Iconic Eats: Classic 50's Drive-Inn

Iconic Eats is Ben Luschen's series focusing on famed Oklahoma foods he's trying for the first time. If you have a suggestion for his next blog, email him at ben.luschen@TravelOK.com.

Drive in to Norman's Classic 50's Drive-Inn for a menu full of soda fountain favorites and comfort food all-stars. Photo by Ben Luschen

If there is one restaurant format that Oklahomans especially love, it is probably the drive-in. This is, after all, the home of Sonic, which proclaims the title of America’s Drive-In. More than a few other beloved carhop establishments have come and gone along the way (though the new food truck can do the trick, I still pine for the full Coit’s menu).

You will find a drive-in of some kind in virtually every Oklahoma town of a certain size. There is one stretch of road in Norman, however, that is a practical murderer’s row of park-and-partakes. On West Lindsey Street, you will of course find a Sonic with all the great drink combos and fried snacks you know and love. Just a half mile down the road is Del Rancho, another state favorite hawking their gargantuan trademark steak sandwich supremes. But also, right across the street from Sonic, is an Oklahoma icon that can truly claim to be one-of-a-kind. Just over a mile from the University of Oklahoma campus, the independently owned Classic 50’s Drive-Inn has been serving its own take on hamburgers, hot dogs, and fountain drink creations for half a century.

Yes, for those of you who did not know, I am a current grad student at OU and though I have heard many a Classic 50’s tale from my Norman friends, I have never been until now. This is the next stop on my iconic eats tour.

My earlier trip to Eischen’s Bar in Okarche was very atypical of the classic experience. The bucket-list weekend drive with friends for a packed night of beer and chicken-fried revelry was instead a late afternoon weekday lunch with no actual wait. And how delicious an experience it was. My experience with Classic 50’s in Norman, however, was in many ways quintessential: A college student out for an affordable late-night feast at a time when many other establishments have closed till the next day.

Classic 50’s does not stray from the hamburgers and hot dogs that are considered essential drive-in fare, but they also get pretty inventive when it comes to their offerings. For instance, in addition to fries and tots, diners can instead opt for cajun-seasoned fried Pickle O’s or broccoli cheddar nuggets. Or just go all-in on the spud with a potato boat—basically a skinless baked potato that can come with a range of different fixings. On the drink front, Classic 50’s is a worthy challenger to Sonic in terms of variety and add-ins. Perhaps their most-beloved drink is the Sprittle—Sprite mixed with a generous portion of Skittles candy.

My post-class feast included one classic coney with chili and cheese, one order of the cajun-seasoned Pickle O’s, one Party Boat (skinless potato with chili, cheese, sour cream, bacon, and chives), and a medium cherry limeade. Once the food arrived, I obviously started with the coney. Classic 50’s opts to serve their chili frank with melted cheese sauce rather than the shredded variety. In a lot of instances I prefer that set-up because the two thick condiments can merge as one, and this is no exception. It’s a warm, smooth, and gooey bite with just enough snap on the dog.

Hop out of the car and grab a seat at an outside table at Classic 50's Drive-Inn to enjoy a meal al fresco. Photo by Ben Luschen

Fried pickles are nothing new, but Classic 50’s makes their Pickle O’s in-house daily. You can tell, because sometimes with frozen fried pickles you will end up with just a vaguely sour fried bread coating and the pre-cooked cucumber inside shriveled beyond registration. Take a bite into a fresh Pickle O, on the other hand, and you may just unsheathe a fresh and piping hot crinkle-cut dill slice. The cajun seasoning was subtle but just enough to present some interesting contrast to the sweet and sour crunch.

The chives were missing off my Party Boat—I’m blaming the supply chain— but my potato boat was still as or more fun than any yacht party I’ve been invited to (no one has ever invited me onto a yacht). I’m not quite sure why they make the potato boats skinless, but it did make eating the spud with my provided plastic fork a lot easier than if they had not removed the layer. A potato boat with the right amount of toppings—for instance, the Fantasy Boat with chopped brisket, butter, cheese, and barbecue sauce—could easily make a whole meal.

For the drink I opted for a cherry limeade because Classic 50’s makes their own cherry and vanilla flavorings. There is definitely a noticeable cherry sweetness up front, but what pleases me even more is the citrus bite at the end. This is because Classic 50’s uses real limeade in their cherry limeade, while some other places use Sprite or another alternative. I don’t drink a lot of soda, but when I do I like a good cherry limeade and this is one of the best I’ve had.

Overall I left Classic 50’s very pleased and probably way too full for a person to be at 9:30 p.m. on a school night. Having now experienced a lot of what this drive-in has to offer though, I can definitely say I will be back, and that Classic 50’s has worked its way into my post-class and gameday rotations.

Classic comparison: Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). An icon that is simultaneously the standard-bearer for its genre and much more than you’d ever expect.

Let Ben know which classic Oklahoma eats he needs to try next by emailing him at ben.luschen@TravelOK.com.

Written By

Ben Luschen

Luschen joined the *Oklahoma Today*’ staff as Research Editor in 2021 and currently works as the magazine's Web Editor, managing the website and social media fronts. His past *Oklahoma Today* stories have ranged in content from the state's bee and quail industries to its vibrant art and music scenes. Not adverse to a road trip, Luschen is always on the lookout for the next big adventure. He is never out of opinions about the current state of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball.