Zak’s Burger Joint

It smelled funny in there, I couldn’t quite place the smell, but not good. Not what you want from a food joint. We waited quite a while for our burgers to go. But my salmon burger was decent. Nothing too memorable.
But, a week later, I drove by and saw that they paper taped up over their windows. I guess they’re closed. I hope it wasn’t the food.

Wasn’t very impressed with the burger, nothing horrible about it, just nothing special that would bring me back.
The fries are awesome and by far the only thing I’d recommend.

This Zak’s isn’t even a shadow of its former self.
I can’t bring myself to come back here. As many others have noted, I have near overwhelming grief for what has become of Zak’s. To think! I was looking forward to bringing my son in to Zak’s, sitting at the picnic tables, the fun service, the tasty burgers (that used to be the best quick burger in Ballard, despite my previous 3 star review), all that I had to share with my son — gone.
I don’t know how this place is still in business since it’s been wrecked. I look forward to the day that it’s taken over and redone as a place I actually want to go to.

I would whole heartedly give Zak’s 5 stars if they had better buns. I’m kind of a buns guy. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, for me, the buns ruin an otherwise delicious burger… but it’s pretty damn close.
I don’t recall the name of the burger I order but it has bacon, pineapple and these tasty sweet red peppers. It’s like taking a bite out of heaven… but that section of heaven where the nice neighborhood shares a street with a trailer park (fix the buns situation!).
Their fries and shakes are really good. I love french fries but rarely finish them off… and I almost always demolish the entire metric buttload of fries I’m provided with here. The shakes are thick and they have some good flavors to enjoy. There’s nothing worse than wasting your dessert for the day on a mediocre shake; no regrets here.
Sometimes… when no one is looking… I dip my fries in my shake. Sssshhhh.
The staff are awesome. Friendly, helpful and fast. The TVs are usually playing a game so if you want to get your grub on in a more casual atmosphere and enjoy watching your team win/​lose this is a great spot to consider.
The best part of Zak’s? They give you stuff to color on with crayons. CRAYONS!!! I was, like, did you see the crayons?! And they were, like, we totally saw the crayons!!! And we were all, like, SQUEEEE. So… uh… yeah, I like crayons and coloring with crayons and eating crayons. Crayons go great on a bacon cheeseburger. You can find the best colorings plastered on the wall. Some of them are quite cool.
I’m definitely a fan!

I don’t need to go into details about my disappointment and sadness over the change of management at Zak’s. So many people have done this already.
It used to be my favorite burger place in Seattle. There wasn’t even really a close second. Maybe Lunchbox Laboratory but I considered that a whole different experience altogether.
It comes down to this: I get that things change and restaurants change more than most things in life. Why though, continue to call yourself Zak’s Burger Joint if you don’t resemble the original restaurant in the slightest?

I, like many I see here, used to be a massive fan of Zaks. I swore by their burgers being the best and always referred everyone when burgers were brought up. I used to say it was the only food I could imagine eating every day!
I hadn’t been in in awhile so I was so excited to visit on the 4^th as a special treat! Walking in was an instant disappointment. Gone were the quirky tables and décor. Gone was the table service, the bath tub of menus, the license plates, and the relaxed friendly staff. The malted shakes are gone as well and the remaining shakes are milky and bland and don’t have the signature ice cream scoop I dearly loved. My friends and I would have spoon battles over it! A beloved memory.
I am beyond saddened by the loss of my favorite restaurant in Ballard and will stop referring anyone there ever again.

Just awful, because of the new management. I went away for college and came back and told my new guy, Hey, let’s head to Zak’s, it’s delicious. You HAVE to try it.
Oh how wrong I was.
The décor was sparse when the old place had SO much to look at (and we loved it for that) and the new furniture uncomfortable (had to practically sit on the table to slide out from the «booth”– bench?). We had to order at the counter (you don’t follow the menus anymore?). Then we got our «food.»
They switched which burger got the «upgrade,» and my «Cowboy Burger» (the only thing that looked edible) came with an onion ring I specifically requested be left OFF. It was okay, though, considering I couldn’t even taste it. By the time I was halfway through my «burger,» the sauce had disintegrated my bun and it dripped in sad, soggy little piles onto my basket. My basket with no fries.
Not to mention my guy and I felt ill afterwards. Hmm.
All in all, I agree heartily with whoever said this place deserves a negative star rating, and I hope the new owners are listening.

Great service, moist chicken BBQ burger and fun environment. Burger was tasty, but a little pricey for the portion. The fries are great – with just the right amount of crunch.

I don’t get it… is this place trying to go out of business?
We went there last week and found a new ownership has obliterated any sort of community-​oriented or creative vibe from the original Zak’s. I don’t want to make this long as it is all so sad. A list of findings:
–Dry, mealy burger buns
–Morningstar black bean patties
–Iceberg lettuce and dry beef patties inside of burgers (no longer horomone-​free and all that jazz)
–Pre-​packaged iceberg lettuce salads
–Dressing comes in Kraft packets
–Same prices
In a place like Seattle (and especially in a very foodie place like Ballard) I am surprised someone would set up shop with this sort of plan. I hope they change things for the better or open a truck stop off I-​5 where there isn’t much competition.

My spouse and I came back to the new «Zak’s» last night for the first time. We didn’t think we needed to consult Unilocal on what we thought was a sure thing. But within five minutes of being there, we were starting to read the recent reviews out loud to ourselves and our hearts sank.
There is not much more that I can add to all of the disappointed Zak fans below. Pretty much all you have to know is that when it came to making decisions about the menu, the pricing, the food quality, the décor and the service, the new ownership chose poorly and/​or skimped on each and every one.
The menu board was mostly indecipherable and cluttered. The service staff seemed like they were in high school with little more interest than a fast-​food joint, if that much. At least those people get training.
Having worked in a family restaurant growing up, I usually give small food establishments a LOT of slack because I know how difficult it is and the competition, especially in this economy, is fierce. And I really *do* take a personal stake in keeping places we like in Ballard alive.
I think that Ballard locals can tell the difference between the genuine article and «entrepreneurs» who are moving in for the Ballard gold rush. I give the place six months to a year, tops.
This was not written out of anger, just genuine sadness. This is a funeral dirge.

Zak’s was my all-​time favorite burger place. Some people cater to Zippy’s or Red Mill — mine was Zak’s. I went often enough and left enough comment cards that I got several free & awesome burgers from there.
I went back the other day and found it remodeled. Then found out owners changed. The burger was different. No more local meat, no more Snoqulamie ice cream for my milk shake, no more sesame buns. The waiter said the owners thought it was all too expensive and switched brands. And so their quality tanked. And I mean TANKED. Don’t go back.
Actually, it’s fine as a burger joint, but it’s not Zak’s. RIP. Zak’s, you better change your store name.

We did go there to check it out for ourselves. Formerly one of our favorite burger places, we loved the remodel (lots more room; natural wood), but HATE the menu. No more burger baskets, boosting the a-​la-​carte price of a burger and fries. And despite promises to the contrary, they very much have changed the recipe for the burgers. The buns are no longer butter-​down grilled; the pickles of a different non-​crunchy, non-​sweet variety; the patties themselves smaller and cooked dry, and no tangy sauce dribbling out the sides. Fry sauce — formerly a staple offered alongside ketchup — is no longer offered as a standard condiment.
ZAK’S NOW OFFICIALLY SUCKS.

What a complete disappointment! We walked in the rain for a great burger and thought that is what we were getting. It’s definitely not the Zak’s I am used too. The burger was dry and hard and so was the bun I didn’t eat.
I was totally in shock and wondered why it was so different and bad until I looked on Unilocal and saw all of the negative comments and realized after reading that the joint was under new ownership.
If I would have wanted just an average burger I would have gone to McDonald’s and not spent $ 10 on a lunch.
Needless to say I won’t be returning.

ZAKS! Oh how I miss The. I can’t tell you haw many punch cards we’ve racked up at this place over the years. Used to take all out-​of-​towners here and proudly introduced them to the best burgers ever! My Mom said she had the best burger ever at Zaks. My family used to be in the burger biz (Little Tavern Shops in DC). So I think I know a good burger when I meet one.
That all changed as I found out when I took my kids there last night to experience the much anticipated new Zak’s. However, we were totally heartbroken to find that the décor had lost ALL of its charm. I mean, what’s with the HUGE Wilson Ford sign? (so contrived). On top of that, everything that made Zak’s so delicious was gone. I will say that the fries were the same unique crispy spears, but tasted so bland. The Oregon Natural patties were also gone. Most shocking was that the burgers way smaller, bland and missing the tasty sauces and pickles. Also missing was my favorite Onion/​Pepper burger. My daughter’s grilled cheese was a greasy grilled hamburger bun with a piece of tasteless cheese and the griddle grease brought the most flavor! The buns are tasteless and are a hideous yellow.
I agree with the sentiment of the other formerly loyal patrons…“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The two owner guys lurking in the back seemed too proud of themselves to even see what was missing. It’s tragic that they discounted just how good it used to be. I think one of the old burger cooks was still working there. Felt bad for him as they obviously stripped him of anything to be proud of.
There are a million burger places in the world, but there was only one Zak’s. In fact I’m kind of pissed that they still call themselves Zak’s. Damn shame.

