Take a bite outta these burgers in the Annex
A patty, a bun and a variety of colourful toppings. A burger might sound simple, but there are many different ways to dress it up. Fast food becomes fine dining in the hands of these burger joints in the Annex.
Vesta Lunch
474 Dupont St, Toronto, ON M5R 1W6This long-standing diner on the northeast corner of Bathurst and Dupont has been serving some of the best-priced burgers in the city since 1955. For just a handful of change, you can eat like royalty, but cheap prices don’t mean cheap food. Our money’s on the banquet burger and, with the generous helping of cheese, bacon and other toppings, you hardly need the side of fries.
Green Room
414 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1T3If you want an instant flashback to your university days, then this resto-bar is the perfect spot. It attracts a more mature student crowd of 20-somethings, with less of the wide-eyed excitement of first and second-year students. You can eat to your heart’s content – and enjoy a pitcher of beer on the side – without having to shell out big bucks. The great burgers cost less than your cab ride home.
El Furniture Warehouse
410 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1X5Fast food joints may have invented the trend toward cheap and standardized menus, but “El Furny” has perfected the art. Every item is priced the same at $5, so you never have to make an agonizing choice between two favourites. They’ve got burgers for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike, all loaded with flavour. And if you visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you can pile on sides of tacos and wings for just a buck each.
Pour House Irish Pub
182 Dupont St, Toronto, ON M5R 2E6Leave your terrible Irish accent at home but do bring your appetite and a pocketful of change. Their signature burger, the Donegal Bay, comes with corned beef, pickles, Swiss cheese, fried egg and tomato. It’s so hearty you’ll be challenged to finish off the side of hand-cut fries. There’s live music several times a month, so make sure to wipe your hands clean before the clapping begins.
Live Organic Food Bar
264 Dupont St, Toronto, ON M5R 1V7Choosing a meatless lifestyle shouldn’t mean cutting yourself off from tasty food choices, and these folks strive to deliver delicious options every day. Their chickpea burger has all the juicy goodness of its beefy counterpart but with legumes instead of animal protein. You can supercharge your veggie burger with ingredients such as coconut “bacon,” chipotle aioli, guacamole, and top it off with a salad and one of their signature dressings.
Grapefruit Moon
968 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G6The choice is yours as to how you customize your burger, starting with the patty – Angus beef, veggie or sausage – and then the tantalizing list of extras. You can stick to the basics with a classic (crispy lettuce, tomatoes), a banquet (bacon, cheddar, lettuce), or mix it up with either a Swiss mushroom or red pepper burger.
