4. Restaurants

King’s Hardware

5225 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107
  • (206) 782-0027
  • Store is closed

King’s Hardware Menu

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  • Willy M.

    Ahhh yea......I like this place! Came by to grab a beer and a snack, we decided to sit in the back patio area. Its mostly covered that will provide shade in the summer, but will be still useful the rest of the year. Staff was quick to spot us and give us some menus and take our drink order. So we just got a few beers and some fries to share. Fries came out in a good sized pile, so you definitely get your money's worth! Delicious ranch dressing for dipping and we were good to go! I noticed a lot of the other tables got the nachos, so that seemed to be a hit. May have to check that out next time. I like the decor, a lot of woods, some mismatched old style school chairs thrown in as well. Inside has a good amount of space, Big Buck shooting video game, 2 skee ball units, good amount of tables and next door to a adjoining barber shop. Located on Ballard Ave, so its a good spot to stop by if you are bar hopping. Not sure what the night time crowd is like, but overall, it was a nice chill spot during a later afternoon visit.

    (4)

  • Darlene B.

    I was in a Ballard Bar Hop of some sort! This place was one of the spots on a Sunday Evening that had a lot of people and music! We initially came in, it was loud, but booths were available and people were young and fun. They have an awesome cocktail selection @ this place! My friend got this cucumber drink that was sooooo delicious. And I thought mine was good, at this point it wasn't memorable, but her's was! The location is huge - it goes far back. There were so many seating areas, picnic benches and such. Wish i could've tried the food, but regardless, had a decent time @ King's Hardware! The bathroom is kind of gross, but whatevs! It's a dive-ish bar & restaurant

    (3)

  • Lisa W.

    Maybe it's just 'cause I'm from the Bay Area, but I was stunned at the prices for drinks -- $4 for probably the best Bloody Mary I've had -- just the right amount of bite and a smooth, smoky after taste -- just great! Great place -- more taxidermy in one place than I've ever seen, good music, and nice relaxed crowd. Bartender was on top of it -- it all adds up to the perfect place to relax on a Saturday afternoon in Ballard.

    (4)

  • Dan L.

    "I challenge you to a game of Skee Ball" You need to say those words at least once when you visit Kings. They have pretty damn good burgers. Go for the "Jack" if you like southwest style burgers. The downside is this place is crazy popular on the weekends and it can be kinda hard to move around. Good for them, bad for me. That's a deal breaker for me. If I'm going to go pay for overpriced beer and some bar food, I don't want a 250 people around me yelling over each other. Luckly you can get some fresh air on the patio as long as the weather permits. I have read some other reviews that stated the place has been dead... in the half dozen times I've been there its never not been packed. I'm sure I will be back, people seem to love this place in my group of friends... They do accommodate large groups if you give them a bit of a heads-up. We used Kings as the after party spot for my sisters b-day and they set up a big table right in the middle to fit our large party.

    (3)

  • Wesley F.

    BIG, LOUD, FUN BAR... That really says it all at night, oh and ski-ball! Cheap drinks, fast service for such a big place that gets so crowded and not that the food here isn't good BUT there's always a street meat cart right out the front door to help King's patrons have a hangover free morning. Tons of covered outdoor seating in the back with more than enough heat lamps to keep you warm all winter. Great big but not huge, loud but not too loud to talk, fun bar in Ballard!

    (4)

  • Jen P.

    Best table service I've ever had at a bar, great beer selection--mix of locals and beyond. We didn't get any flak for holding tables for our friends, and the skee ball competition was HOT! We were able to sneak in a sweet potato fries/onion rings order before the kitchen closed at 11. Very helpful when drinking said local beers. The place started pretty empty, but gradually packed in the pretty people. Only minuses I'd give are: you can't have only 1 functioning toilet for the ladies in a bar that size, and it's in Ballard, which for some reason takes 40 minutes to get to from Capitol Hill! Otherwise, really great place. If I get a magic carpet for Christmas, I'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Ron M.

    I remember visiting this establishment a couple of times but can't recall much because I was pretty much out of my gourd each time I visited. Except the other week when the spicy food group decided to grab some after dinner drinks here that I realized it was the first time I've ever entered the place completely sober. Sobering thought! Anyway, my initial sober impression was that I walked into an Abercrombie & Fitch convention after party at a local Claim Jumper with lots of free flowing booze. Michael O. was not far off the mark by describing it as a yuppie Linda's because it's owned by her! The service here was very good with the staff checking in every once in a while to make sure we had everything we needed. People watching here was entertaining too. Like Marissa mentioned in her post, there was a couple playing a pretty intense game of tonsil hockey. I was surprised that they served Olympia beer in cans here. I had no idea that it was still around and produced by Pabst. I suppose you learn something new every day. I'd like to check out their burgers sometime since that is what they are known for. They seem to have quite the selection of them. They do offer burger substitutes like garden/veggie and turkey burger at no additional charge.

    (3)

  • L H.

    King's is the type of place that you can just be at. Grab a drink, or multiple, lose some quarters at skee ball, talk to your neighbors, catch up with your friends. Pros: Great deck area. A bartender who knows how to make proper stiff drinks. Generous portions of decent bar food. And skee ball! Cons: The service is really bartender dependent and it can certainly get rude. The place can also get super crowded with posing hipsters blocking the bar.

    (3)

  • Matt W.

    Let me preface this by saying that this review is solely for my dining experience, not a late night bar review. I've come to this place a few times after hours to drink always have a good time, cheap drinks and always a lot of people. Came in today around 6pm with some friends to try out the $4 burger and brew combo. Our server was RYAN, who actually turned out to be a total dickhead. Without so much as a "Hello", he immedietly demanded IDs from everyone in my group. From there we went ahead and ordered. I asked if I could add lettuce and tomatoes to my burger and was told that "this is not mcdonalds, we can't just add whatever you want on it since its a deal. I get this question every time and people can't seem to understand it." WHAT? What a total asshole, a simple "sorry there are no substitutions" could have sufficed instead of your belittling scbiel. We got our food, which was pretty decent for a $4 deal, not to mention the sweet potato fries were tasty. When we asked for split checks Ryan responded with an eye roll and walked away. When he came back EVERYONES check was wrong. We pulled him back over and let him know how it should have been, he proceeded to storm off and shut the door behind him. He then brought the checks back in, crumpled them into a ball, and threw them on the table. This was quite possibly the worst service I have ever had. Ryan was a total cock, and received a tip that totaled under a dollar because of it. I will not be returning here to eat dinner ever again.

    (1)

  • Cami G.

    So people say yuppies frequent Kings? Um, maybe I'm missing something here but whenever I'm at King's I see: 1) trash that belongs in Tacoma 2) Ballard hipsters. Where do I fall in? Oh, I'm the exception. Regardless of the somewhat sketchy atmosphere held down by the crowd... I still have a good time most nights. The staff is surprisingly friendly and the drinks are stiff. I like the patio, too. It's outside yet closed in so you can use it year round. Skee-ball is always taken in the evenings and I feel like I have to flash some leg to get the guys and their nuts off of it.... so I just pass.

    (3)

  • Cole W.

    HELL YA! SKEEBALL! Thats so cool. I come to this place to drink cheep Rainer beers and throw a few games of skeeball...... a good night. Happy hr is good as well. A place to keep in mind for happy hr.

    (4)

  • Josie N.

    King's is a great neighborhood bar. It has cheap beer and a good selection of more expensive beer, as well as southern style mixed drinks (out of mason jars). The burgers are good, with veggie options, and they have some interesting choices. Sweet potatoe fries are always a bonus. They have a fabulous patio, and skeeball. So what more could you want from a casual hang out place?

    (4)

  • Michelle B.

    Obviously I don't get it. (Which is weird, I usually do!) Everyone is always telling me how much they love Kings, how it's the best bar around because it's so much fun and how I'll love it. I went. It sucked. What I will say is the décor is rockin'. I like the vibe of the place, but I can't waste time at a bar that makes bad drinks! Is a gin and tonic a difficult drink to make? Apparently at Kings it is. There were so many different bartenders working at once I couldn't keep them straight. Or maybe I should say they couldn't keep me straight, I had three separately helping me for just one drink and it wasn't what I would call busy in there, it was Sunday afternoon! Customer service is a small part of their job right? We didn't get menus and everyone's drink was off with the exception of the can of beer. My friends and I had one drink each, played a quick round of skee ball and headed elsewhere. Since there are literally a million other bars in Ballard I doubt I'll be back. Oh alright. I'll be back, but I'll mostly likely be drunk before I get there.

    (2)

  • Bryan R.

    A great laid-back place where you can grab a few drinks, play some buck hunter, and socialize in a roomy bar with an outdoor heat-lamped patio (with an extra bar out there!). Small and personal enough to feel homey, but large enough to always meet new people, Kings also has some good, basic pub food (including some GREAT pub burgers) to satisfy your late-night munchies. The waitress we had the other night was excellent in some quality burger creation, helping us mix-and-match to make the best flavor combination. Awesome. Parking is Ballard parking--it can be decent, or it can be a pain depending on when you go--worst case scenario is you park a few blocks away. Not unusual.

    (4)

  • Amy A.

    My coworkers and I come here a lot for happy hour. I've liked all of their food thus far... their nachos rock and the drinks are stiff and good. I just wish they had more happy hour food prices, but what can you do? I definately reccommend this for happy hour.

    (4)

  • Stephanie H.

    I stopped by Kings on a Friday, and it was PACKED. I see why. Good food, good atmosphere, good service, and stuffed deer heads. What else could a girl want?

    (4)

  • Reese C.

    I went there the other night on a date and had a really fun time! We had vodka and whiskey and fries! The waitresses name was Sam and she was so nice and attentive! Our glasses were never without water or our ordered cocktails! Way to go Kings! Great customer service equals me referring this local watering hole to others!!! :)

    (4)

  • Marcos R.

    A bike messenger, hip and chilled out place to have a beer. Nice quality "pub" food but your not here to geat a great meal, just some fries or a burger/sandwich to soak up the beer. Dog friendly too, a plus!

    (3)

  • Mike T.

    Wandering solo in Ballard for some bourbon on a Wednesday night, I breezed through Hazelwood, but couldn't find a seat. So I meandered down Ballard Ave and for some reason ended up at King's. I've been here before and as I sit here by myself with an Old Overholdt at my side, I begin this review. This place is pretty big. On this particular Wednesday night there's a obnoxious group of girls a the bar celebrating what looks like someone's 21st birthday. The bartender was nice. I commented about a bottle of whiskey made by the infamous Rogue Brewery and he said "Don't even bother...it's gross" I would actually give King's 3.5 star if I could. The music is too loud to actually write a cohesive review....or maybe it's the whiskey...bye...bye.

    (3)

  • Jake R.

    Peanut Butter on my burger, side of sweet potato fries and Skee Ball? Yes please! As stated many times before, this place has an odd decor. Lots of wood, paintings and dead animals! It definitely reminds me of back home in Idaho. I think the weirdest part is that it shares space with Rudy's barber shop. Also, it should be noted that the bathrooms suck, unless you like peeing in an ice filled troth, not my thing. Now for the food. I had the "After School Special", it's basically a bacon cheese burger with a special ingredient: peanut butter! It sounds kind of weird I know, but once I saw it on the menu I knew I HAD to try it. I like bacon cheese burgers and I like peanut butter so I figured it would be a win/win situation and it was! Now it's not unfreakinbelievably good, but it's pretty tasty, my only complaint was that it could have had a bit more PB and possibly the chunky kind, since that's what I prefer. I knew I had to try the Sweet Potato fries too, since I'd never had them before either. They were delicious and complimented my PB burger perfectly. I also had a couple Manny's too, yes I know, "I would!" Manny's is fast becoming my go to beer when out and about as it's regularly available and tastes great! I also played some Skee Ball, I hadn't played Skee Ball in years. It was fun and I was getting the hang of it by the second game, not that it takes that much skill, lol. All in all, this is a nice place, if not a bit loud, with good food and good service too. My waiter was fairly attentive and I only had to wait around for him one time during the evening.

    (4)

  • Jackie K.

    Oh I do like a good burger. And this place has a variety that is sure to please just about everyone. First off, I want to congratulate them for having one of the few remaining peanut butter burgers left in the city, titled humorously, the Afterschool Special. I've had it and it's delicious. I've also had their Bacon Blue Cheese burger and it's equally phenomenal. Juicy burger patties cooked to order (medium, please). Fresh veggie toppings (leaf lettuce, tomato, onion) and crunchy pickles. And a bun that holds together under the pressure of all those toppings. I love their regular fries and their tartar is the perfect compliment. My friend swears by the sliders. I've heard great things about the sweet potato fries. A frosty beverage in their outdoor seating area during the summery months just puts it over the top.

    (4)

  • Paul R.

    I go here occasionally to meet friends and hit the deck. However, it's just ehh.... To many people trying to hard to be "non-conformists". Servers seem to be more focused on showing off their tatoos than doing their job. Basically... Not impressed at all.

    (2)

  • Brandon J.

    Let me make this quick. Thumbs ups: Donkey Kong (game is so hard, but I keep putting quarters in) Gluten-free beer (thanks, Kings) Expansive outdoor heated deck (open all seasons, smoke em if you got em) No BS staff (you get your drinks and food, and you get them efficiently and quickly) Weeknight happy hours Ice cubes in the men's urinal trough (fun to pee on) Optional haircuts (see Rudy's next door) The cute blond bartender Cheap drinks Good jukebox Thumbs downs: Weekend nights (crowded with a mish-mash of annoying and inebriated Seattle youth) It's a "dive bar" (a little tired of this shtick, but oh well) The conclusion: obviously more thumbs ups than downs. Go check it out.

    (4)

  • Sabina S.

    Another great Ballard discovery. If you're looking for a loud, fun, shenanigans filled night while you're surrounded by extremely attractive people, I highly recommend Kings!!! The bar gets pretty crowded on weekend nights, as expected, so try to take cash to get drinks faster!!

    (5)

  • Geoffrey B.

    This week I met up with Calvin, Tal, Jeff and Rachel at King's Hardware; a great bar in Ballard with a big sheltered patio and two awesome skeeball courts. I looked up the menu before leaving work to plan my attack then spent the drive salivating over the simple yet sophisticated burger menu. With advice from my friends and the waiter I went with the Billy Burger (goat cheese, roasted garlic and red peppers). When it arrived, I realized the menu did not do this masterpiece justice. On top of the perfectly cooked patty were a ton of big roasted garlic cloves, yummy marinated red peppers and a heaping mound of goat cheese. The bread was lightly toasted and held together throughout all six bites. This chef d'oeuvre burger is a guarantee for anyone who loves goat cheese.

    (4)

  • Walter B.

    Terrible terrible terrible. I went in there with two friends. We are a little formal for work, so we went in after for a few drinks. Apparently due to our apparel we did not fit in, hence the barteneder did not really want to serve us drinks. When you are not a hipster or full of tats you don't get great service. Ive spoken to their usuals who love it there, but how you get usuals is by being nice to new people. You should always put your best foot forward, not sometimes always.

    (1)

  • Lenny L.

    Kings.... Well, it has Skee ball.. which seems to be hard to find in Seattle.. So, for me.. thats a +.. Kings Ale is cheap and pretty good.. What else? The food? A one page menu that consists about 80% of burgers. Decent burgers and fries, nice atmosphere with a great deck out back. Add some Skee ball . and its way deserving of 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Shruti R.

    Service all around is great. Ryan is really helpful and nice! Burgers are alright, but beer selection is great! As an out-of-towner I appreciated the beer consultation. Happy hour also happens on weekends, but I think that is common in Ballard. It's nice that the microbrews are included in happy hour.

    (5)

  • Eugene C.

    Came here on a weekend with the girlfriend's co-workers. I have never been surrounded by more greased up, orangey fake tanned ex-sorority and fraternity kids in my life. There was also a bunch of Euro, Armani-exchange wearing kids as well. Although the company can be left wanting, the place itself was pretty kick ass. The place is nice. It's divey without being dirty. It's great overall decor with a great dark woody feel. It's a surprising bigger place than I thought it would from judging from the outside. They have a pretty big indoor bar area and a smaller but way less busy bar outside. The outside area is really nice. Refreshing during the summer, and quiet during the winter. My experience with most bars is there is a reverse correlation between wealth of patrons and strength of drinks, I mean that the richer looking the crowd, the weaker the drinks. However at King's Hardware, I was pleasantly surprised, the Long Island I got was very strong. It got me pretty buzzed after the first one. I definitely want to come back during the week to see what its like. I've found you can't judge a bar by how it does on weekends. Because EVERY decent bar gets busy on weekends so the real culture of the bar gets kinda covered by the sheer mass of people who just want to get crunk. During the week, you have the regular customers who just come to chat with the bartenders and have a couple drinks too. (or they want to get crunk too) I'll be back someday. Maybe for Alli D's Birthday Ballard Pub Crawl!

    (4)

  • Denny L.

    docked 1 star because big game hunter machine was broken. WTF. cheap raniers and kokanees keep this place classy.

    (4)

  • Nelson L.

    My favorite bar in Seattle. It's unfortunate that I don't get to travel there on the company dime as much as I used to. I'm always down for King's Hardware for an awesome burger and just cool decor and location. The fries there are also a thing of beauty as well as the Mt. Rainier tall boy cans which are dirt cheap (or is that just the New Yorker in me?). Last time I got there, the crowd was a little much, but otherwise, I've had an awesome time every time I've been there. Love it.

    (5)

  • Ken B.

    Lots of fun, cheap beer, decent food, great atmosphere!

    (4)

  • Jenn W.

    Stopped into King's Hardware twice on my last visit to Seattle. Four stars for the tea leaf infused vodka cocktail, the large back patio, and the skee ball, three for the food. The ceaser salad my husbot ordered was basically lettuce and dressing, no croutons, no parmesan. I got the deviled eggs, why? because for some reason they were the most appealing thing on the menu to me. They were pretty good, being deviled eggs and all. I'm sure they were supposed to be ironic, King's Hardware seems like *that* kind of place.

    (3)

  • Stella C.

    Its hard to find fault with this place. Awesome beer selection, great service, fesh everything, and great community. Everyone here really works hard to do their best. The burgers have a too much cumin, but that seems to be common for Seattle's burgers.

    (4)

  • Robert L.

    If you enjoy convenient parking and have a love of animals, you're gonna hate this place! After 20 minutes of driving back and forth Ballard Ave, I finally crammed into the smallest parking space on the street imaginable (picture Austin Powers-esque parallel parking), and when I went inside the bar I see a ton of dead animals on the wall staring at me. Quite a surprise, I get to eat Bambi tonight! I hope there's a side of Thumper.... Our waitress was very friendly and recommended me the Tijuana Burger (because that was her favorite). After we ordered we killed time with a couple pitchers of beer and a few hundred rounds of Skee Ball. Yea that's right, Skee Ball, only the greatest carnival game in the world! For only a quarter too! After successfully cheating my way to victory, our burgers came, and I'd give it a 7/10. The patty itself was a little dry, flavorful yes, but a whee bit dry for my liking. Otherwise, a pretty damn good burger. The bun was soft but toasty, there was enough guacamole to smother the burger, but not enough for it to pour out like diarrhea. And if you like Dick's fry's, you'll definitely like King's sweet potato fry's, sweet n' soggy. So lucky me, I ordered onion rings, and they did not disappoint Overall: A good burger, many other exotic types of burgers on the menu I wanna try, more Skee Ball to be played, I'm definitely going back.

    (4)

  • J C.

    I'm going back, maybe tryin' out some munchies. Everyone was really nice here, and no one rushed us even though we got one drink a piece and hung out for a couple hours. Thanks, King's.

    (3)

  • P F.

    Ok, so they brought out the buffalo wings with dirty appetizer plates. The place is also rife with some of the crustiest hipsters you've ever seen. The kind who get wasted and proceed to cut their own hair before tattooing themselves with a heated hanger, but never mind the circus freaks, never mind the skee ball (and I LOVE skee ball) this place has the best burgers in Seattle. The best. Enough said.

    (4)

  • Paul V.

    King's is a staple of the Ballard bar scene. There really isn't anything particularly outstanding about it that really pushes it to the top of the list, but it's not bad per se. Alcohol is pretty standard. They have a full bar, but you're probably just ordering drinks that are quick and easy to make (ie rum and coke, gin and tonic, whiskey ginger, etc.) and you're probably getting a watered down version of it. For how busy and crazy it can get in there, the bartenders are generally pretty friendly. Food is not the priority here, but it's still alright. Nothing really to write home about. I think the driving philosophy behind the kitchen here is, "there are several drunk people running around, drunk people like greasy things, let's buy a grill and a fryer and shove mounds of fatty foods in front of people and everything will be okay". And they're not wrong. You can get your drunchies here. I would personally recommend walking to Ballard Pizza Co. for food, but if you're feeling lazy (no judgement, trust me) you'll do alright with the garlic fries or nachos at King's. I do really enjoy the pre-bottled cocktails they have here. The zombie is pretty good and it will knock you on your ass pretty quick if you aren't careful. Those are pretty reasonably priced at about $7. If nothing else, the atmosphere is fun. Better than the average bar in Seattle, I would say. People are there to have a good time and that's pretty obvious. For whatever reason, people seem to be friendlier (perhaps drunker?) here than at most other bars. I feel like I've had more interaction with strangers here than at just about every other bar in this city. When you're strolling along Ballard Ave and you see a large group of people gathered on the street, you've found King's. You should pop in at least once if you've never been.

    (3)

  • Joel S.

    Its hard to give this place one of those 5 star review's because I've only been here on the weekends when the place is CRAZY busy. First of all I have to say the staff here are all pretty awesome, they try hard to keep everyone served. For as crowded as it gets I'd have to say that they do a damn good job at keeping up. Skeeball and games in the back and a good amount of seating, even for bigger groups. They offer local beers and can mix a good drink. Haven't tried the food, but there's always time for that. It's loud and crowded on the weekends so if that's not your thing you've been warned.

    (3)

  • Nathan K.

    On vacation in Seattle and stopped by with some friends and had a great time. Great vibe, great food, and fun waitstaff, plus a babe of a waitress. Had that B&B Burger and had it cooked medium which was on point. Got the featured Washington IPA (can't remember the name) but it was great and the sweet potato fries were delicious as well.

    (5)

  • Lehua S.

    Boyfriend: " one of the best burgers I've ever had in his life." He was very happy and adamant I write this review. The service was also awesome; our waiter was always fast and friendly. Very cool atmosphere. Definitely not a place for a vegetarian, which I am. But the nachos I got was good. :) no seafood either. A very deer on the wall meat kind of place. Happy hour is 4-7!

    (5)

  • Alan C.

    Definitely a dive bar kind of scene. Great choice of outdoor or indoor seating. And as an added bonus, they have heat lamps! We came pretty early after dinner ~9pm and it wasn't crowded at all. However, by about 9:30-10pm it was starting to get packed. This place is great for grabbing a drink with your buddies, but one of the things I didn't like was the music. Not the selection of music - I did have my phase of metallic rock back in the day, but when they're blasting metallic rock outside to the point that I can't hear anyone yelling in front of me, there's an issue. When we moved inside, the volume of the music was definitely more tolerable and I could actually hear people talking next to me. Overall, good place to grab a drink, bad place if you want to hang out and talk to people.

    (3)

  • Crystal K.

    Me & my guy went here last Friday @ about 3:30 to play Skee Ball. First impression: cool looking place :D I love dive bars & the place just opened for the day so there was plenty of room. We were greeted by a super bubbly chic with menus & water. I ordered a Zombie $8 rum concoction that came in a bottle & wasn't doused in sugar, which I love, unlike most house rum cocktails I've tried & the Tijuana Burger $11 medium rare bacon cheese guacamole heaven! My guy had a soda & the King's Bull Rings $7 perfectly cooked big sweet onion rings with a special sauce. I'm super glad we tried this place & will definitely be back. I totally kicked his but at Skee Ball!

    (4)

  • Jacques I.

    This is my favorite place in Ballard! They have skee ball, allow dogs indoors, the back patio is spacious and plays outdoor movies, they ALWAYS have Oly on tap and the food is no-frills, good pub food. I always make a stop here when in Ballard. The only bummer is that everyone else likes it, too, as it gets packed weekend evenings.

    (5)

  • Dan C.

    It's like going back to high school. The crowd is terrible, so many douchebags and fake people. The vibe is harsh. Pay for a bathroom renovation. It isn't a dive bar.

    (2)

  • Candi K.

    If I'm in ballard, I'm most likely here. The drinks are great and reasonable and they have grape nehis in bottles which are amazing. My most favorite cocktail (all my friends could tell you that) and it's a fun atmosphere. It can get busy though. Been here a few times and even came here for a work pub crawl and considering how many rounds of drinks we got it was reasonable (company paid). You are most likely going to run into someone here as well.

    (4)

  • Lauren R.

    Lots of bros but still lots of fun. Overly crowded on a Friday and Saturday night, but if you get there early enough to grab a table it is some of the best people watching in the city. I once met an attractive man there by the skee ball tables. So all you single ladies out there should give this place a visit. Good brews for you and your crew.

    (4)

  • Dan S.

    *Had another successful foray into monday night wings and still uber impressed *Fast friendly service once again, tip: they still serve regular buffalo sauce wings along with the flavor of the week, also asked for em extra crispy *Sami our server was great, a little sassy but in a good way

    (5)

  • Ray And Josh M.

    Ray: Last night Josh told me he had another bar in mind for us to try out. He was thinking of Kings Hardware in Ballard. This place is part of a chain of locally owned restaurants in the Seattle area. So, we headed out into the warm evening to get some grub. Kings Hardware is located in a sort of restaurant row. There were several places to eat all along this one Ballard block. I could hear the clinking of plates and glasses and smell the assorted foods lingering in the warm air as we walked along. Kings hardware is decorated pretty unusual. The floors are old wood slats that give sort of a hunting lodge feel to it with taxidermy everywhere. We seated ourselves in the main dining room. Our waitress approached and greeted us. She brought the menus over and I couldn't help but notice that she smelled very good! I was a little distracted by that, but in a good way... The menu was a little limited. Mostly appetizers, but they did have a nice burger menu with lots of options. I went with the Kings Burger. You know - bacon, cheddar, grilled onions and mushrooms. I was asked how I like it cooked, so I said medium. I was sipping my Manny's Ale when the meal arrived. The bacon on the burger was topped in an X with the cheese melted over the top. It looked really appetizing. But, when I ate the sucker, I noticed that it was cooked a little more than medium well. I had to wonder why they even ask, I mean, the burger itself was only about an inch thick, so that makes it tough to cook to order like that. You need some mass to pull that off in my opinion. Anyway, it wasn't like the burger was bad or something. I really quite enjoyed it. But it wasn't medium, just sayin... Overall the service was pretty good. We were never left with plates on the table or empty glasses. They were all over that. I am thinking of three or four stars for this establishment. I have seen better and I have seen worse. It was the service that made the difference to me, so I am awarding Kings Hardware four stars. Though there is room for improvement, it was still an enjoyable experience, and that's a good thing. Josh: Hungry tummies led us to Ballard once again, this time headed for King's Hardware. Another place I've been to a couple times, but never really looked at with a reviewer's eye. Their dining room is rustic themed with lots of taxidermy on the walls, somewhat similar to Smith on Capitol Hill (both places having the same owner along with Linda's, Tallullah's, The Bait Shop, etc.). King's is one of the few places with skee ball. Nice and nostalgic. We took a seat in a booth close to the bar. There weren't many people there so the server came right over with menus and water, then back a moment later to take the drink orders. The menu is mostly hamburgers, I was liking the looks of the "not buffalo burger" so I ordered it. It arrived in no time flat. The plate looked delicious, just exactly as advertised. I suppose the hot sauce they used (Frank's) could have been spicier, I don't mind a little pain with my meal, but I can't exactly fault King's for that. The burger was still quite delicious. All in all the service was flawless, the food was delicious. I have no problem going with a 5 star rating for King's.

    (4)

  • Ati B.

    I used to crave these burgers so bad. I hadn't been to King's in almost two years so when the opportunity presented itself I was all over it. We sat at a table but no one came over to take our drink order so we had to go to the bar. There were servers but they looked like they had their hands full. The have a good range of local beers on tap and whiskey pours are on the heavier side. I got the rico sauve (cream cheese and jalapeños) with sweet potato fries and the boyfriend got the King's burger with onion rings. Both were ordered medium. I was sad when my burger came out and the jalapenos were raw; I fully expected them to be sauted like the other times I've had similar burgers. Both burgers were cooked well. You can see with the pictures that there is zero pink. The food just wasn't what it used to be and for nearly $12, $14 with the onion ring up charge, I was hoping for something much more delicious. What happened?

    (3)

  • Linh N.

    Late review. I went a couple weeks ago with a bunch of my guy friends. Mondays they serve wings for 25 cent? We got 4 pitchers of beer and I think all together 200 wings haha. Wings were really good! Especially the bbq ones that I had. Can't really speak for the originals because I didn't order any. It's a nice place, very nice feel to it. It can get really busy. We sat on the patio and it was really nice that they had the heater on. They also let you bring in your dogs, which is a nice touch. Some of the surrounding tables had their dogs with them. Service wasn't bad, it was a bit slow but the boys were too busy with the football games to really notice. I will definitely be back and hopefully I'll try something else on the menu.

    (4)

  • Ben P.

    Ballard's version of a dive bar. Animals on the walls, rainier on special, lots of wood, and I frequently run in to friends. Everyone goes here. You should too. They even have skee ball!

    (5)

  • Pepper P.

    The Rico Suave burger is unquestionably one of the most delicious burgers I have ever eaten. A beautifully prepared balance of cool cream cheese with spicy jalapenos over juicy beef - mouth watering. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be coming back here. Let me tell you why. King's Hardware is divided into two sections, the front and the back. If you sit in the back, you will dine amidst loud screaming frat bros getting hammered and playing skee ball. Note: you will never get a turn at skee ball. See screaming frat bros above. If you sit in the front, you will have groups of screaming frat bros between your table and the bar waiting for their beers - the selection of which is fantastic, btw. But seriously, there is no reprieve from the screaming frat bros. Wanna talk to your date? Better be louder than a room full of screaming frat bros! Oh and they CRANK metal over the speakers too, cause why the heck not?

    (4)

  • Nick C.

    5 people, $40. Let that sink in. 5 people so full, grabbing their stomachs, $40. Tis was King's Hardware on a Monday night during Happy Hour where glory glory Hallelujah chicken wings (the food of angels, it's a fact) are only $0.27 each. Where a family of 5 orders so much food they can hardly finish for... yup $40. Not only did we order like 30 or 40 wings, we also ordered sweet potato fries, a Caesar salad, and a burger. Granted, we didn't order any alcoholic drinks, but I still had a happy hour here. The wings were good, not the best I ever had (in my Drake voice), but still tasty and more importantly NOT SOGGY. My dad said he liked the burger, but my mom said the Caesar salad was not fresh and crisp. The sweet potato fries were good though. I definitely am looking forward to coming back here again. Hopefully, the open area in the back will have available seating next time.

    (5)

  • Matthew F.

    Solid setting, with a rustic old school feel and atmosphere. Irish nachos are good. The deck area has a good setup.

    (4)

  • Alex K.

    This place is just what I want out of a bar: - Comfortable atmosphere that doesn't feel pretentious but is also not too divey - Friendly and attentive servers who will happily recommend their favorite items on the menu -Quite possibly the best drink I've had since moving to Seattle (the Midtown Mule!) - An assortment of games and seating arrangements to keep everyone happy Happy Hour was great but I hope to return on a Monday to check out the .27 cent wings. And in the summer I'll be ready to hit up the outdoor patio seating!

    (5)

  • Joshua R.

