Moderne Burger - Vancouver

Got this on take out, the burger was very delicious. The fries were okay. Overall would definitely try this place out again.

Very good burger. Tasty meat. Gooey. Toasted buns. Attached to tim hortons. A little pricey. Staff were really friendly and courteous

I get the very real sense that Moderne Burger is one of those places that’s developed a loyal following over the years. The reviews on TripAdvisor and elsewhere attest to this in a very strong and convincing way. It is not unusual, for example, to come across reviews with comments like “fabulous and perfect” or “excellent burgers, and tasty shakes.” Indeed, most tend to give Moderne Burger high marks when it comes to execution and flavours, with special emphasis on the fact that everything is made fresh and in-house on a daily basis. The burger ingredients contain no preservatives and the beef itself is grass-fed. Wonderful, I say, Wonderful! In any event, I was introduced to Moderne Burger quite inadvertently back in December 2018. I was attending the adjacent Tim Hortons at the time and, while there, couldn’t help but notice neon lights visible in the store space. This was quite curious to me and I even remarked in my TripAdvisor review of that Tim Hortons, “Perhaps I’ll be cheeky and say ‘get rid of the random neon lights?’” Little did I know that these lights belonged to Moderne Burger, who was still setting up shop at the time (they finally opened in March 2019). Doing a little research, I see Moderne Burger isn’t exactly a new establishment. In fact, it’s been around since 2001, having spent approximately 17 years in the Kitsilano area before moving to its current space – a shared unit with Tim Hortons, of all places. In its near two decades of operation, this burger establishment has garnered much positive press and praise from food bloggers and the media. For example, Moderne Burger has made the DailyHive’s “Best Burgers in Vancouver” list; it’s also made Nom Magazine’s 2020 list of “10 Best Burgers in Vancouver” (coming in at #9); and it’s received a positive nod from Foodosophy, the Georgia Straight and even the Food Network in earlier years. With such a sustained level of hype, you know the food here’s gotta be good. Thus, I made it a point to patronize Moderne Burger when time allowed. I finally got the chance to try Moderne Burger at the tail end of July. Because we were – and are – in the midst of a global pandemic, the dining experience was, understandably, quite different. In this instance, Moderne Burger is sticking to a “takeout only” model. As such, the dining area was basically off limits. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of a retro diner is still present thanks to the use of colour, tile, and neon lights; however, I get the feeling, based on past reviews, that the “retro” look was far more apparent at Moderne Burger’s previous location thanks to the use of more 50s era trinkets, booths, etc. Now, the ambiance of “retro diner” is pretty scant. The fast-food chairs and neighbouring Tim Hortons kind of ruin the vibe. How was the burger? Was it the “best burger in Vancouver” as many critics have claimed? Well, I ordered the Steak Burger with fries a Strawberry Milkshake. I will admit that the milkshake was pretty divine – it was rich, creamy and smooth. I’d probably come back for one of these because it very much reminded me of the old-style milkshakes of yesteryear. The burger, on the other hand, was pretty disappointing. It lacked flavour and was very dry, despite the use of fresh veggies and special house sauce. In fact, the bun and lettuce practically hid the beef (see photos). I was left thinking of Clara Peller and her famous line: “Where’s the beef?” The whole thing was just disappointing. FOOD: 3/5 SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 3/5 RECOMMENDATION: Far from being the “Best Burger on Broadway,” Moderne Burger is an average establishment at best. It boggles my mind how this place has made many a “top 10” list. It’s bland and unremarkable. Very tepid recommendation. PS: If you found this review helpful in any way please consider hitting the helpful button!

Awesome grass fed beef. Friendly staff. They didn’t have gluten free bun so I got too patties and lots of lettuce. Great meal cause the burger was so good.. and felt good after as well. Milkshakes and fries looked good but off my menu right now.

Very kind people serving. Excellent veggie burger and you can actually see veggies in it. Best fast fries!