Where to Eat for National Cheeseburger Day, September 18

Wicker Park

• Dove's Luncheonette

A burger with roots in the 1920s feels right at home at Dove’s Luncheonette, the Wicker Park neighborhood diner from One Off Hospitality. The OK Onion Burger takes inspiration from the Oklahoma onion burger, a regional style that became popular during the Great Depression as cooks used onions to stretch ground beef. Chef Thomas Hollensed puts his own spin on the classic with Kilgus Farm beef, griddled alongside plenty of onions and topped with melty American cheese, bread-and-butter pickles and tangy comeback sauce, all tucked into a toasted sesame seed bun.

Multiple Locations

• Big Star

This National Cheeseburger Day, the taqueria from One Off Hospitality, Big Star, is giving its tacos some competition with a Smash Burger. The double-patty burger is piled with lettuce, onion, tomato and special sauce, with a layer of crisp, golden, Chihuahua cheese, adding a cheesy crunch to every bite.

• Schneider Deli

At Schneider Deli, owner Jake Schneider is known for putting a Midwestern twist on tradition. For National Cheeseburger Day, he’s giving the classic a deli-inspired spin with the comforting Patty Melt. The sandwich swaps the traditional beef patty for a ground corned beef patty, layered with melted Swiss, pickled onions and deli mustard between two slices of griddled rye. 

Suburbs

• The Greggory (South Barrington)

Go beyond city limits this National Cheeseburger Day with a stacked bite at The Greggory in South Barrington. Chef José Sosa gives the American classic a steakhouse-worthy upgrade with the Wagyu Double Smash Burger, layering two 5-ounce Wagyu patties with melted Gruyère, sweet caramelized onions and rich burnt onion aioli. The nutty, gooey cheese melts into the crisp-edged Wagyu patties, while the double dose of onion adds layers of savory sweetness to every bite.