Five Restaurants I Would Love See in Yakima in 2025

2025 is upon us.

It's fun to look back at the year that was 2024 and see the new restaurants that opened here in Yakima. There were quite a few.

A few locally-owned businesses as well as a chain restaurant or two that we have in town now. That's always fun to see.

But what does 2025 hold?

Here are 5 chain restaurants I would love to see come to Yakima in 2025.

This isn't taking away from any of the great local places we already have, we need to support those, too, But it's fun to see restaurants like the ones you see in commercials or ones that your friends have tried in other areas of the United States that we don't have here.

Chic-fil-A

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This is one that comes up regularly for restaurants people want to see in Yakima. I think a Chic-fil-A would do great in town. We've had KFC as long as I can remember and we finally got a Popeye's a few years back but there are other chicken places around the US like Rasing Canes, Church's, Bojangles, and others. Chic-fil-A would be a natural fit for Yakima.

Shake Shack

Of all places, the first time I've ever tried Shake Shack was in London. I was with a couple of locals who have never tried it so, though I was in the UK, I went with them. It's your traditional burger and fry joint with excellent milkshakes but just different enough to be a place that Yakima could get behind.

IHOP

Yakima had an IHOP for many years until it shut down which made us all sad to see it go. I would love to see IHOP come back to Yakima. I think it'd do great. Put it at Rainier Square on Nob Hill so visitors of the new hotels could take advantage of it for breakfast.

Del Taco

Yakima has no lack of authentic Mexican cuisine as well as a few quick options like the classic Taco Time and Taco Bell, both are always great in a pinch. Del Taco is fantastic as the prices seem like they're still priced as they were pre-pandemic. They also have pretty good milkshakes, which is unusual for a place that serves tacos and quesadillas, but I don't question it.

Whataburger

Ask anyone around the Texas area and they'll tell you the crowned prince of burgers belongs to Whataburger. It took me many years to finally try one and, yes, they're fine. I wouldn't put them as high on the pedestal as they do, but it is a great place with a wonderful breakfast menu as well.