    If you are going out and unfamiliar with Ballard, this place would be my recommendation to you. Its huge, good beer selection, and of course its famous for having skeeball. If you are looking to hang out in a reliatively casual atmosphere, definitely recommend it.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    I haven't played Skee-Ball since Chuck-E-Cheese days. There are two of them at this bar.. and a Duck Dynasty shooter game! Eh, it's sort of a hipster bar. But they're laid back and cool and whatever. Probably all listened to Modest Mouse before it was mainstream. The burgers are of a very cut rate quality. Tasted like bulk frozen patties. Not "bad" if you're hankering for some food.. but not "good" either. The five-alarm burger is good, though five alarms still wasn't very spicy to me. The onion rings are served in an enormous bowl. Good luck finishing it on your own or even in a small group at that. Our server was nice and charming, but she randomly brought us drinks that we didn't order. Trying to get us drunk??

    (4)

  • Nicole W.

    Visited Ballard with my cousin and stumbled upon this divey spot. It reminded me of a chill college bar... Very comfortable with friendly servers/bartenders. Bonus... they had skee ball in the back (I didn't play but I wanted to)! I had the delicious B & B burger with the hand cut fries. Yum! The burger was thick and flavorful, the generous portion of bacon was crisp. I loved the fries! I also liked the hard cider that they had on tap (not too sweet) and my cousin liked the house made bottled cocktail (the Diablo). I recommend this spot for anyone looking for a super casual place with good food and fun.

    (4)

  • Dalina L.

    .27 cent wings on monday and 10$ a pitcher! SOLD!!! My friends and I ordered over 150 wings, and it was not what we expected. The wings were normal sized and marinated so well, you would expect them to be cheap with their wings and sauce, but they weren't. It was sooooo good and i would have ate more if i wasn't getting drunk off their cheap pitchers, King's hardware is a nice place to hang out, chill and eat. we sat outside on the patio, it was a bit dark but it was nice. As for cocktails, DO NOT ORDER the king's lemonade, or the midtown mule, they were both disgusting. The kings lemonade was supposed to be their "popular" drink, but it was so sour and not good at all. overall, 27 cent wings and 10$ pitchers is all that needs to be in this review, seriously, what other place has wings for this cheap!!!

    (4)

  • Christopher M.

    Here's what I like about kings, consistency. I very much enjoy their burgers and fries. I have never actually set foot in Kings. I run a pantry just around the corner and always have a friend pick up a to-go order. The food is always cooked and packed with care and I think it's one of the best burgers in Ballard if not the best. The only real down side is that they aren't open for lunch during the week. The upside to the downside is that when they open around 4pm it's automatically happy hour so my friend that takes care of take out for me always has a cider while she waits. protip: Their fries are great in any iteration including the onion rings. The apps are big enough for a meal so they are easily split among 3-4 people and you can still have room for a burger. I always order the Kings burger med-rare and sweet potato fries.

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    Gear drinks and food BUT THE BARTENDER GAL DROPPED THE R-WORD! Wtf? No need for that language, makes me sick to my stomach and I will NEVER be back again. Disgusting!!!! Update: was contacted by someone at the establishment who said they'd have a talk with the bartender. I really appreciate the swift action and realize that this is not the culture of King's. Still, took my money elsewhere but may consider coming back. The food and drinks were very good.

    (1)

  • Susan W.

    Went here on a Monday for $.27 wing night. We got there early enough that it was also HH so we scored a deal on a pitcher. :) Wings were tasty, flavorful & good size. I ordered 8 & hubby ordered 12 & that was plenty for both of us when we ordered a side salad and some sweet potato fries to share. In hindsight just the fries would have been enough as there was enough there for 4 people to share. ( Minor pet peeve. They serve a wedge salad for $2 more than a side salad. A lot of restaurants do that & I think it's ridiculous. Whatev..) Played a few games of skeeball to work off the wings ;) Parking as always in the area is a pain in the b*tt. :( Will be back. :)

    (4)

  • Arthaey A.

    27-cent wings on Monday nights! Solid pub.

    (4)

  • Sean C.

    The rumor is King's becomes a mosh pit on the weekends with a packed room, sweaty elbows touching, and beer sloshing from one side of the little wooden tables to the other. My husband and I went with two friends on Saturday and it was pleasantly packed, but not overcrowded like the rumors foretold. Our friends had been here before and appreciated the ambiance of King's as the hip and gritty Ballard that we all know and love. We mosied on in and immediately went to the back area with the open room concept with the fresh night air breezing in and out like an ocean current, pulling out the smell of sweaty human and beer and bringing in the salty goodness of the Ballard waterfrontish. Honestly, it was a really great experience. When you're looking for something dimly lit with friendly/efficient staff and that western frontier vibe in which you see an open table you better balls to the walls jump on that table or some other group will move into it, the first come first serve attitude really helps with the vibe and helps you understand what you're getting yourself into. My husband and our friends were the odd men out because we were the only group of four guys at a table that were all together . . . whereas all the other groups of tables of guys were bros drinking with their bros looking for ladies. It was amusing to be in such a hetero environment! Anyways, the beer is great for all you locavores out there like myself. I didn't even glance at the food menu because the understanding was if you're going to King's, you're looking for a hole in the wall with good beer and that's the only requirement. I'd recommend this for people looking to experience the true Ballard expectation of lowered expectations----which, hey, is what some people yearn for on a Saturday night. Particularly great for bros and gays who love bro watching. I can definitely see myself returning.

    (4)

  • Angie L.

    Four stars overall? Really, Yelp? My bf and I came to Ballard to walk around and enjoy the sunny day. We bar hopped around a few places, wanting to enjoy a nice drink and conversation. We weren't hungry, just wanted a drink and maybe something small to munch on. We came to this place and went out to their outside seating. Boy, was it stuffy and humid... Didn't expect that being how we were technically outdoors. We grabbed a seat and were forgotten about... But our waitress was apologetic and we weren't upset or anything about it. It happens, we understand. Bf had the Midtown Mule and I had the Maxine... According to the waitress, the Midtown Mule was supposed to be very similar to the Moscow Mule... Yuck. It was disgusting. The cucumber and cardamom combo did not pair right. Drink was disgusting, but my Maxine (grapefruit vodka, ginger ale, lime) was refreshing and had great flavor. So we ordered the guacamole and chips just to have something to snack on even though we weren't hungry. The chips were nasty.. So thick and half assed... But the guacamole was the grossest part of it all. I could have gotten better guacamole out of a can. It had the oddest texture and no salt or flavor whatsoever. The salsa was blatantly from a jar... Yeah, I know it was our fault for ordering chips and guacamole at a non-Mexican place... But something decent would have been nice. At $7, it should be mediocre at best.. But it wasn't even that. Guess I would consider coming back for a drink, but I'm afraid to try their food again.

    (2)

  • Sarah L.

    Staff, food everything was perfect. Normal people, with normal jobs. Great spot to fit into the with the locals. U must try the meatloaf amazing! I will be back!

    (5)

  • Robert B.

    Another of my favorite bars ever resides in Seattle. The Ballard area to be exact. King's Hardware is the type of laid back joint that serves it's delicious drinks in mason jars. The music and atmosphere definitely make this place as does the drinks, food and service. Worth the trip to the awesome area of Ballard!

    (5)

  • Courtney D.

    This is a great place to grab a drink in the summer mainly because of their patio which is awesome. It is always harder to make it into Ballard (even living just over the hill in QA) but I definitely need to come over more often. Kings has great drinks and a pretty good bar menu as well. I do like how some of their drinks are served in mason jars! It has always been busy when I go, especially in the summer months when everyone wants to sit outside. In the colder times they do have heat lamps on the outside patio if you feel like going over during the other months. It is located right in the heart of Ballard and there are a ton of other good bars/restaurants around the area too so definitely venture your way over to Ballard sometime.

    (4)

  • Claire W.

    The best goddamn $4 Bloody Mary you will ever see. I put myself in the bartender's capable hand and had a siracha-spiced infusion with extra lime and house-flavored ancho chile tequila. It was beyond good. I am in love. It's a very hip joint; someone worked hard to give it a 'feel'. It works. Again, I am in love.

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    Ballard has lots of places to explore when it comes to food and spirits. If you stumble upon this place at their early happy hour, you'll find a good time! Patio seating they have is nice and covered. Perfect for the sunny, but breezy weather we have in Seattle. Their Monday special of chicken wings is only $0.27/wing. The have the usual buffalo wings which are delicious. But if you're lucky they'll have their seasonal flavors such as the maple bacon wings, which are foodgasmic!!! Their beers and well drinks are only $3 during happy hour, and $10 for pitchers. You'll have the happiest of hours at this spot, enjoy good food, and can even play skee ball-ball while you're there. Their staff are very welcoming and chill. This place is definitely one of my go-tos in Ballard.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    Really cool spot--surprisingly good burgers (high quality beef), reasonable prices, good happy hour, cool decor and indoor/outdoor seating. Toss in Buck Hunter and Skee Ball and you've got a no brainer right? Why I'm giving them three stars: -Consistently lukewarm draft beer. Believe they have a sign at the entrance stating something to the effect of, "coldest beers in town." C'mon now! You know this isn't true. In fact, these are the warmest beers in Ballard. Pretty odd, and this is from many visits. It's consistent. -Nary a TV in the establishment. I get this is by design and aligns with the owner's beliefs about the social atmosphere and experience. Why not install a couple in the back patio? Gives you the ability to preserve the existing atmosphere inside, and sports fans are welcome in the back. Win-win. I'll continue to go here, even bring friends who are visiting because it's a unique place you can't find elsewhere. I get my haircut at Rudy's next door and there's no better waiting experience than drinking a beer and staring at animal heads. But those two points above will continue to irritate me, as they're easily addressed and are the only things (conspicuously) missing.

    (3)

  • Jenn L.

    Love this place! This is usually the second bar my friends and I visit for the night when out in Ballard. I can't speak to it on weekdays, but on Friday and Saturday nights, it's always packed and has a good vibe. The back seating area/patio is great for handling the crowd and refreshing when it's too hot in the main area. Bar service is fairly quick, which is impressive considering how busy it is. My nose has led me to discover that they also have delicious-smelling garlic fries, but I have yet to try them... Until next time, King's Hardware!

    (4)

  • Ryan H.

    Solid bar grub. I'd recommend the sweet potato fries. Cool patio out back. The fact that this place is connected to a barbershop is pretty cool. Big thumbs up to the 25cent skeeball. Big thumbs down to bathroom that smells like an outhouse. Overall, solid joint.

    (3)

  • Carolina V.

    Great beer, hand-cut fries and they have Boca burgers. Oh, they also have Fernet Branca, in case you're into that.

    (4)

  • Aziza M.

    Great place! Good brews, good cider, good food. Though I had to ask 3 times for a side of ranch.

    (4)

  • Anna B.

    I heard they had delicious wings...came here because I am a wing FANATIC...easily the WORST wings I've ever had in my life. Suuper disapointing. The Midtown Mule was delicious though! And I did like the overall vibe here.

    (2)

  • Deanna R.

    Shut up with that menu. Seriously. SO FREAKIN DELICIOUS, plus they can boast things like "local", "hormone-free", & "free range" and all from a hipster bar with Skee Ball? SHUT UP. Here's the scoop: if decor in the form of taxidermic remains of departed animals bothers you... Then put a bag over your head and still go to *King's. -Stuff you eat and drink: Bam! Stellar. -Killer weekday specials: Check! -Stuff to keep you occupied: Jukebox, shootin' games, board games, and muthatrucking Skee Ball. Make some game wagers and loser pays your tab. Win-win! The back patio was great last night (per usual). Not as loud as the main drag and you can still get service out there (2nd bar too). The heat lamps make it the perfect getaway even on a chilly night. It can get packed and get loud pretty quickly on a Friday night through the weekend rush, but it's always been good to me. *Not too fancy an establishment; beards are highly encouraged.

    (4)

  • Nat N.

    I love this place! The food is delicious and the service is great. I love the $4 bloody marys on Sundays after cruising the Ballard farmer's market. They also have the best sweet potato fries in the word. I do wish they'd get some gluten free burger buns, though!

    (5)

  • Lauren D.

    Waited an hour for wings. No acknowledgement of the long wait from the server. The server then tried to serve our wings to the next table over (who by the way already had their second round of wings even though they came after us) and we had to flag him down to inform him that they were, in fact, OUR wings. NO. No no no. Never again. Btw, wings weren't even that good.

    (2)

  • Tammie C.

    Cool place. Indoor and outdoor seating. Bars both inside and outside. Happy Hour $3 Olympia, $5 other beers on tap, and $7 sliders, which are pretty good. Most sliders are dry and overcooked but King's has decent sliders with "king sauce"= thousand island, shredded lettuce and some raw onions. Their fries are thick perfectly crisp as well. 3 little burgers and a beer on a lovely Seattle summer day out in the patio. What more can you ask for? Oh and they allow dogs in the patio too. Very cool.

    (4)

  • Meana K.

    Wasn't a fan of the food here -- the burgers and fries were overcooked and dry. The cocktails and beer were just fine. I enjoyed the outdoor patio area. I like those outside but enclosed spaces - lots of tables. Service was generally friendly, although our server seemed to be struggling or perhaps was ill that day. I felt bad for her. Seems like a decent place to grab a drink and hang out with friends, but I wouldn't say anything here was great.

    (3)

  • Michael A.

    The staff of this bar really got on my bad side tonight. Rude manager and rude security. You should not be allowed to deny someone service to a public establishment because their "goofy looking." Not appropriate in the USA.

    (1)

  • Ren G.

    Can you say, Crowded-all-night-drunken-hip-frenzy? Because that's the only way to describe this place on a weekend. Do I know why it's so hip and busy? No. But will I be back? Probably. This is a standard bar which has been adopted by the hip crowd. It's one of the cleaner bars I've been in, but be prepared to fight for room to breathe and serious noise. When I was here, the servers were doing their utmost to make sure people were taken care of but with the bar packed out, there's no guarantees you won't be fighting to get a drink.

    (3)

  • James S.

    This place would be very much at home where I live in Williamsburg. I got the King's burger, which was very large but held together well. It was cooked right to medium rare, and the bacon was superior. Happy hour pitcher of beer for $7 is a good deal. I got the chicken wings too, which ended up too much food, but they were good as well.

    (4)

  • Sarah Z.

    Maybe I got lucky, but I had fantastic service. Dig the atmosphere and who doesn't like the chance to play a round of SkeeBall? Nice and very full bar. The food is bar food, good bar food. I recommend the sweet potato fries.

    (4)

  • Allen W.

    I've only ever been to King's during happy hour. And it is an excellent one, 5-7 with $2 PBR, 2.50 micros & wells, 7.50 for a micro pitcher. I normally head over on Mondays before square dancing at the Tractor. Get there around 6, have a pitcher and some whiskey, and occasionally the sliders or a burger. They also have some delicious sweet potato fries. The back patio is also quite excellent in the summer. It is however normally a madhouse on Friday and Saturday night, and would recommend staying far, far away.

    (4)

  • Timothey S.

    I find myself here on a pretty regular basis - it's never a letdown; and lets face it - but the third drink, every bar is great.

    (4)

  • Annie C.

    i love King's!! let me count the ways... the burgers, regular fries, sweet potato fries, beer selection, friendly service, skee ball, juke box and the patio. oh, the patio! even though it was nicely warmed with heat lamps, i can't wait for the warmer months to roll around. oh and the bartenders brewed their own black IPA, called Impending Darkness. and it is delicious!

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    This place holds a very special, many a blurry memory place in my heart. I was a hardcore Ballardite for a long time.. both living and working there King's became (and still is) somewhat of a sanctuary. Say what you want about the influx of yuppie condo going douche bags and dude bros cramping up all the space - you can still get your favorite drink and a beloved burger all the same. Thanks, Kings.

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    This would of been a 4 but the first impression really blew that, They did not acknowledge me for a long time and I was just going to leave and give them a 1 star, Fortunately the bar tender informed me it's sit where ya like type of place...though there is no sign explaining that awhile everyone that works there was just hanging out for the most part. My waitress finally gave me good customer services and was very friendly. The decor with taxidermy critters everywhere, ski ball and dim lights. I saw a big selections of unique burgers that ranged from Bacon to Peanut butter. I had their Sliders and they were the best ive had. Juicy burgers with special sauce,caramelized onions and a pickle. I am not a pickle fan but it really brings together all the flavors. I sided ordered Awesome fresh cut Sweet Potato fries that were just perfect. For desert They were serving Molly Moons Ice cream and that days flavor was Maple Bacon. It's actually sounds more "interesting" then it is. it's really good and it just comes off as Maple and Almond Icec ream but it was a real good and a unique eating experience I would totally come here again, they just need to acknowledge newbie patrons.

    (3)

  • Ray I.

    The patio was perfect for a post-Sunday Market nosh in the shady-sunlight. The bloody Mary mix was good enough that my pregnant escort questioned adding vodka to it. The sweet potato fries were a sure hit, not too greasy & full of crispy flavor. No complaints from the burger department either, just enough variety to satisfy all from the menu, but straight forward & still simple. The county fair & a big kahuna left the two of us full & satisfied for the rest of day (at least until it was time for ice cream at dessert o'clock that night!).

    (3)

  • Julian G.

    It's almost blasphemy for someone in their 20's to say that they can't stand those hipster dive bars on the hill. So I like to pretend that Kings is not associated with them at all... This is swiftly becoming my "go to spot" in Ballard. The food is good (for what it is) The beer is good and the bartenders are friendly once they see that you're a regular. On the weekends this place is packed with a mix of Hipsters and Collage Boy's and Girls.. Of which, oddly, balance each other out.... and for some reason make it "OK" even though i can stand a room filled with one or the other. In other words, go here on a weekday, you'll love it. I seem to be here on Thursdays, so don't be all "Seattle" and say "what-up!" on your way to the bar.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    King's is my kind of place! Check out there website, Burgers - Booze - Patio - Skee-Ball, enough said. I have never been inside and was really drawn to the skee-ball machines in the back, but then I was really captured by the choice of burgers! So lets see which one to start with, Big Kahuna, with pineapple, swiss and teriyaki sauce. Add sweet potato fries and a pint of Two Beer Brown and I was on cloud nine! King's will see my face many more times, there are 14 more burgers to try!

    (4)

  • Sarah H.

    Stopped in for dinner and a few beers on a Friday night. It was pretty busy, but after tasting the food I can see why. I ordered the Rico Suave burger and it was awesome! Fresh jalapenos and fresh pickles! Yum. My friends were both equally impressed with their burgers as well. They have a good beer selection and friendly staff that provided great service. Will definitely return!

    (4)

  • Joshua D.

    First time here... great place! Played ski ball, had some tasty makers mark cocktails, cool vibe and decor. Bartender was very nice and pretty. ;-) haha I'll be back...

    (4)

  • Alli D.

    Waaa! I went here on Saturday night and it was too cold to sit on the outdoor patio. My life is over. (Until next June) This is one of my favorite spots in Ballard. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you. 1. Sweet potato fries. 'Nough said. 2. Taxidermy on the walls. Makes me feel like I'm back at home. 3. Anti-Husky slurs in the bathroom stalls. (Also anti-Coug stuff, should you be so inclined) 4. Sliders. Also 'nough said. 5. "The Maxine." I don't know who she is, but she created one delicious cocktail. 6. Skee-ball. Cheap skee-ball. 7. Yadda yadda. You get the idea.

    (4)

  • Kara R.

    Cheap drinks, decent service, and a great outdoor patio! Woot!

    (4)

  • Greg F.

    THE GOODS: 1. Best burgers I've had in Seattle thus far (although I haven't had Red Mill, so that may be blasphemy). Seriously, the Big Kahuna is amazing. 2. Sweet potato fries. Yes. 3. Being able to have a drink, run over mid-way through and get a haircut at Rudy's, and then come back over? Amazing. 4. 2 dollar tall boys of Rainier. Nice. 5. Love the room. Reminds me of one of my favorite bars back in Kansas City, except playing Interpol instead of George Jones. I'd rather hear George Jones, but whatever. The animal heads make up for it. BADS 1. Weekends. Seriously. Crowded, and crowded with a bunch of randoms that, like other posters have said on here, probably aren't necessarily destined to be in the same room together. 2. Aside from burgers, there's really not much of a menu. Thankfully, they do burgers well enough that I always seem to be in the mood to nom 'em up when I'm there. I'm a fan, but yeah, I do tend to avoid it during the weekends. Much nicer for a happy hour or weeknight rendezvous.

    (4)

  • Cecilli S.

    PBR on Tap yo!! That's dooooooooooope!! Yes this IS a fun bar. It gets crowded as hell and that's really fun when you want it. So go there when you want to have fun. I was a patron of this establishment last night. Two PBR's plus some really great people equates heaven. Hot dog vendor outside please? As you wish. Pretty good food when the kitchen is open please? As you wish. This place makes me smile and that's all that matters!!

    (5)

  • Liana R.

    Four stars for the SKEEBALL!!! and CHEAP BEER!!! I'm from outside Philly (be sure to check out the vintage Yuengling can in their collection by the bar...too bad they can't get the actual beer!!!) so don't get the sweet potato fries cuz you'll be seriously disappointed. Stick with the beer over cocktails (DON'T order a greyhound, the grapefruit juice is nasty), try to score a seat outside, and grab some quarters for the games!

    (4)

  • Caroline P.

    I LOVE this bar. Apparently it used to be a hardware store, thus it's name. But really cool bar. I love that it has two Skee-ball lanes, a jukebox, vintage cocktails, happy hour and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. For food, they just have burgers here. Oh, and salad, but who are we kidding? The Wedge, Caesar and a dinner salad. Blah. Yes, the burgers were clearly the stars of the menu, spanning the whole right side of its one page. A quick scan of the selection revealed an unusual offering, from the Cowboy burger of fried egg and bacon to the Billy Burger with goat cheese, red pepper and roasted garlic. I was just about to order the B&B burger with bacon and blue cheeese "piled high" when the waitress called my attention to the After School Special ($8.50), an unthinkable compilation of bacon and peanut butter. Wuuut? "People always order that," she said. "Well then I guess I have to get that!" I replied. "With a side of sweet potato fries, please!" The burger showed up looking like a normal bacon number save for the thin layer of peanut butter slathered on the bottom bun. First bite told me what I already knew: It tasted like a bacon burger with peanut butter. It wasn't offensive but nor did it really enhance the burger either. I guess it's like having a pineapple slice in your teriyaki burger. It's weird but different and not too bad. The pb here went along with the savory taste of the burger and its creaminess complemented the crispy bacon. But I still kinda wished that I had went with my original choice of bacon and blue cheese. This burger left me parched, so I ordered up a Horse's Neck cocktail ($7). The Horse's Neck is a Prohibition cocktail normally made up of rye and ginger ale, but here they do it with rye, ginger beer and bitters. So refreshing with a bit of ginger spiciness! I had to have a couple of these. And with still some room for dessert my boyfriend and I went with the special on the chalkboard hanging over the kitchen window: a warm chocolate brownie with ice cream. Its warm richness hit the spot. Wasn't overly sweet or moist. Just right with even some crispness to its edges like a homemade brownie. Apparently they don't normally have dessert here. After we gobbled up the brownie, we played about 10 rounds of Skee-Ball. I won nine games, bf managed to win once. Heh. I luuuve King's Hardware and wish we had this back home. I'll definitely have to come back again before we leave and check out that B&B burger and maybe have a Dark & Stormy cocktail. Mmmm.

    (5)

  • Pete S.

    Seriously, any bar with skee-ball automatically earns high marks. If you're looking for a laid back bar during mid-week, I'd recommend King's Hardware. This place came recommended by a local and turned out to be a great spot for beer, burgers and nachos. It's nothing fancy, just simple bar food done well. There's no scene, no pretense to this place as it drew a balanced Ballard neighborhood crowd. Costs are reasonable and the service was friendly, even if they brought our nachos at the same time as the burgers. Whatever, it's a relaxed feel here so you just go with the flow.

    (3)

  • Sabrina I.

    Like most truly cool spots, do yourself a favor and go on a weeknight. On weekends, steer clear. I am kicking myself that I didn't walk far enough back into this bar to see their patio OR the skee ball. I am a skee ball fiend. That would have been so fun - maybe next time. Anyway, we ordered only beer here, so I can't speak for the food selection. There were a few obnoxious patrons, but maybe to them we were boring and that annoyed THEM. Who knows. I love the decor here - can't really describe it. It's such a mish-mosh. Dead animals, an entire wall of old photos taped up like wallpaper, lots of hardwoods, nooks in the wall full of glass bottles, a King Kong arcade game (in use), booths, tables, a long bar near the entryway -- all in sort of half-darkness. Menus that look like they were stained with coffee or tea to look vintage - most with actual spills still on them. It's like a hipster diner / lodge, I suppose. I think maybe I am too old to fully grasp the concept, but still, it was a good place to sit and enjoy a beer. I asked the server what darker local Seattle beer he recommended and went with the one he selected. Can't recall the name but it was very good. There are a few cool guitar stores in this area, and one wine bar that I'd probably avoid. King's just seemed to be the best bet for a chill evening.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    Love it! I stumbled upon this place a few weekends ago. I don't make it out to Ballard as often as I should, but King's Hardware will help me fix this problem. The talent here was awesome! It was as if all the beautiful boys and girls in Seattle decided to make King's their meeting spot. Is this a hottie-spot or did I just happen to visit on the right night? The bar is nice and roomy, and there is an outdoor patio (with a second bar) that will be fab to frequent during the summer months. I was here on a warm March evening, and it was comfortable, albeit full. I suspect that it will get very packed in the summer. I'll have to come back to see if my assumptions re: the talent and the summer capacity are correct. P.S. I'm not a creeper. Promise! I just like pretty things.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    Best burgers in Ballard - best sweet potato fries in the world!! Love the selection of beers and what more do you need than skee ball!!

    (5)

  • Graham L.

    Good food, prices and atmosphere. Try the Cowboy Burger. You won't regret it. It's got a fried egg in there somewhere... The sweet potato fries are good and $3 Bloody Marys on Sunday are even better. The Happy Hour here is one of the best in Seattle: Daily 5-7 pm ($2.50 wells and drafts, $7.50 pitchers, $2 PBR pints and $5.40 PBR pitchers). There is Skee Ball and a pretty good jukebox. The service is excellent and they pour pretty stiff. King's is a great place to meet friends for a night out, grab a quick bite for lunch or to grab a drink before your haircut at Rudy's Barber Shop next door.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    Great beer section, a country and western hunters' vibe, excellent outdoor patio, pee trough in the mens room, and mother fucking skeeball. Sign me up for another round.

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    So I went there last night (Friday) with some friends after work. Both door guys was very nice and helpful(especially the one with the beard). It must take an infinite amount of patience to deal with a lot of the people who hang out there on the weekend. ( The term I am looking for is Douche) The first thing I noticed was the tunes!!!!HOT DAMN! They were playing songs I hadn't heard in years!!!! OF course some khaki panted east side weekend warrior had to ruin it by putting a ton of $$$ in the jukebox and somehow managing to find the least fun inducing songs and picking them. Note to management: IPOD GOOD, jukebox in the hands of yuppie pod people BAD. Our waitress was wonderful and the burger I had was damn good! I can see how this bar would be great during the week but during the weekend it turns into a total Belltown-esq meat market. I am gonna come next week and check out their happy hour. Judging by all of the other Yelpers that seems like the road to take. So 4 stars and I am holding out on the 5th because of the weekend warrior weekend crowd. Other than that Good food, Nice staff, Nice tunes (between peoples weak jukebox selections) and Great beers on tap.

    (4)

  • Andrew C.

    Great place for any size group to get food or drinks in Ballard. The 5-Alarm burger is so good, suggested with Tabasco if you can take it. They have a good mix of micro brews and cheaper drinks. The space feels like a hangout. The board games, rear Skeeball machines, and heated patio tempt you to stay longer. In the summer, they even show movies out back!! The staff are just rad. The crowd is mostly flannel bar crawlers. Since its gotten popular it has a wider range of customers. This can be good and bad (I'm looking at you, so-hos). Better on weeknights. Grab a menu and order a pitcher!

    (4)

  • Shamema S.

    Nearly everybody that circuits Ballard loves Kings. No surprise there. But what really caught me off guard was the deliciousness of the cheeseburger I had there late one evening. Wow! Seriously! Probably my favorite burger in town!

    (5)

  • Lauren S.

    I LOVE this place! I love the atmosphere, I love the price and I love the food. Only thing, because its so awesome its really busy on Friday's and Saturday's. So if you want a table for the night, get there early.

    (4)

  • Dannon F.

    This place kind of has a German hunting cabin feel to it.... I had fun. Wells were 4.50 so thats nice.... they have pictures of beer which is a plus... lots of dead shit hanging on the walls.... which is creepy....AND skee ball!!!

    (4)

  • Misty C.

    Skee-ball, outdoor patio, and excellent burgers that left this TX girl happy! And the service was good! Who would expect such good things in one location? This place definitely delivered. Not to mention they had a decent drink selection and a fun tagged bathroom :) Look for the adorable sad narwhale in the large women's stall. It made my night!

    (5)

  • Bryan K.

    I came here just after they opened, what, two years ago about? This past weekend was the first time I returned. After walking in and right back out several times before, after seeing the overabundance of unsettling clientele, I decided to brave the crowd this time around and take my chances despite the lack of open tables. To my surprise, we got drinks almost right away, and shortly after we got our drinks, several tables opened up on the back deck. Nice. Now, the first time I was here, I remember eating something or other, for the life of me I can't remember what it was. It couldn't have been that bad, I mean, I'm still alive. Walking by a few people with food, the eats didn't look half bad. Maybe next time, this trip was all about the booze. Now, I'm not going to pretend that Saturday night doesn't attract a few patrons of the ass hole persuasion, but overall it seemed like a pretty hip, young crowd. One in which I can pretend that I, too, am young and hip being amongst them. Always a good thing, for my self esteem at least. Anyway, now that I've given King's another shot and it was a successful one, I think I might try it again real soon. If for nothing else, $2 Sessions. Now that's something I can get behind.

    (4)

  • Charisma G.

    It can be REALLY crowded on a Friday or Saturday night, but they have skee ball and a patio area (although think patio in a city - no view of anything). Good food, good drinks. One of my favorite places in Ballard

    (4)

  • Nicki W.

    I love a place where the evening starts out with vintage Dolly Parton and ends on the Sex Pistols! We didn't partake in the food, however they had a great selection and I will come back to embibe in the combo of food and drink at a later date. The beer menu is hilarious, I haven't seen Rainier Beer or Schmidt in years! The bartenders were great and aside from feeling like the animal carcasses are staring at you, the exposed brick and wood gave a warm NW mountaineer feeling. Hint, if you face the bar, you can avoid the glassy eyed animal heads casting their glare on you. On my way to the restroom I made sure to let them all know I didn't do it and was sorry they ended up on a wall. They seemed to look elsewhere after that thank goodness and I was able to relax a little or perhaps that was the alchohal?

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    Good beer selection, fun atmosphere. I wish they served more staples than just burgers such as fish and chips, pulled pork sandwiches, mac and cheese, or chicken strips.

    (4)

  • Lacey H.

    Quirky spot! The decor may throw you off the first time you walk in, as I felt like I was in some honky-tonk taxidermy pub, but once you get past the animal heads on the wall and write it off as "unique", you're good to go! They have some of the oddest burgers on the menu (peanut butter and bacon anyone?), but you have to give them an A+ for originality. The burgers are always good (the 5-Alarm burger being a personal favorite). The fries have been hit or miss (burnt one time, which not even ketchup could cover up). In the summer head out back for outdoor, but covered seating. Kinda a neat spot in back.

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    Went for the burgers, beers, fries and bloody marys...Got along with that a lively crowd on the back deck, sunshine, dog friendly and a great wait staff. This place has character too. I'll be back hopefully tomorrow for movie night.

    (5)

  • Marc Kevin H.

