Burger Review #58: Yonge Burger

Photo by Mark Avila

Date Visited: September 21, 2021
Location: North York, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 6.65/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Good	Very Messy	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie

Website

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Drew's Review (Written for Mark's Burger)

What’s up guys! This is BurgerTours, I’m Andrew and welcome to our review of Yonge Burger! 

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Yonge Burger is a burger spot on Yonge Street, just south of Steeles Ave. in North York. It opened in late 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by friends who have a desire for great taste and flavourful food. Yonge Burger is a symbolic staple of the North York neighbourhood and have entered the GTA burger scene with a mighty menu. Every burger is made from 100% naturally raised beef locally and every ingredient is from sustainable and environmentally friendly resources. 

According to a Facebook post dated December 26, 2020, the creation was first thought of when a group of friends were driving up and down Yonge Street looking for a decent eatery for a quick bite, and there wasn’t one in radius, especially a single burger joint; thus Yonge Burger was born. 

We found this location one day while searching for a new burger joint to visit for the month of September. We landed on Yonge Burger after glancing at their menu and become intrigued with their burgers. Each burger is named after a popular Yonge Street intersection in Toronto, spanning from Steeles and Yonge, (beef patty/crispy chicken patty combo) to King and Yonge (2 7oz. beef patties). They also have a Kimchi burger, a Veggie burger, or their signature Yonge burger, which features a single 7oz. beef patty. 

There was hardly anyone in the joint when we arrived just after noon on a Tuesday. Given the amount of space it had, and the number of tables and chairs to dine at, we decided to dine in. When going through the menu, the one that really interested me was the Shepperd and Yonge burger which is a meaty 7oz. beef patty with secret sauce, Canadian’s finest bacon and artisan cheddar cheese. HOWEVER, Mark and I got our orders mixed up and I ended up eating his burger; College and Yonge. The College and Yonge burger is Mexican inspired with secret sauce, smooth guacamole, crispy jalapeños and a 7oz. beef patty. So instead of reviewing the burger I had originally ordered, I will be reviewing the College and Yonge, the burger Mark ordered. 

College and Yonge/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The College and Yonge burger was tasty, savoury and spicy all in one. The meat was tender and a little dry, but flavourful. Every bite was oozing with a nice mix of veggies and spiciness. I’m not such a huge fan of spicy burgers, but this one was different. There was very little kick to the spiciness and overall, the guacamole and the secret sauce provided a great compliment to the crispy jalapeños and the beef patty. The one thing however that stood out were the buns. Yonge Burger was advertising “artisan style” buns on their menu inside the restaurant. These were not the artisan style buns that were advertised. These buns were similar to a Burger King bun with sesame seeds. Maybe we just had to ask for the artisan style buns? 

Overall, Yonge Burger exceeded my expectations when it came to the flavour of the burger. The College and Yonge burger is a fine burger to try, but one that you only need to have once. Because the menu is huge and Yonge Street has many intersections in Toronto, there are many different options on the Yonge Burger menu to satisfy your craving. I hope to one day return to try the burger I had originally wanted to try and maybe then I will be met with great expectations. Next time you find yourself in the North York area and need a burger joint to dine at, Yonge Burger is the place. The joint also takes orders through UberEats, Skip the Dishes and DoorDash. But be sure to pay a visit so you can “keep calm and eat burger.” 

6.3/10

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Mark's Review (Written for Andrew's Burger)

We venture once again to North Toronto where we find another hidden gem in Toronto’s burger scene. For this tour we take you to Yonge & Steeles where pay a visit to, coincidentally named, Yonge Burger! 

Yonge Burger sticks out for multiple reasons… the restaurant was started by foodies who wanted to express what they love doing through food, and their burgers are named after major intersections along Yonge Street spanning from the intersection at Steeles Avenue down to King Street. Browsing through the menu I was impressed by how diverse each of their burgers were. They were comprised of ingredients that reflected the local offerings of the area represented. Seeing that this location was in the vicinity of Koreatown, a Kimchi Burger was for sure to be on the menu. As tempting as it was, the Kimchi Burger was gonna be something to save for the next visit.

Yonge & Sheppard/Photo by Mark Avila

After much consideration I decided to go for the Yonge and College- an homage to Mexican flavours with guacamole, crispy jalapeños, tomato, lettuce, pickles, and topped with a secret sauce. The first bite was creamy and light as the juices from the patty cascaded off the bun onto the table. As I was thoroughly enjoying this amazing burger, I realized that there was something missing… where was the heat and flavours of Mexico that I was expecting? It wasn’t until halfway through that I looked at Andrew’s burger and noticed the guacamole and peppers, and finally clicked that we been given each others meals. 

Andrew had ordered the Sheppard and Yonge, which was an all Canadian burger with a beef patty, Canadian bacon, artisan cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and their signature burger sauce. The burger was probably one of the best that I’ve had in a quite a while. It was your typical bacon cheese burger, but better! The bacon was crispy, while the cheese added a balance of sweet and savoury. 

