- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
By's
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
2901 4th Ave SSeattle, WA 98134
Neighborhood: SODO
(206) 622-9901
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 8 pm
Sat 10 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for By's
Review Highlights
"So I just had a Lou's special."
(in 5 reviews)
"By's has great french fries and onion rings."
(in 9 reviews)
"The blackberry shake was pretty awesome too."
(in 6 reviews)
Loading...
35 reviews in English
-
Review from Bo S.
Seattle, WA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
We have driven by By's a good two dozen times or so and finally, while in the middle of Thanksgiving shopping, decided to stop in to avoid the inevitable hungry 2 year old's meltdown. It's a little hole in the wall burger joint that you drive by with a retro sign out front, and we all know these places can be hit or miss.
By's is a hit. While we didn't completely avoid the meltdown (sorry to the other lunchers), we did enjoy a reasonably priced meal that was fast and delicious.
Our table enjoyed the salmon burger, french fries, onion rings, and Lou's special. Everyone was full and satisfied. The customer service was fantastic. I thought the prices were good, and not over-inflated like so many Seattle places are.
We will definitely be going by again soon to load up on some so-not-good-for-us-but-damnit-it's-delicious-goodn ess. Also, it's a fun place for kids to see the light rail and all of the garbage trucks roll in and out. -
Review from John C.
Seattle, WA
11/12/2011
This is one of my main lunchtime spots to hit up during my work week and has been for most of the past year. It is, indeed, a little hole in the wall type place next to a waste transfer station, so it might not appeal to the ritzy Mercer Island crowd, which only adds to allure of By's. It really is a working class place serving old fashioned burger stand type of food. Admittedly, their burgers are just average, though very, very consistent. I'd say in the grand scheme of things, a 3.5 star type of burger. It might not compare to the Spring Hill experience, but then again, it isn't supposed to.
What I absolutely love about this place and continues to be the main reason I go back several times a month is that the staff is as friendly as can be. The main lady who runs the counter at lunch is the type who remembers anyone who comes in more than twice. In fact, not too long ago I hadn't come in for about three weeks, but had just gotten a haircut. She noticed and complimented me on it.
Yes, flattery will get you everywhere, but that aside, they obviously appreciate their customers and make you feel welcome every single time you come in. That gets me in the door every time.
Definitely one of the SoDo industrial area's best lunch spots. -
Review from Trisha F.
9/23/2011
Yummy onion rings, good (if you like greasy and delicious) fries.
Friendly service that remembers you when you come in. -
Review from Daren D.
8/14/2011
A cute, warm and friendly lil piece of WA's small town diners is here (not exactly relocated, but it's the feeling that counts). Local workers, as well as truckers, come by here often. Kim(?), the short, sweet and spunky looking asian cashier was warm and friendly. I was just passing by on the light rail and decided to do a short walk from SoDo station for some fries... these were like Dick's fries taken to the next level, yo! A bit more delicious and thicker cuts.
All they're missing now is some Jailhouse Rock and Lollipop playing the airwaves. -
Review from kathy m.
6/2/2011
Yay! I AM a fan! Having grown up in Seattle, I think there was a By's in the north end (before it became the Hungry Steer, before THAT became a law office or some such professional establishment). But the By's I think I remember in the north end wasn't that great and what with a Dick's a few miles down the road, we hardly ever went to By's. Although this By's is NOTHING like the By's I remember. But then, I doubt if my parents ever ordered a deluxe anything EVER for any of us kids. Nonetheless,yay-I'm-a-fan, eating at By's made me feel really nostalgic!
We ordered the fish and chips and a deluxe cheeseburger, and again, I'm a fan. Plus a root beer milkshake. I thought the shake was perfect. I love root beer milkshakes, but have a problem when they use too much syrup making them gaggy sweet. I think these folks use just regular old root beer from the tap. The flavors and consistency were excellent. Real hard-line, hand-dipped shake aficionados would probably would not dig 'em, but, yay-I'm-a-fan!
