Foster Burger
5339 Se Foster Rd, Portland, OR, 97206
Foster Burger Menu
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Address :
5339 Se Foster Rd
Portland, OR, 97206 - Phone (503) 775-2077
- Website https://www.fosterburger.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
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christine c.
Newly-reintroduced into the carnivorous world, I ventured over to Foster Burger about 5 months ago. I had heard great things, and their meat is natural so I had to satisfy my burger craving. Well, the burger was average to good. It was a tad bit overdone (but maybe I'm not good at ordering flesh yet)...and there was a lot of bun. The fries were crisp and satisfying. It was a "meh" experience (realize I will only eat a burger about twice a year, if even that, so i was looking for an ecstatic experience)... HOWEVER i recently returned to Foster Burger and partook in the veggie burger. Best veggie burger I've ever had!! Perhaps because its crispy-fried? I don't care. Its gluten-free and vegan too! yay! Topped with sauteed onions and their pickled beet slices (up my alley but maybe not yours; they are very dill-y and strong with the onions but I love to veggie-up my burgers).... I will definitely be returning soon! I only wish they had gluten free buns!
(4)Dan H.
This is a great burger restaurant. It's very popular. What's the greatest problems with burger places? The food is either an afterthought to their main seller - beer, or the burger is so fatty that it knocks you out for hours. Foster Burger is one of the best burger places on the west cost according to me and also AAA's magazine, Via. because they make fantastic burgers. They aren't heavy, but I never leave there hungry.
(5)jenni t.
I would not go to Foster Burger if you are super hungry, because you will work up an appetite while you wait! Otherwise, solid burger, and hopping place. They even have a patio for you outdoor types.
(3)C'Hardoney M.
Foster Burger is hands down my most favorite burger joint ever! Juicy, Greasy, delicious goodness...If your calorie counting make this your cheat day. I love a Foster burger with those fantastic pickles (Add cheddar cheese & onion straws), chocolate shake, and fries with the gravy mmmm! The ones with the cheese curds especially! I also like the bananna split and cockshakes. :) My husband loves ordering the burner burger, I wish I could do hot/spicy because it looks so yummy. Everyone I drag there loves it, we always bring everyone who visits. One friend even said "It was such a good burger I didn't even realize or care that cheese wasn't on it". The Atmosphere is very chill and relaxed. Good music, cool band/concert flyers on the wall, and great service almost every time. Everytime I go there I leave very full and very satisfied! Am and always will be a repeat customer!
(5)Katie M.
Great dive-ish burger joint, in all the best ways. I loved the veggie burger, and the service was very good. Appreciated the chill ambiance, including good music (Dinosaur Jr, etc.).
(3)Lori F.
Foster Burger? Will you marry me? No, really, I know that I am married already but you can be like the HBO guy and I can be Chloe Sevingy with the big hair and the cut throat-y attitude. I will defeat any bitch that's competing for your love! You see, I already knew I loved you when you presented me with my very own french press and baby sugar cubes. Your burgers are outstanding, that goes without saying. But last night, as I listened to those clueless suburbanites fumble all over your menu while the extra nice waiter didn't slap them upside the head, like they deserved, I noticed something. Something that I had never noticed on your menu before. Two precious words that assured me that you are the one for me: vino tinto. You know vino tinto, too? Not only did it bring back a giant earthquake of happy memories from my travels to Spain, it was tasty and delicious and on the house because our service was super slow due to the obligatory suburbanite hand holding! Juicy, crispy sexy burger + fries, so perfect you want to just pour them down your throat + a gorgeous glass of vino tinto = a marriage proposal from Lori F. I sure hope you say I do.
(5)Andrew G.
I swear, it's almost fashionable to not like FB. I get the feeling some people come here with the firm intent of not liking it. There's no badge for FoBu hatin', folks! I'm sure it is mostly the by-product of high expectations and is, perhaps, a reaction against all the gushy praise it has received since it opened. But when you cut out all the hype and all of the haterade, FB delivers what it promises...a delicious burger and a destination restaurant for the neighborhood. I had not been here prior to the recent menu change but, for how right they got it, I can't imagine they were that far off in the first place. The burger was tiiiiight, yo. Really, it is in my top 3 burgers around town. My wife's veggie burger was similarly top shelf. I really enjoyed the extra touch like the house-made pickle slices on the burger. They had a really nice flavor and texture. The new-fangled (I'm told) bun was fantastic. It was structurally sound down to the last bite. The burger almost rivals those I make at home. YEAH. They're THAT good. Really, the only beef I had was that my fries were pretty much all the nubbinses but it's a minor quibble. We went on a Wednesday and the cockshake of the day was White Russian, which is a favorite of mine. One long sip of it and I was "dasvidanya, comrade". Man, was it strong and tasty. It was truly a POTENT POTABLE. It made a terrific dessert and for $5, can't be topped for value. It's worth coming in for, itself. I really dug the rock show flyers on the wall. Most of the bands on them are from the time I was in college and more into the music scene. I even went to some of the shows on display, albeit the Seattle dates. Even if no one else digs it, I do. Not only does it give it the rock 'n roll vibe, it brings it back home because all of the shows were local. It's a little bit of history while you mack on a serious contender for Portland's best burger.
(5)Brice B.
I am this burger's bitch, and that's no lie. Whatever transgressions Foster Burger may have committed in the past, I was not around for them. All I know is that this one one badass burger, with fries par excellence. Next time, I'm getting a cockshake. I'm not sure my wife will approve, but I'm willing to take my chances. Those servers can be very persuasive.
(5)Kenny H.
It is good. I like the ambiance inside, they have interesting drink combinations. I was a little curious aboot the PBR with a shot of whiskey. They did not have PBR, but a better tasting German tall boy (regardless of the menu stating so). I liked it okay, interesting to say the least and it gave the buzz I desired for $5 total including the shot. However, the veggie burger I got was not as impressive at it sounded in the menu, sounded all local organicy. I mean, there was nothing wrong with it. It tasted like a decent garden patty. The trouble I had was paying $9 for a veggie burger and fries that were just "pretty good". At home I often BBQ a Portland Pub bun and a Garden burger, slap a few pickles with lettuce and tomato on it... there really was no difference in flavor here. The fries were decent, serviceable. I opted for the roasted jalapenos and pepper jack cheese, further increasing the price of my burger by about $2... I found nothing stand-out about adding these toppings, it just made an already higher priced veggie burger a $11 veggie burger. Pointless. I noticed they have a happy hr. I think I will have the burger at 5pm since it is 5 bucks. That would make it a more solid value. I will grab the can of German tall boy for $2 too. I am hoping the $5 burger is available in the garden patty too? All in all... I would go back, for happy hour in order to pay $5 for a pretty good veggie burger. My biggest piece of advice is regardless of when you go, avoid the toppings as they will do nothing for the burger.
(3)Echota K.
Good burgers, fresh ingredients, delicious Cole slaw. I recommend the Kiwi Burger. Nomnomnom. Also, gluten-free buns make me a happy girl. Hubby wishes the burgers came with fries, but the taste was definitely great.
(4)tristan p.
I dig this burger. One of the better burgers in town. I dig the vibe here. I LOVE that it's earned the scorn of local "foodies" and hipsters since most of them are jackasses with lousy taste and they would probably 5 star crapplebees if it was advertised as locally grown, sustainable, and grass-fed. Pile it on Foster Burger. Goes great with a cold HUB.
(4)Robb W.
FB seemed to have become a victim of its own hype for awhile...staff getting a little attitude, food quality falling off, etc. Of course all the national recognition (which appeared to be undeserved) didn't help at all. They had moved to 3 stars (or worse) in my estimation. Repeat visits didn't do anything to really move them up or down for me either... Until tonight... 2 words: Foster Burner Yeah, that's right, I said it...BURNER! Basically a jalapeno cheeseburger with spicy onion straws under the burger with a sauce so good you'll slap yo momma! Why haven't we seen a simple mix of homemade ranch and sriracha before? Unreal. Not for the faint of mouth, but not so hot that only chiliheads can eat it (wonder if they'd do one of those upon request? Yum!) The regular fries are still solid and this burger, alone, has moved them back to 4 stars for me. Service was friendly (although they weren't especially busy) and the bun was listed as house-made. Does this mean somewhere other than An Xuyen? It still seemed like their product...which is certainly not a bad thing. Don't know how long the Burner will be available, but go get some! And don't forget to order the burger at LEAST medium rare (unless you liked it overcooked)... ymmv
(4)LISA S.
This has been bookmarked for a year, but I was waiting for the Great Foster Burger Hype session to die out before hauling my cookies across town for a burger. I really really really just wanted to see what this squid ink aioli on the fries was all about. I was disappointed initially by the wait, there was one large party ahead of us, and they took forever to get seated. Then we told that it would be a good 10-15 minutes more to wait unless we wanted a seat at the bar. That's totally a-ok with me, but I wished it had been offered up earlier for my party of two. But then it took the bar dude ForEVER (it seemed) to stop by with menus and drinks. Another 15 minute wait (and a growled threat of eating my own left fist) our food finally came. I got the veggie burger with cheez, and It was good. Really, not bad, but nothing I'm writing my mom about. I thought the sauce really made the burger, which isn't exactly a rave. I didn't think It was a good value for what was charged. The fries were awesome (even though I chickened out of trying the Black-n-white fries covered in the mysterious squid ink)! I couldda shouldda wouldda just got a basket of those guys. But I wasn't at Foster Fries, I was at Foster Burger. I thought the rock-n-roll poster decor was really keen, and It made me sad that I didn't arrive in Portland in time to take in a show at La Luna. The place has a nice warm glow to it, and the staff was incredibly nice. It should be noted that it was incredibly LOUD there. It should also be noted that we arrived at what seems like the end of the dinner rush. If I do ever make my way back, I will have to try one of the delicious sounding alcoholic milkshakes, basket of fries, and maybe some of the homemade pickled concoctions they had for sale--- but I don't think I'll be back for a burger.
(3)Nathan H.
Okay, I am good with fried egg on a burger...but pickled beets? That was a little strange, however, after the hostess/waitress assured me I would like it, I decided to bite. Literally. And boy am I glad I did cause the next five minutes was all about heavenly goodness. Burger, cheese, bun, pickles, lettuce, and pickled beets all combined to make sure that my taste buds were doing pirouettes of joy. I was in town visiting friends and we decided to stop here for lunch since it was walking distance from the house. Boy am I glad we did. I ordered the kiwi burger, with a little encouragement from the (very cute) hostess (Rebecca, I think), fried egg and pickled beets...whoodathunkit? but they did, and it rocked...seriously rocked. But it requires a committment to eat it. Cause once you pick that baby up for the first bite, you won't want to put it down until you are done. Seriously...it is that good.
(4)John T.
What is there left to say about this place that hasn't been said yet? The burger is absolutely delicious. the flavor is so good, it felt like time had stopped for me. As my taste buds hold onto the moment a little longer to savor the taste. Even with all that, my favorite thing of the night was the cockshake. Am i allowed to say that word on here? It's real i swear, it's an alcoholic cocktail milkshake. I took one sip and i couldn't pry my hand away from it. even when it was taken out of my hand so i can focus on the conversation, subconsciously my hand had walked it self over and latched onto my drink. Great burgers and a great cockshake, this was even more enjoyable then shaking my cock.
(5)Faith T.
I love the burgers. Basic, and some fine choices to add to a burger. The staff is friendly and very helpful when they aren't slammed. The turkey burger has potential to be good, but was a bit dry...maybe not what I should have ordered at a place known for their meaty goodness. Drinks are amazing. Try one as a "Cock-shake" their name for a cocktail milkshake combo. They are amazing!! We love going. The squid ink aioli is not that great though...and I love squid ink.
(3)Deb P.
I'm still trying to recover from my late lunch at Foster Burger (so much for those 5am workouts this weekend). We had a nice experience, so I'm surprised to read the mediocre reviews... We chose Foster Burger because I missed the Yelp Elite event last month. Needed to see what the hype is all about. To make a long story short, FB is worth the hype, but maybe not the price. I'm a fry fiend, so we started with the Black & White Fries---hand cut, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and truffle oil, served with squid ink ailoli for dipping. Definitely one of the best plates of fries in Portland, but at $8 for a large order, it may be a bit spendy for the budget. To me, they were worth every penny. The burgers----I had the Foster Burger ($8) topped with Swiss ($1) and a side of Beer Cheese Soup (.50cents additional). The beef is local and they grind it there. The buns are homemade and divine. It came with lettuce, pickes, onions and Foster sauce (think fry sauce) on the side. This is the best burger I've had in a long time (with the exception of the Heathman). Milkshake---chocolate ($4.50). Would be nice to top it with fresh whipped cream, but it was good.. Considering what I've paid at Red Robin (and even Carl's Jr.) for the same type of meal, I didn't mind paying it. BUT, paying for three people---lunch came to almost $50 + tip. A bit steep for a family meal of burgers, no matter how good they are. Hence, the 4 stars... We visited in mid-afternoon on a Sunday. It was busy, but not packed. Our server was attentive and friendly. The decor was rustic tables and walls covered with old concert fliers. The music was alternative, but not intrusive. I will definitely return to Foster Burger and you should try it too.
(4)Adam S.
I'm changing my rating as they have changed the prices. It really made all the difference. Turkey burger with ground bacon? Uh-mazing! The FoPo Poutine, angina-inducing, but such a great plate if flavor. The shakes are great, so are the root beer floats. Atmosphere is spot on for real Portlandacana. The staff are good, and attentive without being pests. This is now my favorite burger joint.
(5)Rob D.
Two words that get me all randy: Pickle Plate I've never had a pickled strawberry before and it was one of the gastronomic highlights of my life thus far. Add to that a sweet selection of pickled treats: cauliflower, egg, green beans, carrots, radishes, and cucumbers and you have got a spicy little number that will leave you penchant for puckery pickled goodies well satisfied. I also feasted on a 'Foster Burger' opting for only caramelized onions to be added. This beefy beast was good. It didn't make me weep with joy but I ate the whole thing so it certainly did not suck! The price was a bit high for the burger I was served in my opinion, but then if I want to let that ruin my day I'll just go home and make my own... right? The french fries were perfect. I am a bit of a french fry fanatic. These were fried to perfection with an ample dosing of salt.
(4)Jules T.
3.5 stars, really. Though I hoped, wished and dreamed it would be a 5 star review (at least a 4!), since it's fairly close to my house and I love a good burger and booze joint. On the up side: -My waitress rocked. She answered (and even anticipated) all of my questions. Offered helpful suggestions, and was attentive and sweet. -I tried the Cherry Libre and it was delicious! Just the right mix of rum, coke, and cherries. -My bf tried the strawberry shake, so I stole a sip (or three!) and it was by far the best strawberry shake I've tasted. (And the waitress told me blackberry... or was it marionberry?... shakes are coming soon, too. I might go back for those. Maybe?) -The pickled beet on my burger (that my server suggested! Thanks again!) was yummy! -The place was clean (bathrooms included, which is important to me!) and the posters on the walls brought back great memories and sparked many good conversations. On the downside: -Parking kinda sucks. And I drove right pass this place countless times without ever noticing it. I had to be looking for it before I figured out where it is. So more as a suggestion rather than a criticism: get better signage? -I ordered the black and white fries as an appetizer for our table, and they never came. When our food order showed up first, my bf suggested they'd come after. Thinking that would be strange for an appetizer to come *after* the meal but not wanting to make a fuss, I didn't call the waitress on it. We never got them, she never brought it up, I decided to let it go (they do have large french fry servings that come with the burgers) and therefore never got to try them. Bummer. -The other people who worked there (hostess, other servers, etc.) seemed... well... just not as friendly as our server. I am friendly. I like friendly. So sue me, Portland. -I went on one of the few days Portland is hot (I think we hit 96 that day?) and the place was too hot to be comfortable, for me. They did offer outdoor seating, but part of the reason we went OUT to eat is because I don't have a/c at home. But probably does not apply/does not matter on the other 350 days of the year. -And finally, the burgers themselves: They were just... so so? I mean, good. But not GREAT. I wanted to be wowed. I was simply full. I wish they had different options for buns. I know this is just being picky, but I don't like sesame buns, and that is all they offered. You would think at least ONE bun choice would be seedless? Anyway, I felt like I could have fired up the BBQ at home and made a much better burger myself. If it had been cheaper ($6-7?) maybe I wouldn't be complaining. (With the cheese a pickled beet mine came to $9.) With the tip, 2 burgers, 1 alcoholic drink and one shake --no appetizer, no sodas, and no dessert-- we managed to have a bill of nearly $40 for two. Call me cheap, but for that price, I want to be wowed. Will I go back? I'm sure I will. Will I be a regular at this joint? Sadly, no.
(3)Anna S.
I like your pickle plate, i like your staff, i like that i can get a shake with alcohol in it. But i don't like that your squid ink aioli is just a dumb way to make regular aioli black. And i can get a better, more interesting burger in a lot other places in Portland. Also, I realize this is not your fault, but there are so many god damn kids in there. And they are so poorly behaved.
(3)Todd S.
Oh, Portland. How you've grown! When I first moved here (like everyone else in Portland, I moved here; if anyone tells you he was born here, he's lying and is just trying to trump your cred, possibly so you'll buy him a beer; anyhow, point being, I've been here longer than you; yes, you, personally), I don't recall anyone arguing about whether restaurants on Foster were overcharging or deserved their Bon Appétit mention. But along comes Bon Appétit with one of those ridiculous articles that are completely pointless because, what, you're going to travel to Woodmere, Ohio to try a burger from one of "The Top 10 Best New Burger Spots", whatever that means -- as if the writer had even attempted to sample all the burgers from the latest hamburgeries across the nation, much less in the towns bordering, say, Woodmere, Ohio -- and, long story short, everyone gets their shorts in a wad. I mean, isn't it nice that there's a good burger joint serving good burgers on Foster Road (aka "The Sandy of Southeast") and ... what's that? Bon Appétit? Top 10?! No. Freakin'. Way. And suddenly, no one's rating this place in terms of -- allow me to belabor the point here -- hamburger joints in Lents. Oh no. Now that precious Internet rating is in terms of whether it lives up to the hype of some phoned-in list in a Condé Nast publication. Well! So does it deserve the Bon Appétit mention? Who knows? Like the rest of you using the Internet to find restaurant reviews, I don't read magazines, much less ones that publish articles purporting to tell me whether a restaurant in my town makes it into some mythical national pantheon, even and especially if I'll never patronize the rest of the pantheon. Here's what I know: I shouldn't have gotten my burger to-go. Or, at least, I should've arrived a few minutes earlier. My fault. I was surfing the Internet. You know how that is (yes, you, personally; don't pretend you're not reading the Internet RIGHT NOW). So some of the fries were a bit cool. And the burger, while warm, was past that gloriously fresh stage everyone back in the restaurant was likely enjoying when the plates hit the table. Oh well. I have a son whose bed time is before my dinner time. Some day I'll actually eat in a restaurant again. Anyhow. Forget Bon Appétit. Was it good? Yeah. Cooked to order (medium rare, of course). A darn fine bun. Tasty bacon (don't fool yourself, you can screw up bacon; they didn't). And a fairly inventive, if subtle, secret sauce that, as I remember it from when I phoned in the order, contains Japanese mayo, Sriracha, dill, and, uh, other things. Was it all good? No. I just laughed at the white slab in my to-go box where the lettuce was supposed to be. Four stars, though. Perhaps more to the point, was it worth it? Well, that's why I went with three stars in the end. With bacon and cheese (and, forgive me for sounding like a Neanderthal or Internet meme slave, but my burgers are always gonna have bacon and cheese on them), my burger cost me $10.50. I did not eat a $10.50 burger, though I wouldn't have blinked at maybe $7. I mean, in case I hadn't mentioned it before, the restaurant IS on Foster Road. Perhaps the money you're saving on overhead could be passed my way, via menu prices, Foster Burger?
(3)David H.
Foster Burger is the second best burger in PDX behind Bamboo Sushi's kobe burger (yes, a sushi joint holds the title of 'the best'), but it's a close second. The Burner is my favorite, and their specials are usually very tasty and unique. The quality is good and the ambiance is fun. If you are looking for red meat on a bun, you should give this place a spin.
(4)Ben F.
Staff was very cool, worked quickly to seat our group of nine. Sort of the typical "tatt'd" set of waiters and waitresses who had all the right piercings in all the right places. Right off the bat I noticed that they had their own homemade pickles. I like the fact that they had their own homemade pickles, in fact I like any restaurant that has it's own pickles now that I think about it. I had the house favorite, Foster Burger, with pepperjack cheese and sauteed onions. Not my favorite burger of all time, but certainly a top ten for Portland. Highlight of the menu are the Black and White french fries with parm. cheese sprinkled on them with a truffle oil aolie and squid ink dipping sauce. Solid outing in my book, we will wander back one day!
(4)Angela M.
Foster burger...I've been meaning to try this place for over a year and finally ended up there today. Great aptomosphere, really like all the music posters all over, cozy feel, and a really great server. She was smiley, patient when we took a while to decide, and made good suggestions for food to try. Shared the Woodstock fries ( what can go wrong with gravy, cheese curd over French fries??) so very very good. I highly reccomend trying fries with gravy which may be unfamiliar to people overall in the northwest. Also had the Kiwi burger (lamb!) which I was eager to try because I love lamb burgers, a more earthy taste than an average beef patty ...and this was topped with yummy pickles, a fried egg, and aged cheddar. Win! Also had pickled beets, which my Dearest love wasn't quite sure about...so got them on the side. He didn't like them but I put them on my half and they evened out the sharpness of the cheese. A very solid burger. Also they have happy hour. Which means I will be back. I feel like overall 9 dollars is a bit pricey, but very close to being worth it. ...I may become a happy hour goer since the happy hour menu boasts $5 dollar burgers. Yum! Oh and free wi-fi! Homework/happy hour spot? Yes.
(4)Chelsea A.
I went to a visit on Foster Burger when they first opened and was left feeling, underwhelmed. But the second visit freaking rocked. The burger was delicious and huge, it's a big ass burger. The fries are fantastic, I mean seriously great fries and putting condiments on them seems like a crime. I tried the Squid Ink, which is cool to say I tried, but not necessarily worth the extra cost (to me, just sayin). Their cocktails are decent and the service is fast. If you're in the neighborhood it's definitely a great place to check out.
(4)Todd Q.
Great little place. This what imagine proper burgers in the 1950 would tasted like. Excellent buns and classic style burger. Not and artisan style burger but really good and well worth a visit.
(4)Robbie A.
The best burger in town! The buns were from a bakery next door, made that day. The fries were excellent, and they have a nice selection of beer.
(5)Sarah A.
Foster burger had it's highs and lows for me. High: I liked the idea of the pickle plate. I didn't order it but I like the effort they are making and I'll probably get it if I go back. I also liked the theory of putting the applewood smoked bacon right in the turkey burger. I was actually sharing a turkey burger with my husband with the idea that I would pull off the bacon and give it to him since I don't like it so it kind of wrecked my burger experience for me but I can't fault the restaurant for that. Nice concept and it made me think of some fun ideas for my next batch of burgers on the bbq at home. The service was pretty quick even though we were there late at night. Lows: Their beer/cheese soup tasted like it had been sitting around all day. We were there an hour before close so it probably had been but it was still a disappointment. I tried one of their whiskey sours and it was a little too dressed up for a burger bar. I also agree with other yelpers that a few more options on the menu would be nice, even if it was just more toppings for the burger or add a chicken or turkey burger that doesn't have the bacon in it (see remarks above). Overall, I will probably go back because my husband really enjoyed his burger but I may not. I'm not a big beef fan, I'm really picky about my garden burgers, and I don't like bacon on my burger. That eliminates the three main entrees from the menu for me.
(3)Wendy K.
We arrived when they opened. No wait, service was good. The pickled "plate" came in a jar and was delicious. I ordered the truffle fries with squid ink aioli (black and white fries)...eh...they were not the crack I was expecting but still tasty. I live in NW, so I I can get a comparable burger closer to my house. That being said, the burger was really good. If I lived closer this would be my go to place :)
(3)Rose D.
This place is FANTASTIC! Hands down my favorite burger in Portland. My daughter, who is 4, even ate her entire burger before touching her french fries which says a lot! The fries are great. The meat is cooked perfectly. The "Foster Sauce" is AWESOME. Pickles are great. I'll definitely be going back!
(5)Jam B.
the veggie burger w/ beets is so amazing that i often think about it when we're apart. cockshakes are totally tight and the poutine is so rad. i fucking LOVE this place.
(5)Christy T.
No. Way. I am so fed up with places like Foster Burger. Yeah, it's really cute they get their buns from the Vietnamese Bakery next door, but I will continue to spend my money directly at the Bakery and not at crappy places like Foster Burger. And the fact that they post their crappy reviews on the wall, wow, that's so "Portland ironic". Give me a break. 1. You get an 8oz Bloody Mary for $8 - rip off 2. A pickle plate to be shared by 2 comes with 3 of each pickled item and a half of a pickled egg. Would it really kill you to add an extra green bean and the other half of the pickled egg so that it can be equally shared? - Rip Off 3. The Kiwi Burger for $12 - Tasty, but worth $12? I think not - RIP OFF You guys suck!
(1)Eli L.
I have been to Foster burger many times. So, I think it's time to tell others how much they rock. I don't know what other people are talking about when they say they have waited too long. I have never waited more than 5 minutes. Hey guess what? If you goto restaurant on Friday night at 6pm you're gonna wait for a seat. if you don't have to, something is very wrong. If they place is deserted... there might be a reason why. You may have ot wait there because the place has the best burger i've ever eaten. Their menu is short and sweet. I like this. I goto a place called "Foster Burger" for.... a burger. Not chicken, or fish, or Filet Mignon. A short menu tells me they specialize, perfect and offer fresh ingredients. The servers are funny, just the right amount of Portland snarky, and knowledgeable about their menu. They make just about everything themselves. I always get a side salad instead of fries and usually when I do this at other places I get some dried-up thing they made earlier in the week that is limp and lifeless. But, at Foster burger it is fresh, green and they don't seem to resent it when you ask for the substitution. Being a very picky eater, I only like very specific things on my burger. So I ask for a lot of "On the sides" and "No this", and they get it right every time. My partner and I liked it so much we went there for our anniversary. The meat they use is very high grade and the buns are fresh baked next door. I really can't say enough good things about this place. I understand from friends that the veggie burger is also yummy. The drinks from the bar are also very, very, good. I highly recommend one of the "Cockshakes" (cocktail in a milkshake). So, are you ready for a GOOD burger? Then goto Foster Burger.
(5)H B.
Stopped here on my way to a show, not really knowing what i was in for. Holy shit! This is a good burger. Ordered mine with American cheese and egg, doused it with ketchup and added a bit o lettuce and onion and just a bit of the secret sauce. (but no pickles, not a fan of them on burgers, no matter how good the pickle is) The patty was cooked to perfection, drippy with juicy tasty grease (but not gutbomb style), and the incredible tender flavorful bun really tied the whole thing together. I didn't get the fries, I wasn't that hungry, but next time I most certainly will. When they asked how the burger was I told em it was dangerous that I live so close. I'll be in there a lot I'm sure.
(4)Matt H.
THE GOOD NEWS: We have gone twice now and enjoyed the food more the second time around, but the service was great both times. - Our burgers have been consistently medium-cooked. - The ingredients tasted fresh. - The cocktails and beers (and Shirley Temples ) have been well prepared and quickly replaced, when desired. THE BAD NEWS: - The total price of the meal can jump up rather quickly if you're thirsty and opt for lots of add-ons, but we figured that out after the first visit and adjusted accordingly. - The burgers get pretty messy the more toppings you add and by "get messy" I mean "become a soggy pile"
(4)Jim A.
Foster, Australian for ANGER!!! Anger is just the first of many words to describe my first experience here. After reading all the reviews I had high expectations of an high priced delicious burger. As expected my burger was great and our tab was high. What I didn't expect was terrible service. It was a busy week night, so we (the GF, kid and myself) signed in on the clip board and sat at a high table in the waiting area. We watched a couple of small groups of 3 or 4 people come in after us and get seated before us. The hostess called the group sitting next to us and while pointing at us they told her "I think they were first." She asks our name, looks at the list and says "Oh, you're up here." She had previously scratched our name off and then sat other people. Maybe we didn't hear her call our name? Nope. Not possible. The waiting room is too small for that. She just forgot us. Once we got to our table and placed our order we watched other tables place their orders and receive their food while we sat there hungry and drink-less. Then our waitress came and told us that the bar was behind and our sodas would be up soon. I call BULLSHIT! She forgot to put our order in. How else could it be that people seated after and ordered after us were receiving their food and drink before ours? Forgotten twice in one meal. That two strikes Foster Burger. You better get your act together.
(1)Jeff W.
Man, I heard great things about Foster Burger and have been wanting to give them a shot for awhile now. But, when scouring Yelp - I was surprised to see a lot of my fellow Yelpers very critical of FB. Which was a tad disheartening because of the glowing reviews I'd come across elsewhere. But, since when has something like this stop me from taking the plunge? Overall, I was surprisingly very pleased with my experience at FB. Especially, after seeing what some people have said about the place. Yelpers have been very critical of the service and also the 'cooked-to-order' burgers. Our service was nothing short of fantastic and my wife and I both asked for our burgers medium-well, not to be disappointed. The atmosphere was great, a tad loud - but, not a big deal. We had a party of four and got right in around 6:15PM on a weeknight. Continuing the Quest for the Best in PDX, I ordered a Bacon-Cheeseburger with fries. The burger was great. Coming into this burger, there was a lot of hype. I wouldn't call it the best in Portland, but it definitely is toward the top of the list. The hand-formed beef patty was very good, bacon was crisped just as I like it, and strangely - the cheese was melted perfectly (if that's possible?). Anyway, it was a very good burger and came with a good amount of fries which were quite tasty as well. A return trip is definitely in order, at some point. PDX Burger Rating = B+
(4)Ian R.
The quickest way to polarize a Portland audience: charge more than people expected for a seemingly simple food. Yes, the burgers here are pricier than a lot of other places in town, but they're also pretty damn tasty. The buns from the Vietnamese bakery next door are the best in town and the short list of burgers are all solid. Make sure you get some form of milkshake or malt and don't miss the black and white fires - who knew squid ink aioli was so delicious? One note, the main restaurant is NOT wheelchair accessible. The heated outdoor patio is (if you don't mind sitting at a picnic table - when will restaurants learn wheelchairs and picnic tables don't mix)
(3)Dan P.
EXCELLENT burgers and a great twist on fries! They are called black and white fries due to the squid ink aioli and Parmesan cheese--these fries alone are worth the trip. First dip or two into the ooey blackness are usually tentative and then you realize just how yummy it is--all caution is thrown to the wind and several napkins become a requirement. Lets talk burgers--all are served medium unless otherwise specified and are ground fresh on premises. The burger is good, but the bun is great. Also made on-site, I would have to say the bun makes it. Sort of a potato bun that is both doughy and light at the same time. The coffee shake was great but the chocolate I felt was just OK. There are also cocktail shakes called cockshakes that sound enticing but it was late on a Sunday and we weren't in the drinking mode. Service was good and the place has a sub-pop, bohemian feel with wall paper courtesy of numerous local grunge, punk and garage band influence--love it. Very clean despite what might come to mind when you think of concert posters everywhere.
(4)Reed E.
Yowza! That's a tasty burger! Our table shared just the reg burger, wedge salad, and some black n white fries. The burger was so perfect. Bun nice and soft, patty cooked perfect. The fries were also just right. The "black" dipping sauce was tasty, but it just felt weird eating something that color. The wedge salad was good, but was a little heavy on the dressing, and I'm guessing I might be alone on this, but I just don't care for pork belly. Too squishy, flavor's good, but I'm a texture kinda gal. Also loved the decor. All the old show fliers was a trip down memory lane. There's a lot of buts in this review, so no fifth star for you.
(4)Srk K.
I mean this place is okay but doesn't blow my mind. I like the idea of the retro food but it's not executed that well. We eat at 5 Guys Burgers now instead.
(3)Martha R.
Yeah, it's a cool place - the hours are annoying, the staff a little too cocky, the decor el boring: but hey - it's PORTLAND. And this place is oh so Portland, even though it is found on the shitty sit of town. The #1 thing that makes it PDX is that the food is mmm mmm good. Solid burger, and I was oh so glad to eat a burger cooked as it should be cooked: red please. Black and white fries... eh. Beers on tap provide a good selection and the decor is actually just like I like it - low-key and not too bright, but not too romantic. I would eat that burger again. Next time I visit the PDX and I need a burger... oh shit, I'm heading to Bamboo. I know, I said it. That's where I'm going. But if I was in the deep SE... and I didn't have the cash for the Kobe beef... then FB would be the top choice. Yep, yep...
(4)Yo M.
Let me first say that when we found this place it was a godsend. Real burgers, good fries, fresh ingredients, and a small but adequate menu, with new (always good) things rotating through. Tonight I went and things seem to be going to hell. The fries were ridiculously over salted, over cooked or cooked in burnt oil, the service slow, and my burger, a burner, fell flat on it's face. It was spicy, but there wasn't much taste going on. I hope this isn't where this place is headed, it's too good to see go down.
(2)Betsy C.
Okay, I have been to Foster Burger twice. The first time was amazing; it deserved four stars, at least! The burger was amazingly flavorful and actually cooked, and the fries were crisp and salty. The bun was soft. The service was good, though it seemed obvious to me our waitress had never waitressed before. I got a regular Foster Burger with aged cheddar, which was amazing, especially because the cheese was fresh grated, so it was rich and fresh and flavorful and perfectly melty. Then there was the second time. The time I brought my friends to this amazing new burger joint. The time we had to wait for a table for like an hour. And to be honest, that wait was the best part of the evening because they had free popcorn. So we finally got our food, though only half of us actually got what we ordered, and all of us took a bite of our burgers first. That is, those of us that could actually bite into them. The bottom bun on all of our burgers was rock hard. And I mean Rock.Hard. It was literally difficult to bite through, it was so hard. I'm pretty sure it was like they had them sitting in a toaster on low (or something) for hours, so it never toasts but turns into a rock, instead. Whatever; moving on. Although none of us asked to have our burgers cooked any certain way, they all came at different temperatures, some more raw that I would have felt comfortable eating, personally, and some with no pink at all. I got the same thing I did the first time, with the cheddar, which was no longer shredded and tasty, but was pre-sliced and flavorless. I don't know what happened. I felt duped into bringing my friends and embarrassing myself by bragging about how tasty and worth the $$ it is. We would have complained to the waitress we had, but she never came back and we were so starving we just said screw it and ate half of everything before she returned with the check. Honestly, the only thing that is keeping this review from having no stars (if it were possible) was the first trip, which according to the other reviews I've read was a miracle. I just haven't been able to force myself back a third time to see which is the real Foster Burger.
