Ottawa is a better burger city than it gets credit for.

For years, the local burger conversation mostly revolved around a few classics: Chez Lucien, The Works, The King Eddy, maybe a pub burger that someone swore was the city’s best. Then the smash-burger wave hit. Umbrella Burger, Smash Daddy, All Out Burger, Gburger, BFF, Pearson Street, and others gave Ottawa a much deeper burger scene than “just grab something downtown.”

So yes, your picks make sense.

Chez Lucien is still the Ottawa classic.
Umbrella Burger is still one of the city’s strongest smash-burger answers.

But if this article is going to be useful, it should not just list five places within walking distance of the ByWard Market. Ottawa is too spread out for that. A good burger guide should include the Market, Little Italy, Wellington West, Sandy Hill, New Edinburgh, Orléans, Kanata, Barrhaven, the east end, the south end, and a few spots that are worth a drive.

Ottawa Tourism’s own burger roundup includes All Out Burger, Umbrella Burger, Chez Lucien, BFF, Edinburger, The King Eddy, No Forks Given, and Gburger, which gives a good starting point for the city’s current burger conversation.

This guide ranks the best burgers in Ottawa by a mix of local reputation, burger quality, style, uniqueness, neighbourhood coverage, and whether the place is actually worth recommending for a specific craving.

Not every pick is trying to do the same thing.

A thick pub burger is not the same as a crispy-edged smash burger. A chef-driven burger is not the same as a fast-casual takeout burger. A beach burger, a halal smash burger, a diner double, and a classic ByWard bistro burger all scratch different itches.

The goal here is not to crown one universal winner.

The goal is to help you find the right burger for the mood you are in.

Quick answer: the best burgers in Ottawa

If you just want the short version, start here.

Best classic Ottawa burger

Chez Lucien — ByWard Market

This is the burger that still feels like a local rite of passage. Ottawa Tourism notes that locals often name Chez Lucien when asked where to get a burger, and highlights its three burger options: bacon, mushrooms and cream cheese; jalapeños, sautéed onions and Monterey Jack; and pear, sautéed onions and brie.

Best smash burger

Umbrella Burger — Little Italy and east end

Umbrella Burger keeps the menu focused: classic single or double cheeseburgers, done with enough confidence that they do not need a dozen gimmicks. Ottawa Tourism describes Umbrella Burger as an offshoot of Umbrella Bar’s popular burger and notes its Little Italy location.

Best chef-driven burger

Gburger — Wellington West and Manotick

Gburger is the one to pick when you want a burger that still feels casual but has more chef energy behind it. The menu includes local beef patties, a G Royale, L’Americaine, Frenchie, and other polished diner-style options, with locations in Wellington West and Manotick.

Best diner double cheeseburger

The King Eddy — ByWard Market

The King Eddy grinds its beef daily in house from a proprietary blend of fresh, never-frozen Canadian beef, and its signature burger is a double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, dill pickle, and King Eddy sauce.

Best east-end burger destination

Bite Burger House — Orléans

Bite Burger House is an Orléans burger specialist using local meats, local cheeses, and in-house sauces; its official location is listed at 1675 Tenth Line Road.

Best west-end burger option

Law & Orders — Kanata South, Kanata North, and Canadian Tire Centre

Law & Orders uses St. Helen’s beef, says its burgers are made with certified premium AAA pure beef with no fillers, and has Ottawa-area locations in Kanata South, Kanata North, and Canadian Tire Centre.

How this guide is ranked

This is not a Google-rating ranking.

Google ratings can be useful, but they do not always tell you which burger is best. Delivery ratings can favour convenience. Tourist reviews can overrate location. Reddit can overcorrect toward whatever is newest. Old local favourites can become underrated because everyone assumes people already know them.

