Dreaming of a down-home meal just like Mama used to make? Sometimes good old-fashioned comfort food is the only thing that will do and, fortunately, there are plenty of places across the States that dish up exactly that. From century-old diners offering belly-busting breakfasts and service with a smile, to old-time Italian joints that have used the same recipes for decades, these are our favorite mom and pop restaurants in the USA.

While this old-fashioned barbecue joint might look pretty nondescript from the outside, its smoked-meat-filled sandwiches and brisket are the stuff of legend. Original owners Lannie and Will Travis began barbecuing way back in the 1940s, and their humble shop is still run by family members today. The community comes out in force for the Sunday dinners, which include ham, fried chicken or meatloaf, plus fixings like collard greens, cream potatoes, and corn.

If you're after a fried chicken fix in Alaska, there's no better place than Anchorage's Lucky Wishbone. It first opened back in 1955 and has changed very little over the decades: you'll find a down-home menu and old-school diner digs with a long bar, teal leather booths, and black-and-white photos on the walls. The chicken is smothered in buttermilk before being battered and pan-fried to perfection. Get yours with coleslaw and corn muffins.

You'll feel instantly at home at this old-school, cash-only spot, known for its rib-sticking, all-American comfort food. The menu is enormous, with pancakes, skillets or sandwiches for breakfast, or homestyle entrées such as meatloaf, chicken-fried steak, and grilled barramundi for dinner. It's one for the sweet-toothed, too: Randy's is known for its stellar desserts, from ice cream doused in hot fudge to homemade bread and rice puddings. (Pictured is the Cha-Cha burger with tater tots.)

Steak and tamales are stars of the menu at this down-to-earth restaurant in the Arkansas capital. It's been going strong since the 1980s, and hit the headlines when it became a favored hangout for presidential candidate Bill Clinton and his staff during his campaign in 1992. Fast-forward three decades and Doe's is still a neighbourhood stalwart, known for its "world famous" hot tamales with chili, and its T-bone, porterhouse, and sirloin steaks. 

San Diego heaves with top-notch mom-and-pop Mexican spots, but this one still stands out above the rest. You can expect a line outside Las Cuatro Milpas, in the city's traditional Mexican-American Barrio Logan neighborhood, but the food is well worth the wait. Feast on shredded chicken tacos, burritos, or delectable pork tamales. The white menudo soup is a hit too.

Describing itself as a "quaint family-run parlor", Cora Faye's has won plenty of fans since it opened back in 2006. Owner Priscilla Smith named the restaurant in homage to her mother, Cora, and her sister, whose middle name is Faye. And she'll treat you just like family if you come through the door, too: soul food Southern classics are served up with a smile and include frog legs, smothered pork chops, catfish, and po'boys.

This New Haven institution has a very special claim to fame indeed. It's credited with inventing the hamburger – an achievement that's even recognized by the US Library of Congress. So the story goes, a customer came in looking for a quick lunch and owner Louis Lassen scooped some hot steak trimmings between two slices of toast. And so the burger was born. You can still get the 'Original Burger': a beef patty with onions, tomatoes, and cheese parceled into soft white bread.

The hardworking folks at Mrs Robino's know that good Italian cooking is about "simplicity at its core". That's why there's little fuss and few frills at this traditional Italian-American restaurant – just a solid menu of well-executed classics. It started as a one-room restaurant on North Union Street, and that original location remains today, though it's been built out into a much larger restaurant. Pay a visit and sample staples such as veal parmigiana, lasagna, and classic meat ravioli.

You'll not have to look too hard to find great Cuban food in Miami, and Islas Canarias Restaurant is a solid bet. It was founded by the late Raul and Amelia Garcia in the 1970s and now their daughter Nancy is at the helm. They promise the best croquetas in Miami – and customers happily agree – while the menu also doles out Cuban classics such as pollo asado and ropa vieja (shredded steak in a tomato-based sauce). Inside, spot the pressed tin ceiling and rows of decorative trays and plates on display.

If it's good, old-fashioned Southern dining you're after, you can't go wrong with Mrs Wilkes. Brave the inevitable lines and then enter the gloriously retro restaurant, which has the feel of your grandma's living room (think white tablecloths, mantelpieces heaving with trinkets, and bare-brick walls). Everything is served up family style, so get round the table with your loved ones (or strangers) and tuck into a feast of fried chicken, yams, mashed potato, collard greens, beans, and mac 'n' cheese.

"Authentic Hawaiian-style food" is what's on offer at this unpretentious restaurant in Hanapepe on Kauai, Hawaii's 'Garden Isle'. Try traditional Hawaiian dishes such as slow-cooked Kalua pork, or plump for a burger made with grass-fed Kauai beef. The owners are Manny 'Unko Manny' and his wife Sharon Cabral, who began their venture in 2010, and promise to run it with "love and aloha".

