West Loop griddle icons, Logan Square smash spots, and tavern classics across the North Side. Chicago's best burgers, by consensus.
The full ranking
West Loop griddle icons, Logan Square smash spots, and tavern classics across the North Side. Chicago's best burgers, by consensus.
Au Cheval (West Loop)
The West Loop diner that launched a thousand imitators: juicy griddled patties with dijonnaise, American cheese, thick-cut bacon, and a fried egg on a squishy bun. Opened in 2012 and still cited among the best burgers in the country, with weekend waits to match the reputation.
The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern (Bucktown)
A Bucktown tavern with a classic pub burger that has built a loyal neighborhood following over the years: a properly seasoned patty, quality cheese, and a bun that holds together, served in a room with the feel of a place that has always been there.
Red Hot Ranch (Logan Square)
A Logan Square window institution serving a smash-style burger and hand-cut fries late into the night, with a devoted following that has kept the lines moving since the 1970s. The kind of no-frills burger that serious eaters seek out.
Best Intentions (Logan Square)
A Logan Square bar and kitchen known for a burger that overperforms for a place primarily celebrated for its natural wine and cocktail program. One of the neighborhood's most pleasant food discoveries.
Mott St. (Wicker Park)
A Wicker Park restaurant known for its Southeast Asian-influenced small plates, Mott St. earns a spot on Chicago's burger lists with a well-constructed patty that brings the same attention to ingredients and seasoning as the rest of the menu. A crossover success.
Ragadan (Uptown)
A small Jordanian counter-service spot in Uptown better known for falafel and labneh, whose Oklahoma onion burger, a thin patty pressed with sweet caramelized onions, American cheese, and za'atar mayo, has become one of Chicago's most talked-about burgers. A genuine crossover hit ranked by nearly every guide in town.
Diego (West Town)
A West Town neighborhood restaurant with a burger that has earned recognition beyond its immediate block, featuring quality beef and a focused build that keeps the emphasis on the patty itself. A consistent performer.
JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop (Irving Park)
An Irving Park sandwich shop steeped in Midwestern comfort, where the burger stacks two griddled Angus patties with caramelized onions, cheddar, bacon, dijonnaise, and a surprising layer of Granny Smith apple that cuts the richness. One of the highest-rated burgers in the city on both Yelp and Google.
Boonie's Filipino Restaurant (North Center)
A North Center Filipino restaurant that earns its place on Chicago's burger lists with a patty that reflects the kitchen's Filipino pantry, with flavors and condiments that set it apart from every other burger in the city. A genuinely original take on the form.
Charly's Burgers (Hermosa)
A counter-service operation on Cicero Avenue in Hermosa whose patties blend beef with bacon for a smoky, juicy griddle burger, finished with American cheese, grilled onions, garlic aioli, and pickles on a squishy bun. The Infatuation scores it among the city's very best, and it holds a 4.7 on Yelp and 4.8 on Google.
Ranked across 5 sources: The Infatuation · Best Burgers in Chicago (by score) 2026; Time Out Chicago · 14 Best Burgers 2026; Chicago Magazine · The Great Chicago Burger Quest 2024; Yelp · Ranked by Rating · 0.5x Weight (June 2026); Google Reviews · Ranked by Rating · 0.5x Weight (June 2026). Full scoring is on the Methodology tab above.
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