This ranking weighs:

Burger quality
Local reputation
Distinctiveness
Consistency
Neighbourhood coverage
Whether the restaurant is burger-focused
Whether the burger is worth seeking out
Whether it fills a specific role in Ottawa’s burger scene

A burger can rank highly because it is iconic, technically sharp, affordable, creative, neighbourhood-defining, or simply the best answer in its part of the city.

1. Chez Lucien

Area: ByWard Market
Best for: the classic Ottawa pub burger
Style: thick bistro/pub burger
What to order: Chez Lucien Burger, Frida and Diego Burger, or Bourgeois Burger

Chez Lucien belongs at or near the top of any Ottawa burger list.

It is not a burger chain. It is not a glossy smash-burger concept. It is not trying to look like a TikTok restaurant. It is a cozy, dimly lit ByWard Market bistro-bar with a burger that has become part of Ottawa food lore.

Ottawa Tourism says Chez Lucien is not strictly a burger spot, but that Ottawa locals will often name it when asked where to get a burger. The same roundup notes the three-burger menu: one with bacon, mushrooms, and cream cheese; one with jalapeños, sautéed onions, and Monterey Jack; and one with pear, sautéed onions, and brie.

Why it works:

The room has character.
The burger feels like a full plate, not just a sandwich.
The topping combinations are specific without being silly.
It has the “bring out-of-town friends here” factor.
It is one of the few Ottawa burgers people talk about like a landmark.

Best order:

Chez Lucien Burger

That is the classic: bacon, mushrooms, and cream cheese. If you want something spicier, go Frida and Diego. If you want the richer, slightly more French-bistro version, go Bourgeois.

What to know:

Chez Lucien is small, popular, and not built like a fast-casual takeout place. Go when you want the whole experience: burger, fries, salad, beer, and the feeling that you found something genuinely Ottawa.

2. Umbrella Burger

Area: Little Italy, plus east-end location
Best for: smash burger purists
Style: classic smash cheeseburger
What to order: single or double cheeseburger

Umbrella Burger is the obvious modern counterweight to Chez Lucien.

If Chez Lucien is Ottawa’s classic pub-burger answer, Umbrella Burger is the city’s cleanest modern smash-burger answer.

Ottawa Tourism says Umbrella Burger grew out of the burger’s popularity at Umbrella Bar and describes the Little Italy location as focused on a classic single or double cheeseburger rather than a giant menu of variations. Narcity also describes Umbrella Burger as one of Ottawa’s original elevated burger-game players and notes its Preston Street and Ogilvie Road addresses.

Why it works:

It keeps the burger focused.
The patties have the smash-burger crispness people want.
The toppings do not distract from the beef.
It travels better than many thick pub burgers.
It has become one of the most reliable “where should I get a smash burger?” answers in Ottawa.

Best order:

Double Cheeseburger

If you are going to Umbrella for the burger, get the double. The single is good, but the double gives you the full smash-burger effect.

What to know:

This is not the place to go if you want a dozen wild toppings. That is the point. Umbrella is best when you want the burger to be simple, salty, saucy, soft, crispy-edged, and messy in the right way.

3. Gburger

Area: Wellington West and Manotick
Best for: chef-driven burgers
Style: polished diner / upscale fast-casual
What to order: G Royale, L’Americaine, Frenchie, or the seasonal special

Gburger is the pick when you want a burger that still feels casual but has more restaurant craft behind it.

The official Gburger site lists locations in Wellington West and Manotick. The Wellington West menu includes a classic local beef hamburger, the Cherry Bomb, the double-patty G Royale, L’Americaine, and the Frenchie with epoisses cheese, bordelaise sauce, charred onion, and aioli.

Ottawa Tourism describes Gburger as a chef-inspired Wellington West burger spot with local-farm sourcing, freshly ground beef, and fresh baked goods.

Why it works:

It feels more intentional than a normal burger counter.
The toppings are more composed.
The menu gives you both classic and elevated choices.
Wellington West and Manotick give it broader city coverage.
It is good for people who want a burger but still want a “nice meal” feel.

