The 15 best burgers in 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. This delicious monstrosity includes three patties, fat strips of bacon, molten American cheese, onion straws, house-made pickles, a swath of mayo and a fried egg crown. 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.

We know, we know. You have a hot and cold relationship with Au Cheval. The 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 (two patties) or a double (three), the meat here is topped with Kraft singles, Dijonnaise and house-made pickles. If the wait has left you ravenous, opt to add a fried egg or thick cut bacon.

This dark and sexy basement bar offers everything from escargot tarts to mussels in brandade cream, 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.

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 $7 and change—and it comes with free fries.

Originally conceived as a limited-time special, the overwhelming response to Edward Kim’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. After 7pm, the burger’s only available at the bar so plan accordingly.

Khaled Simon and Haley Pham’s taco and smash burger pop-up Taco Sublime became a fixture at Marz Community Brewing Co. last year, feeding patrons burgers featuring patties that are lacy on the edges but thick enough in the middle to stay pink and juicy. They barely fit in their potato buns, which are piled with cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo and pickles. A single is plenty of food, but the truly hungry can opt for a double that comes with fries. Sublime Hospitality also operates a burger-only concept, Patty Please, within Small Bar.

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. Owner Christopher Cunningham’s special 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.

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 double Angus patties are topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, and tangy house sauce, and it’s best enjoyed on the outdoor patio.

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

The Not a Damn Chance Burger at dive bar The Drop In proved so popular that it took over the whole concept. A collaboration between professional skateboarder and Chicago native Neen Williams and Michelin-starred chef Phillip Frankland Lee, the 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 pickled jalapenos. The only other dish on the menu is fries, so you know the burger is the star of the show. And it smells so good that it may still be tempting even if you’ve just splurged on omakase downstairs at Sushi by Scratch.

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. 

This Wicker Park 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 thousand island dressing creamy and the brioche bun pillowy. It's a fine specimen that easily rivals the city's top oldies.

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.

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. If you're all about the toppings, skip ahead.

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.