By's a great burger and fish and chips joint. I had lunch here for the first time yesterday with a couple of co-workers (including fellow Yelper, DJ Y) and I know that I'll make more of an effort to eat here more often! Lunch for me consisted of the three piece fish and chips ($6.99/5-piece for $10.49); onion rings ($2.99) and a blackberry shake ($2.99). The fish was definitely good - apparently they hand cut and bread them on the premises. The tartar sauce they serve here is very good. The fresh cut fries were very tasty and their consistency falls between Dick's and McDonald's fries - not too soft and kind of crunchy. I liked the fact that it wasn't greasy! Their onion rings are my new favorite in town - they were super crunchy and something that I can't put my finger on.....maybe I should go back and put in another order! The blackberry shake was pretty awesome too! Other flavors they offer include: peanut butter, Almond Roca, butterscotch, orange-creamsicle, strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, cherry, banana, pineapple and root beer. You can also malt your shake for .55. I really wanted to try their fried mushrooms ($2.69), but I think I'll save that for next time. Their standard burger options are single deluxe ($2.69), double deluxe ($3.49) and triple deluxe ($4.19). It comes with the standard condiments: lettuce, onion, tomato, ketchup & cheese. You can add bacon (.40), ham (.50) and grilled onions (.20). If beef isn't your thing then you can order from three different chicken burgers like: filet of chicken ($4.09), teriyaki ($4.39) or bbq ($4.39). If you happen to be in the area, you really should check them out! Don't forget to wear something comfortable - maybe some stretchy pants! Places like By's are a dying breed in Seattle. It harkens back to a time when Seattle was not culinary sophisticated and basically a meat and potatoes kind of town. It was also a town where the only beer consumed was Olympia and Rainier (the thought of that horrifies me). Don't get me wrong, I totally love that our city has grown with the times and the choices now are quite staggering. We have definitely have come a long way! Some of you may remember that going out someplace nice and fancy meant that you were going to The Blue Max, Henry's Off Broadway, Black Angus, Ivar's Acres of Clams or the Salmon House. Fine dining was limited to places like Canlis, The Met, El Gaucho (original) and hotel restaurants at the Olympic or Sorrento. If one wanted something different you would find yourself in Chinatown (though that was more the norm for me). I hope that By's doesn't go the way of childhood favorites like Rev's Frostop (best chili fries and root beer); Dag's (six-pack burgers), Herfy's (original incarnation), Suicide Burger and Betty's Grill (1lb burgers). read more

By's - Burgers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The fish is delicious, I got fish and chips. It is in an old By's burger place. it is across the street from Denny's on 4th. fast service, good food and they have some nice tables inside to have room to eat. I have drove by many times but today I stopped by to eat. I am glad I did. read more

Yay! I AM a fan! Having grown up in Seattle, I think there was a By's in the north end (before it became the Hungry Steer, before THAT became a law office or some such professional establishment). But the By's I think I remember in the north end wasn't that great and what with a Dick's a few miles down the road, we hardly ever went to By's. Although this By's is NOTHING like the By's I remember. But then, I doubt if my parents ever ordered a deluxe anything EVER for any of us kids. Nonetheless,yay-I'm-a-fan, eating at By's made me feel really nostalgic! We ordered the fish and chips and a deluxe cheeseburger, and again, I'm a fan. Plus a root beer milkshake. I thought the shake was perfect. I love root beer milkshakes, but have a problem when they use too much syrup making them gaggy sweet. I think these folks use just regular old root beer from the tap. The flavors and consistency were excellent. Real hard-line, hand-dipped shake aficionados would probably would not dig 'em, but, yay-I'm-a-fan! The burger was good, but the fish and chips were Grrrreat! I mean, I'm a fan! By's could actually be a fish and chips destination for us sometime in the future and we'd have to drive by about twenty other good fish and chips spots to get to By's. I'm that much of a fan. The fish was white and moist and tasted fresh. The breading was crispy and golden. I like their tartar (and I'm picky about tartars--I don't like too much dill). The chips were fresh potatoes (skin mostly on), like big fat Dick's fries (of which I have always been a fan). Finally, I liked the garbage dump next door. Yes, that was a plus for us as it provided some unique static entertainment. Most places you have to content yourselves with people-watching, but here right out the window is a transfer station where you can watch heavy machinery moving trash around! That and watching the seagulls and crows diving in after stuff to munch on...well, I'm a fan! read more

