The Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern

"Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern has an excellent local beer list, and three rentable rooms upstairs to make it a bonafide inn. But the biggest draw to this neighborhood spot next to the Kennedy Expressway is undoubtedly the delicious smashburger. The crispy patties are juicy, come with a healthy amount of tangy sauce and onions, and are served on a seared sesame bun with an abundant amount of seeds. It’s also the reason why many people come here, so plan on a long wait for a table and then another one for your meal, as Leavitt’s small but mighty kitchen churns out one of a million daily smashburgers." - john ringor, adrian kane, nick allen

"In Bucktown, a residential block ends at the Kennedy Expressway and leads to the Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern. The restaurant’s smash burger is perfect with the right bun-to-meat ratio, augmented by caramelized onions." - Eater Staff, Ashok Selvam, Naomi Waxman

"The burger at Leavitt is delicious - the crispy patties are juicy, come with a healthy amount of tangy sauce and onions, and are served on a seared sesame bun that has an abundant amount of seeds. But part of our love of this smashburger is because it kind of feels like a secret. No, not because you need to DM someone to get a special code, or go on a geocaching scavenger hunt to find it. This quiet Bucktown bar and inn (they have three rooms) is on a side street with no foot or street traffic, and they just started serving food this year." - adrian kane

"Tucked on a quiet Bucktown street, this tavern and three-room inn has rolled out a smash burger submission that has become a real contender among fans in the city. The L St. Smash comes with an expertly flattened chuck Angus beef patty, American cheese, caramelized pickles, and signature sauce." - Naomi Waxman, Ashok Selvam

"This Bucktown tavern, run by two longtime neighborhood residents, is virtually a showroom for Chicago-area breweries and distilleries: there’s always something local on tap. The food is solid pub fare, and for patrons who don’t feel like going home, there are three guest rooms upstairs." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff