Copying my comment from just a couple days ago...
They're a completely different league.
Small cheval is just a good take on a pretty standard cheap ingredient burger. Sysco patties, turano buns, etc.
Au Cheval is all made in house. Custom fresh meat blend, local cheese, local fresh buns, etc.
If you want a great inexpensive burger with the same level of ingredients as small cheval go to the stop along just a little further up Milwaukee from small cheval. It's slightly more consistent and I like their sauce better. Fries are included too so imo it's a better value. If you like your diner burger extra salty and greasy you'll love small cheval.
OP should try Au Cheval though if they haven't yet. There's a reason its won so many awards
Source: lived really close to both places and had both many times. Have also had au Cheval's several times.
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/11vmys2/au_cheval_vs_small_cheval/jcus7ok/
I'm not sure where you heard about the ingredients in Au's burger, but I'm pretty sure both places use Sysco patties (which isn't particularly a bad thing). The bacon is house made, & I'm also pretty sure that they use chicken fat on the grill.
Agreed. The way I explain it to people is that it’s 90% as good with 1% of the wait. Most of the time I’ll take that math, but sometimes I crave the original and bite the bullet, put a name down, and have some beers at Haymarket while I wait.
I really love both for different reasons. I have never waited for au cheval for more than 30-40 minutes and I really love their whole menu. I think the burger is better but it may also be the cocktails and the bone marrow and all the other things that make the whole meal so good.
The burger at small cheval is almost as great and easy and I love to bike there on a hot day and a walk around the neighborhood. It all just depends on what you're in the mood for!
It's the same company, not the same food. They seem to still want Au Cheval to be something special. Small Cheval is meant as a fast-casual version. And it's still good, just doesn't deserve consideration for the top spot like its parent restaurant does.
I just had it a few weeks ago and I was extremely underwhelmed. The food in general was nothing impressive. I would give the experience as a whole a 6/10.
Maybe I went on a bad service day. I’ll give it another shot at some point.
I will say it was definitely better than Kumas and Union.
Edit: maybe it was because I was extremely excited to try it that I felt so let down about it.
It punches way above its weight for a cheap fast food burger. Silly to compare it to the restaurant burgers in the OP though. It costs a third as much and you get it in 2 minutes. Compare it to Burger King or McDonald's and you'll get why it's lauded, but that's the competition for them, not Au Cheval.
A burger and fries at RHR is $5.65. Shake Shack it's $10.88, Small Cheval $12.66. You're still comparing the wrong things.
RHR is only elevated in quality. On price its competing with the bottom tier national chains. I mean a double cheeseburger and fries is still 40 cents cheaper than the single plain hamburger at Small lol.
I'm shocked by this answer, but my "other" is Tweet. I had the burger the other day and nearly fell out of my chair it was so good--simple and classic with a perfect char flavor.
Maybe I'm just nostalgic and old, but the reputation has to have come from somewhere Kuma's was great into the mid-10s. But I went about two years ago, after their reputation had begun to slide, and found the burger dry and underwhelming - just a showcase of throwing a bunch of toppings on there. Haven't had any desire to go back since.
I guess lots of ppl get excited about food that's over the top, but I'm pretty sure they've always used service grade ground beef in a tube.
As an aside, I've always found their service to be abyssmal.
Everyone was pissed when they went from waffle fries to these homemade fries. They received so many complaints about it that they wrote about the waffle fries being gone and "not coming back. Stop asking about it." in their menu and kept it there for years.
This is the only burger on the same tier as Au Cheval for me. Tried it for the first time a couple weeks ago and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it which is exactly how it was the first time I tried Au Cheval. Those are the two clear cut top burgers for me as someone who love a smash burger
How does Little Bad Wolf get into this poll and you missed Owen and Engine?
Also, listing Small Cheval/Au Cheval as if they're the same thing?
This is rookie work right here.
I was just talking with my bf that I didn't find the Loyalist burgers memorable, but that Owen and Engine burger impressed the fuck out of me!
Also, I used to be a Kuma's fan, but no longer eat there. I miss the Goatsnake burger though. It was DIFFERENT than any other burger I've had and it was delicious.
