It’s 4th Of July, So Illinois' Best Burger Is...

Whoever coined the phrase “as American as apple pie,” should probably revise that to reflect that burgers are actually our passion.

Admittedly, “as American as two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame-seed bun,” may not have the same ring to it, but at least it would be factually correct — particularly on Independence Day, when Americans will spend $388 million on patties alone, according to CNBC. But if you don't feel like grilling your own on the 4th of July holiday — or your boss’s barbecue invite somehow got lost in the mail — a recent MSN report says there’s a great spot to try in Illinois.

The site recently published its “Best Burger in Every State” article and found that The Loyalist in Chicago was the best in Illinois.

“The Loyalist Cheeseburger, also known as the Dirty Burg, was brought into the limelight last year when Bon Appétit declared it one of the best burgers in America," the report said. "With its blend of bacon, chuck and short rib, it's no surprise this burger is drawing national attention.”

There are roughly 50,000 burger joints in America though — 1.6 burger restaurants for every 10,000 Americans — so if that one doesn’t fit your taste, you might try heading across the border to Indiana, where B Spot in Indianapolis has the Porky burger, topped with shredded pork barbecue, cole slaw and barbecue sauce.

Americans’ love for burgers can be traced to 19th century German immigrants, whose restaurants served ground beef patties that were eaten with utensils. Shortly thereafter, someone discovered you could put bread around the slab of meat. Voila! A sandwich was born.

If you’re planning to fire up the grill Wednesday — the No. 1 most popular grilling holiday, according to CNN — don’t skimp on the ingredients. Chefs say a variety of factors go into a great burger, including the meat-to-fat ratio, the type of meat and bun, and even the crisp of the bun.

Consumers mostly agree. A 2009 report found that three out of every four burger-enthusiasts ranked meat quality as either the first or second most important attribute, followed by toppings.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments what makes a perfect burger and where you go to get it.

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