Best Restaurants for Burgers in Toronto

The long weekend is here and that means it’s time for thick, juicy burgers. May also happens to be National Hamburger Month, so let’s celebrate the season! Here’s where to get the best burgers in the city:

Best Restaurants for Burgers in Toronto
Stephanie Dickison By

Square Boy Drive In

1
875 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L8

Square Boy serves the kind of burgers you used to get at a drive-in: a solid meat patty on a plain bun. The condiments aren’t fancy, so if you’re looking for olives, gherkins or corn relish, this ain’t the place for you. But this is the burger you’ll ache for when the craving hits.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Recipe Unlimited

2
1636 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1G3

The Burger’s Priest now has four locations, but it was at their first - Queen near Coxwell - that they made their mark. Grinding their own meat, cooking the burgers on a flat top griddle (not on a charcoal broiler) and offering a simple menu, Burger’s Priest is about a good burger that’s tasty and consistent. It's a high-end burger, thanks to the great quality of ingredients and care that goes into it, but without any pretentiousness. In other words, perfect.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Burger Shack

3
233 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON M4R 1A9

Burger Shack has been around for more than 30 years. And they still put out a great juicy burger every time. They dole out the condiments in a similar fashion to Harvey’s – big stainless steel bowls. Simple and tasty burgers - what else could you ask for?

Richmond Station

4
1 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3W4

The Stn. Burger is stuffed with short ribs, topped with aged cheddar and homemade beet chutney, nestled in a pillowy-soft milk bun. The patty is meaty and grassy and rich, but not cloying in the least, while the bun is sturdy enough to soak up the overflowing juices of the meat. It’s a stunning burger that’s perfectly constructed. So much so, engineers should study it.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Love Chix

5
111 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2G4

Here, the burger is pretty ingenious, as what shouldn’t work, does: A beef patty gets topped with Old Bay tartar sauce, red cabbage slaw, delicate house pickles and get ready for it - beer battered fried haddock! And as if that weren't enough, here comes the kicker – it’s all housed on a flawless homemade pretzel. It’s juicy and meaty and chewy and crunchy and scrumptious. And completely brilliant.

More from Stephanie Dickison Stephanie Dickison
Former editor of Dine.TO and industry expert Stephanie Dickison has been covering the Toronto food and restaurant scene for over a decade. In addition to profiling top chefs and interviewing celebs, her Open/Closed column is a must-read every Thursday for the newest openings, and latest news and events.
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