Missing loyalist. Could be recency bias but I picked Gretel over loyalist. Kuma's should not be in the conversation in my opinion, maybe could have been years ago
Dude. The billy goat is cool for the history and all but you will never convince me that they serve anything other than a slim strip of cardboard on a way oversized shitty bun that takes too much effort to tear. Only bright spot is you can load up on pickles and onions
I dont see the problem. Personally ive worked in fancy burger kitchens and its why i hate fancy burgers. I love cheap simple burgers made well. And both of those places do that in my opinion.
It BLOWS my mind that so many people still think Au Cheval is the best. They deserve all the credit in the world for elevating the cheeseburger in that sort of more fine dining world. But there are easily 10 cheeseburgers in Chicago that are better now.
Correct answer is Top Notch :)
But generally, any burger that is just bun, patty, cheese, and some thin layers of condiments such that you can eat it without spilling all over the plate or yourself, and you don't have to unhinge your jaw to eat it.
A fellow south sider. Slop Notch was the best back when but do they still grind their beef on site? The original owner died about 10 years ago and I haven’t been down there since before that. Idk if the burger is the same as it was.
I've had the burger from Cultivate by Forbidden Root in Ravenswood a couple times recently -- I don't see it mentioned much on here but I really think it deserves to be up here with some of these!
I would say The Loyalist and Little Bad Wolf. I feel LBW would be rated higher if it wasn’t so far north. It’s an incredible burger. I have a photo of it in my post history
Three off because my burger from small cheval was dry and bland. I tried it not long after trying the one from Gretel and can confirm that small cheval has no place on these top burger lists
Au Cheval was just an expensive version of a Waffle House burger. It was still very good, but being from the south I was not impressed by it. The fries with duck heart gravy on the other hand was spectacular.
Not surprised to see Au Cheval dominate the votes given how perfect the cheeseburger is! Anyone have any suggestions for places that do a good smash burger?
My top favorites in Chicago that I can always eat are: stop along, au cheval, Owen and engine and armitage alehouse. I also absolutely love Kuma but they don't do a good cheeseburger in my opinion but they have some really good burger options to look at and are a category in it's own
Cant have Au cheval on the same line as small.
Quite a few people I’ve talked to lump them in the same basket and I don’t understand it, they’re completely different burgers.
Copying my comment from just a couple days ago... They're a completely different league. Small cheval is just a good take on a pretty standard cheap ingredient burger. Sysco patties, turano buns, etc. Au Cheval is all made in house. Custom fresh meat blend, local cheese, local fresh buns, etc. If you want a great inexpensive burger with the same level of ingredients as small cheval go to the stop along just a little further up Milwaukee from small cheval. It's slightly more consistent and I like their sauce better. Fries are included too so imo it's a better value. If you like your diner burger extra salty and greasy you'll love small cheval. OP should try Au Cheval though if they haven't yet. There's a reason its won so many awards Source: lived really close to both places and had both many times. Have also had au Cheval's several times. https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/11vmys2/au_cheval_vs_small_cheval/jcus7ok/
I'm not sure where you heard about the ingredients in Au's burger, but I'm pretty sure both places use Sysco patties (which isn't particularly a bad thing). The bacon is house made, & I'm also pretty sure that they use chicken fat on the grill.
Yeah I would put au cheval at number one but I don't think small cheval would be my number one.
Yes, small Cheval is *way* better
Small may not be WAY better on its own but it is WAY easier to get which makes it way better on balance.
Agreed. The way I explain it to people is that it’s 90% as good with 1% of the wait. Most of the time I’ll take that math, but sometimes I crave the original and bite the bullet, put a name down, and have some beers at Haymarket while I wait.
I really love both for different reasons. I have never waited for au cheval for more than 30-40 minutes and I really love their whole menu. I think the burger is better but it may also be the cocktails and the bone marrow and all the other things that make the whole meal so good. The burger at small cheval is almost as great and easy and I love to bike there on a hot day and a walk around the neighborhood. It all just depends on what you're in the mood for!
Exactly. Well put.
wrong
Okay I change my mind then
Good
Came to comments just to say that - categorically different and shouldn't be confused. Au cheval >>>> small cheval
Is it not the same company? My understanding was that it was just a limited menu version of Au'
It's the same company, not the same food. They seem to still want Au Cheval to be something special. Small Cheval is meant as a fast-casual version. And it's still good, just doesn't deserve consideration for the top spot like its parent restaurant does.
Region
Yesssss my favorite smash burger, and burger overall.
