East Wind Drive-In
395 NW Wa Na PA St, Cascade Locks, OR, 97014
East Wind Drive-In Menu
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Address :
395 NW Wa Na PA St
Cascade Locks, OR, 97014 - Phone (541) 374-8380
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Ryan O.
love this hole in the wall! Reese stopped here in her movie Wild too! The ice cream is super good. My personal favourite is the Hazelnut Smoothie. Honestly the best smoothie you will ever taste even if you don't like hazelnut. I wanted to try the Almond but didnt have time. Must come back.
(5)Darcy N.
It is what it is, an old school highway fast joint. I've never eaten food here, but they have about 30 flavors of soft serve, the prices are right and the portions are large. It's a classic summer stop-off.
(5)Jeff B.
Had the soft serve and ordered the large to share... Whoa! I need to share it with more people. GIGANTIC!
(5)Eric S.
Old school places like this rare to find these days. After hiking in gorge this place was a great find before heading over bridge to go home. Will be back next time in town.
(4)Marley Y.
Decided to stop here on our way to Hood River to get a bite to eat after seeing photos of their ice cream, and I would've rather picked McDonald's over waiting for this place. Originally we parked and tried to wait in line but after waiting for ten minutes decided it would be faster to go through the drive thru. After waiting another fifteen minutes in the drive thru, we ordered two bacon cheeseburgers and a large fries order. All was fine, but after he told us to pull into the parking lot to wait, I got a little irritated since every car before us got their orders at the window. While sitting in a hot car with three dogs is fun and all, it gets old after an hour of waiting. So I decided to go in and ask what the hold up was. Our order wasn't even made yet, so I had to wait another fifteen minutes while they quickly made my order and put the fries on. While waiting I have to say that looking at their employees awful tattoos was pretty entertaining, but not enough to come back. To add to it, they only put bacon on my burger and forgot the burger part, are you kidding?! Overrated and not worth the wait, at least based off of my first time. Won't be back.
(1)Mary B.
Fabulous soft serve ice cream, we make a point of stopping here on drives. Tasty fast food type burgers, they also offer espresso and coffee. CAH-RAZY line, iffy bathroom. But drive through option! Just learned yesterday that they serve breaky before 1030; breakfast burritos!! I must get there.
(4)Nick B.
One major issue; don't touch raw bacon then start preparing my buns! It may not get me sick but it grosses me out. I have hade breakfast at this place as well and same deal picked up raw bacon and tossed it in the fryer, and immediately grabbed my tortilla to start preparing my breakfast burrito. In general I like the taste of the food and their soft serve ice cream is great, I just expect a little less cross contamination between raw foods and my food that is not cooked. I highly recommend it if you passing through the locks but don't go out of your way.
(1)Stephanie S.
I took my (then) teenaged son to eat here about 5 years ago. He got a bacon cheeseburger and a milkshake, and absolutely loved what he had to eat. In fact, when we were driving through the area again last week, he remarked, "HEY, that's the place with the killer bacon burger, I HAVE to stop and get another one!" We placed our order for a bacon cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich, and a bag of tater tots. Everything was well prepared and delicious. My son was in burger-euphoria, his eyes closed, his head leaned back, and all he could say was, "mmmmmmmmmmmm". I'd call that a win. :-) The service was great. Even though I could hear a couple of teenaged guys laughing and carrying on inside, our server was totally professional at the window. I would give them 5 stars but the tots were a little bit too soft. Make 'em crispy next time, and I'll add another star, guys!
(4)Annie C.
Eh. It was too cold for ice cream so maybe we missed out on the best part of this place. Maybe I'll try again in the summer.
(3)Dave R.
A hot Labor Day weekend and after driving around the fruit loop and stopping to get pears and other goodies that are good for you we decided to stop at East wind and get a monster cone. We have been doing this for many many years. We pull up you see many others had the same idea. At least 20 in line outside and 5 cars ahead in the drive thru. No brainer hit the drive thru. 20 minutes later I order two big swirls it's just damn delicious good soft serve and it's what 80% of those waiting are going to get. They also do a mean burger but I don't care if I just ate a half hour ago I need to stop and get my soft serve and I normally don't care for the stuff. All I know is it's good and huge and worth the wait but eat it fast or you will have about a pound of soft serve going down your arm.
(5)Donna S.
I hate to say it but I was here today and what complete opposite experience. Waited in line for probably 45 mins, got up to the window only to stand there watching some doofus counting change on the counter for about 5 mins. A girl was working the grill alone and some guy with FILTHY dirt packed pants was in the kitchen putting cash in the same register the doofus was counting change from. We had waited to long to turn back at this point. He wasn't cooking so I was ok with ordering... The wait was not over so we enjoyed cones while we waited for our food. Once we got our order we grabbed the back and headed to the car to eat, yeah!! finally...... WHAT???? The burgers where COLD!! The fries tasted like bacon which wouldn't b a bad thing usually but I had the feeling the just dump all the grease together no matter what it came from.. The wait was too long and those idiots need to speed up their process. They had no cares that people where waiting so long... We wont be back for anything other than a cone...Maybe...
(2)Jeff T.
Decent burgers, gluttonously-proportioned ice cream cones, terrible service, and limited seating. There were three different teenagers working here who were neither fast nor friendly. The food was fine, especially the onion rings, but the only place we could eat was outside in the ridiculous wind. I won't go out of my way to stop here again. It's nothing special.
(3)Yum Y.
You're not going here for the best quality ice cream. If you are, You will be disappointed! If you like socializing in a small town enjoying Americana, This is the place! I'm not implying the quality is bad, it's just not the "Salt & Straw". It doesn't claim to be either, If you like seeing people licking foot tall ice cream cones... On that note, Don't miss this cult following stop while in the gorge! p.s. The burgers are very good too!
(5)Sharee A.
Small town nice to make a stop after the Rapids. They serve just soft serve with two base flavors... Not my thing. We had flurrys I asked for chocolate base got vanilla. Two "flavor bursts" and another flurry. Kind of feel that I wasted my calories
(2)Jerry A.
You want an ice cream cone? I was introduced to this place about 20 years ago. Dropped in to get an ice cream cone and could not believe it! A small come is bigger than most large cones anywhere else. Large cones are served in a a drink cup upside down because they are HUGE! Good, quality ice cream too. It's hard not to stop but occasionally I just can't help myself. It's a sinful pleasure! I have never had anything else here.
(4)Andrew C.
First time eating here. We went through the drive thru. The guy working the window was kind of rude and very short with us. We waited about 15 minutes for the food then pulled away. Had to return again Cuz our order was incorrect. Our burger was good the bacon was very good. The fries were a run of the mill shoe string fry. The onion rings were good but extremely greasy. The tots were tasted so much like fried fish and we're thrown away. All I all the burgers were decent. The sides were nothing to write home about. Prices are pretty good for what it is. Just Don't Expect A fantastic meal. All I all it was decent the service from the guy made it all bad.
(3)Rob N.
Love the spot, love the history, love the neon sign, love that you sell postcards for 50 cents apiece. I've visited many times, and will visit again. But today I ordered a peanut-butter shake, and ... seriously, guys? Crunchy peanut butter? Not a nice surprise!
(3)Allison Y.
We saw the line from down the street so we had to go and check it out. Since we had lunch, we wanted a small treat but there is nothing small about the portions at this place. The small cones are absolutely enormous. The large cones are served in a large fountain soda cup with a cone on top. I ordered the flurry with Butterfingers. It is similar to a blizzard at Dairy Queen. It was delicious. Ice cream was creamy and there was just enough Butterfinger in the mixture to compliment the ice cream. Just writing this review makes me want to go back.
(5)Ashley M.
Didn't try the soft serve, not sure what would make soft serve ice cream from here so great. Will need to try it some time. Burger was average to good, line as long. Too long just passing through trying to grab a quick bite. The service was annoying. They all seemed to be running around with their heads cut off and the attitude was like the customers where in their way.
(2)Ashley P.
The burgers were good. Thick cuts of bacon, melted gooey cheese, fresh ingredients. I wouldn't get the fries again though, they were just meh. The mozzarella sticks were fantastic, A++++. Of course, the ice cream was great. The small is enough to share between two people. My biggest issue is the service. The guy who took our order looked pained to be doing so. He seemed kind of rushed (there was no line!) and upset. However there was another friendly guy working the grill/food prep area who was nice and chatted with us. Hopefully the service will be better in the future because we hope to return if we are in the area again!
(4)Ryan R.
