bw77 wrote:Thanks. I didn't realize there were so many. Looks like Whiting involves the least detour.

Maybe Schoop's on the way there and Calumet Fisheries on the way back!

If you're eventually going to wind up on I-94 I would suggest the Michigan City location. It's just a few blocks straight off exit 34B.

The first time I ate Schoops, I had just turned 30. You definitely don't need to grow up with it to love it.

Hi- I took a look at the link Ronnie supplied, and the Portage one might be close to the interstate, but it does not say where it is in Portage, and I have gotten off at the Portage exit, and I don't remember seeing the restaurant right there, but I have not gotten off at Portage in a few years. When I go home to Michigan, I often get off at the Chesterton exit because there are a lot of fast food places, or else I get off at the I believe the Burns Harbor exit to get gas.

BTW- According to their website, the chain originated in 1948 in Hammond. and did not expand until 1960, when they opened up one in Minster.

Thanks for the help! I've got some good options for our next trip that way.

Commbrkdwn wrote:The first time I ate Schoops, I had just turned 30. You definitely don't need to grow up with it to love it.

I hear you, I didn't have Steak N Shake until I was 18, nor Al's Beef until I was 23! But some places for people have a sentimental value (for me one that is like that is Hackney's which a lot of people don't care for anymore).

After a long Michigan City week of sun, sand and smoking meat, I decided to treat myself to one of my favorite double cheese burgers at Schoops.

The crispy, juicy, balanced old timey burger I remember and loved was just not present. The lacy-edge griddled crispness was present, but the beef was bone dry and lacking in any real beefy flavor. The bun was a a hair under fresh and the fries where bland and undercooked. Cheese for fries was warm and canned. Service was very friendly and my green river was sweet and green.

It's been about 4 years since I had it last, but I remember it being so SO much better, up there with my griddled favs from Edzo's or Burger Boss. Unfortunately, it wasn't even close. Honestly, I'm quite sad about all this...

Which store Jeff? I've eaten at 5-6 different ones in the last few years and never noticed any variation in quality but a recent stop at the Schererville location (rte 30) resulted in a similar reaction amongst our group. I haven't made it back to see if it was a one-off--your post has me worried a bit.

boudreaulicious wrote:Which store Jeff? I've eaten at 5-6 different ones on the last few years and never noticed any variation in quality but a recent stop at the Schererville location (rte 30) resulted in a similar reaction amongst our group. I haven't made it back to see if it was a one-off--your post has me worried a bit.

sorry, should have added this. It was the M.C. location on Franklin right before 94.

Schoop's
4105 Franklin St
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219) 872-0170

cheffjeff wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:Which store Jeff? I've eaten at 5-6 different ones on the last few years and never noticed any variation in quality but a recent stop at the Schererville location (rte 30) resulted in a similar reaction amongst our group. I haven't made it back to see if it was a one-off--your post has me worried a bit.

sorry, should have added this. It was the M.C. location on Franklin right before 94.

Schoop's
4105 Franklin St
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219) 872-0170

I've found the various locations to be wildly inconsistent. It sounds like you found one of the bad ones (hadn't tried MC yet. Thanks for the warning). The original (actually 2nd) location in Munster is usually quite good. Hopefully the whole chain hasn't gone downhill.

Schoop's
215 Ridge Rd
Munster, IN 46321
(219) 836-6233

I was just at the Shoop's in Munster this past Saturday, and I can definitely say that one hasn't gone downhill one bit. Incredible crispy edges with amazing beefy goodness.

Schoop's
215 Ridge Rd
Munster, IN 46321
(219) 836-6233

NFriday wrote:Hi- I took a look at the link Ronnie supplied, and the Portage one might be close to the interstate, but it does not say where it is in Portage, and I have gotten off at the Portage exit, and I don't remember seeing the restaurant right there, but I have not gotten off at Portage in a few years.

Schoop's changed the address for the web page showing their locations, and it is now this:

http://www.schoophamburgers.com/locations

It now lists the addresses of the locations directly below the map (the earlier web page listed them on their "contacts" page, with a note to that effect above the map). And, as before, you still also have the option of zooming in on the map to find a specific location you're interested in.

The Portage location is at 3285 Willowcreek Road, 1.9 miles south of I-90 (Indiana Toll Road) Exit 23, and 3.4 miles south of I-94 Exit 19, no turns necessary en route from either interchange. I noticed this location opens at 5:30 a.m., but I don't see any breakfast items on the menu on their website. Anybody know whether they also have breakfast foods available in the morning, or if they're just slinging burgers and fries at that hour? EDIT - Never mind; I googled "Schoop's breakfast menu" and found a link to this web page.

