Popular Burger Joints

Here's a rundown of some highly-rated and popular spots, keeping in mind that "best" can be subjective and depend on your preference:

Top Contenders & Popular Choices (with a strong Toronto focus as it's the largest market):

• Burger Drops (Toronto): Consistently ranked high, known for their cheesy smashburgers made with premium AAA beef ground daily in-house and served on a buttery potato roll. They offer classic, original, and even a Green Chile option.
• Happy Burger (Toronto): Another highly-regarded smash burger spot, praised for its juicy burgers, tangy pickles, and slightly sweet potato bun. They also offer an "Oklahoma-style" with fried onions.
• Gladiator Burger (Multiple locations including Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Scarborough, Waterloo): Known for their 100% prime quality, never-frozen, domestically raised meat and a wide variety of creative burger combinations.
• The Great Canadian Burger (Multiple locations including Mississauga, Waterloo, Windsor, Scarborough, Milton): Focuses on hand-balled, hand-smashed, and griddled-to-perfection burgers with fresh, natural ingredients and 100% fresh Canadian beef.
• Rosie's Burgers (Toronto): Offers classic, simple burgers with crispy smashed beef patties, cheese, and their signature Rosie's sauce.
• JABS (Toronto): Frequently mentioned for excellent smash burgers, often compared to Burger Drops.
• Holy Chuck (Toronto): A long-standing favorite, known for its consistent quality and substantial burgers, including their original with maple-smoked bacon, cheese, and caramelized onions.
• Richmond Station (Toronto): For a more upscale burger experience, their "Stn. Burger" is highly praised for its quality ingredients like pasture-raised beef, aged cheddar, and unique toppings like beet chutney and pickled onions.
• Aloette (Toronto): Offers a more refined quarter-pounder with emmental cheese, dijonnaise, pickled onions, and shredded lettuce.
• Burger Factory (Multiple locations): Focuses on fresh and tasty smash burgers with locally sourced ingredients.
• Best Burgers (GTA - Greater Toronto Area): A gourmet takeout burger restaurant that emphasizes fresh, high-quality ingredients and handcrafted burgers.
• Firefly Burgers (Multiple locations): Known for their Black Angus patties and unique sauces.
• Apache Burger (Etobicoke - GTA): An old-school institution, loved for its classic style.
• Golden Star (Thornhill/North of Toronto): Another old-school charbroiled burger joint with a loyal following.
• The WORKS Craft Burgers & Beer (Multiple locations across Ontario): A popular chain with a wide variety of creative and customizable burgers and a focus on craft beer.

For Specific Preferences:

• Smash Burgers: Burger Drops, Happy Burger, JABS, Rosie's, Harry's Charbroiled.
• Gourmet/Upscale: Richmond Station, Aloette, Manita.
• Old-School/Classic: Apache Burger, Golden Star, Burger Shack.
• Plant-Based/Vegan: Stefano's Diner, Guerrilla Burger, Bindi's Burgers, Soy Boys.

Things to Consider When Choosing:

• Location: Ontario is a large province! Many of the top-rated spots are in Toronto, but there are excellent options throughout.
• Style: Do you prefer a thin, crispy smash burger, a thick juicy patty, or something in between?
• Toppings: Some places are known for their classic toppings, while others offer more adventurous combinations.
• Price Point: Burgers can range from affordable to more high-end.
• Atmosphere: Casual takeout, diner, or sit-down restaurant?

It's always a good idea to check recent reviews and perhaps even the menu online before you go! Enjoy your burger hunt!