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Nelson Burger Month 2024: The Champ is Here 🏆 🥊

Kootenay Current Team

Nelson burger month is almost here, and our tastebuds are ready! We’ve already enjoyed Trail Burger Month and Castlegar Burger Month earlier this year, and now it’s Nelson’s turn! From November 1st – 30th, almost forty restaurants will offer their most elaborate burger creation and compete for your votes for the very best burger in town. 🍔

We’ve tried them all! Here’s our thoughts on each burger, as well as picks for the best burgers this year!

Price: 

Each restaurant is serving up a unique burger for $18 (plus tax). Want to support local businesses and indulge in these creative concoctions? Add a side and a drink to your order, and make sure to bring a friend!

Legend:

GFA – Gluten Free option available

VA – Vegetarian option available

VEA – Vegan option available

Nelson Burger Month Menu 2024

Nelson Burger Descriptions

  • Patty: two quarter pound patties smashed with grilled onions
  • Bun: inverted buttered and grilled Martin’s potato bun
  • Sauces: Fancy Sauce, served with au jus
  • Toppings: loaded with Swiss and American cheese, bread and butter pickle garnish

Address: 301 Victoria St

Their take on a New York Bodega chopped cheese.

  • Meat: Brant Lake Wagyu premium Alberta Wagyu beef
  • Bun: homemade hoagie roll
  • Sauces: Queso cheese sauce, Beauties’ famous special sauce
  • Toppings: fresh lettuce, tomato, onion

Address: 449 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 352-2225

Their take on a Croque Madame.

  • Patty: NBC stout infused beef patty
  • Bun: Parmesan-crusted brioche
  • Sauces: Caramelized onion aioli, creamy cheesy Béchamel sauce
  • Toppings: Thinly sliced honey ham, butter lettuce, red onion, baby pickles, Gruyère, nestled baked egg

Address: 620 Herridge Ln.

Phone: (778) 463-4633

  • Patty: Peace Country 12 hour braised spiced lamb shoulder
  • Sauces: Harmony Hill Farm basil mayo
  • Toppings: Chile marinated fresh Mozzarella, “Bread & Butter” picked heirloom green tomatoes

Address: 91 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 883-6887

  • Patty: stuffed blue cheese beef
  • Bun: Potato bun
  • Sauces: Garlic aioli, tomato bruschetta, onion and bacon jam, bechamel sauce
  • Toppings: arugula salami, loaded cheese, crispy onion string, balsamic glaze

Address: Prestige Lakeside Resort 701 Lakeside Dr.

Phone: (778) 463-2236

  • Patty: smoked beef shank braised in chilies and spices, house ground flank steak
  • Bun: achiote and hand ground cornmeal brioche bun from Kootenay Bakery Cafe
  • Sauces: spiced roasted corn aioli
  • Toppings: mozzarella, ceviche onion “slaw”

Their riff on quesabirria tacos. That’s BBQ adjacent, right?

Address: 479 Baker St.

Phone: (778) 463-2244

  • Patty: Mexican spiced pork
  • Bun: Kootenay Bakery Cafe brioche bun
  • Sauces: smoky chorizo jam, cilantro + lime aioli
  • Toppings: chipotle glazed pork belly, Oaxaca cheese, tropical fruit salsa, shredded romaine, pepperoncini popper

(Gluten free available)

Address: 565 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 352-3737

  • Patty: mushroom risotto
  • Bun: house made everything bagel muffin
  • Sauces: zesty pesto
  • Toppings: roasted red peppers, touch of tangy pickled onions, served alongside coleslaw

Vegetarian, can be gluten free and vegan

Address: 334 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 352-1904

  • Patty: Peri Peri seasoned beef
  • Bun: Kootenay Bakery black and charcoal brioche bun
  • Sauces: Ricotta cream cheese spread, Peri Peri aioli sauce
  • Toppings: Arugula, tomatoes, pickled onions, mozzarella

Address: 705 Vernon St.

