Burger Review #19: Top Gun Burgers

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: February 23, 2016
Location: Kensington Market
BurgerTours Rating: 7.5/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Awesome	Messy	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie, Gluten Free

Website

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Attention all passengers, we have reached our destination and it is none other than Top Gun Burgers. Fasten your seat belts and prepare for landing.

Top Gun Burgers just opened up last year in the Kensington Market. The owners already have one restaurant in the area, Top Gun Steak which is right down the street from Top Gun Burgers. But that's not the only similarity I noticed when we entered this Kensington burger joint on a chilly day in late February. The interior was eerily similar to another Kensington burger joint, the Burgernator.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The walls were painted black with designs and headings related to Air Force terminology. Even their menu offers a selection of creative names. Names like the Bobcat, Freedom Fighter and the Avenger all sounded strong and appetizing. I was intrigued because there haven't been many burger joints that we have visited that offer this contrast to its customers.

After a few minutes glancing over the menu on the wall right beside the counter, I decided to order the Starfighter, which had a crusted portobello mushroom stuffed with cheddar cheese and rosemary garlic aioli sitting on top of a beef patty, sandwiched between two freshly baked buns. I wasn't prepared for the portion for which I was about to indulge.

The Starfighter/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

After a few minutes, the waitress brings over our burgers and I'm amazed at what I see. For one thing, the Starfighter is like a 3-storey building. I couldn't wait to wrap my mouth around it. Another thing I noticed was that the tray the meal was presented on was eerily similar to that of the Burgernator's presentation. I was losing my mind. I felt like I was dining at the Burgernator once again and when we left, I asked mark if it were cool to check out to see if the Burgernator was still there in its spot from when we visited almost a year ago. And it was. I was stunned to see to exactly similar burger joints within the same distance from one another. But I guess that's the game of competition that many businesses like to play around with.

Anyways, the burger I had was filling beyond my expectations. The juicy core of the burger was what I liked the most. The flavour of the meat, saddled with the crusted portobello mushroom, which don't forget, was stuffed with cheddar cheese, was one hell of a combination and set my taste buds on a wild ride. Each bite I took was like experiencing the taste of heaven in small little portions. There were so many delicious flavours, I honestly had no idea where it was coming from, but it didn't matter because my taste buds were satisfied.

Burger Joint Comparison: The Burgernator (left), Top Gun Burgers (right)/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

To go along with the burger, I opted for a side of fries and a can of root beer. To my surprise, the fries we better than I expected. They were hand-cut fries with a dip of your choice and I think mine was their signature sauce, a mix of ranch dressing and ketchup. After the meal was finished, I was satisfied and so was my appetite. I don't think I could've asked for a better meal.

Overall, the great thing about this place is that it offers a unique atmosphere unlike any other burger joint in Toronto. With a huge selection to choose from, and searching through endless possible creations, Top Gun Burgers is among one of my personal favourites in the city.

8.4/10

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Mark's Review

The 'Blue Bird'/Photo by Mark Avila

After almost a year, 11 months to be exact, we are back in Kensington Market. But this time we are visiting Top Gun Burgers. This joint, which has a close resemblance to the Burgernator, serves a wide variety of 20 burgers; available in beef, chicken, and vegetarian options. In addition, their patties are freshly ground daily and served halal. 

The interior was adorned with aircraft themed wall decor, which I found very engaging as I found myself looking through each picture as I waited for my order. Browsing through the in-store menu, I was very impressed by their large selection and it didn't take me long to make my decision. As a lover of blue cheese I opted for the 'Blue Bird'. A simple beef patty burger with blue cheese, alongside with a combo of home cut fries, and a drink. 

It looked appetizing when the waitress placed it in front of me, so I was expecting the taste to be equally as good. Taking that first bite, the juice from the patty oozed into my mouth, followed by the sweetness of the melted blue cheese, creating a smooth buttery taste giving the burger a light and unique flavour.

Overall, it was a decent experience. The 'Blue Bird' might have been too simple of a selection to satisfy my taste buds, because I was definitely expecting more in terms of flavour. Hopefully, the second time around I will be able to choose and enjoy a more delectable meal.

6.5/10