Mr V's is all about food "like your mother or grandmother used to make". The dining room is homey – with farmyard paintings on the walls and cozy wooden booths – and the menu matches the setting. Sit down to warming plates of golden-fried shrimp, roasted turkey or steak, all served with veggies, cornbread, and your choice of potato. The place has been running since 1971, when Morris Vavold Sr. and his son opened the doors, and it's now operated by third-generation family members.

You can't leave Chicago without seeking out a first-rate slice of pizza, but this long-running joint specialises in thin-crust pies rather than the Windy City's classic deep dish. The storied pizzeria has roots as early as the 1920s, when Vito and Mary Barraco first opened a tavern in the city. Now it's still known for doling out high-quality Sicilian-style pizza with a top-secret dough recipe that goes back generations.

"Comfort food, Italian style" is the order of the day at this friendly restaurant in South Bend, which has been a family affair from the beginning. It was opened in the 1950s – a labor of love by namesake Calabrian Rocco, his wife Julia, and her parents. Over the years the once-tiny restaurant has expanded and been taken on by a new generation of family members. Swing by for classics like spaghetti and meatballs or alfredo sauce.

Tipped as the oldest bar and restaurant in Iowa, this beloved establishment has been in the Breitbach family since 1862. Sadly, the original tavern was destroyed by a fire in 2007, but the current restaurant stands on the same site. They're best known for their popular lunch and dinner buffets: fill up on baked or battered cod, pasta dishes, and fixings like veggies and mash. There's usually barbecue ribs on the menu on Saturday nights too.

The food doesn't always look pretty at Kelly's Family Diner, but that's OK, because it won't be around for long. You'll soon have gobbled up one of their hearty, cheese-topped chili bowls, country-fried steaks, or giant reuben sandwiches. The daily specials are inviting too: a changing menu offers such dishes as beef tips on rice or cockle-warming meatloaf. Diners praise the super friendly service too.

You don't get much more of an idyllic setting than this one. Local favorite Wallace Station is enveloped in Kentucky's Horse Country, surrounded by rolling green hills and white fences. It's not just about location though: the menu will satisfying all your down-home country food cravings with giant pimento cheese sandwiches, hot browns, and bourbon-spiked chili soup.

In the Big Easy, you'll find everything from fancy French-inspired boltholes to unassuming spots doling out gumbo and jambalaya. Mother's Restaurant falls into the second camp. It started life in the 1930s, serving po'boys to local workers. Now the menu has been expanded but the cozy, downhome vibe remains the same. Choose between grits with crawfish étouffée (a staple Louisiana stew), fried seafood combos, or a roster of hearty breakfasts.

There are few frills at this down-to-earth New England café, but it comes through with a solid menu of comforting American classics. Queen of the menu is the homemade donut – get yours generously glazed with chocolate or dusted with sugar – while other big-hitters include the lobster grilled cheese (this is Maine, after all). Owned by a husband and wife duo, the spot has only been running since 2019, but it's already earned a loyal local following.

For nearly 30 years, the Papermoon Diner has been drawing in customers with its bright, whimsical décor (think blue ceilings studded with stars and curious artworks made from dolls' heads) and a menu of updated American favorites. There's plenty of choice but we love the grilled cheese with caramelized onions and mango chutney, and the bread pudding with caramel sauce for dessert.

Boston has its fair share of long-running mom-and-pop boltholes, from old-school Italian trattorias to convivial Irish bars serving stellar pub grub. J. J. Foley's is the latter and it's been family owned and operated since 1909, occupying a top spot in Boston's now-trendy South End. The menu is pure Americana: loaded nachos, stacked burgers, and chicken alfredo, with staples from across the pond like fish and chips and shepherd's pie thrown in for good measure. You can wash it all down with a pint of draft Guinness.

Detroit was once (perhaps unfairly) dubbed a "food desert", but it's far from that now, with swish spots selling small plates joining long-standing (or new) mom-and-pop stops. Among them is The Jamaican Pot, opened by a husband and wife team Rose Forrest – aka Mama Rose – and Bruce Cunningham in 2014. They're loved for their boneless jerk chicken, curry goat, and red snapper dishes, and they've now got a second location. 

Mancini’s has been a pillar of the St Paul restaurant scene for more than 70 years. Diners know that they're in the market for a top-quality steak and great service when they come through the doors, which opened in 1948 when Mancini's was then a snug tavern on West Seventh Street. The steak is aged 30 days, hand cut, and then charbroiled – or if you fancy something different, there's also a lobster tail dinner or a couscous dish for vegetarians.

