There’s a diner in Washington where your breakfast comes with a side of railroad history.
You don’t just sit at a table here.
You slide into a booth inside a real vintage train car.
The ceilings curve overhead, the aisles are narrow, and the whole place feels like it could rumble to life at any second.
Instead of tiny portions and fancy plates, you get stacks of pancakes, sizzling hash browns, and coffee that keeps flowing.
The grill is just a few feet away, the booths line the windows, and every seat feels like a front row spot.
It’s cozy, loud, and completely unforgettable.
If you love unique restaurants, historic spots, or just a seriously good breakfast, you’re going to want to see this one for yourself.
Let’s take a closer look at the Washington diner that turned a vintage train car into one of the coolest places to grab a meal.
Where Is It?
Frank’s Diner is located in eastern Washington, in downtown Spokane.
You’ll find it at 1516 West 2nd Avenue near the railroad tracks, just a few blocks from Riverfront Park and the Spokane River.
It’s around 40 minutes from Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, just over 2 hours from the Tri-cities area, and roughly 4-5 hours from Seattle, depending on traffic over Snoqualmie Pass.
It’s smack in the heart of Spokane’s historic downtown, so you can easily pair your meal with a stroll through Riverfront Park and a walk past Spokane Falls, just five minutes drive away.
About
Frank’s Diner serves comfort food inside a real vintage railcar built in 1906, and yes, you actually eat inside an authentic Northern Pacific Railroad car.
The main dining car was built in 1906 and originally rolled through the Pacific Northwest as an observation car.
Later, it served as a Northern Pacific Railroad presidential car, before it was parked in Spokane and turned into a restaurant in 1931.
Inside
When you walk up, you’ll see the long, narrow train car sitting right by the tracks, and it honestly looks like it could chug away at any second.
Step inside and you’re greeted with polished wood paneling, curved ceilings, brass details, and those classic narrow aisles that remind you this used to be moving at 60 miles per hour.
The original booths line the windows, and the counter seating runs along one side, so you’re either tucked into a cozy booth or perched on a stool watching the cooks flip pancakes right in front of you.
The space is tight, which is part of the charm, so expect a cozy, shoulder to shoulder kind of experience during busy hours.
There are two separate Frank’s Diner locations in Spokane, one Downtown and one in North Spokane, each housed in its own railcar.
The Food
Frank’s is best known for its hearty breakfast, and it’s the kind of place where the portions show up big and unapologetic.
Their hearty breakfast combos and scrambles, like Eggs & Browns, the Hobo Scramble, and the Conductor’s Derailer, are local favorites, loaded with classic breakfast staples and generous portions.
If you’re really hungry, you can order the Corned Beef Hash & Eggs or the Irish Benedict, which feature corned beef for an extra punch of flavor.
Pancake fans can order massive pancakes that practically spill over the plate, and the French toast comes thick-cut and golden brown.
If you want something savory, the chicken-fried steak with country gravy is a solid move, and the biscuits and gravy come piled high with creamy sausage gravy.
Lunch brings out burgers, patty melts, club sandwiches, and classic diner melts that hit the spot after a morning exploring downtown Spokane.
The coffee flows constantly, and it’s the kind of place where your mug rarely sits empty for long.
You order from a straightforward, old-school menu that sticks to American diner favorites, so there’s no tiny portions or fancy plating here, just filling, no-nonsense meals.
Over the decades, it has become a Spokane icon, drawing everyone from railroad workers back in the day to modern-day road trippers and weekend brunch crowds.
When you visit, expect friendly, fast-paced service, the clatter of plates, and the smell of bacon cooking just a few feet away.
You come here to sit inside a 120-year-old train car, order something comforting, and dig into a plate that might require a to-go box.
Know Before You Go
Frank’s Diner in downtown Spokane is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, making it a prime breakfast and lunch spot.
This place gets busy, especially on weekends between 9:00 am and noon, and the line can stretch out the door.
If you want a shorter wait, aim for right when they open at 7:00 am or closer to 1:00 pm near the end of the lunch rush.
The dining car is narrow, so large groups may be split between booths or asked to wait a bit longer for space to open up.
The diner has its own parking lot, but if it’s busy, then there’s also street parking and paid lots nearby.
If downtown parking feels like a hassle, there’s also a second Frank’s Diner location in North Spokane at 10929 North Newport Highway, which also has its own parking lot.
The North Spokane spot serves the same pancakes and diner classics, all inside a historic railcar.
Both locations are casual, family-friendly, and come as you are, so jeans and sneakers fit right in.
Portions are large, so come hungry or plan to take leftovers home.
Bring a little patience, especially on weekends, and you’ll be rewarded with a meal inside one of the most unique dining spaces in Washington.
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