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13 Best Burgers in Chicago

thick tasty burger at chicago burger joint

Embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Chicago, where the city’s skyline is rivaled only by the incredible flavors of its best burgers. Seeking the perfect sandwich in a city known for its delicious food is an exciting adventure. Join us as we explore Chicago’s many neighborhoods, revealing long-kept secrets and enduring favorites that help to shape the sandwich scene of this dynamic city. Every taste is a celebration of local produce and creative cooking, from delicious fillings to creative toppings. Our carefully chosen selection ensures a delightful exploration of the best sandwich spots in Chicago, whether you’re a tourist or a savvy local looking for the best culinary experiences. Get ready to savor the tastes that make Chicago a haven for burger lovers.


Au Cheval

800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
312-929-4580
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Au Cheval Chicago
Source: Instagram

Au Cheval offers classic single or double cheeseburgers that can include delicious additions. You can have a classic burger with a fried egg or bacon for an additional charge and enjoy French fries, bacon, eggs, hash browns, or pickles on the side. This location offers its services by walk-in only and does not offer reservations in advance.


The Loyalist

177 N Ada St #001, Chicago, IL 60607
773-913-3774
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The Loyalist Chicago
Source: Instagram

The Loyalist is open to walk-ins and by reservation. However, the location is only open for dine-in from five in the afternoon until ten at night. The Loyalist offers their signature cheeseburger, including pickled and charred onions, a sesame seed bun, and fries. However, diners interested in a classic cheeseburger can have The Loyalist’s classic burger, including onions, a special sauce, and a potato bun.


Kuma’s Corner

2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
773-604-8769
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Kuma's Corner Chicago
Source: Instagram

Kuma’s Corner knows all about burgers and has multiple options for every burger lover. There are 12 burgers on the menu, most named after metal bands:

  • The Famous Kuma
  • Goatsnake
  • Iron Maiden
  • Kaijo
  • Led Zeppelin
  • Mastodon
  • Metallica
  • Neurosis
  • Plague Burger
  • Sourvein
  • Slayer
  • Converge

Some burgers include fried eggs, applewood smoked bacon, goat cheese, poblano peppers, or barbeque sauce.


Little Bad Wolf

1541 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
773-942-6399
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Little Bad Wolf Chicago
Source: Instagram

Little Burgers include three signature sliders that come with pickles and mayo. Bad Burger includes two thick patties with cheese and house-made pickles. The Wolf Burger on the Little Bad Wolf menu has three patties and slices of bacon, topped with cheese, onion straws, pickles, and a fried egg.


Mott Street

1401 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
773-687-9977
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Mott Street Chicago
Source: Instagram

Mott Street offers a comprehensive menu of salad, fish, seafood, and meats. This location has a signature cheeseburger only served during select hours and contains half a pound of beef, sweet potatoes, aioli, jalapenos, and cheese. You may add a fried egg to your burger.

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The Region

2057 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
773-857-2874
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The Region Chicago
Source: Instagram

The Region offers a house-made sauce that is a staple of the Region’s menu. Five signature burgers are available at The Region, including a classic hamburger and cheeseburger. However, The Region also offers sliders and more elaborately topped burgers. The Region’s Annihilation burger is 21 ounces and has three patties, topped with onion and relish. The Gringo Patty Melt is a smaller burger loaded with cheese, onions, and pickles.


Big Kids

2545 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647
773-687-8385
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Big Kids Chicago
Source: Instagram

Ironically, Big Kids is not a place for children and instead is a place for adults to access their inner child through delicious meals and karaoke nights. Big Kids offers a classic, original cheeseburger, including sauce and cheese, and a plant-based burger with sauce and cheese.


Community Tavern

4038 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
773-283-6080
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Community Tavern Chicago
Source: Instagram

Children eat free at Community Tavern on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The Community Double Cheeseburger is one of the best cheeseburgers in Chicago and boasts a robust flavor. The Community Double Cheeseburger comes on a brioche bun with signature sauce, cheese, pickles, onions, and skinny friends. This burger is one of my personal favorites in all of Chicago.


Fatso’s Last Stand

2258 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
773-245-3287
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Fatso's Last Stand Chicago
Source: Instagram

Fatso’s Last Stand offers all kinds of different burgers, some with single patties and some with multiple patties. This restaurant also offers a Beyond Burger made with a plant-based burger patty and signature recipes for their burgers. Burgers at Fatso’s Last Stand are griddled and grilled, sometimes over applewood. Burgers come with cheese, bacon, a fried egg, and Fatso’s signature sauce. Fatso’s Last Stand offers an Ooey Gooey burger that includes all the fixings and can kick your tastebuds into gear. This burger is my official recommendation!


Gretel

2833 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
773-770-3427
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Gretel Chicago
Source: Instagram

Gretel offers a robust menu full of seafood, chicken dishes, and salads. Additionally, there are plenty of delicious sides, salads, and soups. The Gretel Griddle Burger is one of the best burgers in Chicago. This burger contains two patties, two types of cheese, red onion, garlic, and pickles. This burger pairs well with mashed potatoes, and the hand-cut fries come with a sweet yet spicy aioli. This location offers services based on a first-come, first-served basis and does not indulge reservations.


RPM Steak

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
312-284-4990
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RPM Steak Chicago
Source: Instagram

RPM Steak offers two burgers: the Dry-Aged Steakburger and a Wagyu Smash Burger. These burgers offer sophisticated tastes and include meat from some of the best butchers from around the world. Wagyu beef is an expensive Japanese meat, but RPM Steak knows how to make the most out of the cost.

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Small Cheval

Multiple locations
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Small Cheval Chicago
Source: Instagram

Small Cheval does classic burgers like no one else in Chicago. This location offers seasoned single cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers, and hamburgers that all come with dressings and toppings. Additionally, these burgers come with golden fries, which taste heavenly!


The Bad Apple

4300 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
773-360-8406
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The Bad Apple Chicago
Source: Instagram

The Bad Apple offers several dressed-up burgers, all topped with onions, tomato, lettuce, pickles, and provolone cheese. Their Wagyu Burger is one of my favorites because the meat is prepared for 45 days and topped with iconic ingredients.

Why Trust Us?

When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 5 credible sites and blogs, including Timeout.com and Chicago.eater.com. 

We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible. 

Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 5 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.

https://www.timeout.com/chicago/restaurants/best-burgers-in-chicago
https://chicago.eater.com/maps/chicago-best-burgers-restaurants
https://www.tastingtable.com/1391021/absolute-best-burgers-chicago/
https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/guides/best-burger-chicago
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g35805-zfd10907-Chicago_Illinois-Hamburger.html

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Quora, Google Guide and Facebook.