(2)fon z.
I'm happy to say that the foster burger brought back the lamb kiwi burger! They did have to make some adjustment to dull the gaminess of lamb by mixing 20% beef and 80% lamb. It's a compromise Im not thrilled about, because flavor of lamb is greatly enhanced over fire, leaving the meat tender, sweet, and delicious. Dulling the gaminess, is pretty much dulling the flavor. But, Im just glad its back.
(5)April B.
It will spoil all other burgers for you! Don't go starving, as there is a wait. Different and amazing fries everyweek in addition to the already amazing fries they have everyday. Child friendly and delicious!
(5)Eryn S.
The burger was AWESOME. So full of flavor with juice just gushing out of it. They also get their buns from a Vietnamese bakery next door. They are slightly sweet and really soft, an added plus. And of course homemade pickles!! But we also got the fries with squid ink aioli. The fries were sitting around for a while, cold and old which made me very sad. And seriously the squid ink aioli was gross but my husband liked it. I just thought I'd try it. Staff is not really the friendliest but they were attentive. We'll go back and I wanna get the homemade pickle plate.
(4)Isabella B.
I was terribly excited when I heard about Foster Burger because it's in my neighborhood. I liked Cava when it was there but honestly, for a girl that dines out alone, Foster Burger is more my kind of place. I got there about fifteen minutes after they opened and didn't have to wait for a seat. When I was leaving, not even an hour later, there was already a crowd waiting. I thought the atmosphere was nice, not too distracting but simple and warm lighting, a nice relax feel. I ordered the Foster burger with bacon added. I was excited to try the fries since they are one of my favorite things to eat. I also ordered the deep fried avocado with endive kimchi and green goddess dressing. The avocado was fantastic! I've never had deep fried avocado so I wasn't sure what to expect, but deep fried can't be all that bad, right? It had just right amount to crunch but you could still see it was an avocado and the kimchi had the right amount of spice and tang. The dressing made it all come together. It made me want to put it on my burger because I loved the combo of the flavors. My burger was done medium well (yes!) and I was very happy with the bun. It was nice and soft but had a lot of give but didn't fall apart in my hands. The house pickles on the burger gave it a nice brightness among all the juicy meat and bitey onion. The fries were perfect! You could tell they were hand cut and they were fried just right, not too greasy or too crunchy. I love that they're seasoned with salt AND pepper. I usually have to add my own pepper but by the time I do, the oil is already cooled and it doesn't stick. Anyways, overall, I can't wait to go back and try the Black and White Fries, a milkshake and one of the other burgers. I'll just make sure I go to the gym before heading to Foster Burger so I can have no guilty feelings for being such a glutton!
(4)Cora P.
I've been twice, and this place has managed to work it's way into the "food I crave fortnightly" category. The first time I went, it was their first week and they hadn't quite hit their stride. Two weeks later I returned, and things were working smoothly. I haven't made it past ordering the regular Foster Burger - with cheese, easy on the sauce. But, eating the wedge salad is high on my to-do list. The burgers are juicy, and retain the pleasant grill aroma and slight char flavor. The buns from An Xuyen bakery, next door, are delicious - and could only be made slightly better if they were toasted on the grill to get that good ring of buttery crunch around the edge. The cheese is just right- not over powering but still has a sharp tang. And, the house made pickles really make the burger. I like the fries. They actually taste like potatoes rather than fried starch, but I usually opt for the side salad, which comes with additional pickled goodies. The malts are just the right consistency - I just wish they'd bring the extra "dregs" in the mixing cup.
(4)Daniel N.
Not bad, the inside is definitely unique and not for everybody. That said, the food wasn't bad, the burger was pretty good, but the prices really just throw everything off. I thoroughly enjoyed eating here, I really did, but the prices made my stomach hate me later.
(3)CaLiLu H.
For a place that advertises itself as a burger bar, I was very disappointed in it's lack burger diversity. To be specific, there were only three to choose from: Foster Burger (or it's more gigantic sister called the "pile-up"), the Kiwi with lamb, or the Vegetarian. The prices were also pretty steep (about $30 for me and the husband, including Kiwi, Pile-Up, ginger beer and regular beer). Normally we don't complain about price because usually quality justifies the price, but burgers that just taste "meh" are definitely not worth that much. Service was also disappointing. The waitress forgot my drink and half-assedly apologized and said it was almost time for her to go home (as if this was an excuse). Overall it was a disappointment and the saving grace were the An Xuyen buns. Now if only the An Xuyen bun could make it's way over to Stanich's...that would be a burger I wouldn't mind paying $11 for!.
(1)Dave D.
2 ALL YALL HATERS, WE GOT PROBLEMS. i am a fiend for fstr brgr. a truly incredible experience. everything is full of flavor and deliciousity. if you don't like it, then your tongue is broken and you probably should live in vancouver. my only complaint is that the portions of fries seem to have gotten smaller lately? oh well, i guess that allowed room for dessert.
(5)Lisa T.
What a difference a year can make! With the plethora of burger choices on Foster, I wasn't planning on giving Foster Burger a second chance. When I read the positive reviews after the Elite event last month though, and confirmed they had tweaked some things, I decided they deserved a second go. And now they have got it right. We started with two of their cockshakes (it sounds dirty I know). Each day of the week there is a different cockshake on special, and on Fridays it is the Slippery Shake, a milkshake incarnation of a Slippery Nipple. I also ordered White Russian Shake. They were both great, though the Russian obviously had a little more booze action than the Slippery. Side note: I love the old concert posters. These are bands from back when I was a teen and my husband was in his early 20s. Dead Milkmen at the Crystal! Old La Luna shows! We both ordered the Foster Burger with bacon and cheddar. Usually the husband and I have a firm rule against ordering the same thing, but here it can be forgiven. The meat on the burgers was delicious. Great flavor and done to a perfect medium. The bacon was nicely smoky, and added some good crisp to the burger. Some people have not cared for the new brioche buns, but I am much more a fan of these than the old ones, and I liked those. But, the brioche was buttery and just dense enough to withstand the juices, while soaking up all that great flavor. Fries were good, still a little salty for me, but not the painful tongue abrading experience of a year ago. And you definitely get a good sized pile with the burger. Service can be a bit lackluster, but nothing worth complaining over. all in all, definitely worth a visit, especially if you crave a little bar-like atmosphere but want (or are forced through lack of sitter) to bring the kiddos.
(4)Olivia T.
Foster Burger will be the only place that will make me venture out to the SE Foster area. Nothing against this area, but it can be sketchy around this hood. Since, my DL & I don't venture out much to this hood, we were circling around trying to find this Foster Burger. Aha! We found it! It's around the corner of the Devil's Point and across the street of The Pussycats. It is brand spanking new place. They just opened and no big signs really except the printed out "Foster Burger" on their windows. Now, let's talk about the food. I had the Kiwi Burger which was lamb with beets, egg, onions, lettuce, and Foster sauce. The sesame buns came from the An Xuyen bakery next door. It's a huge burger. Really you don't need knives and forks for this bad boy. Just dig in and it's ok to be messy. I love the Kiwi burger, but towards the end it got a bit salty. I think they didn't salt it evenly. I love how the beets combination with the lamb, the egg, and the sauce came into play. It's sweet, but not too sweet. Everything is fresh including the buns. You have a choice of fries, soup, or salad to go with your burger. I had the fries and it was good. My burger & fries was $11 and my ginger ale was $1.50. It is a bit steep for a place that supposedly a neighborhood burger joint, but on the other hand everything is local and made in the house. You will taste the difference between Foster burger and chain burgers like *cough* Stanford's sorry looking and taste burgers *end cough*. Will this place work as a neighborhood burger bar? I think so. Will it has a part in changing the neighborhood for the better? I really hope so. Will it continue to serve ass kicking delicious goodness? Oh yeah. Now go there, before the place get super busy and will have long wait like other worth waiting places in the city.
(4)Lisa D.
I will certainly be back here AGAIN. -Ordered the Foster Burger, loved it - thought it was cooked to perfection, and the buns are to die for. I also thought the price for dinner was just about perfect for a beer and burger. -Awesome service, our server was nice, in fact everyone in the place was pleasant and friendly. - So much fun staring at the walls wondering if you were at "that" show. We will certainly be back here again.
(5)B S.
Been to Foster Burger many times, always received great service and the food's always been fantastic, but not tonight. Unfortunately our waitress forgot to put our order in and simply would not even make eye contact with us when asked about our food. Here's the reason for the 5 stars: when another waiter realized we'd been waiting over 45 minutes for food they quickly made it right. They were so nice and apologetic and really worked hard to make everything better. The whole staff was courteous and professional in fixing their mistake.
(5)John C.
I'm gonna sound a lot like other locals. But I think that that means that we're building consensus. Service was darn good. Burger was great for $6-7.50. But that wasn't what it cost. Good burger great bun. Terrific service. For the $7,- 8. difference between this and Burgerville ($10-11 with tip) - I'll bus my own table, FB- yer a one- trip deal. Yeah, as Portlanders we'ere fussy, cheap and demanding. But for the price this just wasn't all that.
(2)Raymond B.
Foster Burger is a huge step backward for the Foster Powell neighborhood. Very unfortunate. I will say this up front: I loved when Cava was in this location last year, and so I am a bit biased because Cava had better food, had a more pleasant environment, and was less expensive. Considering that the owners are known as "superstar chefs" and the place was "much anticipated," it's even more of a let-down. It's not much of a restaurant, it's just a burger joint. So you would think they would do much better than they do at the burger part. So I ordered a burger with cheese. They didn't ask how I wanted it cooked, which seemed strange. So of course it was done more than I liked. This mystified me, as no chef should be serving a one-size-fits-all type of burger. Why not ask? That's all they cook, so why not focus on doing a good job? I was very disappointed by my burger. My wife had the portabello mushroom "burger" and it was better, but still not great. These are most certainly not noteworthy burgers. I found Burgerville's burgers, by comparison to be better and less expensive. That's not saying a whole lot. We also ordered a "coffee" shake. It tasted watery and unappealing, like they had poured a cup of coffee in a shake. Again, Burgerville makes a much better shake, and my point here is simply that... why not go to Burgerville then? They serve local food, they are a local business, they make better food and it's significantly cheaper. Neither place offers you real dishes, so we're equal there. The only thing that impressed me were the fries. These were pretty good, although a bit too salty in my opinion. The decor was disappointing as well. It's as if they took over the space from Cava, and ripped out or painted over everything that made it special. The music was loud punk, the furniture looked cheap, and the walls are now a hideous yellow with big blocks of ugly wood paneling. There is not a thing hanging on the walls, so it feels very unfinished and cold. The service was okay but as another reviewer mentioned, the music made communication difficult. In summary, I was extremely disappointed, by any standard. If you enjoyed Cava when it was here, you will be very sad. If you have eaten burgers elsewhere, you will be let down. And if you want to make new friends, forget it. It's too loud and you don't want to spend any longer in there than you have to. I would suggest that you keep moving and dine somewhere else.
(2)Chelsea B.
Was expecting way more. I heard so many wonderful thing about this place and was very disapointed. First we waited for a short time and was offered the "heated patio" we tried it thinking it would be heated. When they sat us down the heater next to us wasn't working so they moved us and the heaters still didn't keep us warm. I wore my ski jacket the entire meal. I think they were trying to keep the wait for tables down so they put us outside. I tried the pickled plate...there were about 5 pieces of fruit/vegis. It just looked funny on the plate because it was so small. The burger was ok could have had more to it for 9 bucks. The menu was pretty small and there wasn't alot to choose from. It was 75 bucks for 3 adults and 1 child. Pretty spendy. We all left speechless at what we had just experienced. Good luck if you decide to try it!
(1)Aaron S.
My girlfriend and I finally went to Foster Burger, and we both loved it. The small menu suggests a place that does 1 thing, and does it well. And that's exactly what Foster is. I rolled the dice and got my burger well-done, and it was PERFECT. Not blackened, not chewy, but flavorful and cooked to the center. Awesome beef. The "Foster Sauce" had me worried (because I hate mayonnaise) but I got it anyway, and it came on the side. It was also surprisingly good, for a secret sauce. I dipped my fries in it. The service was excellent, and our waiter was fast and attentive. It seems like they have a lot of local beers on tap, but I had a Rolling Rock. There were a lot of kids at this place, but they were Southeast Portland kids who seem to be cooler and more relaxed than the kids in other hoods. My girlfriend got a chocolate-coffee milkshake to go. She seemed to like it. Way to go, Foster Burger! You make the neighborhood a little more awesome!
(4)Lily H.
BF and I knew Foster Burger consistently showed up on "Best burgers" lists so we thought we'd give it a spin. Not sure what I was expecting but the selection seemed somewhat limited after giving the menu a once-over. You basically have your regular house, lamb, turkey, veggie or gargantuan pile-up burger (bacon, egg, cheese, pickled beets & carmelized onions). Burgers came out the way we ordered and just right. I opted for the house burger with cheddar, while the BF was looking to clog his arteries with the pile-up burger. The meat was juicy but tasted slightly burnt. Side of fries included was of generous portion sizes and satisfying, although kind of limp (I'm a crunchy fry girl). We were checked on several times and the waitstaff was very friendly and answered questions without being snarky. Simply put? Better than a burger you'd get at a friend's backyard BBQ but not worth the trek unless you're already in the area.
(3)Tet W.
This is place is a nice place to grab a great burger and a pint of beer. A great place to gather with a small group of friends and have a good time. It's fairly crowded and noisy and not a place to bring family or a date. I had the double Foster burger with cheddar cheese, fried egg, and bacon. It was tasty and well worth the price. The fries were nothing special. If you're looking for a fun place to relax and chat over a burger and beer this is a great place.
(5)christopher s.
Before Dick's kitchen opened up in my hood, I was all about this place. Great atmosphere, great burgers. I ended up spreading the good news about this place. I kind of dropped out when I was able to start walking to a healithier burger place, but that doesn't mean this place still isn't worth a shot. The food was considerably better the FIRST time I went. I think the second time I went was on an off night because the burger was a little bit more prosperous on the grease front. Though the burger struck me as just a tad inconsistant, the pickled beats blew my mind BOTH times. I just love them so much. The beer selection could use a little work, but over all, I say this is worth a try for a dinner.
(4)Michelle M.
I'm not a beef kind of person, so I was kind of irritated bf took me here for dinner. They do not have any chicken burgers (you know, there's a chicken on their menu...) and the turkey burger has bacon already in it, so I opted for the veggie burger. AMAZING! It was delicious and I want another one right now. The bf really enjoyed his beef burger too, and so did our little one. The onions and lettuce were crisp and fresh, so that was nice. Humongous bonus points for using local places too, like the bakery next door for the buns, and Saturday market. At first I was baffled the fries did not come with the burgers, but then you actually eat and realize you never had any room for them anyway. I'm glad they do that. It makes one think if they really need to eat more fried stuff... Service was really good too and everyone was polite, so we'll be back!
(4)Justin B.
Second time here. Excellent food, friendly staff and fast service!
(5)Nick C.
I ask myself the same question every time I eat at Foster Burger: Why don't *I* put little bits of bacon in ground meat to make a burger? And yet I am amazed each time by the turkey bacon burger at Foster Burger, a little bit of heaven on a bun. The black and white fries - white for the truffle oil they're tossed in, black for the squid ink aioli on the side - and you've got a meal. Great ambience, great food, and one of the highlights of mid-Southeast.
(4)Brian B.
The burger's decent. Not the greatest, not the worst. Solid. The price of the burger is fair, and I've come accustomed to paying a bit extra for toppings, so that's no biggie. The menu claims they will only prepare burgers at Medium, which is a bit of a cop-out, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it was pinker than I'd expected. The "Foster Sauce" compliments the burger well, but could definitely use a kick. The decor is dark, but welcoming, posters of old shows in Portland adorn the walls. Great space to eat a burger on a dank, rainy afternoon. The three stars is due to three things: The Poutine, the Moscow Mule, and the service. First, How the hell do you mess up Poutine? It's Fries, Gravy, and melted cheese curds. Simple. Delicious. Horribly unhealthy in the best possible way. How on earth does one screw up the prep of this, the composition in the gravy or the presentation, especially when a restaurant is dead? I have no clue, but I've never been more disappointed in the $8 I've ever spent on fries. The gravy had no flavor as was watery, the fries were under-seasoned, and the curds were cold and dry. The "pork belly" that was advertised on the menu was little more than flaky chunks of parred-off bacon. Seriously guys, if you're going to offer 4 different Poutine's on your menu, get it right. The Moscow Mule was decent but was made in a glass not a copper mug. Sorry, if you ain't got the real thing, don't call it a Moscow Mule. The guy who waited on me at the bar was nice enough, but when his co-worker came in, I spent the last 15 minutes of my time reading and making my way through my burger having to fight her off as she came by seemingly each minute to see if I was finished. Just because I'm not currently touching my burger, doesn't mean I'm not still eating it. In the end, decent burger, not worth the hype, but it's solid. Don't go out of your way to eat here, and if you do go there, just get the burger and a beer.
(3)Mitch M.
Update: Now that the hysteria that always seems to accompany a new eating establishment in Portland has passed, we gave Foster Burger another shot. The burgers and fries here are, indeed, quite decent, although there continues to be, for me, an issue with the fact that their burger buns, now reported to be made in house rather than at a neighboring Vietnamese bakery, just can't hold up to the job. My burgers here seem to crumble in my hands, forcing me to gobble them down before they disintegrate. But the flavor is good. But, while the maddening crowds may be gone (at least on week nights), and the music is now maintained at a level that allows conversation with your dining companions, Foster Burger appears to have become a Foster Street Daycare facility. On a Thursday night, around 7pm, every table except ours and one other, had small children. Loud, screaming, crying, whining, fussing children. I am the first in line to support the rights of young couples with young children to frequent the dining establishments of their choice. However, I have no desire to spend an hour+ trying to enjoy a bite and a beer or two while cage free babies roam free everywhere you look. And my relief at the lowered volume on the music was rapidly wilted by the nonstop screeching of high pitched voices. All Foster Burger needs now is a big play set area out back and a set of golden arches. I wonder if this is how the proprietors envisioned their creation?
(2)Anna S.
I'm back to 4 stars for Foster Burger... most recent visit was delightful. I LOVE how they've tweaked the Kiwi burger - it's not lamb anymore and you still get your egg and beetroot - party in my mouth!
(4)jopa l.
Nice place to grab a great buger, altho maybe a little pricey, we have gone several times and always had good service and consistant quality. Hooray for chocolate malt milkshakes with beer or liqour in them.... The fresh bread is a plus, fries are tasty, and you feel like a champ if you get all the way thru your meal.
(3)danielle l.
two words: FOSTER SAUCE. i'd drink it straight if i could. if i am craving a big, juicy, rare, sloppy burger, foster burger is the only answer. house pickled beets. on a burger. DIVINE. the place is small, but it's worth a wait. the menu is simple and encourages build-your-own-burger orders, as well as offering specials that are taste-tacular. a couple of salads, soup option, house pickled items that are delish, and very good hand-cut, crispy fries round out the joint. the service is good, the food is great, the ambiance is usually boisterous and cheerful. a truly satisfying burger joint.
(5)Steven K.
tried it 3 times now. Here's a tip - go next door to An Xuyen, buy a bag of buns, go home and cook a burger.
(2)Alice M.
Yum! Had a DELICIOUS burger here. Cooked perfectly medium rare, as I ordered it. The coleslaw was delicious and not too goopy with mayo as they can sometimes be. Great, friendly service too. One thing to be aware of is that this restaurant is not wheelchair accessible. There are several stairs to get into the dining room. My mother uses a wheelchair and can barely walk; she got up the stairs with my help but couldn't go down--so the staff cleared space for her to go through the kitchen and down a ramp in the back. They were wonderfully, graciously accommodating but still I doubt my mother will return here because of the difficulty. I'll certainly be back because this may have been the best burger I've ever had.
(5)Ray H.
After reading and hearing many good comments on this place, we gave it a shot. Ooops. Bad idea. Jist yer average boygah. If you want a truly fabulous hamburger, get thee to Serrato's happy hour. They know how to do it.
(2)Maryberry D.
You gotta try Foster Burger!! Go there, go now, just do it!!!
(5)Zastruga Z.
Best veggie patty in town. There's one waitress who rocks, the rest of them might be cool but you have to hunt them down first to find out. Easy atmosphere. Good, simple food.
(4)Mike S.
Awesome burger, great tap micro beer, excellent service. The decor is fun old school burger joint with a little punk style for good measure. The fries were great and burger made to perfection. Fun specials from time to time. Check it out, !
(5)Mike R.
I've visited Foster Burger at least a half dozen times and it never disappoints. Our most recent trip was a Friday night and there was a good crowd and a small wait, nothing big and plenty of room to wait. The service is tremendous and really the reason I'm writing this review. I tried the kimcheese burger for the first time. It was really good and the second half was ever better the next day for lunch! The poutine is tasty, ink fries are great and the regular fries really good too. If your kids like burgers, the smaller one is nice (actually it is big enough for most adults). The only other kid thing they have is a grilled cheese...it would be great if they added something else to the menu for kids, but it is a burger joint, so no real complaint.
(4)Trudy S.
Food was good. Large 'Eat Your Greens'salad was not large enough for 2 adults and a ten year old...not large enough either for one adult meal..but tasty. Kiwi burger was favorite with beetroot and egg on a lamb patty.
(3)Justin T.
Fat, juicy beef and lamb burgers, good poutine and mind-blowing truffle fries with squid ink aeoli make this place the shiz dawg. Wait staff is friendly and the wait isn't long. Is there a better burger out there? Is there? If so, CLAIM YOUR RIGHT TO THE THRONE!
(5)Laurel H.
We went to Foster Burger for the 1st time for their tasty Burger Week special. We also got the Black and White Fries-truffle oil, garlic, cheese and squid ink aioli- yum! FoPo Poutine-fries, cheese curd, flavorful gravy and pork belly- mmmmmm. It was very busy but the service was pleasant and efficient. All in all a very nice dinner.
(5)Shannon G.
We were gearing up for Stripperoke nearby and this was a place that seemed fine but at 3.5 stars, I didn't have super high hopes. But I thought it was really quite good! Low key but with good food, some of it interesting. The "turkey bacon" burger meat was moist and flavorful and the combo of brie and apple on the burger was great. I had some kind of cocktail that was quite nice but they also had the "beer and a shot" options, which I thought were cute. OOh and those black and white fries, tho. I wish I had a tub of that squid ink aioli to dip everything in!
(4)Guy B.
I wish I could remember who talked this place up to me....what a disappointment Dan. Had the Kiwi burger and an order of Black n white fries. Presentation awesome and large portions! Burger- meat was good (lamb) The onion still had a layer of skin you know that sometimes green hard layer that still need to be peeled. Can't bite thru that stuff. The bun--oh my. Large sesame seed bun incredibly dry, I mean incredibly, and it was over baked (it was clearly a vendor bun not made in house) The fries. The squid ink stuff was tasty. The Parmesan was also tasty but like bad cheese tasty, not a fan of what ever style parm that was. Great decor. Great service, reasonably clean.
(2)Holly K.
This one has been on the list to try for about a year now. I know my son loves poutine, and I found them through yelp and they had solid reviews. We went in around 1pm and they were about halfway filled. One guy was waiting all the tables, and did a great job at keeping up, except if you wanted a refill, you had to grab his attention. I got just a basic burger, which I enjoyed. My son got the spicy burger, which was huge. We were a little confused because my daughter-in-law ordered the Mile high and it was just a regular sized burger. She loved the jalapeno and cream cheese spread that was on it. We ordered the squid ink and garlic fries. plus my son ordered his poutine. I am not a gravy fan, so I tried a little bit and it was okay, but my son who loves all that is poutine, said it was really good. I had just had hand surgery a couple days before and still was still feeling a little 'off' about food, and I was the one that had been excited to try the squid ink aioli. It is solid black and at first I just looked at it thinking there was always next time, but I went ahead and tried it, hoping it wasn't anything remotely sea-life-ish. It wasn't, it was sort of tasteless. My DIL tried it and said the same thing, but the ranch there is really good, so we stuck with that on the fries. The experience was good and we would go back, I liked the chargrilled burger flavor. I also have to say it was nice to be in a place playing "my music" they lean towards metal and hard rock.
(4)Amanda L.
This was stop #3 this Burger week. We visited around 2:30 pm between the lunch & dinner rushes. The 24k burger is basically the MINI Foster burger with red onion instead of yellow, arugula instead of romaine, & with the addition of truffle aioli. If you are hangry for a true burger fix, this one does the job. Although the patty is thin, it remains pink in the middle. Add a side of the delicious black and white fries and a cold bevy of choice and your day will seem a little bit brighter.
(4)Allison R.
My coworker comes here every Tuesday night for the Kiwi Burger. The last two years, I've been hearing nothing but good things from said coworker every Weds morning at work. SO, what did I do? This past Tuesday I finally went with him. I just ordered the OG "Foster Burger"..I didn't want to get all experimental on my first visit. I needed simplicity to really taste the burger. It was good! Juicy, flavorful, I enjoyed the secret Foster Sauce and that bun...... damn that perfect bun. I of course, had myself a Moscow Mule. Drink selection is decent. We ordered a large Poutine as well..(There were 3 of us). IT WAS HUGE. Seriously, we were stuffed and it didn't even look like we touched the bowl. Order a small...the small would easily feed 3 people. They do use Beecher's cheese curds and if you know what's up, you know Beecher's is the shit. I'll probably have to start coming here more often. It's definitely a good little burger joint.
(5)Ron T.
There is nothing worthy to write about the burgers here. It's nothing exorbitant or ground breaking. There are tons of burger joints in town that does the same bland, cooked to your preference, house pickles, cool vibe place. The patty is nothing noteworthy. It is thinner than other burger joints. Slightly disappointing specially for the price of what you're paying. The poutine, however is great. I love it. It is their redeeming item for me. That's it. You may return back to your normal grazing fields.
(3)Tiffany O.
I went for a few reasons: 1- I was really curious about the music flyers that wallpapered the place 2- cockshakes 3- Poutine 4- I was treated to dinner Well, I am very impressed with the music flyers. They are spectacular! However, that was the best part for me. We had the vegetarian Poutine w/ mushroom gravy. The gravy was tasty, but soggy fries and drippy cheese curds were not for me. I sampled my friends coffee milkshake- it was the 2nd best thing. Thick & creamy & excellent coffee flavor! I went to order a veggie burger and they were all out at 5 O' clock. So a salad was my other option. The waitress said I could substitute avocado for bacon, so I did. When I got my salad, after my friend already started his burger, it was ridiculous. The salad was literally 1/2 a head of ice berg lettuce cut in two, with dressing dumped on top...it had a quarter of an avocado, a few thinly sliced radishes and cucumbers and (I think) 2 sun dried tomatoes. It was suppose to have a hard boiled egg w/ it, so I asked the waitress. She cam back with 1/2 an egg. It was a weird salad to say the least.
(3)Michael B.
Definitely a good tasting burger for a reasonable price. Too bad the hamburger patty isn't as big as the bun but wouldn't want the patty any thinner. Down side was that it looked as though we either got the bottom of the batch of fries or they purchase very cheap fries for $3.50 you sure expect to get a basket of fries that averaged about 1/2 inch in length and many were bruised. Also they charge $1.00 to add a slice of cheddar cheese. Not sure if I would recommend or return here.
(3)Miel H.
Tired from a long day of air travel, my mom and I decided to stop here on the way home for a quick and easy bite to eat. WOW! All her friends who were raving are too dang old to be ravers, but their retired festival LEDs still led them to the right place!! We both got burgers, the Mini Foster at $4.50 was perfect for mom, I got the Kentucky Bleu at $9.50 - with the Foster Sauce on the side. The Foster Sauce was reminiscent of BBQ sauce, sweet but not in a doughnut way. We started our meal with an order of fries. It's WAY plenty for two hungry eaters. Keeping my fingers out of the way of mom's chompers was tricky she was so gung ho for those fries! Crisp, skin on, thin cut and crunchy! This was our first visit and we had browsed the Yelp reviews en route. So, we were ready to dissect our burgers but you know what? We were too dang busy eating them! They are char crisp on the outside and pink and juicy on the inside. The meat tasted seasoned and it was juicy and yummy. Very kid friendly, wide age range (6 - 60) and attentive and fast service. I would definitely go again.
(4)Stacy C.
I'm torn between Meh. I've experienced better and A-ok star rating. Best burger in town...no way. No. (I've had better/Watson Hall) The meat seemed like the cheap frozen patties people buy at Winco or such. Nothing here to rave about or ever go back for burger wise. Id be game to go back and try something else. Fries, I had the regular order which was huge and really good. (A-ok) Waiter friendly Food prompt/fast Interesting, homey, laid back bar type environment Pricing on point It's a fun place, give it a try and see what you think about 'best burger' rating. I'm also, I think many of us are, a big fan of supporting local business and not chains. This is in an area sorely needing clean businesses and good food. Let's keep em here.
(3)Katie M.
This place never disappoints! Always love visiting foster burger on my trips out west!
(5)Ana B.
While too much bun might not be an issue for Sir Mix-a-Lot, your average burger consumer might have a difference of opinion. The burgers here have some serious buns! So serious in fact in takes away from the star of the event - the patty, which I might add is pretty darn good. For a place with "burger" in the name, I'd expect a little more TLC in the execution. It's the type of burger you'd expect from a dive...only it isn't a dive, it's a nice, family friendly dining establishment! While I normally prefer the "Seat yourself" dining model it seems to take a wrong turn at Foster Burger. The sign should say " You might not get noticed for awhile, but have a seat anywhere you like ". I saw a couple walk out and I personally found myself trying to get the waitresses attention after being neglected for a good 10 mins. Another note on service, my drink came with my dinner. At that point I had pegged it for forgotten and given up on ever seeing it. While I enjoyed it, it would've been nice to have it promptly. I ordered the Mini Foster ($4.50) and my husband got the regular size ($6). I could not tell you the difference between the two other than the price. Since I was only ordering the smaller size in an effort to clear my conscious after a weekend of crappy eating the fact it was the same size wasn't at all upsetting. Fries are great, get the large thank my later. All of this to say - It's a standard burger, you've had one like it before, you get it.
(3)Joseph V.
Great veg burger with Foster sauce. The draft root beer us delicious. It's usually kind of loud but the music is right for the location, clientele, decor, menu, BEER. Enjoy often!
(4)Betty F.
I really love this place. It's located close to my neighborhood and has ample parking around back or on the streets. This place is family friendly and can also accommodate larger groups. My first visit here was for a friends wedding rehearsal party on the back patio. They made sure to have the space ready and were very welcoming. There were enough servers and bar help to keep the party running smoothly and efficiently. The hard part was making choices. Their options are plenty, but not too much. My son especially enjoyed the truffle fries with squid aioli (glad I brought a bib). Everyone's burgers and orders came out hot and in a reasonable time frame. The drinks were flowing and we had a good time. If I have to meet up with friends or host a small party, I would add this to my list of places to support. Locally owned and with an emphasis on carrying local brews, foods and are great for the neighborhood.
(5)Russell G.
Would love to give 4 stars because their burgers are spot on, squid ink fries are everything, and the tap list actually rotates. Only going with 3 stars because service is very sporadic. Foster Burger could achieve legendary greatness with a little more emphasis on timing because the food definitely does not suck!
(3)Lawrence P.
Cool laid back atmosphere and great buns that kind of remind me half hamburger bun and half sesami seed jewish holla bread(how ever it's spelled). My hemp patty was very fresh tasting and awesome and it came with a yummy special sauce. It was happy hour and normally you have to order a drink to get the dollar off but since i didn't see that the still gave me the dollar off any way. Really awesome place.
(5)Joel H.
Oh Foster Burger, what happened? Sure maybe it was one day after the end of burger week but that really shouldn't phase a burger restaurant and there is no excuse for the piss poor food that was put in front of my lovely date and I. The kitchen "ran out" of the actual Foster burger patties and it was substituted for two of the small patties. The little patties were rubbery overcooked and flavorless and might as well have come from the Burger King a couple of doors down. They were piled with super extra slimy bourbon caramelized onions and burnt bacon and I could barely find the blue cheese. My bun was left soggy and so was my heart. I'm left painfully pondering a big question: Why didn't you ask us if we wanted a substitution? I don't want surprises when I go to a restaurant. Maybe I wanted a lamb patty or a turkey patty or something else altogether. On the plus side, the Squid Ink Truffle fries were super delicious though and were the main redeeming factor in our meal.
(2)Bret C.
So far, so good. Friendly greeting, ordered and got a beer quickly, and they were busy. Got the black and white fries served quickly and they are AWESOME. Okay, the burger came out, just the regular burger with cheese. Man, that was a great burger. It was charbroiled, seasoned perfectly, cooked medium like they said, and they toasted the bun! I'll be back!
(5)Alan S.
Watch out McMenamins, much better french fries and burgers here at Foster Burger. Everything was very fresh, very flavorful, well prepared, and very quick out of the kitchen. Okay, Foster Burger doesn't have the selection of draft beers but what they do have is a nice diverse selection that will please anyone's palette. They do have a root beer which I look forward to trying. There is also a selection of bottled beers including PBR for the hipsters. My burger was served medium a little pink in the middle. The carmelized onions were excellent as was the bacon and bleu cheese. My date's Buffalo Bob was a turkey patty, lettuce, blue cheese and buffalo sauce. Commented that it had an excellent char flavor to the turkey burger just the right amount of blue cheese and buffalo sauce a little spicy but not too bad. And, they remembered the pickles she requested. I think we found a new favorite we will definitely be back.
(5)Danny P.
Yeah so for the $16.75 I just dropped on a plain burger (cheese is extra), fries, cola, and a milkshake, my expectations were pretty high for this meal. Big disappointment. The beef and bun are dryyyyyyy as hell, probably a frozen patty. Fries could be good but they're super soggy/floppy. Wouldn't recommend it.
(1)Nancy C.
Been here twice. The food has always been fabulous. The burgers to die for. The tea is great. The fries are wonderful. Love the atmosphere. Don't blink or you will miss it. Kinda hidden. The bun are fresh from a next door bakery. Love this place.
(5)Susie G.
I'm so full I can't walk!! please the foster sauce and Black & white fries are so so good! also the banana split. OMG. thanks Mel!!
(4)Dan T.
Overall, there are many better places for a burger in town. $12 for a double foster with cheese and fries is way too much. Fries were decent, but expensive. Burger was ok, but was rather dry. I think the double patty was the reason it was so dry.
(2)Mia P.
Portland has definitely stepped up their burger game a lot in the last few years. I see a lot of new gourmet burger joints popping up everywhere. This place is neither fast food burgers or gourmet burgers. Wasn't really anything that special. Did like their buns cause it tasted like a croissant. Their poutine fries were not bad.
(3)Alex A.
This place used to be my favorite burger in town. I loved that the buns were made next door. I finally made it back after three or four years and it was like night and day. Waitstaff was on the ball like I remember. But the burger was lacking like crazy. I had the burner. Asked for well, it was pink in the middle. Right before the burgers were served, we were told they were "out" of their famous buns and using the generic (McDonalds type). I immediately wondered if they are having a $$$ dispute with the baker/supplier. I'm not a psychic but this place may be on its way out. Sorry guys, I won't be back for a while. PS black and white fries were completely unique and crazy good.
(2)Dana R.
Okay, so I've now eaten here nearly every time I come to Portland -- including my lunch today -- and the Burner Burger is still one of my favorite burgers. Today, I forgot to nix the Sriracha aioli (as I usually do) and it was dripping all over the place ... didn't care for it. Also, today's meat didn't seem to be as flavorful as in the past, and the thin onion rings on the burger were cold and limp. Overall today's burger was a disappointment (as was my husband's). They've also gone to "on draft" root beer, which we don't like as much as the prior bottled offering -- the prior root beer was much creamier. The fries (ordered crispy) were still killer.
(4)Rhonda K.
Great "mini Foster" burger, well-sized for only $4.50. Enjoyed the black & white fries, as well.
(4)Dave L.
Okay, so I've only eaten the fries here, but damn, were they ever good! And a large is a LARGE. The waiter was friendly and chatted about the awesome handbills of old bands they had plastered everywhere, it has a great atmosphere. Only thing I didn't like, and this isn't their fault, and I didn't know to park on the other side of the building, but went there with my kid and as we're getting out of the car noticed the sex store/strip club/LIVE NUDE GIRLS sign, and so did my 9 year old daughter. Welcome to Portland.
(5)Eric B.
So far on this fair Portland Friday, the Kid and I had attended our Parent-Teacher Conference and visited OHSU for an appointment. It was now lunch time and the Son wanted to take me to his new favorite burger place. There's lots to choose from in the Rose City and I was a little curious about this one, considering its location next to 2 strip clubs. My Son had previously enjoyed the Poutine here (attention Canadians!), but on this visit it was all about those delicious Foster Burgers and Fries. I opted for the blue cheese and the kid went for the bacon. The interior has a nice funky Portland vibe, including the cool music performance posters on the walls and us in a booth. I also enjoyed the service which featured the best combination of service and attitude.
(4)Nick H.
Decent food, relaxed environment. Not the best burger in town, but a B+. Burgers range from $6-9, depending on toppings, but expect to pay around $15 per person if you get fries and drink. BBQ burger was good and fair priced. Poutine fries were decent, but don't get the large size even if you're sharing, because it's too big of a bowl so the gravy sinks to the bottom, leaving just plain fries. I would come back and try another burger.
(4)Joy C.
I had the Kentucky Bleu burger with a lamb patty and the truffle fries. Oh my goodness! So delicious! The bacon was just right and the house made pickles were perfect! The fries were so tasty and even as cold leftovers the next day. The staff were all friendly and quick to answer questions but not at all over-bearing. An overall delicious and enjoyable meal
(5)Nicole B.
Glass windows, a brightly lit interior. As I walk in, there's another door way. Tables in the middle, and booths to the side of the restaurant. It's dimly lit, busy. It's a good sign. Walls covered in flyers from the 80's & 90's punk bands. My man is scanning wall to wall in search of fishbone. He can't find it. Being a Canadian, I am delighted that poutine is on the menu. Back home, one could find poutine anywhere. The best I've had was in Montreal. Still etched in my memory. The gooey, melted cheese curds with gravy swimming over freshly made fries. It annoys me when there are restaurants that serve poutine, and the cheese curds aren't melted. It's the fundamental part of a poutine. Foster burger did it right. We got the poutine to start. It was every bit of savory as it should be. We ordered 2 burgers, I wanted plain jane. I got the foster burger with American cheese. My man got his burger with all the fixins. Bacon, cheese and of course a fried egg. With a fried egg, one must get it over easy or sunny side up. Or what is the point of getting an egg on a burger? I remember we went somewhere once, and the fried egg was over hard. That egg yolk needs to be bursting. I thought everything was pretty tasty. Is it my favorite burger in Portland? Probably not. I'd rate it 3.5 stars. My man, on the other hand loves the place. So we even it out, at 4 stars!
(4)Frank F.
I have lived in the foster Powell area for 3 years. I just recently tried foster burger, for the first time. I gave it three stars because I find it somewhat average. The inside walls are completely decorated with music flyers. It's clean and it's kind of cool. Kind of makes you feel like you're in a garage band atmosphere. But but I don't find that unique, or impressive. After all isn't almost all of Portland "edgy" or weird . I think that is the problem with most places and it is not their fault really . Portland has become so weird everybody's weird , it's not that weird anymore . It's now become the normal and the normal has become weird . The staff was friendly or should I say doing a fine job at acting friendly. I know what the service industry is like. Rude servers don't make tips. My particular server even help with suggestions and portion sizes so we didn't order too much. Which is easy to do because their portions are enormous. I ordered the heater / burner. Or something like that it was the spicy option they had. It was good for the most part. I wish I could have picked it up and took a huge bite out of it, but it was too large and sloppy. Sauce was dripping everywhere and when I picked it up for the first time everything slid out from the bun. So basically I had to eat it like a hamburger salad with a fork and knife. I never got to have the experience and taste a even well distributed mouthful of deliciousness. That was my only disappointment. The price was pretty expensive. The burger cost $10 and it didn't come with any fries. (THIS TOOK PLACE DURING PORTLAND BURGER WEEK) So my friend and I split a small order of the black and white truffle fries. The fries were delicious covered in Parmesan cheese, and tossed with white truffle oil I think. The small was more then enough for two people to split. Don't forget the octopus ink aioli..... but you can leave it off of my plate. Not because of the octopus though. I am A adventurous eater trust me I've been cooking professionally for 17 years. I just hate mayonnaise!!!!!!!! And aioli just fancy word for mayonnaise in my book. And the octopus ink aioli is very messy. I'll definitely try them again.
(3)Rachel D.
Love Foster Burger, but I only try to go during "off times." Their location is small and very popular during the weekend dinner and some weeknight dinner hours. Whenever we've eaten there during peak times, the food is never as good and the service is very slow. However, "off hours" are fantastic. The staff is very friendly, accommodating, and efficient. It's been fun to go there for a late night burger. As a gluten free eater, I love the availability of a GF bun -- and their veggie burger is GF too. All very tasty. Their milkshakes aren't anything fantastic, but the chilled root beer is well worth the money.
(4)Christopher P.
This place is a little gem and an asset to the neighborhood. The veggie burger and slaw are pretty damn good and the fries are great (altho a bit salty) but the reason to go and to keep coming back is the boozy shakes. The special shake of the day (the cockshake!!!) when I went there was a salted caramel shake with rum added. I can't wait to go back! The atmosphere was also great with lots of dark wood and tall booths. It's bigger on the inside too than it looks. And the staff is attentive, friendly and just all around awesome. I'm so glad I moved to the FoPo hood!
(4)Robert B.
There are a couple of things very important to cover in this review and vital in the pursuit of culinary enlightenment. What you may not know about this Yelper! is I'm always on the search for the perfect burger and I'm not talking about fast food, although In 'n Out Burger is pretty good, but it is the hand-crafted, dedicated artistry of hamburger excellence I'm talking about like Foster Burger in Portland, Oregon. Quaint, urban, rustic Foster Burger has a full bar (what!) and uses all natural, hormone-free ground beef served on a bun made by a neighboring bakery called Xuyen Bakery. Foster Burger has the typical list of burgers with add-ons as long as your arm, very cool! But it's the specialty burgers that will rock your world like the Kimcheese Burger built with the Foster burger, kimchee, bacon, American and pepper Jack cheese, sriracha mayo and shredded lettuce. Incredible! I have also had The Burner. Very Nice! But let's talk about the second star of the Foster Burger menu line up, which is the poutine, and you may be thinking "what is poutine?" Well, you have to start with its inception, the birth place of poutine, so I'll try to give you some back ground into the French fries, cheese curd, gravy goodness. Poutine is a French-Canadian food invented in Warwick, Quebec in 1957 and still produces cheese curds that ship all over Canada. Poutine is pronounced by the French as [pu-tin] like you would the president of Russia, the French Canadians pronounce it [put-sin]. There is a website called Portlandpoutine.com that lists the restaurants in Portland, Oregon that serve poutine - hilarious! There is also a board game called Miss Poutine. Wow! OK! Enough of the background. Foster's uses Beecher's cheese curds made in Seattle, Washington and homemade brown gravy with onions. Perfect! Thank you Foster Burger for great grub and being a great part of my culinary community. P.S. There are poutine festivals every year in Quebec and Vancouver, BC that are recipe contests and all you can eat. Who would have thought.
(5)Daniel P.
What a complete disappointment. If you like: MUSIC SO LOUD YOU HAVE SHOUT - then this is place for you. I have never heard music this loud outside of a concert. It was pretty incredible. The sweet smell of a pool in your water - the glasses themselves were incredibly strong smelling. Add water and you have your own pool. Something was way off in their dish room. Second set of glasses that came out where just as bad. Requested soda water - thinking that it was at least taste better than the tap - it tasted like chlorine and ginger ale mixed - thier foundain must need cleaning Burgers - if you like like them nearly alive - then enjoy. We asked for ours medium rare and it was just barely that. Our friends wanted theirs well done and they came rarer than ours. 15 minutes later a second batch came and it was stil medium rare at best. You would think a burger place would at least know how to cook a burger. Fries were stupid big size - way more than a human could eat...and they were limp. We had high hopes and were completely disappointed. How could EVERYTHING be so bad?!
(1)Jenny V.
Anything tastes better with Pork Belly, I'm thinking...and the wedge salad is proof. Had the salad (huge) which I totally enjoyed. To balance the meal, and reward myself for having salad, I then had a banana split. Too bad I had to share it with a friend, it was so freakin" excellent. Next time, I'm starting with dessert, and then having the salad or poutine for dessert! I'll definately be back.
(4)Leah T.
Went to Foster Burger last night with some friends and I have at least 3 accolades. First of all, I had planned to order a chocolate malt cockshake but immediately changed my mind when the waitress informed us of the beer options. I was so happy to be able to order an Upright 4 on draught! Luckily for me, another person in our party ordered the chocolate mint cockshake so I still was able to have a little bit of dessert before dinner. My next delightment came with the house-pickled green beans. I'm not usually one who particularly cares for specialty brining, but these were definitely crisp, fresh and delicious. I will admit that my turkey bacon burger was less than phenomenal, but it still hit the burger-craving spot. I will definately be back to Foster Burger, if only for the pickled green beans!
(4)John D.
People seem to be pretty passionate on this place (either for or against). My nonpartisan 2 cents. The good I had the Miso burger (pickled shitake mushrooms, toasted nori and spicy mayo) - it was delicious. $9 (it was a special). There are options for vegetarians (vegans might be more challenged). 3 cauliflower soup (or something like that) - very good. Came with dish. Service - no problems - it was fine. Seems to be pretty good for families - the tables are spaced well and I saw quite a few doing just fine (only thing that may prove challenging for families is the wait, so I recommend going early). Bartender - friendly. Bad (sort of) Location (I live inner SE and I am lazy - what can I say?) Parking (not horrible, just have to park a little far away) Crowds (goes with parking - just a lot of people going here, so there is going to be a wait) - but no drinks while you wait in the front room? Why? The reviews about the fries seems to be right - ok, nothing to write home about. This is Portland - there should be a couple more micro beers on tap for a burger joint (fancy or not).
(4)Mia B.
I did not have particularly high expectations for Foster Burger, but I ended up really disappointed with my meal there. From best to worst: - The burger was good, which, admittedly, is very important. - The service was friendly and, as others have commented, there were plenty of servers around. - The whiskey sour was nothing special. If there weren't so many great whiskey sours in this city, "nothing special" wouldn't be so bad. - The atmosphere, also, is nothing special, but the servers' matching "Foster Burger" t-shirts reminded me of a chain restaurant. Also, as someone else commented, the acoustics are not great, even when the place isn't crowded. - The french fries were sub par. In fact, neither my friend nor I finished ours, and that's serious. The fries had a sweet quality -- maybe due to the soy oil they are fried in? -- and left an unpleasant residue in my mouth. - The most scandalous part of the meal was the chocolate shake. It was wrong in every way! For one thing, it was as thin as chocolate milk (I'm not exaggerating). For another, the flavor was off -- maybe they were using some fancy chocolate or something, but it had an almost tinny quality. Unforgivable. How can you mess up french fries or a shake? Until Foster Burger figures that out and then stops doing it, the good hamburger will not lure me back.
(2)Nichole S.
I have only eaten once I usually eat 4 times before reviewing but I liked this place Waitress was cool and very attentive my guest and I both had milk shakes I had the kiwi burger and he had the foster burger Really good burgers buns pickles all perfect fries great and my egg was cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed the pickles I get sick of the portland zucchini pickles sometimes you just want a good regular pickle. One negative sorry but my milk shake was gritty blend it longer or check your ice cream it bothered me but flavor was good I will be back Been back since wasnt crazy about it the bun was stale and I think for burgers its too expensive
(3)Kevin M.
The best part is the buns and the beer. The fries are pretty good and hold their own against some of the better fries in town. The burgers are okay. They were moist on the edge of greasiness. If I'm in the neighborhood, I'd stop by, but its not a destination. Higgin's Burger reigns as my favorite.
(2)Ali C.
Holy. Shit. This burger is something I still dream about to this day. My friend and I came here one day after work, and I had a hankering for a big juicy burger. My boyfriend (who loves food almost as much as he loves me) had recommended it to us and had said to come hungry, so we did. To say the least, Foster Burger exceeded my expectations. I ordered the BBQ burger (though incredibly messy), it was what I would call "mouth-gasmic." The bacon was incredibly thick, the sauce was delectable, and there was more than enough for me. I'm the type of person who is notorious for leaving food on my plate at every meal. On this occasion, that was NOT the case. My burger was devoured completely, and I had shared some tasty fries as well. I'm not in any way saying that they skimp on food; I was STUFFED when we left. I just couldn't let any delicious morsel go to waste. The service was awesome. The people who work there seemed very laid back, and luckily we got there right before the dinner rush. Needless to say, I will be back here time and time again. and again. And again.
(5)Tim B.
Ugh! Can we please stop flocking to celebrity chef locations expecting to get good honest food. Yes, I am one of the aforementioned fools and thus have this to say about Foster Burger. It's a predictable letdown. Fries are way too salty and don't need any of the flavoring FB so generously adds. Plus if these are hand cut then why so small. While I'm happy that FB uses choice ingredients, the burgers don't leap out and smack you in the face with the kind of flavor one might expect from such and effort. This just isn't worth the hype or the extra cash.
(2)C T.
I went here a couple of weeks ago with my friend on a Monday evening...surprisingly it was packed... on a Monday... kinda in the middle of nowhere... My friend had the Foster burger and coke...I chose to have their 'Pile up burger' (I think that's the name of it... basically, it's the burger with all the trimmings). There's not much to be said... burgers were good.. not the best... but decent.. My burger started to fall apart due to the size of it. It became a very messy meal... but regardless, I finished it all... the buns were tasty... bacon good... ooozing egg made it better.... overall.. i would say a 3 1/2 stars.. but since that's not available.. i'll round it up...
(4)Robyn S.
I got married in July and was looking for someplace to hold a casual rehearsal dinner for 65 people...on Friday night of a holiday weekend. Seriously, trying to plan the rehearsal dinner was harder than planning the wedding! All of the places I found were mediocre in terms of the food and through the roof in terms of the price. On a whim, I just said what the hell and called up Foster Burger. I love their food and they have a great outdoor patio, seemed like a great place to have a rehearsal dinner! They had never done it before, but they said yes!! I was thrilled to be their first, and they did a fantastic job! I seriously could not have been happier. We had fries and salads family style, everyone ordered whatever burger they wanted, we had a keg of great beer, fabulous pickles on the table and banana splits for dessert. They let my husband's family in early to decorate the patio, and gave us the patio for the whole evening. And the price was right - right in there with what we would have paid for someplace so much inferior. Mark and Kelly were my contacts and they were so kind and accommodating, just great to work with. We had a great time, I hope they decide to do more rehearsal dinners in the future.
(5)Beerboy M.
Foster Burger is now open for lunch on weekends, which might help more folks visit and avoid busy times. We had the foster and kiwi burgers. The foster burger is $7.50, with additions of bacon ($2) and cheese ($1) it was $10.50 for a bacon cheeseburger. The kiwi burger is ground lamb with a slice of beet and an egg for $11. Both were good and served in baskets with fries, obviously good ingredients going into them. The fries are really what stood out. Perfect crispness on the outside with fluffy centers. They have floats ($3,50) and microbrews on tap ($4.50), plus sodas and shakes. They haven't really done anything to the restaurant itself, it's basically Cava with a few minor changes. Overall, good burgers, but not worth the price.
(3)Joshua L.
Yum! a quality burger for sure. really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was very good!
(5)Steve R.
This is my first time. It is very unpretentious here, which I like. I also like the decor of local concert posters which cram the walls. The heated outdoor patio with video screen is much appreciated. The burger was good but not overwhelming. I have had better elsewhere in Portland. The bun was probably the best part - soft, fresh and tasty. I enjoyed the fries - we had the black and white fries cooked with truffle oil, sprinkled with parmesean and served with a black lemon and oil dip (the black color is from squid ink). The color throws you off. Try if first without looking at the color. We did not try the pickled goods, but I'd love to return to buy a bottle since they look enticing in their display.l
(3)Chelsey T.
We have been here many times in the last two years or so and are never disappointed. The menu has had a few change ups in the past year, fries no longer come with the burger, but they have added a lovely selection of Poutines. I recommend getting a large order and splitting it, then ordering a burger sans fries as they are nothing to write home about when they aren't slathered in gravy and cheese.They make their own pickles and pickled beets for the burgers, but I miss the side of pickled veggies that used to be on the menu. Totally hit the spot when I was pregnant and demanding all of the pickled food on the planet. Speaking of pregnant, despite the ratings, I don't feel that this place is really all that kid friendly. The first couple visits post baby were done with the help of a babysitter, but when I recently brought our almost 1yr old in, we weren't even offered a high chair, nor did I see any around to grab one. Maybe I was blind but it resulted in some very messy one handed burger eating. The restaurant itself is also a little too small to bring a possibly noisy child too, at least in my opinion. So maybe for older kids who can sit quietly and eat the kiddie burger its alright, but leave the other youngins at home. That being said, I have never been let down when in search of a hunk of beef to fill my burger craving, and as tempted as I am to try the turkey bacon burger, I just love the beef version too much.
(4)Christa W.
After a weekend camping trip, we returned home to Portland in search of MEAT. We discovered that Foster Burger was open until 10pm, and were excited about our first visit. MEAT. MEAT MEAT MEAT. I ordered the straight-up Foster Burger but subbed the black & white fries (for an additional fee of $4!). My camping partner chose the turkey-bacon burger. The waitress told me my burger would be cooked "medium, pink and warm in the middle", and asked if that would be OK. You betcha. My pal was told that the bacon was ground into the turkey and not to be surprised when no strips of bacon were to be found under his bun. My Foster Burger was definitely NOT medium. It was well done, no pink whatsoever. It had good flavor, but I couldn't help but wonder how it should have tasted. The black & white fries were the bomb. Very tasty, but pretty salty as well. The turkey-bacon burger was juicy and good... up until the next-to-last bite, when my friend pulled a long hair out of his mouth. Eww. The waitress very adeptly swept the offending hair (and our check) away, and a few minutes later the manager came back with a $15 gift card to use on a future visit. She didn't comp anything on our meal, but apologized profusely saying "this has only happened one time before." I might give this place another shot, but only because of the gift card. I was not at all overwhelmed by our first visit.
(3)Goldmine C.
Yay! I'm a fan. Yes Yelp, that pretty much describes it. I was excited to try this place because I live nearby and quite frankly we need more reliable spots in the area. I don't eat beef or lamb so the veggie burger was the option for me. It was good. (I had really been looking forward to trying the Portobello Burger but it's not on the menu anymore.) The burger was good, bun was great, fries were great. I'll be back for sure... but I probably would be back sooner if they had that portobello burger or a turkey burger or something other than a veggie burger for a non beef eater like me. (I know! not their problem, just being honest.) Foster Burger, i wish you nothing but success!!
(4)Laura C.
A friend who lives in Beaverton mentioned discovering a fabulous burger joint in my neighborhood. That thrilled me to no end - considering every other business on Powell is a check cashing joint or strip club. For my birthday we planned my dinner at Foster Burger. They don't take reservations, but a friend went early and got us a large table. The decor is very hipster; walls covered in old concert fliers. It's kinda dive-y, in a good way. The beers are cheap. The burgers don't cost much either. They were good, but my friend had over-hyped them - telling me that they bake bacon in the buns. Apparently, they only did that the first week of opening. The fries were good too, but again, nothing to write home about. They don't split checks so it took the 10 of us about 30 minutes to figure out who owed what. That was fine, except that we overheard our waiter complaning to the bar-tender about how long it was taking us. Well duh! 10 people - who were drinking cheap PBR - will need help with math. Being rushed to get us out of there, he should have offered to help us figure it out. We're not rocket scientists, but we aren't complete dolts either. It's just that the math gets tricky when an 18% gratuity is a separate chunk of change at the bottom of the bill. It's a fun local bar, but the Portland hipster attitude should be left in the kitchen.
(3)Daryl J.
Mine! Stay away! I liked Cava more but this will simply KILL on Foster. All mine! Never go there!
(4)Jeanne W.
The definition of two stars: "Meh. I've experienced better." You know where? At Foster Burger, six months ago. I have been going here for two years now, and have always loved it, but lately it has been such a let down. I know for sure the buns have gotten smaller, and I am fairly sure that as a result, so have their burgers. My favorite has always been The Burner, but the last time I went, it just didn't satisfy me the way it usually did. So, I figured I had become an addict and should try something new. Tonight I had the "My Blue Heaven," a special. A burger with onion straws, pork belly and "blue cheese sauce." Well, aside from the burger being smaller than usual, the onion straws were greasy and the blue cheese sauce was...orange? and tasted like cheddar-ale soup, and was so flour-y. Yes, cheese sauce is made with a roux base. But guess what....I'm a chef. From Louisiana. Everything I make is with a roux, and you know what Foster Burger, if you need someone to teach your chef's how to make a roux, I got time. Long story short, the Burner stopped satisfying not because of my addiction, but because Foster Burger is going downhill.
(2)Elizabeth S.
I love Foster Burger. I love Kelly and the servers. I love the people in the kitchen, whether they are making my food or washing the silverware. I love the employees at the bakery next door for the buns. If I could marry a restaurant, I would dream of being Mrs Foster Burger.
(5)Dusty T.
Considering the pedigree of the owners of this restaurant, I expected a lot more. I've been to Foster Burger twice and left disappointed both times. The service is very nice, if uneven. Our server didn't know what a hot toddy was so I had to tell him what goes into it. Considering how few burgers are on the menu, the cooks should be nailing the flavors. The lamb in the kiwi burger was pretty flavorless. The thick slice of pickled beet overwhelmed the burger and the bun seemed excessively sweet. The beef burger was better, mostly because of the blue cheese and bacon. What wouldn't taste good with that? The salads remind me of the kind you get at a chain restaurant: just an afterthought. The croutons lacked seasoning and texture. The black and white fries were just okay and lacked salt. Anything deep fried and tossed with truffle oil should be amazing, so this was especially disappointing. The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. If only the food were better they would be worth the long drive to deep SE.
(2)Oliver R.
Eh. Yes, a delicious burger, but then again, burgers are inherently delicious. You need to *work* to screw them up. Add pork backfat to a burger and yeah, duh, it'll be delicious. Make me a delicious burger that doesn't take a year off my life and we'll talk. I miss Cava.
(3)John K.
It was a pretty good burger, juicy and tasty, but I really think you can find burgers that are equally good in a lot of places, and generally for less money. I have no problem with paying more than this for a truly exceptional burger like Cafe Castagna puts out, and I love a real bargain, like the terrific basic burgers from the cheesesteak food cart at 5th and Oak downtown. The dressing on the side salad at Foster Burger seemed to be mostly just salty, which didn't thrill me at all. Considering how easily the tab added up to more than what I can usually find a decent meal for in this city, I think there are better choices.
(3)Darin S.
Well I'd eaten here before. And thought it was better then. We were sat at a table with water and dirty glasses. The table which had grooves running the whole width of it was filthy. Crumbs, sesame seeds, and what looked like parmesan cheese in said grooves. Obvious beer spill on far end of table assured me my table had not been wiped down prior to my seating...burger was obviously a frozen (FSA or Sysco) patty, which in itself wasn't bad I guess I figured a burger joint would hand patty like the other better places do. My bad for the assumption but it still made me wish for something a bit more... A big MEH! I ate at a place in Gresham that Kicks this places butt to the coast and back!
(3)David F.
I like a place where the burger comes with four napkins. This was my first time there and the staff was friendly (and easy on the eyes), the atmosphere was fun and the burger was pretty good. I never had to struggle for the staff's attention. A refill for my beverage was offered before I could ask. I had The Burner which sounds a lot spicier on the menu than it really is. It's a nice mild warmth. Not the best burger in town, but I will go back.
(4)Carl B.
Recently I had read a short article from an author who said they had the most original tasting Poutine at Foster Burger. I do like trying different regional food conglomerations and had never heard about the gravy/cheese curd/fry combo that this word identifies to people of Quebec and New England. When the Foster business association decided to put on a street fair it turned into the best opportunity to test the food at this now top rated in national magazines eatery. It does have that look from the outside as a bit of a dive, but inside you can tell they have put a bit of cash into a new entrance and made it a few levels above greasy spoon on the interior. For those who have been to the Wonder Ballroom and eaten at Café Wonder would think they shopped at the same store as the walls look similar with local venue posters showing events from the late 80's to mid 90's Food wise I went with the traditional Foster Burger while my friend ordered the MiniFoster along with an order of the standard Poutine and a shake to be shared. Never having Poutine before I thought it had a good mix of tastes, would recommend that if you have not tried it to do so. Personally I do want to go back and try the one that is cooked with Pastrami. My burger came out perfect for what I wanted and the Mini was just enough for my friend who has a smaller appetite and had more Poutine then she thought she would. Excellent service, quick to get us in and seated and well done food will get me back soon.
(4)D A.
In brief -- OVER priced; UNDER yummy. The overpriced burgers are nothing special. The meat was OK, the bun was dry. Why they "don't offer tomatoes because it's January" is a mystery to me -- buck up and visit Trader Joes or Costco! Fries? Maybe I just don't get it. Not so great. Chocolate Shake? OK if you like relatively tasteless chocolate milk. I think keep going back to the SUBWAY at SE 52nd & Foster -- and get a great meal for five bucks.
(1)Jav V.
i went back a third time and the Kiwi burger wasn't as good as last time. I know the place is new, but some consistency would be nice. I'm losing interest.
(3)John L.
Wifey really felt like a burger. Ended up here. We were quite pleasantly surprised. Some menu items were hit and miss though..... The malt shake was pretty good. Hard to mess up a milkshake. 3.5 stars. The regular fries were good but nothing special 3.5 stars. Didn't try the black and white fries... tried the smoked pastrami poutine. Didn't really care for it. The cheese curds didn't seem to add much and the same for the gravy. I would much rather have my fries plain. Even the pastrami by itself was not that good. 2 stars.\ Had the burner burger... have to devote a whole separate paragraph just for it. It was fantastic. The burger was cooked just right. I was initially concerned the siracha sauce might overpower the burger but I barely tasted it. It is mixed with ranch. The roasted jalapenos were awesome. Just enough to add some good heat and a tingle to your lips without being too strong as to ruin the dish. 4.5 stars!! The service was good. 4 stars. Will definitely be back when craving a good burger.
(4)Chris M.
I've eaten at Foster Burger a number of times. The atmosphere is somewhat dim and the decor is local punk rock show flyers from throughout the ages hanging on the walls. The wait staff is always really nice, and cute too if you are into the "scene girl, hipster" type of look (which works for me.) The seating could be a bit more comfortable, but I am not expecting to sit back and relax for a while when I am going to a burger joint, even a decent sit-down one like this. They have an awesome patio, but I can't imagine its incredibly popular to sit back there during certain parts of the year. I have always been fairly picky about the type of pickles that I like, but Foster Burger has a pretty awesome pickled plate for anyone who is into that type of thing. The burgers are big, and customizable. I have never really understood why some places serve fries separately from their burgers, but I can understand why they would here as every time I order fries as well as the burger I always end up feeling like I am rolling myself out of the place. The buns they use are fresh from the bakery next door which I think is really awesome, and they always use good quality meat. The fries are pretty average, but I know some people who are crazy about the Black and White fries. Just about any burger, or anything else you order up on the menu here won't disappoint. Make sure to come hungry. Their happy hour prices aren't much better than their regular pricing, but that doesn't bother me - their pricing is really good to begin with. The drinks are usually pretty good, but the beer could be more cold. Honestly though? I have been served warmer beers with much worse food and managed to get by, so this doesn't take away from the experience for me. One thing is for sure, I will definitely continue to frequent Foster Burger because of the convenience, and the damn good food. If you are in the area and craving a good burger, milkshake, or beer/cocktail - head on in and check it out. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Kate J.
So two years have passed since the one and only time I had previously been to Foster Burger. My hubby, on the other hand, had never been there (probably because of my not-so-great first impression) and mentioned wanting to check them out today. I wasn't totally into the idea at first, but figured why not give it another go. Enough time had passed; maybe things would be different. And. They. Were. WOW! I am so glad we decided to stop in! We stopped by for a later lunch today (were seated promptly) and within minutes had ordered our burgers and had beers in hand. A HUGE improvement over the last time I was there. As for the food this time around? We both ordered the Foster Burger (mine w/pepper jack) and split an order of the Black and White fries. AMAZING! The fries were perfect - not soggy and topped with plenty o' cheese! My burger was cooked to medium (though honestly, I think it was a little closer to the well side, but did have some pink to it), was topped with cheese, homemade pickles (nom!), a wedge of iceberg lettuce (as it should be!), special sauce (served on the side, which is a nice touch for picky sauce people like myself) and sandwiched by sesame seed buns from An Xuyen Bakery next door (nice touch!). Overall: SUPER TASTY and really great experience! We'll be back! And definitely won't be waiting another two years to do so.
(4)Martha R.
Went on a Thursday night. Would have given better score if the fries, which were just okay, had been served with the burger rather than a 1/2 hour before and they hadn't gotten my husband's order wrong. He had to wait another 20 minutes before his burger was served. Burgers were pretty good, but not worth the bad service. Won't be going back.
(2)C M.
I have been here at least a hand full of times. It is a great place for a burger that is not all about the meat. You know what I am talking about. Places you order a burger and between the two fat buns there is a pound of meat, and it looks like it won't fit in your mouth at all... Not here! the meat + bun + whatever you want on it fits in a non-reach-toothbrush-commercial-circa-1990's mouth. Skip the poutine (gravy frys) too salty. Get the duck fat frys if they have them. DO IT! So good. I really dig most anything that they pickle. I am up for a pickled anything on a burger. Beets? Yes Please! It is kind of out there, if you do not live in the neighborhood. Good place to gather with friends. I always like the music. (NO Sting in earshot, cheers to that) There are a lot of familys that come with kids, but if you come later in the evening you can get a bit loud with your friends and not feel like you are scandalizing runty humans-in-training.
(4)Cassandra C.
Liked the burger, the wallpaper. The Foster sauce was pretty tasty. Dislike parking/location, no free refills on Roy Rogers (such a tiny glass!). It was expensive for a burger. The fries were okay, not great or life-changing. Disliked paying for a side of ranch but liked how huge the portion was for $.50.
(2)Haroun K.
Foster is located kind of away from the thick of things, which is nice. Although it wasn't very busy, we waited in the entryway quite a while until someone came to seat us. Make sure to sign in on the clipboard, too. We sat outside, which I recommend, on one of the picnic tables. We started off with the veggie poutine. My lovely co-diner liked it, but to me it tasted like they poured some mushrooms and a can of onion soup on some not very good fries. She couldn't eat more than 1/2 of her cheeseburger, owing to it being a bit too greasy. I liked the veggie burger quite a lot, and the buns (from the bakery next door) are top notch. The banana split is kind of spoilt by the berry sauce, which they forgot to put on the side for us. It is just way too sweat and syrupy. And the chocolate sauce is low end. The ice cream and banana were good though! Bottom line, the veggie burger is totally worth it, but think twice about anything else.
(3)Will E.
Excitedly, I drove to Southeast for lunch, hopeful I had finally found a TURKEY burger worth revisiting, better yet, I had finally found a TURKEY burger!!! I entered what looked like someones grandmother's front porch into a very dive-y living room; which was cool! The posters of concerts passed were very cool. It's no surprise they do a ton of business as a burger joint and as prof every booth was either filled or very recently vacated. We waited a moment for the server -- whom we quickly learned wore multiple hats as not only the server but also the busboy and bartender -- to clear the table. As I scoured the menu in search of the TURKEY burger offerings I came across two. I should have been ecstatic and drooling, right!? Oh so very wrong! Each burger read "house ground turkey AND bacon." WTF!? Maybe they didn't grind the two together, I optimistically thought to myself. I'll just ask the jack-of-all-restaurant-trades who continues to sprint by our table. "Excuse me? Is the ground turkey and bacon ground together in your TURKEY burger?" I inquired with crossed fingers. "Yes, we grind the TURKEY & the bacon together," he answered haphazardly as if he knew there was something intrinsically wrong with that concoction. I really try not to use negative expletives when writing reviews but this experience is proving extremely difficult for me to do so! WTF!?!? Who does that??? In Portland, OR where everyone is either vegan or a practicing vegan you would really think to mix an F.N. pig with your TURKEY meat??? F-- So what's my alternative? A dry, pressed veggie patty? Are you serious! This was a wasted drive!! I continue to hear and read about the abundance of individuals searching for the "ultimate burger" or the best burger in PDX and I have no qualm with that but it has led me to think maybe I should do the same. Of course, the focus would be TURKEY BURGER!! And no, Burgerville would not be part of the search! Naturally, all reviews should be taken with a grain of salt and mine is no different. This review is based solely on my want of a TURKEY BURGER because I do not eat beef or pork and a lamb burger is not an option for me! I'm a simple individual with simple wants and expectations. If you offer a TURKEY BURGER on your menu I EXPECT it to SIMPLY be F.N. TURKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That can't be too much to ask.
