Every state has them: places to perch at the counter for a slice of pie and a bottomless cup of coffee, ‘new-school’ diners that take comfort food to new levels, and retro places where you can slide into a booth and order a burger for breakfast. From historic joints whose seats have been graced by famous stars to sleek spots serving classic food with a twist, read on for our pick of the best diners in every state.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover America's most charming diners, where you're always guaranteed a great meal.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
This 1950s-style diner is a short stroll from the blazingly white sands of Gulf Shores, and is almost as beautiful as the beach resort itself. Sunliner Diner, which has another location in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, only opened in May 2018, though you wouldn’t know it to look at the bold red and turquoise decor. People love the fun retro feel and top-quality food, from classic all-day breakfast dishes to more modern favorites like avocado eggs Benedict.
No, not that North Pole. Little Richard’s Family Diner is a gleaming landmark of a restaurant in the small Alaskan city of the same name, near Fairbanks, which is famous for its year-round Christmas decorations and (in winter) the Northern Lights. The diner itself is equally charming. People praise the outstanding service, huge breakfasts, and delicious burgers.
This delightfully ramshackle and busily decorated roadside diner is a favorite stop for travelers following the historic Route 66, and has plenty of its own exciting stories to tell. Delgadillo’s Snow Cap was built using scrap materials in 1953 – and the interior matches the façade, with a jumble of Americana signs and paraphernalia filling the walls and shelves. Thankfully, the food (from burgers to burritos) is less ramshackle. The malts and tacos are glorious, and it even holds the Guinness World Record for 'Largest Display of Milkshakes Varieties.' The diner closes for winter around November, reopening in the spring.
A small clapboard house with nothing more than a simple sign giving away that there's a restaurant here, Jones Bar-B-Q Diner doesn’t look like much from the outside. But the diner – opened as a smokehouse by current pit master James Jones’ grandfather in 1910 – was the first restaurant in the state to win a James Beard Award. The legendary pulled pork, smoked for 12 hours, is incredible, whether you order some to take home or try it in a simple Wonder Bread sandwich with coleslaw.
In true diner style, this no-frills joint is cash-only and has no official website. You just have to rock up, but it’s worth taking a chance on. Featured in several films including 2004’s Starsky & Hutch and Quentin Tarantino’s cult 1993 movie True Romance, the 1950s diner is a classic, from its turquoise and red exterior to it bottomless coffee and satisfying breakfasts piled high with pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs. Fans also rave about the Nutella-loaded French toast and Belgian waffles.
Breakfast is turned into an artform at this unassuming spot, located in a small Inglewood strip mall. The Serving Spoon has served the neighborhood heaving plates of comfort food for almost four decades and is pretty much always buzzing, especially at weekends. But diners are happy to wait for a taste of sublime diner staples given a Southern twist, from beautifully battered catfish and expertly fried chicken to cinnamon-dusted waffles and old-school French toast. Daily specials, such as beef short rib and turkey wings, are also fantastic.
Snooze is the breakfast and brunch spot of dreams. Founded in Denver and now with locations in Fort Collins, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, plus a few in other states, its pancakes – which change seasonally – are particularly memorable. Other dishes worth getting out of bed for are the French toast, huge omelets, shrimp and grits, and choice of Benedicts. You may have to wait for a table, but the food and warm service make up for it.
Olympia Diner has traveled far to become a Connecticut favorite. It was originally located in Massachusetts and was transported to its current home in Newington (a few miles south of Hartford) in 1954. Claiming to be the longest stainless-steel diner in the country, it’s known for its tabletop jukeboxes, comfortingly nostalgic feel, and old-school diner dishes like chocolate-chip pancakes and meatloaf drenched with gravy.
A diner by another name, Angelo’s Luncheonette has been serving up fabulous breakfasts and warm welcomes since it opened in 1967, and a trip here is like stepping back in time. The family-run spot has all the hallmarks of a classic diner, from the stools that line the counter to the cozy booths and walls plastered with retro paraphernalia. People love the home-style cooking and friendly atmosphere – you can even bring your own chocolate chips or blueberries and have them added to the house pancakes.
This heavenly retro spot in Miami’s South Beach boasts over 200 menu items, but is most famous for its TV dinners: daily specials served with sides on a stainless steel tray. The open-all-hours diner is hard to miss, standing out even among the striking buildings of the neighborhood, thanks to its bubblegum-pink exterior. Inside it’s just as pretty, with pink booths where people can settle in for huge portions of comfort food or fabulous brunches.
