Ranch Drive-In

We were really excited to try this spot after seeing how busy it was and reading so many positive reviews. The staff were nice, and the vibe of the place was great—fun location and a nice setup. Unfortunately, the food we ordered came out quite overcooked. The onion rings, fries, bacon, and even the burger patties all had a burnt flavor that was hard to overlook. It was a bit of a letdown, especially given how much we were looking forward to it. That said, the hospitality and atmosphere still left a good impression, and we’re open to giving it another shot—hopefully just a one-off kitchen hiccup.

We came in around 5pm, prices are pretty expensive for what it is. 2 burgers, 2 fries and 2 shakes shouldn't be $45+ Took around 15+ minutes to get our food. I asked for cheese, didn't get it. There was also a dispute in the lobby between 2 men that wasn't stopped. Just overall mediocre, I really don't understand the hype.

I had the fish and fries and a chocolate shake. Shake and fries were good. The fish was burnt and they did not provide any Lemmon or vinegar for this fish.

Good food, been around here for about 60 years. We had to wait for a while for our food. They were busy, it was a Summer Saturday evening. The butterscotch shake was great. They have an EXCELLENT rating from the Department of Health. But the only thing that bothered me was their shared bathroom sink that is open to the kitchen door, it is one of those barn type doors, the top half opens independently.

I have very conflicted feelings about this place. I worked her back in 2013. Fortunately when I went in to quit, the owner admitted that he was going to fire me for allegedly stealing money, when in reality, it was because he was too cheap to update his registers. We would have to use 2 different systems, one for the actual orders/cash, and one for the debit cards. If numbers were off, he would just assume that you were stealing and fire you with out actually looking into the issue. That same night he accused me of stealing, I was forced by the shift lead to be on a register with another guy which was against the owners rules, yet some how I'm still the one who got in trouble for it. Ironically 3 years later I'd work for Loomis Armored for 3 years doing the federal Reserve route. Absolutely love having my character questioned. The owner is a cheapskate that only cares about profit. His father (the original owner) was an amazing man, and the owners kids are amazing too. But his attitude was always disrespectful. The sooner they take over the better. (It's 2025 and they still don't even have a proper website.) I would consistent get yelled at for cleaning the tables too often, cause apparently it's better to just start there and do nothing. I can go on about a few more things, but I'll leave it at that. On the flip side. He did give me my big break. He hired me after 2 years of not being able to find a place that would give my my first job. I loved making drinks and ice cream cones. The burgers are truly amazing. I thinks it's kinda crappy to make your staff still pay half price for the food they order on shift. Most restaurants give you a meal for free. But yet he would bring his friends over and give them food for free. But he did give us drinks for free. Another thing that pisses me off was there was some times when a foot ball game would get out right around our closing time and a long line would form and we were forced to turn people away right at our closing time. I personally think that's unethical. If you have people wanting to buy your food. People willing to pay for product, you serve them until the line does out.

I came here to stop by for some quick food and left disappointed. For the price, I expected much better food — it’s below average in taste and freshness. Their milkshakes are extremely runny, almost watery, which makes me wonder if their equipment isn’t being maintained properly. My family have gotten stomach issues after eating here — definitely concerning. Also uncomfortable knowing this place hires young workers while having serious management issues behind the scenes. My niece used to work here briefly and shared troubling stories about unfair treatment and lack of respect from management. I care about community safety and want kids to have healthy work environments. Please consider supporting businesses that value both customer well-being *and* employee dignity. This will be a one-time visit.

We've only been here for shakes (5*, but haven't tried food so 4*). Lots of shake choices, even malts. We use the walk-up window to order. There is an indoor space for eating and ordering. When we've gone, the same person takes the orders inside and outside (4*). Service is good (4*). It would be helpful for whoever calls out the order to use a loud voice or a moderate speaker. Seating is small'ish inside. Lots of outdoor seating.

We have been going to the Ranch for decades. The food has been declining but now it is absolutely inedible. Everything was either burnt to a crisp, like black thick charred bacon and meat and fries and onion rings were so dark that they were hollow on the inside; and also, some items were completely raw - cheese was not melted and buns not toasted. Lunch for 3 people was over $60 and we tossed it and left. The lines were incredibly long, over 30m to get food and it was not worth going back for a fix. All of the other customers in the outside picnic table area were doing the same - tossing the food and leaving.