(2)Karissa C.
Horrible experience, first day out of jail my family took me here, to "experience" real food an all I caught was FOOD POISONING, My best advice is keep away from there poop fingerd burger flippin hipsters, don't want any one else to go threw what I have been going threw the last week, an they say jail food sucks, HAHA
(1)Bree C.
It's a big burger, but that's really all it has going for it. I'm beginning to think Bon Appetit tasters were on some serious munchie binge to put this on the best burger list. They were in Portland, so that might just be the case. They were on their epic quest for the best weed, and I want my best burger dammit! The reviews were mixed, but so many said it was one of the best burgers, and on my epic quest for the most worthy burger, and to celebrate my first day of summer term (I'm always celebrating something) my husband met me after work for their advertised happy hour. They don't have happy hour anymore, as they told at least 2 people while we were there. Please take it off of your website, thanks. No biggie. Squid aioli, while interesting, was gross, I just don't get it, and wish I Hadn't paid $4 for it. The fries were pretty good though. The burger was beyond bland, even with the pickled beets, sauce they give, and ketchup. Once I realized it didn't have mustard, that improved it slightly, but it was still nothing special. I should have tried the Burner. Either way, don't see myself coming back, as it was not worth $16 for one burger and some squid poop fries. Pickled beets are an awesome idea though, I'll give them that. Is it just me, or is the salt and pepper so stuck in the box that it doesn't come out? Yes, I tried to add salt and pepper to my perk up my lifeless burger, and was thwarted by a root beer 6 pack box. Hubby called it a "crappy burger" I just call it a "meh" burger.
(2)Forrest S.
A messy burger is a good burger and Foster Burger makes one big, hot mess of a burger. Not only is it messy, it is damn delicious. While it can get messy, I didn't have any issues with the bun being turned to mush, and the meat is cooked as it should be: Medium and juicy. The fries are not your frozen Ore-Ida (Potato?) fries, they are actual potato fries and they are some of the better ones I have had as of late. They also offer poutine and a squid ink aioli for the more adventurous types. There are a small number of burgers to choose from as well as a build your own burger option so you can double up on the beef if your stomach is up for the challenge. The prices are comparable to most chain places (such as red robin) but the burgers are far better than what you can get at any chain, so I don't see why anyone would complain. I am willing to pay $7-$10 for a really good burger and this is a really good burger that I will be coming back for.
(5)Megan E.
You know, it was good, but not fantastic. I really wanted to like it, but everything was ALMOST really great. The burger was good as a whole, but not a fan of how they season the beef. I loved the fries but I didn't care for the brown gravy in the poutine. Its just a little too much to pay for "ok" or else I would give it another chance. And I think its a little silly to charge $.75 for a condiment and $2 for onion straws.
(3)Michael F.
The burger called The Burner (fried jalapenos, sriracha, fried onions) was tremendous in quality and taste. At $10 it was worth every penny. Excellent fries and secret Foster Burger sauce. The only thing I found odd was that you have to wait to be seated. Really? The place looks like a dive burger joint, but if you want to fancy it up with a host I guess you can. Oh, wait the host is also the only server...
(3)Jens J.
A twenty-one gun salute is in order for the fry sauce. Incredible stuff - looks like mole, but tastes even better. And I sure can't hate on a place that serves cocktails with burgers. Unfortunately, we had to pass on cocktails because filing income taxes was on the after-dinner agenda. But probably shoulda had drinks, because that would have made the experience less painful. At one point in our tax preparations, JP declared he had had it with the Oregon state income tax and was ready to pack up and move across the Columbia. With old and frayed music event flyers covering every inch of wall, and a scuffed and rutted hardwood floor, Foster Burger conveys shabby chic. We had a very short wait to get a table, but a somewhat longer wait to have our order taken. I went with the standard Foster Burger. JP chose a burger with jalapeños. Considering how long it took to have our order taken, we were pleasantly surprised how quickly our food came to the table. "Excellent" would be an excellent word to describe my burger containing lettuce, pickle and white onion. Cooked to medium (meaning plenty of pink) the meat was flavorful and sufficiently juicy. It's funny, long ago, I had decided to never again have lettuce nor pickles on my hamburgers, but surprisingly to me, my tastes have changed recently, and now I definitely want both items on my burgers. Oh, and a salute to the white onions on the burger. White onions truly are best for a burger, even if every other establishment is using red onion these days. JP loved loved LOVED the basket of handcut fries that went for five smackers. These fries were served lolling under a blanket of garlic and grated parmesan cheese. My opinion, however? They went way overboard with the garlic and parmesan. It reminded me of Lardo fries. For myself - plain, lightly salted fries served with that awesome dipping sauce woulda been perfect. In conclusion, I have no aversion to making a return visit, nor multiple return visits to Foster Burger in the future.
(4)Jurgen G.
Stopped in for lunch today and ordered a Foster Burger - fantastic. The bun is awesome, the pickles are great and appear to be house-made. I love the fact that they use iceberg lettuce. Leaf lettuce doesn't belong on a burger, and they seem to know this. The burger itself was cooked up just right - and the optional swiss cheese was nicely melted. It really is one of the best burgers in town and it's only $6.50 if you add Swiss or cheddar. A cheeseless version can be had for $5.50. At that price, I can't think of a better deal around Portland. The walls are covered with local rock show posters from shows dating back to my rocker days in the early 90's - pretty cool. Bands I hadn't thought of in years, since the heyday of Satryicon. Excellent burgers, great price.
(5)Lisa S.
Good burger, great service and atmosphere. Try the specials, they often include inventive ingredients like grilled apples and brie. Even if you normally don't eat fried food, the black and white fries are worth it....parmesan and truffle oil fries with squid ink aioli are A+. Love the smiles from the waitstaff. They also have a mini-burger for a less-guilty option.
(4)Christine D.
It's been a year since my first Yelp event at Foster Burger and I kept saying we need to come back here. Finally, I had some time yesterday to pop back in and check this place out. It was about 2:15 PM on a Saturday but the place was about half full (or is that half empty). At any rate, I was surprised at the number of people here eating lunch, etc. This place is relatively small five booths flank the left side of dining area and there are tables and chairs on the right side. The group ahead of us said they had nine people and I noticed four of them were about 3 foot tall or less. So, I was grateful when they placed us at a table a little away from the group. There were many small people trips to the bathroom and such so it was for the best. The server was very adept at attending to all these tables at one time. There were two servers in all but I kept seeing the one female server running back and forth and attending to most everyone's needs. We ordered the regular burgers and a large plate of fries which was plenty for the two of us. The plate of fries came up first which was nice because it made a great appetizer. The fries and the burgers came up quickly, this was great as I was really hungry. Why or why do I wait so long in between meals. :) They had an assortment of beers, my guy settled on a ginger beer and I had iced tea as they had Diet Rite as their soda brand. I'm guessing they plan on selling more beer than soda but I'm sorry Diet Rite for your soda brand (probably should have taken a star away for that but a minor inconvenience). There decor is kind of cool they have music hand bills all over the walls and they play some rocking tunes so that's good too. Not good if you are trying to have much of a conversation as it's a bit loud. All in all a good solid stop, with grass fed beef. I'll be back again. Hopefully sooner.
(5)Abdulwahab A.
I've tried the double foster burger, it taste like a homemade bbq burger which is nice. The Black & White fries is a must have side to share.
(4)Leumas E.
Couldn't find where they list the bottle beer prices; and I guess that they leave them off on purpose for all the poor saps who wind up dropping $5 for 12oz of hefiweizen. Also, I'm not sure why a veggie burger costs more than a beef burger. Are cows really worth less than grains? Other than their lame pricing mistakes (75 cents for sriracha?), the food, atmosphere and service were all decent. The house salad was great- fresh and tasty, and actually better than the burger.
(3)Jen T.
So I finally made it to the F-Burg this past weekend. Got a burger with blue cheese and sauteed onions -- do it, it might be the best decision you ever made in yo life. Sweet, sweet onions with the tanginess of blue cheese...aww yeah. The hamburger meat is juicy, the buns are nice and buttery (and hold up...as long as you keep your toppings to a minimum), the secret sauce is amaaaazing, the fries are crunchy, but wait...no tomato? NO TOMATO?! So weird. I mean, I guess I made do with catsup (ketchup!). But really now? It was lettuce, pickles, onions, and the tomato-shaped gaping hole in my heart. But tomato, nomato, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. F BOMB!
(4)MoDa M.
We heard this place was great. Finally made it here for dinner and found it to be an average burger joint. Don't believe the hype.
(2)Benjamin P.
We wanted to snag a burger from Burgatroyd, but after they were closed so we decided to try Foster Burger. WHOOPS. I'll break it down into three categories: service, food, atmosphere. Service: The people were nice and friendly, but our burgers were COLD (and I mean cold, not just "not hot" or lukewarm, but iceberg cold) when we got them. As I don't think they came out of the kitchen cold, that means they sat for a good while. On top of that, we got our fries probably 15 minutes before we got our burgers. The result? Cold ass fries when we went to eat them with the burgers. It was cool to have something to munch on while we waited a very long time for our burgers, but fries are meant to be served with the burger, not as an appetizer. Strangely, it doesn't seem like it was just us who got their fries first. I watched table after table get fries, and not get their burgers for awhile. That is BIZARRE and WRONG if you ask me. Food: I ordered the blue heaven special (blue cheese sauce, pork belly, lettuce, fried onion straws). My date ordered a burger with bbq sauce, cheddar, bacon, and fried onion straws. We also got small orders of poutine and black and white fries. The black and white fries were pretty good, had a nice bite, and were fairly satisfying. However, a tad bit overpriced. The poutine was VERY overpriced, and while semi tasty, had almost no gravy on it. The cheese curds were good, but their Beechers, so they can't really take credit for that. Also, the gravy is tomato based, which is just...not poutine. Overall, the fries were pretty decent though. Here's where it gets worse. The meat was bland (underseasoned, NO SALT), of poor quality, and again, cold for both burgers. The bun was soggy, and had no flavor and was not toasted (I like mine toasted, but I can overlook that). The blue cheese sauce didn't taste much like blue cheese (I was warned of that when I asked about the burger), and the flavors were muddle and one note. Also, the onion straws were soggy, not crisp at all, and VERY greasy. My date ate 3 bites of her burger and threw in the towel (thought it was gross). Her onion straws were also soggy. Her bacon was perhaps the smallest, worst quality, bacon I have ever had. The cheese was fine. She shared my feelings about the lack of seasoning and the poor bun. Our total was $31.25. SUPER expensive when you consider you can go to many other burger places, get better food, the same quantity of food, and pay about $10-$15 less than we paid. For example, two delish burgers at Burgatroyd and two huge orders of fries, $17. Maybe the food would have been better had it been served hot, but that wouldn't have fixed the overpriced bit, the poor quality, underseasoned meat and bacon, or the soggy bun. Avoid this place, or at least lower your expectations when eating here. I'd rather have Burgerville to be honest.
(2)Suzanne F.
Plenty has already been written about the burgers - let me just add that on a rainy Saturday with projects galore going on, cooking lunch wasn't how I chose to spend my time. We opted to eat at Foster Burger - everyone was happy, the burgers were tasty, fries were exceptional, service was stellar, and house-made pickles were particularly delicious. Unlike the 4 males I share a table with, I opted for the Turkey-Bacon Burger. It was exactly right. I'm not a huge fan of the brioche buns, but others are. I make it a point to avoid Foster, generally, tho' a trip here every now & then for Foster Burger is fine by me.
(4)Jason D.
Great burger, great beer, great fries with cheese curds thing. Can't complain at all. Loved the band posters up, too.
(4)Robin P.
ok, so note that i'm a chef...i love a good burger, these burgers (my fav is the burner burger) is stacked tall, i talke pictures and facebook them. The bun is part of this success which you can buy next door at the bakery. having that said, the drinks suck. SO I order doubles. Sometimes the doubles are good and sometimes NOT as when I go here I order double margaritas, there is zero consistency. Sometimes they are sticky sweet, other straight lime. Today I had the worst meal there ever. The cheese wasn't melted on my burner burger, the margarita was so sour and didn't taste any tequila that i actually didn't drink it, (i never do that). my "eat your greens" salad that I normally love was overdressed and was all romaine and no "greens" like normal...and....normally the fries come out first and i asked for the salad first and all the food came out together. Very disappointed, I'm sure I'll try again but am afraid without the "staff" I'm used to.
(3)Mandy K.
I've have my fair share of burgers and the Kiwi Burger at Fosters is definitely one of the best!! As soon as we walked in to Foster Burger, my husband and I felt comfortable. The walls were covered with fliers from different bands and events in the Portland area. I loved the support that they had for the city and its people!! The patty is so juicy and flavorful and you really can't go wrong with bacon, cheese and a fried egg!! For those like pickled veggies, they supposedly have the best (my husband and I tries the pickled beets- it was okay, but we don't like pickled veggies or beets, so don't listen to us on this one!!) the fries are great too. Hand cut and crispy, just how a fry was meant to be. During happy hour, the foster burger is only $5!! But we wanted to try the kiwi... All in all, fosters is a must for anyone in the Portland area!!
(5)Brandi S.
Okay.... So I have to say this joint is a hole in the wall and we all know what that means... Great food! I had the burner and it did not disappoint... I was sweating from one side of my face to the other but the good kind where it hurts so good :) The service was mediocre but when you have great food, awesome brew and even better company... Who cares?!
(5)JW R.
I dunno what's with all the hate. Could be inconsistency, could be they're changing stuff up for the better (I overheard a waitress say something to that effect). On this day, Foster Burger made me a freaking amazing char burger with super fresh veggies. The special sauce is thousand island with a tartar tang. The fries are a-mazing, the portion is superhuman. Our waitress was quick and friendly and our order was delivered in a reasonable time. My desire to maintain an open mind was tested early. There's a vestibule with a sign that indicated people should sign in. For a burger joint? Then the menu asks the "munchkin burger" be for kids only. Well, is it a kid's menu item or not? If my mom came here she'd want to order it, so can she? Lastly, the pops are limited to one free refill. Wow. Damn, that's some bullshit unless there's hordes of bums roaming Foster that I didn't see any indication of. If it wasn't for that stuff I'd honestly consider five stars for Foster Burger. The burger was that good. However I dunno if it's good enough for repeat cross town drives, so I'll just waive the normal deduction for limited pop refills in non-bum areas and drop the four stars.
(4)Alena C.
My brother and I were headed for Pizza night, but my 5pm hunger pains told me that Pizza wasn't really what I wanted. I wanted Foster Burger. My brother had neither been there, nor had my dad. We got there on a Friday about 5:30 and where seated right away. The interior is like a tavern, but family friends. Some big wooden booths and tables. Posters all over the walls..that sort of thing. I had the moskow mule which was small, but very strong. My brother got the Mirror Pond. Our server was quick, yet, somewhat forgetful. But after I got the Kiwi Burger, and brother got the Fosterburger, all was forgiven. Brother loved in, he thanked me again and again for brining him here. I was happy, of course.The black and white fries where amazing, but the biggest test was getting a to go order for my old man (dad) I got him the FosterBurger with grilled onions and coleslaw. "This looks good" "the bun is good" "I like the sauce" "Have you tried the slaw?" All gone. That's a homerun for him.
(4)Parker P.
Five stars for service indeed - I was very impressed. Love the buns the burgers come on too! As for the burgers they are very tasty although I still prefer the grilled taste of Killer Burger. Their fries are also good!
(3)Patrick S.
Yup... 3 stars for boring but better than burger king. Lots of indie rock show posters, cool but seems pretty fake. Pickles... Whatever. Drinks... Really good but pricey for the neighborhood's going rates. Burgers.... Meh they're okay. Fries.... Rock 'n Roll for those Black 'n White Fries. Oh. Snap! Location... close proximity to devil's point and DV8.... bonus, thus the three stars. Enjoy.
(3)michael k.
I don't get this town ( Portland ) sometimes. This place gets an average of three stars, and some shit box cart gets five. Whatever. This place is the real deal, and at the same price as Five Guys Burgers (for real), a fair price. The fries are great. The burger was great (needed a little salt) Tip to Foster Burger. Get a wait to be seated sign so you don't have to scold people who just sit down and your golden. And stop calling that a Brioche bun, it's not ....to dense. It's good though.
(4)Rebecca R.
Excellent burger. I added sauteed onion, bacon, and cheddar. It cost a little extra for those toppings but it made it for me. I like that they use leafed iceburg lettuce instead of shredded, give it more crunch during the bite. I enjoyed the Foster sauce. It was a nice alternative to mayo. One star for so so service. We'll go back if we are in the neighborhood or really want a good burger but mostly if we are in the neighborhood
(4)jear b.
Went last night and this place has totally gone down hill. Horrible burger. It had no flavor and tasted low quality. Won't be going bcak.
(1)Lisa M.
This place is kind of hit or miss in every category. Half of the times I have eaten here have been great, the other half not so much. The service is okay. I've never had anyone be outright rude to me here but service is almost always slow and on multiple occasions they have messed up my order and it can take foreverrrrr to get it corrected because they aren't in any hurries! That being said, the food is usually pretty good. I love their fries and house-made pickles and they get their buns from the Asian bakery next door. The burgers themselves inconsistently waffle between good and just kinda ehh and unfortunately, the fries always come out way before the burgers which is no bueno if you like to eat them together, which I do. Overall, pretty good burger place but doesn't live up to the hype in my opinion.
(3)Chad H.
I loved the burger and the service I received here. If you don't go try this place, you're surely missing out of what could be a great experience of a lifetime. I need to go back and try a milkshake with some whiskey in it. My roommate recently had one and he was kind enough to let me try it, and I blew my top with the sheer joy i received from it. if you don't like this place, then F*** you! :)
(4)Michael M.
What I had. Double with cheddar & lettuce. Black and white fries. Mini Green Salad. Anderson Valley Boont Amber. What I thought. Extremely Ordinary. It ate like a Hospital Cafeteria Burger. Meat had zero seasoning. Two patties of bland tasteless ground beef. The damn Bun was more flavorful than the beef!!! The Fries were over seasoned. Way too much salt. I couldn't eat very many of them. Used ketchup to cut the salt taste down..... My wife couldn't finish the last half of her mini burger. There was so much salt on the fries it was burning her tongue. I was on the fence about returning some of our food and probably should have. But I was trying to stay on track to catch a movie. As my hindsight grows I should have just put the fries on the burger. Highlights were the salad, beer, squid ink aioli and the Service. The Service was Great! Better than one would expect in a burger place, I was impressed. Sure you can dress up a diner with cool hip decor but if you fall short on the very item that you choose to market your namesake on then .... Perhaps they should change the name to Foster Salad, Beer & Squid Ink Aioli..... Or season your beef. Extremely let down on this one, i really doubt I will go back. There's more flavor at Burger King down the street, which is a damn shame on so many levels.
(2)Shirley D.
This place is our go-to burger place! LOVE their truffle fries! There can be a bit of a wait at times, but it's well worth it! Great staff also makes this one of our favorite casual places in town.
(4)Phillip H.
One of my favorite burger joints.
(5)Amy A.
On a warm evening, the boyfriend was jonesing for a burger and we also had a mutual lust for a milkshake, so we hopped down to the place. My review is not for carnivores because I had the veggie patty, which was overcooked/fried. We also had the black and white fries, which were "interesting" ("interesting" is a euphemism I tend to use when I'm iffy about it). The BF liked his lamb burger just fine and their malt milkshake was perfectly milkshakey. Even though we only live a few blocks from here, we don't visit very often because it's a bit pricey for a hamburger joint. And I don't blame them for it, I mean half of all hip-hop songs extoll the virtues of making money or facing death while in pursuit of it ("Get Rich or Die Tryin'" - 50 Cent). The food is perfectly fine for what it is, just a bit out of our wallet-range.
(3)Kirk M.
Liked it! Comfortable atmosphere, nice people, good beer, good burgers. Would definitely go back.
(4)Cee A.
You know, when Bon Appetit throws its name on a place, you sort of expect the fare to be phenomenal. And while I enjoyed my meal at Foster Burger, I can't really throw the phenomenal tag on there. First off, I was a little perplexed at how long it took to get seated. We showed up during off-hours, well after the dinner rush on a very rainy Saturday evening. The restaurant was mostly empty, and we were the only ones waiting, yet it still took several minutes to be seated. Pretty simple menu -- four burgers (IIRC), and a couple of options as far as fries go. I went with the house burger and fries. The toppings were mostly awesome -- a heaping scoop of caramelized onions and a slice of medium cheddar. I was disappointed to find leaves of iceberg lettuce, however. I don't know -- I guess I'm expecting green or red leaf if I'm eating a better burger. But was it a better burger? For such a supposedly fancy burger, it was remarkably pedestrian flavor-wise. It wasn't bad, but I figured it'd be knock-it-out-of-the-park awesome. And it most certainly wasn't. The meat was cooked nicely to a medium, but it just tasted unseasoned and essentially bland. Speaking of bland ... the fries ... hand cut, and crispy, but totally plain otherwise. What a sprinkle of seasoned salt, or, I don't know, even plain old Morton's wouldn't have done. It wasn't an awful experience by any stretch. It was good. Three stars is appropriate, but I was expecting a five-star experience.
(3)Lindsey R.
Went here for the first time last night to catch the tail end of the Mercury's Burger Week, and got the "Kimcheeseburger" for $5. It was absolutely superb, and paired with the truffle fries and squid ink aioli, I had a fantastic meal, way more food than I could finish, for $10! Cozy wooden benches, a casual vibe...glad to have this place in the neighborhood! Looks like they have a pretty good happy hour, too.
(5)Jonathan S.
Perfectly Acceptable. Thats my view of the place. I'm sure a lot of people go in, expecting to have their mind blown by some new style of burger. Its a burger joint. You get... wait for it... a burger. A decent burger. I've had better, I've had worse. If I was in the neighborhood again, I'd probably go. Would I make a special drive again? probably not. The black and white fries were a disappointment though. You can barely taste the truffle oil and the cheese just kind of gets clumped together. We took the leftovers home, perhaps we'll try to reheat it and give it a go with our own truffle oil. Definitely not worth the price or the upcharge if you want it with your burger.
(3)Danni D.
Unremarkable. You have no idea how badly I wanted that one word to be my entire review. It is succinct and accurate of our experience. Frankly, you can stop reading now. For those who require additional information, I offer the following: Foster Sauce - flavorless. Fascinatingly flavorless. Side Salad - bland. Cole Slaw - It tasted like...cabbage. Where's the dressing? Bacon - we ordered it, but it never arrived. Caramelized Onion - c'mon guys, call them sautéed onions, unless you're willing to put in the time required over low heat to coax out the sugars. We do know the difference. To be fair, the following items weren't entirely unfortunate tasting: Sesame buns - nice job from the bakery next door. French fries - yeah, they are good. They saved the meal, really. Pickled fruit - props for pickling fruit, because, well, wow. Am I crazy to expect so much more from these guys? Better burgers can be had at: Higgins, Café Castagne, Victory Bar, and Meriwether's to name a handful. Most remarkable part of the meal? Going to the Dairy Queen afterwards.
(2)Kristine P.
So.. Like I mentioned in my previous review, I *might give them another try. Well, I did. The only reason they are getting 1 star is for their fries. They were pretty good. The burger... (I just sighed very loudly) Half of the bottom bun was soaked... with bloody juices. It was mush. Does this sound appetizing to you? My stomach just turned thinking about my experience here. My niece ordered the smaller burger for kids.. the only difference between her burger and mine was the absence of lettuce and tomato. She looked so sad when her burger arrived. All of us at the table gave her some off of our burgers... just pathetic. If you're looking for a burger to make love too, go to The Gladstone Pub and get your world rocked.
(1)Brandi B.
I've been here several times, and overall I really am a fan. The hype has died down also, which means little-to-no wait. But it's not perfect... Foster Burger has changed their menu again, and again there's really good and really okay. The good (really awesome actually) is the black and white fries: perfectly cooked fries in white truffle oil with parmesan and squid ink aioli. Holy bejeebus those things are good. I was also really excited to see that they've started serving a mini burger, but here's the bummer: same size brioche bun, the only difference is that the smaller patty has been smooshed out thinner to fit the large bun. Would be much better if they kept the patty smaller and thicker and just used smaller buns, a la Little Big Burger. I know, making different size buns would be a huge pain in the arse, but the mini is pretty dry and chewy as it is now, and I think for lots of folks the regular size burger is just too much food. as always, huge thumbs up for the tasty pickled stuff and the cockshakes.
(4)Iain M.
It seems that people who are "picky" about burgers end up here, and I am no different. But let me be clear: This is less a review than a personal observation - everyone to their own poison, so to speak. Having once tried (and failed) to get into this place when it had first opened, I originally satisfied myself that $9 was too much for ANY burger; but to wait an hour to pay that $9? Not happening - not now, not ever. Today, however, presented a real opportunity to see what Foster Burger was all about; it had just opened the door and my wife and I were the only ones there. We selected a booth near the kitchen, were immediately greeted, served water consulted the menu. Where were the $9 burgers I had seen on opening night? Not on THIS menu! So the paradigm changed with the $5 price tag, and I was beginning to wonder what I could truly expect for that $5. We ordered the Foster Burger with cheese (five-cheese selection, $1 extra) and sadly noted that "All burgers are cooked medium." Being an eternal optimist (and a die-hard pain-in-the-ass when it comes to burgers), I asked if they couldn't please provide something of a medium rare variety, and the waiter said they would be happy to - and they DID! It was absolutely perfect, and coupled with the sesame seed bun provided by the Vietnamese bakery next door elevated the experience considerably. And I found the burger juicy, but not at all greasy. My only criticism (and it's MY thing, not theirs) is that I tend to judge burger places by the sauce they use in putting the whole thing together - if I want to build my own burger, there's always Fuddrucker's. I want that burger to come to me in completed fashion, as if to say, "OK, this is OUR burger." That said, the fact that they will cook excellent beef to order, then put in on a fabulously fresh bun overcomes everything else. Summary: Great burger, excellent service, great price, in my neighborhood. It doesn't get better than this!
(4)Megan L.
OMG! I have found the best burger joint in town!!! Bonus is that I can walk to it from my house!!!!! I had the Foster Burger with bacon and swiss and it was juicy goodness! Holy cow, the bacon was thick, sweet and juicy like the burger. The bun is a brioche and it is buttery goodness. The Foster sauce is really good as well. My friend had The Burner and it was stacked high full of goodness! We then shared the black and white fries, wow they were tasty!! I will definitely will be a regular here!!
(5)Katrina W.
Few places have the distinction of being easy on the tastebuds both going down the gullet and, later, coming back up. It's not Foster Burger's fault. I have only myself to blame for not heeding the warning signs screaming "STOP! Enough! No More!" but instead continuing to consume, fitting in one enormous, messy, complex, wonderful Kiwi burger (pickled beets and an egg? Why, sure!) and as many fries (well, more, as it turns out) as this stomach could bear. So glad I didn't try to fit a milkshake in on top of all of that. Although I could always go for a good milkshake...mmm.... milkshake... As for my constitution's later rejection of a portion of my Foster Burger experience, my going theory is that it's my body's way of telling me "Woohoo! Now you have room for more!"
(5)Mike K.
Love this place. The burgers are succulent and full of flavor, the music is good, and the servers I've gotten were really nice. The service was a *little* slower than I would have liked, hence no 5th star, but not so slow as to turn me off entirely. I find it fascinating that (based on the few reviews I've read) people either love or hate Foster Burger...there isn't much of a middle ground. For a burger joint that has produced such a schism among Yelpers, it's pretty unassuming: small, dimly lit, decorated with old gig flyers, no giant mascot or wannabe-retro furnishings. It pretty much forces you to devote your attention to the burger itself, and I don't mind saying I like it that way.
(4)Laurel J.
In a quest to find the perfect burger in Portland, we stumbled upon Foster Burger and thought we'd give it a try. First place was originally held by Slow Bar and a not too distant second was Matchbox Lounge. I'm happy to declare Foster Burger the winner. Simple and well made - you can actually taste the beef. A burger comes only with lettuce, onion, pickles and sauce and you can build from there. The boyfriend opted for a coronary and went with cheese, bacon and egg. I went out on a limb and chose a slice of homemade pickled beet. It was devine. I wasn't too impressed with the poutine, but really enjoyed the regular fries as well as the Black and White fries. Ambiance is fun and if you're a music lover, you'll be severely distracted by the music posters from the old Portland music scene - pretty freaking cool. Prices are excellent. The 2 of us have eaten for what it would have cost at Burgerville (just to give you an idea.) Wait staff is great. Very friendly service.
(5)Jarrod S.
I gave it a fair chance, visits were a year apart, on the dot. They got beer, but they also have liquor filled milkshakes, and there are kids everywhere. Bun is awesome, cheese is awesome, toppings are awesome, but both times, I really really didn't like the burger, not at all. It's the grind, it's too fine for the burger and it comes out with the texture of those pre-frozen monster patties. I have issue with some textures of food, and I couldn't finish. This is my problem though, but it is the first time I have had to stop eating on my burger quest. The fries were awesome I must say, and the service could not have been better. The beer I wanted happened to be on special because they needed to get rid of the keg...score! I can't give them less than ,2 because beyond what I didn't like about the sandwich, everything else was great enough to bring the rating up a star. On the "burger-boner meter," it doesn't register a half chub, and that is unfortunate, it's a burger place, and I can't see coming here for just the fries, or the cock-shakes.
(2)Jenn W.
Okay so I really do love this place. But it gets three stars for how long I have to wait for my food. I have been here for over an hour before waiting for my food, while people who arrive well after me get theirs first. However...it is delicious. The squid ink aoli fries (or the black and white fries) are awesome. All the alcohol here is good, and the milk shakes with alchol in it are awesome (and called a cock shake) Great location, fresh ingredients. If only their staff was a little more effiecient this would be 5 stars.
(3)Aaron S.
Very Tasty and reasonably priced. I would recommend trying..
(4)Shaina S.
Foster Burger is an interesting twist on a burger bar with changing menu items and a unique style. When I heard about the new burger bar in town, I pictures a 50's style diner with red vinyl booths and a jukebox. Instead the atmosphere is warm and moody with high backed wooden booth, almost like a tavern. I think this is a tribute to the well-loved Cava, which used to occupy the space. The menu features unique combinations like the Kiwi Burger which has a fried egg and a slice of pickled beet on a lamb burger. There are daily fry, soup, and shake specials which make eating here exciting every time. The wedge salad was ridiculously awesome. It was huge so I took most of it home and it was even good the next day! It was chock full of delicious delicious things like homemade croutons, a giant piece of fancy bacon, and that yummy green goddess dressing. In fact, I ate so much of that and the fries that I didn't have any room for a burger! Don't judge me for reviewing a burger place without eating the burger though. I have it on good authority from the other four people in my party that the burgers are super juicy and delicious and I like that they use fresh buns from the bakery next door. We ordered the black & white fried which were good, though the squid ink aoili didn't do much for me. It was tasty but I was kind of freaked out by the color- just a personal preference. My vanilla malt was yummy and a nice change from the watery frappes you often find on the East Coast. The waitstaff was pretty friendly, though we sometimes saw them walking around looking a little confused. We went about a week after opening though, so I'll cut them some slack. All in all, I think Foster Burger has lots of potential and I would definitely return for that salad, and maybe even to try a burger next time!
(4)robert a.
I would like to thank the good people at Foster Burger for bringing the hamburger back from its long hiatus in culinary purgatory. Generally if I'm eating a burger, I'm not eating something more interesting -- I've simply settled for a convenient meal that I needn't think about. Since my first visit to Foster Burger, I've thought of nothing else. First of all, the bun is a celebration of life all its own. You could put yesterday's newspaper inside this bun and still enjoy every bite. And the beef has a distinctive beef taste. Obvious? Not if you've eaten many burgers elsewhere recently. My only problem with Foster Burger is that too many people seem to have caught on to the place. Both times I've visited, all the tables were full and I ended up taking my lunch to-go and eating it in my car. Maybe next time I'll get lucky and win the musical chairs contest. And, oh yes, there will be a next time.
(4)Jenna R.
Best Affordable Burger in town. I love it I get the mini which is defiantly enough burger with bacon and blue cheese. I went here 3 times in one week i could eat here everyday, SOOOOO GOOOD! plus they have happy hour and beer and what looks like a full bar. This Place Rules. OH I TOTALLY FORGOT TO ADD THE BLACK AND WHITE FRIES ARE TO DIE FOR!!!!!!! NOT JOKING BEST FRIES EVER
(5)Andrew S.
The Burger was good, patty was lean and juicy. Bun was also nice and fresh. I was not a big fan of the little fries. Foster sauce is nice. It's a good spot for an original old fashion burger. Good Brew, milkshakes and Banana Spilt. Service was sharp.
(3)Amy C.
Best, best, BEST burger I have ever had. The BEST!! So, I need to preface my review by saying...I am weird when it comes to burgers. I like a burger with no frills...as in no mayo, no ketchup, no tomato, no lettuce...you get the picture. I'm just a meat, bun and cheese kind of a gal. That being said, I have never really been a huge fan of burgers in general. Grilled meat patty...check. Bun...check. Slice of cheese...check. Pretty standard fare...doesn't vary much from burger shack to burger shack. They're all basically the same to me. Nothing to write home about. That is...until I went to Foster Burger. They have amazing meat patties...so deliciously seasoned and grilled to perfection. Still a tad pinkish in the center, and oh, so juicy and delicious. Fabulous homemade brioche buns...lightly crisp and still squooshy at the same time. Top it all with a slice of Tillamook cheddar (IS there any other cheddar, I ask??) and you have a burger purists' dream come true. Honestly, I can't exactly put my finger on what makes these burgers so delicious...but these taste as if they are made with angel's wings and leprechaun glitter. Simply magical. I live in Beaverton, and my husband and I have been known to drive over to SE Portland for no other reason than to get a Foster Burger fix. As far as non-food aspects go, the service is always efficient and the waitstaff are unassuming. And I love the decor...it's a real blast from the past. It's fun to read all the local concert fliers plastered all over the walls. As a Portland high schooler in the late 80's/early 90's, I love seeing posters from the bands that played at Satyricon, LaLuna, etc. back in the day.
