Dining Out: A Belated Birthday Burger at Woody Wood Burger

My friends Chelsea and Braden and I have been meaning to try out Woody Wood Burger for months now, so when they asked me where I'd want to go for a birthday dinner, I suggested Woody Wood Burger knowing that I'd have a lot of Asian food this week and would want something Western by the weekend.

Woody Wood Burger with curly fries

I decided on the Woody Wood Burger as I like to order the signature item when trying out a new restaurant. This burger comes with cheddar, caramelized onions, onion rings, sautéed mushrooms, and house sauce on a toasted sesame bun. The beef patty was excellent — juicy and super-flavourful — and both the onion rings (which weren't soggy!) and the toasted bun provided a great crispy texture to provide contrast to the caramelized onions and mushrooms. But I did find that without the addition of fresh vegetables, it was quite rich and heavy. A great burger, but I'd like to try the Classic or Cheese Burger next time as they come with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. I would, however, skip the curly fries. They're nothing special — they're just the classic cajun-spiced curly fries that you can find at any supermarket — and they get cold way too fast so it's not worth the extra $2.00 from the regular golden fries. 

There are five dine-in tables with a high table for those who want to stand and eat something quick, but the space is quite small and a little shabby as you'd expect from a non-chain burger joint. There's also no table service here — you order at the front and pick-up your food at the front — but the staff are nice and try to be as accommodating as possible. Note that this restaurant is halal, but if you have food allergies, I would definitely call ahead to see if it's worth going. (Chelsea is allergic to gluten, eggs, and soy, so she had to bring her own gluten-free buns and vegan mayo. She also had to eat her Greek salad with no dressing because they only have one dressing option that she was allergic to.)

Woody Wood Burger

8950 Yonge St.

Richmond Hill, ON L4C 6Z7

(289) 597-8878

Orlando 2024 Travel Log: Springfield at Universal Studios Florida — Day 3: Krusty Burger Combo at Krusty Burger and Pink Sprinkled Donut at Lard Lad Donuts

It's our third and final day at Universal Studios Orlando Resort before flying back home tomorrow. Since we thoroughly explored both of the Harry Potter parks over the past two days, we decided to check out some other parts of Universal Studios Florida and ended up spending quite a bit of time in Springfield, which is, of course, dedicated to The Simpsons.

Greetings from Springfield Sign

Krusty Burger

Krusty Burger with Kurly Fries

We went to Krusty Burger for lunch (tip: order through the mobile app and skip the massive line-ups) and obviously got the classic Krusty Burger, which is a 1/3 lb. burger with secret sauce, cheddar cheese sauce, a giant tomato slice, and iceberg lettuce on what seems to be a potato bun. We got the combo, which is served with Kurly fries and a drink. This burger, aside from looking almost picture perfect, was actually pretty incredible. The patty is smash-style so it has these perfectly crispy edges and incredible flavour, and the tomato and lettuce were fresh and crisp. Totally not what we were expecting. The Kurly fries are basically cajun curly fries but these, too, were fantastic — great flavour with a crispy exterior, and no condiments necessary. If you're looking for a good burger joint in this park, Krusty Burger is a surprisingly great option.

Lard Lad Donuts

Pink sprinkled donut from Lard Lad Donuts

We decided to go across the street to Lard Lad Donuts for a little dessert, and ordered the classic vanilla sprinkle donut. Honestly, I was expecting for it to be more unique or special, maybe like Krispy Kreme, but it really just is the most basic vanilla sprinkle donut. The kind you can get at Tim Hortons (or Dunkin' Donuts) for less than $2.00. This donut here, just because it's from a theme park, was $6.00 USD. I guess it's not surprising given that a bottle of water is also $6.00 here, but still, we were disappointed to say the least. Unless you're getting the iconic giant pink iced donut (which is equivalent to about 5 donuts), I'd skip this and find your sweet tooth fix at one of the dozens of other eateries and food stalls in this park.

While still in Springfield, we did go on Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl, one of the very few rides that we were both allowed to go on, and walked through The Simpsons Ride to see the interior of the building. Like both Gringotts Bank and Hogwarts Castle, the ride attendants are very accommodating to those who can't actually go on the rides and will absolutely let you go through the building to see the inside, so don't hesitate to ask!

