Iowa Buffet

This is a place where the bartender doubles as a line cook—opening a bottle of Busch while building an affordable burger that might just be the best-kept secret on the South Side. On any given night, the round table in back hosts older patrons playing cards while Law & Order flickers silently on the TV. The menu offers myriad options, but stick with the Hankburger (single) or Tankburger (double), made in a tabletop oven that sizzles and smokes behind the bar. These succulent patties are small but thick and have the desired density that retains heat, juice, and flavor in each bite.