King’s Row Drive-In
The Garbage Burger has been a 55-year speciality at King's Row in Selah. The burger boasts a 1/5-pound patty, slice of ham, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Photo by Savannah Tranchell.
It called to us pretty much from the day my husband and I first drove through Selah in mid-May. We were moving in, exploring our new neighborhood when we first saw the sign — “King’s Row, Home of the Garbage Burger.”
“That restaurant has its own burger!” my husband, T.J., announced excitedly.
And as we all know, anywhere that claims to be the “home of” anything has to be investigated. Particularly if it’s food.
A few weeks later, we readied our stomachs for what was sure to be a tasty ride.
King’s Row Drive-In in Selah has been the home of the Garbage Burger for all of its 50-plus years of existence. All the burgers that are on the menu today were on it nearly six decades ago, current owner Sherry Dawson says. Dawson has worked at the hometown drive-in for 20 years and has owned it for the past eight.
And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
And trust me, those recipes ain’t broke.
In case it’s been a few years since you’ve hit the drive-in, the Garbage Burger consists of a 1/5-pound beef patty, a slice of ham, a couple pieces of bacon, mayo, lettuce and tomato between two grilled buns. You can get it alone, but I recommend grabbing one with a side of King’s golden, crispy and delicious french fries.
And don’t forget the special sauce.
King’s Row has some fabulous fry sauce. Dawson is perfectly willing to share the ingredients — it’s just ketchup and mayo — but she dares anyone to be able to make it taste as good at home.
“It’s the type of mayonnaise we use,” she says.
My spouse was with her all the way, declaring the sauce and mayo’ed burger perfectly “creamy.” One thing the burgers are not is greasy — you can enjoy one without fat dripping down your elbow.
Aside from the Garbage Burger, the other most popular item on the menu, Dawson says, is the King’s Row Special — a junior-sized (1/10-pound patty) burger, fries and a drink.
Menu prices and options are typical drive-in fare: Burgers with varying toppings for about four and a half bucks, a choice of fries, tots or onion rings, milkshakes and ice cream. The most expensive single item on the menu is chicken strips at $6.35. T.J. and I enjoyed two burgers with fries and pop for about $17.
In addition to the traditional burgers, King’s Row has been open for breakfast for the past four months. There’s even a Breakfast Garbage Burger — a junior-sized sandwich with egg, ham, bacon, cheese and a patty. The new breakfast menu is popular, Dawson says, at least with those who know about it.
“It’s hard for Selah to realize King’s Row has breakfast,” she says.
Regardless of what time they are there, customers are sure to find a smiling face behind the counter, a song on the jukebox and some great hometown food.
– Savannah Tranchell
King’s Row Drive-In
210 S. First St., Selah
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays (drive-up open until 10 p.m.); 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. Breakfast served until 10 a.m. daily.