The burger was good, but the fish and chips were Grrrreat! I mean, I'm a fan! By's could actually be a fish and chips destination for us sometime in the future and we'd have to drive by about twenty other good fish and chips spots to get to By's. I'm that much of a fan. The fish was white and moist and tasted fresh. The breading was crispy and golden. I like their tartar (and I'm picky about tartars--I don't like too much dill). The chips were fresh potatoes (skin mostly on), like big fat Dick's fries (of which I have always been a fan).
Finally, I liked the garbage dump next door. Yes, that was a plus for us as it provided some unique static entertainment. Most places you have to content yourselves with people-watching, but here right out the window is a transfer station where you can watch heavy machinery moving trash around! That and watching the seagulls and crows diving in after stuff to munch on...well, I'm a fan! -
Review from Yee V.
Seattle, WA
4/26/2011
Sketchy lookin, but hey, it's Sodo District.
I was told the fish burger is great, well it was! Two fish patties between a bun with lettuce and tartar sauce. How could it be done wrong? Well, it's ten times better than any other place I've tried!
It's somewhat hard to see off the road, but if you look for an old school looking burger place like the Crabby Patty, stop BY!
The owner is Korean I believe. She sure can hold a conversation, but that just means she's a friendly person! haha.
Hopefully next time I'll get to try a burger. The special one. Written on top of the menu! -
Review from Jordan B.
Seattle, WA
6/20/2011
Anyone who has spent any time traveling through Eastern Washington you'll know that every small town has a burger joint that hasn't changed since the 60's. By's is Seattle's small town burger joint.
I've been driving past By's for almost two years now, and always thought to myself that I should try it. Today I bit the bullet. I walked into the place and immediately knew I was going to be in for some good old fashioned buger joint food. Their menu is extensive but not overly so, burgers, fries, fish, anything you would want at a working man's lunch.
I ordered the special burger (at the top of the menu) which was a double burger, with bacon, served with fries and a medium drink (I got a large drink and my total was 7.50). The people at the counter were super nice and extremely fast, I had my food within five minutes. The burger was delicious and the fries were perfect.
A super satisfying lunch for a very reasonable price. I'll be back (I want to try the fish) -
Review from Sylvia W.
Seattle, WA
4/25/2011 1 photo
It's been several years since I'd last eaten at By's. When I went in this past Friday I noticed some things just don't change. Fried mushrooms are made in house with their own batter and breading. Salads made to order with unevenly sized hand torn lettuce. (Know how I know? Because they weren't uniform in size nor were there any dry edges, which equals prepacked... :)
Also forgot they don't bake their breadsticks, they're deep-fried. Solid lunch spot near my office. Delish.
Note- don't try to take pictures of their menu. Cashierist said I wasn't allowed to, even though I tried to explain that I just wanted a menu shot since they were out of their to-go menus. Go figure. -
Review from Katy H.
I didn't know what to expect before eating at By's. I certainly knew it wouldn't be award winning... and I also knew it wouldn't be some spotless, classy joint... but I was SUPER impressed!
Growing up my family would stop in at a small, sticky burger joint on the way home from ski trips. I loved the food. It couldn't compare to something Tom Douglas would create but I never expected it. It's been years and years since I've eaten at that place and my experience at By's yesterday reminded me of the good ol' days.
The place was practically empty when we walked in and although it wasn't clean enough you could eat off the floor, it was very tidy and didn't smell at all. (like I had read in some reviews.)
It was a toss up between a bacon burger and fish n chips...so we got both! The fish was super fresh, the batter was hot and crispy and the burger was awesome. If I worked in SODO I'd frequent this spot. The service was also great and it was better than I'd expected. -
Review from David Y.
Seattle, WA
8/17/2011
This place has some pretty dang good fish and chips. Seriously. It's a little shack located right next the the garbage dump... but don't let that fool you - the fish is fantastic and the fries - oh damn, the fires are bomb!
-
Review from Bud S.
