Zest Fast Food

I recently have actually tried many Burgers here in Seattle and the surrounding area. Literally one of my favorite places is Zesty Burger. A really good place that has a solid Burger and, double Patty under $5. Taste's great and is relatively juicy. Actually is surprisingly good in its simplicity. I think the sauce really wins it. Of course, mind you that is without cheese in which will still keep you under $6. A substantially sized burger that is appetizing alone and to my Discovery has a very good sauce. (Repeating I know) I think it's supposedly sort of like what is on the Krabby Patty but, with more flavor. Or classic "special sauces". Of course this burger in which is called a "Zesty Double" from Zesty Burger. Came out long before. So I think this is much better than the "Krabby Patty" and I got lucky to find this dive gem.

Went to try their popular hot link burger and milkshake asked if I could get onion ring on my hot burger. The guy told me I don’t know how to do that. I said what do you mean? He said I don’t know how to do that I can sell you onion rings on the side. I said whatever let me have a side of onion rings. I literally thought about it and said why would he lie? Why can’t he just be honest and say we don’t sell onion rings separately only as a side order you cannot put them on your burger because we only sell them as a side order, but instead he lies, saying I don’t know how to do that. I told him you don’t care about your customer because you could’ve taken care of me by just putting an onion ring on the burger for Me so thanks a lot. I won’t go there any longer.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been here — long overdue. The hotlink burger, add a fried egg and bacon. The combo was pretty good too.

They are really good. I have been going here for years. They make one of the best fish sandwiches, I like to add cheese and onions. The oysters are pretty good too, sometimes small. They also have punch milkshakes and the best hotlink bacon cheeseburgers in Seattle for only $5, can't beat that. The only drawback is they close too early and open too late.

This is one of the best burgers I've had in years! I have yet to try the french fries and the onion rings but I'm sure they wouldn't disappoint. This place is a whole in the wall stop in the road but worth the very modest cost for a delicious hamburger!

They offer an affordable and delicious variety of burgers. The service was excellent and fast. The owner is hospitable and friendly. I highly recommend it to anyone

Inconvenient place they have. Really should have online ordering. Would make everything so much easier. Really good food, terrible location, bad wait, nice people

I went to the drive through at 2:30 on a Saturday. Ordered a double cheeseburger and fries. The patties were well cooked, but the burger fell apart due to the bun not being toasted and the tomato, lettuce and onion being cut too thick. The fries were somehow both too greasy and too crunchy. I wanted to try a local place, but won't go back to this one.

love this place. one of the best greasy drive thru burgers around. cheeseburger with a fried egg? yup. onion rings? check. clam strips? nice. like 20 different milkshake flavors? uh-huh hours of operation? who tf knows cuz it's definitely not what's posted. if you can catch them open tho? go it!

Zesto's has been around since I can remember but I've never heard anything about their food from south seattle folks so I never stopped in before. I decided to grab a burger on the way home and I figured they would be good as any fast food burger joint and family owned was always a plus. Ordered the bacon cheese burger, bun was toasted, lettuces, onions and tomato was all fresh, and service was pleasant. I would give a 3.5star rating but I since there not an option for half stars I knocked off two stars because half my fries were over cooked, they were very crunchy but fried so long the inside dried out and the patty was thin so I don't think I'd crave this spot again but I've read reviews that everyone enjoys the burger with a hot-link and I'd imagine the double meat would make it fuller and elevate the burger. I couldn't tell how many people were working but if the one Guy that took my order at one window and gave me my food at the other window was also the cook, well that explains the over cooked fries. Also, be prepared to wait, food is cooked to order so wait time was about 20mins in the drive through and they can get busy in the evening. Still better than a fast food chain in the area so if you are in the area try the hotlink burger and wings that have rave reviews to support local businesses.

Always drove by and we had to try it. Great local spot, wish I had one like this closer to my neighborhood. You can go down to the window and order or use the drive thru. Seems to be family owned. Does get busy but the service is good and steady. We got the wings which were juicy and slightly spicy. The burger was good and enjoyed the crunch of the fresh veggies.

Marshmallow shake was good; food was mediocre at best - prawns were bland and fries were soggy after waiting 20 minutes plus - would only go back for the shakes!

Solid burger drive-thru spot. Not fancy. Burgers are thin/small and nearly always overcooked. Buns are toasted. Crinkle fries are crispy. No onion rings available. Chicken strips are okay, nothing special. The chocolate shake was very chocolaty, more on the milky end of the thick-to-thin spectrum. Not the fastest drive thru, so keep patience, this isn't mcd's. Friendly staff. Overall a fine meal. A bit expensive for the quality.

