Ogopogo Burgers & Shakes
“Here comes a new challenger”
First off, bonus points if you caught the reference, but it feels fitting. My friends at Barn Owl Eatery & Café claimed “Best Burger” in my year-end awards, and since then no one has really stepped up to challenge that title—until now. As of April 1, Ogopogo Burgers & Shakes has entered the ring in Osoyoos looking to bring some real competition.
Open seven days a week from 11am to 9pm, this new spot is built on a dream from husband-and-wife owners Babaldeep Kaur and Jobanjeet Singh. After years spent working in Kelowna restaurants, learning different cuisines and the ins and outs of the industry, they developed the skills and confidence to open a burger place of their own.
When a storefront became available in Osoyoos, it was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. They made the move, signed the lease, opened April 1st, and have been going full speed ever since.
Less than two weeks in, it’s already been a revolving door of customers, forcing them to adapt quickly. Some lessons come from trial and error, others from customer feedback, and the rest from sheer determination. For anyone who hasn’t worked in the restaurant industry, it’s hard to fully grasp the level of effort required just to keep things running smoothly.
These aren’t typical shifts—they’re “half days,” meaning 12-hour stretches filled with prep, service, and cleanup. When you’re running seven days a week, there’s no room for off days, and if the prep or cleanup slips, the next day can fall apart. Watching a husband-and-wife team take that on together is genuinely inspiring.
“Less than two weeks in, it’s already been a revolving door of customers, forcing them to adapt quickly.”
Sheldon Herman photo
The menu features a strong lineup of burgers; each built around a hefty 6-ounce patty that ensures no one is leaving hungry. But then there’s the flagship—the beast—“The OG Burger.” What arrived at the table can only be described as a full-on beef monstrosity, the kind of thing that would haunt vegetarians, vegans, and cardiologists alike. This isn’t just one patty—it’s two, totaling 12 ounces of beef.
To put that into perspective, that’s roughly the equivalent of seven and a half patties from that well-known fast-food chain up the road. Loaded with bacon, cheese, mushrooms, and onions, it’s stacked into a towering creation that requires a moment to just stare in awe.
But size alone doesn’t mean anything if the flavor isn’t there—and thankfully, it delivers. After a few push-ups on the restaurant floor and unhinging my jaw like a snake so I could take a full bite, I clamped down the best I could to get all the ingredients in one bite.
The result? Big, bold flavor with a solid balance of toppings that all work together. This burger has both style and substance. That said, this is not a solo mission for most people—I made it through about a quarter before tapping out. Realistically, it could be cut into four pieces and easily feed two adults and two kids.
Some people might question the price compared to a typical fast food or casual dining burger, but you’re getting what you pay for here—both in quality and sheer quantity. Even their “regular” burgers, the ones not named “The OG,” could easily be split between two people.
While I was there, fellow customer Allen Beck was working on “The Peachland BBQ Stack” and summed it up well, saying it had a “perfect ratio of sauce to burger…without soaking through the bun.” That kind of feedback, especially this early, speaks to the care going into the food.
So, if you’re craving what can only be described as a serious beef experience, or you’re looking to feed a small army with one burger, Ogopogo Burgers & Shakes is ready to take on the challenge. Give “The OG” a shot (don’t tell your cardiologist) and when you do, tell them Sheldon sent you.
Ogopogo Burgers & Shakes is located at 8515 Main St, Osoyoos, tel: 250-485-4851 and is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sheldon Herman is the author of the multi award-winning, international best-selling book “The Tortured Traveller: How I Survived the Worst Vacation Ever,” and has eaten his way through over 60 countries. This review was written independently and without compensation. Have a restaurant you’d like featured? Email [email protected].
