Chicago

The 17 Best Burger Joints in Chicago

Where's the beef?

Au Cheval
Au Cheval
Au Cheval

Hot dogsItalian beef, and deep-dish might get all the hype, but true Chicagoans know that the City of Big Shoulders is a burger town through and through. From cheap burgers and under-the-radar burgers to ranked burgers and Chicago’s very own “L” burger map, here at Thrillist we’re always down to beef it up. Because seriously, when is a burger ever a bad idea? Here’s where to find Chicago’s greatest and greasiest.

Gretel
Gretel
Gretel

Gretel

Logan Square
Move over Au Cheval, there’s a new kid in town vying for best burger accolades. Despite opening last fall at the height of the pandemic, it’s taken less than a year for this emerging Logan Square darling to make its mark on the local scene. If you have not yet had the pleasure, now’s the time to familiarize yourself with the Gretel Griddle Burger starring two patties topped with white and yellow American cheese, red onion, garlic aioli, and pickles on a sesame seed bun. Yes, please.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via ChowNow.

Marz Community Brewing
Marz Community Brewing
Marz Community Brewing

Marz Community Brewing

Bridgeport
As if Ed Marszewski and the team at Marz needed even more honors, they’ve seamlessly made their way from best breweries to our best burgers with the standout addition of the Mom’s Burger at the Bridgeport taproom. The Slagel Family Farms short rib burger topped with American cheese, spicy mayo, and pickles on a furikake milk bread bun is no ordinary run-of-the-mill beef sandwich. When ingested with a side of nori fries and one of the aforementioned housebrewed beers, it’s one of the finest pairings in all of Chicago.
How to book: Reserve via Tock and order take-out via Toast.

Little Bad Wolf
Little Bad Wolf
Little Bad Wolf

Little Bad Wolf

Andersonville
You might need to crank up Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” to get amped up for your date with this Andersonville icon’s massive Wolf Burger, a gargantuan assemblage of three patties outfitted with bacon, American cheese, fried onion straws, house made pickles, red-onion mayo and, of course, a gooey fried egg. Strap on a feed bag and YOLO your meal by subbing fries for a side of mac and cheese. Just don’t plan on making any sudden movements afterwards.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via ChowNow.

Edzo's Burger Shop Evanston
Edzo’s Burger Shop Evanston
Edzo’s Burger Shop Evanston

Edzo’s Burger Shop

Evanston
Patty meltsFriesGrilled cheeseEvanston icon Edzo’s Burger Shop is no stranger to the Thrillist listage treatment, and for good reason. Whether you’re seeking a killer bargain or one of the best burgers in Illinois, old-school Edzo’s can always be counted on for a reliable arsenal of meaty delights from char to Double-Double Animal-Style. But in the end, why complicate things? Stroll in, order the classic single griddled burger, and walk out a happy human.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

Pub Royale
Pub Royale
Pub Royale

Pub Royale

Wicker Park
Anglo-Indian neighborhood favorite Pub Royale isn’t just a great place for beer and soccer. It also houses one of the most distinctly excellent burgers in the city, in the form of its Pulp Fiction-riffing Royale With Cheese. The subtly spiced and expertly charred beef is paired with aged cheddar, aioli, and impossible to ignore spicy pickles. Hit up Monday Burger Night and get yours alongside a can of Hamm’s and a shot for just $12.
How to book: Reserve via Resy or order take-out and delivery online.

Top Notch Beefburgers

Beverly
Nostalgia plays a starring role in the classic no-frills diner-style experience at Beverly institution Top Notch Beefburgers, which has been slinging gut-busting burgers since 1954. Ground daily in-house and griddled in its own juices, options range from the classic 1/4 pound basic beefburger to the slightly more adventurous 1/2 pound Western packed with three slices of cheese, three strips of bacon, grilled or raw onions, grilled green pepper, and BBQ sauce plus a bounty of fries.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via GrubHub.

Au Cheval
Au Cheval
Au Cheval

Au Cheval

West Loop
Trying to pry Au Cheval loose from a list of best burgers in Chicago is like trying to encourage moderate drinking at a post-pandemic Cubs game. Ain’t gonna happen. So instead of relentlessly swimming against the tide, embrace this legendary West Loop eatery’s predictable rhythms as you dig into the much-lauded burger featuring two four-ounce patties griddled to perfection and topped with American cheese, a smear of piquant dijonnaise, pickles, and onions.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out via Toast and delivery via DoorDash and Caviar.

Mott St
Mott St
Mott St

Mott Street

Wicker Park
This Michelin Bib Gourmand joint’s unique Asian-accented Mott Burger has become something of a city staple-not to mention one of the top 10 burgers in America. Tender double chuck patties, sweet potato shoestrings, tangy hoisin aioli, pickled jalapenos, dill pickles, miso butter, and ooey-gooey American cheese comes together to form a zesty, spicy, and totally craveworthy pile of deliciousness. Pair that with an order of Everything Wings and a bottle of sake and consider dinner is served.
How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out and delivery from Toast, DoorDash, and Caviar.

