BK Root Beer Drive In — Restaurant in Mishawaka

I'm struggling to leave a review for a place I've been visiting for nearly 50 years—a place that was once my favorite spot in the world. I wrote a one-star review and then deleted it because it’s tough to rate it so low after all this time. But the truth is, I’m not happy; I’m just sad.

The service is decent enough—the car hop staff do their jobs. The atmosphere? It’s a car hop, so if you don’t like sitting in your car, that’s on you, not them.

You might wonder why there aren’t many reviews. Well, they weren’t even on the map until I added them myself. Up until 2023-2024, the owner couldn’t be bothered to claim the business on Google Maps. I stepped in, added it, and even tried submitting corrected hours when they didn’t bother.

This year, I’ve been back multiple times. Every visit: cold hot dogs, hard, cold buns, half the sauce they used to give, and onions that aren’t diced—just three or four huge chunks slapped on top. Every single time. Opening day? I went out of my way, thinking, “They’ve got to get it right today, right?” Nope, total letdown.

Yesterday was the final straw. I waited 10 minutes, thinking, “Great, they’re taking time to cook it properly.” Wrong again. The food was so bad—cold hot dogs, stale buns, giant apple-sized onion pieces—that I drove to a gas station, tossed it in the trash, and went home hungry. It was pure garbage, the kind of stuff you’d only eat to survive. My wife wasn’t surprised; she’d already warned me with an “EWWW” when I said where I was going. She opted for a PB&J instead—she gave up on this place years ago, says it’s too disgusting now.

From now on, I’m making the hour-and-20-minute drive to B-K West in Logansport for their coney dogs. To anyone who still thinks this place is good, I don’t get it. Sure, the deep fryers—maybe the ones they got from Denny’s when it closed—still work fine. Fries and onion rings are decent, a step up from the old days when chips were your only side. But the main event? Forget it. Even when it’s served hot and fresh, the quality’s so poor it’s still awful. They’re clearly buying the cheapest ingredients—meat, bread, everything.

Take the trip to Logansport sometime. Go to a B-K that actually cares about its restaurant, not just its catering gig, and taste what this place should be—what it used to be, until Mr Faulkner died and the son that took over has been slowly destroying a Mishawaka treasure, year after year, by opting to cut corners on quality to save cost at every opportunity.

-A former customer that would rather pay more, then get something that could be microwaved at home (and it would taste better...

As a long-time patron who's been coming here for years, BK Root Beer Stand is a true summer tradition for me. Every visit brings a wonderful sense of nostalgia, which is a huge part of its charm. The food is usually great, hitting that classic drive-in spot perfectly. While I've had a few instances where it wasn't absolutely top-tier, those are exceptions. The price point is generally okay, even with a few increases over time – I still happily pay because the experience is worth it. A very important tip for first-timers (and a reminder for regulars): they only accept cash! So make sure you're prepared before you go. Now, for the highlights! Their fried pickles are seriously good, a definite must-try. We're also big fans of their classic cheeseburgers, the unique walking tacos, and the perfectly crispy fried mushrooms. Of course, you can't go to a root beer stand without mentioning their incredible root beer – it's a staple! And for a quintessential drive-in treat, their root beer floats are always a good option. But let's talk about some standout items: the corn nuggets are a rare find and absolutely delicious, and their cheese curds are the bomb! My husband also raves about the coleslaw, so if you're a fan, you might want to take his word for it! And don't forget dessert! Their ice cream cones are nice, with a pretty good flavor selection that often includes a delightful syrup swirl. While the size can sometimes be a little inconsistent, the taste always delivers. If you're looking for a taste of classic summer fun and some genuinely good drive-in fare, just remember to bring your cash, and BK Root Beer Stand is a...

Ordered a Cheesy Coney 1/4lb hot dog and root beer in a frosted mug. Was told they weren’t doing frosted mugs because it was raining…….why that had anything to do with it, I have no idea! I get my food and drink and set it down and pay for my food. The girl hands me my change and I ask if she has any singles for the $10 she gave and she says not right now…..I had her the $1 and the coins she gave me and said that’s too bad! She leaves and I open the hot dog to find they laid a napkin under the cheese coney dog so there is now cheese and coney sauce sticking the hot dog to the napkin, which was kind of disgusting. I peel the napkin off and take a bite and realize that was the only napkin I was given! I find a towel I hand in the car and wipe my hands off and go to grab my drink, only to realize she never gave me a straw 😡 The root beer tasted more like Dr Pepper and I don’t like Dr Pepper! No frosted mugs and no ice in the drink was kind of a let down. The hot dog itself was great but I didn’t get much more than coney “juice” because there wasn’t much meat and even less onions, which I think they charged me for. First time and last time I have come here, definitely wasn’t worth the 20...