Chicago may be a deep‑dish town to outsiders, but locals know burgers are one of the city’s quiet obsessions. From cheffy bar burgers to iconic smashburgers, these five spots are always in the debate for “best burger in Chicago.”
1. Au Cheval
This is the burger that launched a thousand think‑pieces—and locals will still wait in line for it.
Technically a diner, Au Cheval serves a double‑stacked (ordered as a “single”) griddled burger with American cheese, dijonnaise, pickles, and a soft bun, with the option to add thick‑cut bacon and a fried egg. It’s rich, salty, perfectly balanced, and often held up as the benchmark Chicago burger.
2. Small Cheval
If you want the Au Cheval experience without the full sit‑down wait, locals hit Small Cheval.
The menu is stripped down to basically burger, cheeseburger, fries, and shakes, but that’s all you need. Same style of griddled patties, same great cheese melt and sauce—just in a more casual, burger‑stand setting that’s ideal for a quick fix.
3. Mott St
Mott St’s burger earned legendary status even when it was an off‑menu item. Now it’s front and center.
It’s an umami bomb: a juicy patty blended with special seasonings, topped with American cheese, pickled jalapeños, hoisin‑y sauce, onions, and a pillowy bun. It’s technically “fusion,” but what matters is that it might be one of the most flavorful burgers in the city.
4. Kuma’s Corner
Metal music, huge burgers, and a very Chicago attitude—Kuma’s is an institution.
Each burger is named after a metal band and piled with aggressive toppings: fried eggs, bacon, chiles, onion rings, fancy cheeses, and sauces. The patties are hefty, cooked to temp, and come on pretzel buns with waffle fries. It’s not subtle, but it is unforgettable.
5. The Loyalist
The Loyalist’s “Dirty Burg” is the kind of burger that makes food people a little emotional.
It’s a double‑patty burger with a custom beef blend, caramelized onions, American cheese, pickles, and a sesame seed bun, cooked just right and dripping in all the right ways. Locals who love it really love it, and will put it up against any burger in the country.
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