Yesterday when I came in with my friends we ordered 3 cheeseburgers, a large fry, Mozzo sticks, and chicken tenders. When we received our food we looked in the bag and were astonished to see that they had forgotten our chicken and Mozzo sticks. Being that we were in a time crunch about to catch a ferry we did not have the chance to go back. The next day we decided to try and get our food. We waited in line and quickly got connected with their manager William who had no problem serving us the the items they had forgotten! He even refunded the ice cream that we bought! Great service from William!
(4)Allison P.
Flavor burst!!!! Seriously it's amazing!! You must try! I have been wanting to try this place since I heard about their super tall soft serve cones. Seriously the photos I saw had been haunting me for months. So when finally had a chance to be slightly close to the drive in I made my husband take a detour. And so happy I did!!! It was by no means an ice cream, kind of day. But the line never went down. And everyone was getting cones! Most were getting smalls, only saw one medium! They have a drive thru and a walk up window, with a tiny parking lot. The staff works quickly and efficiently. And they were super friendly. The cones come out quickly which helps keep the line moving. The food on the other hand takes awhile to get to you. I didn't mind so much since I was perfectly content devouring my strawberry flavor burst while I waited. The food itself was nothing super amazing. It was good and hot, so hubby was happy with our detour. I'm just super happy I finally got to try a flavor burst and hopefully it will not be my last!!!
(4)Silas F.
Best soft serve around. Me and my friend both got medium cones and were blown away by the amazing mountain sized serving. So delicious. Anyone who writes a bad review about this place is crazy!
(5)Andrew A.
You come here because you're supposed to when on a day tour of the area. Burger: old school boring non-grilled sesame seed bun, Iceberg Lettuce, low grade beef, standard cheese. Meh. Onion Rings: battered, not breaded, and greasy; didn't come close to finishing. Shakes: Butterscotch was real good, the small size for $2.95 is a deal. But remember, it's Soft Serve, not ice cream. Cones: super tall Soft Serve. A novelty, but yummy. Would I come back and wait in a 15 minute line? Ya, probably.
(3)Cynthia E.
New owners took over recently, Can't help but think it's odd that the old owner Choi would sell to another Korean after many others have expressed interest in buying. The new owner does no speak a lick of English.. Publicly screams at his employees who have worked there for years . My niece works there and she old me that he new owner Thomas takes he old ice cream from the machine hides it in his office, then puts it back in the machine. even though it is riddled with bacteria, I have also herd from other long time costumers that he handles raw foods and does not wash his hands afterwards and touches the buns he hen serves. This new guy is sketchy, rude and seems to make dangerous choices o save a few cents. It's a shame this place was sold because now it won't be long before the Health Department shuts them down.
(1)Calvin N. H.
My rating is for the ice cream, which has become a bargaining chip in our family. My kids are much more willing to hike in this part of the state with me if I tell them we'll stop here afterwards. Bring your appetite, as the large ice cream cone including a pound (!!!) of soft-serve. Needless to say, most people will be happy with a smaller size. This gem is not a secret and there is usually a line. However, this is a fun treat and they work through the crowds efficiently. Definitely worth the wait!
(5)Oggo O.
Sign said they were open, two employees inside ignored us and would not serve us. Not friendly, bad service, appeared to be dirty and unhygienic inside the kitchen area.
(1)Stephanie M.
We've been 3 times in the last few weeks. Camping. So this is close by. Yes the line is long. Its the only place on this side selling ice cream and ice cream products. The soft serve is good. Cheeseburger tasty. Corn dogs are good too. I do think the cs could be better. No one seems happy working there. The interior is pretty dirty. I suggest you don't look if you don't want to loose your appetite. The lady taking orders had to hand count our total. That was odd. It is a bit of a wait for what ever your ordering but the ice cream is good. People watching even better! Shakes I don't recommend. Not good at all. As well as the smoothies. Not yummy and half the time they don't have the flavor you want. I don't recommend going out of your way to visit but if it's on the way it's worth the stop. Or....go across the river to grannys. Best ice cream shop ever!!!
(4)Lacey B.
Awesome burgers and the largest ice cream swirls you will ever see. Go big or go home!
(5)Renee W.
Must stop in Cascade Locks. This place is an institution for ice cream. Use to be they had 3 flavors but they had added more swirl flavors.
(5)Alena C.
It's okay. The line takes forever because every family tends to gob together to form a rambling line in which you have 20 minutes to figure out what you want to order, then you get up to the window and seem to forgot. One guy was waiting for his burger over 25 minutes. Well, maybe I was sweaty and tired from a long hike but it took so long just to get a ice cream in this joint. They should almost have a ice cream/cash only line just to get this moving! As always, once you do get the ice cream, bad things seem to melt away.
(3)Alex L.
The Good: It's a cute dingy spot by the road, just like a drive-in should be. Expect cones piled high with scrumptious soft serve and other typical fast food. They gave my companion free ice cream in line which was a wonderful surprise! We didn't run into a long line when we were there, but the staff was efficient nonetheless. The Bad: Their ice cream will melt all over your hands, face, and possibly your clothes. This will happen regardless of how fast you try and eat it, so don't give yourself a brain freeze for nothing and grab a handful of napkins on your way out instead. Don't Forget: To grab a freshly caught salmon from the natives in the parking lot! Best fish I've ever had. If you're in the Gorge, you owe it to yourself to come by.
(4)Darbie E.
Once upon a time I would have given this quaint & iconic place 5 stars, even with insanely long lines that take for - freaking-ever, but once in August & once in September, their Flavorburst machine was broken. (Never fixed) After waiting 30-45 minutes in line just for (albeit amazing) soft serve only to discover it's unavailable is so disappointing. Would it kill them to post a sign that can be read from farther away than 3 feet from only ONE of three places to order??!!
(1)L A.
We waited in line for 30 minutes (from 8-8:30pm), with about 6-8 people ahead of us. We finally are up to order, and are told "Oh, we're not serving food anymore, we closed a half hour ago." Um, really? I've been watching people pick up food orders the whole time. And why didn't they announce that to everyone waiting, that they were only serving ice cream? Wow. Really poor customer service. Won't go back.
(1)Maria C.
Love the fish and chips,the ice cream is good but do not order large their small is large. Breakfast has chicken fried steak serving till 10:30. Tony provides good entertainment.
(5)Dan H.
Well, now I know the name of this place. Wasn't too difficult to find on here. It was the continuation of my birthday. The gf was taking me out of town to the Maryhill Winery (review coming next) for a concert. On our drive out to Goldendale she came up with the idea to stop for "creamies". I did not know what a creamy was, but I certainly liked the sound of it. A creamy to her (she is originally from Vermont) is a soft serve cone. I love soft serve ice cream and on a late summer weekend day there was almost nothing that sounded better than that. We took the exit for Cascade Locks off of 84 and within a minute we were at the East Wind Drive-In, a place I have passed many times, but never had stopped at. The only reason I probably never stopped there is because the lines were always so big. That is a good thing. Means this place is popular and their product is probably pretty good. Good in a Drive-In kind of way which to me isn't a bad thing. We waited for about 15 minutes, but once up to the front we each ordered a small chocolate/vanilla swirl cone. The small is not small at all. At only $2 this is a real steal. The gf told me a friend of hers ordered a large once and it was monstrous. This small is more than enough and it was super good. Need to come back to try some of the food. I'm told this place is open year round. Not sure if that is true, but if it is, I will be back sooner than later.
(4)Amy L.
I came here with a bunch of friends after a morning of wild mushroom hunting. Burgers are solid like the kind you get at fast food places but a bit better yet not the same quality as a bigger burger joint like Red Robin. I love the crazy flavors of ice cream and shakes they have. They even have root beer milkshake. A small order of their soft serve ice cream is about 6 inches a large is a foot long. A lot of ice cream for the price. I ended up getting a butter pecan flavor soft serve. It was very tasty and buttery. Very filling too. I would stop by here again just for the ice cream.
(5)Eden N.
Totally worth the 35 minute wait.
(4)Wendy M.
Waited 15 minutes at the drive up window and could not get waited on at 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon today; it was more fun for the help to laugh and play than take care of the customers. We left and we will not be back.
(1)Serena O.
Meh, it's fine, expensive for what you get. We had burgers and onion rings and tator tots. Pretty busy at lunchtime. Went inside for the bathroom and was a little skieved out. Not many choices in the area!
(3)Angela M.
Updating my review here, still 5 stars all the way. Went there about a week ago, great place to go in the winter since there is no wait at all like in the summer. Food, as always, was hands down killer good (cheeseburger with bacon and fries) and finally tried the ice cream. My goodness, hands down best ice cream in Oregon and HUGE even in small. I'm a small girl, so I'm glad my daughter was there to help me eat it all. Yummy!!!! Ps- closest thing you'll get to In and Out Burger past Medford.
