My 5 Favorite Smash Burgers in Chicago Right now
With smash burgers being all the craze and likely not going anywhere in the near future, I decided to put together a list of my — current — five favorite smash burgers in Chicago. I will say, since I started this journey of finding and trying the best burgers in the city, more often than not, I come across many being mislabeled. Not sure if it’s because restaurants are trying to bring in more foot traffic or don’t know his to achieve a proper smash, but when I say “smash burger”, I’m talking about 2–4 oz balls of meat that are smashed on a ripping hot flattop to achieve the maillard reaction, adding a ton of flavor while creating crispy, lacy edges that extend past the bun — not a regular burger with a thin patty.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s dive in!
1. Taco Sublime
If you’re unfamiliar with Taco Sublime, get familiar. For me, this is as good as it gets. The only burger I’ve ever given a score of 10/10 to. What started out as a food truck started by Khaled Simon before getting a residency at Marz Brewing on the city’s South Side, has blossomed into one of the most sought after burgers in Chicago right now. In fact, after word got out of how good it is, they’ve now got a second home in the new(ish) Desert Hawk cocktail bar and restaurant in Wicker Park.
These are simple smash burgers, no bells or whistles; high-quality meat that gets smashed and hit with a little mustard, toasted sesame seed bun, and a couple slices of sharp cheddar cheese. No Kraft American here. They do have the option to add an egg, bacon or guacamole but you don’t need any of those on this burg — all that’s going to do is mask that insane beef flavor. One day, I’ll actually try their tacos because they look incredible. But until that day comes, this burger will do.
Marz — 3630 S Iron St; Desert Hawk — 2049 W Division St
2. The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern
Believe it or not, Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern is actually where Burger Boyz got started in the early winter of 2023. We recently went back in January to celebrate the one year anniversary of our page, and this burger was — somehow — better than I remember it being. (I was also sober this time around.) Many know about this spot now, so I won’t be calling it a “hidden gem” but it still feels like one of the best-kept secrets. This little tavern on the corner of Medill and Leavitt in Bucktown is home to one of the absolute best burgers in Chicago. It all starts with two 1/3lb patties that get smashed to perfection, to achieve that beautiful maillard and lacy edges that are held together by a couple slices of gooey American cheese and topped with caramelized onions, pickles, and quite possibly the best burger sauce you’ll ever have.
It is seriously so damn delicious. I love a good sesame seed bun, too; this one is nice and squishy. This burgie is juicy and packed with flavor, and about as close to perfection as you can get. I mean, just look at her.
2345 N Leavitt St
3. PrimeTime Bar & Grill
I must say, I’m a little disappointed in a lot of you (yes, you) for not trying this one yet. Maybe it’s because of the neighborhood they’re located in — Albany Park — that makes it hard to get to for some. But the smash burgers at PrimeTime Bar & Grill are fantastic and need to be included in the “Best Burgers in Chicago” discussion. I stopped by there back in December and met with chef/owner, Joel, who was kind enough to let me in the kitchen and get a first-hand experience of how they make their burgers. High-quality ingredients aside, I want you to know how much love and care they put into making these.
The burger starts with 80/20 beef that gets smashed and seasoned with a house-made seasoning until each patty achieves the proper maillard effect, without being overly cooked. The patties are then topped with thinly sliced onions that steam while cooking (similar to an Oklahoma burger) before getting caramelized once the patties are flipped over. From there, they get topped with American cheese before getting placed on a toasted sesame bun that’s covered in their house PrimeTime sauce (incredible!) with a few pickles and the thinnest sliced lettuce I’ve seen. The flavors and texture in this burger are amazing. Seriously; it was crunchy, salty, spicy, and had a slight sweetness. Everything worked harmoniously. If you’re looking for a smash burger you haven’t tried that’s a little off the beaten path, I can’t recommend this one enough.
3057 W Lawrence Ave
4. Smash Jibarito
Almost two years later, I finally got my hands on one of the hottest burgers in the city, Smash Jibarito. And after the first bite, I knew right away that this was going to make the list. If you’re unfamiliar with jibaritos, they are a Puerto Rican sandwich that uses flattened and fried plantains as a bun. Before I dive in further, I will say that this style of a burger might not be for everyone. But if you’ve never had a plantain before, or already have and love them, you absolutely need to try this.
Chef/owner, Josean, uses 1/4 lb black angus patties for these burgers with a sweet aioli, razo thing pickles and sautéed onions on an incredibly ripe, fried plantain with gooey American cheese. This burger is legitimately unlike anything I’ve tried before. In terms of creativity and flavor profile, I have to put it in its own category. As you can see in the photo, the patties were smashed as good as you can possibly get them. Seasoned really well, too. The sweet aioli is pungent (not overpowering) and the texture that you get from that and the gooey cheese together was very satisfying. The onions are soft but had the right amount of bite to ‘em. The pickles are soaked in a champagne vinegar, which is something I’ve never had before. The patties do extend past the plantain buns, so expect some bits to fall out and be a little messy. (Remember: It’s a burger; sometimes you get dirty.)
As of now, you can get this burger at Omarcito’s Latin Cafe every Monday and Tuesday from 12–4PM, and then at Spilt Milk later in the evening starting at 5PM. They’re also at Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie on Wednesday nights at 5:30PM.
5. Chubby Boy’s Burgers
Chubby Boy’s Burgers has been around for a few years now, making their rounds at various places around the city. I first had them last summer at one of their pop-ups at Ludlow Liquors, and had the chance to go in the kitchen and chop it up with chef/owner, Oscar. One of the main things we talked about was the importance of keeping the integrity of a burger. Their signature burg is 80/20 ground chuck that gets smashed, seasoned, and topped with two slices of American cheese. A Marty’s potato bun also gets buttered and toasted and served with a little bit of mayo — I opted for their signature Chubby Sauce, which is sweet and spicy with a nice depth of flavor — and shredded lettuce on the bottom bun, a thin slice of tomato and a few pickles. It also came with a side of homemade Mesquite BBQ chips that reminded so much of Jay’s BBQ chips, which are my favorite. While the burger might not sound like much, the flavor was excellent; it was also filling and had a great bun-to-meat ratio.
It’s a true classic smash and further proof of how much of an impact the maillard reaction has on a burger like this. They also have an Oklahoma Burger on the menu that comes on two slices of toasted Martin’s potato bread and their homemade Chubby Sauce.
Update: Since I wrote this post, Chubby Boy’s now has a new residency at Blind Barber in Fulton Market.
