Burger Review #64: Rinspire Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: December 7, 2022
Location: Midtown
BurgerTours Rating: 8.5/10

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

Website

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Ever find yourself looking to boost your curiosity and deep dive into the depths of your creative imagination? Have you always wondered where you can find joy in these dark times? In other words, are you ready to become inspired?

For this month’s BurgerTour, we take you to Rinspire Burger, a burger joint that opened not too long ago in Midtown Toronto, just north of Eglinton on Yonge Street. The dine-in space is small, but the location and the people it attracts is large. The walls are coloured and decorated in very vibrant bright colours and meant to bring joy to the gloomy Toronto winter weather.

The menu is really diverse with offering 100% all-Canadian beef patties, high quality ingredients and as Mark will attest to, vegetarian options. Not only do they feature burgers, but because Rinspire Burger is located within a sushi burrito shop, they are among only a few of Toronto’s burger joints featuring an Asian-fusion inspiration. And if burgers aren’t your thing, they also have poke bowls.

Many of the options to top your burger are Asian-influenced; curry chicken, cheddar chicken, fruity tofu, salmon, and kimchi beef options. Looking over the burger menu, I wanted to keep things simple and order something that didn’t take away from the flavour of the meat. In conclusion, I ordered the Rinspire cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and pickles. A very simple order.

Cheeseburger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The burgers were ready within a matter of minutes and we grabbed our orders and brought it back to our table. The patties are thick and succulent and grilled to perfection. The tenderness of the patty was another plus. The flavour of the meat was juicy, fresh and savory. Every bite was more satisfying than the last. The potato buns were soft and as I wasn’t expecting, managed to stay together in my hands.

The fries on the side were a plus as well. They were fresh, crinkle-cut and lightly salted and were the perfect compliment to an outstanding burger.

Overall I’m proud to admit Rinspire Burger is among one of my new latest cravings in the city. The burger was immaculate and I was extremely satisfied. The meat was tender and grilled to my desire. This burger stop offers a variety of burgers with hundreds of ways to top ‘em. I’ll be looking to return in the near future to try more from their Asian-inspired menu. If you ever wanted a burger place to put a smile on your face, then Rinspire Burger is the spot for you.

8.0/10

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Mark's Review

Crispy Tofu Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

Finally made it to December! And for our last burger tour of the year, Andrew decided to surprise me with the location. Having told me that this joint is right at the corner of Yonge & Eglinton in midtown Toronto, I narrowed it down to two burger joints. And what luck that the surprise location he took me to was, Rinspire Burger! This joint has been on my list for quite sometime, and was thrilled that this was the place he chose for our final burger tour of 2022. 

Browsing through the menu, I immediately shifted towards the vegetarian section as I was drawn by their Crispy Tofu Burger. A crispy tofu patty layered in tomato, lettuce, jalapeño aioli, and general Tao sauce, it was a fusion burger that I was excited to try. 

Presentation wise it was small and compact, but oozing with flavour. The crispy tofu patty was definitely the star of the show, only because of the crunch it gave when I took my first bite. It was my first time having a tofu substitute, but I say it worked very well. I was sceptical since tofu is usually soft and delicate, but the way it was fried managed to keep itself together. The jalapeño aioli gave the burger some heat, while the general tao sauce added a subtle sweetness. A perfect balance to mellow out to contrasting flavours. 

Overall, a great burger. There’s nothing much to critique, but I just wish it was bigger. Rinspire Burger lived up to my expectation, and is definitely a new favourite. A good joint if you’re looking for a light and tasty burger. A perfect way to close off 2022!

9/10 

Special Burger Review: Shake Shack

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: November 11, 2022
Location: Orlando, FL
BurgerTours Rating: 8.4/10

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

Website

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Drew's Review

Hi!

Welcome to another addition of BurgerTours, my name is Andrew and let me be your guide today. For this BurgerTour, I take you to none other than the tourist capital itself, Orlando, Florida, where I dine at one of America’s finer burger joints, Shake Shack!

This was my very first time eating Shake Shack and I have to say, I was impressed. Having been to Shake Shack’s west coast competitor in 2019, I thought what better way than to try the east coast’s definition of the best burger.

Shack Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

During my stay in Florida, which saw me survive a hurricane the week I was there, and because of such, I had to make alternative plans for accommodation. Lucikly my hotel in Orlando was within walking distance of the famed burger joint. I arrived at the International Drive location in the early afternoon, right during the lunch rush and there was a moderate line inside all waiting to place their orders. This location is huge and has many dining options, including a patio. 

The menu is plastered on a billboard inside on the wall and the quick and friendly service made things a lot smoother. I narrowed my choices down to two burgers I wanted to try. The two being the Hot Ones exclusive burger, or the simple, original Shack Burger. I stay accustomed to my palette and decided to go with the Shack Burger.

