The Off-the-Beaten-Path Restaurant in Oklahoma That Is Worth the Day Trip

If you're taking the roughly two-hour drive from Joplin, Missouri to Tulsa, Oklahoma, or vice versa, there's a good chance you're going to get hungry in the middle. While you might not normally pull off exit 289 on I-44 to stop in Vinita, you really should. Just a little ways out of town, on Historic Route 66, you'll find the Hi-Way Cafe waiting for you - and it's the perfect place to stop. You're sure to have a meal there that you'll always remember because the food served at the Hi-Way Cafe is so darn good!

Owned and operated by Alan and Beth Hilburn for over a decade, this cafe can seat 94 customers indoors and also offers outdoor seating. This pair of high school sweethearts have been married for more than thirty years and have put their hearts and souls into this welcoming little spot. The Hi-Way Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch from Wednesday to Sunday and also opens for dinner on the first Saturday of each month.

This spot is a throwback to the diners and restaurants along Route 66 back when it was the primary way for motorists to travel across the country. Before you even enter its doors, you'll be enamored with the brightly colored mural on the exterior of the building and the numerous giants in statue form that greet you as you park. Inside, you'll find more of the same plus comfortable booths, a neon Hi-Way Cafe sign, a jukebox, and lots of 1950s-inspired decor.

The setting is comfortable and welcoming, but wait until you try the food! You'll love everything on the menu. Many people frequent Hi-Way Cafe for its breakfasts. Anything you likely crave to start your day is available including huge omelets, stacks of pancakes, biscuits and gravy, french toast, and a killer breakfast burrito. The prices are very affordable, and diners can purchase a large and filling breakfast for themselves and a companion for under 20 dollars.

If lunch is what you crave, there are plenty of options to satisfy your needs at Hi-Way Cafe, too. Sandwiches offered include a chicken fried steak sandwich, a BLT, a club, grilled ham and cheese, and others, all served on Texas toast. Taco, chicken, and chef's salads will please anyone looking for something on the healthier side, and a variety of burgers are available for guests looking for a heartier mid-day meal.

People who seek a dinner-style lunch will also be pleased with Hi-Way Cafe's offerings. Entrees like Hi-Way Cafe's Spaghetti Dinner, Baked Potato Supreme, Steak Finger Dinner, and Indian Taco will all impress and will give you the energy to head back to I-44 to complete your drive to your destination. Be sure to check out the daily specials, too.

This off-the-beaten-path restaurant is a must-visit when traveling in northeastern Oklahoma. You're sure to love anything that you choose to order, and you'll feel like a local when you step inside and enjoy the restaurant's excellent service and offerings. Don't miss the Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita! Once you visit once, you'll want to stop in every time you're visiting this part of The Sooner State. Mark Vinita, Oklahoma, and Hi-Way Cafe in your road atlas and plan a visit today.