Find America's Best Diners
by Jason Frye
Americans love a diner, and across the country you can belly up to the lunch counter for a meal at this quintessential piece of American culture. Whether they’re still standing from the 1930s or ‘40s, or whether they’re modern renditions of these classic eateries, the diner always delivers a delicious meal. Here are nine eateries to visit on your next road trip.
OBX burger from Carolina Jax
CAROLINA JAX
Carolina Jax (Jacksonville, FL)
Carolina Jax brings together the flavors of Florida and influences from Chef/Founder Anthony Bushee’s upbringing in the Carolinas. Since opening in 2016, the restaurant and its chef have gained notoriety, from being named best burger in Northeast Florida to cooking at Rachel Ray’s Burger Bash and Bobby Flay’s Burger Bash as part of the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival.
Carolina Jax keeps the focus on fresh, using Certified Angus Beef in the patties, locally baked buns, and just-picked produce from Florida farms in its toppings and sides. Its menu offers plenty to choose from: 18 burgers and sandwiches, four hot dogs, and a mountain of loaded fries, side options and shakes.
It’s hard to beat the Classic cheeseburger or the true-to-form Patty Melt, but the Tar Heel (burger with poblano mayo, cheddar, bacon and pulled pork), the Black Beard Chicken Club (with a key lime datil pepper aioli), the Duval Dog (with bacon, grilled onions and spicy condiments) and the OBX burger (with poblano mayo, bacon, fresh key lime guac and the restaurant's signature Cajun ranch) are tempting options unless you’re making a meal of the loaded basket of fries. Visit Carolina Jax
Pinky's Westside Grill (Charlotte, NC)
This quirky spot in North Carolina’s Queen City has appeared twice on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” impressing Guy Fieri with its burgers, and both its sandwiches and its spin on the corn dog have garnered national attention.
Pinky’s isn’t afraid to get creative with diner classics like the burger and patty melt. You’ll find pimento cheese and fried pickles between the buns, and you might even substitute that beef patty for one made from turkey, pork or black beans. Pinky’s also dives deep into other hand-helds like tacos, cheesesteaks and corn dogs.
Go for the bite that made Fieri grin with the Triple G Burger (three 5 ounce patties, cheese and fixings) and a side of fried pickles (another Fieri fave). Tuck into the Tony Baloney (fried bologna on a bun), a set of Korean Pork BBQ Tacos, or, better yet, something in the corn dog family. The Viking Dog delivers an all-beef bite, and the Corn Dog Shrimp brings that sweet batter together with huge shrimp for a surprising bite. Visit Pinky's Westside Grill
Cherry pie from Twede's Café
twede's cafe
Twede's Cafe (North Bend, WA)
Roy Thompson opened Twede's in 1941 as Thompson’s Cafe, and it’s still family owned. Director David Lynch filmed the quirky “Twin Peaks” and “Twin Peaks: The Return” here, turning Twede’s into the RR Café and making it known across the globe.
In “Twin Peaks,” FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is all about the RR Cafe’s cup of hot black coffee, and you can treat yourself to a cup there or bring some coffee beans back home to brew it yourself. Both Twede’s and it’s on-screen alter ego pride themselves on the cherry pie.
Breakfast sandwiches are the way to go for a morning bite, unless you’re craving pancakes, in which case the full stack with blueberries does the trick. Lunch is for burgers—the diner has more than two dozen on the menu, some as quirky as “Twin Peaks” itself—and a shake or float. Visit Twede's Cafe
Variety of food available at Brent's Drugs
BRENT'S DRUGS
Brent's Drugs (Jackson, MS)
Quaint and cool, Brent’s Drugs has been around since 1946, and this soda-fountain eatery is a neighborhood institution. Sit at the original lunch counter or just soak up the hip, retro vibe while you enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Brent’s Drugs appears in a few scenes from the 2011 film “The Help” and was mentioned in the book that inspired the movie. Rumor has it that the cast and crew showed up for a meal and for a taste of the city’s charm even when they weren’t there to film.
Brent’s Biscuit Sandwich is a must, and this buttermilk biscuit topped with fried chicken and spicy honey is the thing of dreams. At lunchtime, go for an original recipe like the Egg and Olive Salad Sandwich; try a simple grilled cheese or BLT; or dig into a Patty Melt and Chocolate Malt. Visit Brent's Drugs
White Mana Diner (Jersey City, NJ)
Built for the 1939 World’s Fair, White Mana was known as “the diner of the future” at the fair. It was moved in 1946 from Queens to New Jersey, where it became a local landmark notable for its history, burgers, and fun, funky look, which is reminiscent of a 1950s flying saucer.
Many consider this spot as the birthplace of fast food. White Mana still serves upwards of 3,000 burgers a week, a trick perfected in 1939 when it needed to feed the masses at the World’s Fair. Come with cash and have your order ready because they treat the “fast” in fast food like a commandment.
When you’re here, you get a burger. Period. You can eat a sack of the sliders (they’re less than $1.25 each, so you won’t go broke), and the Bacon Cheeseburger delivers a perfect burger experience every time. For your side, stick to a diner classic and enjoy the onion rings. Visit White Mana Diner
Mickey's Diner by Willy (St. Paul, MN)
Since 1960, Mickey’s Diner by Willy has extended the legacy of Mickey’s, a staple in St. Paul from 1939 - 2020, by offering the same excellence in diner grub 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It’s all scratch-made and supplied by local butchers, bakers and purveyors, meaning every meal is fresh and made to order.
Loaded with mid-century charm, Mickey’s Diner by Willy has that modern, boxy look and long counter that epitomizes the decade. Add in the classic diner menu—with all-day breakfast, a raft of sandwiches and generous dinner plates—and you’re in for, fun, throwback meal at any hour of the day.
“America’s Favorite All-Day Meal”—fried eggs, breakfast meat, hashbrowns, toast and jelly—has been a menu staple since the original Mickey’s opened, and it’s a favorite today, as is the full stack of blueberry pancakes. Hankering a burger or sandwich? Mickey’s Sputnick (a double cheeseburger with shredded lettuce and hashbrowns on the side), the Cluck ‘n Chuck (burger with a fried egg) or the Lil’ Suzie (a grilled cheese with bacon) satisfy. Visit Mickey's Diner by Willy
Harry's Coffee Shop (La Jolla, CA)
In 1959, the Rudolph family moved from New York to California to follow their beloved Dodgers. The next year, they opened a diner like the ones they knew and loved back home. Now, Harry’s is La Jolla’s oldest diner, and a new generation of the Rudolph family runs the griddle and cash register.
The East Coast take on pancakes, waffles and sandwiches meets California cuisine in a tasty way. Waffles are light and crispy, pancakes perfectly fluffy, and the sandwiches— from Harry’s Famous Grilled Tuna Melt to the Turkey Avocado Bacon and Cheddar on Sourdough— bring diner classics together with California’s agricultural bounty.
For breakfast, The B.W. Benny (a bacon-laced waffle topped with grilled ham, poached eggs and hollandaise) is a crowd pleaser, as are the overstuffed breakfast burritos. At lunchtime, carne asada tacos, a Classic BLT, and that “Famous Grilled Tuna Melt” fly out of the kitchen. Visit Harry's Coffee Shop.
Savory Smashburgers on display at Bit Burger
BIT BURGER
Bit Burger (Knoxville, TN)
Smashburgers served with a side of ‘80’s nostalgia is on order at Bit Burger in Knoxville. Inspired by 8-bit video game culture, from Nintendo to old-school arcade games, Bit Burger levels up run-of-the mill smashburgers with delicious chefy touches.
Choose your own adventure when you build your custom burger, or stick to the main menu where you’ll find loaded totchos (that’s a tater tot turned nacho), a Korean-style corn dog, and more than a dozen smashburgers to grub on. Bring along a second player to help you with a dessert like the fried Oreo sundae or Cookie Monster-themed shake.
Order the 8-Bit Burger—a classic smashburger or double smashburger—or get creative with The 1-Up (wine and garlic mushrooms, Swiss cheese), The Bowser (with peppery cheese and a piquant sauce) or The Kong (a single, double or triple patty topped with bacon, cheddar, and grilled onions and mushrooms). Don’t overlook the cheesesteak, and whatever you do, don’t forget dessert. Visit Bit Burger.
Slabtown Burgers (Traverse City, MI)
Tucked away in a Traverse City neighborhood once known as a home for sawmill workers and woodcarvers, Slabtown Burgers pays homage to a working-class lunch with exceptional hand-pattied burgers, skin-on fries and shakes so good you’ll wish you’d ordered one for the road.
Slabtown Burgers dishes them out with astonishing speed during the packed lunch rush, delivering a meal—burger, fries, drink—in a little less than a minute. In a given week, the diner goes through more than 1,000 pounds each of beef and potatoes, yet it keeps their prices down. A burger will set you back $4.25, a double is only $6.25.
Get the Slabtown Special—a double burger with American cheese, grilled onions, lettuce and special sauce—or go for a burger stuffed with bacon, jalapenos, cheese and more; just remember to upgrade to the pretzel bun. Some locals rave about the hot chicken sandwich or wrap, but everyone agrees that the shakes are out of this world. Visit Slabtown Burgers
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