Cheese fries/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Their classic Shake Shack cheeseburger comes with lettuce, tomato and their signature Shack sauce. Within a few minutes, a woman came out with my order. It was quick and easy. The tray was placed in fron tof me and I began to vision myself devouring this meal. I unwrapped the paper and took one giant bite, with the buns, the meat and everything in between still in tact. The taste was heavenly. The smash burger was grilled perfectly and had a nice, tender crumble to the outer layer. The buns were fresh and gently steamed. The lettuce, tomatoes and cheese made everything come together really nicely and the Shack sauce was just the
right amount for my liking.

I had also ordered the cheese fries on the side and they were delicious. If you're definitely not a fan of just the fries, get them with cheese because it adds a little something and it takes great.

Overall, I don't think I could have asked for a better burger from Shake Shack. I was very satisfied with my meal and I sure hope to one day return to try more from their ever-evolving menu.

8.4/10

Special Burger Review: Rice Burger

Photo by/Mark Avila

Date Visited: October 16, 2022

Location: Vancouver, BC
BurgerTours Rating: 8.5/10

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

Website

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Mark's Review

Hi everyone, this is Mark! And I’m back with another special burger tour. And as much as I wish I was still in Europe, we’re back in Canada. I’ve taken you the east coast, the prairies, and the territories and it seems like I’ve neglected the west coast. But, fear no more I bring you guys to Vancouver where I visit a rather interesting burger joint. A burger joint that I never thought would exist, a joint that took the concept of burgers to a different level. For this special burger tour, I take you to… Rice Burger!

Beef Yakiniku Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

Yes, you heard that right… Rice Burger. This was a rather unique find as I was curious if the concept of a rice burger was legit. And lo and behold after ordering… I was presented with a perfectly made rice burger! I was actually quite amazed the structural integrity of the burger and how well it was able to keep itself together. 

I guess before I get too carried away, I should probably tell you a little about Rice Burger. As a substitute to the traditional hamburger, the rice burger was first conceptualized in Japan which then garnered popularity across Asia, and eventually made its way across the globe. The fact that this Japanese innovation made its way to Canada surely reflects the diverse food scene that Vancouver is known for. I was very excited to try this! 

The Beef Yakiniku Burger is comprised of beef that is marinated in store and grilled to perfection. Taking that first bite, the rice buns gave an interesting texture of hard and soft. The top was soft and firm, while the bottom was unfortunately hard and a little burnt. The Beef Yakiniku saved the burger. It was sweet, nicely seasoned, and perfectly cooked. After the first couple of bites it started to fall apart. I eventually had to use a spoon and fork to flatten the rice, and ended up finishing it off as a rice dish. It took the burger experience out of the meal, but I can’t deny the exceptional flavour. 

I also ordered the Kimchi Fries as a side. Now, I thought it would be just a small tray of fries at first. But, when they brought it out to me in a huge container I was flabbergasted and thought to myself “how am I ever going to finish this meal?”. To my surprise, however, the fries were pretty light and were so good! They weren’t shy on the Kimchi as I got a full explosion of heat in my mouth.

Overall, the Rice Burger experience was one for the books. What started off as a well structured burger ended up as a rice plate. The flavours were phenomenal, and the concept was great. I don’t know if a joint like this exists elsewhere in Canada, but I’m happy I managed to find a place ‘not so close to home’. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for an out of the norm burger experience, and looking forward to visiting again.

8.5/10

Special Burger Review: Regal Burger

Photo by/Mark Avila

Date Visited: September 12, 2022

Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
BurgerTours Rating: 7/10

 

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

Website

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Mark's Review

Welcome back to the continuation of my European Burger Tour Review. I leave Hungary in search for another delicious, if not, better burger. Just a 2 hour bus ride from Budapest, I found myself in Bratislava, Slovakia. I really wasn’t expecting much in terms of a a good burger when I think ‘Slovakia’, so I didn’t know what to expect. Like before I did some research ahead of time to see what the city had to offer. Since this was a day trip, I looked for a joint that was in a convenient location in downtown Bratislava. 

After walking the streets of old town Bratislava for a couple of hours, I miraculously stumbled across Regal Burger. Just steps away from the Main Square, this joint is known for its top grade burgers made with fresh ingredients and quality beef. Walking into the restaurant it was small, quaint, and had a homey atmosphere. Browsing the menu, they had a fair balance of meat and veggie options. And as usual, I opted for one of their veggie burgers.

Veggie Chef/Photo by Mark Avila

I decided to go for the Veggie Chef - marinated baked eggplant, mushrooms, topped with onion, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, jalapeño and avocado mayonnaise. This was a surprisingly large and fully loaded burger. The eggplant was unfortunately overpowered by the cheddar cheese to the point that I forgot that I was eating eggplant. I honestly thought it was a giant portobello mushroom instead. The avocado mayonnaise had a nice tangy taste, while the jalapeño added a subtle touch of heat which was just enough to set my mouth on fire. 

