Five Toronto Smash Burgers You Need to Try Right Now

In partnership with What's Cooking's new food and lifestyle publication -- coming soon.

With dozens of smash burgers on the Toronto market, it’s nearly impossible to know where to begin. The only way to narrow it down was to go on a burger crawl. Just as the burgers are simple, the rules were simple: order it as it comes. Simple is best. And, where you can, make it a double. When it comes to side dishes well, they weren't technically considered in the judging, but are always considered in my heart (and belly).

In no specific order, the following are five smash burgers you need to try now.

RUDY @rudyre sto

The First Mover

Arguably the first real player in the current tidal wave of Toronto smash burgers, Rudy opened their first location on College Street in 2016. When going for a double here, you have two main options: The Rude Dude and the Rudy Mac. My pick is the Rude Dude; because the cheese is melted and it provides the ideal meat-to-bun ratio. That said, if you do love a Big Mac, you simply can't go wrong.

With the crispest exterior of all the burger patties, melted cheese, a steamy potato roll and secret sauce you’d be happy to put on literally anything, Rudy set the bar high when it came to popularizing the smash burger in Toronto. Not to mention having one of my favourite classic poutines in the city. But like I said, sides don't technically count here. With five locations and counting, you can get your Rudy fix from Danforth to Etobicoke and everywhere in between.

619 College Street; single $6.99 double $9.99

THE DROP SHOP BY BURGER DROPS @burge rdrops

For 'Oklahoma Style' with the best griddled onions

About two years ago, Greg Bouralias, sous Chef at one of my favourite restaurants in the city: Aloette, told me the origin story of the “slider.” While preparing an intricate meal; he spoke about these incredibly simple, American cheese-topped burgers with passion and a light in his eyes. Two years, dozens of underground all you can eat pop-ups and 1000's of burgers later, he’s serving some of Toronto’s best smashed cheeseburgers from his brick and mortar Drop Shop in Liberty Village. Inspired by George Motz's Oklahoma style onion-crusted patty, Chef Greg adds his own thoughtful spin; topping them with peppery, house crinkle cut pickles and secret spiced 'drop sauce' between the squishy potato buns. It's the combination of his pickles, drop sauce and sweet griddled onions that does it for me. In fact, I liked it better than Motz's version itself (but let's keep that between you and me).

116 Atlantic Avenue; single $7 double $10.50

GOLD STANDARD @goldstandards andwich

The Telway Style' Slider with a flavour-infused potato roll

Initially buzzed about for their branded breakfast sandwich, this two-year-old, retro style takeout spot serves up nostalgia at its finest. The burger options are simple: the Telway and the BLT. To keep it uncomplicated, I went for the Telway: an homage to Detroit's legendary 24-hour burger joint. Staying true to its origin, Gold Standard offers a single mustard-seared patty flipped onto thinly sliced onions, steamed together with American cheese and its bun. The result: a pillowy, flavour-infused Martin's potato roll that somehow tastes like a completely different piece of bread than the four other Martin's rolls I had tasted that week. When I use the term 'melts in your mouth' it is in the most literal sense possible. Just like the original meaning of a 'slider', this 3-4 bite greasy cheeseburger truly just slides right down. Kind of like a Krispy Kreme when the 'Hot Now' light is on - I could easily eat three of these in one sitting.

1574 Queen Street West & 385 Roncesvalles Avenue; single $7 double $9.50

CABANOS @cabanosco mfortfood

For Ultimate Comfort Food

Just like the name says, the food here screams 'comfort'. The double cheeseburger is dressed with sliced white onions, chopped iceberg, pickles and the condiment trifecta: ketchup, mustard and mayo. If you're feeling adventurous, you can go for the Cabano Burger which swaps out the pickles for crispy jalapeños and the traditional condiments for their zingy house burger sauce. Of course, both are housed on everyone's favourite potato roll. With a balanced level of crust on the patty that falls somewhere in the middle of the pack, this burger is like the ultimate smashed version of something you would get at a family BBQ. Something about it just says 'home' but WAY more delicious.

75 Nicholas Street; single $8 double $12

VICTORY BURGER @Eat_Victory

For a Homemade Japanese Milk Bun

In the wake of the pandemic, Piano Piano chef and owner - Victor Barry - has officially hopped on the ghost kitchen train. Opening just late last year, Victory Burger [and Pizza] has already made a splash in the culinary scene. With two generously portioned '4 oz' AAA Canadian beef patties cooked to a precise medium and a house-made Japanese milk bun, Victory Burger is easily the most gourmet of the bunch. The bun is impressive; specifically designed to steam itself from the heat of the burger inside the sealed box on its delivery route to your house. The thicker patty does downplay the level of crust from the griddle but the ingredients more than make up for it. And it's no surprise coming from the former-Splendido, currently Piano Piano kitchen. Sitting at $10 for a single, this is the priciest on the list but is well worth every penny. It's so gourmet, in fact, it's almost unfair to include it here. But I just had to. It's absolute perfection.

234 Parliament Street [formerly 88 Harbord St]; single $10 double $14

HONOURABLE MENTION:

With smash burger options growing by the day, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Honourable mention goes out to Matty's Pat ty's which uniquely uses a sesame-coated milk bun and has the option of a mustard, mayo and ketchup-based sauces; as well as Extra Bur ger who had crisp, perfectly spiced crinkle fries and burger sauce for dipping. If only fries were considered in the technical judging process!