Food is tasty, hot, fresh! Only drive thru available. Only tried the cheeseburger and fries. Will have to expand to try the fish & chips. Friendly staff. Fry sauce is interesting but good, they use relish. Definitely recommend, way better than your normal big chain hamburger place.

I had the hot link burger. It was amazing. The taste was out of this space. The spice level was awesome. I had onion rings and they were good. The food is freshly made at this drive thru and worth the wait.

Stopped in today for the first time. Following recommendations from.other Yelpers I got the Hot Link burger (double), fries, Green River soda; daughter chose cheeseburger and a blackberry shake. Haven't had a Green River fountain drink since the days of the old Basket Case Drive-in in Skyway. Both burgers were terrific, krinkle fries crisp and tender, shake was good, Green river a bit mild-but it was a hot day and the ice was melting fast. They offer GR shakes and sundaes too! Will need to try that next time!

I love the food and everything is always fresh, but... they're never open when it says they're and it's almost impossible to rely on getting Zesto's when I crave it. If you're making a plan to go out of your way for this, I would plan accordingly.

Great state burger is good. Dick's is fine and cheap, but have ya heard of ma boi Zesto's? Sorry Seattle, but going to dicks now only seems worth going to if it is the middle of the night. This and Burbs burgers and the best cheap burgers in town. And they have krinkle cut fries. The burger is a classic style burger. Not big in any way, but decent sized. They have a great sized menu for a place like this. And places like this are slowly dying off. Gotta make sure they sustain bougie of todays food scenes. Also, grape soda. They know the way to my heart.

I've been going here since I was a kid and everything still tastes good as I remember. Hotlink burger is a game changer! Paired with fries and a shake is the best combo. This place is only drive through/ walk up so watch out for the curve. They also take amex and are relatively quick!

A typical burger joint. Good food. Great prices. HOWEVER... The hotlink burger is game changer. There's nothing like it in the area, and it is delicious. Worth working around their crazy, limited hours to get it. Enjoy!

Been serving the south end for as long as I can remember. They used to be across the street where the tire place is now. This is a staple with great food. Pull up and grab a bite decide for yourself.

Drove by on our way home when my husband spied Zesto's. We decided to take a chance and WOW, I am so glad we did. This place is not fancy, in fact other Yelpers were correct in saying that you might even drive by without thinking to stop. Trust me, it does look like it's closed but it's not, so stop! Menu was on poster board inside the sliding window. I placed our order: cheeseburger, hot link burger, small fries, and a marshmallow shake. She instructed us to drive up to the other sliding window and we waited for the food to cook. Our payment was taken and we drove over to Seward Park to enjoy our burgers by the water. His cheeseburger was simple and my hot link burger was delicious. I'd definitely return for one of those! The fries were a little overly salted but they were old school crispy crinkle so nostalgia was sated. He really loved the shake and was musing about the flavours offered: vanilla, chocolate, pineapple, strawberry, black sesame, caramel, butterscotch, and a variety of fresh fruits. If I could have enjoyed one, it would have been black sesame all the way. Zesto's is on our radar now and if we're craving some tasty fast food en route to Seward, we will definitely pitstop here.

My favorite burger joint in town, the hot links are fire. The only issue is when are they open. I live across the street and whenever I walk over they're closed. Their sign says 12-7 but it's more like 1-5. It's so bad it's become a joke with my son and I'll bet him a extra burger if they're open. Other than that I would have given them 5 stars

Good stuff. If you like old fashioned burgers and crinkle cut fries, this is the place. Cheap, no hassle, no frills. Odd hours though. Hot links burger: 4/5 I've never had a burger with hot links in it before but it was delicious flavor wise. The only thing I didn't like about it was the odd texture of eating a burger (soft and balanced well when you chew) and then there's the hot link's encasing which doesn't tear off well so it's like you get a big piece or none. It's not deal breaker, just an annoyance. Crinkle cut fries: 5/5 I love these cause they're old school. I grew up eating these all the time so it's nostalgia for me. Crispy outside and soft inside is the way I like my fries.

Definitely cheaper than Dick's; however, the store's appearance did made me a little hesitant of whether I should come here or not. Zesto's did not disappoint me. The staffs were nice. Not to mention the affordable price! In addition to that, the food was BOMB. The burgers were juicy and fries were made perfectly. Would come here again for a quick grab.

I'd seen this place for several years and wondered why it was rarely open. I took a chance and stopped one day when it was. I can understand why it's rarely open. I had a burger and fries, which I've had better at McDonald's. The burger was tasteless and the fries were warm at best. Very below average.

