Ask anyone where to find the best burgers in Seattle and a heated debate will likely ensue. You have your local fast food staple that’s so popular it was in a Sir Mix-a-Lot song, but then you’ll also find gourmet burgers for ~$20 from James Beard-winning chefs.
To put my own palate to the test, I went on a tour of Seattle’s best burgers to find the creme a la creme. I tasted more than 30 burgers in a few weeks, going to my tried-and-true burger joints and trying new ones along the way. I’ve also continued to prioritize ordering burgers at restaurants so I can keep this list updated.
Here are the ones that continue to make the list of the best burgers in Seattle.
Best Burgers in Seattle
I noticed a lot of the debates around the best Seattle burgers are because people compare $3 drive-in style burgers to $18 gourmet burgers. They aren’t exactly comparable, so I split up the best burgers in Seattle by style.
Drive-in style burgers
Drive-in style burgers typically have thinner beef patties served on a potato bun with cheese, ketchup or special sauce, lettuce, onions, and pickles. The patties often have a charbroiled flavor, sometimes more if they add pressure during cooking to make sure all surfaces of the patty get some heat. The resulting smash burger can result in a lot of flavor…but also dryness if the cook isn’t careful.
These burgers are usually cheaper than gourmet burgers because they’re made at scale to service fast casual diners. However, as you’ll see on this list, some fancier restaurants make drive-in style burgers.
Here are the best drive-in style burgers in Seattle.
Loretta’s Northwesterner
website | 8617 14th Ave S | neighborhood: South Park | price range: ~$7
Loretta’s Northwesterner comes highly recommended for their burgers and, I have to say, I agree. This tavern on a small, unassuming strip of businesses in South Park is a popular stop to grab a drink and some pub food. Their menu includes more than just burgers, but the burgers are consistently shouted out as the must-get here.
They sell two styles: the drive-in style tavern burger and the “restaurant-style” deluxe cheeseburger. While both of their burgers are yummy, I liked the tavern burger best. It’s charbroiled and served with melted cheese, onions, pickles, and special sauce. The burger has a great char to the patty without losing the juiciness, a risk with most thinner patties.
Make sure to add the Irish nachos to your order. They’re fries with all the fixings of a stuffed baked potato: cheese, bacon, scallions, and sour cream. Ask for extra cheese for a gooey good time.
Pro tip: They have a sister restaurant in Georgetown called Star Brass Works Lounge where they serve these burgers. They’re a stop on my self-guided Georgetown food tour, so you know they’re good.
Smash That Burger Co.
website | 8500 Lake City Way NE | neighborhood: Lake City (outside The Growler Guys) | price range: $10.50 – $12
As the name implies, Smash That focuses on smash burgers. Their version consists of the thinnest patties I’ve found in Seattle. They’re pressed into the grill so that the surface gets that irresistible browning that adds flavor.
Each of Smash That’s burgers come with two patties so you can really taste the meatiness of the beef (or Beyond patties!). They also serve one patty on Texas Toast in a dish called The Chester that they say is hyper regional to Long Island.
My favorite item on the menu is the classic Oklahoma Smash burger. It tastes like that quintessential all-American burger oozing with yellow cheese and a sloppy portion of sauce. But Smash That puts their own spin on it with some incredibly grilled onions.
FamilyFriend
website | 3315 Beacon Ave S | neighborhood: Beacon Hill | price range: ~$20
While it’s priced like a gourmet burger, FamilyFriend’s version of a smash burger is the quintessential drive-in style. The double patties are pressed down ultra long and hard to get some of crispiest lattice edges that I’ve found on a smash burger in Seattle to date. It’s zhuzhed up with kewpie mayo and frizzled miso onions, but the ratio of gooey American cheese to patty to bun strictly keeps this burger in the all-American classic lane.
How they’re able to get the perfect balance of crunch and juicy umami bomb in one bite is a revelation. Almost as much as the addictive truffle shoestring fries they serve it with.
Local Tide
website | 401 N 36th St | neighborhood: Ballard | price range: ~$10
Who would have thought one of the best seafood restaurants in Seattle would serve an awesome burger? Well, their smash burger is my favorite item on their menu.
It features a beef and pork patty, caramelized onions, homemade mayo, and American cheese on a brioche bun. I love how despite a menu full of fancier interpretations of seafood shack fare, they don’t skimp on the processed American cheese. It’s so key to making a burger with that quintessential backyard barbecue taste.
Lil Woody’s
website | neighborhood: locations in Ballard, Capitol Hill, and White Center | price range: $8.50 – $10.50
Lil Woody’s has made a name for itself serving drive-in style burgers beefed up (heh) by the creativity of local chefs who create limited-time menu items.
