Do you remember the heyday of the drive-in restaurant? Luckily, many of these little gems are still open, mostly in Utah’s small towns. Hires Big H originally opened in downtown Salt Lake City, and it’s still open – despite the encroachment of the chain burger joints.

Hires Big H Opened in Salt Lake City in 1959. The original location, at 425 S 700 E., is still open.

Business Owner/Yelp

Don Hale was born in Grantsville and started working at his family’s grocery store when he was just 10 years old. When he was 40, he built his dream - a hamburger restaurant.

Business Owner/Yelp Don passed away in 2011 at age 93. He worked in his restaurant until he was 90 years old. Today, Hires Big H continues Don’s traditions.

You can still pull up and get drive-in service. Turn your lights on, and a server will come out to take your order - just like in the good old days.

Mike C./Yelp

The dining room is small, but it has plenty of tables to handle the crowds of diners on a weekend night.

Business Owner/Yelp

The Big H is the specialty here. It comes with a quarter-pound of ground chuck, fry sauce, lettuce, tomato and American cheese. You can also get it with two hamburger patties.

Kendall B./Yelp The restaurant grinds its own chuck every day, and the buns are baked by a local bakery.

The root beer floats are legendary.

Staci K./Yelp You can buy Hires root beer extract to make your own delicious root beer at home.

There’s nothing better than a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake.

Business Owner/Yelp The fries are cut fresh from whole potatoes every day.

Though Hires Big H keeps its old traditions, it also adds new ones. The menu includes nine veggie burgers now.

Eliza S./Yelp

You can take home some of Hires’ products.

Business Owner/Yelp The fry sauce is delicious, and you can also pick up homemade salad dressing, beef or veggie patties, buns and more.

Visit Hires Big H six days a week.

Tony B./Yelp The drive-in is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 am to 11:00 pm; Friday and Saturday from 10:30 am to Midnight; closed Sunday.

In addition to its downtown location, Hires Big H has locations in Midvale and West Valley City.

Business Owner/Yelp

Don passed away in 2011 at age 93. He worked in his restaurant until he was 90 years old. Today, Hires Big H continues Don’s traditions.

Mike C./Yelp

Kendall B./Yelp

The restaurant grinds its own chuck every day, and the buns are baked by a local bakery.

Staci K./Yelp

You can buy Hires root beer extract to make your own delicious root beer at home.

The fries are cut fresh from whole potatoes every day.

Eliza S./Yelp

The fry sauce is delicious, and you can also pick up homemade salad dressing, beef or veggie patties, buns and more.

Tony B./Yelp

The drive-in is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 am to 11:00 pm; Friday and Saturday from 10:30 am to Midnight; closed Sunday.

Do you have any great memories of dining at Hires? Tell us about them!

For more great drive-in restaurants in Utah, take a look at this article.

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