
Americans love food and driving and these passions come together in roadside restaurants. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that roadside restaurants have a central place in American culture: They feature in such iconic films as “American Graffiti” and “Thelma and Louise” and road movies are themselves a major film genre.
After a year of restrictions on travel and dining out, many Americans must be hungry for adventure and hungry for the restaurant experience, whether it’s the chrome exterior and vinyl interior of a basic truckstop café or a classic diner. (Here is the best diner in every state)
To whet your appetite 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of 26 of America’s best roadside eateries.
They span the country, from Maine to California to Hawaii. Many of the places on our list are known for classic American fare, such as pizza and BBQ. Not surprisingly, burgers are a staple. Some are famous for local specialties, such as lobster and chowder fries. Whatever your preference, roadside restaurants often offer generous portions for reasonable prices.
Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-in
> Location: Seligman, Arizona
> Don’t miss: Jalapeño burger

Yaks on the 5
> Location: Dunsmuir, California
> Don’t miss: Bacon Overload burger
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Goody’s Family Restaurant
> Location: Victorville, California
> Don’t miss: Waffle supreme combo

Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner
> Location: Yermo, California
> Don’t miss: Peggy Sue’s special combination pizza
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West Shore Seafood
> Location: Morris, Connecticut
> Don’t miss: Chowder fries

Wooster Hollow Café
> Location: Ridgefield, Connecticut
> Don’t miss: Chicken enchilada omelet

Helen’s Famous Sausage House
> Location: Smyrna, Delaware
> Don’t miss: Fried bologna and egg sandwich
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Chicken in a Barrel BBQ
> Location: Kapaa, Hawaii
> Don’t miss: Chicken in a Barrel plate

Blue Springs Café
> Location: Highland, Indiana
> Don’t miss: Fried walleye dinner
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Palace Diner
> Location: Biddeford, Maine
> Don’t miss: Buttermilk flapjacks

Red’s Eats
> Location: Wiscasset, Maine
> Don’t miss: Red’s “Lobster Roll of Fame”

B.T.’s Smokehouse
> Location: Sturbridge, Massachusetts
> Don’t miss: Three-meat platter
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Mason Jar Café
> Location: Benton Harbor, Michigan
> Don’t miss: Mascarpone-stuffed cinnamon-challah French toast

Peg’s Countryside Café
> Location: Hamel, Minnesota
> Don’t miss: Country-style eggs Benedict
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Wagner’s Drive-In
> Location: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
> Don’t miss: Fried chicken dinner

Crazy K’s Food & Fuel
> Location: Buckatunna, Mississippi
> Don’t miss: Hand-cut ribeye sandwich

Open Range Grill
> Location: Ogallala, Nebraska
> Don’t miss: Range burger
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Lexie’s Joint
> Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
> Don’t miss: Lexie’s Big Mouth burger

21. Steve’s Burgers
> Location: Garfield, New Jersey
> Don’t miss: “Y-D-K-J” burger
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Buckeye Express Diner
> Location: Belleville, Ohio
> Don’t miss: Locomotive Buckeye Pounder burger

Wellsboro Diner
> Location: Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
> Don’t miss: Hot roast beef sandwich
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Anthony’s Seafood
> Location: Middletown, Rhode Island
> Don’t miss: Portuguese fish chowder

Murdo Drive-In
> Location: Murdo, South Dakota
> Don’t miss: Local grass-fed burger
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Coyote Bluff Café
> Location: Amarillo, Texas
> Don’t miss: Burger from Hell

Cruiser Café
> Location: Eatonville, Washington
> Don’t miss: Big “E” burger
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Hillbilly Hot Dogs
> Location: Lesage, West Virginia
> Don’t miss: Chuck’s Junk Yard Dog
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