However, I really dig their Big Woody. It’s a classic burger with a third-pound Painted Hills grass-fed beef patty, Painted Hills bacon, Tillamook cheddar, chopped onions, diced pickles, tomato slices, lettuce, ketchup, and mayo all served on a potato bun. I don’t even like ketchup, but it all works on their satisfying version of an all-American burger.
Boss Drive-In
website | 9061 Delridge Way SW | neighborhood: White Center | price range: $3 – $7
Boss Drive-In is a small walk-up window spot near some of the best West Seattle restaurants. They sell super cheap classic burgers for under $3, but also have jazzed up burger options with interesting topping combos.
The Heavy Hitter is the perfect middle ground. It features the beef, cheese, and pickles of the classic burgers, but is served with 2 patties, 3 strips of bacon, boss sauce, lettuce, mayo, and jalapeños (though I remove these to keep the classic all-American burger flavor profile). I absolutely love mayo on cheeseburgers, especially when served with perfectly-crisped bacon.
Don’t forget to also get a soft serve ice cream cone. I love soft serve ice cream because I grew up eating it on the east coast, but it’s not super common here. So anytime I’m near Boss’ I make sure to grab a cone if I’m craving some of the best ice cream in Seattle.
Red Mill
website | neighborhood: locations in Phinney Ridge and Magnolia | price range: $6.75 – $13.75
Red Mill often has a line out the door in summer, particularly at their Phinney Ridge location. When you get to the front of the line you can see bacon piled high on the griddle ready to be slapped onto some burgers.
Despite how thin the patty is, Red Mill gets a lot of flavor out of their beef. When paired with their special sauce, it makes one satisfying and nostalgic burger.
Dick’s Drive-In Burgers
website | neighborhood: various locations all over the metro area | price range: $3 – $5
People become very passionate when giving their opinion on Dick’s. Many are adamant that it’s one of the best Seattle burgers, while others argue they’re just nostalgic and these aren’t worth the hype. While they’re similar in style and price to McDonald’s fast food, I think they’re a way better local burger chain and one of the quintessential Seattle foods everyone needs to try.
The deluxe burger with two 1/8 pound grilled patties, melted cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, and pickle relish is the only way to go. I love how the flavors are slightly sweet and have this really distinct flavor that you’d probably be able to guess is Dick’s if blindfolded.
I also always get their thin, flaccid fries. Even though I know flaccid fries means they were in not-hot-enough oil, I can’t lie…I friggin’ love them.
Gourmet burgers
Gourmet burgers are exactly as they sound: fancy. All bets are off when it comes to trying to define a signature “style”, but the biggest factor is usually the patty. Most gourmet burgers will have a thicker patty, and a lot of times it’s made up of a few different types of meats to add more flavor.
Because the patties are thicker you don’t always get that charbroiled taste on the meat. However, you’re often met with a fattier, juicier flavored patty. I find it’s easy for drive-in style burgers to hide behind condiments if their patty is meh, but gourmet burgers can’t really hide given how much surface area they take up with every bite.
Here are the fancy gourmet burgers I think are some of the best burgers in Seattle.
Joule
website | 3506 Stone Way N | neighborhood: Fremont | price range: ~$22
You’d probably never guess it, but I think Joule has the best burger in Seattle. Despite being a modern Korean restaurant, it has an incredibly juicy half-pound burger.
The secret is they use house-ground short rib, which results in one of the most flavorful patties I’ve ever had. It’s served with one of the best brioche buns I’ve tasted, lettuce, red onion, horseradish aioli, and pickles…yes, that’s right, even without cheese it’s friggin’ phenomenal
Big Max Burger Co.
website | 1935 Queen Anne Ave N | neighborhood: Queen Anne | price range: ~$14
Big Max Burger Co. (previously known as Eden Hill Provisions) is one of the best burgers in Seattle, hands down. It toes the line between a tavern and drive-in style, but the chef’ed up patty is why I ultimately put them in the gourmet portion of this list.
The dry-aged beef they use is super high quality, so when it’s mixed with bacon it results in an incredibly juicy patty. But what puts it over the top is the perfectly-balanced concoction of toppings: lettuce, bread and butter pickles, both red onions and caramelized onions, smoked cheddar, malt and maple ketchup, and their max sauce, all served on a toasted challah bun.
When you come, don’t miss out on the kettle corn Brussel sprouts. They’re sweet, crunchy, and oh-so-yummy.