This place is everything I'm looking for, great crinkle cut fries, maybe just a little more seasoning but these are banging. As for the burgers I absolutely adored the Hot link burger, I got an extra patty and that absolutely hit the spot. Went here with friends to try it out and all of them liked it. I'm a huge fan definitely will be back. When I go back I'm going to try the shakes and if those are good it's Dicks but better. Outstanding

2 words. Do. It. This place has always seemed sketchy to me ever since I was a little girl. Never once have I ever stopped in until recently. And boy do I regret all of those years judging this place and searching for the perfect burger when it was right here two miles away from my home. It's a fast food place except the wait is actually kind of long. I don't mind though because the food is soooo good! Whatever you do, make sure you get the hot link burger. It's a regular burger with your regular toppings and condiments but man does that hot link make a difference. It's the best I've ever had. I love their fries too. Prices are super reasonable for the amount of food you get. So whatever you do, do it!!! Zesto will not disappoint.

Food is cooked to order, so always fresh and hot. Seems like a father and son family business. The son is alway cheerful. The food is always quickly prepared. The business appears abandoned from the street. It's a shame that don't have a better indication that they are actually still in business (such as having a sign near the street, or a large "Open" sign on the building itself). They would likely double their business by investing in that. Note: The actual business name is "Zest". The hamburgers are inexpensive and delicious. They're so good that I always simply order them, without trying other items (except for the crinkle-cut fries which are good).

Zesto's has good prices and great food. The Blackberry shake is truly a wonder. I'd advise you try it, also has a lot of variety

This place is one of those fabled sketchy looking holes in the wall type of places that actually turns out to be one of the best things you've ever discovered. It looks like an old era Dairy Queen that has been repainted a garish yellow. The menu is hand done on posterboard. It appears to be a long standing family business that is currently run by one man, though I have seen one other man learning from him on one occasion. So when you go, you have to be aware that just one guy is taking your order, as well as preparing your order. But, with that single person comes the attention of just one person cooking for you. Your food doesn't pass through the cashier (that doesn't care), the grill cook (that doesn't care), the fry cook (that doesn't care), you get the picture. He has a good attention to detail, and i feel confident that he would never put anything out that he wouldn't eat himself. And that is AWESOME! To top off the solid food at a good price (did I mention a double cheeseburger is less than $5? Prawns and fries are about $9, and there's a lot more to the menu), the guy that is doing all this is NICE! I get to have a lovely conversation every time I go through his drive thru. And no one that is behind me in line is honking to move along. Because this place is the greatest secret that you've discovered. So don't mess a good thing up. No one else is and it works well that way. Oh, and try some of his milkshakes and malts. There are some really good flavors, traditional and old school interesting.

They have very good quality food for the price!! First time and it was an overall great experience from service to taste.

The hotlink burger is a revelation. Meaty, spicy, good balance of other toppings. I was dubious but decided to try it and am so glad I did. Definitely a heavier lunch, but your tastebuds will be transported

One of the best burgers I've ever had for a low low price...I take that back...THE BEST BURGER AND FRIES I'VE EVER HAD!!! I love Zippys, I love Lil Woody's, I love Feed Co....But Zest has the best burgers this side of the Mississippi River...and the Oyster Sandwiches are life...Oh and don't forget the hotlink Burger

Okay, I went back and got my egg and it was worth it. I think this place is fantastic. It's not the highest quality, it's not the cheapest, but what they do, they do really REALLY well, I think. They are certainly miles above the big baddies of Fast Food. My only complaint is the RANDOM hours. Open? Not Open? I'll never understand or know. If the sign is out, open. I'm hoping for open tonight!

Great food and the Green Lime Soda is sooo good! Everything was hot and right. Friendly service. I want to go back already.

Simple pleasures at a reasonable price. My husband hasn't been here since junior high and wanted to relive those memories. Fried were hot and crispy. Burger was fresh and tasty. Plus a green river soda!

An odd and dilapidated drive through that isn't pretending to be anything that it's not. Peeking through the window into the kitchen, it looks like it's frozen food from Sysco being fried up. If that's what you're looking for, that's what you'll get. The milkshake was grainy softserve. The fish and chips were bland.

If you haven't yet, TRY THIS PLACE!! I've tried the hot link burger and I was already swoon. The burger looked like there was effort into making it. Yes it might seem sketchy because of the area, but it's not. Plus it didn't seem like a lot of people worked there, might be family owned, but one of the workers came out to take our orders because the wait is very long. It probably to 30 minutes including waiting to order, pay, and get our food. Probably won't go back considering its cash only or they'll charge extra for card, but also because the wait is long and they close at 7pm on weekdays.

