Ray’s Hell Burger

I’m surprised at all of the negative reviews here. First, if you want to go somewhere nice with a white table cloth go to Rose’s Luxury. I don’t know why everyone is complaining about the inside, who cares how it looks if you have a really great burger. Anyway, great meat cooked to order, which I did check before I left due to some reviews. The french fries are amazing, go for the sweet potato fries they are to die for. Tries 3 burgers so far, will be back for more and maybe try some of their other options. It’s a great spot for grabs and go burgers and the prices are really good. Highly recommend.

Could get 2 or 3 stars. I don’t think it’s as good as the Arlington locations & wouldn’t necessarily go back. I do like how it’s not nearly as busy as the Arlington location.
I ordered the B.I.G. Poppa burger with bacon, a monster chicken sandwich, and sweet potato fries.
Burger was OK, didn’t seem as fresh, big, & juicy as burgers I’ve had at Arlington location. Monster chicken sandwich was disappointing. I expected a thicker chicken breast not a long patty that was probably frozen.
Sweet potato fries were pretty good like I remembered.

These are still some of the best burgers I’ve ever had. The meat is thick, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. I love the Soul Burger No. 1. The onions are grilled, but not too soft, and the mushrooms have a distinct sherry flavor. So good! The sweet potato fries are amazing; crunchy on the outside, but they melt in your mouth after one bite.
What I don’t like… the décor! Ray’s is almost legendary for how laughably bad the interiors are. I mean, we’re talking butt ugly here. Handwritten or inkjet printer signs taped on the wall. No art or décor whatsoever. A random porch swing in a corner. It’s just plain weird. However, the burgers are so delicious it’s well worth eating in what feels like the mess hall at a cheap motel.

It’s difficult to find a place in DC that makes good quality burgers and actually knows how to cook your burger as you request!
Not to mention the tots taste like Mcdonalds hashbrowns– DELISH! Great customer service each time we are there.

Really disappointed. Ray’s has been bookmarked for quite some time on my list. I know this place hasn’t been around for THAT long, but when you walk in, it feels as though it opened last week. I am not someone that needs a lot from a restaurant, but character is nice. Ray’s on K has none, it just doesn’t feel like anyone put any heart into the joint.
Anyways, on to the food. I ordered The Mack and my boyfriend ordered The Soul Burger Number One sans mushrooms along with some skin-​on fries. Our food came and I realized mine didn’t have any sauce (one of my favorite parts of any burger), so I got up and asked for some. They were kind and gave me a side of it and said that all burgers come with the sauce on the side. Odd. I dug in and was… unimpressed. Really. I do not know what the rage is here. The patty was large, but unseasoned. The bottom portion of the bun was so soaked in grease that I just threw it to the side. Nothing stood out to me, other than the fact that I was eating a burger, which I enjoy doing no matter what. My boyfriend said he was underwhelmed as well. We didn’t finish the fries and walked out feeling unsatisfied.
To be fair, this was my first time at a Ray’s. I cannot imagine that they all seem so… bare…but not quite sure. It isn’t that I wanted something fancy, I guess I just enjoy feeling some sort of passion, atmosphere, liveliness, etc., when I am paying money to eat in a restaurant.
I will pass on Ray’s. DC offers some great burgers for a lot cheaper. Good Stuff is amazing, Shake Shack is tasty, and if you really want a delightfully delicious grease fest – I highly recommend Z Burger!

Probably the best «premium» burger I’ve had in the area. Each time I’ve been the burger has been cooked to medium perfection– juicy and just the right amount of pink. The décor of the DC location leaves much to be desired but who cares about that– it’s all about the burgers! At least they have adequate signage now. They expanded their menu to include some sides and milkshake/​specialty drinks too but I come here just for the burgers.
The two burgers I’ve ordered are «the funky president» with aged Vermont white cheddar, tomato, lettuce, heck sauce, and added bacon, as well as the «Regulate» which comes blackened, with pepper jack, avocado, and Pico de gallo. Both come highly recommended. It’s not the cheapest burger in town but at least a level above shake shack, five guys, bolt burger, z-​burger, fuddruckers, big buns etc. in my opinion.

Honestly, super disappointed. Burger had no flavor. For something that was so juicy and wet it tasted like nothing. I sadly opted for the double — huge regret. Single is plenty, double is meant to feed a growing teenage boy. The cost is overrated. A double burger with tater tots, NO drink or special add ons for the burger– and j totaled around $ 17.50. Overall, very upset with my choice to dine there. The staff was friendly, but the burger was mediocre at best.

