Posted in Washington
July 14, 2019
If You’ve Never Eaten A Cheese Zombie, You Need To Try This New Washington Restaurant
If you didn’t grow up in Yakima County or select parts of Eastern Washington, the term “cheese zombie” most likely means nothing to you. But if you were lucky enough to be raised on this school lunch staple, you know what a treat it was to dunk those doughy delicacies into a cup of piping hot tomato soup. And now, you can have one practically anytime you’d like, thanks to the efforts of one hardworking Yakima Valley man.
In the late 1950s, a Yakima Valley school district received a little too much subsidized (aka government) cheese. Not wanting it to go to waste, the food services supervisor created this elevated sandwich out of cheese and fresh dough. Needless to say, it was an instant hit.
Ask any millennial or Generation X alumni from Central Washington about them, and most will tell you they always opted for school lunches on Cheese Zombie day.
Moore, whose culinary skills are all self-taught, has spent the last five years perfecting the art of the Cheese Zombie. He spent several years catering to local businesses before opening his own restaurant, which you'll find at Granger's Dinosaur Park.
He grew up in foster care, hanging out with the wrong people (as he puts it), and he even spent some time homeless before completely turning his life around. While his story isn't pleasant, it's incredibly inspiring, and it has a happy ending -- Moore now has a beautiful wife and a two-year-old son, whom the restaurant is named after.
The patio was freshly cleaned and ready for business when we arrived, hence the water.
Current hours are noon - 8 p.m., although you'll want to go as early in the afternoon as you can... as word gets out, the zombies sell out fast.
Recent specials have included freshly baked pizza, Indian tacos, and these stellar carne asada fries.
But whatever Zombie you order, don't forget to request some tomato soup -- Moore makes it from scratch daily, and it's delicious.
This could be the beginning of a new generation of Cheese Zombie lovers.
Address: 505 Main Street, Granger, WA, 98932
Have you ever had a Cheese Zombie? While you’re in the area, take time to appreciate Granger’s adoration for dinosaurs.
