Just like a cast-iron skillet seasoned through generations, Spokane’s oldest restaurants have been simmering with culinary tradition and local flavor that only grows more delectable with time. These venerable eateries have weathered economic shifts, changing tastes, and culinary trends, emerging as beloved institutions that serve up more than just meals – they serve up living history. From hearty comfort foods that have warmed Spokane residents for decades to signature dishes that tell stories of the city’s rich gastronomic heritage, these restaurants are culinary time capsules waiting to be savored!
Maxwell House
1425 N Ash Street, Spokane
509.326.6890
Before it poured its first legal pint, Maxwell House was laying its roots in Spokane’s historic core. Housed in a building that dates back to 1905, originally home to a grocery and plumbing company, it transitioned into a tavern and restaurant in 1934, just a year after Prohibition lifted. That move earned it the city’s oldest liquor license, a distinction that still holds today.
While the exterior whispers of old Spokane, the interior hums with new energy, with a refreshed menu, welcoming staff, and game-day excitement broadcast on every screen. Whether you’re pulling up a chair for history or craving the house-made hospitality, Maxwell House is the perfect blend of past and present.
The Onion Taphouse & Grill
302 W Riverside Avenue, Spokane
509.747.3852
Tucked into the historic 1904 St. Regis Hotel, erected initially as the Dessert Block by hotel magnate Victor Dessert, complete with a saloon, drug store, clothing shop, and hotel quarters upstairs, The Onion Taphouse & Grill flipped Spokane’s first gourmet burger back in 1978, awakening the city’s appetite for chef-driven dining. What began as 44 exotic burger creations has since blossomed into a full menu of scratch-made pastas, hearty French onion soup, and crisp, market-fresh salads, all crafted from locally sourced ingredients.
Behind the gleaming taps—51 in total—lies a taphouse pedigree that pairs perfectly with anything from the signature “El Jefe” pepperjack burger to the seasonal farm-to-table specials. Chefs trained in fine-dining kitchens still operate the grills, ensuring each patty cooks to juicy perfection before being served on a house-made bun. Whether you’re drawn by a cold craft beer or a flame-kissed burger, The Onion remains the cornerstone of gourmet innovation in Spokane, proving that the city’s palate was forever changed the moment that first burger hit the grill.
Frank’s Diner
1516 W 2nd Avenue, Spokane
509.747.8798
Climb aboard Washington’s oldest dining car restaurant and let Frank’s Diner take you on a culinary journey through more than a century of flavor and railway history. Crafted during the railroad’s golden age, this 1906 Barney-Smith-manufactured observation car embodied railway opulence and elegance when it was purchased by the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1909. Adding their own finishing touches, they lavishly refitted Car No. 1787 as a private coach for the railroad’s president, only to have it unceremoniously retired and replaced.
Stranded in Seattle during the height of the Great Depression, it was rescued by Frank Knight and repurposed as a classic dining car in 1931. For sixty years, the diner served up steaming coffee and scratch-made breakfasts to generations of Seattleites before development and the loss of their land lease forced their move to Spokane in 1991.
Today, it stands as a Spokane culinary landmark, its historic presence further extended down the line with the addition of sister car No. 4216, keeping its legacy on track while gaining steam with exquisite cuisine!
Broadway Diner
6606 E Broadway Avenue, Spokane
509.534.7445
Long before chain travel stops dotted the interstate, Broadway Diner was fueling travelers and locals alike with warm meals and a handshake. Founded in 1963 beside the newly built I-90, it began as a humble service station partnership between Don Alsaker and Chuck Williams, and has grown into a full-fledged diner known for its hearty portions and homegrown hospitality. The Alsaker family’s legacy still lingers in every booth and skillet, carried forward by Don’s son Dan, who joined the operation in the early ’70s.
The menu celebrates diner staples like fried chicken, thick bacon, and golden French toast, with “Going the Extra Mile” baked into everything from the first cup of coffee to the last bite of biscuit. Whether you’re heading east, west, or simply hungry, it’s the kind of place where the welcome never wears out and the good food fuels more than just a stretch of road; now that’s a destination worth pulling over for!
Cathay Inn
3714 N Division Street, Spokane
509.326.2226
What started as a roadside destination on the edge of town is now one of Spokane’s most enduring restaurants. In 1950, Tom F. Eng opened Cathay Inn on what was then little more than a narrow stretch of Division Street, introducing locals to refined Chinese cuisine crafted with care and fresh ingredients. Four generations later, the Eng family still owns and operates the restaurant, with Raymond Eng, Tom’s great-grandson, now at the helm.
The menu balances traditional favorites like Moo Goo Gai Pan and Moo Shu Pork with regional staples, all cooked to order and served with a side of family hospitality. With second- and third-generation servers welcoming guests like old friends, Cathay Inn offers more than a meal; it provides continuity. It’s not just a restaurant. It’s a tribute to the community that’s grown up around it.
Park Inn
103 W 9th Avenue, Spokane
509.624.8111
What began as a Depression-era Shell station and burger joint has become Spokane’s longest-running restaurant, affectionately known today as the Park Inn or simply the P.I. Locals have frequented this spot since 1932, when it dished out milkshakes and burgers through one of the region’s earliest drive-thru windows. Over the decades, the modest space on Monroe morphed into a tavern, then expanded to include the Pizza Plaza next door, whose square-crust pies with toppings tucked under the cheese remain iconic.
The unassuming beige building now hides a museum of mid-century nostalgia: captain’s chairs, walnut paneling, vintage arcade games, and pinball machines. Through name changes, ownership shifts, and even tragedy, the P.I. has never closed its doors, not once. Step inside and you’ll find old-school booths, suspended model airplanes, and a loyal base of locals who wouldn’t dream of watching the game, or the years, go by anywhere else.
More than mere dining spots, Spokane’s oldest establishments have woven themselves into the city’s social fabric, serving up meals alongside memories. They’ve seen generations of families gather, friendships form over shared pints, and milestones marked around familiar tables. And in doing so, they become the city’s most cherished recipe: equal parts history, hospitality, and heart, simmered slowly over shared stories and seasoned with the nostalgia spice of heritage.
