Classic

Best classic burger: erwin

Photograph by Donna Rickles

WINNER - Erwin
When’s the last time you wanted to sit and smell a burger more than you wanted to bite into it? That’s the reaction we had to this beauty, which is seasoned with garlic and a peppery chile sauce, topped with savory white cheddar and cooked over a wood-burning grill that imparts an incredible dose of smokiness. Go ahead, breathe deeply…okay, you can stop now, your burger’s getting cold. $13. 2925 N Halsted St, 773-528-7200

#2 - Naha
Whether you’re eating it over a white tablecloth or on a stool at the front bar, this Angus beef burger—liberally seasoned, with a bed of caramelized onions tucked under your choice of fancy cheeses—is the perfect partner for the fresh, hand-cut parsley fries alongside it. $12. 500 N Clark St, 312-321-6242

#3 - Park Grill
The regular $10 burger here is nothing to sneeze at, but when we have an extra eight bucks, we go for the Kobe patty with Gorgonzola, balsamic grilled onions and grain mustard. $18. 11 N Michigan Ave, 312-521-7275

#4 - bin wine cafe
You’d expect a wine bar to gussy up a burger, and this spot doesn’t disappoint. Beef chuck is marinated in olive oil, shallots, thyme, parsley, pepper and garlic, ground daily and hand-formed into half-pound patties. The finished product gets oven-dried tomatoes (instead of a tomato slice), house-made giardiniera (in lieu of a pickle) and your choice of artisanal cheese on a brioche bun.  $10.1559 N Milwaukee Ave, 773-486-2233

#5 - Jury’s
Usually it takes stamina for us to take down a hearty half-pounder like this one—but the big, beefy flavor helps us devour it in minutes. $7.50. 4337 N Lincoln Ave, 773-935-2255