Ranch Drive-In
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: None
25 Reviews for Ranch Drive-In
Worst burger I've had in washington. The bun was grilled -- that's always a good thing, but when it starts out stale, it's still stale when it's grilled.
The fries where more salt than potato though my wife's onion rings were decent. The prices seemed high, especially after we tired what we paid for... sadly.
Between the rings and a marginally decent chicken sandwich, this place saved itself from a one-star review by a little ways, but seriously, this was the worst burger I've had since we moved to WA 9 months ago, so 2 stars it is.
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Any place that proudly displays their heritage gets extra points in my book. A throwback to the 60's, this little indie burger joint proudly displays wooden menu signs on the walls. I'm talkin' the OLD-SCHOOL menus that have hand carved letters in there...one even had the haunting impression of a long ago steak sandwich option which had been sanded off the wood...almost completely.
The Ranch Burger - while under $6 - was surprisingly thin. Yes, it covers the whole bun, but when it's only a few centimeters thick it feels like I'm eating more bread than anything. (yes, I'm ignoring the obvious reference to the old Burger King ad here) The fries were good, but the onion rings were ehhhhhhhh....
What made up for it? (besides my delightul company who was breaking my Ranch cherry?) THE CONES. Good Lord these are immense soft-serve cones. They get these things packed tight, with the soft-serve ice cream alllll the way down in the bottom of the cone (you know what I'm talkin' about) and then as it piles up they smush it down so it is not only tall, but girthy also. It was a meal in itself - lactose intolerants, consider yourself warned!
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Yeah, that's right, 5 freakin stars.
I think I would get kicked out of Bothell, if I didn't, but i actually MEAN it. This is *the* hang out for high schoolers. You are NOTHING if you're first job doesn't include a stint here. Oh yeah, you WILL get to 2nd base if you take you're homecoming date here. THAT is how much the Ranch *IS* Bothell.
It is typical "family run small business" fast food. It's consistent, it's yummy, and it's all about killing the arteries for a few bucks.
But the best part...BEST part of the Ranch is hitting that walk up window in summer time for some nice soft servce ice cream. Vanilla, Chocolate or for you super-freaks out there (like me) the Twist.
Nothing pleases me more than taking someone who's never been here before and watching them order an ice cream cone like they would as some lame ass Baskin Robbins or McDonald's.
If you say "large" be prepared. Hell, anything over "kids cone" you should be forewarned. Those mamma-jamma's are huge!!
The look of wide-eyed panic on the eyes of the recipient..you can read their thoughts in slow motion bubbles that spew out their ears.."There ...is...no...way...I ....can....get....that...all..the ...way .....in .....my mouth!!!!!!!"
Priceless fun, yummy eats, and loads of school girl memories!
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I was craving a ranch deluxe, hadn't had one in some time, so the other day I rolled over with my kids and got food from the ranch...let me say I've been going from time to time since I was five. Shoot my mom worked there when she was in high school. The disappointment of my burger was heartbreaking...no longer the yumminess it once was. The lettuce and onions on my burger tasted awful, almost like they were old and pushing rotten. The fries, again used to be a favorite treat, were wilty and tasteless...such a disappointment. It's true what another poster offered, when Bob was running the place it was a six star establishment, now that Devon is at the helm don't waste the cash. I'm so sad, no more hankerin' for a yummy ranch deluxe.
Open since 1959, Ranch Drive-In is older than I am. Heck, it's older than most yelpers. So as an institution that has stood the test of time, I had to check it out. Finally, after working in Bothell for 3 years, I stopped by the Ranch Drive-In for the first time yesterday. For the most part, it didn't disappoint. No doubt many people will appreciate the nostalgia - old wooden menus (though at 2008 prices) and the simple drive in fare covering mainly burgers but also offering a variety of fried foods. An order of bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and small soda hit $10, so it isn't exactly cheap. And for the same price, my standard for burgers, Red Mill, seems like a bargain in terms of quality of ingredients, portions, and selection. Overall, Ranch Drive In beats fast food for taste but at twice the price, I think I'll stick to Red Mill.
Old-fashioned burger joint the way it was before McDonalds, BurgerKing and Wendy's drover almost everyone else out of business. Family owned and staffed largely by old ladies from a local church group. they're very sweet even if they write slow. Burgers are great, large and juicy, fries are great (large order will feed 3), and they have great soft ice cream, too.
Get there before Bothell High gets out for lunch or you'll have a hard time getting a seat inside. Outside seating is OK in summer only.