Regardless, of the mixup I was not disappointed. Though sometimes I wonder how it matches up to the Yonge and College. 

7/10

Burger Review #57: Triple O's

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: August 16, 2021
Location: Mississauga, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 7/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Awesome	Very Messy	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie

Website

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Drew's Review 

Not only was this our first burger joint in Mississauga, it was our first burger joint inside a gas station! 

Triple O’s is a Western Canada burger franchise that recently opened two Ontario locations; Mississauga and Vaughan, and plans to open more in Ontario in the new year. Originating from White Spot, the name Triple O’s comes from its famous hamburger sauce consisting of mayo and hamburger relish. The famous west coast pickle-topped beef burgers have been fulfilling B.C. residents since the early 60’s as apart of White Spot’s burger menu. 

When we were researching places in Mississauga, this joint caught us by surprise. We had never heard about it before and had no idea Triple O’s was originally from British Colombia. So after settling on the place, we were expecting some good, delicious burgers. 

We arrived in the middle of the afternoon and was surprised to see it inside of a gas station. I wonder if that’s a staple for a Triple O’s franchise location or if Ontario will see a standalone in the near future. When we entered, there were only four other diners sitting at tables, and because it was inside a gas station, seating was limited. We browsed the menu for burgers that met our satisfaction, placed our orders and grabbed a table to dine at. It was only a 10-minute wait before our burgers were ready. 

Chipotle BBQ Bacon Melt/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

I had ordered the Chipotle BBQ Bacon Melt, which came topped with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, spicy Chipotle mayo, tangy BBQ sauce and mayo. In a sense, this burger has a lot of flavour, and clearly, I could understand why this burger is among the favourites. The first bite was tangy, spicy and a blend of deliciousness. The beef patty was well cooked, fresh, juicy and tender and the toppings provided very savoury bites from start to finish. Overall, I was completely satisfied with the burger. 

The one thing that was a little bit of a turnoff was how messy it was. This burger was oozing with sauce and having three different sauces on this burger made the buns feel moist and crumble apart. The flavour was alright, but it was quite the mess while picking it up to eat. 

Overall, Triple O’s satisfied myself and my stomach and it’s a wholesome welcome addition to the Toronto burger scene. You’ll probably be seeing a lot more of this fast-food option in the near future and I can sure say that any burger lovers in the GTA are going to love it. That’s my review and I’m sticking to it. 

7.0/10

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Mark's Review 

Original Impossible Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

Triple O’s is a local burger joint in British Columbia that has made its way east, and has flourished with over 70 locations across Canada and Asia. They value the use of local ingredients and freshness through the use of local butter, eggs, and 100% Canadian Wheat. All of these contribute to their delicious burgers, hand scooped milkshakes, thick cut fries, artisan style buns, and mysterious triple “O” sauce. 

The dining experience was a little out of the ordinary since the restaurant was located inside a gas station. But, the vibes were pretty much the same. The smell of burgers frying mixed with the pungent aroma of petrol. 

I opted for the Original Impossible Burger- plant based patty, lettuce, tomato, topped off with a pickle, and their secret triple “O” sauce. I was also tempted to try their Cajun Fries- a cajun spice blend with cajun mayo, and a creamy Caesar to give that familiarizing flavour of the south. 

First bite of the burger, it was simple but full of flavour. The triple “O” sauce was definitely the highlight as it was sweet, creamy, and tangy. It had a nice kick that give the burger some character, but at the same time not compromising the overall experience. It was a perfect balance for the palate. The Cajun Fries did exactly what they were suppose to do.. the spice from the cajun sauce mixed with the creaminess from the Caesar was the perfect combo. The fries alone were very crispy and not as oily as I had initially thought. 

Triple O’s was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting such a simple, yet delicious burger to come out of a gas station burger joint. But, I guess never judge a book by its cover. 

 7/10

Burger Review #56: Bingz

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: July 20, 2021 

Location: Markham, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 6.6/10

 

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Good	Messy	$6-$10	Fast Food	Veggie

Website

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Drew's Review

So, how’s it going? 

You good? Cool. So how are things? 

I see. You been doing okay then? 

Bingz Crispy Burger is a Chinese-inspired burger joint that recently popped up in downtown Markham. Started by two former IT guys from top internet companies, Bingz opened in Beijing in 2014 and have since expanded to 65+ locations across the Chinese capital. Inspired by Rou Jia Mo, a street food cuisine originating in China, Bingz offers “flavourful fillings hugged by baked crispy buns,” and a modern taste to this long-loved Chinese tradition. In our eyes, this newly discovered creation and first in the Toronto burger scene was a must-try. 

We arrived to Markham Plaza in the early afternoon for a lunch affair and realized we weren’t the only ones dining at this time. There were a few people lined up when we arrived, and for the first time since February 2020, a dine-in option was available to us. We opted for the dining tables inside. While scavenging their menu, crispy burgers weren’t the only thing on their menu; soups, noodles and soy milk are just a few of its offerings. 

