Hockinson Kountry Cafe . . .A Gem in Clark County's Culinary Crown

Shorty after moving here last October, our family discovered the Hockinson Cafe. It is one of the few places to eat close by and despite the "homey" atmosphere, they serve really great food. Rob and I frequently stop by for lunch after dropping off my preschooler for the afternoon. A couple weeks ago we entered the Cafe to see a man taking pictures of several dishes to be published in the local paper with an article about the place. I was tickled when the waitress, who recognizes us these days, brought us a huge plate with a strawberry and whipped cream covered waffle that the man had just photographed, and asked if we wanted it. Of course we did! And it was delicious. Probably more so to Rob since it was free.


So when the article came out in the paper this last week with pictures of the exact waffle we ate I had to post it. The writer of the article describes the place:


"Normal Rockwell prints and gingham curtains help create a casual, homey ambiance. . . .Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served all day, so whether you want Chicken Cordon Bleu at 8 a.m. or Blueberry Pancakes at 6 p.m., the cafe can sate your cravings."

Earlier in the week they had an article about the Cafe in the Neighborhood Focus portion of the paper. I had to laugh at the description of the place, because it is very accurate, and we love it. So here it is for your enjoyment:

Pets and golf. It’s hard to find a patron at the Kountry Cafe who’s talking about anything else.
They love their beagles, their horses, their kittens, their golden retrievers. And the bulletin board inside the quaint cafe in downtown Hockinson shows that.

Patrons bring pictures of their furry companions to the cafe and tack them up. There’s dozens lining the entryway: Bailey the horse, Murphy the cat and Bandit the dog, to name a few.
Those topics make up just part of the hubbub in the heavily agricultural town of Hockinson, a sprawling patchwork of homes, farmland and a small smattering of churches. Amid rows of white fences, cows munch grass, kids bounce on trampolines in their back yards and neighbors walk the middle school’s track.

Early settlers were Finns and Swedes. Today, the area is governed by the Concerned Citizens of Hockinson Neighborhood Association, which oversees roadway improvements and development projects.

The cafe, on 159th Street, sits comfortably near the Hockinson Market, a gas station, coffee stand and a barber shop. The strip serves as the town’s central district and a gathering place for neighbors.

Lots of golfers circulate through the Cedars on Salmon Creek golf course, on Northeast 181st Street, which is a source of much discussion at the cafe, along with life events such as weddings, graduations and trips to the hospital.

“Everybody’s our neighbor’s friends and family,” said Rob Rohde, the cafe’s co-owner. “We’re all just a big ol’ family.”

Even those who don’t live in Hockinson feel like they do. “Wherever you are, they just greet you to become part of the community,” said Ann Seter, who lives outside Battle Ground but attends church at Hockinson’s Elim Lutheran Church. --Laura McVicker