Cheap Food Critic

6538 4th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108

Mon-Sat 10:30 am – 8:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Hidden in the industrial part of Seattle you’ll have to dodge the semi-trucks and potholes to get here but it is sooo worth it. The restaurant itself is pretty small. There’s three booths and three tables inside and two outside (for the three months of nice weather in Seattle). Also, parking is a little awkward (you’ll see when you get here) but at least there’s parking. As you get inside and see the crazy names of the burgers on the menu (such as the Ohayou Gozaimasu, Godzilla Attack, or the Ninja Delux) you might be a little confused. No worries though the service is super awesome here. They will help you make the right selection.

As for the food…I really love the Ohayou Gozaimasu (“Thank You Very Much” in Japanese) burger but this time I went for the Katsu Curry Burger. The Katsu Curry Burger was super crunchy from the pork katsu yet meshed well with the shredded cabbage, tomatoes, red onions, and pickles. The bun was nothing special but it did its job of holding all the veggies and meat together. It’s hard to compare but I love the Ohayou Gozaimasu burger because of the fried egg but as an over all sandwich I think I would prefer the Katsu Curry Burger. It’s definitely my favorite item here so far.

For most people all you would need to get here is one of their specialty katsu burgers and a drink for a very filling lunch or dinner. The burger (with the of the Ohayou Gozaimasu) and a drink would run you under $10. However, this trip here I really wanted to try the curry fries so my meal with the Katsu Curry Burger was just over $12 after tax. I really didn’t even touch the fries because the burger was so fricking filling…it’s ginormous. Although I really enjoy the french fries seasoned with Nori or curry it was the wasabi mayo dipping sauce that makes them so addicting.

Note – Winner of the Seattle Weekly’s Best Burger 2011, Best Place to Get Fatter 2011, and the 2012 Sustainability awards.

Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (121 Ratings)

159 Yesler Way
Seattle, WA 98104

Mon-Fri 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Tat’s Delicatessen if you have not heard is the one of the many awesome sandwich spots down in Pioneer Square. These guys and Salumi have lead the pack of sandwich places in this area the last couple of years. They also seem to be having a competition as to who can have the longest line during lunch time. For me, I will go either one of these locations without hesitation. So, deciding which one to go it is a matter of who has the shortest line. Tat’s makes it easy for you to check out how busy they are with the Line Cam. Make sure you check it out before coming here to avoid the massive wait times.

My go to sandwich here is the 8 inch Tat’stromi which contains pastrami, coleslaw, and Swiss cheese all on a hoagie roll. The saltiness of the pastrami in combination with the mild cheese flavor and the cool creaminess from the coleslaw is amazing. You really get all the flavors from each ingredient in every bite.

The other sandwich I recommend here is the Cheese Steak with pepper jack cheese and all the fixings (grilled onions, grilled hot peppers, grilled green peppers and mushrooms). A little fancier than the normal cheese steaks but very good flavors. Just like any another cheese steaks it’s going to be messy; make sure you grab extra napkins. Either the Cheese Steak or Tat’stromi sandwiches will set you back about $9 after tax but remember they are very large sandwiches (even with the 8 inch).

I am so glad I do not work in the area because I would go here so much I would probably gain 20 pounds. But I guess if you are going to cheat on your diet this is the type of food you want to have (might as well make it count, right?).

The restaurant itself is decent size with about 20 tables. But if there’s no tables available at Tat’s make your way over to Occidental Park and grab a seat there.

Note – Credit cards are accepted. Also, make sure to get a punch card if you plan on making this a regular lunch spot.

Yelp – 4.5/5.0 Stars (399 Reviews)

1613 W Dravus St
Seattle, WA 98119

and

312 N 67th St
Seattle, WA 98103

Tue-Sat 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sun 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Red Mill Burger is definitely a staple in the Seattle-area. However, is this the best burger in town? It’s debatable. My take on it, because this place has been so hyped up by the media attention everyone comes here expecting to see Jesus when they eat the burger’s here. If you come here with the right expectations you will really enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Come here knowing all of the burgers are good (especially the ones with bacon) but none of them are going to blow your mind away. The award winning onion rings on the other hand are a game changer. I’m normally not a big fan of onion rings but I would have these here any day.

