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A cheeseburger, basket of fries, and a small pint of beer.
Bitter Pops’ smash burger is tasty.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Where to Find the Best Smash Burgers in Chicago

Make sure to enjoy those crispy, griddled bits of perfection

by Naomi Waxman and Ashok Selvam Updated
View as Map
Bitter Pops’ smash burger is tasty.
| Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
by Naomi Waxman and Ashok Selvam Updated

Chicago is a burger town through and through, from its historic stockyards to the many juicy, meaty renditions at all price points throughout the city. Smash burgers in particular have flourished due to the genre’s Midwestern roots in St. Louis, Indiana, and Kansas City, winning adherents with razor-thin caramelized edges, a rich and deep char, and thoughtful toppings that bring out the beefy best in each bite. Longtime destinations and newer entrants all bring their own spin to the affair, so there’s a smash burger for nearly everyone.

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Edzo's Burger Shop

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Owner Eddie Lakin has made this suburban Evanston spot a destination for burger fans all over town with his habit-forming smashed, griddled patties.

1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3396
(847) 864-3396

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J.T.’s Genuine Sandwich Shop

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While this submission isn’t officially labeled a smash burger, the team at J.T.’s delivers each Darn Good Burger (lettuce, onion, pickle, American cheese, dijonaise) and J.T.’s Special Burger (caramelized onions, cheddar, Granny Smith apple, bacon, dijonaise) with a delightfully griddled texture that satisfies all those smash burger cravings.

3970 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 754-7729
(773) 754-7729

Also featured in:

Bitter Pops

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Bitter Pops. one of Chicago’s best beer shops, relocated to a new and larger home in 2021 — one that also included a restaurant portion left behind by the previous tenant. That created an opportunity to feature a robust retail selection of craft brews alongside a food menu that includes Pop’s Double Smashburger (Courage Lager caramelized onions, American cheese, dijonaise) and Patti’s Single Smashburger. Patrons can also swing by for a rotating monthly regional burger such as the Mississippi Slug Burger — a smashed patty of beef mixed with pretzel crumbs — from Cornith, Mississippi.

3357 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 857-7677
(773) 857-7677

The Region - Handcrafted Hamburgers

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This casual counter-service spot pays tribute to the passionate smash burger culture of northwest Indiana with super-squashed patties complete with the lacy, caramelized edges that exemplify the genre. They may not win any beauty contests, but burgers — all served with the restaurant’s signature mayo-based sauce — have rightly earned a dedicated following.

2057 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 857-2874
(773) 857-2874

Also featured in:

Redhot Ranch

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The epitome of a Chicago institution, Redhot Ranch started out with a focus on fries-laden Depression Dogs. But thanks to a jolt of inspiration at an In-N-Out in 2013, co-owners Barry Nemerow and Jeff Greenfield added a perfectly smashed-and-seared burger that’s widely regarded as one of the best and most wallet-friendly around. There’s debate among aficionados regarding the particular strengths of the Lakeview location versus the outpost in Bucktown, but both welcome a steady stream of regulars. 35th Street Dogs, near Sox Park, also offers the same burger.

3057 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 661-9377
(773) 661-9377

Also featured in:

Longman & Eagle

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Neighborhood staple Longman & Eagle has numerous claims to fame, including a smash burger that neatly encapsulates the restaurant and bar’s casually curated approach. The Slagel Farm double smash burger is gilded with white American cheese, pickles, caramelized onions, and dijonnaise, and makes for a satisfying accompaniment to Longman’s strong whiskey cocktails.

2657 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 276-7110
(773) 276-7110

Also featured in:

Smash Jibarito

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It was only a matter a time before someone applied the Puerto Rican ingenuity behind the jibarito — the sandwich that swaps fried plantains for a delicious and gluten-free sub for bread — to burgers. Smash Jibarito is a wandering pop-up where customers can enjoy that lovely smash burger taste combine with plantains (they hold up well, don’t worry about the integrity of the thing — nothing deteriorates!). You can also order a veggie smash burger with meat substitute that might taste better than the beef version.

3801 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647
A smash jibarito. Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago

The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern

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Tucked on a quiet Bucktown street, this tavern and three-room inn has rolled out a smash burger submission that has become a real contender among fans in the city. The L St. Smash comes with an expertly flattened chuck Angus beef patty, American cheese, caramelized pickles, and signature sauce.

2345 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-9639
(773) 661-9639

Also featured in:

The StopAlong

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A massive hit among patrons of all ages, this restaurant is primarily a pizzeria. But numerous Chicagoans in the know will tell smash burger seekers to look no further than StopAlong’s double cheeseburger with smashed patties, American cheese, and a tangy sauce over caramelized onions, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes. The burger is so popular that the team has fostered a rivalry with well-known Chicago burger slinger Small Cheval (check out the digital billboard just south of the restaurant on Milwaukee).

