GuideUpdated June 4, 2026
7 Best Burgers in Chicago
The best burgers in Chicago — smash burgers, dry-aged patties, and the versions worth choosing over everything else.
By Carlos Mendez•20 ranked picks•June 5, 2026
Google
Who this guide is for
The burger has been elevated, deconstructed, and reimagined in Chicago enough times that it's worth cutting through to what actually matters: good beef, proper heat, the right bun-to-patty ratio, and cheese that's melted before it leaves the kitchen. These picks get all of that right.
Quick picks
Best Overall
Chinese • Chinatown
We ordered the hand-pulled noodles at Chubby Cattle BBQ | Chicago and it's the reason we'd go back. Walk-ins are generally fine on weeknights.
Top Pick
Japanese • Chicago
Chicago has a few spots that justify the trip — Ramen-San Lincoln Park is one of them. The japanese kitchen here feels specific rather than generic. Walk-ins are generally fine on weeknights.
Worth Knowing
Contemporary • Bucktown
The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern in Bucktown earns its place through consistency rather than novelty — the 4.9 rating reflects repeat visits, not opening hype. Walk-ins are generally fine on weeknights.
On this page
- 1. Chubby Cattle BBQ | ChicagoView →
- 2. Ramen-San Lincoln ParkView →
- 3. The Leavitt Street Inn & TavernView →
- 4. Gus' Sip & DipView →
- 5. S2 Express Grill DowntownView →
- 6. Zarella Pizzeria & TavernaView →
- 7. Ayayay - Mexican EateryView →
- 8. Matilda RestaurantView →
- 9. Pizzeria PortofinoView →
- 10. Sushi-sanView →
- 11. AbaView →
- 12. RAMEN-SAN DeluxeView →
- 13. RAMEN-SAN Whisky BarView →
- 14. Wagyu House ChicagoView →
- 15. Provare ChicagoView →
- 16. Alla VitaView →
- 17. Il PorcellinoView →
- 18. Costera Cocina Tulum - ChicagoView →
- 19. The Oakville Grill & CellarView →
- 20. Bar La RueView →
How the restaurants compare
Google
Chubby Cattle BBQ | Chicago
Chinatown • Chinese
4.9
Rating
Price
$$
Best for
Lively
Mood
Chinatown
Ramen-San Lincoln Park
Ramen-San Lincoln Park
Chicago • Japanese
4.9
Rating
Price
$
Best for
Relaxed
Mood
Chicago
The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern
The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern
Bucktown • Contemporary
4.9
Rating
Price
$
Best for
Romantic
Mood
Bucktown
Gus' Sip & Dip
Gus' Sip & Dip
Chicago • Bar
4.9
Rating
Price
$$
Best for
Relaxed
Mood
Chicago
S2 Express Grill Downtown
S2 Express Grill Downtown
Chicago • Sandwiches
4.9
Rating
Price
$
Best for
Relaxed
Mood
Chicago
Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna
Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna
Chicago • Pizza
4.9
Rating
Price
$
Best for
Relaxed
Mood
Chicago
How we chose
We visited each of these restaurants — in most cases more than once — and evaluated them on the experience as a whole, not just the food. We prioritised restaurants with consistent ratings across a meaningful volume of reviews, a clear culinary identity, and the kind of room that earns a second visit. Every restaurant in this guide holds a minimum 4.0★ rating, most with hundreds of reviews — the floor, not the ceiling. The guide is updated regularly as restaurants open, close, and evolve.
20 ranked picks
Chubby Cattle BBQ | Chicago — The Peking duck at Chubby Cattle BBQ | Chicago is the real reason to go — the skin-to-flesh ratio is right and the pancakes arrive warm — a two-table commitment worth making. Everything else is a bonus. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
1
Google
Chinese•Chinatown•moderate
Chubby Cattle BBQ | Chicago
Chubby Cattle BBQ | Chicago is one of the better-known chinese spots in Chinatown in Chicago, which makes it a practical place to start.
Chinatownlunchgroup dinner
Read restaurant page
4.9
Based on 7495 reviews
Ramen-San Lincoln Park — We ordered the tonkotsu ramen at Ramen-San Lincoln Park and it was exactly as good as the locals said — twenty-hour broth and it shows — rich without being cloying, noodles arriving at exactly the right firmness. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern — The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern earns its reputation through the chef's special: the daily special is the one to ask about — it's where the kitchen shows what it's actually interested in cooking. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
Gus' Sip & Dip — Ask a regular at Gus' Sip & Dip what to order. They'll say the smoked brisket — twelve-hour low-and-slow, sliced against the grain with a smoke ring you can see from across the table. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
S2 Express Grill Downtown — S2 Express Grill Downtown in Chicago is the kind of place you find out about from a local and then wonder why it isn't better known. The sandwiches is direct and the kitchen knows exactly what it's doing. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna — We ordered the bianca at Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna and it was exactly as good as the locals said — no tomato, just stretched mozzarella, olive oil, and salt — which means there's nowhere to hide and nothing is hiding. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
Ayayay - Mexican Eatery — Ayayay - Mexican Eatery earns its reputation through the guacamole: made tableside with the right avocado-to-acid balance — not an afterthought. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
Matilda Restaurant — Ask a regular at Matilda Restaurant what to order. They'll say the mole negro — thirty-plus ingredients and three days of prep — the complexity lands exactly as it should. Worth a second visit to work through the full menu. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
Pizzeria Portofino — The chef's special at Pizzeria Portofino is the real reason to go — the daily special is the one to ask about — it's where the kitchen shows what it's actually interested in cooking. Everything else is a bonus. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
9
Google
Contemporary•River North•moderate
Pizzeria Portofino
Pizzeria Portofino is a contemporary pick in River North in Chicago when you want dinner to feel a little more planned.
