Hot Dog Haus (Gone)
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Jeff Raber
The steep A-frame roof of Hot Dog Haus made it stand out long before you noticed the sign. With a drive-thru tucked around back, it had all the ingredients of a classic roadside stop from the heyday of America's fast-food boom.
The building originally housed a Der Wienerschnitzel, whose peaked restaurants made the chain easy to recognize from the road. After becoming Hot Dog Haus, it continued serving the same general purpose beneath that oversized roof. Apparently, the building wasn’t ready to give up the hot dog business just yet.
Hot Dog Haus has closed, and the building has been remodeled for other uses. The property has been identified with Ty’s Rides, a used car dealership on Northeast 82nd Avenue, although the connection to this particular former restaurant remains unconfirmed. The photograph preserves its more recognizable days as a roadside food stop. 07-26
Hot dog places are also a good roadside stop in the heat of summer and
the chill of winter... and the seasons in between for that matter. See
some here at Roadside Peek'sAvenue
of the Dogs Pacific Northwest.
Dick's Hamburgers
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Mike
The glowing sign at Dick’s Drive-In makes a convincing argument for a hamburger stop. Its bright lettering and familiar ordering windows have become part of Seattle’s roadside identity, drawing everyone from neighborhood regulars to travelers looking for a local institution.
The first Dick’s opened in Wallingford on January 28, 1954, with hamburgers priced at nineteen cents. Dick Spady and his partners kept the menu simple and the service quick. The business grew, but the outdoor hamburger stand atmosphere remained a big part of its appeal.
UPDATE: The original Wallingford restaurant remains open, along with other Seattle area locations. More than seventy years after opening, the familiar signs still point toward burgers, fries, and shakes. Some roadside traditions don’t need much explanation. 07-26
Check out some other burget joints from the Pacific Northwest
at none other than Roadside Peek'sBurger
Joints Pacific Northwest.
Pietro's Pizza Parlor (Rem.)
Milwaukie, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The smiling chef above Pietro's Pizza Parlor made sure hungry motorists knew where to turn. With pizzas raised and neon glowing, he gave the Milwaukie restaurant the kind of roadside personality that’s worth appreciating before heading inside for dinner. 03-06
Pietro’s dates to 1957, and its downtown Milwaukie restaurant opened in 1969. Generations of families came for pizza, parties, and games beneath that familiar sign. When redevelopment prompted a move, preserving the neon chef became part of the relocation plans.
UPDATE: Pietro’s moved to Milwaukie Marketplace at 11050 Southeast Oak Street in 2025, and the historic sign made the trip after city approval. The old location has changed, but the cheerful pizza man continues welcoming customers at the new restaurant. 07-26
Subway
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Jeff Raber
It wasn’t the sandwiches that caught my attention at Subway in Portland. It was all that glass. The greenhouse style front gave this familiar chain restaurant a look worth photographing, especially compared with the usual fast food storefront.
The building suggests an earlier restaurant use, although its original tenant hasn’t been confirmed. That’s part of the fun with reused roadside buildings. A new name goes up, but the windows, roofline, or entrance can leave clues about what came before.
UPDATE: The location’s earlier history and present status remain unconfirmed. If you recognize this building or remember what occupied it before Subway, please let me know. This one still needs a little help putting a name to its past. 07-26
Hi-way Grille (Closed)
Ellensburg, WA Photo and info courtesy Van
The neon gentleman above the Hi-way Grille certainly dressed for dinner. Balanced over a globe, he helped advertise “World’s Finest Eatin’ Chicken” to motorists in Ellensburg. It was quite a display for a restaurant sign.
Opened in the 1940s, the Hi-way Grille became known for its steaks, chicken dinners, and unmistakable sign proclaiming "World's Finest Eatin' Chicken." Whether you were passing through on the highway or lived nearby, it was the kind of place that was hard to forget once you'd seen it glowing after dark.
The restaurant is gone today, but the sign survived. After spending years on private property, it was carefully restored and returned to public view. I spotted it in the back of a parking lot during a visit to Ellensburg last year. It was great to see the old marquee still up again, even if the restaurant it once advertised has long since disappeared.
UPDATE: The Hi-way Grille is gone, but its restored sign survives in Ellensburg. It no longer directs customers into the dining room, yet it still does a fine job of attracting attention. Thankfully, this roadside gentleman escaped retirement in the scrapyard. 07-26
Ivar's Fish Bar
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
A trip to Seattle's waterfront just doesn't feel complete without a stop at Ivar's Fish Bar. Whether it's the smell of fresh fish and chips, the view across Elliott Bay, or the familiar waterfront signs, this place has been part of the Seattle experience for generations. 08-09
The story began in 1938 when entertainer Ivar Haglund opened a small fish stand to feed visitors to his waterfront aquarium. What started as a simple snack counter grew into one of Seattle's best-known restaurants, while the walk-up Fish Bar remained the perfect place to grab fish and chips and enjoy them overlooking the water.
Of course, there's one tradition almost everyone remembers—sharing a few fries with the ever-present seagulls. Officially encouraged or not, it became part of the fun and one of those uniquely Seattle experiences that visitors never forget.
Ivar's Fish Bar
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
UPDATE: Ivar's serves up some good food. You can even get some to go and eat alongside the waterfront. It makes for a good stop at night after a long day of road tripping through town. 06-15
UPDATE: Ivar's Fish Bar remains a busy stop on Pier 54, where the classic waterfront signs, fish and chips, and views of Elliott Bay continue to draw locals and visitors alike. 07-26
Subway
Hi-way Grille (Closed)
Ivar's Fish Bar
Ivar's Fish Bar
