Vegetarians, look away. We’re about to sink our teeth into some serious beef. Specifically, burgers. From diner purist classics to epic stacked powerhouse local legends you get a prize for finishing, Vancouver has an impressive array of burgers to please any devotee.
Once you’ve cleared it with your doctor and renewed your gym membership, if you wanted to challenge yourself to eating the essential burgers of Vancouver, let this be your bucket list. Here are 18 must-try burgers in Vancouver.
See also
- 22 must-try sandwiches in Vancouver
- Best burgers in Vancouver
- 24 must-try brunch dishes in Vancouver
- 101 things to eat and drink in Vancouver before you die
- 33 must-try desserts in Vancouver
1. FD Burger at Fable Diner
Fable Diner might be a reboot of a classic, but the FD Burger is a classic itself. The basic template is 6oz of beef, topped with pickles, Fable sauce, iceberg lettuce, and tomato. Add-on options include kimchi, cola onions, cheese, bacon, or even mush.
Address: 151 East Broadway, Vancouver
Instagram: @fablediner
2. Burger or Cheeseburger Wakwak
Lindsay William-Ross/Daily Hive
The food cart formerly known as Burger 285 makes a killer cheap Japanese-inspired burger. It used to cost $2.85, but, you know, inflation. Also, the cart finally gave itself a proper name: Wakwak. But it’s okay to just say Burger 285; we know what you mean.
Address: 511 Granville Street (at Pender)
3. PB & Bacon Burger at To Dine For Eatery
To Dine For is a little off the beaten path, but they have an impressive roster of traditional burgers, and several signature creative creations. One standout is their PB & Bacon Burger, and the PB is exactly what you might guess it is: Peanut Butter. It’s a 6 ounce patty that’s “oozing” PB, with bacon bits, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and house sauce.
Address: 333 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver
4. Pourhouse Burger at Pourhouse
Jess Fleming/Daily Hive
Get ready for a serious burger: ground chuck steak and brisket, aged cheddar, pork belly, sweet caramelized onion, dijon mayo, fried egg, and a homemade Scottish bap bun.
Address: 162 Water Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @pourhouse
5. Moderne Steak at Moderne Burger
Burgers are such serious business at Moderne Burger there are pictogram instructions on the menu for how to eat them. Fresh buns are made daily, then loaded up with their classic fresh beef burger, lettuce, tomoato, red onion, mayo, and their house sauce. You can add cheese, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, housemade BBQ sauce, or bacon for an additional charge each.
Address: 2507 West Broadway, Vancouver
Instagram: @moderneburger
6. Dirty Burger at Campagnolo Upstairs
Upstairs at Campagnolo’s burger is loaded with a 40 day dry aged beef patty (ground in-house), American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and the restaurant’s secret sauce. It is a deliciously messy affair, especially if you choose to add a perfectly runny egg into the already hearty mix.
Address: 1020 Main Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @campupstairs
7. The Beast at The Cannibal Cafe
This popular burger bar is known for their appetizing menu of hand-ground beef burgers, brews, and milkshakes. Love a challenge? Why not tackle The Beast, a towering burger comprised of six beef patties, with six double slices of cheese and bacon layered on each one. If you aren’t up for that, they have an extensive menu of more conventionally-sized burgers.
Address: 18181 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Address: 433 Granville Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @thecannibalcafe
8. Bison Burger at Timber
Burger and Ketchup Chips at Timber in Vancouver (Lindsay William-Ross/Daily Hive)
Timber is a welcoming modern, casual gastropub style eatery on Robson that celebrates the flavours and foods of Canada. A sibling restaurant to next door’s Forage at the Listel Hotel, renowned chef Chris Whittaker is getting playful with his menu of comfort fare, including his bison burger, topped with caramelized onion, bacon, pickles, and cheddar.
Address: 1300 Robson Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @timbervancouver
9. Venison Burger at Buckstop
This West End BBQ-centric spot that specializes in big, big, big eats (packing big flavours) has a killer Venison Burger on their regular menu. The burger features a venison patty stuffed with blue cheese and mushroom, topped with caramelized onions and bacon. Look for mouthwatering and inventive burger specials weekly, too.