    I was warned before going in that the place might be a little "douchey," and was not disappointed in that regard. They do seem to have been using up more than their quota of the local self-important and pretentious jackasses (and I'm coming from Miami Beach, where self-importance and jackassery is High Art). Fortunately, the servers were efficient and pleasant, and the food quite good, so the overall effect was positive. On the recommendation of one of my lovely and talented dining companions I had an After School Special, a hamburger with the usual trimmings -- tomato, onion, pickles -- plus peanut butter and bacon. Wipe that horrified look right off your face! It was delicious, if a bit overdone for my carnivorous nature. But to be fair, my opinion may have been somewhat clouded by the two Dark and Storm cocktails I imbibed, a delightful concoction of various rums and ginger beer. They were oh-so-tasty, and reasonably priced. Why, if I'd had a few more of those I might have even gotten along with some of the other patrons. Hah! No, they weren't *that* strong.

    (4)

  • Joel D.

    some killer cocktails for sure, good atmosphere and very much a Ballard spot

    (4)

  • Cat S.

    Skee ball, juke box, dead animals on the wall, a 'backyard' and a 'greasy spoon'. What more does one need to have a really good time drinking beer? Just don't get drunk and end up with a shaved head at Rudy's!

    (5)

  • Joseph M.

    Lovely interior like a Colorado lodge or something. Jukebox (rare in Seattle), Skee ball, and get a haircut next door!

    (4)

  • Natalie W.

    This was a good place to meet hang out with crew #2 of the night after my roommate got "bored" as I was making friends at Bal-Mar and went home. So I am chatty... Bite me. I really don't have much to say but that I liked the vibe and lay-out. It was pretty crowded for a Wednesday night. My wine was served to me in an IKEA glass. The bartender was cranky and didn't like my drink selection. I sat at a soda fountain style bar stool so there was no escaping her. There seemed to be free nuts being given out. I've heard that there is such a thing as happy hour here and good beers to try- but I will have to experience that later. UPDATE: 8/2008 I ordered a burger and sat in the sun in contentment on the huge back porch. The burger was fine- I ordered sweet potato fries and got regular. The burger by the end was dry and overcooked but the sauteed onion topping with cheese melted over it was delicious. They basically got 1/3 of my dinner right. Huge pitchers of PBR are cheap here and they sell you Rainer in the can- my fav* I now love King's for giving me a spot to chill on a sunny afternoon and grab a quick bite and burger fill.

    (4)

  • Mark R.

    Great happy hour, delish burgers and skee ball! Oh and they rotate their beers all the time so there's always something new.

    (5)

  • Philip W.

    I had lunch at Kings yesterday and I can't believe how bad it was. My burger and fries and my friends burger and fries were absolutely as cold as they could be from sitting in the window without being brought out to us . I took a bite and made the move to see what they would do about it. The waitress was great, and at the time it wasn't that busy. She brought our food back and explained they heated it up and gave us new fries. Well..... I had already taken a bite off of my burger. That is not right. Those burgers were ten dollars a piece. When will Seattle live up to the bar that Portland is setting for food quality and standard ?!

    (1)

  • Aaron I.

    All i remember is drinnks and skeeball!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (4)

  • Annie H.

    $4 bloody mary (a little weak) but they get five stars because on Sunday morning the bartender was playing Jawbreaker - Dear You all the way through. Thank you for that.

    (5)

  • Dusan S.

    As a Linda's regular, I could definitely feel the connection between the two. And as a carny, I loved the skee-ball! Friendly service - our server girl was so nice! The billy burger (goat cheese, roasted garlic and roasted red peppers) was amazing, and came with a lovely side salad. All together we had a great time. I'm most definitely a fan!

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    I made it here on a pub crawl and I have to say I actually "remember" this bar. We had some food which hit the spot and the skeeball was just an added bonus. How much fun is it to drink and play skeeball? It just might be my ideal Saturday night!! On a warmer day it might be cool to sit out on the patio too. This is definitely a place you should check out!

    (5)

  • Wade F.

    Kings is a good place to go for kinda a mixed bar scene. On the weekends it's very crowded, usually standing room only after 11pm. The bartenders are super nice and work quickly, as well as pour good drinks. It's almost like a hunter's country bar set up I would see in Tennessee or something, but it has a college crowd and is in a busy part of Ballard. I like the outside seating in the back when it's nice out too. Been a few times and will go back. Not sure about food as I have never eaten there, but drinks are good.

    (4)

  • Seth L.

    Sometimes when I'm here I can't believe how good everything is. The combination of their ridiculous tasty burgers and sweet potato fries is almost too perfect to comprehend. It's so effing good.

    (5)

  • Alissa K.

    Good service and lots of tasty pub food. Kinda loud, but the door guy was hot.

    (4)

  • Anna S.

    On a Sunday night, I went out with a friend to catch up and ended up at King's. Waitress Missy and waiter Brad made the night. The rest of place is pretty alright, but having staff like them, who are attentive and genuinely personable makes all the deference.

    (4)

  • Danielle M.

    Atmosphere was comfy, burger was good, mojito was good... but the sweet potato fries are what will keep me coming back. You just can't beat hand-cut fries.

    (5)

  • Tanya S.

    Sweet Potato Fries = delicious. SkeeBall = entertaining. Chalkboard = fun! I am quite the artiste. Only drawback - too crowded on a Saturday night. We were lucky enough to get a table last time but if we hadn't I would have had about two inches of personal space. Very relaxed and casual... cheap beer, always a plus in my book. The animal heads on the wall just seemed like it was trying too hard to be lodge-y, and I couldn't stop staring back at them... and wondering how you mount a fish.

    (4)

  • Alexandra S.

    A few friends and I went out for some drinks on a great sunny afternoon, and the outdoor part of the bar was packed, to say the least. 5 of us stood around a table for the hour of our stay, and the other bar-goers were a bit snobbish and didn't offer us the time of day, but we had a great time nonetheless. We had a fun, hip bartender that served us quickly. The nachos were superb.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    Yes, yes, yes. I am going to say the exact same goddamn thing that everyone else says. Go on a weeknight. Do not go on a weekend night. My god, I haven't seen that many douchebags and their female equivalents (trashy, drunk, stumbling, under-clad young ladies stinking of desperation) since I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers back in '94. But I have a soft spot for this place, as I met my boyfriend there. So, go on a Monday, put a couple bucks in the jukebox, and have a Dark n' Stormy for me.

    (4)

  • K F.

    Eat their chorizo! It's homemade and the best I've ever had! It's not always on the menu but make sure you visit when it is.

    (4)

  • Adam Q.

    Totally fun. Good beer and decent food. Awesome outside deck. Good feel and vibe.

    (4)

  • Tiffany D.

    Time: Sunday 4:30pm Purpose: Catch up w/ a friend Food (split): Sweet potato fries and sliders. Both quite tasty and filling. Drink: 2 each Bloody Mary special. Easily the 2nd best Bloody Mary ever. Truly. Service: On point Ambiance: LOUD, but good energy Bill: $21.24 plus tax Solid five stars.

    (5)

  • kim h.

    Super cool place. Love the Sunday bloody mary specials, and the fact they put okra in their b.m. got me hooked. the burgers are some of the best bar burgers, not overly greasy. I advise against going to kings on a friday or saturday night. For whatever reason the skee ball attracts the weekend douche crowd (for the most part). The beer selection and higher end liquor is good. The wells aren't so hot unfortunately but I still recommend kings for sure and will continue to return...

    (4)

  • Jon D.

    Good joint. To keep it simple, they have board games, skeeball, good burgers, sweet potatoe fries, tons of tables, big patio (although still covered with clear plastic panels as of 5/20/11, and finally they're one of the few places in Seattle that serve Left Hand Milk Stout. They only downside is its always tough to find close parking, but you can usually find something in walking distance.

    (4)

  • Leonard P.

    Seattle's one of my favorite cities to visit, and while there's better cuisine to be had -- honestly, the city is a foodie's paradise -- there are few places more comfortable and friendly than King's Hardware, which is why it gets a repeat visit from me every time I'm in town. The menu items are all variants on standard bar fare, but cleverly and skillfully done, and the bar is terrifically well-stocked. The ambience and atmosphere can't be beat, especially on a day when it's sunny enough out to visit the back patio, and I've never once gotten bad service from the friendly and groovy waitstaff. Prices aren't cheap, but they're quite reasonable, and you can get filled up without emptying your wallet. The clientele is great, as well -- good people who know a good place to kill a couple of pleasant hours. Search elsewhere for the city's finest cuisine -- it won't be hard to find -- but for solid food in an unbeatably convivial environment, King's can't be beat.

    (4)

  • Danny L.

    I agree with most of whats already been said on this place. I do like that they have $2 tallboy Raniers and up at the bar there is a jar full of what looks like an old sliding book of wooden matches. I was drunk there not too long ago and was digging in the jar fishing out what I thought would be a cool set of matches. The bartender was trying to tell me something and I just gave him the 'yeah, yeah, yeah' nod and scored my matches. Then as I was walking down the street I pulled out a cigarette and my new matches and to my drunken surprise it wasn't matches at all, but a book of toothpicks. That must've been what the barkeep was trying to inform me of. So now I have a cool book of toothpicks which is a much healthier alternative to fire. Also, unless your a hipster/scenester asshat, don't go on all the 'amateur' nights, because it'll take forever to get a drink.

    (3)

  • Colin U.

    Great beer selection - like most places in Seattle - along with a helpful staff make this place a great spot to visit. The interior decor is largely brick, but the inclusion of all the game hunting heads and furs seemed a little counter to the rest of the atmosphere of the bar. Just as a warning, the menu is almost exclusively burgers, which wasn't a problem for me, but might be for others. I had the Five Alarm burger and added bacon (per the waitresses' suggestion) and loved it. Certainly better than your average burger. Wish I had a few spare quarters to play the Skeeball in the back.

    (4)

  • Rob D.

    Skeeball is awesome and the food, drinks and service was excellent. Had the Tijuana, pineapple and the after school burgers - killer although the peanut butter was a bit different. Great place and atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Winona R.

    King's has an amazing selection of beers! I also just realized that most of the places I review sell alcohol, and I'm not sure how I feel about myself after that revelation. Oh well. Back to King's. This place is crowded, loud, and fun. There is outdoor seating, which is nice even on these chilly winter days, and it makes for great people watching. Something else to be noted- King's has Klsch! If you've never tried it, do it now!! I have a soft spot for this beer since it's from the same part of Germany that I lived in, but it's also tremendously tasty.

    (4)

  • Nic J.

    Great bar tenders! ski ball! and a sweet hair cut! it was a good night!

    (5)

  • Carrie H.

    The douchebagary is in full effect here on Friday and Saturday nights, but go on another, and you'll be golden. I love the patio, and the decor is up my alley, but dammit man, can I get some friggin' service?? Twice I've gone, and the first it took 40+ minutes to get some sweet potato fries for a friend, the second time I ordered them and NEVER got them, even after asking a waiter AND a runner where they were after my hubby got his burger... ...sigh... **updated 5/17/08** went here again last night, and wow, still the same as I remembered. It took the better part of an hour to get a small Caesar salad and some sweet potato fries... SERVICE SUCKS! At least our waitress actually apologized this time for it taking so long. Kudos to her.

    (3)

  • Adam G.

    I went to this place with a friend for skee ball and a couple of drinks. We had a pretty fun time and after a bunch of games I think we ended up in a tie. Fun area, too.

    (4)

  • Mat R.

    Pros: - Sweet Potato Fries - Burgers, with the option of Turkey and Garden - Skee ball for a quarter - Lots of great beers - A nice outdoor seating area (with heaters in the winter!) Cons: - On weekend nights it's pretty packed and often gets Belltown overflow. That means douchebags in Kenneth Cole shirts "on the prowl" Really, if this place was a little more unknown I'd rank it a 5 for every night of the week. As it is, only Sunday - Thursday get 5s... Friday and Saturday get 4s.

    (4)

  • Anastasia B.

    So when I need a Skeeball, Donkey Kong and sweet potato frie fix, this is where I go. King's Hardware is by far one of my favorite bars in Ballard. There is a lot of "kitchy-charm" to this place. The crowd is really mixed and the music is too. Mixed drinks come in old jelly jars. The only bad thing I can say about KH is that parking can be challenging on a Friday or Saturday night, you will be driving around the block a few times. Overall this place just rocks and did I mention that if you need to get a haircut, you can just walk over to the attached barber shop Rudy's. Sweet.

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    I love Kings! By far my favorite place in Ballard. The burgers are delicious and cheap, drinks are totally affordable... but by far my favorite thing about King's is coming in on a Saturday or Sunday morning and having a $3 bloody mary. They add their own pickled green beans and carrots, it's like a meal in a mason jar... perfect for any hangover. The vibe is good, a little on the bearded men side... but definitely worth checking out.

    (4)

  • Mel E.

    Not much to write home about, in my opinion. It's a bar. A bit of a dive; deer head on the wall, skee ball, unfinished, plywood bar on the outside deck.... I think if I ever saw this place with the lights on I'd take my business elsewhere. It's your basic bar with basic bar food. Good place for drinks & groups. Very casual & dark. A good place for outside seating year round. I'd say that is what gives them just enough character to get me to come back.

    (2)

  • Aubi A.

    Best burger. Great ambiance. I stay away during popular nights because it gets too crowded with dudes. Ladies will like it because even butterfaces will get hit on.

    (5)

  • Megan B.

    My husband Mark has been in love with a very special sandwich he's been making since childhood. Peanut butter, bacon, and cheddar. I know, it may sound off-putting at first, but I was surprised at how good it really is. Super savory! So last Sat night, we were doing the whole Ballard artwalk thing, drinking, and drinking, and drinking, and after OKOK, we see kings. I'd been hearing about the taxidermied animals and skee ball and wanted to check it out for myself. We actually procured a seat right away and were given menus. I'm looking at the burger list and my husband gasps. "read the after school special". PB & bacon burger. We got cheddar too. I actually ordered a bleu cheese bacon burger and sweet tater fries that were not so memorable. the after school special has got it goin on. Add the onions and sweet pickles and ketchup and mustard. Fucking brilliant! I'll be honest: I've been thinking about this burger A LOT since Saturday. I convinced Mark to go back last night for late-nite-post-furniture-assembly dinner and beer. it was just as good. I've got to start making my own or this could be really expensive.

    (4)

  • Andrea D.

    This was the first spot I wandered into after moving from NYC to the west coast. I went for a meeting with a local editor and ended up getting The After School Special which is essentially a bacon burger with the stickiest, messiest peanut butter sauce the chef could find. I give the sweet potato fries and the atmosphere a solid 4.5. Anywhere that has patrons wearing skinny jeans, tattoos and weird haircuts while simultaneously playing skeeball is a winner in my book. The only reason they didn't score 5 stars is because I haven't been there on the weekend yet and everyone knows that a Saturday night is the true test for any neighborhood bar.

    (4)

  • steve c.

    See Tammy W's review for a spot-on synopsis (i.e. new things looking old, northern exposure) Like she said, yeah, we get it, we live near trees and forests............but thanks for reminding us! I wasn't impressed-I'd only go back if someone tricked me into it (by painting the front of King's Hardware to look like somewhere else)-then, after I discovered it was King's hardware, I'd leave.

    (2)

  • Sarah B.

    25¢ skee ball...nuf said right?! Well they also have a large patio out back with its own bar and great burgers and sweet potato fries. This place is a great bar on Ballard Ave. to stop in and have a good time with friends. Also I highly recommend the Rogue hazelnut nectar they have on tap. Tasty!

    (4)

  • Julea R.

    5 stars for the gentleman working the "yuppie dork" look with cut off dockers and sweater vest striking the Captain Morgan pose at the next table. (cuff links? Yes! Hilarious!) Minus 3 stars for waiting FOREVER for our food. Plus 1 star because it was a Friday night and I know it's busy. But still. I don't think I'll be back on a weekend, weekday afternoon/evenings are definitely the time to go here. Don't tell anyone.

    (3)

  • Stina L.

    Hands down one of my favorite spots in Ballard. The friendly staff and patrons paired with the outdoor patio and of course Skeeball makes it a friday night staple for me!!!

    (4)

  • James F.

    $3.00 Bloody mary's on Sundays. That's why I like King's that and their Nacho's. I find myself ending up here after a long weekend to "recover" with a few bloody mary's and some food, the food always good, and the drinks are strong. They have friendly servers and some nice outdoor seating when it's nice out. Good Sunday morning bar.

    (4)

  • Zach M.

    I have been to this place a few times over the past few years. It has a pretty neat (and partially covered) outdoor space, which is great in the summer and heated in the winter. The inside is also cool; it kind of has a "hunter's winter lodge" feel to it. Why the 2-star rating? I went here last night (which happened to be the night before the Seahawk's first playoff game against the Saints). There was a group of guys sitting next to us who were pretty excited about the upcoming game. Some of them were drunk, but not fall on the floor obnoxious drunk. They started a Seahawks chant, something I personally feel is pretty acceptable for the evening prior to a playoff game.... at a friggin bar of all places... in the outdoor section. Anyways, the hipster waitress was obviously not a sports fan as the entire group was promptly ejected from the bar for their "rowdiness". It left me speechless. Absolutely ridiculous. Of course they need to keep a bar under control. But a little good-hearted sports chant doesn't warrant booting 10 people. Note: This review was written back in January. For some reason I never hit "Post".

    (2)

  • Robert V.

    I can say with all honesty, this is actually my favorite bar to sit alone in. The staff doesn't bug you, but they check on you. The mood is. mellow, but you can tell from the surrounding bustle that the people here are alive. This was the perfect break to my pre-christmas blues.

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    King's is one of my favorite places ever!!!! I love to go here with friends and split a pitcher of beer! They have a good beer selection and make some wonderful burgers! My personal favorite being the After School Special! (Peanut Butter & Bacon!!!) I would also recommend their onion rings which are delicious. It can get pretty crowded on weekends, so I'd recommend coming on weeknights!

    (5)

  • kelly c.

    I didn't quite catch the yuppie or hip-ster vibe at King's. I caught the white baseball cap frat-boy vibe. It felt like a refreshing break from reality--like spring break, though, so no biggy. Lots and lots of cute boys were hanging out the night my husband and I met up with some friends here. Did I mention all the cute, young guys? Aside from the cuties, King's had a broad selection of fun beers, a great smoke-free (hallelujah!) patio and a decent loo. There is a bit o' taxidermy on the walls, but I convinced myself it was fake to make it seem less creepy.

    (4)

  • Maggie B.

    The wedge salad is back! What can I say? I love a slab of romaine doused in creamy bleu cheese, diced tomatoes, and bacon. I love you, King's. Thanks for putting the wedge back on the menu -- it's such a perfect accompaniment to your sliders.

    (5)

  • Michael A.

    This place is a joke! Stopped in for a couple beers with a buddy that I don't get to see often. After ordering a beer from a surly bartender who appeared to be a day over 18, we stood in the bar area since the stools were filled. A waitress/barback with a bus tub bumps in to my back (with the dirty bus tub) and gives me a dirty look. When she returned from the back area I asked her if there was a problem. A rude look and "ya, you were in my way" and turns her back to me. Note: she bumps in to my BACK. Would have gladly let her by if I had seen her coming or maybe an "excuse me". Now steps in (day over 18 bartender) to tell me I have to leave. I've been in plenty of bars in my day and definitely had too many in a lot of them, but had NEVER been asked to leave. I'm pretty sure when a server/bartender bumps in to anyone with a dirty bus tub you have the right to speak up about it. (also note, I was half way finished with my first beer of the evening...not intoxicated by any means). Well, I gave King's a chance and left a message for the manager the next day. He called back and I explained the story. He apologized and said the bartender is a bit young and overly aggressive trying to assert a little power not necessarily at the right time. Agreed the waitress/barback wasn't professional. Not what I expected for a manager talking to a guy that was kicked out of his bar the night before, but sounded like he knows his staff is young and probably not suited for working a busy bar! All said and done, there was no offer to refund the cost of my beer or any incentive to try the place again. Not that I would have taken them up on it, but it would have at least given me a little respect for the place. If you are just looking to be with the "just turned 21" crowd and get treated like you would think a "just turned 21" bartender and waitstaff would treat you in a bar/restaurant that they have no clue how to handle, then be my guest. Rest assured you will not BUMP in to me there!

    (1)

  • Kristin B.

    LOVE the outdoor seating area at this bar! We went on a warm sunny day and it was pretty packed, but we managed to find a place to sit anyways. The service was speedy and friendly and the drinks were STRONG and yummy! I will be coming back here next time I'm in Ballard for sure!

    (4)

  • Mandy C.

    I'm giving this place 3 stars even though I found a long blond hair in my food. Just for clarification, I have extremely dark hair and know when I accidentally eat my own hair versus somebody else's. That was a gross find but luckily reached in the first bite of fries. They kindly brought me a second batch but I was hesitant to eat anymore.. Had a fine cheeseburger and enjoyed a pitcher of random beer for a few hours. Our server did check back with us often to see if we needed more beer. That was nice. It's a loud trendy place most all of the time. And it has creepy dead animals on the walls. I could do without a bear pelt as an accompaniment to my dinner..

    (3)

  • Jolene J.

    First time I went I had to try the after school special burger (It has peanut butter on it) after watching a travel show and the host said pb and beef go so well together. WOW what an amazing and weird combo. SO good! I've also eaten a ocuple other burgers and each one was good. This is my personal favorite burger in Seattle by far.

    (4)

  • Doug R.

    Im giving them two stars because this place can be very cool and they have good food and beer (though the taps are 75% Oregon). The reason that the review is so poor is because they are completely oblivious or purposely shameful in the pricing of some of their beers. I am not completely sure whether they simply attach a 300% margin to all items, but they are charging $8.50 for a 12oz CAN of Oscar Blues Gubna. This is a $2.50 can at retail and a can that you can get right next door at Olde Town Alehouse for $3.50. $8.50?!? Did I buy a Manhattan, or a can of normally accessible beer? You may ask why the hell do i care about one can of beer. Well, it matters to me because i love beer and i like being treated fairly. The can price is typically $3-$4 for a micro in a can. But they will hand you this Gubna (which 90% of people will consider another micro in a can for $3-$4) and you will have no idea that you spent $28.00 on 3 cans of beer (plus tax) until you get that check. Thats not cool. Considering that I actually know that it should be a bit more costly than your normal micro in a can - I still was astonished when I first learned that they were gouging drunk unconscious bar goers this badly. After 8 months of having this beer on their list - they still have it at this price. Unacceptable. My advice - go next door to Olde Town Alehouse. Their beer is appropriately priced and their food is pretty much just as good. Also, you can avoid the ridiculous crowd. Its a shame - because this place has some good bartenders and decent burgers. But you got to serve a fair beer.

    (2)

  • J K.

    Dark, woodsie, low brow, greasy bar food, etc. My sort of place when I'm in the mood.

    (4)

  • Anthony D.

    Kings is a great bar. You can't beat their staff. The food is typical bar style burgers and such. The sweet potato fries are actually really good. They have a great beer selection and they pour a good mixed drink and a stiff shot. They easily have one of the best decks in town. Skee-ball too! The one star is because this place still sucks. This place on a weeknight is always crowded with hiptards and it makes it really hard to enjoy a drink in peace. A weekend? Forget it you might as well go to Belltown. RIP Ballard.

    (1)

  • Me H.

    I'm not going to lie taxidermy animals creep me out. I feel like they are watching my every move and going to some how magically jump off the wall and pounce on me. Yes I'm weird I know. King's Hardware has lots of dead animals on the wall, lucky for me I didn't get the feeling any of them were going to pounce on me but they still gave me a tiny bit of the creeps. If you want to hang out with friends and talk and catch up with each other this is not the place at all. It's so loud that if you want to hear what the person sitting across from you is saying you'll need to lay across the table and put your ear to their mouth, seriously you will. Though it is a great place to talk about the dolphin sensation, bra shopping when your cup size if bigger than an E and the fun one will have when a certain visitor comes to town. If you want to play Skeeball this is your place they have two machines in the back all set up and ready for use. Beer and Skeeball could be fun. They have a nice beer selection, they have Stella after all. They have a bartender with a handle bar mustache, something I think ever bar needs and they have snooty cocktail servers. I asked one where the ladies room was and I got a roll of the eyes and a point of the finger to Rudy's, thankfully I was sober and found my way with the little help from her.

    (3)

  • Isabella O.

    What a fucking nightmare this place is. Yeah, it was Saturday, but jeezus, I have never seen such a huge clusterfuck in my life. This place is pretty huge, and we were supposed to be meeting some people there, so Alex stopped at the bar to get drinks, and I attempted to navigate the room. Good fucking luck. I guess the fact that it was so crowded I couldn't walk through the place at all says: "They're popular! This place must be fantastic!" Whatever, comparable to Linda's or the Cha Cha on Capital Hill, those places at their absolute most horrible worst are a dream compared to what I experienced here last night. I finally managed to get back to the bar (without having been able to find our friends because it was so crowded that I couldn't see them) Alex handed me two drinks. I asked which one was mine (I had ordered a double Jack and diet coke, and they both looked the same) and he said they BOTH were - that was their idea of how to serve a double. WTF??? In any other case, I wouldn't have minded, but now I had to navigate this writhing mass of humanity with a drink in either hand. There was no where to sit, so I positioned myself in the most out of the way spot that there was and pounded those two drinks while being constantly bumped into by anyone trying to pass or just within ten feet of me. At one point, some drunk older woman who looked like she must have been someone's mom, actually laid her hands on me and attempted to move me so that what I assumed must have been her precious daughter could walk through the space in which I was standing. I mean, this person grabbed me by the upper arms from behind. She's lucky I still had a drink in each hand, otherwise she might have woken up this morning wondering why she has less teeth. Needless to say, it was fucking louder than shit, and impossible to socialize at all. I suppose I should go back at a time when I could guess it wouldn't be so damn crowded, but I'd also have to guess that the same people will be there, just less of them, and there wasn't a person in the who didn't irritate me on sight.

    (1)

  • Dis H.

    Yet another date night......read a magazine review and thought it sounded interesting. Located in a rather ran down section of Ballard, not too much else going on down there, but worth the trip to King's in it's self. Really cool- corky interior. Old school bar, red leather booths, lots of deer heads, really good 80's music blaring- altogether fun and upbeat and sort of trashy in a good way, my kind of place! And it's all about the burgers here and sweet potato fries.....Mmmmm Burgers any style, and toppings, veggie or beef....lovely! Can't wait to bring some of my Oregon friends here, very reminecent to many of the bars I've visited in P-town. Oh, and if you are itching for a buzz cut, Rudy's Barber Shop is a-joined next door! Nice touch.

    (3)

  • Bryan M.

    Great Ski-ball action! Totally fun for 25 cents. This is a fun place to meet friends for a beer and sweet potatoe fries, but it is a loud environment so don't plan on intimate conversations. I would save that for the Ale House up the street. Better beer there as well.

    (3)

  • Sheila Y.

    Went here for a study break (and in my land that means full on beer and huge meal) while in the quirky neighborhood of Ballard. Immediately upon entering I knew I would love this place. Various animal heads on the wall and super dark wood paneling...Rock On!! I ordered a King Burger, with hand cut fries and a 2 Below to quench the old thirst. The Burger was pretty above average and the fries were great (especially with their awesome Ranch dressing). The beer prices are great and HH looks out of this world. 8.50 or something along those lines for microbrew pitchers....Where do I sign?!?! I am definitely dragging a crew here sometime...most likely not Friday or Saturday for some cheap beer, good burgers, oh and I almost forgot...SKEE BALL!!

    (4)

  • Kieran J.

    Don't get me wrong. This place has massive potential. But for me it was a bit of a downer. We were basically ignored, had a real difficult time getting some mayonnaise for a burger or getting our order taken in the first place, and it wasn't even busy. But hey, peanut butter burger, ski ball, outdoor seating, and a nice setting. I think I'll give it another shot.

    (3)

  • Lisa H.

    WOW I was shocked that the service was HORRIBLE!!! I mean I don't expect a whole lot when I walk into most bars/taverns, but I do expect you to bring me a menu, take my order and bring me my order. It was a nice day and we headed out to Ballard to see what the neighborhood had to offer. We stopped in because we heard they had a back patio and we wanted to sit in the sun. We we walked in there were probably 3 people at the bar and maybe 4 tables with 2 to 4 tops at each. We waited and waited and NO one came to ask us if we wanted to order anything let alone to drop off a menu. There was a bar tender and 2 servers working, still no service. What set me off was that there was a table on both sides of me that were getting service! Finally we got up and walked to the bar to order drinks. We sat outside for about 20 minutes and still no one came to check on us. We we decided to leave and close our tab the bar tender didn't remember what we had ordered. I could of said soda water and a coke. Maybe it's cause my fiance is brown and we didn't get the memo that they don't serve to non-whites. Needless to say I will never return to this establishment.

    (1)

  • Lauren D.

    Oh King's. I really do love you - with the following disclaimer: NOT on Friday or Saturday nights. In reality, King's is an awesome, comfortable bar with friendly service. I could imagine hanging out there all night, and have done so - with conversation and drinks flowing. But when reality strikes 10pm, all hell breaks loose and the bar turns into a Belltown explosion. Special kudos to Jesse, a stellar bartender and server, who made us feel welcome even on a night where tight miniskirts and backwards white baseball caps ruled the bar. You won't see me there on a weekend night - but you can bet your bippy I'll be curled up in the front window booth on Sunday afternoons.

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    dark, kind of cozy if you're in a booth or corner, western themed, quality-conscious, drinks served from mason jars, conveniently located on the good side of Ballard - what's not to like! came here to celebrate graduation with some friends. we loved the atmosphere, drinks and the food! cows are free range, chicken's local and organically-raised. sweet potato fries are ok, a little overcooked maybe? try the bloody mary--sooo spicy with lots of veggies (can pass for a meal) service was excellent during such a busy night. mixed crowd of very social, well-mannered (better yet well-behaved) young and mid-aged. everyone seemed comfortable interacting with strangers, but also minding their own. bathrooms are small, connected to a barber shop, outdoor seating, skeet ball and some other games in the back. heard they have movie nights, 80's classics. i can't wait to confirm this!

    (4)

  • Kelsey S.

    I love King's. I mostly go there during the week in the evening for skeeball and beers. I love wing night on Mondays. 27 cent wings! The bartenders there are super nice and friendly. Steve, Gloria, Shawn and the rest of the crew are genuine and good at what they do. The food is also good. I have enjoyed everything I have ordered there and I love that they have sustainable meats. I would highly recommend this place! Way to go King's! Keep up the good work!

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    So I have had a lot of fun at this place but I was recently there for my girlfriends bday party with a party of about 20. We were having a time, good time to be honest... but then I "did it".... I whistled.... and promptly afterword I was greeted by a little bouncer named Derrick Peffkin (sp?) who ejected me without mercy. Shocked as I was I did not put up a fight until he shove my girlfriend (birthday girl) in the back on her way out. As a industry veteran, I just don't get why these places let these type of Dbags represent them when clearly they have no idea. Our total tab count was up near $1000 and I just don't see why a whistle was worth that business, no to mention we are sweet. gday!

    (1)

  • Mary B.

    Skee ball AND hot buttered rum? Be still my heart. I went in there the other night to get out of the cold, and was happy to see the hot buttered rum on the menu. It warmed me right up! Kings Hardware has friendly service, a basic menu consisting primarily of burgers and a full bar. The place is quite large and would be a good place to go with a large group. But seriously, on a nice cold evening, just pop in for some hot buttered rum. It's a great little treat.

    (4)

  • Justin I.

    I have a theory about the After School Special. It's delicious, but I feel like it needs a shot in the arm -- maybe another contrasting flavor to cut the savory bacon, maybe something textural to break up that gummy mouthfeel caused by the peanut butter. I'm thinking jalapeno slices, bread-and-butter pickles, maybe even a little mayonnaise or some yellow mustard. Not all at once, of course. I'm going to experiment and see how much I can annoy the waitstaff.

    (4)

  • Ranier D.