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

When it came down to the burger options, I ordered the Black Pepper Beef crispy burger. It was a flaky burger bun filled with local-farm sliced beef stir fried with onions, green pepper, celery and black pepper sauce, all of which sandwiched in the middle of a hollowed-out crispy bun. To be honest, this new burger creation was still something I was trying to grasp with and thought of it being called a burger was still something I needed to understand. But alas, this Chinese burger may just as well be here to stay. 

The burger was extremely crispy and crunchy and very flaky. It was rather messy, too. The black pepper beef inside the bun was nicely steamed and cooked to tenderness and the black pepper sauce was a savoury mild after taste. It was a good selection of meat inside the crispy bun, and I was overly satisfied with the quality, too. It was a delicious new creation for my taste buds to enjoy and one that might take some time to become accustom to my definition of a burger. 

Overall, Bingz was a surprising welcome addition to the GTA burger scene. It was a nice delicacy to try for the first time, and hopefully the first of many. I was a little taken aback by the crispiness of the buns, but I could definitely see it growing on me. A simple personified burger joint in Markham, that had originated in Beijing, caught me by surprise and I was left satisfied. Bingz will certainly be one to look out for in the future, and because of Toronto’s massive Asian population, expanding the franchise isn’t out of the question. 

7.2/10

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Mark's Review 

We take you back to North Toronto, to the City of Markham, where we venture into foreign territory and indulge in our first Chinese Burger Joint, Bingz! Known for their Chinese Crispy Burger Buns, Bingz is taking a bite out of the burger scene in China and is now expanding into Canada. Established in 2014, Bingz has opened more than 60 locations across China in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Now, they have their sites in the global market and have opened their first international location in Markham on May 2021. 

Hearing about the positive reviews about Bingz, we thought it was finally time to pay them a visit. Luckily for us the line wasn’t too long and the dine in area was empty, so we were able to sit and take in the ambience of the restaurant. Browsing through the menu, I decided to go for the Healthy Veggie Burger Combo. 

The Healthy Veggie consisted of fresh seasoned vegetables with vegetable and pepper oil, and layered between their famous crispy burger bun. The combo came with a side of their Tofu Pudding which was a decent serving of bean curd, soy dressing, chilli oil, peanuts, and pickled mustard. I was able to choose my level of heat, non spicy. I also opted for their Smoking Hot Rockin' Fries to add a touch of heat to my meal. 

Healthy Veggie/Photo by Mark Avila

First impressions… deeply disappointed by the burger. The buns had no crunch, and felt tough and stale. The mixed veggies were dry and lacking flavour. I know its just a salad in a burger, but they could’ve made an effort by adding some sort of seasoning. 

On a positive note, the Tofu Pudding was the highlight of the entire meal. It was warm, creamy, and full of flavour. I’m not big on tofu, but it was definitely the saving grace. As for the fries, they weren’t lying when they said ‘smoking hot’, because my mouth felt like it was on fire! But, I would recommend 100%. 

Overall, the experience was a little bit of a let down. I was expecting a bit more to the ‘hyped’ Crispy Burger Buns, but all I got was a tough and stale-like bun that didn’t have an inch of crispiness to it. Since I got an all veggie burger I know what I was up against, but at least put some flavour into it! The Tofu Pudding and Fries saved this review as they were the biggest highlight of my Bingz experience. Would I give Bingz a second chance? Yes. 

6/10

Burger Review #55: The Opera House

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: June 30, 2021
Location: Riverside, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 7.5/10

 

 

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Great	Very Messy	$11-$15	Restaurant/Bar	Veggie, Patio, Alcohol

Website

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Drew's Review

Operating as a theatre since the early 1900’s, and renovating to a multi-entertainment venue in 1989, the Opera House on Queen St. East has been the main entertainment venue in Riverside and has featured many musical acts, stage plays and other various gigs and parties. So, it was a no brainer to open up a restaurant with a large patio directly beside the music venue. The Opera House Grill is the only restaurant in Riverside to offer Greek cuisine. And apart from Greek food, the reason we had to try this place was because of the Shaggy Burger. 

The Shaggy Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The Shaggy burger is one of three burgers listed on the Opera House Grill’s menu. Aside from the traditional 6 oz. burger and a veggie option, the Shaggy burger stands tall amongst the big burgers of the GTA. In 2015, Toronto Life named the Shaggy Burger as one of 25 of the best burgers in Toronto. When we were deciding a burger joint in June of 2021, we were searching for something with a patio, accessible parking and a featured homemade burger. The Opera House Grill was the perfect match for our search. 

We arrived just before the dinner rush and there were many tables to choose from. The patio sat alongside the restaurant off of Queen St. and it was an exquisite atmosphere. With quiet music playing, the sound of a TV in the distance and the sound of the streetcar passing by ever so often on Queen St., this venue provides one of the best casual dining experiences I think I’ve ever witnessed. It was joy to behold. Mark and I each glanced at the menu, but there was only one burger that we came here to try. With our orders taken, we patiently waited roughly 20-30 minutes for the Shaggy burger to be made. 

