The Top 3 Burger Joints in Astoria, Oregon

Being a transplanted Astorian, it has taken me a while to find the best options for a burger in Astoria. Fortunately, the chain restaurants and fast food eateries do not clog the landscape in this small picturesque port town - and home of the famous Goonies - but that also makes it a challenge to know where to go when the burger urge takes hold. The following three restaurants, all independently owned, are great bets whether you are local or traveling through - and in need of an awesome burger fix.

The Wet Dog Cafe & Astoria Brewing Co.
144 11^th St., Astoria, OR 97103
(503) 325-6975
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11am - 10pm, Fri-Sat: 11am -2:30am, Sun: 11am -10pm

I originally sought out the Wet Dog as a recommendation from my sister when I first moved to Astoria and was looking for a great chowder and fish place. They definitely fulfilled all of my expectations in that area, and once I realized I was at a loss as to where to get a good burger, I decided to give one of their many "Mondo" burgers a try. With over 40 different burgers to choose from, anyone looking for a great burger will have many choices.

I first went for the more conventional Western, because I'm all about onion rings and Barbeque sauce. My partner had the Atomic; it features habanero and pepper jack cheese and is known as "the a**-burner". Now these burgers are all made with ½ pound of beef, and all that you would hope they would be. My partner said that his Atomic burger was not wimpy by any means, and he would highly recommend it to those who think they have the iron stomach to handle it! My Western burger definitely satisfied my meat craving; was fresh and juicy and way more than I could handle. I had to save part two for later. On my most recent outing, I opted for the Mariachi with a roasted green chile, bacon and pepper jack. This time, my partner went for the horseradish burger. Both were as amazing as ever!

Those selections were just the tip of the burger iceberg; there are a great many unusual styles of burgers for the more adventurous diner. To begin with, beef isn't the only thing on the menu. There is the turkey, chicken and garden burger - but there is also the bison burger with a full ½ pound of buffalo meat. You can get any of those burgers in whatever burger style you would like which in addition to the above styles include the Mediterranean, Jalapeno, Kahuna, Elvis (with peanut butter), triple bi-pass (three ½ pound patties) and many others. Currently featured is the "Goonies" burger in commemoration of the 25^th anniversary of the Goonies film shot in and around Astoria. This is your basic burger, but is served with a smile: 2 olives and a half-slice of onion on the top of the bun.

Since the Wet Dog also has a great seafood menu, it only makes sense that you can get a number of different types of seafood burgers there as well. Along with such offerings as tuna, salmon, cod, swordfish and halibut; you also have some more unique choices that I have not seen anywhere else. Of note is the oyster burger, razor clam burger and dungeness crab cake burgers. If you want to experience the jewels of the local seafood industry, try any of these outstanding choices. I have had the cod, which is wonderful, and my partner was very impressed with the tuna. He said that it was just right in flavor and texture, and was a generous portion of fish.

In addition to the burger, you also have great sides to choose from at the Wet Dog. They all come served with seasoned steak fries, and I suggest a side of the pesto ranch if you're into dipping sauces. My partner is crazy about the tartar sauce. To me, the original reason I came to the Wet Dog is the clam chowder, and I can't make a visit without a cup - it is the best I have had on the West Coast. Finally, since the Wet Dog is also known as a local brewery, you might want to add a Poop Deck Porter or Da Bomb Blonde Ale to your order. What can be a better combo than a burger and brew?

Prices are in the median price range; most of the burgers hover around $10, with the triple bi-pass being a few dollars more. There is also a reasonably priced kid's menu. The view of the river is excellent, and it is not unusual to see the trolley as it goes by, or a large ship passing on the water. Music and other events take place on the weekends; call or check their facebook page for details.

Custard King
1597 Commercial St.
Astoria, OR 97103
(503) 325-6372
Hours: Daily 11am-6pm, closed Sunday and Wednesday

Sometimes you just don't have the time to sit down at a restaurant; you want to grab a quick burger. That's when it's easy to fall prey to the fast food siren song, but the burger doesn't usually give you the flavor you really want. Fortunately, Custard King is still hanging in there with quality local beef and Tillamook cheese. Because the owners have struggled with health issues in recent times, they have the little stand up for sale. But one of the owners informed me that there are some people interested who would keep it the Custard King, so I am crossing my fingers. In the meantime, I try to take advantage of the few hours they are open whenever I can.

They are located right across from the Columbia River, and since it is a little stand, they get the majority of their business when the tourists roll into town and the weather is less fierce. But for the locals who know and appreciate it, there's nothing wrong with getting a fresh grilled burger topped with various varieties of Tillamook cheese and making it a picnic in your car. Once the weather does warm up, then you can always walk across the street and enjoy your burger at a bench facing the river, or one of a couple picnic benches.

The burgers here have names such as Barbarian, Dragon, Knight and Maiden. They come in either ¼ pound or ½ pound sizes and have toppings such as sauteed mushrooms, fried egg, bacon, ham, sauteed bell peppers, and various Tillamook cheeses. The beef is 80% lean from local purveyor Reed and Hertig. I had the pepper jack burger, and it was quite tasty. It reminded me of the type of burger you would get at a backyard barbeque. My partner tried the Blacksmith which featured swiss cheese, ham and bacon - yum!

To go with our burgers we had seasoned curly fries with ranch, but fry sauce and other accompaniments are available. There are also tater tots, beer battered onion rings, breaded mushrooms and breaded zucchini sticks. If you are feeling frisky, I would recommend the Tillamook ice cream treats and maybe get something like a chocolate, marshmallow or cherry milk shake. There is also soft serve, no-sugar added, yogurt and other options. Burgers start at about $5 and go up to $10.40 for the Dragon that has two ½ pound patties and 4 slices of Tillamook cheddar. It's worth it to catch them when they're open, and if you really need fast food (everything is made fresh, so takes a little longer), call ahead orders are welcome.

Geno's Pizza-N-Burgers
3693 Lief Erickson Dr.
Astoria, OR 97103
(503)325-4927
Open 7 days a week, call for hours.

They are located just below the Goonie house, but what I really like about Geno's is that they deliver. That may not seem like a big deal, but if you're from Astoria, you know the only thing that gets delivered is pizza. Since Geno's also makes pizza, maybe it just went with the territory. At any rate, it's a great option when you don't feel like cooking, or leaving the house.

The burger selections are not the most exotic, but are good. I would classify their burgers as a good solid restaurant burger, although I do really love their veggie burger. The most interesting variety they have is the swiss mushroom, otherwise the usual toppings apply such as cheese and bacon. The french fries and tater tot sides are extra, and come with an awesome fry sauce that is addicting. As a side note, I also love their meatball sub - definitely worth a try.

Their prices are quite reasonable, and you can usually find a coupon in the local phone book. Expect to pay less than $30 for two hungry adults and a child. This includes sides and delivery. The next time there's a raging wind storm out and you don't want to cook, give Geno's a try.

All of the choices I have listed are great options if you are looking for a burger locally, and don't want to give into the drive-thru. Break the fast food habit and try a freshly made burger from Wet Dog, Custard King or Geno's instead.