Best order:

G Royale

That is the core Gburger experience: double local beef patty, cheese, royale sauce, onion, pickles, lettuce, sesame seed bun, and potato-loaf centre slice. If you want something more decadent, go Frenchie.

What to know:

Gburger is not trying to be the cheapest burger in Ottawa. It is trying to be a chef-built burger that still feels approachable. That makes it a good date-night burger, after-work burger, or “I want something better than fast food” burger.

4. The King Eddy

Area: ByWard Market
Best for: fresh-ground diner burger
Style: classic double cheeseburger
What to order: The King Eddy Burger

The King Eddy is the ByWard Market burger for people who want a diner-style double cheeseburger done properly.

The restaurant’s own menu says its burgers are ground daily in house from a proprietary blend of fresh, never-frozen Canadian beef, and that all burgers come with fries or salad. The King Eddy Burger is a double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, dill pickle, and King Eddy mayo sauce.

Why it works:

Fresh-ground beef matters.
The burger is classic without feeling lazy.
It gives you the diner experience without becoming generic.
It is a strong ByWard alternative if Chez Lucien is packed.
It also works for brunch, late lunch, or a burger-and-shake outing.

Best order:

The King Eddy Burger

Do not overthink it. The signature double is the move.

What to know:

Chez Lucien has the older, darker, more bistro-pub feel. King Eddy has the brighter, diner-comfort-food feel. Both belong in the ByWard Market burger conversation, but they are not trying to be the same thing.

5. Edinburger

Area: New Edinburgh
Best for: neighbourhood burger bistro
Style: classic burgers with a local-ingredient feel
What to order: start with the house/classic burger, then explore the specials

Edinburger gives New Edinburgh its own burger destination.

Ottawa Tourism describes Edinburger as just east of downtown, with a neighbourhood feel, playful local-landmark burger names, Kawartha Dairy milkshakes, and a vegan Springfield burger that gets extra love. The official site lists Edinburger at 1 Springfield Road.

Why it works:

It gives the east-central neighbourhoods a proper burger option.
It is more comfortable and local-feeling than a chain.
It has milkshakes and sides that make it feel like a full burger outing.
It is a good pick for New Edinburgh, Rockcliffe, Vanier-adjacent, and Beechwood-area diners.
It has plant-based options, which helps if your group is mixed.

Best order:

Classic cheeseburger or whatever the house burger is that day

If you like plant-based burgers, check whether the Springfield or current vegan burger is available.

What to know:

Edinburger is the kind of place that makes more sense when you want a neighbourhood meal, not just a delivery order. It is especially useful if you live east of downtown and do not want to go to the Market or Preston Street every time you crave a burger.

6. Smash Daddy

Area: Little Italy, Bell’s Corners, Centretown, ByWard Market, Barrhaven
Best for: Oklahoma-style smash burgers
Style: crispy-edged smash burger
What to order: the core Smash Daddy burger

Smash Daddy is one of the newer names that changed the Ottawa burger conversation quickly.

Narcity credits Smash Daddy with helping kick off the recent burger craze in Ottawa and describes its Oklahoma-style smash burger, where onions are smashed into the patty for caramelized flavour, then topped with American cheese, pickles, and Smash Daddy sauce on a brioche bun. The official site lists locations including Little Italy, Bell’s Corners, Centretown, ByWard Market, and Barrhaven.

Why it works:

It gives Ottawa a proper onion-smash option.
The location spread is strong.
It is useful for both downtown and suburban burger runs.
The flavour profile is simple but distinct from Umbrella.
It is one of the most relevant Ottawa burger names right now.

Best order:

Smash Daddy burger

Start with the standard before getting into specials. The whole point is the patty, onions, cheese, pickles, and sauce.

What to know:

Umbrella and Smash Daddy are both smash-burger picks, but they are not identical. Umbrella is cleaner and more classic. Smash Daddy leans more Oklahoma-style, onion-forward, and trendier.