The waitress brought out our towering burgers and placed them in front of us and I was in awe. This was going to be a mouthful. The Shaggy burger came loaded with a six-ounce grilled beef patty with tzatziki, bacon, cheddar, fried onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato and giant onion rings. If there ever was a time to satisfy our hunger for burgers, this was it. I wrapped both my hands between the colossus buns and opened my mouth wide to take my first bite. I tried to get every flavour on the burger but it was very difficult. 

This burger was almost like a masterpiece. The meat was cooked just right and the toppings were just the right amount. It tasted a little salty, not to tangy but succulent and tender. Because of the weight of the burger, it was already starting to crumble within my hands. And maybe the best option was to cut it up into smaller pieces, but I withheld. It was a really good tasting burger and it was something that took my craving to the next level. 

Overall, the Shaggy burger is one of my favourites in Riverside and maybe even in my top 25 favourites in Toronto. The only negative thing about the Shaggy burger was that the toppings looked like they were just thrown on to the burger, and didn’t really have a flow to the flavour of the burger. What I mean is that the toppings (onions, lettuce) really stood out maybe just a little too much, and I would have loved to have more of the meat. Overall, it wasn’t a bad burger by any means, but sometimes the burger should have a certain balance between the toppings and the meat. 

7/10

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Mark's Review

We’re back in the neighbourhood of Riverside where we take you the Opera House. Down the street from the Broadview Hotel, this joint is connected to the Opera House Concert hall where its become a staple for concert-goers to grab a bite after live events. A local favourite and the only restaurant to offer Greek food in Riverside, I was excited to see what they had to offer.

They only had three burgers on their menu: a regular burger, a veggie burger, and the Shaggy burger. I was craving something big and meaty for this tour and opted out of my usual veggie burger, and went for the the Shaggy burger- 6oz. Beef patty topped with tzatziki, bacon, cheddar cheese, fried onions, and onion rings. This has also been listed as one of Toronto’s top 25 burgers. Being put on a high pedestal, I was expecting nothing but perfection from this burger.

The Shaggy Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

When it was placed in front of me I was taken aback by how stacked this burger was.. it was towering! I usually don’t eat a burger with a fork and knife, but this was an exception. I had to press down on the bun to a decent size so it could fit in my mouth. No easy task, but hearing the crunch and seeing all the juices flow out was enough to make my tastebuds salivate.

The beef patty was crispy, the pickles and caramelized onions gave it a good balance of sweet and salty, and the onion rings gave it an extra touch of crunch and flavour. Everything complimented together so well, that I can’t really point out any flaws. If I were to nitpick on anything, probably just the size of the burger was a bit overwhelming.

Overall, I enjoyed every bite and understand why its one of the top 25 burgers in Toronto. It's as close to perfection as any burger will get. I was hoping the burger selection to be more  larger and diverse, but I guess keeping it limited helped to highlight the Shag Burger. Definitely a must have if you're craving a nice juicy and filling burger in Riverdale!

8/10

Burger Review #54: Saltyz Grill

Photo by Mark Avila

Date Visited: May 21, 2021
Location: Wexford Heights
BurgerTours Rating: 8.75/10

 

 

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Awesome	Very Messy	$11-$15	Fast Food

Website

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Drew's Review

Hi!

Saltyz opened its doors in August of 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic. When we arrived to pick up our orders, the location at the intersection of Lawrence and Warden in Scarborough looked newly renovated with quite a large dining space for customers. But at the time of our review, indoor dining wasn’t optional yet, so in the meantime, we had to opt for picking our orders up and driving home with them. The tangy, sweet aroma of our orders filled up the car during the ride home. It was definitely giving us a little taste of what to expect.

The Maestro Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

I ordered the Maestro Burger with double beef patties, melted mozzarella cheese, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions and their own signature house sauce. When I went to unwrap my burger, there sat a carefully crafted burger, with sauce oozing out from the insides. It looked REALLY messy. The buns were very soft and delicate and appeared like they were going to fall apart upon touch. The burger looked really appetizing and I couldn’t wait to take my first bite. 

I had no idea how I was going to pick this up. I tried to find the bottom bun but it was already slipping from under my fingers. I managed to sandwich the burger back together before taking my first bite and devouring this exquisite creation. I opened my mouth as wide as I could and took a good chunk out of the burger. The meat was tender and juicy. The sauce was tangy and sweet. I opted for no additional toppings as I wanted to experience this burger first hand. Everything about this burger was complimented so nicely together in one harmonious selection and each bite was full of tangy (signature house sauce), zesty (melted mozzarella cheese), sweet and savory flavour (caramelized onions & sautéed mushrooms). 

The poutine option, named Saltyz Fries is parallel to the burger I had ordered. Saltyz Fries is a mashup of freshly cooked French fries with melted cheese, caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms on top. These fries were their own meal on its own, and unless you have a large appetite, eating both the burger and the poutine options were overwhelmingly excessive. 

