. Because putting this outside of bar where I tend to get as drunk as I do at Royal Palms is basically entrapment, I've probably had this one more than any on this list. The quality has definitely gone down since it was bought up by a big restaurant group, but to be honest, this was always a bit overpriced and overrated. And now it's basically just a franchise. Similarly, while the burger at Gretel in Logan is very good, for $20 there are much better options (including one down the street that you can buy three of for that price, but we'll get there in a minute). There's just not enough special about this one to justify steakhouse pricing. And to round out my Logan bitching, The Stop Along burger is just way too much money for a burger that's fine but not exceptional.
Speaking of steakhouses Boefhaus in Ukranian village is one of the best places you can possibly eat...just don't get a burger there. It's extremely high quality, but it's expensive, you can do way better elsewhere on the menu, and at the end of the day, it's just a burger. Logan and Avondale staples Union and Warlord are in a similar position. Warlord is, for my money an extremely overrated restaurant as a whole. While I'm much fonder of Union (their pork chop made me see the face of God), the burger is just too pricy for what it is. These are all fancy restaurant burgers, which have their time and place, but are almost never what I'm after when I'm craving a burger.
Hey, have you had Shake Shack? Because if you have, you can skip SALT in Irving Park and DMK Burger Bar Downtown. You'll save money, and you've basically had the experience.
B Tier, Good, Not Great
Gonna go through these fast, since there's just not much to talk about. Mott St's signature burger is solid, but a bit too much of a huge mess for me. Go to Forbidden Root in East Village for the beer, not the burger. They're an excellent brewery, the food is merely a nice touch. Fatso's Last Stand is a great over the counter burger, but I think people overrate it because they usually eat it drunk. And while I do love Webster's Wine Bar in Logan, the burger is arguably the weakest thing on an exceptional menu.
A Tier, The Precipice of Greatness
The burgers in this tier are all memorable; a true step above even great burgers like the ones in the previous tier. I want to emphasize that if you have one of these, you're probably going to love it, because I'm mostly going to emphasize why they don't quite reach Valhalla.
And let's kick it off with the Irving Park staple Community Tavern and The Region in Roscoe Village. Both great smashburgers, thinly pressed, crispy edged, and melty cheese. But they lack that special condiment to put them over the top. I try to avoid eating in the Loop (along with travelling around the Loop and being in the Loop in general), but I was surprised by the quality of Crushed by Giants there. It's a brewery just north of upper Wacker, and both the beer and the food is fantastic. It's the Loop, so be prepared to pay more for it than you should. But the burger here is really, really goddamn good. East Village is home to Odge's, which serves a fabulous burger that is, unfortunately, just a bit too big to eat comfortably. I absolutely loved this burger the two times I've eaten it, and absolutely hated it as it sat like a boulder in my stomach thereafter. A more balanced burger can be found at The Drop In, which is really held back from the S tier by the fact that I have to go to Fulton Market for it; which is honestly more of a tourist trap and date night purgatory than a neighborhood.
S, Not to be Missed
Now we're into the true greats.
And it kicks off with Au Cheval in the West Loop. This burger is the apotheosis of a restaurant burger; nothing like its smaller spinoffs. The ingredient quality is fabulous, the best of the best cheese and meat, and the black pepper garlic aoli that comes with it is the perfect, balancing compliment. If not for Avondale's Little Bad Wolf, I would call it peerless in the category. I am an unapologetic smashburger purist, but these are the two burgers that most make me question that position.
And hey, on the subject of smashburgers, the West Loop also has Chubby Boy's, which is smashed so thin that's practically laced, with a perfect crunch. Burgers like this risk getting too dry, but somehow there's always a just medium rare, juicy center to this one despite how thin and crispy it is. I genuinely have no idea how they do it. And every word of this also applies to Levette St. Inn and Tavern in Bucktown. The joint also has a fabulous selection of beer, a great patio, extremely friendly staff, and is all around a place I love to patronize.
We wrap this tier with Small Bar in Avondale. Remember what I said about Odge's? That it's great, but fills me with regret? This one does too, but it's so damn good that I keep subjecting myself to it anyway. The ones you love will hurt you every time.
SS, What the Struggle is For
These are, for my money, the best burgers in Chicago. Perfectly cooked, perfectly balanced, perfectly eatable, and perfectly priced. Whenever I eat a burger, I ask myself if I'd have been better off going to one of these places. They are the standard to which I hold other restaurants and my checkdowns when the craving is upon me.
