America s Best Burger Chicago s Most Famous Double Cheeseburger

That's right, many people consider this to be the best burger in all of America. I'm in Chicago and I cannot wait to taste it. Hey everyone, hope you're having an amazing day. It's Mark Wiens, I'm in Chicago. A city that's defined, that's famous for hot dogs and deep dish pizza. But it also happens to be home of what many consider to be the best burger in the entire United States. Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger. The yolk is oozing. Now of course saying the best burger is hugely subjective, but this place has a huge loyalty and I've had friends, food loving friends tell me that I cannot leave Chicago without trying it. Before we get started eating what is considered one of the best burgers in all of America, we're going to get started at a legendary famous tavern. They serve one of the original, one of Chicago's original cheeseburgers just to get warmed up. Welcome to Billy Goat Tavern, dating back to 1934. They have a hilarious history, but I'll share all about it once we get inside and order. Hello, good morning. I'm going to come in and order immediately their famous, of course, for the cheeseburger. Can I get a single cheeseburger? No single, double cheese, double cheese is the best. Can I get a Pepsi? No Pepsi, Coke. And what about fries? No fries, chips, chips. Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger. No fries, chips, no Pepsi, Coke. Double cheese is the best. So we got totally told there, I'm going to have to get the double cheeseburger. And can we please get three double cheeseburgers, please? And chips, please. No fries, chips. That was such a cool entrance to Billy Goat Tavern. And I mean, that was made famous by a SNL Saturday Night Live skit. However, that is something that they used to do right here at Billy Goat Tavern because it was founded by Greeks, especially Greek immigrants who didn't speak a lot of English. And from what I was reading, they would just learn a couple of words and they knew cheeseburger, cheeseburger. So they just yell out cheeseburger. And so that's the history of how it happened right here. Chef Chico is going to get started on the burgers right now. Those patties, they're very iconic and very, very thin. And so that's especially why you need to have a double. Oh, that smells good. The beef sizzling on the hot plate. Oh, I think that's one of the signatures here is it has to be charred, kind of charred on the hot plate, on the griddle. OK, now the cheese goes on. And I think we want all toppings. So, Derek, cheeseburger for you. Awesome. And we got that. I mean, don't even bother with singles. You have to get a double or a triple. But we got the doubles. It's very simple. I mean, it's just straight the burger plus cheese in the inside of two burgers in a Kaiser bun. And then that's pretty cool. Self-served toppings. So the pickles, you can already smell the pickles, onions and no lettuce, no tomato because they say the goat ate that. Oh, I love how thick cut those pickles are. You know what? I'm just going to kind of toss it right here on the side. And then we'll we'll add some more as we go. You did well with the pickles there. Maybe too many. But those are just. There we go. Perfect. Oh, it's juicing. It's juicing. Yes. Pickles go on onions. Some of the bright green relish on the upper bun. Squeeze on the mustard, I guess, to keep it Chicago style. Always keep it Chicago style. We are in Chicago. I do like a lot of mustard. I think you'll be OK. We definitely aren't the greatest burger builders. Things are going to be spilling out, but that's totally OK. Derek, you ready? I'm ready. An original cheeseburger. Oh, the pickles literally are amazing. Really acidic, sour, crisp. Incredibly refreshing as well. Again, the story is that the patties are extremely thin because one thing they take. So, I mean, they cook so fast. And another thing is you have more surface area for the all the condiments for the sear. Oh, yeah. For the sear on the hot plate. You know, as well as a burger sandwich to cradle the cheese. The bun looks like it's really big. But when you do sink your fingers into it, it totally collapses. It's a Kaiser bun. Airy, fluffy. Definitely airy and fluffy. And the thick cuts of onion as well that are mild, but really give it a nice, refreshing crunch that, you know, you've got to come here just for the experience, the originality, the history of this, which leads us to why is it called the Billy Goat Tavern? As the story goes, it was on the side of a busy street, the tavern, and a goat fell out of a truck that was driving past. The goat managed to wander itself into the tavern, which everyone thought was hilarious, which is hilarious to this day. And ever since then, the owner, he took care of the goat. It became a mascot. It became the main theme of the restaurant. I mean, it became the Billy Goat Tavern. And that's why there's no lettuce and no tomatoes, because the goat ate both the lettuce and the tomato. I'm glad he left the pickles. Yeah, I'm glad the goat didn't eat the pickles. Yes, exactly. Since then, there have been so many just legends that have dined here, that have drunk here, that have hung out here. And so it's just a really cool part of Chicago history. And not forgetting the Pepsi. I'm joking. I mean, the Coke. I think what's cool about this place is it's all about joking, and it's all about the history and preserving the history. It's just a really fun environment. So the cheeseburger, I mean, without a doubt, it's extremely basic, simple, but the pickles stood out, and just the atmosphere, the history, the friendliness, that was an experience. To continue with this burger tour of Chicago, we have made it. This is the place. It's called Au