Winter means comfort food, and what’s more comforting than a burger? To help guide your taste buds, we tested out six local burgers—some classic, some experimental (think peanut butter and balsamic beets), but all downright tasty.
The Hearse at The Filling Station
A gas station-themed restaurant might seem unconventional, but this place will really rev your engine. After cruising down the car-themed menu, order my favorite: The Hearse. Served with a side of “Tire Treads”—fries that can only be described as a cross between a curly fry and a potato wedge—The Hearse has all the luxury features, like pasture-raised beef, cheddar, bacon, caramelized onions, and the standard package of lettuce and tomato. This model also has Irish Death beer sauce, made from Irish Death beer out of Iron Horse Brewery in Ellensburg,Washington. Lindsey Major
Mushroom Swiss Burger at Zane Burger
This 1950s-inspired restaurant offers a meal so good you’ll leave with something to be nostalgic about. Served on a warm brioche bun, the Mushroom Swiss Burger offers heavenly balance between freshly-sauteed mushrooms and perfectly-melted cheese. The decadent pairing is then laid on top of a certified, grass-fed Angus beef patty, which is cooked to order. Apart from Zane’s finger-licking-good red sauce, the burger is nicely complemented with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. Ray Garcia
The Classic at Fat Shack
Although famous for their sandwiches stuffed with unusual fillings—e.g.mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, and jalapeno poppers—Fat Shack also serves up a mean classic burger. The Classic is filled with two hearty 100 percent Angus beef patties on a simple bun with the iconic works: lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, and their special burger sauce. It’s tastier and more filling than the big-name fast-service joints. Plus, they can deliver it to your home through DoorDash until three in the morning. What could be more American than that? Questen Inghram
Bacon Ranch Burger at Nicki’s Bella Marina
If you’re craving bacon, go for the Bacon Ranch Burger from Nicki’s Bella Marina. For $14.99, you get two patties for a total of 2/3 pound ground chuck steak. It has a toasted bun,thick-cut honey-cured bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Their house-made ranch dressing is rich, creamy, and delicious. The bottomless steak fries aren’t bad either. What can be better than that?Enjoy it right on the water as yachts pull in and out of port. Sam Fletcher
Elvis NW at Cosmos Bistro
Peanut butter fans, pay attention. Inspired by the king of rock and roll’s famous love for grilled peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwiches, this burger features a generous patty (made from local, grass-fed beef), a layer of creamy maple peanut butter, thinly-sliced green apples, arugula, and strips of crispy bacon. While the flavor combo might seem intense, the result is a delicious, unique, and high-protein burger experience. To help sweeten the deal, burgers are $2 off every Thursday, all day long. Becky Mandelbaum
Triple B Burger at Brandywine
No, “Triple B” doesn’t stand for“Brandywine’s Best Burger,” but maybe it should. It’s called that because it’s got beef, bacon, blue cheese, and balsamic beets (I’m thinking Quintuple B Burger didn’t roll off the tongue as well). This grilled ham’s loaded with the aforementioned fixings, as well as organic arugula and a lovely garlic aioli—all of which are locally sourced. If you’re bored of by-the-book burgers, Brandywine’s Triple B Burger might be your brand-new bread and butter. Tyler Kendig
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