You can’t go wrong with a good burger. Kingston offers a variety of restaurants and to-go spots where you can order a traditional patty or a unique burger made with locally sourced ingredients. Here are some of the best burgers in the city, with some vegan and vegetarian options listed as well.
695 Innovation Drive, Unit 4
Kingston Burger Company (KBC) is a make-your-own smashburger joint in Kingston’s east end, offering unique sauces from habanero relish to soy-based BBQ. In addition to their prime rib patties served on brioche buns, KBC serves chicken sandwiches, loaded hot dogs, and house-made ales.
1347 Gardiners Road
From the owners of the popular Mexican restaurant Mesa Fresca comes Burger 347. The restaurant serves locally sourced patties (from Barriefield Market) and a variety of beers from local breweries. Head over to the west-end location Tuesday through Thursday from 2 to 4 pm for their happy hour, featuring $5 double smashburger sliders. Outside their happy hour, Burger 347’s menu features classic and unique burgers like The Pickleballer—two smash patties between a sesame brioche bun with ribbon cheese, “pickle” de gallo, fried pickle spears, house dill pickles, house dill ranch, and shredded lettuce. They offer vegetarian and gluten free options, as well as a kid's menu.
2792 Princess Street
Otter Creek Kitchen uses the best of the best when it comes to their beef, serving Wagyu beef burgers from Otter Creek Farms, just five km. away from Kingston. Otter Creek’s patties are served on soft and doughy brioche buns (made next door at Mac’s Chocolate & Bakeshop) and topped with Wilton cheese and locally grown tomato and lettuce.
In addition to their brick-and-mortar store at 2792 Princess Street, Otter Creek Kitchen has a food truck at Fine Balance Brewery (677 Innovation Drive Unit 4) open Fridays during the summer and fall. The food truck also sets up shop at local events in and around Kingston.
93 Princess Street
The best part of Harper’s is the fact that you can eat here with a group of people with completely opposite tastes in burgers and everyone will leave happy. There is such a variety from the size of the patty to the different types of buns — pretzel, white, brown, gluten-free, or lettuce (for those carb-free burger lovers). They even carry vegan Beyond Burger patties. If you want to expand beyond the classic cheeseburger, try one of Harper’s unique creations like the Baja burger—goat cheese, pineapple salsa, pickled red onions, avocado spread, and chipotle-lime mayo.
4050 Bath Road
Bella Bistro supports farmers in and around Kingston by using local ingredients. As well as their classic Bella Chef Burger—a grilled 6 oz. Enright Cattle Co. beef patty served on a brioche bun with romaine, pickles, caramelized onion, white cheddar, and Bella smack sauce—they offer flavourful plant-based options. If you’re vegetarian, try the Bella Falafel Burger, made with a house-made tahini falafel patty and harissa aioli.
369 King Street and 629 Fortune Crescent
If you want a traditional pub burger, Red House is your spot. The Red House burger is topped with tomato relish, mustard mayo, and crispy onions. Add some house-cut fries served with basil aioli as a side. They also offer a veggie smashburger, featuring a portobello mushroom, sweet potato, and tempeh patty with avocado, tomato, spinach, and sundried tomato pesto. They have two locations: downtown and in the west end.
1 Johnson Street
If you want the most elevated version of a basic burger, have lunch at this casual fine-dining restaurant with waterfront views. The Terra Burger features local beef (from Enright Cattle Co.) with aged cheddar on a house-made milk bun. You can also get a vegan Impossible burger. The restaurant donates to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals with every Terra burger sold.
