Herfy’s

The sign read: «new management». Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I’ve been going here for the past couple years and usually have a pretty good experience, though it seems no bargain, putting it in league with the spendier burger chains like Kidd Valley.
Today’s visit was OK — nothing too terrible to report. It was freezing (might have been in the 30s, same as outside) due to the lack of up-​to-​date insulation in the dining area of the restaurant. They had some radiant heaters positioned around, but they weren’t adequate for the size of the room. This might be always a cold place, but I usually don’t notice it since I take-​out the food most often.
Also, we were lucky to not be in a line of people, so our food was ready in about 10 minutes more or less, so it seemed. After we ordered and sat down, a line started to form. There was only one order-​taker/​server and one person cooking that I could tell. Probably adequate staffing throughout the day (it was a Saturday at lunchtime when we went there) but maybe during the peak periods, you could experience delays.
The fries are crinkle cut fries — you’ve got to try their special sauce on the fries. It has a tang to it like what you might find on a national burger chain’s iconic double-​patty cheese burger. The burgers are generously-​sized and come with plenty of stuff on them — onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, etc. My kid had the chicken nuggets kids meal and she was satisfied by what she received.
The menu has a lot of burger options, including a variety of fish burgers and a «house special» which is a double burger — one meat patty and one chicken patty! This location also serves teriyaki too. One item no longer on the menu is catfish. The last time I went there, I think the menu was a little more robust, but maybe the «new management» made some changes.
Parking is adequate in the private lot, they’re less than a minute from I-​405, and the Metro Route 240 comes by roughly half-​hourly.
I don’t think I’d ever consider this a destination stop for a meal — there are quite a few other Herfy’s locations sprouting up around the Puget Sound — but I’d stop in if I was in the area and hungry.

This Herfy’s had really gone downhill – I used to get their teriyaki until they cut the portions and started using worse meat – but in the last month or so they put out an «under new management» sign and the food is much improved. It’s still a little overpriced for fast food, and the dining room is still dingy and cold, but the food’s pretty good.
If you’re in a McDonald’sy sort of situation, but want food that’s a bit better with a lot more variety, Herfy’s is a good choice.

If you’re absolutely stuck in Renton around the area with no way to get around (which is where I found myself), then I think Herfy’s is a fine choice. But given even maybe a McDonald’s, I’m bolting – Herfy’s is surprisingly slower in service and even more shocking probably with lower quality ingredients.
The French fries tasted a bit fishy, literally. I suspect they use the same deep fryer for the fish and fries. The hamburger bun dwarfed the small patty, and the tomato was suspect at best. I suppose for $ 3.29 in Seattle it wasn’t too bad, but if only I could have made it to Pike Place Market for something better.

An ’80’s blast from the past!
It reminds me of a place I used to go to as a kid, Burger Chef, or of Artic Circle. No, the food isn’t to die for (wait, it’ll clog your arteries… it IS to die for!), but come here if you’re in Renton, are passing through Renton, or are planning a trip to Renton and decide you’d like some novelty in your life with a side of good old fashioned grease. «hey, billy, would you like some good old-​fashioned grease?» «sure, ma!»
Pluses for the fact they aren’t a huge chain, pluses for the fact that it’s ’80’s style, minuses for the fact that it’s up the hill in Renton, which isn’t convenient at all.
Good night and good luck

nasty, dry, overcooked, burgers with stale buns and half rotten lettuce and tomatoes. add dirty uncleaned and ugly tables, and you might as well go eat in the restroom of a bar downtown.

Edit: A few months after I wrote this review, I got incredibly sick eating at this Herfy’s. The food quality took a sudden dive. I don’t know if it was the Carl’s, JR moving in on Herfy’s territory (happened right around the time the Carl’s opened) or if there was some other factor at play. Two visits in a row with abysmal food quality and I’m not interested in returning.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Herfy’s burgers aren’t fantastic. They are consistently good, always tasty and available if you want a fast-​food style burger but don’t eat at any of the national fast-​food chains.
They do have a variety of fried things available –mushrooms, zucchini, onion rings, fries… Those mushrooms with a bit of that weirdly-​pink ketchup and mayo sauce always kill any craving for fried food in the best way.
Cheap, fast and at least clean-​tasting (I’ve never been in a kitchen of a Herfy’s) — definitely worth your stop if you’re looking for a burger.

I like the burgers here. I like the fries. I like the malts. And yes, the have a wide variety of fast foodie type things.
And the service is stellar. And it is quite clean. Plus they have stickers. Do you have two quarters I can borrow?
Ok. The burgers aren’t as good as ballard bros but I feel good and clean when I leave this place. And sometimes that is important.
I look forward to my visits to Renton just so I can stop in here!
UPDATE:
I finally tried something other than a burger here! The clam strips are fabulous! They are big meaty hunks of clams. Pretty much they are the best clams strips I’ve ever had. Very sweet. They remind me of the conch I had in florida many years ago.
I also tried the fish and scallops. The fish was very mediocre and the scallops were a big ICK (however, my gf liked the scallops). I thought they tasted like soap. But, I often don’t like scallops so it might just be me.

There is nothing really special about the food here but it does serve a utilitarian purpose: how to feed your family when everyone wants something different. Yeah, they’ve got burgers and shakes, but they also have fried fish, shrimp, halibut, salmon, catfish, scallops, oyster, and clam strips. Add to all that, chicken strips, chicken breast salad, teriyaki burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and Philly cheese steaks, and I’m pretty sure everyone in your family will find something they like. The lights are fluorescent and the counter tops are yellow but they do try to make it homey by having oak-​like kitchen-​type tables and chairs instead of plastic booths in weird colors like you find at their fast-​food competitors. And anyway, they have THE MOST extensive FRY MENU I’ve ever seen at a fast-​food joint: crinkle fries, seasoned curly fries, waffle fries, AND Jojo’s. Delish.