Address: 833 Denman Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @buckstopdenman
10. Burger 2.o at The Oakwood
Photo courtesy of The Oakwood
While The Oakwood has gained quite the reputation for hosting a spectacular weekend brunch, the Kitsilano locale also offers a stellar burger. With house ground shoulder and beef brisket of AAA Canadian beef, aged cheddar, bacon, house-made garlic dill pickles, alfalfa, Gulf Island dressing, and a house-made buttered bun, this sizeable handheld delight with have you salivating.
Address: 2741 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Instagram: @theoakwood
11. Bacon Cheeseburger at No. 5 Orange
Before you hurt your face raising your eyebrows on this pick, hear us out. A couple of years ago word got out that the food game at Vancouver’s well-known adult entertainment establishment (fine, it’s a strip club) had been much improved, and among the excellent offerings on their menu is a Bacon Cheeseburger that could make you forget where you are. Just kidding, you’re not likely to forget where you are here thanks to plentiful distractions, but at least you won’t be throwing your money away on lousy food.
Address: 205 Main Street, Vancouver
12. Argo Burger at Argo Cafe
Taking the diner into the next gen is Argo Cafe, where you’ll find their Argo Burger. This big guy is made with two beef patties, cheese, a fried egg, and all the fixings. Extra napkins, please!
Address: 1836 Ontario Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @argoatnight
13. Legendary Burger at The White Spot
Here’s the thing: The White Spot is a Vancouver institution. It’s been around for decades, and while their burgers don’t break any ground (that Triple O, tho) they have stood the test of time. If you grew up in Vancouver, you probably have had your share of Pirate Paks, and many a grown up still can count on White Spot’s burger to hit the, pun intended, spot. It’s a rite of passage as a Vancouverite.
Address: Locations all over BC
14. Fat Cow at Deacon’s Corner
Photo courtesy Deacon’s Corner
For a jaw breaking feast wrap your hands around Deacon’s Corner’s Fat Cow burger. This huge stack is comprised of a giant double beef patty, a fried egg, cheddar, bacon, jalapeños, and onions. Complete the meal with the choice of fries, salad, or slaw.
Address: 101 Main Street, Vancouver
Address: 3189 West Broadway, Vancouver
Instagram: @deacons_corner
15. Breakfast Burger at L’Abattoir
You’ll need to head to Gastown’s celebrated L’Abattoir on a weekend to indulge in their awesome Breakfast Burger. It’s got a quarter pound beef patty, plus a hashbrown patty, and a fried egg. Glorious.
Address: 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @labattoir_van
16. Burger at Mamie Taylor’s
Photo courtesy Mamie Taylor’s
With a deliciously juicy beef patty, Mamie Taylor’s burger is classic and delicious. Toppings vary by season a bit, but currently include smoked onion jam, arugula, cheddar, and tomato, with a vital side of fries.
Address: 251 East Georgia Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @mamietaylors
17. Hawksworth Beef Burger at Hawksworth
Leave it to Hawksworth, one of Vancouver’s contemporary classic fine dining spots, to include an excellent burger on their lunch menu. It’s served with applewood smoked bacon, aged cheddar, and a side of fries fancy enough to be called “frites.”
Address: 801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver (Rosewood Hotel Georgia)
Instagram: @hawksworthrest
18. Legendary S.O.M. Burger at Save On Meats
This vintage-style diner brought new life into the neighbourhood, and Save On Meats remains a vital spot in the city thanks to their ongoing committment to community and philanthropy. Their Legendary S.O.M. Burger is a purist’s delight: Fresh ground patty with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onions and S.O.M. smear. Need something more epic? Their Absolutely Fully Loaded Burger has two double-sized patties, real cheddar, swiss, fried egg, onion strings, pineapple, onion rings, Mike Vitow’s corned beef, double order of bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, sauteed onions pickles, and S.O.M. smear.
Address: 43 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @saveonmeats
With files from Jess Fleming
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