Canada’s 10 best local burger joints

by M.C. Warford

What makes a great burger joint? For some, the perfect burger joint is simple: it has the best burgers in town, whether they’re deliciously greasy or a fine-dining take on everyone’s favourite meat sandwich. For others, a burger joint conjures up nostalgic memories of high school days spent with friends. The fact is, the perfect burger joint is very much a matter of opinion. But with that in mind, here are 10 places across Canada that certainly qualify as being among the best. [Image credit: iStock.com/Kesu01]

Located in Halifax’s South End, Darrell’s Restaurant is everything you’d expect from a local burger joint: unpretentious, comfortable, and serving up delicious food. Darrell’s has been around since 1992 and has become a local institution regularly voted as having Halifax’s best burgers and milkshakes.

Au Pied de Cochon, on the other hand, has turned the burger into a fine dining experience. Located in Montreal’s trendy Plateau neighbourhood, Au Pied de Cochon takes traditional Quebecois fare and turns it into a culinary masterpiece. Their foie gras burger is, hands down, one of the most delicious burgers in the country.

Moving across the country, Vancouver’s Oakwood Canadian Bistro is a gastropub that takes food very seriously. Their Burger 2.0 has a distinctive West Coast flair, featuring alfalfa, bacon, aged cheddar, and Gulf Islands dressing.

If you want a burger joint that keeps things simple but still delicious, however, then Peters’ Drive-In in Calgary is the place to go. This venerable establishment has been around for five decades and has become a favourite with locals and visitors. There’s nothing fancy about Peters’; instead, the focus is kept firmly on creating outstanding burgers and shakes.

Located on the gorgeous Bonavista Peninsula with stunning ocean views, the Bonavista Social Club may be a bit out of the way, but it’s definitely worth the trek. Their Moose Burger has been recognized as one of the best in Canada and their efforts at promoting a self-sufficient lifestyle makes this more than a typical burger joint.

A favourite with both locals and Torontonians heading to the cottage in the summer, Webers has become so popular that they had to build a pedestrian bridge across the highway for their overflow parking lot! This place is a landmark for anybody heading to Muskoka and their burgers are deservedly considered to be the best around.

Mrs. Mikes is another simple, unpretentious burger joint that puts the emphasis squarely on the quality of the food. If you’re in Winnipeg and are craving one of the best burgers in town, just head to this small burger joint in St. Boniface to get your fix.

For such a small, unassuming city, Windsor has been making a bit of a splash on the foodie circuit in recent years. A case in point is Motor Burgers, which has been making waves, especially with its Deux Chevaux Burger, which many insist is the best burger in the country.

Located next to the Air Canada Centre, e11even is where you want to go after catching a Leafs or Raptors game. Their maple burger is divine, featuring Guinness cheddar, roasted garlic aioli, and double smoked bacon.

Finally, the nation’s capital is in on the burger game too with The Works. Variety and creativity are key words here as you can choose from a mind-boggling 70 (and counting) topping combinations! And here’s the good news: this local burger joint has locations across Ontario and is planning on spreading across the country.

Most cities have a favourite local burger joint, but it takes an extra special ingredient to be considered among the best in Canada. Whether it’s delivering on quality food or providing an exceptional dining experience, these 10 burger joints truly are amongst the best in the country.