It was sheer coincidence that just about the day my choice of PICK-QUICK Drive-In as Washington State’s great burger joint was published in the USA Today’s “Great American Bites” series, PICK-QUICK announced the opening of its second location—its first since the original opened in Fife in 1949.
The location is Auburn (1132 Auburn Way North, to be exact), where PICK-QUICK Drive-In No. 2 opens tomorrow (Tuesday, March 8) at 10:30 a.m.
I was a lucky invite to a pre-opening party this weekend. As I drove past the fast food stretch on Auburn’s 15th Street NW, I quickly remembered what I especially enjoy about PICK-QUICK: the 100-percent natural beef, the fresh-cut french fries, and the milkshakes made with 100-percent natural ice cream. Signage proudly shows the shop’s commitment to being local, natural, and sustainable. PICK-QUICK sources its grass-fed beef (without hormones or antibiotics) from within the state, its ice cream from Snoqualmie Gourmet, and its coffee from Caffe Vita.
The burgers are delicious and reasonably priced, supported by a grilled bottom bun to prevent breakage and leakage. Fries are true shoestring, and while a new “PQ” sauce (the relish is part of the secret) offers a nice dipping option, I prefer ketchup—though the sauce is good on the deluxe burgers.
And all the drink choices…18 milkshake flavors, made with real ice cream, along with malts and floats. You can watch the preparation through big glass windows while seated inside the building. This is a departure from the Fife location, which has a walk-up window. Auburn has a drive-through window if you don’t care to park, though note that two of the parking spots are reserved for hybrid fuel-efficient cars. In fact, back to the mission, PICK-QUICK’s new building will be LEED-certified.
In Auburn, of all places. It took 62 years to expand, and PICK-QUICK went east. I hope it won’t take long for further expansion. Actually, rumor has it that they’re already looking north, toward Seattle. Make it quick, PICK-QUICK.
