Introducing: The Burgernator, a new shop for burger lovers in Kensington Market
Name: The Burgernator
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
Contact info: 269 Augusta Ave., 647-748-0990, theburgernator.com, @TBurgernator
Owners and chefs: Amer and Laila Mokdad
The food: Griddle-smashed burgers made from Black Angus beef that’s ground in-house. The Bazooka ($11) is two patties topped with a fried egg, sautéed hot peppers, chipotle aïoli and jack cheese. The namesake burger ($15) is similar to over-the-top offerings at The Burger’s Priest and Holy Chuck: three beef patties tucked between a pair of grilled cheese sandwiches with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms and a knife running through the middle.
The drinks: Milkshakes ($4.50) and Laziza ($2.25), a non-alcoholic malt beverage popular in Lebanon.
The place: The Mokdad family renovated the old Big Chubby Burger space, giving it a more modern industrial feel. There’s a full manifesto declaring their intent to rid the city of burger mediocrity hung from the wall.
By the numbers:
• 9, the age of Amer and Laila’s son Adam, whose love of the Terminator films led to the restaurant’s name
• $5–$15, the price range on the burgers
• 3, the number of Rona stores Amer cleared out of plumbing parts, which he used to decorate the restaurant
• 2, the current number of veggie options (this will expand and contract seasonally)
191231 Burgernator owners and husband and wife, Amer and Laila Mokdad (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-16.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-16/ feb13-the-burgernator-16 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191222 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-07/ feb13-the-burgernator-07 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191217 The Mokdad family built the tables and condiment from raw materials from the hardware store (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-02/ feb13-the-burgernator-02 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191219 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-04/ feb13-the-burgernator-04 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191216 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-01/ feb13-the-burgernator-01 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191223 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-08/ feb13-the-burgernator-08 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191218 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-03/ feb13-the-burgernator-03 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191220 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-05/ feb13-the-burgernator-05 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191221 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-06/ feb13-the-burgernator-06 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191247 The Burgernator ($15): three beef patties between two grilled cheese sandwiches, with caramelized onions, sauteed musrooms and Burgernator sauce (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-17-e1360946032274-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-17.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-17/ feb13-the-burgernator-17 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191225 A daily special: chili cheese burger with fries and a pop ($10) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-10/ feb13-the-burgernator-10 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191224 The AK-Veggie 7 ($7): house made soy-based patty with guacamole, lettuce, tomato and pickles. Fries ($3) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-09/ feb13-the-burgernator-09 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191226 The Bazooka ($11): two beef patties with a fried egg, sautéed hot peppers, jack cheese and spicy chipotle aïoli. Onion rings ($4) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-11/ feb13-the-burgernator-11 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191227 Sweet potato fries with aïoli ($4.50) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-12/ feb13-the-burgernator-12 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191228 Vanilla milkshake ($4.50) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-13/ feb13-the-burgernator-13 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191229 Laziza ($2.25): non-alcoholic malt beverage brewed in Lebanon (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-14.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-14/ feb13-the-burgernator-14 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
191230 The ingredients are locally sourced from stores in the market. The beef comes from Grace Meat Market and the cheese from Global Cheese Shoppe (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: The Burgernator Introducing: The Burgernator https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/feb13-the-burgernator-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-burgernator/slide/feb13-the-burgernator-15/ feb13-the-burgernator-15 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
just out of curiosity – gluten free bread at all? would be great for us Burger lovers that just can’t have glutenous goodness.
gluten free options available! loved it!
According to the below website this place serves only Halal meat! Not sure if this is accurate (if so why was this important fact left out of this review?) but it would explain why with all the choices none of the burgers are available with Bacon!
http://www.zabihah.com/d/Toronto+33616+The-Burgernator/
It looks like this place is Halal according to the below tweet that they sent to @Halal_Foodie.
I notice in the photo gallery a slab of beef which looks like it has a green (Halal?) sticker on it!
Why doesn’t this article state this fact? How come there is no mention on the website for this restaurant that they serve Halal meat? I think customers have a right to know if they are eating Halal meat. I for one have no interest in paying a Muslim food tax. Where does that money go? Any guesses?
The Burgernator @TBurgernator
Hey there @Halal_Foodie! Check us out this weekend!pic.twitter.com/wvrDng1D #letsburgernate #grandopening
Great place. Had the Atomic burger: loved how gooey the cheese was. Bun and patty tasted fresh and juicy. Especially loved the fries and the rosemary aioli it comes with. Staff are friendly. Place looks cool. I’ll be back!
Ho hum, very dumn comment, their is not such thing as “halal food taxes”
Maybe you should do some research and educate yourself on what is Halal. The suppliers have to be certified by inspectors who work for organizations such as the Islamic Society of North America “ISNA”. How much is ISNA paid for this certification? Where does this money go? ISNA has been tied to the Muslim Brotherhood. When you purchase food with Halal meat the chances are you are contributing (however small the amount) to Jihadist organizations.
stopped for a quick bite. Had the atomic burger. Amazing.
So, what the fuck is the difference. It tastes the same waste yute. What the hell is a Muslim Food Tax? The money goes to the farm, dumbass. It’s called business, and also common sense. Give me a legit argument as to why the method of slaughter matters. You’re paying $10 for a burger anyway, what difference will a few cents make?
BEWARE- When we visited on the weekend at dinnertime – staff ALL were eating behind the counter, fingers in mouths and NEVER WASHED there hands….just kept on serving customers…one even had food in her mouth as she went to the table. Burger was NOT done “medium” as was told it supposed to be…was pink red. Sent it back….greasy beyond belief – Bet they are using low grade ground beef. Basement on the way to the bathroom had old sandpaper and wire cuttings lying around like they just renovated. Bathroom was dirty, wet toilet paper roll….garbage bin overflowing. Main floor sooo needed to be swept. Saw old french fries, everywhere…and hair as I came up from the bathroom. Obviously no concern for the cleanliness or appearance. I spit my food in a napkin and left. DISGUSTING AND FILTHY!!!! Looked for a Toronto Public Health “Inspection” sign anywhere???? Its supposed to be posted. Just filed a complaint with public health.
So they got rid of the plumbing supplies as decorations? I kinda liked those.