Food and Drink Restaurants The 25 Best Diners in the U.S. By Gwen McClure Gwen McClure Twitter Website Gwen McClure is an American journalist who’s lived in and written about Auckland, New Zealand since 2016. When she’s not at her day job, producing a nightly current affairs show, she’s exploring beaches, mountains, and restaurants in her adopted country. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on June 24, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Kyle Monk/Getty Images Imagine trying to explain a diner to someone who’s never eaten in one. It’s like a restaurant, but not quite; like a cafe, but not quite; like a bistro; but not quite. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of plopping down on a stool at the countertop for a milkshake, here’s what makes a diner a diner: They’re inexpensive, casual, open late (often around the clock), and serve a menu chock-full of all-American classics with a side of nostalgia. That nostalgia comes from the fact that diners have been part of the American experience since the late 1800s. According to the American Diner Museum, back then, men started selling sandwiches out of horse drawn carriages, and pretty quickly, companies were manufacturing made-for-purpose modified carriages with counters and stools, so customers could eat inside. By the 1920s, the old-fashioned horse-drawn cart gave way to the railway car, and the modern-day diner was born. Throughout the decades, design in diners has followed trends. In the '50s, the space race meant neon rockets and stainless steel countertops. In the '60s, Mediterranean and neoclassical styles became popular as diners fought to maintain customers’ interest while fast food gained popularity. It clearly worked: Fast food stuck around, but diners did, too. Sure, fast food restaurants are ubiquitous and inexpensive, but so are diners. Even the predictability of fast food can’t compete. You always know what you’re getting when you pull up to the drive-thru of a chain, but diners offer similar menus everywhere, with the chance of much better food. No matter where you are, you can count on hot coffee with a tiny pitcher of milk. The menu will always be long (and arrive on your table in a folded plastic sleeve) and chances are it will include a short stack of buttermilk pancakes with a scoop of melting butter on top, chicken and biscuits, smothered in gravy, and an oversized hamburger with chunky fries and a small side salad. Whether you’ve gone for pancakes or the burger, your condiments (maple syrup and Heinz ketchup, respectively) will be sitting on the table already. Diners have cemented themselves in American culture, and these days, they’re an attraction in and of themselves. And while many are good, some are absolutely great. To determine the 25 best diners in the country, Yelp ranked businesses in the diner category, excluding large chains. “Best,” according to Yelp, is based on an algorithm that looks both at the number of reviews and star ratings. No more than two diners per state can make the list in order to ensure geographic diversity. Whether you’re sliding into a booth for breakfast or pulling off the highway for a midnight snack, keep an eye out for these excellent establishments. 01 of 25 25. Ray's Family Restaurant Stephan P. via Yelp; Akmam S. via Yelp Elgin, Illinois 02 of 25 24. Mom's Kitchen Oh C. via Yelp; Cherie H. via Yelp North Bend, Oregon 03 of 25 23. Iron Dog Diner Jessica T. via Yelp; Amanda W. via Yelp North Charleston, South Carolina 04 of 25 22. Roadhouse Diner Courtesy of Roadhouse Diner via Yelp Great Falls, Montana 05 of 25 21. The Village Diner IrregularPant S. via Yelp; Vince T. via Yelp Johnson City, New York 06 of 25 20. Southern Charm Cafe Jeff S. via Yelp; Tilda H. via Yelp Cape Canaveral, Florida 07 of 25 19. Sparetime Belly & Soul S B. via Yelp; David B. via Yelp Alexandria, Kentucky 08 of 25 18. Flip it LJ Diner C B. via Yelp Washington, D.C. 09 of 25 17. Moose's by the Creek Sudheer V. via Yelp; Deepa M. via Yelp Charlottesville, Virginia 10 of 25 16. Dahlia Cafe Courtesy of Dahlia Cafe Liberty Hill, Texas 11 of 25 15. SNS Diner Courtesy of SNS Diner North Las Vegas, Nevada 12 of 25 14. Jesse's Place Alicia W. via Yelp; Helena C. via Yelp Panama City Beach, Florida 13 of 25 13. Woolworth Diner Lorena S. via Yelp; William A. via Yelp Bakersfield, California 14 of 25 12. Wheel Courtesy of Wheel Pottsville, Pennsylvania 15 of 25 11. Welcome Diner Paige T. via Yelp; Nahall K. via Yelp Phoenix, Arizona 16 of 25 10. The Little Diner T G. via Yelp; Sophia Q. via Yelp Vail, Colorado 17 of 25 9. Liz's Where Y'at Diner Angelique R. via Yelp; Justin T. via Yelp Mandeville, Louisiana 18 of 25 8. Jim's Deli & Restaurant Erin E. via Yelp; Jennifer N. via Yelp Brighton, Massachusetts 19 of 25 7. Carla's Cafe Alex P. via Yelp; Charles M. via Yelp Bakersfield, California 20 of 25 6. 3 Brothers Diner Jane W. via Yelp; Isac K. via Yelp Grove City, Ohio 21 of 25 5. David's Diner Matthew L. via Yelp; Joe G. via Yelp Springdale, Pennsylvania 22 of 25 4. Krystal Jo's Diner Mich C. via Yelp; Jeffrey D. via Yelp Flint, Michigan 23 of 25 3. The Stilly Diner Helen M. via Yelp; Susan C. via Yelp Arlington, Washington 24 of 25 2. Rosy's Diner Elizabeth G. via Yelp; Tom T. via Yelp Escanaba, Michigan 25 of 25 1. Villatoro Restaurant & Cafe Gina M. via Yelp; Donald S. via Yelp Marlborough, Massachusetts Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit