Why do ppl like dick's hamburgers? (Seattle, Tacoma: home, buying, tax)

[ipod99]

Everyone in WA, especially Seattle loves dick's. Why? I don't think it's that good.

[Hemlock140]

In a word, cheap! I'd prefer Red Mill, Fatburger, or even Herfy's, but if you are on a limited budget Dick's is a whole lot better than McDonalds or Jack in the Box or Burger King at a
better price. That, and it's kind of an iconic, tradition for Seattle.

[Seacove]

I think they are just traditional for Seattle and there's nothing wrong with that. If we're going to go full grease burger we'll usually do Five Guys or Teddys in Woodinville. Everyone has their own idea of a great burger.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Their burgers and fries are appropriately sized.

[Ira500]

It's the atmosphere rather than the food, and the fact that it's a Seattle institution. The fries at Dick's are hot and crispy, but the burgers are nothing to write home about. Burgermaster and Kidd Valley make much better burgers. Zippy's Giant Burgers in White Center is my current fave in the ungourmet burger category.

[poopskooper]

I grew up hanging around the first Dick's back in the 50's and 60's. My first recollection was buying those crispy fries as a small kid. I think they were around 10-12 cents. However, contrary to what Ira says, nowadays (or the last time I was in town a few years ago), the fries were oily and soggy compared to how I remember them decades ago.

Part of the allure, I suppose, comes from those boomers that grew up in Seattle and remember Dick's as actually having pretty good food. I truly believe that they have changed their formula for everything they sell to be slightly more healthy (don't laugh) as nothing seems to taste as good as I remember it being in those days. So yeah, I'm not certain why Dick's is still so popular today as there seems to be better choices now.

I'm glad they did away with a separate window for burgers and fries and another window for shakes and ice cream. It was a pain to stand in two lines if you wanted a shake with your burger.

Do they still require the employees to add orders in their head? I can remember it was quite the deal to work there because you had to keep track of a person's order and add tax all in your head.

When I am in town and see the Wallingford Dick's almost as it looked when I was younger does bring back memories, though.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by poopskooper

I grew up hanging around the first Dick's back in the 50's and 60's. My first recollection was buying those crispy fries as a small kid. I think they were around 10-12 cents. However, contrary to what Ira says, nowadays (or the last time I was in town a few years ago), the fries were oily and soggy compared to how I remember them decades ago.

Part of the allure, I suppose, comes from those boomers that grew up in Seattle and remember Dick's as actually having pretty good food. I truly believe that they have changed their formula for everything they sell to be slightly more healthy (don't laugh) as nothing seems to taste as good as I remember it being in those days. So yeah, I'm not certain why Dick's is still so popular today as there seems to be better choices now.

I'm glad they did away with a separate window for burgers and fries and another window for shakes and ice cream. It was a pain to stand in two lines if you wanted a shake with your burger.

Do they still require the employees to add orders in their head? I can remember it was quite the deal to work there because you had to keep track of a person's order and add tax all in your head.

When I am in town and see the Wallingford Dick's almost as it looked when I was younger does bring back memories, though.

You're probably right, poopskooper. It's been at least 20 years since I've eaten Dick's fries. They were hot and crispy 20 years ago.

[Inkpoe]

Its mostly a Seattle (area) thing... most people in Wa actually don't know Dick's unless they actually come to Seattle a lot and/or have a Seattle connection. Heck, I know people in Puyallup, Tacoma, et. c that never even heard of Dick's.

Originally Posted by poopskooper

Do they still require the employees to add orders in their head? I can remember it was quite the deal to work there because you had to keep track of a person's order and add tax all in your head.

I've never seen that... that's what you got the cashiering machine for. But it does seem like they treat their employees well.

[RVD90277]

It's cheap.

But my son is a rather picky eater who doesn't like condiments, pickles, onions, etc. He just likes it plain.

Dick's won't let me order hamburger with no condiments (mayo, ketchup, mustard, etc.), etc.

So I get a double hamburger, break up my burger with the half that has no condiments, etc. so it's just one side of bun + beef patty. I break his hamburger the same way but only grab the bun that doesn't have stuff on it and make him a plain one.

Needless to say, my son likes Burger King where they let him "have it your way."

[poopskooper]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

<snip>


I've never seen that... that's what you got the cashiering machine for. But it does seem like they treat their employees well.

Yeah, back then, they didn't have or didn't bother with "cashiering machines." I think they just had a cash register where they only entered the total of the order. The order taker at the window had to add up the order in their head as the customer gave it so if the order was large, it must have been difficult.

It's good that they don't have to do that anymore. I remember finding mistakes and sometimes it would be in my favor and sometimes not. If it wasn't a large amount, I'd let it go as I had already gone back to the car. I figured the mistakes would average out in the long run.