RUDY, a smash burger restaurant chain known for its classic cheeseburgers and scratch-made approach, is getting ready to open a new location in Oakville at 2501 Hyde Park Gate.
The company’s new Oakville location is expected to open sometime in February 2026, according to Inside Halton. The franchise is locally owned by Tom Labenski, who grew up in Oakville and partnered with Nick Jago and Desraj Narine on the project. Labenski first tried RUDY in Toronto in 2018 before deciding to bring the concept closer to home. Customers can expect the brand’s full lineup of smash burgers, fries, poutine, and house-made desserts, along with catering options.
Labenski, Jago, and Narine most recently opened a RUDY location in Burlington in May, adding to the brand’s growing presence in southern Ontario. The Oakville restaurant will mark another step in that expansion, bringing the total number of RUDY locations to 13. The Oakville opening reflects continued demand for the brand’s straightforward, classic burger offering.
RUDY was founded in the spring of 2016 in Toronto’s Little Italy by childhood friends Luke and Chris. The concept was built around making cheeseburgers the old-fashioned way with a small, focused menu. Since opening its first location, the brand has expanded steadily while maintaining its original approach. Each restaurant follows the same core menu and kitchen practices.
The Oakville location will operate as a scratch kitchen, with food prepared in-house each day. The restaurant grinds its beef fresh twice daily, once before lunch and again before dinner. Fries are cooked in beef tallow rather than seed oils, and poutine is made using authentic cheese curds. These practices are consistent across all RUDY locations.
Menu highlights include smash burgers available as single or double patties, fries, poutine, pickle chips, and a fried chicken sandwich. The single burger is called the RUDY, while the double is known as the Rude Dude. Desserts include banana pudding and brownies, alongside hand-spun shakes and classic soft drinks.
