There’s an abundance of amazing burgers in Chicago, and three have just been named to Yelp’s Top 100 Burgers in America list.
In honor of National Burger Day on May 28, the crowd-sourced reviews aggregator has compiled a ranking of the best burgers from around the country. Coming in at No. 9 is Kuma’s Corner, the heavy metal-themed bar in Avondale. Known for oversized burgers, a huge beer selection and loud music, the establishment has been popular since its debut in 2005.
“Just like the rock ’n’ roll bands that inspire them, these burgers sport wild topping combinations—the Metallica (applewood smoked bacon, blue cheese dressing, Buffalo sauce and frizzled onions on a pretzel bun) and bunless Slayer (a 10-ounce burger with house-made chili, andouille sausage, caramelized onions, cherry peppers and jack cheese on a bed of fries, served with—no joke—’anger,’ according to the menu),” Yelp explained.
Also making the cut are two local vegan spots. Longtime favorite the Chicago Diner checks in at No. 59, while Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat joins it at No. 86. Both restaurants focus on plant-based dining, with the former offering patties made with black beans, sweet potato and tofu, or seitan, and the latter serving a McDonald’s-inspired Big Mik burger plus a quarter-pound Who Betta burger.
Non-meat burgers are just one of the trends that Yelp noticed on its list. Other things that diners love are huge, “outrageous” burgers like the options from Kuma’s Corner, fusion-style creations and patties that are sauced up and incorporate barbecue. To determine the rankings, Yelp identified businesses with a large concentration of reviews mentioning “burgers,” then ordered them using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews.
Topping the list is Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in Atlanta, GA, but several other Illinois restaurants are lauded as well. Vegan Cafe in Lockport lands at No. 62, Tracks in Cary is No. 67, Geneva Ale House in Geneva sits at No. 81 and Baker Street Burgers in Rockford rounds things out at No. 87. You can check out the full list on Yelp.