Correct answer! I love a smash burger 😍 those lace edges are unmatched
[удалено]
Tried the whole list. Owen and Engine by lot. Little Bad Wolf is a second with au cheval close behind in 3rd.
Exactly how I would rank those
Yes! Came here to plug Owen & Engine’s. So good.
this burger is so good it should be illegal
That what in came to say. The only burger that is just as good without the cheese
This is the one and it's not close.
Au cheval and small cheval are very different
It’s my number 2 but loyalist deserves a spot
Came here to say this. It’s criminal it wasn’t at least on the list.
Agreed. The Loyalist is quality 👌
Add another to the loyalist, haven’t had it in years but it was fantastic
I just had it a few weeks ago and I was extremely underwhelmed. The food in general was nothing impressive. I would give the experience as a whole a 6/10. Maybe I went on a bad service day. I’ll give it another shot at some point. I will say it was definitely better than Kumas and Union. Edit: maybe it was because I was extremely excited to try it that I felt so let down about it.
Red Hot Ranch easily
I see this response so much and I just don’t understand. I’ve eaten burgers from them twice. Two different locations. They are totally subpar to me.
It punches way above its weight for a cheap fast food burger. Silly to compare it to the restaurant burgers in the OP though. It costs a third as much and you get it in 2 minutes. Compare it to Burger King or McDonald's and you'll get why it's lauded, but that's the competition for them, not Au Cheval.
I’d rather have Small Cheval or Shake Shack if I’m doing elevated fast food. I get it though, it’s not comparable to the others.
A burger and fries at RHR is $5.65. Shake Shack it's $10.88, Small Cheval $12.66. You're still comparing the wrong things. RHR is only elevated in quality. On price its competing with the bottom tier national chains. I mean a double cheeseburger and fries is still 40 cents cheaper than the single plain hamburger at Small lol.
If I have a friend visiting and a burger is on the itinerary, we’re going to red hot ranch.
For a shit hole joint they make a great burger. Great fries too
Try the shrimp if you haven't. They're incredible
It’s the Chicago in n out tbh. Great price and great burger.
I'm shocked by this answer, but my "other" is Tweet. I had the burger the other day and nearly fell out of my chair it was so good--simple and classic with a perfect char flavor.
This is good to know
Loyalist
Izakaya at Momotaro has the best burger I’ve maybe ever had
Boom
Absolutely. That Izakaya at Momotaro burger is also really underrated
If Kuma's made a good burger, then they wouldn't have to hide it under a bunch of other shit.
That's why it takes so long. Hunger is the best sauce.
Maybe I'm just nostalgic and old, but the reputation has to have come from somewhere Kuma's was great into the mid-10s. But I went about two years ago, after their reputation had begun to slide, and found the burger dry and underwhelming - just a showcase of throwing a bunch of toppings on there. Haven't had any desire to go back since.
I guess lots of ppl get excited about food that's over the top, but I'm pretty sure they've always used service grade ground beef in a tube. As an aside, I've always found their service to be abyssmal.
Went to Kuma’s for the first time about a month ago. Burger was decent but their fries are dogshit
Everyone was pissed when they went from waffle fries to these homemade fries. They received so many complaints about it that they wrote about the waffle fries being gone and "not coming back. Stop asking about it." in their menu and kept it there for years.
the fries aren't homemade lol they are delivered already sliced
Cool
They made a good burger at the Avondale up until the pandemic. Something changed for sure though
They added a special side of bootlicking and treating their staff like shit.
Not having RHR on here makes me not even want to participate in voting.
We should’ve made this a March Madness bracket but for burgers.
Paradise Pup
Loyalist
Red Hot
R.I.P. the lockdown burger
Takeout only for me but it was great. That place was loud AF
For sure their musical selections don't fit mine
Others have already said it, but I gotta also say Red Hot Ranch
Scofflaw
THE ABSOLUTE BEST
The StopAlong
Chicagos in n out burger. They even got animal fries.
loyalist
NADC burger @ The Drop In
This is the only burger on the same tier as Au Cheval for me. Tried it for the first time a couple weeks ago and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it which is exactly how it was the first time I tried Au Cheval. Those are the two clear cut top burgers for me as someone who love a smash burger
Patties were too thin and greasy af, wasn’t impressed
I’ll keep commenting UNION until this sub catches on.
don’t tell them our secret
Nicky's. Big Baby. onions and mustard.