(5)Michael C.
By far worst service I've ever received. My family waited inside for over 15 minutes without ever being acknowledged by any of the workers, and finally left. These folks have grown way too full of themselves, and lost my family as patrons for ever more. We drove 45 miles to get here for ice cream for the little ones, who were very sad.
(1)Megan B.
I went here today after a hike with some friends. The small "flavor burst" was humongous and tasty. It would be 5 out of 4 stars if if was higher quality syrups and icecream. But for the price it was plenty! It was cute and pretty dang busy for how far out it is.
(4)Caroline P.
Forget about the ice cream cones, get there before 10:30 every day and treat yourself to a breakfast burrito. With bacon, salsa and sour cream is best! And it's only $5. This is the best breakfast option in Cascade Locks!
(5)Altoni Leen C.
OMG. I never seen an ice cream like the one I had from this place. It looks good and it taste even better! It was a small joint that you just pass by when you're around cascade locks...but once you see it, you know it's a good place because people are willing to stop, stand in a long line and get an ice cream or the burgers they sell. So if you ever visit Cascade locks in Oregon...you should stop by here and get an ice cream...or two. It's hard to find a space to park though!
(5)Jamie A.
I'd love to give this 4 stars but the service has gone downhill over the years. The ice cream is worth stopping for, but they're really disorganized and we waited almost an hour one time. If there's a long line just keep driving.
(3)Ruth B.
The line, the line, the line. There are no words.
(2)Ken P.
Tip: There is a counter inside and a window outside. Both serve. Choose the shorter line. Tip 2: The medium ice cream size will be enough for two
(4)Rick W.
Awesome shakes; I like a blackberry shake that actually has blackberry seeds (occasionally) in it. The only drawback is the slow line, exacerbated by the method of waiting on customers. The person taking your order is often the person who makes your ice cream or shake, despite 5 other people in the kitchen. Regardless, we stop every time we're in the gorge. And it's always worth it.
(4)Robert S.
We find ourselves here again, while driving through the gorge. We've been here several times, yet never reviewed it properly. Initially, my thought was to give it a 3-Star, due to the long drive through lines and no real drive through functionality whatsoever. You dont order at mic, there's no time for your food to be prepped out while your progressing to the window - you actually order at the window to a person and wait for your goodies there - not the most efficient way of running a drive-through. Good thing for them, they serve huge ice cream cones and have tons of flavors for a decent price. We cant complain about that and we usually get cups for the kids to split there ice-cream, as it usually falls over by the time they're halfway through it. Definitely worth a stop of your passing through.
(4)Marie P.
The only reason I have it a single star is because of the service! The young lady waiting on us was incredibly rude and seemed very annoyed to be working here! I lost my appetite while deciding what to eat and decided I did not want to support this business with such a rude employee. It's too bad one employee can set the tone of the entire business and drive away customers! I definitely will not be coming here again!
(1)Mira N.
I've been going to this place since I was a kid. Burger, curly fries, milk shake. I don't care how many calories it is -- it's a splurge and it's good. I know some people love their ice cream cones. Yes, I've had my share but I'm not a big ice cream person (put it in my shake with chocolate, please). Maybe it's the tradition or the mythology but there is something about those burgers. The not-so-secret sauce. You have to get a shake to go with it. And then the curly fries balance everything out. That's what I tell myself. I don't get to Cascade Locks much anymore but you better believe that first thing I do is pull into the drive-in and get this holy trinity. For faster service, call ahead. We used to have them on speed dial (back in the day), no joke. Be patient. Good food takes time.
(4)Jesse C.
This place has the best breakfast burrito ever! I spent 2 weeks in Cascade Locks, tried every establishment, and by the end of the trip this was my morning spot. The staff was entertaining, the burrito was out of this world, and the prices were great. Expect a 20-30 minute wait for anything or call ahead. By the end of my trip I stuck to calling ahead.
(4)Jade B.
I used to go all the time, but I went recently and the line was out of hand. It's my favorite place in the Gorge but a 45+ min wait for an ice cream cone is unreasonable. The Drive in needs to update how they service customers.
(2)Jen K.
There is something about a soft serve cone that brings back all the joys of childhood. Friends recommended it ages ago, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find it. All you need to do is "look for the penguin" just before you get to the Bridge of the Gods. What sets them apart from your average drive-in is the 'flavor burst' of syrup swirled into your soft serve cone. A small is what I would consider a large at most places. They also have shakes, malts and sundaes, but seriously, just stick to the soft serve.
(4)Mark Edward H.
It doesn't matter how many crazy flavors this place has, or how beautiful the scenery (both great), this place has the most ridiculously slow service I can remember. They handle about one customer every five minutes. Really. Waited twenty minutes to order some soft serve for the kids and there were only five people in front of us. Oi.
(2)Heather B.
Passed this place many times while living across the river, always saw the lines but never stopped. Until last Sunday. I saw the reviews on Yelp and told my friends about it and we all decided to stop there. I called ahead and asked how late they were open and the lady said 8:30, but they had already stopped making food at 8. I asked about ice cream and she said yes they'd still serve ice cream. So off we went to wait in line. It was about a 15 minute wait and it was well after 8:30 by the time we got our ice cream, but boy was it worth the wait. Their flavor burst was awesome! I got medium Black Cherry which was huge and now I can't wait to go back and try all the other flavors and everything else on the menu. Everyone else I was with got something great and enjoyed it as well. I'd love to go back here, too bad I live 3 hours away now:(
(4)Rolando F.
Not sure what they hype is all about but I stopped by while in town. I looked it up in Yelp as always. Saw a long ass line. Thought must be good. But not what I expected. I guess since there's not much going on out there, I see why there is a following...
(3)Chris C.
While on vacation from OH, the next stop in the Columbia River gorge area was Cascade Locks, a small town near the Bridge of the Gods. We weren't there for the bridge or the locks, but to go to the East Wind - a little walk up eatery I read about in Wild! They have good & cheap soft serve, so I had to try the $2 cone. It was good & worth it. We have lots of these type places in OH.
(4)Dave M.
Yep, not the most efficient, but hey, I knew that going in from the other reviews. Good "drive in" food, blackberry shake was really good! I think it is silly to downgrade the stars for service when if you can read, it is what it is! Rate the food folks, I thought it was good.
(4)Tiffany T.
A perfect day on the river includes a bacon cheese burger and an ice cream cone from these guys. Its literally right next to a very well kept park which has picnic tables (covered and uncovered) and an amazing view of the river. I get the small chocolate & vanilla swirl cone which I would consider a large anywhere else. A large icecream cone is really like an icecream tower of pisa and a challenge to keep from dripping down your arm. They have tons of flavor add ons to the icecream such as strawberry or blue goo. Floats, milkshakes, they got them! They have coffee and breakfast stuff as well. They have a big menu with lots of options. They do accept credit cards but I would recommend bringing cash. A must if you are in the area!
(5)Jen D.
I've heard of this elusive ice cream store in Cascade Locks before, but finally the stars aligned so we could finally meet face to face. And I'll tell you what, it didn't disappoint. Here's the thing not to expect: anything spectacular. It's good ole fashioned ice cream and shakes that are reasonably priced for a tourist stop. They have deep fried foods and lattes too. It's a tourist stop, but its great for kids and families and I'm glad it was there! Seriously friendly service too - and fast. Although there's pretty much a consistent line, they won't keep you waiting long. I had a Strawberry Milkshake that had real fruit in it and was creamy and awesome. My kids tried the ice cream cones and loved 'em. If I'm in the area again and don't mind waiting in line, I'll definitely stop in.
(4)Eileen W.
I have been visiting this must-stop-&-eat place long before it was called East Wind drive in. In summer, there is ALWAYS a line on weekends. Used to be called Marie's Drive In. They had closed for several months a few years ago, and when they reopened, it was renamed the East Wind Drive In. I asked what happened to Marie, had she passed away? No, the young cone maker didn't even know why it was ever named Marie's Drive In in the first place (probably too young to know, or care) but he said that the East Winds had blows the old sign down, so they called it the East Wind Drive In. I thought that was funny. 5 stars for the swirl cones every time. My favorite is the chocolate/vanilla swirl (small is about 12 inches tall!), but they have other flavors too. The grilled fare is okay but convenient, as there isn't much else in Cascade Locks.
(5)Janet R.
Five Words: Kids Black Cherry Swirl Cone. Delicious!! And even better, we walked away spending exactly $3.00 for two cones. Next time I am in Cascade Locks, I am going to try the food.