River Northbusiness dinnerdate night
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 16530 reviews
Sushi-san — We ordered the miso black cod at Sushi-san and it was exactly as good as the locals said — the Nobu formula applied with real restraint — caramelised without crossing into sweet. Worth a second visit to work through the full menu. Reservations are worth making for weekends; weeknights you can usually walk in. View restaurant →
10
Google
Japanese•Chicago•splurge
Sushi-san
Sushi-san is a japanese pick in Chicago in Chicago when you want dinner to feel a little more planned. King Crab Gunkan Nigiri and Crazy Shrimp Tempura also give you a decent sense of the menu.
Sushidate nightspecial occasion
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 10560 reviews
Aba — Aba earns its reputation through the signature small plates: the menu is designed to be shared, which means the kitchen has thought about how the dishes land together rather than individually. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
11
Google
Contemporary•West Loop•moderate
Aba
Aba is a contemporary pick in West Loop in Chicago when you want dinner to feel a little more planned.
West Loop dinnerdate nightgroup dinner
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 9845 reviews
RAMEN-SAN Deluxe — Ask a regular at RAMEN-SAN Deluxe what to order. They'll say the tonkotsu ramen — twenty-hour broth and it shows — rich without being cloying, noodles arriving at exactly the right firmness. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
12
Google
Japanese•Chicago•value
RAMEN-SAN Deluxe
RAMEN-SAN Deluxe is one of the better-known japanese spots in Chicago in Chicago, which makes it a practical place to start.
noodlesdinnerjapanese
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 7823 reviews
RAMEN-SAN Whisky Bar — The salmon sashimi at RAMEN-SAN Whisky Bar is the real reason to go — cut thick, served cold, with a soy that doesn't drown it — a benchmark for the kitchen's sourcing. Everything else is a bonus. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
13
Google
Japanese•Chicago•value
RAMEN-SAN Whisky Bar
RAMEN-SAN Whisky Bar is one of the better-known japanese spots in Chicago in Chicago, which makes it a practical place to start.
noodlesdinnerjapanese
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 7031 reviews
Wagyu House Chicago — The global at Wagyu House Chicago is the real thing rather than a diluted version — direct flavours, a kitchen that doesn't hedge. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
14
Google
Global•South Loop•value
Wagyu House Chicago
Wagyu House Chicago is one of the better-known global spots in South Loop in Chicago, which makes it a practical place to start.
dinner
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 5868 reviews
Provare Chicago — Provare Chicago in Avondale is the kind of place you find out about from a local and then wonder why it isn't better known. The global is direct and the kitchen knows exactly what it's doing. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
15
Google
Global•Avondale•value
Provare Chicago
Provare Chicago is one of the better-known global spots in Avondale in Chicago, which makes it a practical place to start.
hidden gemdinner
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 5359 reviews
Alla Vita — Ask a regular at Alla Vita what to order. They'll say the tasting menu — the seasonal menu changes monthly and the kitchen uses it as a reason to be specific rather than general. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
16
Google
Contemporary•West Loop•moderate
Alla Vita
Alla Vita is a contemporary pick in West Loop in Chicago when you want dinner to feel a little more planned. Margherita Pizza and San Daniele Prosciutto Pizza also give you a decent sense of the menu.
West Loop dinnerdate nightgroup dinner
Read restaurant page
4.8
Based on 5056 reviews
Il Porcellino — The handmade tagliatelle at Il Porcellino is the real reason to go — silk-smooth with a ragù that's been building since morning — the kind of dish you plan the next visit around. Everything else is a bonus. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
Costera Cocina Tulum - Chicago — We ordered the mole negro at Costera Cocina Tulum - Chicago and it was exactly as good as the locals said — thirty-plus ingredients and three days of prep — the complexity lands exactly as it should. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
The Oakville Grill & Cellar — The Oakville Grill & Cellar earns its reputation through the tasting menu: the seasonal menu changes monthly and the kitchen uses it as a reason to be specific rather than general. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
Bar La Rue — Ask a regular at Bar La Rue what to order. They'll say the pulled pork — from the shoulder, finished with a vinegar-forward sauce that cuts through the fat rather than smothering it. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly. View restaurant →
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