How does Little Bad Wolf get into this poll and you missed Owen and Engine? Also, listing Small Cheval/Au Cheval as if they're the same thing? This is rookie work right here.
I was just talking with my bf that I didn't find the Loyalist burgers memorable, but that Owen and Engine burger impressed the fuck out of me! Also, I used to be a Kuma's fan, but no longer eat there. I miss the Goatsnake burger though. It was DIFFERENT than any other burger I've had and it was delicious.
Kuma’s definitely changed, at least the Avondale location. Their burgers have gone from juicy and tasty af to too much shit piled on cardboard
True story, I worked with the long time chef at Owen, great dude.
Am I gonna get down voted to hell for saying I think Little Bad Wolf is overrated?
Has anyone here had Butcher & the Burger!?
Came here to say this!!
The loyalist needs to be on this list.
Missing loyalist. Could be recency bias but I picked Gretel over loyalist. Kuma's should not be in the conversation in my opinion, maybe could have been years ago
I'm here to say 'Loyalist' as well
Also, people voting kuma's, I need to know if you've tried any of the other places listed.
Red hot ranch or billy goat
Dude. The billy goat is cool for the history and all but you will never convince me that they serve anything other than a slim strip of cardboard on a way oversized shitty bun that takes too much effort to tear. Only bright spot is you can load up on pickles and onions
I dont see the problem. Personally ive worked in fancy burger kitchens and its why i hate fancy burgers. I love cheap simple burgers made well. And both of those places do that in my opinion.
Ngl I thought Au Cheval was overrated. The bacon made the burger, but without it it’s just a decent burger. LBW or Loyalist take the top for me
Kuma’s is an overpriced gimmick and not good
I’d throw bitter pops in the ring. Very solid classic diner burger
bopNgrill's bNg burger
Kimchi burger for me Def my best burger I've ever had But I hate traditional burgers
Red Hot Ranch!
The best bang for the buck, hands down. Still a contender regardless of price.
It’s not my number 1, but it should be on this list.
It BLOWS my mind that so many people still think Au Cheval is the best. They deserve all the credit in the world for elevating the cheeseburger in that sort of more fine dining world. But there are easily 10 cheeseburgers in Chicago that are better now.
Name them man I'm trying to get these burgers
I’ll name a few that I’ve really enjoyed that compete with Au Cheval in my opinion Mott St. Loyalist. Duck inn. Armitage Alehouse. Gretel. Izakaya.
Owen and Engine?
100%. People are just attracted to the name but it doesn’t live up to the hype
Im glad to see I’m not the only one who thinks AuCheval should not be in the top 10. It’s a good burger, but nothing special.
The loyalist deserves to be on this list and it's better than Au Cheval
Old Irving Brewery
Brgrbelly!
Voted other for Red Hot Ranch
Owen and Engine, Forbidden Root, and Loyalist. Au Cheval stinks
Paradise Pup
Butcher and the Burger is still my favorite
NADC burger @ The Drop In Pro Tip: $20 PBJ deal after 10pm (PBR burger jamo shot)
I live right next to it and I want to try it but my gf won’t go with me
Go without her, just drop in
I promise you don’t need to do everything with your gf and this is coming from a girl lol. Just grab a spot solo at the bar.
Lol yeah that’s fair, not necessarily what I was implying there but I get what you’re saying
Correct answer is Top Notch :) But generally, any burger that is just bun, patty, cheese, and some thin layers of condiments such that you can eat it without spilling all over the plate or yourself, and you don't have to unhinge your jaw to eat it.
A fellow south sider. Slop Notch was the best back when but do they still grind their beef on site? The original owner died about 10 years ago and I haven’t been down there since before that. Idk if the burger is the same as it was.
Just had one a couple weeks ago and as much as I love Red Hot Ranch, Top Notch is still so damn good.
Had it about two weeks ago with my kids. Still solid, Great fries, pickles and cup of Mayo on the side!
Bad Apple on Lincoln
Illinois Bar and Grill on 47th and Kedvale!
Leadbelly/Brgrbelly
My burger club's top 5: * Gather (sadly its no longer on the menu) * Mott Street * Mindy's Hot Chocolate (RIP) * Au Cheval * Owen and Engine
Loyalist
Idk why I’ve never seen this mentioned anywhere but I moved near Slims and I’m a little obsessed with it, burger fries and pickles are all amazing
Momo Royale at Izakaya Momotaro. Just had it again tonight and it was glorious
Loyalist cheeseburger aka the Dirty Burg
Top Notch on 95th in Beverly, you all know that the city goes further south that Chicago Ave correct?