After I recorded myself eating, however, the burger decide to disintegrate in my hands. It was a pretty sad site to look at, but I had to finish it somehow. Thank god for spoons and forks!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised how good the Veggie Chef was. A unique take on veggie burger, I don't think I’ve ever had an eggplant patty as a substitute, but I wish it just had more flavour. Probably one of my favourite veggie burgers I’ve had in a long time. So, for my first taste at a Slovakian burger… I was very impressed. A nice first and only meal in the city. Definitely a must try burger joint in Bratislava! 

7/10

Special Burger Review: Bamba Marha Burger Bar

Photo by/Mark Avila

Date Visited: September 11, 2022

Location: Budapest, Hungary
BurgerTours Rating: 8/10

 

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Awesome	Not messy	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie, Gluten Free

Website

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Mark's Review

Hello, everyone this is Mark! I am back, once again, with another special burger tour. While Andrew brought us to the streets of London to start this collection of European burger tours, I take to you back for a different burger experience. No, not in London, but to Eastern Europe. I visit two cities to indulge on their take of a traditional hamburger, and review what I found to be different and how it compares to burgers I’ve had here at home. These will be two separate reviews, but the Burger Tour episodes will compiled as one. So, let’s get started!

I think its appropriate to say this first destination had me going a little hungry. I didn’t know what to expect or what would be offered to me, but I was more than excited to find out. And with that said, I take you to Budapest, Hungary!

What was left of the Bamba Beef Burger

Seeing that this was my first time Europe, I was curious to see on what their take on a typical American style burger would be like. Doing some research prior to this trip I had my options narrowed down to a select few. It was more so based on how close they were to my hotel. I was staying in the Downtown area close to the Danube River, so I had some diverse options. In the end, I decided to pay a visit to… Bamba Marha Burger Bar.

 

With 7 locations scattered throughout Budapest, I happened to be down the street from the Basilica location, so thats where I will be doing this review. Their menus differ based on the location, more so the same, but some burger options stay unique to the specific area. I opted to go for the Bamba Beef Burger. This is a beef patty burger layered with parmesan chips, grilled shiitake mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and umami ketchup. 

First impressions… this was probably one of the cleanest burgers I’ve ever seen. Simple, yet looking delectable. My first bite was greeted by the sesame bun. It was warm, soft and buttery. Following was the crunchiness of the parmesan chips. It was a subtle burst of cheesy flavour, but not overpowering. The umami ketchup was savoury giving the burger a kick of spice. And the beef patty was cooked and seasoned perfectly. 

Overall, Bamba Marha was a pleasant surprise despite some doubts I had. It was a great take to what I’m use to seeing in a burger here at home. There wasn’t really much of a difference except that this burger was clean, simple, and had a hint of extra flavour that burgers that I’ve in Toronto seem to lack. Bamba Marha exceeded my expectations, and is definitely a go to joint if you’re looking for a good burger in Budapest. 

8/10

Burger Review #63: Happy Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: August 9, 2022
Location: Rosedale
BurgerTours Rating: 6.3/10

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

Website

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Drew's Review 

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Smile. You’re on camera! 

For our 83rd BurgerTour, and burger stop for the month of August, we decided to keep things local. Happy Burger is a joint that has been on our list for some time so we thought it was time to pay it a visit. Opening in the summer of 2020, Happy Burger is a simple, modern burger joint serving up smash burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes, as well as other tasty side options. They have two locations now, (the first being Lippincott Street, near Bathurst and College in the Harbord Village area of downtown Toronto) after opening a spot on Yonge Street this past year. 

We entered the Yonge St. location shortly after the lunch rush and there were already a few diners inside the joint at the time. The interior was simple, plain white, modern and featured a giant sized menu on the wall beside the counter. The seating was plentiful and even had tables on the patio outdoors. The menu is pretty simple, featuring a few smash burgers, with some different toppings and arrangements, a chicken burger, a pastrami burger, some vegetarian options and then the hot dogs. You can order a combo which comes with a choice of side; waffle fries, onion rings or pickles, or opt for single burger/hot dog. 

Happy Cheeseburger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

I stayed customary to my standards and opted for their homemade classic burger, the Happy Cheeseburger, which came topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and happy sauce on a potato bun. We grabbed a table inside and waited for our burgers. I believe it was a 20 minute wait, as there were already a few customers who had ordered before us who had priority. Our orders were called and we retrieved them and brought the meal back to our table. 

