CaliBurger Seattle

I can’t be a fair reviewer considering that I was born and raised in Southern California so of course, I was critiquing everything. Service was great and fast and we came in on a Saturday evening, not a long wait and plenty of seating. It started to fill up as we ate. I asked for peppers (like In-​N-​Out) and they had none so I was a little bummed. I gave it a three stars because it was fresh and fast but it was not a life changing moment

After my lackluster first visit, Reyaz, the owner, contacted me and provided me with a couple of free meal coupons so I could come back and try again. I gave them a few months to work out their operational inefficiencies and food quality, and popped in for a second time on a Friday night around 7:30pm.
Unlike my first visit, the place was basically deserted. I walked right up to the counter, ordered a cali-​double with cali-​style fries, and handed the cashier one of the coupons. The girl had no clue what it was, or how to ring it up, so after a few minutes of struggling, went to get her manager. The manager was overly interested in how I got the coupon and asked me multiple questions about the issues I had with my first visit.
I sat down, received my food fairly quickly (~5mins), and both my burger and fries were piping hot. Onions were also cooked properly, so +1 star for temperature and taste this time around, but I still think you can get a better burger elsewhere at a lower price point.
Overall, I can’t help but think they bent over backward to ensure my 2^nd experience was better, since the coupon was a dead giveaway, and a nearly empty restaurant seemed essential for them to expedite food quickly. Will probably have to come back one more time, sans coupon, to see if they’ve really worked out their inconsistencies.

I would really say this place is a 3.5 only for the burger. The burger is very similar to in n outs. But the fries have a greasier taste, the spread tastes really pickly and our shake had an icy texture. The closest part of this place to in n out is the burger. The patties tasted pretty good.
Now that that is out of the way. This place is solid. They have a lot going for them. The ambiance is not bad, but we went on a Tuesday night. The cool thing here is that there is beer.
In conclusion, it’s not exactly an in n out copy but if you can’t get down to Oregon or California for some real in n out this would be the best place. But there are definitely better burger places than this in Seattle. For the price tag of a meal I’d recommend getting five guys instead.

Recently having moved from the land of Utah where glowing In-​N-​Out signs dot the skyline, I was a little scared to go to CaliBurger. Could it live up to the glorious double double?
Upon walking in, I was really taken aback by now nice the atmosphere was! The staff was friendly and the décor was modern! I ordered a Cali Double, «Cali Style» (because how could you not!) a shake, and fries! I was extremely surprised and extremely satisfied. The burger was juicy and had great condiments. It had a good amount of mustard flavoring, but wasn’t too overwhelming. The fries were 10x better than In-​N-​Out, and the shake was superb! I will definitely be back… Next time I’m getting my fries «Cali Style»!
Definitely give this place a chance! You will love it.

It’s a good burger place, but there are better places in Seattle. Obviously it’s a In N Out rip off… but it’s only about 85% of the way there.
The subtleties of flavor make this something else, which really isn’t as good as In n out.
Over all it’s good for a quick on the go bite, but there are better places for a burger.
In n out is definitely better if you’re wondering.
I do like the Cali style fries her quite a bit, but the burger was a bit sloppy and there’s something in the flavor I wasn’t digging.
Just ok.
Originally being a Californian I find this place to be odd and weird trying to market off of «the big taste of California». I would call the taste of CA tacos or California club or Mexican food… not double doubles.
Sad wannabe.
If you’ve never been to in n out this could give you an idea, but it’s only an idea… it isn’t what it wants to be.
This is just a marketing ploy.

Ok fine… it’s kind of like in-​n-​out but it’s not as good. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve a 5 star rating. It’s the next best thing and it certainly satisfies my in-​n-​out craving when i have one.
the fries are different and not as good. but i like in-​n-​out fries. for most of you that don’t like in-​n-​out fries you’ll probably think these fries are better.
i like that they have wireless charging pads on the tables. if you don’t have a wireless charging capable phone, go buy a real phone (android nexus 5, etc.).
i also like their big screens to watch sports.