Ranch burger, fries and a coke will cost you about $8. If you have any reason to go to Bothell ("for a day or a lifetime"), you really ought to stop in and see how "it used to be". It's worth it.
Only 4 stars because to get to the bathroom you have to go in from the outside through the back of the kitchen. But face it, you're there for the burgers, you can hold it for awhile, can't you?
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Yummy and delicious. The burgers reminded me of the flat large Burger King burgers but much more juicy and flavorful. I love Red Mill as well but I wouldn't compare the places because the style of burgers are different. All I remember of the Ranch Burger was it was a lot of meat and cheese while Red Mill is more of a 'restaurant' style burger with veggies and stuff. The fries were delicious at Ranch Burger - better than Red Mill fries - and WAY better onion rings. Onion rings were perfect - the onion batter did not fall apart - reminded of Burger King onion rings.
Ok fine, this place is like a mom and pop Burger King but way better.
Careful walking around inside, floors are GREASY.
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spent the weekend eating burgers
besides redmill nowhere was better than ranch drive in
juicy burgs
old skool
good shakes
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It's the Kenmore version of Dicks. Sort of. They have crispy krinkle-cut fries rather than greasy shoestrings, and the burgers are wider and thinner than most. Good, but not great, but not really expensive either.
If I wanted a burger in Bothell, I'd probably come here more often, but they only take cash. That's an automatic 1-star reduction.
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Michelle B and I grew up on the Ranch. Literally. In the days that parents would let their offspring wander (by themselves!) into town, we'd hike down to this place for a treat. Beware, this is a greasy spoon and an independent business. I'm not sure why reviewers are shocked? If you are in the burb's--you won't find a better burger joint. The burgers are great. Buns are grilled and toasted with butter. Fries are crinkle cut. Cones are HUGE (and half and half is an option!). What's not to like? I guess that Michelle and I both moved too far away to be able to walk here....
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Ahhh, the Ranch... sigh... such fond memories...
The Ranch is a famous burger joint in Bothell. Family owned & operated, i remember the days back in High School when i would work my 3 and 4 hour shifts (4 hours was SO long! HA). Yep, the Ranch was my first job! Run by all high school and early college kids. We would get in ketchup and mustard fights, sneak ice cream when the cameras weren't looking, lock each other in the walk-in cooler, whip each other with bleach towels... and occasionally actually work. Fun times!
As for the food (because who really cares about my high school job??)i never seem to make it back there very often, but i dream of the bacon burger! And the Ranch Burger with GRILLED ONIONS. And the fries in tartar sauce. And the dipped ice cream cones. The burgers are sloppy and messy and so delicious. You must order a la carte and bring a wad of cash.
So it's pretty much glorified fast food, but it's old fashioned and charming and worth the slightly overpriced menu, and it makes me remember that at one time in my life, my hands always smelled of pickles.
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I hadn't been to the Ranch for several years. I got the Double Ranch with cheese and onions. It is an OK burger. Sometimes, they are dripping with grease, so be careful what you eat them over! Definitely filled me up for 6 bucks. Definitely a step up from McDs and Burger King. If I had the fries, they'd at 3 stars, but I avoid them here.
Hmm - makes me wonder - lots of checks for waiter service - The Health Department considers waiter service where you sit at your table and give your order. Most Burger Joints and Pizza Places are "Limited Service" restaurants - you place your order at the counter and they MIGHT take your order to your table.
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If you ever wondered what burger joint in the 60's must have looked like you don't have to jump in a DeLorean, just head on over to the Ranch Drive-In. This place has a menu so unchangeable that it's carved in wood hanging behind the registers inside. They've taken one thing off the menu ever, and it was a steak sandwich. You can still read it on the menu board because they had to carve it off of there and the ghosts of the letters remain. The tray liners are also pretty neat, they have this desert cowboy scene on them to enhance the whole ranch image.
I ordered a Ranch Bacon Burger and it was pretty good. Lots of bacon and the burger wasn't too greasy. I also had a cherry milkshake which was very good. They have lots of other milkshake flavors to try as well, such as peanut butter and marshmallow. The fries were alright, they were crispy crinkle cut fries, but like another reviewer mentioned, they must fry these up in the same oil that they fry their fish in because every once in awhile I'd get a real fishy tasting fry.
I'd like this place more, except for two main things. First, it's cash only. Second, for a fast food burger place it's pretty expensive. Another dollar or two and you'd be in Red Robin territory for expense. While the food is definitely good, it's not good enough to fully overcome these shortcomings.