Best of the best. Definitely our families favorite burger joint! Customizable if needed and never greedy on the ingredients. The burgers are juicy and the fries are crisp. They make sure you leave with all you need. Ask for a side of house sauce! 25 cents and very worth it!

Bacon cheeseburgers, double bacon cheeseburger, fries, nuggets, egg rolls, shakes & fry sauce are really good. Price is reasonable. Customer service is good. But it does take awhile when ordering in person at the drive thru if you haven't ordered ahead (called in your order) of time.

We have been going here for over 20 years. Still a good little burger joint. I have had just about everything on the menu. They have oysters, fish and chips, chicken, eggrolls, delicious milkshakes and of course hotlink burgers. Way better than fast food and cheap prices. I will always come here. Got an updated menu pic.

Open too late close too early, shakes are great food is not, the location is terrible and the building seems abandoned why is it still opened

A very slept on burger place located in the south end. The prices aren't bad for a burger that will hit the spot every time. Even though the appearance of the outside looks a little sketchy (or even closed at times) it is definitely worth the try! Their hotlink burger with an egg is a must. There's a little wait depending on what you order, but that's how you know it's going to be good because it's freshly cooked every time.

Lol I'm only 13 and I've been eating here since I was born basically. I love the hot link burger plus eggs, the fries a just everything. I might sound bias bc i know them, but f*ck it's good. Just because it's sketchy, doesn't mean it's bad food. They actually was a small restaurant that my parents used to eat at when they was young but got tired of running it and went to what it is now. Trust me, you'd never forget burgers like these.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to finally stop by and order something from this place but I'm glad I finally did. Yes, the exterior does look a little shady, but: 1) never judge a book by its cover and 2) Seattle is well known for great hole-in-the-wall joints. I took a look at the walk-up menu and literally couldn't decide what to get. It's pretty much an original burger joint with a few extras that you can't really find at any other fast food places. I just had to try the hotlink burger (a burger with a hotlink on top), fried mushrooms, and a marshmallow milkshake. Everything was crazy delicious. I'm a big eater, so I think next time I should get two. The burgers are juicy and delicious and normal size (for normal eaters). The service is pretty fast considering everything is made to order. I will certainly be back to try their seafood and chips plates and other milkshake flavors. Booyah!

My only regret is having waited so many years to try Zesto. The food is tasty and the staff is friendly. This place is a no fuss, old school, mom and pop place that's perfect for anyone who is down to earth.

Very good food, it's "fast food" with a wait, so I guess I'll just call it food. I work about less than a mile away from here, typically I go after work. It never is busy when I'm there, so that's a plus. Pretty ghetto way of ordering because I'm sure it's a one man show by an Asian man with a moderate accent. Either way, in the 3 visits I've done here I've ordered the following, rating 1 the lowest to 5 being the highest hotlink + egg+ bacon cheeseburger - 3 *Not a hotlink fan, don't consider that a rating if you like hot links Cheeseburger - 5 Awesome value at about $1.50 I believe for a single patty cheeseburger, but the sauce and the burger itself were Delicious! Hard to top good food at a good value. Clamstrips- 5 Awesome, highly recommend these if trying! French Fries - 4.5 I would give it 5 stars if these stayed hot 100% of the time I was eating, because they are some of the best fries ever. Unfortunately the taste seems to diminish when they become room temp or cold, so that's sad but they're like $1.35 for a small, $1.85 for a large Onion ring - 4 Good value, fresh, wish it came with a little more but great flavor Fried mushrooms - 2 Didn't seem to like them, the mushroom IMO were gross, but I ate each one but didn't really enjoy it. Chocolate milkshake- 4 Very good, got it for a friend and taste fantastic Mountain Dew Shake-5 Seems like it would be a weird mix, but it was very good. Will get again on a very hot day. Overall, after getting off work and being incredibly hungry I take about 10 minutes to order and wait for my food, really doesn't make sense to order at one window and drive up to another when it's the same person putting in the order and collecting the money. I love the burgers and some of the fried goodness, now I just need to make sure I go at a time before traffic develops on i5 North to get my food.