    I was in town visiting and wanted to hang out with some friends. One of them recommended grabbing a beer at King's Hardware. Drinking at a hardware store? Must be a new thing in Seattle. I arrived and found a old fashioned pub with a bunch of dead be-headed animals mounted on the wall. The sweet potato fries are friggin delicious and go well with a pint of 2 Below. They've got a peanut butter and bacon burger... weird. Maybe I shouldn't knock it till I try it. Update: So I came back here and had lunch with my lady and ordered the After School Special. Pretty damn tasty burger. The sweetness of the peanut contrasted well with the saltiness of the bacon. Love the burgers here. They're satisfying.

    (4)

  • Curtis C.

    Very hip bar where spotting a hipster is guaranteed (and a couple jackalopes hanging all over the place)... I feel like i need a PBR or Rainier to fit in here... Great atmosphere, especially when the outdoor patio in the back is open... the burgers are great and the sweet potatoe fries are off the chain!.... as always, the weekends get pretty packed pretty quickly here

    (4)

  • Ryan S.

    King's is always great whether you're coming for a happy hour on Tuesday or in the middle of the swarm during a weekend Ballard bar crawl. There's the skeeball of course, but what makes King's great is it's a good combination of dirty old pub and popular hotspot. The food is good old bar food (the After School Special burger is not to be missed), the drinks are pretty cheap, but it's in Ballard so you get the trendy crowd as well. I like it best during the downtimes when you can just sit and have a beer (they've got a pretty good selection). But King's is really the kind of place where there's something for everyone depending on when you go. Gotta love Ballard.

    (4)

  • Hunter O.

    good beer (hams on tap got to love that) good food. fun wait staff. skee ball animal heads on the walls. all this equal a very good time.

    (4)

  • Hunter W.

    Fun little place to hang out. Haven't tried the food but I hear it's good. They have a good night life scene .. AND .. they have skee ball. No joke. Nice patio area, drinks aren't too expensive, not like Belltown, fun spot.

    (4)

  • Bek K.

    Solid 4-star joint. Servers are generally friendly, always helpful. The patio is hella sweet, but hard to find a seat on a sunny day. Jukebox = big win. Good variety of burgers (including turkey and veggie options if you're not feeling beefy), may I suggest the B&B (bleu chz & bacon, yum). Onion rings are possibly the best I've ever had. Great sweet potato fries. Best of all: skee-ball!!!!! The crowd is waaaaaaay too hipster sometimes and it's painfully crowded on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Risa R.

    I spent Thanksgiving night here and we had a blast. Everyone seemed to congregate here after dinner with the fam. The entire staff was friendly and cheered everytime someone entered the bar. The drinks were strong and prices were great! I have to give 5 stars simply because they have skeeball which makes it that much more awesome :) And the jukebox had a pretty wide range of genres and good songs at that which really surprised me.

    (5)

  • Tiffany S.

    This says it all - when out of a party of nine TWO people ordered the "After School Special' the hamburger with peanut butter and bacon. I wouldn't even dare try it. Though my "Dark and Stormy" - dark rum with ginger beer was delish! I thought the sweet potato fries were good but not great (great fries are at Copper Gate people). We had pitchers of PBR (really?), Hale's, and something else, and everyone seemed happy-schmappy. I love that it's attached to Rudy's. One more drink, and I would have been pulling a Britney in there. I thought the ladies room was kinda confusing. I'd had a few cocktails, but it looked like the bathroom stalls were made of all doors so if the door wasn't open I'm not sure you'd know which door to open. On top of that, the vanity mirror is made from some sort of wavy glass so you actually look drunk. Great, that's just what I need. But overall, I loved the 'sphere, and it worked out great as a quick Plan B for an evening out.

    (4)

  • Charles C.

    King's has definitely got some character! None of the stuffiness of other trendy-hip watering holes, just plain fun. Right down to the tongue-n'-cheek rustic decor and added bonuses (skee ball, patio, etc.) King's is about letting loose, socializing, libations and classic bar eats!

    (4)

  • Alisa M.

    Oh boy, where do I start? I'll begin with my middle name, which is Wimpy (this should you give a good idea where this review is going). After much effort to get here, I finally made it and let me tell you, it was totally worth it. My friend Angel and I have an obsession about burgers, not shared with anyone, even my sig-o, and yet, we were bambozzeled by this place. Great burgers, awesome fries and all with a tall, wet beer. Decor seems morose yet fitting: a burger bar with tons of dead animals on the wall, 'nough said. Waitress left us alone for the most part, which is best when your belly is full and all you want to do is drink beer and have fun with your friends.

    (4)

  • Chris G.

    This might be a fun place if I weren't consistently dragged here on the busiest nights. The venue is large, but so are the attitudes of the multitudes of hipsters that call this place home. If you want a good place to be seen, go here. If you want a good place to hang out with friends, skip King's Hardware.

    (2)

  • Mathew N.

    Wow, what a great place for a burger and a beer. I was walking by with a friend on a rainy Sunday afternoon and she dragged me in for some snacks. We ended up getting the slider sampler, hand cut fries and a couple of tasty Pilsners. The burgers had the yummy crispy grilled bits on them and the fries were hot and crunchy. I've read that it is crowded and I can't speak to that as I was there during off hours and sharing the place with only about a dozen people. The decor was primo, the patio looked like it would be inviting on a nice sunny day and the service was excellent. Pretty much heaven in my book and if i lived near by I would be there all the time.

    (4)

  • Hodi P.

    Hey Lil' Jon, it's called "Skee" Ball, not Skeet Ball. This place rules. Skee Ball rules, the jukebox rules, the Backyard patio rules, as does drinking from a Mason jar. I love King's! Linda does it again!

    (5)

  • Michael E.

    For some reason, I had just never made it here, and then when I did, it seemed a little out of place in Ballard but at the same time, nice to add it as an option. It's got that energy that I think you want in a crowded bar.

    (3)

  • Shantel M.

    This is my favorite bar in Seattle. I have moved to Chicago and everytime I am in town this is one of the first places I go to. I highly recommend to get a pint of Rogue Hazulnut Brown Ale--which is on tap and play a game of skeeball for 25 cents. Juke box is awesome and the staff is SUPER friendly. During the summer I high recommend to spend time on the outside patio. The only thing I dont like is some of the patrons can be douches on the weekend. The Belltown/Bellevue crowd over powers it and it can lose its ambience.

    (5)

  • Thomas B.

    This place is great. Good veggie burgers, great fries (both regular and sweet potato), and a decent selection of beer. The menu is short and sweet: it is basically burgers and fries and that is it. However, they have a creative range of burgers that all seem to be good. Also, don't let someone put the veggie kibosh on this place - as mentioned above, their veggie burgers are good. You can just sub in the veggie patty for any of the meat ones. The space is excellent, they have a great deck on the back, and there is ski ball there. What else could you want?

    (5)

  • Jen G.

    We ended up at King's because apparently 5 p.m. is NOT early enough to actually get a table at the infamous La Carta de Oaxaca down the street. I'm thinking we would probably have more luck finding a three-legged ballerina than getting a table at La Carta on a weekend, so King's Hardware was a decent fallback plan for our group. Conveniently connected to a Rudy's Barbershop, in case you get a hankering to shave your head after a few too many, or conversely, need to drown your misery after a drug test evading haircut (think: Britney), King's Hardware is a cool bar with a quirky neighborhood vibe. Walking into the dark wood paneled tavern adorned with taxidermied animals, intimate booths and a glowing jukebox against one of the walls, I felt like I was in a bar from another era. Only it was filled with trendy hipsters, which is always an odd juxtaposition. I started with one of their signature drinks, the Dark and Stormy, which is rum and ginger beer, but tasted pretty similar to a traditional rum and Coke, which normally I eschew, so I'm not sure what possessed me to order this drink. I wasn't digging on it. Maybe because I'd had my heart set on Mexican food that might, I was a little disappointed to see so many burgers on the menu and little else. Though, the peanut butter and bacon burger did sound interesting, and in fact, two people from our group were brave enough to try it. But that's where the food innovation ended, I'm afraid. My cheeseburger and fries were average. Overall, I enjoyed the funky ambiance, but I wasn't impressed with the food, and the service was marginal, too. But if we ever can't get a table at La Carta again, we know where we can drown our disappointment.

    (3)

  • Michael D.

    good burger, slow service, good sweet potatoe fries

    (3)

  • Emily T.

    I love sitting/eating on the patio!! The sweet potato fries are the best. All I need is a plate of those and a couple cold beers... heaven. I've been trying to work up to the "After School Special" (the infamous peanut-butter/bacon combo... ahhh saturated fat) but it just hasn't happened yet. I think I'm afraid that I'll really enjoy it, which may be a bit shameful. I know I should be disgusted, but I'm just intrigued... next time, next time. The crowd is fun, the staff is chill, the beer selection is good (and pretty cheap at happy hour)... basically this is one of the best bars in Ballard and come on, it's a Linda's establishment, what's not to love?

    (4)

  • Rachel P.

    King's Hardware in one word is FUN! The food is sooo yummy (lots of unique hamburgers to choose from). The waiter was way cool, down to earth, and really nice. They have board games that you can play while you are there. I would highly recommend King's Hardware!!!

    (5)

  • Ginger B.

    Everything tastes better when drunk out of a Mason jar. I suggest any of their signature cocktails: Lynchburg Lemonade, Dark & Stormy, Jack & Squirt. Perfect on a summer afternoon, under the canopy of their huge patio. The burgers are grand, if a little overdone, but the afterschool burger (bacon & peanut butter) is the best. The one with goat cheese and roasted red pepper is a close second. Sweet potato fries are great, but you've gotta ask for a side of ranch, which they may or may not charge you for. The whole late 70s redneck rustic atmosphere is perfect....reminds me a little of my dad, drinking Oly in a can in our backyard on the 4th of July in 1982. White v-neck Hanes undershirt and a trucker cap with a fish on it.....King's brings back those golden memories. Check out the skee-ball in the back....almost like a little bit of Georgetown in Ballard. Also featured: some of the best stall-grafitti in the ladies room of all time.

    (4)

  • Shawn D.

    King's H-ware is my new favorite hangout! It's pretty much got it all: great outdoor seating terrific burgers (haven't tried the pb & bacon yet) drinking water from a Mason jar very nice beer selection (aren't we over the PBR on tap yet, tho??) playing skee-ball and standup Donkey Kong listening to one of the better juke boxes in town (even includes the locals!) I haven't had the misfortune to end up there when it's packed to the rafters..so far I'm sticking to happy hour and the hours shortly after that, which seem to be reasonably attended on the weekends even.

    (5)

  • Randi S.

    decent bar on a week-day...avoid avoid avoid on fri/sat unless you are a frat boy amateur trolling for drunk barbie-dolls in their finest mall garb. the patio in back is cool and usually less crowded on busy nights, plus has heaters so it's still warm in the colder weather. I also am a fan of their cocktail servers. I feel bad for the crowds they have to deal with sometimes. take their money and run!!

    (3)

  • Zack G.

    I like this kind of place. Big, but not overbearing. Funky decorations (taxidermy on one wall, vintage photos collaged all over the other). Full selection of beer. Food if you want it. Plenty of places to sit. And skeeball---a perfect game to play while feeling a little stumblydrunk. My companions weren't sold on this place....I guess it has the potential to rub people the wrong way. But I'd call it a keeper.

    (4)

  • Austin K.

    Visit this bar during the day when it is empty and it's a blast! Friday or Saturday nights are unbearable. No pun intended on the taxidermied brown bear. Skee ball gets the stars up to 4. The outdoor area is going to be calling this summer.

    (4)

  • Allison S.

    UPDATE 7/6/07: It breaks my heart to have to do this, but I have to dock King's a star. The past 3 or 4 times I have been here, regardless of the night, have kinda...well...sucked. I think someone may have tipped Ozzie's or Peso's over and all the drunken Boozo the Clowns consequently slid into King's and now they won't leave. GROSS. At the same time, the service behind the bar has become slower and more cranky. I just want to go back in time when my love for this bar was new and innocent........ --------------------------------------------------­---------------------------------- The food is really tasty, the beer is cheap(c'mon y'all- PBR pitchers, Ranier tallboys- awesome), and the jukebox is fantastic. It does get hella crowded on weekend nights, and is not immune from turning into a hipster meat market of sorts. However, there are a lot of upsides to this place, and it's big enough where you can generally find somewhere to sit if you really want to. The wait staff and bar staff are really nice, even when it's busy, and the deck is cool too.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth P.

    WORST food I've had is quite some time. Absolutely everything that I ordered that was cooked was burned. had I not been with a group of people and incredibly hungry I would have sent it all back. The sweet potato fries looked like they were from the bottom of the bag and had been forgotten in the fryer, my chicken sandwich was charred, dry and half the size of the bun and the bacon on top was brown and leathery. The wait staff was also pretty bad- getting orders wrong, forgetting follow up drinks, not bringing a fork for my salad or checking on us after we had gotten the food. The only redeeming item that we got was the rico sauve burger which was actually pretty incredible--reminiscent of a jalapeno popper. Not at all impressed and will not be eating there ever again.

    (2)

  • candice c.

    did someone say "sweet potato fries"??? I'll say the best in SEATTLE! yum.

    (3)

  • Tarewyn M.

    Cheap booze, great juke box. I've heard the food is awesome but have never managed to make it in before the kitchen closes. Good times, but it does make me wonder where all those nice old Norweigan men who would search the mysterious drawers and boxes of the old Ballard Hardware went. Man, I could really use some help matching and old furniture bolt about now.

    (5)

  • Ruben H.

    We absolutely love this place, food is always good and always affordable. Great choices for beer on tap and always seems to have very happy people inside. More importantly, you CAN BRING YOUR DOG!!!! We take our little ones to Norms in Ballard and now have also started coming here for the same. Its a great place to stop after shopping at the Ballard Farmers Market. Yes parking blows but where doesn't it around the good places to eat and shop.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth L.

    First visit to King's was on a weeknight, when King's is largely a dude bar with a regulars vibe. Luckily returned on Sat. and discovered King's is quite a fun scene on the weekends - great DJ, love the large heated, outdoor back patio, where you can actually hear your friends (inside gets quite loud/raucous). Crowd is a bit younger (recent grads?) but not obnoxious. Service: Outdoor server was friendly but distracted, as with Justin M.'s experience, service was slow. We migrated inside, and the server seemed pushy. Drinks: Had the Paloma, which seemed to barely have tequila, overshadowed by too much lime - best tequila drinks are prob at the Saint in Cap Hill. Might revisit to try their extensive burger selection + serves Molly Moon ice cream (!) HH 4-7pm daily $2-3 pints, $6-9 pitchers, $3 well drinks Bonus: King's has skee-ball. No joke.

    (3)

  • Jennifer A.

    Good: Their version of a Michelada - it's not listed on the drinks menu anymore, but they still make it. Generally friendly service. Skee ball (if the hipsters will ever let you play). Bad: Bathrooms are gross and always smell like pee. The whole place could use a good spring cleaning (don't look too closely at window sills or any of the various wall hangings, including the stuffed animal heads). Generally packed, mostly with hipsters and drunk, over-dressed (yet not wearing enough clothes), screaming girls.

    (3)

  • Gary W.

    I have to admit "I'm biased". Yes, this is a slanted review because any restaurant that will donate 100% of a nights earnings (oops, I mean profits) to benefit the Japanese earthquake victims deserves 5 stars. That said, I went there to run up the bill and still got a some great hot wings, cold beer, burger and fries for a reasonable price. I know, it was happy hour and it was great to be at a place that runs happy hour until 7pm so I had plenty of time to get a good deal to boot. Thanks again for helping the victims of the Japanese tsunami and earthquake!

    (5)

  • Margo D.

    Great food, but DAMN, the service was slow. Definitely go, but don't expect any great shakes where service is concerned. The housemade blue cheese dressing on the wedge salad was outstanding.

    (3)

  • Laura C.

    Only been here once, but I'm definitely a fan! Food: I ordered the not a buffalo burger with chicken instead of a burger and holy moly was it good. I would definitely come back for more. The fries were solid. Service: The staff was super friendly without being pushy. They let us do our thing but also made great recommendations. Our server even brought me a sample of his recommended beer, an offer I rarely receive. Venue: The decor is so eclectic and fun. The patio space is large, partially covered. Attached to Rudy's, so you can get a haircut too! I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Phoenix A.

    Fun place! Even though I didn't play, it was nice to know that there was a skeeball lane there. Hung out in the covered patio area on a nice night to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. I felt like I was in a place made of Lincoln Logs, all rustic, woodsy, & cabin like. The patio bartender was really nice and was on top of things on this packed Saturday night. I totally disagree with anyone calling this place a dive. It seemed like all the patrons had their teeth. It wasn't dark enough to make potential indigents appear more presentable. AND the ratio of hipsters to the down-and-out was just off. I'd like to come back and check out the food and possibly make it on a movie night, but for sure to take a crack at the ol' skeeball.

    (4)

  • Anna N.

    Great environment. Best service I've had so far in Seattle. They are very friendly and welcoming. The prices are perfect, especially on Mondays with their wings special. A good place to have a nice relaxing drink. Their servers are seriously the best, the chilliest and most attentive service. Never have to wait long. Don't usually give 5 stars to much places, but this is a must!

    (5)

  • Charles P.

    We come here every time we visit. Solid menu, solid bar, and great staff!! They let me charge my iphone in the office!! We love the patio and entire bar vibe everytime we come. Cant wait until next year!

    (5)

  • Theresa Marie S.

    Stopped in here at almost midnight for a couple beers and a burger. The burger list is crafty. I wanted to try at least three of them. The blue cheese is homemade - and it was delicious! I'm not from Seattle, so I've never had a Rainer beer. I was definitely satisfied. I also tried the gluten free beer. We shared the nachos, and they were fantastic as well. The beef is hormone & antibiotic free, and the eggs come from free-range chickens. I read that local produce is used as much as possible. That is a A+ for me! One of my friends had a wedge salad and they said it was one of the best ones they ever had. I don't eat salad, but it did look pretty good. It wasn't just thrown into a plate. I love places with an outdoor ambiance. We had a blast watching all the awesomely dressed hipsters playing skee ball nearby. When I am out to visit my friends again - I would love to go back to King's.

    (4)

  • M Y.

    This is the place to be Friday or Saturday night if you're young. The place can be very crowded, which I like. It is a good place to meet up with friends and potentially make new ones ;) During the day they serve decent burgers too.

    (4)

  • A.J. S.

    TL;DR: Go when it's not crowded, so you can have yummy sliders, sweet tater fries, a sweet-ass bartender and cheap 100 proof rye. But when it's too late, don't bother. It's the Linda's of Ballard. Less dirty hipster's, more Fremonty fratboys and their high heeled slampieces. I am a BIG FAN OF: Happy Hour, (6 dollar 100 proof Rittenhouse), Ginger beer, sweet potato fries, the ability to make any burger a veggie burger. Especially to the blonde bartender guy who's kiiinda amazing to sit at the bar with. So good. I am NOT A FAN OF: screaming girls with heels on (you know you're old when you're wondering why on earth a girl is wearing stilettos to King's Hardware) and nights where it's so crowded of such denizens you go next door to Urban Family Public House and be quite happy with an $8 beer and a place to sit.

    (4)

  • Stacci L.

    I've been here a couple times has the "hipster vibe" but after from moving outside with our extremely kindly girl server we moved inside and now I won't be going back. Could not get any service from 2 people it was ridiculous how incredibly obviously rude they were being. One guy wouldn't even take our order but took the order of the two tables I was in the middle of.....he aggressively slapped the tabled while picking up menus and gave us all glare looks...so we went to the bartender and even he had attitude, said he wouldn't even serve me ANY drink because I was debating openly between 2 drinks with him...Clearly the people here don't care to make money nor car about the giving a good reputation for there place of work. Waiting 45 minutes to be rudely avoided ANY service in a empty bar on a sunday afternoon.....no thanks

    (1)

  • Brittany K.

    How have I yet to review this place!? We go almost every Monday for the 27 cent wings and they're always SO GOOD! A ton of beers to choose from and the ambiance is very hipster- as are the servers, they're all super friendly and always remember us it's a great place for wings and beer, I highly recommend giving it a try! :)

    (5)

  • Lilani E.

    The service and overall feel of King's Hardware is mellow and IMHO a great post work place to go. The beer selection is a bit limited and the food was just OK. Located in the heart of Ballard with all the amazing restaurants within a stone's throw - I think they might want to look into ramping up their menu. On a summer evening the outdoor patio is perfect and the best part was that it was far from being overcrowded or loud - which is great for unwinding but probably not for them.

    (3)

  • Maren M.

    This is a place I would order to go only because the music is too loud for my taste. I loved the burger, even though my bun was burnt (so that is saying something, RIGHT?). The service wasn't super fast but they were all super friendly and nice. OH and make sure you ask for ketchup when you get it to go, fries without sauce makes me sad! I am hoping all the negatives were a fluke. I hope to try once more.

    (3)

  • Anne C.

    Didn't get a good feel for this place because the service was so terrible that it's all I can remember. We showed up at 1:20 to grab one more drink...paid for our drinks at 1:30 and by 1:32 the staff was shuffling everyone to the door. Literally, we couldn't even carry on a conversation while finishing our drinks because a server would come up to us every 30 seconds (or less!) to tell us we had to leave. Why even sell us the drinks then? If you don't want to get bullied by a bunch of 22-year-old power tripping hippies, you may want to stay away from King's after 1 a.m.

    (1)

  • Mae D.

    Amazing burgers, drinks, beer, games etc... I love the decor' too! The service is hit or miss, but I've had excellent service most of the time. Few of my favorite burgers on the Menu: buffalo burger (Frank's red hot sauce really makes the burger), After School Special (PB on a burger sounds gross, but oh so delicious!!!!!!!! you don't (and doesn't come) with cheese). I can't remember the others I've had, but I've never been disappointed! :) I keep coming back and bringing new people to savor the deliciousness! :)

    (5)

  • Emily S.

    OK. So I don't update reviews often, but how the heck did I give King's 4 stars before?? This is pretty much the only place we go out to eat in Ballard any more. The burgers are made from cattle that are raised nearby, and during happy hour a burger and fries is $1 off - not a huge discount, but the most expensive burger on the menu is only like $10 anyway. And the burgers come all kinds of crazy delicious topping depending on what suits your fancy, including goat cheese, jalapenos, grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, um, yes, basically, if you want it, they got it. And sweet potato fries. I still can't get over how much I love them. And beers? You can get a $3 pint during happy hour. And they have amazing beers like Snoqualmie Nitro Stout. Plus your old standards like Manny's. Boyfriend and I are incredibly content to come here, chow down, make small talk with our always delightful waitress/waiter, and check out all the tattooed people that the bar attracts. Did I say that out loud? Yes, instead of people watching, I sometimes go tattoo watching instead, and King's is always a great spot for it. They have a large mostly covered but still sunny outdoor patio for the summer months, and they have lots of bar games (skeeball included). On more than one occasion I have seen dogs sitting under the table under their owners feet. And the bathrooms have some awesome grafetti. Go to Kings, have a beer or two or three, order a $9 burger and fries that kicks the pants off of anything Local 360 serves (and without all the pretentious bullsht or the sticker shock!), and thank me later. You're welcome.

    (5)

  • Jee H.

    Came here with some friends this past Saturday and with it being a nice day/night the back outdoor seating area was filled. I'd like to check that out next. We sat in a booth near the front. It was somewhat full, not bursting from the seams, so I expected faster service. We were sitting for 15-20 min before someone came by and took our order. They were friendly when they did but we had to flag then down every time. I'm guessing they may be stretched thin, understaffed. The food I've been told is good. My burger was just okay. I asked for medium well and it came out well. Not wanting to have to wait another 30 minutes I just rolled with it. It has a cool vibe you'd expect from a Ballard joint. I'll come back and give it another go. Hopefully the service will be faster and more attentive. 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Eric S.

    Stopped In for a beer while on the waiting list for walrus and carpenter. It was my first time in Ballard. I loved the atmosphere and friendliness of folks. Very young crowd and eclectic. Kings is a fun place people were playing ski ball and keeping score , it was serious lol

    (4)

  • Morgan S.

    Last night was the first time I'd ever been to this bar. Some friends and I just popped in for a few drinks. Our server was nice, and knowledgeable about the beer selection when I asked about it ... But it took almost 20 minutes to get the three beers we ordered, and we were brought a drink we never asked for (which I also saw happen to two tables near us). To their credit, they let us keep it on the house, but that perk aside, I just wasn't impressed.

    (2)

  • Erik S.

    A F'ing + for this place! Great burger & fries, Ninkasi on tap- without the Seattle elitist attitude. Ski-Ball to boot. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Marc M.

    Great bar staff and delicious food all wrapped up in a fun and stylish location. If you can only ever try one items off of their food menu that item must be the after school special which is a bacon burger with peanut butter on it. Now there are those of you that just got real excited at the mention of this heavenly creation and there are also those of you that just cringed at the thought of it, but trust me...this is one delicious burger! My last visit here was on a Friday night and it was very busy which I imagine isn't out of the ordinary at all. My one issue here was with how freakin' hot it was inside to the point where I chose not to order food and a few of the people that I was with just sat there fanning themselves with the menus and drinking water. It had been a very hot and muggy day, but there should have been some way to keep things cool for the crowds of people that were packing the place. To even this out, you will find a partially covered patio out back, but those tables fill up very quickly on nicer days so grab one if you can! If I lived in Ballard, I would be here quite often due to the great food, tasty beverages and even better service. The atmosphere is definitely upbeat so bring your appetite and a few friends and be prepared for a rockin' good time!

    (4)

  • Phuong B.

    Good place to grab your group of friends to just hang out in Ballard. It does get a little busy, sometimes too busy where it's impossible to move. You will always meet new people and the bartenders know the drink list pretty well. Overall, nice hang out spot as it gets hopping, but nothing else stands out.

    (3)

  • Krystin T.

    I came here for a friend's birthday - none of us had ever been but it was recommended to her and I'd heard good things. We lucked out, though, with our seating situation. It was PACKED on a Saturday night and we got the last table available - and when our group grew, another group left and we magically inherited their table. This is one of those bars that has something for everyone: it's hipster-y enough for the hipsters, dive-y enough for those who like dive bars, and has games for those who are into that (skee ball!). Also, great people watching. And dudes sitting at tables writing code on their laptops. I can't speak for their drinks because I stuck with cheap beer all night, but the waitress definitely kept 'em coming. I'm really interested in trying the food next time I'm here - I've heard good things and would love to come check it out.

    (4)

  • Daren D.

    Number _ stop on JP's bday crawl Fri nite: Pros: Food sounds good (didn't try, yet) Drink was good (Collins?) Deck Skeeball (too busy to try) Cons: Watercloset (blech) Too hot (F on ventilation) Crowd density up front Noise level Meh, maybe a non-busy night might prove better for my liking...

    (3)

  • Tracee D.

    Bro!!!!!!!! I love it here. It's a bro-down 365 days a year. there's ski ball. cheap beer. & the server is always shocked that I am as old as my id proclaims me to be. flattery & bros in plaid shirts. I love it HERE. Bro.

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    Definitely a cool little bar in Ballard. Sort of feels like a fraternity basement with a random assortment of stuff hanging in the walls. I just enjoyed the beer (promptly served and nicely chilled) and a few fries. It feels homey and I will definitely be back!

    (3)

  • Hannah L.

    Anywhere with Caldera IPA on tap (and for only $3 at happy hour!) deserves a visit for that reason alone. That, plus the old-style wood walls, empty booths, well-trodden floorboards, and amber darkness lit from the back by the lights from the skeeball machines makes King's inviting on a quiet midweek afternoon. I felt like I'd stepped into a little Carolina mountain town's bar, in a really good way. However, I hope you're a burger-lovin' vegetable-hater, for your sake....Because that's pretty much what's on the menu: burgers. And fries. (And a couple of salads, but judging by the side salad I had, there's not much thought going into the meatless part of the menu: think sad spinach, June tomatoes - meaning, why bother? - and a few chunks of carrot with a thick sugary dressing lacking any even extended family resemblance to "balsamic vinaigrette".) If you do like burgers, King's is decent, and there's a list of about ten combinations you can order. I went for the goat cheese, roasted garlic, and roasted red pepper, and was pretty pleased by the huge aromatic garlic clove wedges atop the (Oregon-raised, antibiotic/hormone-free) patty. You can sub out a veggie (Garden or Boca) burger instead, or pay a little extra for a chicken breast filet, so there's choices and such. (But for about $10, I know better burger places if that's what I'm craving.) Big pluses for the beer list, ambiance (again, midweek - the mentions of the weekend crowd would check this off my Friday night list), and friendly service. Can't knock 'em for not having a better menu since I know that's not their style, but that lack will keep King's from being a regular go-to for me if I want more than beer for an early dinner.

    (3)

  • Aaron S.

    Always a great place to round up the troops and sit down and have a good time. Despite the crazy amount of people, our waitress was very attentive and provided spot on service. This is a great place to enjoy a good time without breaking the bank.

    (5)

  • Gilad B.

    Great place for games and simple drinks. Late night is always fun and its not too packed on weekdays. enjoy

    (4)

  • Courtney O.

    Still my favorite bar in Ballard after 5 years. Sure, it can get packed and a little loud on a weekend night, but if you go earlier or on a weekday, it is not a problem at all. The burgers are always good and it has a great vibe!

    (5)

  • Michael A.

    I love king's, i've loved this place since i moved to ballard 6 years ago. The only thing i've noticed is that this place fills up with bro's after 930pm. If you go before then, you can get a nice pitcher of beer, amazing burgers and a booth, after that, the average age drops to 22, and i get the hell out of there. But on a quiet evening, it's a great place to go sit outside, play some skiball, and even watch a movie in the summer.

    (4)

  • Ryan W.

    Sweet dive with a diverse and laid back crowd. Nice patio in the back with plenty of tables and seats... it was a packed house but our group luckily found a table in the back patio area. Only downfall is that no one had a change our friends two times and a nickel for a quarter! She swears she could have beat the original Super Mario Bros in 8-minutes! Well have to find out next time.

    (4)

  • Albert T.

    King's Hardware - 07/02/2012 2 Stars for Food 1 Star for Service 1 Star for Returning Customer I can see the appeal of this place. There are plenty of beers to choose from, many types of burgers to choose from, and they have skeeball in the back (I didn't get to play but still, that's pretty awesome). I ordered the burger with peanut butter, After School Special. Overall the burger was good, but the peanut butter did not make it special. Perhaps it was the type of peanut butter they used. The burger itself, meat and other toppings, was pretty enjoyable. My gf ordered the sliders which weren't bad either. I would come back if I ever visited or moved to Seattle. Bonus, in the Men's bathroom you get to pee on ice. --------------------------------- Rating Scale 3 Stars for Parking (Bad = 0, Great = 3) 1 Star for Service 1 Star for Returning Customer

    (4)

  • Suzy S.

    From what I can remember... (which um... is unfortunately a bit spotty) THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! First of all, they had gluten-free beer, which automatically won them points. Plus it was in a can. I don't know why that matters, but I enjoyed it at the time. Then, the patio in the back - love! Skeeball! People-watching! I definitely will need to come back here in a more, erm, sober state of mind. :)

    (4)

  • Tony G.

    Really, I've been here so many times I can't believe I haven't written a review for it yet. The one thing I really love about this place is the ambiance. It reminds me of a cabin with the cool old lamps they had (we had some lamps like that growing up). This also reminds me of a cool ass cabin with skeeball. Every cabin should have skeeball. Skeeball! And if you are able to get a seat on the deck, well by golly sit on the deck. It can be a quite lovely drinking experience. The food is good as well. I have had the fries and nachos and keep telling myself I will eat their burger. Some day I will, some day! I usually try to leave before 9 because that is when it gets crowded and not as fun. I will let someone else explain why. But if you want to get day drunk and like Rittenhouse Rye, then check it out. Zipzap Zubidy Bop!

    (4)

  • Trisha F.

