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

4.4

4.4 (427)

$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

JimVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Nailed it in all areas. Great selections, food, service, value. Definitely recommend.

Stanford's - Northgate

4.8

4.8 (786)

$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

Karen

Dined 4 days ago

I was very pleased with everything at Stanford’s. From the comfortable atmosphere to the attentive wait staff to the excellent food. I would certainly recommend this establishment. We had the stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer and they were probably some of the best I’ve ever had! The side salad was delicious and included a lot of veggies, bacon, egg, and croutons. We had the Italian chicken with artichokes capers, and dry tomatoes. Definitely pallet pleasing.

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon Cabernet Tips

Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Experience

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

Matts’ Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge

4.6

4.6 (1299)

$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

DeniseVIP

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Good menu for a business or friendly lunch. Service is good. Prices a little high for the selections and quality. Noisy and busy so great of you like that atmosphere. Tough to have a 1:1 chat on busy happy hour days.

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Popular dish

PNW Oysters

Popular dish

10 oz Prime Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Beef Short Rib Stroganoff

Outlier

4.2

4.2 (495)

$30 and under

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

Meghan

Dined on Nov 23, 2024

Great food and amazing service! Perfect for a pre-show dinner

Palace Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (530)

$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

Nathan

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Great food and atmosphere! The food is reasonably priced.

Lark

4.6

4.6 (1219)

$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.

Top review

michelleVIP

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

lovely dinner! everything as perfectly prepared and the wine was great

2120

4.7

4.7 (1475)

$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.

Top review

Casey

Dined 2 days ago

Another great experience at 2120! I made a reservation for a team holiday party and they were more than accommodating with 1) giving us a slightly separate space so we could celebrate and do a gift exchange without annoying others, 2) understanding when numbers fluctuated even the day before, and 3) helping us preorder appetizers so there was no waiting. Service was excellent and the recommendations were on point. They even went so far as to graciously bring us a trash bag for holiday gift wrap. We appreciate you 2120!

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4.8

4.8 (979)

$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

Ella

Dined 1 day ago

This was a fantastic dining experience. The chef was the greeter and it was wonderful to meet him! The waitstaff was as knowledge, helpful, and patient. The food was delicious and the menu was curated beautifully. You have to try the corn gibblets!

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.