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

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.

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.

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.

兄弟JC和埃德加·卡斯塔涅達Chicago-meets-Mexico City mashup in Logan Square takes an unusual approach with the torta-style Pamburgesa, a guajillo-stained telera bun stuffed with a Slagel Farms smash burger, white onion, American cheese, “salsa especial,” and pickles.

Behind Big Kids’ irreverent ‘90s stylings lies a culinary approach that is at once fun and thoughtful. One of its biggest hits and longest-standing menu items is the Original Shiddy Burger, a smashed patty topped with American cheese, “shiddy sauce,” and shredded lettuce.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.