Springfield

Universal Studios Florida 

6000 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819, USA

(407) 363-8000

Dining Out: Super Smash Double Burger and Super Fries at Super Smash Burgs

My friend Ronsee suggested having burgers for our dinner meet-up this evening, so I decided to take the opportunity to finally try out Super Smash Burgs:

Super Smash Double
Super Fries

I decided on the Super Smash burger (which is the Classic Smash but with the addition of lettuce and tomato) with double patties because I was ragingly hungry and it was a most excellent choice. The beef patties were juicy and flavourful with just the right amount of seared crisp on the edges. You can't go wrong with this one if you like smash burgers in general. (And it might be the closest I can get to a Shake Shack burger here.) Ronsee got the Oklahoma Smash and said it was decent but was disappointed with the lack of onion flavour in the patty. We did share the Super Fries, though, which we both thought were incredible. (It did seem to make up for his disappointment in his burger.) Pretty pricey at $14, which is more expensive than either of our burgers, but the portion is huge and it's LOADED (with chopped beef, American cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeños, Smash sauce, and honey BBQ sauce). Will definitely visit again when the smash burger craving hits. 

Super Smash Burgs

76 Main St. Markham N.

Markham, ON L3P 1X5

(289) 554-2874

Take Out: Cheeseburger "All the Way" and Fries from Five Guys

Cheeseburger "All the Way" with fries from Five Guys
I had to go to the dentist today for my second intense cleaning (because I didn't go to the dentist for 18 years and they had to split my cleaning sessions by right and left sides) so I thought I deserved a delicious, insanely fattening, calorie-laden cheeseburger with everything on it. In reality, one doesn't have anything to do with the other, I just really wanted a cheeseburger from Five Guys and I'm convincing myself it's a reward.

Take Out: The Holy Chuck from Holy Chuck

The Holy Chuck

When Ronsee asked me this afternoon if I wanted to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with him, I was like, "Ehhhh..." But then he said, "I'll bring burgers from Holy Chuck." So I immediately responded, "Alright, come on over." Because I can absolutely be bribed with (excellent, top quality, truly delicious, juicy) burgers.

(The Leafs lost, but Denise won.)

Food Delivery: Primeburger from Fresh Burger

Primeburger with all the fixings

It's Fri-yay, which means lunch delivery at work! We were craving burgers, so Caitlin insisted that we get burgers from Fresh Burger, which Linh and I had never tried before. I got the Primeburger, the 6 oz. version of the original Freshburger: a 100% Canadian Angus beef patty, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, Freshburger sauce, pickles, and onions. And I gotta say, it's giving Burger's Priest a run for its money. Granted, Burger's Priest has a one-up in variety — and the fact that they have deep-fried cheese-filled portobello mushrooms available à la Shake Shack — but comparing original cheeseburger to original cheeseburger, I wouldn't know the difference. Fresh Burger is also way cheaper. And has more convenient locations. (As in, there's one that is 5 minutes from work, and another that's 10 minutes from my condo.) If we're comparing quality and value, Freshburger is already winning.

We also got a poutine and the California-style fries, which is a play on In-and-Out's Animal-style fries — fries topped with Freshburger sauce (a variation of Thousand Island dressing), chopped caramelized onions, and a slice of American cheese on top — and I don't know if it's the Canadian in us or just the general superiority of gravy and cheese curds, but we all agreed: the poutine was infinitely better. 

Fresh Burger

9206 Leslie St., Unit 4

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 2N8

(905) 597-7224

Photolog 2021: Day 160 of 365

Day #3 of vacation: Had to do a blood test earlier, so Ying and I went to Five Guys and grabbed big greasy cheeseburgers with all the fixings (mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, mustard, relish, and jalapeño peppers) for dinner. (And cajun fries, obviously.) This cheeseburger seemed extra delicious today, maybe because I haven't had a real cheeseburger (and sorry, McDonald's doesn't count) since December. But looking back at old posts, this is apparently my go-to meal after a blood test, as if my body is telling me, "MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS OF IRON WITH BEEF! LOTS OF BEEF!" It's not intentional, I swear. What is intentional is trying not to cook a single meal this week...

Photolog 2020: Day 343 of 366

I fasted for 16 hours to do blood tests for two different doctors today (eight tubes of blood!!!), so what did I do right afterwards? Eat a big, fat, juicy cheeseburger from Five Guys with all the fixings — grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, mayo, mustard, and ketchup. Plus cajun fries. (Obviously.) This meal took up nearly 2/3 of my daily calories (yes, I'm doing calorie counting right now and this is a great dirty burger, y'all), but I DESERVED IT.

Photolog 2020: Day 279 of 366

Ying came over this afternoon to help me build bookshelves so we decided to get burgers for dinner and it was so damn delicious and now I'm thinking that it's really not a good thing that I live walking distance from Five Guys...

Photolog 2020: Day 257 of 366

D-3 until moving. Spent five hours deep-cleaning the condo today. Back hurts, neck hurts, arms hurt. So I treated myself to a cheeseburger with all the fixings (they have grilled mushrooms and jalapeños as free toppings!) from Five Guys. I hadn't been there in a few years and I forgot how good their burgers and fries are. It doesn't surpass The Burger's Priest (which has better buns, fresher toppings, and deep-fried cheese-stuffed portobello mushrooms), but for the value, flavour, and overall quality, it's surprisingly close. 

Photolog 2020: Day 253 of 366

Canada's answer to the Shake Shack's Shack Stack: The Priest from Burger's Priest. 😍🍔 

(Also, I'm gonna go ahead and say it: the fries at Burger's Priest are better.)

Photolog 2020: Day 21 of 366

"The Pope"
"The Priest"
Went to The Burger's Priest for dinner and got The Pope (for Ronsee) and The Priest (for me). Because sometimes, you just need a (double) cheeseburger with a giant, deep-fried, cheese-filled portobello mushroom. 🤤🍔

Photolog 2019: Day 140 of 365 (Part 2)

Last day in NYC. So, obligatory Shack Stack.


Shake Shack
200 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
(646) 230-0320

Photolog 2018: Day 364 of 365

I spent all day doing paperwork so it was only appropriate that I had an office burger.

Photolog 2018: Day 270 of 365

Our second day in NYC began in Koreatown because we were craving Korean food and also wanted to buy some Korean skincare products. (I also enjoy the healthy amount of appreciation for BTS in the stores around there.)


There are dozens of Korean restaurants to choose from just on this one street, but we decided upon Five Senses, which ended up being one of the nicest authentic Korean restaurants I've ever been to. It's also the most expensive Korean restaurant I've ever been to, but that could just be the standard pricing in NYC (because everything is expensive in NYC). On that note, though, it was one of the tastiest Korean meals I've ever had (I have not been to South Korea, but I work with what I have access to). We started with a most beautifully golden, perfectly crispy kimchi pajeon, and then Chelsea had her usual bibimbap and I got the budae-jjigae (their version uses kimchi, sausage, ham, Berkshire pork belly, bacon, tofu, rice cakes, and ramen — so basically, it's heaven). While I think Chinese restaurants in Toronto are far superior than ones in NYC, I prefer the Korean restaurants in NYC to the ones in Toronto.


After lunch, we decided to look at some shops in Koreatown and dropped into the Nature Republic store to stock up on some skincare. I came here last year with Ronsee and bought a number of things that I really ended up loving but aren't readily available in Toronto. So this time, I decided to try some new products and ended up getting the Hawaiian Deep Sea Mild Scrub Foam Cleanser, City-Care Marine Water Toner, City-Care Marine Water Cream, Polynesia Lagoon Water Hydro Essence, Jeju Sparkling Cleanser Water, and Bee Venom Mist Essence (I wish I had gotten a couple more bottles of this mist; my skin randomly gets irritated and this mist immediately soothes it and takes away any itchiness or redness, which no other spray has ever done for me before). And because that apparently wasn't enough Korean skincare, I also ended up getting Glow Recipe's Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser and Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer when Chelsea dragged me into Sephora to look at makeup. So, yeah. I'm really set for skincare for like, the next year.


