Champaign-Urbana's Favorite Burgers

Champaign-Urbana loves its burgers and so do we

Food is one of our favorite topics — and we know it’s one of our readers’, too. While it might not be good for our waistlines, we can say definitively that we’ve eaten at a great many of the most well-loved burger places in and around Champaign-Urbana, even extending beyond Champaign County.

We recognize that burgers are mainly the stuff of carnivores, so we’ve focused on places that have great beef burgers — as well as the occasional turkey burger.

As with all of our “favorite food” lists, we focus on locally owned restaurants around Champaign-Urbana and beyond. (This list is in alphabetical order.)

Billy Barooz Pub & Grill: This southwest Champaign sports bar and gastropub always seems to draw a good crowd. We want to shout out the California burger as being particularly tasty. We also like the chopped steak burger, which takes a little longer to prepare but is worth the wait. Don’t miss the nacho burger, the combination of queso cheese sauce and jalapenos make this burger craveworthy. Located at the Crossing, the retail center at the corner of Windsor and Duncan.

Burgers and Beer, Gibson City: Dear Burgers and Beer, please come closer to Champaign-Urbana. While we like your Gibson City location, we’d selfishly love to have one in town. If that’s too greedy, please know we’re part of your fan club. Love, us. OK friends, if you haven’t been there yet, Burgers and Beer is a “make-your-own” gourmet burger joint that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but is seriously delicious. It has a kids menu with grilled cheese, home style mac and cheese and more. Located in downtown Gibson City, it’s about 30 minutes from Champaign-Urbana. (We’ve also enjoyed the Kankakee location.)

Dewey’s, Farmer City: This classic drive-in style burger joint serves up exactly what you’d want from a drive-in burger joint. Salty, crispy fries, delicious burgers fresh off the grill and creamy milkshakes, making a perfectly well-rounded drive-in meal. Patties are thin, so our teens order double (or even triple) burgers when we go.

Farren’s Pub & Eatery, Champaign: In 2018, the wise guys at USA TODAY named Farren’s the best burger joint in the STATE. That’s right, the entire STATE of Illinois! One of our favorite burgers is the spicoli; you can order any burger with a turkey, black bean or mock chicken patty if beef isn’t your jam. Even if you don’t like burgers, there’s plenty at Farren’s to love, including summer sidewalk dining.

The turkey burger at Farren's. — The turkey burger at Farren’s.

Hamilton Walker’s, Champaign: In terms of the quality of beef, it is hard to top Hamilton Walker’s steakburger. But we also like that you can get pretty much anything on top of it — bacon, fried egg, and a half-dozen other things. Any place that fancies itself as having a good burger needs to be willing to stack anything on top of it, and Hamilton Walker’s does. We also really like the toasted brioche bun. Located in downtown Champaign.

Just Hamburgers, Paxton: This place is legendary for being a bit quirky, a bit inexpensive, and way more than a bit delicious. Mainly a carry out, you can sit outside at Just Hamburgers when the weather is good. Beware: closed on Sundays. Located in downtown Paxton, about 30-35 minutes from Champaign-Urbana.

Patty Daddy’s, food truck and Mahomet: Specializing in smash burgers, Patty Daddy’s is excited to have a brick and mortar location in addition to their food truck now. You can always get a classic single or double smash burger, but you might play with trying it on a pretzel bun, as a duo of “mini pattys” (so great for kids to split an order) and chicken sandwiches are on the menu, too.

Smith Burger Co., food truck, Champaign & Urbana: A chorus of our readers demand this burger is “hands down” one of the best burgers on the list. The folks who smash the burgers at Smith Burger have already amassed a loyal local following, including a certain chambanadad. Smith Burger began operating from the kitchen at Collective Pour in downtown Champaign in 2023 and added a location at The Yard in Urbana in 2025 — but don’t worry, its truck will still serve delicious burgers and tots all around the C-U area.

South Paw Social, Mahomet: This place could very easily be missed, but we recommend you duck in and cozy up at one of their tables to get this generously-sized burger for lunch or dinner. Think classic burger here, with a large patty (no smashing here) along with some great fries to round things out. There’s an outdoor area to sit and dine, and we’ve seen dogs out there in the summer, too.

Did we miss someone? Email us and let us know who has the best burgers around Champaign-Urbana and what makes them delicious.

Champaign-Urbana’s Favorite Burgers

Champaign-Urbana loves its burgers and so do we

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