The Loyalist
The Loyalist
The Loyalist

The Loyalist 

West Loop
Named Chicago’s best burger pretty much everywhere that matters, this upscale West Loop spot’s once-mythical Dirty Burg can now be yours whenever you please. The thick and juicy OG comes loaded with pickles, two slices of American cheese, and saucy onion-infused mayonnaise on a sesame seed while the Dirty Diane Burg steps it up a notch with maitake mushrooms, capers, black pepper, and a dousing of Cognac for good measure.
How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out and delivery via Tock to Go or Caviar.

RPM Steak
RPM Steak
RPM Steak

RPM Steak

River North
In the age of super-thin smash burgers and old-school griddled patties, a good steak burger truly stands out. And while many dive-y purists will stick up their noses at the mere mention of a posh local chain, that doesn’t change the fact that this unapologetically polished River North chophouse serves up one of the city’s finest. A sizable hunk of dry-aged beef gets the sharp cheddar, horseradish cream, and plump onion roll treatment, completed by a side of French fries and the glib satisfaction of power lunching like a boss.
How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out and delivery via ChowNow.

Medici on 57th

Hyde Park
This Southside stalwart has been keeping UChicago students, staff, and Hyde Park locals alike in quality all-day fare since 1962. Among the cinnamon rolls, salads, deep dish pizza, and milkshakes that make up its impressively large menu lurks a handful of decadent burger options. The pick of the litter is the Garbage Burger: a half pound of 100% Angus beef layered with cheddar, bacon, sautéed onions, and jalapeños, finished with a side of zesty BBQ sauce.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

The Region
The Region
The Region

The Region

Roscoe Village
An homage to Indiana’s beloved smash burgers, this four-year-old Roscoe Village cult favorite has captured the heart of Northsiders with mountains of crispy-edged patties ordered by the single, double, or triple and stacked with pickle relish, onion, and the ever-addictive mayo-based Region Sauce. Simple, delicious, and served without a fuss-what’s not to love?
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Toast.

Kuma’s Corner

Avondale, West Loop, Schaumburg
This hard-rocking Chicago-based mini-chain has blossomed into a veritable burger empire since opening its Avondale flagship in 2005, serving carnivorous heavy metal fans in locales as far reaching as Indianapolis and Denver. Of the zillion or so burgers to choose from, you can’t go wrong with the signature Famous Kuma, a fist-sized patty topped with applewood smoked bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and a bright and sunny fried egg.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

Fatso's Last Stand
Fatso’s Last Stand
Fatso’s Last Stand

Fatso’s Last Stand

Ukrainian Village
Westside night owls know all too well the joys of a 3 am Fatso’s run. There’s nothing quite like perching on a rickety picnic table along Chicago Avenue while devouring a Super Ooey Gooey (two smash patties bursting with bacon, cheddar, and spicy giardiniera) and wiping Fatso sauce from your chin. Just don’t be a noob and forget the cheesy tots. 
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

The Swill Inn

West Loop
This swanky cocktail lounge has a bona-fide hit on its hands with its signature Swill Burger, one of the most coveted late-night bites in Chicago not named Weiner’s Circle. Two succulent 80/20 ground chuck patties are kissed by a hearty scoop of house-made pimento cheese and pickles before being plopped onto a buttery soft brioche bun. Get after it, kid.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Toast.

Dusek's
Dusek’s
Dusek’s

Dusek’s Board & Beer

Pilsen
16″ On Center’s Pilsen gem is back in action with a full bill of hangover-curing standbys at the ready. Chief among them is the cheeseburger, a patriotic assemblage of tender beef patties, beer pickles, American cheese, lettuce tomato, and special sauce piled onto a classic sesame seed bun. A side of beef fat fries and it’s a wrap (well, technically it’s more of a sandwich, but you get it).
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.

Maillard Tavern
Maillard Tavern
Maillard Tavern

Maillard Tavern

River West
It’s all about the beef inside this Westside gastropub, specifically dual griddled four-ounce patties outfitted with fried onions, dreamy bacon and onion jam, cheddar cheese, pickles, and dijonnaise served on a toasted potato bun alongside a heap of duck fat fries. Too basic for your sophisticated palate? Don’t fret-there are six other varieties on the menu including a particularly handsome Swiss cheese and black truffle pesto-topped number crowned with 1.5 ounces of foie gras. Bon appetit.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

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Jay Gentile is a contributor for Thrillist. 

Chicago

Robyn DaCultyre Is Doing It for the Culture

"The cool thing about Ohio is that there is literally a place for everyone."

Photo by Kayode Omoyosi
Photo by Kayode Omoyosi
Photo by Kayode Omoyosi

I was introduced to Robyn DaCultyre at an Untitled Queen show at C’mon Everybody in late January, and it was one of the most unique drag shows I’d seen in a while. Afterwards, I tracked down this self-described “drag creature” and video chatted about her drag origin story, the state of drag in her native Ohio, and the dual identities that make up her persona. Thrillist: I want to ask you about how Robyn DaCultyre came about and your point of view behind your performance.

