Mike's Drive-In is a small chain of drive-in restaurants, based in the U.S. state of Oregon.[1] There are currently restaurants in Milwaukie, Oregon City, and Tigard; Mike's previously had a location in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland and currently has plans to open a location in North Portland.

Mike's Drive-In
Exterior of the restaurant in Milwaukie, Oregon, in 2021
Restaurant information
City
StateOregon
CountryUnited States
Websitewww.mikesdrivein.com

History edit

 
Outdoor seating at the Milwaukie restaurant, 2021

Mike Martin opened the original restaurant at the intersection of 47th Avenue and East Burnside Street in Portland in 1971, followed by the Milwaukie location in 1973. Current owner Todd Freeman purchased the business in March 1984.[2] The Sellwood restaurant in Portland (Southeast 17th and Tenino Street)[3] opened in 1986 and was demolished c. 2016.[4] The Oregon City restaurant opened on August 10, 1989 and underwent a renovation in 2016.[2][5]

The Milwaukie restaurant was damaged by a fire in 2020.[6] The Milwaukie and Oregon City restaurants closed indoor dining and operated via takeout during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] A third location opened in Tigard in 2022 and a fourth location opened in North Portland in 2023.[9][10][11]

Reception edit

Michael Russell ranked Mike's number 4 on The Oregonian's 2011 list of the Portland metropolitan area's best "classic" burgers.[12] In 2020, Portland Monthly writers ranked Mike's and other "old school" restaurants number 16 on a list of Portland's 20 best cheeseburgers.[13] Brooke Jackson-Glidden and Alex Frane of Eater Portland have described Mike's as "an iconic Oregon restaurant for burgers, fries and soft serve".[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Swindler, Samantha (March 10, 2021). "Mike's Drive-In turns 50, and business is booming". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Rendleman, Raymond (February 1, 2021). "Mike's Drive-In restaurants celebrating 50th anniversary". Portland Tribune. Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Beck, Dana (November 1, 2019). "Closing of Westmoreland Dairy Queen ends an era". The Bee. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Humphrey, Wm. Steven (October 23, 2016). "Mike's Drive-In, Longtime Sellwood Burger Joint, May be Demolished (UPDATE: Yup, It's Demolished)". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Rendleman, Raymond (January 20, 2016). "Mike's Drive-In in Oregon City being renovated". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Crews respond to fire at Mike's Drive-In in Milwaukie". KPTV. March 18, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Rendleman, Raymond (March 20, 2020). "COVID-19 hits businesses in Clackamas County". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Jackson-Glidden, Brooke; Frane, Alex (April 23, 2020). "Where to Get Delivery and Takeout in Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, and Happy Valley". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Mike's Drive-In to open new location in Tigard". KOIN.com. 2022-02-18. Archived from the original on 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  10. ^ "Mike's Drive In Lombard Street | Mike's Drive-In". www.mikesdrivein.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  11. ^ "A Look Back on a Century of Portland Burger Joints". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  12. ^ Russell, Michael (December 6, 2011). "Counting down to the Portland area's best classic burger: No. 4". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Brooks, Karen; Oakley, Bill; Okazaki, Gary; Lewis, Pauline; Lewis, Drew (December 18, 2021). "Portland's 20 Best Cheeseburgers, Exhaustively Argued and Ranked". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

External links edit