Iconic Minnesota Drive Inn Now the Most Historic Fast Food in the State

Nostalgia Alert!

We all have that one fast food place we always went to as a kid and still love today. The kind of place where the smell alone brings back a flood of memories. No matter how many new restaurants pop up, there’s something about that place that will always feel like home.

For me, it was Dairy Queen in the early '90s. That was my go-to as a kid. My best friend and I would hop on our bikes and ride across town to grab an iconic Full Meal Deal: a burger, fries, drink, AND dessert, all for just five bucks. Perfect for a couple of young boys with a little bit of paper route money to spend.

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Sometimes, those childhood favorites stand the test of time and become part of local history. LoveFood.com has released a list of the ‘most historic’ fast food joints in each state, and one legendary spot in Southeast Minnesota has earned that title.

Before we get to the most historic in Minnesota, here are the fast food places named most historic in neighboring states Wisconsin and Iowa:

Wisconsin's Most Historic Fast Food

Mazo's Hamburgers in Milwaukee is the most historic fast food in Wisconsin. Love Food says about Mazo's:

Milwaukee stalwart Mazos started selling burgers way back in 1934 for just a nickel a piece. The price has nudged up a little over the last 90 years, but not much else has changed. It's been in its current location since 1948 and is still in the Mazos family. Here, customers can enjoy vintage interiors, shakes served in frosted malt cans, and burgers made from beef that's ground in house daily."

Iowa's Most Historic Fast Food

LoveFood is calling Taylor’s Maid-Rite in Marshalltown the most historic fast food in Iowa. LoveFood says about Taylor's Maid-Ride,

Born in 1926, Maid-Rite sandwiches are a fast food must-try in Iowa. The Midwest favorites are kind of like a hamburger, but the seasoned meat isn’t pressed together into a patty. Instead, it's left to spill out of the bun. The local institution that is Taylor's Maid-Rite Hamburger Shop (now Taylor’s Maid-Rite) opened in 1928 and has topped its sandwiches with mustard and pickles or onions ever since. As of late – and in something of a monumental move – it now offers diners the option of ketchup as well."

Minnesota's Most Historic Fast Food

This Winona institution is about as nostalgic as a fast-food restaurant can be, transporting visitors all the way back to 1938. With nearly a century of history, Lakeview Drive Inn has remained a beloved staple in the community.

Minnesota’s Oldest Drive Inn Restaurant

Lakeview Drive Inn, Minnesota’s oldest drive-in, has been family-owned by the Glowczewski family for three generations. Given its rich history, it’s no surprise that it was named the state's "most historic fast food." However, the owners don’t see it as a traditional fast-food restaurant.

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“We are not a chain, theme, or ‘fast food’ restaurant per se, as our food is made to order and of a very high quality,” they state on their website. “We never cook anything in the microwave and never serve your food from a bin of pre-made or warmer-held items.”

Classic Car-Hop Service and Timeless Favorites

What started as a modest root beer stand called Emils, Lakeview Drive Inn still offers a nostalgic car-hop service, which means you can enjoy your meal from the comfort of your car while taking in views of Lake Winona. The restaurant is seasonal, open from March through September.

According to LoveFood.com,

“Winona’s oldest restaurant, the Lakeview Drive Inn, first opened in 1938 and still offers a car-hop service. The restaurant, which sits on the shore of Lake Winona, is only open seasonally and doles out made-to-order fish sandwiches, hot dogs, mugs of root beer, and burgers—including locally raised bison and elk burgers.”

A Must-Try: Homemade Root Beer

One of Lakeview Drive Inn’s most iconic menu items is the made-from-scratch root beer, served in frosty mugs chilled to below-zero temperatures. It's their own family recipe you won't find anywhere else.

Lakeview Drive Inn's Root Beer Barrel Carving

Another distinctive feature of Lakeview Drive Inn is the massive root beer barrel sculpture that stands beside the parking lot.

Instead of completely removing a dying 100-year-old elm tree, owners Tim and John Glowczewski saw an opportunity to create a lasting icon for their restaurant. The barrel was carved by award-winning St. Paul artist Curtis Ingvoldstad in August of 2011.

If you're eager to explore more of Minnesota's rich culinary history, check out our gallery featuring some of the state's oldest and most iconic restaurants below.