Pilchuck Hometown Drive-In

205 Maple Ave, Snohomish WA 98290

  (360) 568-4413 

In downtown Snohomish, surrounded by mom and pop stores, you will find a classic burger joint called the Pilchuck Hometown Drive-In. Currently the interior is closed, but they have a drive thru, equipped with a static laden old timey intercom. The drive thru has limited space, due to the corner location, but if you are savvy you can maneuver into a parking lot space and wait with the crows and seagulls for your chance to pounce.

The menu at Pilchuck is straight forward. Also well known for their fish and chips, my eyes were quickly drawn to their flagship burger, the Jim's Special (with cheese of course). A wide range of deep fried foods are also available, as well as an expansive list of milkshake flavors if you really want to test your blood pressure.

Equipped with it's own diaper, the Jim's Special was loaded with onion, pickles, tomato, lettuce, two flat top patties and American Cheese. A toasted sesame seed bun and "special sauce" host the party of produce. Word for the wise, use the provided diaper cause this burger is messy!

While nothing about this burger jumps out as special, the combination of all the toppings come together into a beautiful symphony. The produce all seems very generic, the bun and beef are nothing to write home about, the cheese is run of the mill. Is it the sauce? Pilchuck takes ordinary ingredients and somehow unlocks the mystery of flavor. The Jim's Special has that 'umph that you feel when eating your mom's potato salad, there's just something magical about it.

While the inside was closed, I did get a peak. The interior is exactly what you would expect from a local burger joint. Flashbacks to a 1950's flick run through your mind and you find yourself looking around for greasers in leather jackets.