(5)Dan H.
Yes, I went there. What does he mean you might be asking yourself? Read on. I had the Foster Road Pile-Up and I ate the whole damn thing. Even after our table devoured a large order of Black and White Fries. Is the squid ink aioli good? It didn't taste any different from regular aioli. It is black however, which is pretty cool. The Pile-Up is huge and a mess and you can't look away according to the menu. Huge? Not huge, but certainly not small. A mess. Most definitely. I defy you to get through that burger without the bun falling apart on you. Fried egg, pickled beets, onions, smoked bacon and the kitchen sink. I'm full just thinking about it.
(4)Cassandra D.
I can't afford to go here everyday, not because it is super expensive, but because I order everything that looks good and end up with too much food! So, I usually get two or three meals out of a Foster Burger visit. Tonight I had fries with poutine and a milkshake and for my midnight snack I brought home a veggie burger topped with like everything they had on their list. YUM! So excited.
(5)Moe B.
This place is cute. Walking in your greeted by a friendly laid back atmosphere, good tunes and walls covered in band flyers. Me and the babe started with cockshakes. That's no typo. These are some super chocolately bourbon milkshakes. So so delicious and on Thursday there only 5! The staff rocks. The burgers were tastey and well sized. My one complaint is on the turkey burger the Bacon comes fused in the party and not traditional pieces. I wouldn't mind but it wasnt specified anywhere and I was having Bacon jealousy over my boyfriends thick slabs on his burger. Otherwise this place is pretty rad and I'm happy to see it join the foster hood.
(4)Natalie W.
When I used to go out to eat with my grandmother, she'd always order her burger medium-well or well. Being far too young to understand exactly what these distinctions meant, and certainly not having much of a discernible palate, I usually followed her lead. But then I stopped eating meat, started again years later, and realized quite quickly just how good rare beef is. So much juice and flavor! I don't crave burgers often, but when I do I like them to be good, not just okay. And cooked to my request. But this so rarely happens! and even at one restaurant (that will remain nameless) I was told point-blank by the waiter that they only cook their burgers medium. Ugh. Was I destined to a life of overcooked and mediocre burgers? But Foster Burger has rescued me. Last night, I ordered my burger (The Burner, with siracha/ranch sauce, jalepenos, onion straws and cheeses) medium rare, and the first bite I took revealed a delicious pink inside. The burger got messy (my boyfriend, who ordered the same but without the sauce, did not have this problem), but oh! so good! And so were the fries.
(5)Shawn H.
great place....cool actually. I am a big fan of all the band posters too. The food was pretty good. The "large" fry wasn't exactly large, but all-in-all a great experience!
(4)Chelsy W.
I dont eat burgers often. hard to tell. Nice atmosphere The area some cool bars
(3)Von T.
Hung out on the patio today and I had the Foster Burger again. It was quite delicious. The meat was nicely seasoned the bun was nicely toasted. The house made pickles so good and crisp. My son had the FoPo Putine abd it was amazing! Fries with cheese curds, pork belly, gravy and sautéed onions, I had never has this dish before and I will be back for it! The small is a meal in itself. The large I'm sure you would have to share.
(4)Mike P.
I wouldn't know Andy Ricker from Andy Roddick. I read the polarizing reviews when Foster Burger opened and got to (finally) try it for myself on a recent Saturday afternoon. There was no wait and our server was friendly in explaining the menu. I checked out the rock posters-as-wallpaper decor while waiting for the food. The Foster Burger: About what I expected from an $8 burger. Not huge, not small with the fixins' on the side. I topped mine with pickled beets for $.50 that added a nice "zing". Foster Burger makes it clear the standard level of doneness is medium and in hindsight should have ordered medium well. The standard fries are top rate. ______Post Script Impressions_____ Friendly and just attentative enough service Posters make me excited for Flatstock 27 at Bumbershoot Grass fed Niman Ranch beef
(4)Julia L.
S'a good burger. Good happy hour deals. Comparable to Five Guys or Deas in-and-out... Only The Foster's burgers are bigger.
(4)Rebecca S.
I heard about Foster Burger by word of mouth some time ago and when the day came I wanted a burger and just couldn't bring myself to have another 5 Guys or Red Robins burger I gave it a try. I got just a basic burger, no bells or whistles. A juicy burger, lettuce, onion, pickles, and the foster sauce. It was wonderful. When you have a well cooked, good burger there is no need for the piles of toppings you can find at other burger joints. While the burger is good if I was to judge Foster Burger on their burgers alone they would rate only a solid 4 stars. But luckily Foster Burger also has fries, specifically the Black & White Fries. At first the black dipping sauce is off putting but if you give it a try you will never look back. The Black & White Fries are a thing of dreams, they haunt mine and I am sure if you try them they will haunt yours too.
(5)Grez T.
Ugh. This review will be short and sweet. I've eaten many, many burgers in my life and very much know the difference between a bad burger and a good burger. The straight up Foster Burger (whatever the basic one with fries and a drink) tasted like the average brew pub available at small town Sysco-catered place. Like it came from a truck that delivers to several restaurants every night. Just mediocre. Maybe it was the hype, maybe it was the absolute basicness, maybe it was the fact that they are infinitely better burgers available at so many other places, but I will not be going back here ever again.
(2)Kyle E.
Great staff!! Even better food!!! I had a small Eat your greens salad and a built burger - amazing. For the burger, I had sautéed onions and pickled beets. I know, weird, the waitress recommended the pickled and are actually pretty good. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Hannah E.
I was happy. Not overly impressed. But satisfied, happy. Good burgers. Nothing exceptional as far as meat (not Slow Bar or Serrato status) but a darn good burger. We got the spicy burger thing- can't remember the name. It was too big, like so big it was difficult to eat Big. The fries with gravy and cheese curds. It was good. Super good. I got a burger with mushrooms and swiss. It was amazing. The mushrooms were super fresh and you could tell they just sauteed them- not soggy. Atmosphere is alright, not obnoxious. Big comfy booths. i would return.
(4)Tim L.
I love you Foster Burger! I love that every time I come in the food is great! I love that the menu is simple! I love that location is cozy and cool! I love that after trying arguably the top 10 burger joints around, no one was even close to Foster Burger! Oh and today, I love the chef who made the biggest hottest Burner Burger Ever!!! Keep rocking Foster Burger!
(5)Jamie S.
Great burgers & fries. Reasonable prices & good service. Had the burner, wish it was spicier. Will go back.
(4)John S.
The burger was great, I had the Turkey Bacon Burger with a side of fries. Service was great, I went in around 1pm. Only a few people in. The fries came out first about 5 minutes before the burger which I think is a great idea. Too bad the fries while very crispy and hot were very under seasoned and bland. A big disappointment I figured from the crew that brought us Pok Pok, they'd be packed with flavor... nope. The burger was great, the "Foster Sauce" very good. No complaints about it at all. Very good, juicy, flavorful the bacon was great, not a micro thin slice like many places give. Price isn't bad either. $6.5 for burger $3.5 for the fries. Next time I'll probably skip the fries.
(4)Ill L.
The service is great but the food doesn't stand out. The fries had about a pound of salt on them and the meat on the burger had no flavor at all. Also tell me how you can mess up a Shirley Temple drink. Just thinking about all that syrup makes me want to gag. Maybe if I was wasted I could enjoy some Foster Burger again.
(3)Stacey M.
I think of burgers as a drive through option when you need something quick and easy. I don't order them when I go to a restaurant. However, my experience at Foster Burger might have changed my mind. The place was comfortable and the service was excellent. I ended up with the Kiwi Burger (Ground Lamb with all sorts of extras including pickled beets) and Poutine. I have been craving the burger ever since...the poutine was an experience...it was really good, especially for someone who doesn't like gravy, but I think I might try the black and white fries next time. Another big plus...fresh buns from the bakery next door! Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Corrie N.
Dear. God. So, I had been wanting to go here for a while, and my expectations were pretty high. We rolled in on a Tuesday at around 9. With a toddler. I would completely expect an eye roll, or at least a muttered disparaging comment about a party of 5 including a child that showed up an hour before close, however the guy that helped us was awesome. I think there were only 2 other people who were finishing up when we arrived. I ordered the Foster Burger with cheddar, fries and a root beer. My friends ordered a coffee milkshake which I tried and then promptly ordered one of my own-it was that good. I had my burger prepared medium rare and it came out PERFECT. It's almost always more well done than I want, but not this time. At the table, we all kept groaning that we were so full but couldn't quit eating because it was all just so fricking good! I have literally no complaints about this place. The food was fantastic, the service was not super outstanding, but completely fine and friendly. If you're debating, definitely go!
(5)MIKE J.
The first thing i like about this place is the water and cups allready on table, small feature but i like it.The burger is outstanding and the meat is top quality and cooked to perfection not to thick but not thin at all. The fries are some of the best in town and i love the fact they arrive before your burger so that u can enjoy just how great they are on there own. Home made pickles just make it that much better and the bacon is A1 Pork perfection. Skip five guys and drive past that crap burger hut at Bridgeport and get one of the best burger this city has the service was also super good
(5)Holy-foo' X.
Dang! That burger has a seriously complicated flavor profile ...! I keep asking, in one lovely establishment after another, for their hottest, spiciest, most molten-lava-like entree, begging them to acquaint me w/a substantial element of pain. One of these days, an eatery will fully meet the challenge, and make me eat my words, so much more readily than I can stomach their liquid-hot "magma" wares. Foster Burger, sadly, was yet another notch in the belt of places that simply didn't answer the call. Though "the burner" had a lovely little kick and after burn, it most assuredly did NOT induce involuntary sweat. There was a conspicuous absence of pain! This, however, did NOT make the trip there a waste, by any means... I can scarcely recall the last time I had a burger where I stopped mid-chew, so many times, in delighted recognition of yet another welcome ingredient. The Burner succeeds in many respects--- just not the one I was most eagerly and foolishly wishing for.... In other news, the soup was not so good. Again. This is twice now that I've had crunchy rice in Foster Burger's soup---am I missing something here? Am I being a soup snob, or egad, perchance even worse, a rice snob here? I can't absolutely swear to it, but I'm ALMOST sure crunchy rice is almost never the goal.... Bottom line: Foster Burger gets it mostly right. And I love their retro-80s, generic stamped t-shirts. I might even buy one, next go round out that way...
(4)Gary K.
The poutine selections are wonderful...and delicious :) The burgers were good...above average.. The bun really makes the burger. The drinks were very tasty! Service was very good :)
(4)Bud G.
3 parties of 3 waiting, they give a big booth to a party of 2 and left a 2 top empty, Seriously? +1 point for having some cool toppings +1 for some tasty pickled stuff But that is about it. We have been to the F-Burger several times and my impression is they are over-hyped, mediocre burgers served by people who seem to believe that their concept is way too cool to actually care about their customers or the quality of their product.
(2)Emee P.
I very much enjoyed my burger. The add ons were excellent and unexpected -- I ordered jalapeños and fried onions; the jalapeños were actually homemade pickled ones, not the attenuated canned ones you usually see at burger places. (Super spicy! I did have to pick off a few.) Everything was fresh and tasty. We came at an off hour -- Sunday at 4pm after swimming at Mt. Scott with the kids. It was quiet and not busy and service was fast. The kids loved their mini burgers. The fries were also homemade and great. Also good selection of beer. The concert posters everywhere are fun. I will definitely be back to try more permutations.
(5)Nathaniel B.
The only thing that keeps it from being 5 stars is it is a little spendy. The food is amazing. Great burgers, yummy fries with lots of options for dipping sauces and lots of beverage options. I personally love the ambiance, there are tons of old indie concert posters covering the walls that bring back memories! If you were a concert goer in Portland in the 90s, you'll recognize a lot of the posters / bands. The service was also really good.
(4)Kelsey M.
Very greasy burgers that are delicious, if you like that sort of thing. I love the atmosphere of the place too. They have concert posters covering every inch of the walls, and some tall, wooden booths which result in a kind of quirky, "McMenaminsy" vibe that I always enjoy. But you really must try the Cockshake. Yeah, I said it. I love Cockshakes. Get your mind out of the gutter, it's just a milkshake with liquor in it, and they have a daily special for 5 bucks. A cocktail-milkshake... get it?! My favorite is the butterscotch milkshake with Bailey's in it (I think), and I've also had a chocolate milkshake with cinnamon "fire" whiskey in it. Both were absolutely scrumptious and go great with a greasy burger and fries. Don't be scared to order it because of the name. Say it loud and proud, and let them know that you've just got to get your daily Cockshake.
(4)Jason W.
Great burgers here done right. And best buns in town (behind my wife of course)
(5)Jenn C.
Goddammit I wanted to like this place. First of all the environment is cool as hell. The walls are papered (literally) with old concert flyers just stapled to it. It's nostalgic and you kinda want to steal like 10 of them to take home and staple on your rock wall. But you don't because that would be unethical. That staff are super nice too, which makes you want to like this place all the more. They have a decent beer list, which could be enough to go back. The food however--man what a let down. Ok that's not entirely fair. The burger let me down. The Black and White Fries along with the rootbeer float I "shared" (Hey if you're not drinking I will so better get it while you can) were great. But "burger" is in your name, which implies that your burger is effing awesome. Yeah notsomuch. Instant gut bomb folks--The bread good, but g-r-e-a-s-y. The patty pretty small. It's about as good as an 80% (or lower) fat ground beef as one would expect at a carnival. Which is super disappointing. Maybe it was a bad, busy, insert excuse here, but it was enough for me to be VERY hesitant to try another burger, because the bathroom aftermath wasn't worth it. Sorry Foster Burger. I want to like you.
(2)Chad S.
Why you want me eat nappy overhype burger? I love burgers. If the burger had not existed at the time of my birth I have faith that I would have somehow found myself sleepwalking, massaging ground beef into some sort of ellipsoid and discovering the mincemeat sandwich upon awakening. Foster, why would you do this? Why would you open a place to specialize in burgers, get some celebrity chefs to invest/slap their names on it, then have them walk away in deist apathy while sad patties march like picnic ants out of the kitchen? The bun is tasty, props to Anzen. The milkshake is adequate, but you can't take credit for blending milk and ice cream and sit on your heap like the shit king of dessert. "Good" stops there. Limp sad grey patty for price too high. Throngs of screaming infants. Slow service. Oh, and that creepy burger. I am confident that if I blindfolded you and offered you a foster burger, a Carl's Junior 6 dollar thickball and and Sonic Cheesediddler you would not choose the FB. I want my two dollars! Oh wait, I think it was seven........
(1)Bizzo F.
This place will serve you a solid burger. They're quite good, but I was shocked at how minimal their menu is. IMO if you specialize in one thing (burgers!) there should be many many variations. Essentially you have the option to build a burger how you like, and have it cooked how you like. This may be plenty for most people, but I like creative suggestions. The one burger on the menu that did this (The Burner), was GREAT. Need more of this! The Burner= roasted jalepeno's, fried onion, lettuce, sriracha, and 2 types of cheese. Yum. Edit: 12/2/12. UPGRADE. I just keep going back over and over again. I'm always very impressed with the friendly service, and the menu has expanded to offer delightful combo's of ingredients.
(4)Jessica M.
I usually get the mini Foster Burger that I customize how I want, but the Burner is good, too. The fries are tasty and the small portion size is enough to share between two people. An overall awesome burger joint. I am lucky to live so close!
(4)Heidi K.
I'm right in the middle here. The burgers are pretty delicious. They have homemade buns and fries that are to die for! Although I brought my dad in once and our waiter (and myself) forgot to tell him that the burgers are done medium well. I tried to impress my dad with a sweet new Portlandy burger place, but when my dad's burger came with pink in the middle, he was rather shocked and I had to trade him the veggie burger I had ordered. We heard a lady behind us complaining of the same thing. We also ordered the fennel coleslaw and it only had 3 slices of fennel on top, and it had hardly any dressing on it. One other thing that I don't understand- if you order a burger and fries, they bring your fries out about 15-20 minutes before your burger ever comes, so your fries are cold by the time the full meal is there. Don't get me wrong, The atmosphere is fun and loud, as a burger joint should be. The waiters are nice.Their Shirley temples are really good too! I will still go and look forward to trying some of their other dishes.
(3)Brawny D.
I like you, Foster Burger. And you are much larger inside than you appear!!! Went here on a weekday before the hipster dinner crowd took over and ordered the turkey burger with the hand-cut fries. The burger was good, but couldn't compare to Violetta's similar creation (sorry, Foster Burger). The drinks were good and strong, but service was a little slow..even when they weren't overwhelmed with customers. Will be back again!
(4)Natalia D.
My heart exploded, both with happiness and an alarming rise in blood pressure. Thank you, thank you! The bread, the cheese! The everything. Beyond rad service.
(5)Jacob V.
Worth a visit just tell them to keep the squid ink aoli its a dark gray not appetizing.
(3)Don B.
I'm over it. Whatever made me think that this burger was not worth the price, whatever made me not want to give FB the benefit of the doubt, whatever made me uncomfortable about the whole situation. I'm over it. Foster Burger has made some changes, I've changed my attitude, and all I can say is that I'm pretty stoked with the outcome. Foster Burger has changed up its burger a bit. They now make their own brioche buns in-house. The burger patty no longer has pig back fat in it. The price has increased by $.50 but it seems to me (and maybe I'm wrong) but the helping of fries seems more heaping. What motivated me to come back to try the burger again? Kurt, the owner, reached out to me, and to Yelp, to follow up on a year's worth of trial and error, criticism, and unexpected fame. He told me they changed up the burger and that they had never intended the hype. The always wanted this to just be a chill burger joint. Of course with names like Ricker and Mondok attached, how could there not be hype, right? But whatever - the motives were genuine. He offered to invite the community back in to try the burger. And they did. And it was good. I sampled the burger on the day they hosted an Elite event and I could taste the difference. Whereas before the burger was simply alright, the new buttery bun and perfectly-cooked patty marked a striking upgrade from the prior incarnation. The perfectly-greasy quality meat flavor gave me that smile that only a really good burger can impart. So I returned recently on a Sunday afternoon to try the real deal for myself, and ordered a medium rare foster burger with cheese and grilled onions. For $9, it came with a huge helping of fries, iceberg, house-made pickles and Foster Sauce. It was cooked perfectly, nice and greasy, and so delicious. The new brioche bun holds up to the burger so much better than the prior An Xuyen buns did (and that rich buttery taste doesn't hurt much either). I want to balk at the $9 price tag but the pile of fries was so big I couldn't finish it all. So I guess I'm over my resistance to the trend that the average price for a burger these days is up near $10. I've tried so hard to deny it, but it is what it is. The new incarnation of the essential flagship dish of Foster Burger is enough to have me wanting to come back more often than my heart and waistline desire. I'm sold. I'm sold by the positive changes, I'm sold by the A-grade effort that the owner and staff have made to create a truly neighborhood spot to come grab a delicious burger and beer. I'm sold by the new patio (yes, with big screen for games!). Added bonus points for the delicious cock-shakes: cocktail milkshakes that are downright delicious. Mmmmmm.... soft serve. Foster Burger is one of the better, if not one of the best burgers in Portland. Be prepared to pay for it, but you do get what you pay for.
(5)Tabitha T.
We've been here a couple times and the burgers are good and fairly priced. Will be back.
(4)Ricky M.
Foster Burger is a fun burger joint. IU had the BBQ burger and it was awesome. The vibe of this place is also good. I love the old concert flyers on the wall. I even found some old shows that I had been too. Long live La Luna! The prices are comparable to most other quality burger joints as well. I will definitely eat here again.
(4)Sarah E.
This place has excellent burgers. It's nice that I could add what ever I wanted to the burger. You wouldn't want to add too much to the burger itself because it would mask the seasonings they used and the burgers natural and meatiness flavor. I added a 2 yr. aged sharp cheddar. I have no idea what that cheddar it was. It seemed a little mushy for cheese but I could taste the sharpness melted over the burger. The only draw back to this burger is that the meat itself fell apart which made it very messy to eat. The meat did not hold well together and it was crumbly, but the taste was impeccable! They served with home made fries. These are by far the best restaurant fries I've tasted! I was a little disappointed in the beer selection, but hey I guess this is a burger place not a brew pub.
(4)Lily R.
I honestly can't even comprehend how this place has 3.5 stars. It deserves endless stars in my eyes. The burgers are so consistently excellent, the fries so perfectly cooked, and the milkshakes so wonderfully creamy that I cannot go here and not get the full works. And I am a college student with limited funds. I have claimed endless times that this burger is the best burger in portland, without a doubt. My friends and I have even contemplated multiple times about what makes this burger so....well, perfect. I have literally never tasted a bun (made by the delicious Vietnamese bakery next door) that brings so much to the burger. It's not only a vessel, it adds to the flavor. Their meat is thick and always cooked right. Yet, they always have a delicious veggie option! But anyways, to cut to the point: THIS BURGER IS AWESOME AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU. SO, even though this place is out of the way and there are strip clubs surrounding it, make the time to come and visit. You will not regret it.
(5)Caroline R.
I had been greatly anticipating eating at Foster Burger after reading articles about the people involved and their use of sustainable, local food products. Pok Pok is one of our favorite restaurants and we have never had a bad experience in the many times we've eaten there. Service and food at Pok Pok are always good. After hearing that Andy Ricker was one of the owners of Foster Burger, I anticipated the same quality service and food. I was sorely disappointed. Here's how the meal went down: We arrived at 5:10, ten minutes after opening, to an already 1/2 full waiting room of diners. We all could clearly see that only 2 tables had been seated. There were obvious looks of confusion on all our faces as to why there wasn't an effort to seat us if the entire restaurant was empty. From what I could see there were two cooks/chefs in the kitchen, two servers on the floor, and one bartender. One of the servers was playing double duty as hostess. She was pleasant and did her best to explain to us that they were staggering the tables so the kitchen wouldn't get slammed (poor woman having to bear the brunt of what I'm sure is not her decision to stagger the tables). While this may be true, it doesn't add up that even after that explanation it took 10 more minutes for her to seat 2 more tables. Since we were about 4th on the waiting list, at that rate (2 tables seated every 10 minutes) we were faced with waiting another 20 minutes for our table, a total of 30 minutes, with an empty restaurant staring us in the face...do you see how frustrating that be for a customer? It leaves the impression that you aren't prepared to be open at 5 and need extra time to get it together, or that the competency level of the staff is not up to handling a new successful restaurant. Neither of which might be true but those are the lines of logic that run through a customer's head when trying to figure out why we were waiting when the restaurant is empty. Here's the deal, I get it, you've just opened, there have been write ups, you get slammed because everyone wants to try your restaurant. Our first visit to your restaurant has to be a home run. As an experienced diner, I am more than happy to wait for a table, when it makes sense. None of this made sense. What made even less sense is why the staff isn't offering to get folks a beverage while waiting. With a drink in hand most people are content to wait, not to mention they are less likely to leave in frustration because now they have a tab open. Most of all, you could be increasing your revenues by at least 10% on each ticket if you sold beverages to the waiting. Pok Pok gets that whole formula, they have dedicated hosts, they have servers actively getting drinks into the hands of those waiting, I don't understand why that formula hasn't transferred to this new restaurant. In the time we waiting we saw 8 people leave in frustration, and we were just about to leave when we were called to be seated. Seriously, in this economy can you afford to lose those 8 potential customers who now are spreading the word to their friends, family and associates that they will never go back to Foster Burger? I noticed right after we were seated, around 6pm, two more staff people came on shift. It's Saturday, you know you're going to get hit at opening, why wouldn't you bring these two people on shift at opening?? All that said, once we were seated things went well for the most part. Our server was a bit abrupt, but she was one of the people who just came on shift, and she took our order as she was tying her apron on. She didn't tell us the specials and didn't check back after we got our food to see if we wanted another beer (more lost revenue). Let me say this loud and clear, THE FOOD WAS GREAT. Burger was flavorful, cooked to medium to perfection, bun was delicious, hand cut fries good, though I would advise against salting them, let the customer salt them to taste. The weird wait at the beginning had us thinking that maybe this was going to be more upscale than it was. When all is said and done, this is a burger joint, the burgers delivered in plastic baskets lined with checkered paper. You have got to figure out the opening strategy, and the waiting room situation. What is the solution? Hire another cook, more servers, a dedicated host/hostess? If you need to stagger, then maybe require reservations though this would be antithetical to the whole burger joint vibe. I'm sorry that all this needed to be said. I want Foster Burger to be awesome, it's in our neighborhood and there is nowhere else near that will give us grass fed beef, cooked to perfection on a delicious bun that was baked next door. Please work it out, but until then I'm afraid we won't be back anytime soon.
(2)Darren A.
ok..so this was the place my friend BEGGED me to join him at. We drove to east jesus and could barely find the place. The whole way there he's going on and on about this chef and that chef, and milkshakes with booze, blah, blah, blah. I'm like all I want is a good burger. The place itself was clean and nicer than the neighborhood would suggest but the food took forever, and it was noisy; we had a very loud family behind us. My burger fell apart in my hands, the fries were lame, and I've had better shakes at Carl's Junior. If you live in this hood (and god bless you if you do), it's not horrble, in fact I saw a salad go by that I would totally order, but I would never make the drive again.
(2)Coral C.
Overrated much? Blah.
(2)Joe H.
So I've finally gone here now that they hype/bashing/whatever you want to call it has died down. ATMOSPHERE: HELLA cozy. There is plenty of curb parking in front of the place & walking into the front door puts you into a built-in covered patio extension of the building thing. Pub Tables occupy the patio & there are booths & wooden tables in the main section. They "wallpapered" the interior with old local show posters (Roseland, Crystal, etc.) Finally, there is a small fridge display with jars of pickled things & a small bar you can sit at with candles that also adorn the daylight windows along the wall. FOOD: I liked it. Ordered: Black & White Fries. Foster Burger w/ sauteed Onions & Beecher's Cheddar. Side Salad. (you have a choice of a heaping pile of fries, coleslaw, salad, or soup w/ burgers) They also have cocktail & "cock-shake" specials as well as Bottled/Tap Sodas & they give a big carafe of water at each table. The burger was decent, not my personal TOP in Portland, but enjoyable nonetheless. They served it with lettuce, onions, & pickles as well as a side of their Foster Sauce (think: homemade delicious fry sauce). Fries were DELICIOUS. Hand-Cut, perfectly Fried. Squid Ink Aioli might turn some people off, but it was a nice option to dip fries into. For everything, pricing is a little much IMO. $1.00 extra for Beecher's Cheddar? They nickel & dime you on the extras. Also, considering how all the sauces, ranch, aioli, is all handmade...I wish they made their own ketchup & mustard too. Even better if they offered other fry dipping sauces. SERVICE: GREAT. Welcoming, Inviting, Friendly. I was there on a Thursday early evening, & the gal was on top of it. Attentive & explained things at ease to my co-diners. All the servers were chatting it up w/ people at the bar, tables, etc. Very "neighborhoody". CURVE: I'd go there again. Definitely one of the better burgers in Portland but can get a little pricey. Would be a Solid 3.5 STARS if I could do that...
(4)Jake E.
Great burgers cooked exactly the way you order them. The house pickled items are off the chain.
(4)Kohlrabi P.
One of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Bonus: food comes in tacky plastic burger baskets lined with parchment paper! Secret sauce is A+.
(5)Angela M.
HHad the veggie burger. It was better than some but not worth $9
(2)Teresa C.
At the urging of my close friends, they took me to Foster Burger for what was described to me as "one of the best burgers shacks in the world"; and I have to say I was not let down by their auspicious description. Being a vegetarian I was of course wary of going to a "burger shack"; HOWEVER the veggie burger was not some crappy mushroom latent garden-burger impersonator, but rather a tasteful homemade masterpiece. Be advised though that I think the burger was fried, which of course only added to its flavor explosion; but defiantly not something to do everyday. The place was crowded, but with flavors like that it was to be expected. I highly recommend this place; it's worth the wait.
(4)Mike J.
First time was good. Second time was great. Probably not the best burger in PDX, but it's great nonetheless. Service needs some improvement.
(5)Larry C.
Foster Burger serves a very good hamburger and I will probably go back with my family. We were a group of 10 and got great service. It is a funky little place that has a small bar in the back corner...it is small but quaint. Crazy band posters on the walls makes for fun reading. "Cocktails" made some of the ladies blush....that was funny! until they read the menu. My friend had the Pile Up Burger at our urging, beets and all! He said it was a good burger, and not being a beet lover said he would cut back on the beets, but still great burger. I had the Foster Burger and fries. It was a very good hamburger and to drink I had a ginger ale. Milk shakes are too expensive for what you get....good, but expensive. The Foster sauce was great and deserves to be poured over the burger and fries...forget ketchup! My suggestion...give it a try, you won't regret the trip!
(3)Ben R.
Good food, horrible service. I don't know if horrible service is the right word, It was more like no service. After they took our order there was really no more interaction. They dropped our food off but I don't think they even stopped walking or looked our direction when they dropped it off. They just sort of set the tray of burgers on the table and kept on walking to the next table. So they were slammed right? No, there were only two other couples in the whole place. From that point forward there was no more interaction with the waiter. No refills, no how is everything, nothing. After we finished eating, we sat there for 15 minutes before finally bussing our own tables to let them know we were ready for the check. Finally they dropped the check off. Still no "How was everything". Just another walk by drop off. Never going back.
(2)J.P. S.
As the self proclaimed Burger Queen of San Francisco the first thing I was worried about when I moved to Portland was a finding the perfect burger. I tried the food carts, slipped into HUB, Burgerville and Dots a few times and wasn't impressed with any of them. Sometimes what you need is right in your backyard so one night I decided to try out Foster Burger. One of the best burger I've had period. I've been eating burgers internationally for over 20 years and whod've thunk one of the best I'd eat would be in Portland. Consistent tasting not a fan of their pickles though, great atmosphere with all the rock show posters, the drinks at the bar were a little expensive but i'll deal. as for the service it was a little rocky because the girl i was served by was being trained but she did great and was really sweet. I'll def be coming back soon
(4)Scott M.
Foster Burger now has a covered patio without outdoor heaters. Watched Monday Night Football there last night. Very comfortable and really good food.
(4)Katie O.
A quick primer for Foster Burger: Order a burger. I went with five friends who all enjoyed their beef, mushroom and lamb burgers. Do not order the fish. I ordered the cod. I'm being nice when I simply state: it was not good. Don't bother with an appetizer of soup or fries. Just order a burger. Maybe a beer too. They have good local beers on tap. Despite the ownership's reputations, eat at Foster Burger with expectations on par with eating in a burger joint; don't eat here on a night when you're wanting to be wowed by service, ambiance or cuisine and you should be just fine.
(2)Orian I.
mama luuurves a good burger, and always on the quest for this tasty meaty treat. My pal said I gotta go so off we go. so, i know people say there's a wait, we didn't experience that , but I think it's good to be prepared. The interior like said previously, pretty typical neighborhood pub type. nothing spectacular, and the patio is covered but kind of chilly. neither of these are gripes, just observations. onto the good stuff. mmm..so the shake? yes, it cost 7$ and yes it's almost worth it. we shared (I'd recommend unless that's all your going to eat) choco malt. this was awwwwwesome. so tasty. good ice vanilla, mix with perfectly speckled chocolate, nicely blended with still nice big chunks of chocolate. tasty. we got one foster burger and one lamb. we liked the lamb better. the blend of that tasty over easy egg and tasty pickled beets with that earth lamb taste was perfect. i loved that bun. perfectly grilled, soft and crispy it was super. the foster burger i got with aged cheddar and bacon. so the bacon was very tasty, the cheese kind of wasted couldn't really taste it. so the burger patty itself, a little on the small side. it was cooked to a nice medium, which i found delicious. all in all i thought it was on the over kill side with the back fat, i think it would taste just as good without it. but interesting. in my opinion is was more greasy than juicy. now the fries? the fries were done right. tasty correctly salted. they were scarfed down. so..in conclusion. this was a good burger, i enjoyed it. I thought the shake was delish and the burgers were good. the stars are more like 3 and a half. I'm not sure i would travel to get there, but i think it's worth checking out.
(3)Joshua B.
Amazing place. Even a gourmet burger joint shouldn't feel frou frou. This is the absolute apex for a burger joint.
(5)Marta K.
Milkshakes were good, huge and super thick, milkshake cocktail also excellent. Fries and pickles were good. Staff was friendly and helpful. If you get one of the massive booths you feel like a king. I would go back to hang out and watch games in the heated outdoor patio with the huge screen. So that's the positive. Unfortunately the problem was the burger itself. The meat tasted totally unseasoned, and both of the burgers we got were overcooked. I could probably deal with one or the other, but both together, at a burger restaurant no less, are major strikes. Especially when they have little "burger ordering guide" print outs at the table. Maybe they should put one of those in the kitchen, next to the salt.
(3)Biker S.
Way over rated! Nice lamb burger, very pleasant staff but would not line up for a minute. We arrived right at opening so no rush or fuss but nothing special here!
(2)Sarah R.
Amazing burger - the Foster Pile-up is huge and delicious! Tasty fries, too - I'll definitely be back! My only complaint is that it's already too popular, and we had a bit of a tortuous wait, tormented by the yummy smells... :)
(4)Eggland B.
Went with my girlfriend and another friend for an extra-late lunch on a Sunday. It's true what many other people are saying, Foster Burger is only worth three stars. We were sat in a cramped spot in a corner without being asked if it was okay. I would have preferred one of the many spacious booths that were empty, but I didn't have time to say anything :( The service was fine. The waiter girl was really nice and helpful. Perhaps she was even too attentive, but I don't want to fault her for that too much. I ordered a Foster Burger, my friend ordered a Foster Burger with cheese, and my girlfriend ordered a veggie burger and asked to get the day's special salad as her side salad. My friend and I enjoyed our burgers. The french fries were really good. They weren't too salty, and they really tasted like potatoes rather than styrofoam like the fries at a lot of places out there. My burger patty was good but the veggies didn't taste particularly fresh. My girlfriend liked her veggie burger and really liked her special salad (a beet salad). I thought it was unfair that they charged us extra to have the special salad, considering that she had specifically asked whether it was okay to substitute it... I've worked food service and I would have just told the customer, "Yeah, it will be a couple extra bucks though." Not a big deal, but a minor annoyance. Now let's talk about buns. All of our buns came toasted. I don't like to have a toasted bun. I know a lot of people like it toasted, but I don't want it toasted. I like it fresh and soft and not crispy at all. They didn't say "toasted" on the menu. If I had seen that, I would have asked not to have a toasted bun. I really don't like them toasted!! So all-in-all it wasn't that great of an experience. I'd go back, but I'd never suggest that we go there. One last thing: Beware of the online menu... Prices had changed when we went in.
(3)Jen V.
With the first bite of my Foster Burger (with cheddar), I was 5 again, eating my dad's perfect backyard burger. Super juicy, lovely char flavor, slightly sweet and light-as-a-feather bun. Seriously, how can it get better? I'm not a fries fan, but I couldn't stop eating these fries. Crispy outside, fluffy & sorta sweet on the inside. Clearly high-quality ingredients, combined into plates o' luv. Also great was the service. The two gals who came to our table were super cheerful & helpful. And for our 2pm Sat. lunch, we waited maybe 2 minutes for a table, and probably less than 10 minutes for our food. If your full belly can take it, waddle all the way next door to An Xuyen bakery, where your burger's bun came from, and sample their sweets. P.S. 6 hours after lunch, my husband and I are both still painfully full. No dinner tonight. In my book, a 2fer meal is a great deal!
(5)Ian L.
I went here yesterday. I ordered fries and a burger. The fries were EXTREMELY salty to the point where I could only finish half even while washing it all down with an entire picture of water. When the burger arrived I noticed the bottom bun was so soaked with grease it was falling apart. On top of that, it didn't taste good at all. The service was great
(2)Scott R.
I liked the overall vibe of FB but I have to say I really think the burger was over rated. It was a decent burger, but I have to wonder how it managed to make Bon Appetit top 10 new burgers.
(3)Noel Y.
I wanted to like it, I really did... I'm a vegetarian, but seeing the reviews on Yelp that mentioned that there was a veggie burger, I figured I was game. I live in the neighborhood and want to support nicer restaurants to clean up Foster a little. I had the veggie burger and fries. It wasn't really good or bad- it was totally ordinary, which for $9, sorry, doesn't blow me away. I like the decor. I like the beers on tap (which for $4.5, sorry, a little steep again). So, sorry Foster Burger. I was hoping to eat a really nice hand made patty, maybe some secret sauce, yummy tomato. Something that made you unique and made me want to come back to eat that thing again. Instead, you're just an ordinary restaurant in a city of pretty darn good ones. Next!
(2)a. r.
veggie burger was good- not great- but the night was virtually ruined by the table of obnoxious drunks that were behind us- the noise was deafening. service at first was spotty - no host...no one lingering to greet or seat for a few minutes. our actual server was pleasant. oh yeah- watery milkshake anyone?
(3)David W.
Foster Burger is a great big disappointment! I've eaten better burgers all across the country and this place is average at best. Due to the high prices and hype, I deservedly give this 1 star. When you are all about burgers and charge a premium price, I expect a great burger above all else. The patented "Foster Burger" was a complete disappointment. No cheese on it and just a big mac style sauce, with the standard lettuce, onion, tomato condiments. Buns were pretty good, but the burger just tasted ok. They will totally rip you off if you want any good toppings, so beware. Fries were good, but to upgrade to their truffle oil, black and whites, you have to buy a separate appetizer of them, which was expensive. I should be able to upgrade my fries for like 2-3$, which they don't allow and is a big fail. Looking forward to finding my new favorite PDX burger place, its a shame its not Foster Burger as it's right around the corner from me and I can walk there.
(1)Jed R.
Nothing fancy, just great burgers and fries.
(5)amanda l.
loved the old portland posters from the early 90's. loved my burger. i'll get a burger there again. but next time i'll skip the shake. the milkshake was the most expensive shake i have ever purchased/drank and was not remarkable/memorable.
(3)nicolle n.
pay no attention to the bad reviews. foster burger is amazing! so happy to have this little gem down the street from my house.
(5)Zach F.
Finally made the trip to Foster Burger. My wife ordered the veggie burger which she said was pretty good. I had the Foster Burger (add cheese, bacon) and fries. Pretty good. Burger was little overdone for my taste (medium well.) There are a few places that have better burgers, but this is a great option if you want to bring kids. (They better like burgers because there is nothing else for them to eat on the menu.) We also ordered the wedge salad which is enough for 3 people and the pickle plate (includes pickled egg, carrots, peppers). The were both pretty good. The wait staff was excellent.
(3)Sandie H.
We came on a Sunday afternoon and signed in and waited less than ten minutes. The server was super friendly and a big plus is they gave our kids coloring paper and a pencil box of colored pencils. I ordered 'The Kiwi' with the pickled beet and fried egg, and husband ordered 'The Burner' with roasted jalapenos and 'srirancha' (sriracha sauce and ranch mix) , which he opted to have the sauce on the side. Kids got a munchkin burger and we ordered a vanilla malt. Like the other reviewers, I expected to be wowed, with being named in Bon Appetit magazine, and all the quality and local ingredients they used. My burger looked perfect, but biting into it, it was almost tasteless, the meat was borderline dry, and the housemade brioche bun was a bit stiff and dry as well. It really didn't go well with the burger. The pickled beet and housemade pickles were really good. Husband's burger was the same thing, it was just ok, not enough to make us go back. His roasted jalapenos had bits of black grill char and could not eat all of it. And my burger being $11 for the addition of cheese, pickled beet and fried egg, was a bit too spendy.
(3)Ray D.
Thought this place was okay. Cool decor. Though it was pretty spendy for a mediocre burger.
(3)Tiffany R.
What's all the hype? We drove out of our way, and waited 45 minutes for a table for a mediocre burger. The most interesting thing was ogling the concert posters that wallpaper the dining room. We ordered the pickled vegetables, which I was impressed with when they arrived in a canning jar. The waitress popped the top, and they were all ours! The black and white fries were disappointing. White, because they were tossed with cheese, garlic, and white truffle oil. Black, because they were served with squid ink aioli. The fries themselves were nothing special, and the toppings were out of balance. And, if you ask us, the squid ink aioli left much to be desired, and consider this warning: be very careful not to drip it on anything, as it will stain instantly. On to the burgers! I ordered the namesake Foster Burger, which had roasted jalapeños and Foster sauce. Nothing to write home about, at all. The beef lacked flavor and was a bit dry, even though it was ordered medium. IMO, Portland has many more delicious burger options. For instance, the Fir Burger at Doug Fir is much, much better.
(2)Brian R.
The burger was great. The fries were great. But I think what I liked most about Foster's was the massive numbers of concert fliers that decorated the walls. I recognized a lot of the punk and metal banks on the wall... like Carcass, Napalm Death, Nirvana, Broken Bones, Whermacht, and Resist. It was fun to just scan the posters. Recommended!
(4)Beth R.
Very good burgers and fries. The service was really great and what will keep me going back. All three staff people were very friendly, professional and attentive. And I give them kudos for some of the creative ideas. I might not try each one but fun for the adventurous. They also have a nice patio in the back on a nice day.
(4)Daniel W.
Last Saturday morning I was taking care of some household chores while watching a show on the nation's best burgers. I'd had a hearty breakfast but the tale took it's toll and I soon found myself ruminating about the outposts of burgerdom. Hmm, Five Guys, Killer Burger, Little Big Burger, Stanich's; then one I've heard about but hadn't tried jumped to the fore: Foster Burger. So I set sail, sipping water all the way to prepare my system for the salty, beef tallow seasoned onslaught. I parked outfront and entered, noting a daylight anteroom and a surprising "Wait to Be Seated" sign at the entrance to the back which appeared to be your average neighborhood bar. I was escorted in and selected a short end of the bar stool that allowed me a good vantage point to observe the three person front of the house staff. I perused the menu, debating whether to have a fine microbrew or a cup of the house joe. I settled on the coffee which arrived in the form of a cup and saucer, small spoon and french press. No wonder it took five minutes to arrive! I selected the Foster Burger, eschewed the fries (swimsuit season) and gambled on the Cole Slaw. I ordered the FB with Roasted Jalapeno which I was told would come on the side as everything came on the side. Good, I thought, I like to control the heat intake so that will work. The package arrived via the hardworking bearded bartender who obviously took pride in the delivery. It looked fabulous though I've always been against delivering a hamburger in pieces. Too much heat loss from the patty, you know? And hotel restaurants are famous for delivering a splayed out presentation that, once assembled, is a cold sandwich. Hate that. Had a "Western Cookout" burger at a restaurant chain's annual convention once and after assembling the mess, the patty of which was the only hot item, there it was, a cold sandwich. Anyway, I put the Foster Burger together and what's this? The jalapenos were on the patty, not on the side. Oh well, I left them there and hefted the hammy and took a chomp. I had already dressed the thing with the Foster Sauce and you know what? The first bite was a revelation. As was the second and all the way through. FB's not afraid to season the patty, thank you for that. I would eat the jalapenos on the side next time but no matter, they could not hide the fact that this is one of Portland's finest hamburgers. Not the biggest, not the gaudiest, just one of the best. And guess what? The Cole Slaw rocked. The ph of the dressing was just right and the sweetness factor perfect. I'm tired of leaving half the slaw because it's too sweet, too sour, too something. This was excellent and left me wanting more. Next time the French Fries, though, as the scent in the air at FB was comforting and enticing.
(5)Kathryn H.
I hadn't had a burger in almost 8 months and even gave up meat for Lent, so on Easter Sunday I had to have a burger and it had to be the best. Foster Burger is a bit of a drive coming from NW and kind of hard to find, but well worth the drive and well worth the wait. This burger and fries FAR exceeded my expectations - the best ever - my husband and I both thought so, and he's very hard to please. The meat is amazing - you can taste all the pork fatback, the veggies are pickled, the jalapenos roasted, and they make their own bread which is a bun that stands up to the messy oozing meat and sauce. And the black and white fries are equally amazing - parmesan truffle fries with squid ink ailoi - not for the faint at hear and Dee-liciious! Foster Burger rocks.
(5)Kendall C.
Enormous potential at this place but hard to find without a proper awning or visible signage. My wife & I went there on Saturday night around 7 pm. No problem getting seated, but then the waitress was surprised when she found us sitting in the booth. That was weird. Then, she confessed that she actually lost our ticket, and had to put the order on the fly. We weren't in a hurry, so that was ok. She gave us some free B&W fries as compensation. Big plus! The squid ink garlic aioli was interesting, but the color is a bit off-putting. Fries were good, but kinda heavy. My wife loved the salad and vinaigrette dressing. The burgers were less than medium-rare which neither of us cared for, but they state specifically on the menu that the burgers are served with pink in the middle. I'll opt for well done next time. More bun than burger would be my only other concern with the food. They had a full bar, but no Seagram's 7. What??? We'll definitely go back and take some friends next time. Great location! I hope more hip joints filter their way down Foster Rd because it's near our house.
(3)l j.
dear foster burger, i hope you read this. i live near you and frequent your awesome burgers. you have served me the best damn meal and also the worst. but lately, over the past 3-4 months, your service and quality has been more than disappointing. overcooking the poor burgers (no! no! no!), overcooking the moist and delish harvest burgers, serving wilted lettuce, serving small, overcooked crunchy stubby fries that you have to eat with a fork cause theyre so small, and making inconsistent cocktails. like i said, i have had the best burger and cocktails here. memorable and mouthwatering. but i just dont know what im getting when i walk thru the door. do i take another chance? get it together guys!
(4)Sophie C.
So the much vaunted lamb "Kiwi Burger"; it's currently made of beef. Not sure why the name was kept the same. We found the food good, but overpriced. The meat itself was unexceptional and the temperature was so icy in the restaurant that our food got cold pretty quickly. All in all, a fine burger, but a little pricey and I wouldn't get back there by plan. On a side note, the mirror in the unisex bathroom only allowed the tips of my eyebrows to be seen. I don't like to be vain, but what about making sure there's not ketchup all over my face? An oversight on the part of management, I'm sure.
(2)Kenneth H.
Not really feeling it of late. Stopped by a couple of times since the creation of their new menu, which is pretty much the same as the old except now they serve poutine and the burgers once again no longer come with fries. As for why my rating has dropped I am going to blame it on the "extras" and not the burger. The cockshake was the saddest, with a ton of cash forked over for what amounted to a very small amount of liquid. No problem for me as I mostly just ordered one to see what it was like, and in the end it is not liked by me. They have rotating flavors and if you are a liquor kind of person you may enjoy it, but I didn't find the milkshake base to be very good either. Having fancy drinks that I don't enjoy is not enough to knock a burger place down a star, but side dishes that you eat is. The new poutine menu gives you lots of choices (all named after Portland neighborhoods) with both meat and veggie friendly options. I went with an order that hard gravy, cheese curds, and pastrami. The parts all tasted fine (the gravy was pretty weak), but together it didn't gel. The curds were cold and pretty scarce, whereas the pastrami was in big chunks and the fries were all soggy with the gravy that was too liquidish and not flavorful enough. Mostly my three friends and I just poked at it and decided that next time we will stick to just regular fries (which are pretty good). So what do you do?!?! In truth I come here (and will continue to come here) for the burgers. The fact that I now know to never order a cockshake isn't that big of a deal to me, but the poutine not being very good actually cut me deep (emotionally). So it is with a heavy heart that I drop Foster Burger down from the tip top to the middle shelf. Oh well.
(4)Scott I.
I have eaten at Foster Burger a few times now. I went in expecting a good burger and I was not disappointed. The bacon and swiss burger was a delight. I also had a malt, which warped me back to the hand crafted shakes of the 70s. The burger was prepared exactly as I had ordered. What could be better than that? I found that the cole slaw was fantastic as its sauce wasn't overpowering. The Black and White fries were sensational. I couldn't eat everything, but I tried! I will be bringing more people back, Foster Burger.
(5)Jillian S.
Very enjoyable meal! My husband and I each had a regular Foster Burger with a few extras added, and shared an order of the black and white fries. Totally dug the burgers--good meat, generous with the fixin's. The black and white fries were fine, but not shockingly amazing to us--perhaps just not our ideal taste. We enjoyed good, stiff drinks, and the experience was topped off with my delight that they have gluten-free buns. Nicely done! Will definitely be back.
(4)Scott T.
Got take out last week. Just the original Foster Burger. The burger was very good, but not the best in Portland as many describe. I think it would have been better without the 5 minute drive home. The fries, however, were some of the best I've ever had! Skin on and perfectly salted. YUM! I'lll definitely be back to try the burger "hot off the grill".
(3)Sam O.
Really solid burger here. A bit pricey with all the fixins, but still worth it, I think. The black and white fries were pretty darn good too. The black-ink aioli was a bit too lemony for me, and the fact that it was black put me off a bit, but I'd have them again if others wanted. We also shared a malt, which was good, but needed more malt. When I order a malt, I expect to taste it! We will for sure come back!
(4)Lisa S.
As a native Texan (the Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, Wendy Davis kind of Texan) I was raised on beef. You don't have to enjoy beef to go to Foster Burger, by the way, but as someone who knows a good burger, I have found Foster Burger to having wonderful offerings. Their menu is relatively simple which makes it easy to read and their food, delicious! Fresh, well seasoned and juicy burgers. You do have to ask for tomatoes as they do not come automatically with the burger, but they can always scrounge up a few for ya if you inquire. Tis is a bit dark in their restaurant -- but who the hell cares? It's good and the service is good too!
(5)Chantelle V.
Cool place! Our first visit. We had lunch. Not just burgers! Fast, friendly service. We will visit again.
(4)Beth v.
The burgers are.hands down amazingly good meat, great buns and quality toppings. Drinks are tasty and always a good bartender who knows what they are doing. Hipster atmosphere but comfortable for locals as well.
(5)Janelle O.
I want to go back to eat the lamb burger with beets and a fried egg again...and to try their poutine again! This is one of the best burgers I've had in Portland. The lamb, beet, egg combo is super wonderful.
(5)Jaben C.
went here late one night with the family and my visiting mom. They were welcoming and open to someone coming in ~40 minutes before closing. The waiter came back and checked with us when the kitchen was going to close to make sure we weren't looking to order any more food. We tried 4 burgers and an order of poutine among us and it was all delicious and plenty of food. They were quick to bring us a refill of the water carafe which I really appreciate. My only thought was that I wish they offered something crazy like Elk or Buffalo burgers. I would eat here again given the opportunity.
(4)Rita H.
Great burger. Black and white fries were OK. Had the apple Brie turkey burger. Very rich. Next time I'll go for the regular Foster burger and skip the black and white fries.
(3)Aaron W.
The panda has constant random food benders. After eating a couple dozen spicy wings, I headed with a friend to Foster Burger because I wanted a big dessert. Foster Burger might be more known for burgers and poutine, but there's also a huge banana split on the menu. Yeah, it's actually named "HUGE Banana Split." For $13, you'll get a dessert that is usually suited to feed a family. Two bananas, 10 scoops of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, berry sauce, caramel sauce, nuts, whipped cream, and five Maraschino cherries. Basically, I was bettering my chances for a diabetic shock. The server tried valiantly to talk me out of attempting this. This isn't an official food challenge, but generally, I stupidly) tend to ignore any waivers or warnings associated with such challenges. Note again: I had a decent meal before coming here. I wasn't hungry. Not even close. The banana split came out in a fairly large bowl, not very deep. The kid in me beamed. Giddy panda moment! I wanted to officially time my stunt, but my phone refused to cooperate in getting to the stopwatch feature. Good thing, because people kept trying to text or call me while eating. Not sure if that woulda affected the stopwatch feature. Probably five minutes in, I was done with the actual ice cream. A pool of melted ice cream and sugary syrup awaited. Felt like I'd have a sugar stroke as I fought through all that. Took about 10 minutes, but I finished. VIDEO: youtube.com/watch?v=Yukm… Needless to say, the server was in disbelief. Eh, just the ol' tapeworm and black hole in the stomach joining forces. A great banana split. It was especially awesome for the first couple minutes. As I got fluffier with a growing dairy food baby panda, I was just lucky to see straight. Foodies living on the edge. Please note that I'm a trained idiot; others shouldn't do what I do. But yeah, this is a good place to hit up. I coulda had burgers, poutine, and beer. Instead, I got my panda food baby. I'm a proud papa.
(4)Georgie K.
Although foster burger has good burgers they can't keep it together. The last time we went there they were really busy. Instead of giving us water, taking a drink order or taking our burger order they cleared and cleaned 9 tables and sat them all. Then took our order. We waited 1/2 hour to order. The food came out quick, but the burger only had 1/2 bun. I did not order it like that.. It seems there is no lead or manager. It seems like they don't know how to prioritize and get the job done. Super slow on to go as well on different occasions. burgers and fries are good, but not worth the trouble. The nice thing is the owner saw this review. He apologized and sent us a gift certificate which is great! We have not used it yet, but will soon.
(3)Roman S.
burgers here are somewhere between a slider and a real burger. while the burgers are fine and have several choices the wait time was a little too long. i enjoyed the burgers here fine just not particularly noteworthy.
(3)Sandra Z.
Slow service it took about 10 minutes to get acknowledged. The place had 3 tables and what looked like plenty of staff hanging behind the bar chatting. I can deal with slow service if it's busy and I get a friendly hello.
(3)Tony S.
Had the Sirancha burger here and I had no complaints. The meat was cooked perfectly and the fries were finger licking good.
(5)Cody W.
The service was refreshingly can-do and cheerful, as service ought to be. Our waitress was timely & helpful, both in sincerely recommending dishes and also accommodating small matters of comfort. We also overheard her resolve a more serious issue quickly and decisively without breaking a sweat, and to the utter satisfaction of the other diners. The other members of the staff who also attended us (bringing out food, etc) were similarly cheerful and focused. We splurged on truffle-oil fries (black-and-white fries), which were delicious and plentiful. A small order is plenty for two people --even people who like a lot of fries with their burger (no comment). The deluxe burgers are a little overpriced, though not scandalously so --median $8.50, up to $10 for a burger a la carte. The burger design of these featured items is creative and tasty. The buns were a little sub-par --not quite up to the task of not disintegrating under finger pressure or condiment-level moisture. There is a bakery next door with whom they announce a partnership for one signature burger, and perhaps this relationship needs to expand sooner rather than later. The patties were moist and juicy, though not particularly flavorful on their own. A minor quibble: I added a fried egg and never would've expected it to be prepared sunny-side-up by default. Though it was prepared a perfect sunny-side-up, I venture that over hard/over medium is what we imagine topping a burger.
(4)H K.
I have been here many times and the burger and fries were great. Went in this week, music was absolutely blaring, women who sat us and gave us menus only said one word to us, and we sat waiting to give our order for about 20 minutes. Primarily, the music was so loud we could not even have a conversation. Decided to get up and leave. Bummer, since I really used to like this place a lot! Maybe will try again.
(3)Kristi C.
On a tip from a fellow Midwesterner, we tried the poutine and a burger. Poutine was on the salty side, good if you're in the mood for that. My burger, The Burner, was nice 'n spicy and juicy. You'll also find a good selection of beers.
(3)Michael V.
I have been here a couple of times but never wrote a review until now. No reason really, just haven't. So I came today to catch burger week before it ended. Their special was really good as were the fries. The only down side was it took 20 min to get it. The upside is they comped me the burger for the wait. Super classy!
(5)Krista G.
Sweet mother of all that is juicy and good in the universe, this place knows how to make a burger! I've been here twice and each time I leave in a daze of carb satisfaction. The place is casual covered in concert posters out in SE. Both times I have had a cheeseburger and both times it made me oh so very happy. The bun is perfectly toasted and the meat cooked as you like. Juicy and delicious! The French fries are amazing! Crispy and not too greasy. We get a large and share it between 4 of us and it's perfect. They also have tasty beer and shakes to wash it all down. The shake kicked ass! Get the shake!
(4)Candice R.
OMG. sometimes I just get a craving for Foster Burger. I'm vegetarian, and their veggie patty is quite delicious! They have a lot of topping options that you can put on the veggie patty, too. they also make delicious "cock-shakes" (cocktail/milkshakes)-- and there's always one on special. Several beers on tap. Black and White fries are AMAZING--though I don't know how I feel about the squid-ink aioli. It tastes great, but I feel weird eating it as a vegetarian. My non-vegi friends LOVE it. there's often a bit of a wait, so it's best not to bring that big of a group, or go at peak hours.
(4)Mike W.
I'm not sure what has happened to my favorite burger place. I have been coming here since they have opened and have always told other people you have to go there. But things have changed there. The foster burger is smaller then it used to be. It's the same size as the mini burger. I have always ordered my burger medium rare, but now the patty is so thin that just melting cheese on it will cook it to well. The buns have changed too. They used to be light and soft, but now they are heavy. I am going to try one more time, but if things are like my last visit I will not be back.
(3)Monique L.
I always recommend Foster Burger to out of towners and friends. Its great quality food. TIP: Ask your waitperson their favorite cockshake - had the white russian milkshake this time in and was very satisfied with this dessert & drink combo.
(4)CRAIG N.
OK. So the food came really quickly and the Fo Po Poutine was the bomb diggity! Also tried the black/white fries with the squid ink aioli, awesome! The burner burger was also excellent if you like spicy! The server/hostess was awesome and attentive. I will be coming back to this place!
(4)Kris G.
Hands down the best spicy burger in PDX. The burner burger definitely lives up to its name. Awesome food, great atmosphere -- if you like punk concert posters. Highly recommend checking it out!!
(5)Brianna R.
Sigh. This place is always on lists of the best burgers in Portland, and I've had it maybe 5 times. It was only actually really good, once. Which is why I've come back, hoping maybe I'd get lucky. This time was by far, the biggest bummer. I called ahead, placed my order, and was told 15 minutes. This was the only thing that I actually went according to plan. I got there the order came up pretty quickly. I ordered a foster burger with american cheese and bacon and a small poutine. Opened the burger, a huge amount of onion, one small leaf of iceberg lettuce, no $2 bacon, no $1 cheese. Burger was cooked fine, the bun was not really toasted at all, but it was just.. Okay. I'm sure if I had gotten what I ordered and had more than one leaf of lettuce / toasted bun it would've been fine. Maybe I'm too picky. The poutine was also a disappointment. Cold and barely any gravy. Every other time I've been here except once has been similar screw ups. All around im just not impressed and probably won't go back, which sucks because I live in the neighborhood!
(2)Whitney H.
I've heard my coworkers mention Foster Burger as being great more than once, so I thought I would check it out for lunch with my dad while he was in town. Boy, were they right. We both built our own burger and split an order of fries. Burger was just fantastic, but definitely big - next time I'll get the smaller one. Our waiter was as nice as could be. Totally coming back here.
(5)Gio A.
Love the decor and vibe but unfortunately the burger was meh. My main reason for coming here...fries were great though. Friendly service.
(3)Dan F.
Really use to love this place but service has been hit or miss. After trying Brunch Box we might not be back despite living so close. Quality and size of the meat has gone down hill and our last time there in October was awful. We were served water in hot plastic cups that stunk of bleach, pretty sure our food was dumped off to someone else too. After 45 minutes to almost an hour to finally get our food, the bacon was undercooked and cold and our 3 year olds burger was bloody raw. Never an apology and also the server asked "well how did she want it" um cooked? This was the first time I've never left a tip. If they would have just told the truth about or food going to another table first would have been helpful instead of saying nothing and then rushing out undercooked food. There was not one person working one station and they were extremely unorganized. The only employee worth a damn there is the guy with the red beard who is usually behind the bar. Everyone else acts like they hate their job or hate the service industry. Save yourself some time and head to Brunch Box downtown.
(2)Christina L.
My friends and I have always had friendly, fast service and delicious food. I highly recommend the kimcheese burger. It's not only huge; it boasts the best combination of sauce, cheese, kimchi and pickles. The ambiance and decor aren't bad, either. Did I mention how nice the servers are?
(4)Melissa M.
I was expecting a lot because of the great reviews this place had. The buns seemed to be prepackaged and the meat was a thin patty. The environment was very laid back and nice but the food itself was not something that I would suggest to anyone.
(2)andy v.
Really good burgers, good beer, always been totally satisfied! Please put the Mindy Kaling permanently on the menu!!
(5)Amy L.
I can't add anything that hasn't been said already. It's incredible!
(5)Lindsay F.
Listen, what can I say? Foster burger makes great burgers. Their fries are okay, I can pass on the poutine, but the burgers are really quite exceptional. I generally eat my burger without the bun and you know when I burger has great flavor when you take the sweetness of the bread away. And Foster burger does it right. It's well seasoned, cooked just right and is mouth wateringly delicious! Oh...and order extra pickles... they are really really yummy.
(4)Richard A.
Solid good quality burger, good fries and an OK beer selection make this place a must when only a burger will do and the fast food places just can't cut it. The service was OK, just a little bit distracted, but the burger is why we're there and the burgers are as good as I've had anywhere, so I'll mark my next visit 6 weeks out on the calendar to allow my cholesterol levels to subside. I dig the eclectic music and posters plastering the walls too.
(4)Michelle A.
This place is in walking distance for me, but I would still travel across town for it. I'm a vegetarian, so it's nice being able to pick any of the burgers on the menu, & swap out the meat for a veggie burger ($1 extra). "The Burner" is definitely my favorite. It's gigantic, and I always stare at it a while when it comes to the table, wondering how I'm going to fit it in my mouth. Be careful of the jalapeños though - I can usually handle a lot of heat, but these jalapeños are HOT!! There are also enough onion straws on it to share half with a friend! I subtracted a star because the service can be a little slow, the inside can be a little warm, and the water is never cold (what's up with Portland hardly ever serving ice water??).
(4)Paul W.
Not very impressed with the food. Bun was too much dough for a burger. Bacon was too thin. Reminded myself of a cheaper cut of bacon. Burger didn't have much flavor. Possibly because of the huge bun they serve. Ordered cheese curds. Thought they would be fried. Instead, I got a bunch of cheese not fried. In the Midwest, Cheese curds are fried. Fed it to the dog. Curds were fed to the dog. Service was great. Changes in the kitchen should happen.
(2)Sarah C.
It surprised me to see the 3-1/2 star average rating for Foster Burger. Was it really so terrible last year & the years before? If it was then they've made a vast improvement for 2012. What we ordered the first visit is what we ordered the second visit & will probably always be from here on out. For me, it's "The MINI Foster" because I'm mini & so is my belly. For an additional price per topping I add pickled beets (not as gross as it sounds), sauteed onions, roasted jalapeños (extremely spicy, seeds included) & pepper jack cheese. It already comes with raw onions, lettuce & house pickles but that just doesn't complete a burger when there's more toppings to add. The Foster sauce is good on its own; skip the ketchup. The bun is phenomenal. They're made by FB's neighbor, An Xuyen Bakery, & it's the softest, freshest, tastiest sesame seed bun you'll ever eat. The burger patty is not thick but it isn't too thin either. Let's just say If you overload the burger with additional toppings then it'll be harder to taste. The small order of black & white fries are enough to feed two to three people. If you're not into trying squid ink aioli then the regular fries are just as good & served with ketchup. The only difference between the two is no parmesan on the regulars. The aioli is really good so at least order it once. Ketchup is always on the table if you don't like it. Their outdoor, covered patio is comfortable & with a dozen picnic tables it's pretty spacious, too. Service has consistently been attentive & spot on. Even the second time around for our large post-marathon party we had no complaints; only gratitude for their service.
(4)Jon G.
Big, greasy hamburger that had junk in its trunk. AS IT SHOULD BE!! Mushy fresh fries in a mountainous mound. Fast cheerful service. Hipstery. Rock and rolly. Mason jars for soda glasses. Fresh stack of Mercuries. Made of win. I'll be back, Foster Burger, I'll be back!
(5)Ana S.
I like, realllly liked the buns on these burgers. And the food was tasty in general.
(3)Tyler W.
I have scoured the Portland area for a place that serves poutine the way it should be. It's not a difficult process. Crunchy natural fries, a light, boiling hot beef gravy, and plenty of soft, white cheese curds. That's it. I had almost given up my search to find poutine the right way until I found Foster Burger. My wife and I went there last evening, specifically for the poutine, and we were not disappointed. The large, awesomely bearded gentleman that served us was attentive, very pleasant, and just seemed like he wanted to be there. I know in the food service industry that can be hard sometimes. Bottom line, if you want good service and amazing food, check this place out.
(5)Bill E.
This town has some serious burger personality. For me Foster Burger stands out for its bun and for a delicious burger. For me the hype can often overshadow the actual experience, FB delivered and for that I am so thankful. I ordered a Foster Burger with bleu cheese and bacon. The burger did its own talking and ad a wonderful flavor. I would say that the bacon was overcooked but everyone likes they bacon cooked a little differently, this was just a little too dry for my preferences. Places that serve a whole slice of onion must waste so much product when they do this. I typically enjoy only a couple of rings of onion, throwing away at least half of what they give me, save yourselves and portion this out and waste less. The bun was the hero of this burger, absolutely perfectly matched! The original poutine was top notch compared to the others I have had in town. Great tasting gravy and a generous helping of cheese curds, thank you! Not to be forgotten are the drinks. I always appreciated it when places have beer and shot combos, makes for an easy order. Keep up the great work.
(4)Patty G.
I've gone many, many, many times since my last review, and have brought many friends along. Still very nice service, LOVE the expanded dining room, unfortunately I haven't been impressed with the food over the last few visits. Fries very mushy, burgers that are overdone on the outside and raw on the inside, and it really seems like they are using different buns, they are so dry lately, almost stale tasting. I'll be honest, I didn't say anything to the server about it, I suspect they would have replaced my food if I had said something. It's the type of place though that one doesn't necessarily go to linger, so having to order food again and wait for it isn't really the experience I want. Here's hoping they turn it around and get it back to the quality from days of yore! We have had more good experiences than bad there, and would hate to give it up as our "go to" place.
(3)Katie C.
Killer burgers, rad music, fast service. high fives all around.
(5)Kristina K.
Fantastic burgers: beautiful, fresh buns and a big helping of beef. The regular Foster Burger is $6--probably the best $6 burger you'll find. The Poutine was not so good. The fries themselves are really salty, and with the gravy on top it was not a pleasant experience. We went through more glasses of water than normal to get it down. They recently expanded and the new seating is No Minors Allowed. Awesome! The service was super fast and friendly.
(4)Minky T.
I love Foster Burger's burgers and fries, as well as their beer selection (limited but tasty). My only issue with going to Foster Burger is the wait. It's either the wait for a seat (beware of Friday late afternoon/early evenings) or the wait for service. Don't get me wrong - we go back and willingly wait again, because we enjoy the burgers that much! But be prepared for the experience to be hit or miss when it comes to timeliness. Get the black and white fries! They are so delicious. Also, Johnny Apple Brie is currently my favorite burger, but there really is no going wrong with any of the options. And if you're not into getting one already designed for you, you can build your own!
(4)Jacob M.
Such good food! Don't leave without having the black and white fries. Woof! I also had a turkey burger and small salad, both had awesome flavor. Every staff member was helpful and friendly. I also had a really tasty hot toddy. :)
(5)Heather S.
Foster Burger is my go to burger joint. LOVE it. I love everything about it. The burgers are fantastic, great flavor and always cooked right. The vegetarian burger is the best ever, according to my mom. French fries are fabulous here. We always slam those down quickly. Try the black and white fries...it might sound weird but it tastes great. Also, they get homemade buns from the bakery next door. They even have fancy root beer in a bottle, much to the delight of my daughter. The beer selection is pretty great too. The atmosphere is grungy and cool. Very dark in there. I love all the concert posters on the wall. They make for a great read while waiting for your food. There doesn't seem to be crowds ever. Maybe it's the time we go. I like not having to wait to be seated and they can accomodate fairly large groups. It's a little ways away from where we live now, but we'll gladly make the trip...hmm...i'm suddenly in the mood for a burger!
(5)Mary K.
Great burgers but the fries are a pricey add-on. I'm not a fan of the atmosphere but it might be different for other people. The walls are covered with posters and there is a cool patio outside that's fun to hang out and drink beers in the summer. HUGE fan of the secret sauce!
(4)Adrian L.