Maple Valley, WA
8/27/2011
im a health nut......bys is the place to go for a decadent treat!
the garden burger is tops.
BYS FRIES ARE SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Charlie W.
Seattle, WA
6/9/2010
Okay, how can a place (at 4th and Forest) that looks likes it dates from the 1950's, located in a run-down industrial neighborhood, in front of a smelly recycling plant (Rebanco), next to a car wash (Elephant), be any good at all?
Well, I've eaten my share of burgers here over the years, but what is currently really good--and literally half the price of the stores along Alki Beach in West Seattle--are the FISH AND CHIPS and FISH SANDWICH. Definitely worth stopping for (though the coleslaw needs work).
By the way, the interior is as run-down as the neighborhood, but otherwise as clean as a whistle. The owners are nice, too. -
Review from Jens J.
5/20/2009
Bye-bye to By's! Probably for all eternity.
Sniff, sniff, sniff. What is that smell? Is it furniture polish? No. Sniff, sniff, sniff. Is it dirty socks? No, not that...sniff sniff sniff. Oh! It's a mop sitting in a bucket of dirty water in the corner over there.
Bye bye to to those horribly salty onion rings, which are mostly just batter anyway. And the tarter sauce - was there anything in it besides mayonnaise? Didn't seem so.
And adios to the "double deluxe burger" that came with skinny Burgerville-like patties (though I think Burgerville burgers taste much better, that's perhaps just a little of my pro-PDX bias creeping in here). My By burger came with a mooshy bun, mooshy tomato and mooshy onion. Mooshy mooshy mooshy! .
However, not all is lost. The chocolate shake was actually very good, both in flavor and texture. And following the advice I got from "Tart" on SE Division in Portland, I blew into my hand to alleviate the shake-induced brain freeze. And you know what, it works! -
Review from D.J. Y.
11/15/2007
Baby BYE BYE BYE....or is it BY BY BY???
Whichever it is, I'm going BY, or is that a three-some? Sorry honey, my new BFF is an old Seattle standard and she's going to make me very happy for a very long time.
By's is another Seattle Institution of the classic "fried" hamburger, I'd consider is a step up from Dicks, *ducks and hides* nothing amazing, nothing organic, nothing with roasted peppers, or a garlic aioli sauce. In fact the only additional items they offer to add to your classic hamburger is cheese or bacon, yummy!!
Cheap eats that's for sure, for a mere $4.99 opt for one of the daily hamburger specials, which includes some of the best damn fries around, if you really want a treat, check out the onion rings!!! HOLLA!!!
The daily special was a mushroom cheese burger, no Shiitake or Portabello shrooms here, just good old button mushroom, heck the might have come from a can for all I know. Lettuce and pickles on a nice buttery bun rounded out this berg.
My hamburger combo was chased down with a orange cream sickle milkshake, $2.99, one size only! The flavor reminded me of those little dairy cups of orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream. Does anyone remember those little wooden spoons they came with? I sure do and boy the shake brought back fond memories....
A true classic and not to be missed, fellow Yelp'er Ron M. had these, you'll need to check out their "original" hand cut & breaded fish and chips, a 3 piece looked like plenty and for only $6.99 which includes coleslaw and toast, yes toast, remember one thing, CARBOS RULE!! Sadly I didn't try the tartar sauce, I'll have to reserve judgment on this for the next trip.
For the veggie head they do offer a garden burger and they also offer a tossed green salad, now granted I'll have to assume the garden burger is cooked on the same grill as my HOT'N JUICY ALL BEEF patty, Vegans will have to just think good thoughts... hey look a tree!
Oh, I should mention they do have a "gourmet" list of burgers, one of which is the aforementioned "garden" burger, another option for the adventurer is the "steak" burger and the "buffalo" burger options, me I'll just stick with the original....
FYI- Limited in-door seating, no wifi and no Yuppies allowed...The reality of it is, this place ROCKS olde skool style!! -
Review from Daisy B.
