What's the chances of finding a decent burger near Ohare?

My loving wife is returning after hiking across Spain for the last 6 weeks and her sole request, even before a long embrace....is a decent burger. Any luck finding something out in the Ohare area? There remains a slight chance we'll venture into town to see son #3 but that will be determined on her mood coming off the plane I'm sure. Should that happen, he's a Roscoe Village area guy, but at that point, after fighting the traffic, what's a bit more of a drive going to do to my marriage?

Not sure what day or time you're talking about but about 5 miles from O'Hare, though a bit north and east of it, is GNR Paradise Pup, which puts out a very good charburger. If you're heading into the city, GNR Owen & Engine is my current favorite, and has been for quite some time.

=R=

Paradise Pup (thread)
1742 S River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60018
(847) 699-8590

Owen & Engine (thread)
Owen & Engine
2700 N Western
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 235-2930

Ronnie already nailed it with Paradise Pup. I used to work right across from O'Hare, and Paradise Pup is easily the best option nearby. Only problem is that they're closed on Sundays, and only open 11am-5pm the rest of the week. If you'll be out that way during those hours though, you really should stop by.

They do good shakes too, especially the chocolate banana.

Just be aware that if you plan on visiting paradise pup, they are only open 11-5 Mon through Sat

You might want to consider Bob-O's, on Irving Park near Cumberland. Though I prefer the burgers at the Pup, Bob-O's is good. The real specialties at Bob-O's though are their homemade Italian beef (and cheesy beef), perhaps the most underrated in the Chicago area, and their skin-on fries. I think they're open Sunday, but you'll need to confirm.

Paradise Pup is far and away the best choice, and Bob-O's is also good, but if you are making your pickup outside of their normal business hours, there is a Culver's just west of Mannheim on Grand that might do as a stopgap choice.

If you don't mind a chain spot with a decent burger list:
The Ram
9520 Higgins Rd.
Rosemont, IL 60018
Tel: 847.692.4426
http://www.theram.com/illinois/rosemont.html

stevez wrote:Paradise Pup is far and away the best choice, and Bob-O's is also good, but if you are making your pickup outside of their normal business hours, there is a Culver's just west of Mannheim on Grand that might do as a stopgap choice.

I don't think this is right. West of Mannheim on Grand is a Sonic, but no Culvers. The Culvers is east of there on 25th just south of Grand.

There is a Culver's on Manheim in the strip mall just north of the Allstate Arena (near the Target).

BR wrote:There is a Culver's on Manheim in the strip mall just north of the Allstate Arena (near the Target).

Indeed. Just a bit north of Higgins.

Gibson's in Rosemont makes a decent burger. IIRC, the price is $12.50 and it comes with a mound of fries.

I would also go for Paradise Pup, and it's best to go in the warm weather because they have some outside seating. I think they do the quintessential Chicago char-burger. I took a friend of mine there on the way to O'Hare once, and the minute he landed in LA, he made a comment on Facebook that he was still thinking about the burger he had at the Pup.

But I have another favorite burger nearby, and it's open 24 hours a day - Steak N Shake on Touhy and Mannheim. I would eat my burger here or at Paradise Pup, and then go to Culver's close by for custard before you go further south on Mannheim to the I-190 entrance ramp.

midas wrote:

stevez wrote:Paradise Pup is far and away the best choice, and Bob-O's is also good, but if you are making your pickup outside of their normal business hours, there is a Culver's just west of Mannheim on Grand that might do as a stopgap choice.

I don't think this is right. West of Mannheim on Grand is a Sonic, but no Culvers. The Culvers is east of there on 25th just south of Grand.

I stand corrected. You're right. As others have pointed out, the Culvers is North of O'Hare on Mannheim in the mall where the Target is.

Paradise Pup is an obvious choice but these days I am more apt to spend the extra couple bucks for a fresh ground burger from Harry Caray's in Rosemont.

12.95 gets you a top shelf burger with fries no waiting in line and free chips if you sit in the bar.

Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
10233 W Higgins Rd, Rosemont
(847) 699-1200
Thursday hours 11:30 am–2:00 pm, 5:00 pm–10:00 pm

other reasons I would choose Harry's
- water service. I don't drink soda and a few glasses of ice water after an 8 hr flight would be great
- credit cards, not sure if Paradise takes them. In the past they did not
- beer

See...ya'll do rock!

She'll be coming in around 5:30PM on Tuesday the 2nd so the Pup is sadly out! I have to admit I hadn't thought of the chain places even being around there, Culvers or Steak N' Shake might work for her, though I think I might try to lean towards The Ram.

Now if #3 kid is offering to buy, maybe a trip in to town will still be on the charts! O&E would be a great choice if that happens!

If you are going to go the franchise route, I tried the new Smashburger by me (Edzo's was closed) and left impressed. Not just with the classic smash but the smashfries (skinny fries ala Steak & Shake tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic) and haystack onion rings too. There's a location in Elmhurst. Also in Elmhurst is Jim's Hamburger Heaven where they serve Richardson's Root Beer, an Olive Burger and also their original double decker burger with two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun ala the behemoth down in Oak Brook.

Jim's Hamburger Heaven
281 North York Street
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 832-3535

BR wrote:You might want to consider Bob-O's, on Irving Park near Cumberland. Though I prefer the burgers at the Pup, Bob-O's is good. The real specialties at Bob-O's though are their homemade Italian beef (and cheesy beef), perhaps the most underrated in the Chicago area, and their skin-on fries. I think they're open Sunday, but you'll need to confirm.

Just a note of interest: Turns out Bob-O's is owned by the same guys who own Rand Red Hots. I found this out in a recent discussion with one of the owners.

That's it. Just thought y'all might find that interesting.

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:

BR wrote:You might want to consider Bob-O's, on Irving Park near Cumberland. Though I prefer the burgers at the Pup, Bob-O's is good. The real specialties at Bob-O's though are their homemade Italian beef (and cheesy beef), perhaps the most underrated in the Chicago area, and their skin-on fries. I think they're open Sunday, but you'll need to confirm.

Just a note of interest: Turns out Bob-O's is owned by the same guys who own Rand Red Hots. I found this out in a recent discussion with one of the owners.

That's it. Just thought y'all might find that interesting.

Buddy

Yes indeed . . . I posted this in the Rand thread a little while back:

BR wrote:I have not yet been to Rand Red Hots, but I'm looking forward to trying it one of these days. You might be interested to know that one of the owners is the son of the owner of Bob-O's (not sure whether the son is also a part owner of Bob-O's), a place that oddly (and sadly) receives very little attention on this forum because they serve as good freshly cut fries as you'll find in Chicago (although I'll admit I was once a critic of them), excellent dogs, and very good beef. Purists may cry, but I also love their cheesy beef served on garlic bread.

Anyway, if you're looking for posts on Bob-O's, here are a couple I found: viewtopic.php?p=394034#p394034
viewtopic.php?p=45923#p45923

third coast foodie wrote:Paradise Pup is an obvious choice but these days I am more apt to spend the extra couple bucks for a fresh ground burger from Harry Caray's in Rosemont.

12.95 gets you a top shelf burger with fries no waiting in line and free chips if you sit in the bar.

Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
10233 W Higgins Rd, Rosemont
(847) 699-1200
Thursday hours 11:30 am–2:00 pm, 5:00 pm–10:00 pm

other reasons I would choose Harry's
- water service. I don't drink soda and a few glasses of ice water after an 8 hr flight would be great
- credit cards, not sure if Paradise takes them. In the past they did not
- beer

Great call - I've wanted to try the burger here.

D.G., if you come up to O'Hare to pick up your wife and don't mind driving a little farther north before you drive south to home, I don't think you should pass up the opportunity to eat at Paradise Pup.

Hi- He already said she will not arrive at Ohare until after Paradise Pup closes for the day.

