We Love Burgers. A Hungry Eastsider’s Guide

By Denise Sakaki | July 2, 2018 | Courtesy of 425Magazine.com

Da Hilo Boy at The Box and Burgers Eatery. Photo courtesy The Box and Burgers Eatery.

Comfortable or complex, the hamburger is a versatile food, rarely absent on restaurant menus. Americans eat them by the billions every year. There are strongly held beliefs on what makes the perfect burger, and no list will completely cover the many offerings throughout the region, so consider this a burger mix tape; an Eastside sampling paying tribute to a favorite food.

DON’T MESS WITH A CLASSIC

There’s no school like old school when you want a traditional burger with a side of nostalgia.

Big Bay, Broiler Bay

Two quarter-pound beef patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and a tangy-savory “fry sauce” are reminiscent of a certain golden-arched burger counterpart, but the Big Bay is the idealized version. It’s that first mouthwatering fast-food burger bite we remember, deliciously recaptured. Bellevue

Double Bacon Cheeseburger, Kidd Valley

Originally a burger stand in the 1970s, Kidd Valley grew into a chain of locations and an early advocate of fresh, quality ingredients. Paired with one of the famous milkshakes and monster-sized sweet onion rings, their double-beef-patty bacon cheeseburger is pure indulgence. Seattle, Kirkland, Kenmore, Renton

The Classic Feed Burger at Feed Co. Burger. Photo by Justin Oba.

Classic Feed Burger, Feed Co. Burger

Yes, burger purists: It is possible to get an uncomplicated well-made hamburger with the requisite lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a quick swipe of seasoned sauce, hold the fussiness — all for $5! Satisfying without inducing a food coma, the mindfully sourced ingredients shine, reminding us that simple can be splendid and affordable. Redmond and Seattle

El Camino, Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

Legend has it the first hamburger was minced beef between slices of bread, similar to a patty melt, so why not have a double dose of history at a classic car-themed drive-in? The El Camino patty melt is a hefty half-pounder of beef, melted Swiss, and a pile of grilled onions between rye bread, best enjoyed while admiring vintage cars whose aficionados regularly meet at this 1950s Issaquah landmark. Issaquah

Mini Bacon Burger Combo, Burgermaster

Before drive-thrus, there were drive-ins, and that Americana is preserved at Burgermaster, where you order and dine from the unhurried comfort of your car. You can go big, or pace yourself with a smaller mini combo, a burger made with the same tasty grass-fed beef, fries, and a drink, leaving room for a slice of apple pie or a hot-fudge sundae. Bellevue, Bothell, Seattle

EPICUREAN ECCENTRICS

Topped with creative or just plain over-the-top ingredients, burgers can rock any look.

Mt. Fuji Mega Burger, Katsuburger

If Godzilla ordered a burger, this would be it. The aptly named Mt. Fuji has deep-fried cutlets of beef, chicken, and pork with an egg, bacon, three types of cheese, spicy wasabi mayo, and a drizzle of sweet and savory tonkatsu sauce. You can work off the calories battling Mothra. Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Seattle

Sun Shine Burger, Pickle Time

In the words of Jules, Sam Jackson’s poet hitman from Pulp Fiction: “Hamburgers, the cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast.” The just-right eggs ’n bacon Sun Shine burger from Pickle Time can be enjoyed day or night — a smoky, grilled beef patty with the satisfying crunch of bacon mixed with a runny egg yolk. It’s breakfast in the palm of your hand. Duvall

GO PBJ Burger, The Slip

Peanut butter and jelly on a burger?! Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. The sweet-savory harmony of smoky chipotle raspberry jam and rich peanut butter is a delightful topper to a burger with grilled onions, tart pickles, and peppery arugula. It’s a science experiment in flavor gone wonderfully right. Kirkland

Da Hilo Boy, The Box and Burgers Eatery

A local Hawaiian comfort food, the Loco Moco is a plate of rice topped with beef patties, gravy, and a fried egg. Said to have originated from the city of Hilo on the Big Isle, the burger version of this Aloha original is elevated with caramelized onions, smoked bacon confit, an earthy mushroom spread, peppery gravy, and a fried egg. So ono! Kirkland

HAPPIEST HOUR

The Eastside’s happy hour game is strong, especially these steakhouse-fancy burger offerings.

