Z-Burger

So, the spot is busy. The burgers here are okay, and you have a whole bunch of free toppings that you can choose from. The fries here are either ‘Z-​style’ or seasoned. I ended up getting the seasoned fries which weren’t too flavorful despite being told it’s a cajun style seasoning.
I got bacon and cheese on my burger on top of it loaded and with jalapenos. The burger was okay, I feel like with places like this toppings are too much and take away from the meat, which is just okay.
However, I was there for their $ 2 burger day so it wasn’t all that bad.

The only saving grace of this place is the onion rings. The burgers are mediocre, and they have ALWAYS forgetting the z-​sauce on the side, whether or not I order directly there (and have to wait 30 minutes to get my food) or if I order ahead of time through the Order Ahead app. It doesn’t make sense, because I’ve come 3 times, it clearly states on the receipt that I’ve ordered sauce on the side, and it has never been included in my bag. I guess that is my fault for not checking my bag before I leave the restaurant, but even then, it seems obvious that the cooks are not actually looking at the order and just giving you what they want to give you. They’ve also gotten my toppings wrong all 3 times. I don’t know what is going on back there. Also, even when you order ahead, it still takes 10 minutes more to get your food than the stated time it says it will be ready.

I wasn’t expecting to like this Z-​Burger location, because frankly, I didn’t like the dupont one. But, the boyfriend had been talking about burgers all weekend – and I didn’t have any better suggestions. I was pleasantly surprised by Z Burger this time. The ingredients tasted fresher – the lettuce crisp, the patties weren’t overcooked, the fries and onion rings hot with a good texture, even the soda seemed to have a better syrup to carbonation ratio. My hungry boyfriend was impressed with the size of his burger, and liked how much customization can go into it (think Five Guys with amount of meat, extensive toppings menu). The only odd characteristic was that they haven’t reduced their milkshake menu yet. Any time I’ve been to a Z-​Burger and someone has ordered a milkshake, I’ve watched them stare blankly at the menu and then opt for Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry or Peanut Butter. Pick a few flavors and do them well, and have a rotating flavor – that menu seems like it has something for everyone, but is just whelming customers.

So where do I start. I love this location. It’s right up the street from my house. Columbia heights is my neighborhood treasure. The location is great, the set up is that of an old theater. The pillars are marble, there’s crown molding on the ceiling and Victorian style artwork drawn on the ceilings.
I was worried initially about the quality of my burger since it was so cheap. I’m happy to say it was delicious, juicy and cooked to perfection. I should’ve have ordered two but I wanted to only enjoy a burger, not eat myself into the shape of a burger. Plus I felt good paying only two dollars for a burger that’s clearly worth more.
Not too mention all the freebies you can add to the burger. I got all the freebies plus I added hot sauce, Z– Sauce and roasted red peppers.

The employees here are wonderful! The GM Mr. Reyes knows how to run a restaurant. My husband and I googled great food in the area we were in when we were in town traveling from Fort Campbell. Not only did we have great hot fresh food, but the employees were honest and very welcoming. They didn’t try to up sell on their menu, and they answered our questions because we were unfamiliar with the place. They really care about their guest. On top of the great food we were traveling back home and 4 hours after we started our trip back home my husband realized he left his phone there. Mr. Reyes not only had his phone in a secure spot but he is sending it to my husband. He sure is top notch. Thanks for being so honest and having great values. Your honesty goes a long way! This will be our new favorite spot when we come to DC now! Shout out from Fort Campbell Army Base!!! Honesty goes a long way!!!

Sure, the burgers at this place are good… but have you tried their chicken steak and cheese???
It. Is. Outstanding.

I don’t hang out in Comumbia Heights often and after checking out Z burger I wish I did more! I have only had one item and always gotten take out but I couldn’t be happier with the food. I didn’t get a burger — opted for the chicken philly. It was probably one of the top 5 chickens Philly sandwiches I have ever had. The Z burger staff is always on point and does a great job of making sure you get exactly what you are looking for.
The bread is perfectly toasted and the ratio of meat to bread is just right. The cheese is melted right on top of the meat and not melted too far. The portion size is pretty big so you could probably portion it to two meals if you pair it with their fries (I haven’t tried them).
Great casual spot in Columbia Heights. Will have to go back some time soon to check out the shakes

$ 6.04 for a milkshake and it is well worth it! Ample customer service and a phenomenal product. Next time, I will stop here to order a burger instead of walking down the street to the horrible Phở restaurant

After having several rounds of drinks, I really needed something to counteract the alcohol, and this burger really hit the spot! Following the customization trend, you choose your type of patty (including turkey and veggie), toppings, and sauces. I had a single bacon cheeseburger with pickles, ketchup, and chipotle mayo. I split an order of the seasoned fries, which were crisp, fresh, and flavorful. Looking back, I should have ordered a milkshake (however I’m not sure that would have mixed well with the alcohol I had consumed) because they have flavors-​chocolate marshmallow, chocolate oreo, birthday cake, and s’mores– that are making me salivate right now just thinking about them. They also have interesting flavors like watermelon, strawberry orange, and maple walnut. In addition to burgers, they have cheesesteaks and hot dogs too. Since customization allows you to have a different burger/​cheesesteak/​hot dog every visit, combined with the allure of a delicious handspun milkshake, I will absolutely be back. Maybe next time I’ll even be sober.