Baby BYE BYE BYE....or is it BY BY BY??? Whichever it is, I'm going BY, or is that a three-some? Sorry honey, my new BFF is an old Seattle standard and she's going to make me very happy for a very long time. By's is another Seattle Institution of the classic "fried" hamburger, I'd consider is a step up from Dicks, *ducks and hides* nothing amazing, nothing organic, nothing with roasted peppers, or a garlic aioli sauce. In fact the only additional items they offer to add to your classic hamburger is cheese or bacon, yummy!! Cheap eats that's for sure, for a mere $4.99 opt for one of the daily hamburger specials, which includes some of the best damn fries around, if you really want a treat, check out the onion rings!!! HOLLA!!! The daily special was a mushroom cheese burger, no Shiitake or Portabello shrooms here, just good old button mushroom, heck the might have come from a can for all I know. Lettuce and pickles on a nice buttery bun rounded out this berg. My hamburger combo was chased down with a orange cream sickle milkshake, $2.99, one size only! The flavor reminded me of those little dairy cups of orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream. Does anyone remember those little wooden spoons they came with? I sure do and boy the shake brought back fond memories.... A true classic and not to be missed, fellow Yelp'er Ron M. had these, you'll need to check out their "original" hand cut & breaded fish and chips, a 3 piece looked like plenty and for only $6.99 which includes coleslaw and toast, yes toast, remember one thing, CARBOS RULE!! Sadly I didn't try the tartar sauce, I'll have to reserve judgment on this for the next trip. For the veggie head they do offer a garden burger and they also offer a tossed green salad, now granted I'll have to assume the garden burger is cooked on the same grill as my HOT'N JUICY ALL BEEF patty, Vegans will have to just think good thoughts... hey look a tree! Oh, I should mention they do have a "gourmet" list of burgers, one of which is the aforementioned "garden" burger, another option for the adventurer is the "steak" burger and the "buffalo" burger options, me I'll just stick with the original.... FYI- Limited in-door seating, no wifi and no Yuppies allowed...The reality of it is, this place ROCKS olde skool style!! read more

This is a good example of a Seattle Greasy Spoon. Good burgers, fries, fried fish and veggies. The "Lou's Special" is really the best, double bacon cheeseburger, fries and a drink, with tax- $7.41. That is pretty great! Pro Tip: If you sit in just the right spot at the restaurant, you can watch the seagulls circle the garbage trucks dumping their loads. read more

This place has been around for 20plus years, it's old school with a menu full of greasy burgers and fried goodies next to a good old fashioned milk shake.. We had a shop lunch today and needed 14 Lou specials... she even recommend the time to pick up for best food and wait.. she wasn't off. my friend had to have a 32oz strawberry banana, he had it gown before we got back to the shop!!! Haha oh my! The fries are done from scratch I believe as they aren't the norm.. they served two sauces today fry sauce and tarter, hands down and not knocking the fry sauce but dang the tarter sauce is good. Not a complaint today from the crew so two thumbs up for that. My only downside for this review I can give is this place is it sits directly In front of a trash transfer station and I haven't really ever enjoyed eating here just because it stinks outside.. stay if you like they do the beat they can but I'm a take out guy. I only spoke of burgers today but I want to add the fish and chips are sizable plenty of fries and some slaw.. delish! read more

Burger was good, not great (think BK Whopper)...Fries and tarter were excellent tho....

By's isn't much to look at, but it's home to some of the best fish and chips in Seattle. A small barely-noticable shop along 4th avenue, south of Safeco Field, set back from the road, it would be easy to miss. And sad for you if you do miss it! Far better than the overrated Ivar's and toe-to-toe with Spud's, By's fish and chips is big tasty chunks of tender fish battered just right (not too heavy) and served with plenty of fries and tartar sauce. For 7 or 8 bucks you get more than enough for lunch, maybe even enough to split with a good friend...though you may not want to! The service is fast and friendly. They tend to get busy around lunchtime, but you shouldn't have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes even then. By's also has chicken strips and hamburgers and other greasy-spoon staples, all of which are good and worth a try if you're in the mood, but for me I will always go for the fish and chips. It may be a little out of the way, and it isn't the prettiest place or the most famous, but with great prices and amazing food, By's is worth it! read more

Been here several times recently, what a nice surprise. Best fish and chips in town! Good milkshakes, too. And a very nice staff.

