Canadian Burger Joints You Gotta Try This Summer

There’s nothing basic about Moderne Burger, a 1950s-style diner in Vancouver that’s been dubbed a “burger Mecca” by diners. It’s no wonder; their juicy patties are made from grass-fed local AAA black Angus beef, warm buns are baked in-house, and toppings and sauces are customizable. Best enjoyed with “OMG” fries and a thick milkshake topped with cherries and whipped cream.

Overseen by a former navy chef, boatloads of burger lovers flock to Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers and Poutinerie to savour their “off-the-charts” creations. If you can wrap your mouth around it, try the Legendary CC Porker: two hefty patties oozing with cheese curds, bacon, golden onion rings, and a drizzle of honey that You Gotta Eat Here’s John Catucci calls “stupid good.”

You may need to confess your burger sins after eating at The Burger’s Priest. Considered by some to be the Holy Grail of burger joints, patrons worship their crumbly beef patties garnished with indulgent toppings (or stuffed with 18 types of cheese), as well as the cheeky Biblical-inspired menu. A must try is the legendary Vatican Burger: a double cheeseburger squeezed between two grilled cheese buns that’s (almost) too divine to eat. Ask about the secret menu to access a congregation of burgers of Biblical proportions.

Featured on You Gotta Eat Here!, Bin 4 Burger Lounge takes the burger biz very seriously, using ethically-raised, hormone-free meats and fresh local ingredients. This Victoria joint packs unorthodox but tasty combos onto their brioche-style buns, such as guacamole and bruschetta or sesame crusted Ahi tuna and olive tapenade. The Dirty Bourbon is a knock-out: certified BC beef patty teetering with a crispy onion ring, chorizo, sautéed onions and peppers, chipotle bourbon barbecue sauce and aioli.

It’s called Flipburger for good reason. This Halifax eatery slings local, premium burgers that’ll send you swooning into a food coma. Locals rave about the Three Little Pigs, a big-time burger loaded with pulled pork and double-smoked bacon, or the Big Fat Greek, a meaty chicken breast doused in tzatziki. If for some insane reason you’re still hungry, munch on some truffle fries or buttermilk onion rings, or slurp up a crazy shake like the Peanut Butter Banana Bacon.

Featured on You Gotta Eat Here!, you can’t help but overindulge at Jukebox Burger, a 1950s-style diner in Dollard-des-Ormeaux that breaks the burger bar. Start with the Marciano Burger: a jumbo number with smoky bacon, jalapeños and cheese cooked right into the patty, or for some fare with Montreal flair, order a Poutine Burger. For ambitious eaters, there’s the JBB Challenge: a gargantuan 2lb beef patty squeezed between Belgian waffles layered with pulled meats, chili, roast beef, bacon, onion rings, a trio of cheeses and a half pound of chicken wings. Mon dieu!

After a successful stint in Toronto’s food world, husband and wife team Michael and Paula Cipollo launched Hambrgr, a Hamilton eatery known for its boss burgers. Patrons gravitate here for the mouthwatering menu of more than a dozen burger combos and frothy pints of craft beer. Sink your teeth into a “Go Back to T.O.” burger loaded with peameal bacon, fried egg, cheese and sweet mustard sauce.

Featured on You Gotta Eat Here!, Burger Bar Crescent is Montreal’s hamburger haven, famed for their adventurous AAA beef burgers and comfort cuisine like smoked meat poutine. Here, the burgers are stacked mile-high with extravagant toppings like foie gras, Brie, Montreal smoked meat and seared tuna. Try the signature burger, “The Big Blue,” a ground beef patty stuffed with blue cheese and topped with confit tomatoes, a port reduction and homemade ranch dressing.

Sometimes the tastiest things come from the back of a truck. Locals hungrily chase Ace Burger Truck as it roams Saskatoon, serving hefty patties loaded with eclectic toppings such as fried egg, bacon, caramelized onions, cheese and Sriracha mayo. Best paired with a side of duck gravy poutine!

Lisa Jackson is a food and travel writer based in Toronto who loves sinking her teeth into new flavours across Canada and abroad.