Seeing as I will be passing close to the Munster location late morning this Thursday, I was curious what time they open. 10am is the answer.

This scenario = early lunch

The Chicago Heights location closed some time ago.

So on my way to Cincinnati yesterday I stopped by the Munster location on Ridge (quite easy to get to off of 80/94). Plenty of parking in back.

I tried a Mickey & regular hamburger. The relish was quite pronounced on both, I think I'll ask for light relish next time. The burgers are also VERY greasy. Even though I am a thick patty burger lover, I did enjoy the Schoops burgers. If I had Paradise Pup, Nicky's and Schoops nearby, PP would get my vote most every time as that style burger is more my preference, followed by Nicky's, then Schoops.

Everyone's mentioned the burgers, but no one's mentioned the milk shakes. The shakes are featured prominently on their menu and come in some interesting flavors (e.g. Green River). Can anyone compare their quality to the best ones in Chicagoland, such as at Edzo's or DMK Burger & Fish?

Feeling claustrophobic last week, had been spending too long in the concrete jungle of the Loop, and I was getting antsy for open spaces, windmills and soybean fields. I drove down to the Cabela's in Hammond, IN to ogle fishing gear, guns and shotgun shells, and generally get back in touch with my Indiana roots. On the way back up a friend suggested the Original Schoop's in Munster. When we got there just from the old-school look of the place I knew I would like it already. But how were the burgers?



I love thin-patty crispy burgers, and in that category I would call Schoop's good, but shy of great. I will say that the uniformity of the crust here was impressive, it was seamless brown sheath that covered the whole patty. I can never get that kind of browning when I do these burgers at home so they must really smash those things into the griddle hard here. Flavor was very good but the texture was a little bit leathery or tacky. As thin crispy burgers go, I would put Schoops at #3, behind Edzo's and Workingman's Friend in Indy. Still a respectable showing and a delicious sandwich.

I found the Schoop's burger mediocre, at best. For a chain, give me a Steak-N-Shake or Culver's for flavor, texture, and a smaller bun. I like to taste the meat, the cheese, and the condiments when I bite into a cheeseburger. The Schoop's bun is too large and needs to be slightly toasted and flattened.

chicagostyledog wrote:I found the Schoop's burger mediocre, at best. For a chain, give me a Steak-N-Shake or Culver's for flavor, texture, and a smaller bun. I like to taste the meat, the cheese, and the condiments when I bite into a cheeseburger. The Schoop's bun is too large and needs to be slightly toasted and flattened.

Schoop's also varies quite a bit by location, although the one in Muenster is generally petty good. I've found that ordering a double (or a Mickey) and asking for the bun to be toasted usually results in a pretty good burger. Is it the best of its type? No, but I still like them a lot when they're on.

For a short amount of time Schoop's Cal City was in our Lunch Rotation but despite a good burger their pricing is ridiculous. I recently stopped in to get a current take-out menu. A single patty burger is $5.69 , a Mickey, 1 patty, 2 slices of cheese, is $6.89, Double Cheeseburger, is $9.89, a Bacon Double Cheeseburger is $11.78. That's just a burger, and not a big burger by any means, no sides, no beverage, an order of fries is $3.49. I don't know how they stay in business with those North Side prices. For me Schoop's is a once a year treat/craving but not someplace I patronize regularly being the cheapskate that I am. I assume the pricing is similar at other locations.

Just to make things a little more confusing: just yesterday ordered 3 Mickeys with everything at the Michigan City branch. They all looked terrific and mine was among the best burgers I can recall. Also my best Schoops experience. The lenticular (it's a word) patty seals lit for me - thicker in the middle than most smashed burgers, tapering out to a frilly crisp edge. The fresh bun and single crisp leaf of jade green lettuce (not chopped iceberg as pictured above) took it to 10.

Not sure if they fixed something or if the report above from Jeff M reflected a bad day. But no one has an "off" day that results in overall excellence like this. So I'm hopeful. Definitely better than other chain contenders in my book (even In n Out, Culvers, and Shake Shake, as great as they really are for chains). On par with the great one-offs documented on here by Beef and others (whose downstate list has come in handy in my travels. Ticking them off as I traverse 57).

Your mileage may vary but I'd trust this particular Schoops for now.

Speaking of Schoop's, has anyone gone to their Whiting location just southeast of the intersection of Indianapolis Boulevard and Calumet Ave, and could answer how consistent that location is? I always say to myself I should finally visit there, and still haven't. Maybe I will one of these days! I do now vow that I will finally try to get to a Schoop's, no later than 2017. It's been on my list of to visit places to eat, for way too long now.