Phone: (250) 352-5121

  • Patty: 6oz prime rib patty
  • Bun: Kootenay Bakery Cafe rosemary, thyme, and garlic bun
  • Sauces: house made secret sauce
  • Toppings: horseradish cheddar, red onion, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickle

Gluten free option available

Address: #101-402 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 354-4458

  • Patty: 100 Mile Creston beef
  • Bun: Pretzel
  • Sauces: Salt Blendz Smoked Garlic Scape aioli
  • Toppings: Smoked ham, pepper bacon, old cheddar, skittle mushrooms, shoestring fries, shredded iceberg, tomato, red onion, pickle

Address: 422 Vernon St.

Phone: (250) 352-9205

  • Patty: Jackson Hole’s signature beef patty
  • Sauces: Bacon jam, honey bbq sauce
  • Toppings: Mac and cheese, Ms. Vickie’s ketchup chips

Address: 524 Vernon St.

Phone: (250) 354-1919

  • Patty: Harissa infused ground chuck beef
  • Bun: Soft brioche
  • Sauces: Beet-garlic aioli, quince jam
  • Toppings: Zatar-spiced mushrooms, Monterey Jack cheese, bed of lettuce, crunchy chickpeas, jalapeño-halloumi samosa, quinoa-feta in a kataifi cup, pickled veggies

Address: 660 Baker St.

Phone: (778) 463-1008

  • Patty: Potato starch breaded crispy fried chicken
  • Bun: signature homemade brown rice bun
  • Sauces: salt koji and sesame teriyaki sauce
  • Toppings: homemade Japanese mustard coleslaw, local crispy lettuce

Address: 491 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 352-5353

  • Patty: Panko encrusted portobellos mushroom stuffed with red wine braised beef short rib
  • Bun: Sesame seed
  • Sauces: Horse-radish aioli
  • Toppings: Caramelized onions, mixed mushroom truffle infused duxelles, Swiss cheese, arugula

Vegetarian option available

Address: 616 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 352-5570

  • Patty: Mediterranean spiced ground lamb
  • Bun: Fomi’s Bakery bun
  • Sauces: Beautiful mango chutney, roasted garlic aioli
  • Toppings: Fresh mint + feta coleslaw, crisp piece of leaf lettuce

Address: 616 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 354-4848

  • Patty: Double bison + beef patties
  • Bun: La Ruelle Bakery Challah bun
  • Sauces: Salsa di pomodoro, smoked jalapeño aioli
  • Toppings: Fior di latte, red onion, romaine

* Can be Gluten Free by ordering Gluten Free bun

Address: 153 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 352-9205

  • Patty: Nigerian inspired Suya turkey burger
  • Sauces: Jollof aioli
  • Toppings: Fried plantain (Dodo), lettuce, tomato, onion

Vegetarian option available

Address: 536 Stanley St.

Phone: (250) 354-1667

Bringing the heat of the tropics to this Caribbean inspired burger

  • Patty: in house pressed + seasoned natural Beef Brisket patty
  • Bun: locally sourced salted bun
  • Sauces:
  • Toppings: hormone free roasted Pork Belly cured in house-blend spices, hand picked chillies (aimed to warm up burger hoppers’ chilling cravings)

Address: 518 Hall St.

Phone: (250) 352-2744

  • Patty: Famous house-made beef patty
  • Sauces: rich, creamy beer cheese sauce poured tableside, garlic aioli
  • Toppings: crispy pork belly, perfectly golden fried onions, apple jalapeño slaw

Address: 301 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 352-5232

  • Patty: their famous crispy fried chicken
  • Bun: toasted brioche
  • Sauces: house-made pineapple mango adobo sauce, mayo
  • Toppings: crispy bacon, melted jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese, toasted coconut, banana peppers, pickled onions, arugula, pepperoncini garnish

Vegetarian option available

Address: 330 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 354-7014

  • Patty: Beef burger stuffed with cajun, jalapeños and shredded cheese
  • Bun: Kootenay Bakery black and white sesame brioche
  • Sauces: house bourbon BBQ sauce, harissa and chipotle aioli
  • Toppings: pickled onions, arugula, tomatoes

Address: 705 Vernon St.

Phone: (250) 352-5140

  • Patty: marinated beef patty infused with traditional bulgogi flavours
  • Bun: Kootenay Bakery fresh herb and garlic bun
  • Sauces: kimchi mayo
  • Toppings: crisp lettuce, caramelized onions, pickled daikon

Address: 198 Baker St.

