Restaurants will come and go but not these 10 popular places in the Yakima Valley. They've been around for a really long time! They are the 10 oldest restaurants in the awesome Yakima Valley and we hope they are here to stick around for many more years to come. We didn't want to just focus on the city of Yakima for this list, we scoured all over the Yakima Valley to show some love to our favorite restaurants. Back in the day, there were mostly burger joints established because of the affordability of the products and the ease of being quick in the restaurant kitchen. Times have changed and technology has made things better for restaurant owners but it still comes down to great customer service and the passion for giving the community some great meals!
There are three Yakima Valley restaurants that claim to go back to the 1940s, but two of them specifically state in their online history bios that they began in 1948. This makes them the oldest of the bunch, going back nearly 75 years of serving us delicious food! We would love to send thanks and deep appreciation each and every one of these restaurants for standing the test of time and for continuing to be so awesome!
Most of you may know that Snipes Mountain Restaurant and Taphouse has been a fixture in the Sunnyside area since 1859. Dad's Family Restaurant has been giving us great memories for decades, too, but we cannot locate the exact date of when either Snipes Mountain or Dad's Family Restaurant were established. Until we get ahold of somebody with those verified dates, we will update this article to include them on the official list amongst the oldest restaurants in the Yakima Valley!
Make sure to make your top selection in the poll below so we can see which one of these is the best-loved oldest restaurant in the Yakima Valley. There are so many great ones to choose from that it might be hard for you to make your pick!
PLEASE NOTE: If there is a restaurant we didn't mention below and you can verify that it was established in the Yakima Valley earlier than 1979, please let us know and we will be delighted to update this article.
10. Mel's Diner in Yakima
314 N 1st St, Yakima, WA
2702 W Nob Hill Blvd, Yakima, WA
First franchise of Red Robin was opened in Yakima, Washington in 1979.
621 W Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA
6. Jean's Cottage Inn
3211 Main St, Union Gap, WA
5. Wapato Filipino Community Hall
211 W 2nd St, Wapato, WA
Established on March 22, 1952. This is the very first Filipino Hall built in Pacific Northwest. They serve delicious and authentic Filipino food to the public on Thursdays for lunch! Get a list of menu prices here. *prices subject to change
Established in 1948. "Home of the Big Miner."
Established in 1948. After a fire burned the place down in 2020, the current owners were able to rebuild, much to the Yakima Valley community's delight.
2. Pepp'rmint Stick Drive-In
4002 Main Street, Union Gap, WA
Established in the late 1940s. Some say their burgers are better than Miners. Sounds like there's some friendly BEEF between the two. (A meaty pun was definitely intended.)
1. Golden Wheel Chinese Restaurant/The Lotus Room
9 S 1st St, Yakima, WA
Established in 1937. Yakima's oldest restaurant owned and ran by family. Highlights including The Lotus Room Lounge which is also still open. The drinks are so famous that locals will tell you to get "Lotusized" at The Lotus Room.