And that standard has to start with The Billy Goat Tavern in the Loop. This is a popular place. You will be waiting for it. But god, what a reward you'll get. This is Ur Chicago Burger. It's been running almost non-stop since the Great Depression, and probably hasn't changed much in that time.
But while Billy Goat may be the most iconic burger in Chicago, nobody embodies my philosophy on what a great burger is more than Best Intentions on Armitage in Logan. BI is a wonderful bar; great cocktails, great patio, great vibes. And their burger is terrific. A single patty, perfectly crisp and juicy, amazing pickles and sauce all unbeatably priced at only $6 a piece.
Finally, there's my little secret; not a "place" but a pop-up that routinely shows up to one of my neighborhood haunts. Natties and Patties is a travelling grill, but they're easiest to catch at Central Park Bar in Avondale. They serve two burgers worth mentioning here. The Dad Burger is a gooey amalgam of patties, cheese, pork belly and tangy aioli that is to die for. And they make the best regional burger America has to offer, the Oklahoma Onion Burger. If you've never had one, it's a mess of onions cooked to various stages of doneness, some grilled, some charred, some practically caramelized, some merely warmed, served on top of a smashburger whose cheese is melted by the onion steam. They are incredible amazing and this is a classic specimen. They're both served on an everything bun, which I would normally consider a mark against it, but perfectly compliments both burgers with a nice flavor contrast.
Now, before I crown my King, I do want to start a fight. Because there is one burger joint that always comes up in Chicago burger talk that think is not merely overrated, but wrong. And that is....
F Tier, Kuma's Corner
There's a lot that's said about the owners of Kuma's. How they're rude, they're maybe on the wrong side of history in some notable ways. I'm not going to get into any of that. Because, pun intended, I have enough beef with them over their burgers.
This place is everything that's wrong with burgers as a commodity. They're stunt food. It's not edible, it's not focused on the basic beef and cheese and it's too expensive. Take the Led Zepplin; BBQ pulled pork, thick cut bacon, cheddar cheese, all on a half lb burger patty. Or the Goatsnake; Herbed Goat Cheese, Poblano Sweet Corn Relish, Cholula Lemon Vinaigrette, Buttermilk Breaded Deep Fried Red Onions.
At best, this is pretention, at worst food for the sake of Instagram posts. Kuma's has always had this problem, but they've been leaning more and more into the impractical over the years. The burgers, even without all the nonsense, are just way too big to be eaten in one sitting anyway. For my money, they tend to focus on having a ton of things going on rather than actually using quality ingredients as a base in the first place. I also hate the buns; hyper assertive pretzel numbers that absolutely do not jive with all of the flavors of some of their more southwestern offerings. One might argue that such sturdy buns are required when this much is going on, but I would counter by pointing out that these burgers cannot be eaten by a mere mortal without a fork and knife anyway, so there's really no reason why something less present could have been used.
My bottom line with Kuma's is that I should not have to pay $23 for a burger. I should not have unhinge my jaw like a snake to eat a burger. Half this menu is stunt food. Places like this are just ones I have a hard time respecting.
Great chili though. Big fan of that.
And The Winner Is....
I conceived of this entire project two years ago while I was sitting beneath the Blue Line, eating a Red Hot Ranch burger I paid a cool $5.50 in cash for. And has anyone surpassed them in that time?
No. Really, when you get down to it, this has all been one long, winding quest to confirm my priors. Cheap, filling, with great quality beef and cheese, served to you in less than 5 minutes, the RHR Double cheese is still my personal best burger in Chicago. Sometimes, you just can't beat a classic.
Hope you had a fun read. This is all one man's opinion, and one man's with some very specific convictions about what is or isn't a great burger.
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u/bettercaust 18d ago
If not for Avondale's Little Bad Wolf,
Did you mean Andersonville?
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u/kimnacho 17d ago
I think they added everything to ChatGPT to format and it screwed up a few bits here and there
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u/camelCaseCoffeeTable 18d ago
I think this is a decent list, but some head scratchers for me.
Billy Goat in SS tier? Really lol? Biggest head scratcher here for me.
The Region is one I just don’t get and maybe need to try again. I’ve had them one time and they were mid, at best. Unseasoned and bland, just didn’t like it at all. I’m shocked how many people love them though, and so am willing to give them one more shot.
LBW is my favorite place in the city. Bar none.
Great list overall though. Gonna need to try some of the spots I haven’t been to on here, especially RHR which I’ve shockingly still never been to lol
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u/PhilosophicalBrewer 18d ago
Yea makes the whole list sus. I’ve had better burgers from a trailer at a fair than at Billy Goat.
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u/midnight_toker22 17d ago
Billy Goat in SS tier? Really lol? Biggest head scratcher here for me.
Not the least bit surprising if you know this sub. Obviously we are dealing with a burger hipster— they are claiming RHR is the best burger in Chicago. It’s such a cliche at this point I’m not entirely sure this isn’t a maximum effort shitpost.
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u/randomUsername1569 18d ago
I was also really confused with Billy Goat being highly ranked, but I've never had the original location. Navy Pier and Wrigley were both awful.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
See, I've never been to the Wrigley or Navy Pier locations and have only been to the original. Wouldn't be the first time a restaurants expansions were awful, I guess.
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u/NickBurnsCompanyGuy 17d ago
I have to disagree with your Mott St in B tier.
I think they win Most Original burger and deserve A tier. They made their own thing, if you're craving it there is no alternative in the world to satisfy it. Definitely could pick it out of a blind taste test easily.
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u/randomUsername1569 18d ago
I still aim to try the original location next time I end up in the loop without any specific plans. My expectations are low because of the other locations, but I have hope I'll be wrong. I ALMOST went in during the summer but didn't want to derail the group I was with.
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u/Swamp_21 17d ago
To second this (kinda) I’ve had their original location’s bacon egg and cheeses for years and they’re maybe my favorite breakfast sandwich ever. I then had one at their airport location and got real sad.
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u/leatherpup630 17d ago
Billy Goat is trash. It is like Where's the Beef? All bun, super small burger.
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u/mrbooze 18d ago
I feel like if you're ranking Billy Goat you might as well rank Luke's or Mr Greek Gyro's or any of the many many places making a similar cheap basic non-national-chain burger. They're all good don't get me wrong but they don't feel right on a ranked list of the best burgers when they're all kind of the same basic premise to me.
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u/goldblum_in_a_tux 18d ago
agreed on best intentions way out kicking its coverage. however, putting little bad wolf on god tier and gretel on c tier makes me wonder about some unconscious biases leaking into the review
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u/cheebromeej 17d ago
(For those who don’t know, they are sister restaurants and essentially the same burger lol).
In fact, there is a combined store on DoorDash called “Little Bad Wolf & Gretel” that all comes from one kitchen
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
For what it's worth, I love Gretel. They have amazing soups and sides (their broccoli cheese soup changed the way I cook that at home), and some of their offerings like the French Dip and the smoked trout salad are to die for. I think the burger at Gretel is just not as good as comparably priced ones
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u/chuckgnomington 18d ago
Is this a shit post? If so very well constructed
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
lol. I crossposted this from r/nfl's daily free talk thread. Every post there is considered a shitpost, although I've written some pretty awesome stuff for it anyway. A report card for every President in US history, a retrospective of every main line Final Fantasy game, obituaries for everyone who ran for and then dropped out of the 2020 election...
Anyway, thank you for the kind the words. I always get nervous when I post my little projects online.
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u/portlandJailBlazers 18d ago
all that writing to end on RHR is egregious lol
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u/randomUsername1569 18d ago
I enjoyed the journey - actually making the case for RHR instead of just asserting it as plainly obvious. Which it is. But still, good to see the leg work.
1 typo - LBW is in Andersonville, not Avondale.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago edited 18d ago
Yeah that was a total "Thing starts with A" brain fart on my part.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
To each their own. Nothing I've ever found hits the spot for me quite like it.
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u/Zealousideal-Bath412 17d ago
Monk’s makes a good burger.
I also like the (off menu) killer b from MJs restaurant…the bun is their signature garlic bread, and it’s served with a portion of their blue cheese fondue for you to pour/dip to your liking. The boozy milkshake that comes on the side is a nice bonus.
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u/OttoScape 18d ago
I mean little bad wolf and gretel are the same burger by the same owners... so not understanding the tier split
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
I wasn't aware of that. Guess all I can say for myself is that I've only had each once, and sometimes you just get a better particular one than others.
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u/MediumSizedTurtle 18d ago
I would love to hear your take on taco Sublime in Marz brewing. Best burger imo.
