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Mr Lu's Burgers & Seafood
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Burgers Seafood, Burgers [Edit]
4752 University Way NE(between 47th St & 50th St)
Seattle, WA 98105
Neighbourhood: University District
(206) 525-0365
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Juli-ann W. said: "I've only tried the happy hour so far, but it was fabulous. The ahi tuna tartare was my favorite dish. Also love the Painted Hills beef burger (with fries) for $5! A steal. The crab and artichoke dip is creamy and goes well with…" read more »
68 reviews for Mr Lu's Burgers & Seafood
Review Highlights
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"Also tasty: Blue Cheese & Bacon Burger." In 4 reviews -
"Spicy blackened salmon burger, for sure." In 2 reviews -
"Also get an order of fried Mushrooms to dip in the house..." In 9 reviews
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67 reviews in English
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Review from Nathan N.
Puyallup, WA
4/2/2012
WAFFLE FRIES.
the best side to really great burgers. most flavors are great to be honest but i keep going back to the cod fish sandwich... waffle friends and house aoli ?? perfect combo. lots of greasy so the faint of heart beware but if you're jonesing for something on a bun Mr. Lu's does the trick and usually for under 7 bucks. a frequent stop of mine. -
Review from Corinna K.
Seattle, WA
3/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm so embarrassed that I haven't reviewed Mr. Lu's yet. Not like, just-peed-your-pants-and-mopped-yourself-up-with-y our-costar's-blazer embarrassed (hi, Marie Osmond!), but pretty embarrassed nonetheless.
Ok. Back to burgers, event though my recent burger reviews have me feeling like a fattycakes. I've been coming here occasionally post-work pre-drinks for the past 3ish years because it is, in my un-humble opinion (duh), the best burger on the Ave. Is it made with a frozen patty? I don't know, and I don't particularly care, because it is still fairly large and tastes discernibly of beef. What really makes their burgers are the toppings. I've tried a fair amount of their burgers and the bacon they use is killer, the sauces are bomb, and they don't skimp on grilled onions. I always come back to the Cajun Burger because it's a big sloppy mess with some kind of "spicy" (not really) sauce that gets everywhere but is soooooooo good. I've had it in all carnivorous iterations - beef, chicken, salmon - and it's good all three ways. Their fries are either double-fried or battered, and I'm leaning towards the latter, because they have this impossibly crispy lightly textured outside and the mashed potato type insides and oh my god, why are they so good, seriously tell me your secrets. Plus they come with some kind of fry sauce - ranch/bbq sauce mix? something slightly smoky - that has recently gotten both thicker and tastier.
Prices are great ($6.25 for the Cajun burger including fries, $3.75 for a plain milkshake that's both amazing and too big for two people to finish) and the people who work there always have a smile ready. Which is nice, when you consider the fact that the Crack Vortex Gauntlet (aka Jack In The Box) is right across the street, and that there must be some spillover of crazy. But if you brave the addicts, and the depressing north Ave scenery, and the people who wander around with pee-stained pants, Mr. Lu's is an amazing find.Listed in: The Uni-Dee.
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Review from Lily Y.
Salem, OR
2/12/2012
I really hate going up the ave ( any place past 45th), I feel that it is sketchy!
I would go up the ave for mr lu's burger though!
They have season waffle fries, nom nom nom!
He cooks really fast! Well I was the only person there, so it was like 5 minutes!
They deliver, so something to consider.
Do not get to go!
Your bun will be soggy... -
Review from Carlos G.
Seattle, WA
4/19/2012
If you live in the U District, save yourself the time from going to Red Robin and go to Mr. Lu's instead. I was long overdue in reviewing this place. Simply put, the burgers are delicious AND they serve waffle fries with them. Definitely a go-to restaurant in the area.
My personal favorite is called the "jalapeno burger," I believe. None of the burgers there will disappoint though.
What would it take for me to have given them the full 5 stars? A slightly better-looking place and free drinks with the burger and fries. I'm not a big fan of soda to begin with, but if I recall correctly, the drinks are a bit on the pricier end.
