Burgers | Hot plates

The Bad Apple Get Kuma’s-esque creativity minus the painful wait time. Plus, there are old-school video games and pinball machines to keep Junior entertained. 4300 N Lincoln Ave, 773-360-8406.

Burger Bar Chicago A photo booth and mini-chalkboards keep kids busy so you can savor that Tallgrass patty slathered with warm blue cheese sauce in peace. 1578 N Clybourn Ave, 312-255-0055.

Butcher & the Burger Diners get to customize burgers down to the spices, meaning finicky little ones can go as plain or fancy as they please. 1021 W Armitage Ave, 773-697-3735.

DMK Burger Bar Families flock here in the early evening to chow down on David Morton and Michael Kornick’s gussied-up burgers (try the veggie!) and fries in a noisy dining room where raucous kids can be seen, but not heard. 2954 N Sheffield Ave, 773-360-8686 and 2370 Fountain Square Dr, Lombard; 630-705-9020.

Edzo’s Burger Shop Eddie Lakin’s simple-and-perfect burgers and killer “$5 milkshakes” (actual cost: $4) have whole families pondering relocation to Evanston. 1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston; 847-864-3396.

Epic Burger You like the natural, back-to-basics ingredients and those tasty baked-on-site buns. Your kid just loves to say “epic.” Win-win! 1000 W North Ave, 312-440-9700, and other locations.

Everest Burger Glencoe’s build-a-burger concept cooks its tasty fries in rice-bran oil to be mindful of North Shore waistlines. 91 Green Bay Rd, Glencoe; 847-242-0909. 

Five Guys Burgers and Fries The fast-service-and-fresh-made schtick is nice, but the locations with slick Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are the real draw for 12-and-unders. 1456 E 53rd St, 773-363-6090, and other locations.

Grange Hall Burger Bar A farm-to-table approach means grass-fed beef, Midwest cheeses, locally grown toppings and delish fruit pies for dessert. 844 W Randolph St, 312-491-0844.

Meatheads This new-to-Chicago chain serves Angus burgers and fresh-cut fries, and has programs to encourage kids to read and play sports. 1036 Willow Rd, Northbrook, 847-291-6608, and other locations.

Paradise Pup Northwest suburbanites put up with long, slow lines and short hours to get their hands on the char burger topped with Merkt’s cheddar. And they like it. 1724 S River Rd, Des Plaines; 847-699-8590.

Top Notch Beefburger Trendy, schmendy: This no-frills Beverly institution’s been grinding its own beef since 1942; a quarter-pounder costs a very sane $3.55. 2116 W 95th St, 773-445-7218.