Seattle, WA
2/23/2008
Lou's Special: Double bacon cheeseburger with fries and medium coke $5.99. What's your pleasure? Garden Burger? Buffalo? Fish & Chips? Chicken? Fried Prawns? Teriyaki? Orange Creamsicle shake?
By's got it, and as fast food goes, it's good (of course, probably not good for you). But when you're moderating your healthy diet with an occasional high fat high carb fix, By's is the place to go. -
Review from bill c.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 6/25/2011
went back for the fish & chips, they were awesome! Great value for the quality of the fish, large pieces that don't look like frozen fish sticks, fries that run the gamut of soft, crispy, and burnt. it's french fry heaven. the couple that work there are super nice.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/25/2011
the burger patty was so thin we could not really taste it for all the lettuce, way overpriced.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Rich E.
Seattle, WA
9/10/2008
So I just had a Lou's special. A 2x bacon cheeseburger, fries and a med drink for $7.00 even. Cheaper than RedMill and on par with them for sure! Actually, I think I like these fries better than the Mills... This joint kind of reminded me the way Kidd Valley USED to be.
It is an old walk up(with a few tables) next to a recycle plant but don't let that sway your decision to go. If your looking for a good ol' fashioned burger... go for it. -
Review from Rich S.
Bremerton, WA
1/18/2010
By's isn't much to look at, but it's home to some of the best fish and chips in Seattle. A small barely-noticable shop along 4th avenue, south of Safeco Field, set back from the road, it would be easy to miss. And sad for you if you do miss it!
Far better than the overrated Ivar's and toe-to-toe with Spud's, By's fish and chips is big tasty chunks of tender fish battered just right (not too heavy) and served with plenty of fries and tartar sauce. For 7 or 8 bucks you get more than enough for lunch, maybe even enough to split with a good friend...though you may not want to! The service is fast and friendly. They tend to get busy around lunchtime, but you shouldn't have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes even then.
By's also has chicken strips and hamburgers and other greasy-spoon staples, all of which are good and worth a try if you're in the mood, but for me I will always go for the fish and chips.
It may be a little out of the way, and it isn't the prettiest place or the most famous, but with great prices and amazing food, By's is worth it! -
Review from Melissa J.
Seattle, WA
11/15/2008
I love By's. It's friendly, fast, and serves large portions for reasonable prices. You can get a generous lunch for $7 and have enough food left over for a snack, if not another meal. Bump it up with a milkshake and you'll spend $10 for enough food for two meals.
Great milkshakes, outstanding fish. Visit this south end burger joint and support local business!Listed in: Local burger joints
-
Review from Krystin T.
Seattle, WA
5/13/2008
I don't really eat hamburgers, but I just wanted to give props to the milkshakes. They're damn good, and the fries are yummy (although greasy) as well.
Only three stars because I can't really speak for anything else. -
Review from Damon C.
Seattle, WA
5/20/2008
When I think of the perfect burger, By's burgers now come to mind. Let's be honest, though. This place is a dive. It hasn't changed in 30 years (quite literally, said one friendly gentleman who was waiting for his meal), and I never would have gone here had somebody else not recommended it.
The burger was really the right mix of crappy american cheese, low-grade beef and luscious strips of bacon. You now the kind - it's not some upscale restaurant, it's not the highest quality of everything...but it just tastes _really_ good. -
Review from alicia w.
Seattle, WA
3/3/2008
I went here with a coworker and had the fish and chips and it was fantastic. They had Cherry Coke too! Woohoo! The fish was piping hot and nice and flaky. Their tartar is a real treat! As good as the fries were I'm wishing I had substituted them for onion rings. I'm an onion ring fanatic and I see a couple of folks here thought they were excellent. Maybe next time I go because I'll surely be going back.
The prices are very reasonable and the service is fast. It can be hard to park at lunchtime during the week. We just barely squeaked into a parking spot.
Oh! I almost forgot, while you eat you can enjoy a great view of a garbage dump out back! -
Review from Michael B.