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Oh my..... can we say retro with a capital R!!
This is the standard fried burger, what McD's used to be. They serve it up with little fan-fair but plenty of "That 70's" show-esk, envision the show, minus the bad haircuts and disco ball, and you'd have the style of place in mind.
From what I remember of the menu it is limited to burgers, fries, shakes, and chicken strips, there might have been more but I stopped reading it after seeing the burger, wanting to try the original. Not bad for the old-style fried on a flat grill, no burn marks here burger. Milkshakes were tasty and they have a nice selection, soft serve ice cream is a treat not to miss.
4 stars you ask even when the meal was just okay? The sizes were great, meal was okay, been there about 3-4 times and the staff is always professional and fast, amazing since most look like they are still in high school! Customer service and retro feel give it the high ranking.
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I've been going to the Ranch for over fifteen years. They are Kid Valley-esque but with more charm and not as sloppy and greasy. I've been a vegetarian for almost a decade now and am limited to their garden burger, but before then I was strictly a chicken sandwich girl. Before that was the deluxe. I highly advise asking for grilled onions on your burger! Beware when ordering fries, the sizes are gigantic! A small is almost more than I can eat, and a large is best split between two people. They will customize anything on their menu for your tastes (I suggest playing with the milkshakes...yum) and I always ask for a side of DRESSING (it's their mayo/relish creation on their burgers) to dip my fries in. Not the tarter...DRESSING.
Edited to add 2008:
They used to be five stars. Back in the day when Bob ran this joint it was a 6 star establishment. Unfortunately his son has cut costs and corners and I don't go out of my way to patronize this establishment any longer. The shakes are still tasty, I'll give them that. The fries are now small and hardly fresh, the lettuce wilted and soggy...*sigh* It's a tragedy.
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I have been here a few times and kept thinking to myself, "If they didn't buy their patties from Costco then this might be better." It is a nice place to get food on the run, but what you are paying for is kind of sub-standard. But in the joke that is Down Town Bothell, it is the only decent burger joint.
I don't know entirely why I insist on going here every so often. The food is really not that great and, worse, it's overpriced (I often end up paying between 8-10$ for what amounts to fast food). I guess there is a sort of nostalgia there, especially for people that have lived in the area for a while. As far as drive ins go, however, driving up 522 to Dicks Drive in is much cheaper and tastier or, for similar prices, drive down 405 to Burgermaster's which has superior hamburgers and fries.
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This place has been here forever. And when you go inside you can really see how long. The menu is carved out of wood, only the pricing has any ability to change. The service is great and to keep it even more 'classic' they only accept cash or check for payment. This can be rather annoying if you dont remember before you get there. Luckily there is an ATM right across the street. However, the food is really, really good. Easily the best burgers around until you get to downtown Seattle. This is my 'hometown' burger joint.....that said, in the fall on Friday nights, its really busy because the local high schools play football walking distance and after games, everyone comes here for food!
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Located right across from the sweetest most retro Safeway ever, this place was probably in it's prime sometime after WWII. The food... it's not really good, but there are worse things out there. My main complaint is that the fries have a vague taste of fish oil, which is curious because I don't think they do fish and chips. Anyhow if you're looking for a retro experience down to the cash only policy, this is it. The staff despite being all high school kids is usually pretty friendly too, which is the only real reason why I gave it three stars.
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The Ranch Drive In has been open forever!
In my opinion however, the food is just ok. Very greasy fries and burgers with questionable meat patties. We will not be back again for lunch or dinner, but we would stop by for one of their famous chocolate dipped cones!
They make great milkshakes as well.
Like the others mentioned - Don't forget to bring your cash if you do decide to try it out!
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Oh, yummy yummy - great non-fast food chain burger. Compared to Kidd Valley the prices aren't that bad. There is a reason that they've been there forever. . . .
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This is what's known as a good old fashion burger joint. They don't take cards so bring cash. They don't have your McDonalds style value menus either, so you will need to remember how to order each item separate. The food is good, and that's all that matters. Inside and outside seating available.
I have been going here forever! The burgers are still good after all of this time. Every time I go, I order the double ranch and afterwards I just can't see why I attempted to eat so much. The shakes are great. No really.... seriously the shakes are great. While the costs are high, they have maintained the essence of the place for the past 3 decades.
It is still the place to go.
its basicly like the suburbian version of dicks expect the food is more edible. you can beat a good ol' fashion drive in with burgers and fries. probly some of the best malts around.
Be prepared, all sundaes come with chocolate sauce (even the blackberry).
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