Phone: (250) 551-2128

  • Patty: bulgogi “beef”
  • Sauces: Gee Wowza kimchi, gochujang sauce
  • Toppings: crispy oyster mushrooms, arugula and bean sprouts salada, vegan cheddar, carrot and zucchini relish

This Korean inspired burger will have your mouthing singing MMMBap!

Address: 569 Ward St.

Phone: (778) 463-3366

  • Meat: Marinated Tender chicken thighs cooked in tandoori oven with traditional Indian spices
  • Bun: Kootenay Bakery prime brioche
  • Sauces: thighs dipped in house made mango sauce, peri peri sauce
  • Toppings: Cole slaw with Olive oil mayo, red and green leaf lettuce, hot banana peppers rings, melting cheddar cheese

Address: 409 Kootenay St.

Phone: (250) 352-5999

  • Patty: Jerk-glazed beef
  • Bun: locally-made brioche
  • Sauces: smoked cream cheese, Ebesse Zozo aioli
  • Toppings: in house cured thyme bacon, crunchy plantain chips, pickled pineapple, fresh arugula tossed in lime honey vinaigrette

Address: 125 Hall St.

Phone: (250) 352-0094

  • Patty: all-beef smash burger patty
  • Bun: black and white sesame bun
  • Sauces: garlic aioli
  • Toppings: house made pimento cheese, bread and butter pickles, crispy fired onions, maple bacon, beefsteak tomato, shredded lettuce

Gluten Free option available

Address: 616 Vernon St.

Phone: (250) 352-2715

An homage to Ukraine…

  • Patty: grass fed beef patty
  • Bun: organic potato bun
  • Sauces and jams: butter and chives, dijon aioli, tomato infused sour cream
  • Toppings: roasted beet, shredded pickled cabbage, sautéed red onion, organic greens, 2 year old cheddar

Address: 411 Kootenay St.

Phone: (250) 354-4646

  • Patty: turkey, pork, ginger-infused patty
  • Bun: seedy thyme bun
  • Toppings: smokey gouda, pickled jalapeños, bourbon stewwed pears
  • Side: cranberry coleslaw

All made in house.

Address: 323 Nelson Ave.

Phone: (250) 352-2555

  • Patty: sockeye salmon grilled to perfection
  • Bun: Banh Mi style bun
  • Sauces and jams: homemade tartar sauce, roasted bell pepper relish
  • Toppings: spicy napa cabbage slaw, pickled ginger

Address: 522 Victoria St.

Phone: (778) 463-2234

Surrounding Area Burger Descriptions

  • Patty: juciy, crispy chicken
  • Bun: toasted brioche
  • Sauces and jams: house made Thai peanut sauce, roasted garlic aioli
  • Toppings: Swiss cheese, pickled ginger, pickled red onion, asian slaw, dill pickles

Address: 3126 Slocan Station Rd., Crescent Valley

Phone: (250) 359-7515

  • Patty: grilled beef and turkey patty
  • Bun: toasted English muffin
  • Sauces and jams: hollandaise sauce, homemade onion jam, served with dipping cheese sauce
  • Toppings: purple pickled fries, leaf lettuce

Your own sticker moustache and pyrotechnics included 🥸

Address: 5709 Highway 6, Winlaw

Phone: (250) 226-7070

  • Patty: two organic beef patties
  • Bun: black activated charcoal sesame seed bun
  • Sauces and jams: purple daikon burger sauce
  • Toppings: melted old cheddar, lettuce, daikon pickles, onions

Address: 5622 Highway 6, Winlaw

Phone: (250) 226-7663

These surfin’ sliders are sure to get you lei’d!

  • Patty: two beef and pork sliders
  • Bun: Hawaiian style sweet rolls
  • Sauces and jams: Kewpie mayo
  • Toppings: their spiced rum teriyaki + pineapple relish, ham, American cheese, caramelized onions, pickled banana peppers

Enjoy a taste of island paradise, Mahalo!