Highly recommended! -
Review from Sean R.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 3/17/2012
All right I'm not mad at Mr. Lu's anymore. As I said before the food is great. Always has been. Great burgers, great fries, awesome sauce. Etc.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2012
I like the food. I gave this place four or five stars before. I like the value too but not sure if I… Read more »
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Review from Lauren B.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
They make a damn good burger. Yummy fries and shakes too! Love it. I also love the really ugly, tacky decor (orange and yellow walls)... seriously, it adds to the experience.
Update: went here when I was not intoxicated and found the burger and fries unpleasantly greasy. Well, as they say, colors seen by candlelight will not look the same by day! Which is sadly the difference between 5 and 3 stars. My apologies to the esteemed Mr. Lu. -
Review from Lisa R.
1/4/2012
This place is solid! They have an extensive menu and their flavors are delicious. The only thing keeping them from getting all five stars is their painstakingly slow service. Be warned - even if you call in your order ahead of time, you will still be waiting for it when you show up.
But the burgers are delicious! No, they aren't a new uppity burger joint so you won't see any fancy beef here. But you get a decent sized burger for what you pay, with flavors that are on point and creative.
Recently I tried their Cajun chicken burger for the first time. The sauce and spices were perfect, with just the right amount of spiciness. The waffle fries made for a good counter to the kick of the burger.
Can't wait to return, and I am sure I will! -
Review from Uhura J.
9/29/2011
At first I didn't get the appeal of Mr. Lu's. It's basically a staple within a new social group of mine, and they're insanely in love with the place. The burgers were fine, fries fine also. Great price point, good service, a perfectly acceptable dining experience for the U-District.
Then I decided to branch out a little bit and tried the chicken caesar salad and finally understood the magic of Mr. Lu's. The chicken is quite simply: perfect. And ever since the first time I ordered it with dressing on the side, it has always arrived on the side no matter who is working. The salad is a decent sized portion and well balanced - continuing the art of the great deal.
Bonus: the fried mushrooms are stellar. They even deliver, although it's completely based on staffing. I also love the tip jar - the sign says "Our boss is cheap. Your tips are greatly appreciated". -
Review from Siruo Z.
Athens, GA
12/28/2011
Love their fries and the spicy salmon burger!
The music is kind a loud though... -
Review from Rich X.
2/11/2012
Their burgers are really tasty! They have quite a few choices for different types of burgers and seafood. Most of the seafood is either some form of fish n chips or seafood burger. I haven't had any problems with the service. They seem really nice though since it's usually two people (1 in front, 1 in back), you have to go to them if you need anything. The only thing that is bringing it down from a five star is the aethetics. Not the prettiest place to look at nor is it the most comfortable place. Definitely recommended!
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Review from Daniel L.
Seattle, WA
10/25/2011 23 Check-ins Here
My go to burger joint. No matter what this place always satisfies.
Although sometimes they take a while to get your food out because they're usually understaffed, this place keeps a consistent quality and have pretty decent service too.
My only bone to pick with them is that they should really take down the "Free Delivery" written on their storefront window, because it's a lie. They never deliver, because well, like i said before, always understaffed. Oh well I live close enough to get my punch card filled weekly. ;) just kidding. i would be obese. -
Review from Ally W.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2011
There are honestly not enough seafood places on the Ave, so when I need my seafood fix I gotta get to Mr. Lu's! Shrimp, clams, fish, calamari - you name it, it's all good! And whatever seasoning they put on their fries makes them insanely delicious.
Yeah, okay it's all fried and probably not that healthy, but hey it's the good kind of fried where it's not massively encrusted and dripping with grease (eww) so no complaining! -
Review from Alison S.
Bronx, NY
10/3/2011
Food taste wise: I'd say it deserves a five star.
Service wise and ability to be consistent, I have to give it a three.
That said, I frequented this place fairly often due to its close proximity to my home, and I was never disappointed by the food. The grease ended up not agreeing with me a couple times, but I think that's more my lack of tendency toward the "greasy" end of fast food than anything.
If you're looking for amazing deep-fried mushrooms, though, go here. Just make sure that they actually have them before you get your heart set on things. They told me they do quality control of the mushrooms and sometimes they go bad, but it happened often enough for me to be suspicious. -
Review from Paloma M.
Seattle, WA
1/24/2012
Delicious burger and fries but the service is so SLOW!
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Review from Marc D.
Bellingham, WA
3/14/2011
Nice big juicy cheese burgers here, with tons of fries, I got mine to go in a paper bag. It's really the way I want burgers to taste, it's a real burger, it's what made America fat. I had a bacon cheese burger, I don't remember the bacon being super generous, but it was a darn good burger, and now that I know Mr Lu's is there, I'm going to be fatter too.
Also it's pretty nice inside for a burger joint, I wouldn't mind dining in. The guy there was nice too, I didn't order a drink and he made sure that I knew I could get a big cup of water, I thought that was nice.
The cheese burger there was good enough that it's making me hungry right now thinking about it. -
Review from Heather H.
Seattle, WA
2/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh how I love the ave and its plethora of ethnic foods.
Sure you can get a regular burger, but why not fresh salmon or halibut right off the grill?
For under $8 you get a decent sized burger, fries, and sauce. But for some odd reason they don't have water on hand? Not even bottled. Just soda. If burgers aren't on your list you can get plenty of other seafood eats, mainly fried or a salad (which I was feeling a little wary to try here).
One added bonus, is if you live in the area they offer free delivery. -
Review from Sean C.
Seattle, WA
1/30/2011
Best burger on the ave. Thats what the signs always said when I remember this place first opening. But does it live up to the self-proclaimed hype, or will it forgotten as a U-district luuuuuuuuuuser?! Well, corniness aside, I'm happy to report that I agree 100%. In my mind, Mr Lu's burgers have always been the best burger on the ave.
They usually run specials every day: some randomly selected burger off the menu and fries for $5-6. The burgers are great, and I've always liked the fries here as well - always served piping hot and crispy. Every order comes with a little cup of "house sauce", which appears to be some sort of mixture of thousand island dressing, ketchup, mayo or whatever. I don't know whats in it, but all I know is that I LOVE IT.
Favorite burger? Spicy blackened salmon burger, for sure. The salmon always tastes pretty fresh, and it has a really nice kick to it. I've heard reports of friends getting salmon burgers with bones in it (to the point where the burger was completely unpleasant to eat), but this has never happened to me.
Orders are always taken care of pretty quickly, and the people working there have always been friendly. I hope Mr. Lu's stays for a long, long time. -
Review from Nick E.
Seattle, WA
1/23/2011
My friend brought me to this place, which I had previously been skeptical about mainly because I'm not usually a fan of the multi-cuisine spots. They cool thing is that they have daily specials that are different every day (or maybe they have a weekly schedule). I got the special that day, which was a crispy chicken sandwich. To be fair, that is the only thing that I have ordered there since.
It is owned by a couple with a child (who is usually just chilling watching cartoons in the restaurant, which is fun). I have been at times when the wife was the only person present (taking orders and cashiering, as well as cooking). I support places like this. Hard-working people and, oh yeah, the food is great. Well the crispy chicken sandwich is, at least. -
Review from Travis D.
1/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
The assumed to be owner was very nice and helpful. Explained which burgers are popular. The place has a homey mom and pop feel to it. While I was there, they were watching the Karate Kid on the TV and his kid was playing around with an IPad. It was kind of cute, I guess you could say.
The burger with blue cheese was pretty good. I think the patties and french fries were probably bought. The blue cheese dressing was subtle and went well with the burger. I also dipped some of my fries in it.
They do take credit card without charging an extra 50 to 75 cents, which is good. And in the window I noticed an advertisement for free delivery. -
Review from Robby N.
