Saturday the first franchise in the Killer Burger chain had their "Friends and Family" night, and my wife and I were on the guest list. Located at 147th and Sunnyside Rd. in Happy Valley this newest location is sure to bring local diners to the Killer Burger bandwagon.
With a Killer new design esthetic and a full bar this is my kind of burger joint!
A fresh faced young crew works the main food counter, but grizzled veterans run the bar and keep the peace. With a great selection of punch drinks and beer on the menu and a full bar for those over 21 it's a burger joint concept for a new generation.
Fast food burger joints with full bars? Bye bye McDonald's
With burgers ranging from the basic "Purist" (with just onions, pickles, lettuce, mayo, and ketchup adorning the 1/3rd pound patty) to the "Barnyard" (which adds bacon, ham, egg, and a second patty along with Smokey house sauce in place of mayo) these burgers are built to appeal to every craving. Every sandwich includes unlimited fries as well.
" The Lineup"
I went with the above mentioned Barnyard, and overall was impressed. The burger itself was juicy and full of flavor, with plenty of fat to deliver the flavor you would expect from a premium burger. Constructed with a great balance of toppings there wasn't too much lettuce or too little sauce, and the tomatoes were firm and flavorful. I would have preferred a fuller flavored pickle, but no burger is perfect. In my opinion, an egg on a burger should be runny so that the yolk creates a sauce for the burger and this was served over medium and firm, again a matter of preference not a deal breaker.
" The Barnyard Burger"
The fries were crisp and delicious, cooked all the way through in the center without being too starchy.
Overall it was a great dining experience in a great new venue that will spell a great new future for a PDX favorite. Franchisees Wes and Coral Welterman can be proud of their new project. If what I saw tonight it's any indication they have a hit on their hands.
Coral and Wes Welterman pose in front of the kitchen at Killer Burger - Sunnyside