The Neighborhood Where Industrial Bones Meet High-Stakes Dining

Same great burger as the Wicker Park location with a bar wrapped around it. Order the single if you are on your own. The twice-fried tallow fries with chipotle peppered ketchup are the best thing on the menu and not a close call. The brown butter cookie is fine and forgettable. Cocktails and drinks available, which makes this more of an evening destination than the Wicker Park counter. Started as a pop-up, ended up taking over the building. The burger earned it.

Prime brisket with a visible smoke ring, pulled pork that holds its own, and smoked sausage worth ordering every time. Kansas City-style house sauces, thick and well made. Mac and cheese with real depth, smoky collard greens, apple coleslaw with good crunch. Add the cornbread. Counter service inside Accenture Tower at Ogilvie — commuter-oriented, lunch-focused, and significantly better than that sounds. For the full experience with river views and a summer patio, head to the Avondale location.

Start with the malai croissant and the jaggery chocolate chip cookie — both are among the best versions of their respective things in the city. The jaggery cookie has a smoky molasses depth and a thick, chewy texture from the whole wheat and semolina blend that sets it apart from everything else on the chocolate chip cookie list. Savory breakfast items are strong across the board. Order the masala chai over the coffee. Come with people so you can share widely across the case. The pastries sell out; earlier is better.

The burger lives up to its reputation and then asks if you needed all of that. Order it, but also order the chilaquiles — consistently excellent and underordered here. Crispy fries are as good as the best fries in the city. Foie gras and eggs is fully committed to its own premise. The bone marrow on toast, bones piled high, is the move for anyone who knows. Bar is long, the griddle is in full view, and the whole thing runs with the kind of confidence that comes from twelve years of doing one thing very well.

Modern Korean BBQ in the West Loop from Chef Andrew Lim and Thomas Oh, named for a plant that grows anywhere as a nod to their parents' immigrant journey. The room is anchored by a photorealistic mural of Michelle Obama in hanbok by South Korean street artist Royyal Dog. Tasting menu is the move. Servers handle the grill so you don't have to, though you can. The kimchi fried rice and soondubu are not optional. Bib Gourmand, deservedly.

West Loop Argentine steakhouse built around a 12-foot wood-fired parrilla that burns all night. The room is excellent — real candles, open kitchen, sculptural wax formations that build up across the restaurant over the course of service. The prawns and Italian beef empanadas are the moves. Steaks are very good, not transcendent. Order the sundae without apologizing for it. Strong non-alcoholic options if you need them.