Calgary’s a good place to be if you love burgers. And if you’re willing to shell out a couple extra bucks, you’ll fall down a rabbit-hole of higher-end options that offer something totally different to the hungry Calgarian.
“People consider hamburgers a comfort food, and the fast-food chains don’t really provide that,” says Kipp Teghtmeyer, owner and “Grill Daddy Supreme” of Boogie’s Burgers. “People [also] like to try new and different things, and they don’t mind paying, you know, a couple or five extra dollars to have something that is a lot better.”
It’s an attitude that’s kept Boogie’s in the burger biz here in Calgary since 1969. And while the huge burgers are a part of the charm — I like the Jebb’s with pineapple — there’s something more that keeps Calgarians walking through the time-machine retro doors of both the original Renfrew location and the newer Marda Loop spot.
“We’ve got a good rapport with our long-term customers,” says Teghtmeyer. “And when people walk in the door and they see everybody chatting with the servers and that type of thing, it gives you that classic diner feel. And our sprinkling of arcade games and stuff makes it fun.”
You’ll also get a nostalgic vibe at some of the newer kids on the burger block. Although it opened in 2023, Class Clown’s cozy interior has a vintage atmosphere that feels like your grandmother’s rec room in the best way. Co-owners and partners Xian Fullen and Noel Sweetland even drove to Montana to get exactly the right kind of wood panelling for what they wanted to create.
“A big part of [the restaurant] was sourcing things that only felt genuine to us,” says Fullen. “Everything in that restaurant is highly considered… it’s very ‘us.’ We took our hearts and our brains and put them into a space that we back 100 per cent.”
You can taste that passion in the burgers. “We’re grinding the beef every morning,” says Sweetland. “It’s locally sourced black Angus [from Benchmark Farms], it’s from whole muscle, and it’s not trim, so we can really control its fat content and taste.” They also source locally baked buns and batter all their fish themselves, with prep work starting at 5:45 a.m. daily. And it pays off when you take a bite of something like the Donald McRonald, their cheeky take on a fast food classic.
The other new kid on the block (literally; they’re down the street from Class Clown inside Pinbar), Bastion Burger, also points to their “chef-driven menu”

as their success. “Every step of the burger has been poured over,” says Bastion co-owner Ted Lee. “Even the way the burger’s stacked… we’ve thought about every single layer and which way it’s gonna hit your mouth.” They cut and brine their french fries and source beef from Reginas Fine Meats at Crossroads Market.
“We want to make sure you’re not going to get palate fatigue,” says another of Bastion’s founders, Jeremy Theoret. “We want the last bite to be different than the first bite. But we also want you to be bummed out that you’re on your last bite.” The edges of their smashed patties attain the mythical “crispy meat lattice” mouth feel that does, indeed, take you on a ride from beginning to end.
And that’s just the tip of the burger iceberg in Calgary. From classic institutions like C.B. Drive Inn to the recently opened Rosie’s Burgers and standbys like Clive and Lil Empire, Calgarian’s are hungrier than ever for a bougie burger. As Teghtmeyer puts it, “Burgers are always going to be around, and they’re always going to be a favourite of people.”
With the cost of living being what it is in 2025, why not enjoy it more?
Five more Calgary burger joints you’ve got to try
Bussin’ Burger
With two locations in Calgary and plans to expand into Saskatchewan and Edmonton, Bussin’ Burger is poised to take over the country. Every menu item at Bussin’ is halal, and the shakes are made from soy.
What to eat? “The Bussin’ Classic burger is giving you a classic taste,” says Bussin’ co-owner Omi Chaudry. “Just a tomato, pickles, two cheese patties, caramelized onions on the top, and ketchup and mustard… it’s just a classic vibe.”
1121 9 Ave. S.E.; 715 17 Ave. S.W., bussin.ca
Inglewood Drive-In
For nearly 80 years, Calgarians have been grabbing burgers and riding the mechanical elephant ride at Inglewood Drive-In.
What to eat? With both bacon bits and bacon strips — along with fresh tomato and all the sauces — the 100 Million Angels Singing is like a Baconator that got a glow-up.
802 12 St. S.E., inglewooddrivein.com
Rocky’s Burger Bus
Established in ‘95 and operating out of a big red bus outside of Crossroads for the last 11, Rocky’s Burger Bus is a bona fide Calgary icon.
What to eat? Owner-operator Jim Rockwell thinks all visitors should start with Rocky’s Special. “You get a little bit of everything,” he says. “A cheeseburger, a pop, and fries made with potatoes from the Hutterite Colony that sell right here at the market.”
1235 26 Ave. S.E., rockysburgers.com
V Burger
Calgary’s first entirely plant-based burger spot doesn’t sacrifice the greasy comfort food vibes. Even their delicious shakes and sundaes are made from vegan “vmix.”
What to eat? The hamburgers are all swell, but the standout here is the Buffalo Chick’n Burger. It’s got all the spice and crunch of a great chicken sando, with garlic sauce adding a unique twist.
819 17 Ave. S.W., heyvburger.com
Buchanan’s Chop House
If you want a bougie burger, it doesn’t get much classier than Buchanan’s. This Calgary institution has been pouring whiskey and chopping meat since 1988. The burger selection is robust and made from in-house ground sirloin.
What to eat? Order a Bacon Cheeseburger and ask for it medium rare. Buchanan’s is one of the only spots in Calgary that will do it, and it’s life-changing.
738 3 Ave. S.W., buchanans.ca
