In 1954, three friends set out to simply “serve fresh, high quality food at low prices with instant service.” Bank executives warned they’d never turn a profit selling 100 percent beef burgers for 19 cents, but the drive-through was a runaway hit. Among its many honors, this Seattle institution was voted America’s Most Life-Changing Burger by Esquire readers. Swing by one of its six locations—marked by iconic orange signs harking back to the atomic age—for a meaty epiphany, along with hand-cut fries and freshly whipped shakes. Best of all: Dick’s offers worker scholarships and even insures part-time employees. So you can feel good about the indulgence!
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Dick's Burgers Is a Walk-Up, Not a Drive-Thru
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2013, Dick’s is truly a local institution. With locations all around Seattle, the iconic orange vintage drive-thru signs and walk-up windows have a charm that bigger fast-food chains can’t match. The menu is limited: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes. (And, to be totally honest, the fries aren’t that spectacular, despite being made fresh before your eyes.) But at the end of a crazy night out, sometimes a basic burger and fries just hits the spot — as the long lines on weekend nights attest. Dick’s is highly respected by locals because it pays its workers well, offers scholarships, and pays its employees to volunteer at charities. How often do you get to feel good about ordering junk food?
