Odd burger redefines fast food with a fully-vegan menu

Plant-based eaters can look forward to enjoying the fast vegan fare in an elevated McDonald’s-esque establishment 

By: Vanessa Tiberio

Odd Burger’s vegan fare resembles typical fast-food, coming in familiar packing. (Vanessa Tiberio/CanCulture)

As a full-time vegetarian and (major) foodie, I’m constantly on the hunt for the newest innovations in the plant-based world that take a unique approach to trick eaters into thinking they’re really eating meat.

After having Odd Burger on my radar for quite some time, I decided to finally head over to a location and give it a try for myself.

Hailing from London, Ont., Odd Burger is a rapidly expanding chain of company-owned and franchised vegan fast-food restaurants that, oddly enough, resemble all of the blissful characteristics of every existing fast-food chain in Canada.

The company was founded in 2014 by James McInnes, and was originally known as “Globally Local.” McInnes was joined by his partner, Vasiliki McInnes, in 2015, and they began to produce vegan meal kits and recipes. One such recipe, known as the “Famous Burger,” garnered quite the attention at the London Ribfest, catapulting the couple into launching a food truck and bringing their recipes all across Ontario.

With their continued successes, the pair launched their first restaurant location in 2017 in London, Ont. and opened their own manufacturing facility in 2018. The company is the first vegan fast-food chain to go public and has even announced that it’s going to launch franchising operations in the United States.

The corporation currently has eight locations across Ontario, with 11 more proposed nationwide locations on the way, planning to open in Calgary, Victoria, Ottawa, Regina and Edmonton.

Upon walking into the Vaughan, Ont., location, I was immediately hit with a renewed sense of nostalgia for my pre-vegetarian times. With walls adorned with pink writing reminding you that you are indeed inside a vegan restaurant, along with the McDonald’s-esque ordering kiosks, I felt both welcomed and excited for what was to come.

The brightly lit interior of Odd Burger contains simple seating and large graphics on the walls. (Vanessa Tiberio/CanCulture)

The Odd Burger brand champions its vision of sustainability with small stores optimized for delivery and takeout, competitive pricing, advanced cooking technology, and a “vertically-integrated supply chain,” which is basically fancy verbiage for saying they own all aspects of their supply chain.

Needless to say, I had very high expectations for this restaurant, and I am quite glad to say that I was not disappointed.

The ordering process was very simple – the kiosks act as stand-ins for workers taking orders, which is great for indecisive people like me who couldn’t decide what I wanted to order from the expansive menu of relatively inexpensive items.

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Ordering kiosk (Copy)

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Odd Burger menu screen (Copy)

The menu includes burgers with either smash or “ChickUn” patties, wraps such as tacos and gyros, salads, wings, desserts, shakes, sides and even breakfast items.

Since I couldn’t possibly order everything I wanted to try (as tempting as it was), I decided to choose two burger combos to get as real of an experience as a typical burger fast-food joint. After a very short wait, the warm brown paper bag with a bright pink sticker sealing it shut was in my possession.

The packing that contains the food items is marked with their branding. (Vanessa Tiberio/CanCulture)

The first thing I tried was the Famous Burger – the apparent legend itself. Let me just say, this burger was massive. The double-smash patty, triple bun, iceberg lettuce and famous sauce resembled an all-too-familiar Big Mac tucked beneath the golden arches down the street. The flavour profile and texture were so enjoyable I truly had to do a double-take to make sure the cheese wasn’t real. 

Odd Burger’s Famous Burger, which put the company on the map in 2015. (Vanessa Tiberio/CanCulture)

The only downside to this burger is that it is super messy – that famous sauce, although delicious, has a mind of its own, so make sure to grab napkins in advance!

Next up was the Crispy ChickUn burger, which is apparently one of their most popular menu items. This burger contains a (fake) chicken patty, green leaf lettuce, tomatoes and house-made “mayo.” This burger was quite refreshing, with the ChickUn patty having the perfect combination of crispiness and softness one can ask for. It was also far less messy than the Famous Burger and, overall, felt like a more nutrient-dense choice.

The Crispy ChickUn burger, accompanied by a side of fries and onion rings. (Vanessa Tiberio/CanCulture)

Obligatory to a combo meal, I had to get my hands on their fries and onion rings. Their fries are on the thick-cut side and strike the perfect balance between saltiness and greasiness. Ketchup wasn’t even needed – a telltale sign of a good fry. Their onion rings were just as good, although I did find them to be a bit overcooked. They were also thick and contained a pretty good onion-to-batter ratio – Lorde would be quite proud of this set of rings.

Considering the quality of the food, and given the current economic situation, I found the pricing of the meals to be quite reasonable. The Famous Burger combo was $14.97, while the Crispy ChickUn was priced at $13.98, which is just a bit more expensive than common fast-food chains. But then again, finding quick vegan food is not the easiest task, and often you’d be facing prices of upwards of $20 for a meal at a vegan restaurant.

Odd Burger also launched an app in August 2022, where customers can receive loyalty points when they make orders that can be redeemed for food. Unfortunately, I only became aware of this when I sat down to indulge, but this is a great way of incentivizing purchases – the app is also really simple to use.

An overview of the total order. (Vanessa Tiberio/CanCulture)

Overall, Odd Burger did not disappoint me one bit and definitely did live up to the expected hype. With the modern-fast-food ambiance, the easy ordering experience and the quality of the food, Odd Burger is a wonderful vegan fast-food restaurant that is sure to please many vegans and non-vegans alike. If you ever find yourself near one of their many locations, make sure to stop on by and see what you’re missing!

Is Beyond Meat as healthy as it seems?

Beyond Meat products are becoming popular in restaurants, grocery stores and fast-food chains, but how healthy is the plant-based meat alternative? 

By Allie Murray

Since its release in 1942, Canada’s Food Guide suggested that Canadians eat between two to three servings of meat or alternatives a day. In early 2019, Health Canada released an updated version of the food guide, which moved away from the recommendation of meat products and suggested eating more plant-based products instead. 

The new food guide recommendations are why Rena Mendelson, a professor in Ryerson University’s School of Food and Nutrition, believes Beyond Meat products have become so popular.

“You see the new Canada food guidelines recommend a plant-based diet, which doesn’t mean vegetarian necessarily. It means eating more foods that are plant-based and reducing our overall intake of animal-based foods,” she said. “Beyond Meat is a product that gives people the sense that they’re moving in the plant-based direction without giving up eating hamburgers that they like.” 

Mendelson explained that while Beyond Meat products have their benefits, they also have downsides.

“It’s a reasonably good substitute, but it’s high in fat, it’s high in calories, it’s high in sodium, it’s actually high in saturated fats even though it’s a plant based product; but it is high in protein as well,” said Mendelson.

CanCulture/Allie Murray

Novella Lui, a registered dietician and nutrition consultant with Live to Nourish, adds that while Beyond Meat may appear healthy, it is still a processed product that is made up of about 20 ingredients. A few of those ingredients include pea protein isolate, expeller-pressed canola oil, refined coconut oil, flavouring and more.

“In order to boost the meaty flavour and texture [of] Beyond Meat products, a substance [is used] that is naturally available in soy roots but never used as a food product, called leghemoglobin,” explained NAD Nutrition registered dietician Nadine Khoury. “However, the form used has been produced artificially from yeast making it a genetically modified product.”

Khoury adds that a lot of the products contain less healthy refined oils, food additives, flavours and sugars, and may include common allergens like soy, wheat and nuts.

Healthy alternatives versus the fast-food industry

Beyond Meat has become frequently found in restaurants and fast-food chains, including Tim Hortons, which offered Beyond Meat products as a limited time offer. The chain ended up pulling back on  Beyond Meat products in Canada, except for locations in Ontario and British Columbia.

“We have particularly seen positive reaction to our Beyond Meat offerings in Ontario and B.C., especially in breakfast,” an email statement from the Tim Hortons PR team reads. “The Beyond Meat breakfast sandwiches will continue to be available in Ontario and B.C., which is about 60 per cent of Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada.”

Speaking to the fast-food industry’s increased offering of Beyond Meat burgers, Lui notes that nutritionally speaking, the Beyond Meat burgers from fast-food chains aren’t much different than a regular burger. 

According to Lui, an A&W Beyond Meat burger has 1,110 milligrams of sodium, which is more than half of one’s daily recommended sodium intake. It also has 500 calories, 29 grams of fat and 22 grams of protein. 

On the other hand, a Teen Burger from A&W of the same serving size also has 500 calories, but has 26 grams of fat, 25 grams of protein and 200 milligrams less sodium at 910 milligrams.

CanCulture/Allie Murray

Environmental and lifestyle benefits of Beyond Meat

While the believed popularity of Beyond Meat products has stemmed from the updated food guide, the plant-based alternative has also become a go-to meal for vegetarians, vegans and others who refrain from eating meat. 

For a lot of vegetarians, Beyond Meat has been a solution for the ones who want to enjoy the taste of a hamburger without actually eating meat. Sydney Borton, a consumer of Beyond Meat products explained that Beyond Meat is one of the only vegetarian meat options that fits that criteria.

“I like that a lot of them don’t taste like typical veggie burgers or vegan meat alternatives,” Borton said, noting that a lot of vegetarian burgers taste dry because they’re made with soybeans, chickpeas and other dry ingredients. “But the Beyond Meat line of products is trying to do something different. They don’t taste dry or like a meat alternative, but they don’t taste exactly like real meat either. It’s a weird in between, but I really like it.”

In addition to the health benefits, Khoury also says that Canadians should start shifting towards eating plant-based products for the environmental benefits they pose.

“Another benefit is that they contain more fibre than meat products,” she said. “Eating less industrially farmed and processed meats is better for the environment and for our health.”

Mendelson, Lui and Khoury all note that in transitioning to a plant-based diet, Canadians should add more foods such as legumes like beans, lentils and chickpeas, soy products like tofu and tempeh, and whole grains.

