I’ve been participating in Le Burger Week Winnipeg for a number of years now. It’s always a fun excuse to try new restaurants and see how creative local chefs can get. But this year, things took a wildly unexpected (and expensive) turn right on day one.
When a Foodie Craving Wins
It all started on a Tuesday, the very first day of Le Burger Week. My friend and I were sitting in a restaurant, checking our first burger off the list. Between bites, she asked what other spots I had in mind. I rattled off a few standard options, and then, completely casually, I mentioned it: the 529 A5 Miyazaki Caviar Burger at 529 Wellington Steakhouse. For $100.
Deep down, I secretly wanted to try it. But realistically? I figured no one is crazy enough to drop $100 on a single burger, no matter how good it is.
As expected, my friend didn’t hold back. “$100?! No. That is way too expensive. No way I’m gonna spend that kind of money on a burger.”
Then, we stopped. We looked at each other.
I don’t know if it was pure foodie telepathy or if my internal desire was just so strong that the universe was granting my wish, but she broke the silence: “Should we try it?!”
I couldn’t believe it. Trying to play it cool, I said, “Well, if you want to try it, I’m game!” And just like that, our casual burger night escalated quickly.
The Reality of a Packed Tuesday at 529
We headed straight over to 529 Wellington. I was actually surprised to find the parking lot completely packed. Normally, I would make a reservation, but since we were just going in and out to hit the burger and head to our next spot, we just walked right in.
While we could hear plenty of tables talking about the burger, most people around us were there for the premium steaks they are famously known for. Since the lot was full, I grabbed a spot on Kingsway. Luckily, it was a beautiful, sunny evening, so we didn’t mind the short walk at all. It was actually quite lovely.
Inside, the restaurant was absolutely hustling and bustling. It took a little longer than expected to get our food. But honestly, it was completely understandable given the crowd.
If you want to see what a regular night looks like here, check out my previous review on 529 Wellington, the dishes we ordered, and their beautiful patio.
The Verdict
It is undeniably rich, but the addition of pickled shallots and fresh greens cuts through the heaviness and balances the profile beautifully. It’s a top-notch, masterfully executed burger.
A special shoutout to the staff at 529 as well—they thoughtfully offered to cut the burger in half for us, which made sharing it incredibly clean and easy.
Well, we’ve tried it. Would I do it again? Probably not.
We went purely for the experience, and as a luxury foodie bucket-list item, it delivered. But it’s definitely a one-and-done type of splurge.
See the $100 burger up close in my quick YouTube tour below: 👇