Bacon ranch burger & fries. Super delicious! Shakes are great but didn't order this time. Service was great and speedy.

I moved across the street from the Ranch a year ago. I tried it soon after and had a cheese burger (basic) that was mediocre but the chocolate shake was good. Then throughout the year I discovered their fabulous BLT. A couple of weeks ago I went in and ordered their Ranch cheeseburger with onions, fries and a shake. The burger this time was great. I loved it. I prefer battered onion rings and theirs are breaded and not very good. I do feel bad about bad-mouthing their burgers all year though. Lol Their service is always great though.

We had a girl's night where we wanted to veg out at a friend's house and have burgers, fries, and dessert. My friend recommended Ranch Drive-In and said it was really good. We took it to go to eat at her house and we were not disappointed. We ordered two Ranch burgers and a Bacon Burger. It was so good! I normally can't eat a lot, but I made myself eat the whole burger. And the fries were the perfect consistency! I love it when it's crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. We thoroughly enjoyed the burgers and fries and I highly recommend going there! I live in Kirkland, and I have to say that I would drive to Bothell for these burgers. I dare say that I prefer these to another famous burger chain with a location in Kirkland. I won't say which because I think they're great too, but Ranch Drive-In does make a better burger.

My friend treated us to a Ranch Drive-In to-go dinner on a rainy Bothel night. Ranch Drive-In is located in the heart of downtown Bothel. The vibe felt of a local, mom-and-pop, small business restaurant. There are bunch of benches outside for outdoor seating, as well an ample indoor seating should you choose to shelter your meal form a cold, rainy Pacific Northwest night. The menu is simple and straightforward: we order a bunch of hamburgers adorned with a bunch of french fries and onion rings. Our order was ready for pick up just a few moments later. I had their Ranch Burger with some fries. The burger tasted that of an honest to goodness home made variety: no frills but of good ingredients. I do commend their fries which were of the crinkle type: it was very crunchy on the outside and moist and fluffy in the inside. The onion rings though were passable, mediocre. Overall we had our fill and was satisfied with the hamburgers form Ranch Drive-In.

The Ranch Drive-In deserves so many accolades. 1. Service! These young men and women are exceptional at costumer service, cleanliness, quality, and you can see that they enjoy working together. 2. The food is so tasty. That charbroiled crispy burger edges are what dreams are made of and the shakes... holy moly the shake flavors are fabulous!!! 3. Clean and nice and cool indoor restaurant. I wish we had one in OR. We ate here twice in a row. Customers for life ( when in WA)

Better than dicks drive in imo. The burger meat is a decent size and i like the sauce on the deluxe. I am not a huge fan of their fries because they aren't super crispy like I like them. I do love their onion rings and order them every time with a burger. They are super crispy! The Ranch Drive-in does the job in satisfying my craving for a quick burger and milkshake, especially when I don't want McDonalds... because no thank you mcds. The milkshakes here are really good. I like the thickness of them compared to most fast food places. They have a bunch of different flavors to choose from which is more fun and intriguing than just your typical chocolate and vanilla. My favorite milkshake there is the huckleberry one. So tasty! When ordering, the service is pretty fast and you typically don't have to wait more than 5 min for your order. They can get busy and line can form when it is super sunny out or on a weekend. There is outside/inside seating as well as parking spots right in front of it which sort of makes it feel like a real drive-in.

This is a no-nonsense food joint in Downtown Bothell. Looks like they are in business for a very long time. Conveniently located in a prime spot with plenty of parking nearby. They have kept their menu really simple. Burgers, Sandwiches, Hotdogs, Dinners, Sides and Milkshakes! That's aplenty for a cute place like this. The ambiance of this place is quite amazing. Decors are catchy and different. The Staffs were so friendly when we stopped there for burgers. We picked up a Ranch, Deluxe and Garden burger. Also a vanilla milkshake. With the rush at that place, expected a long wait, but the burgers were ready in literally no time. Loved the Deluxe and Garden burgers. Absolutely fell in love with those. Ranch was decent, kids loved it, but not my type though. But no complaints. Best part about the food is - quite cheap. Take any burger places near by, they cost you more still won't find quality burgers. Loved their food. We are planning to stop there again soon to try out the other burgers and sandwiches. My favorite burger place now! Highly recommended!

The tables are sticky and need a really good clean. I asked if the fish was cod and the kid was thinking for awhile and said yeah, it's cod. Rather than not go ask he said it was. It was not. Tasted like frozen fish from the frozen isle in your local grocery store. Mushy. It came with a small coleslaw that I did not try. The raspberry shake was good and the crinkle fries were great. Fabulous tarter with lots of pickle! This place has been around for years... guessing the burgers are maybe the way to go. My 2 piece fish 'n chips and a small shake, added a tarter was $20.11.

This is a very nice little local burger shop that has good service, is able to get their food out fairly quickly, is open late, and their prices are decent. The food is pretty good too, and I definitely would choose them over most of the fast food chains.

Rode a bike from Redmond up to Bothell downtown and came here for a lunch stop. I actually live nearby, but have never come here so it was nice to finally try. Ordering is real simple and you can sit at a table while you wait. They have an intercom to call out order numbers in case they don't see you out front. Got a 1/4 ranch burger and fries for a meal. I think the ranch burger was pretty solid and maybe just a little minuscule tad pricy? I don't mind the price I paid for it, but I could probably eat 2-3 of these before I was really full. The seasoning on the burger was yummy so I'd definitely get it again. The fries were all right. They weren't super delicious, but they weren't horrible either. Really middle of the road in terms of taste. I had a taste of my friend's onion rings and I'd probably get those next time.

Quick service food was really good cute place too got a coffee milkshake and it was amazing

This is a great, quick meal alternative to your typical fast food restaurant. My husband and I recently moved to the area and finally gave this place a try! We called and placed our order in advance, I was pleasantly surprised when they said it would be ready in 5-10 mins. They have an out door window where you can order or pick up/pay for your food if you ordered in advance. The food was ready when we arrived and I think the price was fair. The food was really good. We got a BLT and a double ranch burger. We also got fries and onion rings. We'll definitely be back.

A nice little place in Bothell situated in a beautiful (but busy) area. The cashier was friendly and patient. The inside is the same as thousands of other drive-in style places strewn across the vast spaces of America. Now I got a Ranch Burger (added cheese) and a Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Am I impressed? I guess not really, but don't get me wrong, it was good. The Ranch Burger was decent, but I wasn't into the bun. I'm not sure what it was; maybe it wasn't toasted or it was just airy. The chicken sandwich was the highlight, that being said, it's a McChicken. It's a bigger version with a tomato. I loved it. I'll come back here if I'm in the area again sometime.

The customer service is perfectly fine. It's nice that they have chairs to sit in while you wait and it's fast. But it's not worth waiting for. Their food absolutely sucks. Every time I go back to try something different, most of it ends up in the trash. Burnt, sloppy, and just doesn't taste good. I'm going to give up on stopping here despite everything else being fine. I hope they read this review and give more support and training to the people making the food. I don't know how to cook and I could do better! Bro how do you screw up a BLT that bad? Can you even make ice correctly? XD

Pretty good. Lots of customers and fairly quick service. The double ranch burger with cheese was better than my single bacon ranch cheeseburger. The meat to bun ratio is better on the double than the single. The bacon ranch burger had a lot of extra crispy bacon. I wasn't a fan. When they toast the buns it dried out the bun so I didn't like that. Our crinkle cut fries were cooked extra crispy. Not sure if it's like this all the time or if on this day someone decided to make the bacon and fries extra crispy.

I occasionally eat at Ranch burger place, and have had a good experience with their burgers each time. But eating here this last time was disappointing, I could not believe how thin my burger patty was, did they change the burgers they use...? it was shocking that they use so small of a meat patty, it is very pricey for what you get. I don't think I will be going back anytime soon for another expensive tiny burger experience!