1812 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 394-4694
(773) 394-4694

Also featured in:

SALT burgers + fries

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Among the more recent entries in Chicago’s smash burger scene is SALT Burgers + Fries, a halal-certified outpost for smash burgers (beef and Impossible), onion rings, fries, and lemonade. Conveniently located beside owner Hassan Jaffrani’s franchise location of Beard Papa, the Japanese cream puff brand, diners can make their own sweet-and-savory pairing.

1920 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 786-5929
(312) 786-5929

Also featured in:

Fatso's Last Stand

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Burger hankerings are powerful, and fortunately for locals, Fatso’s has the antidote: a char-grilled and smashed Super Ooey Gooey burger stuffed with Merkts cheddar, bacon, and giardiniera, and dressed with sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, and onion. There’s a second location in Lincoln Park.

2258 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 245-3287
(773) 245-3287

Also featured in:

All Together Now

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There’s a lot to look at in this charming cafe and bottle shop in Ukrainian Village, and after a few glass pours of New and Old World wines, the effect might even become dizzying. But patrons can steady themselves with All Together Now’s solid rendition of a Slagel Farms smash burger with fried onions, malt vinegar mayo, aged cheddar, pickles, all on grilled shokupan (Japanese milk bread).

2119 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 661-1599
(773) 661-1599

Also featured in:

The Drop In

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The onions are the main event for this burger, a burger that comes with a narrative — it’s a collaboration between chef Phillip Frankland Lee of Sushi by Scratch and Neen Williams, a pro skateboarder. The Drop In is part of the Sushi by Scratch family. The NADC burger is a double patty with crispy edges made with America wagyu. It comes loaded with onions, jalapeños (they are seeded), American cheese, and pickle. The burger debuted in Austin, Texas where it’s developed a following and its own Instagram account.

415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

RPM Steak

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Chicagoans and visitors can devour smash burgers in style at RPM Steak, the sleek and beautiful steakhouse from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises that’s served presidents and numerous celebrities over the years. Hidden among the menu listings of massive cuts of meat is a Wagyu smash burger with yuzu kosho aioli.

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 284-4990
(312) 284-4990

Also featured in:

Spoke & Bird Cafe (South Loop)

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Smash burger options grow scarce south of the Loop, so Spoke & Bird’s 18th Street outpost is an especially important location for those with cravings. It comes with two smashed beef patties, cheddar, pickles, raw onion, dijonaise, and greens on a bakehouse bun.

205 E 18th St, Chicago, IL 60616
(929) 263-2473
(929) 263-2473

Also featured in:

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Marz Community Brewing Company

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This friendly brewery on the South Side has partnered with Cocina Sublime (the same folks behind Taco Sublime; they’ve expanded their horizons). They’ve applied their flattop knowledge to burgers, and this the kind of affair that you don’t need condiments. Sure, top the thing with whatever you want, but a naked burger that’s properly seasoned is more than enough. Cocina Sublime also runs the kitchen at Wicker Park’s Desert Hawk, so you can find the same burger there. And there’s plans to return to the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club later in 2024.

3630 S Iron St, Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 579-1935
(773) 579-1935

Also featured in:

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Edzo's Burger Shop

1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Owner Eddie Lakin has made this suburban Evanston spot a destination for burger fans all over town with his habit-forming smashed, griddled patties.

1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3396
(847) 864-3396

J.T.’s Genuine Sandwich Shop

3970 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

While this submission isn’t officially labeled a smash burger, the team at J.T.’s delivers each Darn Good Burger (lettuce, onion, pickle, American cheese, dijonaise) and J.T.’s Special Burger (caramelized onions, cheddar, Granny Smith apple, bacon, dijonaise) with a delightfully griddled texture that satisfies all those smash burger cravings.

3970 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 754-7729
(773) 754-7729

Bitter Pops

3357 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Bitter Pops. one of Chicago’s best beer shops, relocated to a new and larger home in 2021 — one that also included a restaurant portion left behind by the previous tenant. That created an opportunity to feature a robust retail selection of craft brews alongside a food menu that includes Pop’s Double Smashburger (Courage Lager caramelized onions, American cheese, dijonaise) and Patti’s Single Smashburger. Patrons can also swing by for a rotating monthly regional burger such as the Mississippi Slug Burger — a smashed patty of beef mixed with pretzel crumbs — from Cornith, Mississippi.

3357 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 857-7677
(773) 857-7677

The Region - Handcrafted Hamburgers

2057 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618

This casual counter-service spot pays tribute to the passionate smash burger culture of northwest Indiana with super-squashed patties complete with the lacy, caramelized edges that exemplify the genre. They may not win any beauty contests, but burgers — all served with the restaurant’s signature mayo-based sauce — have rightly earned a dedicated following.

2057 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 857-2874
(773) 857-2874

Redhot Ranch

3057 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

The epitome of a Chicago institution, Redhot Ranch started out with a focus on fries-laden Depression Dogs. But thanks to a jolt of inspiration at an In-N-Out in 2013, co-owners Barry Nemerow and Jeff Greenfield added a perfectly smashed-and-seared burger that’s widely regarded as one of the best and most wallet-friendly around. There’s debate among aficionados regarding the particular strengths of the Lakeview location versus the outpost in Bucktown, but both welcome a steady stream of regulars. 35th Street Dogs, near Sox Park, also offers the same burger.

3057 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 661-9377
(773) 661-9377

Longman & Eagle

2657 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Neighborhood staple Longman & Eagle has numerous claims to fame, including a smash burger that neatly encapsulates the restaurant and bar’s casually curated approach. The Slagel Farm double smash burger is gilded with white American cheese, pickles, caramelized onions, and dijonnaise, and makes for a satisfying accompaniment to Longman’s strong whiskey cocktails.

2657 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 276-7110
(773) 276-7110

Smash Jibarito

3801 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647

It was only a matter a time before someone applied the Puerto Rican ingenuity behind the jibarito — the sandwich that swaps fried plantains for a delicious and gluten-free sub for bread — to burgers. Smash Jibarito is a wandering pop-up where customers can enjoy that lovely smash burger taste combine with plantains (they hold up well, don’t worry about the integrity of the thing — nothing deteriorates!). You can also order a veggie smash burger with meat substitute that might taste better than the beef version.

3801 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647
A smash jibarito. Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago

The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern

2345 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60647

Tucked on a quiet Bucktown street, this tavern and three-room inn has rolled out a smash burger submission that has become a real contender among fans in the city. The L St. Smash comes with an expertly flattened chuck Angus beef patty, American cheese, caramelized pickles, and signature sauce.

2345 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-9639
(773) 661-9639

The StopAlong

1812 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

A massive hit among patrons of all ages, this restaurant is primarily a pizzeria. But numerous Chicagoans in the know will tell smash burger seekers to look no further than StopAlong’s double cheeseburger with smashed patties, American cheese, and a tangy sauce over caramelized onions, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes. The burger is so popular that the team has fostered a rivalry with well-known Chicago burger slinger Small Cheval (check out the digital billboard just south of the restaurant on Milwaukee).

1812 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 394-4694
(773) 394-4694

SALT burgers + fries

1920 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Among the more recent entries in Chicago’s smash burger scene is SALT Burgers + Fries, a halal-certified outpost for smash burgers (beef and Impossible), onion rings, fries, and lemonade. Conveniently located beside owner Hassan Jaffrani’s franchise location of Beard Papa, the Japanese cream puff brand, diners can make their own sweet-and-savory pairing.

1920 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 786-5929
(312) 786-5929

Fatso's Last Stand

2258 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Burger hankerings are powerful, and fortunately for locals, Fatso’s has the antidote: a char-grilled and smashed Super Ooey Gooey burger stuffed with Merkts cheddar, bacon, and giardiniera, and dressed with sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, and onion. There’s a second location in Lincoln Park.

2258 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 245-3287
(773) 245-3287

All Together Now

2119 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

There’s a lot to look at in this charming cafe and bottle shop in Ukrainian Village, and after a few glass pours of New and Old World wines, the effect might even become dizzying. But patrons can steady themselves with All Together Now’s solid rendition of a Slagel Farms smash burger with fried onions, malt vinegar mayo, aged cheddar, pickles, all on grilled shokupan (Japanese milk bread).

2119 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 661-1599
(773) 661-1599

The Drop In

415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

The onions are the main event for this burger, a burger that comes with a narrative — it’s a collaboration between chef Phillip Frankland Lee of Sushi by Scratch and Neen Williams, a pro skateboarder. The Drop In is part of the Sushi by Scratch family. The NADC burger is a double patty with crispy edges made with America wagyu. It comes loaded with onions, jalapeños (they are seeded), American cheese, and pickle. The burger debuted in Austin, Texas where it’s developed a following and its own Instagram account.

415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

RPM Steak

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Chicagoans and visitors can devour smash burgers in style at RPM Steak, the sleek and beautiful steakhouse from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises that’s served presidents and numerous celebrities over the years. Hidden among the menu listings of massive cuts of meat is a Wagyu smash burger with yuzu kosho aioli.

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 284-4990
(312) 284-4990

Spoke & Bird Cafe (South Loop)

205 E 18th St, Chicago, IL 60616

Smash burger options grow scarce south of the Loop, so Spoke & Bird’s 18th Street outpost is an especially important location for those with cravings. It comes with two smashed beef patties, cheddar, pickles, raw onion, dijonaise, and greens on a bakehouse bun.

205 E 18th St, Chicago, IL 60616
(929) 263-2473
(929) 263-2473

Related Maps

Marz Community Brewing Company

3630 S Iron St, Chicago, IL 60609

This friendly brewery on the South Side has partnered with Cocina Sublime (the same folks behind Taco Sublime; they’ve expanded their horizons). They’ve applied their flattop knowledge to burgers, and this the kind of affair that you don’t need condiments. Sure, top the thing with whatever you want, but a naked burger that’s properly seasoned is more than enough. Cocina Sublime also runs the kitchen at Wicker Park’s Desert Hawk, so you can find the same burger there. And there’s plans to return to the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club later in 2024.

3630 S Iron St, Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 579-1935
(773) 579-1935

Related Maps