I think it’s safe to say we’ve had hundreds of burgers on this channel. I mean just look at this YouTube search - LOL. While most of them are fast food, we’re feeling like we have a pretty damn good sense of the best beef between two buns. We’re thrilled to share our list of the Top 5 Burgers in Chicago. We’ve made the rounds, we’ve narrowed in on what we like and we’re ready to fight to the death over this list. One time, we literally had 14 different hamburgers in 2 hours at TimeOut Chicago’s Battle of the Burger! Do we need to share more of our credentials? So please enjoy … smash burgers for life.
One HUGE note — we’ve both eaten at Au Cheval and we’re fairly certain it would be included in this Top 5 but we’ve never formally reviewed the burger on the show. Review pending! FWIW — We did review Small Cheval’s Bacon Cheeseburger and our personal thoughts on Au Cheval comparatively to the burgers we’re reviewing are mentioned throughout most of these videos.
We the jury find this list … Grill'd-ty as charred!
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The Loyalist’s The Dirty Burg
FLAVOR PROFILE: SMOKEY • ONION-INFUSED COOKING OIL & MAYO • MELTY CHEESE
The Loyalist’s The Dirty Burg is one of the most celebrated burgers not only in Chicago (it’s our #1) but also in the country … and THE WORLD. It has won them numerous honors across the culinary spectrum. The burger patty itself is made up of chuck, short rib and ground bacon and features two slices of classic American Cheese. Their proprietary special sauce, house-made pickles and onion-infused mayo just make it out-of-this-world tasty. The thought, the technicality, the process, the freshness — it really makes it stand out. Everything was mixed together with intent. If you’re planning on coming to Chicago on a visit or just have never been here as a local — YOU MUST GO.
According to Corey, this is quite literally one of the best meals he has ever eaten in his life. So shout out to The Loyalist for letting us bring our cameras into the kitchen to show how everything came together.
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Little Bad Wolf’s Wolf Burger
FLAVOR PROFILE: FLAVORFUL TRIPLE PATTIES • CRISPY & CRUNCH ONION STRINGS
Most of this food review was Corey moaning over this burger. Full on moaner. Moan zone. Moan town. We’re residents of MOANVILLE. These have three patties with bacon, American cheese, crispy onion straws, house made pickles, red onion-mayo and a glorious (do you see that?!) runny sunnyside-up egg. Saucy and greasy flavor that is just amazing. Every bite felt like it had a little bit of everything in it.
Extra, extra points for how they handled the to-go order situations as well. This burger should be in every conversation when it comes to the best burger in Chicago.
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Café Marie-Jeanne’s Cheeseburger
FLAVOR PROFILE: SMOKED TOMATO JAM • SMOKEY • HOMEMADE BRIOCHE BUN • SMASH BURGER • CARMALIZED IN BUTTER
How good does that meat brick look when it hits the grill?! They make it so flat and it somehow makes it so damn good. Everything is made in house. The beer is so good and it’s great because you can literally just eat an entire circle around the full burger to really enjoy it first. #CircumferenceBites. The homemade bread is also OUTSTANDING. The jam is so tangy and so sweet. One of the best Corey reactions of all-time and he literally blacked out and ate everything.
It’s easily one of the most killer burgers in Chicago.
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Red Hot Ranch’s Double Cheeseburger
FLAVOR PROFILE: SMASH BURGER • MELT CHEESE • SPECIAL SAUCE • SEASONED BEEF
Many local Chicagoans say this our best homegrown version of an In-N-Out burgers. As you can see we’re pretty obsessed with smash burger style. The edges of the burger get a nice little crisp to them. Just look at Corey’s face in that GIF, just ready to sink his teeth into this beauty. This is a burger people say is the best in Chicago - AND sometimes the best in the world! It’s up there no doubt. We were pretty much speechless by the end of the review.
At $13.00 even for two of these, that’s insane. SIX-ish DOLLARS?!
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The Region’s Diggity Dos
FLAVOR PROFILE: SMASH BURGER • RELISH & RAW ONIONS • MASSIVE
There is so much going on in this burger but it tastes classic. The crispy burnt edges are to die for. The melted cheese between the patties just gooey-ups the relish and raw onion. It’s absolutely massive and it was cooked to perfection. If you’re anywhere NEAR The Region, you best stop in and get the Diggity Dos.
BONUS AT-HOME: CHEESE-STUFFED BACON & CARAMELIZED ONION BURGERS
Can’t make it to Chicago anytime soon? Have no fear! Check out our cheese-stuffed bacon & caramelized onion hamburger recipe. Sean’s dad was in town—he’s been a professional butcher since 1979—so when he wants to show us how to make a burger … we’re all ears. We promise you’ll love it.
We had A LOT of Malört shots to wash down our Old Style. ENJOY!