This is a newer «grab and go» place in NW DC. The concept is having really spicy burgers. They also have burgers that aren’t very spicy. The milkshakes are yummy. I don’t see how this place will survive down the road since the menu is limited and there weren’t many customers. But, I’m rooting for Ray’s!

This place has delicious burgers, try the BIG popa so good ! The only down was the wait, and is a bit empty, I can’t understand why a place with good burgers doesn’t have much popularity ! The lady that brought us the burger to my table tripped but she still kept a smile lol great costumer service !

A really good burger. We actually had to wait for the worked to get back from getting her coffee but she was thankful that we waited around for her and offered us a free order of tater tots. I thought that was really cool if her. The meat was real Angus beef and was very fresh and the fixings were also very well prepared. We were there when it was not all the busy (2ish)and the food came pretty quickly. I hear this one is the second one and the really popular one is is Virginia. But then again it was closer and I bet the food was just as good/​fresh as the original.

Ray’s finally has a real sign up outside! I visited this location and was pleased with the Mack, which is pretty much a classic cheeseburger with Ray’s Heck Sauce on it. It was a good solid sandwich. Loses a star because the ambiance is totally lacking but if you just care about a tasty burger, this will do the trick.

I tried this place when it first opened and I thought I found a new go-​to spot for when I didn’t feel like cooking. WRONG. They don’t sell tater-​tots anymore. The last two times I was there one of my buns were soggy and the meat was mediocre. Haven’t been back. The cashier was nice though, so that’s a plus.

I love that you came to the neighborhood and hope this location will mirror Ray’s the Steaks or Ray’s the Classics when fully opened. But in the mean time, why did you get rid of the tater tots? That’s why we kept coming back to your burger pop up. Sad and moping home.

The food is great, but unfortunately they brought me the incorrect order the two times I’ve been here. While they fixed it the first time, my second was «to go», so I didn’t know until I got home. Decent place, but ensure you check your order before you leave.

I stopped by Ray’s late Saturday afternoon prior to hitting the DC Auto Show.
As some have mentioned, this location is missing signage… I walked past it once and had to look through the tinted glass to make sure I was at the right address. Upon entering… the place was clean, functional and minimalist with just tables and chairs… no décor.
The gentleman at the ordering station was polite and straightforward and after reviewing the menu I decided to go for the Big Poppa burger… grilled onions, mushrooms and blue cheese. My initial attempt was for the double burger cooked medium. Regular fries were not available at the time so I opted for the tater tots.
I took my number and found a table next to the window.
My order was delivered within 10 minutes in a carry out bag. No issue, I proceeded to unpack my order and much to my expectation the burger (double)…looked high quality, seared and crusted nicely… I soon realized it was going to be a juicy mess… and it was. I underestimated the size and construction of the burger… the double patty is a big option.
I took a couple bites and what I thought was ‘medium’ was not what I ordered. The burger patties were very pink, almost raw in the center… juice flowing. The poor bun turned into a soggy mess… I had to stop and put it down. The burger was too much and not to my level of cook.
I returned to the counter and indicated my dissatisfaction. I reordered a single patty this time well done. Good to go on the second time around.
I am giving my review a 3 star rating on my first visit. The cook level… rare – medium – well done… may be a little confusing for some customers. The bun for a double does not hold the burger well. I expected a higher quality bun given the upscale flair of Ray’s burgers. The lack of regular fries was disappointing. Last, I found a squiggly hair on one of the plastic utensils I picked up at the service counter… gross.
On the positive, the service was polite enough to redo my order.

Visited for lunch today – do not be fooled by the Spartan décor, but rather allow the menu to speak for itself.
The Big Poppa was incredible – the mushrooms made the delicious, although the peppercorn crust was a nice touch as well. Reasonably priced and the oversized portion (for me and I only had a single!) kept me full well into the evening hours.
Will definitely be back.

This place is heaven. I got the bleu cheese burger called the B.I.G. Poppa (as per the cashier’s recommendation). It was rich and beautifully balanced. The quality of the beef was excellent! It was cooked perfectly rare, and super tasty. The price is unbelievable low for the quality of the food. My girlfriend and I both had burgers, specialty sodas and french fries for less than 25 bucks. This little local burger joint will definitely be visited again.

Commitment issues! Yep — that’s what they have — that and very good burgers, fries and shakes. Other words that describe Ray’s Hell Burger: sparse, barren, empty. .. There are no signs outside or inside. You find this place simply by using the address or it’s neighbor Vida.
The food is good. The service is wonderful. Somehow you just want to bit more.

