Burgers at Bad Apple

My hubby and I headed to the North Center neighborhood to give Bad Apple a try on my birthday. Unfortunately the patio wasn’t yet open -- despite the crazy wonderful weather we’ve been having in Chicago this Spring -- but sitting inside wasn’t a bad deal. While the decorations might be a bit odd (then again, this place is called Bad Apple), it was very inviting and modern. But that’s not why we came.
We came for the burgers, well and the poutine, but we’ll get to that. Bad Apple in Chicago has an extensive sandwiches and burgers menu, and these aren’t your typical meat patties. Like the uber-popular Kuma’s Corner, this place is all about the burger toppings, like eggs, brisket hash, peanut butter (yes, peanut butter), and braised pork belly, just to name a few. But unlike Kuma’s, this burger meat is from local producers, and that means no hormones.

So, how does the food taste??

First, let’s start with the drinks. Prepare to be overwhelmed because the beer/cocktail/wine menu is about quadruple the size of the food menu. As such, there’s plenty of amazingness to choose from, especially when you have a hankering for a craft, often hard-to-find, beer.

As for appetizers, the poutine is one of the top ordered items, and for good reason. Slathered in a gravy made with a lot of onion, these french fries and cheese curds may sound like a heart attack on a plate, but it’s a delicious heart attack on the plate. The only downside is there isn’t enough cheese curds to go around. But keep that gravy around, because it’s great for dipping your burger’s fries into.

Want something, say, with a little less calories? Bad Apple also offers some stellar, fresh salads too.

Then it was on to the burgers. The Slow Burn is exactly as it sounds. With a combination of Belhaven Scottish Stout sauteed spicy chilies, onions, bacon, and white cheddar, this burger emits just a bit of heat, but one that sticks with you. It’s a hearty, savory meal, that’s great to pair with their flavored french fries. (Your choice for 75 cents: curry, truffle, firecracker, minced garlic, creole, and sweet and spicy chipotle. My recommendation? Stick with the always awesome truffle. The chipotle is even spicier than the burger, and the minced garlic flavor will stay with you for quite some time, so warned our waitress).

Overall, give it a try. It’s perfect for someone who likes just a dash of spice so that it doesn’t completely overwhelm.


Then there’s the El Chupacabra, whose popularity has been on the rise at Bad Apple, so much so that it’s rivaling the most ordered burger on the menu, The Frenchie. As for El Chupcacabra, it’s perfectly slathered in braised goat chili, which again highlights that this place seems to be even more about the toppings than the burgers themselves. The burger also comes with roasted garlic puree, goat’s milk cheddar, and an avocado, which are the perfect complements to the hearty flavor of the chili.


So how does it compare to Kuma’s? This one goes to Kuma’s, but Bad Apple still isn’t a place to miss. It’s much more laid-back than Kuma’s in that you can actually have a conversation without shouting here, and the food puts up a good fight. Their burgers, while a tad smaller than Kuma’s, offer a diverse amount of options, and there’s definitely something new for everyone to try here.

Bad Apple
4300 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
773-360-8406