Chef Mark McEwan, the man behind the famous $40 shaved truffle and brie de meaux–topped eight-ounce Bymark burger, names the best veggie burgers in Toronto. Read on to find out what the taste test master thought of each of these plant-based patties.
The Best Veggie Burgers in Toronto
“The West Coast Veggie Burger is the best package. It has the best bun, is the best size and has nice toppings,” says McEwan of the winning burger, topped with cheddar cheese, avocado and honey watercress mayo.
4899 Yonge St., $15.48
“There’s no way you can get your mouth around that,” says McEwan of the Vegan Big Mac, laughing as he bites the big burger piled high with two patties, “It is definitely a riff on the Big Mac. The patties actually resemble meat.”
1346 Queen St. W. (Located in Vegandale Brewery), $17
Although McEwan loves the quinoa-battered onion ring and the texture of the BBQ Burger patty, he says, “If the bun were a little bit softer, that would have been nice.”
90 Eglinton Ave. E., $18
McEwan enjoyed the Truffle Planta Burger, saying that the patty feels like real meat, and that it has a nice traditional burger look. “The truffle fritter is tasty. It’s a nice element,” he says.
1221 Bay St., $27.95
This Veggie Burger, made up of hummus, artichoke and cashew patty in a lettuce wrap is more of a salad in McEwan’s eyes: “If you’re going to call it a burger, you should try to emulate the experience of a burger,” he says.
7 Marie Labatte Rd., $19
McEwan thinks they did an excellent job on this Vegan Burger, with its black bean, mushrooms and quinoa patty. “It has a good char on it,” he says. “The garnishing is traditional, and it’s a nice size.”
3391 Yonge St., $12.95
The Mushroom Melt Burger's patty is made from red lentils and black rice has the option of coming on a gluten-free bun or on lettuce, which McEwan says they did a great job of.
264 Dupont St., $15