I think everyone is taking the comparison to In & Out a little too seriously. Yes, it is a knock off of In & Out.
But then you need to take it as it is. A burger joint.
The burgers are decent. The chicken sandwich was well done. All of us at our table agreed that our sandwiches were tasty. The only reason we (I) am giving 4 and not 5 stars is because my fries were a little over cooked and too salty.
But overall, the ambiance is great, the food is good. If I’m in the area, I’ll definitely return.

²⁄₅ — the burger was good. It reminded me of a lesser In-​N-​Out BUT… the fries were mediocre at best. It was room temp, soggy, and the sauce was cold. Idk what the hype is all about to be honest.
The wait was ridiculous and and the staff seem incompetent. Seriously. Some of them are just standing around not doing anything. It takes awhile for a burger to be made — longer than EJ Burgers, In-​n-​out and especially dicks. You have a good amount of workers yet production is slow, and the quality is «ok» at best.
I came here the first few times of its opening and they had to shoo me away for some odd reason. I came back a few weeks later and the manager heard me talk about that with my friends and gave us all free burgers. That was very kind and respectable of him. I admire his integrity. However this doesn’t change the quality of the meal.
In décor is really nice and modern though! They have a giant screen that projects games going on, and it’s very clean.
Honestly if you want quality and quantity… go across the street to EJ’s. If you want something that tastes like In-n-out…don’t come here. You may be disappointed.

Shame on you Cali Burger for even comparing yourself to In-​N-​Out. I honestly went in with an open mind. I certainly was not anticipating an In-​N-​Out experience by any means but damn I was hoping for a decent burger at the very least. Everything was crazy salty. My friend I was with didn’t even finish her burger. The bun got flat/​sad fast and the patty looked like it was embarrassed for itself (and if it wasn’t, it should have been). The staff was friendly but that is about it. When you compare yourself to Mariah Carey you better be Beyoncé, just saying. Do you Cali Burger and make good food. Do you!

I finally had a chance to check this place out this past week. Luckily, it’s been open for a little while and it was on a random Monday so the lines were no longer outrageous.
The décor was great. Wide open spaces, great coloring, and a huge screen along one wall for your viewing pleasure. They even had phone chargers on some of the tables which I thought was a great touch, especially considering they’re on the Ave (I’m sure they have tons of students come through).
I ordered the Combo B («calistyle) and a strawberry shake. Food came out hot and fresh without having to wait too long. The burger was decent but nothing to write home about. The fries were crispy and good but I thought they skimped on the calistyle-​sauce.
Overall, a fine experience, but $ 17 for one combo and a milkshake doesn’t have me rushing back for just «okay.»

You know when something is so close you can allllmost taste it? Came for dinner and left this place missing In n Out burger even more. Caliburger does an imitation that’s really really close… but not quite. Don’t try to imitate and fall short, Caliburger — just do your own thing! The bun wasn’t quite as good, the fries were limp (and they were also cheap with portions), and it was overpriced for what it was. I’d rather save my In n Out trips for when I go home, and go to Red Mill or Lil Woody’s, which are way more satisfying, have better fries, and won’t have you leaving hungry, in the meantime.
Also, nothing is ‘secret’ if you plaster it above the fold on your website!

I know that people come here because it’s considered a «knock off». Everyone wants to compare and contrast this burger joint to another famous Cali burger joint, but honestly if you don’t come to this place with prior expectations, it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed.
The first time I came to Caliburger was during a Unilocal Event and it was so much fun. I was a plus one and I didn’t know quite what to expect. I figured it would be good, it’s hard to mess up a burger let’s be real. I was excited about trying stuff off the menu though, so when I came back, I would know what to order.
I’ll just say that I’ve personally met the man the runs this place, he is so friendly. In general, the service is great. Everyone that I’ve ever encountered that works here has been polite and funny. It’s a great environment as well, high ceilings, let’s of space, and clean. The whole place is modern and such, they’ve got the fancy soda dispensing machines.
Everything I tried at the event was great! But I really enjoyed, and returned for, the Calidouble with animal styled fries. I enjoyed that the most. I’ll be back whenever I get in the area again. I had a fun time here. The people, the food, the service, and definitely enjoying my meal, I had a good experience. I’d recommend at least trying it out!
(They even have wifi and charging spots, really appreciated)

we all know why people are coming here. no it is not the same, not even close. but lets leave that aside for now
food: burgers itself are decent. i think it’s pretty hard to screw up a burger. it ranks somewhere in the middle. ***3/​5
service: number service. i like the soda machine they have. food was fast, as it should be. it was busy too, so kudos to them. place is clean and very california-​y. it almost made me forgot i was in seattle sitting inside. ***4/​5
value: it’s expensive for «fast food». if youre nearby, sure, make a visit and compare it yourself. but like everybody else, it’s not the same and it’s not a fair comparison. not worth the drive for me. ***3/​5

Until In N Out makes it within 100 miles of this place, let’s just hold off on the comparisons, shall we? (Yes, I pledge to write an update if/​when that ever happens)
I sampled the Caliburger, Cali Chicken Sandwich, and Chipotle BBQ Chicken Sandwich. My favorite was by far the Chipotle. I felt that while the other two were good, they needed a little more zing, which the spice definitely brought! I also tried the CaliFries, which were quite tasty, although I think the cheese could be melted more thoroughly as there were parts of the slice of American that were still solid.
By far though, the real stars of this place are the drinks. The milkshakes, boozy milkshakes, cold brew (stumptown!), and beers on tap were all on point.
Prices were decent, especially considering how expensive other restaurants on the Ave have gotten since I was in school (which, mind you, wasn’t THAT long ago).

Finally made it out to Cali burger now that the line has finally died down. I was pretty surprised at the amount of sub-​par reviews. I ordered the Cali double animal style with fries also animal style and a shake. Burger was awesome. Super cheesy and juicy. Fries were a little too saucy in parts but over all they were really good. I would put Cali Burger over dicks and Zippys. Very comparable to In-​n-​out. I’ll be back the next time I’m craving a greasing burger.
Burger: 8.5
Fries: 8
Shake: 8
Atmosphere: 8.5

I came here recently and was able to sample some of the menu items including shakes, fries, burger and two of their chicken sandwiches. Overall, I thought that the food was great and absolutely loved the shakes (both spiked and not spiked). This is a great place to go for a classic burger. Fries were tasty, especially with a side of fry sauce but I found the califries to be a bit overwhelming. Pricing seemed reasonable for ala carte items, but I think the meals could offer more value.
Staff was super friendly and attentive. It’s very clear that Caliburger’s management takes all of the feedback they get to heart and sincerely tries to improve their customers’ experience. Next time I’m in the U-​district and am craving a burger or shake, I’ll be sure to stop by.

Yikes! People are being pretty hardcore with their reviews! After eating here, I can’t really see why. Other than the wait time being long (or so a lot of people have said), I really can’t imagine how so many people think the burgers are THAT bad. Not even close. Trust me, I’ve had worse.
I think the problem with a lot of the people reviewing negatively is that they want this place to be In-​N-​Out so badly and forget that it simply just is not. Inspired, yes. In-​N-​Out? No.
I don’t know the exact name, but the regular chicken sandwich was seriously the juiciest chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Suuuuuper juicy and good! Surprisingly, for this being a fast food joint, the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich was really spicy! I can handle spice, but I just wasn’t expecting that from a fast food joint. That was definitely unique to me.
The only thing I wasn’t super impressed with (but still liked) were the fries. They were a little over-​cooked and seemed to be on the thinner side. Looking at the photos here on Unilocal,they looked a lot different than most of the pictures I saw, so maybe it was an off night. Either way, this place was enjoyable.
Another thing I’ll add in their defense — when I’m out of time and out of options, I’ll go to Jack in the Box or McDonalds since it’s near my house. I feel totally disgusted afterwards, but whatevvvv. Okay, so if you’ve been to McDonalds recently, you should know a meal is around $ 12 unless you’re just getting a chicken sandwich off the $ 1 menu. So… Why are people complaining about $ 15 meals again? Your burger isn’t being made from frozen pink powder shipped in from who knows where. I’ll pay the $ 3 – 5 extra for here instead of McDonalds any day!