Too bad to hear the bad report about the one in Michigan City, since I was also thinking about possibly visiting that location the next time I'm passing through there. I guess the Cal City one(another location I thought about possibly visiting, if I'm passing through there) seems to not have inconsistency issues, per a post above?

dumpstermcnuggets wrote:Speaking of Schoop's, has anyone gone to their Whiting location just southeast of the intersection of Indianapolis Boulevard and Calumet Ave, and could answer how consistent that location is?

That location is very consistent...consistently not a very good example of Schoops.

dumpstermcnuggets wrote:Speaking of Schoop's, has anyone gone to their Whiting location just southeast of the intersection of Indianapolis Boulevard and Calumet Ave, and could answer how consistent that location is? I always say to myself I should finally visit there, and still haven't. Maybe I will one of these days! I do now vow that I will finally try to get to a Schoop's, no later than 2017. It's been on my list of to visit places to eat, for way too long now.

Don't get your hopes too high. I am a huge fan of this style of burger but Schoop's never did much for me. But you should go, so you can try it.

A Schoops alum runs The Region in Roscoe Village, making smashed buurgers with crispy edges --- https://www.theregionburgers.com/ .

JeffB wrote:Your mileage may vary but I'd trust this particular Schoops for now.

Michigan City Mickeys were right on this weekend, perfect lace, not overdone in the middle, fresh buns, and the added bacon was pan-fried thick-sliced, not pre-fab or deep fried. I like the little semicircular counter in the front when it can be snagged. The onion rings were bland and none-too-hot but the fries seemed better than I remembered. Good shakes; can't picture going back to Redamak's over Schoop's when burger hunger strikes.

And before the typing energy disappears into the summer ether: fresh peach and prosciutto pie at Stop 50 is one of the best I've ever had there and a truly top bite of the year. Strong showing by Luisa's (attached to Harbert Swedish Bakery) including particularly improved coffee and perfect sour Swedish pancakes impressed; Jackie's was so busy we couldn't get in on consecutive days, which is a good thing.

The NWI style burger was first invented as a depression era thing. Miner-Dunn has been making this type of burger since 1932. The flattened crispy lace edges still keeping a thicker juicy middle was a way of expanding the circumference of a small 1/6 lb. patty to fill a bun. The method also produces a damn tasty burger. After the war, there was a place called Schoops which closed, but the name was revived as a chain in the 1960s when the NWI depression style burgers still had a local cult following.
I much prefer Miner Dunn to its chain imitators.
A note on Edzos, the last time I was there, I ordered a griddle patty which lacked the signature crispy edges of the depression burger. It more closely resembled the old-fashioned Chicago drive- in burger ( not unlike Hamburger Heaven), the progenitor of the McDonald's burger. It was OK but not what I was expecting.

Bringing Chicago into the mix...

I hear...

The Region - Handcrafted Hamburgers
2057 W Roscoe St, Chicago

... a transplant from NWI is making a damn fine, lacy edge, burger but at a hugh premium.

Talking about transplant...

Schoop's
444 Chicago Ridge Mall, Chicago Ridge

... does make a true rendition of their Indiana product in an unlikely location, a shopping mall food court.

Miner-Dunn
8940 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

... does make an awesome burger! What I especially enjoy is the chopped and then grilled onions.

What’s especially nice is the wide range of burger topping combos.

Also having many traditional diner items and roast beef sandwiches also floats my boat.

Edzo's Burger Shop
1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston

Menu and recipes styled after comments on this forum started off with lacy edges. Sorry to hear that has been lost. I wonder if Eddie knows???

Panther in the Den wrote:The Region - Handcrafted Hamburgers
2057 W Roscoe St, Chicago

... a transplant from NWI is making a damn fine, lacy edge, burger but at a hugh premium.

Talking about transplant...

The Region is turning out pretty decent burgers in the style of NWI, but I would not call them a Schoop's clone. Yes, they are expensive, but they are also large. A single cheeseburger (as pictured) weighs in at a hefty 7oz. They are tasty burgers, though. Also, don't forget an order of their handcut fries.

C'mon, $9.49 for a double cheeseburger!
http://valposchoops.com/menu/

CSD

Was thinking about stopping at the Monee location off I-57 on my way back from dropping off at U of I this Sunday. Any intel on how this location stacks up? Also, what is the ideal order: the Mickey, a double, with bacon?