205 - International Burger Day w/ Justin 🍔

This Sunday is International Burger Day—which doesn’t leave a lot of time to figure out which of London’s growing number of burger joints you’re going to celebrate at...

To help you choose, we’ve reached out to Localist subscriber Justin Riedstra: an ardent fan of this city’s grills and the patties they’re producing!

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Localist: Let’s jump right in with your current top 3 burger joints 🏆
Justin: I wouldn't classify these two as burger joints per se, but Craft Farmacy and Pub Milos have the two best burgers in the city. Which one I'd give the nod to depends on which one I'm stuffing my face with at the time, but together they set the bar by which I measure all burgers.

I'm gonna have to slot Beach Boy Burger in at 3. They’re a proper burger & shake joint and they do it up right! 🏖

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L: What’s the most surprising burger you’ve had lately? 🙃
J: The fact that Philthy Philly’s has a solid smash burger is surprising enough–but the real surprise is what my man Rusty will serve up if you’re willing to ask him for “something special.” 🎩

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L: If we’re dining in, who’s got the best vibe? ✌️
J: For me, it's Milos. They’ve got amazing owners, super friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a wicked atmosphere. Plus, you get to sit in an old church pew—which is fitting since I consider their burger a religious experience. 🙏

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L: We’re here to celebrate burgers, but if we wanted fries with that…🍟
J: Great question, an awesome fry pairing is huge. Sweet Onion Bistro has some good burgers on the menu, but you pair one with their fries? Look out! 😋

L: Have you dabbled in any veggie burgers around town? 🌱
J: Definitely, there's no burger discrimination here. Odd Burger knows what's up. They've got vegan versions of chain classics that you won't believe. Also, Box Lunch Burger Co. (at Storm Stayed) will do any smash with a vegan patty and dairy-free cheese; their Roy Batty will knock your socks off. 🥊

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L:What’s next for the city’s burger scene? 🔮
J: I’ve heard that Kyle’s Fried Chicken & BBQ has a special wagyu burger every once in a while... I'm not sure if that's where the scene is going, but it's definitely where I'm going. 🤤 

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L: Bonus: What local beer(s) are you washing all this down with? 🍺
J: The good folks over at EatOA! have a rotating smash burger that is consistently top five in the city... and they are located at Anderson Craft Ales where you can’t go wrong with a New Zealand Lager. I’m gonna have to give a shout to Beerlab!, too. They’ve got great brews and you can order the—wait for it—Milos burger right there at the shop since they share a kitchen. 😍

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