Diners, Drive-Ins & Fries
Contributions by Kyle Wilkinson | Photos by Zahn Schultz | Design by Sara Roach
Red Arrow Drive-In | Location: Cle Elum
Be warned — the Red Arrow Drive-in in Cle Elum has an extensive menu. Don’t go to their website if you’re hungry. The images of their mouth-watering meals may just make you race out to your car and make the drive to dig into one of their burgers.
Their crinkle-cut fries are a fun surprise to go along with an Arrow Burger on a windy day in Cle Elum. Try one of their sauces, like their Arrow sauce or their BBQ-take on fry sauce. For the daring, you can try their deep-fried mushrooms!
Located at 1011 East 1st Street in Cle Elum, Red Arrow Drive-in has been welcoming motorists traveling through town for over 60 years. Their Red Arrow literally points to where the food has been made since 1953.
The staff is friendly and helpful, with multiple people bustling around to make sure that the customer has a great experience. Yelp reviews are mostly good, but be aware that some portions tend to run on the small side of things. Cleanliness may also be an issue at times.
Campus U-Tote-Em | Location: Ellensburg
At Campus U-Tote-Em, the philosophy is ‘Quality Over Quantity.’
Campus U-Tote-Em is located along University Way across the street from Lind Hall, where the PULSE office is located. The proximity to campus makes running over for a quick meal in-between classes a breeze.
Try out the Campus Burger with a side of fries, or maybe get creative and throw on an onion ring and BBQ sauce with the Wildcat Burger. Or if you want to try their seafood, you can’t go wrong with a meal of fish and chips or mini shrimp.
Campus U-Tote-Em has been at their current location since 1947. Since that time, there have only been six owners to keep quality consistent.
The line of cars waiting to place an order stretches into the street during the COVID-19 pandemic. There must be a reason that Campus U-Tote-Em was voted Best Burger and Best Fast Food in Kittitas County in 2019.
Twin Pines Drive in | Location: Cle Elum
Twin Pines Drive-In claims to ‘Build the Best Burgers and Sandwiches You’ve Ever Had!’
Featuring an often busy parking lot, Twin Pines is located just off of State Route 970, between Interstate 90, Exit 85 and the Highway 10 split. Be prepared to wait a while for your food if they are truly busy.
The friendly staff at Twin Pines welcomes customers that walk or drive up to their ordering window. You can order from 23 different flavors of milkshakes and malts to pair with one of their Big Joy burger combinations. Or try some of their onion rings or the chicken bites basket.
Twin Pines has been around since 1958, when the Maglietti family started the business.
While the theme may be old-school, so is their monetary acceptance. Make sure to bring cash with you when you visit Twin Pines; they are a cash-only eatery. Or be prepared to use their ATM located on-site.
Rossow’s U-Tote-Em | Location: Ellensburg
The red Rossow’s U-Tote-Em sign stands out to drivers as they pass by on University Way. Located between a lot of construction equipment and the transportation department, customers are greeted by a seemingly out-of-place painting of Betty Boop on the side of the drive-in.
Rossow’s U-Tote-Em is home to the famous Ellensburger. You can check out their assortment of burgers, or if you want a morning snack, check out their breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito.
They also have waffle fries, green bean fries, curly fries and sweet potato fries — just to name a few of their side options! Yelp reviews are mixed, so you can take your chance on this out-of-the-way drive-in with an old school theme.
