Best of Toronto
The Best Burger in Toronto
The best burger in Toronto starts with the barebones essentials of a quality (read: fresh) beef patty and a soft bun, but from there, the possibilities are endless. From fried eggs, to an almost criminal amount of bacon, to a smorgasbord of cheeses, these Toronto burger joints go above and beyond the call of duty to bring you more than just a sad sprig of lettuce and squirt of ketchup. One thing's for sure: you can't forget to bring your appetite (or a napkin).
Here is the list of the best burgers in Toronto.
See also:
The best old school burgers in Toronto
The best turkey burgers in Toronto
The best veggie burgers in Toronto
The best cheeseburgers in Toronto
The best fries in Toronto
The best onion rings in Toronto
The best hot dogs in Toronto
Burger's Priest
Burger’s Priest makes (we might as well call them) "holy" burgers at both of its downtown locations. Their double cheeseburger ($7.99) being a thing of simple, straightforward beauty, with its two patties and two slices of cheese, and you can also make it a combo through the “what’s right” ($14.99), and add chili cheese fries, a cookie and a drink to the mix. Then, there’s the mystery of the secret menu (which you’ll be able to view if you like the burger spot on Facebook), including the Pope ($12.59), which sees two patties and the option (cheese between two deep-fried portobello mushrooms) crowded into one bun, or the “Judgement Day” for $15.99. More »
Holy Chuck Burgers
It’s fitting that Yonge and St. Clair’s Holy Chuck is so close to the top; their emphasis is on the highest quality, freshly-ground beef, and we all know that’s the foundation of any good burger. Their signature ($9.99) is a double cheeseburger with bacon and caramelized onions (and comes with the plea/disclaimer that you not add any further fanciness), but I rather like the raging bull ($12.99), which sees the addition of a piquant homemade chipotle sauce and hot peppers. You also have your usual suspects (fries, pops), but for an added bit of intrigue, try their foie gras poutine (a whopping $25), or any of their specialty shakes. More »
Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder
If you’re like me, you love Stockyards for their buttermilk marinated and deep-fried chicken (to date, one of the only documented instances of my actually enjoying chicken), or their spectacular BBQ brisket sandwich. But their griddle smashed burgers are nothing to scoff at. The classic iteration starts at $7 and comes with pickles, tomatoes and the other usuals, but once you find yourself in their rustic wood dining room, inhaling the hickory wood scent, you’ll almost definitely splurge on the double ($14); two patties with caramelized onions, arugula, and aged cheddar. All sides are $5, and include fresh-cut french fries, coleslaw or sauteed greens. More »
Big Smoke Burger
Big Smoke Burger has several locations across Toronto slinging Ontario AAA patties. The prices vary by location, but generally stay within the range outlined below. You’d be amiss not to give the crazy burger (jalapeno havarti, coleslaw, and chipotle mayo for $6.99) a try, and take advantage of their option to customize any sandwich with lamb, organic, or chicken patties (or, I guess, a veggie, ahem). The sides are standard, the add-ons include gorgonzola and sauteed mushrooms, and the old-fashioned shakes come in three basic flavours but are a nice way to ease into bleak fall weather. More »
Burger Shoppe/BQM
BQM/Burger Shoppe's patties are slightly on the small side, but the meat is locally sourced and hormone free, and at BQM locations, you can select your cut (chuck, brisket, or sirloin, with a predictable increase in cost). The natural, a simple mix of red onions, pickles and garlic aioli will run you $9 for chuck, $11 for brisket, and $13 for sirloin, with small fries racking up another $3. You’ll also find a trio of blue-cheese-topped sliders, as well as meatless and tofu burgers, and some pub-worthy apps and sides. More »
Dangerous Dan's
Dangerous Dan’s is best suited for true burger enthusiasts. Let its rugged Riverside exterior and no-nonsense diner-style innards be a fitting intro to the serious burger you can expect here. It starts with an 8oz patty ($4.79 for a plain), and goes to a big pig (4 slices of bacon, 2 peameal, cheddar and mayo, for $6.99), or you can go off-book and top it with feta cheese ($0.95), or a 4oz pan-fried lobster tail ($14.95). Dangerous Dan’s, bringing loosely interpreted surf ‘n’ turf to the people. The sides range from fries, to poutine, to deep-fried pierogies ($4.65 for 7 pieces). More »
Woody’s Burgers
It’s worth the trip to Etobicoke for Woody’s 7 oz. patties made from locally sourced, naturally raised, and hardwood grilled beef (as well as bison and turkey). Their beef classic starts at a very reasonable $5.95, with free condiments such as grilled peppers or sauteed mushrooms and onions, and add-ons such as gorgonzola, pulled pork, and a fried egg (all $1). Or, you can spring for tried and true specialty burgers such as the tokyo burger ($5.95), topped with pickled ginger, wasabi mayo and sauteed onions. Sides include your usual salads, coleslaw, and fries, and you can make it a combo with a small side and canned drink for just $3.50. More »
Burger Stomper
Burger Stomper is a petite, but sleek space on the Danforth, where the 6 oz. patties are freshly ground daily, and the meat is never-frozen AAA Ontario beef. That’s what you’ll get on their classic stomp ($5.75), with basic toppings of lettuce, tomato and ketchup (or cheddar for an extra $1). For more gourmet palates, try their swiss mushroom melt ($7.25), with mushrooms, swiss cheese, and their secret mayo, and don’t forget a side of double-fried fries ($3.50) or one of their ice cream and milk milkshakes ($4 for a small). More »

Discussion
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Agreed with the Top 3. But Allen's was the first high end, medium rare, quality burger in the city and deserves to be listed. It is still an amazing, if less, gimmicky, burger.
Also, Stockyards needs to bring back the Animal Style burger. The Grid is not the same. I hope Tom reads this message board. With the Animal Style, Stockyards is number 1, without it 3 is the correct ranking.
Stampede is where it's at!
That said the rest of this list is questionable at best. There's no Allen's, and I'd really rather hit up Five Guys than most of these joints... BQM, really?
I really hope this recen e.coli scare is going to get more burger places to look at good sources for their meat or better yet grind in-house. Kudos to the places that do this already.
"Dangerous Dan’s is best suited for true burger enthusiasts."
No it's suited for people who are amused by cheap gimmicks that allow them to mask a criminally-overcooked, misshapen, dry excuse for a burger patty.
But the point of these comments is to shame the voters for voting wrongly.
In a perfect world the system would be that are 15 places to vote for but you can only vote if you have eaten at all 15. But how would that be enforced.
I bet the people who say Harveys is better have not eaten at even half of the places on the list.
Also, how can you not include Golden Star in there? Such a classic burger joint.
Best burger I've had in Toronto is at Hrvati Bar (Bloor / Euclid). The bread makes it, a central / eastern European break called Lepinje. Unfortunately, the 3 times I've been there, the service was appalling, but I haven't been for about 9 months and apparently there have been some changes. Will go back soonish.
I remember when I was 13, I felt the same way about the world
If I'm down for a tasty treat, Burgers Priest
If I'm having lunch, Big Smoke (aka Crack Burger)
Why BQM is even on this list I don't know because that place is lacking in everything!
UTOPIA, House on Parliment, and Barque!!!!!
I do like Stockyards too.
If it were served by some overpriced Hipster joint, it'd be on the list.
As for the list, interesting that the #1 and #2 are mostly interchangeable.
Only on Blog TO.
:)
Where are Burger Shack, Square Boy and Utopia on this list?
Sliders offers a variety of mouthwatering burgers! Common Blog TO
Try their Juicy Lucy...its amazing
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Moes-Burgers/300088980018756
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