Seattle, WA
9/28/2010
I could tell you about the INSANE blackened chicken or the INCREDIBLE blackened salmon burgers, but I won't. All I need to say is the three magic words... Deep. Fried. Mushrooms.
Yummmmmmmmm. -
Review from Evan J.
Seattle, WA
8/7/2010
First off: $6.75 for a chicken club +25 cents for onion rings instead of fries, and $3.95 for a shake is $12.05 with tax, not $13.15.
As you can probably already tell, I ordered a chicken club sandwich (with no aioli), onion rings instead of fries and a strawberry shake.
I sat for a few minutes after this, having ordered my food to-go, before receiving my shake. The shake was just milky, runny and bland. It does not deserve to be called a shake, what I received was an aerated strawberry milk. I could have (should have) gotten better at Jack in the Box across the street for half the price, and the would even have included whipped cream and a cherry!
I received my food in a white paper bag about three minutes later, acceptably greasy with two napkins on top and a toothpick through my sandwich's foil. I sat down at a bus stop half a block up and began to munch on my onion rings.
The moment I pick one up, its breading begins to fall off. I try, semi-successfully, to hold the next with my other hand to keep its breading on, and am confused at what I taste. The breading on these tastes both very sweet and unnecessarily salty, but with no hint of actual flavor. It's more like a pastry dough than breading, but it falls right off, so don't worry about it.
Disappointed, I looked to my sandwich for salvation. I bite in and am immediately attacked by salt. Salt, salt, salt, everywhere. Probably due in part to the bottom bun slathered in aioli I ordered without. The chicken did not seem to have any seasoning beyond salt. In fact, I imagine none of their food does-- so if you love salt, this may be the place for you!
To their credit, the piece of chicken was cooked perfectly through. Just done to the point with no question of how safe it may have been. The ingredients also seem to have been very fresh before having been murdered with salt and wannabe-mayo.
To summarize. Being overcharged for a runny bland shake, bland salty onion rings with vanishing breading and a salty, salty chicken sandwich with condiment I ordered without: not my idea of a good time.
This place is not a complete shithole, but I cannot understand how it's reviewed at 4.5/5 stars. I certainly should not have added a tip to the receipt (which I also was not offered a copy of!)Comment from Amalie A. of Mr Lu's Burgers & Seafood 8/24/2010
I'm sorry there was confusion about the pricing - subbing… More » -
Review from Inna B.
I think I just found another decent burger on the Ave. Woo hoo!
I like my burger naked (meaning just the regular toppings and nothing fancy or different), and that's just how they called this one there. I heard it was the frozen patty instead of them grinding their own beef and whatnot, but it was still a pretty dang good burger. (Not AMAZING, but definitely good.) They have a nice selection, too. The only ones I remember though are the jalapeno burgers, the one with barbecue sauce, and that one of them had grilled pineapple.
I was happy that the fries came with the burger because I wasn't sure if that would be the case for a burger that was just under $6. It also came with their house aioli sauce, which is always nice because... while I love my ketchup... I also love having 2+ dips available.
We also got the (new!) Huckleberry shake (~$4.35) and the Oreo shake (~$3.95). Those were good, but definitely cost more than I wanted to pay for them.
They had seafood as well. Mostly fish 'n chips, clams 'n chips, calamari... basically the fried stuff. That could be good, but I'm thinking I'll stick to burgers here. They're filling and at least a couple bucks cheaper. -
Review from Stephanie P.
Seattle, WA
5/7/2009
Consider my expectations exceeded! We ended up here last weekend when the place we tried to go to was closed. Hungry and wanting to get out of the rain, we went to Mr. Lu's on a whim and were very pleasantly surprised.
The interior is cheerful and bright, but no-frills, and the tables aren't especially clean (I had to brush stuff off of ours). But they were friendly and quick to take our order at the counter. The food seemed to take a long time to come, considering that nobody else was waiting for food at that point, but it was worth it.