NFriday wrote:Hi- He already said she will not arrive at Ohare until after Paradise Pup closes for the day.

That doesn't mean he couldn't go to Paradise Pup before her plane lands

You're reading my mind Katie!! I'm making a stop at the nearby Restaurant Depot which means I'm plotting in extra time so shucks a few more minutes of driving wouldn't be out of the question for MY burger anyway!

Ram4 wrote:

third coast foodie wrote:Paradise Pup is an obvious choice but these days I am more apt to spend the extra couple bucks for a fresh ground burger from Harry Caray's in Rosemont.

12.95 gets you a top shelf burger with fries no waiting in line and free chips if you sit in the bar.

Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
10233 W Higgins Rd, Rosemont
(847) 699-1200
Thursday hours 11:30 am–2:00 pm, 5:00 pm–10:00 pm

other reasons I would choose Harry's
- water service. I don't drink soda and a few glasses of ice water after an 8 hr flight would be great
- credit cards, not sure if Paradise takes them. In the past they did not
- beer

Great call - I've wanted to try the burger here.

FWIW this was the Blackhawk's first stop on their return from their Stanley Cup win, and hamburgers were definitely on the menu.

D.G.Sullivan wrote:She'll be coming in around 5:30PM on Tuesday the 2nd so the Pup is sadly out!

Tuesday is Burger/Bourbon/Beer night at Owen and Engine (burger with fries, pint of beer, shot of bourbon for $15). It's the burger I miss most living away from Chicago... if I were you, I'd make the trip in for it.

FYI - Tuesdays are busy because of the special, but they do take reservations.

-Dan

A note about O&E that might be relevant in the OP's situation: Service can be a tad slow. (At least that's been my experience.) If your wife is absolutely craving the burger, and you've already delayed her gratification by driving into the city, her gratification will be that much more delayed by the service.

Let me clarify that in a normal situation, the slowish service is well worth tolerating for the excellence of the burger (and other items, like the fish and chips). I agree with Ronnie that it's the best burger in Chicago. The food at O&E is why it's on my list of places to return yet again. I'm just saying that after hiking across Spain for six weeks, and flying for nine hours, and driving into the city during the Kennedy evening rush, she may find the further wait for service and food delivery at O&E agonizing rather than just the mildly annoying it normally is. Of course, you and she will be better judges of that than I.

@D.G. Sullivan: If you have the free time to get to Paradise Pup, make it happen. You will not regret it in any way. Their famous char cheddar burger with Merkt's cheddar spread is the best in the business. You can get it with either raw or grilled onions. I prefer the grilled only because EVERYTHING that comes from their grill is truly the best. You can also get their 3 flavor cheddar fries which consists of sour cream, cheese, and bacon, and it's the perfect compliment to the char cheddar burger. The owners are usually there on scene, and they are very nice people.

A great experience all the way around.

Thanks all, wife made it home in one piece.

I had plenty of time on my hands before her flight arrived, my shopping at the Restaurant Depot took way less time than I had allotted (not their best location) so decided to follow all ya'lls urgings and headed over to Paradise Pup. There it was, bright and red as the ketchup they evidently mock you for asking about...plenty of parking and most importantly, no line! This was perfect! I would grab my cheddar burger and stake out a nice seat out front for an hour or so and just feel the breeze of the traffic running 5ft from me!

Dang it...closed for the week!! Sometimes my luck!

I went and sat in O'Hare and watched the people watching me watch them for a couple of hours and then, wife and #2 kid safely in tow, we met #3 and his young lady over at Ram. Meh....but it seemed to fulfill her cheeseburger crave for the night anyway.

Late to the party and my first is also Paradise Pup.

While The Ram will serve you well and Capital Grille also does a fine job.

The Capital Grille
5340 N River Rd, Rosemont
(847) 671-8125
www.thecapitalgrille.com

Ram Restaurant
9520 W Higgins Rd, Rosemont
(847) 692-4426
www.theram.com

Paradise Pup
1724 S River Rd, Des Plaines
(847) 699-8590