This is the Thursday, June 13 edition of Food Crawl, the Star鈥檚 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鈥檚 not exactly an exclusive spot. But for those that can鈥檛 make the trip, or prefer more local tastes, here are four burgers I recommend.
The Veggie Crisp Burger at聽
The Veggie Crisp Burger at Burger鈥檚 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鈥檚 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:聽Burger鈥檚 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,聽.
The Cabano at聽
Cabano鈥檚 is one of my favourite smash burger places in the city. It鈥檚 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鈥檚 and Pop Shoppe. The prices are a bit high 鈥 there鈥檚 no tip prompt upon ordering 鈥 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:聽Cabano鈥檚 is at 75 St. Nicholas St. at St. Mary鈥檚 Street. It is closed Monday; open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. For pickup and delivery,聽.
The Rudy Burger at聽
The Rudy Burger at 搁耻诲测鈥檚.
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 a generous portion that should really be split into two.
Where to get it:聽搁耻诲测鈥檚 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,聽.
The Veggie Burger at King鈥檚 Drive-In
The Veggie Burger at King鈥檚 Drive-In.聽
Karon LiuDespite its White Castle-esque exterior, this burger spot doesn鈥檛 offer sliders. It鈥檚 a classic grilled banquet burger and souvlaki-on-a bun joint that鈥檚 a fixture across southwestern Ontario. But few of them offer the veggie burger, $6.95, let alone one that鈥檚 not the Impossible or Beyond Meat variety. This one鈥檚 made of shredded beets, resulting in a slightly sweet and deep pink patty that鈥檚 able to give some heft to the burger and tastes more interesting than one that鈥檚 trying to mimic beef. You can choose your toppings, but I usually just say 鈥渆verything鈥 (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:聽King鈥檚 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:
鈥 Check out these four spots I added to my alternative 海角社区官网Michelin Guide.
鈥 Here are my top picks for takeout under $10 in Toronto.
鈥 Canada鈥檚 100 Best Restaurants list is finally out. These are the 海角社区官网spots that made the cut.
鈥 This Mississauga family restaurant radiates retro vibes. Here鈥檚 why it stands out.
鈥 This beloved 海角社区官网restaurant serves a weekly Jewish brunch buffet 鈥 but that鈥檚 not all it鈥檚 known for.
Thanks for reading. I’ll see you back here next week.
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