Burgers run from $5.75 to 7.95, and fish-and-chips stuff goes up to $12.75, but almost everything is well under $10. They have some chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers too. I had the mushroom cheeseburger (grilled mushrooms, swiss, aioli), which was VERY juicy and messy, but also very good. The burgers are thick, good-quality, and skilfully grilled. All orders come with fries, which were hot and crispy and perfectly done, and this awesome (though too watery) bacon/ranch dipping sauce.
It's a very casual atmosphere, clearly geared toward students, right down to the buy-12-get-one-free punch card. On a Saturday afternoon around 2, it was quiet inside with just a couple of tables occupied. They were playing music, but not at the obnoxious volume that other reviewers mentioned, so apparently they've figured out the background-music thing.
Tasty, well-made burgers, good prices, and friendly service = new favorite burger joint in the U-district! -
Review from Robert S.
Chicago, IL
So I was hungry tonight and wanted something different, and I wanted to get off the hill, for a bit and I remembered seeing something about chocolate covered bacon, and Full tilt Ice Cream
so I headed for the Ave first stop full tilt but no Bacon Bars were to be had they were out so we had a couple scoops and hit up the Yelp App for Android, and Mr Lu's has some good reviews and its just a block over, you can almost see it from Full Tilt
now the pictures on thew window look oh so good and the food did come out looking just as good, and tasted even better, I got the Babes Blue Cheese Burger, lots of crumbled blue cheese and bacon on a nice juicy burger with a nice bun, and fresh cut fries with the skin on, and a spicy mayo to dip them in oh hell yeah
and only 6 bucks a burger and fries that taste good and doesn't break the bank in this town and it isn't even half off Wednesday, hell yeah I am all over that shit because really people I am over these places thinking that there burger and fries is worth $11 it isn't
come give Mr Lu's a try you won't regret it I sure don't -
Review from Izzy H.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2008 1 Check-in Here
Once you get over the blaringly orange exterior (which extends into the interior) the menu itself is actually quite cute. It mainly consists of different variations of burgers, a variety of fish and chips and then some appetizers that you usually find at your fish n chips place such as salad and fried mushrooms.
I got the mushrooms and cod fish and chips. Its cheaper than Red Robin, and the servings are pretty generous - as far as fish pieces go. There's 4 pieces and a decent serving of fries. The mushrooms weren't bad. The only thing is - while the fried batter was genuinely tasty - the tartar sauce really kind of sucked. It was gloopy mess of unflavored mayonnaise. Maybe I went on a bad day - but it tasted crummy. The tartar sauce from Herfy's burgers was better.
But - it didn't taste too bad with ketchup. But everything really needed a sauce of some sort for it taste yummy. It wasn't bad though.
The only really kinda awkward thing is there wasn't any music playing. Boy, does each and every sound seem to be amplified.
P.s. they seem to like to use napkins from Lucky Strike. :) Because thats what was imprinted on each and every one of them. -
Review from Gwen C.
7/19/2009
There used to be an Arctic Circle on 50th and 11 Ave waaaaay back when. It was a thrift store for a while, and now i think it's been knocked down for condos.
Burgerdom in the U has not been the same since. Herfy's tried to crack it but like most of their attempts to move the South End hamburger juggernaut north of the canal, it failed.
This place, though, is like the Arctic Circle resurrected. You get fry sauce, and it's good. The fries are amazingly seasoned. The burger patties are thick and juicy and there's an amazing array of toppings. You only get dinged for adding costly stuff and not mayo or onions or lettuce. You can make it out a whole dollar under 10 bucks for a load of food. Punch card gets you free burgers. And, oh yeah, good Franz premium buns with real cheese, even if it's Umpqua and not Tillamook.
There's no pretense to this joint. They love their customers, they love making great burgers, and they love they do. Oh yeah, and it has freakin' wi-fi. The U-District's independent food resurgence continues apace, and this place is a fine example of how to do it. -
Review from Kaylene C.