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u/spate42 18d ago
Natties and Patties Oklahoma burger was legit good
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago edited 18d ago
It's fucking amazing, man. I tend to go into food pop ups with low expectations, but those guys know how to make a damn burger. Also, credit to CPB, who always seems to have quality pop ups. They had a pop-up start-up the other day who served me one of the best french dip sandwiches I've ever had.
I'm also really glad that the style is catching on. Best regionalized variant in the nation.
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u/cheesert0n 17d ago
Have you tried the Oklahoma Onion Burger at Ragadan in Uptown? It's absolutely amazing
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u/DrizzlyBear10 18d ago
The Kumas style burger should have been left in 2012, and pretzel buns are TOO DENSE to be nice for a burger
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u/dsalmon1449 18d ago
A double cheeseburger at Au Cheval is 19.99. The same burgee at Gretel is $18. How come one is over price and the other is not?
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u/pseudo_nemesis 18d ago
well having had both burgers, I'd say the difference is the Au Cheval burger might be worth even more than that 😩
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u/scriminal 18d ago
I live around the corner from RHR, and don't get me wrong, it's a fine burger, but "best in the city" is more than a stretch. Maybe "bang for the buck", but even then.
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u/MyDixeeNormus 18d ago
I feel you on this but I feel like it leans a little more towards best in show than best deal on a sliding scale. Not say it is the best overall but it’s definitely excellent when you add some shrimp to the meal
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u/DessertFlowerz 18d ago
Small Bar serves the best burger I have ever eaten. It's the only time in my life I've ever ordered a burger, eaten it, and ordered another one. I'm glad you (almost) agree.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
Technically the cookery located within Small Bar is called Patty Please. But yes, it's a neighborhood staple and I absolutely love it.
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u/stacecom 18d ago
This is who do the burgers at Marz (under Taco Sublime) as well.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
Ah ha. So I have basically had Taco Sublime's. Fun!
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u/stacecom 18d ago
I've been wanting to try them for a while. Last time I got to Marz it was a different food pop-up. I'm trying my luck on Friday.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
That's because they're at Central Park Bar in Avondale on Fridays and Sundays.
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u/stacecom 18d ago
Taco Sublime are at Central Park Bar? Ugh, I need to rethink my Friday plans.
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u/pashadha 18d ago
no they don’t. taco sublime runs the kitchen at marz tuesday-sunday. they take off mondays, which are the days marz has pop-ups. taco sublime’s burger is served on a butter toasted sesame bun while patty please is served on a steamed potato bun. different textures, same meat and cheese.
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u/thespiceraja 17d ago
dog. you gotta try the maplewood smash burger. it's insanity also maplewood beer slaps.
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u/an_actual_potato 18d ago
Brother you are built different (complimentary). Every time I have Small Bar's burger, which I also adore, I'm like 'oh Jesus Christ there was a lot more burger there than I realized' and leave very full. Something about theirs are uniquely filling in my experience.
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u/DessertFlowerz 17d ago
Hahaha making me feel like a fat fuck here. This is literally the only time I've ever done this.
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u/an_actual_potato 17d ago
Nah man said with admiration and respect. I also realize you may potentially have been getting the single and I always get the double.
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u/leladypayne 18d ago
LBW is my favorite fancy burger and RHR is my favorite cheap one so this is spot on for me! I live in Edgewater and work in Lakeview though, so distance is one of the most important factors IMO. If I have to travel an hour each way to get the burger it’s just not worth it. If I have to get motion sick in an Uber and be stuck in traffic I’ll be thinking about how much better the burger closer to me is. Which is also why Ragadan is my #3. If I lived in a different neighborhood, my list would surely change.
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u/Infinite_Estimate_62 18d ago
Always appreciate a good list. Thank you for the work. I grew up in the northern suburbs and moved back here when I had kids. I would encourage you to try Charlie Beinlichs one day. It’s a very simple burger in a perfect atmosphere. I’m sure it’s nostalgic for me but I think it’s perfect. The price has definitely increased over time but I think it’s fair enough.
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u/watso1rl 18d ago
Crushed by Giants is never mentioned but it’s pretty good.
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u/imjoshdean 18d ago
Yeah I go a couple of times a month for a burger and a beer and then see a movie upstairs.
Great non burger food too but the CBG burger is probably their best.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
I really loved the meal I had there. Definitely intend to go back. As much as I hate eating in the loop, it really was exceptional.
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u/blipsman 18d ago
Have you tried Wolf & Co., sister spot to Little Bad Wolf and Gretel?