(5)Sarah R.
Huge ice cream cones for low prices. A small or medium is enough for anyone. Food is just ok. There is always a long line and then another long wait to get your order. Can be annoying. Onion rings are really good and.worth the wait.
(3)Timothy S.
Ok first off extremely slow service, about 5 minutes per customer and so decided to do drive thru. Only car there and still waited 10 minutes. Horrible hamburgers, the only thing going for them is large size cones, but still it is soft serve that you can get at McDonald's. will never waste my time again even if I didn't have to wait.
(1)Britt B.
Let's preface this by saying that we drove through Cascade Locks looking for a place to eat, and this is what we found. I mean, this was it. Like, literally. This was the ONLY place there that served food from what we could tell. We were looking for some substantial pre-hiking grub, and we pretty much found it. It was one of those places that when you are starving, it tastes amazing. However, it's not much to write home about otherwise. Still, oddly good in a comfort food kinda way. Pretty much just your standard locally owned Mom & Pops hamburger joint with a few other choices like grilled cheese and BLTs. I had a chicken sandwich which was a crispy fried pressed patty served on a large hamburger bun with mayo, shredded lettuce, tomato, and the slice of cheese I added. It came out nice and hot and I was satisfied. My brother ordered a double cheeseburger which came on the same type of bun with an adequate amount of the suspiciously delicious same kind of processed cheese you'd find on an Egg McMuffin. Both of us got tater tots. There's several picnic benches available to utilize and the staff is friendly enough - the only real downside was the fairly long wait and the fact that the drive through line was blowing their exhaust on our table... Go here because you are hungry and expect the staple - not the spectacular - and you will not be disappointed.
(3)Kurt B.
The food was really good. The wait was forever but we had fun watching the big trucks drive by the outdoor seating.
(3)Christopher F.
FANTASMIC! This place has great burgers for cheap prices, I couldn't elaborate on the rest of the menu but they definitely have fries and chicken sandwiches with a host of other fried foods that are definitely cooked on the spot (doesn't mean the chicken is not frozen!). However, it can get a little spendy when you add fries or a drink and you may disappointed with the level of fizz in your *ahem* pepsi, yes, no Coca Cola at this 'drive in'. It also has a sit down bar on the inside and plenty of parking in front, back and on side that accommodates larger vehicles/ caravans very well. The service wasn't amazing but a great lean beef patty burger with all the crisp dressings on a toasted bun below five or four bucks tasted pretty delicious after miles of hiking which is abundant in the area. Definitely recommend a stop if not a stop every time, they also have milkshakes and ice cream.
(4)Jesus A.
East Wind Drive In has great burgers and ice cream. The flavor burst are good. It tends to get packed, which makes the high demanded ice cream to be slightly soft. its best to order in a cup. desert prices are great. For the rest of the food it can get spendy. Major flaw is the amount of time it takes to order, and the amount of time you wait. There is nothing else like fast food there either.
(3)Jim A.
I was attracted to their neon penguin with an ice cream cone sign like a moth to a bug zapper. Nothing in this world could have stopped me from turning in to this place. If the sign isn't enough to make you pull over than the line of 20 people outside will. If that many people are waiting in line, then you KNOW there is something good going on. This place is your typical drive in. Every thing is prepackaged and dumped into the fryer. (Your mouth is watering already, no?!) The high light of our meal was what the kid ordered. She got a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. They should have called it "Grilled Ham Steak & Cheese". They just a nice thick slice of ham in that bad boy. Good thing I asked her for a bite once I notice what she had, because the kid ate the whole damn thing! And this upset me! She never eats all of her food and I always get to have the left overs (if its good). She didn't even save me the finial bite! What a little butthole! Anywho... As you're eating you'll start to notice that no one else is really ordering food. They're all ordering ice cream. Delicious, cold and sticky hand making soft serve ice cream cones! Sure, they have the normal vanilla, chocolate and swirl soft serve, but they also have different flavored soft serve. If you order a flavored cone you'll get vanilla soft serve with a ribbon of flavored syrup in it. They have flavors like black cherry, butterscotch, blue goo, ect... So good! Be careful if you order a large cone. I over heard one of the servers telling his customer it is over a pound of ice cream. If you're going to Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam, the fish hatchery, Beacon Rock or anything else in the gorge on a summer day, then you MUST stop here for ice cream.
(5)Curt D.
We have been going here for 18 years and have never tried the food. The ice cream cones with and without the "Flavor Burst" are so good we never can hold anything else. Order the small; it is plenty. We drive out from Hillsboro just to watch the river and eat ice cream. Love it!
(4)Greg W.
We visited this popular hamburger stand on a weekend around lunch. I've always wanted to try it as there is usually a line, and let's face it - there aren't many other options in Cascade Locks. This is not "fast food" by any stretch of the imagination - the total time from standing in line to getting our food was 18 minutes. Chomping down on a double cheeseburger while sitting in their outdoor seating, I noted that the taste was reminiscent of a Big Mac. Even with hockey-puck patties and processed cheese, it was still a notch better. Their chicken sandwich was put together with a mass-produced breaded chicken breast. Boring. Unfortunately, their fries are limp, tasteless and soggy (inferior to McDonald's). I'd definitely recommend going with the deep-fried tater tots (equivalent quality to bar food) if you are looking for additional fatty starch to compliment your meal. I wonder about these five star reviews - these burgers can't even hold a candle to an In-N-Out double-double. Perhaps I should try the soft-serve next time.
(3)Sudeep B.
great diner food but long wait
(4)Caroline Q.
The East Wind Drive-In has been a family favorite for many years everytime we finish a hike that has us driving through the Gorge. There were times when I was not in the mood to go on a hike, yet thinking of the delicious, creamy milkshake I would receive afterwards made the hike much more tempting. We all typically get a milkshake from butterscotch to blackberry, yet as one girl wrote below, as children, my brothers and I were always amazed at how tall they could make the ice cream on top of the cone. Event with the amount of ice cream, I have always stuck to the milkshake. No matter what ice cream treat you purchase, it will not disappoint. After a hike, or simply touring the beautiful Gorge, make sure your trip includes a stop at the East Wind Drive-In.
(5)Hilah H.
Ice cream is so creamy! Absolutely worth the wait in line.
(5)Michelle N.
Stopped in here after a long and hot hike at Punch Bowl Falls.. and there was a HUGE line outside. But, little tip, if you go inside, there's most likely no line. But still a wait. My friends and I stood there for awhile, un-helped, un-greeted as well. But I get it, they're busy. Just cause you go inside doesn't mean you get to cheat the line either. After a little while, someone comes and takes our order. I ordered a milkshake, and my friends order a milkshake and an ice cream cone. It may take awhile for us to get our orders in, but it sure didn't take them long at all to get our orders out. First comes out our milkshakes which were great, I mean you can't really screw up a milkshake.. Then... a large ice cream cone comes out. And I mean large. I wish I had a picture of it. So the cones come in three sizes: small, medium and large. And the large, is HUGE. I want to say just the ice cream part is at LEAST a foot long! Not including the cone mind you. You really get a bang for your buck here!
(4)Shane S.
A small swirl cone is perfect... super busy, all backed up by the burger orders. YUMMY! A gorge must! FYI, under new ownership... things could be different in the future
(5)Adam M.
Take a super fresh bun, add fresh produce and then place a nasty piece of old dirty shoe leather and call it a hamburger! Seriously? Yes, the fries were "ok" and the ice cream is slightly above average but the meal itself was disgraceful. I find it hard to believe this place ever got a 5 star review. The hamburger patties here make the frozen crap they sell at Costco look like grade A prime beef. Eek! Me thinks "hell no"
(1)Andrew D.
I have been going to this place with my family for years after hikes in the gorge. The blackberry milkshake is definitely the best milkshake ever, possibly the best single piece of food ever. Burgers are pretty good, as are the onion rings. But the milkshake is the reason to go (but watch out for the flies)
(5)Kristine B.
This is our family favorite for treats when driving in the gorge! We particularly love the shakes (make mine a blueberry malt please!). But when we were younger, we especially were amazed at how tall they make the ice cream cones! The curly fries are great too!
(5)John H.
Hey this is a great place! It is very small and old in appearance (which is ok by me--I prefer local establishments anyway), but the food is reasonably priced and very good! I bought my daughter a "small" ice cream cone and it was what other places would call "large"! I saw someone else buy a "large" and it must have been two feet above the cone! Ya gotta eat that one very fast! They serve Hood River Coffee, which is an excellent coffee, and only a dollar for the small and $1.50 for a large cup! The service was mostly good (except for the one employee who moved the tip jar away from me--I think he thought my four year old and I were going to steal his tips). Another employee however was very friendly and very helpful. He made up for the bad service from the other. So if you are cruising on I-84 leading away from or to Portland, take a quick stop on Hwy 30 in Cascade Locks. It's worth the slight detour! I've been there twice and I WILL go back! Be sure and check out the artsy sign on the outside by the door. It's a nice piece of art.
(4)John H.
Hey this is a great place! It is very small and old in appearance (which is ok by me--I prefer local establishments anyway), but the food is reasonably priced and very good! I bought my daughter a "small" ice cream cone and it was what other places would call "large"! I saw someone else buy a "large" and it must have been two feet above the cone! Ya gotta eat that one very fast! They serve Hood River Coffee, which is an excellent coffee, and only a dollar for the small and $1.50 for a large cup! The service was mostly good (except for the one employee who moved the tip jar away from me--I think he thought my four year old and I were going to steal his tips). Another employee however was very friendly and very helpful. He made up for the bad service from the other. So if you are cruising on I-84 leading away from or to Portland, take a quick stop on Hwy 30 in Cascade Locks. It's worth the slight detour! I've been there twice and I WILL go back! Be sure and check out the artsy sign on the outside by the door. It's a nice piece of art.
(4)Robert S.
We find ourselves here again, while driving through the gorge. We've been here several times, yet never reviewed it properly. Initially, my thought was to give it a 3-Star, due to the long drive through lines and no real drive through functionality whatsoever. You dont order at mic, there's no time for your food to be prepped out while your progressing to the window - you actually order at the window to a person and wait for your goodies there - not the most efficient way of running a drive-through. Good thing for them, they serve huge ice cream cones and have tons of flavors for a decent price. We cant complain about that and we usually get cups for the kids to split there ice-cream, as it usually falls over by the time they're halfway through it. Definitely worth a stop of your passing through.
(4)Marie P.
The only reason I have it a single star is because of the service! The young lady waiting on us was incredibly rude and seemed very annoyed to be working here! I lost my appetite while deciding what to eat and decided I did not want to support this business with such a rude employee. It's too bad one employee can set the tone of the entire business and drive away customers! I definitely will not be coming here again!
(1)Mira N.
I've been going to this place since I was a kid. Burger, curly fries, milk shake. I don't care how many calories it is -- it's a splurge and it's good. I know some people love their ice cream cones. Yes, I've had my share but I'm not a big ice cream person (put it in my shake with chocolate, please). Maybe it's the tradition or the mythology but there is something about those burgers. The not-so-secret sauce. You have to get a shake to go with it. And then the curly fries balance everything out. That's what I tell myself. I don't get to Cascade Locks much anymore but you better believe that first thing I do is pull into the drive-in and get this holy trinity. For faster service, call ahead. We used to have them on speed dial (back in the day), no joke. Be patient. Good food takes time.
(4)Jesse C.
This place has the best breakfast burrito ever! I spent 2 weeks in Cascade Locks, tried every establishment, and by the end of the trip this was my morning spot. The staff was entertaining, the burrito was out of this world, and the prices were great. Expect a 20-30 minute wait for anything or call ahead. By the end of my trip I stuck to calling ahead.
(4)Jade B.
I used to go all the time, but I went recently and the line was out of hand. It's my favorite place in the Gorge but a 45+ min wait for an ice cream cone is unreasonable. The Drive in needs to update how they service customers.
(2)Jen K.
There is something about a soft serve cone that brings back all the joys of childhood. Friends recommended it ages ago, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find it. All you need to do is "look for the penguin" just before you get to the Bridge of the Gods. What sets them apart from your average drive-in is the 'flavor burst' of syrup swirled into your soft serve cone. A small is what I would consider a large at most places. They also have shakes, malts and sundaes, but seriously, just stick to the soft serve.
(4)Mark Edward H.
It doesn't matter how many crazy flavors this place has, or how beautiful the scenery (both great), this place has the most ridiculously slow service I can remember. They handle about one customer every five minutes. Really. Waited twenty minutes to order some soft serve for the kids and there were only five people in front of us. Oi.
(2)Heather B.
Passed this place many times while living across the river, always saw the lines but never stopped. Until last Sunday. I saw the reviews on Yelp and told my friends about it and we all decided to stop there. I called ahead and asked how late they were open and the lady said 8:30, but they had already stopped making food at 8. I asked about ice cream and she said yes they'd still serve ice cream. So off we went to wait in line. It was about a 15 minute wait and it was well after 8:30 by the time we got our ice cream, but boy was it worth the wait. Their flavor burst was awesome! I got medium Black Cherry which was huge and now I can't wait to go back and try all the other flavors and everything else on the menu. Everyone else I was with got something great and enjoyed it as well. I'd love to go back here, too bad I live 3 hours away now:(
(4)Rolando F.
Not sure what they hype is all about but I stopped by while in town. I looked it up in Yelp as always. Saw a long ass line. Thought must be good. But not what I expected. I guess since there's not much going on out there, I see why there is a following...
(3)Chris C.
While on vacation from OH, the next stop in the Columbia River gorge area was Cascade Locks, a small town near the Bridge of the Gods. We weren't there for the bridge or the locks, but to go to the East Wind - a little walk up eatery I read about in Wild! They have good & cheap soft serve, so I had to try the $2 cone. It was good & worth it. We have lots of these type places in OH.
(4)Dave M.
Yep, not the most efficient, but hey, I knew that going in from the other reviews. Good "drive in" food, blackberry shake was really good! I think it is silly to downgrade the stars for service when if you can read, it is what it is! Rate the food folks, I thought it was good.
(4)Tiffany T.
A perfect day on the river includes a bacon cheese burger and an ice cream cone from these guys. Its literally right next to a very well kept park which has picnic tables (covered and uncovered) and an amazing view of the river. I get the small chocolate & vanilla swirl cone which I would consider a large anywhere else. A large icecream cone is really like an icecream tower of pisa and a challenge to keep from dripping down your arm. They have tons of flavor add ons to the icecream such as strawberry or blue goo. Floats, milkshakes, they got them! They have coffee and breakfast stuff as well. They have a big menu with lots of options. They do accept credit cards but I would recommend bringing cash. A must if you are in the area!
(5)Jen D.
I've heard of this elusive ice cream store in Cascade Locks before, but finally the stars aligned so we could finally meet face to face. And I'll tell you what, it didn't disappoint. Here's the thing not to expect: anything spectacular. It's good ole fashioned ice cream and shakes that are reasonably priced for a tourist stop. They have deep fried foods and lattes too. It's a tourist stop, but its great for kids and families and I'm glad it was there! Seriously friendly service too - and fast. Although there's pretty much a consistent line, they won't keep you waiting long. I had a Strawberry Milkshake that had real fruit in it and was creamy and awesome. My kids tried the ice cream cones and loved 'em. If I'm in the area again and don't mind waiting in line, I'll definitely stop in.
(4)Eileen W.
I have been visiting this must-stop-&-eat place long before it was called East Wind drive in. In summer, there is ALWAYS a line on weekends. Used to be called Marie's Drive In. They had closed for several months a few years ago, and when they reopened, it was renamed the East Wind Drive In. I asked what happened to Marie, had she passed away? No, the young cone maker didn't even know why it was ever named Marie's Drive In in the first place (probably too young to know, or care) but he said that the East Winds had blows the old sign down, so they called it the East Wind Drive In. I thought that was funny. 5 stars for the swirl cones every time. My favorite is the chocolate/vanilla swirl (small is about 12 inches tall!), but they have other flavors too. The grilled fare is okay but convenient, as there isn't much else in Cascade Locks.
(5)Janet R.
Five Words: Kids Black Cherry Swirl Cone. Delicious!! And even better, we walked away spending exactly $3.00 for two cones. Next time I am in Cascade Locks, I am going to try the food.
(5)Sarah R.
Huge ice cream cones for low prices. A small or medium is enough for anyone. Food is just ok. There is always a long line and then another long wait to get your order. Can be annoying. Onion rings are really good and.worth the wait.
(3)Timothy S.
Ok first off extremely slow service, about 5 minutes per customer and so decided to do drive thru. Only car there and still waited 10 minutes. Horrible hamburgers, the only thing going for them is large size cones, but still it is soft serve that you can get at McDonald's. will never waste my time again even if I didn't have to wait.
(1)Eden N.
Totally worth the 35 minute wait.
(4)Britt B.