Lou's Special: Double bacon cheeseburger with fries and medium coke $5.99. What's your pleasure? Garden Burger? Buffalo? Fish & Chips? Chicken? Fried Prawns? Teriyaki? Orange Creamsicle shake? By's got it, and as fast food goes, it's good (of course, probably not good for you). But when you're moderating your healthy diet with an occasional high fat high carb fix, By's is the place to go. read more

Eh. I've been here a handful of times, mostly because I was hungry and it was there. The burgers are decent. Order with bacon and grilled onions. They help. The fish sandwich is the best thing on their menu. Fries are...something else. (But fries and Seattleites have a strange relationship, as people in this city seem to think that the fries at another popular burger joint with a funny name has "the best fries ever.") Not bad. Not good, either. They taste like they're on the verge of being overdone and criminally under seasoned. Shakes are on point, and served with a bubble tea straw, which makes me wonder why more places don't do that. It's genius! Everything is made to order, which is nice to know I'm eating something that hasn't been sitting for who knows how many hours. Come here before or after the lunch rush, especially if you'd like to dine in. Parking is rough, in terms of available space and the quality of the pavement in the lot. Lovely scenery, watching the recycling trucks file in and out. read more

So I just had a Lou's special. A 2x bacon cheeseburger, fries and a med drink for $7.00 even. Cheaper than RedMill and on par with them for sure! Actually, I think I like these fries better than the Mills... This joint kind of reminded me the way Kidd Valley USED to be. It is an old walk up(with a few tables) next to a recycle plant but don't let that sway your decision to go. If your looking for a good ol' fashioned burger... go for it. read more

Best darned Fish and Chips ever, and I have eaten them in England (they over cook fish into cardboard). Plan this into a trip to Elephant car wash. read more

The best milkshakes I've ever had! A bit pricey but so worth every penny. I've had the burgers and fish and chips. The fries are homemade and to die for. Love BY's! read more

I love By's. It's friendly, fast, and serves large portions for reasonable prices. You can get a generous lunch for $7 and have enough food left over for a snack, if not another meal. Bump it up with a milkshake and you'll spend $10 for enough food for two meals. Great milkshakes, outstanding fish. Visit this south end burger joint and support local business! read more

I don't really eat hamburgers, but I just wanted to give props to the milkshakes. They're damn good, and the fries are yummy (although greasy) as well. Only three stars because I can't really speak for anything else. read more

When I think of the perfect burger, By's burgers now come to mind. Let's be honest, though. This place is a dive. It hasn't changed in 30 years (quite literally, said one friendly gentleman who was waiting for his meal), and I never would have gone here had somebody else not recommended it. The burger was really the right mix of crappy american cheese, low-grade beef and luscious strips of bacon. You now the kind - it's not some upscale restaurant, it's not the highest quality of everything...but it just tastes _really_ good. read more

Sketchy lookin, but hey, it's Sodo District. I was told the fish burger is great, well it was! Two fish patties between a bun with lettuce and tartar sauce. How could it be done wrong? Well, it's ten times better than any other place I've tried! It's somewhat hard to see off the road, but if you look for an old school looking burger place like the Crabby Patty, stop BY! The owner is Korean I believe. She sure can hold a conversation, but that just means she's a friendly person! haha. Hopefully next time I'll get to try a burger. The special one. Written on top of the menu! read more

Okay, how can a place (at 4th and Forest) that looks likes it dates from the 1950's, located in a run-down industrial neighborhood, in front of a smelly recycling plant (Rebanco), next to a car wash (Elephant), be any good at all? Well, I've eaten my share of burgers here over the years, but what is currently really good--and literally half the price of the stores along Alki Beach in West Seattle--are the FISH AND CHIPS and FISH SANDWICH. Definitely worth stopping for (though the coleslaw needs work). By the way, the interior is as run-down as the neighborhood, but otherwise as clean as a whistle. The owners are nice, too. read more

Very friendly. Very fast. Very average. My burger was a little tough, I actually spit out a chewy bite.... Why go here when you can get Dick's? read more

We have driven by By's a good two dozen times or so and finally, while in the middle of Thanksgiving shopping, decided to stop in to avoid the inevitable hungry 2 year old's meltdown. It's a little hole in the wall burger joint that you drive by with a retro sign out front, and we all know these places can be hit or miss. By's is a hit. While we didn't completely avoid the meltdown (sorry to the other lunchers), we did enjoy a reasonably priced meal that was fast and delicious. Our table enjoyed the salmon burger, french fries, onion rings, and Lou's special. Everyone was full and satisfied. The customer service was fantastic. I thought the prices were good, and not over-inflated like so many Seattle places are. We will definitely be going by again soon to load up on some so-not-good-for-us-but-damnit-it's-delicious-goodness. Also, it's a fun place for kids to see the light rail and all of the garbage trucks roll in and out. read more

It's just okay. I had the aforementioned Lou's Special. Service was friendly and quick ... probably a little TOO quick. Let me explain why ... I'm pretty convinced that everything is at least partially pre-cooked. My burger patties were dry, the bacon was lukewarm, and the hand-cut fries were overdone. That said, it had all the makings of a good meal. It just failed in the execution. I'm convinced that if everything were a tad fresher, it's be fairly decent. read more

Been going there every Friday for yrs use to be good today 11/22/19 # 11:00 am cold cheese burger cheese not even melted never going back

After reading Ron's ROTD on 11/15, I decided I was going to check By's out. I had driven past them on many occasions, but didn't know what to think. Of course old buildings/establishments that have been around for a long time are cool, but when they look tired and a little shabby, like By's does, then you think it might be "a little sketch." Well, they didn't disappoint. The customer service was top notch....an older lady helped me and couldn't have been nicer and more friendly. The interior of the building wasn't bad; I liked the pictures of the different facelifts By's has received over the years, and old style tables weren't bad, but it was missing something. OK, now on to the important stuff: the food! I had a Lou's special. Very tasty, my favorite part of the meal being the hand peeled fries (I'm surprises no one has written about this aspect of the fries yet). No frozen fries here...just thick, hand peeled potatoes made into fries. Sure they were a little greasy, but I wasn't eating at a vegan restaurant. I definitely agree with what Mark B. says about the 1/6" pressed patties. Yeah, that really does degrade the burger......everything tastes so good, but when you put it on a patty that has come factory pressed and frozen, something just isn't right. Maybe if enough people send them letters (yeah, the handwritten type), they will start serving fresh meat (and locally sourced??) All in all, I had a very good experience; I'd choose By's over Dicks any day, now that I've tried them. read more

They went and upped their prices quite a lot, so the value isn't there anymore. Guess I'll have to look somewhere else. Sorry By's. You were good while you lasted, but higher prices and charging for condiments just doesn't work for me. read more

Been wanting to try this place for a while. Had the halibut and chips for $12.99. The overall quality of the fish was great, and the hand cut fries were awesome. I wish the fish pieces were a little thicker and maybe had a beer batter option instead of panko. But the way it was, I would pay for it again, I would just pay more for better options lol. read more

By's - 2 piece halibut and chips, $12.99 - Burgers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The burger was really good -- better than Dick's and comparable to Red Mill. The fries were eh. But the shake ... ohh, the shake. Delicious down to the very last strawberry drop. None of that chunky nastiness at the bottom of most shakes. I heard later that the onion rings here are the main attraction, but no one in our seven-person party managed to order any. Oh, well. Next time! read more

I went here with a coworker and had the fish and chips and it was fantastic. They had Cherry Coke too! Woohoo! The fish was piping hot and nice and flaky. Their tartar is a real treat! As good as the fries were I'm wishing I had substituted them for onion rings. I'm an onion ring fanatic and I see a couple of folks here thought they were excellent. Maybe next time I go because I'll surely be going back. The prices are very reasonable and the service is fast. It can be hard to park at lunchtime during the week. We just barely squeaked into a parking spot. Oh! I almost forgot, while you eat you can enjoy a great view of a garbage dump out back! read more

Been here twice now, I'll start with what was awesome: The fish sandwich. I tried it on all your recommendations, and all I can really do is thank you. I thank By too. Thank you, By, for producing a fish sandwich all the others should aspire to. Now onto dairy. The decision to order a Chocolate/Peanut Butter Malt is one I'll never look back on with an ounce of regret. Seriously wonderful. A perfect balance of flavors and it's gotta be twice the thickness and quantity of a Dicks shake. The fried mushrooms are ok, worth getting but they're too heavily breaded in my opinion. I'll try the fries next time. Now on to notsomanynoms.jpg. I just finished up the Double [burger] with sauteed onions. There was a lot of sauce on the top bun which made it start to fall apart in my hands before I got halfway through the burger. Also, the meat was very VERY dry and not flavorful. I'd call it... geez... bad, actually. Veggies were average and didn't add to the sandwich in any noticeable way. So 4 stars for the awesome. Just....gonna skip the beef from now on. read more

