If there’s one food item that every Idahoan is familiar with (besides potatoes, obviously), it’s the cheeseburger. We know burgers through and through. Our state is chock full of places to get your burger fix, from simple to gourmet or classic to modern. Whatever your craving is burger-wise, there’s a restaurant to fulfill it! Founded in 1907, the burger eatery featured here may just be the oldest one in Idaho. It’s been kept alive by it’s loyal customer base, who come for the simple “no frills” burger that it boasts and you have to check it out.
You'll find the iconic Hudson's Hamburgers located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where regular customers and unsuspecting tourists gather every day to experience the one and only "fresh huddy burger".
Today, the recognizable green awning makes the restaurant easily spotted. However, Hudson's used to look a lot different...
This is where the famous Hudson's all began—in a tiny tent called the "Missouri Kitchen" 110 years ago . A few things have changed since then, but their mission and the quality of their burgers have stayed the same.
The Hudson family still owns and operates the restaurant to this day.
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Hudson's is a favorite among the locals, so you'll probably have plenty of company when you visit. The popularity of the place is amplified by the fact that the restaurant only sits a mere 17 people. But as anyone will tell you, the wait is worth it.
You'll often see a line out the door, but it goes fast. The burgers are grilled and the veggies are prepped to order. You can be confident when you put your order in that your burger is being handled with care and expertise!
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If there is one thing that sets Hudson's apart from any other burger shack, it's their minimalist style. Here you'll enjoy a burger that has been stripped down to the mere basics.
As their t-shirts state: "No lettuce, no tomatoes, no mayonnaise, no yellow mustard, no relish, no milkshakes, no bacon, etc." You do get the choice of adding onions or pickles and dousing your burger in their three sauces (ketchup, spicy ketchup, and spicy mustard). That's all.
It takes a specific amount of confidence in serving burgers this way, but the Hudson's burger holds up. You don't need all those extra toppings when the simplicity of the burger is what makes it so amazing.
At $3.00 for a cheeseburger, it seems like the food prices haven't changed in decades (generations even).
Their menu is limited, which keeps the wait time short when the lines get outrageously long. But they do offer generous slices of their delicious homemade pie (and for only $2.20!).
From the outside, this may look like a pretty basic burger joint. However, the proof is in the pudding and the fact that Hudson's has been alive and thriving for over a century is a testament to the product they sell. There are no frills here, just tasty and simple burgers. But really, that's all you need.