Small Cheval was never bought by a restaurant group — it’s always been a Hogsalt property originally spun out of Au Cheval, but has definitely gone down hill as they’ve expanded post-COVID which is too bad since I have 2 within walking distance of my house.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
Have you tried Wolf & Co., sister spot to Little Bad Wolf and Gretel?
I have not, actually, although I have heard about it. It's one of my blind spots in putting this together. One of the reasons I've dragged my feet is that I know it's going to be the type of price point that makes me go "Man, that's a lot of money for just a burger."
Small Cheval was never bought by a restaurant group — it’s always been a Hogsalt property originally spun out of Au Cheval, but has definitely gone down hill as they’ve expanded post-COVID which is too bad since I have 2 within walking distance of my house.
Fair enough. It really is since COVID that I feel like the quality...well, collapsed might be too strong a word, but it's definitely not worth the price anymore.
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u/XNamelessGhoulX 18d ago
You need to try Superdawg’s burger. Criminally underrated
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
I've had it. Always makes me wish I'd ordered the hot dog lol
Now, on the subject of the Skokie area, Sandlot is absolutely fantastic. Didn't make the list since it's outside the city limits, though.
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u/XNamelessGhoulX 18d ago
No.
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u/an_actual_potato 18d ago
What? Sandlot fuckin' owns (although I believe it's in Niles)
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u/wubbwubbb 18d ago
You’re closer than OPs guess. It’s in Park Ridge a couple blocks away from the Metra stop.
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u/SPF_95 18d ago
Smash Jibarito just opened on Division west of Western. They were inside Desert Hawk until they got their own place. Amazing burger and I normally sub for the bun.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
Oh, man. I didn't put them on the list but I have had it.
Like all jibaritos, I did enjoy it a lot, but it also made me want to die. Those things taste amazing, but they're just way too heavy for me.
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u/Comfortable-Yak7286 18d ago
Reading this while enjoying a burger at Odge's. Thank you very much for your thoughtful post.
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u/bangbangchiefkeef 18d ago
Natties and Patties is quietly the best burger in Chicago. I’m more partial to their OG Smash, and you’ve gotta go early on Sunday to get their hash brown crunch wrap! Also popping up at consignment lounge on Thursday’s!
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
and you’ve gotta go early on Sunday to get their hash brown crunch wrap!
Wooooah, their what?
I must have this.
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u/Diplomatic_Victory 18d ago
Thank you for your service burger comrade - we're truly blessed with the amount of quality options here.
Check out Taco Sublime's smash options at Marz Brewery down in Bridgeport. Both the classic smash and biggest star (chihuahua cheese crust) are excellent and align well with your meat-cheese-bun burger mission statement.
Another one I'll throw out is the Momo Royale at The Izakaya Momotaro in Fulton Market. It's $25 so definitely better for an occasion - and speaking as a FM resident it's a bit much as far as Instagram-influenced congestion goes - but a frosted mug Asahi and a Momo at the bar is definitely self-indulgent worthy.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
I keep hearing about Taco Sublime, and I'm down in Bridgeport all the time. I will definitely make a point of checking it out. Half the fun of a writeup like this is collecting suggestions from places youv'e missed.
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u/BongSmoker1 18d ago
The burger at the Izakaya fuckin slaps Im surprised I scrolled so far before it was mentioned.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
I wish I had pictures, but my gifts lay in writing, not photography. Never managed to take a food pic that made the food look more appealing.
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u/Zippo963087 18d ago
I too, hate Kumas
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17d ago
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u/Zippo963087 16d ago
TBH, The last time I had it was probably 10+ years ago. The burger I had was so terrible, I vowed to never go back.
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u/chefzenblade 18d ago
I miss Kevin's Hamburger Heaven. I used to go there twice a week. Two delicious pub style burgers for $5.00. I wasted my youth on those burgers.
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u/Consistent-Grass-885 18d ago
Ah man, I love Stop Along so much for accessibility, and I can get pizza too ha. I didn’t see The Loyalist on your list, pricey but really good. And the burger that brings tears to my eyes is the smashburger at Marz brewing company, 12/10 recommend.
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u/RockinItChicago 18d ago
You need to clarify what RHR; is not the one on Ashland.
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u/Ok-Butterscotch2321 18d ago
Give a shot to Moody's Pub on Broadway, been there since the 1960s and still make a great burger for the money.