7. All Out Burger

Area: South Ottawa, Gladstone/Chinatown, Ottawa East, Barrhaven, Embrun
Best for: accessible smash burgers across the city
Style: fast-casual smash burger
What to order: Smash Burger

All Out Burger is the practical citywide pick.

It might not have the cult romance of Chez Lucien or the surgical simplicity of Umbrella, but it matters because it gives multiple parts of the city access to a good smash burger.

The official All Out Burger site lists locations in Ottawa South on Bank Street, Downtown Ottawa on Gladstone, Ottawa East on Montreal Road, Barrhaven on Strandherd, and Embrun. The same page lists a Smash Burger with two smashed beef patties, cheese, pickles, grilled onions, and All Out sauce.

Ottawa Tourism says All Out started as a food truck and grew into one of Ottawa’s go-to burger names, with multiple neighbourhood locations and a reputation for juicy patties, generous portions, and steady service.

Why it works:

Multiple locations make it useful.
It is less precious than some of the trendier spots.
It is a good default for groups.
It covers areas that many downtown burger lists ignore.
The Smash Burger is simple and dependable.

Best order:

Smash Burger

Two patties, cheese, pickles, grilled onions, and sauce is exactly the kind of build that makes sense for a fast-casual smash spot.

What to know:

All Out is a strong answer when you want a burger without planning your day around a restaurant. It is especially useful for South Ottawa, Barrhaven, east-end, and Gladstone-area diners.

8. Pearson Street Smashburgers N’ Melts

Area: Cyrville / east end, plus Embrun roots
Best for: east-end smash-burger hunters
Style: local Black Angus smash burgers and melts
What to order: Double Smash, Mushroom Swiss, Hot & Smokey, or SmashPatty Melt

Pearson Street is for people who want the smash-burger lane but do not want to default to the same central spots.

The official Pearson Street site says its smash burgers are made with 100% local Black Angus chuck beef and served on toasted potato buns. The menu includes the Single Smash, Double Smash, Mushroom Swiss, Hot & Smokey, Pesto Goat Cheese Smash, Horseradish Truffle, and SmashPatty Melt. Its site also lists an Ottawa address on Cyrville Road and references its Embrun roots.

Why it works:

Local Black Angus chuck is a strong starting point.
It gives the east end a serious burger option.
The menu is more varied than the minimalist smash spots.
The melts add another reason to go.
It feels like a real local operation, not a copy-paste chain.

Best order:

Double Smash

Then branch into the Mushroom Swiss or SmashPatty Melt if you want something richer.

What to know:

Pearson Street is a strong pick if you live east, work near Cyrville, or want to see where Ottawa’s smash-burger scene goes beyond Preston and the Market.

9. Bite Burger House

Area: Orléans
Best for: Orléans burger night
Style: handcrafted burgers with local meats and sauces
What to order: Bite Me Burger, Swiss Mushroom, Kiss Burger, or Jucy Lucy

Bite Burger House gives Orléans a proper burger specialist.

The official site says Bite uses local meats and cheeses and in-house sauces, and its listed location is 1675 Tenth Line Road in Orléans.

Why it works:

It is burger-first.
It gives Orléans a destination that is not just a chain.
The menu leans into big, creative burger builds.
It is a good sit-down option for the east end.
It is useful when you want a thicker burger rather than another smash burger.

Best order:

Bite Me Burger

That is the obvious starting point. If you like mushroom burgers, go Swiss Mushroom. If you want something heavy and comfort-food-ish, check the Jucy Lucy.

What to know:

Bite is more of a “burger house” than a minimalist smash counter. Go when you want a bigger, composed burger with sides and a proper sit-down feel.