Updating my review from 5 years ago... and there's nothing I would really change. The food is the same; prices have gone way up, but what hasn't? They even use the same non-Heinz ketchup (Sysco?) Crinkle cut fries are my Kryptonite and Ranch always make them perfect & crispy. I dearly love this place because it hasn't changed and isn't trying to be something it's not (looking at you Stack 51 across the street ). It's also a rite of passage for many Bothell teenagers to work here! What a great first job! Food: 2.5 stars Overall: 4 stars

Burgers tasted okayish! The price point is good and affordable. Fries and chocolate milkshake were tasty!! Might visit again for a quick grab and go!

The food is pretty good, at least the burgers and shakes, I haven't tried any of the other menu items. The service is fairly good as well. However, the prices are a little on the high side. Honestly, the biggest factor to me is that there is a bit of a fly problem. I've been here a few times and each time there were multiple flies buzzing around the place. I mean I get sometimes you might get a fly in a restaurant but this feels like more than a stray one getting inside. Is it that hard to put out traps or something?

Been eating at The Ranch since the mid 80's....but tonight was my last visit. burgers were very undercooked so they remade them. Better....still not great. Burned and crunchy around the edges, undone in the middle. Out of our 3 burgers, maybe one was eaten. The staff was friendly but $38 for inedible burgers and a large fry is a bit much. Really disappointing.

Easy parking, fOriendly, staff, dog-friendly outdoor patio, indoor inclement weather burgers & shakes. Been here a long while in downtown Bothell. What's not to love

I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and it had a lot of cartilage. I had to remove the middle of the chicken patty. Cooks need to inspect the chicken patties before putting them on the grill. I'm not sure if I'm coming back again. Heads up about the grilled chicken sandwiches.

Just not that good tasting. Bun was extremely soggy, which was the worst part. Fries are crinkle cut and bland. Onion rings were pretty good though, but even those had too much batter for my taste. $40 for two burgers, fries, onion rings and a milkshake. Service was pleasant but didn't make up for mediocre flavor.

Come here for the milkshakes! When my husband and I lived in Bothell, we made a routine of coming here for milkshakes after dinner on the weekends! My go-to shake was either oreo & coffee or oreo & strawberry while my husband always opted for peanut butter & coffee. They put a ton of coffee & other mix-ins in your shakes and they are truly always delicious! We have tried their other food here before, but we were not impressed. Seriously, come here for the shakes and you won't be disappointed.

A friendly quick bite, with really nothing special to offer. The food was good, but relatively uneventful. Crinkle cut fries are arguably the worst kind of fries, that I tolerate when there's a signature sauce to go with, Ranch Drive-In is pretty much just ketchup heavy. The options are pretty simple from burger, bacon burger, and then those same burgers in various sizes. The outdoor seating doesn't feel all that clean, although that's really not all that unexpected given the set-up. Overall, no major complaints, but no major compliments either.

The food is consistently excellent. The double Ranch burger with cheese is divine. If you love crispy light airy crinkle fries, this is the place! The staff is friendly and helpful. I was lost, left my phone at home, and they helped me find my destination. Real nice! They have plenty of parking. Seating inside and lots of tables outside also, some under cover for rain. Did I mention they charbroil? It smells wonderful in the air. I'm going to try the onion rings and a shake next time. I hear they're the best.

Diner food done right. I get the same thing every time: a BLT with every aspect exactly right, and a marshmallow malted. I've never been tempted to swerve from this order because why mess with perfection? There's a good amount of parking, which is a big plus in that area. Find whatever it is you love from their menu and you'll never be disappointed.

I live not too far from this establishment food is good but salt shaker cap was loose so very salty fries but milkshake was good and so was burger staff was cool and nice it's a cool little building definitely a vibe eat here or else‍

Ranch Drive in Bothell, WA, is a delightful surprise for food lovers! The menu is a treasure trove of deliciousness, especially their outstanding onion rings, which are perfectly crispy and flavorful. Another star of the show is their crinkle-cut fries - they're the ideal balance of crispy and soft, and are simply irresistible. But the true highlight is their homemade ranch dressing. Brought back childhood memories. It's a unique, creamy delight that adds an extra touch of magic to every dish. The service here deserves a special mention too. The staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive, making our dining experience even more enjoyable. If you're in Bothell, a visit to Ranch Drive is a culinary adventure you shouldn't miss!

