There’s something satisfying about biting into a big burger that can barely contain its massive patty and toppings, even when it happens to be meat-free. From goat cheese and pesto to fried eggs and aioli, the burgers listed here are bursting with just such adventurous ingredients. Some of the restaurants below, in fact, some of the best in town.
Extreme Bean Café in the Parkdale neighbourhood is situated on Third Avenue Northwest just off the Bow River Pathway. Its vegetarian burger patty recipe includes a scrumptious combination of rice, mushrooms, cheese and onions. Served on a white sesame bun, it’s topped with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickle, relish and cheddar cheese. This classic vegetarian burger is one of the best in town.
Dairy Lane Café is known for breakfast and brunch meals made with ingredients grown by local farmers. The eatery’s vegetarian burgers, however, are shining stars on a menu that features some decidedly delicious and carnivorous options. The pesto veggie burger is topped with goat feta, basil pesto and red onion balsamic marmalade, while the Dairy Lane veggie burger is topped with fire-roasted green chillies, mayo and aged cheddar. Both burgers are a mouthful.
The Den at the University of Calgary’s MacEwan Conference & Event Centre is often busy with students taking a break from the books. The two-level bar and grill’s black bean veggie burger is moist yet firm, and the flavour just right. It’s topped with guacamole and sautéed mushrooms and can also be ordered vegan, as a wrap.
This pub on downtown’s Stephen Avenue Walk serves craft beer, hearty pub food and brunch on weekends and holidays. Its veggie burger features a house-made, brown-rice patty nestled within a freshly baked bun topped with melted Swiss cheese. This tasty meat-free affair also happens to be organic, and a favourite among vegetarian burger enthusiasts.
Flipp’n Burgers offers diners a plethora of choices when it comes to burger toppings. From fried eggs and crispy onions to fresh mango and avocadoes, no burger creation is too wild for this Kensington-Sunnyside eatery. Its otherwise meaty (and critically acclaimed) burger list features a delicious black-bean burger as well as a vegan burger made with organic vegetables, spices and oats. Vegetarians can also order a falafel hot dog served with tahini.
Serving the same delicious vegetarian patties found at Dairy Lane Café, the Blue Star Diner takes its vegetarian burger options to a new level. Try the vegan burger topped with chili and lemongrass vegan spread, the BSD veggie burger topped with red pepper mayo and aged cheddar or go east with the Mediterranean burger, topped with roasted garlic and lemon tahini yogurt.
Smash Burger is a laid-back burger joint that serves a juicy vegetarian burger. Choose from five types of buns, including chipotle or gluten-free, and dress your choice with a variety of sauces and cheeses. Burger add-ons include sautéed crimini mushrooms, avocado, guacamole and fried eggs.
A restaurant and beer hall with four Calgary locations including one in Westhills Shopping Centre, National serves a satisfying veggie burger. Featuring a house-made patty topped with fresh cheese curds, Clive sauce (the signature sauce of Clive Burger on 17th Avenue Southwest) and guacamole and served on a brioche bun. All burgers are served with house-cut fries, tater tots, salad or chowder.
Located on Edmonton Trail south of Ninth Avenue Northeast, Boogie’s Burgers is a charming burger joint serving big, beautiful burgers paired with equally generous servings of fries (including yam and spicy) and onion rings. The Shroom à le-Gume Veggie Burger features a patty made of black beans and mushrooms and topped with a lemon garlic aioli. Pair your burger with a milkshake.
The veggie burger at Moxie's is a big hit. It’s topped with goat cheese and chimichurri, a spicy sauce that adds a welcome kick to the zesty cheese. It’s served on a toasted kaiser bun and topped with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles.