Burger Seoul (Tacoma WA)

Burger Seoul (Tacoma WA)

Date: June 5, 2025

Location: 1701 Division Avenue, Tacoma WA

Website: https://burger-seoul.menu-world.com/

Burger Seoul is a small Asian fusion burger joint that has evolved from its humble origins as a food truck to become a popular brick and mortar restaurant.

I ordered The Seoul Burger, a 1/2 LB 100% northwest fresh ground beef patty with two slices of sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce, onions, and Seoul sauce, on a bakery brioche bun.

1 Aesthetics — What a strange presentation! I appreciated the color pops provided by the golden brioche bun, dollop of orange sauce, and gooey yellow melted cheese. However, I didn’t care for the look of the overlarge grey-brown meat patty or the randomly distributed pale shards of chopped lettuce. And what exactly is the point of resting a second cold, unmelted slice of cheese on the bottom bun? 5.0

2 Flavor — No complexity. There weren’t enough different ingredients in this burger. Really missed the missing veggies! The signature Seoul sauce is tasty enough, but I should’ve known better than to order a  “rare” burger in an unfamiliar restaurant. This one arrived undercooked, with a cold, bloody interior, and no exterior char. If the restaurant hadn’t been so busy I would’ve sent my meat back to the grill for a little more heat. 3.0

3 Mouthfeel — Weak. The bun was toasted perfectly and the chopped onions added a pleasant crunch. But the almost raw meat made this sandwich no fun to bite into. 4.0

4 Quality/Freshness — The onions tasted fresh, and so did the bun. The lettuce had no flavor. And it’s very difficult to judge the quality of undercooked beef. 5.0

5 Integrity — A sharp-witted person would take one look at this sandwich — with its thick, rounded patty and generous glop of goop — and resolve to eat it with a knife and fork. Like a chump, I picked it up, took one bite, and the entire bloody mess spilled immediately onto my tray. 4.0

6 Atmosphere — The modern, minimal, black and white decor of this restaurant seems to be its best attribute. I can’t explain its popularity among the hipster youth. 7.0

7 Service — Mixed: weak grill skills, strong table service. 5.5

8 Satisfaction — Predictably, I felt sick afterward. 3

9 Creativity/Uniqueness — Certainly a unique spin on the cheeseburger … but not in a good way. 6.0

10 Value — $14 is not an unreasonable price for a big, 1/2 LB burger, but is too much to pay for an upset stomach. 4.5

I appreciate what they’re trying to do here, but with so many other reliable options, cannot recommend. 

Total Score: 47