A truly disappointing experience. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and this is what the meat looked like. I took one bite and that was all I could get through. It was also missing the cheese, the lettuce was super soggy and the bacon was small broken pieces.

Best drive-in burgers in the area: tender, juicy, great sauce and onions. Crinkle cut fries were also amazing

Pretty standard for a burger place! Weather was nice so we ordered from the window outside to eat at some of the tables outside. I tried a hamburger with onions and onion rings on the side. The burger was pretty small for the price - almost like a fast food chain size and the onion rings were something that you could find at the grocery store. Service was quick and food came out quickly.

It's been many years since my original review, and I decided on a whim to revisit this when in the neighborhood. Wow... my review was written when lots of newer places were going up, but the one thing I didn't account for was that, some time between then and now, was the Ranch *also* improving over time. The food, which was never the problem, remains a solid choice for good burgers and the fixings at a darn reasonable price. The facilities have been improved and aren't dingy anymore. The service is still hit or miss at times, but nothing like the hit or miss swings it was before. The vibe there is much improved as far as overall workplace culture seems to be. I'm harsh in my reviews, but I'm also complimentary where people are doing above and beyond. I'm not ashamed to admit this place has proved my previous review as obsolete. I hope they continue on this trend, as it's nice to see a business turn things around and surprise me in a good way.

Called ahead for pickup around 6pm on a Friday night. Quoted 5-10 minutes. It was our first time there and we didn't understand the pickup process. We waited in line to at the pickup window but they didn't accept payment so we had to wait again inside to pay. The meal was delicious and we would definitely order from there again. We had the Double Ranch Burger with cheese, shared small fries and small onion rings, and a Deluxe Burger with cheese.

Love this no nonsense cozy family friendly local burger place. Ordered ranch burger and fries. Very good and very affordable compare to national chain resto. What surprised me is the toilet is sparkling clean. The place is old but clean! It triggers me to write this review. Usually, I seldom write reviews. Maybe they just hire a good manager. This is for my 1st visit 3/30/2023. Wish they have more places like this on the East side of Seattle. Will definitely come back when I am in the area.

I had to make the drive from Seattle to taste it for myself and I was not let down! From the walk-up window I placed my order for a double Ranch with cheese and hung out in that warm summer sun feeling good. My order came up and i noticed there was some weight to that bag lol. Back in my car, all I could smell was the new burger that I've never tasted before. I got home, pulled that burger out in front of the tv and wow! This burger is solid! This is No fast food burger, its no fufu burger, it's a country burger you can only get at the Ranch! This is it, I don't need no other burger in my life. Ranch Burgers for Life!

Been coming here since I was a kid in the '60's, when my dad would treat me after golf at Brookside GC or Wayne GC. Resumed in the 1980's when I bought a property in Kenmore. Never been disappointed! Stopped last night after dropping my better half at a meeting, first time in years, as I've moved away. Double Bacon Ranch burger (with everything) & fries were great! Satisfyingly sloppy, but not to the point of being unmanageable. Unlike others, I love crinkle fries. Get the grandma's recipe tartar sauce-well worth it! I didn't get a shake this time, but I remember they were good. Kind of awkward parking access with the odd traffic pattern and road closures, but didn't stop a constant stream of customers and take-out. Tables alongside for dining al fresco. Indoor seating as well.

We've been customers since 1987. Two weeks ago we had out-of-town guests and placed a phone order for $88 worth of Ranch Drive In food. I arrived at Ranch at 5:40pm and went up to the outside window and paid for my order with a VISA card. I also threw in a $10 cash tip, which we usually do. The young woman who took my payment said it would be a while as I had such a large order and it was quite busy. I then sat down at an outside table to wait for my order. At 6:20pm the same young woman who took my payment opened the window and asked me if I was waiting for an order, since I had been there for so long (kudos to her for even noticing how long I had been there). I told her that I had a phone-in order and that I had been waiting for it for 40 minutes. She looked at the order rack in the kitchen and pulled down three bags of food that had been under the lamps for 30+ minutes. She said "Sorry, no one must have called out your order. Don't worry, the food will still be hot." When I got home (5-minutes away) all of the food was cold, plus they messed up our order significantly. I mailed a letter to the owner a couple days later, and crickets. Nothing. Not a call or an email apologizing for the horrible service. Sad, but this was my last visit to the Ranch. A sidenote: why do they charge you $0.60 for a slice of American cheese, but if you ask for no bun (celiac-no gluten), there is no credit.