Chaval. It's probably one of the most famous burgers in the entire United States. Bon Appetit, they rated it as the best burger in America. Many people, it's been written about as one of the top burgers, always rates on the top list. Eaters essential burgers in all of America. And if there's one thing I was reading, there's people, I mean, they've waited out here for two, three, four, they say four hours sometimes on the wait during the weekend. But almost universally, people say that it was totally worth it after they ate the burger. So there's a lot of hype. There's a lot of press, but it really stands up to the expectation. So all that to say, I am extremely excited to be here. We made it in. This is, it's really, I mean, it's really an honor to be here. This restaurant, Au Chaval Diner, it's been described as an upscale modern take on a diner. And so the menu is actually, it's really extensive. They have a lot of things on their menu, but then you look down, you scroll down to all the traditional sandwiches. They have the single. One of the things you have to know here is that the single burger is actually double. It includes two patties, but double includes three patties. And then you can add on egg and bacon. This is a tough decision. I think we need those additions. I mean, this is a once in a lifetime. We got to go all out. Okay. So again, I love how it's just completely open kitchen. You can see everything that happens and this is the most artful burger creation. They just, they take, I think what stood out to me is that it's not just one person making the burger. One person is in charge of the patties. One person is in charge of the bacon. One person is in charge of the egg. And so they all like take their, they specialize and they perfect that single thing before they then assemble it. Absolutely flawlessly. It's one of the most pretty burgers I've ever seen in my life too. I would completely agree. I'm pretty excited about digging into this one. What's the strategy here? Just so kind of like, I'm going to close it and I'm going to give it a stab. So like let some of that egg yolk just kind of ooze out on top of it. Give it one quick stab. Oh, you can see the yolk oozing. The yolk is oozing. It just popped and rolled down the burger like a waterfall. Pick it up, toss it over. There you go. Maybe give it a little. Oh, it already started to break. Did it break? I do want to, I do want to give it the stab just because that's cool. And that's the thing that their signature for all that felt so satisfying. The burger stab. That's so satisfying. Okay. Pull out the knife served with a pickle spear. Oh, it's oh, that is just an engineering marvel. The bun is the most beautiful bun you've ever seen. The bacon is gigantic. And again, the single is actually a double. It's probably the most photogenic burger I think I've ever seen in my life. It's absolutely perfectly engineered. Yeah. This is a big moment in our lives. Best burger, right? Have mercy. Oh my goodness. Oh wow. That first initial bite is something I think you'll never forget. Creaminess from the egg yolk, saltiness from the bacon, fat from the bacon. I totally wasn't expecting the bacon to just be that melt in your mouth. I thought it was going to be like kind of, you know, like bacon can be have a bit of chew to it. Yeah. That just is melt in your mouth. Bacon. The burgers are so flavorful. The beef, the perfect harmony of pickles. I think it's called, they call it Dijon is, which is a combination of Dijon mayonnaise and mustard. Is it that that makes their signature sauce? There's no lettuce. You do have like this onion kind of coleslaw up top. Wow. Adds a good bite of freshness to it. The thing you'll also notice is that the bun is significant. It's like a, it's not just this thin bun. It's really a hearty bun. Yeah. But at the same time, it's fluffy because you have all these ingredients that it needs to secure. It's a hearty roll, but not as dense. Yeah. I think one of the things I like about it is it's not trying to be too fancy. It's not trying to add on these obscure ingredients. It's just like the ingredients we all know and love on a burger. Yeah. Just taken to the next level. Cooked to perfection. And use probably, I mean, using definitely gourmet, high quality ingredients. Seasoned to perfection, cooked to perfection. It's like that bacon, the thick cut. That is unbelievable. Absolutely wonderful. That bacon is insane. Yeah. It almost tastes like it was glazed in honey. I think he was brushing it. Was he? Yes. He was brushing it. Like he just absolutely babied the bacon. Oh, wow. I think one of the things I can notice is also the quality of salt that they use. You can immediately tell that you're using an exceptional salt that doesn't overpower the saltiness, but adds this well-rounded salty flavor to the entire burger. I'm blown away. I can't actually believe it. It legit actually probably is the best burger I've ever eaten. I don't think I could think of a better burger that I've ever eaten myself. And then served with a pickle spear. I'm struggling to find the correct words to even describe it. It's just masterpiece burger. Masterpiece happiness. Yes. Another thing you notice is the bacon yet has this sweet honey flavor to it, which just contrasts the saltiness. And yet it's not. When you taste the bacon on its own, it's sweet. When it's mixed with the burger, it's not. It just blends in and is a perfect harmony. Yeah. Great medley throughout all the ingredients. I mean, to be totally honest, I was not quite sure how they were going to pull off the best burger in America, but I think they've done it. They have actually done it. Try some of their fries. Mm-hmm. Fries are amazing, too. They're kind of that version of fries that you can taste the freshness of the potato. They're not insanely crispy, but on the edges, they're very crispy. And on the inside, it remains potato-y. Yeah. They almost have the flavor of potato chips. They actually do remind me of potato chips. Right? Like kettle cooked. They taste like kettle cooked potato chips in French fry form. This is the type of burger you never want to end. You want to continue in your hand and mouth forever. Even your last bite looks attractive. I know. Still incredibly juicy and moist throughout. In perfect condition and shape. Every single bite is wonderful. It's like sometimes you get burgered out by the end, and it's just like, oh, let me finish and be done. It's like I'm missing a burger right now. Yes. It's the best burger. And then chasing it with the pickle spear is a nice addition. Okay, here we go. Final bite. I did hear more, but that was life-changing. Thank you. Thank you. Wow. What an experience. The burger itself, if you just get the single, which is actually a double cheeseburger, it's $14.99. But then if you add on, I mean, that's extremely reasonable. But then if you add on the egg costs $2.99, the bacon $6.99. And so I'll do the math below for the total amount for that burger that I ate with all those toppings, but totally worth it. You have to get the bacon. The bacon is incredible. But the burger really was, it was just unbelievable. I really cannot think of a better burger that I've ever eaten in my life, one of the top burgers ever. And on top of that, the staff are all extremely friendly, just a really nice, friendly environment. I think my advice to you would be definitely, I mean, it is an absolute must-eat burger when you're in Chicago. Don't go with too high of expectations, but then just be surprised and blown away when you eat it. We are at the next place to eat another burger that's hugely loved in Chicago. This is a burger that is one of the best values for money, one of the cheapest burgers, but the best quality burgers. It's an old school, no frills smash burger that still, I mean, it has a huge loyal following. So I'm excited to try it. Here we go. I'm excited. The RHR Double Cheeseburger, Red Hot Ranch. And I mean, you can feel that this is just a totally original Chicago fast food restaurant. Classic old school smash burger, fresh beef, never frozen. A ball of it goes onto the griddle, smash it down until it's really thin. And you can see all the juices coming out, giving it that char, giving it that crust on the burger. Double patties, two pieces of cheese, goes onto the bun with a little bit of dressing, some sauce, some pickles, a little bit of onions, lettuce, tomato. Oh man. And I got the combo with fries and a drink. Smells good. Oh, all the fries, look at the bottom, fries smell delicious. Oh, it's always a good sign when you can see the cheese and oils just juicing through the paper. That's something you'll get used to in Chicago. Ready for this? Oh, it's looking good. Oh, oh, the juice. Oh, the melted cheese. Oh, golden crisp. Oh, it's a, it's a whole trough of them. Oh, perfect. Let's move into the burger. Oh, this looks good. It just looks just from the way it's made, just from the appearance of it. You can just tell this is just, just, I mean, it's just a classic. It's just no nonsense, real deal, fast food style burger, smash burger. Exactly what I just described, like no nonsense, tasty, meaty. You've got that smash burger. So all that crust, all the, the extra griddle fry, the meat kind of crumbles in your mouth and got all of that creamy cheese. Plus that creamy mayonnaise dressing, the crunch of the onion, the iceberg, the tomato, a little bit of pickle in there. I think that is just everything you want in just a classic burger. Look at that transparent paper. You can see me through it. Oh, that's the sign of a good burger. I mean, I think this is the type of burger, like you just, I mean, it's the type of burger you don't need to think about. It's just there for you. And it's just, I mean, this is almost the ultimate definition of just a classic burger. Okay, let's try some of those fries. And I think they did have ketchup. I think I did see some ketchup at the front. I think it's only for, for hot dogs where, where there's an official ban on ketchup. I think I'll get some ketchup. Fries are delicious. Chicago does great fries, crispy on the inside, salty. Okay. One more thought. If you're absolutely craving a burger, this is the type of burger that will just 100% satisfy you. Michael, let's do it. Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger. No, no, no fries. Cheaps. No Pepsi. Coke. Double cheese is the best. I can guarantee you from now on every cheeseburger I eat, that's just going to be ringing in my head. I'm going to be singing that. That's the theme song of a cheeseburger. But what a, what a time of eating burgers in Chicago. Chicago has some serious burger culture. You will find some delicious, outstanding burgers when you're in Chicago. And I'll have every place that we ate at in the description box below. And if you haven't already watched this entire Chicago food series, we're eating our way through the city, eating some of the best food. We went on a deep dish Chicago pizza tour. We ate some of the most iconic foods, foods that were invented in Chicago, as well as some of the most, I mean, dishes that you cannot come to Chicago without eating. Make sure you keep on watching more videos in this series. And I want to say a big thank you for watching. Please remember to give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it, leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you. And if you're not already subscribed, make sure you subscribe now for lots more food and travel videos. See you on the next video.