A&W in San Rafael: Coney Dogs and Root Beer Floats

We drove up to North Bay for A&W. San Rafael location, 3741 Redwood Highway. It’s been years since I’ve had A&W. There aren’t many left in California anymore—only 54 locations statewide. Back in 1974, A&W had more stores than McDonald’s. 2,400 units. Then lawsuits, franchisee fights, operational problems. By 1980, half of them closed. Now they’re scattered, mostly in smaller cities.

The Coney hot dog is exactly what I remember—chili-topped, messy, that specific A&W flavor you don’t get anywhere else. Not trying to be gourmet. Just a hot dog with chili and onions that tastes the same as it did twenty years ago.

The mushroom burger was solid. Beef patty, sautéed mushrooms, right amount of salt. Nothing fancy. It works.

There are a few other North Bay locations—Rohnert Park, Vallejo, St. Helena. We picked San Rafael because it’s closest to the city. About 30 minutes over the Golden Gate Bridge.

The root beer float is what I really came for. Vanilla ice cream, A&W root beer poured over it. The ice cream melts into the cold soda with foam on top. Perfect ratio of cream to carbonation. That’s the drink you remember from being a kid.

Different in Asia

I missed this when I lived in Singapore. A&W there had curly fries—way better than the regular fries they serve here. The Malaysian locations even have waffles and fried chicken on the menu.

Southeast Asian fast food chains always add local menu items. Makes more sense than just copying the American menu exactly. Unlike some burger chains that stick to the same menu everywhere, A&W adapted.

Worth the drive—nostalgic, simple, unchanged.