Thin patties on pillowy buns, curly fries and thick shakes have been served at the Formica counter of this family-run diner since the 1950s.
Three things at this Des Plaines stand are in high demand: juicy char burgers topped with Merkts cheddar on kaiser rolls, chocolate malts and a seat on one of the limited stools.
No seats, no real sign, no pretense. Just a standout hand-formed patty with skin-on fries served in a South Shore strip mall. Grab plenty of napkins since you'll be eating in your car.
Regale the kids with tales of the classic SNL sketch so they'll know a "cheezborger" is what to order in the dim, storied landmark.
The freshly ground beef on a toasted bun has made this nostalgic restaurant a Beverly favorite. On Tuesday nights at the 95th St location, kids' cheeseburger meals are $1.99.
Your kids won't care about the lack of ambiance, and you shouldn't either. This 24-hour Bridgeport diner puts its energy into the One and Only burger, made with a special, secret seasoning.
Burgers topped with sweet grilled onions have been drawing the North Shore to this old-school lodge for generations. The tavern is kid-friendly, but those under 21 must be accompanied by adults.
None of the other locations do it for us quite like the picturesque patio of the suburban original, where burgers served on black rye bread are best accompanied by a fried onion "loaf".
Most burger joints are famous for their beef, but at this Oak Brook bakery it's all about the enormous, sturdy fresh-baked pretzel buns.
Blue cheese-topped burgers here are certainly respectable, but it's the spacious patio that's earned this Edgewater pub its neighborhood following.
"Old fries" might sound icky, but once you try the extra-crispy potatoes, every other french fry will pale in comparison. Beefy burgers and crazy-thick Nutella shakes taste as good as they sound.
Juicy, crispy-edged patties (available in junior size) and crisp, skin-on fries are reason enough to head to any of Epic's outposts.
Chef Michael Komick tops patties of grass-fed beef with everything from pastrami to green chiles, and your preteen vegetarian will tell you he makes the best veggie burger in town.
From Rich Melman, creator of Try and Everest, comes this hole-in-the-wall burger joint. You won't see the unbelievably rich, creamy shake specials listed on the menu...Hint: order one anyway.
The thing to order at this new Lincoln Park stand is the steakburger, a slider on a buttery, eggy bun. You could call it "kid-sized," but any kid in his right mind would ask for a second one.