10. Law & Orders

Area: Kanata South, Kanata North, Canadian Tire Centre, plus locations west of Ottawa
Best for: west-end burgers and Senators-night food
Style: halal beef burgers, fries, poutine
What to order: Law Burger, Rhippo-style build, bacon cheeseburger, or a simple cheeseburger

Law & Orders is the west-end pick, especially for Kanata.

The official site says Law & Orders uses St. Helen’s beef in every burger, lists certified premium AAA pure beef with no fillers, and says all meat and chicken is certified halal. Its locations page lists Kanata South, Kanata North, and Canadian Tire Centre among its locations.

Why it works:

It covers Kanata better than most Ottawa burger lists.
The halal certification makes it useful for more groups.
It is built around burgers, fries, poutine, and comfort food.
It is a good pre-game or event-night option at Canadian Tire Centre.
The menu has both normal burgers and oversized challenge-style energy.

Best order:

A classic cheeseburger or Law Burger-style build

If you want the full Law & Orders experience, go bigger. If you want to judge the burger, start with something simpler.

What to know:

This is not the place for minimalist fine-dining restraint. It is a burger-and-fries spot. That is the appeal.

11. No Forks Given

Area: Sandy Hill / University of Ottawa
Best for: student-area comfort burgers
Style: big smash burgers and indulgent builds
What to order: cheeseburger, bacon burger, or one of the heavier specials

No Forks Given is the Sandy Hill / uOttawa burger pick.

Ottawa Tourism describes No Forks Given as a Sandy Hill burger spot with classic cheese-and-bacon options as well as indulgent builds like the Deep Cheese burger. The restaurant’s own site says it serves smash burgers, offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery seven days a week, and has vegetarian and plant-based promotions.

Why it works:

It fills the Sandy Hill / uOttawa niche.
It is good for casual group meals.
It has halal, vegetarian, and plant-based relevance.
It is more fun than formal.
It fits the “I want something messy and satisfying” category.

Best order:

Cheeseburger

Start with the basic burger before going for the more indulgent builds.

What to know:

No Forks Given is not trying to be delicate. It is a comfort-food burger spot. Go when you want the burger to feel like a full craving, not a chef tasting exercise.

12. Burgers n’ Fries Forever

Area: Centretown / Bank Street
Best for: halal smash burgers and fries
Style: fast-casual smash burger
What to order: classic cheeseburger or monthly/specialty burger

Burgers n’ Fries Forever, usually called BFF, is a Centretown burger staple.

Ottawa Tourism describes BFF as a Bank Street burger haven known for smash burgers, hand-cut fries, rotating monthly specials, and modern branding. The official BFF site describes the menu as Canadian smash burgers, crispy chicken sandwiches, hand-cut fries, poutine, milkshakes, and 100% halal food.

Why it works:

Central location.
Halal menu.
Good for quick lunch or delivery.
Smash burgers plus fries is the core identity.
It still belongs in the Ottawa burger conversation.

Best order:

Classic cheeseburger or whatever the current monthly special is

BFF is best when you want a fast-casual smash burger and fries without turning it into a sit-down event.

What to know:

Local opinions on BFF can be mixed because people remember different eras of the restaurant. It still deserves a spot because it helped define Ottawa’s fast-casual burger scene, especially for halal diners.

13. OCCO Kitchen

Area: Orléans and downtown
Best for: restaurant-style burgers with local scratch-kitchen energy
Style: chef/pub burger
What to order: Smash Burger, Candied Bacon Cheeseburger, Blueberry Brie Burger, or Hamre Burger

OCCO Kitchen is not only a burger restaurant, but its burger section is strong enough to include.

The official OCCO site says the restaurant focuses on local premium ingredients prepared from scratch, and its menu lists several burgers, including the Hamre Burger, Candied Bacon Cheeseburger, Blueberry Brie Burger, Enoki Mushroom Burger, and Smash Burger. OCCO also has Orléans and downtown presence.

