The Best Burgers in Washington: Seattle and Beyond (2026)

The best burgers in Washington are in Seattle, where tavern burgers, smash burgers and creative takes from Lao, Guamanian and Mexican kitchens all compete. Start with a charred burger at Loretta's Northwesterner, a Fremont smash burger at Smash That Burger Co., and the Lao-inspired double at Taurus Ox. For the state's most nostalgic burger, stop at Dick's Drive-In.

This roundup is built from the restaurants in our Seattle burger guide, grouped by style, plus one statewide classic. Check hours before you go.

How Seattle does burgers

Seattle has a long history of drive-ins and drive-thrus, and a strong tavern burger tradition: a charred, saucy burger you'd want with a beer. What makes the city stand out now is how many restaurants outside the burger world have built great burgers of their own, bringing flavors from their main menus to the cheeseburger.

A few neighborhoods help with planning. Fremont has several great burgers close together. Capitol Hill has two of the city's best restaurant burgers. South Seattle, including Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley and South Park, has some of the most interesting and affordable options.

The classic: Dick's Drive-In

Dick's Drive-In opened its first location on 45th Street in Wallingford in 1954, and it now has about ten locations across western Washington. It's built around fast, simple burgers, fries and shakes, and it's a rite of passage for visitors. Each January, the company marks its anniversary with a 19-cent burger day, a nod to the original price. Find locations on the Dick's Drive-In website.

Tavern and diner burgers

• Loretta's Northwesterner: a South Park tavern known for a charred burger with special sauce, pickles, American cheese and onions.
• Dreamland Bar & Diner: a Fremont spot serving a burger with American cheese and charred onion mayo on a toasted potato bun.
• Big Max Burger Co.: in Queen Anne, it grinds bacon into its beef and tops the burger with sharp cheddar, bread-and-butter pickles and special sauce.

Smash burgers

• Smash That Burger Co.: Oklahoma-style smash burgers with special sauce and pickles in Fremont, plus a jalapeño version.
• Local Tide: a Fremont seafood restaurant whose beef-and-pork smash burger with jammy onions and American cheese is one of its standouts.
• The Rebel: a Wallingford spot with a smash burger topped with tomato aioli, often paired with tallow-fried waffle fries.
• Saint Bread: a University District bakery that makes its smash burger on a Hawaiian bun, starting at lunchtime.

More picks are on our best smash burgers page.

Global flavors

• Taurus Ox: a Lao restaurant on Capitol Hill whose double cheeseburger comes with provolone, lemongrass pork-skin mayo and fresh herbs.
• Familyfriend: a Guamanian restaurant on Beacon Hill with a smashed patty, crisp beefy edges, American cheese and a kewpie-accented sauce.
• Asadero: a Mexican steakhouse in Ballard serving a thick bacon cheeseburger with a spicy-sweet aioli.

Steakhouse and cheap eats

• Jeffry's: a Capitol Hill steakhouse burger with Comté, aioli, cornichons and bacon. It's a richer, more composed burger for a sit-down dinner.
• Zesto's: a Rainier Valley drive-thru whose burger comes with a charred patty, American cheese, pickles, lettuce and a sliced red hot link. It's one of the city's most unusual burgers.

How to plan a Seattle burger day

1. Start in Fremont. Smash That Burger Co., Local Tide and Dreamland are close together.
2. Add Wallingford. The Rebel and the original Dick's are both in the neighborhood, next door to Fremont.
3. Save Capitol Hill for dinner. Taurus Ox and Jeffry's are sit-down restaurants.
4. Drive south for the deep cuts. Familyfriend, Zesto's and Loretta's cover Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley and South Park.
5. Check Saint Bread's timing. It's a bakery first, and the burger starts at lunchtime.

Beyond Seattle

Our Washington coverage centers on Seattle for now. Dick's has locations outside the city in western Washington, and if you know a great burger in Spokane, Tacoma, Bellingham or anywhere else, suggest a spot.

What to order at each stop

• Dick's Drive-In: a simple burger, fries and a shake. It's about speed and nostalgia.
• Loretta's Northwesterner: the charred burger with special sauce, with a beer.
• Taurus Ox: the double cheeseburger with lemongrass pork-skin mayo.
• Familyfriend: the smashed patty with the kewpie-accented sauce.
• Zesto's: the burger with the sliced red hot link.
• The Rebel: the smash burger with tallow-fried waffle fries.

Make a Seattle-style burger at home

For a Loretta's-style tavern burger, char the patty hard and add a tangy special sauce; our guide to burger sauces has ideas. For a Dick's-style burger, keep it thin and simple with our classic backyard cheeseburger, and see the best buns for burgers for the right soft bun. Cook ground beef to 160°F for USDA-recommended doneness.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Washington?

In Seattle, Loretta's Northwesterner is a favorite tavern burger and Taurus Ox has one of the most talked-about restaurant burgers. For nostalgia, Dick's Drive-In is the state classic.

When did Dick's Drive-In open?

The first Dick's opened in Wallingford in January 1954. It now has about ten locations in western Washington.

Where can I find a cheap burger in Seattle?

Dick's Drive-In and Zesto's are classic budget stops, and Smash That Burger Co. and The Rebel are casual smash burger counters.

What's the most unusual burger in Seattle?

Zesto's burger with a sliced red hot link is a strong contender, as is Taurus Ox's double with lemongrass pork-skin mayo.

Which Seattle burgers come from non-burger restaurants?

Taurus Ox (Lao), Familyfriend (Guamanian), Asadero (Mexican steakhouse) and Local Tide (seafood) all make standout burgers.