A Girl About Chicago's Guide to the Best Burgers in Chicago
I’ve wanted to publish this post for quite some time now so I’m SUPER excited to share a list of my all-time favorite burgers in Chicago, featured in no particular order. I hope you guys will found this useful because who doesn’t love a juicy cheeseburger?!
Mott Street
This Wicker Park gem is owned and operated by Chef Edward Kim. The famous “Mott Burger” has two double chuck patties, sweet potato shoestrings, hoisin aioli, pickled jalapeños, dill pickles, miso butter, diced onion, and American cheese between a toasted bun. You also have the option to add a fried egg (that’s a hard yes from me). You get subtle Asian flavors in each bite from the hoisin aioli and miso butter, which has got to be my favorite part about this burger! Don’t sleep on the rest of their menu either because Mott Street a legendary Chicago spot I keep yearning for time and time again.
Forbidden Root
Don’t be fooled by its simplicity! The beautiful burg from Forbidden Root consists of giardiniere mayo, aged cheddar, onions, B&B pickles in between a classic brioche bun. Pair it with a refreshing craft beer from Chicago’s first botanic brewery and you’re golden.
Café Marie Jeanne
Café Marie Jeanne is one of my favorite spots in the city for just about everything…the flaky biscuits, decadent beef tartare, and incredible selection of smoked/cured/pickled fish make it the ultimate food lover’s paradise. They also happen to offer a $20 burger, beer and fries deal every Thursday from 12 PM until close. Set a reminder on your calendar for your next free Thursday—you can thank me later!
Pub Royale
Pub Royale, operated by Heisler Hospitality, offers an eclectic menu perfect for sharing. The Indian-inspired dishes are incredibly flavorful and crave-worthy. The Royale with cheese comes with spicy pickles, aged cheddar, diced onions, aioli and some of the most addicting fries in the Chicagoland area. Oh, and trust me when I say you need to order the Gobi Manchurian to kick off every meal here!
The Moonlighter
The Moonlighter is a low-key neighborhood spot in Logan Square, operated by Scofflaw Group. It’s the perfect spot for a laid back meal, and they also happen to have one of the best burgers in the city. They offer five different types of burgers, but my favorite is the classic “Moonlighter,” which comes with American cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomato, raw onion, sliced dill pickle and a highly addictive special sauce.
The Warbler
Located on bustling Lincoln Avenue in the heart of Lincoln Square, The Warbler is an idyllic neighborhood restaurant on Chicago’s north side. The Warbler burger is a classic cheeseburger—double patty, American cheese, arugula, tomato, mayo, ketchup and pickles with perfectly crispy fries on the side. Their beautiful and expansive outdoor patio alone makes the trek up north more than worthwhile.
Saint Lou’s Assembly
Okay so this technically isn’t a cheeseburger, but Saint Lou’s Assembly serves up a damn good patty melt that’s 100% worthy of a mention on this list. The perfectly seasoned beef patty, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese and special sauce combination make this melt utterly irresistible.
Pro tip: head here on Mondays to take advantage of their $5 patty melt deal (yes—you read that right)!
Small Cheval
No Chicago burger list would be complete without a mention of Small Cheval (I left out Au Cheval because I don’t eat pork and their burger just isn’t the same without the thick-cut bacon :/). You know a place has got to be legendary when they only offer three things on the menu—burgers, fries and milkshakes—and the classic cheeseburger from Small Cheval does not disappoint. The patties feel a tad bit smaller than Au Cheval’s burger, but everything else is almost identical. A simple burger with pickles, garlic mayo, cheese, and two patties—what’s not to love?
Little Bad Wolf
A great neighborhood spot in Andersonville, Little Bad Wolf serves up delicious, upscale bar food. The Wolf Burger featured below comes with three beef patties, bacon, American cheese, onion straw, housemade pickles, red onion mayo and a fried egg. Talk about indulgent, am I right?!