Since its revamp in early 2019, the Impossible Burger has made its way to nearly 5,000 restaurants and counting. The burger is plant-based and engineered to look, taste and “bleed” like real meat, all while remaining free of dairy, eggs, fish, and wheat — which makes it gluten-free, vegan and certified as kosher and halal.
The plant-based patty is high in demand — so much so that Impossible Foods, the company that develops the burger, continues to report shortages. This hasn’t seemed to affect many non-chain restaurants, but it wouldn’t hurt to call restaurants ahead to make sure.
Flip Side
3945 Easton Station
One of the best Impossible Burgers in town can be found at Flip Side in Easton. Given that the premise of the Impossible Burger is to look and taste like beef, the fact that a favorite spot for carnivores also does this burger justice isn’t a surprise.
For more information visit flipsideburger.com.
ClusterTruck
ClusterTruck is an Indianapolis-based delivery-only restaurant serving Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, including the Short North, German Village and parts of Franklinton and Bexley. Ordering online makes the Impossible Burger easily modifiable and accessible as well, if you don’t mind the wait.
For more information, visit clustertruck.com.
Ringside Cafe
19 N. Pearl St.
And don’t let the welterweight and heavyweight sandwiches at this boxing-themed restaurant fool you — the Impossible burger can also be found at this cozy hole in the wall and one of Columbus’ oldest restaurants, located midway through the alley on North Pearl Street Downtown. Highly recommended pairings are the house-made chips and one of the select craft brews.
For more info, visit ringsidecolumbus.com.
White Castle
All locations
Chain restaurants across the country have reported shortages of the Impossible Burger, especially at White Castle, where delays are tributed to a recent move from round to square patties in traditional Castle slider style. Other chain restaurants that have sold the burger are Red Robin, Dave & Busters and Burger King. Again, it would be wise to call ahead before getting your hopes up.
For more info, visit whitecastle.com.
Bareburger
4560 N. High St., 463 N. High St.
Bareburger is one of, if not the best chain to get the Impossible Burger, simply because of the variety of burgers and sandwiches its implemented in. From the original, which comes with caramelized onions, dill pickles, American cheese and “special sauce,” to a melt that includes double cheese and onions on eight-grain toast, if you’ve already tried the burger elsewhere, consider this on your next stop.
For more information, visit bareburger.com.
City Tavern
697 N. Fourth St.
Located in the former Wonder Bread Bakery, City Tavern has a nice variety of bar favorites and unique finds, including the Impossible Burger. It’s available as one of the restaurant’s sandwich baskets, which includes one side with a choice between house fries, coleslaw, the cucumber, tomato and feta salad, deviled egg macaroni salad and more.
Visit citytaverncolumbus.com for more information.
Olivers
26 N. High St.
The Impossible Burger is among the specialty burgers at Olivers in Downtown Columbus. The restaurant and lounge is keen on burgers, steaks and bourbon, with over 70 different kinds of bourbon to choose from.
If bourbon is not your thing, pair your Impossible Burger with the blues — live performances from local and national musicians take place on Friday and Saturday evenings.
For more info, visit oliversonlynn.com.
Note: While the Impossible Burger is sometimes perceived as an organic, non-GMO alternative, in actuality, it is neither. The burger is man-made with genetically modified yeast, which is not necessarily bad or harmful. Still, long-term effects have yet to be seen.