Backstairs Burger is a child born from adversity. A phoenix rising out of the ashes, figuratively and literally. They were once a burger pop-up run out of the back door of a restaurant called ?!Why Not¡¿, hence the name "backstairs." Unfortunately, the restaurant burnt down during the pandemic in 2020. Ten months after the fire, they re-opened inside of 5th Street Food Hall. They had a good tenure there but the food hall would close and re-brand after a couple of years.
Finally, in July of this year, they found their new home just across the street from Southgate Centre. And since our visit, they opened up a second location in West Edmonton Mall, across from Simons in Europa Boulevard.
Backstairs Burgers is a super casual place with black walls, skull motifs, and fire-engine red picnic tables. Very rock & roll. It's set up like a fast food joint where you order at the counter, but the food is anything but. They have 7 different burgers, all chef-driven with housemade sauces and unique topping combinations. For those wanting something different, they also have a chicken burger, a vegan option, 2 kinds of cheesesteaks, and their famous #ducktots. Sides include several iterations of fries and 3 flavours of shakes to satiate any sweet tooth.
It was hard to choose just one burger, but we ultimately decided on the sugarskull ($14.00), a 3.5oz smash patty with bone marrow caramel glazed bacon, house pickled onions, thick cut tomato, horseradish aioli, and original Ruffles. The burger patty spilled out the edges of the bun and had a really good crust. The bacon was my favourite combo of sweet and salty. It was also super crispy with a satisfying shatter. The horseradish aioli was not too overpowering but the burger overall had a very peppery flavour.
The burgers may be the main draw, but I was really here for the #DuckTots ($16.00). Oh, how I've missed you. This dish is an indulgent masterpiece that I've been thinking of since 2016, the last time I had it at a food truck event in the city. It's a giant portion of tater tots topped with shredded Thai braised duck, hoisin aioli, lime Sriracha, and garnishes of green onion, cilantro, and crushed peanuts. It's a lot going on, but everything combines in such a tasty bite. Crispy tot, tender duck, creamy aioli, fresh herbs, and a kick of heat from the Sriracha. I advise sharing, unless you enjoy passing out from a food coma.
Backstairs is elevating the game, one burger at a time.
Backstairs Burger
www.instagram.com/backstairsburger
11010 51 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB
(587) 499-0576
- CT
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