Dick's Hamburgers
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Mike

The bright neon sign at Dick's Drive-In has been drawing hungry Seattle motorists since 1954. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a lifelong fan, it's hard to resist stopping for a burger, fries, and a shake at one of the Northwest's best-known roadside landmarks.

Inspired by the emerging drive-in restaurants of California, Dick's built its reputation on serving good food quickly with a simple menu that has changed very little over the years. The burgers are still made the same way they've been for generations, and the walk-up windows continue to serve a steady stream of customers from morning until late at night.

Some roadside favorites become famous because they're flashy. Dick's became a landmark simply by doing the basics exceptionally well. The glowing sign, familiar menu, and timeless atmosphere have made it a Seattle tradition for more than 70 years.

UPDATE: The original Wallingford Dick's Drive-In remains open, and its iconic neon sign still welcomes hungry customers just as it has since 1954. 07-26

Check out some other burget joints from the Pacific Northwest at none other than Roadside Peek's Burger Joints Pacific Northwest.

Subway
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Jeff Raber

It isn't the sandwiches that caught my attention at Subway, it's all that glass. The greenhouse-style front gives this otherwise familiar chain restaurant a look that's anything but ordinary, making it stand out from the countless cookie-cutter fast-food buildings along the roadside.

I've always wondered if this building started life as something else before Subway moved in. It certainly has the look of an older fast-food restaurant that found a second life with a new tenant, although I haven't been able to confirm its earlier history.

Sometimes it's the building, not the business, that makes you slow down for a second look. If anyone recognizes this location or knows its story, I'd love to hear it.

Hi-way Grille (Closed)
Ellensburg, WA
Photo and info courtesy Van

For decades, the towering Hi-way Grille sign welcomed hungry travelers into Ellensburg. With its sharply dressed neon gentleman balancing atop a rotating globe, it wasn't just advertising a restaurant—it was one of the town's most memorable roadside landmarks.

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 building is gone, but the beautifully restored roadside sign can still be seen in Ellensburg, where it continues to celebrate one of the town's classic roadside landmarks. 07-26

Pietro's Pizza Parlor (Rem.)
Milwaukie, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The smiling Italian chef on the Pietro's Pizza Parlor sign has been catching the eyes of hungry motorists for generations. With its bright neon and unmistakable character, it's one of those signs that's every bit as memorable as the restaurant itself. 03-06

Pietro's has been a Northwest favorite since the 1950s, and the Milwaukie restaurant became a local landmark after opening in 1969. Families gathered there for pizza, birthday parties, and arcade games, while the cheerful chef out front welcomed everyone who drove by.

When redevelopment forced the longtime Milwaukie location to close, there was one thing that couldn't be left behind. The famous neon chef was carefully removed, restored, and relocated along with the restaurant, allowing a familiar roadside landmark to continue welcoming customers at its new home.

UPDATE: Pietro's Pizza now operates from its new Milwaukie location, and not sure if the iconic neon chef sign has made the move as well. 07-26