The Most Mouth-Watering Burger Joints In Washington

Established in 1989 in Bellingham, Boomer’s Drive-In is a beloved drive-in popular with locals and out-of-towners. Consistently voted the best burger in Bellingham, the restaurant is known for their juicy burgers and creamy milkshakes. Within a welcoming interior, complete with a round fireplace, or via the car hop service, guests have a large selection of burgers to choose from, including the flagship burger, The Big Boom, and a monthly special. To complement the meal, a host of sides, such as sweet potato waffle fries, and beverages are available.

Around since 1932, the Cougar Cottage, known as The Coug to locals, is a lively bar and grill located in Pullman. A popular venue with the college crowd, the interior is an eclectic space with Washington State University memorabilia adorning the walls, which also feature the signatures of those who visit. The menu has a variety of classic American fare, including many standard and premium hamburgers. Pair the burgers with fries or tots for a great meal.

Located in Washington’s capital, Olympia, Eastside Big Tom delights customers with its all-American cuisine. Established in 1969, this burger joint procures the freshest ingredients available for its quality burgers. Must-try burgers include the eponymous Big Tom with double meat, double cheese, GOOP — the restaurant’s famous sauce — pickle, onion, lettuce, and tomato, or the Holy Cow with spicy chipotle mayo, jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Complementary side dishes, including fries, tater tots, and onion rings served with choice of sauce are also available.

Eastside Big Tom, 2023 4th Ave., E., Olympia, WA, USA, +1 360 357 4852

Family-owned and operated, Fat Smitty’s is a Discovery Bay institution serving mouthwatering burgers to hungry diners. An eclectic place, the exterior of this burger joint features several quirky, large statues, including a burger, an ice cream cone, and a Pepsi bottle. The interior is just as wacky with dollar bills adorning the walls and ceiling — they are periodically removed and donated to charity. For the truly ravenous, the house specialty, Fat Smitty burger, with two patties, three slices of bread, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and sauce is a great option. Be sure to have cash on hand as they don’t accept card.

Fat Smitty’s, 282624 US-101, Port Townsend, WA, USA, +1 360 385 4099

Established in 2012, Fresh Burger Café serves up mouth-watering burgers and other delights in a renovated century-old house. Diners can build their own burger, which includes a choice of a locally sourced beef patty, veggie patty, chicken in one of two ways, or wild Alaskan salmon plus myriad of toppings, or they can choose a signature burger. Full of international flavors, one highlight is the mon ami burger, which is a beef patty topped with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and roasted garlic aioli.

Fresh Burger Café, 923 Commercial St., Leavenworth, WA, USA, +1 509 548 3300

Located in Gig Harbor, The Gourmet Burger Shop is a delicious downtown restaurant specializing in creative burgers. Founded in 2011, the culinary team sources quality ingredients for its handmade burgers, side dishes, and milkshakes. Enticing options include the gorgonzola and avocado burger with a choice of ground turkey or beef, topped with chopped bacon, gorgonzola cheese and dressing, and the pastrami and Swiss burger with grilled pastrami, Swiss cheese, slaw, and Russian dressing. Unique side dishes, including shoestring herb fries, beet chips and blue cheese potato salad complement the burgers nicely.

Since 2011, L’il Woody’s has been serving up burgers with a creative spin. Within a laid-back environment with wooden accents and bright red seating, guests can savor several incredible burgers, including a weekly special, alongside onion rings and hand-cut fries. Try the crack fries, which are accompanied by a small side of milkshake for dipping. All of the burgers are made with grass-fed beef from the Northwest. Highlights include the ‘Big Woody’ topped with Hills bacon, Tillamook cheddar, chopped onions and diced pickles, and ‘The Fig and the Pig’ topped with bacon, pickled figs, mayo, and blue cheese. Be sure to wash it all down with a tasty milkshake made with Full Tilt ice cream.

L’il Woody’s (Capitol Hill), 1211 Pine St., Seattle, WA, USA, +1 206 457 4148

Established in 1949 in Fife, Pick-Quick is an iconic drive-in where everything is made-to-order. Over the years, the restaurant has changed hands, however, customers can always count on having tasty burgers and fries made with nothing but the best locally sourced ingredients available. Diners will find regular hamburgers and cheeseburgers with one, two, or even three patties plus several other items. A host of complementary side dishes, including fresh French fries, chili fries, and even potato salad, are available. Well over a dozen flavors of milkshakes are also offered, including those that highlight seasonal fruit. As with other small burger joints, they only accept cash.

Pick-Quick Drive In, 4306 Pacific Highway E., Fife, WA, USA, +1 253 922 5599

Opened in 2013 in Redmond, Tipsy Cow Burger Bar is an airy, bright, and modern space with a lively ambiance. Priding themselves on supporting local purveyors, the ingredients sourced for their menu are fresh and of high quality. Try ‘The Winemaker’ burger with beef, triple cream brie, alfalfa sprouts, caramelized sweet onions and white truffle aioli. Several side dishes and milkshakes, including boozy varieties, can be found on the menu as well.

Tipsy Cow Burger Bar, 16345 Cleveland St., Redmond, WA, USA, +1 425 896 8716

Wanting to offer the people of Spokane a taste of ‘mom-and-pop burger shops in Wisconsin,’ Jeff Nordvall and Laura Paisley opened Wisconsinburger in 2014. Their Premium Angus beef is freshly ground every day ensuring a quality burger, which can be sampled in the ‘Awe Jeez’ topped with Wisconsin sharp cheddar, battered and fried cheese curds, lettuce, tomato, and grilled onion. Veggie and turkey burgers are also on the menu along with tantalizing sides, including hand-cut fries.

Wisconsinburger, 916 S. Hatch St., Spokane, WA, USA, +1 509 241 3083