At the Frugal Foodies, we don’t gate keep. Which means it’s finally time for me to let the cat out of the bag on a crew-favorite spot in Ketchikan: Burger Queen.
This mom and pop fast food joint has been serving up burgers, fries, and old school milkshakes since 1980, and it’s grown a cult following over the years. Crew and locals alike line up to snag a greasy, satisfying meal that won’t cost an arm and a leg. I first tried Burger Queen in 2019, and I’ve been at least a dozen times since.
Burger Queen itself is a small roadside shack with two picnic tables outside. Pre-covid, there were a few tables for indoor dining. But they’ve figured out they can do just as much business without needing extra staff to wait tables and clean dishes.
Sitting outside on a picnic table might not be your idea of a good time if it’s cold and raining. Don’t fret, because there are two nearby bars that welcome in your Burger Queen feast: The Asylum Bar and Arctic Bar. In fact, you can actually get your ordered delivered right into the bars. Both spots have grungy, dive-bar vibes, and we recently got some small town gossip that the owners of the bars hate each other. Fact or fiction? Beats me! But who doesn’t love a bit of tea?
Burger Queen has a handful of burger options, fish and chips, chicken tenders, and a solid milkshake list. Everything is extremely well priced for the quality, especially when compared to competing venues in Ketchikan.
Burgers are the star of the show at Burger Queen. The patties are thick, juicy and have a delightful charred flavor with a slight smokiness, and all the fixings are just right. The lettuce is fresh and crispy. There’s just enough sauce and cheese to add flavor without overpowering the beef and without making each bite too wet. And they don’t skimp on bacon.
I usually spring for the sriracha bacon burger, Jeremy gets a classic bacon cheeseburger, and we get a large fries to share. Our Burger Queen order is just over $30USD. Add in two beers for $6 each, and you’ve got a pretty amazing meal out for under $25 per person.
Considering the fact that other joints are selling one order of fish and chips for $30, I’d say Burger Queen is a steal!
It’s a must-try when visiting Ketchikan. I just hope fellow crew members don’t hunt me down for revealing our favorite spot…
Hungry for more? Get the scoop on where to get dessert in Ketchikan HERE!
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