Red Horse Diner (Ellensburg WA)
- slurpee
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
Date: April 16, 2025
Location: 1518 W University Way, Ellensburg WA
I discovered Red Horse Diner years ago when, while visiting Ellensburg’s popular annual music festival, I was immediately captivated by the diner’s kitschy curb appeal. Housed in a former service station from 1936, this colorful roadside joint is now a popular destination for hungry travelers, vintage car enthusiasts, motorcycle clubs, and families.
On my most recent visit, I went for The Red Horse Burger, a 1/3 LB charbroiled all beef patty with cheddar cheese, bacon, and grilled honey ham, garnished with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and fry sauce, on a toasted potato bun.
1 Aesthetics — A gorgeous burger, assembled poorly. Plaudits for the beautifully charred peekaboo beef patty, slice of ham, and bacon. Demerits for the lack of sauce on the upper bun, and for the placement of the two pickles, very thin tomato slice and chopped lettuce, not distributed equally in the middle, but piled on the far edge of the bottom bun. 7
2 Flavor — A delicious blend of savory and sweet. 8
3 Mouthfeel — Not ideal. Overly chewy ham and bacon should be balanced by crispy veggies, which were only present in a couple of bites (see aesthetics, above). The burger patty, itself, however, was just right: juicy on the inside, with a firm and crispy charred exterior. 6.5
4 Quality/Freshness — Very good! All the ingredients were very fresh and high quality. 8
5 Integrity — Good. This sandwich held it’s shape, with the exception of the chopped lettuce abandoning ship — an all too common problem. 7
6 Atmosphere — Outstanding! A clean and kitschy retro former service station that’s absolutely packed with vintage memorabilia, with both indoor and outdoor seating, including yard games for kids and families. Although my personal taste leans to minimalism, I can certainly appreciate the appeal of this style of decor. 9
7 Service — Excellent service, even during a busy lunch rush. Friendly and fast, much appreciated. 9
8 Satisfaction — A most satisfying meal! This burger was so hearty and filling that I couldn’t finish the large serving of steak fries. 8
9 Creativity/Uniqueness — This flavor profile of charred beef, grilled honey ham, and bacon together with cheddar cheese was new for me, and I really enjoyed it. 8
10 Value — A tad expensive. At $17.50 with fries, this burger costs more than one normally expects to pay at a diner. 6
I’ll definitely return to this colorful roadside respite for their large portions of high quality comfort food. Recommended.
Total Score: 72.5
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