Hmm… Controvery Controversy. That said! I’d give Caliburger a 3 – 3.5.
CaliBurger, as you may already suspect is a knock-​off In’N’Out… or at least it started that way… But is it still? Hmm
To Californians: Being an Angelino, I’ll say… there are a couple menu items that are exact replicas of In’N’Out. Animal aka «Cali Fries» are… completely the same as In’N’Out… The burger… also similar… but don’t expect an In’N’Out burger.
Lets go in order of GOOD to MEDIOCRE:
Fries: Definitely the highlight of the menu. The fries are crispy and tasty! Well seasoned and great. I’d definitely come to CaliBurger for their fries
Shakes: Boozy or not the shakes are solid! I’d also come for the shakes. They’re good and well priced. Good option for a hot day.
Chicken Sandwich: Spicy and well seasoned! Not as great as the fries or the shakes but pretty good!
Burger: Ironically… It’s ok. I wouldn’t say its great… but its not too bad either. CaliBurger… should be built on its burger but the bun was sub par and the meat was just ok… a shame. They might be on to something here!
Overall: Its ok… don’t expect a California Burger (It’s California… never Cali for the record) but that said its… ok! Its not too bad and worth a try.
Happy eating my friends!

To the owner,
Thanks for the comment and I appreciate your effort. BUT…
I’m giving a 1 star because of negative connotation and assumption about the «…unlike some other places.» It is just not cool to judge your competitors like that… not cool at all!
If you’re referring to the other place like EJ Burger, Burger Place, Orange King, Mr. Lu’s etc… I have a big news for you. They made burgers and fries per order without the warmer long time before you guys.
It’s not just me, all UW students know…(what is with the elite Unilocal event reviews and free coupons ??)
My friend and I came here to watch Seahawks game and eat burgers. And this is our experience at CaliBurger:
1. Very packed, very long line — 15min + wait time for our order
2. My buns were squished, patty was tasteless and the fries were dull! (Ordered calidoube+regular fries+drink)
3. EXPENSIVE! $ 15??? for burger+fries+drink???
4. What is the point of big screen if you cant sit down and watch the game…
5. Cashier was friendly
Summary:
For a fast food restaurant, the wait time is long, price is expensive, and the taste is below average.
Do not recommend for fast eats or burgers, especially during the game day
Side story:
My friend actually threw away his burger and we went to EJ burger! Lol There was big line here too but his order came out really fast like 5min fast! Taste way better, size was way bigger, order time was way faster, and the price was way cheaper!

3.5 stars! A great burger place that seemed genuine in catering to its customers. I had a chance to try their Cali Style Fries, and wow, I really like that the fries were still crunchy despite having a some sauces and onions on top. I also had a chance to try a little bit of each of the Caliburger, Cali Chicken Sandwich and Chipotle BBQ Chicken/​Bacon sandwich and I had to say, I had like the traditional Caliburger a lot more. The grilled chicken was a little too dry to me, vs the beef that seemed a lil more juicy.
What I really liked was their signature spiked choco milkshake with bourbon. The alcohol wasn’t too overpowering but it gave an interesting aromatic smell and kick to the milkshake. The choco Bailey’s was ok, tooo. but if I had to pick. I’d go with Choco milkshake with Bourbon all over again :)
Minus some points as the price point seemed a little high. Otherwise, if you are in a mood to try more casual, tasty burger, CaliBurger is a good place to check out! …also.I love their fancy soda machine… so many mix/​flavor to choose from. I had fun mixing my drinking using coke zero with cherry, lime, raspberry and many more all combined together! :D

Really enjoyed my time at Caliburger! From the moment you walk up and feel the heat lamps outside and then see the garage style doors for summer you know this place is poised to stand out. The inside is bright and clean, volume is manageable and as I’m sure you’ve heard you can charge your phone ON the table with a wireless tabletop charger!
The Caliburger is great as expected but what was unexpected was the awesomeness of the California chicken sandwich with guac! It was top notch. The Chipotle chicken sandwich was super spicy and if you’re in the mood for spice it’s a fair pick: bacon, pickle and onion top this treat. The fries were on point, no complaints at all. The Califries were maybe a little over done meaning so much cheese and heavy on the onions.
Now for the reason this place will win your heart if you are a milkshake lover: bourbon, Bailey’s and if you’re living on the wild side add a shot of coffee. Amazing milkshakes period.
Parking in the U is parking in the U. Prepare and just go with it.
The real deal — this team wants to get it right. They want to serve you fresh, made to order, tasty, filling food with some unique and fun twists in an easy environment. Do give them a try… soon!

So I was honestly impressed. I was expected to be disappointed but for not having In n Out in the NW I don’t mind going to this place for a fix. The burger was actually pretty good and fries are better, I will give them that, and they serve Rachel’s Ginger Beer so that’s awesome. They’re more expensive than In n Out, but for fast food the prices are still reasonable.
Do I think In n Out better? Absolutely. But Cali Burger is good on its own if you don’t compare it to In N Out. Also there’s a huge screen TV. great place to watch football games. So I say If you want a good fast food burger skip Dick’s and go to Cali Burger for sure.

A for effort.
If it looks like one and talks like one… Well, in this case it’s like meeting an Elvis impersonator. Not quite the King but it sure looks like him.
They’ve got the secret sauce down for sure tho. The sauce, American cheese, grilled onions, and pickles were identical to In N Out but the similarity ends there. The most noticeable difference is the patty. The patty resembles and tastes like Dicks Burger, a little dry and a little lower in quality. Also another factor, the veggie ratio is off. There should be way more lettuce and the tomato should be visible. On the plus side, I liked that my bun was toasted to perfection.
I don’t like comparing the two restaurants because they’re really not the same but Cali burger’s gimmick is just that. They sell themselves as the In-​N-​Out replacement and warrant the comparison. It’s tasty, don’t get me wrong but it’s no Elvis.

01÷07÷16:
This is an Asian based burger joint that has previously been sued by In N Out Burger for copying their franchise. It is almost identical, right down to the logo, which in this case is two palm trees side by side instead of the crossed palms of In N Out .
We had a chance to check out the new CaliBurger spot at 4509 University Way NE. What’s unique about this particular CaliBurger is the technology. From the moment you walk inside, a mounted iPad lets you place an order without actually going to the register, or you can also use the CaliBurger mobile App to buy food and drinks.
When you sit down, you can charge your phone simply by setting the device on the table. If your phone does not have wireless charging capabilities, CaliBurger provides charging cords.
But the most interesting tech-​related aspect is the fact that you can play Minecraft on your own device and compete against up to 50 other customers inside the restaurant, with a third-​person overhead view of the game and leaderboard displayed on a large screen that’s mounted on a wall.
Then came my entrée, the «Cali Double,» which included two beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and special «Cali sauce.» Every bite of the burger was awesome and immediately brought back memories of In-​N-​Out, which I’m a huge fan of. The meat was well-​seasoned and juicy, the veggies were crisp, and the «Cali sauce» was on point. My only complaint was the plain lackluster bun, which didn’t offer much other than something to hold the burger together.
The menu also had some local flavors, including Stumptown coffee, Rachel’s Ginger Beer, and Full Tilt ice cream — this was a nice touch that Seattleites will appreciate.

