Ring in summer and celebrate the last days of National Burger Month with these tasty burger joints in the neighborhood.
Butcher & the Burger: 1021 W. Armitage Ave.
Cute and mod with a classic flare, this place acts as both a burger counter and a butcher, where you can dine with friends or pick up some patties to grill up during summer BBQs. Walking up to the counter, you are faced with a blackboard of extensive options. In DIY style, you pick the type of patty, spices, bun, toppings and any extras (you can even choose to top your burger off with sautéed foie gras!)
Before you go, make sure you have the patience to stake out a table in the tiny joint and know what is on the menu so you can craft the perfect burger – it’s easy to be a little frazzled. But serving up high-quality, grass-fed beef (even breakfast burgers!) is too difficult to really mess up, so get creative and enjoy.
Rockit Burger Bar: 3700 N. Clark St.
Whether you are journeying around Wrigleyville in need of pre-game or pre-concert grub before hitting Wrigley Field or The Metro, Rockit Burger Bar is the perfect place for a casual and filling meal. With witty names for their eight-ounce burgers, this joint boasts crazy flavor combinations such as the Macdaddy: a black angus patty, braised beef short rib, caramelized onion, and mac and cheese. Of course, you can always opt for the classic black angus burger if you’re looking for a tame burger. Best of all, most burgers are served with truffle, sweet potato or regular French fries.
Indie Burger: 1034 W. Belmont Ave.
Sustainability takes priority at this joint. Indie Burger does everything eco-friendly, organically and locally – with meat from locally farmed, humanely raised and grass-fed cattle; organic sauces; dressings and soups; as well as furniture made of recycled materials. The walls are plastered with old concert posters from local venues, and indie tunes play throughout the restaurant. For a special take on the regular cheeseburger, try their namesake – the Indie Burger, served with grilled onion, Swiss cheese and their special Indie sauce (a thousand island dressing with a kick). Since the burgers don’t come with any sides, bring a couple extra bucks for some yummy French fries – it’ll be worth it.
Epic Burger: 1000 W. North Ave.
Extending throughout the neighborhoods of Chicago, Epic Burger has been grilling up all-natural beef patties since 2008. Putting emphasis on using humanely raised cattle free of hormones or antibiotics, this is another place serving hand-crafted, freshly made food – and it is delicious. Stop here for a quick meal in between shopping off of the North/Clybourn stop. Since the patties are fairly thin, make sure to add other fresh fixings, and make sure to choose the whole-wheat bun. And maybe add a peanut butter milkshake to the bill, just for good measure.