Chef Mark McEwan rates Shake Shack’s smash burger against Toronto’s best

Shake Shack has taken Toronto by storm with its smash burgers getting rave reviews. But how do they stack up against our local spots? With a history of having created the city’s most outrageous burger, chef Mark McEwan is the perfect judge for this epic burger showdown.

Winner:  The Rudy Burger from Rudy’s

“Good beef flavour, and the bun is really good too. No onion, which is a little surprising, but overall this is really delicious.”
168 Eglinton Ave. E., $9.99

Runner-Up: The Rosie from Rosie’s

“Burger size is really good and it eats really well. The beef flavour is definitely there, and the bun tastes good too.” 573 Queen St. W., $8.75

The Plain Jane from Harry’s Charbroiled

“This is a big burger! There’s a crumble of potato chips inside, which is very different, but I find I don’t taste the beef at all
because of all the garnishes.” 255 Coxwell Ave., Plain Jane $9.50

The Shack Burger from Shake Shack

“Meat flavour is good and the bun is good — the bun is half the experience of the burger. But I’m disappointed there are no onions. Maybe that’s just my personal preference.” 10 Dundas St. E., $8.49

The Classic from Jabs

“Not really getting a big beefy flavour. The bun is nice, but I’m not a fan of the tomato because I feel that it alters the flavour.”
630 St. Clair Ave. W., Classic, $9

The Matty Burger from Matty’s Patty’s

“Not nearly as beefy as some of the others, and that’s really what you’re looking for in a burger. The condiments are good, but it’s really lacking in beefiness.” 923a Queen St. W., $15.95

The Freshburger from Fresh Burger

“The patty is very small, and the garnishes are kind of marginal, but I like the flavour of the burger.” 9206 Leslie St., #4, Richmond Hill, $7.59

The Original from Burger Drops

 

“Good relation of meat to bun, and I really like the sauce on this. It’s very similar to the one at Burger King, which is my favourite of the fast-food chains.” 116 Atlantic Ave.,  $8.50

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