The Best Burgers in Seattle

by The OpenTable Team

Updated February 26, 2020

Seattle is known for its fresh caught seafood and serving cuisine with a Pacific Northwest twist. Restaurants source from regional farms and place great emphasis on serving sustainably raised meat and poultry. And when you order a burger in Seattle, you know it’s going to be good. But everyone’s a critic when it comes to restaurants. So we dug into our data to unearth the real tastemakers—the diners we know are going to the best burger restaurants in Seattle. Here’s where they’re dining now in the Emerald City.

Yard House - Seattle

4.6

4.6 (432)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Yard House is located just outside of Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. The sports bar provides a more high end dining experience while still being fun and accessible. Yard House offers several incredible burgers and only the highlights made this list. If there’s one contender for the best burger in Seattle it’s the Black Truffle Cheeseburger, which is topped with a specially made tomato bacon onion jam. The other top burger is the fiery Pepper Jack Burger with chipotle mayo and roasted poblano pepper. Wash down those burgers with a great selection of local Pacific Northwest beers.

Top review

Jim

Dined 2 days ago

Food was good not great. This was our 2nd time here and this time our service was great.

Stanford's - Northgate

4.8

4.8 (787)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Northgate

About the restaurant

Stanford’s Restaurant & Bar is located in Northgate and is a worthy addition to this list. The interior feels more akin to a traditional steakhouse but the burgers at Stanford’s demonstrate that this restaurant has a lot more to offer. The Kruse Burger topped with avocado salsa and pepper bacon is a great starting point for anyone trying to find the best burger in Seattle. Those who want a more refined burger should try the American Wagyu Burger. The buttery soft patty is topped with brie, bacon jam, and Dijon aioli for a truly memorable mouthful.

Top review

Ross

Dined on Jan 7, 2025

Food and atmosphere were outstanding! Patricia our waitress went above and beyond to serve us? She also acknowledged our wedding anniversary with a special dessert! We be back someday 😊👍

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Experience

Happy Hour Menu for $6, $8, $10, $12

Matts’ Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge

4.6

4.6 (1320)

$31 to $50

American

Redmond

About the restaurant

Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge is located next to Marymoor Park and serves a variety of steak and seafood specialties. The large, warmly decorated dining room also features an outdoor patio during the warmer months. Matt’s offers several distinct burgers that are worth mentioning. The first is the Matt’s Killer Burger, which is served with honey molasses BBQ sauce and Dijon mayo. The second is the Black Bean Burger, served with guacamole and chipotle mayo. There is also a wide selection of signature drinks including the Torched Margarita and the NW Negroni.

Top review

Barbara

Dined on Jan 25, 2025

The food was delicious and everyone who worked there was friendly. I will definitely recommend to others and will return. They have good GF options on their menu also.

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Popular dish

Beef Short Rib Stroganoff

Outlier

4.4

4.4 (496)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Outlier is located in downtown Seattle just steps from the public library. The restaurant offers a modern, edgy ambiance designed to reflect Seattle’s evolution over the years. The Outlier Burger sticks to the basics with toppings (lettuce, tomato, and onion) but is served a crisp and savory macrina brioche roll. Outlier’s burger pairs best with sides like the Chips & Caramelized Onion Dip and the Smashed Fingerling Potatoes. There is also a fine selection of signature cocktails like the Rosemary Mule and the Climate Zone.

Top review

Thomas

Dined 5 days ago

All five of us enjoyed our cocktails and meals. Our server was excellent on all fronts. She was engaging, knowledgeable and efficient. Although it was good for us as it enabled us to easily visit without background noise, the restaurant was relatively empty. Such a nice space, with quality food and service should be packed. Go. You will enjoy the experience.

Palace Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (550)

$31 to $50

American

Belltown / Pike Place Market

About the restaurant

The Palace Kitchen, located several blocks north of Pike Place Market, serves sophisticated New American plates in an elegant bohemian setting. The restaurant was opened by chef Tom Douglas in 1996 and was one of the first Seattle restaurants to serve a gourmet burger. The Palace Burger Royale sticks to the basics and comes with sliced pickle and flavorful sweet onion. Palace Kitchen is open until 1am and is a great location for a late night drink with reasonably priced cocktails and an impressive wine list.

Top review

Mary

Dined 5 days ago

A lovely place: one I’ve wanted to try for decades, and unfortunately one I will probably not be going back to because of the noise level (which is not out of the ordinary for many trendy restaurants, but is loud enough that the waitress at times couldn’t hear up, and I had to wear earplugs to prevent a migraine).

Lark

4.5

4.5 (1237)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

Lark is located in the Pike/Pine corridor and serves wholesome farm to table cuisine in an airy, wood lined contemporary interior. The seasonally adjusted menu offers a range of locally produced vegetables, meats, and grains. The Carman Ranch Burger exemplifies Lark’s emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and is served with raclette, frisee, and a fruity but tart red onion jam. Several Lark starters pair well with the burger, including the Brussel Sprouts (served with bacon, chiles, and maple) and the Half Wild Mushrooms.

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Colin

Dined 6 days ago

2 things: We’ve never eaten gnocchi that good and we have spent a lot of time in Italy. Great experience. Eat desert.

2120

4.7

4.7 (1497)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

2120 is located in the downtown South Lake Union area next to the Amazon Spheres. The restaurant serves contemporary American food in a stylish interior accented with wood, marble, and iron. There is also a spacious outdoor seating area which is a great place to try the Wagyu Burger and a stout beer. The burger is served with pepperjack cheese, bacon, and a red pepper & onion relish that makes it truly memorable. 2120 also offers a broad selection of wines from vineyards across the Pacific Northwest.

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JenniferVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We love the ambience and energy of this place! The food is delicious all around. We ordered the calamari twice in one sitting. The Mac and cheese is authentic and ideal comfort food. I had the scallops which were perfection. My dining companions had the salmon and curry dishes and they were equally pleased. The service is outstanding. We felt spoiled by Chris, the longtime manager, and his team. You can tell they take pride in what they do. We will be back again soon!

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4.7

4.7 (992)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

A number of impressive restaurants have opened in the downtown area but the Capitol Cider has forged a distinct identity and loyal clientele. The interior feels at once both a tavern and a vintage bar with shuffleboard and other entertainment. Capital Cider offers an assortment of ‘large plates’ including the Half Pound Burger Frites, which is served with white cheddar, vine tomatoes, and dill pickles. Visitors would be remiss not to try one of the restaurant's ciders, which are served by the bottle or in flights that help warm up a damp winter day.

Top review

Tony

Dined on Jan 26, 2025

Food was really good, and I didn't even realize it was gluten free until we were leaving and I happened to see it on one of the menus left on the table. So its even better than I thought

The Fig & The Judge

4.0

4 (63)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Fig & The Judge, located on the second floor of the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, serves “globally inspired dishes along with Pacific Northwest favorites.” The chic interior is decorated with stone walls and minimalist wood furniture that welcome an intimate dining experience. The signature burger is the Fig & Judge Burger, a sweet and savory concoction served with fresh figs and bacon. Other creative additions to the menu include the Vietnamese Crepes. The Fig & The Judge also serves a selection of specialty cocktails.

Top review

Michelle

Dined on Jan 13, 2024

The service was EXCEPTIONAL. The staffing going above and beyond for a birthday at our table. The food was delicious, especially the Benedict's. Access directly off of 5 in the Renaissance with comped underground parking or valet. Will definitely return.