Sonic Drive-In

Fast food restaurant · Sterling-Heights

Sonic Drive-In

Fast food restaurant · Sterling-Heights

1

36888 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, MI 48312

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Sonic Drive-In by null
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Highlights

This retro fast-food spot serves nostalgic burgers and fries, but be prepared for a potential wait and to double-check your order.  

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36888 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, MI 48312 Get directions

sonicdrivein.com
@sonicdrivein

$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

36888 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, MI 48312 Get directions

+1 586 264 8700
sonicdrivein.com
@sonicdrivein
𝕏
@sonicdrivein

$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
payment credit card
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 10, 2025

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@eater

"Sonic’s new pickle fries really seem like a no-brainer. Who doesn’t love the deep-fried goodness of tangy, crunchy dill pickles, especially when dipped in a tub of buttermilk ranch sauce? Instead of going with the classic pickle chip, Sonic’s version involves a short, thin spear of pickle that’s breaded lightly and fried to a crisp." - Amy McCarthy

Review: Sonic’s New Pickle Fries Are Startlingly Good - Eater
View Postcard for Sonic Drive-In

Moose

Google
I ordered online and the app said my food would be ready at 2:32 (we arrived before this time). It’s now 3:13 and we just got our food handed off to us. When they brought it the first time, half of the order was missing, and we didn’t get any of the sauces we ordered. There was a line in the drive thru, but waiting that long only to be missing half our food and all our sauces is absolutely ridiculous. We eventually hit the little button to talk to someone who was working to ask for an update and they gave us a huge attitude telling us that they were bringing it right out. Once we started eating my friend noticed an ungodly amount of.. liquid? At the bottom of her bag of onion rings. It doesn’t seem like grease, and if it is it’s dark and gross and needs to be changed. Overall: slow service, rude staff, and missing items.

BIL Schmitz

Google
Did an online order. They didn't not answer the stall call button 2 press 20 min waited called and they refused to answer the phone. had to go to the drive through to be told to pull into a stall again. Waited way to long for food. Won't be coming back here they were rude and. Or did came out cold and shakes slightly melted. We have kids crying and no way to cancel the order from the online which was already paid for. So we had to wait for about 45 min for the food. Faster to go to a real dinner in restaurant. Avoid this place like the plague

Joseph

Google
Place is a joke. I've tried to order a DoorDash twice. Both times the order has been almost over an hour past the delivery time. The dashers message me saying they've been waiting forever. They LEAVE to go make money from another order which I don't blame them. I went to the store and my order was wrong. Given it 3 try's, won't do it again.

Sparky the Detroit Doggo

Google
Awesome $1.99 chilli cheese coneys ! Service was extremely excellent . Drive thru time was a little slow . Food was delicious and well worth the wait time . Well I guess I spoke too soon . Just got back to work with my order and no chili on my chili cheese fries . And I didn't get a receipt . Always check your order before you leave the drive thru !

J. Wright

Google
I ordered a cheeseburger meal that was extremely cold and when I called to explain my concern, the Worker sounded irritated, argumentative and upset because of my call and hung up! And I gave them a tip! I will never go back… The worst cold burger ever!!!

Mark Moore

Google
The drive through was only thing operating. The sandwich was missing condiments and service was slow and minimal. Asked several times for condiments. Very disappointing. Sonic has better places than this.

Ty Mo (Feeding the soul)

Google
Ordered 2 Dragon fruit rechargers. There was mold in my drinks from the pop nozzles. I called the restaurant to complain, and the MANAGER said I was concerned when I made it, but it was just the nerds. NO, the nerds do not turn into soggy mold. They stay crunchy. I ordered before this drink 100 times before. I also have worked in fast food (with the owner of this fine place....) they are not cleaning out the nozzles correctly. The manager should be ashamed. Wasted 18$ on 2 drinks. But at least I didn't drink it.

Peter Dziepak

Google
Went for a strawberry/banana shake! Love that they put real fruit 🍓🍌 in the shake!!! 😋 Have had the burgers before and the same quality 😁

Peyton R.

Yelp
I love it!!!! Such good service my food is always correct maybe some people shouldn't work there but it is amazing I always get the same thing and I never grow old of it mmmmmhm so good I might have to try different things because I enjoy the flavors mhm yeah thank you so much sonic for being you and making my flavor palette Devine.

Jann D.

Yelp
I decided to randomly try Sonic for the first time around dinner time during a weekday but it wasn't busy. I wanted to experience the Sonic drive-in experience but the car stalls were unavailable, not sure why, so I pulled into the drive through. All the food was decent nothing special. I loved the custom drink option/menu and tried a flavor recommended on an Instagram post.

Erub S.

Yelp
I was doing a delivery for uber eats and in the notes it said go to the pull up stall but when I went there they said go to drive thru.

Mike S.

Yelp
Just horrendous service here. Food is totally fine because it's fast food. But every time I've been here it takes at least 30-40 mins to get through the reasonably short line. Unfortunate. Fortunately, there's a good Culver's right next to here that is very quick.

Casey S.

Yelp
I ordered ahead and still had to wait an hour for my food. My food was all cold so the lady took it back and said she remade it all and she brought it back out. Everything was still cold again. This is the worst location ever this has happened multiple times they need to shut this place down.

Richard M.

Yelp
Went to Sonic to try one of their shacks and they where out of ice cream! How does a restaurant run out of ice cream? Poor management!

Pauly G.

Yelp
5/10/24. No tater tots. Lame. Why so low on the stars ? Pretty sure because of visits just like this.

Alexis K.

Yelp
When I drove up I had to repeat my order twice because I was ignored the first time but when I got my order my strawberry cheesecake shake was spoiled I don't know if it was the chees or the strawberry's but something tasted really sour and old when I took a sip.. I drove back and the employee said no one complained abt the shakes all day. When I literally had to spit the shake out it taste so bad.

Ka-Dayjah D.

Yelp
Burnt tf out my bun and actually gave me it. No ketchup either just a bunch if mustard and i said light.

Pai' J.

Yelp
I wish this mf can get 0.0 stars how horrible this location is... horrible horrible horrible.. i believe I waited in line two hours for a $16 DOORDASH!

Beth W.

Yelp
I placed an order online for pick up and my husband went to pick it up and still had to wait 30 mins for our food. The fries were cold, and not cooked all the way. I got the chicken tender dinner and they forgot the texas toast and the one onion ring you're supposed to get. Our drinks had no ice, no cherries like we ordered. They couldn't make slushees bc of the machine or lack of ice. Burgers were cold. All around it was a terrible experience and I won't ever go back to this location.

Fortune V.

Yelp
There's a reason why the parking lot was empty! Next time I'll pay attention! After the waitress smiled everything else was down hill!

Food G.

Yelp
Listen.... I like this place but .... franchise owner where you at man/woman? Sitting in line at 3 pm on a Saturday. 15 cars just left cause of how long this is taking..... your losing a-lot of $$$

Hvfhj B.

Yelp
Huge respect to some guy working by himself taking orders and making food and made sure the food was hot and fresh

Jesse S.

Yelp
Even though Sonic is known for there drinks more then food I can understand the slush machine being down. But out of ICE! Piss poor managed sonic

Nani D.

Yelp
Firstly, the lady took my order and did not repeat it, so how was she supposed to know whether the order was input correctly? Secondly, I ordered a Red Bull Summer Edition slushie (the watermelon flavoured one) and she gave me the original flavoured one after I had already asked and confirmed whether the watermelon flavoured one was currently available. I chalked it up to, perhaps they've had a really busy day and it's easy to make mistakes on a drink. I worked fast food before so I understand mistakes happening. I decided not to complain about that one; told myself I could still try the one I had. But I noticed the lady poured the extras into a larger cup for herself and started drinking it before carrying it to the back. When she gave my card back, I was also given no receipt. This part didn't fully occur to me until we almost got home, when I found out what my biggest issue with the order was. After a couple minutes, I was given the order and checked inside the bag to make sure everything was inside. I got my Sonic Burger, Fries, Medium Pickle-O's, and Chili Coney Dog. When we were halfway home, I figured I'd eat the Coney Dog since I missed eating it. I pulled it out to eat and right off the bat, had noticed the hot dog inside the bun clearly looked bitten. The first picture I shared was immediately taken when I noticed something was weird with it. I pulled the hot dog over and turned it to measure it out from one end of the bun to the other so I can show you guys the full hot dog: A whole THIRD of the hot dog was missing. What the hell?? The Red Bull drink mistake could be forgiven (original tastes good, but was still hoping to try the watermelon one), but I can't forgive missing an entire chunk of my hot dog. I ended up dumping the Chili Cheese Coney because receiving an almost half-eaten hot dog is extremely disgusting and unappetizing. :( The sandwich was made properly and without mayo like I ordered so that's why the review is at 2 stars instead of 1.

Uncle S.

Yelp
Ordered and paid online, got there and they never answered the red button, what I thought was going to be a quick stop ending there for a half hour after going thru drive thru, that was my last time going to sonic

Skunk X.

Yelp
If you want a yummy yummy sonic grilled cheese, don't come here lol there are h cb buns of black stuff in the grilled cheese every time I come here

Kara N.

Yelp
Extremely slow and rude. I pulled in to order at the speaker where you can park and eat, and I was ignored for 30 minutes. They repeatedly pressed the button so the button stopped flashing like they had taken my order, but they didn't even say anything. Eventually it timed out and I had to press it again. Repeat of the same thing. If they were only open for drive through, they didn't even at least SAY SO, waste of time, and they come across as A-holes. People got angry waiting so long in the drive through, and I saw multiple people drive off, but I eventually waited in the drive through line myself. Still extremely slow. If nothing else, they should at least have some communication about what is going on, but have heard NOTHING. I've worked fast food for over a decade. I know how it is to be understaffed. But there was NO customer service here.

Lexi N.

Yelp
6/06/2023. I placed a mobile order for 9:15 pickup, pulled into stall 4, and waited for them to bring out my order. Instead of this happening, I got charged twice for my order which was $29.00, and left with nothing. As I was waiting in the stall for a good 15 minutes as the screen said my order was "in the kitchen" I got told through the speaker that it's drive-through only." Ok, no problem. I pull up to the drive-through, which took another 10 minutes, only for them to tell me that they were out of all shakes, blasts, and all other ice cream-related products, as well as some of the food items that I ordered, leaving me with $29 french fries. I was confused and asked what would be done since I already paid for my order, TWICE!! It cost me $60 and I left with no refund or any of the items I ordered. They told me that whatever happens on the app they have no control over; therefore, they couldn't do anything for me. I just want my money back. Come to this Sonic if you want to pay double for your food and leave with absolutely nothing!

King B.

Yelp
I came here today and there was this one guy. I told him that I wanted a burger with no cheese and he added cheese. He told me that I have to state and tell him to add cheese but I did I go when I tell him to put ketchup and he said he will, and I thought he was nice turns out he didn't even put the ketchup, and I had to put it by myself, what the fuck they said they're out of tomatoes kind of sonic is out of tomatoes. Even Tim Hortons is better than this or like Jersey, Mike's or Detroit wing Company. Do not recommend in the same location as this there is a culvers and a Starbucks and Taco Bell just go there. They need to hire people who actually can do their job and I think this location should just close down honestly because no one comes here. It's lame as fuck and Culver's is way better SMH when they first open it was so popular they had normal people working now they're just weird like really

Samantha C.

Yelp
They advertise that they close at midnight. I wait in line, every person in front of me is helped. I get to the speaker and she said "sorry we're closed". It was 10:20pm. Yet every person in front of me was in line and waiting to pay. I just said okay and drove off. It's different if it's just one time and they had a bad day, but every time I've gone, they're rude. Every employee I've encountered has had a flat affect and no emotion at all. They just hand me my items and close the window. No "have a nice day" or goodbye of any type. I used to work in fast food and was even a manager, so I understand how irritating customers can be and how burnt out the employees are. But that doesn't excuse poor manners, poor service, and a lack of respect. It's not only bad training, but it's bad parenting - they should've been taught basic bedside manners.

Troy K.

Yelp
Love Sonic, ate at them all over the US. Ate here yesterday, been ill ever since. Now I know why they were not busy at lunch time on a Wednesday. Calling the health board next. DO NOT EAT HERE!

Nathan L.

Yelp
Been sitting first in the drive through line and no one is take big my order. This is why people don't want to do out any more service like this drives them back home.

Danika F.

Yelp
dude didn't even start my meal but i had one bite into my fried pickle o and that thang was fressshhhhhh!!!!!! loving the recommendation for the drinks too. gave us so many napkins i can't wait to feast on my honey bbq sauced jumbo medium meal man it's gonna be soooooo good. anyways gtg eat that now

David F.

Yelp
I placed a web order and proceed to the car hop area as directed by the app. I checked in and waited 30 minutes for my food. After 30 minutes I pushed the call button 3-4 times to inquire about my order with no response. I then when thru the drive and received my order which was ice cold.

