Denny's Drive In
For decades, Denny’s Drive-In has been a Grand Bend institution, known for their quick service, silly signage, great burgers, and, of course, fresh cut fries. So when the best little burger joint in Grand Bend changed owners in the spring of 2023, locals were concerned that the menu would change along with it. Those concerns turned to excitement when the new owner, Lot Chansamone, started out by studying the secrets of the Denny’s menu, with lessons provided by none other than Valerie Boland, the previous owner. Chansamone is still getting her burger patties from Hensall’s masters of all things meat - Metzger’s. That means Denny’s is still serving thick, juicy burgers adorned with toothsome toppings on fresh, springy buns - it makes for a hearty handheld. She’s also still doing the fresh cut fries every day, with a little bit of help from her five children.
Having successfully secured the legacy of Denny’s Drive-In for another generation, the seasoned restauranteur set about adding her own culinary signature to the retro burger bar, in the form of truly spectacular Thai food. Chansamone clearly pays attention to all the little details that make Thai cuisine so beloved all around the world. As an added bonus, Denny’s once limited vegetarian offerings have been expanded to include fragrant curries, noodle dishes, soups, spring rolls, and more. She uses quintessential Thai flavours like Kaffir lime, lemongrass, ginger, Thai basil, and coconut throughout her menu, which makes it hard to decide what to order.
The most popular dish at Denny’s is Pad Thai, of course. Chansamone’s Pad Thai is of the thin noodle, sweet and tangy orange sauce variety. It’s also topped with fresh cilantro and comes with crushed peanuts on the side - both signs of a superlative take-out Pad Thai. Thick, house-made spring rolls stuffed with well seasoned vegetables and (optional) pork make for a substantial snack - just make sure you let them cool down a little before biting into one fresh from the fryer!
But the absolute must try item at Denny’s Drive-In is the Tom Yum Soup Deluxe. This hot and sour soup combines rich coconut milk and stock flavoured with lemongrass, chilies, galangal, and other herbs, and has long been a staple of Thai cuisine. There is a theory that it originated in the royal kitchen of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 14th Century, as a lavish way to showcase local ingredients. The Tom Yum Deluxe from Denny’s would definitely get a thumbs-up from the King - it’s unbelievably flavourful, and while you can order it with chicken or shrimp, it doesn’t need them to be a perfectly balanced, rich, satisfying soup. Chansamone also offers a non-deluxe version of Tom Yum, but the Deluxe version is absolutely worth the slightly higher price tag.
While she may be relatively new to the hamburger stand game, Chansamone is no stranger to the realm of restaurants. She got her start running Thai Pad with her sisters in Lucan. Thai Pad is a funky, sit-down spot with an eclectic menu that is much-loved by locals from Lucan and the surrounding area. It’s her goal to foster that same sense of community with the people of Grand Bend. While she still loves the summer rush of tourists that have been stopping in at Denny’s for decades, Chansamone also strives to cater to Grand Bend’s year-round residents. One way of doing that was to switch the spot from strictly seasonal to a year-round eatery. In the winter, she keeps customers warm with some pretty serious soups, from Mexican Tortilla to Turkey Stew.
She also keeps things fresh by coming up with an enormous variety of weekly specials, from smoked pork chops with mashed potatoes to beef teriyaki with udon noodles to butter chicken with basmati rice. She’s also been creating special menus for every occasion she can think of - she most recently ran a three course Valentine’s Day takeout menu for two, and had a lot of success with her Super Bowl appetizer platters. Spring is sure to bring even more inspiration to Lot Chansamone and her ever-expanding repertoire of excellent eats.
Whatever it is she whips up from one day to the next, people are into everything Denny’s Drive-In has on offer. Now that the weather is really warming up, see if you can snag a seat on Denny’s little patio, and eat your lunch or dinner right there in the sunshine - it’s food worth taking the time to enjoy.
Until summer hours start in June, Denny’s Drive-In is open from 4 to 8 on Thursday and Friday, and from 11:30 to 8 on Saturday and Sunday. Located at 86 Ontario St S, Grand Bend.