After spending the rest of the afternoon shopping in and around the Herald Square area, we headed back to the hotel to drop our bags off before rushing to the August Wilson Theatre to watch Mean Girls on Broadway. (We literally made it there with a minute to spare.) I almost forgot how good Mean Girls is. Tina Fey did a great job at updating the jokes and slang to fit today's teens, and the entire cast are phenomenal singers. As with the movie, my favourite character in the musical is Karen. She just gets the best lines. I find some musicals to be quite tedious or boring to watch, but this one was entertaining and funny and true to the original film. Highly recommend!


It would have been silly to be in the Theater District and not go to Shake Shack. The line-up wasn't too bad (it didn't go out the door and down the sidewalk like the last time I was there), but it was still crazy busy in there with all tables filled, so we took our orders to go to eat at our hotel (which was within walking distance). I was starving, so I got my usual Shack Stack as well as a regular single burger and a black & white milkshake. Because, you know, go big or go home. (For the amount of money and calories, I prefer getting a second burger to getting fries from Shake Shack.) And given how many burgers I've tried in and out of Toronto, I still think Shake Shack makes the best fast food burger of all time.


Five Senses
9 W 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 441-0005

Nature Republic
33 W 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 244-9444

August Wilson Theatre
245 W 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(800) 745-3000

Shake Shack
691 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
(646) 435-0135

Photolog 2018: Day 261 of 365

I had to. It's National Cheeseburger Day!

Photolog 2018: Day 72 of 365

Today's treat day lunch featuring a cheeseburger from Hero, my favourite fast food burger.

NYC — Spring 2017: Shake Shack

Shack Stack
Obligatory Shack Stack from the largest Shake Shack in NYC.


Shake ShackFulton Center, Level 2200 BroadwayNew York, NY 10007(646) 230-0320

NYC — Winter 2015: Shake Shack

I am back from New York! Four days of eating and shopping, which is pretty much all I care to do on vacation. I have much food porn to share with y'all (which I will divide by restaurant), so be prepared to get hungry. We arrived on Sunday evening, and were staying at Row NYC, which we chose mostly because it's so central (I'm not a huge fan of staying near Times Square, but it was Austin's first time in NYC, and I thought it'd be a good idea to stay somewhere more accessible) and partially because it's right across the street from a Shake Shack. As you know, I have a serious love affair with Shake Shack, and it's one of the places I have to go to every time I'm in NYC. I obviously had to share this majestic experience with Austin, who had never been before.

So much gloriousness!
Shack Stack
Smoke Shack
Crinkle-cut fries
We were a wee bit peckish when we arrived in NYC, so not only did we get Shack Stacks (my personal favourite — I have written about it here, here, here, and here.), we also each got a second burger. I opted for the Smoke Shack, which I had never had before; it's a cheeseburger with all-natural applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry peppers, and Shack Sauce. And dear god, if you like bacon, you must order this. It doesn't take Shack Stack's #1 spot in my books (because hi, deep-fried portobello mushroom stuffed with cheese!), but it is glorious in its own right. The bacon's not too crispy and not too chewy, and has a nice smoky flavour that goes amazingly well with their beef patty. We also ordered crinkle-cut fries (without cheese, because weirdly enough, I think it's better just plain), a mango lemonade, and a black and white milkshake, all of which are delightful and should also be ordered time and time again along with your burgers (especially the milkshake). When I told Austin that Shake Shack has by far the best fast food burgers I have ever eaten, he had his doubts. Indeed, I have made him a believer. And if Shake Shack were a religion, I'd be first to convert.

Shake Shack (Theater District) 691 8th Avenue New York, NY 10036 (646) 435-0135

NYC — Spring 2014: Food Journal (Day 3: Shake Shack and Crispo)

As we were staying at a hotel near Madison Square Park, you know I had to get me some Shake Shack.
Shack Stack with fries
Obviously, Shake Shack needs no introduction. In my opinion, they make the best fast food burgers in the world, let alone New York. Madison Square Garden is home to the original Shake Shack (the only one that is actually shack-style, and outdoors with a seating area surrounding it), and it was my first time at this location (I've been to the ones in the Theatre District and Battery Park City). We arrived at around 1:00; the line-up wasn't too bad, but it was still about a 20-minute wait to order, and then another 15 minutes to wait for our food. But even then, it was entirely worth it. And I would have waited even longer. Yes, that's how good these burgers are. You could easily go to any of the other eateries in and around Madison Square that would be faster, but why would you?

