This is the Thursday, June 13 edition of Food Crawl, the Star’s weekly food newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
Shake Shack across from the Yonge-Dundas Square. Granted, the New-York-based burger chain has more than 300 spots in the U.S. and more than 175 locations worldwide, so it’s not exactly an exclusive spot. But for those that can’t make the trip, or prefer more local tastes, here are four burgers I recommend.
The Veggie Crisp Burger at
The Veggie Crisp Burger at Burger’s Park.
Karon LiuLocated in an office park between North York and Scarborough this joint earned its reputation as an underrated place for burgers. The house Park Burger, $9.09, is smashed and seared right to perfection, but I also want to give props for its house made chickpea patty, $8.59.
It’s fried to a crisp and decked out with hummus, pickled cabbage, cucumber and tomato relish, and sesame aioli on a soft bun. The toppings bring that acidic zing to contrast the crispy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside patty, and pairs better than the customary ketchup and mustard. Be sure to get a side of crinkle-cut fries that come with a light dusting of spicy seasoned salt, $5.59, that offer more flavour than many of the big fast-food joints. To boot, Burgers Park is halal and offers gluten-free buns.
Where to get it: Burger’s Park is at 10 William Sylvester Dr., at Shimleaf Terrace, just south of Sheppard Avenue East and Consumers Road. It is open everyday noon to 9 p.m. For takeout and delivery, .
The Cabano at
Cabano’s is one of my favourite smash burger places in the city. It’s mostly a takeout spot with a few bar stools and counter seating, but these burgers are best eaten straight from the flattop, when the edges still have that little charred crisp. The Cabano Combo, $19.99, comes with its signature burger: a house-ground, never-frozen half-pounder patty with American cheese, onions, fried jalapenos, iceberg lettuce and a house sauce akin to that of a Big Mac, a side of fries (or spend the extra $1 for the exquisite, piping hot onion rings) and a soda that includes premium choices like Stewart’s and Pop Shoppe. The prices are a bit high — there’s no tip prompt upon ordering — but the burgers are fantastic. The cheese is evenly melted, and the soft bun holds everything together while allowing the patty and toppings to shine. It made a charbroiled fan like me reconsider the smash burger.
Where to get it: Cabano’s is at 75 St. Nicholas St. at St. Mary’s Street. It is closed Monday; open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. For pickup and delivery, .
The Rudy Burger at
The Rudy Burger at ܻ’s.
Karon LiuFor a well-done smash burger with crispy lacey edges, the Rudy takeout window in the Entertainment district has been a go-to since 2016 (it has since opened four more locations. The most basic single patty cheeseburger, $8.99, comes with gooey American cheese, lettuce, tomato and secret sauce, keeping it simple and letting the delicate patty shine. The pickle chips, $9.99, are a real treat. While it’s a side, the bag is overflowing with thick-cut pickle slices that retain their sweet-and-tart flavour and their crunch (too often I’ve had sad and soggy pickles). It’s a generous portion that should really be split into two.
Where to get it: ܻ’s has locations at 69 Duncan St. at Queen Street West; 619 College St. at Grace Street; 169 Eglinton Ave. E. at Redpath Avenue; 1466 The Queensway at Vansco Road in Etobicoke; and 1330 Danforth Ave. at Lamb Ave. For hours, pickup and delivery info for each location, .
The Veggie Burger at King’s Drive-In
The Veggie Burger at King’s Drive-In.
Karon LiuDespite its White Castle-esque exterior, this burger spot doesn’t offer sliders. It’s a classic grilled banquet burger and souvlaki-on-a bun joint that’s a fixture across southwestern Ontario. But few of them offer the veggie burger, $6.95, let alone one that’s not the Impossible or Beyond Meat variety. This one’s made of shredded beets, resulting in a slightly sweet and deep pink patty that’s able to give some heft to the burger and tastes more interesting than one that’s trying to mimic beef. You can choose your toppings, but I usually just say “everything” (lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard, the works) to up the vegetal crunch factor that pairs better with the sweeter flavour of a veggie patty.
Where to get it: King’s Drive-In is at 919 Pape Ave. at Mortimer. It is open Monday to Thursday 11a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is on Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats.
Before you go, I have a few more recommendations:
• Check out these four spots I added to my alternative pc28Michelin Guide.
• Here are my top picks for takeout under $10 in Toronto.
• Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list is finally out. These are the pc28spots that made the cut.
• This Mississauga family restaurant radiates retro vibes. Here’s why it stands out.
• This beloved pc28restaurant serves a weekly Jewish brunch buffet — but that’s not all it’s known for.
Thanks for reading. I’ll see you back here next week.
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