Anyways, to get back to my story of the relatives who were underwhelmed by other burger joints in Seattle that were publicized on the Food Network. Of course after trying Uneeda Burger, they admitted, “You were right, Seattle Unexplored, this is much better and one of thee best burgers we’ve ever had”. Uneeda Burger is the perfect place to bring any visitor who craves a burger. It’s low key enough to bring my parents who want simplicity, but has the superior ingredients for those snooty friends who have a more discerning palate. I’ve brought friends from France, my parents, my wife’s family from overseas, country bumpkin friends whose ideas of a good burger is Burger King, my snooty co-worker who dismissed Uneeda Burger prior to stepping foot in the place(“There’s no way this is as good as Palace Kitchen). Every single person is won over by the end of their meal.
Uneeda Burger – The Best Burger in Seattle
Recommended by: Nobody. We discovered Uneeda Burger on our own.
Description on the Uneeda Burger’s website: Uneeda Burger is a casual, roadside-style burger shack with seriously delicious burgers, sandwiches, sides and shakes created by Chef Scott Staples. A great selection of fine wine and craft-brewed beers complement the menu’s premium quality and locally sourced beef burgers, chicken and veggie options.
Neighborhood/Type: Fremont
Address: 4302 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
What we ate/drank: #8 Crimini Mushrooms Burger – porcini & black truffle salt, shallots, gruyere cheese. Croque Madame -black forest ham, gruyere, dijon-mayo & truffled shoestring potatoes with sunny-side egg.
Comments: Update 9/22/19: Uneeda Burger just made Seattle Met’s 100 Best Restaurant
From our very first visit to Uneeda Burger, it’s always been our favorite burger joint in the city. Red Mill Burger has been here longer and gets most of the national pub outside of Seattle. They’ve been featured on many shows, including Man vs Food. Lunchbox Laboratory has also gained some national exposure with their Burger of the Gods being named #1 Burger in all the US on the Food Network.
I’ll never forget the moment that my wife’s family visiting from outside the country were watching Food Network during the episode and my wife and I were gobsmacked when the #1 Burger in the US was from Lunchbox Lab. Of course her family insisted on visiting Lunchbox Lab and also had Red Mill Burger on their Seattle To Do List. After visiting both, they were a little underwhelmed. Perhaps, unfairly, the publicity and build up played a role in their feelings. It’s not that the burgers were bad, but not mind-blowing. Once their feelings of being underwhelmed were known, we suggested our favorite, Uneeda Burger. They were skeptical. How could this place be better than Lunchbox Lab and Red Mill Burgers when those two places were publicized on the Food Network?
Uneeda Burger is housed within an old automotive/boat repair garage, which explains why it looks like a garage with huge garage doors, concrete floor and bare bones walls. The name of the former garage was Uneeda Auto & Boat Rebuild, hence the name Uneeda Burger. The actual signage from Uneeda Auto & Boat Rebuild was actually incorporated into the counter at which you order your food.
Keeping the original garage feel gives it a laid back atmosphere. The outside patio are simple wooden picnic tables, the inside have simple tables made from 2 X 4s and the chair are of simple metal. You line up and order at the counter, then find a table after ordering and then they’ll bring your burgers out to you. One note is that all burgers are cooked to medium, but the cashier always asks how you want it cooked. This laid back atmosphere definitely invites a family-friendly atmosphere. I guess you can say this of most burger joints, but one Seattle food critic once said something to the effect that the parents who let their kids run rampant at Uneeda Burger, “don’t need a burger, uneeda babysitter”.
I enjoy Uneeda Burger so much that during my last birthday, my wife asked where I wanted to celebrate? It wasn’t Revel, Junebaby, Adana or Sushi Kashiba. It was Uneeda Burger. I don’t know, I’m just simple that way.
We’ve tried most of the burgers here, but we’ve settled on our favorites, so we always order the same burgers over and over again- The Crimini Mushroom Burger and the Madame Burger. This is why you see only two pictures of burgers. It’s all we ever get.
I’m a huge fan of the French breakfast staple, the Croque Madame and of egg yolk in general. Add a hamburger patty to this breakfast staple and you’ve got me hooked. Everything about it is perfect. The egg yolk and burger of course, but also the gruyere cheese, black forest ham, truffled shoe string potatoes and the switching of a burger bun to buttered toast.
The Crimini Burger is my wife’s favorite. She’s a huge fan of mushroom burgers in general, but she loves the truffle flavor added to it and of course the gruyere cheese tops it off.
We also sometimes get a side order of fries, chile cheese fries or poutine. These sides are nothing to write home about, but what are burgers without fries? So they’ll do.
Poutine – fries topped with beef gravy & cheese sauce (3.75/5)
I would say the ingredients they use are not innovative or trend setting, but definitely quality ingredients from the burger patty to the cheese, ham and sauce. This plus the preparation is what sets it apart from other burger joints. You can increase the quality of your patty for $2 or $3 more. I actually have never done this, but some local Food Critics swear buy it. Maybe I should try a regular burger and an “upgraded” burger as an experiment to see if it’s really worth it.
Ratings:
Atmosphere: 4.50
Service: 4.50
Food/Drinks: 5.00
Bang for the Buck: 4.75
Overall: 4.70
Locals Only Factor: “Locals Only” grading-We’ll assign a grading as to how “local” a place is.
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- Well known or Touristy. Most locals don’t go there unless they have business dinners or visitors in town.
- Most locals know about it
- Locals “in the know” know about it
- Only those who live close by know about it.
- You’re in on the secret. Don’t tell anybody!
Servers recommendations to visit in the future: The order taker at Uneeda Burger, Mark, suggested a place down the street called, Roxy’s Diner for good pastrami sandwiches.
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