Sonic Drive-Ins Are Texas-Sized Blast to the Past

As a kid in Texas, I regarded the Sonic Drive-In hickory burgers, cheddar cheese-drizzled tater nuggets and root beer floats as staples of teen-agers’ diets across the Lone Star State. So, when a Sonic opened in Westminster, you betcha this misplaced Texan was, like, totally stoked.

Nearly every aspect of this drive-in is perfect. From the Texas-sized drinks (even the straws are big) to the bodaciously hot-to-handle onion rings, this restaurant chain’s blast to the past is a fun and surprisingly inexpensive adventure. Pull in underneath the turquoise-and-white canopy and park next to a red-and-white squawk box. With the sounds of Chubby Checker drifting from the rafters and hot neon signs screaming “onion rings,” you might not be surprised to find prices that are out of an earlier decade as well. Big burgers run a couple of bucks, Coney dogs cost a buck and a quarter, fries are pretty cheap ($1.16) and are cooked in low-cholesterol oil, too. (Some blasts from the present cannot be avoided when attempting to convince yuppies to order an extra bag of fries.)

The service is snappy. Red-vested car hops practically sprint to each station while balancing red trays stacked high with burgers wrapped in foil-paper. (That’s what burger joints used before Styrofoam and other insidious, multisyllabic containers were invented.)

In the way of extras, for thirst-quenching relief from the heat, try a limeade. It’s a bubbly concoction of lime juice squeezed into club soda and poured over those little round ice pellets--nice and cold, very refreshing. And for the non-frozen yogurt crowd, a Sonic Blast. Take an extra thick milkshake and smash your favorite candy bar into it. Awesome sugar blast, dude.

Whatever your taste buds crave, if you’re hungry and on your way home from the beach or heading out for a meal, the Sonic Drive-In cooks up mean burgers, Coney dogs and chicken-fried steak sandwiches that will leave you a-hootin’ and hollerin’ under the stars, chowing down in your car to the beat of the Beach Boys. Sonic Drive-In, 15640 Brookhurst St., Westminster. Open Sundays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to midnight; Fridays and Saturdays till 1 a.m. (714) 531-8000.

Sonic Drive-In, 1632 N. Lemon St., Anaheim. Hours are same as above. (714) 773-0800