KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

Gee Scott doubts Lil Woody’s popularity ahead of Tacoma debut: ‘Never heard of this place’

Jul 3, 2025, 4:57 PM | Updated: 5:04 pm

Lil Woody's burger...

A Lil Woody's burger and fries. (Photo @spikenheimer via Flickr Creative Commons)

(Photo @spikenheimer via Flickr Creative Commons)

Lil Woody’s, a beloved Seattle burger and shake chain, is expanding farther south to Tacoma, according to The Tacoma News Tribune.

While locals are excited for more burger options, KIRO host Gee Scott is doubtful of the restaurant’s popularity.

“I’m upset. There is no way — hold on — there is a popular Seattle burger and shake spot that’s going to be heading south. Basically, they’re saying that this place is one of the top burger places in the Seattle area, in the state of Washington. And I’ve never heard of this place,” he shared on “The Gee and Ursula Show” Thursday.

Does Lil Woody’s deserve best burger in WA?

Lil Woody’s was named the best burger in Washington by Reader’s Digest last year.

“Before Five Guys came to town, Burgermaster had been putting on for a minute. Love that place,” Gee responded. “And you mean to tell me, y’all gonna talk about Lil Woody’s over Dick’s burger joint? You know what? I’m being punked right now. There’s no way. I’ve never heard of Lil Woody’s.”

However, Gee noted that a lot of people are pumped for a new burger spot.

“Cool, I keep saying Tacoma is a desert when it comes to burger and pizza options,” a Reddit user commented in a thread about Lil Woody’s opening in the Stadium District.

“We have been in dire need of a burger spot,” another Reddit user commented in the thread.

Lil Woody’s first opened in Capitol Hill in 2012, according to The Tacoma News Tribune. Right now, the only location outside of Seattle is in Tokyo, Japan.

The new Tacoma restaurant will be in the former Harvester diner building, The Puget Sound Business Journal reported. It is set to open in early 2026.

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio. 

Gee and Ursula Show

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

Edmonds School District principal contract...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘They both deserve an F’: Ursula rips Edmonds district for principal’s new contract after abuse warnings

A principal accused of failing to act on many warnings about a teacher's behavior with students will keep a $200,000 job with the Edmonds School District.

5 hours ago

sound transit light rail...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘Sound Transit is a disease’: Jake and Spike spar over whether the region’s massive transit investment is worth it

Transit ridership across the Puget Sound region is down 10.5% since 2015, even as the population has grown by 14% and funding has increased.

6 hours ago

boeing strike...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Go get your money’: Gee and Ursula divided on pending Boeing strike after engineers reject contract

Members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) rejected Boeing's contract offer and authorized a strike if negotiations fail.

9 hours ago

20 mph zone bellevue...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘You want citywide school zones’: Gee and Ursula clash with producer over Bellevue’s new 20 mph speed limit

Gee and Andrew debate Bellevue's new speed limit change and its impact on community safety and traffic flow.

9 hours ago

andre sayles (3)...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘That optimism is gone’: Ursula reverses on interim police chief Sayles after misconduct complaint revealed

Seattle's interim police chief Andre Sayles filed a potentially career-ending misconduct complaint against a veteran detective.

9 hours ago

drinking alcohol democrats...

John Curley Show

‘Democrats feel like they’ve got more reason to drink’: KIRO hosts analyze data showing partisan split in record-low alcohol use

Discover how shifting drinking habits reveal a partisan divide in alcohol consumption among Democrats.

11 hours ago

Gee Scott doubts Lil Woody’s popularity ahead of Tacoma debut: ‘Never heard of this place’