Seattle, WA
8/17/2011
This place has decent burgers. They weren't AMAZING but they were good. I would eat here again for sure. The guy at the counter was polite and since it was the middle of the day when we went it was fast getting our food. Prices were ok, we ordered 2 burgers that came with some pretty plain tasting fries, onion rings (which were pretty good), and fried mushrooms (that were yummy!) and I think it came to around $20 so not too shabby.
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Review from Whitney B.
Seattle, WA
4/26/2010
Here was the scenario: My boyfriend and I were half-naked, watching videos of Russell Peters in the kitchen, Seattle was raining, and we agreed that we would not get up and walk outside to fulfill our cravings. I am pretty sure Mr. Lu's was a 5-8 min walk from our place, but we opted against it. So we harassed Mr. Lu's Burgers to come and deliver to our doorstep, and they obliged. Yay! +1
I ate a lot, a whole lot. I didn't feel that much guilt after I ate everything. It is not overcooked, not oily, and the french fries still have potato skin. I had their grilled chicken sandwich, or something like that, it came with a buttload of fries and it was damn good. Don't believe it? I have photos for proof. It was that intense. +1
I would definitely go back again and get it fresh out of the oven. +1 -
Review from Nath, A.
1/20/2008
Good, solid burgers; crisp and flavorful fries. Oh, and the fish and chips aren't bad, either. Mr. Lu's is a new addition to the Ave. They still seem to be experimenting a bit with the food, but everything has been good so far.
Also, for the amount and quality of food you get, it's a better deal than the burger places closer to campus. If it continues this way, Mr. Lu's might just become my favorite place to slowly poison myself with greasy goodness.
(For people who aren't quite so keen on artery damage, they do have chicken sandwiches, as well as fish that hasn't been batter-fried.)
UPDATE:
They seem to have settled in nicely. They've hired some staff, put on some music, and figured out what condiments to serve with what sandwich. The service is still friendly; they still try to predict my order, even though I end up getting something different every time.Listed in: Cholesterol
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Review from Pieter W.
DeKalb, IL
8/8/2008
I was walking past this joint to go the Mexican joint nearby when the fried halibut sandwich pictured on the window caught my eye.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised, maybe not the best fish sandwich I've ever had but pretty damn good! A nice quality breaded fillet, a really tasty bun, and fresh veggies to top it. What really impressed me though is the fresh fried mushrooms and onion rings, and I must stress the word FRESH, as in you can still taste the natural vegetable juices when you bight into the fried treats! This sounds like a lot of fried food but in all honesty it all was pretty light for being deep fried. You can tell they actually change the frying oil here on a regular basis (unlike many other places). Can't vouch for the burgers yet, but I'll bet they're pretty good. Next time I go I'll try their bleu cheese w/bacon burger.
The service was extremely friendly and warm, which is always a plus, and while the orange and yellow themed decor is not what I would choose for my living room, it seems to work for this place. Not fine dining by any stretch of course, but for what this place is it seems to exceed all expectations! -
Review from Danielle W.
Seattle, WA
4/16/2009
Oh, Mr. Lu...the mystery of how yummy one burger can be is easily answered at this bright orange, funky decorated establishment.
I have tried several of the burgers and never been disappointed. Among my favorite are; BBQ, Blu Cheese, and Cajun. I like to order the Veggie with the cajun sauce (it's a bit spicy but a great addition to a burger that would be bland).
The man who I always see there (I am going to assume is Mr. Lu (?) is always more than kind and friendly. Prices are reasonable, bit more than fast food, but much fresher! Also, with a punch card it's pretty easy to acquire a free burger. The fries are perfectly seasoned and flavorful, the fry sauce is a must, by the end of the meal 2 containers can easily be dominated by one person.
Hours are decent as well, I think they're open until 10 or 11 on weekdays.
Take the walk across the street from Jack in the Box or Memos, you will be delightfully surprised! -
Review from Clyde M.