Overall, Saltyz was unlike any other burger joint we have been to this past year. The Maestro burger is one of the best burgers I’ve has since the pandemic began. The messiness was just what I was expecting from a delicious burger and it was just the right amount of messiness you want from a burger. This burger stop was a pleasant surprise and one I was a little hesitant on trying, giving their name could be an indication of how their food tastes. But on the contrary, Saltyz offers good quality burgers and also many other options available for your liking if burgers aren’t your interest. I hope to return in the future, possibly when indoor dining opens back up, to try some other delicious masterpieces from Saltyz. 

8.5/10

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Mark's Review 

Swiss Mushroom Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

We take you Saltyz Grill! This Mediterranean joint highlights the exotic flavours and ingredients from Southern Europe and the Middle East, with a Western touch, of course. They claim to serve authentic, and fresh food using the best ingredients free of antibiotics and artificial flavours. 

The menu selection was a spread of burgers, sandwiches, fajitas, and wraps. 

 I went for the Swiss Mushroom Burger- swiss cheese, mushrooms, caramelized onions, mushroom sauce, aioli, and subbed the double beef patty for plant based. 

The first bite.. it was juicy, creamy, and full of flavour. The Swiss cheese and caramalized onions added a touch of sweetness, and the aioli gave the burger a savoury taste. I’ve had many Swiss Mushroom Burgers before, but this one hit my taste buds in a different way. All the flavours in this burger complimented each other so well, and the plant based patty didn’t take away from the meatless experience. I do miss the taste of a beef patty once in a while, but these plant based alternatives are the way to go! 

Overall, a fair and satisfying experience. There’s nothing I would change. Would love to come back and try more of their burger selections! 

9/10

Burger Review #53: Kitchen 57

Screen Captured by Mark Avila

Date Visited: April 30, 2021
Location: North York, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 7.6/10

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

Website

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Drew's Review 

Decent. Thanks for asking. So...you been good then? 

We arrive for yet another BurgerTour during this pandemic, and we’re back at it supporting local restaurants. For this month’s tour, we decided to try out Kitchen 57. 

Opening in the summer of 2020, Kitchen 57 operates out of the back end of the Kraft Foods building near the intersection of York Mills and Don Mills. And for those failing to realize would go on to wonder why it’s operating out of the BACK of a building, without any visible signs or main entrance. Well, Kitchen 57 operates as a delivery service, not an actual restaurant. And because of the pandemic forcing everything to close, and restaurants not being able to have dine-in eating, Kitchen 57, I assume for the time being is simply just a delivery/pick-up option. 

Thanks to Uber Eats for helping us find this joint, Kitchen 57 has several different meal options available and quite a handful of burgers to choose from. So even if you’re not a burger lover, it offers other d
ishes such as fish, salad and macaroni and cheese. 

Many of their homemade burgers looked good to try, but for this particular day, I was craving something spicy. Something hot. Lo and behold, they offered a version of the classic hot chicken sandwich, do needless to say, that’s what I ordered. 

Nashville Hot Crispy Chicken Burger

This is the Nashville Hot Crispy Chicken Burger. It was a hot, spicy 5oz. buttermilk fried crispy chicken cutlet, in between two artisan sesame buns with lettuce, jalapeno lime aioli and Heinz hot sauce. This burger looked small and compact, but packed a punch. The first few bites were tolerable. But the forthcoming bites took all the heat and packaged it for my taste buds to devour. 

Once I worked my way to the middle of the burger, my upper lip started sweating and water was calling for me. It was spicy and for a person who enjoys spicy foods, but rarely eats them, this burger was everything I had set it out to be. It came with tasty, tangy flavour, and there was just enough balance between the spiciness and the unspiciness to fully appreciate the burger. The one downside I had for this burger was the buns were a little stale when we ate them, and that could be because we didn’t eat them right away, and there was probably like a 30 min. gap between pick-up and eating. Other than that, there wasn’t one thing I could say I dislike about this burger.

 Overall, Kitchen 57, if that is your real name, was a decent surprise and a strong and deserved welcome into the GTA’s burger scene. I believe Kitchen 57 has what it takes to survive, and though it’s only a year old and a delivery service was their main strategy, I can see Kitchen 57 becoming a real staple in the burger industry once dine-in is back and everything goes back to normal. Hopefully then Kitchen 57 takes a few hints and finds a more convenient location. 

7.2/10

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Mark's Review 

I never thought we were gonna find this place. Driving up and down streets, pulling in and out of parking lots, and utilizing the intelligence of the handy dandy Google Maps, we finally found our next burger joint. Nestled inside a conglomerate of office buildings in North York we take you to Kitchen 57. 

Located near the intersections of Don Mills & York Mills, you would never think to come across this hidden gem. Quickly browsing through their menu, which I found to be innovative and ambitious, we ordered through Uber Eats for pick-up. Within a mere 15 minutes our orders were ready! 

Kitchen 57 is a local favourite, in which their goal is to serve high quality comfort to enjoy at home. A huge plus since comfort food is something people tend to crave when ordering in, especially during the past year with the pandemic. 