Why it works:

It gives Orléans another serious option.
It is more restaurant-like than a burger counter.
The burger list is creative without being random.
It works for groups where not everyone wants a burger.
It is good for people who want local/scratch-kitchen positioning.

Best order:

Candied Bacon Cheeseburger or Smash Burger

If you want something more distinctive, go Blueberry Brie.

What to know:

OCCO is a good pick when you want the burger option inside a broader menu. If your group includes people who want tacos, salads, fish, or bowls, this is easier than dragging everyone to a burger-only place.

14. Corner Peach

Area: Chinatown / Somerset West
Best for: seasonal bistro burger
Style: chef-y smash burger / bistro comfort food
What to order: the burger if it is on the current menu

Corner Peach is the wildcard.

It is not a burger joint. It is a seasonal bistro. But when a seasonal bistro makes a great burger, it can hit differently from a dedicated burger counter.

Narcity describes Corner Peach’s burger as a classic-but-unique smash burger with lettuce, tomato, fried onion, and special sauce, while noting that the menu is seasonal and changes. The official site describes Corner Peach as a small bistro serving simple, seasonal dishes, and also notes a lunch takeout menu of burgers, sandwiches, and salads through The Corner Store next door.

Why it works:

It is more seasonal and chef-driven than most burger spots.
It is a good Somerset/Chinatown pick.
It gives the list something beyond pub/smash/diner categories.
It is ideal if you want wine, a bar seat, and a burger that feels more composed.
The fries and sides are often part of the draw.

Best order:

Whatever burger is currently on the menu

Because the menu changes, do not assume the same burger is always available. Check before going if the burger is the whole reason for the trip.

What to know:

Corner Peach is not the most predictable burger option. It is the most “restaurant person” burger option. Go when you are okay with a seasonal menu and want the whole meal to feel more interesting.

Honourable mentions

The Third

Area: Hintonburg
Best for: budget-friendly neighbourhood burger or patty melt

The Third is more of a neighbourhood pub than a burger destination, but it deserves a mention because Hintonburg locals love it for affordable comfort food. A 613today listing describes it as a Hintonburg neighbourhood pub in a renovated laundromat, serving brunch, lunch, and dinner with budget-friendly pricing and pub-style comfort food including burgers.

Best reason to go:

You want a cheap, casual Hintonburg burger or patty melt, not a destination burger crawl.

Golden Fries

Area: Orléans
Best for: food-truck burger-and-poutine energy

Golden Fries is more famous for poutine than burgers, but it is worth knowing if you are building a full east-end comfort-food list. Its official site says it has been voted Ottawa’s best food truck and best poutine from 2020–2025, and lists its Orléans location at 6505 Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard North.

Best reason to go:

You want an Orléans food-truck stop where the fries and poutine are the main attraction and the burger is part of the comfort-food package.

The Works

Area: multiple Ontario/Ottawa-area locations
Best for: nostalgia and over-the-top gourmet burger builds

The Works helped shape Ottawa’s old gourmet burger era. Its official site calls it a Canadian original since 2001 and positions the brand around craft burgers, toppings, poutine, beers, and milkshakes.

Best reason to go:

You want the old-school Ottawa “burger as a topping experiment” experience.

Best burgers in Ottawa by neighbourhood

ByWard Market

Best picks:

Chez Lucien
The King Eddy
Smash Daddy ByWard, if you want smash burgers late

Go to Chez Lucien for the classic. Go to King Eddy for the diner double. Go to Smash Daddy if you want onion-smashed patties in a faster format.

Little Italy / Preston Street

Best picks:

Umbrella Burger
Smash Daddy

Umbrella is the cleaner, more classic smash-burger pick. Smash Daddy is the more onion-forward Oklahoma-style option.

Wellington West / Hintonburg

Best picks:

Gburger
The Third

Gburger is the serious burger pick. The Third is the affordable neighbourhood comfort-food pick.