So happy to see a Ray’s in DC!
We stopped here a few weeks ago before heading out to a holiday party. As others have mentioned, there is no signage outside the building and once you get inside it feels like they forgot to decorate the place. This reminded me a lot of the Ray’s in Arlington, so I wasn’t too shocked.
The biggest disappointment for me was their lack of sides. The only two that were available were sweet potato fries and regular fries. I don’t know if I just imagined they had onion rings or tater tots at other locations, but I was a bit disappointed when I saw this.
They have a nice selection of options here including some specials that my husband was interested to try like the milanese chicken. All this to say, if you don’t want a burger, they have a number of other options including cheesesteaks, a mushroom burger option and some chicken sandwiches.
That being said, we were here for the burgers, and they did not disappoint. I got a double burger with onions, mushrooms, bacon and cheese and no bun while my husband got a similar single burger with no cheese or bacon. Ray’s has some of the best burgers in DC and we were happy to be able to go here. Be prepared though for a very toned-​down atmosphere for the area (momofuku this is not).
Credit cards are accepted, which was a nice change.
We will definitely be back!

3.75 Stars
Great to see Ray’s Hell Burger back in action again after a protracted and prolonged hiatus. I really never got why all of that went down but hopefully all of that is behind and we can start enjoying these delicious burgers again.
In the previous strange Courthouse Metro iteration of Ray’s Hell Burger, there was that asinine policy of no credit cards. Annoying! I never carry cash with me! However, one day while trying to grab a bite to eat near Mt Vernon Triangle (on our way to settle for the always reliable Bus Boys and Poets), I stumbled onto Ray’s — «Well I’ll be dipped in Shit!» I recall thinking… I was so star-​struck by what I saw that I walked in without any explanation ordering two of my favorite burgers for us — the opulent and indulgent fois gras truffle burger — totally worth it. I had cash for once, and just paid with it without asking them if they took credit cards.
Really good burger to enjoy once in a while. I still haven’t witnessed whether or not the owners and staff have finally gotten over themselves and stopped pretending that they shit rainbow sherbet on a daily basis with the insufferably pretentious «too cool for school» veneer but we gave it a chance, loved the burgers, and hope that it is here to stay as it brings in a much needed presence in this side of town especially in the aftermath of the untimely demise of Kushi. While a sign would be nice and I am really looking forward to try some of the other burgers soon.

The cheesesteak was great. However, there was way too many (undercooked) red onions. The sweet potato fries were lackluster. They were served in a brown bag soaked through with grease.
The chicken sandwich with their special sauces is also worth trying.

That was one damn good burger! I’ll tell you what; I can eat a burger at a few places out there that are in the $ 5 dollar range. That burger will be really good. The burger I had at Ray’s today was REALLY good! However, it, with tip, was $ 13 bucks. That said, I’d do it again tomorrow. It should be noted I got the more expensive option with bacon & whatnot. You can get a burger here for $ 7.99 that will be delicious. Tip if you’re a tip guy/​gal. (You should tip)

My wife and I still debate what’s DC’s best burger. She says Good Stuff Eatery and I say Ray’s Hell Burger. After all, President Obama visited Ray’s first before Good Stuff. However, after visiting Ray’s first DC location, my wife may be right. This location looks like a temporary location and carries a Communist, minimalistic, not inviting feel to it. It’s literally just tables and chairs and a small booth where you pay. The menu isn’t as extensive as the original Ray’s in Arlington. I always order the «Make your own» burger with peppercorn crust, bleu cheese, grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, and «Piranha» sauce. The sauce makes it (if you like spicy). My burger here wasn’t as good as the original location, but still decent. If you’re in the area, give it a go.

Noticed this new burger joint in K Street NW in the Mount Vernon Triangle. It is located right next to the Korean restaurant.
It has not put up its sign yet. So, I nearly miss the place. The place has been soft opened for 4 weeks. It was very quiet. If there were not a couple sitting next the window, I would not even know it was there.
Staffs are very friendly! Good services. As for the burger, it was just so so for me. It was a very good attempt of a medium rare, just a tiny bit over cooked. I had «Soul Burger Number One» which is makes up of Applewood Bacon, Swiss Cheese, Sautéed Mushroom and Sautéed Onion. The burger patti is rather oily, which makes me wonder how many % of fat are there in those burger. When I held up my burger there was fat dripped down on to the box. Now if you love a good old greasy burger, this is the place for you. As for myself, I found Bobby Frey’s burgers, which are cheaper, are much better and to my taste.

