Burger Bar (Kalama WA)

Date: March 21, 2025

Location: 49 Ivy Street, Kalama WA

Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheBurgerBarKalama/

Thanks to their giant sign visible from Interstate 5, Burger Bar does a booming business among commuters traveling in both directions.

I stopped by on a rainy afternoon to investigate whether their popularity is justified. I ordered the 1/4 LB Deluxe Cheeseburger, dressed with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and special sauce.

1 Aesthetics — Kinda boring, if I’m honest. Pale shredded lettuce, a barely toasted bun, and unmelted American cheese. Not sure what’s so “deluxe” about this burger. 5.5

2 Flavor — Meh. The patty was dry and bland, the tomato and onion were virtually flavorless, and their special sauce concoction seems to be mostly mayo. This burger definitely needs something, perhaps some seasoning, maybe some dill pickle, tangy mustard, anything to give it a little more kick. As it is, this seems like the kind of thrown together cheeseburger you’d find at a gas station, concession stand or snack bar. 6

3 Mouthfeel — So-so. The sloppy shredded lettuce is not doing any favors for this cold slice of cheese on an overcooked, yet lukewarm, meat patty. 5.5

4 Quality/Freshness — Fair, better than average. 6.5

5 Integrity — Held together well, all except for the wet lettuce strips. 7

6 Atmosphere — I like the family-friendly look of this place. It’s spacious, with plenty of simple plastic seating, a few colorful decorative flourishes, and some interesting historical photographs on the walls. The bathrooms are clean and well-maintained, and their large, lighted menu is impressive. 7

7 Service — Not bad, considering the distracted teenagers on staff. 7

8 Satisfaction — The experience did not even make a dent in my cheeseburger craving. 4

9 Creativity/Uniqueness — Pedestrian. 5

10 Value — $9 is affordable, but too much to pay for a mediocre burger with no sides. 5

I want to support this business, so I’ll give them another chance sometime. Recommended for travelers along the I-5 corridor if you’re peckish, in a pinch, and not too picky. 

Total Score: 58.5