According to some new research, burgers are the go-to food ordering choice for 20% of Illinoisans. The average Illinois resident chows down on burgers about 5 times per month, which means we eat, on average, 60 burgers per year, per person, here in Illinois.

My own take is that even when it's not the greatest burger we've ever eaten, an okay burger is still preferable to a long list of alternative menu choices.

But, when you want an outstanding example of the art of burger-making, where do you go? Is getting an absolutely top-notch burger worth making a road trip (especially with gas prices this high)?

Food website Mashed.com thinks that it is.

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Mashed.com's Pick For The Best Burger In The State Of Illinois Will Require A Drive In To Chicago For The Experience

The address you'll want to plug into your navigation app is 800 W. Randolph Street, because that's where you'll find a place called Au Cheval.

Mashed.com says that Au Cheval not only has the very best burger in Illinois, they may actually have the best burger in the United States:

While this restaurant is definitely fancy, there's nothing posh about their Double Cheeseburger. There are no gimmicks at play. What makes this burger special is it's spectacularly high quality — from bun to meat and everything in between.

Be warned that the wait at Au Cheval can sometimes be measured in hours, not minutes. But it's worth it.

Alright. Enough chat. Let's take a look at the burgers. I'm definitely all-in on this bad boy.

Au Cheval, Facebook
Au Cheval, Facebook
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And, for my second course...

Au Cheval, Facebook
Au Cheval, Facebook
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Lots of places serve a bacon-cheeseburger, but when have you ever seen bacon look this spectacular?

Au Cheval, Facebook
Au Cheval, Facebook
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There's nothing that I've seen here that I wouldn't shove someone out of the way to get at. Seems mean, but I've gotta be honest. This place has got it going on.

Au Cheval, Facebook
Au Cheval, Facebook
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