Don't Sell Yourself to Fall in Love

The first recorded drive-thru was at the Grand National Bank of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1930. It certainly wasn’t a hamburger joint. But eateries soon embraced the idea. These days it’s not just fast-food restaurants that have drive-thru lanes. These unique dining establishments are taking the drive-thru to new culinary levels.

• 10. Waffle Cabin - Okemo, VT

  OK, so it’s not actually a drive-thru; the Waffle Cabin is a ski-thru. For ski bums on the go who don’t have time between mogul runs to sit down and unbuckle, the small, mountainside log cabin serves up freshly made waffles dusted with extra sweet sugar.

• 9. Tokyo Yakitori - Burbank, CA

  In Japan, Yakitori is a style of grilled food (usually different parts of chicken) eaten with beer at rollicking, smoke-filled bars. But in Burbank, California, you can have the salty, crispy pleasures of yakitori without ever leaving your car. (Although the beer is notably missing from the mix.)

• 8. Coffee Pod - Provo, UT

  The cupcake craze is not confined to cutesy sit-down cafes. Those who need a regular frosting fix can get it on the go at the misleadingly named Coffee Pod. Although it may indeed sell coffee, locals know the Coffee Pod for its cupcake confections, such as Strawberry Vanilla and Chocolate Coconut.

• 7. Portillos - Chicago, IL

  Cake isn’t just for birthdays. It can be for lunch, for dinner, for breakfast — or even a quick snack while on a drive. Portillos serves regional foods like Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, ribs, and burgers, all of which can be bought and consumed without leaving your vehicle. But the restaurant’s true triumph is its cake, which is available in a variety of flavors, from strawberry shortcake to chocolate to lemon. And if one slice just won’t do it, don’t worry. Whole cakes are available at the drive-thru as well.

• 6. The Donut Hole - La Puente, CA

  Nothing creates a doughnut craving like driving through a giant doughnut. Luckily at The Donut Hole you can pick some up on your way through. The huge local landmark has been curbing doughnut cravings since 1968.

• 5. The Dairy Barn - Long Island, NY

  The quaint, little red Dairy Barns scattered across Long Island may look old fashioned, but when it comes to dishing out dairy they are at the height of modernity. You won’t find hamburgers on this fast-food menu — but some of the products do come from a cow. Milk, cream, cheese, yogurt, butter, and more are for sale.

• 4. Multeepurpose Café - Los Angeles, CA

  Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA’s, have become more and more prevalent in cities across the country. But not everyone has the time to drive to a farm or meeting place, park, choose vegetables, pack them up, and return to the car. Luckily for car-reliant Los Angeles veggie-enthusiasts there’s the Multeepurpose Café, where CSA members can have crates of produce delivered to them through their car windows.

• 3. Brew Thru - Outer Banks, NC

  Drinking and driving is illegal. But buying beer while driving isn’t — at least it’s not at North Carolina’s Brew Thru. Six packs, cases, and even kegs of beer are all available for purchase along with popular brew accompaniments such as pretzels and candy. Of course, commemorative t-shirts and mugs are also for sale as the Brew Thru has become quite the attraction.

• 2. Cowgirls Espresso - Seattle, WA

  At Cowgirls Espresso, the rule may be no shirt, no shoes, no service, but that doesn’t apply to the bikini-clad baristas. In a town like Seattle, where coffee shops are a dime a dozen, founder Lori Bowden decided that her coffee shop needed to have not one but two hooks: drive-thru capabilities and scantily-dressed ladies steaming your milk. Her ideas worked. Today, Cowgirls Espresso has four locations across the country.

• 1. New Orleans Original Daiquiris - New Orleans, LA

  There is no hiding what New Orleans Original Daiquiris is — it’s a drive-thru bar. Louisiana law states that as long as the paper top remains on the straw, it is legal to have an open alcoholic beverage in a moving vehicle. The sugary, boozy beverages come in a variety of flavors, including Peaches & Cream and “Crawgator.”

1. Cafe Dulce – 134 Japanese Village Plaza, Building E, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 346-9910 
2. DeLuscious Cookies & Milk – 829 North Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038, (323) 460-2370 
3. Diddy Riese Cookies – 926 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024, (310) 208-0448 
4. Dutch Oven Bakery – 2281 Lake Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001, (626) 794-3555 
5. Froma – 7960 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046, (323) 653-3700 
6. Ice Cream Plus – 8158 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046, (323) 656-8332 
7. Lido Bakery – 3001 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, (310) 545-8955 
8. Porto’s Bakery – 3614 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91504, (818) 846-9100 
9. Proof Bakery – 3156 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039, (323) 664-8633 
10. Snookies Cookies & More – 1609 Victory Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91201, (818) 502-201