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Audubon

Take a Meat Break With These 16 Veggie Burgers

Burger Week continues with a little something for lovers of meatless patties.

by Katie Chudy Apr 15, 2015, 2:00pm EDT

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Audubon

| Katie Chudy

by Katie Chudy Apr 15, 2015, 2:00pm EDT

Burger Week continues with a little something for lovers of meatless patties. The veggie burger — featuring a patty consisting of vegetables, grains, legumes, eggs, and/or sometimes cheese — is typically meant to mimic a traditional meat-based burger. While many countries have had various types of vegetable patties in their culinary repertoire for centuries, the history of their use in alternative burgers isn't exactly clear. It can be traced back at least to London in the 1980s, and a similar claim is made from a restaurant in Oregon, also in the 1980s.

Whether you're taking a permanent break from meat or just want a little something different for a change, here are some of the city's best veggie burger options.

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Olde Magoun's Saloon

Homemade Vegan Burger - This patty can be selected instead of a traditional beef patty and combined with one of 19 meat and vegetable combinations, all with fun names like "hillbilly", "Polish hammer", and "Englishter." Served with a choice of nacho chips, coleslaw, cajun pasta salad, french fries, onion rings, or a side salad. [Photo: Facebook]

518 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145

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Christopher's

Christopher's Homemade Veggie Burger: There's a lot of pride in this "award-winning" veggie burger, and the restaurant think it's the best around. The veggie burger is topped with pesto and red peppers and served with a salad and fries. [Photo: Facebook]

1920 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140

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Highland Kitchen

Black Bean Veggie Burger: This bean-based veggie burger is topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, and jack cheese, and it's served with house-made pickles and a choice of fries or dressed greens. [Photo: Facebook]

150 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143

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Trina's Starlite Lounge

Veggie Burger: Made in house and can be topped with chili, cheese, or bacon, for an additional fee. [Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

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The Druid

Veggie Burger: This non-descript veggie patty is often listed as one of the best in the city. Served simply with a bit of mayo, lettuce, and tomato, all on a sesame-studded bulkie roll, and served with fries and salad. [Photo: Yelp]

1357 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Lord Hobo

Veggie Burger: Made from lentils, rice, and quinoa, the veggie burger takes an Asian twist with scallions, ginger, soy, and crispy wontons. It pairs perfectly with a pint of craft beer. The brunch menu at Lord Hobo reveals another version of their veggie burger, this time white bean-based and topped with pesto. Served with a side salad. [Photo: Facebook]

92 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Veggie Galaxy

Burger: This hipster hangout is a retro diner specializing in vegetarian fare, and they have plenty of veggie burgers on the menu to choose from. To start, there are two patty options, a chipotle black bean or a mushroom chickpea burger. There are a variety of suggested combinations from there, or diners can just create their own, choosing from 35 different toppings. Served with a side of dressed greens and choice of potato salad, green cabbage slaw, or house-made potato chips. [Photo: Facebook]

450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Also featured in:

Lulu's Allston

Thai Quinoa and Black Bean Burger: This veggie burger has an Asian twis — the quinoa and black bean burger is topped with red curry and coconut milk, Vermont cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onions, and a secret sauce. Served on a brioche bun with fries on the side. [Photo: Facebook]

421 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134

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Also featured in:

jm Curley

House Veggie Burger: jm Curley's veggie burger is topped with griddled onions, cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and "jamama sauce." For a fee, you can make your veggie burger a double stack. [Photo: Cal Bingham for Eater]

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

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Deep Ellum

Chickpea Burger: This burger is topped with a vibrant beet tzatziki, arugula, and tomatoes, and it pairs perfectly with a beer. Served on both the dinner and brunch menu. [Photo: Cal Bingham for Eater]

477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

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Also featured in:

Root

Root Burger: At this vegetarian restaurant, the house burger is comprised of a black bean and quinoa base, and then it's topped with Boston lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, and aioli. Served with a choice of dressed greens or herbed fries. [Photo: Chris Coe for Eater]

487 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02134

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Also featured in:

Audubon Boston

Veggie Burger: There's a lot going on in this grain based-patty that is made from a combination of brown rice, farro, and oats, and then combined with black beans, corn, carrot, celery, shallots, ginger, garlic, scallion, parsley, and cilantro — and served with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. Plus, there's a choice of roasted potatoes or slaw on the side. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

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838 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02215

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Trophy Room

The Vegetarian Burger: Served with fries or a salad, the veggie burger at the Trophy Room starts with a vegan black bean patty, and then it's topped with diner's choice of cheese and served on a pretzel bun. [Photo: Official Site]

26 Chandler St, Boston, MA

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Also featured in:

Woody's Grill & Tap

Veggie Burger: Served with choice of steak fries, a vinegary coleslaw, or salad greens, this house-made veggie burger is loaded with potatoes and lentils and topped with roasted red peppers, red onions, spinach, and pesto. Served on a whole wheat bun. [Photo: Yelp]

58 Hemenway St, Boston, MA 02115

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Also featured in:

KO Catering & Pies

Veggie Burger: While this restaurant is well known for its Australian meat pies, the Eastie outpost has a veggie burger on the menu that is not to be overlooked. Made from chickpeas and beet root, it is topped with tomato, red onion, arugula, and a lime mayo. Perfect to enjoy while looking at the city skyline from the dockside patio. [Photo: Official Site]

87 A St, Boston, MA 02127

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Also featured in:

