Along I-84, where Boardman mostly registers as a quick exit and a stretch of open sky, sits a place that has quietly outlasted trends, chains, and entire versions of the town itself. C & D Drive In does not try to impress you at first glance. It does not need to. It has history on its side, and once you walk through the door, that history is impossible to miss.
Stepping inside C & D Drive In feels like slipping back a few decades to a time when drive-ins were community anchors and burgers were built to be simple and satisfying. The restaurant dates back to 1965, the same year Boardman was forced to relocate uphill to make room for the John Day Dam. C & D was one of the first businesses to make that move, setting the tone for what the town would become next. Since 2009, owners Gwen and Jack Triperinas have carried on that legacy, following the long stewardship of Jack Bozarth, who ran the place for more than three decades before them.
At its core, C & D is a classic burger and shake spot, the kind that proudly advertises itself from the freeway. Billboards along I-84 still announce it as the home of the Famous Bozo Burger, and yes, the name sounds more dramatic than the reality. The Bozo Burger is essentially a bacon cheeseburger, but a very good one, named for Bozarth rather than a clown. There is even a larger-than-life mural of the Bozo Burger on the patio wall, which has become a low-key rite of passage photo stop for travelers passing through.
The menu sticks to what works while offering enough variety to keep locals loyal. Burgers and hot dogs come with nearly every topping combination you could want. The Rode Burger layers thick sliced grilled ham with a fried egg, while the Hot Jack brings jalapeños and pepper jack cheese into the mix. Most burgers follow the classic drive-in formula with American cheese, iceberg lettuce, and a sesame seed bun, built around a quarter-pound patty. If you are feeling ambitious, anything can be ordered “super” with a half-pound patty instead.
Everything is ordered à la carte, which means fries are not automatically bundled with your burger. Honestly, the burgers hold their own just fine, but if you do add a side, the fries and onion rings are crisp, golden, and served with a solid fry sauce. On weekends, the kitchen turns out freshly baked donuts and pastries. Milkshakes come in a long list of flavors and are thick enough to require patience, and soft-serve ice cream is a lifesaver on hot eastern Oregon afternoons.
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The space itself is small and unpretentious, with a handful of indoor tables and some outdoor seating, though most people opt for takeout. Ordering is primarily walk-up, but you can call ahead or order online when things are not slammed. The staff is consistently friendly and unhurried, happy to walk you through the menu so you end up with exactly what you want.
You will see a steady mix of people coming through at any given time. Road-trippers hopping off I-84 mingle with locals, including a reliable wave of high school students on lunch break since the school sits right next door. It feels like the kind of place a town grows up around.
Every time I drive toward Boise, I stop here. Choosing a locally owned drive-in over fast food is an easy decision, and yes, I order the Bozo Burger every single time.
Hours: Every day, 8:00am to 9:00pm
Address: 103 Main St, Boardman, OR
Phone: (541) 481-4981