The slightly cartoonish branding of this spot might lead you to think it’s a bit gimmicky, but Peter Pan Diner has been a Fort Lauderdale institution for over 40 years, iconic for its distinctive green-and-white building and nostalgic interior. It was named Florida’s best diner by Reader's Digest in 2023, and people love the generous portions of comfort food – think shatteringly crisp fried chicken, belly-filling breakfasts, and Greek specialties like lamb shanks and moussaka.
Marietta Diner, just northwest of Atlanta, is the type of place people tend to return to time and again (or, if they live out of state, wish they could visit every weekend). The huge menu runs the gluttonous gamut from breakfast classics like eggs Benedict to sandwiches, burgers, and Greek dishes (reflecting the owner’s heritage). The desserts, particularly the baklava cheesecake, are irresistible.
Breakfast can look more like a lavish dessert at this Hawaiian mini-chain, established in Honolulu and now with several locations on the Big Island (plus in US island territory Guam, and in Japan). Eggs ’n Things is famous for its fancy cream-and fruit-topped pancakes, though it also serves other delicious morning treats like ham and eggs with pineapple, and an omelet with Spam and scallions.
Housed in a barn-like building set in a yard strewn with old tractors and a flock of bird houses, The Rusty Lantern is a little different from your typical diner (there’s no neon in sight, for example). People fall in love with its warmth and quirkiness, though the food tends to help too. Popular choices include soups like taco, pizza, and ham and bean, and it’s considered something of a crime to leave without sampling one of the enormous cinnamon rolls.
The food served at Little Goat Diner is a cut above your standard diner fare. This timelessly elegant spot is run by James Beard Award–winning chef Stephanie Izard. It does stay true to diner traditions, with booths, spinning chrome bar stools, and blue-rimmed plates adding vintage charm. But everything on the menu – from classics like pancakes and corned beef hash to less typical fare like Korean-style chicken tacos – is impeccably prepared and worthy of fine dining status.
Oasis Diner makes its own sodas – and they’re delicious. It’s just one of the things that sets this cute and colorful spot apart from the competition. Another is its obsession with lunch. Not just serving it, but honoring a part of its history, with a display of vintage tin lunchboxes filling the shelves (and bearing illustrations of everything from ET to Pac-Man). Throw in some wonderfully comforting and classic diner food and a TV playing old sitcoms, and it’s pretty much guaranteed to brighten your day.
It’s hard to eat at Pullman Bar & Diner without instantly planning your return. This sleek spot, decked out like an upscale railroad carriage, serves elevated comfort food like burgers, steak and eggs, and pancakes, all made using the finest local produce. The brunch cocktails are highly recommended too, while excellent music and elegant decor touches like gold lettering and a white marble bar top add to the charm.
A diner with its own microbrewery attached? Sold! Charming Gella’s Diner, in the heart of Hays' arty downtown, is considered one of the best places to grab something to eat in the city. Whether or not you sample the award-winning craft ales, the friendly service and delicious menu of hearty salads, healthy bowls, and burgers stand a good chance of winning you over.
This Kentucky stalwart has a menu packed with Southern favorites, from fried green tomatoes and catfish sandwiches to a fantastic rendition of Kentucky hot brown: a belly-busting turkey and bacon open sandwich that’s smothered in a cheesy mornay sauce and broiled until golden. Ramsey's Diner has four branches across Lexington, and fans say you’re guaranteed a warm welcome (and a slice of exceptional homemade pie à la mode) at each one.
It can be hard to find decent vegetarian and vegan food in the South. It’s particularly rare to find it in a diner – and rarer still to find it so deliciously prepared. Slim Goodies Diner serves breakfast food infused with Creole flavors and a lot of love, and its refreshing array of veggie choices means it’s ideal for groups. The vegan breakfast, with chili tofu, hash browns, and vegan bacon, is wonderful, as are the sweet potato pancakes and the range of omelets.
Becky's Diner is considered an institution in Portland, serving a range of dishes from locally caught seafood to much-loved blueberry pancakes. With a prime location on the city’s waterfront, it’s a popular spot, so there’s often a wait for a table – but the friendly service and dreamy breakfast dishes, like lobster eggs Benedict, are worth waiting in line for. It's a must for locals and visitors alike.
Southside Diner may not have the retro flair or elegant decor of some of the other diners on our list; in fact, it’s pretty nondescript from the outside. But that really doesn’t matter when the food is this good. The menu has classic diner fare – burgers, sandwiches, and ham and eggs – alongside Greek specialties like spanakopita (spinach pie) and gyros. People love the warm, friendly atmosphere too.
A diner with an entire menu dedicated to French toast just has to be good, right? The legendary Miss Worcester Diner, going strong since the 1940s, also has a menu of egg dishes, and another that’s all about burgers. Whatever you go for, customers reckon everything tastes amazing. It’s a small spot, with a few booths and around a dozen stools at the counter, and the atmosphere is always welcoming, even when it’s busy.
People flock to Fleetwood Diner for filling breakfasts like its signature dish, the hippie hash: hash browns tossed with vegetables and feta cheese. You can add meat, but the diner’s flexibility and good range of vegetarian and vegan options makes a refreshing change. It’s the friendly service and fun overall experience that really wins over customers, though. To add to the charm, the tiny, trailer-style diner’s internal walls are plastered floor-to-ceiling in stickers.
The location of Al’s Breakfast could hardly be more apt: this hole-in-the-wall diner, here since 1950, is in Minneapolis’ Dinkytown neighborhood and is just as adorable as that suggests. Al’s claims to be the narrowest diner in Minneapolis at just 10-feet wide, so it’s a miracle it manages to serve up such enormous breakfasts. Because it's so tiny there’s often a wait, though the delicious pancakes and breakfasts piled high with eggs, bacon, and hash browns make it worth it.
Diners don’t come much more colorful than this. Ajax Diner’s interior is a bold, bright riot of yellow walls, red booths, and checkered floors, while string lights add to the fun. This favorite spot is known for its comfort food, serving plates of chicken and dumplings, turkey, casseroles, and plenty of other delicious dishes drenched in gravy. From the butter beans to the blackberry cobbler, Southern food doesn’t come much tastier.
The classic Reuben sandwich is a favorite at this legendary Broadway Diner, though you can’t go far wrong with anything on the menu. Here, it's all about comfort food and enormous signature breakfasts like The Stretch: a delicious heap of scrambled eggs with chili, onions, cheese, and hash browns. The interior is classic diner-style, with red booths, pink and blue tabletops, and a long counter lined with leather-cushioned stools.
Classic diner food, huge portions, good value for money, and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere – Betty’s Diner ticks all the boxes, and then some. The fun, bright-pink building is just off US Highway 93 and backs on to Flathead Lake, so it’s a great pitstop to grab a delicious burger and enjoy the gorgeous views, perhaps sitting at one of the outdoor tables. The gluten-free options are appreciated too.
Hi-Way Diner is a classic no-frills spot that serves up reliably delicious comfort food with added soul. Breakfast is the thing to order at any time of day, with favorites including eggs Benedict – and anything with hash browns. Diners love that you get a third egg free, while the sandwiches are generously stuffed with fillings like chicken strips and meatloaf.
With a huge illuminated sign, red awnings fronted by palm trees, and even a model windmill outside, it’s hard to miss Southwest Diner on Boulder City’s main drag. The interior is charming, with vintage and antique decor that changes with the seasons. This place also serves up substance with the style – customers praise the excellent service and delicious food, with comforting, homely favorites like meatloaf, pot roasts, and pumpkin pie on the menu.
Red Arrow Diner, founded in Manchester in 1922, has a total of four locations in New Hampshire – and it's stayed true to its vintage roots. The original location still has red brick walls, red paint, and a striking red neon sign, while the inside is classic diner territory, with red bar stools, cozy booths, and memorabilia everywhere. Loyal customers reckon everything on the menu, which includes thick milkshakes, huge sandwiches, burgers, and pork pie with gravy (a specialty), tastes amazing.
Tops Diner has been serving up delicious diner food and warm customer service since 1942, and has managed to stay relevant and stylish through the decades. The steel-fronted diner, reopened in a new structure at the same location in late 2021, attracts customers like magpies, while the interior is a timeless combination of dark wood paneling and striking tiled floors. Of course, it’s the food that keeps people coming back. Menu staples include meatloaf, chicken and waffles, fresh seafood platters, and lobster mac ‘n’ cheese.