Pro tip: Big Max Burger Co. is the casual sibling to Eden Hill, one of my go-to restaurants in Seattle for fine dining.
Taurus Ox
website | 903 19th Ave E | neighborhood: Capitol Hill | price range: ~$15
This Laotian restaurant in the quieter section of Capitol Hill creates one of the most unique burgers in Seattle. It has two pork and beef smash patties served with provolone cheese, jaew tomato, cured pork belly, jaew bong mayo, pickled onions, taro stem, and cilantro. Jaew is a sweet and spicy chili sauce typically made of fish sauce, palm sugar, dried chili, garlic, shallots, and tamarind.
To put it in perspective how good this burger is, Dan and I got one to share and literally got grumpy at each other for having to split it. So don’t make the same mistake we did. Get a whole one for yourself!
Bateau
website | 1040 E Union St | neighborhood: Capitol Hill | price range: ~$14
I’ll be honest I was a bit down on Bateau the first time I went because of the prices, but when I kept hearing they have one of the best burgers in Seattle I had to give it another shot.
I’m happy I did. Their burger is out of this world. It has a 5oz dry aged, grass-fed beef patty, aioli, onion jam, and gruyere cheese served on a brioche bun. The onions are so perfectly caramelized in the jam, and the sharpness of the gruyere cuts perfectly into the fattiness of the beef.
Beast & Cleaver
website | 2362 NW 80th St | neighborhood: Loyal Heights/Ballard | price range: ~$15
Beast & Cleaver is my local butcher shop, which means they know meat. While they reserve most of their dine-in menu for their fancy evening restaurant, Peasant, they do sandwiches every so often (usually Thursdays) for lunch.
You should run when those sandwiches are burgers. The meat is top notch and they’re made thick and juicy with really interesting topics. For example, one time I had caramelized onions, fig jam, blue cheese, and arugula that was heavenly.
They sell out fast, so get there right for 11 AM (or earlier) to snag one. Follow them on Instagram to know when they’ll be available.
Metropolitan Grill
website | 820 2nd Ave | neighborhood: Downtown | price range: ~$15-$25
Metropolitan Grill is one of the best steakhouses in Seattle, so you know they’re experts at handling beef. Their burger is no exception, which you can get from the bar menu or during happy hour for about $10 less.
The star of the burger is the thick, Mesquite-grilled patty that oozes with juicy flavor. It’s topped with caramelized onions, melted cheddar and Swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing. If you, like me, only want tomato, pickle, or lettuce on your burger in certain contexts, you’ll be happy to know they serve it on the side so you can adjust accordingly.
Besides the standout burger, one thing that I must commend Metropolitan Grill for is their expertly-executed caramelized onions. Oftentimes they’re cooked for so long that they render very sweet, which I think can overpower a burger. But theirs are brought to just the right level so that it adds depth without taking over the flavor profile. It’s a nice counterbalance to the twang from the Swiss cheese.
Pro tip: Rolling with a vegan? You can sub an Impossible burger patty instead. Looking to round out your order? A surprise stunner on the menu is their version of the best clam chowder in Seattle.
Mulleady’s Irish Pub
website | 3050 21st Ave W | neighborhood: Magnolia | price range: ~$5-$18
I used to live a block away from Mulleady’s, so I have fond memories of reading on their patio over a beer and burger. I often went for happy hour because they serve a simple cheeseburger for only $5. But I couldn’t resist visiting for dinner every now and then to splurge for the Mulleady’s Burger because it’s so damn good.
It comes with a patty that, I kid you not, is about an inch thick. It uses locally-raised beef from Preservation Meat Collective which, fun fact, is owned by the previous owner of Mulleady’s. Or you can get your burger vegan style with an Impossible patty sub.
The meat version comes topped with Irish cheddar, caramelized onions, mag sauce, crispy bacon, and a runny fried egg. It’s the perfect orchestra of flavors on your palate, and I love the crunch the bacon adds. You’ll also get perfectly-seasoned fries and homemade ketchup on the side. I don’t even like ketchup, but their version is less sweet and has a more tomato paste-like quality. It’ll turn even ketchup haters like me into fans.
The Butcher’s Table
website | 2121 Westlake Ave | neighborhood: South Lake Union | price range: ~$17-$27
You wouldn’t think this swank steakhouse that’s one of the best South Lake Union restaurants would serve burgers, but they started doing so for lunch and happy hour during the pandemic and the trend stuck. They leverage their beef wizardry to make some of the juiciest burgers I’ve tasted.
Visit during happy hour to try their ribeye burger for less, but know they only serve it classic style at this time. If you want to try it topped with bacon and mac and cheese, splurge and visit for dinner.