New Edinburgh / Beechwood / Rockcliffe area

Best pick:

Edinburger

This is the best answer if you want a proper burger outing east of downtown without going all the way to Orléans.

Sandy Hill / uOttawa

Best pick:

No Forks Given

This is the student-neighbourhood comfort burger: casual, indulgent, and group-friendly.

Orléans

Best picks:

Bite Burger House
OCCO Kitchen
Golden Fries, if you want food-truck comfort food

Bite is the burger specialist. OCCO is the restaurant-style local/scratch option. Golden Fries is the poutine-and-food-truck comfort option.

Kanata / Bell’s Corners / west end

Best picks:

Law & Orders
Smash Daddy Bell’s Corners
Gburger Manotick, if you are further south

Law & Orders is the best west-end burger-and-fries specialist on this list. Smash Daddy gives the west end a modern smash option.

South Ottawa / Barrhaven

Best picks:

All Out Burger
Smash Daddy Barrhaven

All Out is the most practical pick for South Ottawa and Barrhaven. Smash Daddy gives Barrhaven another serious smash-burger option.

East Ottawa / Cyrville / Gloucester

Best picks:

Pearson Street Smashburgers
All Out Burger Ottawa East
Umbrella Burger Ogilvie

This is one of the strongest non-downtown clusters in the guide.

Best Ottawa burger by craving

If you want the most Ottawa-feeling burger

Choose:

Chez Lucien

It is the most “this place could only be here” burger experience.

If you want the best smash burger

Choose:

Umbrella Burger

If you prefer onion-smash style, choose Smash Daddy.

If you want a chef burger

Choose:

Gburger

Especially if you want something more polished than a normal counter-service burger.

If you want a diner burger

Choose:

The King Eddy

Fresh-ground double cheeseburger, fries or salad, classic diner comfort.

If you live east

Choose:

Bite Burger House, Pearson Street, OCCO, Umbrella Ogilvie, or All Out Montreal Road

East Ottawa and Orléans are much better served than most downtown-focused lists suggest.

If you live west

Choose:

Law & Orders, Smash Daddy Bell’s Corners, or Gburger Manotick

The west-end options are stronger than they used to be.

If you want halal

Choose:

BFF, Law & Orders, Smash Daddy, or All Out

BFF describes its menu as 100% halal, Law & Orders says all meat and chicken is certified halal, and Smash Daddy and All Out are also commonly listed as halal-friendly options on current local guides and restaurant materials.

If you want vegetarian or plant-based options

Choose:

Edinburger, No Forks Given, Gburger, The King Eddy, OCCO, or The Works

Several of these places explicitly list veggie, vegan, Beyond, black-bean, or mushroom-based options on current menus or restaurant pages.

Common mistakes when picking a burger in Ottawa

Mistake 1: Only going downtown

Downtown has Chez Lucien, King Eddy, BFF, Smash Daddy, and No Forks Given nearby. That is a strong cluster.

But if you ignore Little Italy, Wellington West, New Edinburgh, Orléans, Kanata, Barrhaven, and Cyrville, you miss a lot of the city’s current burger scene.

Mistake 2: Treating smash burgers and pub burgers as the same category

A smash burger is about crust, thin patties, cheese melt, sauce, and bun softness.

A pub burger is about a thicker patty, toppings, plate experience, fries, beer, and the room.

Do not compare Umbrella and Chez Lucien as if they are trying to do the same job.

Mistake 3: Ordering the wild special before trying the base burger

If a place is famous for its burger, try the normal burger first.

Do that at Umbrella, Chez Lucien, King Eddy, Gburger, All Out, and Smash Daddy before deciding whether the specials are worth it.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the side

In Ottawa, the burger conversation often includes fries, poutine, onion rings, mac and cheese, or milkshakes.

Umbrella’s sides matter. Gburger’s poutine and onion rings matter. Law & Orders and Golden Fries are half about fries and poutine. King Eddy gives fries or salad with burgers. The side can change the whole ranking depending on what you value.