Winterlicious at Fonda Lola

By Sophie Chong

General Manager Rafael Bastidas said they tried to incorporate things inside Fonda Lola that referenced Mexico. Included in the decorations are also memorabilia of the owner’s late grandmother, whom the name of the restaurant was inspired from. (CanCulture/Sophie Chong)

Nestled along the edge of Little Portugal in Toronto, Fonda Lola has brought traditional Mexican cuisine to the west end of Toronto for the past five years.

This year, Fonda Lola is participating in one of Toronto’s most anticipated food events, Winterlicious.

Rafael Bastidas, general manager of the restaurant, said Winterlicious has given them the opportunity to explore with their menu based on what their chef has available at the time.

“We want to experiment with our menu in Winterlicious to see how people are reacting to our food and if we have to promote some dishes more than others,” he said.

Rafael Bastidas, who immigrated to Canada from Venezuela, currently works as the general manager of Fonda Lola. He is in charge of the front of house operations, and is also the in-house mixologist. (CanCulture/Sophie Chong)

Fonda Lola serves a plethora of mexican-style alcoholic beverages including fusion cocktails, margaritas, tequila, mojitos, and beers. (CanCulture/Sophie Chong)

For a fixed price of $33 plus tax and gratuities, Fonda Lola offers a prix fixe menu of a select number of appetizers, entrées, and desserts.

Fonda Lola offers the staple dish of chips and salsa as an appetizer (usually $12), made with house-made corn tortilla chips, and pico de gallo that is seasoned with red onion, lime, and cilantro. The tomato salsa is tangy but not overly sweet like many store-bought salsas. The tortilla chips are light, not too salty, and adds a great crunch to the house-made salsa.

Fonda Lola boasts house-made and handcrafted ingredients in all of their drinks and food that they serve. All ingredients used in dishes are locally sourced within the Toronto area, and they offer vegan and vegetarian options. (CanCulture/Sophie Chong)

For the main course, they have Carnitas Tacos (usually $16), which contains Mexican pork confit topped with red onion and cilantro. The pork is tender and moist and pairs nicely with red onion and cilantro. Fonda Lola also sources their pork meat from a local Portuguese supermarket in Toronto.

However, if customers are looking for vegan or vegetarian options, they also serve Cauliflower Tacos (usually $16). The dish includes cauliflower sautéed with garlic and guajillo pepper, topped with cilantro, red onion, and house chipotle and aioli.

Bastidas recommended the Cauliflower Tacos, made with sautéed cauliflower with garlic and guajillo sauce, topped with cilantro, red onion, and house chipotle aioli. (CanCulture/Sophie Chong)

Desserts at Fonda Lola typically range from $8-$15. On their Winterlicious menu, they featured the Tequila Flan (vegetarian), which is not a regular item on their menu. It’s made up of a sweet custard infused with tequila and cream cheese, baked with a layer of house-made caramel. It has a smooth, creamy, light texture with a slight taste of alcohol, the sweetness of the caramel adding depth to the tangy tequila and the cream cheese.

What is Winterlicious?

Winterlicious has made its 16th annual appearance in Toronto this year, with reportedly over 200 participating restaurants. From January 25 to February 7, Torontonians are encouraged to explore the city’s diverse culture through the food scene.

“They showcase diverse cuisine, they’re talented chefs. This is an opportunity for people to dine out and explore Toronto’s food culture,” said Eirine Papaioannou, event support supervisor at the Toronto Office of Partnerships.

Hosted by the city, customers and avid food lovers get a chance to grab a taste of Toronto’s ever-changing restaurant industry. The event allows both newcomers and native Torontonians to expand their taste buds at cuisines for a reasonable price. Fixed prices for three course meals vary from restaurant to restaurant. There are three fixed prices for both lunch and dinner includes: lunch for $23, $28, $33, and dinner for $33, $43, $53.

“The event is open to everyone who lives here, or is visiting here, and because of the price points it is accessible at different levels,” said Papaioannou.

At toronto.ca, interested customers can customize their search for the type of cuisines, neighbourhood, and price point in order to find exactly what they’re looking for. The search engine also allows for visitors to easily find information on which restaurants offer vegan, vegetarian, and accessibility options.

“Toronto has one of the best culinary scenes, such as diversity of food types...this is a way for people to explore the world in their hometown,” she said.

Is it worth it?

Winterlicous can be a way to narrow down possible food options for customers who have a hard time deciding on what to order from a new restaurant. Prix fixe menus give them a taste of the restaurant, and a new culinary experience that can seemingly be five to eight dollars cheaper than ordering from the regular prices. They may also be pleasantly surprised by great hospitality, the atmosphere of the restaurant, and other aspects that could drive them to visit again.

Some customers may be disappointed that even with the set prices, their bill can almost amount to the same price as if customers had ordered from the regular menu. This is because the prix fixe does not cover alcohol, taxes and gratuity.

For students on a budget, Winterlicious would be a great option if they're willing to; spend some money to try something new, go out for a date night, a special family function, or a night out with friends. However, students should be wary that even with the fixed prices, their overall meal can still cost four times more than your everyday Big Mac combo at McDonald’s.