This restaurant is new by name, but definitely not by nature. There's been a New's Restaurant in town since 1942 when 'Uncle Hermon' New first opened a gas station that served food. Fast-forward to today and the community restaurant still has a stellar reputation. Daily specials are scribbled on blackboards and include everything from smothered hamburger steak and baked chicken to fried fish.

Located on the historic courthouse square in beautiful Fayette, Emmet's Kitchen & Tap is beloved for its hearty American food with a Cajun twist. Here you'll find everything from po' boys and platters of Bayou shrimp to tasty pasta dishes, pork and steaks, all served up by some of the friendliest and most attentive staff around. Customers can't get enough of the spicy Angry Shrimp appetizer, and the ribeye is said to be fantastic.

This breakfast and lunch stop is exactly what it sounds like: an old red-brick one-room schoolhouse that's been transformed into a cozy eating spot. Expect omelets, homebaked sweet pies, hot-beef sandwiches, and burgers on the menu. There's a neat little gift shop selling handmade quilts, jewelry, and mugs too.

You can't go wrong with a classic diner and this Lincoln offering is a winner. It's got everything you go to a diner looking for: cozy leather booths, neon signs, flowing coffee, and service with a smile. Breakfast is guaranteed to fill you up for the day: choose between eggs Benedict; bacon, hash browns and eggs; biscuits and sausage gravy; or an omelet burrito. 

You might not associate Las Vegas with cutesy mom-and-pop spots – after all, it's better known for giant hotels serving steak and seafood buffets. However, Lou's Diner is a real treasure. Still family-owned and operated, it's been holding its own since 1969, and its popularity is cemented by the charming interiors, with shelves filled with porcelain trinkets and doilies, and the walls hung with patterned plates. The breakfast and lunch menu is temping too: it's a classic mix of hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, egg plates, French toast, and waffles.

The bucolic New England town of Twin Mountain has an inviting crop of restaurants from little pizzerias to New American spots with top-notch views. But for a solid dose of home cooking that'll satisfy the whole clan, head to Munroe's Family Restaurant, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Come in for breakfast and graze on meat- and veg-packed skillets or egg plates, or eat giant sandwiches or seafood specials for lunch.

You can barely move in New Jersey for traditional restaurants dealing in good old-fashioned Italian-American cooking – and Boniello's is one of the best. There's a generously sized menu packed out with all the classics, from angel hair primavera to linguine with claims, while a highlight is the chicken vodka sliders: breaded chicken doused in the house-made vodka sauce and tucked into a garlic-knot bun.

Steak lovers should make a beeline for this long-standing restaurant in New Mexico's biggest city. It's an Albuquerque veteran, having opened in 1974 and been owned and operated by the Villa family since the very beginning. Go for classic steak and fries, or try New Mexico specialties such as blue-corn enchiladas, chile relleno, or the kicking green-chile cheeseburger. Legend has it you might be joined by some spectral dinner guests too: the building dates back to 1785 and is said to be haunted.

It's near impossible to choose what to eat in New York City and you could stay for weeks and still not sample all the Big Apple's foodie delights. Still, there's something extra charming about Lexington Candy Shop, a nostalgic luncheonette of the kind that were once uniquitious across New York City. Prop up the retro bar at the Upper East Side landmark and tuck into comfort food dishes such as burgers and French toast. The classic New York egg cream drink steals the menu.

There's a lot of competition when it comes to barbecue in North Carolina, but this long-standing family-owned spot earns plaudits for its delectable meaty mains, its super friendly vibe, and its wallet-friendly prices. There's most praise for the classic barbecue plates, which are filled up with meats like slow-cooked pulled pork and trimmings like collard greens and mac 'n' cheese.

Students at the University of Mary love the down-home cooking at Randy's. There's particular praise for the breakfasts, which include stacks of buttermilk pancakes, meat- and veg-filled skillets, and cinnamon roll French toast. Come along later for warming entrées such as liver and onions, Polish sausages with sauerkraut, and Salisbury steak dinners. The interiors are pared back and fuss free, the service is quick, and the prices are cheap.

Another historic schoolhouse turned restaurant, the building here dates to the 1800s and there's still plenty that belongs to the 19th century, including the oak flooring and the blackboards. Now, though, there are menus instead of homework scribbled on those blackboards and diners can expect tasty dishes such as meatloaf and gravy and smoked ham. It's been a restaurant since the 1960s and is run by the local Miller family. Be sure to stop in the cute General Store too.

If you're looking for good quality Tex-Mex grub then this family-owned cantina is just the ticket. They tout themselves as serving the best tacos in Norman and indeed, diners wax lyrical about the carne asada option. You can also find tamales, fajitas, and crispy taquitos, as well as a range of Mexican beers.

