Readers' Choice 2026
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Best Burger Joint: Great State Burger
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.
Sometimes, the best thing s are the most straightforward. When it comes to a burger, most people don’t care about the bells and whistles—it’s attention to ingredients and quality preparation that truly stands out. At Great State Burger, that means using beef from Pure Country Farms, a farm in Ephrata that prides itself on grass-fed cows without antibiotics, hormones, or stimulants. It arrives fresh, is prepped and grilled in-house, then served in varying configurations, from a plain cheeseburger with ketchup to the Boss Burger: two beef patties, two slices of American cheese, organic lettuce, pickles, and the brand’s own State Sauce. Recently, Great State Burger opened a location in the newly renovated C Concourse at Sea-Tac Airport, so you can grab a burger and fries before you fly.
Runner Up: Dick’s Drive-In
About Readers' Choice 2026
Once a year, we turn the tables and ask our readers about their favorite local spots. The neighborhood café with the best coffee, the restaurant you book for every special occasion, and where you send out-of-town guests for top-tier cocktails. Seattleites have opinions, and they shared them with us. This year, we received more votes than ever before, with some familiar favorites returning and plenty of new names making the list.
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