    Lots of seating, skee-ball, and tons of character. Lots of love to any bartender who doesn't need to be told what is in a crazy cocktail from a crazy bar I worked in way back when. Quick, prompt service, low chattiness. The bartenders and waitstaff will all make you feel like they are way cooler than you are. Or maybe that was just me...

    (4)

  • Tricia D.

    It's a pub with a different kind of feel. For one, you can play Skee-ball in the back. For another, there are real, stuffed animals on the wall... everything from deer to moose to... bobcat? Happy hour was 5-7pm, and that, along with some satisfying burgers, made us pretty happy campers. You can also get sweet potato fries here, which made me excited, but they were on the soggy and salty side. Excitement dissipates. We also wanted to do Irish car bombs, but somehow, King's ran out of Bailey's. How does that happen? Our waiter felt bad and was nice enough to give us a drink on the house though. Solid joint.

    (3)

  • Logan P.

    King's has a great happy hour with drink and food specials; a great list of beers and awesome décor make it a complete package. I had a bacon burger with sweet potato fries, which paired with a delicious beer on tap was outstanding. While the service can be a little slow when busy, you can hold your attention admiring the taxidermy on the walls or playing one of two skeeball machines. Pros: food was great! Lots of drink options. Skeeball, décor, dog friendly (yes, they even bring a water bowl for your furry friend) outdoor deck. Cons: service slow sometimes, dirty bathrooms

    (4)

  • Stephanie M.

    I did come here after their HH and had a great time! It was packed inside of King's so we went to their outside patio where they have long-picnic tables and heating lamps. It's nice out here because all the noise exits the bar instead of being trapped and making it hard to hear everyone. Tip: if you leave for a smoke or a hot dog, make sure that you either 1. tell the bouncer that you'll be right back or 2. have your ID on you b/c they'll check it at the door again--I had to call my friend inside to bring me my wallet. Boo.

    (3)

  • Michael L.

    I feel like every time I come to this bar it's super packed. This bar is actually a lot bigger then it looks from the outside. They have an outdoor patio as well with heat lamps. The drinks are reasonably priced and it's definitely a super chill place to hang out if you can snag a table or booth. My only gripe about this place is that finding a place to sit can be a pain in the butt and standing somewhere while waiting here sucks. Parking in Ballard is really bad as well...

    (3)

  • David F.

    It's basically the Linda's of Ballard, which should summarize the place in one easy phrase. Otherwise... The Good: - Dive-y yet clean -- the theme here is hunt lodge, but it's clean and dark simultaneously - Skee-ball. No really, skee-ball. - A nice patio outside, with a bar out there as needed. Not much of a view, but one of the few east-facing decks in North Seattle - Good to great burgers - Good beer selection -- the usual crap in cans, but also 10-12 decent micro-brews on tap - Happy hour is a great deal - The Blood Mary's for weekend brunch The Bad: - When it's busy, stay clear. It's crowded, noisy, and can be smelly from the mix of hooched-up perfume and deep-fried grease. Good people-watching in that regard, but rarely worth the attack on your personal space

    (4)

  • Y S.

    Everything about this place makes me happy. The weird decor (particularly the mountain lion rug with the wandering eyes). Dogs inside. The ginger julep. The lack of TVs. The surprisingly artistic wall of cans. The heated patio. The many, many faux lumberjacks. Friendly bar staff. Skee ball. The movie screenings. Fremont on tap. The insanely good King's burger. Stomach is rumbling....

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    In my mind this is probably the quintessential hipster dive bar in Seattle. Lots of retro decorations, cheap fries and drafts, other great specials like $0.27 wings. It's a reminder that even in condo-overrun Ballard you can still find tattoos, flannel, beards and watch caps.

    (4)

  • Chris F.

    I didn't care much for this place, but apparently there are those that do. I guess it depends on what you like. For me, the service sucks. They are slow and aren't that friendly. The place just has a low energy level for me. I don't mind places that are sort of dark as in not well lit, but the place has a gloomy feel to it for me. It gets too packed on the weekends. I'd say it's more about picking people up on the weekends. My buddy loves the place, but I'm not a fan. Although, I will say the skee-ball is pretty cool though.

    (1)

  • Joey Y.

    on a chilly, tuesday night, i walked through the doors and immediately felt a strange sense of deja vu-- was i still on cap hill, walking into linda's? no, but if you've ever read the "dionaea house" you'll understand why it freaked me the fuck out. anyway, if there ever was a sure answer to linda's off broadway, this is ballard's resounding retort. taxidermy on the walls, pool tables replaced by skeeball machines [which are only a quarter a game], and hot waitresses replaced by ridiculously hot waitresses. the drinks were poured stiff, were well-priced and that's all the criteria i really need to rate a bar/lounge 4-stars. add to the fact that i saw one of the most gorgeous waitresses on the face of this earth here, and i'll bump that up to five. what? fuck you, that's not being shallow. that's called "adding to atmosphere".

    (5)

  • Dan P.

    i can't really rip on a place that offers cans of Oly. Oly's the next PBR. mark my words. an old school brand that is just waiting to be revitalized and poured down the throats of hipsters from coast to coast. and it's actually far better than PBR. so king's has that going for them. and ballard really did need another decent bar. something to counteract the kirkland-comes-to-ballard-ave-bullshit that's known as the bal-mar. so...i'll keep my bitching to a minimum. my only real hangup with this joint is the instant-nostalgia they've got going. i'm not opposed to a few deer heads on the wall, or a few salvaged signs thrown up here and there. but man...this place is just plastered with stuff. there's hardly a square inch that isn't covered with something from pre-1950 or designed to look like it is. on some level doesn't a bar have to naturally become it's own place? even the photo wall - pre-plastered with black and white pics from back in the day. king's pub opened its doors and instantaneously it's like you're drinking in eddie bauer's garage. it's a minor gripe...i admit. maybe i just need a few more Oly's...

    (4)

  • Ninja S.

    Cool enough place. I don't know about any kind of exchange program with Linda's in Cap Hill, but I liked this place more. Mean girl wait staff (mmm. mean girls.) will test you but treat you right. I didn't try the food after stuffing myself at La Isla, but it looks exotic and strange. Always a plus! Donkey Kong and skiball (without tickets or prizes? I guess it's for bragging rights.) are yours to be had. If you're in the mood, you can go out to the patio which is thoughtfully heated with propane as it was a bit brisk at the time. Gotta take care of the smokers as they love to drink teh booze. Some serious closet-case graffiti was found in the men's john. It was way strange. Who sucks who's what? Who should I call? You did what to my mom while dad was doing what? There's a whole dialog happening in there.

    (4)

  • Philip L.

    Very much in the vein of Linda's and Smith. Good pub grub. Nice outdoor seating.

    (4)

  • Karen S.

    We were there on Saturday night 4/4/09 and they called "last call" at a very early 1:20AM and then just 10 minutes later the staff started telling us to get out of the bar! What the !#$#? I'm accustomed to having last called yelled around 1:30AM and having at least 30 minutes to finish my last drink of the night! If you go to this place, start your night there, b/c I had a terrible ending to my Saturday night here.

    (1)

  • trace p.

    King's is a staple for me and the Mrs. Cool atmosphere, great food and one of the best outdoor patios in Seattle. Is it summer yet?!!

    (4)

  • Maureen M.

    Oh my gawd. Food, in this case, sweet potato fries, should not cause me this much pleasure. The Burger was ok, maybe a little dry. But the sweet potato fries? Deeeelicious.

    (5)

  • Keith M.

    One of my favorite hangouts. Usually pretty crowded, so you've got to be in the right state of mind to enjoy yourself.

    (4)

  • Amy B.

    Great atmosphere, decent drinks. Haven't gotten a seat here the past 3 times I went looking for a bar though.. :(

    (4)

  • Christy A.

    That $3 Bloody Mary easily counts as Sunday morning breakfast. Just count those pickled veggies: olives (2), green beans (3), carrot stick, asparagus spear, big celery stick. Plus lemon AND lime wedges to ward off scurvy. If you're still craving breakfast, get the Cowboy Burger topped with bacon and a fried egg.

    (4)

  • Russell L.

    Nice ambiance, bigger than expected interior, skee-ball, excellent outdoor patio, good grub, good service, and cheap drink prices = winning combination.

    (4)

  • Patrick L.

    I really like the patio they have out back. Great place to kick back and eat some greasy bar food in the sun while washing it down with some pitchers. This place shows its age proudly, and the entire restaurant really has character. The burgers are pretty good here, although I wouldn't mind if they were a bit bigger. Despite the waiter's advice, they definitely aren't big enough to share between two people, as my gf and I did. Even with a side of rings and a pitcher of beer, we were still hungry. Not their fault, of course, we should've known better. I'll definitely be back this summer hopefully sooner than later. When they're busy, they do seem to be a bit short-staffed, so service takes forever! From order-taking, to food prep, to bringing you more drinks, etc... If you want extra anything (napkins, sauce, drinks, etc...), make sure you order everything at once, because you will be waiting awhile.

    (4)

  • Marie H.

    About the only nice thing about the place is the outdoor patio. That's why it got 2 stars. Granted we went on a Saturday night and perhaps that's why it was so terrible. Serious wall to wall frat boys, constantly being bumped and pushed. I'll never go back there. The drinks were just okay, not strong not weak.

    (2)

  • Julie F.

    I was going to give King's Hardware only 3 stars, because as a bar it's nothing extraordinary. (it does to me what it needs to do and has ample space to do it to me.) But, I'm giving extra credit for the sweet potato fries and ability to draw my friends off the hill and to my neighborhood so I can be the one walking and not cabbing home for once.

    (4)

  • Bryan B.

    Went here last night and it really wasn't anything special; by the time we got there it was pretty busy and like most Seattle places haven't crowd doesn't necessarily mean a good time. The way the tables are laid out doesn't allow for much socializing between groups; it's like everyone is in the own little "silo". I'd recommend to the management that they turn up the music or at the very least play some :). I threw a house party last week and it was way more fun since at both places we basically ended up standing; only talking to people we know and having a pint. Good music and rearranging the tables would definitely help this place.

    (2)

  • Jasmine M.

    Borish, arrogant, elitist, snob factory where the burgers are only so-so, and the service is even worse. A Belltown meat-market in Ballard? How gauche.

    (1)

  • Carly L.

    PBR on tab, really good sliders on HH, watching a guy try to sell silver to the bar staff, an old woman in her seventies with big pink glasses. Heck yes. I liked me some King's.

    (4)

  • bruce s.

    Went there three times. I like the decor, and thought this would be a good hangout... Ist visit service sucked, and unfriendly stuck up server. 2nd visit similar experience... OK, so call me a masochist, but I wanted to give the place a chance. 3rd visit same as my previous visits... Not even a "Hi" or "Thank You"... they were too busy talking on their cell phones and trying to look uber - hip.

    (1)

  • Ducky M.

    I'm thinking: "Whoa...just walked past Hattie Hat's and this new bar is right here! Why haven't I noticed it? Well, I suppose it's been awhile since I've been out for some drinks in Ballard....hmm...what shall I drink...oh, cool...retro beer in cans, Manny's on tap, delicious spirits if I'm feeling shwanky. You know, I AM feeling shwanky! I think I'll have a delightful Tanqueray on the rocks and check out the Deer heads on the wall! Killer! What a crazy-cool little atmosphere with Deer heads and stuffed Cougars on the wall, skee-ball to play and some great albums in the juke.....man....how could I have missed this place!"... You'll see plenty of horned rimmed glasses, Emo-boys, Bettie Page-haired lasses and more Ballard -Scenester schlub, but King's is still a pretty decent little joint to stop and have a brew in. Wasn't crazy impressed, but it was aaiiiighhht. Plus to the Juke selections. Maybe trying the food would have swayed me to 4 stars.

    (3)

  • Cynara L.

    That frat-tasticness of the weekend nights here almost ruins what is otherwise a good thing. Go on Sunday's for $4 bloodies and some serious skeeball and watch King's redeem itself

    (4)

  • Hanna W.

    What is there new to say about King's that hasn't been said 85 times already?? They have a good jukebox. Other than that, I got nothing...but I will tell you anyway: -Sliders and sweet potato fries are awesome. -Happy hour from 4-7pm. -Skeeball and Donkey King can't be beat. -Great deck if you can find a seat on sunny days. -Avoid like the plague on weekend nights.

    (4)

  • Tia R.

    My boyfriend and I frequent this bar for the skee ball and Leffe on draft. we love the deck in the Summer and being inside in the Winter. Very warm and inviting; a great place to meet friends. The menu is your typical bar fare, but the burgers are awesome and the staff rocks!

    (5)

  • Donna P.

    Visited KH again and was as always, very pleased. The quality of the Afterschool special was spot on along with the amazingly yummy fries. Tried the Alaskan Oatmeal Stout this time with the burger and it made for a happy food coma.

    (5)

  • John L.

    We have only lived in Seattle for a couple of months but have already been to Kings Hardware at least half a dozen times. We go for their 27 cent wing night on Monday and try to get there early enough for happy hour that extends until 7 PM. the service has always been incredibly friendly and competent. It rarely occurs that any member of the wait staff passes our table or booth without checking on our needs. The wings are good. Every week they offer the traditional Buffalo wings and one other flavor. Sometimes we try a few wings of the alternate selection and found the Chipotle BBQ wings pretty good. Some of the others, not that great but we never risk many wings on the experiment. I think the alternative selections are for the people in group that dont go for the intensity of the original buffalo wing sauce. The food always comes to the table hot. The onion rings are OK but nothing to write home about. We always try to include onion rings as our vegetable so we have a balanced meal on wings night. The small dinner salad is big and very good. All of the ingredients are cold and crisp and it does not make you feel nearly as guilty as the onion rings The caldera draft is really fine and only $3 a pint during happy hour. We really like this place and hope it does not change.

    (5)

  • John P.

    Flew from San Francisco to Seattle for the weekend... And this was my absolute favorite spot! Great staff, everyone rocked. I even noticed one girl working super hard all night and as I left I told her I appreciated her effort... She said thanks and gave me a big hug. The place is huge! Plenty of seating to accommodate our group of 10 guys. We eventually discovered the back patio and played drinking games for awhile. Great atmosphere. Great mix of people. And like I said, awesome staff! I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a cool spot to spend a few hours with friends or meet new people and have a blast. Beer selection was also good.

    (5)

  • Beverly B.

    Excellent, helpful and genuinely nice service from smiling people. Their onion rings are awesome (I don't normally like onion rings) and their burgers are great. I usually come here on Sundays for their Bloody Maria's (yum). The inside seems to get hot so I'd suggest going out back, their porch is a nice place to kick back.

    (5)

  • Monika N.

    My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Oregon & Washington. One night in Seattle we simply couldn't decide on where to eat dinner/get drinks so we decided to try out a couple places. King's Hardware was our first stop. The atmosphere lured us in but unfortunately the drinks steered us away. Actually correction - steered me away! My husband loves beer and they had a great selection of local brews so he was happy. I on the other hand had the worst whiskey sour I've ever tasted. I'm not one to complain to much, but when the very kind bartender asked how I liked it I simply couldn't lie - the drink tasted watered down from the beginning and was sweet rather than sour. The food menu was simple bar food - so after one drink and a basket of fries we moved on.

    (2)

  • Ian R.

    King's Hardware allows me, for the first time [potentially], to be able to join the words "meat market" and "cool place" in the same sentence. I feel my English getting gooder already. Located right in Ballard's heart of the action, King's Hardware gets jam packed! Like, to the point where everyone who walks by involuntarily steers themselves towards the entrance so they can see what the hype is all about. If you're lucky to squeeze yourself in, you're about to experience a pretty good thing. The coolness extends all the way from the bouncer at the entrance to the skee ball machines in the back. Tired of standing after you get your drink, and you can't see a chair within range? No problem, head to the room that sits adjacent to the skee ball machines...there's another room waiting for you with plenty more tables (I think? this room turns into outdoor seating in the summer). The wait staff were far from robotic, engaging us every free moment they had, in between picking up after thankless drunks and keepin' people in line! Having only been here once, I will need more time to critique their alcohol selections, and to see if my first experience here was a fluke. But, based on my first impression, I will be sure to return. Come enjoy King's Hardware, where you can enjoy vintage arcades, a cool atmosphere, and beautiful people. Just don't be a creeper.

    (4)

  • Ninette C.

    Where else besides Ballard would you find a hipster bar with dead animals and a barber shop attached? I wouldn't say King's is as dicey as some other people describe it as...its not quite that filthy. I do like their back room which is open in the summer. Gives you some breeze without too much. I've been here for special events, on a chill Friday evening and on a crazy Saturday night and I'd have to say I like chill Friday's the best. They have large tables so it's great for groups. It's not really a mingling bar but who mingles in Seattle anyways?

    (4)

  • Andrew S.

    $3 drafts at HH = awesome. $6.50 sliders (3) = a tasty value. Lagunitas wheat on tap. Enough said.

    (4)

  • Hanley B.

    I came to King's looking for an easy meal and a beer. I found both. I came on a Saturday night around 9 so it was a little crowded and we had to look for a table but it wasn't too much of a hassle. Our waitress took a while coming to our table but once she did, the service was great. They have a decent beer selection and a solid selection of burgers. I had the Rico Suave (cream cheese, bacon, and jalapenos) which was really good. The sweet potato fries were kind of soggy and could have been cooked longer. My girlfriend had the Pearly Legal cocktail which was tasty; not too sweet which a lot of mediocre cocktails can be. The place wasn't cheap but I definitely come back if I was ever in a similar situation and wouldn't hesitate to recommend King's to friends.

    (4)

  • Michelle R.

    I haven't been here other than their Monday night $.27 wing night but hey, no line, fast, good service- I'm a fan. They feature 2 different flavors and if you don't like either, they'll make them naked w/ sauce on the side (one night both flavors were spicy so I had to opt out for BBQ.) Nonetheless, still good even for naked breaded wings. Last night we just had their maple wings. Sticky, finger lickin' good. Mmm.

    (4)

  • Luke H.

    Just so so.. absolutely nothing good or bad..

    (2)

  • Sara F.

    A favorite of my late-20's gal pals. From entry to exit: Bouncer: 5 stars. Always an awesome, sweet guy there. Main room: 4 stars. Dark wood, plenty of tables, nice bar Bartenders: 3 stars. The girl bartenders are awesome, the guys can be total dweebwads Clientele: 2.75 stars. It's a toss-up.. one night it's ridiculously fun meeting random people, and other nights it's the oh-so-diverse crowd of crappy and crappier. Food/drinks: 4 stars. Good drinks menu (ginger beer, yeah) and reliable kitchen. Patio: 4 stars. That's where I be. Bathroom: 1 star. *OH, NO.. OH MY GOODNESS, WHAT IS.. OH NO..* I present: Thoughts that go through a girl's mind in the bathroom at King's: --"Just two stalls. Who is in there who is in there WHO the f-- is in there!!" --(reads scribbles all over every square inch of the stall) "I'm too old for this shit." --"Smallest sink ever...oh great gotta wash my hands before that weirdo gets out of her stall and wants to share this 6 inch space" --(puts on lipstick) "OW!!!" (hit in the elbow by the swinging door) I cannot believe the owners have let these bathrooms remain in this state for as long as they have. The rest of the bar is not indicative of the horror that is the girls' bathroom. If you care about your customers, FIX IT. Average Score: 3.39 Stars

    (3)

  • Christine A.

    I admit I originally ducked in here to get away from a hipster with dreadlocks that was harassing me for a dollar. He didn't take no for an answer to his repeated, "Hey, give me a dollar! A dollar! Give me a dollar!" Stepping into a business finally shook him off. Quite the safe haven, I must say. This looks like it could have been a real rough and tumble haunt back in the day, what with the stuffed creatures here and there and heads on the wall. Feels like it needs burly men with giant forearms lining the counter. Derby hats and mutton chops, optional. And, hey, there's Skee Ball. I ended up surrendering a couple quarters playing, even if there weren't tickets involved to trade in for erasers, clicking toys, or silly straws. Great ambiance in here. Lots of happy drunks.

    (4)

  • Will F.

    This is my weekday bar of choice. The staff is super friendly and always welcoming. Their burgers are top notch and very affordable. Make sure to try their Chipolte Mayo. Yeah, sounds weird, but do it! Also, they put cream cheese on their burger, which also sounds weird, but also awesome. One of my favorite burgers on the menu is the "After School Special." Yep, another weirdly amazing choice, it's Peanut Butter and Bacon on a burger. Yum! Oh, did I almost forgot to mention that they have an excellent beer selection and some pretty good cocktails too.

    (5)

  • Kenny C.

    "Dude, I think we're the only non-white people here." My friend (Black) from Maryland says this to me (Asian) at around midnight, when the bar was packed and the crowd looked ready to party. He chose this place at the advice of his friends (major lady hipsters) for his moving-away party. I don't think either of us expected it to be this hipster though. We tried hard to fit in, but it just wasn't happening. The vibe seemed somewhat friendly, and I'm guessing the place is great if you fit the target demographic. Don't get me wrong, I love partying with white people. But typically white people who shave regularly - think the Roxy in Vancouver, or Mirror when it was still around in Bellevue. Maybe it was just that night we were there, but as 2 guys in our mid-twenties, we didn't find the singles scene here that appealing (ladies, I'm not saying you have to shave. I'm just saying if you're gonna wear shorts, meeting with that Gillette razor before a night out might be a smart plan). I drove in from Bellevue so it was tough to get to. If I had cabbed here, this would be the type of bar where I would have to get unreasonably drunk. I think if I did, then it would have been more fun.

    (3)

  • Adam R.

    Great staff, atmosphere, beer selection. The kings burger was good. I enjoyed my time a will be back...

    (5)

  • Ken T.

    Wings on monday are dirt cheap, drinks are solid, burgers would be AMAZING if they used different buns, and wait staff is generally nice and courteous!

    (4)

  • Harin G.

    This is a good solid burger, my friend. I had the jalapeno, cream cheese, and bacon burger. It was DA BOMB. I ordered onion rings but wish I had stuck with the french fries. It all ended well because I just stole the fries off of my husband's plate. I can't remember what he had but he was in love with his burger as well. I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the choices! I'm also impressed by the adorable hipster bartenders that are friendly and efficient. The place was packed for dinner on a Friday night and we had great service and were never without a drink. The fact that I was able to take my 5 lb dawg-ter (canine form of daughter...) was an added bonus after she had been couped up for a long work day. My hubby, my dog, cocktails, and a meaty burger sum up a damn good Friday if you ask me!!

    (4)

  • Tom T.

    Hipster bar with rustic, hunting lodge decor and adjoining barber shop. Service was very good--especially good considering this place is crowded. They have (at least) fourteen beers on tap. The menu is mainly burgers, and they are exceptionally good. The home-cut fries are great. They have a happy hour seven days a week when the beer is only three dollars, making this a great place to drink.

    (4)

  • Donna D.

    Went for my first time last week and had a margarita, it was delicious. They had a skeez ball machine, and It was so fun to play! Haven't played in forever. The atmosphere was nice and chill, very unique decorations. Would go back in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • April M.

    OMG!!! luv this place...food is always good...just tryd the pulled pork samitch.....ta die for!!!!

    (5)

  • Mike W.

    King's Hardware is about as "Ballard" as they get. Usually the service is pretty friendly and it's a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Definitley has a certain "style", but I'll still have business meetings here without feeling like I'm not cool enough to be there. No TV's, which can be refreshing. The patio is one of the best around.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    The place is a ZOO on the weekends. If you come during the evening or late evening on a weekend, prepare to wait 15+ minutes to place your drink order and don't count on getting a table. The food is so-so. My friend ordered the garlic fries and they were just french fries with huge hunks of raw garlic on them. Noooo thanks. The skee ball in the back is a fun time, though.

    (3)

  • Chris D.

    *If you are in the service industry, it's your job to remain polite and professional, sometimes in unfavorable circumstances. If this is a difficult concept to grasp - then this clearly isn't the job for you. *Two male bartenders the night of my friends wedding, were beyond some of the rudest, and most pompous individuals I have ever encountered as a bar patron - and even as a bartender of 14 years myself, I have never experienced that kind of disrespect. Located in a gorgeous area close to Ballard, we walked down to King's for a few drinks after the reception. With everyone in high spirits from the wedding, were thrilled to be in such a beautiful part of the country and in such an awesome going out spot on this quaint little strip. When we got to Kings it was packed and we ordered a round of drinks. Everyone started separate tabs, and I'm proud to say as someone who's been in the service industry for so many years, my friends are excellent tippers and are the kind of people that are fun and easy to serve. We played some skee ball and discovered shortly after, that unfortunately this would be the coolest thing about this bar. One of the male bartenders yelled at one of my friends for ordering a water -- okay let's be honest - lol we all know how highly annoying that can be, especially on a busy night but let's get real - it's a part of your job and you just smile and hope they compensate you for it. (My friends always do.) And it's not like that was the only thing she ordered - she had a cocktail in hand too. So apparently this bartender was so rude to her that she asked him if she had done something wrong, and his response was "if you're going to sit at the bar you need to order drinks that cost money not water," rolled his eyes and walked away! He apparently didn't know that she had already racked up a $120 tab by then. So at this point word gets around that this guy is clearly just a total jerk, so we all decide we're going elsewhere. In the hustle and bustle, one of my lady friends accidentally left her card at the bar. The next morning, she called to see if her boyfriend could come pick it up for her but there was no answer. So her boyfriend decided to go ahead and drive 30 mins down there for her anyway. He gets down to the bar and politely asks (one of the nicest guys I know) if he can pick up his girls card. The bartender is extremely rude about it and states that it's against policy, and insinuates that he's a total idiot for even asking. *I get this this policy and respect that you're doing it for their protection - but there's a way to handle it politely. Wtf is wrong with your staff that it's incapable of just being friendly and professional to your paying customers? I don't get it.... Unacceptable. So the following morning my lady friend who left her card goes down to the bar herself. We were all flying out that day back to our homes across the country. The bar wasn't open for about 10 more mins but she could see people inside so she knocked on the door. The male bartender came to the front door and yelled at her through the glass "WHAT DO YOU WANT LADY!?" Startled at his approach she said she left her card there and needed to pick it up before her flight home. Through the glass he goes "I'm really busy. Come back in an hour. I have alot of SHIT to do." She said she couldn't - that they were catching a plane shortly. He rolled his eyes and stomped off angrily. He finally let her in and sarcastically goes "So you're flying home huh? Goodluck with wherever that is... Oh and there's a gratuity for cards left over night, sorry about your day LADY," and walked away. She told me she had planned on tipping more for the inconvenience but that this guy was so unbelievably rude that she just signed it and left. ($6 tab btw). That being said - we DID have a great time the night after the reception - but I hate to say it was NOT due to good service or the attitude of your staff. Under different circumstances we would have complained that night, but no one wanted to make a scene and ruin Christmas. We will be returning to this same general area in a few months for a birthday event, and the birthday girl lives very close to Ballard. Let's just say this place will never receive my business again, nor the 30+ of my friends who live in the Seattle area. A lot can be justified in the service industry - but rude, self-entitled, and arrogance aren't among them.

    (1)

  • Alice H.

    I was visiting my sister in Seattle, and she told me we "had to go" to Ballard. I am so glad we did - and even happier that we found King's Hardware. The food was delicious, staff was friendly, and - the BEST part - we got to bring our "well-behaved service dog" (*wink wink*). I will definitely come back each time I visit Seattle!

    (5)

  • Carol M.

    This place is rad. Camped out here while waiting for a table at Walrus. Worked up an appetite playing Ski Ball and Big Buck Hunter. Staff was cool and prices were a deal for the happy hour we caught! I'd make like the taxidermy and hang here again!

    (4)

  • Eggs L.

    food was good, but i'm giving this place two stars, because there was no where to plug in my iphone.

    (2)

  • Dean M.

    Weird crowd, not really my style, but the burgers were pretty good and staff was nice.

    (3)

  • Caliope S.

    Yelp reviews made this place seem cool, but thank goodness I checked it out before committing to have my birthday party here. My man and I went on a Saturday night, and naturally, it was packed and very loud. We couldn't hear each other over the heavy 80s metal music and the noise of everyone else laughing & hollering boisterously on the patio. Okay, it's not fair to rate this place on noise (except music, since they are in control of that). My rating is strictly on food and drink. I ordered the Irish Nachos and an El Diablo cocktail. Irish Nachos ($8) are fries covered in cheese, bacon, & sour cream. The fries were ALL burnt, yet somehow soggy at the same time. So gross. How dirty is the frying oil in the kitchen to produce dark brown/black fries?! Nasty to think about. Even worse that neither the cook nor waitress noticed or even cared to fix this if they did notice. Low standards for food prep and service, which is disappointing. Our server was busting her butt and seemed pleasant enough, but never stopped by our table after the food came to see how things were, so I couldn't send my food back. The cocktail was $8 and came in a mason jar (one star for that because I appreciate cute presentation), but literally scorched my throat and did not sit well in my stomach (or maybe it was the burnt fries, not sure). Yes, I should have been tipped off by the in-house made habanero pepper tequila menu description, but I thought they would find a reasonable level of heat so the cocktail would be drinkable, and also thought the creme de cassis would mellow it out (not sure this ingredient was even in the drink). Overall, both of my items plus tax and tip came to $20, which was a waste of money considering that $20 could have bought a decent meal elsewhere within walking distance. Oh well, you live & learn, and I won't be hosting my party here. You just can't mess up French fries if you're a dining establishment. That's as basic as it comes! My man ordered the Jack Burger with sweet potato fries. He seemed to like it, though he was in a good mood because of the 80s metal playing, so I'm not sure if he was even paying attention to what he was eating. His burger was about $12. Edit: Only a few hours later, he was in a BAD mood because he felt really sick to his stomach. So that makes two of us leaving with upset stomachs. Yeah, don't think we'll be coming back to this place. For the record, the patio is dog-friendly and a really cute puppy sat down next to us by the end of our meal. One star for that, too!

    (2)

  • Matthew B.

    Wing night it's where it's at. You can't beat 27¢. Regular and a rotating flavor. This place can be a little crowded but don't be fooled by the front of house. They have seating in the back and on the back patio outside. The staff is very accommodating for large parties. They know how to move takes and split checks. Come for happy hour for good cheap drinks. I'm local and I still drink here.

    (5)

  • Jeff T.

    Went there for happy hour wings with two of my friends. Pretty good service and wings came out pretty fast. Wings were pretty small but the flavors were delicious! Would highly recommend the Boneyard BBQ wing flavor.

    (4)

  • Becca C.

    Yep, this place is a dive. Dead animals on the walls, skee-ball and Pac-Man are all things you can enjoy here. Good beer and the nachos were decent.

    (3)

  • Nuemes N.

    Great spot for a drink on hot summer afternoons. Excellent bar selection will satisfy all palates (short wine). Nice staff, reasonable prices. Good crowd.

    (4)

  • Ronald S.

    Cool decorations. Friendly bar staff. Good prices and ski-ball. Lots of seating with an outdoor patio in the back that is well heated when it is cold. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Natalie G.

    Dog friendly! Went on a Sunday afternoon and they weren't very busy. They have an outdoor patio area. Decent burgers, and good sweet potato fries. There isn't much else on their menu. They have a few appetizers and several different ways to get a burger. They have gluten free foxtail beer, and a couple of ciders. You can play Skee-Ball for a quarter! Sweet!

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    I love this place! My go to place in Ballard. Great spot to meet up with a big group and have some beer, drinks and fun. It's okay to get silly and loud. It can be a bit of a "meet market" on the weekends which is fine. A lot of timid guys, young and not so young, who aren't too pushy but will be polite enough when engaged in a conversation.

    (4)

  • Stephanie S.

