Mrs. Riches Restaurant — Review by Randy Santel
Nanaimo, Canada — Burgers, Canadian, Asian (wonton soup, dumplings)
Randy Santel attempted a rematch of the legendary K2 Mountain Burger Challenge at Mrs. Riches Restaurant in Nanaimo, a nearly 40-year-old establishment owned by three brothers. The massive 9-10 lb burger features two 1-lb beef patties, cheese, bacon, ham, fried eggs, and an enormous amount of vegetables plus 2 lbs of wedge fries. Despite finishing the burger itself for the first time, he ran out of time with about 10 minutes remaining and failed to complete the potatoes, unable to claim the victory and free meal.
What was great: The homemade bun with fantastic flavor, the quality of the deli ham and beef patties, the delicious potato wedges, and the restaurant's award-winning wonton soup and dumplings
What could improve: The massive amount of vegetables (78 tomato slices, 76 onions, 45 pickles, and excessive lettuce) made the challenge extremely difficult and contributed to his failure to complete it within the 60-minute time limit
The Dishes
The K2 Mountain Burger is a truly legendary challenge that has intimidated thousands of competitors over its 40-year history. The burger itself features two hefty 1-lb Canadian beef patties stacked with multiple layers of cheese (described as likely cheddar with shredded cheese on top), crispy bacon, deli ham slices, and two fried eggs. Randy praised the homemade, home-baked bun for having fantastic flavor, giving particular kudos to the baker. The burger is accompanied by approximately 2 lbs of wedge fries that looked appetizing. The real challenge, however, comes from the vegetable components: roughly 78 tomato slices, 76 onions, 45 whole pickles (sliced), and what Randy described as a whole field's worth of lettuce. Optional gravy is provided for dipping. The restaurant is also noted for its award-winning wonton soup and dumplings, which Randy acknowledged looked delicious when he saw them being prepared in the kitchen.
The Experience
The atmosphere was energetic and supportive, with a large crowd gathered for the rematch attempt. Randy had previously attempted this challenge in June 2019 and failed by running out of time with lettuce remaining. The crowd's enthusiasm and encouragement was evident throughout, with applause and cheering at various milestones. Mrs. Riches Restaurant is a long-standing establishment owned by three brothers who have maintained it for approximately 40 years. The staff and community support were evident, though Randy humorously noted that at least one staff member adding onions didn't seem thrilled about his presence.
Value and Pricing
The challenge costs 90 Canadian dollars (approximately 70 dollars US or 20 dollars US based on Randy's varying estimates). If completed successfully, the meal is free and the challenger receives a commemorative t-shirt and their photo on the wall of fame. If unsuccessful, as was Randy's case, the full price of 90 Canadian dollars must be paid. For a standard burger at Mrs. Riches, the prices appear to be much more reasonable, with the wonton soup and dumplings being particularly well-regarded.
Notable Moments
Randy's performance was notably better than his first attempt in 2019. This time he managed to finish the burger itself completely, something he failed to do previously when lettuce remained. He completed the burger in approximately 21 and a half minutes, leaving ample time for the potatoes. However, with about 19 minutes remaining and the potatoes only halfway through, Randy realized he would not be able to finish. He humorously noted that the staff member appeared to have doubled the potato portion midway through, adding significantly to an already daunting task.
Katina motivated me for this challenge by saying Adam Reksman lost all the time and people loved himwas one memorable motivational moment. Ultimately,
I got about as much chance of finishing this as you guys have becoming Americanssummed up his realization that victory was unlikely.
The Verdict
While Randy did not achieve the competitive victory, he expressed genuine pride in his performance, successfully completing the burger portion for the first time and getting much further than his previous attempt. He recommends visiting Mrs. Riches Restaurant for their normal-sized burgers or their renowned wonton soup and noodles. The restaurant is absolutely worth a visit for those seeking quality food, though the K2 Mountain Burger Challenge remains a formidable test that few have conquered. This was definitively Randy's last rematch attempt at this particular challenge.