My most recent trip to Red Mill I had the Verde Burger and Onion Rings; totaling just over ten dollars after tax ($10.27). I think the best part of the burger is the grilling of the bun and the melted pepperjack cheese. The Anaheim peppers on the other hand didn’t really add much to the burger (maybe made it a little more moist). Next time I will probably go back to the Double Bacon Deluxe w/Cheese. The Deluxe is a surefire winner here with the mound of bacon they put in the burger.

In summary, if you are in the area and want to experience a little piece of Seattle on the cheap Red Mill is a must visit in the Phinney Ridge and Interbay/Magnolia neighborhoods.

Note – Cash Only

Phinney Ridge Location:
Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (721 Ratings)

Interbay Location:
Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (523 Ratings)

5016 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Mon-Sun 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Hawaii BBQ…it has been way too long. Located a little further up on Ave but back in college I made the trek up here at least once a week. Feeling a little nostalgic after hitting up Groditos I decided to make sure I got back here before my next trip out. Coming back after a few years it looks exactly the same as I remembered it. Probably because there have not been many changes (with the exception of some new menu items). Catering to mostly college kids including many student athletes (pictured on their walls) they have kept their prices really affordable.

When deciding what to order don’t get overwhelmed by the wall of menu items (see picture below). Pretty much everything comes in very generous portions and is absolutely delicious. I’ve had the following so far over the years: yakisoba with chicken, katsu don bowl, spam misubi, spam fried rice, and #70 Hawaiian Club Plate.

This trip out I got the Club Plate. It was probably about two pounds of food loaded up with chicken katsu, chicken mochiko (kind of like popcorn chicken), a fried egg, fried rice, and some sauce for the chicken. All of this for under $8.00!!! The mochiko and the katsu were both very good on their own but dipped in the plum-ish sauce really makes it delicious. Once you get pass some of the mountain of meat you can get to the fried egg and the fried rice below. Don’t try to eat the whole plate in one seating. You’ll probably end up with a stomachache with that much food. I can wait to got back and try some of their new items.

Note – Cash only but there is a BofA a block south on the ave or you can use the atm machine in the store.

Yelp – 4/5 (170 Ratings)

213 N 85th St
Seattle, WA 98103

Mon-Thu, Sun 10:30 am – 9:00 pm
Fri-Sat 10:30 am – 9:30 pm

I used to come here all the time when I was in high school and college. However, being a little bit out of the away for me now I have not had a chance to get back here in awhile. Finally, after a few years hiatus I made it back. I really didn’t remember how good this place is until I took that first bite of the wet burrito with chicken. I also forgot how big these burritos are…I guess I could have just looked at the pictures of babies next to the burritos on the wall. Despite only finished half of my burrito I was fricking stuffed.

Get any of the burritos for under $10. They also bring you a basket of fresh tortilla chips; pair them up with the homemade salsas at the salsa bar and you have a winning combo. I think everyone I’ve tried so far has been awesome (especially the really hot one).

The restaurant is also really huge and has an outdoor seating area. Another big plus is that they have parking (a little snug but it’s better than looking for street parking).

Note – Although the name has healthy in it, I really doubt it is. If you ate that whole burrito it would probably be over 1,000 calories.

Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (386 Ratings)

932 N Kenmore St
Arlington, VA 22201

Mon-Sun 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

I don’t know why there are so many Peruvian Chicken places in the DC area but I’m not really complaining…this stuff is awesome. My favorite place in this area (along with Anthony Bourdain) is El Pollo Rico.

