Ranking the best burger in the Yukon

Can there be a best burger? That’s a great question that we’re working hard to answer.

We’re fanning out across the Yukon, trying different burgers to crown the winner. Beef, bison, salmon, any and all burgers will be rated.

Burgers will be added to the leaderboard as we try them. For now, here’s the standings. You can find a review of each burger below the rankings.

Smashed YXY has everything you want in a burger

Since I started the burger rankings, Smashed YXY has been the most requested place by readers.

I had thought, based on the name, it would be a smashburger, my second favourite form of burger after Oklahoma-style onion burgers (which you have to try making with this recipe). Traditional smashburgers are formed into a ball and pressed down into a thin patty, creating a crispy layer on the grill. Topped with cheese, you’d be hard pressed to find a better burger.

Let’s get the bad part out of the way first. Smash YXY, as the name would imply, does not offer a traditional smashburger. The patty, as you can see is thicker than a smashburger, and mine at least did not have much crispiness on the outside.

Now the good news — it’s a great burger, the best I’ve had so far. The beef is well-cooked and flavourful, the cheese is real cheddar and not processed, and you’ve got a sturdy bun that holds it all together.

Read the story

Dirty Northern's burger is a winner

It was one of those nights where you want, no, you need to have a burger. We hadn’t been to Dirty Northern since last summer, so thought now would be a good time to return.

The list of burgers is solid, with six options that will satisfy just about anyone — beef, bison, chicken, veggie, it’s all there. The prices range from $24.50 to $26.50, which is on par for living in the Yukon.  

I love onion jam, so opted for the Bison Burger and a side of fries.

The burger itself is a bit on the smaller side. Not McDonald’s size, but the patty itself won’t necessarily leave you feeling full. Luckily the fries are massive, well-cooked, and enough to fill anyone up. Could these be the best fries in Whitehorse? Potentially!

Read the story

Mile 1016 Pub has a darn good fresh salmon burger

I was told by a friend that I made a terrible mistake ordering the salmon burger at Mile 1016 Pub instead of their house burger. Why? Because, according to them, it’s the best burger in the Yukon.

Point taken. I’ll have to visit again!

Even with that sad bit of knowledge, I thoroughly enjoyed the pub’s salmon burger. I was informed it was a homemade patty of Alaskan salmon, none of that store-bought stuff. 

The burger was cooked well, though it had a faint disappointing aftertaste of oil. Sizing for fish burgers is always an issue, as many places skimp on the patty. Thankfully, they did not. The bun was also excellent, and was soft without breaking apart. 

While I don’t include fries in my review, they were sadly practically inedible, over-fried to the point of being hard, with a strong aftertaste of deep fryer oil. My friend said they’re usually good, so I’ll have to try them again next time.

Overall, I’d give the burger a solid 7.6, though we’ll have to see how it holds up against their own burger next time.

Whiskey Jacks' mozza mushroom burger is one big burger

As my friends and I pounded back schooners at 12:30 am last month, I came to a realization — Whiskey Jacks is the perfect neighbourhood pub. Walkable from the neighbourhood, friendly staff, great deals and affordable beer, what else do you want?

The only thing I can think of is good food.

I ordered the Mushroom Mozza burger, and true to form, it was loaded with both. Mozzarella is a great addition to a burger, giving it a more subtle flavour than the classic American or cheddar, and a different texture. The size of the patty is also top-notch and should fill anyone up.

I would’ve ranked it higher, but the addition of the onion rings was a miss. They were overly deep-fried, and it completely overpowered the rest of the burger’s taste. I get the idea, and usually welcome creativity. But in this case, it didn’t work.

I gave it a 6.5. That’s not to say it was bad or not worth trying. It just didn’t hold up to the other ones I’ve tried recently.