Mike Martin opened the original restaurant at the intersection of 47th Avenue and East Burnside Street in Portland in 1971, followed by the Milwaukie location in 1973.

[2] The Sellwood restaurant in Portland (Southeast 17th and Tenino Street)[3] opened in 1986 and was demolished c. 2016.

[6] The Milwaukie and Oregon City restaurants closed indoor dining and operated via takeout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[9][10][11] Michael Russell ranked Mike's number 4 on The Oregonian's 2011 list of the Portland metropolitan area's best "classic" burgers.

[13] Brooke Jackson-Glidden and Alex Frane of Eater Portland have described Mike's as "an iconic Oregon restaurant for burgers, fries and soft serve".