My Top 10 Burgers — Chicago Edition

The Great Chicago Burger Quest

At the beginning of 2020, I started logging one burger per week. I’ve always had an obsession with documenting things and have spent over a decade working as a food, beverage, and hospitality photographer, both commercially and editorially, so why not? Plus it kind of keeps me somewhat active on the ol’ Insta. I use a little point-and-shoot camera I keep on me, pop open the flash, and snap a couple of photos before digging in. I’ll write the title and description, make some mental notes about the burgy and the place, and do a little write-up when I get home. It’s been a fun thing to keep going, a good excuse to look up and explore new spots while traveling.

I was so stoked when my pals at Chicago Magazine reached out wanting to do a little feature on my log. They asked me to make a top 10 (they had to be in Chicago and couldn’t be pop-ups) and then do a little photoshoot. It was a bit surreal being on that side of the camera but s/o Jeff and a few High Lifes for making it fun! And thank you Amy for such a cool project!

Anyway, while I’m not doing one per week, it’s still an obsession, for sure, and the log continues! I never set out to find the best or feel like these are the 10 best — they’re 10 of my favorites.

1. L. St. Smash at the Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern 1/3 lb. Ground Angus Chuck topped with American cheese, our house sauce, homemade pickles & caramelized onions.

2. Cheeseburger at Best Intentions Single mustard and griddled patty w/ Land O’ Lakes white American cheese, crunchy dill pickles, and house joppiesaus on a Martin’s potato roll.

3. RHR Double Cheeseburger at Red Hot Ranch Melty Cheese, Special Sauce, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion.

4. Mott Burger at Mott St. 1/2 pound burger - double chuck patties, sweet potato shoestrings, hoisin aioli, pickled jalapeño, dill pickles, miso butter onions, American cheese.

5. NADC Burger at the Drop In 1/3 lb Iron Table Wagyu beef, American cheese, secret sauce, onions, tamed jalapeños, pickles.

6. Pop’s Double Smashburger at Bitter Pops Two smash patties. Courage Lager™ caramelized onions, American cheese, Honeycup™ dijonnais, and house-made pickles on the side.

7. Double Dan Burger at Ragadan Double the meat, on a toasted bun topped with shoor pickles, chopped onion, ketchup, mustard, zatr mayo.

8. FR Burger at Forbidden Root Double Smashburger, Giardiniera Mayo, White American Cheese, Onions, B&B Pickles, Butter Bun.

9. Double Cheeseburger at Odge’s Mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickle, grilled onion with fries.

10. CBG Burger at Crushed by Giants Double Smash Blend of Beef and Ground Bacon, American Cheese, White Cheddar Cheese, Dijonnaise, Pickled Red Onion, Caramelized Onion, Served on a Sesame Seed Bun.

**August 2024 Update** While I’ll never look at this ever-changing list through the lens of “The Best” but rather “my favorites” I would slot in a new one!

The Pleaser at Small Bar. Onion Smashed Patty, American Cheese, Pleaser Sauce, Pickles on a Potato Bun. Honestly, it probably slides into the top 4 so, 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d.

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