The cheeseburger at John Howie Steak. Photo by John Schuler.

USDA Prime Dry Aged Beef Cheeseburger, John Howie Steak

A dry-aged brisket made into a hamburger is one divine bovine, and its beefy flavor is enhanced by aged, tangy Taleggio cheese and sweet caramelized onions, nearly spilling out of a fresh-baked bun. The hefty 10-ounce burger is a staple during happy hour and available all day on Sundays at the $15 happy hour price. Bellevue

Prime Burger, Prime Steakhouse

This neighborhood steakhouse is a hidden gem, as is its classic Prime Burger, a $9 bargain during the standard and late-night happy hours. A half-pound of fresh ground beef with classic toppings like tomato, arugula, pickled onion, and garlic aioli, it’s an affordable gourmet treat. Redmond

Gaucho Burger, El Gaucho

Impeccable ingredients like Niman Ranch Certified Angus Beef, Beecher’s white cheddar cheese, and a brioche bun aren’t typical drive-thru fare, but this isn’t a typical burger. Rich, juicy, worthy of extra napkins, it’s a burger made with expertise and the irresistible bonus of it being $13 on the happy hour menu. Bellevue

WHERE’S THE BEEF?

Cows can breathe a sigh of relief at these deliciously unique burgers.

Bahn, James Bahn, LunchBox Laboratory

Get to know and love the Dork, a burger patty made with ground duck and pork. A LunchBox signature creation, it’s used perfectly in a burger that takes cues from the Vietnamese banh mi. The rich duck/pork burger is balanced with pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, sweet chili mayo, and a license to thrill one’s appetite. Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond

Big Eye Burger, Tipsy Cow Burger Bar

This ain’t no Filet-o-Fish. Tipsy Cow pulls out all the stops with a “burger” of seared sesame seed-crusted ahi tuna, wasabi aioli, and a cabbage slaw with ginger dressing. You may have walked in craving a beef burger, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself ordering this. Redmond and Woodinville

Chef B’s Lamb Burger, Barking Frog

Chef Bobby Moore has never been shy about a love of big flavors, and a hamburger made with lamb is a burger with the volume turned up. Ingredients like chevre, wine-pickled onions, and arugula stand up nicely to the flavor of lamb, making it an amplified burger experience. Woodinville

The Satay Turkey Burger from Beardslee Public House. Photo by Darren Zemanek.

Seasonal Turkey Burger, Veggie Bean Burger, Beardslee Public House

Not just for Thanksgiving, turkey is a blank canvas for flavor, allowing for combinations that might otherwise clash with beef. Beardslee’s turkey burger changes monthly, mixing seasonal ingredients into as well as on top of the burger, customizing the house-baked bun to complement it. This burger is never boring. Or celebrate Meatless Monday with… a veggie burger! A delicious blend of black-eyed peas, sweet potato, kale, and quinoa, the burger patty is flavorful and hearty (and gluten-free!), topped with pickled onions, tomato, and lettuce, between a fresh-baked potato bun. Curb that burger craving, and be able to say you ate your veggies today. Bothell 

STAFF PICKS

I have to give it up to the Burger Brawler at the new Lincoln South Food Hall. It’s a burger, bun, and cheese, unadulterated with sauce or needless vegetables. The patty is made of ribeye, prime rib, and braised short rib and cooked on a griddle on top of pure merlot butter. Done!
— Jaurdey Samuel, account executive

I love the burgers at Lunchbox Laboratory — they are big, juicy, and creative. I also like all of the sides, from the tater tots to the milkshakes.
— Lisa Patterson, editor in chief

Whenever there is blue cheese on a burger, it’s always my pick, and Hop Jacks’ does it right. The crispy onions and spicy mayo make the Black and Bleu burger extra-good. All the burgers are delicious — and they come with addictive Jacks’ potato chips.
— Jeff Burlingame, editor in chief, 425 Business

The Habit Burger Grill, a fast-food burger franchise with locations all over, including Issaquah. While the menu is reminiscent of fast-food cousins like McDonald’s and Burger King, the fare is far less homogenized. They’ve got a lot of great burgers topped with a choice of avocado, portobello mushrooms, or bacon, Bonus: My kids love the miniature gummy cheeseburgers that come with their kids’ meals.
— Joanna Kresge, assistant editor