Pigging Out

Minnesotans dig Porky’s, their original hometown drive-in.
By Jane Wolkowicz

WHEN PORKY’S OPENED in St. Paul in 1953, drive-ins were still just catching on.

But with a prime University Avenue location, carhops and a giant Porky’s pig sign to wave customers in, it didn’t take long to grab Minnesotans’ attention.

Porky’s became such a popular hangout for college students in the 1960s, the restaurant began to charge admission for cars to enter the parking lot. (The price of admission included that dollar amount’s worth of grub.)

On warm summer nights, the giant pig still draws a crowd. “Porky’s has always been a family business,” says owner Tryg Truelson, whose father, Ray, opened the original drive-in. “I grew up eating the food and hanging out here. I think part of the reason we are still so popular is because of that family-friendly atmosphere and the nostalgia effect.”

It wasn’t always easy for Porky’s. The growth of fast-food chains in the 1970s caused a rough patch: The original location closed and reopened as a drive-thru in 1990. But another Porky’s opened last year on Central Avenue in Minneapolis, showing the renewed appeal of the classic American experience.

The main clientele at both locations is still the Baby Boomers who hung out at Porky’s in its heyday. Porky’s is open year-round, but it’s at its best during the summer months.

Offering traditional American fare, almost everything at Porky’s is still homemade. Standout items include fried chicken, burgers, pork cutlets and famously fresh onion rings (one of which tops every burger). “We are meticulous about the preparation of our food,” Truelson says. “We always grind our own hamburger and use only USDA-certifi ed meat.” Truelson’s favorite? The giant double cheeseburger.

“Visitors should come here primarily for the food,” Truelson says. “But for people wanting to relive the past, we offer a fun atmosphere and a great place to be.”

1890 University Ave., St. Paul, Minn. | 651-644-1790