So sad last night to walk into my favorite burger place in Ballard only to find it devoid of all it’s personality. It is now counter service. So you’re expected to quickly read a menu very high up in bad hand-​written chalk. Only once we had ordered and sat down, was it communicated that the burgers were completely different than what we had been enjoying for years. There was no longer pickles, onions, ketchup, may or mustard on the burgers. Apparently if you want any of those things you are welcome to ask. But how are you supposed to know? Anyway, it was too late to fix it.
My boyfriend was disappointed that the smaller burger he’d been ordering for years was now unavailable. Also gone was the option to order a premium meat. Either way, I always get the black bean burger and was happy that was still there. A little shocked that it is considerably more than a regular burger. Standard burger being $ 4.75 and a veggie being $ 6.95. And that’s with nothing on it. Lettuce, tomato, «special sauce», patty and bun.
After we sat down we were subjected to hearing the Kitchen Manager explain to the young girl working the counter everything that she was doing wrong. Including the fact that she hadn’t brought us our iced teas, which were further delayed by him distracting her.
While we waited for our food the Kitchen Manager introduced himself to us and asked what we thought. When we expressed disappointment in the new boring, clean, modern décor he said he agreed and didn’t know what the owner was thinking. Totally horrible to express in front of a customer that you don’t agree with the owner. He continued on and on about the changes, this is when we discovered that he had replaced usual condiments with his own «special sauce» and that we wouldn’t be getting pickles or onions. He proceeded to ask my boyfriend about what his profession was and neglected to address or ask me at all. I absolutely couldn’t believe how sexist this was. I’m the manager of a store just down the street. Everyday someone comes in and asks me where they should eat. I will never, ever, send anyone to Zak’s again.
The manager finally left when our food arrived, which is good because I’m sure he wouldn’t have wanted to hear what we had to say.
My burger was so hot that it burned me and I had to let it sit for 5 minutes before attempting again. It was too dry (that’s why veggie burgers have those condiments and extra veggies, duh) and the secret sauce was boring and didn’t make up for traditional fixings.
The fries were gross. I used to love Zak’s fries and usually the boyfriend and I would compare everyone else to Zak’s. These just didn’t taste very much like anything and definitely not something that should be consumed. I gave up on them when I found a hair stuck to one that clearly came from the kitchen.
The new tartar is horrible. It’s sweet and doesn’t have the tang that tartar lovers want with their fries.
I wish I could have said anything good about this place. The only thing I’m hoping now is that it can quickly go under and hopefully be replaced by something that actually gets the spirit of Ballard again. Obviously the new owner doesn’t live here and doesn’t know anything about what people in Ballard want.

Glad to see the refresh on the space. That is the best thing I can say about what used to be my favorite burger place.
1. Burger was overcooked and too small to fit the stale bun. Disappointing at best.
2. Seemed to be out of lots of stuff and the milk shake machine was broken…
3. Staff was new and it seemed to be a mess.
Poor service, poor food, no thanks. I won’t bother to go there again. Seriously don’t waste your time.

Zak, we hardly knew ye! This used to be my FAVORITE burger joint in Ballard. Good food, great options, delightfully wacky atmosphere. Now, none of this is true.
I think I stood in the doorway dumbstruck for several seconds when I first walked into the new Zak’s. It used to be delightfully quirky, but now it feels like any shitty chain restaurant anywhere: too-​loud elevator music, boring décor. They kept a few pieces of the old awesome décor, but it stands out like a sore thumb in the bland atmosphere.
The menu has been halved, removing essentially everything I liked about the place: no more mini burgers, no option to add a small serving of fries, no milkshake flavors besides chocolate and vanilla! I still got a burger and fries and it was ok; if this wasn’t Zak’s, I might have even called it decent. But compared to the old place, it just made me want to sigh. They claimed the fries were the same, but that’s not the case.
I told the woman at the counter that I wanted to put in a polite, respectful request that they bring back the mini-​burgers, and rather than ask me questions or offer to pass it on to the owner, she said bluntly, «The new burgers are halfway between the sizes of the old burgers.»
I wish I could end this with a plea to bring back the old Zak’s, but it’s pretty clear that that is impossible. Sometimes a thing breaks, and it can’t be fixed.

If I could give a minus 5 star, I would. Service sucks and there is nothing special about this place anymore. There is a new owner and Zak’s is NOT the same! They don’t even have their nummy milkshakes anymore. $ 3.75 for chocolate or vanilla and it’s not even the same ice cream?! WELL… Burger King has you beat on flavors of milkshakes! What makes them so different???
When we asked the new owner why he completely changed things, he said «We want to be like a normal burger joint.» I don’t want to waste my time or place that wants to be PLAIN. The music was insanely loud, annoying and depressing. I barely ever write bad reviews because I’d say I’m fairly easy to please, but this was an abomination to what this restaurant used to be. Why fix something that isn’t broke? I’ll pass on ever thinking of this place again.
I drove from Snohomish County and expect more than just another plain ‘olé burger joint. So laughable. Even the order taker said that the milkshakes suck. Hahahahaha. Me and my boyfriend’s family (all 6 of us) walked out. Even after paying for parking, we drove to Red Mill Burgers where they actually serve their food with pride and stand behind their unique brand with delicious food. I highly recommend that you only eat here if you are boring.

I like it here.
Super laid back and friendly (I’m looking at you cute waitress with the DeGrassi High t-​shirt) with delicious burgers and — wait for it– free fries?
It said ‘ask me about free fries’ I didn’t even ask and she gave them to me.
Burgers are good, I got the mini cheeseburger which with fries was just perfect for me.
Damn those fries were good.

Zak’s won me over as soon as they offered me tartar sauce to accompany my fries and I didn’t even have to ask. Pat on the back, Zaks.
This is a seat yourself, grab a menu out of the bathtub, listen to children rambling kind of joint. No frills, but when the kitchen is serving up delicious burgers, there doesn’t really need to be.
Prices were right. Portions were large. Now that I live down the street, I’m sure I’ll be back.