After I had bitten into the Happy Cheeseburger for my first bite, it tasted like your average smash burger, however the meat was just slightly overcooked. The flavor from the beef was a little dry and I relied on the toppings to satisfy my tastebuds. The buns were soft…super soft in fact was ready to crumble in my hands. It wasn’t the perfect balance between the softness of the buns, and the crispiness of the smashed patty. 

We also got the waffle fries on the side with added Happy Sauce and it was very appetizing. The Happy Sauce is a blend of mayo, ketchup, mustard and secret spices and it was a pleasant dressing, both on the burger and to dip your fries into. 

Overall, Happy Burger was satisfying and it did fulfill my expectations of their burgers, however, the Happy Cheeseburger I had gotten was slightly overcooked and didn’t really consist of any significant flavors. I’ve had better smash burgers before and maybe this burger was left on the grill a little too long. I’m not sure. The waffle fries were the only thing I would go back for, and maybe I would return and try a milkshake. In the meantime, I’ll be faking a smile until I find my way back to Happy Burger. 

6.1/10

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Mark's Review 

Impossible Vegan Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

Happy day, everyone! This burger tour took us to a happy place, a very happy place. This joint was on our radar for quite some time, and happy that we finally to try them. If you haven’t noticed my overly use of the word ‘happy’ so far, I’m happy to say that for this burger tour we pay a visit to… Happy Burger! 

Happy Burger opened at the height of the pandemic in August 2020. Since then they’ve opened two locations in downtown Toronto. The main location is located close to Bathurst & College, and the restaurant we visited is along Yonge St just south of Rosedale subway station. 

Walking in the peak of lunch time, this location was particularly busy. We placed our orders and asked to take a seat while they were in the queue. To be quite honest we waited quite a while for our meals. I would say it was a 30-35 minute wait. Way too long for a burger. I guess it was a lesson learned not to come by during lunch time. 

 I ordered the Impossible Vegan Burger - a plant based veggie burger layered with vegan cheese, pickle, tomato, onion, lettuce, and topped with a vegan happy sauce under a vegan bun. The happy sauce is a mix of mayo, ketchup, mustard, and undisclosed spices. 

My first impressions… looked like a a refined Mc Donald’s Cheeseburger, but healthier of course. The first bite was soft and tender, something that I’m not used to with a plant based patty. The taste was very much in line with a traditional Cheeseburger, and the happy sauce gave it a little more kick of flavour. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. 

 6.5/10

Special Burger Review: Neat Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: July 27, 2021
Location: London, UK
BurgerTours Rating: 7.4/10

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

Website

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Drew's Review 

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Oh hey. How are you doing? 

Good to hear. So…you been good? 

Cool. Cool. You doin alright then? 

Hi. I encourage you to join me as I travel to London, UK for this month’s BurgerTour. In July, one of the many stops of my list of places to visit was Buckingham Palace and lo and behold, a good quality burger joint in the London area to try some great tasing burgers. That place was Neat Burger. 

Located in Victoria, just a 10-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, local franchise Neat Burger offers burgers with tasty and delicious ingredients all while saving the planet for a healthy lifestyle. Opening in 2019, Neat Burger has eight locations in the London area, one in Liverpool and have expanded into the United States with a location opening in New York City. 

Smash Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

When it first opened, Neat Burger devised a plan to bring plant-based burgers into the mainstream; each patty consists of peas, corn, rice, quinoa, chickpea and potato. As well as other healthy fats and flavours, Neat Burger has introduced the world to an environmental gamechanger by doing more for the planet by using less, and its one step forward to a planet we can be proud of. 

When I walked in to the Victoria location shortly after lunchtime, there was no one to be seen. It was empty. Inside sits a stand with a large iPad sitting on it for you to touch-in your order if you don’t feel like talking to anyone. Neat Burger’s menu is a very simple one: signature, smash, chick-n burger, or a fish filet burger for choices. I decided to order the Smash Burger which was a double meat patty smashed with onions, cheese, mustard, neat sauce and stack sauce.? I also ordered a side of cheesy tater tots. 

Cheesy Tater Tots/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Upon a quick 10 minutes, the burger was ready. I unwrapped the paper from the burger and it was a lot smaller than I had imagined. The burger looked very cheesy. It also looked very messy. I wrapped my two hands around it to give a big bite and was pleasantly surprised with how it tasted. The non-meat patty was delicious and the toppings were thick and juicy. The buns were oozing with flavour and every bite was like a bite in the right direction. If you told me this burger didn’t have any dairy or meat products I wouldn’t believe you. This burger was on a whole other level. 

Overall, Neat Burger was as environmentally friendly as you can get. The smash burger was messy and every bite was oozing with creamy greatness. However, it was a little bland for my taking, and the burger itself was a little small to what I was picturing in my head. The burger was well crafted and I admire the effort Neat Burger is trying to attain. Since they appear to be expanding over into North America, perhaps a Toronto location might be on the horizon…maybe? 

7.4/10