The mac and cheese burger is incredible. Since The Butcher’s Table is owned by the same restaurant group that owns Beecher’s, it’s topped with Beecher’s mac and cheese, charred jalapeño, Beecher’s Flagship cheese, and sriracha aioli. The combination may sound odd, but it just works. I especially love the complexity the peppers add without making it too spicy.
Pro tip: Regardless of which burger you try, you must get the beef fat fries. These aren’t like any fries I’ve ever had, but rather like fancy McDonald’s hash browns. They’re one of the best things I’ve ever eaten!
Sunny Hill
website | 3127 NW 85th St | neighborhood: Sunset Hill | price range: ~$17
Sunny Hill is a neighborhood joint that is known for having some of the best pizza in Seattle, but insiders know the best thing on their menu is the burger. It’s a double patty smash burger topped high with perfectly caramelized onions, gooey cheese, lettuce, and sauce. You can also get bacon for extra.
Don’t miss the waffle fries that come on the side. They’re perfectly crisp and served with an addictive black garlic aioli sauce.
S/T Hooligans
website | 4354 Leary Way NW | neighborhood: Fremont | price range: ~$15
S/T Hooligans, so named after The Smiths song “Sweet & Tender Hooligan“, serves elevated comfort food with a Creole slant. Chef and owner Rodel Borromeo makes punny dishes like “gangster gumbo”, “spiseattle” fried chicken, and the “Bal-Mont burger”, a nod to their location on the edge of the Ballard and Fremont neighborhoods.
While they get a lot of buzz for their fried chicken, I think they’re secretly making some of the best nachos and burgers in Seattle. The burger has classic toppings like Tillamook cheddar, tomato, sweet onion, and romaine lettuce, but you’ll also find pickled charred serrano and garlic-chili aioli to give it extra complexity. It’s one of the most well-executed burgers I’ve had in awhile, so if you find yourself at this restaurant, make sure to get it!
Pro tip: They’re near some of the best Ballard breweries, so do a crawl afterwards!
8oz Burger Co
website | neighborhood: locations in Ballard and Capitol Hill | price range: ~$15
8oz is one of the honorary mentions in my self-guided Seattle food tour of Ballard. They make some mean gourmet burgers with thick juicy patties and interesting flavor combos.
Despite all the creativity, I always get their 8oz signature burger. It includes arugula, balsamic onions, Painted Hills bacon, Beecher’s flagship cheddar cheese, and truffle aioli. It eats like a classic American burger, but has some interest thanks to the deep balsamic flavors and kick from the arugula.
Next Level Burger
website | 1026 NE 64th St | neighborhood: Roosevelt | price range: ~$12
You may not expect to find one of the best vegan restaurants in Seattle on this list, but there’s no denying the facts: fast food burger chain Next Level Burger is serving one of the best burgers in Seattle and rivals its beef competition.
They serve all plant-based burgers. The must-get here is the All-American. It has smoked tempeh “bacon”, cheddar “cheese”, and egg-free mayo. I could have sworn it was a meat burger on my first bite. It somehow had that juicy, iron-y flavor despite being completely vegan…it even had the texture of beef!
Uneeda Burger
website | 4302 Fremont Ave N | neighborhood: Fremont | price range: ~$15
Uneeda Burger is one of the honorary mentions in my self-guided Seattle food tour of Fremont. They serve everything from humble single-patty cheeseburgers to fancier bison or lamb burgers. While I’ve experienced some inconsistencies in their burgers, when they’re good, they’re really good.
This is also one of my favorite places for shakes and onion rings. The breading on the rings are so flavorful and not too greasy. Definitely make sure to add these to your order!
The 5 top burgers in Seattle
There are a ton of great burgers in Seattle, but if I had to choose my top 5? It’d have to be these:
- Joule
- Big Max Burger Co.
- Taurus Ox
- Smash That
- Bateau
But all of the burgers in this article have made it to my top 10 at one point (seriously, choosing the fifth one for this list was hard!). So give them a try and decide for yourself!
More Seattle eats to seek out
- Best Steak Restaurants in Seattle
- Seattle’s Best Butcher Shops
- Killer Steak Tartare in Seattle
- Must-Try Sandwiches in Seattle
- Top Notch French Restaurants in Seattle
- Go on a Seattle Street Taco Crawl
- Best Cheap Eats in Seattle
- Best Thai Food in Seattle
Oooo craving burgers now!! Pinning this so I can refer to this list later! I love a good burger 🙂
Mission accomplished! Thank you for pinning and I hope you find a new favorite!