Was sent here for lunch today by a coworker who said it was great. I was excited. It's got good reviews all over the place, and while some of the pictures on yelp looked suspect, I gave it a shot. Service was a little inept at multi-tasking, pouring seven soft drinks and carrying them out while telling me he'd be right with me three times. I was just going to ask for a taste of the saison. Maybe take 3 seconds to find out if someone is even ready to order before telling them you'll be right with them. Four taps, all good beers. One whole star on this review is for having the Double Mountain IRA. Fries came out well ahead of my burger, which I like, but be aware if that's not your style. They were good, not super thin but thin enough to have some crispy bits. Really good flavor, you can tell they use fresh local potatoes and probably peanut oil based on the taste. The burger, however, was just not that great. When I get sent to a place with burger in the title, I expect their standard burger burger (In this case the Foster Burger) to at least satisfy my semiweekly craving for cheese covered ground beef. Burger came with onions, house pickles (which were good, and had there been about twice as many, might have saved the burger) and a couple sad looking pieces of iceburg lettuce, along with a side of Foster Sauce, which in the line of special sauces is pretty bland. It's like something someone from Eugene would think is flavorful. The burger, and I was surprised to see a mini version on the menu, because this was a standard "1/4 lb" size patty you get at McDonald's, was decent. The menu says all burgers cooked medium unless specified, mine came on the rare side of Medium Rare. How I like it anyway, but still. I think where they really strike out, and this is sad because it's probably a large part of the cost of the product they're putting out, is one the bun. It's a delicious bun, they say brioche but it has much more of a whole-wheat hearty taste to it. It's also about 3 times as much bread as I would want relative to the amount of burger and burger accouterments that came in between its halves. Foster Burger offers a plethora of free toppings to add, but their classic burger without them is overwhelmed by a bun which causes the overall burger to be quite dry. I'm sure with all kinds of toppings this is less of a problem, but if you're named _____ burger and your classic burger doesn't stand alone, you should probably change your name to Foster Poutine, because nobody has any doubt you're nailing that shit. We just don't care.
(3)AJ P.
Really good burgers. Laid back atmosphere. Friendly service. So many great choices and interesting flavor combinations.
(4)Geoff J.
I've been going to Foster Burger now for the past few years. The burgers are fairly consistent and the black and white fries used to be amazing. I think they changed the cheese they use, so they're not as mind blowing as they used to be. Service is usually a miss for me, as hipsters will get better service first. However, the food is good enough that I'll occasionally return for more. Overall, this is a good burger joint that's close by. As far as I've been able to tell, anything on the menu will be good, so feel safe ordering whatever! Also, if you have an aversion to pink meat, make sure you you request your burger cooked well done.
(4)Carolina M.
I wish I could remember the name of my burger, but I can tell you that it contained pimento cheese in it and it was a burger special written on the board. However, I remember it being delicious and it seemed like such a good choice since I split the burger with a friend so we could still enjoy the Woodstock Poutine which had crimini mushroom in a delicious gravy, but also the black and white fries. I think we were just shocked by the volume of food especially since we ordered and black and white fries. I almost felt like there wasn't quite enough of the black squid aioli to go around. It's funny because at first glance (for anybody who hasn't eaten anything dark like ink), the sauce can look kind of scary, but then there's just so much depth with the shaved parmesan and truffle oil, you eventually can't get enough of that black aioli. I don't even want to think about how much food I consumed during this meal, except that I thoroughly enjoyed the fries.
(4)Eunice K.
Solid burgers, but not the best I've had. However, I am obsessed with their squid ink aioli sauce which I recommend putting on the burgers. I would buy a bottle of that if I could.
(4)Melissa M.
My boyfriend and I shared the Kentucky Bleu and Turkey Apple Brie burgers. They were mouth watering delicious and full of flavor. We shared a large bowl of the black and white fries with 4 people. Our friend traveling from Denmark said they were the best fries he's had in his life. I was a little disappointed that the waiter told us that the squid ink aioli was real but, squid ink has no flavor and what I was tasting was actually fish sauce in a garlic aioli...which is still very tasty tho.
(5)Tom J.
It's funny how much mental conditioning can hold us back from enjoying something. Take the black and white fries here. The white part is the fries with truffle oil and parmesan. They were delicious. They are served with the black part, an aioli made with black squid ink. It tasted fine but I have issues with dipping my fries into black stuff, not very aesthetically pleasing. I like my sauces in white, red or brown, please, occasionally yellow. I also had the turkey bomb burger, which came with sauteed onions and mushrooms. It was a tad dry and just tasted like an average, grilled burger. Drinks and service were pretty good. The atmosphere was okay. Hmmm...
(3)Jake W.
Cool joint but those burgers were tiny, just a bit bigger than a slider. Veggie selection was poor, no tomatoes (wtf). For $7 there are so many better choices.
(2)Erin N.
Good local spot to grab a burger. Buns are made by the place next door which is great, and the atmosphere is split between woody/rockin'/relaxed. I had the mini Foster burger. It was the right size for a pint size lady like me, but the patty itself seemed to be a bit on the bland side. I suppose that's why they have a secret sauce. My gf had the lamb burger, which packed more punch in flavor department. 1 mini foster, 1 lamb burger, 1 small spinach salad, 1 gin drink and 1 stout- $27. Not bad, not amazing. Will be back eventually to try a specialty burger andd write a follow-up review. Side note: I'm also confused why there is a cost to sub for a veggie patty but not a turkey patty when both burgers on the menu are the same price. Kooky!
(3)Jason S.
Hit or miss service and the food is... well, I don't know. When they first opened, I didn't think it was very good. Came back a half a year later or so, and it seemed they'd dialed it in and started taking the family down there every month or so. But now... last couple visits have left us all pretty unsatisfied. Way too big of buns (did they change them up again?) and somehow, all the burgers have been coming off bland. Had the Kentucky Bleu most recently and it was somehow just not all that flavorful. How that's possible with a solid patty, bourbon onions, bacon and blue cheese is beyond me. I like the ambience though. You can stare at the old concert posters for hours and the loud music seems to fit just fine, where it would normally be annoying while eating a meal. I won't give up not the place, and maybe I'll up this rating next time. I want this to be a great burger joint because our neighborhood needs it. Fingers crossed.
(2)D B.
Rousing good time in the good old SoPo neighborhood. Burgers were excellent and with a group of 9 we managed to try every different style of french fry they had to offer. I'd say they excel in the fries department. The keg blew on the beer we ordered, and our server handled that flawlessly for the most part. The place was mighty busy but we were attended to promptly. The patio is an echo-zoo, so be prepared to shout your order, shout to visit with pals, etc., etc. Of course all that shouting makes the beer taste better. WARNING!! Foster Burger is on the north side of Foster Blvd. If you end up parking south of Foster, annddd if you shout a lot, annddd drink too much beer as a result, PLEASE be aware that crossing the expanse of Foster Blvd to get to your wheels in a beer'd up condition could pose a danger. Why? Uh, well, er, gee, you're BEER'D UP for cryin' out loud, annddd you're slowed down as a result, but that's not all. Foster Blvd. is a very wide street, and while the neighborhood looks more like Paris, Texas for the most part, Foster Blvd. is as wide as the streets you remember from your last trip to Paris, France. Still with me? 1 .. beered up, ergo: slowwww 2 .. wide street .. Oh, never mind! Sheesh you ARE hard to work with! PARK NORTH OF FOSTER. :)
(4)Sandra L.
Stopped by for a 2 for 1 burger, we had a chinook coupon. We ordered 2 Foster burgers one with egg and bacon the other with avocado and pepper jack. Both came out perfect! We also ordered a beer and a shot for 6 bucks! Great experience at Foster Burger this evening!
(5)Cynthia O.
That burger was somehow less than the sum of its parts, but the parts were great. They didn't ask me how I want the burger cooked, which I didn't notice until I got it and found it to be somewhere between medium and well, which is way more cooked than I like. So that was probably much of why it seemed dry. The brioche bun was tasty and fresh, but too sweet to pair with a burger, and the house pickles and pickled beets were also tasty, but too skimpy. Overall not a bad experience, but I'll keep hunting for a better burger.
(3)Kate M.
This has become the place we go when we aren't quite sure what we want, but we want something reliably tasty with little fuss. I've loved every burger I've had here, including the turkey burger (the bacon helps). Most impressively, the waitstaff is unfailingly great. I would guess I've been here 10-20 times, and never had bad service. Keep it up, Foster Burger!
(5)Christopher K.
I think as locals who like to go out to eat, many of us find ourselves stuck in a rut. We find our favorite haunts, and we stay loyal, because Portland isn't always the most conducive city to travel through at meal time. Well, tonight I drove around Southeast Portland on a mission: Find a new place in a neighborhood I wouldn't normally visit, and write a Yelp review about it. My travels took me to Foster Burger, not because of a particular review or recommendation, but just because I remember hearing about it and seeing the sign, and it sparked my interest. Lucky for Foster Burger I love a greasy burger joint, and I had one more day of Fat Thanksgiving Weekend before cutting back on big fat burgers. Foster Burger surprised me. I figured it would be a takeout spot, but it was definitely more of a sit-down bar type affair. Foster Burger would be a perfect fit in downtown LA, San Francisco, Orange County, or Seattle, maybe more so than in mid-Southeast Portland these days. The walls are plastered with flyers from punk, grunge, hardcore, metal, and alternative shows from the past in the Northwest, some of which I attended, at now defunct clubs such as Satyricon and Meow Meow. Some of the servers have stretched ears and tattoos. I felt right at home. Many of my punk rock friends from back home would give Foster Burger a solid 5 stars, and I can see why. Foster Burger has a great bar with a solid selection of local beers from Burnside, Good Life, and many more, but first and foremost, some of the biggest, sloppiest burgers in town. I just have a more refined palate. That's a snobby way of saying I'm particularly picky about my ingredients. And I like to know where my meat and produce come from. Fortunately for me, there are plenty of chefs and restaurants in Portland who reveal their purveyors. I ordered the barbecue burger, which was slathered in barbecue sauce, red onions, pickles, and crispy bacon, with a big juicy patty on a sesame seed roll. Let me tell you, if I get bummed out on a cold Winter night, and I need a big sloppy burger to cure those blues, this is exactly where I'm going to go. This burger was a giant mess, and it was pretty damned tasty. I will admit, I felt like a ton of bricks when I was done, but if that's what someone is looking for, this is the place to find it. This is an every-once-in-a-while kind of place; If I ate here regularly, I would definitely be hating life. The black & white truffle fries were awesome, covered in shaved Parmesan cheese and truffle oil. These fries are fresh cut, crispy, and delicious, and the primary reason I will return to Foster Burger. The squid ink aioli which accompanied the fries was okay, but may have been the most hideous color of deep green I've ever seen in a sauce. I overcame the appearance, but honestly I think the fries were good enough with the cheese and the truffle oil. The sauce was unnecessary. My server was super cool, and made solid suggestions, which I accepted and appreciate very much. Foster Burger isn't in my favorite part of town, and it isn't somewhere I'd go regularly for any other reason than a big, sloppy burger and some crispy salty fries that made my night. No offense to the neighbors, it's just nestled among several "adult" businesses and strip clubs and surrounded by chain restaurants and used car lots. I'm sure the rent is cheap, and since the burgers are solid, they seem to be doing well. I'll return to Foster Burger some time to try the poutine.
(3)Louie M.
After visiting Little Big Burger for lunch, I had a unique craving for even more burger. When dinnertime came along, we visited Foster Burger. There were a few speciality burgers on the menu like the TurkeyBacon Burger, The Veggie Burger, The Kiwi Burger (cheddar, beet, egg), and the Burner (Sriracha, jalapeños, onion straws, cheddar, American). Lately I've been a big fan of Sriracha, so I went with The Burner. In addition to hand-cut fries, they had poutine. I've never had it before, so we got that too. There are a variety of drinks including beer, cocktails, sodas, and milkshakes. About the milkshakes... they even serve something called a Cockshake which adds a shot of liquor into your milkshake. We giggled about this for a good while. Depending on which burger you choose, a meal will cost you between $10 and $20. "The Burner" had Sriracha in the burger and roasted jalapeños on top. Hot! Once our food came to the table I was amazed at how tall my burger was. (I don't really like a hard-to-eat burger. If you have to resort to knife-and-fork, that's a sure sign of giving up.) So I picked it up and took a bite. Spicy! I could definitely taste the Sriracha in the burger and the onion straws gave a nice crunchy texture to the sandwich. Halfway through and I noticed it was starting to fall apart. I quickly took a few more bites and eventually gave up trying. I scooped out some poutine onto my plate and it was super tasty. I'm glad we ordered it, because frankly I wouldn't have. "Cheese curds" sounds scary to me.
(3)Rawley V.
Don't think that the 3-star review comes from the burgers, because they are delicious. My wife had been to Foster Burger before and loved the food, so I wanted to give it a shot since we were going to be in the area on the way to a show. Only 3 stars because, as I said, we were on our way to a show and needed something semi-quick. We got to the restaurant and sat down and had our order in by 5:48....so says our receipt. We were hanging out for a while just enjoying a date night away from parenting and started getting antsy after about 20 minutes without food. After seeing the majority of tables around us get seated after us and get their food before us, we got super antsy. Unfortunately, our server Jaclyn didn't check in on us after initially dropping off our drinks. The place didn't seem understaffed, so I wasn't sure why we never got a return visit just to check in. At 6:23 (so says the receipt) I walked up to our server and let her know that although we hadn't been served yet, I wanted to pay since we were going to have to eat and run to make it to where we needed to be by 7 pm. I paid and she said our food would be right up. About 5 minutes later with no food and I went to go tell her that we might just have to take off. She had fries and slaw in hand and said that our burgers were up. I hit the restroom and planned to get back to a table full of meaty goodness, yet I was disappointed to wait almost another 5 minutes for this burger euphoria. Needless to say, we were late and to top it off we never even received a simple 'I'm sorry'. We obviously don't know if our ticket got lost in the kitchen or our food delivered to the wrong table. I don't expect people to be perfect (I sure am not), but the least you can do in this kind of situation is own up to somebody making a mistake. Again, GREAT food at Foster Burger from my only experience, but our service on this occasion left something to be desired.
(3)Jen L.
Enjoyed a made-to-order not-so-mini Mini and the Black and White fries are AWESOME! Expect a wait even at a slow time, but it's worth it.
(4)Nuria C.
I have nothing bad to say about Foster Burger. I have had so so so many burgers in Portland, even at fancy restaurants, and I can now officially say Foster Burger is the most delicious burger I have had in years. I ordered the BBQ Bacon burger and it was mouth-watering good. When my order arrived it was so recently made that the cheese was still melting! Do I even need to mention how cool it is that they source those delicious, made-to-hold-your-burger-together buns from a place so local that they practically share a parking lot? Part of the deliciousness was the toasted sesame bun! The basket of fries was delicious, too. Very crispy and good portion size. I will definitely be coming back to Foster Burger, especially considering I live only 1 minute away. Go there the next time you want a real burger. Wait a minute- did that menu say Poutine!?!?!?
(5)Chris L.
When you order a BBQ burger, besides the bun and the meat, what's the one item you would expect to find on it? If you answered BBQ sauce you are correct. If you didn't, you are probably the idiot working at Foster Burger. Not only was my burger void of the BBQ sauce, it was also missing bacon. Yeah, let me repeat that. IT WAS MISSING MY GOD DANG BACON, YOU MOTHER LOVING COCKSAUCING WEASSLE SON'S OF A BEACHES CUNTRY MUSIC LOVING ASH MOLES. (Which is a recreation of my response once I discovered the missing components to my burger, all the while attempting to keep it somewhat clean in front of the Lil' Dictator). Add to this the fact that I picked this order up to go from my palace in Millwaukie (and the 30 minute round trip drive to fix it wasn't going to happen) and this was to be my last "bad meal" before embarking on a 3 day juice cleanse. I attempted to hold it together, allowing the TLB and the Father In Law to enjoy their burgers, while not having to listen to the rants of a raving, bacon less lunatic. I tried to compensate, cooking up some bacon and applying my own bbq sauce. This might have worked if the burger wasn't also under cooked, and resting on a soggy nasty bun mush. Despite all of this, damn it, this is my last bad meal. I'm going to eat it. Little did I know how "bad" this last meal was. Flash forward to 4am and an unexpected wakeup call from my body, "We are sorry to inform you Mr. Lister, but we have decided to evict this undercooked, soggy, non-bbq, non-bacon, Bacon BBQ burger you ingested some 10 hours ago. We have had too many complaints from your organs and can't allow it to stay any longer. We don't care how, just know that one way or the another it will be leaving." Foster Burger, consider your notice served.
(1)Kathryn K.
This place has pretty good burgers. People say a burger is a burger is a burger. At Foster Burger the combination of the great fresh buns and the tasty toppings make for a pretty darn good burger in my book. I had the burger with brie and sliced apples. They give you lettuce onions and pickles and with all of those toppings I had a hard time getting it into my mouth. The black and white fries were pretty good as well. I did have a hard time with the color of the aioli dipping sauce so I was not able to actually dunk my fries into it. Even without the dipping sauce the fries were still a delight. If you go during the happy hour they offer a dollar off any burger price.
(4)Mark F.
The black & white fries were decent, and the burger was great! Until I came across a bolt on my plate. It seems as though one of their kitchen appliances is missing a bolt. Unfortunately my meal was take away. Should I call and ask if they're missing a bolt? What else fell into my burger, which now sits un-eaten as I try to keep the 1st half of my meal down? .
(2)Scott R.
We were enjoying the day in Portland from out of town and stumbled across this place. Great service, and great food! The burgers are made from free range beef, and the atmosphere is excellent with great music, but not too loud! The BBQ burger is outstanding, with cole slaw as part of the burger. I'd definitely make a point to return if I come back to the area.
(5)Donna S.
Ive heard about Foster Burger and how good it is, thought I'd finally go check it out. Our server was super nice and attentive. Tall guy, either light hair or bald, can't remember but wish I'd have gotten his name. Props to you good man, you do a great job. Fries where good, burger good... good not fabulous. I really only have two complaints. First, the smell... I realize this is an old neighborhood, old building I'm familiar with it. But it stinks. Second, the pitcher of water on the table looks to have been sitting as there where little bubbles stuck to the glass on the inside. Didn't look fresh.. I can understand being one step ahead, but fresh is fresh. All in all, I probably wont go back just because it's not convenient. Otherwise I may have given it another try... Never say never, so we'll see. Thanks Foster Burger.
(3)A E.
Good burgers. Good fries. Good service. HUGE portions. Two people can easily split a small order of fries and still not be able to finish them. I also like the "decor" which consists of mainly old band concert posters.
(4)Dominique R.
Went there on Saturday afternoon and I'm already looking forward to my next visit. I had the regular Foster Burger with American Cheese and it was cheeseburger perfection. Added a large fry to split with my boyfriend (PLENTY of fries for two people) plus a beer and the grand total was $23! Completely reasonable price for really good food.
(5)Mark F.
A selection of speciality burgers unmatched in quality, variety, consistency. Play it safe or get adventurous with a burner or kim-cheese burger and squid ink fries. Great veggie patties. Shakes with boooooze!
(5)George A.
Ive been here 4 or 5 times in the last three years and foster burger is a classic case of: making everything sound good on the menu, having the presentation get you exicited, but then....never come through on the taste. Ive ordered a different special burger each time and there is always some ingredient that is sooooo salty, that it ruins the rest of the meal fries are meeh shakes are ok poutine is ok, but is only good for the first 20min im so tired of everyone in portland rave about this place this is a once a year burger place walk a block down foster and get a burger at slingshot lounge, if ya want a tasty burger
(2)Chris H.
Drive by and you'll miss it. The burgers here are tasty. It's not a fast food joint. It's an actual restruant and bar. I had the foster burger. It's your standard hunger with the usual suspects but instead of the boring old ketchup and mustard they use their special white sauce that had a steak sauce flavor. It's served on the side so if you are one who is afraid of change you can use the ketchup and mustard that's on every table. The sauce is also good to dip your fries in as well. Screw ketchup. The buns were really soft and according to the menu, they come from a local bakery. They may be made fresh daily and sent here. I don't know but it was a good bun. They do not have combos here. It is an sit-down restruant and bar after all. I came with my father and grandfather and the large order of fries fed us all. So if you have a party of two-four the large order of fries should be enough. Just place it in the middle and take from the basket. Only down side is they serve RC Cola. I get its to cut costs down but they don't have the good stuff. Over all I like it and will go back again.
(4)Ariane S.
Gluten free buns for a delicious Foster Burger! The Black & White Fries! Gluten free Omission Pale Ale too.
(4)Jenny g.
SO SAD - The buns are now cheapie mass produced tasting buns. Foster Burger used to have the buns from An Xuyen (next door) and it made their burger a 5 star. Now it is just like the 'others' So sad. I will pay extra for those great buns.Seriously Let the customer choose the bun "I WANT AN XUYEN BUNS!" put it back on you menu as an extra. PLUUEEZZ
(2)Sara M.
Reading the bad reviews doesn't surprise me. I can see how this place wouldn't be the place for people, but I loved it. Yes, the music is loud and it gets pretty busy but if it isn't your thing...don't go. It's pretty simple. They have custom burgers or you can do the regular sized, mini, or double burger. I got the mini burger and it was a 1/4 pound. Holy cow (no pun intended) The buns that they get from the bakery next door are really what make this burger as delicious as it is. The meat itself was quality and the toppings I got made it even more flavorful. It's really stupid that you have to order fries separately (small is about 4 dollars, a bit much and they aren't bottomless) but the fries are the bomb. I am certain that they are fresh cut because they're really good. I don't normally like thick cut fries but they did it well here! Only thing is that the drinks weren't good, so I heard. And like another reviewer said, the glasses seriously do taste like the dishwasher uses too much bleach or something, it's kinda nasty. Just don't drink the water if you go. As far as burgers go...a little pricey, so that's a bit ridiculous. But I'll go here again. (VERY sparingly...can't eat too many burgers! ha)
(4)Chad W.
I keep going back. I have soft spot for this place. All of the burgers I have had were great. Like the black aioli sauce, fries and poutine too. Like sitting out on the covered patio.
(5)Thee I.
Second review. This time I got The Burner, WHOA! Huge burger, I'd say tell them to hold the lettuce, it takes up too much space. Once you eliminate that, it will fit in your mouth! Fries tasty as usual. CHOMP!
(4)Cheryl R.
Our group tried the Foster Burger special of the night. It had Angus burger, bacon, pepper jack & cheddar cheeses and the usual sides of onion,tomato and their secret sauce. It was actually really good and the fries that came with it, which were the 'normal' fries not the Parmesan cheese black/white squid sauce ones...they were out of Parmesan so we passed, but the regular were very tasty. Service was good, not excellent but we were there on a Saturday at 5:30, but could have been better. Nice crowd of local Portland folk that brought there children, comfortable and casual. Bottom line, I would go back, enjoy!
(4)B W.
I love their burgers, the service is awesome and their happy hour is great. My only issue is that I'm always way too full by the time I have to leave.
(4)Eboni L.
Great food! Period.
(5)Shawn A.
They have some pretty awesome burgers here and phenomenal boozy milkshakes. Try the poutine covered fries if you dare, I am a big guy and couldn't finish the large on my best day. I am also a fan of the décor seeing as how I remember a lot of the shows/tours they have posters for on the wall :) Good and friendly service every time I have been. Pro tip: Devil's Point is next store, maybe get some 1's for the ladies before you go?
(4)Tiffany T.
I had a killer turkey burger here. I think there was bacon mixed in with the turkey. It gave the meat a smoky flavor that was to die for. I really enjoyed that burger. They also have a good variety of beers and sodas on tap. Also thumbs up for offering beer milkshakes. The fries were good, hot fresh, crunch exterior with soft interior. I like they were a bit on the crunchy side as they offer different poutines on the menu and you need a crunch fry to stand up to the gray bath. We liked checking out all the band posters that plastered the walls. There was a slight wait but they seated people really quickly. My husband got a barbeque sauce burger, unfortunately it was so over sauced that the patty kept sliding out the back of the bun and my husband got slathered with sauce and became so frustrated he picked up a knife and fork. Overall they do a mean burger. I would happily return.
(4)Zach R.
Great burgers & close by in FoPo are 2 very good reasons to like this spot. Definitely one of the top 2 or 3 burgers in town. Typically good service and a great selection of brews make 2 more reasons to stop in next time a burger craving hits.
(4)Coleman Q.
Pretty awesome place. I liked the environment. Classic Portland joint. The burgers were fantastic. Good sized burger too. The buns were perfectly grilled. The music was a little loud but it was not anything I was worried about. Averaged prices beers. Overall very happy with the place. I will definitely be back in the future. Well worth the price and also get the squid ink fries, step out of the box.
(4)Brian F.
We were both craving for some awesome burgers. We decided not to go to our usual spot (The Observatory, The Glisan Barn and Grill, and Killer Burger). We pulled up on Yelp and decided to try Foster's. The pics the other Yelper posted, were awesome even tho some of the recent reviews were 1 to 2 stars but we thought, heck, why not give this place a try? Everyone deserves second/third chances. Since my friend wasn't very hungry as I was, we decided to place an order and pick it up instead. We ordered the double medium cooked burger with grilled onions and bacon with a side of fries. I thought it was ridiculous that they charged $1.50 for grilled onions when it comes with onions. How hard could it be to slap the onions onto the grill while you grill the burger? but hell, I was hungry and wanted grilled onions. What we got was double over cook bland burger with half grilled onions (other half was raw) and invisible bacon with a side of shorty fries. We called Foster back to verify if we placed the order correctly or not (mind you that we picked up the burger around 9pm so the place was not busy). The server sounded really nice but informed us that she couldn't find our order to verify it. So she said she'll assume that it was their mistake and offered that the next time we're in, she will not charge us for the bacon on our order. I was disappointed at the way it was handle. We even gave them a $1.10 tip on our To Go order of $13.90 (no drinks or cheese included) when we picked up our order. Most definitely, I'm not going to suggest anyone to come here for burgers even tho the place seem pretty laid back.
(1)susan l.
there are many reasons for a cheat day, and fosters is one of them. seriously, dont feel guilty eating this. What I ate: - Black and white fries: my friend raved about these fries the whole week. after tasting this, i could see why. the parm covered white fries were crispy and perfectly cooked. the black squid ink aioli was om nom nom nom nom (words cant describe how tasty this was). we thought we could finish the large. DONT be fooled. even four hungry ladies couldnt finish half of these fries. trust me, get the smaller size. - woodward poutine: sad that the cheese was the squeeky tastiness of cheese curds. but the mushroom gravy on this was outrageously delicious. i was again foolish enough to think i could finish this with my friends. silly me. - the dixie burger (daily special): it was tasty, but let's be honest. it's been a few weeks since i had to burger and i cant really remember anything about it. while this doesnt mean the burger was bad, im sure it was very tasty, but... i can say it was unremarkable - the fries were just toooooo good pros: - FRIES: get the black and white fries. do it. no, look at my face, order the black and white fries. - HUGE portions: the large order and the B&W fries defeated my friends and i. even with 4 of us, it was just too much. get the regular size and share. even the poutine was outrageously huge. - relaxed portland kind of burger joint. there's plenty of beer. all sorts of band flyers blanketed the walls cons: - service was... eh? only one server for the entire place, so some of the booths werent cleaned and bused when we arrived. would i come again? for the fries, yes!
(4)Clay H.
Normally when a place is so popular it takes you a long time to be seated, I would give it 3 stars, but Foster Burger was actually pretty efficient, so I didn't feel like I was in a place that was overloaded. My food came out quite quickly. The burger was good, the fried were sub-par, but the variety is what earned the 4th star. The Black and White fries and other oddities that I didn't try made things interesting enough that I will definitely go back. Definitely hipster.
(4)The L.
These burgers are too expensive. The three stars are because it's a good burger, the fries are good as well. But I had a double bacon cheeseburger with mushrooms, a small side of fries and a coke for $18 !!!! That's way too much for a burger and fries. The burger was really good, I enjoyed it once I stopped thinking about how much I need to enjoy it because of how expensive it was. The coke was awful, they must have watered down the syrup in the machine - but that happens sometimes. I don't eat burgers often, so when I do, I want to hate myself when I'm done, and this place succeeded in that, - but the hate should come entirely from not stopping when I'm full, not that and price. If you don't mind paying almost 20 bucks for a burger and fries, then enjoy! But I can name two places in town (Killer burger and Slow Bar - I'm not sure if Yelp will leave those businesses in the review) that sell AWESOME burgers with fries for under 10 bucks.
(3)Dustin R.
I just can't understand what all the hype is about. I've been craving a great burger for awhile so got online tonight and read a ton of amazing things about this place. So, we grabbed two foster burgers to take home. I couldn't have been more disappointed in the burger. It was so bone dry I had a difficult time swallowing it. I tore a piece of the burger off and squeezed it as hard as I could and not a drop of liquid came out. I couldn't even finish it. Its a shame because it was seasoned well and the fries were delicious. I would have given it a higher rating just for the fries but this is a burger joint and thats what I went there for so one star it is. So disappointed.
(1)Moos B.
Loved it the first time and was disappointed the last two times!! Fries are good if you get it hot everytime. To-go ordering is horrific.
(2)Miki M.
My husband and I love this place!!! Best burgers ever!!!! Drinks are reasonable as well. Waaaaaay better than Killer Burger. My husband and I had gotten bad service when we went there a few weeks ago and they knew we were regulars so they comped all of our drinks and burgers. Best burgers we've ever had and TOP NOTCH customer service!!!!!!
(5)Bailey E.
Decent turkey burger, and the poutine definitely didn't suck (but only get a large size if you are sharing with 4 people. The small was BIG!) and a cute, hipster-y atmosphere. I would like to return to this spot to try different food/beverages, because everything on the menu sounded good. I wasn't drinking, but the cocktail options sounded good. If I came with a larger group, I could be down to share a Gigantic Banana Split. Pretty okay overall!
(3)Adam B.
The burger salvaged the second star for this place. I came here in the middle of $5 Burger Week in Portland so I understand this place was probably a little more slammed than normal, but they knew what they were signing up for. Item 1: Some friends and I showed up and were thirsty for a few cold ones after a long day in the salt mines but no one came to help us once we were seated. We were waiting for others to show so we weren't super impatient, but after 20 minutes we were forced to grab a waitresses attention from another table. She took our drink order and came back saying "They were confused on which waitress was on our table" So when in doubt, no one serve them? Horrible excuse. Item 2: The server dropped half a burger out of the basket onto the ground while serving us. Item 3: We had a couple unfulfilled drink orders near the end of our meal, not a huge deal though. Item 4: We asked for our check and she announced that their credit card machine was down, but they had the old school sliding imprinter. Of course. We wanted to split our bill so we asked her which was like pulling teeth at this point. She offered us a pen so we could split it up ourselves on the back of our ticket. I worked in restaurants all through high school and college and feel comfortable saying this was a pathetic showing. Although, the bacon kimchi burger was really tasty along with the parmesan fries.. The burger bun was especially soft and delicious. Unfortunately, this experience doesn't warrant my return.
(2)Liza S.
If you go to Foster Burger, make sure you are really hungry! The fries are supper yummy, especially with the gravy and cheese curds. The burgers are amazing, personally, I get mine medium rare, and they are so juicy and good! I take my kids there often, and we always leave with very full tummies!
(5)Nancy K.
The burger was Meh but the fries were great. I ordered the Burner and wasn't very impressed. This is their spicy burger with Sriracha, roasted jalapenos, onion straws, lettuce and cheese. For me, it wasn't very spicy - I had a hint of hotness with the jalapenos but the Sriracha flavor was non-existant. Unfortunately, the fried onion straws were lukewarm and squishy and just didn't help the burger in any way. We also ordered the Black n' White fries which were great. The fries were crispy outside, fluffy inside, nearly perfect in every way. The squid ink aioli was quite good (however I found it a smidge difficult to dip my fries into something so...murky). The hubs built his own burger and they forgot to put the bacon on it. He said the burger was alright, nothing remarkable.
(3)LeAnn E.
Originally we were wanting to hit up Killer Burger, it's not open on Sundays! So we decided on Foster Burger. It did not disappoint!! We had the 'Black and White' fries which were fantastic, I had a cheeseburger with onion straws, and my fiancé had a cheeseburger with bacon. Service was friendly and timely. I'll be back. Next time I'm gonna get a shake!!
(4)Phong D.
I came for the Foster Burger which was really good, but was more impressed by their Black and White fries. The wizards at Foster Burger have taken French fries to a new level. Who wouldn't want truffle oil, shaved Parmesan, or aioli on their fries? The squid ink was weird but it worked! The final result was a complex blend of briny and tangy flavors. The portion was large enough to share but sadly I did not. I ate all the fries by myself.
(4)Chelsea D.
I'm sold. We made our way to Foster Burger on a late Saturday afternoon with a friend (and local) who made the suggestion. We were not disappointed. We sat on the covered patio, where they have several picnic tables alongside chalkboard walls (but no chalk that I could find...maybe I should have asked about that). I'm always a bit wary of sitting on patios at restaurants that don't have busy patios, because I've had multiple bad experiences with being forgotten by waiters--not the case here, thank goodness. Service was quite prompt, actually--I actually barely had a chance to look over the menu before the waiter showed up for drink orders. I decided on the Davy Jones Locker cocktail, which was both unique and delicious, with spiced rum, apple juice, and rootbeer. We ordered a large fry to share, as they can be ordered only as additional sides--they aren't included with your burger. They were unremarkable. My favorite part of my meal was definitely the TurkeyBacon Burger. The flavor of the bacon, perfectly ground into the turkey patty, was nothing short of amazing. The bun, baked locally, didn't lack in delicious, toasty sesame seeds. And for $6, I got a burger large and filling enough that I couldn't finish it. More importantly, though, my boyfriend who is something of a "barbecue burger connoisseur" was full of nothing but praise (and barbecue burger). While I can't say we made it to many other burger joints on our trip (in our quest to experience the widest variety of foods we could), I can say that this was one of the best burgers I've had in general, and I would definitely return AND recommend.
(4)John I.
Best burgers in portland! Buns from the vietnamese bakery next door. Everything seems local fresh and hearty! Great pickles and onions too!
(5)Fannie B.
Best lamb burger yet, and I've had quite a few. The fries, poutine, and cocktail milkshakes top off your meal nicely!
(5)Jeanine S.
