Five Burgers to Sink Your Teeth into on National Cheeseburger Day

By Jen Brignall-Strong of Tailgate Takeout

Searching for a spot to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day September 18th? We’ve listed a few Windsor Essex favourites that are sure to hit the spot!

Burgers are typically thought of as a backyard barbecue staple, but around YQG, they’re so much more than the basic “bun, meat, bun;” they’re a blank canvas for crafting the most epic culinary creations. No toppings are off limits and no flavour combinations are too wild for our local chefs.

Whether you’re a burger purist or have a more adventurous palette, here are five “must try” mouth-watering masterpieces from some of the most popular burger joints across Windsor-Essex.

 The Jack Burger – JACK’S Gastropub

If you’ve ever tried one of JACK’S burgers, you’ll understand why they took home the 2023 “Best of Windsor Essex” award for Best Burger Joint. They have truly mastered the art of burger building.

I’m convinced their secret ingredient is magic, but I’m sure the real reason they’re repeat winners is their commitment to using fresh, local ingredients. This Kingsville mainstay has been an advocate for farm-to-table dining since they opened their doors in 1989, and you can taste the difference in every bite.

While I love all the burgers on their menu for different reasons, I have to say my favourite is their signature Jack’s burger; a house-made patty topped with bacon, mushrooms, Monterey Jack cheese, Jack sauce, and fried onion tangles. This burger isn’t just about flavour, it’s about texture too. The crispiness of the fried onions, the crunch of the bacon, and the meaty mushrooms goodness topped with melty cheese is a treat for the senses.

Want to spice up your life? Bring the heat with the Spicy Jack version topped with pickled banana peppers and jalapenos.

The Mac Daddy – Mamo Burger Bar

Warning: do not attempt to eat this burger unless you are wearing your stretchiest stretchy pants. The Mac Daddy is a beast of a burger and not for the faint of heart.

Ok, I feel like I might actually be scaring you. What I really mean to say is this burger is big in size but even BIGGER on flavour. Sure, you might have to unhinge your jaw to eat it, but it’s totally worth it.

Available with a single or double patty, the burger is topped with house-made mac and cheese, smoked pulled pork, caramelized onions, and Brown Sugar BBQ sauce from their sister restaurant, Georgia Rae’s BBQ & Hot Chicken.

This menu favourite speaks to my inner Southerner and is a great balance of smoky, sweet, and savoury. Hungry enough to eat one of the biggest, baddest burger around? I recommend giving the Mac Daddy a try…if you dare.

 The Double Whammy – Whamburg

How do you make a good burger even better? You smash it.

Located on the University of Windsor campus, Whamburg is known for their flavourful smash burgers, made to order using locally sourced ingredients including fresh Canadian Angus beef. I love the classic burger joint vibe here; it’s one of those places that everyone in the family enjoys.

My go-to order every time I visit is The Double Whammy; two 3-ounce smash burger patties between a Martin’s Potato Bun, topped with American cheese, diced onion, fresh lettuce, dill pickles, tomatoes, and their signature Wham sauce. Every topping exists equally in perfect harmony to create the perfect balance of flavour in every bite. Burger bliss.

 BONUS BURGER: The Shroomburg

Vegetarians and vegans rejoice! Whamburg also offers an amazing meatless option to satisfy your burger craving. The Shroomburg starts with a crunchy, marinated deep fried portabella mushroom patty and is topped with diced onions, leafy lettuce, dill pickles, tomatoes, and their signature vegan Wham sauce.

I cannot believe how flavourful that mushroom patty is. These guys really knocked it out of the park (as they always do!) Meat eaters, do yourself a favour and try one of these veg-tastic burgers next time you order.

The Amherstburg’er – Burger Sixty-Seven

 With an impressive lineup of meaty, mouth-watering burger options, I always have such a hard time choosing what to order when I visit this popular Amherstburg spot. Why can’t I have them all?!

I’ve probably ordered every burger on the menu at least once, but the one I keep going back to is their signature creation, The Amherstburg’er: an 8-ounce ground chuck on a brioche bun topped with mozzarella, American cheese, bacon, pickles, caramelized onions, lettuce, fried jalapenos, and a sweet barbecue sauce.

The fried jalapenos give it just the right amount of kick, but the heat is tempered nicely by the sweetness of the barbecue sauce and the cheesiness of the cheeses (that mozza slice on there is thiccc and that ooey gooey American cheese takes it over the top.)

It’s another one of those burgers that has mastered the balance of flavours effortlessly and can win over even the pickiest eaters. It’s got bacon. It’s got cheese. What’s not to love?

(Psssst. I know this is a burger blog, but here’s a pro tip: upgrade your side to a fries supreme. You’ll thank me later.)

The Benny – The Barrel House

Breakfast for dinner? Heck yes.

When you ask anyone who’s “in the know” where to get one of the best burgers in the city, they’ll point you in the direction of The Barrel House; a Sandwich Towne favourite.

The burger section of their menu is full of heavy hitters, but the one that stands out the most to me is The Benny. I loooooove Eggs Benedict, so bringing those flavours into a burger really had me intrigued the first time I saw it.

Putting an egg on a burger is a life changing experience itself, but then adding Black Forest Ham, Havarti cheese, and a tarragon Hollandaise sauce? Wow. Just wow. (*Chef kiss*)

Be sure to ask for extra napkins; this burger can get a bit messy in all the right ways. Also, for the full “breakfast for dinner” experience, upgrade your side to tater tots and dip ‘em in all that drippy egg goodness. Mmmm…

For even more burger options head to the DineYQG Burger Listings and try them all!