James Y.

Yelp
TERRIBLE they act like Dey can't hear and got a headset on, RUDE!!! NO CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!! ZERO STARS they need to re hire and they messed my order completely up and didn't answer the phone and I was on break smh

Foodie E.

Yelp
ZERO stars. Their online order service is extremely horrible. Will never go back. Ordered online and waited in stall for over 30mins. No staff ever came out and we never received our food. We left and will never go back. They have the nerve to charge us. We will definitely dispute this charge. They should not get paid for a service they did not provide.

Amanda T.

Yelp
Ok, I have love hate relationship with this place! Ughhh is all I can say.. Having 3 kids that go to school right up the street we hit happy hour ALL THE TIME!! 64¢ for a small slush- REALLY? Can you even beat that? Then to top that if you sign up for texts you get these little buggers that make your thighs and ass huge... 50¢ CORN DOG no limit Really? No joke we order 20. Oh and the last one that had us? 50¢ grilled cheese. I wasn't impressed BUT they were slammed and I'm guessing they were not made correctly bc they were nasty! Oh hubby reminded me of 99¢ cheeseburger deluxes too.. See now I am rambling.. The deliciousness is there.. Check it out!! They have tots Napoleon.

Erika V.

Yelp
Extremely rude. Pulled in to order and asked if they had something and the woman kept talking over us and finally I said something about it and she goes "we are very busy! Do you see the line?" I asked for a manager and she said she was the manager and very nasty about it so we left.

Andrew P.

Yelp
Worst Sonic ever! Burger tasted like it was 3 days old. Bun was stale. Meat was cold. I should have checked Yelp before going.

Chris S.

Yelp
Learn how to run your drive thru. Been waiting over 15 minutes for 1 single drink. This location is a joke and should be shut down until competent employees can be trained. Don't waste your time with this location unless you want your time wasted.

Susan P.

Yelp
Not a review..the signage at Sonic says they are closed for the season and reopening in April.

Lonzo H.

Yelp
Went to get food June 9th, Sunday night at 11:31pm TOOK FOREVER for some mozzarella sticks and popcorn chicken. Wasted so much time trying to get lunch while on break from work. Terrible idea. DEFINITELY NEED MORE STAFF

Nicole H.

Yelp
Came here at 11:20. My food was a 7 minute wait which is understandable since it was late and of course I wanted it to be fresh. I drove 25 minutes for my first experience with Sonic. Was so excited for there Oreo, Reese's shake. They said they where out of Oreo then paused and said out of Reese's where you really or just to lazy to make it. How does such a big chain run out. I hope management sees this. Sonic is def off my list.

Olivia B.

Yelp
First of awl. They make their shakes with concrete mix I am convinced. My server FROGSLEY had a terrible attitude. I am Horrified with this service. Do better. MY FRIEND, was charged 15 EXTRA CENTS-- (15 c) for a Cherry on top, which is usually just PROVIDED for free. The whipped cream is too Thick. I was also disgusted with what the inside looked like, looks like a slaughter house (uncleaned.) There was a LITERAL chicken (or bird of some sort) FOOT on the drive Thru window sill. How does it get worse than this? Dane Jasper, you WILL be hearing from me. Truly disappointed. Do better Sonic Inc.

Liz B.

Yelp
I come here quite often as this is the one on my way to work, but the last time I was here was horrible, and I had to leave. I went to the drive thru and nobody went on the speaker, I tried talking in the speaker and even calling the store(no answer) and honking my horn.... NO BODY ANSWERED!!!! Very upset. Other times we have had very rude employees. Unhappy customer:/

Jenny P.

Yelp
First time to this locations. Great service through drive thru. My drink was great ( blue raspberry ice cream slush). Sad to see the people who's supposed to be on rollerblades were not on rollerblades.

Kevin M.

Yelp
Yeah. The service is awful. Don't even know what the food is like because I ended up leaving because I couldn't get them to take my order. Wondered if they were even open, but if they were closed they should turn their lights off.

Lakeeshi W.

Yelp
Bad service unless you are in the drive thru, they didn't even respond to the call button.

Eric K.

