Along the I-84 freeway is a small truck stop of a town called Boardman. Not much happens here, but what it do has to offer is worth its weight in gold: the incomparable C & D Drive In.

Walking into the C & D Drive In is like stepping back in time, as it is one of the oldest restaurants in Boardman. In 1965, the city had to relocate to make way for the soon-to-be-built John Day Dam, and the C & D was one of the first establishments to move to higher ground, paving the way for other businesses to follow. Today, owners Gwen and Jack Triperinas have been running this iconic establishment since 2009, and prior to that, it was owned and operated by Jack Bozarth for the past 31 years.

The C & D Drive In is more or less your typical burger and shake joint, and you’ll see billboards on 84 proclaiming it to be “Home to the Famous Bozo Burger!” What’s a Bozo Burger you might ask? The answer is a bit disappointing, as it’s simply a bacon cheeseburger (albeit a good one!) named after the original owner’s last name, “Bozarth.” There’s also a large mural on the patio wall of the “famous” Bozo Burger that makes for a great photo op.

The menu features burger and hot dog options with just about every topping you can think of, like the “Red Burger” which comes with thick slices of grilled ham and a fried egg, or the “Hot Jack” which features jalapeños and pepper jack cheese. Most burgers are all made in the classic drive-in style with American cheese, iceberg lettuce and sesame seed buns and come standard with a ¼ pound patty, but you can order anything “super” and upgrade to a ½ pound patty.

Everything is ordered a la carte, so no fries are served with the burger, but I like that option because honestly, the burger alone is enough for me. But if you want more, the onion rings and fries are cooked to perfection and served with a tasty fries sauce. They also have freshly baked donuts and pastries on the weekends, alien milkshakes in a dozen different flavors, and soft serve ice cream for those hot summer days.

The restaurant is quite small with only a few tables inside to eat in and some seating outside, but most people just take their food to go. This is generally a classic walk-up and order place, but there is an option to call in orders for take-out (if they aren’t too busy in the lobby), or even place orders online.

To top off this classic American fare, they always have super friendly staff that explain what’s on all the burgers so you can get something you’ll like. There’s always a good mix of patrons that come through C&D, both travelers coming off the 84 and locals (mostly teenagers on their lunch break, since the local high school right next door). I like to stop here every time I drive to Boise because I prefer to eat at a local restaurant rather than fast food, and Yes—I always get the Bozo burger!

Opening hours: Every day, 08:00 – 21:00

Address: 103 Main Street, Boardman
Phone: (541) 481-4981