Review updated below:
Really is not the same as in n out. I like the concept of the store and how inviting it is but how do they function with one cash register who takes your order? The bottleneck of the business starts at taking orders efficiently and then another bottleneck occurs when picking up the order. Waited 1 hour to order plus 15 more minutes to eat.
P. s. Expect cold fries :(
Updated review:
I came back to try out Caliburger again. Not gonna lie, they really had a rough start and was not prepared for the influx of patrons that were coming through.
I do still like the concept of the store and how inviting it is compared to in n out’s décor. They even have seating to accommodate to large parties or also can be a communal seating as well. This is something that you cannot find at in n out.
The food was like night and day compared to the last time I came here. My hubby even commented that the fries are better than in n out. I hate to admit that it is true. This time the fries were piping hot. It still does resemble the animal style fries, the sauce is slightly different than the in n out sauce. I knew this coming in though and it has it’s own distinct flavor.
My burger was not cold and I had a genuinely stuffed burger. The bun was delicious :) Meat was cooked and juicy.
I have to say that they did come through this Time around. It appears to be less crowded during winter break. May have to go to caliburger on college breaks so I can get seating.
If you haven’t given this place a second chance, you might want to consider it!

I came, I ate, I conquered.
One’s got to wonder why the reviews are all over the board — so I did what I needed to do and I came and checked it out for myself. And then I did that again and again and now I’ve been to CaliBurger 3x. Keep in mind that this business is brand spankin’ new, too. They had a few kinks to work out and while not all of my previous experiences were perfect, today they absolutely nailed it for me. Third time’s a charm!
Here’s the deal; people are comparing CaliBurger to In N Out. And while they’re crazy similar, I strongly believe that my review should be about this specific experience and not a review that compares the two businesses. Why not? Well for one, WE DONT HAVE IN N OUT IN WASHINGTON. And two, Unilocal exists as a platform to review businesses, not necessarily to compare them to one another.
But if you’re reading this review and thinking, «Ok ok ok, but really though… How does it stand up?» My answer today after my third visit is that they are totally killin’ it. If you’re a fan of In N Out because you like fresh, high quality fast-​ish food, then this will be your new favorite spot. They’re also offering super fresh, high quality food.
As it stands now, lots of their current reviews reflect my previous experiences. Food is awesome, fries are way better than In N Out but service was –in the past– pokey. I was lucky enough to meet the manager today and when he greeted me to ask about the food (which was impressive) he spoke openly about recent improvements. It seems as though they’ve taken the criticisms to heart and they’ve made huge leaps towards improving wait times for people. Service today was really fast, in fact! And by fast I mean that it wasn’t slow but long enough that I knew my burger was made to order. I’d guess less than 10 mins but just over 5 min wait time. In fact, the manager was on the floor checking with other customers and helping to ensure that orders that were called met with their hungry purchasers ASAP. Definitely a well oiled machine now that they’ve been open for more than a month.
And while I can be a stickler for good customer service, I’m really after the food. So let’s talk burgers…
I ordered a cheeseburger with raw onions and fries. Not at all dissimilar from what I order at In N Out. And you know what? was AWESOME! And I say this as a burger fan, as an In N Out fan, and now as a CaliBurger fan. It was super fresh, the lettuce was crisp and green, the tomato was bright red, the bun was toasted on the inside and had a slight crunch, it was just perfect; exactly what I had hoped for.
My worry here is that people are romanticizing In N Out. We’re 11 hours drive from the closest location and I worry a lot of people comparing CaliBurger to In N Out are people who had In N Out last year or 3 years ago or back in college, etc. I kid you not, I was in Los Angeles just last week and had In N Out and it was basically identical to this. With the exception of the fries being better at CaliBurger, these two spots are basically the same.
The vibe here is a little trendier, there’s a huge TV to watch as you wait in line, there are local beverage options like Rachel’s Ginger Beer, Stumptown Coffee, and even BOOZY SHAKES!
Come try for yourself. Huge, huge improvements. The only thing I hate about this place is that I love it so much that it’ll be bad for my waistline. Thanks a lot, CB!

