This Chicago spot serves the best burger in America, according to Time Out

Few culinary debates in America trigger as much passion as the quest for the best burger. Ask ten different people where to find the absolute best, and you’ll get ten fiercely defended answers, ranging from century-old greasy spoons to trendy pop-ups with lines wrapping around the block. Time Out knows a thing or two about burgers and put in the work to rank the best burgers in the U.S. And claiming the coveted number one spot on the prestigious list is a Chicago favorite: the double cheeseburger from Au Cheval.

For more than a decade, Au Cheval’s double cheeseburger has remained in-demand menu item, outlasting countless food trends. One bite makes its staying power immediately clear. The kitchen stacks perfectly seared, thin smashed patties with melted cheese, house dijonnaise and crisp pickles on a soft, toasted bun. A thick-cut slice of peppered bacon takes it over the top, and while optional, it's practically required for the full experience.

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While Au Cheval took the top spot, another Chicago burger made the list: the Wolf Burger at Little Bad Wolf, landing at number 12. Head to Andersonville to try this towering indulgence featuring three beef patties, thick-cut bacon, American cheese, fried onion straws, house-made pickles, red-onion mayo and a fried egg on brioche. This feat of culinary architecture holds together until the last bite, defying physics while satisfying an intense burger craving.

Rounding out Time Out's top five are L.A.’s decadent Big Mec at Petite Trois, the iconic cheese-stuffed Jucy Lucy at Matt's Bar in Minneapolis, Brooklyn’s dry-aged patty at Red Hook Tavern and the deep-fried Dyer’s Burger in Memphis. You can check out the full list below. 

Time Out's top 20 best burgers in the U.S.

1. Double Cheeseburger at Au Cheval
2. Big Mec at Petite Trois, Los Angeles
3. Jucy Lucy at Matt's Bar, Minneapolis
4. Red Hook Tavern Burger at Red Hook Tavern, Brooklyn
5. Dyer's Burger at Dyer's Burger, Memphis
6. L&L Burger at LeRoy and Lewis BBQ, Austin
7. Fried Onion Burger at Hamburger America, New York
8. Da Kids Kewpie Burger at Familyfriend, Seattle
9. Neptune Burger at Neptune Oyster, Boston
10. Tostada Burger at Chris Madrid's, San Antonio
11. The Big Deux at Deux Luxe, New York
12. Wolf Burger at Little Bad Wolf, Chicago
13. The Maillards at Maillards Smash Burgers, San Francisco
14. The Cowy Burger at Cowy Burger, Miami
15. OG Tavern Burger at Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery, Raymond, NH
16. Bao Burger at Xiao Bao, Nashville
17. L'Americain at Le Burger 4304, Minneapolis
18. The Classic at NFA Burger, Dunwoody, GA
19. Boo's OG at Boo's Burgers, Houston
20. The Burgerly at The Burgerly, New Hope, PA