13 Iconic Route 66 Restaurants Known for Delicious Food and Retro Vibes

Route 66 is an American icon known for vintage vibes, roadside attractions, retro motels, and nostalgic eateries. A good meal is never far away while traveling the Mother Road, which celebrates its centennial in 2026.

Over the past 100 years, Route 66 has made a place for itself in American culture, especially in terms of food. From old-school diners and family owned eateries to food halls and quick-bite pit stops, Route 66 is nothing if not a culinary tour de force. Here are 13 of the best, most iconic restaurants of Route 66 that definitely deserve a stop as you're traveling the Mother Road:

1. Doc's: Girard, Illinois

In Illinois, Doc's is an old-fashioned soda fountain that feels like a step back in time. Originally open in 1884 as a drugstore, today, Doc's more than just a place to grab a bite, it's a living history museum with memorabilia and relics from the pharmacy—and the new owners have added a full-service bar and gaming area, too.

2. Ariston Cafe: Litchfield, Illinois

Opened in 1935, Ariston Cafe is believed to be the oldest restaurant on Route 66 to have been continuously operated by the same family. It survived the Depression, World War II, and the advent of the Interstate highway system. It is the "grand dame" of Illinois dining on the Mother Road. With supper club vibes and a delicious menu of comfort classics, Ariston Cafe is a longtime favorite Route 66 destination in Illinois.

3. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard: St. Louis, Missouri

A sweet pit stop along Route 66 in Missouri, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is more than an ice cream stand. Since 1929 (and at Chippewa Street location since 1941), Ted Drewes has been the gold standard for frozen custard in Missouri—and the Midwest. It's the kind of roadside treat that defines the end of a long driving day along the Mother Road. Definitely order the Fox Treat—a concrete or sundae with hot fudge, raspberries, and macadamia nuts—one of the most popular items on the menu.

4. College Street Cafe: Springfield, Missouri

An iconic restaurant in Springfield, Missouri, College Street Cafe sits along the eponymous College Street alignment of Route 66, in the heart of the Birthplace district and adjacent to the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park. It’s the kind of unpretentious, hearty, and welcoming restaurant that's Route 66 dining at its most soulful and authentic.

The northern route of the forced Cherokee removal passed directly through this corridor—as a marker in the park acknowledges—which presents a somber counter-history to the "freedom of the road" usually associated with this stretch and Route 66 in general. Come for breakfast—the biscuits and gravy are the kind of hearty, stick-to-your-ribs fare that will set you up for a day traveling Route 66.

5. Old Riverton General Store: Riverton, Kansas

Located on historic Route 66 in Riverton, Kansas, Old Riverton General Store has been serving up delicious, stick-to-your-ribs fare to road warriors since the earliest days of the Mother Road. Built in 1925, the shop was owned by Leo Williams and was known as the “Williams Store” by locals. Today, the eatery is known for delicious sandwiches and the kind of simple, quick bites that come in clutch after a long day on the road.

6. Sid's Diner: El Reno, Oklahoma

Considered a must-try diner along Route 66 in Oklahoma, Sid's is all-American comfort food at its finest. The grilled cheeses are amazing, as is the chili. Pro tip: enjoy your chili as a coney; this is a messy meal that might require a fork and knife, but about which you'll be thinking about long after that last scrumptious bite.

7. The Big Texan Steakhouse: Amarillo, Texas

With a presence as big as the Lone Star State itself, The Big Texan is the kind of super-sized spectacle that Texas is known for, located along historic Route 66 in Amarillo. Come for the food (there's a 72-oz. steak that's calling your name) and stay for the vibes. In addition to the restaurant, The Big Texan also features 54-room motel with the facade of a Wild West town, and Slug Bug Ranch, a series of half-buried Volkswagen Beetles similar to nearby Cadillac Ranch.

8. Midpoint Cafe: Adrian, Texas

The sleepy town of Adrian, Texas, marks the halfway point of Route 66, and the perfect way to celebrate is with a meal at one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants on the Mother Road. The aptly named Midpoint Cafe was originally built in 1928, and initially operated as Zella’s Cafe, before changing hands—and names—multiple times. 

Today, the restaurant stands as a proud Route 66 icon that warmly welcomes road trippers to the halfway point of the Mother Road with delicious, homestyle meals and Texas-sized hospitality.

9. Westside Lilo's Cafe: Seligman, Arizona

One of the best Route 66 stops in Arizona, Westside Lilo's Café serves up classic diner fare along the historic route. This locally-owned restaurant specializes in home-cooked meals where every dish uses quality ingredients and every detail is considered. What's most unique about Westside Lilo's is the fare, which is a bit of an anomaly on a road with so many classic diners and American-style cuisine.

Lilo’s cooking and baking are influenced by her home country of Germany, and the restaurant’s decor also has a German flair. Since day one of the restaurant’s opening, Lilo has been baking fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, and carrot cake. The menu at Westside Lilo’s also includes a wide variety of homemade classics, comfort foods, and soups, as well as German dishes like schnitzel.

10. 66 Diner: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Pure nostalgia and sock-hop vibes await at 66 Diner in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Although it’s a newer addition to the retro-style gems along Route 66, originally opening in 1987, you’d never know it. With its bright colors, black and white checkered tiles, and mid-century appeal, including a soda fountain and neon lights, just stepping through the door at the 66 Diner pulls you into an immersive retro experience.

As for the fare, 66 Diner is known for its delicious green chili cheeseburgers, a New Mexico staple that's done right at this diner.

11. Indian Pueblo Kitchen: Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque is known as the “Gateway to the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.” Here, visitors can learn about Pueblo history and culture from ancient times to the present day through museum exhibits and murals by Pueblo artists. 

For an unforgettable dining experience along Route 66 in New Mexico, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center offers Native American dishes that incorporate a variety of fresh and local ingredients, including blue corn and red and green chiles, to create the flavors of historic and traditional Pueblo recipes.

Dishes range from Atole, a blue-corn porridge, to Indian tacos made with homemade fry bread stuffed with ground beef, chicken, or lamb, as well as a variety of stews. For dessert, you can try one of the Famous Pueblo Pies or Pueblo-Style Bread Pudding.

12. Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe: Victorville, California

Nestled along Route 66 in Victorville, California, you'll find an unassuming aqua building with a large Route 66 mural welcoming you to Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe. This is the place to come for hearty breakfasts, mouthwatering burgers, and the kind of easygoing vibes of California's stretch of Route 66.

13. The Donut Man: Glendora, California

Discover the best donuts in California at The Donut Man, where the original location along Route 66 in Glendora is open 24/7. Varieties change seasonally but what's constant is the quality: since 1972, The Donut Man has been delivering yeasty, crave-worthy donuts, night and day, to hungry travelers craving a sweet treat along the Mother Road.

Plan Your Own Route 66 Trip

Route 66 is an all-American road trip that celebrates the beauty and diversity of the heartland. From Chicago to Santa Monica, the 2,448 miles of the Mother Road are loaded with roadside stops, endless vistas, awesome roadside attractions, and some of the best restaurants in the U.S. We invite you to sample some of the best dining along Route 66 at these stop-worthy restaurants, diners, roadside stops, and longstanding eateries.