Chicago’s 15 Best Old-School Burger Joints | The #1 Is Not Downtown

🚗 Plan your next Saturday drive in Illinois and Indiana 👇 https://heartland-road-guides.netlify.app/?src=burgers Ask downtown where to get the best burger in Chicago and you get sent to a basement with a two hour line. Meanwhile, out at Ninety-Fifth and Western, a counter that opened in 1942 still keeps sides of beef in the cooler and grinds its own meat every morning. George Motz, the man who wrote Hamburger America, calls it one of his favorite burgers of all time. Fifteen old-school joints, ranked by the food and the reputation, not by the year on the sign: 15. Billy Goat Tavern, Lower Michigan Avenue, since 1934 14. The Bunny Hutch at Novelty Golf, Lincolnwood 13. White Palace Grill, South Loop, open 24 hours since 1939 12. The Choo Choo, Des Plaines, where a model train brings your burger 11. Charcoal Delights, North Park 10. Superdawg Drive-In, Norwood Park, carhops since 1948 9. Parky's, Forest Park, since 1947 8. Diner Grill, North Center, two old streetcars, home of the Slinger 7. Nicky's The Real McCoy, Gage Park, home of the Big Baby 6. Janson's Drive-In, Beverly, since 1960 5. Poochie's, Skokie, the Char Cheddar Burger 4. Schoop's Hamburgers, Tinley Park, the classic griddle smash 3. Hackney's on Harms, Glenview, the burger on dark rye since 1939 2. Paradise Pup, Des Plaines 1. The 1942 counter nobody downtown mentions We also say three names out loud that are gone: Cock Robin, Henry's Hamburgers, and the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, torn down in 2018. Griddle or char? A griddle burger is pressed flat on hot steel for a crisp lacy edge. A char burger goes over open fire. And the old stands here use Merkt's cheddar out of a tub, not a square of American. Hours, prices and history change, and some of it comes from the places' own accounts, so check before you drive. Several of these are cash only. Which burger did we leave out, and which one did we put too low? Tell us in the comments. #ChicagoBurger #Chicago #ChicagoFood