We managed to find a table in their little outdoor dining area (you gotta be quick about it, eyeing the tables like a hawk and swooping in the second someone stands up to leave), and despite it being a little too sunny for my liking, it was a beautiful day to eat outside. A single Shack Burger for my mom, and a Shack Stack for me (always and forever): Their cheeseburger with a crispy deep-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses, topped with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce. The Priest Burger at Burger's Priest is as close to it as we can find in Toronto, and I don't know whether it's the sauce or the bun or the meat itself, or perhaps the deep-fried mushroom, but the Shack Stack is always better. Save for being vegan, do yourself a favour if you're ever in New York and get yourself to a Shake Shack. You won't regret it. Oh, and get yourself a side of their crinkle-cut fries, too. But hold the cheese; the plasticky processed flavour of it ruins the perfectly-salted, crispy, golden fries.

Hot & Sweet Soppressata, Caponata, and Provolone
Caramelized Maple Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Almonds
Sweet Potatoes with Parmigiano and Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Olive Oil
For dinner, my brother took us to one of his favourite Italian restaurants in the city, Crispo. It's at the border of West Village and Chelsea, and is sort of tucked in at the bottom of a building without any signage so that you might miss it if you aren't looking for it, but it's really a gem of a find. And when you do find it, you'll be surprised to see such a large space hidden behind such an unassuming entrance. To start, we ordered a plate of hot and sweet soppressata, caponata, and provolone cheese, the caramelized maple Brussels sprouts with toasted almonds, and a couple small plates of sweet potatoes pan-fried and sprinkled with parmigiano and sautéed spinach with garlic and olive oil. I always think proper Italian meals should start with a plate of salami and cheese (sort of an Italian charcuterie plate); the soppressata and provolone are both very flavourful (I wouldn't classify the cheese as "stinky," but it borders on pungent) but work so well as small bites to go with crusty Italian bread dipped in olive oil (and wine, if you drink it).

And here, the Brussels sprouts make an appearance again, this time caramelized with maple to give it a smoky sweetness and topped with a flurry of toasted almonds for a gorgeous nutty flavour. I never thought I could love Brussels sprouts so much until I got to New York. These are amazing, and I reckon even people who originally hated Brussels sprouts could be converted. I don't think "Brussels sprouts" when I think of Italian cuisine, but these are a must-order here. They also offer a variety of side dishes, so we ordered the sweet potatoes, which are pan-fried and sprinkled with parmigiano, and the spinach, which is sautéed with olive oil and garlic. We ordered the spinach more so to have something healthy alongside such rich foods and it's nothing really that exciting (unless you love spinach), but the sweet potatoes were glorious, a perfect blend of sweet and savoury. 

Crispo Pork Shank with Quince, Salsify, Chiles, and Onion Rings
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Capelli d'Angelo with Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Calamari, Garlic, and Basil 
We ordered three mains: my brother chose the pork shank, my mom chose classic spaghetti and meatballs, and I chose the seafood angel hair pasta. The pork shank was soft and tender, with a slightly smoky flavour. On its own, it's good, but when eaten in conjunction with the quince and salsify, it's beautiful. The spaghetti and meatballs, a favourite dish of my mom's, is as classic as it gets at any Italian restaurant, but Crispo makes it count with tender, flavourful meatballs, perfectly al dente pasta, and the freshest tomatoes and tomato sauce. However, the clear winner of the night (and it was a unanimous decision), was the angel hair pasta. The plushest shrimps and scallops, and the most tender, perfectly cooked calamari, tossed with fresh garlic, basil, and tomatoes. Such clean, light flavours mingling together. I normally prefer thicker ribbons of pasta like fettuccine or pappardelle, but the angel hair works beautifully here because it doesn't compete with the heartiness of the other ingredients and also because this particular dish doesn't have a heavy sauce. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the pasta options at Crispo, but this one was just... perfection.



Shake Shack Madison Square Park Madison Avenue & East 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 (212) 889-6600
Crispo 240 West 14th Street New York, NY 10011 (212) 229-1818