The Coolest Diners Across The U.S. That Should Be On Your Bucket List
Whether you're road tripping with the family or simply out exploring for the day, there always comes that moment when you crave some home-style cooking. There's nothing quite like knowing what and where the great diners, local cafés, and quaint eateries are that you can count on for a meal when you're hungry. After all, their menus offer a great variety of food, and you can count on those warm home-away-from-home vibes.
Sometimes, it's difficult to know which spots are the real gems when you're in an area that's unfamiliar to you. Fear not, because we've made it our job to put together the absolute best spots to stop at across the country for food in one list that should definitely be on your radar. From scrumptious Dream Burgers with pink mayo, to flaky buttermilk biscuits, to incredible breakfast burritos, to creamy peanut butter sandwiches on sweat bread, each of these great diners and eateries offers their own unique flair. You'll be beyond pleased with each one of them. And as far as the beverages and sweets are concerned, you're in for such a treat. Enjoy mega milkshakes, blueberry lemonade, daiquiris, Mai Tais, hummingbird cake, or sugar cream pie.
Lets get real: One of the best things about traveling is stopping for amazing food, so if you're away and in need of a great recommendation, this list will come in handy. Check out as many spots as you can, and we assure you that you won't be disappointed.
Elm Street Diner in Stamford, Connecticut
Where to find breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, or dessert in Stamford, Connecticut is a definite no-brainer. Elm Street Diner is serving up scrumptiousness all day and early evening long. Did someone say truffle mac 'n cheese? Or how about a California club with chicken, bacon, avocado, jalapeño pepper jack, jalapeño ranch, tomato, and red onions? Is your mouth watering yet? Well, fasten your seatbelt, because we're just getting started.
Not only does this family-owned diner know how to make some pretty mean starters, shares, sandwiches, soups, traditional breakfast items, and ridiculously cool, over-the-top milkshakes, but they also have an entire section that's called Social Media Superstars. Let us tell you — the section gets that name for a very good reason. Order a few of these items, snap away, and of course, post on your Instagram Story to let your followers know you are eating something seriously sweet for breakfast — like the Wow Waffle Tower, which kind of speaks for itself, and you have to see it to believe it. Or Elm Street's Cereal Bowl Pancakes that are stacked high to perfection and look almost too pretty to eat (almost being the keyword here). Then there's the Nutella Peanut Butter Churro French Toast that's simply a dream come true.
Elm Street Diner was featured in the Hartford Courant which highlighted "Six extreme Connecticut milkshakes that are perfectly Instagrammable," and we'd have to agree. Next stop, Elm Street!
Oasis Diner in Plainfield, Indiana
Under one of the "coolest diners ever" category falls Oasis Diner. This old-fashioned metal-looking diner in Plainfield, Indiana was actually built in New Jersey and sent by rail to Indiana in 1954. It's had a lot of change over in owners since then, but this cool dining spot was listed as one of Indiana's 10 Most Endangered Indiana Buildings by Indiana Landmarks and dubbed "a true roadtripper's food paradise" by Two Lane America. Oh, and it's also known to serve up one of the best tenderloin sandwiches in all of Indiana!
If breakfast is your fave meal of the day, you'll be happy to know that Oasis offers it all day long. FYI: Thick-cut brioche toast that's stuffed with sliced strawberries and cinnamon cream cheese then topped with strawberry sauce and powdered sugar is always a good idea. And if you order 24 hours in advance, you can pick up locally baked pies and cakes like cinnamon peach or sugar cream pie. Oasis has a list of 15 choices, so it may be hard deciding on just one!
Decorated with vintage lunchboxes and license plates, Oasis even has a designated outdoor area for seating with furry friends. Stop by for a visit, and when you do, order one of their locally produced, handcrafted sodas, which don't contain high-fructose corn syrup and come in flavors like butterscotch root beer.
Oasis Diner's priority is to provide top-notch service to diners, and they do exactly that.
Addi's in Springfield, Oregon
This diner is not a drive-by — it's definitely a drive-to. It's not surprising that Addi's of Springfield, Oregon was featured in Only In Your State's "13 Awesome Diners In Oregon Will Make You Feel Right At Home." This American diner serves breakfast, lunch, and brunch, and you will not be disappointed if you stop by for a meal.
Addi's serves up delicious food and also vegetarian dishes. In addition to the traditional diner favorites, some examples of the more unique dishes include Addi's chili and scramble, which is an egg dish absolutely covered in chili, onions, and cheddar, or Addi's whatchamacallit, a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich with an egg batter dip and then grilled to perfection.
One TripAdvisor four-star reviewer said it best: "Great experience! Great food! Great price!" And another could not believe the portion sizes: "Addi's is a small mom and pop old style cafe. I ordered one blueberry pancake and it was so big they brought it out on a turkey platter. Not kidding!" Yes, they have absolutely giant pancakes — and then some!
Rock Island Café in Honolulu, Hawaii
Rock Island Café in Honolulu, Hawaii is an experience. Not only can you grab a bite, but you can also shop there and drink! Their Hollywood-inspired menu will entertain you and also make you pretty hungry. From their James Bond 007 pizza that consists of fresh pepperoni, sweet onion, tomato, jalapeños, pineapple, cheeses, and tomato sauce, to Rock Island's Elvis Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich on Hawaiian sweet bread, to the Hawaiian Style BBQ Kalua Pork Sandwich, which is a favorite among the locals, you are in for a treat.
You can order vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, root beer, or Coca-Cola milkshakes with malt or peanut butter that's scooped by hand and then blended just for you. We're not finished yet, because we haven't told you about the margaritas, piña coladas, or Mai Tais that are served at the retro tiki bar at Rock Island Café. There's just too much good stuff going on here, you have to experience it for yourself in person. And when you're done eating and sipping, you can check out the gift shop that's filled with collectibles and more that you can buy for a memory of your stop in Honolulu. (Apparently, travelers purchase and sell things in Rock Island's shop!)
This TripAdvisor review pretty much sums up the feels: "The milkshakes are amazing, the atmosphere, the retro music and videos playing in the background, the ice cold beer, and food make this place worth a stop!"
Mt. Kisco Diner in Mount Kisco, New York
The Mt. Kisco Diner in Mount Kisco, New York is known for dishing up so much goodness. They have award-winning menu items, trendy dishes, and absolutely unique creations that'll make your jaw drop. They also offer yummy milkshakes (FYI — Westchester Magazine recommends the Blackout Mega Milkshake, which is a chocolate shape with a chocolate frosted rim and chocolate ganache cake, black swirl lollipop, whipped cream, and Oreo cookie topping.), hand-made cocktails, tap beer, and they serve breakfast all day long.
This is a diner not to be missed, even if the only reason you stop in is to taste their Fruity Pebbles pancakes — a glorious stack that's topped off and filled with Fruity Pebbles. Or, order up the Lucky Charm pancakes, which is a stack filled with — yep, you guessed it — good 'ole Lucky Charms. They have a whipped cream topping, along with pink and blue crystallized sugar, and even more Lucky charms, of course.
For a unique lunch that is pretty irresistible, consider ordering up some chicken vodka tacos, which are one of the diner's "Instagram Favorites" on the menu. You heard that right! These tacos are complete with deep-fried breaded chicken cutlet, melted mozzarella, and penne vodka. This unique dish alone is a reason why we know you will be visiting the Mt. Kisco Diner very soon.
Pann's Restaurant in Los Angeles, California
How dreamy does a Dream Burger with pink mayo sound? Or how would you like to taste some Cornmeal Fried Catfish Gems? If those don't speak to your soul, how about a choice of buttermilk biscuit or garlic toast for a tasty side? Pann's Restaurant is serving up delicious foods and sweet treats, and it most definitely needs to be on your radar for a Los Angeles area diner. Heck, you can even order a mango champagne sparkler or a mimosa to kick off brunch the right way, and that's kind of the icing on the cake.
There's a good reason Pann's has been a star in the community since 1958. (This sweet spot was actually a filming location in "Bewitched"!) The massive neon Pann's sign out front, cozy bright red booths, and overall '50s retro diner vibe will make you want to round up the bests, order up some milkshakes, and stay awhile. Pann's received an overall four and a half-star rating on TripAdvisor, and one reviewer even dubbed the restaurant "comfort food at comfortable price with really feel at home service." With a motto like "Where Good People and Good Food Naturally Come Together," you know it's going to be a great place to stop.
Katy's Place, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Katy's Place has that "home away from home" diner vibe that is so welcoming when you're traveling or simply looking for a cozy spot to eat. Known as "Carmel's Breakfast Tradition" since 1982, Katy's Place offers eight varieties of waffles, 20 eggs Benedict dishes, omelets, lunch items, and so much more.
Located in the heart of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, there is an abundance of charm and quaintness served up with love. At Katy's Place, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and brunch, and there are vegan and gluten-free options to choose from on the menu. Order up Grandma Amanda's Peanut Butter Pancakes or French toast that's made with freshly baked brioche from Paris Bakery for a real breakfast treat. It's no surprise that Katy's Place is a local icon, and it's been featured in Bon Appétit, Wine Spectator, The New York Times, and additional publications.