I am side-​eyeing all those articles that stated CaliBurger is just as good (or even, BETTER) than In-​N-​Out. I don’t get it at all.
Before I get into that, I’ll get into the pros of CaliBurger:
Wireless charging for cellphones.
Hi-​tech soda mahcine
Boozy shakes
Stumptown Coffee products.
Aside from that, the food and service is just mediocre. I ordered a #8 Cali-​style: Cheeseburger with fries and a soda. I had about a 20 min wait, which is quite long for a fast food joint. Like what other reviews have stated, the kitchen is well staffed so it seems weird that the food is coming out slow. I’ll admit, the fries are pretty good at CaliBurger: slightly greasy with a little crisp but I find the Cali sauce off… it seems tangier than In-N-Out’s Animal-​style sauce and definitely does not compare. My burger was just ok. Not the greatest burger nor the worst burger I’ve had but it is not juicy like In-N-Out’s.
Even if I don’t compare this to In-​N-​Out, there are far better burger joints around the city: Red Mill, 5 Guys, Red Robin, Lil Woody’s, hell even Dick’s. I’ll probably come back just to try a boozy shake but I’m still sticking to EJ’s for my burger fix on The Ave.

CaliBurger, I had such high hopes for you, but my dreams of an In-​N-​Out style burger in Seattle have been dashed. Let’s see how you measure up.
Burger
Winner: In-​N-​Out
Fries
Winner: Caliburger
Service
Winner: In-​N-​Out
Speed
Winner: In-​N-​Out
Price
Winner: In-​N-​Out
The line was about 10 deep when we arrived, and we ended up waiting over 20mins to order, since there was only one cashier. There’s also only one menu above the cashier, which is difficult to see when you’re in line. Some process efficiencies could definitely be implemented for the ordering process.
Our Cali double burgers were lackluster at best. The temperature was barely lukewarm, and it appeared the beef patties had been sitting out for a while before they assembled our burgers. Some aspect of it tasted like freezer burn, but we couldn’t tell if it was the meat, or the bun. The onions weren’t caramelized nearly enough (they were still pretty raw), and the tomato was mealy. Thumbs down all around here.
Where CaliBurger wins is with their fries. They were the only redeeming aspect of the meal.
Considering how slow the burgers come out of the kitchen, you’d think they’d arrive hot and fresh, but that’s where you’d be wrong. Everything about this place is slow and inefficient. Save your time and money and go elsewhere for your burger fix.

I live and die for In-​N-​Out. The last time I was in SoCal, I literally ate In-​N-​Out four days in a row. I mean, I could eat that stuff every damn day! With that being said, CaliBurger may be comparable, but it’s nowhere near as special.
After hearing rumors of the line being 2 – 3 hours long, my boyfriend & I decided to wait a few weeks before checking it out. We went on a late Monday afternoon and to our surprise, there wasn’t a single person in line! We got our food within 10 minutes.
I’m not sure what the fuss is all about! I ordered the «cali style» hamburger and cali fries. The burger was good, but not quite worth battling a 45+ minute drive onto the Ave. I thought the food was quite pricey, especially for the small portion sizes. My beef patty seemed to be significantly smaller than my boyfriend’s, who ordered the CaliDouble. I’m aware that the CaliDouble has 2 patties, but each of his patties seemed thicker and larger in diameter! Their soda machine was out of 5 of their 10 sodas, which was a little frustrating too.
If you’re in the area, I think it’s worth checking out. But if it means sitting in slow Seattle traffic, I’d say opt for Five Guys instead!