This convivial spot claims to serve "the best homecooking on the Oregon coast". Decide for yourself with a visit to the cute, down-to-earth restaurant with its small bar and diner vibe. The homemade hashbrowns win plenty of praise from diners, as do the clam chowder and the chicken-fried steak. If you've left room for something sweet (not likely given the mammoth portions), try a cinnamon roll.

Claiming to be the "inventor and originator" of the ubiquitous Philly cheesesteak, Pat's is world famous now. But they've stayed pretty much true to their downhome roots, still owned and operated by the Olivieri family more than 90 years after first opening. Don't miss a classic cheesesteak: shredded beefsteak in a hoagie roll with melted cheese.

When a restaurant has 'family' in the name, you know it deals in good old-fashioned, comforting cooking. That's true of Providence's Louis Family Restaurant, which has been a local favorite (particularly with college students) for some 75 years. It's still family owned and run, and you can indulge in plenty of rib-sticking classics from pancakes and steak and eggs for breakfast, to hot subs and gnocchi and meatballs for lunch.

South Carolina is another state where barbecue is a way of life, but there's something extra-special about this sweet spot in Holly Hill that's been serving hungry diners since 1959. The original 1950s location eventually closed, but this cute farmhouse venue opened in 1977 and there's been a storm cooked up here ever since. Faithful punters come in for the oak-, hickory-, and pecan-smoked pork, which is doused in a secret-recipe mustard-based sauce.

There's just one thing on the menu at this well-loved Hartford restaurant: steak. You'll get top-quality filet mignon if you visit on a weekday, or a prime rib dinner on weekends – popular sides include the lettuce wedge or the baked potato with a dollop of sour cream. It has been owned and operated by the same family since 1997.

In Memphis, the ghost of Elvis Presley lurks around every corner, and he loved to park up in a booth at this long-standing diner-style restaurant – the oldest in Memphis – and order the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. That's still on the menu, alongside pizzas, salads, towering milkshakes, and desserts including beignets and banana split. The retro interiors, with their popping blue booths, are worth the visit alone.

This Texas spot has really earned its stripes having been running for more than 90 years. It's been in its current location since 1946 and it's no stranger to 'best of' lists covering top breakfasts in Texas and beyond. That talked-about breakfast menu is served all day and includes items such as biscuits with gravy, omelets, cinnamon rolls, and donuts. It's well known and loved for delicious pies too.

The delightful trolley car location is just one reason to come along to Ruth's Diner in Salt Lake City. Another is the big menu featuring breakfasts, sandwiches, and mains like pot roast, carbonara, and pork chops. It's named for the late Ruth Evans – a spirited cabaret singer-turned-diner owner, who first opened Ruth’s Hamburgers Downtown in 1930.

Described as "a great place to eat since 1945", quaint Handy's has been in its namesake family since the very beginning. Locals drop in for hearty portions at reasonable prices, with menu mainstays including patty melts, burgers and hot dogs, and a long list of breakfasts. You're pretty much guaranteed service with a smile too.

For some of the finest barbecue in Virginia dished up in a simple yet super friendly setting, head on over to Pierce's Pitt BBQ, which has been serving the folks of Williamsburg since 1971. The passage of time hasn't dimmed its popularity and punters still pour in for a taste of the restaurant's slow-cooked barbecue pulled pork or chicken covered in their signature sauce, or giant sandwiches stuffed with brisket that's been smoked for 14 hours.

Come by this pocket-sized joint in Seattle for classic soul food dished up by friendly staff. You can't go wrong with the chicken wing dinner – six pieces of golden-fried chicken served with sides such as mac 'n' cheese – or the traditional oxtail in hearty gravy served over rice. Bold, colorful artworks brighten an otherwise slick and minimalist space.

A tried-and-tested neighbourhood Italian is always a good bet and Leonoro's Spaghetti House is a Charleston staple. The family-owned and run restaurant has had plenty of time to perfect its classic dishes: it's been operating since 1915, and the menu heaves with traditional favorites from spaghetti and meatballs to veal parmiagano, and cannoloni and tiramisu for dessert.

Swing by Frank's for a lesson in what a diner should be. It's been serving Kenosha locals since 1926 and it offers a fail-safe menu of breakfast favorites – the Garbage Plate, with eggs, hash browns, veggies, and your choice of meat and cheeses, is a real crowdpleaser. The burgers and homemade chili come with high praise too. And, if you really loved it, you can pick up some classic merch to remember your visit.

Another first-rate diner, this cheerful restaurant in the Wyoming capital is best known for its comforting breakfasts. Start your day with chicken-fried steak with sausage gravy, or omelets packed with meat and veggies. Their giant cinnamon buns have earned them plenty of fans too, and enthused visitors say the service is spectacular. 

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