Let's preface this by saying that we drove through Cascade Locks looking for a place to eat, and this is what we found. I mean, this was it. Like, literally. This was the ONLY place there that served food from what we could tell. We were looking for some substantial pre-hiking grub, and we pretty much found it. It was one of those places that when you are starving, it tastes amazing. However, it's not much to write home about otherwise. Still, oddly good in a comfort food kinda way. Pretty much just your standard locally owned Mom & Pops hamburger joint with a few other choices like grilled cheese and BLTs. I had a chicken sandwich which was a crispy fried pressed patty served on a large hamburger bun with mayo, shredded lettuce, tomato, and the slice of cheese I added. It came out nice and hot and I was satisfied. My brother ordered a double cheeseburger which came on the same type of bun with an adequate amount of the suspiciously delicious same kind of processed cheese you'd find on an Egg McMuffin. Both of us got tater tots. There's several picnic benches available to utilize and the staff is friendly enough - the only real downside was the fairly long wait and the fact that the drive through line was blowing their exhaust on our table... Go here because you are hungry and expect the staple - not the spectacular - and you will not be disappointed.
(3)Kurt B.
The food was really good. The wait was forever but we had fun watching the big trucks drive by the outdoor seating.
(3)Christopher F.
FANTASMIC! This place has great burgers for cheap prices, I couldn't elaborate on the rest of the menu but they definitely have fries and chicken sandwiches with a host of other fried foods that are definitely cooked on the spot (doesn't mean the chicken is not frozen!). However, it can get a little spendy when you add fries or a drink and you may disappointed with the level of fizz in your *ahem* pepsi, yes, no Coca Cola at this 'drive in'. It also has a sit down bar on the inside and plenty of parking in front, back and on side that accommodates larger vehicles/ caravans very well. The service wasn't amazing but a great lean beef patty burger with all the crisp dressings on a toasted bun below five or four bucks tasted pretty delicious after miles of hiking which is abundant in the area. Definitely recommend a stop if not a stop every time, they also have milkshakes and ice cream.
(4)Jim A.
I was attracted to their neon penguin with an ice cream cone sign like a moth to a bug zapper. Nothing in this world could have stopped me from turning in to this place. If the sign isn't enough to make you pull over than the line of 20 people outside will. If that many people are waiting in line, then you KNOW there is something good going on. This place is your typical drive in. Every thing is prepackaged and dumped into the fryer. (Your mouth is watering already, no?!) The high light of our meal was what the kid ordered. She got a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. They should have called it "Grilled Ham Steak & Cheese". They just a nice thick slice of ham in that bad boy. Good thing I asked her for a bite once I notice what she had, because the kid ate the whole damn thing! And this upset me! She never eats all of her food and I always get to have the left overs (if its good). She didn't even save me the finial bite! What a little butthole! Anywho... As you're eating you'll start to notice that no one else is really ordering food. They're all ordering ice cream. Delicious, cold and sticky hand making soft serve ice cream cones! Sure, they have the normal vanilla, chocolate and swirl soft serve, but they also have different flavored soft serve. If you order a flavored cone you'll get vanilla soft serve with a ribbon of flavored syrup in it. They have flavors like black cherry, butterscotch, blue goo, ect... So good! Be careful if you order a large cone. I over heard one of the servers telling his customer it is over a pound of ice cream. If you're going to Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam, the fish hatchery, Beacon Rock or anything else in the gorge on a summer day, then you MUST stop here for ice cream.
(5)Curt D.
We have been going here for 18 years and have never tried the food. The ice cream cones with and without the "Flavor Burst" are so good we never can hold anything else. Order the small; it is plenty. We drive out from Hillsboro just to watch the river and eat ice cream. Love it!
(4)Stephanie S.
I took my (then) teenaged son to eat here about 5 years ago. He got a bacon cheeseburger and a milkshake, and absolutely loved what he had to eat. In fact, when we were driving through the area again last week, he remarked, "HEY, that's the place with the killer bacon burger, I HAVE to stop and get another one!" We placed our order for a bacon cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich, and a bag of tater tots. Everything was well prepared and delicious. My son was in burger-euphoria, his eyes closed, his head leaned back, and all he could say was, "mmmmmmmmmmmm". I'd call that a win. :-) The service was great. Even though I could hear a couple of teenaged guys laughing and carrying on inside, our server was totally professional at the window. I would give them 5 stars but the tots were a little bit too soft. Make 'em crispy next time, and I'll add another star, guys!
(4)Annie C.
Eh. It was too cold for ice cream so maybe we missed out on the best part of this place. Maybe I'll try again in the summer.
(3)Jesus A.
East Wind Drive In has great burgers and ice cream. The flavor burst are good. It tends to get packed, which makes the high demanded ice cream to be slightly soft. its best to order in a cup. desert prices are great. For the rest of the food it can get spendy. Major flaw is the amount of time it takes to order, and the amount of time you wait. There is nothing else like fast food there either.
(3)Dave R.
A hot Labor Day weekend and after driving around the fruit loop and stopping to get pears and other goodies that are good for you we decided to stop at East wind and get a monster cone. We have been doing this for many many years. We pull up you see many others had the same idea. At least 20 in line outside and 5 cars ahead in the drive thru. No brainer hit the drive thru. 20 minutes later I order two big swirls it's just damn delicious good soft serve and it's what 80% of those waiting are going to get. They also do a mean burger but I don't care if I just ate a half hour ago I need to stop and get my soft serve and I normally don't care for the stuff. All I know is it's good and huge and worth the wait but eat it fast or you will have about a pound of soft serve going down your arm.
(5)Donna S.
I hate to say it but I was here today and what complete opposite experience. Waited in line for probably 45 mins, got up to the window only to stand there watching some doofus counting change on the counter for about 5 mins. A girl was working the grill alone and some guy with FILTHY dirt packed pants was in the kitchen putting cash in the same register the doofus was counting change from. We had waited to long to turn back at this point. He wasn't cooking so I was ok with ordering... The wait was not over so we enjoyed cones while we waited for our food. Once we got our order we grabbed the back and headed to the car to eat, yeah!! finally...... WHAT???? The burgers where COLD!! The fries tasted like bacon which wouldn't b a bad thing usually but I had the feeling the just dump all the grease together no matter what it came from.. The wait was too long and those idiots need to speed up their process. They had no cares that people where waiting so long... We wont be back for anything other than a cone...Maybe...
(2)Greg W.
We visited this popular hamburger stand on a weekend around lunch. I've always wanted to try it as there is usually a line, and let's face it - there aren't many other options in Cascade Locks. This is not "fast food" by any stretch of the imagination - the total time from standing in line to getting our food was 18 minutes. Chomping down on a double cheeseburger while sitting in their outdoor seating, I noted that the taste was reminiscent of a Big Mac. Even with hockey-puck patties and processed cheese, it was still a notch better. Their chicken sandwich was put together with a mass-produced breaded chicken breast. Boring. Unfortunately, their fries are limp, tasteless and soggy (inferior to McDonald's). I'd definitely recommend going with the deep-fried tater tots (equivalent quality to bar food) if you are looking for additional fatty starch to compliment your meal. I wonder about these five star reviews - these burgers can't even hold a candle to an In-N-Out double-double. Perhaps I should try the soft-serve next time.
(3)Sudeep B.
great diner food but long wait
(4)Jeff T.
Decent burgers, gluttonously-proportioned ice cream cones, terrible service, and limited seating. There were three different teenagers working here who were neither fast nor friendly. The food was fine, especially the onion rings, but the only place we could eat was outside in the ridiculous wind. I won't go out of my way to stop here again. It's nothing special.
(3)Caroline Q.
The East Wind Drive-In has been a family favorite for many years everytime we finish a hike that has us driving through the Gorge. There were times when I was not in the mood to go on a hike, yet thinking of the delicious, creamy milkshake I would receive afterwards made the hike much more tempting. We all typically get a milkshake from butterscotch to blackberry, yet as one girl wrote below, as children, my brothers and I were always amazed at how tall they could make the ice cream on top of the cone. Event with the amount of ice cream, I have always stuck to the milkshake. No matter what ice cream treat you purchase, it will not disappoint. After a hike, or simply touring the beautiful Gorge, make sure your trip includes a stop at the East Wind Drive-In.
(5)Shane S.
A small swirl cone is perfect... super busy, all backed up by the burger orders. YUMMY! A gorge must! FYI, under new ownership... things could be different in the future
(5)Adam M.
Take a super fresh bun, add fresh produce and then place a nasty piece of old dirty shoe leather and call it a hamburger! Seriously? Yes, the fries were "ok" and the ice cream is slightly above average but the meal itself was disgraceful. I find it hard to believe this place ever got a 5 star review. The hamburger patties here make the frozen crap they sell at Costco look like grade A prime beef. Eek! Me thinks "hell no"
(1)Andrew D.
I have been going to this place with my family for years after hikes in the gorge. The blackberry milkshake is definitely the best milkshake ever, possibly the best single piece of food ever. Burgers are pretty good, as are the onion rings. But the milkshake is the reason to go (but watch out for the flies)
(5)Kristine B.
This is our family favorite for treats when driving in the gorge! We particularly love the shakes (make mine a blueberry malt please!). But when we were younger, we especially were amazed at how tall they make the ice cream cones! The curly fries are great too!
(5)Alex L.
The Good: It's a cute dingy spot by the road, just like a drive-in should be. Expect cones piled high with scrumptious soft serve and other typical fast food. They gave my companion free ice cream in line which was a wonderful surprise! We didn't run into a long line when we were there, but the staff was efficient nonetheless. The Bad: Their ice cream will melt all over your hands, face, and possibly your clothes. This will happen regardless of how fast you try and eat it, so don't give yourself a brain freeze for nothing and grab a handful of napkins on your way out instead. Don't Forget: To grab a freshly caught salmon from the natives in the parking lot! Best fish I've ever had. If you're in the Gorge, you owe it to yourself to come by.
(4)Darbie E.
Once upon a time I would have given this quaint & iconic place 5 stars, even with insanely long lines that take for - freaking-ever, but once in August & once in September, their Flavorburst machine was broken. (Never fixed) After waiting 30-45 minutes in line just for (albeit amazing) soft serve only to discover it's unavailable is so disappointing. Would it kill them to post a sign that can be read from farther away than 3 feet from only ONE of three places to order??!!
(1)Hilah H.
Ice cream is so creamy! Absolutely worth the wait in line.
(5)L A.
We waited in line for 30 minutes (from 8-8:30pm), with about 6-8 people ahead of us. We finally are up to order, and are told "Oh, we're not serving food anymore, we closed a half hour ago." Um, really? I've been watching people pick up food orders the whole time. And why didn't they announce that to everyone waiting, that they were only serving ice cream? Wow. Really poor customer service. Won't go back.
(1)Maria C.
Love the fish and chips,the ice cream is good but do not order large their small is large. Breakfast has chicken fried steak serving till 10:30. Tony provides good entertainment.
(5)Angela M.
Updating my review here, still 5 stars all the way. Went there about a week ago, great place to go in the winter since there is no wait at all like in the summer. Food, as always, was hands down killer good (cheeseburger with bacon and fries) and finally tried the ice cream. My goodness, hands down best ice cream in Oregon and HUGE even in small. I'm a small girl, so I'm glad my daughter was there to help me eat it all. Yummy!!!! Ps- closest thing you'll get to In and Out Burger past Medford.
(5)Michael C.
By far worst service I've ever received. My family waited inside for over 15 minutes without ever being acknowledged by any of the workers, and finally left. These folks have grown way too full of themselves, and lost my family as patrons for ever more. We drove 45 miles to get here for ice cream for the little ones, who were very sad.
(1)Michelle N.
Stopped in here after a long and hot hike at Punch Bowl Falls.. and there was a HUGE line outside. But, little tip, if you go inside, there's most likely no line. But still a wait. My friends and I stood there for awhile, un-helped, un-greeted as well. But I get it, they're busy. Just cause you go inside doesn't mean you get to cheat the line either. After a little while, someone comes and takes our order. I ordered a milkshake, and my friends order a milkshake and an ice cream cone. It may take awhile for us to get our orders in, but it sure didn't take them long at all to get our orders out. First comes out our milkshakes which were great, I mean you can't really screw up a milkshake.. Then... a large ice cream cone comes out. And I mean large. I wish I had a picture of it. So the cones come in three sizes: small, medium and large. And the large, is HUGE. I want to say just the ice cream part is at LEAST a foot long! Not including the cone mind you. You really get a bang for your buck here!
(4)Yum Y.
You're not going here for the best quality ice cream. If you are, You will be disappointed! If you like socializing in a small town enjoying Americana, This is the place! I'm not implying the quality is bad, it's just not the "Salt & Straw". It doesn't claim to be either, If you like seeing people licking foot tall ice cream cones... On that note, Don't miss this cult following stop while in the gorge! p.s. The burgers are very good too!
(5)Sharee A.
Small town nice to make a stop after the Rapids. They serve just soft serve with two base flavors... Not my thing. We had flurrys I asked for chocolate base got vanilla. Two "flavor bursts" and another flurry. Kind of feel that I wasted my calories
(2)Jerry A.
You want an ice cream cone? I was introduced to this place about 20 years ago. Dropped in to get an ice cream cone and could not believe it! A small come is bigger than most large cones anywhere else. Large cones are served in a a drink cup upside down because they are HUGE! Good, quality ice cream too. It's hard not to stop but occasionally I just can't help myself. It's a sinful pleasure! I have never had anything else here.
(4)Rob N.
Love the spot, love the history, love the neon sign, love that you sell postcards for 50 cents apiece. I've visited many times, and will visit again. But today I ordered a peanut-butter shake, and ... seriously, guys? Crunchy peanut butter? Not a nice surprise!
(3)Allison Y.
We saw the line from down the street so we had to go and check it out. Since we had lunch, we wanted a small treat but there is nothing small about the portions at this place. The small cones are absolutely enormous. The large cones are served in a large fountain soda cup with a cone on top. I ordered the flurry with Butterfingers. It is similar to a blizzard at Dairy Queen. It was delicious. Ice cream was creamy and there was just enough Butterfinger in the mixture to compliment the ice cream. Just writing this review makes me want to go back.
(5)Ashley M.
Didn't try the soft serve, not sure what would make soft serve ice cream from here so great. Will need to try it some time. Burger was average to good, line as long. Too long just passing through trying to grab a quick bite. The service was annoying. They all seemed to be running around with their heads cut off and the attitude was like the customers where in their way.
(2)Ashley P.
The burgers were good. Thick cuts of bacon, melted gooey cheese, fresh ingredients. I wouldn't get the fries again though, they were just meh. The mozzarella sticks were fantastic, A++++. Of course, the ice cream was great. The small is enough to share between two people. My biggest issue is the service. The guy who took our order looked pained to be doing so. He seemed kind of rushed (there was no line!) and upset. However there was another friendly guy working the grill/food prep area who was nice and chatted with us. Hopefully the service will be better in the future because we hope to return if we are in the area again!
(4)Allison P.
Flavor burst!!!! Seriously it's amazing!! You must try! I have been wanting to try this place since I heard about their super tall soft serve cones. Seriously the photos I saw had been haunting me for months. So when finally had a chance to be slightly close to the drive in I made my husband take a detour. And so happy I did!!! It was by no means an ice cream, kind of day. But the line never went down. And everyone was getting cones! Most were getting smalls, only saw one medium! They have a drive thru and a walk up window, with a tiny parking lot. The staff works quickly and efficiently. And they were super friendly. The cones come out quickly which helps keep the line moving. The food on the other hand takes awhile to get to you. I didn't mind so much since I was perfectly content devouring my strawberry flavor burst while I waited. The food itself was nothing super amazing. It was good and hot, so hubby was happy with our detour. I'm just super happy I finally got to try a flavor burst and hopefully it will not be my last!!!
(4)Silas F.
Best soft serve around. Me and my friend both got medium cones and were blown away by the amazing mountain sized serving. So delicious. Anyone who writes a bad review about this place is crazy!
(5)Andrew A.
You come here because you're supposed to when on a day tour of the area. Burger: old school boring non-grilled sesame seed bun, Iceberg Lettuce, low grade beef, standard cheese. Meh. Onion Rings: battered, not breaded, and greasy; didn't come close to finishing. Shakes: Butterscotch was real good, the small size for $2.95 is a deal. But remember, it's Soft Serve, not ice cream. Cones: super tall Soft Serve. A novelty, but yummy. Would I come back and wait in a 15 minute line? Ya, probably.
(3)Ryan O.
love this hole in the wall! Reese stopped here in her movie Wild too! The ice cream is super good. My personal favourite is the Hazelnut Smoothie. Honestly the best smoothie you will ever taste even if you don't like hazelnut. I wanted to try the Almond but didnt have time. Must come back.
(5)Darcy N.
It is what it is, an old school highway fast joint. I've never eaten food here, but they have about 30 flavors of soft serve, the prices are right and the portions are large. It's a classic summer stop-off.
(5)Jeff B.
Had the soft serve and ordered the large to share... Whoa! I need to share it with more people. GIGANTIC!
(5)Eric S.