Z sauce is off the chain. Burgers are a little pricey but you get your choice of plenty of good toppings. Fries and onion rings are pretty good, nothing special but once again the Z sauce should be used to smother everything you order.

The Chipotle of the Burger World. I can’t believe it took me this long to discover this little burger paradise– made to order turkey burgers. Sooo delicious. Issa is a fantastic server. Great place to bring the kids if you survived pulling them out of Best Buy.

Do you like hamburgers? Do you like milkshakes? Then definitely check Z-​Burger out. You pick how many patties you want, and then start adding toppings! They have a huge list of items you can add. My personal favorite is cheese, sautéed mushrooms and onions. The seasoned fries are great but the order is huge so I’d recommend sharing them. And the milkshakes are DELICIOUS and they have a million flavors to choose from. My favorite is the chocolate and peanut butter. YUM!

Food was tasty. However, I saw female employee grab a fry from the fry bay with her bare hand and eat it. Brings up concerns about cleanliness practices.

Reminds me of five guys to be honest. Lots of space inside and lots of (free) options for burger toppings! The salted fries were good but not a fan of the onion rings.

I really like this place for a quick bite! Their burgers and fries are really good. I don’t go often, but always have a good experience when I do!

I came here because it was close to my hotel and looked popular. I ordered a cheese-​turkey burger with everything on it and it was amazing. The Z sauce that they put on it was heavenly and much better than Shake Shack or In n Out. One thing I wasn’t a fan of was the fries, they were too over done or underdone, just not cooked properly.
I also got an Chocolate Oreo shake which was soooo yummy!
70+ flavors for shakes = great!

The Shakes are so good, fries hot and delicious and my burger was amazing
The staff there was really helpful because it was my first time there and they were patient, and funny.

Man oh man if you never been to this place before, you should go. I had the best Turkey Burger that I’ve had in a long time. I went to the one on 13^th and park road. Location is okay no street parking. I will advise that you park in the garage on top of the giant. Good thing is that Z Burger comps 2 hour parking, so you can go shopping around the area. Shakes are good, but the fries are not the best. Looks like they fried all the ends of the fries and that’s what they give you. Overall very expensive place to go to. So if you have a little extra change in your pocket, this would be a place to stop pass.

On a rainy Tuesday, a friend and I grab a quick dinner at Z-​Burger in Columbia Heights, after passing by it 100s of times without every stepping foot in.
I order a bacon cheese-​steak to try to change it up a bit, which comes with an overwhelming list of topping options, similar to the ones offered up at other popular chains like 5 guy. The portion size is HUGE, with each half of the sandwich being enough for one meal. My only complaint is how messy it is with cheese and oil oozing everywhere, but I am essentially ordering fast food after all, so my complaints aren’t as warranted.
To go with the cheese-​steak, I order the ½ fries and ½ onion rings, with both being very crisp and well seasoned. The onion ring trumps the fries by far though with a batter so crispy I could hear the crunching sound as my friend chomped down on one.
I washed it all down with an Apple Pie Milkshake, which tasted just as yummy as it sounds. I loved that it wasn’t too thick to the point where you have trouble sucking it up your straw (which has been my most recent struggle, I mean, I love me a thick shake and all, but if I can’t drink it, it might as well be an ice cream sundae).
Though a tad over-​priced, the cute and retro vibe given off from Z-​Burger makes for a pleasant bite when you’re craving some good old Americana food.

There is a 5 Guys one block south on the right. You should go there.
This is a 5 Guys burger, with some more topping options, but not as good. It isn’t bad, but in a day when you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a gourmet burger place, toss it somewhere else.
The location is a cool point spot that is nicely appointed inside and fancier than a 5 Guys for sure.
They also have a milk shake station. Didn’t try one, but they do a combo of fresh scooped ice cream, toppings, and flavored syrup to mix your drink. I found the shake menu confusingly overwhelming though as I didn’t know what flavors came from scooped ice cream, vs. soft ice cream, vs. syrup. I didn’t want to get a shake flavored with colored syrup so I passed.
Burger was kind of bland. Even with several toppings and an egg on top.