15 Things That Really Prove You’re in Yakima
The people over on the Westside of the mountains love to come over here during the summer, and by here, I mean the beautiful city of YAKIMA, WASHINGTON! You might be a local who says that Yakima is not much to brag about, but you, my friend are SO WRONG! I mean, for starters, we have a whole website dedicated to how much we love Yakima, so get with the program! In the span of a few moments, I am going to give you 15 things that really prove you're in Yakima, and whilst this list includes things that some consider the best and some consider the worst, there's still nothing else like it on the planet!
See which ones from this list you love (or love to hate)!
Cheese Zombies
I'm not one to brag, okay, that was a lie, but Yakima put Cheese Zombies on the map! So much so, that others are duplicating the original (Shorty's Sweets, Treats, and Cakes is permanently closed). It is not hard to find someplace having a Cheese Zombie Day once a week. There's even a Cheese Zombie day at the Valley Mall at their newest eaterie, Caffeine Connections (2529 Main St, Union Gap)!
Miners Burgers and Majors Burgers: The Beef Continues!
When I first moved to Yakima I was told the legend of the "beef" between Miner's Drive-In (2415 S 1st St) and Major's Burgers (1705 W Lincoln Ave). I'm not sure if I was being told a tall tale or not, but whilst they both have tasty food, I have taken a side and chose my favorite out of the two. (I'll never tell!)
The BEST Taco Trucks & Drive-Thru Mexican Food Are in Yakima
You will taste the best--I'm talking THEEE BEST--Mexican food in America this side of the Rio Grande River. We are so blessed to have delicious authentic Mexican food here in Yakima. From taco trucks to drive-thrus, you cannot tell me we don't have the best in this hometown! Try Taqueria El Huarachazo at 501 W Nob Hill Blvd. It's been called one of the best taco trucks in Yakima!
Fiesta Foods Grocery Store in Yakima
A unique shopping experience will be had at Fiesta Foods (1008 E Nob Hill Blvd #3615) when you compare it to the other guys (Safeway, Fred Meyers, Rosauers, Wray's Thriftway). They can't help it, Fiesta Foods has got it goin' on! One time, I went shopping and left almost an entire cart-full of groceries (don't ask me why) and the staff made sure that my frozen foods didn't melt and that everything I had purchased was still available for me despite my hurry to leave the store for an appointment! World-class customer service is what I experienced.
Billboards en Español
If you don't speak Spanish, you might feel a little uncomfortable trying to decipher what the billboards en Español say. You need not get your chonies in a bunch, though. They are saying the exact same thing you see on the billboard in English. Get a grip, ese!
Coffee Houses and Drink Shops are on like, literally EVERY BLOCK in Yakima!
Instead of churches on every block like you'd see in The South, 'round these parts of Washington state, you'll be seeing coffee houses and drink shops on every other block until your eyes glaze over. But that's a GOOD THING! El Solecito (303 W Pine St) is so famous it has people driving upwards of five (5) hours or more away from Yakima just to get a drink. Don't believe me, check out their Tik Tok page! Crave Coffee (6407 W Nob Hill Blvd UNIT 101), Human Bean (115 N 56th Ave), and Bigfoot Java (82 W Nob Hill Blvd) are the latest local faves.
A bunch of banks are in Yakima, I'm talking A LOT
For a city that Trader Joe's says doesn't have enough income per capita, Yakima sure does have a lot of banks and credit unions. Take that, Trader Joe's! We have lots of money and capital flowing over here. Some of us are just still waiting around to make our own millions (like me)! One of the big credit unions in town is Solarity Credit Union (110 N 5th Ave).
Yakima Has Too Many Friggin' Traffic Lights
Don't get me STARTED on the traffic lights on Yakima Avenue. It is nothing but STOP! START! STOP! START! I'm ready to write a letter to my Congressman...er, I mean the Traffic Division or City Council...about it! Walnut Avenue used to be my go-to for avoiding the Yakima Ave lights, but now they, too, have become, STOP! START! STOP! START! We don't have a ton of traffic in Yakima so why are there so many dang traffic lights downtown?
The Red Robin in Yakima Is Always Busy
No matter what time of day it is, the Red Robin on Nob Hill Blvd (2702 W Nob Hill) is always busy. Before COVID-19 hit, you would be lucky to get a table in under a 30-minute wait! Thankfully, there is Curbside delivery and To-Go parking spaces!
The North 1st Motels Are Like Their Own City
The motels used to look kind of notorious and there still are tragic incidents happening every now and then, but the outside of them are iconic. You would swear you are living in the 70s by the looks of some of these motels, but guess what, if somebody ever needs an inexpensive place to stay, they've always got room at the Bali Hai (710 N 1st St)! One day, I'm going to stay there just for the Yakima nostalgia of it all!
There are Weed shops in Yakima on the outskirts of town
Bow chikka Bow bow! I don't think I'm allowed to talk about the cannabis shops in town. What happens at the "Slow Burn", STAYS at the "Happy Time!"
Yakima is covered in hidden breweries, wineries, and distilleries
Hidden, you say? Well, I must have been thinking of that secret back room at that winery in Prosser. The wineries, breweries, and distilleries are not secret anymore. My favorite hidden gem is a distillery named The Distillarium (2305 Industry Ln). Best kept "secret" in town.