Chocolate chip cookies are the hamburgers of the dessert world: Every shop seems to have one on the menu, but a truly great version is hard to come by. A lot of this has to do with personal preference: nuts or no nuts, crispy or soft, dunked or dry. But in my arduous research—arduous, I tell you!—I realized that the best chocolate chip cookies are the ones that keep it simple. One or two bells and whistles like jalapenos and Ghirardelli chips can keep it interesting, but in the end, these cookies should be a handheld bit of nostalgia.

Here are six versions around town that hit the spot, but of course, there are always more chocolate chip cookies to be had. What's your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

View Chocolate Chip Cookies We Love in Chicago in a larger map