    Not sure how I've gone this long without writing a review for this place, but better now than never. Amiright? This is my go-to place for happy hour with my coworkers. Large outdoor space, more than enough seats inside and they have cheap Oly pitchers. Skeeball and Buck Hunter. Amazing onion rings and wonderful burgers. Oh, and the bartenders are nice. Only negative, some servers get real stressed when you ask them to split a check and you have a large group. Some may find this place to be a bit too "hipster" but WHO CARES. As long as you're with good people and enjoy drinks and a hoppin' environment, this is a great place to visit. Oh. Get the onion rings. I mean it.

    (4)

  • Elle C.

    This was the last stop on our Christmas Shopping (Read: Drinking) Day in Ballard. This is not the first time i've been here, it's always a lively atmosphere and fun. The staff were great at accommodating our large group and didn't mind us shuffling tables about which was appreciated. I ordered a burger which was delicious and i'm pretty sure our pitchers of beer were less then $10 on some happy hour special.. coming from Vancouver BC, that is so ridiculously cheap i couldn't believe it! Thanks for the good times King's!

    (4)

  • Sara L.

    Even though King's doesn't have the best food in Ballard I find myself there often for a couple of reasons; 1. they're dog friendly and 2. their food is consistent. They have pretty good burgers. I am a vegetarian so I eat the garden burger every time and switch up toppings. They also have really good sweet potato fries. There is nothing like going for a long hike in the summer and coming back to Ballard for a late lunch on King's patio with your pooch. The staff has always been really friendly and accommodating (making a burger for me that wasn't on the menu anymore).

    (4)

  • Jillian J.

    Kings is usually an awesome spot for drinks and food. However, that was not the case today. I brought my dogs in (one is an english bulldog and one is a boxer) the boxer is 6 months, therefore he is a little hyper. I see dogs in this bar constantly and thought it would be ok. I know my six month old is a little hyper and he jumped lightly on the server which I immediately apologized for. The server brought us our water and my puppy again (I know I sound like the asshole in this case so far). He then asked us to tie the dogs up outside. Which I have no problem doing, however the way he asked us made both my friend and I very uncomfortable. He was very obviously angry and told us they only allow dogs of a certain "decor" in their establishment. Not quite sure what that means? Anyhow, we were very polite and nice to him even when he was making us feel so awkward. The way he was talking to us was very condescending and the whole situation could have gone a lot smoother if he were just a little kinder! Guess not everyone is a dog person!

    (1)

  • Nicholas D.

    Once I walked in and saw the skee-ball machines in the back I was sold! Had a great dive bar feel to it and loved the deer heads and brick walls. Good selection of local beers and the wait staff was knowledgable in the drink selections. My suggestion is checking out the back bar and seating area.

    (4)

  • Sadie G.

    Good burger options, have a veggie burger and fun variations. The servers are all nice. The food is a bit pricier than most burgers joints. Overall great spot.

    (4)

  • Niki H.

    We sat at the bar so we could watch the bartender make the drinks. The Mint Julep seems to be a highly requested drink here. The bar is decorated in a pretty interesting way. The dead animals on the walls and above the bar make this place kind of unique. We didn't notice the outdoor seating until we got up to leave, but it seemed airy and fun. The drinks were decent and the sweet potato fries were good. Next time we'll try the outdoor seating.

    (3)

  • Robin F.

    I have been to kings in the past but it's been a while, I came here a few nights ago with a friend who is moving to Chicago. We wanted to have some adult beverages and some tasty unhealthy snacks as a last shebang on the town. I remembered that they serve a bacon peanut butter burger an knew this would hit the spot. I have to say hands down I had the staff was fantastic! On top of it, funny and helpful! I don't know that I have ever said that about a bar in the past, or even this bar in the past. But whatever has changed... Good work kings!

    (5)

  • Tanya D.

    Friendly bartenders, great selection of alcohol (and boy do they make some fancy drinks!) ... the music is just unbearably loud given the acoustics, and the Friday night crowd here makes me feel like I'm in a college town ... which, paired with the already blaring music, makes for an experience not wholly up my alley. Sure they have ski ball and a lovely outdoor patio, but perhaps this place is more palatable on an off night or during the day?! Am willing to amend this review in either of those cases.

    (3)

  • Ellie I.

    My date got the PB burger and enjoyed it while I was able to get a Boca burger that was delicious. We split french fries that were fresh and perfectly salted, and dipped them in blue cheese that was also very good. Being a Buffalo, NY girl I crave good blue cheese and this place has it! Quick, tasty, bar food. What more do you need?

    (4)

  • Joop V.

    I usually don't like going to a bar very much and only went into this place for quick drinks while waiting for our dinner table at the Walrus and Carpenter. As soon as I stepped into this place, I love the unpretentious and the retro look of this place....sort of brought about the time machine and took me back to my childhood time and just something quite charming about this place. The place was lively with people chatting in the background. I couldn't say the food was good (since we only had chips and salsa along with our drinks) but the cocktail drinks were very good and affordable ($6 ea vs other upscale restaurants at $10!!). We order a spicy magarita and a King's Lemonade.....I'd say I love King's lemonade more....didn't taste like alcohol at all! I defintiely would love to stop by this place again the next time I'm in Ballard. It's quite an affordable, lively, fun-looking place to just hang out/have fun and/or catch up with people.

    (4)

  • Molly B.

    Happened upon this place while trying to find a place to enjoy a sunny Seattle Sunday. Found a spot on the nice outdoor patio in the sunshine. My boyfriend and I both enjoyed a nice brew and burger. Apparently it was national Burger day so all their burgers were only 5 bucks!! Bomb classic burger with sweet potato fries.. And it was a huge serving. Def be visiting again if I'm in the Ballard area!!

    (5)

  • Alec F.

    King's is odd to me. On one hand, it's inauthentic, with DNA that aspires to local dive bar and pub. But it's not really a Funhouse nor Shorty's (look at the clientele). Though that's more a problem with Seatts in general being in class crisis. On the other hand, it's still a favorite of mine, with a huge if not distinguished list of bourbons and cheap drafts to take the edge off. When it's too busy, I hate it and want to die - reminding me of a cross between Belltown and an awful, bourgeois student union. When it's dead/empty, it's chill and good. Go on any day except Friday and Saturday night.

    (4)

  • Joshua A.

    The environment of this place is amazing! I loved the taxidermy and overall rustic cabin like feel. I walked in and instantly grew a beard! Ha my only qualm was that the music was blasting, great on a weekend but a little much for a Wednesday night. Don't forget to grab a burger, best in town! I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Amber M.

    My friends and I went there on a Friday night for some quick drinks. The service was absolutely amazing! My friends were from out of town and they couldn't believe how well we were treated, how quick drinks came and how kind the server was.

    (4)

  • Christopher F.

    I go to Kings nearly every monday for wing night. The wings are cheap and delicious. Each week, they feature a new "special" wing and the traditional buffalo wing. The special wing can range from traditional to bizzare. It turns out that even Nacho Cheese wings are good when dipped in blue cheese and eaten with the fingres. The most magical time is during happy hour on wing night. You can go split a pitcher and eat an entire meal of wings for only a few bucks.

    (5)

  • Victoria A.

    The drinks were good, but kinda pricey. We went on a Saturday night, and it was packed. It was very warm in the front room, but the back room was nice and cool since they had it open. I loved the atmosphere and would definitely return.

    (4)

  • Melody P.

    My buddy Frank invited me to his birthday. I told him maybe I would stop by until he changed the location to King's Hardware. I decided to go. Going to this place makes me sound like a hard worker. "King's Hardware" if I don't look it up, I probably think it's something like HoemDepot or Lowes. Location: It's not quite in the heart of Ballard downtown, but it's within the walking distance, where the Farmer's Market is. When it comes to parking, you need some luck here. I was lucky to find a back-in only spot by the water, which is not too far away. Decor: It feels old! But, not quite rustic. A lot of heads of dead animals on the wall which does not make my meal appetite. The floor was so greasy that I almost fell when I walked in. A very small bathroom shared with Ruddy's next door. Food: The burger was ok. I like their sweet potato fries. As far as the food goes, it's really not that memorable. I'd consider King's a dive bar, but most of my friends disagreed with me. Service: Considered it was a Saturday night, it wasn't that busy! It waited for 20 minutes. Finally, our server started noticing me. 40 minutes into the birthday dinner, my burger showed up! No water! I had to grab my own table setting. Two beers were 40 minutes apart. Still, going to this place just makes me sound like a hard worker! I love the name of this place! Will I come back again? Maybe! Just because I want to sound like a hard worker!

    (3)

  • Travis Y.

    Great patio. Also Skeeball.

    (4)

  • Jessica G.

    This is probably my favorite restaurant in downtown Ballard. Yes, it's a bar. Yes, it's not super high class. And yes, it's hipster-riffic. But hot damn the burgers are good! And there are SKEE-BALL, I repeat, SKEE-BALL machines on the premises! Any place that has Skee-ball for entertainment...just immediately gets 4 stars. Just think about that for a minute. Burgers + Drinks + Skee-ball. A trifecta of perfection. The burgers are so f'ing good. Seriously, I don't know what they do to them...maybe put crack inside of them that make you crave them fortnightly...but if you get it with bacon, the bacon is so thick, and crisp, and tender all at the same time. And the fries are SO good! King's...why do you stop serving food at 11 PM, though? Don't know about you, but I can be a bit of a night owl, and I've been known to emerge from the crypt in search of food at the witching hour. The whole Smith + Oddfellows + Linda's + King's Hardware bit = LOVE. In the words of the Golden Girls, King's, "thank you for being a friend."

    (4)

  • Nancy D.

    Best Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ever! And their sweet potato fries are amazing. So delicious.

    (4)

  • Erin-Elizabeth A.

    I've stopped in here a couple times now and had a blast both times. Skee-ball machines?! Local brews on tap?! Outdoor patio?! Perfection.

    (4)

  • Liz O.

    Cheap drinks and skeeball = epic win! 8 bucks for a can of Rainier and my Malibu Bay Breeze... and the bartenders were very attentive too!! Can't comment on the food yet!

    (4)

  • Serena S.

    I love this place! I always feel comfortable here, and when I want a great burger, this is the place to go! Happy hour is 4-7, and burgers are a buck off! We were also able to get a pitcher for $10. Also a big winner! I love the five alarm burger (which you can order with one, three or five alarms), the B&B burger (bacon and blue cheese) as well as the Rico Suave (jalapenos, cream cheese and BACON). Yum!! They always have a great variety of beers on tap. Last time i was there they had a cherry cider on tap too. Right next door is Rudy's barbershop, and its fun and unique to have those two businesses attached. At the back of King's are two old-school skeeball machines. What a great thing to play while having some beers! The interior is quirky and old school. The staff is always great, and there's always a fun lively crowd. You've gotta check it out!

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    Don't come here on a Saturday night unless you come early to guarantee a table. I sat at the bar for about 20 mins and had at least 6 people hovering over me to order drinks. Drunk girls also made this situation much worse, at one point a girl even coughed in my face (ewwww!) Seems like only people in their early 20's hang out here. I bailed after 1 beer. Strong point: THEY HAVE BODDINGTONS!

    (2)

  • Bob Z.

    I'm guessing it really used to be a hardware store back in the day? It has been a pub for quite a while now. It's in Fremont, so the parking here is as bad as Fremont gets. But there's lots to see and do in Fremont, so suck it up. I've come here on various semi-work-related outings, and it has always been great. Not too loud, so you can actually converse rather than shout. An above average selection of beers, and a good menu. The decor is funky eclectic. Reading the walls can be an interesting diversion. The food is generally pretty good. The waitstaff is quick, pleasant, and at least somewhat knowledgeable about the beer they serve - something you can't always count on. The only thing I would avoid here is the chips and salsa. Sounds benign enough, but the garlic levels are massive. I think the salsa actually gets more heat from the garlic than the peppers.In fairness, things probably would have been better if I hadn't asked for seconds on the salsa, since I still had chips left. As I finished up the second batch of salsa I started to regret my choice.

    (4)

  • Kate L.

    While it's an easy choice because of the ample seating and suitable menu, this is a hotspot for douchebaggery unrivaled in Ballard. I've literally been here at 8pm on a Saturday night when some asshole at the table next to us gets so drunk he continuously vomits under his table. After 20 minutes and 3 servers seeing this and doing nothing, we grab our stuff and notify a bouncer on our way out. They also employ some brand manager slash GM that's completely rude and talks shit about roller derby girls. When there are so many great spots in Ballard, there's no reason to go to this disgusting lair unless you have a skeeball addiction.

    (1)

  • Michelle L.

    This pub is great for some drinking and winding down. It's just a really relaxed and chill atmosphere. The bartenders are super friendly and helpful. My drinks were nice and strong. Happy hour is from 4-7pm and they've got a good selection of drinks and food. They also have movie nights which is kinda fun too!

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    Fun place to be at night. Great Bloody Mary drinks and ya can't beat the burgers. Fun cliental in this area. Great atmosphere and even better servers. Will be back again and again.

    (4)

  • Faye F.

    3.5 stars. Place is cool, location is great. Service was a little meh. Our waitress seemed to keep giving us the stinkeye when we were satisfied with our drinks and orders. We can only eat and drink so much! Decorations inside are interesting but a little dark. Music was pretty good. Food was pretty ok. Nothing too fancy, this is a perfect place to catch some drinks and food before hitting the rest of the other bars.

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Skeeball, good selection of regional beers on tap, SUPER PRO waitress, outdoor patio, great location, lots of animals and old beer stuff on the walls. If the ceilings were lower and the staff grumpy, it would be Linda's on Capitol Hill. There was a college/fratboy vibe to the place but that was probably due to the UW game that day. The burgers smelled and looked delicious...I will be back sometime to eat. We were there at ~7pm on a Saturday and stayed a few hours. By the time we left it was loud and packed, but at 7pm it was neither loud nor packed so we had some quality time before party time filled the place up.

    (4)

  • Yvonne D.

    ++ Delicious burgers at a good price (compared to a few doors down where it's +$4 and without sides) + Good beers on draft + Indoor and outdoor seating +/- extra $1 to sub french fries/sweet potato fries for onion rings or side salad + onion rings are REA

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    Hands down favorite bar ever! Authentic, rustic, dive-y...couldn't love this place more. Food is delicious, bartenders are awesome and it's impossible not to have a good time. It gets crowded on the weekends, but that's part of what makes it fun. Lots of 20 somethings. Ballard's just the place to be :) I always recommend this place to everyone. Be sure to bring your sharpie and a handful of quarters. I could play skeeball there all night and have a blast. Even walking in the bathroom is a trip. It's kind of a thing to write stuff on the walls and there is some crazy stuff...not to say I haven't left something myself ;) I promise you'll keep coming back to this place. It's that awesome!

    (5)

  • Kayla H.

    HIPSTER-APOCALYPSE!! Honestly how hard is it to get a drink in this place? Crowded, no room sit or stand. Tired to get a drink in the back bar area and the cocktail waitress apparently broke a glass in the ice bin so they had to change out all the ice. My friend finally gets up to the bar and orders a drink and makes a comment to the bartender "hey I think that girl over there has been waiting for quite a while." (Money in hand and waiting to order. In which the bartender replies "YEAH DON'T CARE." WTF Kind of customer service is that? This place is Hipster nation / frat boy reunion party. Why don't you hire some decent servers who gives a crap about their PAYING patrons.

    (2)

  • Krisa H.

    Looking for a late dinner, headed to this spot in Ballard with my boyfriend and another couple. It was Friday night and pretty packed but we lucked out in grabbing a table as it was freeing up. I'd describe King's Hardware as a spot geared towards college kids in their early 20s looking to drink. It's loud and you'll find yourself shouting to be heard. Not my type of scene anymore as I approach 30 but I don't penalize King's for its atmosphere. My rating is for the food and service. Waitress was dismissive as our table was ordering food rather than a bunch of alcohol. We had to ask her twice for water and she brought room temperature glasses - no ice. We all ordered burgers and the nachos. Nachos barely had any cheese or jalapeños on them. Felt like we just got a plate of plain chips. The burgers were cooked to order but are nothing to write home about. Mine had the avocado and it was filling but bland. The second star is only achieved by the fries which were pretty good and the drinks we did order were strong.

    (2)

  • Victoria C.

    Still the greatest bar in Ballard, in my opinion. The best crowd for people watching and that is very important. Plus good beers, good chips and salsa, and good fries! Minus one star from my previous review because we tried the burgers this time and: 1. they took forever to come out. 2. the meat was really bland. Pretty much just ground beef patties with not even a hint of salt or pepper. Bleh. I get that it's bar food. But still. Not that heard to season up the patties. I still love this place though!

    (3)

  • Jim H.

    Very fun bar. I had a good time listening to a Seattle native explain how the Ballard locals were not hipsters in the same way that as the Capitol Hill set. Could not see the difference. There's more than Hamm's. In fact, they have skew ball, as I'm sure many others have pointed out. Our table service was phenomenal, given how busy it was. Sad to say the bar service did not match--slow, unnattentive, impolite. And many of the staff looked like they stepped out of some weird museum of tattoos, bras, and tank tops. Weird. That, or minus one star for overpriced everything-but-Hamm's.

    (4)

  • Agnes K.

    Surprise patio, Bustling in the bright sunshine, A good find indeed. It was a hot July 4th day and I was looking for a patio to enjoy an ice cold beer. I checked yelp (of course!) for patios in the area and King's Hardware came up as a favorite. We got to the address, looked in and thought we had the wrong place! The bar/restaurant area was empty except for a couple people. We took a few steps in and....voila! A huge patio in the back filled with people drinking, talking, having a good time! The menu is comprised mostly of burgers but the burger and beer under the sun hit the spot for us. We'll be back, especially when summer comes around again.

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    Although their menu prices have increased over the years, they still have the best happy hour deal on craft beer pitchers. We're talking $10 bucks people! Can't beat their meat either!

    (5)

  • Kat L.

    King's Hardware reminds me of the Up& Up in Bellingham but on a larger scale in the sense it's just a cool place to hang out with friends, small group or big group. They have a great beer selection along with table service. And the table service is fast. The patio in the back is heated and covered, so don't worry about the weather outside! The decor is so PNW, I love it. Lots of wood!

    (4)

  • Denise E.

    Skee ball + really good music + really good drinks=King's Hardware. Any of those things alone would be a good reason to stop in, but the trifecta may keep you there (or get you to visit often). The bartenders are great, food is good and the beer selection is rad. Don't forget to bring your appetite so you can grab a burger to chase down your beer (maybe not in that order). Cheers!

    (4)

  • Nick B.

    Staff is the best. Music can get really loud and tacky, but the service is superb, beer selection is great, and burgers are rad. I like the after school special, and when they play T-Rex and Thin Lizzy as opposed to GnR.

    (5)

  • Chris R.

    Found this place as a suggestion from some new friends. Met up with a few old friends and some family for lunch last Sunday. Our initial drink order was taken and brought out pretty quick. Follow up re-fills however, took their sweet time getting to our table. The server added extra items to our bill/order that she was told specifically to leave off, as nobody at the table liked guacamole. The food itself was good, the nachos were a HUGE plate of cheese smothered delicious. The music was a bit loud for conversation, but, it's a bar, you go there to drink, not to talk! Wouldn't write off going back if we are in the Ballard area again, if we are feeling unadventurous and don't want to try any of the other hole in the wall places in the area. Also, there is a salon/barber shop sharing a door/hallway to the bathrooms, kind of an odd sight if you are not expecting it!

    (4)

  • Emily T.

    I wanted to hang my head in shame when I got ROTD for my earlier review of King's because I've smartened up since my original post. For me, King's hovers between two and three stars. It is *the* place that I refuse to go on a weekend night. All of the aging, pompous, frat boys of yester year crowd into Kings on the weekend to prove to themselves and you that they've still got *it* (they don't). It is not unusual to see girls in a minis, guys in popped collars and sunglasses at night inside this yuppie-trying-to-be-hipster bar. So, why would I be generous enough to give three stars? On weeknights while the weekend warriors are asleep on the eastside, King's can be marginally a-okay. During the summer they show movies on their outdoor patio, which is pretty cool. It's a safe bet if you're rolling into King's, you won't see me there.

    (3)

  • Annie Y.

    Wednesday night. A good night to drink. Let us visit Ballard. Ballard is such the underrated gem. Like an emerald, it is green, alternative and affordable. It's the cool stepsister of Wallingford who smokes and drinks. Within Ballard Ave., amongst all the cool art deco-hipster bars and restaurants, rests King's Hardware. It's a bar with a large open space resembling a vintage garage, rectangular to the power of 2. The main wall boasts an exhibition of various taxidermy hung up high enough to overlook its expiration. The hallway to the bathrooms lead you to a barber shop where you realize Ballard is so G that it gets buzzed simultaneously in one spot. Decent place but ranks average amongst the other contenders on the same block. $14 pitchers, commendable homemade fries, skee ball, good service and sticky tables. No MVPs. If you don't live nearby, it's too far.

    (3)

  • Julie G.

    Overall, King's gets points from me. I love their patio - still haven't been in the summer, but other seasons are nice if you're dressed appropriately! Fries are yummy, refills on the soda (or beer) are usually fast. What's up with the sweet pickles, though? Not my favorite. The one thing that I need to share about King's is that if you want your burger well done, and I mean well done with no pink in the middle (food safety standard, from what I recall) you must stress this with your server on busy evenings. The last two times I've been there my burger was done only on the very edge, and then very very pink inside. I feel like a jerk for sending stuff back, but perhaps I should have, because I'm actually hesitant to eat burgers since the last visit. Something about that raw pink flesh that just grosses me out. I've left 2/3 of the patty sitting on my plate, in an unhappy raw little lump. Such a sad waste of my eating-out $$. For you risk-taking, raw-meat lovers, rock on! For the others - just be very clear with your server.

    (3)

  • Matt K.

    My favorite bar in Ballard. I try to swing in here every time I'm in Seattle. It's a friendly, laid back bar with plenty of room to sit and hangout. They outside seating are is large and covered which is a nice touch in the PNW. The staff has never been anything but friendly and quick. The mixed drinks here are always good. They have a very good selection of beer both on tap and in the cooler. The food is better than average for a pub. Especially the burgers. And finally, as has been pointed out already. SKEEBALL! Woohoo.

    (4)

  • Raina D.

    Went here for a Google+ Local event. Really liked the "outdoor" covered patio/deck thing and the atmosphere of this place. Very casual, complete with a couple skee ball machines. I'll have you know I am the reigning Google+ Skeeball champion, with a whopping score of 300. Yeah, that's right. What?! Anyway, we had a few appetizers (nachos, wings, onion rings, sweet potato fries, regular fries) and all seemed pretty standard for pub food. This place is quite large with tons of tables so you aren't all crammed in on top of each other. Some days you just don't feel like cuddling with strangers. All in all, good time.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    This is not a place for a Friday or Saturday night. Unless you're a Ballard hipster or a brah in from Fremont or Belltown it will be too much. The drinks can be hit or miss (I've had a terrific Old Fashioned here and a pathetic whiskey ginger) but overall this is one of best bars along that strip. Most importantly is that you can get a beer and wait for a haircut at Rudy's. That's so awesome it hurts.

    (4)

  • Sharon C.

    I always a fun night here with my friends. I've always preferred outdoor seating but indoor is fine as well. We always order a pitcher of beer and continue on with food and some cocktails. It gets incredibly crowded during the later hours but once you find a spot to sit, you're pretty much set!

    (3)

  • Kelly D.

    The short of it- casual woodsy setting - local ingredients - great back deck. I'm a fan. I love Kings- maybe because I'm from "the boonies" and all those animal heads and Ranier beer make me think of home (our rival high school had a stuffed cougar pelt in its front hallway- not creepy at all.) BUT- I love a casual place with relaxed ambiance where the owner takes pride in the quality of food she serves her guests(all the meat is farm-raised.) I also loved/hated the fact that every burger on the menu looked so good it took me about 20 minutes to decide what to order. The waiter dropped an on-the-house bloody mary we hadn't ordered at our table just because he thought the bartender made a mistake. Sweet! It ended up being one of the best marys I've had in awhile- presented in a mason jar with pretty much a whole salad in it.

    (4)

  • Danielle A.

    Here is the reality: King's Hardware is Ballard in a tea cup. It is filled with a mix of young-ish hipsters, people in t-shirts and jeans (come under dressed), dude-bro's, and random stragglers that hang in Ballard. Essentially it is a suped up neighborhood bar which is just my style and for that it is pretty bad ass. Great selection of Burbon's (all I drink). Plus there are two Ski-Ball machines! I mean, who doesn't want to have a slightly drunken ski-ball face-off!! My first job was fixing Ski-Ball, so I know a few tricks, but for the rest of you it is .25 a game! There are a shit-ton of dead things on the wall, probably not the best place to bring a PETA card carrier or your best friend the uuber vegan. It won't be there scene anyway. My only beef is this: In terms of queer-friendliness.. it is questionable. Granted, it's Seattle so you're probably not going to get your ass kicked for any same-sex PDA, but the patrons will definitely let you know they are uncomfortable and or avoid you. I am a girl, girls get less shit for queerness. Would I bring my flaming best friend - maybe not. I'm unsure how the crowd would handle boy-on-boy kissing. Could be an interesting experiment. Having frequented here often with other visibly queer folks and not had any problems, I feel pretty comfortable. However, random dudes have no problem trying to pick you up if you are with your lady friend. Be warned. The staff seems pretty queer friendly... Essentially: your typical dive bar.

    (5)

  • Jeff G.

    Probably just the bartender's fault but... got there a few minutes before happy hour ended. Walked in ahead of a couple and let them have the two open seats by the door. They got HH martinis and I just sat there till 5 minutes past happy hour till the bartender said, I'll be right with you. He got me a beer, and I asked for their burger menu. Ordered up. Waited about 20 minutes for the burger. They were dead. I heard the bell ring. No movement from bartender. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands, saw my burger. Almost grabbed it on the way out, but that's pretty brazen. As I sat back down the bartender asked "You haven't got your burger yet? That's ridiculous." He then went and got my burger and fries. They were luke warm. The burgers have sweet pickles on them. My second beer was half done when he asked if I was ready to tab out. No upselling points here.

    (2)

  • Hai Yen N.

    They put fresh pickles on their burgers here! These pickles left such an impression on me that I almost wanted to ask if I could buy a jar from them. Next time I come here, these pickles are coming home with me. The burger was delicious and the fries are reminiscent of Dick's, which means that they're greasy, soft and satisfying. Awesome and friendly bartenders and an interesting atmosphere as well. They even have Skee-Ball! Also, if you wonder later, the animal head that you can't pin down is from a baby brown bear.

    (4)

  • Allison H.

    Chill atmosphere, a wide range of beers and skee ball...sounds like a good friday night to me! We got an order of the sweet potato fries which were also wonderful, the shots of jager didn't hurt either. All in all it's a great place to hang out with friends, although I've heard the line for skee ball can get pretty long, especially on weekends (because everyone knows how rad it is, duh!). Like i said, they have a lot of different beers - just remember you get what you pay for (i.e. the $2 Old German). King's is connected to Rudy's barbershop so if you need a last minute trim you can just walk on over! No drinks in the barbershop though, my friend learned that the hard way... The crowd at King's seemed to have a pretty laid-back 20-something hipster vibe - typical for bars in Seattle (especially Ballard). Plenty of friendly people, I was there for my end-of-finals college graduation celebration and upon telling a random girl in the bathroom that I majored in Economics and Geography she started singing me the states song! (Alabama, Alaska...) Haha gotta love it...I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Dennis D.

    Awesome dive bar. Ambiance GALORE. But not fake Chilis/TGIF/Bennigans ambiance... I'm mean It's a great place to enjoy some stuffed fauna and empty beer cans mounted to the wall, along with a rousing game of skee-ball or a game of watch the occasional odd-ball local wandering around creeping everyone out. :-p So if you're looking for an interesting night out, this is your place! Seriously, this is the only place I've ever been to where I was not at all surprised to see a stone-sober patron walk in from the street wearing a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, and stroll over to sit specifically in front of the jukebox (which was blaring CCR) and proceed to appear enthralled reading his Hemingway novel. They're food is great as well. I recommend the chips and salsa with guac. Mmmm

    (3)

  • Justin M.

    A fun vibe and a fantastic place to grab a drink. I'm pretty much a regular here and love the crowd. The bartender's are great and the only sore spot is (when the crowds get thick) it can be a long time inbetween table service and ordering drinks. Still, I love the atmosphere and it's a fun place to hang out, quick tip... stick to ordering from the bartenders. 3 still-dig-this-bar stars out of 5

    (3)

  • Nikki B.

    This bar is great, especially on a weekday. The sliders are great and so are the fries. The staff is very friendly and service is always pretty good even on a crowded weekend in the summer. The patio is really big and very nice. This spot is a great representation of Ballard.

    (4)

  • Jonathan B.

    I am too old to be hip, but I like King's anyway. Yes, it can be crowded and loud, but King's is really at its best on quiet off-nights, when you can enjoy the skeeball, sweet potato fries and a Billy Burger at your leisure. The vibe is kind of quirky but laid back, which is the perfect combination for some mid-week relaxation. Oh yes, they have Hamm's, Schmidt's and Session on the menu. This always brings a warm tingle to my cold heart, since I have a weird fascination with cheap beer. If you're serious about your suds, though, King's doesn't disappoint. They have a good selection on tap. I'm not much on cocktails, but the Moscow Mule is certainly one mixed drink I'd have again. And again. The burgers are pretty darn good. The above-mentioned Billy Burger (roasted garlic, goat cheese & red peppers) is a personal fave, but I can also recommend the Cowboy Burger and the Rico Suave. Both have bacon. Yum. On busy nights the table service slows to a crawl, the line at the bar can get long, and the patrons can get a little unruly. My advice is to leave the Friday and Saturday nights to the younger crowd and sneak in on a Tuesday evening for some fun and games. And a burger.

    (4)

  • Katie A.

    Hollar 'atcha patio! It was quite a sight, last Saturday afternoon... Tables. Empty tables. During the SeafoodFest. The service remains to be fine. The food is decent enough. The beer- fresh. I've heard rumors that the Wedge salad has returned to the menu. I'll be back for food and more hot patio action soon!

    (3)

  • Opal D.

    Fun casual spot to meet with friends in Ballard. HUGE portions of food that tastes great when you're a few drinks deep. They have Skee Ball in the back.

    (4)

  • Eric K.

    We stopped by this place on our CycleSaloon . During the day , the bar was extremely friendly and the bartenders were quite outgoing and inviting . They had a great selection of taps , but their selling point was their home-bottled drink called Zombie . Get it. It is a rum based drink ; I've had a lot of drinks before , and suffice to say it was one of the best drinks I've tried . Definitely loving this place :)

    (5)

  • Andrew Z.

    Stopped in after getting my hair cut at Rudy's. Not a bad place but I suffered a but of culture shock. Ballard has been completely lost to hipsters and this bar is one of their mainstays. So there was this weird little guy who was completely bat shit crazy. He was walking around and looking under everybody's tables, up skirts and what not. Nobody said anything until he got over and did that to me. So I say, "What's wrong with you 'ya lunatic!" He repeated the process twice before leaving. I was super angry, so I stepped out for a smoke. I said that I was really angry about the guy and these hipsters got upset at me and said "Nobody talks about him that way! He's an artist!" Well maybe he made paintings out of his own feces or something but... right, an artist. Whatever. Apparently there is a different "normal" here. Bottom line: If you not a hard-core hipster, you are going to have a bad time. I don't get along with hipsters at all. (your mileage may vary)

    (1)

  • Ian L.

    Spicy margs. Yep.

    (4)

  • Zoe Y.

    I've been here on both a busy and a non-busy night. On a busy night, it's hard to get a drink, it's super noisy and the sitting room gets taken pretty quickly. Not too enjoyable. On a chill night, though, the drinks are fine, games are fun and the decor is interesting. The skee ball is a big draw for the bar.

    (4)

  • Corey G.

    This was stop #2 during a pub crawl. I was trying to figure out the whole "liquor before beer"....or was it "beer before liquor" quandry.....I couldn't remember, so I went for a margarita. It was so so. It was a bit too salty for me. Second round was a rasberry vodka sour, and that was actually nicely made and helped redeem the mixologist. But the most memorable items for this bar....two things: patio and skee ball! Yeah, I played skee ball, but ended up with two lame scores (210 & 190)--damn you, 100 point holes!!! They're just bait for the dreamers (like me). The patio was tight. It's huge. There's another bar adjacent to it (also outside). The weather was awesome. A very cool place to chill out with a group. Oh, and if you wanna get your hair cut...there's a barber shop attached to this place---I thought of getting my fade hooked up, but I thought better of it.

    (4)

  • Kate M.

    There are two menu items that I feel completely confident rating: hummus plates and nachos. Those are my go-to items when eating out, and it's a strange day when I'm not eating one or the other. That said, I must say that the large chicken nachos with guac from King's might be my favorite nachos in Seattle. They are HUGE. Perfect to share with another person and still have leftovers. Plenty of chicken, beans, jalapenos, beans, sour cream, salsa and guac. Super filling and tasty. The drinks are great as well. I tried a cocktail with gin, lime juice, mint and champagne which I loved. The environment is classy hipster casual with fun decor and a skee-ball table. Unfortunately, King's gets 4/5 from me because the skee-ball table attracted an obnoxious group of drunk 30-somethings in to scream shout obscenities (at 1pm) to the point of disrupting the entire restaurant. Even our server was complaining. Also, the jukebox had a decent selection but as a default was set on shitty pop-punk. Try the nachos!

    (4)

  • Paul B.

    Hold up beezies. I came in to buy tools for assembling a shed but soon discovered that this place wasn't really a hardware store at all. Don't know why they decided to name the place this way, but it's a fun bar nonetheless. They have a patio out back that I always head to and they hire only the most hip of hipsters. I'd recommend this place as a bar hop stop if crawling through Ballard.

    (4)

  • Katy H.

    OOOoooh... I liked this bar! I had heard good things about King's Hardware and finally made it out there last weekend. The weather was great so my friends and I first sat outside at a table. The first thing I noticed...the music. When's the last time I heard the Descendents playing at a bar?! Maybe never!! The drinks were good although I felt like my gin n' tonics were a little watered down. Next time I'll try something else. What matters most is the atmosphere and this place has it. It's teeming with people, most of whom are attractive too! Super bonus. Typical of Seattle though.. people look but they don't approach. I was totally on a singles crawl too. C'mon boys.. say hi! haha. I didn't stay too long because I was antsy to get back downtown and hit up the Zig Zag Cafe and Il Bistro. I'm a snob about drinking anywhere that's not walking/stumbling distance to where I live. It cost me a $15 cab ride to get to this place! Ack. That's the only reason they didn't get 5 stars. I'll be back though. I liked it a lot!

    (4)

  • Janice V.

    Good dive bar, friendly bartenders, decent drinks, skee ball, and 25 cent wing night on Mondays are all A-OK in my book!

    (3)

  • Meghan K.

    + Great drinks (try the Moscow Mule!) + Skee-ball!!! + Outdoor patio + Friendly service Heck yes. BUT be warned, this place is popular. If you're coming at prime time it's going to be packed, there will be lines for skee-ball, and you will have a harder t

    (4)

  • Bridget B.

    Always a good place to go when you want to have beers with friends in a casual atmosphere with skee ball and stuffed animals hanging around your head. Down side is they do NOT have a pool table and they don't really have stellar food. I do keep this one in my hip pocket though if I want to have drinks on the fly.

    (3)

  • Scott S.

    Really, what more can you ask when it comes to a classic neighborhood American pub? Punk rock (real punk rock) overhead, great beer selection, greasy food, and skee-ball. The decor is pretty sweet too: an assortment of animal pelts and heads, just to mix it up a bit from your standard fare. The menu sticks to some basics like burgers and fries, with a couple twists (I tend to go for the two spicier ones on the menu). Most of the time, I just go here to grab a beer with a friend or two. It's perfect. The waitstaff is on top of things but mostly leaves you alone, achieving a good balance. It all works surprisingly great together. I think some people don't like coming here just because it's popular but I stick to non-peak hours/days and have no problems.

    (4)

  • Morgan L.

    Before I met my wonderful boyfriend, I went on a date with another guy and we ended up here. Little did I know that he was scoring some "pepsi" and this was the place to get it. Completely awkward. and the bartender had no control over a woman who was drunk as fuck and throwing herself all over the bar, crawling across it and screaming. Having her own trashtastic party. I later found out she is a hair stylist at Rudys and does this often.

    (2)

  • Joysha F.

    In search for the best burgers in town, I saw King's Hardware as one of the reader's choice in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine. So we headed here not expecting it was a bar thus the indoor seating was full and doubt anyone was leaving any time soon. We sat in the Backyard and it was cold and windy. The heat lamps were turned on yet the wind seem to have beaten it by a lot of knots! I just wished they had an option to cover the half of patio so guests won't have to freeze as they enjoy their awesome burgers! Yes, I loved the burger! I had the King's Burger and the meat was just perfectly cooked! Thick enough to satisfy and still juicy inside for awesome chewing! I love how the vegetables are still evident in every bite and the bun was nicely toasted. The fries are also amazing in their own way but I came for the burger and I would come back but maybe during lunch or before the happy hour folks start gathering there. I'm giving it 4 stars for the burger but I am still bummed about the seating areas :(

    (4)

  • Steve V.

    This was my second visit to this Ballard hotspot. It is a pretty cool place...that is as long as you can handle hipsters. Also very spacious. When you enter there is a large bar with a bunch of tables and booths for seating. In the back, there are two ski ball games and a few arcade games. There is also a very large patio with 20 or more additional tables. And often, most of these tables are full. The walls are decked with a variety of taxidermy and old black and white photographs. Definitely a cool vibe. As for food, the menu is mostly made up of burgers which will cost you about $10-11 including fries. The nachos appetizer is a little pricey (especially if you want meat), but it is massive in size. I also had the three sliders ($7) which were really well prepared (although a little pink) and had caramelized onions. Sweet potato fries were also solid. My favorite beer of all time is on tap here: left hand nitro milk stout. They also have a great selection of other beers on tap. Beers are about $4.50 for a pint. This place is awesome for happy hour. Those $4.50 beers are $3 even for high quality microbrews. Burgers are also a dollar off! Service is pretty good. Very attentive and efficient. Negatives: -no parking and finding parking in Ballard can be tough!! -it is 2011 - what is with the trough in the men's room....really?!?!? All in all, I would definitely return for some more milk stout on tap!

    (5)

  • Annie L.

    I needed a break from hipsters on Capitol Hill, so I opted for a dive, 50% hipster hangout in Ballard. King's Hardware always pulls through. Great bar food (helloooo nachos) with semi-outdoor and community style seating. Our waitress was great, despite belligerent Saturday night goers. Bless her heart, she was a good sport.

    (4)

  • Nick H.

    I came to King's Hardware with a friend one recent sunny evening to participate in the Dine Out For Life program. And what a fine evening it was, lounging out back on their patio with tasty drinks and juicy burgers! I had two different IPA's and my friend enjoyed her G&T's, although I think she got some serious drink envy when we saw our neighbors' bloody mary and maragarita. My friend ordered the "after school special," their notorious peanut butter and bacon burger. When she found out the peanut butter is creamy and not crunchy our super-cool server offered to bring out some crushed peanuts for her to add! Unfortunately they turned out to be cashews and arrived after her burger... but +1 star for effort! I got to sample her burger and it was tasty. I'm not sure it's for me, but if you love peanut butter, you are required to order it. I felt like a break from my beloved blue cheese & bacon burger, so I gorged myself on their yummy Tijuana burger (bacon + cheddar + guacamole). The fries weren't super-hot, but they tasted fresh and crispy. They're the home-style variety that has skin on them--kind of like Dick's but without all the soggy. The sweet potato fries are popular here too, but I'm not a fan. King's has a good bar, a great selection of beer on tap and they cook up an excellent burger. It's definitely my go-to burger place in glorious Ballard. On a sunny day I recommend showing up early (before 6) and grabbing a coveted table in the sun.

    (5)

  • Erin B.

    This place IS cool, but I feel like I have yet to really have a good time here. Too trendy & crowded. I am stifled by hipsterdom. It's not all bad, love for terrible beer (Ham's), shuffleboard, an attached barber shop?, and open air seating are pretty pimp. It is definitely going for awesome dive bar, but is to classy for that. This seems to leave it a bit caught in the middle to me. I don't hate, but maybe I just need to avoid the place except for down times. :(

    (3)

  • Kozby E.

    This place is always crowded. Their bartenders are the best. They are cool and helpful all times. Nice place to hang out friends during the weekend.

    (3)

  • Lisa B.

    I came here for an afterwork beer on Friday evening. $3.00 Rainier tall boys is nothing to complain about :) the atmosphere was great! The bartenders were super nice, and my cousin had a burger that was to.die.for.! Better than any home made burger I've EVER had. They have a great deck out back that is covered, and theres a bar in the back as well! I will definitely be going again soon!

    (4)

  • Sonya L.

    This place has skee ball!! Talk about awesome. That, hands down, made this the top after-dinner choice for the night. Good strong drinks and a generally solid atmosphere. I've heard complaints that the lines for skee ball can get intense, but we were there on a Wednesday night and had no trouble whatsoever walking up and playing several games. I've heard some of the food here is great - I'd love to come back and try some out. Apparently they have both sweet potato AND waffle fries. Oh heck yes.

    (4)

  • Erika W.

    I like the "type" of person that you will find in King's more than the bar itself - and I like the bar just fine! This bar is the Linda's Tavern of Ballard. You won't find another bar in Ballard with more interesting, responsible citizen/liberal, slightly-artsy-but-not-in-an-annoying way 20 and 30 somethings per square foot. If you're looking for a super lively, always entertaining bar scene, this is it. Honestly...I've eaten here but I don't remember the food. I've had many vodka sodas here but I don't remember the pour value or cost. Fortunately, that's really not the point. If you're looking for action in Ballard, this is your spot. See ya there!

    (4)

  • Mara S.

    Maybe it was the fact that we had been on our Ballard "Brewery Tour-y," but I don't think so, we had some amazing burgers here! The King's Bull Rings, Not Buffalo Burger, and Jack Burger were all delicious. This is a must return! Warning, these burgers are messy!

    (5)

  • Brian D.

    One of the most popular bars/restaurants in Ballard, for good reason. I kind of think of it as the Linda's of Ballard. Go- IF you aren't a douchebag or start trouble at bars that is.. coming from a regular-ish customer here. I mainly go to King's for beer, the food is great too. I only get the veggie burger so I can only say so much about the food, haven't really tried much else. The staff and the atmosphere are awesome, (dark, sort of woodsy, books and wacky things on some of the walls, skee ball..), service is pretty good, the servers and barbacks don't slack, are friendly and you get a sense that they're all happy to be working here. They handle very busy crowds really well and I totally respect that. Anytime I've ever come here the crowd seems to be pretty happy, at the very least content. It isn't easy for me to label the crowd that comes here, another thing I like about this place. Usually it's a happier, celebratory, let's-freakin'-unwind vibe; between that and subtle, on some week days. Huge back patio, not to miss when the weather's great I have had no negative experiences with anyone at this place yet and it's a great standard as a Seattle bar/restaurant

    (5)

  • Bailey C.

    Cute little bar. We went for happy hour before a show at Tractor Tavern. Good price pitchers for the table. The burgers were very good. The bacon on top was delicious. Mine had guacamole and my husband had the king's burger. He wasn't a fan of the sweet pickles. My friend had the not buffalo burger and thought it was very good. Best thing? Quarter Skee Ball! Nice wait staff, too. Fast, attentive service.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    Great atmosphere, location, burgers, and sweet potato fries. Very good beer selection and fair prices. Can be a bit hipster-y and service can sometimes be slow.

    (4)

  • Lisa N.

    Like many before me have said... SKEE BALL! It's worth it. Bring a sack full o'quarters and you'll be a happy drunk. I didn't experience the super loud crowdedness that everybody is talking about, but perhaps it's because I came on a Monday night for happy hour. Their happy hour features $1 off burgers and $2 pints/$6 pitchers of Hamm's, whatever that is. Our server offered tastes of a hazelnut ale and espresso stout, both of which were delicious. My friend and I split the cowboy burger (in retrospect we should have each ordered our own-- it was delicious and we killed the burger AND fries in under 10 minutes) which has a fatty patty, crisp peppery bacon, a fried egg, and the rest of your fav. burger fixins (tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, pickles). The fries were seriously amazing. Okay maybe the beer was beginning to hit us... or maybe they're just that good. We ate about four fries each before we looked at each other and decided to order another serving of fries. It was glorious. Between the two of us we spent around $20 which I thought was pretty good for an enjoyable experience with good company. My only advice is to order lots of fries... and don't share your burger. You'll want the whole thing.

    (5)

  • Charisma Y.

    $3 for really good beer? Yes, please. The Rogue Hazelnut is my personal favorite, as well as the Left Hand Milk Stout. And their burgers that come with fries are delicious. (Try substituting the regular fries with the sweet potato fries). OH, and here's another bonus.. their servers are really cute!

    (5)

  • miya S.

    At this moment, you may be asking yourself the following question "Why read Miya's review when there are 292 before it? Won't this review just be reiterating all the others?" To this I would answer: "For one reason, dear peasant. It is by the grace of our dear Lord that I have been equipped with a wondrous gift. I am always right, and always the most right. I am also a queen among hipsters. Do not fear, my power shall cleanse your Toms, kneel and appreciate my hipster correctness. My kingdom spans from sea to sea, engulfing all who wish to believe in the warm light of PBR and Ray Bans." King's has really good burgers and drinks and everyone is nice.

    (5)

  • Bryan J.

    If I had to pick one place in Ballard that sums up the neighborhood it would be Kings! Funky with a lil attitude good food at a reasonable price and Skeeball!

    (3)

  • Joel N.

    Why haven't I posted a review of King's yet? This is my third time and all three visits have proven positive. Tijuana burger with house made guacamole and bacon, and the 2nd best Old Fashioned in town. Great combination. Great service, too! Recommend highly. I see somebody else recommended the Rico Suave burger, which is what my wife had- she also substituted with a chicken breast. I snuck a couple bites and it was awesome. Eat and drink here. You will be pleased.

    (4)

  • Michelle F.

    Beer, skee ball, and decent food (and KILLER burgers). What more do you really need in a place? The last few times I went, I had a server dude who was so on it that it was ridiculous. Impressive, with an entire serving floor full of people! Also, they have daily specials (Monday is wings night), and I'm pretty sure that's how I usually get tricked into going there and ending up spending most my night at a bar. Oooooops! Bravo, King's.

    (4)

  • Jeff F.

    I really want to like King's Hardware but every time I go there I swear I'll never go back. There are lots of things to like about the place. It's got a retro dive feel to the place. The huge bar old bar is very cool. I like the skee ball. Their outdoor area is big for Seattle. On the other hand, the place is always packed. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can barley move through. It's always loud in there. You have to scream to talk to people. That's alright when you're 21 but I'm done with that these days. The service is always slow especially when you try and get food. Worst of all are all the damned hipsters in there with their stupid mustaches and PBR. If you like a loud, crowded hipster hangout, King's is for you. If not, there are plenty of other places near by in Ballard.

    (2)

  • Braxton E.

    Great little neighborhood place, awesome happy hour.

    (4)

  • James C.

    Are you a fan of being degraded? Made to feel like a criminal? Enjoy ruining a perfectly good night with friends and going home in a miserable mood? KING'S IS THE PLACE FOR YOU! Someone call Guinness World Records, because this shithole is THE. WORST. SERVICE. IN. SEATTLE. Seriously, get these guys a medal. We've been avid fans of King's great deals over the last 5-6 years, enjoying their $0.27 wings and decently priced craft brews. Service has always been slow but their waitresses have always been fairly inviting. Water bowl for your dog, bit of conversation. It worked for us. Cue Spring 2015. King's Wings to customers: "Go fuck yourselves." First, the policy changes: 1) No dogs, 2) All tables must pay on one tab, 3) 50% price increase on wings, and 4) 20% increase on HH beer prices. Things change, inflation's a bitch. Whatever, I can live with it. Let's go through our night: 1) No tables available on the patio, go inside. Ask waitress "Hey do you mind if we combine some tables for our group?" "Sure whatever." 2) Time to check ID's. 5 people down, get to our Canadian friend. Forgets her passport at home, damn - our fault, guess she won't be drinking. "You need to leave" she says, in a properly bitchy tone. Away goes friends one and two (her friend, so she didn't leave alone). 3) 30 minutes later, get our menu. "Oh is the $0.25 wing deal not available anymore?" "Um excuse me, it was *never* $0.25 per wing, it was *$0.27*. Now it's $0.39, and since we serve organic chicken, we need to charge more for our food. Is that a problem?" ".....No that's fine, just curious." 4) 15 minutes later, she returns. Time to order. "You guys will need to put all food and drinks onto one tab. New policy." Think the tone of Mean Girls Regina. This bitch's was worse. "Since we have groups at 3 tables could we at least split into 3 groups rather than one for all of us?" "Gah, you know, you guys should've told me before you ordered that you'd have such a large group. But WHATEVER, just give me your cards and I'll do them separate." "No it's OK, we can do individual." "No, it's whatever, just give me your card." Third friend is fed up and leaves, down to a group of 7. 5) 45 minutes later, we get our food. "Could we get some ranch dip?" "Um sure but there was an order for 200 wings before you so you're going to have to wait." (Is ranch really that hard to pour? Who would've known?) 6) 45 minutes later, we finish our wings. The ranch finally shows up. "Oh we're done eating, we don't need the ranch anymore." "Well you should've told me when you ordered then!" (She never asked if we wanted ranch when we were ordering.) She leaves the dips with us and our empty food plates, as well as the bill for the overpriced dips. 7) We're hanging out, as if this nightmare wasn't already bad enough, "queen bitch" comes by for another visit as we're petting our dog. "Um excuse me, is that a service dog? No? He can't be in here. Health code." Is it hard to ask someone politely to bring their dog outside? How would we have known that they changed their dog policy? Apparently a polite notice is a thing of the 2014's. At this point, our entire group was fed up. 10 of us who regularly attend King's for years has been burnt over, and over, and over again. I'm finally fed up and I approach their manager. Polite girl, tried to apply logic to the situation. I had no qualms with her. However, she never offered to comp our food or offer any sort of amends for the nightmare this shit hole of a bar put us through. Dear true manager - Please learn how to apply proper recruiting practices to your staff. Customer loyalty is a thing. You not only lost 10 loyal long-time customers tonight, you lost my recommendation to any friend ever looking for a fun spot. This place is a nightmare, now officially my least favorite place not only in Seattle, but that I've ever been to in the world. Good bye and good riddance, King's Hardware.

    (1)

  • Anna S.

    The staff is always very helpful and friendly, the food is absolutely delicious. The tap selection is varied and always includes a good cider for the non-beer drinker. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    Yum yum. Delicious burgers and skeeball. Good stuff.

    (5)

  • Derek M.

    King's has everything you can ask for in a "dive bar." 1. Great drink specials. 2. A comfortable atmosphere. 3. A great jukebox with varied music. 4. Plenty of seating for both small and large groups of people. Summing up King's with only that checklist would be unfair. This bar also has a huge patio with plenty of extra seating, skee ball, Bloody Marys chock-full of pickled veggies, and some of the best burgers in town. I'm not kidding about the burgers, they're redonk! So bring friends, your appetite and a pocket full of quarters, because you can waste the night away in conversation, music and skeeball. As a bit of icing on the cake, unlike its Capitol Hill counterpart--Linda's-- King's actually has relatively clean bathrooms, I think it helps that they're shared with Rudy's Barbershop. Yay for not having to hold it!

    (5)

  • Diana L.

    I like this place for going to when you think its warm enough to hang out at Golden Gardens, but your bald companion begs to differ with your well maned self. If you're lucky, Jerod, the half-wit that seems to be the happy hour mascot of this place, will cruise by your table and bid you a toothless, smiling hello, raising his can of Pabst in your direction before toddling off to greet the other patrons. You can then comment about the uncanny resemblance Jerod bares to Zippy the Pinhead and occupy yourselves with the silliness of numerology and hatching great plans about how one might profit from assisted suicide with a "death package" which includes China White, a beach in Fiji and a modified Viking funeral involving pyroctechnics. This can all be done while drinking a St. Paulie's Girl NA, or a can of Rainier and a shot of Maker's - depending on your preference. Also - you can get a burger with peanut butter and bacon on it, play shuffleboard, or sit on the patio under a heat lamp so you don't have to borrow your lady friend's grody running cap to keep from freezing your bald ass off. Less a star for being in Ballard and just reeking of frat boy. (FYI - This review is totally fucking useful.)

    (4)

  • Jet R.

    We were visiting from Vegas and a friend of a friend recommended this place. I read up on the reviews and we decided to post this as our meeting place for our groups. We had 9 people show to meet us, and it would have been nice for us to be able to visit with everyone, but the music was loud enough that I could only really talk with the 2 or 3 people around me. It wasn't overly crowded, and there was really no need for the music to be as loud as it was, I would understand if it was crowded and loud and whatnot, but that was not the case at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. The food was good, I can't complain. I ordered the chicken nacho plate with everything on the side. I was asked if I wanted guacamole and I said no as it was an extra charge. When they brought the food they brought all the sides... including the guacamole. I didn't fuss or return it, I just moved forward, it was only $1.50 - but in the future, getting those little things right would be good. All in all, everyone seemed to enjoy their meals, and I would definitely go back again if we were in town.

    (4)

  • Rose S.

    Skee ball, beer, and burgers? What more could a girl ask for!? Ever since I tried the Rico Suave burger (with jalapenos and cream cheese), I've been recreating it as often as possible. My boyfriend won't shut up about the peanut butter and bacon burger. The people of King's were nice enough to give him a side of maple syrup to dip his burger in, and he's been a whiney brat ever since. No burger is good enough for him anymore, not even a peanut butter bacon burger, unless it has a side of maple syrup. Lord help me.

    (5)

  • Glow W.

    Burgers are here are metal...the four of us ordered different burgers and they were all top! Great variety of beer, cool atmosphere, and good service. If you want the best burger in Ballard, this is the place.

    (5)

  • Annie D.

    Great crowd, reasonably priced drinks, friendly bartenders, nice atmosphere...but get a new effing women's bathroom. God.

    (3)

  • Kellie L.

    We came here a few saturday nights ago and it was pretty good. What I dont reccommend is coming here, with a group of 8, after 9 on a Saturday night and expect to get a table together. Or even enough chairs to all sit together. Our bad. Other than that, the service was great, the bouncers were really nice, and the food was excellent. I had the Bubba's Burger with salad instead of fries, I KNOW I KNOW, salad at a bar, you can shoot me now, but the portions were huge and if I needed to sneak a fry from my companion, I was gonna. And I did. That night was freezing and I love that they have heat lamps, even though they were a little... sketchy, we didnt want to stand too close. They scared me a little. :p

    (3)

  • Jason G.

    Too crowded, Too hot, Too young. This place is what a young hipster thinks a dive bar is like.

    (2)

  • Laura L.

    The bartenders really know what they are doing here. And the atmosphere is seccond to none for small groups hanging out, playing a few games, or just catching up. It is a very very young and hip dive bar.

    (5)

  • Delilah R.

    On a Fri. or Sat. night, things start to get crowded at 9pm. Good luck finding a seat if you get there much later than that. I've got a lot of appreciation for their deck out back though. It is large and equipped with several space heaters as well as both an undercover area and a completely open space. One animal rights type friend of mine began to disapprove of coming to King's after our first few visits years ago in part to the dead animal heads mounted as decor throughout the bar. We soon began the ritual that is getting her butt wasted and waltzing in here a bit after 10pm. This would be the experience that has caused me to mention the fact that this place is jam packed in the late hours of the weekends. For there being so many patrons in one place, the staff does a good job at their rounds to the tables that are seated. At one point a year or so ago, my GF's and I decided to get each other "naughty" gifts for Xmas and because this place is so packed and buzzing with loud conversation, it was our first pick for gift exchange and opening. The funny thing is, NO one noticed at all and we were right in the center of all the tables. Yea for privacy in the middle of havoc. Who knew that was even possible?

    (3)

  • Ophelia W.

    The best bar in Ballard to start your night off!!! King's is your neighborhood bar. You'll never have a disappointing or sober night. It's seriously the default bar when you go to Ballard. Let me delve into some reasons why I heart King's + $4.5 shots, $2 ranier (not a fan, but I hear its popular) + There are some good ass looking guys at King's + Great burgers and fries + Skee-ball (there is always a line though) + $4.5 TEQUILA SHOTS! + Patrons are not doucey. They are down to earth, easy to talk to, and straight up just friendly. + Dress up, dress down. Nobody judges. + Outdoor patio for some breathing room when the place gets packed on friday and saturday nights The only thing I dislike are the dead animal heads on the wall. They creep me out. If you are looking for places to shake your booty after you get all liquored up at King's.... head to Balmar. They have a dance floor upstairs.

    (4)

  • Melissa S.

    Mmmmmm Rico Suave burger. I want to start this review by telling you a story that is so silly that you'll ask yourself why you're still reading. And that's okay. I have loved pickles since I was a kid. I love pickles so much that I would drink the juice out of the jar as a child (and still secretly do, shhh). HOWEVER, I am a dill lover, no sweet for me. So much hatred for the sweet pickle that once when I was in preschool I threw up in front of everyone at snack time because when I was given a pickle, I assumed it was dill. The shock of the sweet pickle in my mouth completely tore my young world apart and I swore I would never eat another one again. Fast forward to the Rico Suave. The thing has fresh jalepenos, countered with cream cheese to fight the spicy tongue death, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and SWEET pickles. WTF? Why am I eating this and why am I LOVING THIS? It completely balances out the other flavors and aligns with the spice so perfectly. I have craved that damn burger every day since but haven't had time to make it back (it's been three weeks). Needless to say, they have pretty decent food for a limited menu. Service was excellent and they have a good selection of beers. My only two beefs with the place is that their 'patio' is actually covered (eh, it's Seattle, this is actually really smart, I admit), and the temp of their tapped beer is a little too warm for my taste. But you bet your pickle that I sucked my kellerweis down with glee anyway. I will be back. Several times.

    (4)

  • Christine Z.

    I can't say I've ever been here during the day for their food... but I hear their sweet potato fries are BOOOOMB! On a Friday or Saturday night, King's will lure me in with skee ball and Buck Hunter... EVERY... DAMN... TIME!!! One game will turn into 5 games... and then 5 games ALWAYS turns into a tournament with other onlookers-next thing you know, we have new BFF"s! Skee ball and Buck Hunter, bringing strangers together and making them instant BFF's (who knew)! It's always good times at King's!

    (4)

  • AJ T.

    Never get tired of kings! Skee ball, indoor and outdoor bars, and good food. Only word of advice is don't play quarters on their outside tables. Apparently they don't like it. Great place to hang out.

    (4)

  • Amber B.

    I like King's for the following reasons: $3 Bloody Mary's on Sunday morning Skee Ball Hipster like whoa all over the walls (re: deer heads, vintage polaroids, wood everything, jukebox that you won't be able to hear on a weekend night) outside bar & Inside Bar sausage fest of cute guys I DISLIKE King's for the the following reasons: douchebags long ass line for skee ball Bartenders outnumbered 10 to 1 on weekends I'm sorry, did we all just go on a American Apparel/Urban Outfitters shopping spree? The bathrooms....or lack there of So if you aren't cruizing for d-bags, my pro tip is to go during the week and play skee ball, listen to Kings of Leon, and order PBR to your hearts content.

    (3)

  • Jeff E.

    One of Ballard's most popular bars, expect a crowd on the weekend, despite the spacious main bar and covered/heated patio. Good selection of microbrews and cheap beers. A few games are available in the back.

    (4)

  • Caesar R.

    This spot is all good in my book. Beer and skee ball. Stumbled upon this place while strolling along Ballard while waiting for our table at another spot down the block. Coming from overpriced NYC, this spot got us fun on the cheap. For $9, we had two beers and 8 games of skee ball. Loved it! Not to mention the hunting trophies on the wall and over all good vibe in the place. The beer selection was almost strictly local, especially the tap beers. And you can even get a haircut at the barber shop that is conjoining. See ya again for some skee ball at Kings.

    (3)

  • Nolan H.

    I am smitten with Kings. I always have fun here and I always enjoy my food. Well done!

    (5)

  • Mele Y.

    I'm in love. Overall, it's a very chill place to throw back a few with friends. They have a pretty decent beer selection with my favorite Rogue Hazelnut on tap. How could I not be in love? The service is friendly and knowledgeable, don't let the tattoos scare ya! Did I mention that they have Molly Moon's ice cream? Yes. YES. YES. My recommendation? Drink a stout while digging into the choco ice cream, you will leave with a big retarded grin on your face. I know I did.

    (5)

  • Carmen G.

    Standard crowd. Some guys were good eye candy. Place is good for groups. The layout and brick architecture were solid. 4-stars for the sweet, sweet lady in the back bar who knew when we wanted gin and tonics. Thank you, ma'am. Way to spot the alcoholics.

    (4)

  • Jojo W.

    I am not a huge fan of this establishment on weekend nights.....not because it is bad....I just think I am too old! ;) But I love King's for a perfect place to grab a drink after strolling through the Sunday Farmer's Market and doing a little shopping in Ballard. $3.00 bloody marys, $2.50 Ranier tall boys and delicious burgers. They have a great outside deck to enjoy this lovely fall sunshine we are having. I must admit....I do love the ski ball too! Great service, great location, great beer selection, wonderful bloody marys full of veggies!

    (4)

  • Kat F.

    The nachos here are CRAZY! They have all the normal stuff, like tortilla chips and cheese and salsa and beans and jalapenos but at the bottom of the platter (yes PLATTER, it's insanely huge) is a soft tortilla! Brilliant I say! You can tear off pieces of it and eat it with the toppings that are always left when the chips are gone! Other things I appreciate: Heated deck (with a secret bar) Attentive servers (even on a Saturday night when it's packed) Gluten free beer (my roommate can't have regular)

    (4)

  • Angie K.

    Great neighborhood bar in Ballard. Decent prices on beer, great prices on burgers. For food, they have a good burger selection, a few other items like onion rings and nachos, and that's about it. For drinks, they seem to have just about everything - we weren't in the mood to drink much, so we stuck to beer, but it looked like they had a good whiskey list and a full bar. The mood here was fun, casual, comfortable. Great service - the waiters looked like hipsters but did a great job. They even had skee ball in the back. If I lived in Ballard, this would be my neighborhood bar. As it is, I'm sure I will be back soon and often.

    (4)

  • Belle B.

    I've had so many great experiences here and I don't know why I have yet to write a review! The servers great! Atmosphere and people watching doesn't get any better! Drinks are amazing and hands down the best outdoor seating that I've ever been too. I'm not a huge burger person so it would be unfair for me to rate them but their sweet potato fries are my boyfriends favorite thing on the planet and their HOMEMADE sauces are to die for! Overall, a great bar you must check out and you will definitely become a regular, I know I have! Oh lastly, Sunday they have bloody mary specials that are great!

    (5)

  • Danielle F.

    I love this bar. Great beers on tap and great burgers. The cowboy burger with a fried egg on top is fantastic. The after school special with peanut butter and bacon is interesting but not my cup of tea. Chips and salsa are yum. Ditto to the bloody marys served in mason jars. In the summer, King's has one of the best patios around. Did I mention the Skeeball? What's not to love?

    (5)

  • Allison F.

    I absolutely love Kings because it is the perfect dive bar. They have skilled bartenders, a wide selection of liquor and beer (especially whiskey and bourbon, last time I went), indoor and patio seating, PLUS skee ball! It's a great place to have an evening of drunken debauchery or to hang out with friends.

    (4)

  • Kat T.