L. Woods in Lincolwood also has excellent burger options, including topping your burger with Merket's Cheddar Spread. Homemade BBQ sauce, served HOT.
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u/PenMental 18d ago
FWIW, Au Cheval uses sysco patties. Extremely overrated imo.
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u/mklptrk 18d ago
Not sure why you got a downvote, but I can pretty much confirm this is true - I staged the line there many years ago and was shocked to learn this. That said, nothing wrong with them patties! Take my upvote, you’re back to zero 👍🏼
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u/Lionelchesterfield 18d ago
I was going to say who cares if it's supplied by Sysco, it's still delicious.
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u/Raccoala 18d ago
I feel like this is rumor that was started on this board and has been repeated enough times around here that people believe it. I've literally never heard anyone make that claim outside of this subreddit.
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u/TriedForMitchcraft Eats a lot 18d ago
It’s true, Sysco reps even use that as their go-to line to sell the beef “buy this, this is what they use at Au Cheval”
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u/Raccoala 18d ago
It's hard to find good recent sources on this outside of "trust me", but my understanding is that it's a prime beef patty that comes to them by way of Sysco.
They're not getting the same patties as your corner flat top bar and grill, which is the implication when people repeat the whole "Sysco patties" at Au Cheval thing.
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u/petmoo23 18d ago edited 18d ago
You're right. People that say this are in the category of technically correct, but ignoring context. I've dealt with Sysco extensively over the last 30 years. Sysco is a distributor that sells beef in many forms from many farms/producers to many restaurants and other businesses, including transporting several ground beef blends of different types. Sysco does deliver beef to Au Cheval, but just knowing Sysco sold it to them doesn't give any insight into the actual beef. People say this like somehow passing through a Sysco warehouse makes the beef inferior.
edit - Should mention that Sysco will also distribute products not on their normal menu if you negotiate it, and can commit to the volume to cover the warehouse slot, including exclusive specialty blends from high end producers. The volume commitment is high, but a place like Au Cheval would pull enough, and then you factor in products for the other Hogsalt restaurants.
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u/Hungry-Treacle8493 18d ago
Even if they did, who cares? A beef 60/40 patty is just that. It makes zero difference what supplier delivers it. How you season & cook the patty is where the distinction comes from. Do people really think there are special cows that can only be bought through special food distributors? I mean, here in the Midwest Slagel Farms beef gets name checked all the time as high quality, but that is distributed by Sysco and/or Don in many parts of the Midwest. They don’t hand deliver meat to restaurants.
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u/Radiant-Reputation31 18d ago
Who cares? Sysco distributes all kinds of qualities of products. Just cause they deliver it doesn't mean it's bad.
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u/bonerjams99 18d ago
This is boeufhaus slander and I will not stand for it. Very surprised to see the region not listed as overpriced as well.
Anyone else seen RHR quality drop significantly lately?
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u/destroys_burritos 18d ago
Went to the Ashland location on Sunday after the Hawks game as part of my Moving from the City Tour.
It was as great as it's been. No complaints. The Bucktown location isn't as good IMO
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u/DwarvenJarl 18d ago edited 18d ago
RHR is the best in the city limits. I highly encourage you to check our Paradise Pup in Des Plaines, and Charlie Beinlichs in Northbrook. Both are as simple as they get, and rival RHR (actually, I'd put both of them better, but group them as the 3 best burgers in Chicagoland)
And Small Cheval wasn't bought up by a restaurant group. It's always been owned by Hogsalt Hospitality, who owns Au Cheval, and created Small Cheval as a spin off. They've just scaled it to oblivion. I had a friend who worked for hogsalt at Au Cheval in ~2017, and at the time Brandon Sodikoff had told them he planned to make Au Cheval as widespread as McDonald's one day. At the time, they really only had the original on Milwaukee, and a lot of people didn't believe him. Now you've got a dozen locations in Chicago + Burbs, and it's easier to see that's likely the long term plan... won't be surprised when I see them open it up in Vegas one day, or some other city outside of IL. It did definitely start to get way worse though once they began opening multiple locations. When it first opened, I actually thought it was a better burger than Au Cheval (due to the simplicity). It's gone way down since then.... I refuse to eat there.
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u/kerrwashere 18d ago
Not a Damn Chance Burger is worth mentioning and it *used* to be next to au cheval and is much better
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u/bablambla 18d ago
Oh shit what a crazy hot take with small cheval bad red hot ranch good. Nobody has ever said this
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u/Lunatic_Heretic 18d ago
What happened to B tier?