I've been coming here since I was 4 or so and it is STILL my favorite family-owned burger place EVER. I honestly wish they expanded the place but oh well... STILL GOOD! There is no sit-in area... just an empty lot and a drive through and walk up window. It may take a while (up to 5 mins +/-) for your order to be done but hey... that's because everything is made to order! Even the FRIES!! Every burger I've had here has been beyond good. I normally like all my burgers with cheese on it but when I was younger my mom would order me the hamburger and even THAT did justice! I swear NO hamburger ever did any justice for me except theirs... Something about the way it smelled and tasted did it all for me. Nowadays, I always get the HOTLINK BURGER. MMM this is probably in my top 3 burgers of all time list. (Now, keep in mind that I am a hot link fan) It's juicy with a good hint of spicy - definitely not super spicy but spicy enough for a burger. The cheese is melted perfectly on the burger leaving it to superdeliciousgooeyness. 1000+ calories? I have no idea. Probably not but if it was I wouldn't give a care!!! It's definitely worth it! Sometimes I also get this burger with an egg if I'm feeling really savage at the moment. It's AWESOME with the egg too adding even more flavor to this already over-the-top flavored burger. However, I feel I do prefer it without the egg - it can get a bit overpowering and I'd rather taste the hot link. I also get their double cheeseburger sometimes which is also juicy and delicious. When you take your first bite, you can definitely tell that it was made to order. MMMM!!!! Yes the burgers are awesome but what is it that really gets me to come here? -CRINKLED CUT FRIES! I can't find any convenient fast food place that serves crinkled cut fries anymore. Be careful when you order it though! Think twice before you reach in and take a bite when you get yours. These are always fresh, meaning they're always HOT! I'd have to admit, I am totally guilty for not being able to resist even though I know this then suffer from a burnt tongue for the next two days. I also love that they serve green river soda. Rare to find it elsewhere, at least where I've been. Definitely helps the food go down easier and better :) I recommend this to everyone!!!!

This is my favorite fast food place so far. The burgers are juicy, flavorful and topped with fresh cut veggies for a fraction of the cost of a burger anywhere else. The fries are amazing, too! They are only open 12-6pm so come get your fix early!

OMGWTFBBQ!! Went back for what I said I was going to get: the hot link burger w egg and bacon. I think I have congestive heart disease! The bacon...oh, my, the bacon. I've never had bacon so thick and so...divine. Accented everything perfectly. And the Mountain Dew milkshake...even if you don't like Mountain Dew, I'd recommend this. Tap dancing Buddha, that's good stuff. Brings back some recent and not so recent memories and makes me want to yell from the top of Raven's Run down into the holler.

Good cheap burger and fries. You can tell the fries and onion rings com out of a big brown bag, but for the price...*shrugs*. The shakes are amazing and the customer services is great. I miss the old spot, but I'm glad they're still around.

Every wish you had a great little drive through burger place right near your house? Well lucky me, this gem is my neighborhood's little secret. If you come by during lunch hour, sometimes there will be four or five cars lined up waiting to order. Me, I like to walk up to the side window to place my order. Personally, I like to order the oyster sandwich and one of their delicious berry milkshakes, plus maybe the deep friend mushrooms if I'm feeling particularly impervious to delicious fats that day. You can also get treats such as burgers with hot links or fried eggs on them, and this is one of the few places I've seen that still offers Green River soda...and as a milkshake option! Don't come here expecting anything fancy, this is just good solid fast food. The perfect place to bring your friends if they have been helping you with house projects, and have worked up a hunger for something really yummy and reasonably quick.

2 1/2 stars. Look- it's a little hood burger joint. This isn't fresh beef, but that's not why you're coming here. I'll say this- the lettuce and tomato were actually really fresh and the folks behind the counter were nice. I wouldn't eat any of their other offerings, but a 3 dollar double cheeseburger is hard to beat, and it's near where I work. It could use an "O" on their sign, and they might want to send out someone to pick up the travel-sized liquor bottles, but that's just getting nit-picky.

Super liked it. A LOT. Cheaper than Dick's and heck I can just slather some Trader Joe's tartar sauce at home which we did. Fabulous. Ordered the burger with hot link - awesome :) I made mine into a western burger (like the overpriced one @ Bent Burgers) by adding some hickory bbq sauce. Yum-O *LoL* If you like the overpriced burgers and booths that haven't been cleaned since goodness knows when then head on over to Bent Burger.

OK. As a burger joint this place automatically gets three stars for not being a McDonalds. In fact, I believe that any chain is a blight on our city so I like to encourage independent, local businesses of all kinds. I like the variety of sides and I'm always excited when someone sells crinkle cut fries. Plus they have lotsa shake flavors. So the burgers are good, the bun was fresh and they toasted it in the grill. That was good, but they committed my personal cardinal burger sin. I really hate it when people put a big white chunk of lettuce secretly between the buns and think nobody will notice. No individual leaves, just a big hard white chunk of something that is practically the core. They did that here. So I can't forgive that. Minus one star. But four stars is better than McDonald's, isn't it? This place deserves a try.

Love this place! Great burgers and banana shakes. I think the food is actually 5 stars, but I took off a star because it usually is a pretty long wait for "fast" food.