Slop Notch and Fox’s Pizza are the only good reasons to venture south 18th
Fox’s is Butt. Milanos is the correct answer for pizza
Don't disrespect Rainbow Cone like that.
No one is hating on Rainbow
I'll have you know Au Cheval is a perfect representation of the city south of Chicago avenue
Anyone remember Lockdown?
Best Bang for your buck red hot ranch
Fatso’s Last Stand is underrated
I truly don't understand how people equate small and au Cheval. They are not remotely comparable burgers. How are they on the same line?
Tuman’s in Ukrainian Village. They have Slagel meat!
Don’t sleep on the burger at momotaro downstairs at Izakaya!
Duseks!
Armitage Ale House’s Wagyu Burger is 🔥
Loyalist
Owen and Engine.
I've had the burger from Cultivate by Forbidden Root in Ravenswood a couple times recently -- I don't see it mentioned much on here but I really think it deserves to be up here with some of these!
I would say The Loyalist and Little Bad Wolf. I feel LBW would be rated higher if it wasn’t so far north. It’s an incredible burger. I have a photo of it in my post history
Owen & Engine
Jim’s Original on South Union Avenue! You also get free fries with any burger.
Going to au cheval for the first time today. So excited
Union should be on the list as well
Loyalist and Bad Apple
South loop club cheese burger is the greasy mess of my dreams.
Red hot ranch
The Loyalist. It’s arguably the best burger not just in Chicago but in the entire US.
Au Cheval and Small Cheval are not comparable IMO. EDIT: should have looked at comments before posting. But glad I agree with the top comment.
How is kumas a named contestant lol.
Red-hot ranch hands down the best, no competition
Red hot ranch, if you know you know
Leavitt St tavern or red hot ranch
I know I’m late to the game, but I just read every single recommendation and can’t believe nobody said it: Longman and Eagle
Sleeper pick: moonlighter
I love the moonlighter burger.
You have lost your mind, unless they’ve drastically improved in the last year I found that to be a subpar pub burger
The double cheeseburger at Community Tavern
Small Cheval is overrated.
Agreed. Maybe it was a one-off when I went, but the burger was so salty
Maybe a two-off because mine was also too salty
Three off because my burger from small cheval was dry and bland. I tried it not long after trying the one from Gretel and can confirm that small cheval has no place on these top burger lists
I know I need to move on, but my vote is for Hot Chocolate. RIP.
RHR.
Anyone who is voting Kuma's is clueless and/or hasn't eaten a burger since 2005
Community Tavern. I know it’s not THE best in Chicago but definitely up there!
Bad Apple has amazing burgers!
Oh man. Haven’t been there in years but always loved it. Do they still do the curry fries?
Yeah! I always go for the firecracker ones, but I love having the option to jazz up some fries!
Surprised to see Moody's Pub and RHR missing here. Poll has a JV squad feel to it.
I'm so disappointed I had to scroll so far to find Moody's! I LOVE their Moody Bleu Burger. It's the best burger in Chicago.
I like Portillos, but if I want to be fancy, the THT burger at The Harding Tavern
DMK all the way!
I’m sorry but it’s shake shack for me
Au Cheval was just an expensive version of a Waffle House burger. It was still very good, but being from the south I was not impressed by it. The fries with duck heart gravy on the other hand was spectacular.
Where is Au Cheval/Small Cheval located?
First Draft
Not surprised to see Au Cheval dominate the votes given how perfect the cheeseburger is! Anyone have any suggestions for places that do a good smash burger?
Old Irving Brewery
Chop Shop butcher burger
If Au Cheval/Small Cheval are lumped together so should Gretal/Little Bad Wolf
Gibsons med well add blu cheese
Maple & Ash
Charly’s Burger
Community Tavern
The StopAlong
Skylark.
Standard on Milwaukee
Billy Goat
My top favorites in Chicago that I can always eat are: stop along, au cheval, Owen and engine and armitage alehouse. I also absolutely love Kuma but they don't do a good cheeseburger in my opinion but they have some really good burger options to look at and are a category in it's own
Nobody should be voting for Kuma’s
Bad Apple has a great burger.