9 Forgotten ’80s Oregon Fast-Food Burgers That Deserve A Comeback
Back in the ’80s, before Portland was dotted with foodie gastropubs and Instagram-ready brunch spots, Oregon’s fast-food scene had its own magic.
Neon signs buzzed above corner joints, fryers hissed in the background, and nothing felt better than unwrapping a burger that dripped down your hands on a Friday night.
These weren’t corporate creations with focus-grouped recipes — they were messy, bold, and full of local character.
For many Oregonians, those burgers weren’t just dinner, they were a rite of passage, a reward after Little League, or the highlight of a late-night cruise down Sandy Boulevard.
Today, the restaurants are gone or changed beyond recognition, but the memories (and the cravings) linger. Here are nine forgotten Oregon burgers from the 1980s that still deserve a comeback.
1. Yaw’s Top Notch Burger (Portland)
My grandpa first took me to Yaw’s when I was eight, and that first bite of their signature burger changed my fast-food expectations forever. The juicy patty came nestled in a toasted sesame seed bun that somehow stayed crisp despite the delicious mess of toppings.
Yaw’s special sauce – a tangy, slightly sweet concoction – remained a closely guarded secret that no other restaurant has managed to duplicate. The Hollywood district institution served these beauties with hand-cut fries that were always perfectly crisp.
Founded in 1926, Yaw’s survived the Great Depression but couldn’t weather the fast-food revolution of the 1990s. Brief revival attempts never recaptured the magic of that original Top Notch Burger that Portland natives still rave about decades later.
2. Herfy’s “Big Herfy” (SE Hawthorne/57th & Sandy)
Weighing in at nearly a half-pound, the Big Herfy wasn’t for the faint of heart or small of appetite. I once won a bet by finishing two in one sitting during my reckless teenage years – a feat my stomach still reminds me of occasionally.
Unlike today’s carefully styled burgers, the Big Herfy was gloriously messy. The melted cheese draped perfectly over the edges of the seasoned patty, while the special Herfy sauce dripped down your fingers with every bite.
What made this burger special wasn’t just size – it was the perfect ratio of toppings to meat. The pickle chips provided just enough tang to cut through the richness, and the onions were diced small enough to distribute their flavor evenly. Portland’s Herfy’s locations faded away by the mid-90s, taking this magnificent beast with them.
3. Arctic Circle “Ranch Burger” (Portland Sites)
The Ranch Burger wasn’t just a meal – it was an event. Arctic Circle’s Portland locations served this beauty with their signature fry sauce years before fancy aiolis became a thing. The first time I tried one after swim practice, I nearly inhaled it without chewing!
What set the Ranch Burger apart was its unique combination of a special ranch-seasoned patty and that incredible sauce. The flavor profile hit notes that modern burgers rarely achieve – savory, tangy, and slightly smoky all at once.
Arctic Circle had mastered the art of the thin patty with crispy edges while maintaining a juicy center. While a few Arctic Circle restaurants still exist in other states, Portland’s locations closed decades ago, and their specific version of the Ranch Burger remains just a delicious memory for locals who were lucky enough to experience it.
4. Tik Tok Restaurant Burger (SE 82nd)
Long before the social media app stole its name, Tik Tok Restaurant on SE 82nd served the most perfectly crafted diner burger in Portland. Last summer, I drove past the old location and nearly caused an accident when nostalgia hit me harder than a freight train.
The Tik Tok burger arrived open-faced, showcasing a hand-formed patty that had been grilled on a well-seasoned flat-top that must have been cooking burgers since the Eisenhower administration. Each burger came with a generous smear of mayo on the top bun and ketchup on the bottom – never mixed, always distinct.
What really distinguished this burger was the bun – slightly sweet and always toasted to golden perfection. The 24-hour restaurant served generations of late-night diners until closing in 2017, but the 1980s were its golden era for burgers.
5. Burger Island Special (NE Portland)
Hidden in a tiny shack in NE Portland, Burger Island’s Special was the stuff of local legend. My dad would drive us 30 minutes across town just for these burgers, claiming no distance was too far for perfection.
The Special featured not one but two quarter-pound patties smashed thin on the grill, creating maximum surface area for that magical caramelization that burger aficionados crave. Between those patties sat a slice of cheese that melted into all the nooks and crannies, creating pockets of molten goodness.
What truly elevated this burger was their secret island sauce – a slightly spicy, smoky concoction that hinted at Caribbean flavors. The tiny location couldn’t compete with expanding chain restaurants and closed around 1992, but those who experienced the Burger Island Special still compare every burger they eat to this vanished masterpiece.
6. The Speck “Speck Burger” (Early Skyline Era)
Before becoming Skyline Restaurant, this NW Portland hillside gem was known as The Speck, home to the legendary Speck Burger. My first date with my high school girlfriend was at The Speck – I was more nervous about how to eat this massive burger without making a mess than I was about the date itself!
The Speck Burger’s claim to fame was its unique patty – a blend of ground chuck and bacon that created a flavor bomb unlike anything else in town. Each patty had bits of bacon ground directly into the beef, creating pockets of smoky goodness throughout.
The burger came on a distinctive dark rye bun that added an earthy counterpoint to the rich meat. When the restaurant changed hands and became Skyline in the late ’80s, the recipe changed too, leaving burger enthusiasts forever chasing the memory of that perfect bacon-infused patty.
7. Skyline Restaurant “Jumbo Burger” (NW Skyline Blvd)
Perched on NW Skyline Boulevard with breathtaking views of the Tualatin Valley, Skyline Restaurant’s Jumbo Burger lived up to both the restaurant’s lofty location and its ambitious name. My family’s Sunday drives often ended with these burgers as we watched the sunset over the valley.
The half-pound patty came with an audible sizzle, still crackling from the grill when it reached your table. Unlike many jumbo-sized burgers that sacrifice quality for quantity, Skyline’s version maintained perfect beef flavor throughout the thick patty.
Their special touch was a sprinkle of seasoned salt worked into the meat before grilling and a generous swipe of garlic butter on the toasted bun. While Skyline Restaurant still exists today, old-timers insist the ’80s version of their Jumbo Burger had a certain magic that can’t be replicated – perhaps it was the simpler times or maybe just the lack of smartphones interrupting the experience.
8. Mike’s Drive-In Tillamook Cheeseburger (Milwaukie/Oregon City)
Long before the farm-to-table movement, Mike’s Drive-In was showcasing Oregon’s dairy excellence with their Tillamook Cheeseburger. I scraped together allowance money for weeks just to treat myself to this local delicacy on special occasions.
The burger’s star wasn’t the patty (though it was excellent) – it was the generous slab of Tillamook medium cheddar that crowned it. The cheese wasn’t just placed on the patty; it was melted under a metal dome on the grill, creating a perfect blanket of dairy goodness that draped over the edges.
Mike’s used a special technique where they brushed the grill with butter before toasting the buns, creating a crispy, rich foundation. While Mike’s still exists, burger aficionados swear the ’80s version had a different quality – perhaps due to changes in Tillamook’s cheese recipe or simply the rose-colored glasses through which we view our youth.
9. Stanich’s “Nick’s Deluxe” (NE Fremont)
Before it was controversially named “America’s best burger” by a national publication (which ironically contributed to its downfall), Stanich’s Nick’s Deluxe was Portland’s worst-kept secret. My uncle, a diehard regular, would only order this burger – claiming he’d tried everything else just to confirm nothing could beat it.
The Nick’s Deluxe was a beautiful monster stacked with unexpected ingredients. Beyond the standard lettuce and tomato, it featured both bacon and ham, a fried egg, and melted American and Swiss cheeses, all topped with a slice of hot red pepper.
What made this burger special wasn’t just the ingredient list but how they worked together. The egg yolk created a natural sauce that mixed with the special seasoning blend to create flavor magic. The ’80s version came wrapped in paper that would become translucent with delicious burger juices – a sign of greatness that modern, Instagram-ready burgers often lack.