Best of Toronto
The Best Restaurant Burgers in Toronto
The best restaurant burgers in Toronto are serious sit-down entrees. While burgers as a category still tend to carry a bit of a diner/pub food/quick eats connotation, the burgers on this list represent real, respectable meals. And though you certainly can't pay for these burgers with the extra change you find in your pants' pocket, the extra cost is easily excused by the homemade buns, decadent toppings, and freshly ground beef that goes into these burgers.
So go ahead and unfold that napkin on your lap (while you're at it, see if you can stealthily loosen the notch on your belt, too), and this time, let the burger come to you. Here is the list of the best restaurant burgers in Toronto.
See also:
The best burgers in Toronto
The best old school burgers in Toronto
The best veggie burgers in Toronto
The best cheeseburgers in Toronto
Harbord Room
Medium-rare is the way to go for this city-famous burger, which is known colloquially as “the” item to order at Harbord Room (sorry, Duck Bolognese, you’ll have your chance). The juicy patty comes topped with sharp cheddar and caramelized onions, then served on a fluffy egg bun, with fries and a salad on the side. With its helping of house-smoked maple bacon, this $16 burger plate is definitely a winner. More »
Bestellen
Bestellen does a much more refined take on your average burger and fries. Starting with a house-made brioche bun, Bestellen uses three types of beef (strip loin, chuck, and short ribs) ground in-house (sensing a theme?) to make its patties. Burgers are then topped with caramelized onions and Raclette, and served with a side of frites and smoked ketchup. It’s pricy, but most say Bestellen’s burger is worth the $18. More »
Marben
Braised ribs in the centre. I’m sure that’s all you really need to know, but I’ll go on. For brunch, lunch, or dinner, John’s Burger ($18) often beats out Zac, Gillian, and Grace’s less carnivorous menu options. With the aforementioned braised rib centre (you’re salivating already, aren’t you?) this burger is topped with aged cheddar and coleslaw, and served with fries or greens. I recommend you cut it into quarters for easy eating. More »
Bymark
Bymark is home of the $35 burger, and no, it’s not meant to be a novelty. This 8 oz burger is made with grass-fed USDA prime, topped with soft brie de meaux, porcini mushrooms and truffle aioli, and comes served with a side of onion rings or fries. Keep in mind that this is one big burger, so prepare to stretch your jaw almost as much as your pocketbook. More »
Allen’s
A somewhat off-menu option but always asked for by regulars, Allen’s burgers are made with fresh ground sirloin, packed thick and juicy, and served on a classic bun. This burger comes plated alone for about $10 (with the option to add fries alongside for extra, of course) with topping options of blue cheese, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and more. Enjoyed best with a cold one. More »
Parts & Labour
It’s the signature Parts & Labour tangy and kind-of-hot special sauce that makes this burger. And, I suppose, the half pound of Ontario beef. Parts & Labour’s burger is another biggie, smothered with aged cheddar and a couple other classic fixin’s wedged between a fresh egg bun. Served with a side of fries, naturally, for $18. More »
Queen & Beaver
Greens? Who needs greens? This burger is a meat-lover’s dream, made with hand-chopped sirloin and topped with thick-cut bacon. The texture is a tad unexpected on a first bite, but its deliciousness soon overtakes any further thought. Tomato terrine and Stilton just add to the can’t-put-it-down goodness. The $17 plate comes with a side of freshly cut “chips” (this is a British place, after all). More »
Hrvati Bar
Try to get through without drooling. This Croatian-style burger is 7 ounces of juicy ground Ontario beef, stuffed with smoky mozzarella and topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, all atop a traditional steamed lepinje for $14. With a side of fries and a cold Karlovacko, it’s the best way to experience the Hrvati Bar beer hall vibe. More »
The Gabardine
Like Queen & Beaver, The Gabardine knows that sirloin and bacon simply make for a perfect burger match. This sirloin bacon cheeseburger comes thick and smothered with cheese, topped with roasted tomato adornment, plus a little aioli for extra flavour. A pile of fries, too, to decorate your plate, just in case that giant burger didn’t fill you up. Priced at $18. More »
Barberian's Steakhouse
Normally dismissed as the cheap option on most steakhouse menus, Barberian’s 14-ounce “steakburger” is not something to turn one’s nose up at. Unless you’re trying to fit it in your mouth, in which case, it's totally acceptable. This mammoth of a burger is left to shine pretty much on its own (with a few classic toppings available), and is normally priced at about $25 but available for lunch for $0.99 (…if you order a $100 bottle of wine). More »
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
This burger is supposedly “Famous Around the World,” but I’ll contend that probably is true for Toronto, at the very least. Mildred’s starts with its delicious pain au lait bun, which houses a half pound of fresh beef, tangy tomato relish, and crispy fried onions. A good mix of textures, and served with the option of salad or frites, this Mildred’s burger rings in at $18. More »
E11even
This is one burger that potentially has the power to drag your eyes from that gigantic multi-screen wall showing the game. With a half pound of Canadian beef, this Maple Burger gets a little sweetness (and its name) from a crisp layer of double-smoked sherry-glazed maple bacon, paired with garlic aioli, Guinness cheddar, and a few other classic other burger toppings for $25. It would be impressive if you could still find room for dessert. More »
Discussion
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" [...] is an $18+ burger really that much better than what you'll get at your local pub/bbq place?"
Yes, b/c the $18+ burger place likely grinds their own meat. Meaning: likelihood of getting sick from uncooked meat is significantly lower, so you could have your burger blue/rare, if you want.
You make a decent burger with high-quality meat, but you are by far not the only place to do so (see above). When I was a patron there, you made the incredibly off-putting move of charging me for ketchup. Not extra ketchup, just one small portion of regular ol' heinz to put on my burger. Are you serious? Isn't that like charging for salt?
I vowed never to return and never will. Enjoy the $0.75.
It's my favourite burger in the city. Slightly edging out the Harbord room.
Way before any of these burgers were born, one burger place was grilling up the best burgers in Toronto. That place? Shamrock Burgers. For 42 years, Shamrock has been an icon of premium burgers featuring the best beef and toppings plus open grill cooking.
We'd love to treat you to the granddaddy of burgers...a Classic Rock Burger from Shamrock. With your choice of bacon, cheese, sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms and 18 other great toppings! We'll even throw in our famous hand cut fries and hand dipped onion rings.
Plus, the everyday burger lover can afford our prices. Always an appetizing detail!
Tell us when you're coming, we're in Scarborough and in Whitby (Brooklin) and we'd love see you,
Shamrock Burgers!
Now that is a burger.
That said, although these places are amazing, I wouldn't eat at them that much, and anybody can make a great gourmet burger at home with the right spices, bread, cheese, and a ton of ground beef.