Photography sourced from Yelp.
A 100% wagyu smash burger from a Michelin-starred chef and pro skateboarder — #9 on Time Out Chicago's Best Burgers list. Two Chicago locations open until midnight on weekends.
Photography sourced from Yelp.
NADC Burger — short for 'Not A Damn Chance' — is a collaboration between Chicago-native professional skateboarder Neen Williams and Michelin-starred Chef Phillip Frankland Lee of the Scratch Restaurant Group (Sushi by Scratch, Pasta Bar). Williams and Lee developed the concept around their shared post-skate cooking ritual: burgers, but made right. The Chicago flagship opened February 4, 2023, inside The Drop In bar at 415 N Milwaukee Ave in River West — the city's first NADC location. A second Chicago location opened in Wicker Park in March 2025.
The distinction starts with the beef: 100% full-blooded Texas wagyu from Iron Table Wagyu in Gatesville, TX — not a wagyu blend, but pure-blood wagyu with correspondingly higher marbling. Neen Williams developed a proprietary NADC spice blend specifically for the concept. Time Out Chicago noted the specific technique: onions are 'grilled and smashed into the meat while it cooks,' creating a deeply savory crust. The Infatuation praised the 'nice balance of juiciness and char' — even as they flagged slight oversalting. Menu is deliberately minimal: burger, fries (cooked in beef tallow), and a chocolate chip cookie.
NADC Burger operates as a burger concept inside bar-oriented spaces, including The Drop In for the original River West location. The Smash Score reflects the NADC Burger specifically, not the full bar experience.
The obvious star is the simple yet tasty smashburger. It has a nice balance of juiciness and char, and doesn't go overboard with its toppings: American cheese, pickles, jalapeños, and some tangy secret sauce.
The signature burger features a double patty made from Texas wagyu beef with onions grilled and smashed into the meat while it cooks. It smells so good that it may still be tempting even if you've just splurged on omakase downstairs.
2 wagyu patties, grilled diced onion, cheese, their sauce and a few pickle slices, all grilled fresh to order. Darn good burger, very darn good burger.
Underrated burger — one of the best in Chicago! Travels really well!
It's always delicious even when delivered.
The burgers were amazing, the fries were perfectly crispy, and everything tasted so fresh.
Simple yet tasty (albeit slightly oversalted) smashburger — wagyu isn't something you'd expect to find at a local dive, but that's exactly what NADC's patties are made of.