Katsu Burger — Restaurant in Seattle

Hark, mortals! I, a conjurer of considerable renown and possessor of a palate accustomed to ambrosia and the subtle flavors of starlight, have deigned to sample the fare at this establishment known as "Katsu Burger."

The concept, as it were, appears to be a mundane sandwich – a "burger," they call it – wherein a slab of fried… something… is inserted between halves of a commonplace bun. The menu, a scroll of limited enchantment, offers various permutations of this base concept, often adorned with peculiar sauces and accompanied by fried tubers. While the establishment's history reveals a more promising genesis – founded, as it was, by a culinary artisan of some repute, a James Beard award recipient by the name of Hajime Soto – alas, it seems the alchemical spark has long since been extinguished with his departure. The current custodians appear to have allowed the magic to dissipate into the mundane.

However… (and it pains my refined sensibilities to admit a positive attribute to such an unassuming establishment) their concoction known as the Kinako & Black Sesame Shake possesses a certain… intriguing quality. The flavors, a curious blend of nutty earthiness and subtle sweetness, did, I confess, momentarily pique my interest. A fleeting spark of the original enchantment, perhaps?

Alas, the Chicken Tokyo Classic proved a dismal affair. The poultry itself was of questionable origin, tasting as though it had been summoned from a rather bleak dimension. The accompanying sauce was a substandard concoction, lacking any discernible magical essence. Indeed, the most palatable element was the humble sliced onion, a testament to the overall mediocrity.

Therefore, heed my arcane pronouncements! While its origins hinted at culinary sorcery, the current state of Katsu Burger suggests that the enchantment has faded. Unless your desires are solely fixated upon a surprisingly palatable milkshake – a ghost of the former glory, perhaps – I would steer your earthly vessels clear. The remainder of their offerings are unlikely to enchant even the most undiscerning of palates. You have...

A few years ago, I read a friend's status on Facebook where he thanked another one of his friend's for turning him on to Katsu Burger. I knew where it was but every time that I was in the area and hungry, I always opted for the I Luv Teriyaki place next door. Well, the other night, I was in the mood for a burger and since I was already headed to Seattle, I decided to give Katsu Burger a try.

I had also recently read an article on the best places to get french fries in Washington and Katsu Burger was high on the list so I figured why not knock out two new experiences at one time.

This is a little hole in the wall joint on Marginal way just around the corner from 4th and Michigan but the flavor and presence is nice and big. It was a little hard to decide at first. You can order any sandwich with beef, chicken or pork and they have a ton of selections to choose from. I decided on the Samurai Special with beef and I ordered my fries with the 12 spices.

When you order your fries, there are a few decision to make. I think there were 5 different types of seasonings to choose from and then you get to choose a dipping sauce as well. I opted for the spicy mayonnaise.

I've ordered chicken katsu and tonkatsu at my favorite Japanese restaurants before and I know that katsu means breaded and deep fried but I wasn't prepared for what was blatantly apparent when I received my sandwich. The meat on every sandwich at Katsu burger is breaded and deep fried. It never dawned on me until I took a bite that the name Katsu burger was literal.

Served with shredded cabbage instead of lettuce and topped with a wonderful curry sauce, this burger was delicious. The fries were amazing as well and I was 100% satisfied with my meal. It wasn't what I set out to have when craving a burger however it was a welcome change and I will definitely be back to check out the other variations.

The space is quirky and full of cool photos and decorations too. If you want to try something completely different then go to Katsu Burger. It's fusion done right.

Thanks...

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...