The Publick House

House Made Veggie Burger: This veggie burger combines a garden of vegetables into one patty, including carrots, peas, and zucchini, and it's flavored with cumin and cilantro. It can then be topped with any number of items from the burger accompaniments menu, with various cheeses, sauces, vegetables, and even meats. Served with a choice of fries, slaw, greens, or smash potato. [Photo: Yelp]

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1648 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02445

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Olde Magoun's Saloon

518 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145

Homemade Vegan Burger - This patty can be selected instead of a traditional beef patty and combined with one of 19 meat and vegetable combinations, all with fun names like "hillbilly", "Polish hammer", and "Englishter." Served with a choice of nacho chips, coleslaw, cajun pasta salad, french fries, onion rings, or a side salad. [Photo: Facebook]

518 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145

Visit Website

Christopher's

1920 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140

Christopher's Homemade Veggie Burger: There's a lot of pride in this "award-winning" veggie burger, and the restaurant think it's the best around. The veggie burger is topped with pesto and red peppers and served with a salad and fries. [Photo: Facebook]

1920 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140

Visit Website

Highland Kitchen

150 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143

Black Bean Veggie Burger: This bean-based veggie burger is topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, and jack cheese, and it's served with house-made pickles and a choice of fries or dressed greens. [Photo: Facebook]

150 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

Trina's Starlite Lounge

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

Veggie Burger: Made in house and can be topped with chili, cheese, or bacon, for an additional fee. [Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

The Druid

1357 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Veggie Burger: This non-descript veggie patty is often listed as one of the best in the city. Served simply with a bit of mayo, lettuce, and tomato, all on a sesame-studded bulkie roll, and served with fries and salad. [Photo: Yelp]

1357 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Lord Hobo

92 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Veggie Burger: Made from lentils, rice, and quinoa, the veggie burger takes an Asian twist with scallions, ginger, soy, and crispy wontons. It pairs perfectly with a pint of craft beer. The brunch menu at Lord Hobo reveals another version of their veggie burger, this time white bean-based and topped with pesto. Served with a side salad. [Photo: Facebook]

92 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Veggie Galaxy

450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Burger: This hipster hangout is a retro diner specializing in vegetarian fare, and they have plenty of veggie burgers on the menu to choose from. To start, there are two patty options, a chipotle black bean or a mushroom chickpea burger. There are a variety of suggested combinations from there, or diners can just create their own, choosing from 35 different toppings. Served with a side of dressed greens and choice of potato salad, green cabbage slaw, or house-made potato chips. [Photo: Facebook]

450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Lulu's Allston

421 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134

Thai Quinoa and Black Bean Burger: This veggie burger has an Asian twis — the quinoa and black bean burger is topped with red curry and coconut milk, Vermont cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onions, and a secret sauce. Served on a brioche bun with fries on the side. [Photo: Facebook]

421 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134

Visit Website

jm Curley

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

House Veggie Burger: jm Curley's veggie burger is topped with griddled onions, cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and "jamama sauce." For a fee, you can make your veggie burger a double stack. [Photo: Cal Bingham for Eater]

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

Visit Website

Deep Ellum

477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Chickpea Burger: This burger is topped with a vibrant beet tzatziki, arugula, and tomatoes, and it pairs perfectly with a beer. Served on both the dinner and brunch menu. [Photo: Cal Bingham for Eater]

477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Root

487 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02134

Root Burger: At this vegetarian restaurant, the house burger is comprised of a black bean and quinoa base, and then it's topped with Boston lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, and aioli. Served with a choice of dressed greens or herbed fries. [Photo: Chris Coe for Eater]

487 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Audubon Boston

838 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02215

Veggie Burger: There's a lot going on in this grain based-patty that is made from a combination of brown rice, farro, and oats, and then combined with black beans, corn, carrot, celery, shallots, ginger, garlic, scallion, parsley, and cilantro — and served with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. Plus, there's a choice of roasted potatoes or slaw on the side. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Open in Google Maps

838 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

Trophy Room

26 Chandler St, Boston, MA

The Vegetarian Burger: Served with fries or a salad, the veggie burger at the Trophy Room starts with a vegan black bean patty, and then it's topped with diner's choice of cheese and served on a pretzel bun. [Photo: Official Site]

26 Chandler St, Boston, MA

Visit Website

Woody's Grill & Tap

58 Hemenway St, Boston, MA 02115

Veggie Burger: Served with choice of steak fries, a vinegary coleslaw, or salad greens, this house-made veggie burger is loaded with potatoes and lentils and topped with roasted red peppers, red onions, spinach, and pesto. Served on a whole wheat bun. [Photo: Yelp]

58 Hemenway St, Boston, MA 02115

Visit Website

KO Catering & Pies

87 A St, Boston, MA 02127

Veggie Burger: While this restaurant is well known for its Australian meat pies, the Eastie outpost has a veggie burger on the menu that is not to be overlooked. Made from chickpeas and beet root, it is topped with tomato, red onion, arugula, and a lime mayo. Perfect to enjoy while looking at the city skyline from the dockside patio. [Photo: Official Site]

87 A St, Boston, MA 02127

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Publick House

1648 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02445

House Made Veggie Burger: This veggie burger combines a garden of vegetables into one patty, including carrots, peas, and zucchini, and it's flavored with cumin and cilantro. It can then be topped with any number of items from the burger accompaniments menu, with various cheeses, sauces, vegetables, and even meats. Served with a choice of fries, slaw, greens, or smash potato. [Photo: Yelp]

Open in Google Maps

1648 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02445

Visit Website

Related Maps