Toronto's cult smash burger institution — The Burger's Priest has been flipping thin, crispy-edged patties since 2010 with a secret menu that true believers guard jealously. The Vatican (double double off-menu) is the benchmark Toronto burger. Animal-style anything is a reasonable life choice.
Neighbourhood: Multiple Locations · Address: Multiple locations — 1636 Queen St E, 3702 Kingston Rd, Yonge & Eglinton, and more · Hours: Daily 11am–10pm (varies by location)
Why Visit
Burger's Priest is the smash burger spot for purists: griddled patties, real cheese, basic toppings, and a menu made for burger nerds. It's the go-to for a no-nonsense, old-school burger fix done right in Toronto.
What Makes It Unique
These guys helped set the smash burger trend in Toronto, with a following built on real beef, a no-freezer rule, and the city’s most infamous secret menu. The ‘Vatican’ swaps buns for grilled cheese sandwiches, and you can legit customize your order with SoCal-style hacks. Other burger joints in town don't get as weird or as culty.
The Burger's Priest opened its first location on Queen Street East in 2010 and built a following through word of mouth before most Toronto restaurants were using social media to find customers. The concept was and remains straightforward: smash burgers made with freshly ground beef, cooked hard and fast on a flat-top griddle until the edges caramelize and the cheese melts into the meat, dressed simply, served quickly. The cult developed around the secret menu — a collection of off-menu items that regulars order by name and newcomers have to ask about.
The flagship secret item is The Vatican: two smashed patties, the house secret sauce, grilled onions, pickles, and American cheese, assembled with the precision of something that has been made thousands of times. It is not a complicated burger, which is exactly why it works. The animal-style preparation (grilled onions, spread, extra pickle) is borrowed from the In-N-Out lexicon but executed with Toronto beef, and the result converts people who thought they were bored of the smash burger trend. The cheese-stuffed patty option — a pocket of American cheese encased within the beef before smashing — is something different entirely.
Multiple locations now span the city from the Beach to the Scarborough Bluffs, each running the same menu with minimal variation. The Queen Street East original is the most atmospheric — a narrow room with a short counter and very few seats, forcing the kind of focused eating that fast food is supposed to be. The Burger's Priest does not take reservations, does not have a loyalty app, and does not do delivery. You go there, you order, you eat, you leave happy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the secret menu at The Burger's Priest?
The Burger's Priest has a secret menu with items including The Vatican (double patty, secret sauce, grilled onions, pickles), The High Priest (similar double configuration), animal-style preparation (grilled onions, spread, extra pickle), and a cheese-stuffed patty option. Simply ask the cashier for the secret menu — the staff will share it without hesitation.
How much does a burger cost at The Burger's Priest?
Burgers at The Burger's Priest range from approximately $8–14 depending on the configuration. Secret menu items and doubles run toward the top of that range. Fries are around $4–5. It is one of the best price-to-quality ratios for a burger in Toronto — significantly cheaper than comparable quality at sit-down restaurants.
Where are the Burger's Priest locations in Toronto?
The Burger's Priest has multiple Toronto locations including the original on Queen Street East (near Broadview), Kingston Road in Scarborough, Yonge & Eglinton, and several others. The full list of current locations is on their website. Each location runs the same menu including the secret menu.
Is The Burger's Priest the best burger in Toronto?
By most Toronto food media rankings, yes — The Burger's Priest consistently appears at or near the top of best burger lists in the city and has maintained that position for over a decade. The secret menu items, particularly The Vatican, are the benchmarks. For smash burgers under $15, it is the city standard.