Manhattan, NY
2/2/2009
Very friendly. Very fast.
Very average.
My burger was a little tough, I actually spit out a chewy bite....
Why go here when you can get Dick's? -
Review from steve c.
Denver, CO
11/22/2008
After reading Ron's ROTD on 11/15, I decided I was going to check By's out. I had driven past them on many occasions, but didn't know what to think. Of course old buildings/establishments that have been around for a long time are cool, but when they look tired and a little shabby, like By's does, then you think it might be "a little sketch."
Well, they didn't disappoint. The customer service was top notch....an older lady helped me and couldn't have been nicer and more friendly. The interior of the building wasn't bad; I liked the pictures of the different facelifts By's has received over the years, and old style tables weren't bad, but it was missing something.
OK, now on to the important stuff: the food! I had a Lou's special. Very tasty, my favorite part of the meal being the hand peeled fries (I'm surprises no one has written about this aspect of the fries yet). No frozen fries here...just thick, hand peeled potatoes made into fries. Sure they were a little greasy, but I wasn't eating at a vegan restaurant.
I definitely agree with what Mark B. says about the 1/6" pressed patties. Yeah, that really does degrade the burger......everything tastes so good, but when you put it on a patty that has come factory pressed and frozen, something just isn't right. Maybe if enough people send them letters (yeah, the handwritten type), they will start serving fresh meat (and locally sourced??)
All in all, I had a very good experience; I'd choose By's over Dicks any day, now that I've tried them. -
Review from Marina M.
Seattle, WA
4/29/2008
The burger was really good -- better than Dick's and comparable to Red Mill. The fries were eh. But the shake ... ohh, the shake. Delicious down to the very last strawberry drop. None of that chunky nastiness at the bottom of most shakes.
I heard later that the onion rings here are the main attraction, but no one in our seven-person party managed to order any. Oh, well. Next time! -
Review from Jeff C.
Seattle, WA
1/5/2011 1 photo
Gotta dig those Fish n Chips as others have said - they are made to order, crispy and hot (as are the fries) Quite an ample portion for $8 bucks as well....
-
Review from Ron M.
By's a great burger and fish and chips joint. I had lunch here for the first time yesterday with a couple of co-workers (including fellow Yelper, DJ Y) and I know that I'll make more of an effort to eat here more often!
Lunch for me consisted of the three piece fish and chips ($6.99/5-piece for $10.49); onion rings ($2.99) and a blackberry shake ($2.99). The fish was definitely good - apparently they hand cut and bread them on the premises. The tartar sauce they serve here is very good. The fresh cut fries were very tasty and their consistency falls between Dick's and McDonald's fries - not too soft and kind of crunchy. I liked the fact that it wasn't greasy! Their onion rings are my new favorite in town - they were super crunchy and something that I can't put my finger on.....maybe I should go back and put in another order! The blackberry shake was pretty awesome too! Other flavors they offer include: peanut butter, Almond Roca, butterscotch, orange-creamsicle, strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, cherry, banana, pineapple and root beer. You can also malt your shake for .55. I really wanted to try their fried mushrooms ($2.69), but I think I'll save that for next time.
Their standard burger options are single deluxe ($2.69), double deluxe ($3.49) and triple deluxe ($4.19). It comes with the standard condiments: lettuce, onion, tomato, ketchup & cheese. You can add bacon (.40), ham (.50) and grilled onions (.20). If beef isn't your thing then you can order from three different chicken burgers like: filet of chicken ($4.09), teriyaki ($4.39) or bbq ($4.39).
If you happen to be in the area, you really should check them out! Don't forget to wear something comfortable - maybe some stretchy pants!
Places like By's are a dying breed in Seattle. It harkens back to a time when Seattle was not culinary sophisticated and basically a meat and potatoes kind of town. It was also a town where the only beer consumed was Olympia and Rainier (the thought of that horrifies me). Don't get me wrong, I totally love that our city has grown with the times and the choices now are quite staggering. We have definitely have come a long way! Some of you may remember that going out someplace nice and fancy meant that you were going to The Blue Max, Henry's Off Broadway, Black Angus, Ivar's Acres of Clams or the Salmon House. Fine dining was limited to places like Canlis, The Met, El Gaucho (original) and hotel restaurants at the Olympic or Sorrento. If one wanted something different you would find yourself in Chinatown (though that was more the norm for me). I hope that By's doesn't go the way of childhood favorites like Rev's Frostop (best chili fries and root beer); Dag's (six-pack burgers), Herfy's (original incarnation), Suicide Burger and Betty's Grill (1lb burgers).Listed in: Best of the Best, Pleasant Surprises
-
Review from hOnOstly U.
Renton, WA
11/20/2010
Good greasy burgers. Get the fries!
-
Review from Tammy W.
10/6/2008
I love the fact that By's has been a fixture in SoDo since the 1960's. But I have never eaten a burger that needed salt before. Hmmm, I think it was just the overall lack of flavor that made me want to salt the burger. The fries were nice and crisp and large, but again, no flavor. The mushrooms were a little too perfect and also devoid of flavor, leading me to believe they were frozen and not made fresh.
Listed in: My Quest for Burger Nirvana
-
Review from Bill W.
Seattle, WA
5/5/2011
Classic/hidden gem for inexpensive but yummy burgers, fish & chips, fries and shakes. Their Creamsicle milkshake is my favorite milkshake in all of Seattleland. Check it out - just south of the Pink Elephant Carwash on 4th Ave S.
-
Review from Chachi A.
King, WA
6/3/2010
At what point from the drive into the lot, to parking, to entering By's did you expect anything other than what this place is? It's a greasy lunch joint next door to the dump for cryingoutloud. The burgers are good and you can watch the bulldozers and sorting robots shuffle the trash around at the Rabanco while you eat. Free entertainment! Plus, the service is quick and the faculty staff is friendly enough. Completely acceptable (if not more) for a once-in-a-while lunchbreak, especially if you live/work in the area.
-
Review from Dan A.
Seattle, WA
7/11/2008
Best cheap burger place in Seattle, hands down! WAY better than Dick's and better and cheaper then Red Mill (and no way near as pretentious). I pretty much always get the Lou's Special (double bacon cheeseburger) so I can't say much about the other menu items. The burger just tastes damn good and the fries are phenomenal; hand cut, skins still on, crispy but not too greasy. The shakes are fantastic as well. The folks that work there are super nice and actually say thank when you leave. Oh, the other great thing about this place is the view, it's right across the street from the Rabanco trash/recycling center. Definitely a Seattle institution.
-
Review from Aaron B.
Seattle, WA
7/15/2008
Greasiest hamburger I've had the pleasure of eating anywhere in Seattle! Just one of these and an order of onion rings is enough to give a small child a heart attack. There's a reason this place had been around for as long as it has...... quick service, good prices, and ohhhhhh the grease!!!
-
Review from Mark B.
Bellevue, WA
12/29/2007
By's has great french fries and onion rings. Truly a nice treat. The only negative on the onion rings was that they were fried in the same oil as the fish and, thus, has a fishy taste. There are a lot of things right about the hamburgers, but unfortunately, the meat is not one of them. By's uses a 1/6th pound factory pressed patties that are quit dense and end up seeming a bit leathery in texture. The veggies were great and the bun didn't disappoint either. It was just sad to see such a low-end patty hiding amongst the other goodness. With the great care that By's takes with their fish, fries, and onion rings, I would like to see them step it up on the patty quality.
-
Review from Natalie R.
Seattle, WA
7/30/2008
By's has the best gardenburger I've ever had. Hamburgers are also good. This isn't fancy Kobe beef burgers, just old drive-in. The gardenburger may be slathered in butter, not sure...but it's GOOD! If you like drive-in burgers, put this one on your list!