Albuquerque’s hugely popular 66 Diner is housed in a former gas station along the historic Route 66. Customers now stop to refuel on delicious sandwiches, burgers, enormous breakfast plates, and a selection of must-try malts and milkshakes. It was converted into a 1950s-style diner in 1987, with charming touches like neon signs, Elvis posters, jukeboxes, and a soda fountain.
You can take your pick of iconic diners in New York City, where they’re woven into the fabric of daily life (and often feature in films and TV shows). Ellen’s Stardust just edges it, though, thanks partly to its singing waitstaff and rainbow-colored bagels. The Broadway diner came close to shutting off its neon lights forever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but thankfully it was saved by a crowdfunding campaign.
This treasured dining cart is a real piece of Americana. The structure – an amazing 1925 Jerry O'Mahoney Diner – was salvaged as scrap and lovingly brought back to its former glory by owner Dan Rundell, opening as Dan’s Diner in 1993. These days, the cozy spot is loved for its gorgeous vintage interior decorated with quirky memorabilia, and locals praise the warm and homey feel, generous portions and unmatched service. From the perfectly crisp bacon to the fluffy French toast, the all-day breakfast plates are a triumph here. The croissant breakfast sandwiches and chili dogs also get rave reviews.
Those who’ve experienced Star Diner don’t have a bad word to say about it. This sleek spot, housed in a former gas station, stays true to diner traditions with a range of blue plate specials for lunch, plus themed menus for Wing Wednesday and Fish Fry Friday. But the food here, whether it’s the incredible brunch dishes or the best-ever meatloaf, really is a cut above.
Marrying German comfort food with nostalgic Americana, Kroll’s Diner is considered a must-visit for anyone traveling in North Dakota. It’s been serving perfectly prepared classics like the Reuben sandwich and German burger (topped with sauerkraut) since 1969, and now has locations in Bismarck, Fargo, Mandan, and Minot. Don’t miss the knoephla soup (pictured), thick with chicken, potato, and dumplings.
You don’t need a ticket to board the Buckeye Express, but you should probably pack a decent appetite. This family-owned diner, inside a vintage steam engine diner car, is known for home-cooked classics and hearty burgers. People love the novelty of dining onboard, with the skinny interior displaying Ohio State Buckeyes football posters and memorabilia. There's a cute outdoor space, too.
The specialty at Sherri’s Diner is the puffy pancakes (made to a secret recipe), which are served with mountains of toppings like blueberries and chocolate chips. The cinnamon rolls and pies are pretty good too, and savory options include burgers (served in mini Cadillacs) and a sensational plate of liver and onions. The diner’s charms go beyond the menu, though; customers adore the fun interior with neon lights, vintage signage, and a jukebox that plays 1950s tunes.
Locals love The Daily Feast, a friendly neighborhood joint in Portland’s West End, and visitors have a tendency to fall in love with it too. The decor is an appealing mix of pretty – with floral displays and vintage touches – and edgy (think bold murals and local art on the walls). The menu takes American diner classics and elevates them with top-quality ingredients and creative twists. Customers recommend breakfast feasts like the corned beef hash, while there are also great vegetarian options.
The hotcakes sell like, well, hotcakes, at Pamela's Diner, which has several locations in Pittsburgh. They come crêpe-style, with perfectly crisped edges and a choice of toppings such as bananas, chocolate chips, walnuts, and whipped cream. Whatever else you order, they’re a must-try. Not that the rest of the menu isn’t excellent; you can’t really go wrong with any of the dishes, from omelets to specials like the chorizo hash.
It’s all about retro charm, homestyle cooking, and gut-busting portions at Patriots Diner, which serves all-day breakfasts alongside a menu of classic comfort foods. Some of the plates are too much to eat in one sitting, though customers don’t mind when the food is so good (and you can always take some home for later). People praise the friendly staff and fun atmosphere too.
On the edge of downtown Charleston, Rutledge Cab Company brings old-school diner charm to an old gas station. Customers instantly fall in love with the interior, all mahogany wood, and with a wall dominated by a decal of a late-1950s Ford Edsel. The menu lives up to those first impressions, featuring creative takes on comfort food classics such as baked spinach dip, burgers served on onion-brioche buns, and a variety of inventive plates for breakfast or brunch.