Yelp
Don't bother, they can't be bothered to take your order and deliver it to you. We parked in a stall, and pressed the button to place our order. Upon completion the total given didn't match the amount on the screen. Then the screen then cleared and said our order was being delivered and then nothing and no way to pay. I pressed the button again and nobody answers, then a few minutes later someone resets the order button. I pressed it again and a few minutes later we are told to use the drive through.

Tom F.

Yelp
I thought they had hedgehogs serving you. We went here for lunch after going to the home improvement store across the street. THis is a good place to go since you order your food and they get it to you fast. I haven't been to a drive-in in many years. Now I remeber why. Difficult to eat while sitting in your car. Especially if it's the footlong coney. Good food, bad idea to eat in the car. I ordered the combo with chili cheese tots. They were awesome. The coney was good, not the best. The coney sauce had a little bit more of a tomatoey taste. Not the typical Detroit coney chili. But the combination of the tots and coney were really good(but sloppy in the car). I ordered the iced tea but the sent out Hi-C...no problem, they switched it fast. The prices were a bit on the higher side, but not too bad. Will definitely eat here again when the weather warms up, maybe the burger and chocolate shake next time. Here goes my weight, up up and away!

Julia S.

Yelp
Extremely rude and snobby, along with a slushee full of mold! when i called to say i have a cup full of mold they told me i could drive BACK and get another MOLDY drink. (made me vomit)

Walt R.

Yelp
Waitress was friendly and quick. The food is poor. I would not serve it to kids. The onion rings have sugar in the batter. The grilled cheese sandwich is not grilled. They take two pieces of plain bread and put some kind of cheese in the middle, then microwave. I couldn't pull the bread slices apart since the microwaved cheese acted like glue. They apparently microwave them in advance because the cheese wasn't even warm. I honestly couldn't even taste the cheese, just the bread with something in the middle welding the two pieces together. That explains why it was is only $1.49. If your kids like grilled cheese sandwiches, buy a loaf of bread and velvet cheese. Melt butter in a fry pan, then grill the sandwiches. They will taste infinitely better and you can make at least 3 for $1.49. Infinitely better is not an exaggeration.

Marilyn V.

Yelp
Call me an uncultured know-nothing if you must, but I gotta say this place is my very own Guilty Pleasure. Sonic puts the FUN back in fast food...whether it's the bright yellow, blue and red (okay cheesy 60's I know) drive-in stalls, or the (Ohmygod) corn dogs that take me back to my childhood State Fair experiences; whatever it is, coming here brings a smile to my face every time. The drink choices are GINORMOUS - Think fresh fruit slushes (try the Lemon-Berry, my favorite), real ice cream shakes and malts, good old-fashioned vanilla or cherry Cokes, and more, way more...lots of people come here just for the drinks, and there is always a drink special running, whether it's Happy Hour (half price slushes from 2-4), or the 2 for 1 special on shakes and malts running through the end of July. Also, there are the itty-bitty ice-cream desserts for a dollar, think they're called Jr. candy sundaes - they're just enough that you can eat one and not feel the least bit guilty, and they have fun toppings like Reese's, M & M, Butterfinger and Oreo. If you can get a chicken strip sandwich and tater-tots, a small slush, and a jr. sundae, and still get change back from $5...what's not to like?

Catherine S.

Yelp
My husband and I were here a few weeks ago. He ordered a burger and I ordered a steak sub. We had onion rings and tots for our sides. My steak sub was good, the burger was ok and the tots and onion rings were bland. In my opinion the commercials are better than the food.

Jason D.

Yelp
There really needs to be a zero star rating for places like this. 30+ minute wait for my food and the fries taste like they are a day old! This is the second time in a week this location has messed up my order. Sunday they got my breakfast sandwich wrong. Won't be back and I don't recommend anyone go here.

Nora Y.

Yelp
Very disappointed to that place manager unprofessionally said I'm taken to many other orders and I can't answer you and I was standing there literally for 10 minutes waiting no one was responding to me I had to get out of my Truck and see what was going and she was so rude with her answer her name is Felicia so disrespectful never again

Mia C.

Yelp
honestly the people here have a really bad attitude. my food was correct but they shouldn't hire people that act like they can't be bothered when asking for ketchup. also when i tried to pull in the booth to order, someone told me i couldn't use the drive up order. so i parked and planned on walking up to skip the line but saw that you can't. then after getting in the drive thru line and waiting for 15 minutes i see an employee go and bring food to a car in the spot someone told me i couldn't go. so that was really fun and infuriating to watch