Anyone who has watched television in the Northwest has undoubtedly seen the omnipresent Sonic commercials. For years Sonic commercials have been airing here while the closest location was Wanetachee, Washington, which is about 85 miles east of Seattle. With the deployment of their Puyallup location in April of this year, it provided us with the opportunity to finally try their offerings.
Our arrival put us in a line of cars with a queue of more than an hour. We decided to avoid the line by ordering at their walk up menus. What differentiates their menus from their competitors is that not only can you order there but also conveniently pay via plastic payment: Visa, Mastercard, American Express.
Sonics’ ambience is one of an old school drive-in burger joint. Waitresses on roller skates glide up to your window as you park your vehicle under the covered stalls. Meals on securely pegged on your window with a food tray while you enjoy your meal in the comfort of your vehicle. The waitresses happily dispose of your garbage as you finish your food.
Culinary Evaluation:
For a franchise that has garnered so much publicity in the Northwest I was profoundly disappointed. Their burgers were tasteless with their only really unique items being the limited time offers such as the Sonic Blast made drink made with Snickers bits. Even their onion rings shared the same common traits as their burger: bland and flavorless. My lunchmates express similar dispositions about Sonic:
- “Nothing special”
- “Its okay”
- “Not worth coming all the way out here for it”
- “Felt anti climatic”
What’s interesting though is that they had happy hour for drinks during the hours of 2-4 pm, which all looked promising. I got their Strawberry Limeade with my meal and I can honestly say that it was adequate.
Sad to say, our sonic expedition manifested into a mundane experience not recommended for anyone gallivanting outside his or her culinary itinerary. Stick with something better like In-n-Out, Carls Jr, or even our local Dicks.
Photography accredited to Philip Thangsombat.
Sonic Drive-in
13609 Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98373
(253) 841-6820
- Abe
This post is tagged Burgers, Drive-in, Food, Puyallup, Seattle, Sonic, WA, Washington
6 Comments
and their commercials look so good. throw them with the over rated burger joints along with red mill.
sonics = hypebeast
This is the second Sonics that Seattle won’t have
RIP Seattle Supersonics
Totally agree with your critique. I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago, not impressed. Apple Limeade = Sugar + Water + Green
Wow Abe, your review is extremely on-point. Had it for the first time last night and it was disappointing.
Having come to the northwest from a place where even the small towns sport at least one Sonic, I must say I was disappointed with the food as well. The thing is, though, most people where I grew up didn’t go to Sonic for the food. Most of their business was with drink sales happy our fell right at the time of day that temperatures got into the 100s.
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