The Big Baby at Nicky's – The Real McCoy (Photo by Leah A. Zeldes).
Chicago isn’t exactly a burger town. Hot dogs and Italian beefs and pizza tend to drown out the local meat patties, which is not to say we don’t have some great ones here.
I confess I can take burgers or leave them — I’ll almost never order one anywhere I can get a good hot dog — but I had a hard time voting in WSCR-AM Radio 670 The Score’s best burger poll. Theirs is a respectable list, but it doesn’t include any of my personal favorites, such as the Gulliburger, the
Hackneyburger or the Big Baby from Nicky’s – The Real McCoy.
If you’re a burgerphile, you’ll surely want to check out the The Chicago Burger Project, where bloggers Nat and Adam have spent three years tasting their way through a list of 55 Chicago burgers, and take a look at the lengthy list of recommendations from LTH Forum members.
Charburger, across from the Elbo Room. Do either of those exist anymore? It’s been 20 years; best burger I ever had.
What about the $6 8 oz. Fleming’s Prime Burger that’s served on a knotted challah bun with sharp Cheddar cheese and two slices of thick cut, brown sugar glazed bacon? The value alone of the Prime Burger should make it one of the best burgers served in Chicago.