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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Secret’s out: Secret Burger is taking over Spokane

Chicago deep-dish pizza. (Food Network)

What a nice surprise to run into Secret Burger in Spokane. Launched in January by Las Vegas-based Jolene Mannina while I still lived and worked in Las Vegas, Mannina and Spokane-based Kris Kilduff, who oversees northwest business development for Secret Burger, reached out to me shortly after I moved to Spokane on April 27.

Since Secret Burger made its debut in Las Vegas, it has since expanded to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Spokane. Yes, Spokane! So what is Secret Burger?

Secret Burger is a company that partners with restaurants to feature one-day only — pop-up! — menu items available to customers who have pre-purchased tickets. After buying a ticket, diners arrive on the day of the Secret Burger event, which aims to help businesses during a slower time of operation.

“Seeing Secret Burger grow in Spokane has been amazing,” Kilduff said this afternoon. “I get asked at every event, ‘How come Spokane is listed with all these main cities?’ The answer is I’m here showing that Spokane’s food scene is growing in a big way. Secret Burger is the perfect platform to allow chefs creative control of their restaurant without having to worry about food cost and selling tickets.”

The limited offerings vary in price — they’re usually $15 to $25 — and start time of availability. The featured food sells quickly — once they’re gone, they’re truly gone.

The name Secret Burger is a bit of a misnomer, as the featured menu items at various restaurants are not always burgers. Here’s the upcoming calendar for Secret Burger in Spokane per its website (learn more at secretburger.com):

May 14: Prohibition Gastropub (1914 N. Monroe St.), Smoked Turf and Surf ($25)

May 16: The Ref Sports Bar (14208 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley), Giant Sombrero Hard Taco ($15)

May 19: The Scoop Ice Cream (1001 W. 25th Ave.), White Walker Milkshake ($20) (sold out)

May 21: D’bali Asian Bistro (12924 W. Sunset Highway, Suite 6, Airway Heights,), Tan Tan Mein Handmade Noodle ($15) (sold out)

May 22: Inland Pacific Kitchen (304 W. Pacific Ave., Suite 160), Peanut Butter and Jelly with Champagne ($20) (sold out)

May 28: 509 Cooks Street Food Kitchen, aka Biscuit Wizard (19 W. Main Ave), Chicago Deep Dish ($30)

May 30: Hogwash Whiskey Den (304 W. Pacific Ave.), Shepherd’s Pie Sandwich ($20)

June 2: Rewind at the Refs Sports Bar, Saturday Morning Cartoon Pop-Up Dinner ($10)

June 4: Cochinito Taqueria (10 N. Post St.), “What’s Up, Doc? Rabbit Mole Enchilada” ($20)

June 26: Park Lodge (411 N. Nettleton St.), Soft-Shell Crab Sandwich ($22)

The Secret Burger I attended in Las Vegas in January was at Dan Krohmer’s Other Mama, and it was great — the featured menu item was a shrimp and bacon burger on a homemade Johnny Cake bun with waffle fries, assorted small bites, beer and wine.

Judging by the lineup here in Spokane, Secret Burger is bound to be a success. Kilduff summed up: “The restaurants are excited to offer exclusive eats to a mix of regulars and people who have been waiting to try them out.”