Seattle's Best Fast Food 2008

Carnivores of the Northwest line up at this burger joint for family-run flame-broiled goodness.

Reviews:

• “Great garden burgers!”
• “Good burgers but they randomly close early.”
• “My conclusion: overrated”
• “Pretty Girls with poor attitudes make burgers….”
• “Great burgers for masochists”

Tips: Make sure to turn the ringer off or the staff will loudly enforce the “no cell phones” rule.

Red Mill Burgers—Phinney Ridge

Seattle’s legendary burger-flipping, milk shake-slinging takeout joint, going strong since 1954.

Reviews:

• “The WORST burger experience ever”
• “I can’t decide..”
• “great for what they are.”
• “Best Root beer Floats!”
• “real food”

Tips: Picky eaters are out of luck: No special requests are taken—unwanted condiments will have to be scraped off.

Dick’s Drive-In

Casual cafe and deli chain offers a health- and eco-conscious alternative to traditional fast-food fare.

Tips: Call ahead for home or office delivery—the cafe will even take orders the night before for next-morning breakfasts.

Organic to Go – Columbia Tower or email Organic to Go – Columbia Tower

Healthy, fresh and expertly prepared Mexican standbys keep customers coming back to this Greenwood joint.

Reviews:

• “Amazing Burritos”
• “Healty but not tasty at all”
• “mexican food”
• “Amazing Mexican Food! Nothing better when you’re in the mood for high-quality!”
• “Get the fish or carne asada!”

Tips: Burritos are roughly the size of a Duraflame log, so share or plan on having lots of tasty leftovers.

Gordito’s Healthy Mexican Food

A huge ocean-liner of a restaurant with restful views of the bay.

Reviews:

• “Spud Fish and Chips on Alki”
• “Taste you will never forget.”
• “Best chowder in Seattle”
• “Hidden Jewel”
• “Freshest seafood in the country!”

Tips: The Bell Street garage (entrance on Wall Street) is the most convenient parking.

Ivar’s Seafood Bar

Cheaper than Red Robin, tastier than McDonald’s, able to add a fried egg to a burger—it’s the fast-food superhero.

Reviews:

• “Average Burger”
• “The best burgers”
• “Best chili frieis”
• “Worth the price”
• “Quality burger”

Fatburger

This legendary drive-in is a 20-minute drive from downtown Seattle, but well-worth the time for true burger fans.

Reviews:

• “yum yum yum yum yum”
• “BEST BURGERS IN TOWN!!!”
• “Not impressed with Triple X Rootbeer”
• “Nice try, but no cigar”
• “Nice atmosphere for car buffs, humdrum hamburgers”

Tips: Saturday nights attract muscle-car fetishists who proudly park their vehicles where everyone can admire them.

XXX Rootbeer or email XXX Rootbeer

Inexpensive downtown Thai makes for great lunch takeout.

Reviews:

• “Not sure how they receive all the 5 stars”
• “Best Thai Cusine …Mae Phim Pike”
• “Good, Not Great!”
• “Great Foods with Best Price”
• “Mediocre Thai”

Tips: If you plan on eating in, best go before noon or after 1:30pm; otherwise, takeout is your best bet for a work-day meal.

Mae Phim Thai Restaurant

This aptly-named lunch spot offers busy downtown workers a welcome respite from the rat race.

Reviews:

• “awesome place”
• “Perfect Lunch Spot”
• “okay lunch spot”

Tips: Call in your order ahead to avoid a wait. To go menus are available near the cash register.

Harried and Hungry

Equally busy at midnight and noon, this perennially open Pioneer Square falafel stand does a brisk business from foot traffic.

Reviews:

• “Tasty falafel, skip everything else”
• “The best customer service ever!”
• “BEST falafel ever!!”

Tips: There’s limited seating inside and a few tables on the sidewalk, but chances are you’ll have to take your food to go. Head to the Waterfall Garden Park, a few blocks away, for a peaceful picnic.

Mediterranean Mix

1950s-style chain delivers outstanding burgers and shakes via car hop—no hot rod required.

Reviews:

• “Customer Service is not part of your order…”

Tips: University Village and Holman Road locations do not offer drive-in service, but the bright orange plastic seats offer the same time warp.

Burgermaster-University Village

A time capsule back to 1958, this Ballard burger joint draws Ballard High students and nostalgic locals.

Reviews:

• “The worst service I have ever received.”
• “Fries to die for”

Tips: Thick milkshakes come in a rainbow assortment of flavors, including pineapple and butterscotch.

Zesto’s Burger and Fish House

Pho and cream puffs reign supreme at this affordable Aurora Vietnamese chain.

Reviews:

• “Hard not to love this place!”
• “Creams Puffs Are a Plus”
• “One of the Best Pho in town”
• “Average Pho”
• “Red Lights = Don’t go”

Tips: Be wary of the size names: small is more than enough for a good-sized meal, while extra-large could feed a small army.

Than Brothers Restaurant

Offering made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch, this gourmet soup and sandwich spot caters to the businessman on the move.

Reviews:

• “You better love onions”
• “Doesn’t impress me much”
• “Great Bakery/Bad Attitude "
• “Great Service- Great Food”
• “Good experiences suddenly not looking so good”

Tips: Call early and have lunch waiting when you arrive, or arrange for local delivery for a small fee.

Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery

Reviews:

• “Great fast Mexican food”
• “friendly staff and good place to chill”

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill

Nationwide chain boasts gourment burritos and tacos prepared as you like by an animated counter crew.

Reviews:

• “The best Fast Food Restaurant around”

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Generous burgers with a side of nostalgia.

Reviews:

• “Consistently consistent”
• “Awesome – A Seattle Institution”

Kidd Valley Hamburgers

Downtown workers have lined up every weekday for 20 years to get a turkey sandwich from this legendary lunch counter.

Reviews:

• “Great food beats the sometimes mediocre service”
• “A Hidden Seattle Landmark”
• “keep walking”
• “a joke”
• “Y’all keep eating at McDonald’s if you don’t like this place”

Tips: The lunch rush piles up amazingly fast around noon—get there at 11:50am to avoid the worst crowds.

Bakeman’s Restaurant

Head to this casual hangout when only unconventional toppings will satisfy.

Reviews:

• “Yummy pizza”
• “Crusty pizza the hut.”
• “Great Pizza, Fun Atmosphere and Awesome Service!”
• “Go to Tutta Bella or Pagliacci’s!!!!! WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ZEEKS!!!”
• “Great Pizza…Now that’s Italian!”

Tips: Kids are given extra dough to play with during the wait for pizzas.

Zeek’s Pizza

Sub shop’s inexpensive sandwiches appeal to everyone from business lunchers to late-night studiers.

Reviews:

• “Best Sandwiches and quick!”
• “Tasty bite makes a quick fix”
• “Anytime is Time for jimmy John’s”
• “Greatest Delivery Service!”

Tips: Can’t get enough? Jimmy John’s sells day-old bread to aid in your own sub creation.

Jimmy John’s

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