Seattle, WA
6/23/2011
It doesnt look like much, but this place has AMAZING burgers. And the sauce they give you with the fries is just as amzing. it doesnt look like much but trust me it is fantastic. Good price too.
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Review from Jason C.
Seattle, WA
3/5/2010 2 photos
Eat the
1) Jalepeno burger: Great spice! Watch out for your mouth, it can get heated. But it's the good heat where you can taste everything and your tongue doesn't go numb. A Plus, it comes with fries. The sauce it comes with for fries is decent. The french fry itself is crispy. A bit bland, but with the sauce, excellent.
2) Mushroom Cheeseburger: The sauce is really good in the burger! Mr. Lu's Burgers&Seafood is a surprise. These 2 are the most popular and worth eating. It's on the upper part of the Ave on 50th.
They do burgers right. Nice place to eat. Average price of burgers was $7. It's cool that they have Jarritos drinks too. I'm going there again haha.
Go eat,
~Jason -
Review from Sean M.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/16/2010
Burgers: I've tried a few and come away happy. They're all good, and the topping quantity and quality is a particular strength. I'm currently in a rut on the blue cheese + bacon burger. I'll have to agree with the other reviewers who call this the best burger on the Ave. Given time and motivation, I'd still be inclined to go over to Red Mill, though. With some improvements to the buns (kind of meh) and and switching away from pre-formed patties (they are good, but there's something always a little sad about the texture), they could be better than Red Mill, but I'm not saying they should do this; burgers at Mr. Lu's are already a good price-quantity-quality value.
The fries are good -- better than Red MIll. I know opinions are mixed on the aioli; I'm a fan. One note: these fries do not seem to hold up to take out as well as fries at some other places; not sure why and it doesn't matter much, but it's worth noting.
Milkshakes: I had one, it was good but not worth the price. N.b.: I'm not a milkshake person; I'd much rather eat than drink my ice cream.
I haven't ventured to the seafood or chicken options, so I can't comment on that. -
Review from Yolanda N.
Redmond, WA
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was skeptical walking in due to the fact it was kind of empty and the tables weren't exactly clean but I am happy I did! Ordered the Cajun burger and it was really good, I was very impressed that the burger was nice and spicy and the not over cooked! The milkshakes were okay nothing impressive if not below mediocre but if you come here stick I highly recommend the burgers everyone in my group got something different and all of them were very yummy!!! I will be back :)
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Review from Brad H.
4/28/2010
I had the hawaiian burger with grilled pineapple. The patty was juicy, well seasoned and large. The pineapple was good. The fries come with it and were cooked perfectly, though they were very standard fries. I had to ask for a knife because there were none out, and he had to wash one, but he did and brought it out to me (I am a burger-halver). It was just enough food. My friend complained that his bacon burger only has one strip cut in half. I thought that was a reasonable complaint, even for a $6 burger.
Both of our burgers and my friend's drink was $16.45 including tax, I am not sure if adding cheese and grilled onions cost more, but we were very happy with the price! Excellent deal.
It does not get 5 stars because the burgers were great but did not WOW in a way that it was highly memorable or good enough to make it a destination place (if I was in the neighborhood it would be a regular place I imagine). Also the board says that it comes with veggies, but I guess other than lettuce you have to ask for them? It could also have been a bit cleaner of a place, though the bathroom was fine. A solid 4 star place. -
Review from Jon M.
Seattle, WA
4/18/2010
+ Burgers are great
+ Great price for a huge burger
+ Homemade milkshakes (the good ones that actually melt!)
+ Awesome white BBQ sauce (I think?) for the fries.
+ Crunchy, well seasoned fries (not the limp, greasy ones found elsewhere) -
Review from Angela N.
Seattle, WA
1/10/2010
Was not impressed with the cajun chicken burger, though it had a very generous amount of chicken in it. It was also loaded with the biggest pile of limp, saucy onions I've ever seen in a burger, so be warned, fellow people-who-mostly-dislike-onions. However, I did like the bf's jalapeno burger a lot -- very flavorful and spicy.