Gotta dig those Fish n Chips as others have said - they are made to order, crispy and hot (as are the fries) Quite an ample portion for $8 bucks as well.... read more

By's - 3pc fish and chips-yum - Burgers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This was really going to be a 1 star review, but the service was so friendly, I threw in another star. I was on my way to Burger Madness and decided to try something new. After arriving, I changed my mind from a burger to chicken and added a shake. The chicken strips were the same food service strips that most serve. The flavor was good, but they could have been cooked a little crispier, The natural cut fries were good, but needed salt. I get not seasoning food, but for me, it tastes batter if seasoned while cooking than serving bland and expecting me to season. Lastly the Almond Roca shake must have been syrup sweetened. I expected candy and found none and the flavor of the shake didn't remind me at all of the Roca signature flavor in addition, for the price I could have had a bigger better shake at Cold Stone or 31 Flavors. . A much rougher review than I planned to leave and one day I will return and try a burger as it appears to be the reason people come here, but the chicken and shakes are a pass. read more

I rarely get fish and chips. I'm often disappointed by heavy, oily fish ruined by gluey breading. I work nearby at the commissary for the next couple of months and thought I'd give it a try. Holy cow, the breading was perfect, it might have been panko crumbs due to the texture. A bit of grease but in the way the newspaper in traditional fish and chips would soak up the oil. The fries were perfect! I will have to stop myself from going once a week, and I'm not even a huge fish and chip person! read more

My meal was absolutely perfect for what I intended to order! A straight up, classic old fashioned mushroom burger with the slightly soggy bun from all the burger juices and cheese, steak fries with the skin, crunch and just the right amount of sea salt......and the good old home styled milkshake not to sweet not too bland not too thick but not runny, butterscotch was everything ........PERFECTION WAS ACHEIVED and DELIVERED!!! AAAND not to mention it arrived HOT from 20 minutes away!! This was exactly what i was looking to receive I mean exactly what I was craving....better than Dick's by far but nothing extra bougie. This was a classic American Drive-IN type of experience at my desk!!!! #LoveIT read more

Great food and service. The milk shakes are the best. And the fish is my favorite read more

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Ordered prawn&chips and a chesse burger food was good plenty of prawns good amount of ff it was decent.

The food has lost it's flavor.... I used to loveee this place. Over $40 for a 5 piece with fries and then 3 piece woth fries and a milkshake ..horrible ! read more

Anyone who has spent any time traveling through Eastern Washington you'll know that every small town has a burger joint that hasn't changed since the 60's. By's is Seattle's small town burger joint. I've been driving past By's for almost two years now, and always thought to myself that I should try it. Today I bit the bullet. I walked into the place and immediately knew I was going to be in for some good old fashioned buger joint food. Their menu is extensive but not overly so, burgers, fries, fish, anything you would want at a working man's lunch. I ordered the special burger (at the top of the menu) which was a double burger, with bacon, served with fries and a medium drink (I got a large drink and my total was 7.50). The people at the counter were super nice and extremely fast, I had my food within five minutes. The burger was delicious and the fries were perfect. A super satisfying lunch for a very reasonable price. I'll be back (I want to try the fish) read more

This place is great! Some of the best fries I've ever had! The only reason this place isn't getting 5 stars is because the beef patty in my burger was a little lackluster but the burger as a whole was still delicious. Normally I don't like fish but I had a bite of my girlfriend's fish sandwich and it was amazing! I'm definitely ordering that the next time I go. The price is also good. It's not as cheap as McDonalds but the quality quite outweighs the cost. Appearance-wise, the place looks pretty run down, or "ghetto" as many have said. That being said my girlfriend, germaphobe extraodinaire, had no qualms eating there and said she'd go again. read more

Not often do I take the time to write food reviews. Actually never, this is my first! By's was so good I wanted to share. A local friend took us there for lunch and touted it as "the best fish sandwich in Seattle." He sure was right, actually I think it was the best fish sandwich I've ever tasted. Great bun, fresh flake-y white fish that was perfectly breaded and seasoned, a light amount of tartar sauce...I could go on. Considering the other reviews, wish I had ordered the fries too. The only thing that could've made it better was an ice cold beer, but they dont serve beer and wine. Extra points for having detailed recycle/ compost bins with explicit instructions for all. If ever in the SoDo area of Seattle, definitely swing by By's! read more

I used to eat here when I was a kid, and the place is still the same. Really good burgers, deep fried mushrooms and shakes. A little over priced imo, but still a place to stop if hungry in the area. Better than frugals up the street read more