Ottawa's burger scene has undergone a proper upgrade over the past five years. The smash burger trend arrived here and produced several excellent operators, while a handful of older spots have maintained quality that newer competition only confirms. Here's where to actually go.
The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro
A Canadian chain with Ottawa origins — the original location is on Elgin Street. The Works does loaded burgers with an enormous topping menu, good quality beef, and a reliability that makes it an easy choice for groups with varying tastes. Not the most serious burger in the city, but consistently satisfying and genuinely fun.
Smashburger (various)
The American smash burger chain arrived in Ottawa and improved the baseline. The smash technique — pressing thin patties against a hot iron griddle — produces caramelized crust and juicy interior that the standard thick-patty approach rarely achieves. Reliable, fast, better than most alternatives at the price.
Dunn's Famous
A Montreal institution with an Ottawa outpost, Dunn's is known for smoked meat but the burgers are also excellent — a Montreal-deli approach to what is otherwise a simple format.
Murray Street Kitchen
The farm-to-table burger at Murray Street is the Ottawa benchmark for a properly sourced, chef-driven patty. Local beef, excellent cheese, bun from a local bakery, and thoughtful condiments. Worth the price for a burger that tastes like actual beef.
The Glebe Neighbourhood Pubs
The Glebe has several pubs along Bank Street with above-average pub burgers. The combination of a good local beer draft list and a properly made pub burger on a weekend afternoon is one of Ottawa's most reliable simple pleasures.
Pub Italia (Preston Street)
The Italian pub in Little Italy does a burger that has accumulated genuine devotees. Solid beef, good seasoning, no unnecessary additions. A pub burger done properly.
Tips
- Ottawa's best burgers are typically at mid-size restaurants and chef-owned operations, not chains
- The smash burger technique (thin patty, high heat) consistently outperforms the thick-patty approach at the quality levels Ottawa can sustain
- Late-night burger options are primarily concentrated around Elgin Street and the ByWard Market
