Best burgers in Toronto
There’s no shortage of great burger joints in the 6, which is why it would be crazy to hit up a fast-food chain when you’ve got local quality to work with. From secret menus to old-school favourites, with vegan and organic options too, here are the top burger joints in Toronto. [Photo credit: vegan big mac courtesy of Doomies]
Rudy
619 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B5If you’re craving a good, no-nonsense burger for under $10, Rudy is the place to hit. The saying, “stick to one thing and do it well” fits the menu of this Little Italy burger joint. They only have three burger options: The Rudy (a classic cheeseburger), Rude Dude (a double cheeseburger) and Valentino (a fried chicken sandwich). Tattoo your burger with some bacon and/or get a side of fries, good ol’ Canadian poutine, deep-fried pickles or coleslaw. Tip: on a hot day, it’s worth stopping by for their classic vanilla or chocolate milkshake.
Holy Chuck
1450 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1Y5The kind of juicy burgers that’ll melt in your mouth and have you saying “holy …!” – that’s Holy Chuck for you. Feeling gutsy? Take on the Go Chuck Yourself Challenge and eat a massive grilled cheese stacked burger plus any milkshake in six minutes. Or just choose from their long menu of burgers, from spicy or classic to vegan and vegetarian options. Their patties are hand-rolled, made with fresh ground steak. Holy Chuck is also known for their specialty shakes – think flavours like Nutella and salted caramel, Reese’s pieces and banana, strawberry cheesecake … drooling yet? P.S. You’ll leave here stuffed! – don’t say we didn’t warn you.
The Burgers Priest
1636 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1G3How do you like your burger? Rare, well-done? You can decide here, including what toppings you’d like. With 12 locations in Ontario and two in Alberta, this burger joint has become a cult-burger chain. Their focus is on the art of a burger. The patties are grinded on site and made fresh daily. On the walls of each location, they’ve framed an homage to famous burger joints that have come before them, like New York City’s JG Melon and California’s In-N-Out Burger. Tip: they have a secret menu on their website. And if you’re feeling adventurous, try the Vatican on Ice, a grilled cheese ice cream sandwich.
Doomie's
1263 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L5Whether you’re a vegan or not, you’ll want to try this vegan joint. In fact, Chef Doomie isn’t a vegan himself – he just wanted to offer vegan comfort food that’s just as good as its meat variety. If it’s your first time here, ask for the not-so-secret secret burger: The vegan Big Mac. They also have other burger options, made with soy-based patties, including chicken burgers and creative options like the Peanut Butter & Bacon. Up your fries to fun fries, which are topped with something extra like meat-free bacon or chili. As for drinks, why go for the classic milkshake when there’s shakes with booze?!
Hidden Burger
22 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5J 1C4If you’re an adventurous foodie, then you’ll love Hidden Burger. Every week, they reveal a secret menu item on social media. The place is also known as “Bay Street’s worst kept secret” because it’s tucked at the back of high-end pub The Bottom Line, with no street signs to direct passersby. The everyday burger is a classic, made with a four-ounce house-pressed patty. They also have a veggie burger, spiced with a hint of cumin. Tip: during Toronto sports games, they have a beer and burger pre-game special.
Golden Star Restaurant
7123 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L3T 2A8For the best burger joint North of Toronto, head to Golden Star. This old-school family-owned restaurant has been around since 1964 and gets returning customers who first stopped by in the ’70s. The patties are charbroiled to juicy perfection and they make rich milkshakes that come in the standard chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavours, but also interesting options like cotton candy and piña colada, to name a few. Note: they’re a cash-only joint.
No Bull Burgers
1019 Kingston Rd, Toronto, ON M4E 1T3This hamburger joint is known for organic beef burgers that are made without the bull (i.e. additives). The chickens they use are free-range, grass fed and all their meats are naturally raised. If a beef burger doesn’t suffice, they have pulled pork and brisket burgers, too. For sides, they offer a series of poutine creations, fries, onion rings and mac and cheese balls. And don’t forget the milkshakes! If you’re still not full by the end of your meal, they also have ice cream. Note: they only take cash and debit.
Woody's Burgers
383 Jane St, Toronto, ON M6S 3Z3What sets this joint apart from the rest is the wood-fire grill, which give the patties a smoky flavour, similar to a campfire. Woody’s has specialty burgers that pay tribute to international flavours like Greek (which includes feta cheese and tzatziki sauce, amongst other things) and Tokyo (with its addition of pickled ginger and wasabi mayo). Also, quite unique to this place is their frozen custard ice cream, so don’t forget to try that too.
Burgernator
269 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2M1This Kensington joint serves up halal burgers, with a whole lot of options, including one vegetarian and one vegan burger. If come brunch o’clock and you’re craving a hefty burger, they have two options that include fried egg. Got a sweet tooth? Try their deep fried Mars bar with ice cream or their salted caramel milkshake – #YUM!
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