Route 66 Diners & Restaurants | Classic Eats on the Mother Road

No Route 66 road trip is complete without stopping at the diners, lunch counters, and roadside restaurants that have fed travelers for nearly a century. The Mother Road is lined with classic eateries — some still serving the same recipes they’ve offered since the 1940s and 50s, others reimagined for modern travelers but still steeped in Route 66 character. This category covers the best places to eat along Historic Route 66, from beloved roadside institutions to hidden local favorites that rarely show up in guidebooks. Whether you’re craving a thick slice of pie at a vintage lunch counter, a green chile cheeseburger in New Mexico, or a proper sit-down meal in one of the highway’s great small towns, these guides will point you to the right table.