The 14 best burgers in Chicago

Why we love it: 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. This delicious monstrosity includes three patties, fat strips of bacon, molten American cheese, fried onion straws, housemade pickles, a swath of red-onion mayo and a fried egg crown. 

Time Out tip: It'll take a second or two to figure out how to get your mouth around the thing, so order a pour of bourbon to wash it all down.

Address: 1541 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 11am-midnight; Fri, Sat 11am-1am

Why we love it: This West Loop spot is known for its award-winning double-decker burger and its hours-long wait. Truthfully, a trip to Au Cheval is an ordeal, but that won't stop us from commending its signature item. Whether you order a single or a double, the meat here is topped with American cheese, Dijonnaise, grilled onions and house-made pickles. 

Time Out tip: If the wait has left you ravenous, opt to add a fried egg or thick-cut bacon.

Address: 800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-11:15pm; Sun 10am-10:15pm

Why we love it: This dark and sexy basement bar offers everything from anchovy toast to chicken, but the burger is what keeps us coming back again and again. A juicy patty is sandwiched between squishy sesame-seed–studded buns and adorned with melted American cheese and a mess of pickled and charred onions. It's not exactly the kind of thing you want to devour on a first date, but we're not judging if you do. 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.

Time Out tip: The Loyalist always saves a few seats for walk-ins, making it an ideal spot for post-work drinks with your team. If you arrive between 5 and 6pm on Monday through Thursday, you can take advantage of the $11 cocktails and discounted bar bites. 

Address: 177 N Ada St, Chicago, IL 60607

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 5-10pm; Sun 10am-2pm

Why we love it: This hot dog and fried shrimp stand is a favorite for greasy late-night eats, and its double cheeseburger is arguably the best deal in town. Thin, griddled patties with perfectly melted cheese, LTO and special sauce will only set you back about $8—and it comes with free fries.

Time Out tip: This place is cash-only, so keep that in mind if you plan to make a trip. 

Address: 2449 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Opening hours: Daily 10:30am-midnight

Why we love it: Originally conceived as a limited-time special, the overwhelming response to Mott St's burger earned it a permanent place on the menu. The namesake creation consists of two chuck patties, crunchy sweet potato shoestrings, melty American cheese, pickled jalapenos, dill pickles, and Asian-inflected miso butter onions and hoisin aioli. Your fingers will be coated with umami flavors by the time you’re finished eating and we totally won’t judge if you lick them clean. 

Time Out tip: After 7pm, the burger’s only available at the bar so plan accordingly.

Address: 1401 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5-9pm; Fri 5-10pm; Sat 10am-2pm, 4:30-10pm; Sun 10am-2pm, 4:30-9pm

Why we love it: Irving Park sandwich shop JT’s is heavy on Midwestern comfort, offering items like a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich and a Coney Island hot dog. It’s easy, then, to skip the burger, but doing so would be a blunder. The burger sports two griddled Angus patties, caramelized onions, cheddar, bacon, dijonnaise and a unique ingredient—slices of Granny Smith apple. The fruit adds a subtle bit of tartness that helps cut through the otherwise rich bites.

Time Out tip: If you can save enough room, try for a generous serving of chili cheese fries or a scoop of ice cream.

Address: 3970 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11am-7pm

Why we love it: Tucked away on a sleepy Bucktown side street, The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern should be on your radar. The tavern’s food menu is short but sweet, boasting a terrific one-third-pound smash burger. Crisp Angus patties are topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles and tangy house sauce.

Time Out tip: This burger is best enjoyed on the outdoor patio with a beer in hand.

Address: 2345 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60647

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 3pm-midnight; Thu, Sun noon-midnight; Fri, Sat noon-2am

Why we love it: This casual Middle Eastern spot in Uptown dishes out more than just falafel. The burgers are mighty impressive, with the Oklahoma Onion Burger being our favorite. A four-ounce patty comes topped with sweet caramelized onions, American cheese and—the thing that really sets it apart—za’atar mayo.

Time Out tip: If you want to make it somehow even better, add green chili sauce to your burger.

Address: 4409 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60640

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11am-8pm

Why we love it: A collaboration between professional skateboarder and Chicago native Neen Williams and Michelin-starred chef Phillip Frankland Lee, NADC's signature burger features a double patty made from Texas wagyu beef with onions grilled and smashed into the meat while it cooks. It’s topped with American cheese, secret sauce, onions, pickles and jalapenos. 

Time Out tip: The only other items on the menu are fries and the brown butter chocolate chip cookies, which are essential sides for the full NADC experience.

Address: 415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

Opening hours: Mon-Wed, Sun 11:30am-10pm; Thu-Sat 11:30am-midnight

Why we love it: This “last stand” serves grilled and smashed burgers to neighborhood regulars and late-night revelers. 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. 

Time Out tip: Heads up: It takes an extra 10 minutes to prepare this burger—but it's so worth the wait.

Address: 2258 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11am-10pm

Why we love it: This restaurant utilizes the slightly misleading tagline "Pizza & Stuff." You see, we consider the fan-favorite Stop-In burger to be more than just "stuff." The double cheeseburger is a masterpiece worthy of the marquee treatment. The caramelized onions are jammy, the pickles zingy, the special sauce creamy and the brioche bun pillowy. It's a fine specimen that easily rivals the city's top oldies.

Time Out tip: Check the StopAlong's Instagram page for the latest specials. Past specials include half-off burgers and pizzas.

Address: 1812 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 11am-9pm

Why we love it: The folks behind Gretel in Logan Square have some experience slinging pristine patties at sister spot Little Bad Wolf, which is also on this list. The messy mélange of flavors is wonderfully indulgent, with a cascade of garlic aioli and American cheese dripping out of every crevice. 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.

Time Out tip: We recommend adding bacon to this burger for an additional $2.

Address: 2833 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 11am-midnight; Fri, Sat 11am-1am

Why we love it: Meat lovers, this one's for you. Two colossal, cheese-draped patties take center stage, completely outweighing the sturdy but soft bun they're housed within. Pickles and caramelized onions put in work to add a touch of brightness to every bite, but they're no match for the beef. 

Time Out tip: Kids 12 and under eat free at Community Tavern Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays.

Address: 4038 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641

Opening hours: Tue-Thu, Sun 5-9pm; Fri, Sat 5-10pm

Why we love it: Boka Restaurant Group’s subterranean izakaya below Momotaro probably isn’t the first place that springs to mind when thinking about burgers, but you’d be remiss to overlook the Momo Royale. The East-meets-West creation holds two juicy patties in between a housemade bao bun. It’s one of the more unique burgers in town and served alongside sweet potato fries.

Time Out tip: There's also a killer cocktail menu here, including a robust selection of non-alcoholic sips to pair with your burger.

Address: 820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 5-11pm; Fri, Sat 5pm-1am