Castlegar Burger Month 2026: 10 Burgers Worth Rolling Up Your Sleeves For

Clear your October dining calendar. Castlegar Burger Month is back, and the local chefs have been busy dreaming up creations that deserve your full attention. And probably a few extra napkins.

Running October 1 to 31, the event brings together 10 restaurants in Castlegar and nearby Genelle, Robson, and Crescent Valley. Each is serving a signature burger for $19 plus tax, with diners deciding which creations deserve the bragging rights.

This year’s menu offers plenty of reasons to venture beyond your usual order. The Nineteenth turns pork dumpling flavours into a burger, complete with crispy wonton and a jumbo tiger prawn. Mr. Mikes takes surf and turf in a different direction, stacking shaved rib eye with lobster mac and cheese. And Tonik Distillery gives French onion flavours a local twist with lemongrass gin mustard and a homemade pizza dough bun. There’s also a breakfast burger, a lamb burger, and more than one creative pairing of brie cheese and pear. Picking a favourite could take some fieldwork.

Castlegar Burger Month: How to Vote

After trying a contender, cast your ballot at castlegarnews.com/contests or ask for a paper ballot at the participating restaurant. Rate the burgers from one to five for presentation, taste, and originality. Online voting is limited to once per person per day.

Voting enters you into a draw for restaurant gift certificates. The competition closes October 31, with winners announced in November. So gather a few hungry friends, choose your first stop and let the tasting begin. Whether you tackle one burger or work your way through the lineup, remember to vote before the end of the month. Castlegar’s next burger champion needs your taste buds.

The 2026 Burger Lineup

Pork Dumpling Smashed Burger
The Nineteenth at Castlegar Golf Club | 1602 Aaron Rd., Castlegar
A seared Sakura Farms pork dumpling patty with sriracha mayo, optional chilli crunch, fried wonton and Asian sesame slaw on toasted brioche. The finishing touch is a marinated jumbo tiger prawn with a panko crust.

Out of Bounds Burger
Birchbank Bistro | 550 Hwy 22, Genelle
Wagyu beef shares a brioche bun with ham, bacon, a fried egg and cheddar. Garlic aioli, pickles, tomato and lettuce round out the stack.

Grubs Messy Masterpiece
Grants Fine Dining | 186 Columbia Ave., Castlegar
A local beef patty meets sweet and spicy chorizo ragù, Monterey Jack, fried green tomato and arugula. Avocado aioli brings it together on a potato bun made in-house.

Maple Medley
MapleMirch | 4370 B Minto Rd., Castlegar
An Angus patty and cheddar are joined by bacon glazed with maple and chilli, mango relish, tamarind mayo and sautéed coconut cabbage. It’s served on toasted brioche with a crispy turmeric tater bite perched on top.

Boi Vivant
Mr. Mikes | 651 18 St., Castlegar
Shaved rib eye with sweet and salty flavours, lobster mac and cheese, and slaw dressed with garlic aioli, all piled onto a potato onion bun.

French Onion Burger
Tonik Distillery | 1286 BC-6, Crescent Valley
A one-third-pound beef patty with Swiss cheese, Provençal-style sautéed mushrooms and onions, French onion aioli and lemongrass gin mustard. Spinach, tomato and Polskis complete the burger, served on a homemade pizza dough bun glazed with honey.

House-Made Brisket Brie Burger
The Lionshead Smoke & Brew Pub | 2629 Broadwater Rd., Robson
A brisket patty made in-house with Brie, bacon pear jam, crispy onions and arugula. Garlic aioli and a balsamic reduction finish the brioche-bun burger. A gluten-free bun is available.

The Brie + Pear Affair
Backeddy Pub | 1432 Columbia Ave., Castlegar
A beef patty pressed by hand with Brie, poached pear, bacon onion jam and hickory sticks. Arugula dressed with balsamic reduction and garlic aioli add the finishing flavours, with toasted brioche holding it all together.

Harvest Moon Breakfast Burger
Common Grounds | 692 18th St., Castlegar
A croissant bun filled with sausage, egg, aged cheddar, arugula and tomato, plus Antionette’s Salt Spring sauce. An excellent excuse to get your burger tasting underway early.

The Olympian
The Grateful Table | 400 Columbia Ave., Castlegar
Six ounces of house-ground lamb topped with Greek Kefalograviera cheese and olive tapenade. Garlic aioli, spinach, red onion and tomato complete the burger on brioche from Crumbs Bakery.