Their selection was diverse and presented many burger combinations I’ve never seen before. One of them, my choice, was the Samurai Smash Burger. As the name suggests, this is a Japanese inspired burger on an artisan bun, with pieces of dried noodles, nori, wasabi paste, edamame seeds. I also switched out the beef patty for their plant based option. 

Samurai Smash Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

A quick disclaimer, the burgers were already cold since we took longer than usual to find the restaurant, and had to drive 20 minutes back to eat. 

For the first bite.. the patty was a bit dry, but nicely seasoned. I immediately got the feel for the dried noodles, which at first I thought were daikon, but it added a nice crunch to the burger. The edamame seeds added a subtle spice, but not as bad as for what was to come. I didn’t care for the sliced pieces of nori as it added a salty, yet fishy flavour, which I found unnecessary as there was already too much happening in the burger. 

What caught me off guard was the wasabi paste. I know wasabi is a staple in Japanese cuisine, but I was not ready for the heat that came after the first couple of bites. It felt like the wasabi was smeared throughout the centre of the burger, because that’s where I experienced the most intense heat. A nice touch, but definitely need to take it back a notch on the amount they put in. 

Overall, I love the idea of the Samurai Smash Burger. This was a burger exploding in flavour of sweet, salty, and spice which gave an homage to Japanese ingredients that you would never find a burger. But, Kitchen 57 was innovative enough to take all these elements and made it work. I appreciate the effort of crafting this masterpiece and look forward to trying more of their burgers in the future. 

8/10

Burger Review #52: Harry's Drive-In

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: March 27, 2021
Location: Scarborough, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 5.65/10

 

 

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Good	Non-Messy	$5-$10	Fast Food	Veggie, Patio

Website

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Drew's Review 

Harry’s Drive-In in Scarborough has been serving up hamburgers since 1954. The location sits comfortably in a parking lot in the north-east intersection of Kennedy and Lawrence. The restaurant is small and ironically, Harry’s Drive-In doesn’t have a drive-in. The burger joint has only seating for six or seven inside; though its outdoor patio can accommodate an additional 16 people. 

Harry’s Drive-In has everything from classic hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken dinners, fish, gyros and souvlaki. They also offer milkshakes to go with your classic hamburger. Everything about this place makes you take a step back in time and reminisce of a simpler, non-franchised world. 

Veggie Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Upon arriving, we were quick to realize Harry’s Drive-In only accepts cash, so we thought of a quick workaround. Luckily, Harry’s Drive-In was listed on Uber Eats for pickup. We browsed their menu and I was in the mood for something light. And the Veggie burger was probably the best option for this. Within a few minutes of placing our orders, our burgers were ready. 

I ordered the Veggie Burger that came with a veggie patty, and additional toppings of lettuce, ketchup and onions. The burgers are pretty big and for only $6, it can satisfy anybody. The Veggie burger looked thick, sandwiched between the two classic hamburger buns. I didn’t bother to dress the burger up as I wanted to indulge the taste of the veggie patty. 

The first few bites of the Veggie Burger were okay. Nothing exceptional except the tangy flavour of the onions. As I worked slowly toward the middle of the patty, the taste became the same. The flavour was bland and the quality was lacking. The veggie patty was soft and a little dry. Thinking about it, maybe I should have added a few more toppings to it. 

Overall, if you’re looking for a retro-styled hamburger joint in Scarborough, Harry’s Drive-In simply has that. I don’t really recommend the veggie patty, as I stated above, it was a little bland for my liking and lacked overall flavour, however, Harry’s Drive-In has many different options to choose from and many different burgers on their menu. I hope to return sometime soon and try an original hamburger and hopefully reverse my opinion on them. 

Thanks for reading. 

5.8/10

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Mark's Review 

Another birthday, another special burger tour. As customary here at #BurgerTours, we celebrate our birthdays with a free meal. For Andrew’s big day, he got to decide the location of our next burger joint. 

We stay local and pay a visit to Harry’s Drive-In! This popular burger joint in Scarborough sits at the intersection of Kennedy Rd & Lawrence Ave East. A local favourite for decades, diners claim Harry’s Drive-In to have the best homemade burgers in the city. They are a staple spot for Greek dishes such as souvlaki, gyros, and burgers. 

Veggie Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

Affordable, delicious… we were excited to experience the hype with Harry’s Drive In. When we first arrived, we were greeted with a “Cash Only” sign and were somewhat inconvenienced since we only carried our credit cards at the time. I double checked if they were on the Uber Eats app, and to our luck, they were! We ordered our meal on the app, and within 15 minutes it was ready. Service was quick, and the staff inside were friendly and welcoming when we picked up our food. 

We both opted for the Veggie Burger with our choice of lettuce, onion, and ketchup for the toppings. 

This is where it gets interesting… unwrapping the burger, it looked delectable and appetizing. Taking the first bite, however, I was a little disappointed. To keep it simple, it was pretty bland. Not to fully bring this burger down, but we probably could’ve added more toppings to further enhance the flavour, instead we decided to keep it simple and paid the price for it. The patty was nicely cooked, and thankfully the ketchup and onions added a hint of sweetness and a touch of heat. 

