While Chicago still doesn’t have the best burger in the world (we’re crossing our fingers for next year), we’re thrilled to report that it now has the third-best burger in the world, up a spot from last year.
Sure, we know we have some delicious food—from our tavern-crusted pizza to our Italian beef sandwiches, people travel all over the globe to dine out here. Yet, Chicago is never thought of as a “burger” city—we feel that it is all about to change.
In 2023, the famed Burgerdudes released a list of the best bites globally, and the West Loop staple, Au Cheval, took home the fourth spot. Apparently, they have refined their recipe in the past 12 months because Au Cheval gained a spot on the list.
Burgerdudes noted that their classic Double Cheeseburger with American cheddar, pickles, onions, and dijonnaise won them over, delivering “an exceptionally beefy flavour, complemented by the creamy cheddar, well-balanced dijonnaise, and crisp pickles.” While Au Cheval is also located in New York, it was first established in Chicago, so, of course, our city is the superior location.
The 2024 best burger in the world list
The 2024 best burger went to Hundred Burgers in Valencia and Madrid.
Here are this year’s top 10 winners:
- Hundred Burgers: Valencia and Madrid
- Pizza Loves Emily: New York
- Au Cheval: Chicago and New York
- Holy Burger: São Paulo
- Funky Chicken Food Truck: Stockholm
- Burger & Beyond: London & Manchester
- Pastis: New York
- Bleeker: London
- AMBOY Quality Meats and Delicious Burger: Los Angeles
- Soul Coffee Beer: Valencia
The Valencia and Madrid chain won the coveted spot thanks to the cutting-edge Paul Finch burger, which the Burgerdudes said has “120 days dry-aged beef, and really pushes the envelope of what a burger can be.”
Even though we didn’t secure the number one spot, we’re still pretty content with having the third-best burger in the world. We’ll see if we move up another spot come 2025. The Burgerdudes 2024 winners are available on their website, so if you’re craving a mouth-watering patty on your next vacation, you’ll get the most-talked-about place.
And if you’re looking to head to Au Cheval… a friendly reminder that reservations are not available. So be prepared to wait in a lengthy line. But hey, it’s worth it.