Old school places like this rare to find these days. After hiking in gorge this place was a great find before heading over bridge to go home. Will be back next time in town.
(4)Cynthia E.
New owners took over recently, Can't help but think it's odd that the old owner Choi would sell to another Korean after many others have expressed interest in buying. The new owner does no speak a lick of English.. Publicly screams at his employees who have worked there for years . My niece works there and she old me that he new owner Thomas takes he old ice cream from the machine hides it in his office, then puts it back in the machine. even though it is riddled with bacteria, I have also herd from other long time costumers that he handles raw foods and does not wash his hands afterwards and touches the buns he hen serves. This new guy is sketchy, rude and seems to make dangerous choices o save a few cents. It's a shame this place was sold because now it won't be long before the Health Department shuts them down.
(1)Marley Y.
Decided to stop here on our way to Hood River to get a bite to eat after seeing photos of their ice cream, and I would've rather picked McDonald's over waiting for this place. Originally we parked and tried to wait in line but after waiting for ten minutes decided it would be faster to go through the drive thru. After waiting another fifteen minutes in the drive thru, we ordered two bacon cheeseburgers and a large fries order. All was fine, but after he told us to pull into the parking lot to wait, I got a little irritated since every car before us got their orders at the window. While sitting in a hot car with three dogs is fun and all, it gets old after an hour of waiting. So I decided to go in and ask what the hold up was. Our order wasn't even made yet, so I had to wait another fifteen minutes while they quickly made my order and put the fries on. While waiting I have to say that looking at their employees awful tattoos was pretty entertaining, but not enough to come back. To add to it, they only put bacon on my burger and forgot the burger part, are you kidding?! Overrated and not worth the wait, at least based off of my first time. Won't be back.
(1)Mary B.
Fabulous soft serve ice cream, we make a point of stopping here on drives. Tasty fast food type burgers, they also offer espresso and coffee. CAH-RAZY line, iffy bathroom. But drive through option! Just learned yesterday that they serve breaky before 1030; breakfast burritos!! I must get there.
(4)Nick B.
One major issue; don't touch raw bacon then start preparing my buns! It may not get me sick but it grosses me out. I have hade breakfast at this place as well and same deal picked up raw bacon and tossed it in the fryer, and immediately grabbed my tortilla to start preparing my breakfast burrito. In general I like the taste of the food and their soft serve ice cream is great, I just expect a little less cross contamination between raw foods and my food that is not cooked. I highly recommend it if you passing through the locks but don't go out of your way.
(1)Calvin N. H.
My rating is for the ice cream, which has become a bargaining chip in our family. My kids are much more willing to hike in this part of the state with me if I tell them we'll stop here afterwards. Bring your appetite, as the large ice cream cone including a pound (!!!) of soft-serve. Needless to say, most people will be happy with a smaller size. This gem is not a secret and there is usually a line. However, this is a fun treat and they work through the crowds efficiently. Definitely worth the wait!
(5)Ryan R.
Yesterday when I came in with my friends we ordered 3 cheeseburgers, a large fry, Mozzo sticks, and chicken tenders. When we received our food we looked in the bag and were astonished to see that they had forgotten our chicken and Mozzo sticks. Being that we were in a time crunch about to catch a ferry we did not have the chance to go back. The next day we decided to try and get our food. We waited in line and quickly got connected with their manager William who had no problem serving us the the items they had forgotten! He even refunded the ice cream that we bought! Great service from William!
(4)Oggo O.
Sign said they were open, two employees inside ignored us and would not serve us. Not friendly, bad service, appeared to be dirty and unhygienic inside the kitchen area.
(1)Stephanie M.
We've been 3 times in the last few weeks. Camping. So this is close by. Yes the line is long. Its the only place on this side selling ice cream and ice cream products. The soft serve is good. Cheeseburger tasty. Corn dogs are good too. I do think the cs could be better. No one seems happy working there. The interior is pretty dirty. I suggest you don't look if you don't want to loose your appetite. The lady taking orders had to hand count our total. That was odd. It is a bit of a wait for what ever your ordering but the ice cream is good. People watching even better! Shakes I don't recommend. Not good at all. As well as the smoothies. Not yummy and half the time they don't have the flavor you want. I don't recommend going out of your way to visit but if it's on the way it's worth the stop. Or....go across the river to grannys. Best ice cream shop ever!!!
(4)Lacey B.
Awesome burgers and the largest ice cream swirls you will ever see. Go big or go home!
(5)Renee W.
Must stop in Cascade Locks. This place is an institution for ice cream. Use to be they had 3 flavors but they had added more swirl flavors.
(5)Dan H.
Well, now I know the name of this place. Wasn't too difficult to find on here. It was the continuation of my birthday. The gf was taking me out of town to the Maryhill Winery (review coming next) for a concert. On our drive out to Goldendale she came up with the idea to stop for "creamies". I did not know what a creamy was, but I certainly liked the sound of it. A creamy to her (she is originally from Vermont) is a soft serve cone. I love soft serve ice cream and on a late summer weekend day there was almost nothing that sounded better than that. We took the exit for Cascade Locks off of 84 and within a minute we were at the East Wind Drive-In, a place I have passed many times, but never had stopped at. The only reason I probably never stopped there is because the lines were always so big. That is a good thing. Means this place is popular and their product is probably pretty good. Good in a Drive-In kind of way which to me isn't a bad thing. We waited for about 15 minutes, but once up to the front we each ordered a small chocolate/vanilla swirl cone. The small is not small at all. At only $2 this is a real steal. The gf told me a friend of hers ordered a large once and it was monstrous. This small is more than enough and it was super good. Need to come back to try some of the food. I'm told this place is open year round. Not sure if that is true, but if it is, I will be back sooner than later.
(4)Alena C.
It's okay. The line takes forever because every family tends to gob together to form a rambling line in which you have 20 minutes to figure out what you want to order, then you get up to the window and seem to forgot. One guy was waiting for his burger over 25 minutes. Well, maybe I was sweaty and tired from a long hike but it took so long just to get a ice cream in this joint. They should almost have a ice cream/cash only line just to get this moving! As always, once you do get the ice cream, bad things seem to melt away.
(3)Wendy M.
Waited 15 minutes at the drive up window and could not get waited on at 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon today; it was more fun for the help to laugh and play than take care of the customers. We left and we will not be back.
(1)Amy L.
I came here with a bunch of friends after a morning of wild mushroom hunting. Burgers are solid like the kind you get at fast food places but a bit better yet not the same quality as a bigger burger joint like Red Robin. I love the crazy flavors of ice cream and shakes they have. They even have root beer milkshake. A small order of their soft serve ice cream is about 6 inches a large is a foot long. A lot of ice cream for the price. I ended up getting a butter pecan flavor soft serve. It was very tasty and buttery. Very filling too. I would stop by here again just for the ice cream.
(5)Serena O.
Meh, it's fine, expensive for what you get. We had burgers and onion rings and tator tots. Pretty busy at lunchtime. Went inside for the bathroom and was a little skieved out. Not many choices in the area!
(3)Megan B.
I went here today after a hike with some friends. The small "flavor burst" was humongous and tasty. It would be 5 out of 4 stars if if was higher quality syrups and icecream. But for the price it was plenty! It was cute and pretty dang busy for how far out it is.
(4)Caroline P.
Forget about the ice cream cones, get there before 10:30 every day and treat yourself to a breakfast burrito. With bacon, salsa and sour cream is best! And it's only $5. This is the best breakfast option in Cascade Locks!
(5)Altoni Leen C.
OMG. I never seen an ice cream like the one I had from this place. It looks good and it taste even better! It was a small joint that you just pass by when you're around cascade locks...but once you see it, you know it's a good place because people are willing to stop, stand in a long line and get an ice cream or the burgers they sell. So if you ever visit Cascade locks in Oregon...you should stop by here and get an ice cream...or two. It's hard to find a space to park though!
(5)Jamie A.
I'd love to give this 4 stars but the service has gone downhill over the years. The ice cream is worth stopping for, but they're really disorganized and we waited almost an hour one time. If there's a long line just keep driving.
(3)Ruth B.
The line, the line, the line. There are no words.
(2)Ken P.
Tip: There is a counter inside and a window outside. Both serve. Choose the shorter line. Tip 2: The medium ice cream size will be enough for two
(4)Rick W.
Awesome shakes; I like a blackberry shake that actually has blackberry seeds (occasionally) in it. The only drawback is the slow line, exacerbated by the method of waiting on customers. The person taking your order is often the person who makes your ice cream or shake, despite 5 other people in the kitchen. Regardless, we stop every time we're in the gorge. And it's always worth it.
(4)