Address: 1286 Hwy 6., Crescent Valley

Phone: (778) 454-1179

The Gambit’s strategy in a word is unctuous

  • Patty: chuck + brisket blend
  • Bun: Charcoal bun
  • Sauces and jams: black garlic mayo provolone cheese sauce,
  • Toppings: black vinegar caramelized onions, charred jalapeño skewer

Address: 347 Front St., Kaslo

Phone: (250) 353-7361

  • Patty: elk, bison, and bacon 🥓
  • Bun: hemp heart brioche
  • Sauces and jams: caramelized onion and fennel jam, smoky cedar aioli 🪵
  • Toppings: melted Oka cheese, arugula

Address: 3609 Balfour-Kaslo-Galena Bay Hwy, Ainsworth

Phone: (250) 229-2406

  • Patty: two all-beef patties
  • Bun: upside down Dawn Breaker sourdough brioche bun
  • Sauces and jams: special sauce
  • Toppings: lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions

Address: 419 Front St, Kaslo

Phone: (250) 353-2955

  • Patty: elk and chuck patty
  • Bun: black and white sesame seed bun
  • Sauces and jams: Steamworks bacon-onion jam, BBQ aioli
  • Toppings: smoked cheddar, crispy onion strings, arugula, tomato

Address: 430 Front St., Kaslo

Phone: (250) 353-7714

Named after the one who blasts the steam whistle, signalling the lumberjacks

  • Patty: double-stacked homemade seasoned smash beef patties
  • Bun: grilled brioche
  • Sauces and jams: spread of creamy avocado dazzle dazzle sauce
  • Toppings: melted jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese, house-made crinkle cut pickles, lettuce, tomato, red onion

Address: 204 Fourth St., Salmo

Phone: (250) 521-2121

How to Vote

You can vote online once in three separate categories until December 2nd.

The three categories are:

  • Best. Tasting
  • Most Unique
  • Best Presentation

Vote in all three categories to enter into a draw to win a $25 gift certificate to each of the 39 participating restaurants (wow).

The winning restaurants get bragging rights for a year, the Burger Month trophy in their category for a year and a $200 donation to a charity of their choice.

Kootenay Current Reviews

We’ve tried all 39 burgers and reviewed them on our website and on video, so follow us on Facebook and check out our Top 10 favourites here!

Nelson Burger Month 2024 Winners

The 2024 Nelson Burger Month Winners are…

🏆 Best Tasting: Broken Hill

Here’s what we had to say: (full video here)

We’ve never seen a bun like this, beautiful bright orange, a result of the natural colours from the achiote and the cornmeal. It’s very eye catching – the photos don’t do it justice. Bite into one and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Very flashy.

It’s not just pretty though. The bun is sturdy and chewy, a satisfying base for the real star of the show: smoked beef shank, braised in a chili-spiced broth.

There’s a little kick from the chili infused meat, and the bold flavors are balanced by the refreshing ceviche topping. The thinly sliced onions, fresh cilantro, and lime juice added a bright, citrusy note that cut through the richness of the meat. It’s not something you’ll see often, and it keeps this burger feeling light and fresh.

There’s a lot of meat going on here, with smoked beef shank on top of a flank steak patty. We found the smoked beef shank takes centre stage in this one, and it could easily make a scrumptious sandwich on its own. We might even prefer that, but it’s still part of a tasty package here.

🏆 Best Presentation: Relish

Here’s what we had to say: (full video here)

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: that cheese sauce. It’s a show stopper, both in its presentation and its execution, adding a warm and moist element to this one that brings it to the next level. It’s fun to pour, fun to eat, and just all-round high quality comfort food. There’s a nice crunch from the apple jalapeño cabbage slaw, and a bed of crispy pork belly and golden onion curls that’ll put a smile on your face. 

It’s feel good comfort food done right, and a burger month highlight!

🏆 Most Original: Kurama Sushi

Here’s what we had to say:

This might be the best chicken patty in the competition. It’s very light, crispy and moist, with great sesame teriyaki flavours going on. We weren’t sure how the brown rice bun would hold up, but it’s actually awesome. Almost perfect really – a bit less rice-to-burger ratio perhaps, but if it means the bun stays together like this we’re very happy with it. 

Your enjoyment of this one will vary based on how much you like wasabi. It’s a flavour we like, put to great use here in the Japanese mustard coleslaw, but it’s also strong. 

A really cool burger that’s gluten free, delicious, and totally unique!


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Kootenay Current Team
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