    The key to Kings is to go in on the off hours. I've been to Kings many times and at many different hours. I have enjoyed that back deck in the day time and the night time. The Bloody Mary's are solid and come with plenty of treasures. Today's had a stalk of celery, carrot stick, 2 green beans, asparagus, 2 olives, slice of lemon, slice of lime. Perfect for this sunny Sunday afternoon. I also ordered a burger w/ bacon and cheese and ask them to swap it for a garden burger. I consider it a yin-yang burger. When asked if I wanted fries, I opted for the sweet potato fries. I really didn't need to swap it for a side salad because the Bloody Mary was the side salad. This joint can really get packed on a Fri/Sat night. I've heard woes of waiting too long for a drink and some sort of "see and be seen" mentality which I have not experienced. If you have fear of either of these scenarios go in the off hours. You will enjoy it more when there is room to move. Oh and... eat your veggies!

    (4)

  • Erik M.

    Not much else to say about King's Hardware at this point, other than it's where I have a beer while I'm waiting my turn at Rudy's, or when I'm in the mood for one of their burgers. They have a great beer selection to accompany fun menu of burgers and sandwiches. Try the After School Special and add a slice of cheddar. Don't question, just do it. Trust me. The service is generally good, but can be a little slow when they're busy, especially if you're sitting out on the patio. But hey - a patio in Ballard with southern exposure! Can't complain about that. Try to hit it in the afternoons, before it turns into the hipster scene that has already been adequately described by others here. Unless, of course, you're looking for the hipster scene in which case you should wait until early evening.

    (3)

  • Alexandra H.

    Menu is somewhat limited to burgers (hence one star off) but they are GREAT burgers that come with great fries. We had the cowboy burger (bacon, fried egg) and the jalapeno/cream cheese burger. Delish. Since it was still happy hour, our burgers were each a dollar off. Waitress was adorable and sweet as can be; she chatted us up quite a bit, let us taste a couple beers first before we committed to a pint, and even gave us our first round of beers for free! Speaking of beers, the draught selection wasn't as extensive as I was hoping for, but it was well-rounded in terms of styles. Mostly WA and OR breweries represented but there were also a couple Colorado microbrews thrown in for good measure (Left Hand, New Belgium) The Ballard neighborhood is very cool...we biked there from Lower Queen Anne (a long ride but it worked up an appetite), I wish we had a bit more time to explore the neighborhood after our dinner.

    (4)

  • Ann C.

    The sliders are pretty yummy, although the nachos were pretty forgettable. Not BAD, but Matador's are far better. But what I must give them a thousand stars for is their beer selection. They are the only place in the world, that I know of, who offers both of my two favorite brews. #1 is the Black Frog Nitro Stout (formerly the Irish Oatmeal Stout) by Snoqualmie Brewery. When I discovered a few days ago that this stout could now be found in my own neighborhood, I was ecstatic. But I thought highly of King's selection to begin with, because they have my now #2 favorite, Rogue's Hazelnut Brown Ale. So, beerwise, either way, I should be a most happy camper at King's Hardware.

    (5)

  • Justin D.

    Monday night wing special is awesome! Cheap wings and their homemade blue cheese is delicious. Make sure to get here early though since there have been some nights where they'd run out of wings an hour or so into the night.

    (4)

  • Tom Y.

    Booyah. King's has become the impromptu meeting/birthday/chill/prep for Dantes dogs time spot for a few different groups of my friends now, and for good reason. While it's not a great place to try and quietly lounge about, given the general noise level (akin to a moderate construction site) and the sometimes uncomfortable chairs, it affords a rowdy bunch a perfect location to have some fun. The ambiance, obviously, is pretty jovial, although you should expect to bring your own fun; King's is a place for groups to be fairly insular, at least in the back and on the patio. The food is greasily delicious, although I should say that the sweet potato (just call 'em yams) fries are definitely the kind of good tasting food you can still gull yourself into thinking are healthy :). They have a great selection of burgers, including the peanut butter burger, that hit the spot time after time. The kitchen is fairly speedy, and you get all the condiments you ever need. The drinks, especially the beer, are great at King's. I always end up getting pitchers of the Rogue Hazelnut, but their other selections are pretty good, as well as very well priced. Some of their drinks that they have on their year-round menu are in fact seasonal, such as the hot buttered rum, but other than that, you can get pretty much anything you spot. The bartenders aren't too creative about custom drinks, but then again, it's King's. A great place for groups, for food, and for boisterous drinking, and all around fun. Hit this place up before heading to a place like BalMar, and you'll have a perfect combination.

    (4)

  • Gabriel P.

    I have read good reviews from some Yelpers (and the Seattle Yelp queen herself) but I ended up stumbling upon Kings one night strolling in Ballard looking for a good bar. I was really impressed and for Ballard this place gets a 5 star rating. The atmosphere was relaxed, the bar had a good amount of people (but wasnt too packed), and they have a decent beer selection. I didnt try any mixed drinks/food so I can't comment on the strength/quality. The music was a great rock/alternative mix and was not overpowering at all. Mostly, the mood of the bar was great and the patio feeling was even better. The heat lamps were a must for a December night but it was great to be outside enjoying a clear night (by Seattle standards) having a beer with some friends. There are even a couple games in the back of the bar including skee ball which I am sure we would end up playing on a drunken night at some point. I highly recommend the bar and will definitely be going back. My friends and I walked into about 5 bars on our stroll down the strip and this was the one we chose and we were really happy. Good times.

    (5)

  • I Am Judging U.

    Soooo crowded. I know thats the exact problem a bar wants to have, but for customers it can get a little overwhelming in there. If you plan on going for happy hour with a group of more than 6 people, get there as early as you can. If you stay till after happy hour it only gets busier. Thats when all the foxy hipsters come out and try to find someone to screw. The last two times we've gone for a work happy hour, we've ended up on the patio. In the summer Im sure its opportune. But in the winter, you have to drink fast and continuously to tolerate it. Aside from that, the service has always been phenomenal. They are all multi-tasker extraordinaires. The food, eh, it's bar food. Their specialty cocktails are worth a try for sure. Have fun!

    (4)

  • William H.

    The first time I went here with a friend and sat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon and had a great time. Prompt attention from the bartender. Order a few beers and the giant Jalapeno poppers (they are big and hot). The 2nd time I came with my sig other and we sat outside on the back deck in the sun. The guy serving the area helped everyone but us. We had menus at our table and he walked by when we were looking at them then we set them down to hopefully signal that we were ready to order. We had no drinks so I'm not sure why he never came by to see if we needed anything. I eventually walked back inside and up to the bar where I was served immediately. The server saw me getting served but when our drinks became empty he never came by. People sitting around us were served. I have no idea what the problem was. 3rd time I came by with a buddy and sat at the bar and again, great service, food and environment. I almost wrote this place off but had to give it another try.

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    First off, let me say that I'm a BIG fan of deceptively named businesses. I just wish they'd take it one step further and actually sell hardware...not that I'd want to buy anything. I'd just find the idea of that awesome. Anyway, if I lived near Ballard, I think you could probably find me here more than my apartment. Obviously I'm a fan.

    (5)

  • Jon S.

    This bar is the shit. A whiskey bar with skee-ball and fresh beef jerky at the bar? AND a kitchen, patio and wild game on the walls? What more could you want? A parking lot? It's got your back for that too. The warmly lit interior and lacquered wood tables set the mood along with big band jazz in the background, and the extensive whiskey and beer menu are off the chain. Bring change and shoot skeeball fade-aways from across the bar. Friendly staff also; I haven't tried their food because the kitchen was closed but I'm def gonna come back, this place rocks.

    (5)

  • Dianna S.

    I was here the other night with some friends and had a fantastic time! Why was it so fantastic you ask? Well, there is SKEE-BALL in the back and it only takes a quarter to play!! How can you beat that?! On a Friday night...the crowd is lively and full of attractive Ballardites. ; ) As for the cocktails....they were only ok. I had a G&T and will definitely stick to beer next time. Overall, this place is a great neighborhood bar to go and catch up with friends and/or to make new ones.

    (4)

  • Kristin C.

    I kinda want to give this place 5 stars just because of the skee ball, but I will refrain. I LOVE SKEE BALL!!!! I have heard about this place, through the grape vine, but even though I live in Fremont, I very rarely make it the 1 mile to Ballard to go to a bar. Why? Mostly because I am Lazy. Partly because I am afraid of Hipsters( I know we shouldn't be afraid of people we don't understand, but I do want to get to know these subspecies, I swear!). This place is FULL of Hipsters. I am pretty sure when you apply to work here, you have to be a hipster. But other than that, this is a pretty chill place. We went for Happy Hour and sat on their patio on a warm summer evening. Which was quite nice. Had a pitcher of Manny's and some burgers. I went with the King's Burger which had Mushrooms, Onions, Bacon and cheddar cheese. It was pretty good. A lot of you fellow yelpers raved about the sweet potato fries. But I gotta say, I disagree. They were actually pretty gross. Some of(if not the worst) sweet potato fries I have ever had. Which is unfortunate, because sweet potato fries are a food group to me and I am always looking for somewhere new to indulge. I tried some of my friends regular fries though, and they were good. So I could go back here. Eventually I will go back here. Cuz they have skee ball....and I got a 390!!! I gotta go back and defend (my) record.

    (4)

  • Andrea K.

    Went here for happy hour on a Weds night and was very pleased. Cool vibe-nice booths, but with a cool view of the barber shop next door. Fun taxidermy on the walls, noisy but not too crazy. Plus they have tons of board games, SKEE BALL! and Buck hunter in the bar. Excellent. Happy hour deals are great-plenty of delish microbrews for 3 bucks, and 9 dollar pitchers. YEA. 9 dollars for delicious ales. 3 buck well drinks as well. Their burgers were still pricey for happy hour, but 12.25 for a good beer, super tasty and filling burger (with guac and bacon, plus sweet fries on the side) ain't too bad for an enjoyable time with friends. Their burger list is extensive and I had trouble choosing for sure. They even have goat and blue cheese to put on, so I think it's worth the extra price. Our waiter/bar tender was great also. Helpful without overbearing, offered to split the check for me too without me even asking. Definitely planning on going back. Sounds like from other reviews that it's a bit of a pain on the weekends, but it's definitely a great place for a mid-week catch-up/skee-ball throw/buck hunt

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Good beer, Good burgers, Good nachos, Good people, Good music, Nice patio and last but definitely not least skeeball! That pretty much sums it up

    (5)

  • Joy S.

    It's Saturday night You can't get a drink You can't sit down You can't find toilet paper You can't hear your friends Why are you here again?

    (2)

  • Eli K.

    How can you not love King's? If you don't know about it, you need to go. Its low key, food is good especially for a bar, and the beer is cheap, and you can laugh and have a good time here. One personal caveat, the hipster ambiance is so strong I feel like I'm walking into a movie set...almost staged like manner...kick in your teeth, we're such a cool bar f* yah! kind of thing if that makes any sense. I feel out of place if I were to not wear some form of nuevo plaid or a t-shirt with some ambiguously cool abstract image. Went in on a friday, busy as usual. server was prompt and no attitude. Big Plus. Beer....good. food...good. pinball...good. urinals troughs filled with fresh ice...good. *thumbs up* they have basically four zoned seating areas that allows one to pick a different ambiance whether with one friend, two, three, or 8. this place adapts to the numbers in your party.

    (4)

  • Audrey H.

    The boyfriend and I have been going here since it's opening and still love it here. We still are trying to get $10,000 together to have a plaque of our names on the table next to the register. Inside joke. Can't really say much about this place that hasn't already been said. There is skee ball and or a juke box to be played. My favorite about the place are all the servers. They're cheery and helpful and patient and they can get really busy. Friday's and Saturdays get VERY busy. We like going during the weekdays or Sunday's to enjoy a few beers or cocktails inside or on the deck (in the summer). No complaints on drinks! My favorite food is the wedge, no onions. The burgers are fantastic and always good with sweet potato fries. No complaints on the food either! To the person below that received the terrible service, that really sucks. But to insinuate it was a racial thing is pathetic and desperate. My boyfriend and I are asian and I'm a bit darker than he is...and I've never experienced what you have suggested. Neither have any of my friends who are all different races.

    (5)

  • Cori S.

    yuuuuuuum. i love their tijuana burger with bacon, cheese, and guacamole on it. good portions, good burgers. their fries aren't my favorite but what can you do. they also have a decent happy hour - got a pitcher of manny's for $9 which was awesome. some of the customers at this place are a little strange... but it's seattle, right? seems like they get a lot of regulars. the service has tended to be better than average, friendly people who don't just take your order but who can have a conversation. once it was a bit confusing, was there with some friends and we didn't know if the man was our server or the female, as they both kept coming by our table asking if we were okay and needed anything... not sure who we ended up tipping at the end. but hey, better to be overly taken care of instead of under in my opinion. also awkward was the fact that while at skiball a guy came over to make sure that my friend and i's IDs had been checked... uhm, it's fine for you to ask, but isn't that our server's job to do so? I'm not sure why he felt so inclined. oh well. a good place to come with groups, as there's lots of seating. skiball and old school pacman are fun too. :) i like it.

    (4)

  • Mypie H.

    This place makes me feel old and mature. I can't stand meat market kinds of places. Maybe when I was 21 1/2 it would have been COOL, but I can't stand this bar. It smells yucky in there too! Oh...that might have been the breath of that nasty guy trying to hit on my friend and I. I am pretty sure that is what that was now! LOL! GROSS! Oh the memories of this bar are PRICELESS! UPDATED: I go there with a group and my husband now......and love playing SkeeBall! You still have to put up with FRAT boys yelling and being super annoying, but I will give it a 3 star now........=)

    (3)

  • Adam S.

    I have to agree with everyone else. The sweet potato fries are awesome. Great line up of beers. All the way from the little guy to the mass produced crap. Although the main complaint I have on the beer is the temp. They always seem like really warm pints. I don't know where their cooler is, but at least during the summer months all tap beer was WARM. The scene is full of stupid hipsters who try to look like they just woke up. I did feel out-of-place at times, but all-in-all pretty fun time.

    (4)

  • Barry B.

    Peanut Butter Bacon Burger. It was great! Playing Skee-Ball is always a good time too. My gf ordered the five alarm with a garden burger and thought it was decent. Nice for a peanut butter bacon burger, relaxing with friends, and skee ball entertainment. Peanut Butter and Bacon, YUM.

    (4)

  • Kate L.

    I really like this place. It is fun, relaxed and a great place to grab beers with your friends on a Friday night. I would totally reccomend it.

    (4)

  • Dan P.

    If I could actually get a burger medium rare here I'd have to give it 6 stars, so maybe it's for the best. I mean with the kitschy skee-ball, vast field of green on the pool-table and a really awesome patio, King's really has nothing going for it at all. Their selection of cheap beers and those I remember from my underage drinking days are far too refreshing, and the wait staff actually seems to want you to get what you're looking for. The biggest problem by far has been getting a seat.

    (5)

  • Celia H.

    A favorite low key spot. They have skiball and cheap ranier. What more could you want.

    (4)

  • Jen P.

    This is my favorite beer-garden bar. I'm a vegetarian but I love the taxidermy. They have ski-ball and the best summer drink, Fresca Fantastique. Ask the bartender for it, they don't tend to advertise it often. Overall fun atmosphere; used to be a hardware store it seems, and the hair cut place is adjoining next door, Rudy's. Interesting! See you soon, King's!

    (4)

  • Starla S.

    midas touch. build it and the hipsters will come. btw, it's not that i think writing in all small is hip or something... altough it seems common with the set... my shift is just broken. anywho, went here with my ultra chic younger sis and oogled the hot staff. guys and gals alike will be pleased. the crowd however leaves something to be desired. for a moment i did feel like i was on campus. harsh 'question mark' . no. just true. i was here on a friday so it's probably less crowded and more fun on week nights. the drinks are stiff, the burger is a rockin', and the backyard is the place to hang if you are there to chat with your friends. my only hangup... even though i understand the allure... the taxidermy turns my tummy and was kind of a buzz kill. i'd be all happy and gettin' my drinky face on and then gaze into the eyes of a cuddly little fox... looking like he might just stick his nose out to kiss me... but he can't... cuz he's dead and stuffed. sobered me up like a catholic on sunday. so sad.

    (4)

  • Jandrew T.

    King's gets points for an awesome outdoor patio, skeeball, and booths inside.. Unfortunately, the service has been terrible over the majority of my recent visits - the staff is nice, just insanely slow and not really concerned with checking up on you. Which is sad, because Ballard definitely needs more places like this.. Especially with the Fremont Ballroom crowd creeping in! :(

    (2)

  • jack s.

    Sorry, can't say if the burgers are good or if the beer is fresh. The music was so loud we stepped in, looked around, and left.

    (2)

  • Jim M.

    Best place to show up to with a solid buzz. Nice decor, looks like a dive but isnt, good food and yeah, they got skee ball. God forbid you go to kings with out a stash of quarters. Drinks are cheap and they have a diverse beer selection.

    (4)

  • Juls M.

    My friends and I came here during our spring break this past year and had the renowned sweet potato fries. My Gawd. Those things were downright dangerous. We ended up coming back again the next night because we were craving the damn things. My turkey burger topped with goat cheese (although deelish) was completely upstaged by its side.

    (4)

  • Heather L.

    Love this place! The extended happy hour is great. Food-wise, the sliders and sweet potato fries are consistently delish and always satisfying. It's making me hungry just thinking about them! Also love the skee ball and donkey kong.

    (4)

  • Iris M.

    Great place to hang out with friends! They have two skeeball machines here. I love their avocado burger and even the after school special is awesome. Not too pricey and it has a fun atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Karen A.

    We rolled in to King's mid-afternoon Friday and had a fabulous lunch. The burgers (made with beef from a local ranch) were de-lish, and I liked the onion rings--even though the batter is just a tad too sweet, they were fresh and crispy. So: This is a place where you can indulge and not feel greased-out. We were impressed with how friendly and attentive the staff were, willing to customize our orders with things like salad instead of fries. The place is set up like a big lodge, complete with ski-ball and Donkey Kong. It's a very relaxed vibe.

    (4)

  • Rachel J.

    I love going to Kings Hardware. I always get the same... garden burger with BACON ... yes that's right. ... and yes i want tortilla chips and SALSA!!!! i love you KINGS.

    (4)

  • Wendy G.

    My daughter planned her birthday party at King's on a Friday night in May. Parking was horrible, but once we were inside, we started to have a good time. It took 30 minutes to round up enough chairs on the patio to seat the group of people. It took 2 hours to get fed, but the food was great. I had sweet potatoe fries and sliders. The people there were friendly and helped us to get settled in. I would recommend this place for an afternoon event, just not Friday or Saturday evening.

    (4)

  • John S.

    Not sure that King's needs any more great reviews but what the hell...Hands down a cool-ass bar to just hang out with friends and enjoy a few drinks. During the summer the outside seating is great, the food is decent - good for a bar (great onion rings and sweet potato fries!) and the service is always very friendly. Had another epic night at King's after a long week and met up with some friends for some food and beers. And it seems like you always run into someone you know at Kings so it wasn't a surprise as our group grew in numbers and great conversation ensued. They always seem to play really good music there as well.

    (4)

  • Tracy W.

    I heard a rumor that there was a Skee Ball game in Ballard. I began to get that familiar feeling of butterflies in my stomach like I did when I was a kid right before the Grant County Fair. Could it be true? Could the Holy Grail of arcade games REALLY be found in Ballad? Sure enough, there is not just one but TWO Skee Ball games! And it's only twenty-five cents to play! If my game weren't so rusty, I might even join one of their Skee Ball leagues! This kitchy pub is just my kind of place. Decent food, good drinks and an attentive bartender. Nothing new or exciting, just an old school pub environment. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is the taxidermy animals on the wall. Jack-a-lopes are too rare an animal to be hunted and displayed on the wall.

    (4)

  • Jon K.

    Good beer on tap and quarter skee ball. You can't beat that combo! I suck at skee ball, but this place is 5 blocks from my house. Hopefully with practice I'll be better soon. Also, this place is right by the Tractor Tavern. You can see a really good band at Tractor and between set breaks you can go to Kings and play skee ball.

    (5)

  • Jake d.

    So you want to use the skee ball table on the right only as the one on the left has greasy balls and the 50 tends to stick now and then. As far as drinks go they have Rainer tall boys so you really dont need much more unless you are one these new Ballard people who have bought a condo on the former sight of 3 bedroom home, then you might need something a little more fruity, and expensive in order for you to feel ok about your sad life. Last but not least the wait staff rules my favorite is, well I don't know her real name but me and my friends have dubbed her "big boobs baby face" also "Punky Brewster" is cool, see you on thanksgiving!

    (5)

  • melody r.

    i like this place! i really do! i didn't expect to spend a lot of time in ballard, but alas, i've been stranded here. and king's makes my time here better. it's a huge space, dark, lots of cool tables. well drinks are $3.75.if you go here on thanksgiving they give you a turkey in your drink! not a real one, a little plastic one. now you only have to wait one year to get yours. the bartenders are nice and the juke box is impressive. they have whiskeytown. also they have 2 ski ball machines(?) in the back, which is great. it only costs 25 and that's nice too because a dollas gets ya 4 games. i've never had the food but i've heard it's all delicious. it's a nice bar to keep to your self and watch douchey males court their prey. i mean that in the most non-creepy way possible.

    (4)

  • caleb w.

    so, the aluminum urinal trough in the king's tavern men's room, has an automatic flush sensor. 4 stars!

    (4)

  • Chang S.

    Burger rocks, bun sucks.

    (3)

  • Andrew M.

    Good place to hang out, and the $3 pints during happy hour are a good deal because they have great beers on tap. As for the food, just stay away. A dollar off of undercooked burgers and soggy sweet potato fries doesn't make it a good deal.

    (3)

  • Barbara M.

    There are much better hamburgers in Seattle, fun ambience (Rudys next door is different) and good service. Dirty "gas station" restroom.

    (2)

  • Annie S.

    Skeeball! Takes you back folks, to the days of Chuck E. Cheese birthday parties, only you can put vodka in your juice and rum in your soda. This place is fun, has a chill atmosphere and an outdoor partially covered deck. It got pretty crowded Saturday night, but we were able to squeeze in a few rounds of competitive Skeeball. Great for a night out with a group of friends who just want to hang out and chill.

    (4)

  • Val T.

    mmmmmmmm Ski ball tourney wednesdays and Burgers never tasted soo goood......

    (4)

  • Brian S.

    Cool place if you're lucky enough to get through the door on a busy night. I haven't tried the food (they have food?), but they have all the right liquor. Slight meet market feel doesn't appeal to this old married guy, but there are lots of singles here if that's your thing. It's Ballard, it's fun, but it's nothing special. Grab a drink while waiting for your hair cut at Rudy's!

    (3)

  • Alice H.

    Such a great new addition to Ballard! For drinks with friends it's really a perfect setting. You nachos and stay inside or injoy the large outside deck. So cleaver to take an old hardware store and convert it to a bar as well. I have only had a few items from their menu, wasn't too fond of their salad dressing on a dinner salad I ordered. But if you are ordering typical bar food, this is the place. I ordered their nachos, and the were divine! Also so creative with them also, they baked the nachos and the toppings on a large tortilla, so all the remains that fall you can still eat! So clever! I defintely recommend this place for a great night of drinks with friends!

    (4)

  • Dylan A.

    Even the seemingly constant wall-to-wall crowd can't stop me from enjoying this place. There are small downsides (it's loud, it can take a while to get food while they're busy) but the quality and uniqueness of their all-burger menu (still haven't dared to try the After School Special) and the good bar service make it an overall winner. Tiffany S., below is right about the Dark and Stormy. If you're a ginger addict like me, you can't go wrong with that one. I have a feeling that you have to make it here early, or just get lucky, in order to get a seat on the patio, but goddamn does it look cute and inviting. Can't wait to see what these folks have lined up for their new joint that'll be going in on 15th in Capitol Hill, seeing as King's and Linda's are both pretty excellent.

    (4)

  • Zachary P.

    Alright, I have a confession to make. Ballard, I may have judged you unfairly. I was totally ready to write you off as the epicenter of the yuptard revolution. King's Hardware has forced me to reconsider. This is exactly the kind of place I have been looking for since moving here. Bacon and Bleu cheese burger was perfect. And I mean perfect... The stuffed animals are borderline over the top but there is no denying the character they lend to the place. And the jukebox has nina simone... nuff said!

    (5)

  • matt c.

    great decor great service great vibe great selection had an awesome time and the sweet potato fries are to die for. cheers.

    (4)

  • dana b.

    I adore Kings Hardware for their veg and turkey burgers and sweet potato fries. I can't wait to frequent their deck next summer. The best parts of the Hill all seem to be making their way to Ballard... I hope this is a good thing!

    (5)

  • Kris C.

    Loud. Young. Scratch the hipster surface and it's frat boy all the way. But I'd come back for the sweet-potato fries.

    (3)

  • James S.

    Comfy atmosphere, but bring a megaphone and a hearing aid on Friday and Sat nights. Beer selection was acceptable, but nothing special... well, this is Amerika, where the best you can get is a "local beer" that tastes like Heineken. The crowd was a bit too ivory and a bit too male, so come on ladies of color, make your way to Ballard and liven the place up.

    (3)

  • Trevin C.

    Where else in Seattle can you get to play Skeet Ball while holding a greasy burger in your hand?

    (3)

  • Tim O.

    Check out the large patio out back. Shared with the Rudy's next door, but it's really for King's Hardware. Strong drinks done just right.

    (4)

  • J R.

    Love this place. Had the opportunity to meet some of the staff this winter on a slow day. Great hard workers who want you to have a good experience. Place gets damn busy though as the night progresses. So if you want to eat on a saturday, pony up at the bar and let Mandy the super sweet bartender take care of your orders and serve up some great drinks. Be wary she has this sexy, sassy attitude about her. Food is great, get the sweet potato fries. Mmmmm!

    (5)

  • Joel C.

    King's is a newer place that tries hard to look old school and lodge-like. Generally, I'd say they pulled it off pretty well. Good beer selection, and the wait staff has been attentive in my experience, although not terribly friendly. Burgers are OK. But they have Donkey Kong, which earned them an extra star. This place gets too busy on weekend nights for my tastes.

    (4)

  • Laural B.

    Brought to you by Linda and a lot of crazy crap on the walls. PBR in bottles and a skee ball machine. Nice nights will get the patio busy.

    (3)

  • Chris R.

    Good service and a great back patio. Not the best food but if you love bar food that will upset your belly it's perfect. It's a bar. A good solid bar in Ballard.

    (3)

  • Ben J.

    Too crowded and loud. Some decent drink deals, but the service kind of sucks.

    (3)

  • Jon T.

    always a big fan of bars with cold beer and great burgers and this placed scored high on both. burgers where great. guiness was poured well. service was good - especially impressive given how busy they were.

    (4)

  • Yana K.

    This is a really chill bar to hang out with your friends at. The drinks are strong and cheap (hello $2.95 vodka cranberry!!!). It gets really crowded, fairly quickly though. I've been here a few times and never manage to snag a table for myself. There is a deck area, although the tall wall does nothing for you to enjoy the view. There is one pool table ( )= boo!) but the jukebox really makes up for it. Good selection of music AND people? Can't be beat.

    (4)

  • Drue C.

    excusemepardonmejusttryingtogetthroughpleasegetyou­rhandoffmyassbroexcusemeprettypleasecanyoumoveyour­hipsterassoutofmywaysoicangetbyyeahdudeiwastalking­toyouitisdamncrowededinhereandidonotknowwhythehips­etersandstripedshirtfratboysareevenhangingoutinthe­sameplacebecauseyoucannotmovewhenthetwoconvergeand­getafewdrinksinthemandlamelyattemttotalktothesnott­ywomenwhoalsowillnotgetoutofthefuckingwaysoicanget­fromoneendofthebartotheotherohnevermindillcomeback­onaweekdayactuallynoiwont

    (1)

  • JS U.

    King's is a solid three stars. They're not fancy. They're not special. They are however, very comfortable, affordable and fun to hang out at. The bar/wait staff are relaxed, attentive and fun to chat with. If there's an "in crowd" in Ballard, this is where they're at. King's has a small but nice rotating selection of regional micro beer and make excellent onion rings. Those Buffalo wings aren't so bad either. I like the King because they're so laid back and if that's what you're looking for, this is a great place to just chill. Indoor seating is slightly dark but still comfortable. They have a nice little hidden courtyard inside the premises, which is comfortable but be early because those seats fill up early. The decor is an eclectic mix of somebodies old photos meets somebodies taxidermy collection meets somebodies old trash. Whatever it is, it works and makes for interesting conversation, if you can't think of anything else to say to your beer mates. Long live the King!

    (3)

  • kristin l.

    the day i went was $5, burger and beer. yum. good deal. my boyfriend had 2. and the waitress was nice. we were able to pull together a lot of tables to make a really big table and didn't get any trouble from anyone.

    (4)

  • Whitney C.

    I've been here once on a Saturday night, which was crowded but fun, and twice to eat burgers after work on a Friday, which was not crowded and pleasant. Their burgers are amazing--especially the one with goat cheese, roasted red peppers and whole cloves of roasted garlic. The bull rings (onion rings) are great too. I don't eat red meat, so I love the option to have any burger be a garden burger, turkey, or organic beef. I alway choose the turkey. They have so many different dipping sauces to choose from too for fries and onion rings. Good service, hot waitstaff.

    (4)

  • SweetP G.

    yummy waffle fries, good cider.

    (4)

  • Melissa M.

    OK, King's Hardware: when you first opened, I thought you were awesome. A Linda's bar in Ballard? Hell, yeah! Now, I'm not so sure. The people who work here are nice enough, the food is consistently decent, there's skeeball and a nice outdoor area. But, the music is iffy and the crowd is all over the place--- and not in a good way. It's nice to have a good mix of people, but it goes from a hipster bar, to a rockabilly after-hours place, to a neighborhood watering hole, to making me think that Ballard is becoming the new Belltown at breakneck speed. This works at some bars, but the problem with King's is that the different groups don't seem very tolerant of each other-- like they're each trying to stake out the place for themselves. Dunno. I'll always pick Hazelwood over this place.

    (3)

  • Evan W.

    Kokanee Tall Boys? Skee-Ball? Patio? What else do you need. This has quickly become my favorite place to hang with friends, and is a the place where everyone feels comfortable. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    great happy hour, good burgers for the price, sweet potato fries, good outdoor garden with heat lamps, loud music and a couple of skee-ball machines! i love skee-ball (being from NJ) and these are very hard to find in Seattle. a great game to play while you are drinking. i think they have a dartboard, too. happy hour is quite the deal here for burgers and beer. it's a hipster-dive bar in my eyes and very busy on the weekends. come with a flannel, hipster hat and some tatoos and you'll fit right in. service can be spotty. some servers are on it and others are well, on something! great place to people watch and go to for a few beers. i like to go for happy hour or during the week when it is less crowded. King's has a ton of deer and other animals hung up on the walls here. lots of bourbon choices, too! it's a fun bar with a lot of character.....just know what you are getting in to and you'll have a good time. at age 41, i'm probably among the oldest that goes to this place. lots of great cheap beer offerings, too! have a PBR and a shot of Jack Daniels and you'll fit right in, especially if you park your fixie bike outside against the tree.

    (4)

  • erik b.

    i'm sure king's is okay in the afternoon. i have only been there at night. they have a decent beer selection, a large patio(which is fine when you're not yelled at by dicks about smoking), and skee-ball. but the place will fill up with stupid frat kids and all the problems that go along with that. also the last(and i do mean LAST) two times i was there, the men's room was beyond fucked.

    (2)

  • Liz A.

    the weekend and/or late night customers are a little "douchey" but, great beers, burgers and fries. (and skeeball!)

    (3)

  • isaac k.

    The Lynch burg Lemonade is great!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :3:00 pm - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Late Night
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Loud
    Music : Juke Box
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

King’s Hardware

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