Old-School Classics
Dick's Drive-In
Start with the joint often called the Puget Sound's own, feeding Seattle since 1954. Order the signature Deluxe, which stacks two never-frozen 1/8-pound patties with American cheese, lettuce, mayo and pickle relish on a locally made bun. The menu is short, the prices are famously low, and the long-standing no-substitutions approach has loosened only a little as a few options have been added over time. With multiple locations around the region, it is an easy pick when you are short on time.
Red Mill Burgers
Red Mill is a family-owned and family-run local chain with deep Seattle roots. At the Phinney Ridge location, look for the mural of two girls gathering flowers beneath a mill, said to show the Shepherd sisters, who waited tables at the original restaurant. Grab the Bacon Deluxe with cheese, the usual order, and enjoy a bit of local history with your lunch.
Scooter's Burgers
Stroll into Ballard for Scooter's, serving the neighborhood since 1996 from a modest, low-key spot. Beyond beef burgers, you can choose chicken and vegetarian options plus a BLT. Save room for one of the seasonal fruit shakes, which earn frequent praise and make this a solid neighborhood choice for families and mixed groups.
Tavern and Bar Burgers
Loretta's Northwesterner
This South Park bar caught national attention when its burger landed fourth on a well-known ranking of the country's best, and the crowds have kept coming since. Order the Tavern Burger, simple and unfussy and widely described as close to perfect. Pull up a seat here when you want a relaxed bar setting and a classic burger without extras.
Smash Burgers at Breweries
Farmboy
Head to White Center, where Farmboy turns out smash burgers inside Future Primitive Beer and you will find plenty of room to settle in. The namesake Farmboy burger is the standout, while the cheeseburger is known for being extra cheesy. Add an order of JoJos on the side and pair your meal with a craft beer.
Smash That Burger Co.
This burger truck built a following while parked at Rooftop Brewing and has been serving at Fremont Brewery. Go for the Oklahoma Smash, the favorite, and try the peanut butter, jam and bacon burger at least once for the fun of it. Trucks can move, so check its current spot before you head out.
Creative Grills and Themed Menus
Lil Woody's
Lil Woody's leans on Northwest ingredients, from grass-fed beef to hand-cut fries made with Washington potatoes and handmade shakes. Any burger can be made with an Impossible patty, and a gluten-free bun is available, so groups with different diets can order with ease. Try the house black bean Veggie Veggie or The Pendleton, both popular picks. You will find it in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Green Lake and White Center, plus Sea-Tac Airport's North Terminal, and its Burger 4 Burger program donates burgers to local organizations.
Katsu Burger
Katsu Burger puts a Japanese twist on the burger, with an atmosphere to match. At the Capitol Hill location, take in the retro Japanese art, the wall-sized Godzilla mural and the small bar, then pin your hometown on the world map. Bring friends or out-of-town guests who want photos with their meal.
206 Burger Company
With locations in Capitol Hill, Queen Anne and Wallingford, 206 Burger Company builds its specialty menu around sports themes. Order the Mariners burger, piled with bacon, avocado, caramelized onion and cheddar on a SODO bun. It makes a fun stop before or after a game.
Just Burgers
Duck into this Fremont spot for burgers made by hand and sauces made in-house. Grab the classic bacon cheeseburger or the UW special, the go-to orders, with a side of waffle fries. It is an easy, casual stop while you explore the neighborhood.
Plan Your Burger Outing
Many of these places sit in walkable neighborhoods, so let a burger anchor a longer afternoon. On a sunny day, grab takeout and spread out in one of the city's Seattle parks, or fold your meal into a bigger plan with our guide to things to do in Seattle.
Menus, locations and hours change, so check each business's own website for current details before you go.