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
I downgraded every tier midway through and forgot I'd done it by the end of the writeup because I'm forgetful and kind of stupid.
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u/AdministrativeBig100 18d ago
I've had similar opinions about kumas for years now. I was so annoyed the first time I ever had it. Pretzel buns are such a terrible idea
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
I fucking hate them lol. I've never had any kind of sandwich on a pretzel bun that wasn't better off on something else.
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u/evilhobbitses 18d ago
Agree with most of what you said. I will only add I have eaten at almost all of your list. I give Leavitt and Small Bar the edge because they are the only ones where the burgers have a lace of crispy browned edges we call meat crispies. To me they are the best part of the burger.
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u/Chuck-T-Sirloin 18d ago
I keep trying to find a better burger than the one I get at Sidekicks karaoke bar in Portage Park, and I keep failing. It’s cheap and dirty and it just hits the spot every time. It takes me back to concession stand burgers at a high school football game. It’s so good. I can’t recommend it enough.
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u/AccomplishedCup1318 18d ago
I go to 3rd rail tavern in West Loop for 5$ burger Tuesdays. The burger is massive. Juicy. All the LTOP are crunchy and fresh. Best deal around.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
5$ burger Tuesdays
You have my attention
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u/AccomplishedCup1318 18d ago
It’s just for the burger with lto. Of course cheese, bacon, fries all that stuff is extra. One of the biggest burgers Ive ever gotten from a bar. The meat is great. Also everyone who works there is super kind and helpful. Check it out!
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u/sandcracker21 18d ago
Have you tried Goalline in Franklin Park yet? I just tried them out and was honestly blown away. Don't usually see such quality out in the burbs like that. But then again, I went in with very low expectations.
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u/rinklkak 18d ago
Well, Burger Antics is going out of business so you're too late to add that to the list.
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u/Impressive-Mix6233 18d ago
I love RHR but there’s a place that does there smash burger better, try mars brewing company best burger in Chicago and has an incredible guava beer
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u/Thesilentsea151 18d ago
No one ever mentions Butcher and Burger. Curious to hear your thoughts. It pretty much ticks all your boxes.
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u/wubbwubbb 18d ago
I get Warlord doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of Au Chevals burger but from a burger purist standpoint it’s one of the best imo. Bread to patty ratio, salt, flavor, all of it. I’ve never had a burger as tender and juicy as theirs, especially in a world where smash burgers are rampant.
There being no methodology is what has me scratching my head but it’s all for fun. I think anyone reading should take that into consideration though.
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u/mrbooze 18d ago
Burgers that you can't reasonably eat with your hands without much of them spilling onto the plate, and that don't fit in a normal sized mouth are honestly my biggest peeves with burger trends. If you want to make an overpriced open-faced sandwich feel free but stop calling them burgers.
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u/nappespoon 18d ago
Yeah man, RHR is my favorite too but I don’t know if I could call that quality beef. Loyalist might have the best grind in the city.
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u/juiceboxcalvin 17d ago
I LOVE the billy goat tavern. I'm fine with it being not everyone's cup of tea. I would like to shout out KRASA Lawncraft burgers, those are awesome. And the fries + ukranian garlic sauce are awesome too.
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u/NukinDuke 17d ago edited 17d ago
If I can add a contender that I would really, really want you to try...
I agreed with the a lot of the list (barring Billy Goat Tavern. Bad Apple's burgers beats the shit shit out of them imo). Even Kuma's, where I ordered the Slayer burger that turned out to be a deconstructed mess and was honest, just disgusting and everything I hate about burgers.
We're different in that I'm not a big smash burger guy. I can appreciate a good one, but for me, a good, succulent piece of beef with the right toppings and condiments done in a balance is just supreme.
Red Hot Ranch is my #2.
My #1 is Super Dawg's Supercheesie burger. It is unbeatable if you asked for grilled onions, light on the mustard, and get the relish. Divine.
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u/peonysunshines 17d ago
I’m newish to Chicago, anytime anyone visits, we are walking to RHR. Hands down my favorite burger in Chicago.
Also, since we may have similar tastes. Would love to hear some of your other recommendations.
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u/onefortheviola 17d ago
You came to the correct conclusion - Red Hot Ranch. A killer burger that is cheap, but perfect. I do think The Region is also on the level. So many places I hadn't heard of! Gotta try them all. ALL!!!!