My three stars are for service. Which was fantastic, the guy was awesome! Let me start with a positive start, I'm a coleslaw nut. Everywhere I go & it's on the menu I get it! This place has yummy coleslaw, definitely a top 10. Now to the burger & fries... Disappointed! The fries before burger, really?! & salty!!!! If your tongue & lips burn that's to much salt & I love salt on everything! The burger was nothing to write home about. A complete let down!!! This place is known for burgers, but it can't make one that you remember. Our burgers were also pink, not slightly pink, but PINK. I understand people like pink burgers, but I had to eat the corners of my burger because it was to far pink. A complete waste, I had to throw a good portion of my burger away because I refuse to be that customer in a restaurant. You never send anything back! Long story short, we go out a lot to new places & return to the ones we love. Unfortunately this one, is one & done!
(3)Nicole A.
Oh, Foster Burger. You have us by the you-know-whats. We travel great distances for your delicious, orgasmic burger meat and black and white fries. If I'm particularly hungry, the boyfriend and I share a coffee shake. A Mini Foster is enough for a modest appetite, and we never leave disappointed. Their staff is really nice, sometimes a bit taciturn, but they open up if you chat 'em up. Service has been reliable when we go, but that's during the off-hours. We've never waited longer than 15 minutes for our food. Expect this place to be packed on a Friday night, with a significant wait list. They have a back patio too that's open in nicer weather, but we prefer to sit inside and scope out the seemingly endless wallpaper of music venue flyers. Truthfully though, there's nowhere better in Portland for a filling burger meal. Foster Burger is just the best.
(5)In B.
I would have to say their fries/poutines will win over their burgers.. Their burgers are good.. but the meat was a littttle bit on the dry side.. everyone must try Black & White fries with their house made squid ink sauce! Delishhh.
(4)Peter T.
Oh, you know how hesitant I am to go into someplace called "the best" anything. Foster Burger has been open a few months, lots of local raves, and today was named one of the ten best new burgers in the US by Bon Appetit Magazine. Wow. I thought I had better get there fast, before I can't get a seat. Hoping it's not another Umami (Los Angeles), which was also on this list, and is absolutely dreadful. Well, spoiler alert folks. Not only is this one of the ten best in the country, this is in the top ten, nay top three, perhaps, of the greatest burgers in history! And I don't say that lightly. Not at all. Foster starts with a patty of house round naturdal beef and pork backfat, placed on a slightly toasted sesame roll from the An Xuyen Bakery, which is right next door. That's fresh. The offer a variety of toppings, as well burgers of the lamb and turkey variety, but I went with the "works", the Foster Road Pile Up. Note: Cheddar (or Swiss), Applewood smoked bacon, fried farm egg, caramelized onions, pickled beet, house-made pickles, lettuce, tomato, thousand island on the side, and hell, if you want, add your own ketchup and mustard. That's a burger! Burgers come with your choice of fries, slaw or side salad, and I upgraded to the "Black and White" fries, hand-cut fies with Parmesan, truffle oil, and squid ink aioli. Never had black mayo? Me, neither. Have now. Will crave it now. I could not navigate this monster topside to my piehole, so I set about bisecting, then dissecting it, in order to savor each combo individually. Fabulous. Don't change a thing. Even with beets, which I ordinarily loathe, the combination of crunch, soft, sweet, tangy is an experience not to be missed. Foster Burger is only open for dinners during the week, but they add lunch weekends. What? You want to know about the service, ambiance, decor? Who cares? The food speaks for itself
(5)Nick P.
This place has excellent service, the burgers are juicy and delicious, and their poutine is amazing. Not to mention that they didn't even charge me for my soda. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Janet M.
Back to Foster Burger on a Sunday afternoon, because we saw an episode of "the Best thing I ever ate:Bacon" and started talking about the Turkey Bacon Burger. We needed to see if it was the best bacon thing we ever ate. I think it's close. ( do you want to know the others? Well, patience grasshoppers, and I will tell you at the end). . This time we took BIL and the kid. Kid was not pleased to hear we had been before, without her, until we explained we had not known how kid friendly it would be. There were a number of families with kids there on a Sunday afternoon. I think it's fine for kids. They even have a mini beef burger for $4. We all had Turkey Bacon Burgers.( even kid, who is finished with her vegetarian thing, for now at least). We shared two orders of french fries. Fries do NOT come with it, this is not how I remembered it last time ( I think they used to come with?), but that's ok. We also ordered me the special cock shake ( chocolate fireball, with whiskey, cinnamon schnapps, and ice cream and chocolate, hello, yum), husband a virgin coffee shake ( his turn to drive, poor thing), green tea ( BIl didn't feel so well today, sad), and a root beer float for the princess. It was proclaimed the BEST root beer float ever. It was pretty darn impressively good. It came as a tall glass full of vanilla ice cream,with a long spoon and a straw, and a bottle of icy cold root beer next to it. She was in root beer heaven. She couldn't finish it in the restaurant, they gave us a cup to take it home. She nursed it all day. Our burgers and fries were very good. We all liked them.I think it's more of a bacon burger with turkey,( the bacon is chopped up INSIDE the burger, think meatloaf) it's smokey and salty goodness. I like their sauce that comes in a little cup next to it, I think it has horseradish in it, yum! Hubby had some minor gripes about various things (ketchup bottle was sticky,fries had a couple bad spots,the bun was too big, blah blah), but really? Foster Burger makes it hard to complain about anything. Especially with an alcoholic milkshake beverage in hand. Oh, princess had the house pickled beets too ( two slices for 50 cents) and loved them. Practically licked the plate they arrived on. We will be back. Princess wants to know when she can have another rootbeer float, for one thing... I'm drying to go sneak a lamb burger ( no, I'm not supposed to eat lamb OR beef,because of testing, blah blah, but it looked really delicious when it was on the way to the table next to ours). Anyway, do you wanna know our favorite bacon? probably either my own carbonara (sorry Yelpers) or the bacon brownie sundae at Fishwife... or the maple bacon bar at Voodoo Donuts. Or the candied bacon at Hall Street Grill. Reallly, bacon isn't usually ever bad, is it?
(4)Marc F.
You may have been Countered, you may even have been Wow'ed, but your burger cravings still need to be Fostered.
(5)Bryan A.
Great burgers and amazing fries. This is the second time I've gone and I could just eat the fries if needed. Ended up getting the Classic Foster Burger with all the toppings. Small order of the black and white fries, which has a big hit of Parmesan cheese, slight truffle taste and some squid ink aioli. Also had the poutine fries with cheese curds and gravy (reminiscent of browning and seasoning sauce)...which I would definitely recommend extra napkins for.
(4)Brandon J.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I worked at a restaurant in high school and got to run the grill on occasion, so I know a thing or two about burgers. My good buddy also manages the Carl's Jr. on 82nd, so yeah. When I popped into this joint I didn't know what to expect, but my expectations were soon met with the fact that I shouldn't have brought my expectations to begin with. I like a place that doesn't F around with burgers. You know why? Because at the end of the day, there's a dead cow and it's muscles are now in patty form on my table. I don't give a rats arse if that cow was massaged daily by a bearded hippy on a lush verdant hill or if it was just waiting in line with the other slow-moving bovine (slomovine?) at the slaughterhouse. I got the spicy burger and probably inhaled it faster I should have. My mouth was burning, but fortunately for me that is a feeling that only compels me to dig further into whatever bombass food I'm scarfin' on. Touche, "The Burner" (that's the name of the burger I chowed). So I was saying, my mouth was on fire, but they have a great cocktail list and I chugged down "The Diesel" and it made my mouth so happy in a very sensual way. Anyone that complains about this place clearly wouldn't know a good burger even if it rear-ended them on Powell. Because that's pretty messed up to get rear-ended by a burger. They don't even have hands, so how can they drive?
(5)Aaron E.
I have been to Foster Burger a number of times, but last night really pushed my buttons in all the right ways. I've always thought the burgers were good, but something kept me from coming back regularly, it just wasn't quite there; good, but not amazing. I went last night on a whim, and my girlfriend and I were blown away, everything was excellent! The milkshakes and malts are the real deal, thick, rich and flavorful. The Cockshake adds booze (brilliant) in any of its many permutations. We tried a chocolate malt and the cockshake special which had buttershots and irish cream. They were both delicious, but I preferred the malt. I am thinking about that malt right now, agghhh so good.... Next were the black and white fries which I've ordered every time I've gone for the past couple years. They are excellent, order them and thank me later. Fresh fries with parmesan (maybe some pecorino as well?) and truffle oil, with a side of garlic and squid ink aioli. My one and only gripe is that our fries were all about 1" long, which got annoying after a while. The burgers. Oh the burgers. If these weren't their crown jewel, it wouldn't be called Foster Burger. I had the BBQ and my lady friend had the burner. We were both very pleased; they were both perfectly medium in the middle as requested. Our friend had the turkey burger and said it was by far the best he's ever had. The An Xuyen buns are very brioche like and absorb the many juices from the burger quite well without becoming overly soggy or pasty. The BBQ burger has BBQ sauce (surprise!), bacon, cheese, coleslaw, homemade pickles and the other standard FB fare. It was really fucking good. I was so full I could only eat half, and I saved the rest for the next day, and it was still, really fucking good. Leftovers that are that good are rare indeed. I have enjoyed my past experiences, but last night was transcendent. I look forward to my next visit, and will gladly amend my review to five stars if it's anywhere as good as it was last night. EDIT: I have been back, and it was still very good. I have amended my review to five stars. All of my friends that I have taken there rave about it.
(5)Michelle C.
I'm still thinking wistfully about this burger the next day. For six bucks, I had a Foster Burger with Swiss and it made me so happy, let me count the ways: 1. That sesame-yes-you-can-actually-taste-the-sesame seed bun. So light, grilled to perfection, so airy while still maintaining its integrity over the course of being eaten. 2. That Foster Sauce, just tangy, salty, right to balance the hint of sweetness in the aforementioned bun. 3.That swiss, properly funky and salty, not some cheap, tasteless plasticine processed cheese food. I love it when The swiss can show up in the flavor profile, especially considering 4. That beef. Cooked medium rare, juicy, with a touch of char on the outside, hefty, leaving me wondering how anyone can take down a double version of this burger. Seasoned perfectly, with a great bite. Nom. 5. That white onion. Thanks for not weenie-ing out and giving me a red onion. A nice, sharp, fresh raw slice of white onion is just what I wanted to add some crunch and kick to this mouth party. 6. No shredded lettuce here, just a nice, thick slab of iceberg (you can pare it down if you prefer) to give it some bite, keep the pickles and onion in their places, and add a nice cool layer to the hot meat and cheese strata that are going on around it. I want to go back already. Never mind that those black and white fries are seriously awesome, with quality, stinky parm shredded on top. (and a small order more than sated two of us) Never mind that the service was super on top of things and crazy nice and we walked out for $25 for two of us with drinks. Never mind that the car that parked behind me had its rear side window bashed in while we were inside eating. Well, I guess I mind that. I'll brave parking here again if only to get that burger back in my mouf.
(5)Rosalie S.
A lot bigger than I expected. Great food and drinks and great service. We brought along our 9 month old son and they have bananas that we were able to buy for him which is awesome, that way he doesn't feel left out while we eat !! The food was great as well, I will definitely return.
(4)Bridget C.
Delicious burgers, homemade buns, tasty friends, low-key Portland atmosphere. Been here several times and will continue!
(5)steve v.
Disappointment - over priced, cunty staff and mediocre overall. Burger $11 Beer $4.50 Tip $3.00 $18.50 for one beer and a burger just seems a bit much and the bitchy service makes it a no brainer - what a waste of time and money. The presoak at the Sling Shot Lounge was worthy enough for a repeat.
(2)Ben K.
This place is pretty delicious. I ordered the Foster Pile-Up, and everything from the housemade bun, to the beets and egg is delicious. The fries are good and the Foster Sauce really took me by surprise. Whenever I hear 'special sauce,' or 'Restaurant name sauce' I immediately think mayo and ketchup, or, conversely, the burgerville method of Mustard and mayo. This I think had some mustard in it, but it was also very horseradish-ey, and was super delicious. High quality burger, that which you can smell outside the package, not just grease or whatever from fast food restaurants. Definitely a good burger.
(4)Marc W.
As I mentioned in a previous review, I'm on a quest to find that "great burger in town". I've always liked hamburgers and am always on the lookout for the great ones, but I've had some time on my hands and decided to try three new places this week. I tried Violetta, Joe's Burger and now - Foster Burger. When I walked into this place, I knew I was going to like it. It's in an old beat up building, a bit dark on the inside, but once you walk in, the staff is friendly, welcomes you and you can start to take in the character. Band and music posters covers the walls, other strange knick-knacks scattered about. If any place is going to have great burgers, it would look like this. And I wasn't disappointed. I think I found it. One of the great burgers in town!! I got their basic Foster Burger, double-patty and had them add a small pile of blue cheese on top. That, with their special sauce and the lettuce and pickles, made for quite a treat. The meat - really tasty meat with the distinctive, strong beef flavor that I love. But here's what sold me - they season their meat. Yes! When I take a bite, my lips, then my tongue hit the seasoning, and flavors start dancing in my mouth. I ate a small bit of the meat alone, by itself and it was damn good. The bun - I rarely comment on the bun. It's an integral part of the meal and if it's bad, I'll say so, but most places I've tried, the bun doesn't stand out. Here at Foster Burger, their buns are fantastic. Soft, grilled on the inner surface, fresh and chewy and truly tasty. I snagged a piece of the bun and just ate it.. really a fine piece of bread on its own. And spongy - I love this - I would not have been successful at getting my mouth around that first bite of this huge burger, if the bun did not squeeze down under the pressure of my fingers and lips... but it did... it squished down wonderfully, and I got a delightful mouthful of meat, bun and fixings. Perfect!! The wet naps - oh yes, when you sit down at a table and notice a container full of wet naps, that just tells you the owners know something about their burgers - you are going to be one sloppy, juicy, wet mess when you are done. Thank goodness for the wet naps! They do offer a Banana Split, and a HUGE Banana Split for dessert. I skipped it this time, but promised myself, I'll get it next time. The meat. The bun. The atmosphere. The wet naps. I'm definitely putting Foster Burger on my list of one of the great burger's in town! Side note: in 2008, I gave Slow Bar a 4-star review for their hamburgers. It's been so long, I think I need to go back and compare them to Foster. Hey, that's as good of an excuse as any to eat more hamburgers!
(5)S T.
An a-ok burger place! Different burger choices with lots of flavor - I always enjoy what I order. A bit spendy for all the extras that come standard at other places, sometimes way too loud with the music and tightly packed guests, and occasionally tough to get prompt service. But overall a good burger choice in a funky restaurant.
(3)Blake H.
Hands down my favorite burger in Portland. I've never had anything but excellent customer service, and the food has been consistently perfect. Not to mention that it's never greasy or sloppy like other burgers can be. I've even gone there feeling like garbage with a poor appetite and had my day saved with the first bite. For me burgers are normally about what you put on them, and this place has many topping choices, but the patty is so flavorful that I've ordered a burger plain and it was still ridiculously enjoyable. Thanks for all the tasty burgs!
(5)Kimberly V.
Two Halloweens ago, Don B and Yelp crew put together a delightful little costume party at Foster Burger. In a moment of meme-high inspiration, I put my crime partner's crazy 'fro wig on my head, tied a red bandanna around the fake hair, and ironed the phrases "Hide yo wife" and "Hide yo kids" onto a blank tank top. There were a lot of fun costumes at that party, and I got to take home a bottle of wine for my antics, er, efforts. That's what I remember most from Foster Burger. It has little to do with the restaurant and a lot do with me being a ringer for a wiry African-American man whose sister suffered a nasty bed intrusion. But Foster Burger stealthily became a regular spot in the couple years following that party. If you want to kick back, drink a couple beers, and admire all the concert fliers on the walls inside or chill on the covered patio outside, it is a perfectly fine place to do so while eating burgers and fries. The fries are plentiful and fresh. The burgers, particularly the meat-free hemp patty, are filling and somehow fancier than what you might expect from a burger joint. Translation = they have pickled beets and caramelized onions, although the hemp burger might have tipped you off. I don't like how the extra things such as the beets and whatnot add up to make a six-to-seven dollar burger closer to ten bones. On top of that, although the beer selection is wide and reasonably priced, the cocktails are on the spendy side at seven to eight bucks a drink. That would not be too much of an issue except the pours are often weak, in my experience. For a humble burger joint, a double-digit meal reads like kind of a splurge. And although the food is good, it's like eh, do you really want your splurge meal at a really nice burger joint? Perhaps. Anyway, now that I have all the useful stuff out of the way, let me just say "You don't even have to confess, we gon' find you. So you can run and tell dat, homeboy." Seriously. Never not funny.
(3)Hungrylone W.
Minus a star for the overly salty fries. Other than that this place was great. The burger had quality and the staff was super friendly. Good. Simple. Honest. Down to earth. Motherfucking burgers! The price is not to bad either, I feel like it was fair. Cool decor. Good location. And titties next door!
(4)Jamila C.
I was jonsing for a burger late at night and my favorite cart was closed. So I went on a mission to find a place with turkey burgers. That led us here. Decent turkey burgers - good sized with just the right amount of toppings. The fries are pretty good too - crunchy and decent portions. The decor of the place was great - so many band posters. While it was not the best I've ever had and I probably won't go out of my way for it, it's worth grabbing a bite if we're in the area again.
(3)Ashley C.
The burger was very tastey and juicy, I truly love their fries, and since I come from high pressure family the salt on the fries was just right. Keep up the good work guys
(5)Brent W.
Good patty and bun. Had the foster burger medium rare. It didn't need cheese or bacon. They had some sort of special burger with pork belly on the chalk board. I've heard their milkshakes and french fries with truffle oil are very good.
(4)Douglas M.
So by no means do I think this place isn't good, but it's not Great either. Have been here several times and for some people's tastes this might be The Burger Joint for you. For me, however, it really isn't. I'm not all that impressed with the food in general, but with a little love I truly feel it could be much better. The vibe is positive though and the staff is very nice and friendly. Tonight I had the lamb burger to try and change things up a bit and it just seemed a little on the tough side, super greasy, and wouldn't stay on the miniature gluten free bun they have. The gravy fries were pretty delicious though, and like I said at the beginning, they aren't good, they're just not great.
(3)Heather B.
This place was a lot better a few years ago than it is today. Their turkey bacon burgers used to be something dreams were made out of, but the one I had the other day was dry and tasteless, except for the mound of blue cheese that was slopped on it. Whatever you do, don't order Turkey BOMB unless you want to eat something that tastes like a gym sock.
(3)Jeff H.
Bomb.
(5)Tony S.
I went for the Black and White fries, but I'll go back for the burgers. Only reason this is 4 stars is because the B & W fries were too salty, I don't know if it was a one time thing or not, but I got it "to go" and had to stop eating them. I love truffle oil fries, but Little Big Burger does it better in this category. The squid ink aioli was fine, but I don't know what it is does, it doesn't seem to add anything to the taste. It is more there for something to dip into. The burger was very tasty, I did find it strange that were no added condiments though, it was more odd than bad. I added some Dijon mustard at home and it was great. The bun was excellent and the roasted jalapeños were really good. The burger was perfectly cooked and juicy. I'm definitely going to forget the fries next time and instead try different combos on the burgers. Oh and the service for "to go" is awesome, very attentive.
(4)Scooby D.
You just can't beat Foster Burger. The food is always excellent. Beers are ice cold and the service is great. I've been there a dozen times and never had bad service even when the place is packed.
(5)S f.
For a long time, Foster Burger has been my go-to burger place. Every burger I ate was compared to Foster Burger. Then their bins changed (they stopped getting the delicious buns from the Vietnamese bakery next door) and it seemed to change the whole burger. With time, their buns have slowly improved, but they still aren't quite as good as they were when they got them from their neighbor. The alcoholic milkshakes, called "cockshakes," are delicious!
(4)Bob H.
The best hamburger I had in a long time, the service is very good, fresh squeezed lemonade is breathtaking, and the atmosphere is uncomparable.
(4)Tristan R.
Foster Burger is a great location to get a burger and fries. The variety of toppings that can be added can complete any sandwich that you have in mind. I usually go for the plain Foster Burger with veggies and if I am up for it, the mushrooms and/or grilled onions. The meat is of good quality and the bun is also quite delicious (home made I presume). The fries are also good; it reminds me of what I like in a fry; not too fat with a little bit of salt and crispiness. They also have beer on tap and on bottle if the milkshakes (which are also worth your while) are not your thing. The service is also of courteous and friendly. The food comes out pretty quickly as well.
(4)tkincalifornia k.
I admit, i had higher expectations given the top 10 new burgers from Bon Appetite. The fries were fantastic, the service was very pleasant as well, the 3 stars comes from the burger. Given this is a highly touted burger joint, the rubber hits the road here. It was just "ok" and also ended up with the bottom of the bun being very soggy. The adder of some lovely sliced pickles was a nice touch. I might give it a second chance given the good service and wonderful fries.
(3)Anne W.
The great burger scam of 2010....Seriously, is this the best you guys could do! Burgers came out 5 minutes after we ordered, which raises the question of how cooked to order they could be. I wish I went to Burgerville instead. Don't believe the hype!
(1)Smit J.
I've only been once, so far. I had the server tell me her favorites, which were the Burner Burger, and then the Turkey Bacon. Both were great, especially the Burner Burger (recommended to anyone with a hearty appetite). It wasn't the best burger I've had in town, but one of them. I found it to be worth the 11 or so dollars. If you like fast food burgers, then save your money; and I would also say that unless you like a giant spicy burger there is a pretty good chance you won't be impressed with this place. We also ordered the appetizer special of the day which was fries with gravy, chicken, cheese curds and peas. Sounds strange but was also very good. Lastly we got the Ice Cream Pie which I'd recommend as well. So: 4.65 stars for the Burner Burger, 4.15 stars for the Ice Cream Pie, 4.05 stars for the Turkey Bacon Burger and 3.55 stars for pretty much everything else.
(4)John S.
Specialization is the trend in most businesses these days, and so it is with selling the venerable burger. Foster Burger is doing a great job with this classic, while resisting such Post-modern flourishes as truffle oils and gluten free buns, quince mousse, whatever. The generous portion of meat is seasoned perfectly, though when I tried to ask about their secret the answer was a shrug. It's just great beef, I guess. The fries are excellent: crisp on the outside, moist on the inside. We loved the atmosphere, too, working class, relaxed, exceptionally friendly--very appropriate for a burger restaurant.
(4)Elizabeth S.
Tried this place on a whim for happy hour. I got a regular burger on a bacon brioche bun and a tallboy of PBR. Altogether, it was around $10, which is a decent price considering that the regular price for a burger is $8 by itself. I loved the atmosphere; walls covered with concert fliers from every band imaginable. It was unexpected, and I enjoyed it. I can't see myself coming back anytime soon though...the burger was good, it just wasn't really memorable.
(3)Mark P.
First time there. Meat and bun was very good quality. Way too light on the free fixings. Too expensive to add a few extra toppings. Black white truffle fries were mixed. Good fries. Really didn't like the side mayo with black truffle oil mixed in. Hardly any truffle taste. Take a cue from the former Violetta Cafe and lightly sprinkle white truffle oil over the hot fries. Soooo much better. Overall, I'll give it one more try.
(3)Andre'a D.
I hope this review makes it to the wall also. When I first arrived, used the restroom, and saw all of the 1-2 star reviews, I was amused. Mocking those that didn't love the place, huh? Oh, this place has GOT to be fantastic!! Dang It. I wanted to love this place too. Unfortunately, the RARE burger (that was specifically ordered medium well) and the service will be the reasons that my husband and I will not go back. I had the veggie burger - great stuff, very fresh and tasty. I really liked the bun, and will remember to try out the bakery next door. The salad was super fresh also, and nicely tossed with a vinaigrette, cucumbers, red onions, and radishes. We were starving, and had looked online before we came so we both knew what we wanted. When our food came, the hubby cuts his "pileup" in half and realizes that it is extremely pink, in fact, rare. I work in a restaurant, and as another reviewer mentioned, MED is slightly pink, at 135-150 degrees. MED WELL - 150-165 and should have no pink. This burger was raw, and unfortunately, my husband didn't sent it back, but dug out the rare middle, and ate what the rest, as previously mentioned our starvation and didn't want to wait for another burger to be cooked to correct temp. When the server came to check up on us, we said it was okay, and she dug deeper. He let her know that it was really pink, but he had already started eating it. My thoughts "Right on, she will offer to fix it!" Nope, she says "are you sure?" no insistence on fixing it...when she proceeded to ensure us that "you won't get sick and die" and "if you do, you can call and let me know"...that was just weird and awkward. You've got to be kidding, right? Apparently, we should have pushed the issue and made them fix it. When she brought the bill, we said she was going to "comp" something, and "she would be our cashier though", and assumed the burger was comped after she saw the pile of raw hamburger on my husband's plate when she took it back. The bill was in full, and we assumed it just hadn't been removed yet. The other waitress came by, grabbed the bill, and proceeded to run our card, for the full amount. We thought it was strange, and asked our original waitress about it, and she proceeded to take us into "twilight zone" and tell us that we were confused with another waitress and that half of them look just like her. WHAT?!? I think we were both shocked that she actually believed what she was saying, and that she was actually saying it! The only other girl we saw was the one who sat us, brought us water, and rang our bill. This was not a busy night (apparently, we were lucky) and there only a few on staff. Too bad I didn't read the entirety of the reviews here before we went, and...on their own wall. And it's too bad that my first review here is negative.
(1)Brittney M.
Completely unimpressed. With all the attention to detail etc you expect goodness. Instead, my boyfriend thought it bore a strong resemblance to Stanich's in term of the end taste. Just not much of an upgrade considering. Sure the bun was nice. Pickles were good but burger didn't stand out in this town full of showy burgers. Biwa's after 10 burger is holding top contender for me right now.
(2)Mick R.
Black and white fries were a disappointment but the Burner was awesome. We had a group of 8 which probably stretched them a bit but our server was extra nice.
(5)Denise B.
We were visiting Portland and tried Foster Burger as it had been written up in Food and Wine and one of the 10 best burgers in America. They were wrong!! After we were seating the waiter took the drink order of two of our group of five then left before the others could order. We finally flagged him down and put in the rest of our drink order. Not a good start considering the place was nearly empty. A different waitress tried to deliver food for another table and when our order did arrive four out of the five orders were wrong and needed to be sent back. No apologies and the waiter (yet another one!) seemed unfazed about the error. When we finally got what we ordered it was ok but nothing special. It is a limited menu and honestly nothing special at all. Considering the location is not in downtown Portland and not easy to get to unless you have a car, i would not go out of my way to visit here. There are so many other delicious options in Portland - pass this one by.
(2)Jay J.
I decided to go to Foster Burger this evening because my friend had seen on the news that they had received a great rating as one of the 10 top burger joints from Bon Appetite magazine. I ordered the Kiwi burger and my dinner partner ordered the Foster burger. The burgers were cooked excellent and the buns were from next door and they were perfect for the burger. The pickled plate was outstanding and the pickles were really fantastic themselves. This burger is very good. However, it is not overly spiced. Depends on what you like. The meat is tasty and I believe ground in-house. I will return.
(4)Jennifer S.
We were taken here by a local and enjoyed our experience. The fries with the squid ink were good, I liked that they sold items they pickled themselves and my daughter enjoyed having her picture stapled to the wall. The burgers were ok. We'd come back if we lived in this area.
(3)Jason A.
Foster Burger makes a very strong burger. I liked mine, and my spouse liked the veggie burger. The kids liked their food too. I do, however, think the prices are little high. Our family of 4 had tab greater than $45, including tip, which I thought was a bit much considering 2 of the meals were kids meals, and there were no alcoholic drinks. The food quality is indeed very good, with the french fries being the highlight. I will go there in the future occasionally.
(3)Jim L.
This is a decent neighborhood burger joint but not one that rises to elitist caliber. When the best thing you mention about the burger is the bun, then you know it isn't spectacular. Fries were good but only excelled in a visual way...this is a burger that is good if you are in the area but don't make a special trip as I did.
(3)ROY V.
I smell a burger conspiracy. Foster Burger had 28 reviews and now there are only 23 (before this one) Seems like they are getting a lot of bad press, and now a bunch of the bad reviews have vanished. Hmmmmm. Anyway this place sucks. $10 for an Average Burger in the heart of Felony Flats. If you want a real Burger Bar Burger, then try the Hollywood Burger Bar. If you are pretensious, a yuppie, someone who enjoys overpaying for average food, then rush on over to Foster Burger. If they cut their prices in half, I will bump up to 4 stars.
(1)Michael Q.
Ok, I've been here twice. Have not eaten anything however. First time, I stupidly went by on a Tuesday. Closed. Well, everyone needs a day off, but this is supposed to be an old time burger joint. I'm old time, and I've never seen a burger joint closed on a Tuesday. Go to Yelp to find hours. Closed Tuesday AND Wednesday. What sort of idiot planned this schedule. Oh, the guy from Ping and Pok Pok. No wonder. And no wonder they don't offer tomatoes on hamburgers in January. "God! They are out of season, and in Portland, we ONLY use ingredients when they are in season...." NO TOMATOES in an old fashioned hamburger joint????? Get off your high fu-king horse. I love seasonal stuff, I grow fantastic tomatoes, herbs, salad greens, etc. But on a fu-king burger, yes, even in January, I want a tomato and I don't need the Food Nazi (whose waitstaff at that Pok place has got to be the most irritating folks I"ve ever been served by "Uh, that's pronounced XXXXX," I've been told more than once. Ok, the waitstaff here has lived in Thailand and knows all the transliteration variants of written and spoken Thai.....I don't think so...look at any 4-5 Thai menus around the USA and you'll see wide variation in these hard to standardize orthographies) No Tomatoes In January on the Hamburger sir, and that is pronounced "HAM-burger" . Asshole. Ok, Yelp tells me, and other reviews around the 'net tell me this place is open late...Yelp says until 11pm on Mondays. But I'd heard about the lines and decided to delay dinner tonight until a bit later. So at 9pm I cruised over--in my neighborhood, nice to have something replace the very-much-missed CAVA--to have a 'mater-less burger with a tedious pedigree for every ingredient. Oh, by the way, is lettuce in season in Oregon in January? Is wheat, and thus the flour used in the buns in season in January in Oregon? What about the sugar in the apparently awful milkshakes (see other Yelp reviews) in season in Oregon in January? If were gonna carry this loco-vore nonsense this far, then why not for everything, Mr. Pok? Anyway, I went in, sat down. Thinking about that burger without a tomato that has a certificate of provenance for every single ingredient. Well, the nice waitron comes over and says, "we're closed for the night." What??? I thought you were open late. Your hours say you are open late, every review, almost, that I've seen has said you are open late. What gives? The footnote here is that this is just another proof to me that Portland is an extremely provincial little burgh where the sidewalks roll up at 9. Maybe 10. I've been in bars here that, even on Saturday, close down around 11 or 11.30 because they are empty. Shit, in Austin, bars don't even start filling up until that hour, and I can't think of ANY bar that would be empty at 11pm on a Saturday. And I can't think of ANY burger joint there that would not put tomatoes on a friggin' hamburger because "it's not in season." Give me a break!!!!! Sorry, Mr Pok, you will have to go on without my $$$, not that you really care...yer PP fans will gobble up your precious burgers and stand in line for an hour or two for the privilege of saying "Man, you have to go to Foster Burger! It's awesome! And they even taught me how to pronounce 'fat back' properly!!!!" YMMV....
(1)Melinda A.
scrumptious burgers good cock shakes. Laid back atmosphere.
(4)J M.
3.5 Stars. Great burger and fries, but too salty all the way around. Milk Shakes.
(3)Keith B.
Ok remember to self that it's a hamburger. Mind you very important, but a burger nonetheless. Here come the burger. My buddie picks his up, it was a cheese and carmalized onion burger. The meat then proceeds to fall out and the bun starts to crumble under his anxious, hungry hands. He then is forced to use a fork and a knife. I then soften the grip on my burger. High grade meats check. Fine cheese check. All a set up for a good burger experience right? No, not right, give that burger some flavor! $8.50 for a cheese burger and I expect the basics to be there. Toast that bun, add some home made sauce on that thang, onions should come with it spare a pickle, season that beef man. How did the hype on this burger joint misguide me to think I was gonna be surprised? Maybe I was just a little confused. But overall the hype got me there, so good work on that. Now it's time to focus on the product. You have everything you need.
(2)Dan P.
Another burger joint I said? Well considering the guys who own the place have some of the best restaurants in P-town I thought it was worth a look. Apparently so did everyone else who lives in the SE, it was packed! Usually when the hostess tells me "it'll be a 45 minute wait" she's already seeing my backside before finishing her sentence. However something besides all the hype told me I should stay, so I stifled my angry stomach and took a chance. After actually waiting the 45 minutes I had plenty -O- time to look over the menu and decide there was only one option. I like their scheme, I mean if you're going to pay $10 for a burger by the time you add bacon and you ARE then why not sport the extra $1.50 and get the gut busting Road Pile-Up. It's hard enough to deny a fried egg and some juicy bacon on my burger, throw some cheese, sautéed onions and even pickled beet at me and it turns into a sure thing. And to accompany it? I questioned the cockshake but it felt too dirty so I stuck with a nice house selected beer. Before having an anxiety attack from starvation our burgers finally arrived. Not to say the service was bad just that I was ready to KILL for food. When it arrived it certainly looked menacing with all its layers piled high upon my plate. I thought it was best to attack it by cutting it in half as not to eject the contents from the other side after my jaw dropping brute force. With the fresh An Xuyen bakery roll starring back at me I took my first bite and lost the ability to speak for the next 20 minutes. I realized now why I had waited 45 minutes, when asked how it was I simply blinked to confirm my bliss. It was juicy, flavorful, and a complete mess! As always my egg and smoky bacon further complimented the juicy beef, while the onions and beet gave a nice acidity and textural combination. For the second act I figured I might as well add every option to my burger and stuff some fries in there as well. It's not the first time I have seen or eaten fries in a sandwich and again it was a delight! By the time I was done the table was gawking and I was licking my fingers clean. I'm still surprised to hear of burger lover's who have not given Foster's a chance yet?! Forget what you may have heard, head down to Foster Burger today and conquer your next flavor patty!
(4)Rick H.
Had dinner here Sunday eve, Very nice staff, quickly seated and served. Waiter checked with us several times. Burgers great. fries good. The prices are a bit higher than some places but I felt the quaility was higher as well so it was worth it. I will be back.
(4)