Mistake 5: Assuming “best” means “most toppings”

Some of Ottawa’s best burgers are simple.

Umbrella is best because it stays focused. King Eddy is best because the beef is fresh-ground and the build is classic. Chez Lucien’s toppings are distinctive, but still restrained.

More toppings do not always mean a better burger.

Final ranking

Here is the full ranked list:

Chez Lucien — ByWard Market
Umbrella Burger — Little Italy and east end
Gburger — Wellington West and Manotick
The King Eddy — ByWard Market
Edinburger — New Edinburgh
Smash Daddy — Little Italy, Centretown, ByWard, Bell’s Corners, Barrhaven
All Out Burger — South Ottawa, Gladstone, Montreal Road, Barrhaven, Embrun
Pearson Street Smashburgers N’ Melts — Cyrville / east end
Bite Burger House — Orléans
Law & Orders — Kanata South, Kanata North, Canadian Tire Centre
No Forks Given — Sandy Hill
Burgers n’ Fries Forever — Centretown
OCCO Kitchen — Orléans and downtown
Corner Peach — Somerset West / Chinatown

FAQ

What is the best burger in Ottawa?

The safest answer is Chez Lucien for a classic Ottawa pub burger and Umbrella Burger for a modern smash burger. They are different enough that both can be “best” depending on what you want.

Is Chez Lucien still worth it?

Yes. Chez Lucien remains one of Ottawa’s most important burger experiences because of the room, the plate, the toppings, and the local reputation. Ottawa Tourism specifically notes that locals often name it when asked where to get a burger.

Is Umbrella Burger the best smash burger in Ottawa?

It is one of the strongest choices. If you want a classic smash cheeseburger, start there. If you want Oklahoma-style onion-smash energy, try Smash Daddy too.

What is the best burger outside downtown Ottawa?

For the east end, try Bite Burger House, Pearson Street Smashburgers, OCCO Kitchen, or Umbrella Ogilvie. For the west end, try Law & Orders, Smash Daddy Bell’s Corners, or Gburger Manotick.

What is the best burger in Orléans?

Bite Burger House is the burger specialist. OCCO Kitchen is the more restaurant-style option. Golden Fries is worth knowing for food-truck comfort food, especially fries and poutine.

What is the best burger in Kanata?

Law & Orders is the strongest Kanata-area pick in this guide, with Kanata South and Kanata North locations.

What is the best burger in Hintonburg or Wellington West?

Gburger is the top pick for a serious burger. The Third is the pick for affordable neighbourhood comfort food.

What is the best halal burger in Ottawa?

Good starting points are BFF, Law & Orders, Smash Daddy, and All Out Burger. BFF describes its menu as 100% halal, and Law & Orders says all meat and chicken is certified halal.

What is the best vegetarian burger in Ottawa?

Try Edinburger, The King Eddy, No Forks Given, OCCO Kitchen, or The Works depending on the style you want. King Eddy lists a house-made black bean and quinoa vegan patty, and OCCO lists an Enoki Mushroom Burger.

Happy burgering!

Ottawa’s burger scene is no longer just one or two downtown legends.

The city has:

Classic pub burgers
Modern smash burgers
Chef-driven burgers
Diner doubles
Halal smash burgers
Orléans burger houses
Kanata burger-and-fries spots
Hintonburg neighbourhood burgers
East-end smash trucks
Seasonal bistro burgers

Start with Chez Lucien and Umbrella Burger because they define two different sides of Ottawa’s burger identity.

Then branch out.

Go to Gburger for chef-driven polish.
Go to The King Eddy for the diner double.
Go to Edinburger for New Edinburgh.
Go to Smash Daddy for onion-smashed patties.
Go to All Out Burger for citywide convenience.
Go to Pearson Street for east-end smash burgers.
Go to Bite Burger House for Orléans.
Go to Law & Orders for Kanata.