Other than that, there’s nothing much to say. It was filling, but our lack of topping choices definitely brought down the quality and flavour of the burger. Lesson learned, the more the merrier! 

5.5/10

Burger Review # 51: Confused Kitchen

Photo by Mark Avila

Date Visited: February 20, 2021
Location: Milliken
BurgerTours Rating: 8/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Great	Chaos	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie

Website

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Drew's Review

Hi, welcome back, or if you’re new here, welcome to our community. I’m your co-host Andrew and allow me to take you on this journey of wonder and intrigue. Every step on our journey will enhance your vision of Toronto’s burger scene. Every single paragraph filled with concrete descriptions of the burgers we have tasted. We invite you to join us in the discovery of the best burgers Toronto has to offer. We are pleased you are here and be sure to follow our every step as we devour and conquer the Toronto burger scene! 

Now onto the review… 

For this BurgerTour, we wanted to do something different. We didn’t want your typical American style hamburger from an average burger joint. We wanted flavour. We wanted to step it up for this review. So, without further introduction, we bring you to Confused Kitchen in Scarborough! 

Confused Kitchen is unlike any burger joints we ever ate at before. And that’s because it’s not necessarily known for its burgers. It’s a Sri Lankan restaurant fused with Canadian, American, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. One look at their menu and your hunger will be satisfied in many sorts of ways. But we went here for the burgers. 

And some of their homemade creations will have you questioning the toppings you normally would put on a burger. Some examples from the burgers on their menu: butter chicken, mac & cheese, jalapeño cream cheese…and the one that I had to try: a Jalapeño Maple Butter burger. Each burger comes with your choice of a beef patty, a crispy chicken patty or a beyond meat patty and every burger drizzled with a bed of coleslaw. 

Jalapeño Maple Butter burger/Photo by Mark Avila

We phoned in our order and within 30 minutes, our burgers were ready for pickup. We quickly drove to Brimley and Steeles and ate our burgers in the parking lot. The Jalapeño Maple Butter burger looked rather satisfying sitting with a bed of coleslaw drizzled on top in a white container. The first bite was a nice clash of every flavour; the maple butter was sweet and savoury and the jalapeño really kicked it up a notch with just the right kick for the after taste. 

Overall, it was a fascinating blend of sweet and savoury. Now, I wouldn’t necessarily put maple butter on the burger, but I was amazed from the result and it seemed to have complimented the beef patties really nicely. The beef patties were soft and chewy, and nothing really stood out with its flavour. But I was still stunned from the addition to the maple butter on this burger. It was like having breakfast for lunch. It was  weird, but it was welcoming. 

Overall, Confused Kitchen was a pleasant surprise. One so, that I hope to return in the future to dine for more tasteful fused meals. The burgers were neatly crafted to satisfy those in hunger and those wanting to try something out of the ordinary than a traditional hamburger. Every flavour meshed really nicely, and even though this was my first burger from them, I can see that Confused Kitchen can mash together two ingredients really well and have them compliment the rest of the burger. 

Until next time… 

7.5/10

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Mark's Review 

A new month, a new burger tour. We decided to venture out of our local boundaries, and took a visit to the north Toronto where we visit Confused Kitchen. This fusion restaurant located at the corner of Brimley Rd & Steeles Ave, at the border Toronto and the City of Markham puts a South Asian twist on classic western dishes. 

Beyond Meat Butter Chicken Burger/Photo by Mark Avila   

Fries, Poutine, Wraps, Biryani, Kothu Roti (Sri Lankan Street Food, desserts, and exotic drinks from South Asia are just some examples their fusion offerings. 

Their menu gives you an option of Beef, Crispy Chicken, and Beyond Meat Burgers. On top of that, they allow you to customize your burger with over a dozen toppers to choose from. The Butter Chicken Sauce and the Jalapeño Maple Butter caught my eye from the start. But, seeing that we were dining out of a South Asian fusion restaurant, I thought of being adventurous and opted for the the Butter Chicken Sauce. 

 Butter Chicken in a burger? Never thought of it as an ideal combo so let’s give it a taste! 

I went for the Beyond Meat Patty with the Butter Chicken Sauce over a bed of Coleslaw. 

On a side note, I had asked for no Coleslaw… yet, to my surprise when I opened the container, there was Coleslaw! 

First impressions… it was a flavour explosion! The mild spiciness and pungent scent of Butter Chicken dominated my taste buds, and was surprisingly delicious. The coleslaw, even though I didn’t ask for it on my burger, I must admit was a great complimentary flavour to the butter chicken. It was creamy, but not too overpowering. 

Deciding to go on this adventurous burger tour definitely paid off. Trying a South Asian spin on burgers was something I thought could never work, but it proved me wrong. The experience from Confused Kitchen was very pleasant, despite the Coleslaw. I would say my favourite so far. Overall, excellent food and service brings this joint to the top of my list for 2021! 