The fries were decently crispy and salted, and the fried mushrooms were fresh and juicy. The aioli was watery and slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and not at all to my tastes; I ended up going back to good ol' ketchup for everything.
All in all I'm a little underwhelmed but there are so many burgers to choose from that I'm optimistic I'll find something I love, so I'm willing to try them again. -
Review from Jeff S.
4/5/2011
Hole in the wall, greasy and delicious. Good salmon burgers, crispy fries and yummy fish and chips. Service is cordial enough, and you can get out of there with food and drink for around $10. Frequented by students and the random crazies that lurk on the ave.
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Review from Mark A.
Bellevue, WA
6/24/2011
One of the more chuckle-worthy things about Yelp is its side comment when choosing five stars, which reads: "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" I agree completely with this statement, because if you could ever use the phrase "greasy spoon outlet," and use it in a positive way to describe a place that fits the bill, along with the idea of service and excellent food, then Mr. Lu's Burgers and Seafood fits the bill on all counts.
I've been here about several times, not not quite enough to earn myself a free hamburger, simply because it was only during my last year at the University of Washington did I only realize this place existed--or rather, I've always passed by it and judged it merely by its shady location near 50th, across from the Jack in the Box, where most of the crackheads and hooligans often hang out. Some of them are nice people, I'll admit--but for every other person looking for the exquisite 'nice' place, its location is bound to turn anyone into a judge pounding on the gavel of judgment. However, I'm glad I finally made the jump and my impression of Mr. Lu's is and will remain a favorable one. Though my friend likes to think otherwise that other burger places on The Ave are much better, this review is meant as means to dissuade you from taking his opinion with a heavy consideration, and instead, to exchange it with mine, which should level the playing field.
If you're familiar with some Bubble Tea places, you're often treated with a card that, upon ordering several drinks, you get the satisfaction of getting a free drink if you managed to fill it out completely. Mr. Lu's actually has a card where if you order enough burgers, you're treated to a free burger. How amazing is that? If one takes the idea of inviting several friends with that kind of convenience, this place would become the ideal 'hangout' place for friends and family. It has the exact amount of coziness to it, with the small limited space, but big enough to serve as a local place of sorts.
Service is so-so, but in a good way. Allow me to explain; the cashiers up front are quite courteous, and are friendly enough to point out recommendations, and when orders are fulfilled, they're also nice enough to come around and ask you if you are enjoying the food. Don't be deterred by the fact that service is somewhat long. When I ordered a burger with a couple of my friends, we were treated to long wait times--but with a reasonable argument that I can make in their favor; the staff consists of only a few members, s... The burgers are no joke; they're nothing like the commercially-manufactured ones seen at fast-food places. No, if at all you recall how nowhere near the actual burgers looked when compared to their television or poster counterparts, the burgers of Mr. Lu actually look legit!
But the burgers. THE BURGERS! Let's get down to the specifics. Holy heaven and horrendous hell, these burgers are delicious and full of flavor. They're almost as big as your face, and the sometimes there is an excess of toppings that it's just too big to remain within the confines of the hamburger bun. Despite the small menu, Mr. Lu's has several specials, and they mix up the menu specials each time I go there, allowing you the chance to try out several things on their menu on a daily basis, without having to resort to buying the same thing over and over. For those with small stomachs, it comes highly recommended to bring a friend (or a 'special' friend) along to share. Fries come aplenty!
It's unfortunate, however--there are several other burger joints on The Ave that are taking away the business of a place like this based on location closeness to the campus. But why settle for that kind of thinking when you can either drive, hop on a bus, or walk together to get here? Trust me, you won't have any regrets in doing so for the quest of finding a good eat.
Bottom line; if you want a burger place for the convenience, go somewhere else. Otherwise, if quality is more of your thing, and it should be over location, then go to Mr. Lu's. I'll be looking forward to that check in the mail as a way of thanking me for my advice, but this time, I'll let it go because I'd rather you use that money to treat yourself to this place.
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