How a Calgary food truck became one of the city's most sought-after burger spots
It’s fair to say that Calgary’s burger scene is unmatched. From nostalgic spots to newer additions to the city, burger lovers are in for a treat. In the space of a year, one of Calgary’s newest burger joints on the block has built up a dedicated fanbase, taking it from a food truck favourite to taking over the food service at a popular neighbourhood bar.
Bastion Burger started its journey as a food truck concept, cruising around the city to serve Calgarians its iconic smash burgers. Jeremy Theoret, co-owner and chef at Bastion Burger, told Dished that the idea for Bastion Burger was born out of a love for the classic.
“I’ve always loved cheeseburgers growing up, it’s something I grew up on,” Theoret said.
Having previously worked at spots such as Pat & Betty, Theoret was ready to leave the restaurant industry and pursue something new. So he gathered some friends and set out to make their dreams of a smash burger joint a reality.
Food truck and beyond
While the Bastion Burger team initially wanted to host out of tents around the city, similar to those seen in Los Angeles, the concept wasn’t allowed by the city.
Instead, the group settled on a food truck, which launched in 2024. Bastion Burger became a regular at markets and parked up outside spots such as Inglewood brewery, Cold Garden, steadily building up a loyal fanbase.
Eventually, Bastion Burger was approached by the team behind Pin Bar, the popular pinball spot on 17th Avenue, with an exciting proposition to take over its food program. In the fall, Bastion Burger settled into its new permanent digs. While the food truck still pops up at events, having a new, less mobile home has plenty of benefits.
“It’s a little more stable being in brick-and-mortar. The food truck is a grind. You’re hustling every day. Sometimes you’re fishing for spots. You’re loading stuff on and off the truck all day,” Theoret added.
Charlie Hart/Dished
However, the new home hasn’t taken away Bastion Burger’s charm, as the team is still dishing out freshly made smash burgers with a concise menu that hits the spot.
“We like to keep it simple. We love giving cheeseburgers to people. We love seeing how people react when they eat our food, because it’s just a sandwich. But it’s a chef-driven company, we’re all chefs, and we put a little bit of extra love into it,” Theoret explained.
What’s on the menu?
According to Theoret, the key behind Bastion Burger’s menu is keeping it simple. To avoid “palette fatigue,” each element has been carefully thought out, from using a potato bun instead of brioche to cut the fat and sticking to traditional-yet-delicious burgers.
“We have a really, really good product in our beef. We get it from Regina’s Fine Meats […] It all comes together, and you get a pretty delicious cheeseburger,” he explained.
Charlie Hart/Dished
Bastion Burger’s best-seller, the OG Smashy, is the perfect encapsulation of those ideals, featuring two three-ounce patties, smashed to perfection with lacy, crispy edges, and served on a potato bun with shredded lettuce, pickles, Bastion sauce, and the brand’s 12-hour Coca-Cola caramelized onions for a hint of sweetness.
Another heavy hitter, especially on the food truck, is its Bastion Fries. Think of all of those delicious burger components stacked on top of its pickle-brined Kennebec potato fries.
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According to Theoret, one of the burgers that is a Bastion must-try and an “if you know, you know” is The Lucille.
“It’s our take on the Juicy Lucy [a popular burger originating in Minneapolis], which is like a stuffed smash burger. You take two patties, smash them, stuff them with American cheese, and flip them.”
So, whether you’re out and about or looking for a satisfying burger on 17th Avenue, Bastion Burger is the place to be. But be sure to keep an eye on its social media accounts, because the food truck is still popping up all over the city.
Bastion Burger at Pinbar
Address: 501 17th Ave. SW, Calgary
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