8.5/10

Burger Review #50: Retro Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: January 30, 2021
Location: The Danforth, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 5.25/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Good	Messy	$5-$10	Fast Food	Veggie

Website

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Hello, and welcome again to BurgerTours, tasting our way through Toronto’s best tasting burgers! And for this review, we order in from Retro Burger. 

Retro Burger on the Danforth has been operating for nearly a decade now and I’m quite baffled as to why I haven’t dined there before. They also have an additional location in Ajax and are opening three more locations in Newmarket, Aurora and Concord soon. But known for their original location on the Danforth, Retro Burger has been serving the community and the GTA with its original charbroiled burgers for a while. And seeing it as a well-known spot for burger enthusiasts on the Danforth, this was a must-try. 

Retro Burger offers a classic charbroiled burger that can be topped however way you want it. They also have chicken, souvlaki, salads and new to their menu this year, wings! They also have a large variety of poutine available of which I have yet to try. And something was urging me to try one of their classic milkshakes too, but that will have to wait for another review. 

We phoned in our order and drove to the joint to pick it up. Thus still in the middle of an ongoing pandemic, the chairs were piled on top of tables, and only a few workers, all dawning masks inside. Our order was ready within the 30-minute span of phoning in our order and picking it up. We unpackaged our brown grocery bag to unveil our meals. The burger sat in a disorderly wrapped wrapper, but the burger itself looked acceptable. I had ordered the 5oz. burger with cheese, topped with lettuce and ketchup. I wanted to get a sense of their original creation with very few toppings to properly review their masterpiece. 

5oz. Burger with cheese/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The first bite was pleasant, a little salty and a little charred. The meat was juicy, yet tasted a little overcooked. After a few bites, I worked my way to the centre of the burger and the meat tasted undercooked. It was like the sides were cooked well-done, but the middle of the burger, usually the best part tasted undercooked and dry. The toppings were alright, nothing out of the ordinary. 

The fries were golden brown, similar to your local food truck style fries. Crispy, warm and fried to perfection. The fries were however the best part about this meal. They complemented the burger ever so effortless, and a single order of French fries could fulfill your hunger cravings. 

Overall, Retro Burger lived up to my expectations. They offer good quality charbroiled burgers and if you’re a fan of a classic cheeseburger, this is the stop for you. The cheeseburger I has ordered may have just been a little well cooked for my tasting but that’s not stopping me from giving them a thumbs up. And this was a GOOD burger. It just lacked the preparation. From the reviews I’ve read online, Retro Burger does burgers right, so I was disappointed to have a “meh” burger. And one day I can hopefully return and redeem my expectations. 

 6/10

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Mark's Review 

Once again, we take BurgerTours back to the Danforth. Seems like this stretch of road in the city’s east end will never run dry of burger joints. No complaints, we’re from the area, so we love supporting local businesses especially during the times of COVID. Looking to uncover more of the Danforth’s hidden burger gems in the future! 

Anyway, we take this tour to a local joint that’s been on our radar for quite some time. A favourite among locals and receiving positive reviews from food wanderers alike, we take you to Retro Burger! 

Located on Danforth Rd east of Coxwell Ave, just steps away from Coxwell Station, Retro Burger is known for their friendly service and delicious food. A bold statement knowing how much burger joints we’ve come across that claim the same ‘status quo’. Some hit the mark with their service and mouthwatering food, but others fail to impress, especially on the latter. 

Their menu has an array of diner favourites including 100% premium cheese burgers, hot dogs, fish & chips, and poutines. Since the Danforth is home to the city’s Greektown, they also have a small Greek selection of Souvlaki dinners and Gyros. As much as I was eyeing a Souvlaki dinner, we had to stick to what we came here for, the burgers. 

If you’re a true burger connoisseur they also have the Big “10” Burger, which is double everything! Double burger, double bacon, and double cheese… who wouldn’t want to pass on this monstrosity. For us? Maybe next time. 

Breaking from the veggie burger streak that me and Andrew have been on for the past couple of burger tours, I decided to go for the Swiss Mushroom burger. 

The Swiss Mushroom Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

The Swiss Mushroom Burger is composed of a beef patty, topped with wiss cheese, mushrooms, and my choice to lettuce and tomato. Appearance wise, it wasn’t the best. It was a little messy, and the bun looked like it’s seen better days. 

Now for the real test, the taste. It was decent. Since we had to drive out to pick it up and drive back to dine in, it was already a little cold. I’ll give it a pass for that reason. However, the first bite did absolutely nothing. It did have a nice grill taste to it, but other than that it was pretty bland and dull. I don’t know whether it was the fact that it had already cooled from the drive, but there was no taste and a lack of seasoning throughout. At this point, I was somewhat disappointed. 

I can’t fully blame them, but based on what I had eaten there was zero spark in the burger. It lacked that “delicious” touch from what the reviews were saying, and the hype it was given. I would definitely give Retro Burger another chance as soon as dining in is back on the table. I want to see for myself what other diners have experienced, and give them the opportunity to redeem themselves with that one delicious burger. 

4.5/10