This destination spot in downtown Sioux Falls is pure 1950s nostalgia, complete with Art Deco booths, checkered floors, and a jukebox always blasting out the oldies. The Phillips Avenue Diner started out in a silver Airstream trailer, but has since morphed into the local institution it is today. On the menu you’ll find all-American diner classics cooked with flair, from chicken and waffles to French dip sandwiches and grilled cheese, plus retro malts and shakes.
Memphis’ oldest café was opened in 1919 by Speros Zepatos, who had moved to the city from Greece. It was revamped by his son Harry in 1954 – and has barely been touched since. That’s what makes The Arcade Restaurant such a must-visit. That, and the fact that Elvis Presley used to eat here (prepare to wait if you want to sit in his booth). Try one of the huge breakfast plates, the country-fried steak, or the sweet potato pancakes.
Cafe Brazil started out as a quaint 10-table coffee shop back in 1993, but its creative menu of South American–inspired comfort food and bottomless coffee – sourced from around the world – has seen it spread to several locations around the metroplex. Open 24-hours, this is the spot to grab a heaving plate of chipotle steak and eggs or a huge breakfast burrito, any time of the day or night. The impossibly light and fluffy pancakes are legendary, as is the wonderful French toast with fruit and crème anglaise.
With locations in South Austin and downtown, Phoebe’s Diner turns out classic diner fare – and throws some good old Texas barbecue into the mix, too. Customers rave about the tender brisket, cooked in a smoker and served with eggs. Everything’s beautifully prepared, from the fried chicken and grits to the tastiest biscuits in sausage gravy.
The Park Café is the kind of place that people dream and drool about, and even make special journeys to. It’s been a favorite since it opened in 1952, and has maintained a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes everyone feel instantly at home. This is classic diner territory in many ways, from the menu to the simple decor. But customers reckon the food is a cut above, with the burritos and French toast particularly highly recommended.
The food served up at Handy’s Lunch, a family-run spot that’s been going since 1945, is simple yet superb. The small diner, close to Lake Champlain, is a longstanding favorite for breakfast and lunch – and customers tend to leave with full bellies and big smiles. The menu includes crowd-pleasers like the Big Daddy breakfast (a plate piled high with pretty much everything you can think of) and the signature Texas hot dog.
Small Arlington-founded chain Bob & Edith’s Diner has several locations in the city, plus one in Springfield and one in Alexandria. Several are, in classic diner tradition, open around the clock – so you can indulge those cravings for pancakes, cheeseburgers, or a classic patty melt at any time of the day or night. Everything, from the cooking to the portion sizes and service, is always on point.
Twede’s Café doesn’t look like much from the outside, but fans of David Lynch’s surreal 1990s TV drama Twin Peaks might recognize it as one of the most memorable locations from the show: the Double R Diner. People come for a slice of 'Twin Peaks' cherry pie, famously loved by Agent Cooper in the show, and, of course, a 'damn fine cup of coffee.' The menu also includes heartier food like all-day breakfasts, burgers, soups, and mac ’n’ cheese.
It’s the colorful quirkiness that draws people in (and back) to The Poky Dot. This diner is as cute as the name suggests, from the ditzy server on the sign to the rainbow of desserts dished up in the bold, bright booths. This riot of pink and sugar might not be to everyone’s taste, but those with a sweet tooth – and, of course, kids – adore it. There are savory options, including burgers and sandwiches, alongside banana splits, shakes, and sundaes.
Pretty much everything except the food at Monty’s Blue Plate Diner is blue, though we won’t hold that against it. This classic spot has won local awards for its fabulous breakfast menu, which includes a particularly tasty corned beef hash and perfect pancakes. There’s also a good range of vegetarian and vegan dishes, like tofu scramble and dairy-free banana and walnut pancakes, plus pies, cakes, and cookies baked fresh each day.
With just a few tables in a vintage trolley car, Luxury Diner often has a long line. Those who have stuck around say it's well worth waiting to feast on one of its breakfast dishes – including corned beef hash, chicken-fried steak, and fluffy pancakes – or to sink your teeth into a juicy burger. The club sandwiches and lunchtime plates are also delicious.
Now discover your state's best hole-in-the wall restaurant for amazing no-frills food
Last updated by Natasha Lovell-Smith.