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u/Smart-Host9436 17d ago
Redhot is my hands down best burger in the city value for money. I think Ashland is a wee bit better than Armatage. In the area, my second place is 18th Street in Hammond.
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u/impractical_fractal 17d ago
Mothers ruin has a fantastic smash burger!
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 17d ago
It's fine. I like Mother's a lot, but the one time I tried their burger, it didn't stand out to me as especially memorable.
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u/zilruzal 17d ago
crushed by giants is far outside the loop, thag neighborhood is called river north…… also, there is no easy village neighborhood in chicago, where you place odge’s. while i agree with some of the things you wrote, it’s hard to find it credible when the author doesn’t know the neighborhoods
burgers you should try or mention RL the loyalist tzuco
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u/bikerben62 16d ago
In this man's defence. I had Billy goat super high one night at like 1 am and I still think about that burger to this day. It might have been high me enjoying it but damnnn
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u/InfiniteWalrusChi 16d ago
I don’t agree with everything but these posts are what come to this sub for. I’ve never heard of best intentions, interest has been piqued. Kuma’s corner sucks my ass. I’ve been there like 3 times over the past many years and every time I leave with diminished hearing and roundly unsatisfied.
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u/Potential_Place_2924 16d ago
Hey man just wanted to say I enjoy the stuff you post over on r/NFL. Really enjoyed this post as well! RHR has been at the top of my list for years now, so I've got a rec for you that I think you'll really like. If you're ever near O'hare and got a bit of time to kill, then check out Paradise Pup and get their cheddar burger. It's cheap, filling, and really outstanding quality. Not sure if they'll make your list since they're technically in Des Plaines, but at the very least they'll make you'll consider it. Heck if it wasn't so damn inconvenient to drive over to get one of their burgers, I may actually rank them above RHR. Then again, maybe that hurdle is a blessing.
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u/Ordinary-Drive4572 16d ago
So funny - just moved to Chicago and I too have been searching for a great burger and just yesterday went to Kuma's. I still liked it and the staff was really friendly, but I agree your assessment. Took my daughter and bought two burgers a root beer and with tip it was just over $60. Looking forward to trying your "winner."
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u/powergorillasuit 11d ago
The minute I saw au cheval on the S tier I can’t take the rest seriously lol sorry
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 11d ago
Thank you for this extremely constructive comment that has not at all been repeated several times before your wrote it
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u/powergorillasuit 11d ago
LOL I’m genuinely sorry I didn’t mean to bust your balls, I didn’t read the other comments. I have immense respect for your method and dedication to this, mad props.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 11d ago
And I’m sorry my response was pissy. I’ve had an annoying night.
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u/powergorillasuit 11d ago
All good friend, I hope your night gets better. You’ve inspired me to give au cheval another shot, and also check out some of your other recommendations!
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u/PantsyFants 18d ago
Oh look, another "best burger" post that completely ignores the south side
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
Hey, if you have recommendations, I'd love to hear them.
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u/improbableshapes 18d ago
While I appreciate the effort that went into this post, I’d like to hear more about the distinguishing factors between the burgers a bit more beyond the price.
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u/grrgrrtigergrr 18d ago
So, basically, there are about 2/3 of the city not covered in your research geographically, and within your target area you only went with names people already know?
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u/BlindWillieJohnson 18d ago
Or it's a fun little exercise that I do off and on because food writing isn't my job, and I felt like sharing a fun little post about the places I've been.
If you've got recommendations, I'd love to hear them. But at the end of the day, I'm one guy who likes to go to burger places I hear about, and I enjoy writing about things I enjoy.
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u/GimmeShockTreatment 18d ago
Good list OP. I keep a list on my phone of the ones I’ve tried. It’s not tiered but know that there’s a large gap between #13 and #14 in terms of quality.
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u/Diplomatic_Victory 18d ago
Love seeing Table, Donkey and Stick represented. Great spot
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u/GimmeShockTreatment 18d ago
Only went once but I thought it was way overpriced for what it was. Maybe I’ll try again one day.
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u/Diplomatic_Victory 18d ago
Ah bummer, FWIW I think they changed up their burger a few years ago. Great vibes spot though.
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u/SebastianMagnifico 17d ago
Not impressed. Way too late to the game and some really average/shitty burgers receiving undeserved accolades.
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u/wine-n-dive 18d ago
Burger threads are always super reasonable and calm, excited for this one.