The Puma Press’ illustrious food reviewers ride again. This time we set out to find once and for all who can claim the best bites in the city. We hit up three of Seattle’s most iconic chains: Ivar’s, Dick’s and Toshi’s Teriyaki. We rated them by their price, vibe, atmosphere and of course, taste. Who’s got the tastiest bites in Seattle? Keep reading to find out.

Four Dick’s burgers; only one to rule them all.

The Dicks experience–driving up, the smell of fries and instant service–is undeniably unbeatable. Every Dick’s burger has the same fluffy white bun and the same savory beef patty, but the similarities stop there.

To find the best burger, we tried the four most iconic menu items at Dick’s: the hamburger, cheeseburger, the special and the deluxe, and compared them for taste and price.

In last place unfortunately came the hamburger. Despite the cheap price, the lack of cheese and vegetables limited how enjoyable this burger could be. Although, it’s a good choice for a picky eater.

The special came in 3rd, heavy with pickles and lettuce and sporting Dick’s signature sauce. It was unbalanced with only a single patty, but tasty none the less. 

As for the cheeseburger, it’s simply the tried and true classic. It’s a delicious cheeseburger.

But the undisputed king of the Dick’s menu is the Deluxe. Two patties, perfectly balanced, tastes like how I imagine Heaven. If you haven’t eaten a Deluxe next to a line of UW students, can you truly call yourself a Seattleite?

Order: One of each principle burger

Cost: 💰💰

Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Classic Chicken Teriyaki: What’s Not to Love?

Chicken teriyaki, a classic Seattle lunch and dinner choice, boasts numerous options across the city. We visited Toshi’s Teriyaki, which has been serving delicious plates of rice and meat to customers for more than fifty years.

Located on Sand Point Way, in a hot spot of delicious restaurants, Toshi’s is a legendary chicken teriyaki spot.

The quality of the food has not diminished throughout the years. The teriyaki has a chewy, melt in your mouth texture paired near perfectly with crunchy streaks of char from the grill.

We rated the spicy chicken teriyaki a 9 out of 10, with a perfect balance between soft white rice, well-dressed salad and perfectly chili-spiced chicken. A filling lunch, chicken teriyaki deserves its recognition as a delicious and satisfying dish to conquer your hunger.

While not as cheap and quick as your traditional fast food lunch stop, Toshi’s Teriyaki was well worth the wait. All together, we recommended this spot to any UPrep student looking to have a large and delicious lunch.

Order: Spicy Chicken Teriyaki

Cost: 💰💰💰

Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Location: 3715 NE 45th St

Chowder and comforting views

Ivar’s Salmon House boasts the atmosphere of a family diner mixed with a Coast Salish longhouse, red carpet adorning the floor, with the walls covered with carved totem poles. It’s a fairly odd combination, and one that will always remind us of the distinct style that makes Ivar’s so iconic.

For 124 years, the establishment has boasted its now famous clam chowder, and neither of us left disappointed.

On a cold and rainy Sunday in March the warm chowder is near-perfect. The texture is mostly smooth, apart from potato chunks, and incredibly satisfying. The chowder was very tasty, with a creaminess that might not be for everyone due to the slight seafood flavor coming through, but the both of us found delicious.

Each chowder comes with small, crunchy crackers that you can choose to add for a bit of texture to go with the creamy bowl. Overall, all we can say is that there’s a reason Ivar’s has been serving food for over a century.

Order: Cup of Ivar’s Famous Clam Chowder

Cost: 💰💰💰

Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Location: 401 NE Northlake Way