Conveniently located right by George Mason University it’s easy to get to by train. They also have a good sized parking lot but it stays pretty full during lunch and dinner rush. Inside the restaurant there are tons of tables and seats. However, during lunch time you will have to poach a table as people finish eating. When ordering there are now two lines, one for cash and one for credit card. If you have cash you can normally cut your time in line by half.

My last trip here I had the quarter chicken with fries and rice. Nothing really special about the rice or fries but when eaten with the green or white mayo sauce I could not stop eating. The chicken was probably one of the best pieces chicken I have ever had! The skin was nice and crunchy while the meat was super moist and juicy. There was also some type of seasoning over the skin that gave the chicken a little salty flavor. Add the green sauce to the chicken and you have the makings of an awesome lunch or dinner. My only compliant was that I need more of those sauces…I finished all the ones they gave me but still had some chicken left over. The total for my whole meal was just over $10.

Note – Don’t forget to bus your own table

Yelp – 4.5/5.0 (548 Ratings)

900 Rainier Ave
Seattle, WA 98144

Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat-Sun 11:00 am – 2:00 am

20815 67th Ave W
Lynnwood, WA 98036

Tue-Sun 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

After having Peruvian chicken in the DC area I remembered we also have a really good place in Seattle.  San Fernando Roasted Peruvian Chicken in the Rainier/MLK area just outside of the International District is Seattle’s answer to Peruvian food.  All of the other Peruvian restaurants I’ve been to focus the menu on the roasted chicken.  Here at San Fernando they have roasted chicken also but its the other items that I would keep coming back for.  A lot of the food is a mix of Asian and Hispanic food (including the Arroz con Pollo and the Tallarin Saltado listed below).  So far I’ve tried the following items:

• Papas Rellenas – which is mashed potatoes stuffed with seasoned meat, formed in the shape of a mini football, and than fried.  Papas Rellenas is good for a very filling appetizer.
• Arroz con Pollo – which is quarter chicken with seasoned rice (taste kind of like curry fried rice).  My favorite at this place!
• Tallarin Saltado – is a sort of like a Peruvian chow mein, spaghetti noodles fried with chicken, tomatoes, and peppers.
• Arroz Chaufa – Peruvian fried rice!  Don’t order this expecting Chinese fried rice.  There are similarities for sure but there are different seasoning used in this fried rice.  I really like the huge chunks of chicken and the moistness of the rice but come here with an open mind and try it yourself.
• Lomo Saltaldo – Fries and white rice with sauteed beef, red onions, and red peppers.  Sounds simple but it is seasoned amazingly well.

Notes – Come here ready to eat with your fat pants.  They really load up on food here.  Also, don’t forget to try both the sauces.  Both add a little something special to the food.  If you can’t do spicy avoid the orange one, it’s habanero.

Update – I finally had a chance to get back to the Lynnwood location and get a few pictures of the place. The food is exactly the same as the Rainier location but a tad bit more expensive (about a dollar).

Seattle (Rainier) Location:
Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (53 Reviews)

Lynnwood Location:
Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (51 Reviews)

5240 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041

Sun-Wed: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thu-Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

I read a Zaget review online claiming this place had better Peruvian chicken (pretty much roasted chicken) then the better known El Pollo Ricco. Being too far from El Pollo Rico I was excited to give this place a try. The chicken was juicy and flavorful but the sides were complete disappointments. I had the half chicken with salad and Peruvian potato salad for about $8.50 after tax. Both were pretty bland and not worth the stomach space. I could have also gotten the fries or yucca as sides (which I assume would have been better) it’s pretty difficult to mess up fried starches. The green sauce and white sauce were very good though. If I was in the area again I probably would come back but skip the sides and just get the chicken and fries or yucca.

The location itself is very large. Tons of seating and parking especially compared to El Pollo Rico.

Long story short, I don’t think this place was better than El Pollo Rico . However, it was still a good, healthy, and cheap lunch. Definitely worth a try.

Yelp – 3.5/5.0 (89 Ratings)