Toronto’s actual best hamburgers
Before the holidays, we stumbled upon Obiter Dicta’s review of Toronto’s best hamburger joints. Respectfully, we disagree. As law students who actually live in Toronto (looking at you, Osgoode), we offer our dissenting opinion on which burgers reign supreme, and which fit squarely in the P-range.
Perhaps more importantly, now that restaurants are shuttered to indoor dining thanks to the pandemic, the gift that keeps on giving, there’s no better time to support the restaurant industry and treat yourself to an indulgent takeout burger. Joining us on our journey this month is special guest and culinary expert (in our opinion), John Metzger (2L)!
Ration Burger | 335 Queen St W
John: Those early Canadian federalism cases got you down? Despondent over 200 pages of legal process readings? You need a Ration Burger. A classic smash burger with fresh, modern toppings and sauces, one bite makes you sit back and feel like you have reached the peak of the human experience. This burger singlehandedly got me through both Zoom School of Law and the 2L recruit—it truly is a taste of heaven between two buns. Also reasonably priced for its quality and taste. Give it a try!
Pro tip: truffle fries and jalapeno aioli add-ons are a must
Veggie options: vegan patties available
Extra Burger | 1265 Dundas St W
Shae: Fun branding? Check. Classic diner vibes? Check. Great prices? Absolutely—you don’t even have to pay extra for cheese! Serving up a smash burger that rivals Ration, Extra Burger is an unassuming West-end gem with everything you need from a burger joint, without the frills. With a simple, fresh potato bun and the thinnest shredded lettuce you’ve ever had, this sub-$10 cheeseburger is definitely one to add to your takeout rotation. Perhaps the best part? Extra Burger’s crinkle-cut fries make me feel like a kid again, and, for a moment, the pain of law school temporarily subsides.
Pro tip: while you’re waiting to collect your order, swing by Grape Witches just a few doors down and pick up a fun bottle of vino to pair with your burger
Veggie options: Impossible Burgers available
Burger Drops | 116 Atlantic Ave
Lauren: Okay, hear us out. We know it’s in Liberty Village. We also know that, if you’re like us, you avoid that place like the plague. But if you are bold enough to brave that condo-hellscape, you deserve a reward—and that reward should be a burger from Burger Drops. Personally, this is my second favorite burger on the list (Extra Burger takes first place). A single smash burger rings in at $8 and the side of fries was practically overflowing. We opted for the Original which comes with onions, pickles, American cheese, and their homemade “drop sauce” which was the star of the show. We would 100 percent go back—and that means a lot considering how inaccessible the transit situation is there.
Pro tip: the desserts are a skip (sorry!)
Veggie options: veggie patties available
Rudy Burger | multiple locations
Kaitlyn: In case you ever questioned our dedication to this column, we endured an hour-long trek in -18°C weather just to try this burger. “The Rudy” is a simple smash burger topped with lettuce, tomatoes and American cheese (sorry to all you American cheese haters). The taste was nothing spectacular, but what really stood out was the price. Just think—when was the last time you bought a burger from McDonald’s, and how much did it cost? With their student discount, Rudy’s comes in at around $6! While Rudy’s ranks low in terms of taste, it’s the best bang for your buck on our list. We didn’t explore the rest of the menu, but would definitely consider coming back to try a milkshake (but in the summer next time).
Pro tip: flash your T-Card to get 20 percent off your order before 5 pm!
Veggie options: N/A
The Burger’s Priest | multiple locations
Lauren: Do you like your burgers with a heaping side of religion? You will be immediately greeted by biblical verses when you walk into a Burger’s Priest location—a non-Christian friend remarked that he felt like he was going to burst into flames on the spot. Besides that, the burgers are fairly unremarkable (where are the smash burgers?!). We will give Burger’s Priest credit for having many reliable locations throughout the city, though.
Pro tip: they have a secret menu with a variety of burgers (we didn’t explore these, but would love to know if you do!)
Veggie options: both veggie and vegan patties available