Good food. Quick wait times. Friendly staff. Been going here for 15+ years, it never gets old!

Stopped in this place for a quick bite after a work event near by, thought it was going to be just a quick greasy burger to get me home and it turned out to be a place I will for sure bring my fiance and others back to for a delicious burger, crinkle cut fries and a milkshake. The Burger is what Burger King is trying to be, lots of good veggies on a grilled burger.

Great no frills food. I like the grilled cheese with fries and a malt. I grew up around the corner and it has remained consistent.

Hmm! I really want to like this place due to the great location and the ease of a "drive-in". However, after a few tries, it's not a place of my choice. First of all, the prices are kind of high for what this is, which is a fast food place. The food is greasy!!! It's not bad, per se, but not that good either. And the wait is always quiet long. It's not a very efficient place.

Very solid burger joint in downtown Bothell. You really can't go wrong ordering anything. The short wait is completely worth the fact that everything is cooked fresh. I've been coming here for years and I don't plan to stop. Make sure you ask for any dipping sauce you want for your fries. I've left with a to-go order before without even ketchup. Give them a visit for a good burger!

I love their burgers here! 4 stars for meeting what expectations are for an old drive up burger joint. They actually remind me of Dick's burgers but bigger and not as hectic to get to. Juicy, tasty, and it's always about the cheese lol. I come here regularly to get my fix whenever I have an apt in the area. They have a little private lot on both sides of the shack (one side is shared with Speedy Glass Repair). There's some outdoor seating as well as indoor. If you're uncomfortable going in, they have a walk up window you can order from. Milkshakes are also bomb-tastic! Service can sometimes be a little slow if you're in a hurry but it's worth it. I love that they hire teenagers and help them get some job experience from a little locally owned business. I think you learn more values working for a small business.

The Ranch Drive In has been in business for about 65 years. It's been passed on in the family for several generations. When I lived and worked in Bothell, most of my lunches came from there. Their Ranch Burger is top notch. They also have a steak burger. After being away for almost 20 years, I visited the area. When I saw the Ranch was still in business, I had to stop for lunch. The food tasted EXACTLY the way I remembered it. The menu hasn't changed much, if at all. When you have a winner, why change? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BUSINESS.

We were passing through Bothel and saw the crowd at the Ranch Drive in and had to stop!! We ordered their burgers which were enormous. I got the Ranch burger with cheese and my bf got the Double Ranch Burger. The meat was perfectly cooked and you could tell it was fresh patties not frozen. Also tried the onion rings which were really good and crunchy. We will definitely be stopping again in Bothel for a burger!!

Finally got to try this place after driving by it a few times. I got there and ordered at 11:30. Be sure to know this isn't a 'fast food' place. Took about 15 minutes which was fine. This was before lunch rush so plan accordingly. The Ranch Burger was good and pretty large. The fries were hot but not crispy and kind of greasy. I'd go again but just get the burger as it was good and a meal in itself. Wouldn't get the fries again. Plus, I asked for fry sauce. Charged .69 cents for it. Think this is the trend to nickel and dime. After ordering a burger, fries and a pop which wasn't meal priced it was a surprise to see the charge. Regardless it was a pretty good experience.

I love the Ranch Drive-In. It's a little slice of tradition in a town that's rapidly getting bigger and in danger of losing it's down-home charm. The prices are a little high, but the burgers are really quite good, in my opinion, as are the milkshakes, sundaes, and just about everything else I've ever had there. Be patient, sometimes the teenagers working there take a little longer than it should, but it will be worth it in the end.

I love the Ranch Drive-in! I have eaten here since I was a kid and have heard stories about when my dad ate here in high school. It does not disappoint. I want to give it five stars based on history alone, but while their shakes and burgers are a solid five their fries are a three at best. They will make your burger to order. My four year-old ate her whole burger and fries and wanted more. In a world of chain restaurants the Ranch is a nice change of pace. Who knows, you may love their fries.