Pete's Kitchen in Denver, Colorado
Pete's Kitchen is not just known as an awesome diner — it's known as a tradition in Denver, Colorado. After all, this family-owned establishment has been serving up delicious American, Mexican, and Greek diner food since 1988. Pete's Kitchen offers vegetarian items, homemade soups, and the ever-so-popular burrito supreme, which Pete Contos crafted in 1989.
It's no surprise that this 24-hour diner was given a notable mention in Matador Network's "Where to Eat in Denver, CO" and dubbed the best retro diner in Colorado by Love Food. Whether you're enjoying a bowl of homemade chili, a chicken kabob sandwich, a gyro melt, or the breakfast burrito, Pete's Kitchen has a wide variety of wholesome comfort food.
One five-star review on TripAdvisor wrote of Pete's Kitchen, "Great little spot to stop and grab a bite in downtown Denver. Was recommended by a friend and we're glad we took their advice. A little hole in the wall and the food is quick and great." Another reviewer posted, "Wonderful restaurant serving Denver for decades. We loved the vintage vibe of photographs and awards on the walls. French dip and Philly were incredible!!!" While you're in the area, you might as well check out the other bars/eateries that fall under the Pete's Restaurants umbrella, like Gyro Place, which is a quaint Greek diner, and Satire Lounge, which is a fun Mexican dive bar you'll want to kick back and stay at for a while.
Vertical Diner, multiple locations
Vertical Diner is home to "fine vegan dining," and you will love visiting either one of their locations. They have restaurants in Salt Lake City, Utah and also Portland, Oregon. The Salt Lake City Utah restaurant is right at the bottom of The Rocky Mountains, and the vertical landscape is where the diner's creative name came from.
Vertical Diner believes that a diet consisting of plant-based foods will "positively change the world environmentally, socially, emotionally, physically, and creatively." You can order breakfast all day long, and everything on the menu looks divine, from Asian Lettuce Wraps filled with veggies, ginger, garlic, chilies, tamari, and Romaine lettuce leaves to Tender Tigers, which are wheat protein chicken-style tenders served with ranch dressing. You can also order a Chef Grilled Salad that's jam-packed with greens, tomatoes, red onion, and cucumbers with a choice of mushrooms, tofu, and more.
You will have to try their famous Dude Cakes, which are two pancakes, sausage, grilled peppers, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and French fries, all of which is absolutely smothered in gravy. Oh — and don't forget to wash whatever you ordered down with a Vertical cocktail like the High Chai or Pineapple Express. You can order gluten-free items on the menu, and items that are labeled "CGF" can be made gluten-free.
Ruth's Diner in Salt Lake City, Utah
City Weekly (Ted Scheffler) said it best with, "In a perfect world, every town would have a diner just like Ruth's." As of 2021, Ruth's Diner has been serving up deliciousness for 91 years. They're doing something right, since they're Utah's "second oldest restaurant." This eatery is named after, well, Ruth herself, who opened the doors to the original location in 1930 with lots of spunk and tons of stories.
You can order up everything from omelets, to vegan dishes, to enchiladas, to burgers. A ton of people have raved about Ruth's mile-high biscuits with country gravy on TripAdvisor, so do yourself a favor and try it for yourself. Don't even think about leaving without ordering up something sweet to wrap up the meal like an espresso float, chocolate malt pudding, banana walnut bread pudding, or some homemade peach and blueberry cobbler. And did we mention that Ruth's can whip up a Killer Bloody Mary or Cadillac Margherita? Just be sure to check out the menu to see all of the choices, because there are too many good things to mention.
Honey's Sit 'N Eat in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
If grabbing some "Southern Jewish" comfort fare sounds like a sweet plan, you need to check out Honey's Sit 'N Eat in Philadelphia. And you don't even have to sit and eat there, you can order anything from the extensive menu for delivery so you can enjoy your homestyle food in the comfort of your own home.
Honey's Sit 'N Eat has all the traditional favorites you'd expect from a great diner and so much more. You can order up some seriously tasty delights here, like fried green tomatoes, fried strawberry rhubarb French toast, crispy tofu tacos, biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros, or chicken and waffles. You can even pick up a brunch box for a really special at-home treat, complete with pancakes or French toast, potatoes, eggs, and meat.
This spot is a real at-home vibe, and you can even hire them to cater your next party or function.