Robyn DaCultyre: I’ve been travelling around the country from a young age in ministry and Christian studies. I moved to Chicago right after high school. Four years later, moved back to Columbus and decided I didn’t really want to do church anymore; that wasn’t where my heart was.

I had a really low point in my life and had a suicide attempt and then really found drag and started doing drag as a coping mechanism and way to let off steam. I started in July of 2019, and it was really a lot of punk and metal music. I created this drag creature of sorts and they were really out of this world and celestial and all of those fun alien type terms.

And then we went into a global pandemic and I had a lot of time to figure out who I wanted to be. Digitally I was still doing a lot of drag creature-esque numbers and all of that, but I had this moment where we’re on the front lines getting hit with pepper spray and rubber bullets and pepper spray-all of those lovely things. And I said, I have this platform and I need to start showcasing what’s happening.

Untitled [Queen] stepped in at the right time and messaged me and said, “I’m doing this show for Independence Day called Untitled in America with 52 different performers and I want you to be a part of it.” It was at that moment I was able to take the footage I had been recording on the front lines and incorporate it into digital content. I did a song called Black Like Me by Mickey Guyton that talks about white picket fences, but if you want to see how America is, then you should try being Black like me. The imagery of what’s literally happening in Columbus in that digital performance really spearheaded me into focusing on people who look like me.

Nina Simone is one of my biggest inspirations, and one of her quotes that resonates with me is that it’s the duty of the artist to resonate with the times. My art is politically charged. I like to entertain, but there will definitely be a time when you come to a show expecting to have your drink and be chill and that might not be the case.

How did the name Robyn DaCultyre come about?

I was smoking with Ursula Major, who was on season one of Dragula, and the first time I introduced myself to her I was Robyn Banks, which is my drag name originally. She said, “Well, do you just not want to be original at all?” [Laughs] And I sat with that for a couple of months, and I got really stoned one day and was listening to Janelle Monae, and she talks about doing it for the culture, and I said “I do it for the culture, too!” And the rest is history.

And you started a series called Melanated.

We started Melanated last February. I told the idea to my show director that there were no shows specifically run by Black people that only featured Black entertainers. I wanted to do this show for a night and she said, Why don’t we do it once a week for the whole month? The first show happens, and it’s a sold out crowd, and [my director] comes back and says we should do this every month. So I sucked it up and here we are a year later.

Melanated is the only fully Black show in all of the state. It’s a horrible marketing tool and not something I want to promote, but it is just a fact. It amazes me that we are the 13th largest city in America and there’s nothing here that’s fully focused on Black entertainers. The name also comes from Janelle Monae; she says she’s highly melanated and I said, that works.

Photos by Chay Creates LLC (left) and Bridget Caswell (right)
Photos by Chay Creates LLC (left) and Bridget Caswell (right)
Photos by Chay Creates LLC (left) and Bridget Caswell (right)

You refer to yourself as a drag creature, as opposed to drag queen or king…

This is actually the first time I’m making this public. I am in this place where I want to separate the alternative creature from who this melanated goddess or whatever is. DaCultyre is definitely the person who runs Melanated and then Robyn is this drag creature that is out of this world and really loves punk and alternative music. And both intertwine to make Robyn DaCultyre.

You also do pageants. Tell me about that.

In 2020 I was appointed by Nina West, who is from Columbus, as the representative from Ohio for National Entertainer of the Year in Louisville, Kentucky. I placed ninth out of 13 contestants and I really fell in love with the system and fell in love with the pageantry and loved the idea of reigning and being different. I want to show that we as alternative performers, as bearded performers, you can come into these systems and shake things up.

Is there a uniquely “Ohio” style of drag?

No, and I think that’s one of the things that makes it so amazing is that everyone has their own unique style, and it’s all pretty much accepted. I started as a performer and a drag creature and there was space that was afforded to me and I transitioned to more glamor and pageantry and that’s afforded to me as well. I’ve been a bearded entertainer for a year now. The cool thing about Ohio is that there is literally a place for everyone.

I think I have everything I need. Is there anything else I didn’t ask you about that you want to bring up, or…

I don’t think so. Are there any generic questions you haven’t asked?

Generic questions…I think I asked all of them already [laughs]. I like to ask what you’d be doing if you weren’t doing drag?

It’s a great question. I have a day job that is very demanding so I need drag to get away. I’m also very creative and artistic. I used to do web design and all these other things to pull into my creativity. Drag is the longest thing I’ve stuck with in all parts of my life, so I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon.

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John deBary is a drinks expert and writer. His first cocktail book, Drink What You Want, is available now, and his next book, Saved by the Bellini, is expected in early 2023. He is also the co-founder and president of the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of hospitality industry professionals through advocacy, grant making, and impact investing.

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