From its simple origins of a patty on a bun, the burger has evolved to be the latest “It” food. With fancy burger joints popping up all over the place, the competition for best burgers has come a long way. These places will have you going back for more. Some offer pre-dressed burgers while other places specialize in BYOB (build your own burger).
Their burgers are all named with theatrics in mind – The Act, The Class Act, The Critic, The Script, The Drama Queen and the Cameo Burger all make appearances on their menu. Their patties are made in-house, and their toppings are legit – they range from smoked cheddar and asiago cheese to peanut butter and housemade bacon jam. The Cameo burger changes regularly, adding some variety to your routine. If you’re a vegetarian, go for the Drama Queen, which consists of a hearty veggie patty topped with avocado, pea shoots and cheddar.
This burger spot got its start in Alberta and is known for their simple and messy but utterly amazing burgers. The mushroom burger, a staple of Baron Burger, is a must-try item, with oodles of mushrooms and sauce. Don’t forget to add a side of corn fritters or tatter tots to your massively satisfying burger.
This laid-back university hangout has a sweet patio and a great beer list. But they are also known for their awesome burgers. Their lamb burger is made with free-range lamb, and is topped with soft goat cheese, rosemary aioli and caramelized onions. The jerk chicken burger is a taste of the Caribbean in every bite, with pineapple chutney and caramelized onion. They also serve an amazing Portobello mushroom vegetarian burger.
This chain popped up in Edmonton (it’s the first location in Alberta), and has proven a popular spot for a great burger. Don’t confuse it with McDonald’s, though – they make their burgers fresh daily from a custom blend of beef ground in-house. And, they cook those tasty burgers on a flat top griddle so they don’t turn into a hunk of coal. The menu is huge, with options such as the Magnum (blue cheeseburger with bacon), the Fiery Furnace (bacon cheeseburger with crushed hot peppers) and the High Priest (two beef patties, secret sauce, cheese, pickles, lettuce and onions).
Warning: you will make a mess! No word of a lie, you won’t be able to take a proper bite outta these burgers. And, we’re not just talking about the double patty versions. The donair burger with cheese is probably the best treat ever, with Swiss cheese, red cabbage, seasoned donair meat and, of course, garlic sauce.
This is one of the best and most authentic diners in the city. The Food Network even chose this family-run spot as one of the 12 Best Greasy Spoons in Canada! Their burgers are cooked on a grill, and the diner atmosphere truly makes this a fun place to be. They even have old-school diner stools at the bar. Mental note to self: They only accept cash!
Soda Jerks uses only 100 per cent Angus ground chuck and gives you a choice of more than 50 toppings so you can customize your burger any way you like it. But, if you’d rather not stress, they’ve also got some funky burgers already on the menu. If you like spicy, try the Blazin’ half pounder, with Cajun spice, onion rings, jalapeños, banana peppers, jalapeño jack cheese and chipotle mayo. And, for a little extra kick, add some Sriracha sauce.