First time at a Ray’s and it rays’d the bar on burgers! Sometimes when I get a burger at a place, I enjoy eating it but that feeling quickly dissolves when I’m done… because I feel so gross. Not so with the Soul Burger. Perfect size with the right number of toppings: sauteed onions and mushrooms (held the bacon). The chocolate milkshake was the perfect way to top off the meal!

There is no competition nearby, it’s in a good location, but sadly I was not impressed. I love burgers. And I really wanted to like this place. But it was just so-​so.
To start, the place just opened and it looks like a pop-​up shop. Paper banners and menus. I tried to look past this, hoping it would be a delicious hole-​in-​the-​wall gem. Alas, it was not.
I went after the lunch rush in the middle of the week. The place was dead. But that could be because no one knew it was a burger joint. No real sign outside, just a chair propping the door open. Yet, somehow, it still took more than 10 minutes for a plain burger and fries.
The burger was not freshly made. Definitely some type of frozen patty. Not seasoned well at all, so it was quite bland. The bun was pretty good as it didn’t get too mushy with all the beef grease. The cashier said the fries were enough for two. Hmmm, two children? Definitely not two hungry adults. But that was fine because the cook clearly just went around the block to Safeway and bought a bag of frozen crinkle fries. Lame.
Maybe they just need to work out the kinks of a newly opened restaurant, but I won’t be back any time soon.

welcome to the ‘hood!
my arlington dreams come true:
a ray’s right near me.
first: those tater tots.
holy sweet nuggets of joy!
no frozen food aisle.
burgery goodness,
sizable and succulent.
messy, dreamy bites.
chicken sandwiches!
crunchy! spicy! delicious!
super value here.
deducting one star
for the not-​quite-​atmosphere
but OMG NOMS

Pretty good food, but quantity seems the priority over quality. This to us was a case of more is just more. The beef was not properly aged, nor seasoned. The shakes were okay, but overwhelming. It’s an experience for fat people.
We won’t be back anytime soon, but if we do return, we will split the plates.

This place looks like a «pop up restaurant» or maybe like a «mom ‘n pops» shop in a small town. There’s no advertisement or signs out front leading you in. Anyway, the burgers were incredible! Decent price for the area. I had a burger with tots and a drink and it was about $ 13. This is a top 5 best tasting burger I’ve ever had.

I have heard of Ray’s, but never been before now and it did not disappoint!!!
We were struggling with whether to order the Mack or a chicken sandwich. We both ordered the Mack because they’re known for burgers and the manager threw in the tangy chicken sandwich for free!
I love burgers and this one was great! Juicy thick near, fresh veggies, perfect bun. The chicken sandwich was out of this world — crunchy, buttery, tangy!!!
This place is brand we so the full menu won’t be available until next week.

I give it 4 stars.
I’ve been eating at the Arlington location for the last 5yrs or so. There are many different reasons to love a burger, sometimes it’s just the way it’s cooked (med-​rare), or it’s the bun it’s served on, or even the crispy crust on the edge of the meat and sometimes it’s just as simple as where you are. This is my favorite in the area because of all these things, but most of all it’s the meat, from a combination of trimmings from his steak houses. You will know this and it will make a difference.

The place is looking pretty stark. The signs are made of paper. It feels more like a pop-​up than A real joint.
We were the only ones here at 5 pm on opening day.
Food still took awhile. They brought my friends food and I had to go ask for mine. It was ordered on the same ticket. Growing pains I guess.
They brought us free shakes because of the mix-​up. They also brought free tots when my burger came. Burger was not prepared as ordered.

Workouts are about to become counterproductive. The latest installment of Ray’s Hell Burger has (finally) opened its newest location on K Street sandwiched between the Vida Fitness and Mandu Korean Restaurant. After years of waiting, fitness buffs can now treat themselves to a quick and delicious post workout meal.
This location had a «soft launch» yesterday offering free «Monster» (BBQ sauce) or «Angry» (house diablo sauce) Chicken sandwiches. The interior, while bland, was nicely arranged with plenty of tables overlooking K Street with an upstairs section as well. The staff was very friendly and enthusiastic, and welcoming music was inviting everyone to check out this newest spot.
The menu looked like it had a combination of old favorites (Big Punisher — diablo sauce, pepperjack grilled onion, and jalapenos) and new burgers that are sure to become a neighborhood hit. This is sure to bring even more traffic to an already growing food neighborhood and may help the Vida above capitalize on extra gym memberships.