Some say that the test of a truly great restaurant is how well they do a burger. The beauty of a beef patty wedged inside a bun with toppings ranging from simple ketchup and cheese to house made aioli or a fried egg is hard for a carnivore to resist, and Calgary has more than its fair share of excellent burgers. While it’s hard to pick favourites, here are the Calgary spots I turn to when I want to sink my teeth into a perfect burger. 

Boogie's Burgers

The Renfrew Boogie’s Burger location (famed for its arcade games) has been a Calgary institution since the late ‘60s, but the restaurant’s newer Marda Loop outpost also has a fun sense of nostalgic charm. Both boast over a dozen cheekily named super burgers, topped with anything from deep fried mac and cheese to mini-corndogs. 

Address: 908 Edmonton Trail & 2129 Ave SW 

Bussin

Bussin not only serves up tasty smash burgers, it also offers over a half dozen variations on its basic burger to satisfy any craving. Customers can top their burgs with anything from onion rings to a full piece of peri chicken or, if they’re feeling adventurous, opt for waffles or a pair of grilled cheese sandwiches in place of the standard brioche bun. Best of all, the entire menu is halal, making it accessible to a wide range of burger lovers.  

Address: 715 17 Ave SW & 1121 9 Ave SE 

charbar

charbar’s double stacked gaucho burger, topped with dry-aged provoleta cheese and crushed avocado is a deliciously sloppy belly buster, made all the better with a side of parilla beef fat fries. For something simpler, the restaurant also sells its popular alley burgers through a walk-through window at lunchtime on select weekdays. 

Address: 618 Confluence Way SE 

Clive Burger 

Clive keeps its burgers relatively simple, but the secret is in quality Alberta ground beef and a delightful concoction known as clive sauce. “Clive style” your burger with the sauce, pickle, lettuce, tomato and cheddar and be sure to wash it down with a signature custard shake. 

Address: 736 17 Ave SW 

Dairy Lane

One of Calgary’s oldest restaurant spaces, Dairy Lane started life as a milk bar in the 1950s and while it has modernized considerably, it has never lost its community roots. The DL burger is made with local free range and hormone-free dry-aged beef and topped with fresh lettuce and tomato and pickled onion. From there, you’re free to build the burger of your dreams by adding bacon, your cheese of choice, garlic mushrooms, or even a fried egg.  

Address: 319 19 St NW

The Guild

The Guild’s burger starts with a great foundation: a big juicy patty made of dry-aged chuck sourced from Beretta Farms. That lovely slab of meat is finished off simply with cheddar, smoked mayo, pickles and ketchup to let the flavour of the beef shine. 

Address: 200 8 Ave SW

Inglewood Drive-In  

It’s hard to beat a no-frills classic diner version enjoyed outdoors within a block of the beautiful Bow River. Inglewood Drive-In may not look fancy, but it’s a neighbourhood mainstay that’s particularly popular in the summer months. The house specialty is a house-made 100 percent Angus beef burger topped with fresh lettuce, tomato, and a slice of melted cheese.  

Address: 802 12 St SE 

Lil’ Empire Burger 

The fun and lively Lil’ Empire deals in thin and crispy smash burgers crafted from ethically raised beef. Its Empire with Cheese is already a Calgary classic, thanks to those perfectly cooked patties, a nice slice of American cheese and a dollop of tangy signature sauce. This is a burger designed to evoke feelings of simple childhood pleasures, without skimping on quality or flavour.  

Address: 1837 20 Ave NW, 1105 1 Ave NE & 4321 1 St SE (inside Annex Ale) 

Modern Burger 

The most casual member of the Modern Steak restaurant family, Modern Burger is one of the businesses inside the District at Beltline food hall. Its burger is a serious affair that adheres to Modern Steak’s high standards and dedication to only serving the highest quality ranch-specific Alberta beef. The meat is the star here, with a choice of Modern Benchmark Angus or Brant Lake Wagyu beef forming the foundation of a formidable burger.  

Address: 227 11 Ave SW (second floor) 

N9NA

N9NA can whip up a tasty classic quarter-pound burger, but its real draw is a menu full of stuffed burgers. A variety of treats — pulled pork, poutine, jalapeno poppers — are packed right into the burger patty for uniquely delectable, and extremely filling burger. 

Address: 121 17 Ave SE 

Native Tongues

Native Tongues may be an authentic Mexican taqueria, but one of the best items on its menu is the mouth-watering hamberguesa al carbon. There’s nothing particularly Mexican about it — it’s a messy thin-patty burger styled after a Big Mac — but it is nearly impossible to resist. 

Address: 235 12 Ave SW & 829 49 Ave SW 

RE:GRUB

“Regrub” is “burger” spelled backwards and this whimsical restaurant has been known to turn the idea of a standard burger on its head. RE:GRUB offers several versions of its six-ounce grassfed beef burger, with topping combinations that may include deep fried pickles, onion rings and several varieties of cheese. 

Address: 625 11 Ave SW & 901 64 Ave NE 

Rocky's Burger Bus

Rocky's Burgers is a family run business that has been serving up big and juicy hand-rolled burgers made with Alberta beef for well over 20 years. Find them in the big red bus permanently parked outside of Crossroads Market. 

Address: 1235 26 Ave SE 

V Burger

If you have any doubt that a vegetarian burger can be as satisfying as traditional beef burger, just check out this plant-based burger joint. V Burger’s pea protein patties come on fluffy brioche buns, with optional toppings like dairy-free "cheez” and meat-free “bac’n" and an irresistible house burger sauce. It amounts to an authentic fast-food experience for vegetarians that also gives meat-eaters a chance to try something different.  

Address: Available for delivery and at food truck locations.

The Wednesday Room

A downtown ‘60s-style lounge, complete with plush banquettes and carpeting straight out of The Shining doesn’t seem like the place for a perfect burger, but The Wednesday Room delivers. Its wagyu beef burger, consisting of two slim patties, American cheddar, onion relish and crispy “frizzled” veg on a fresh brioche bun, is a welcome surprise. 

Address: 118 8 Ave SW #100 

And these are [mostly] just the beef burgers at these great restaurants — after you work your way through these, there’s a whole city of chicken, fish and veggie burgers to explore.