Top Diners, Cafés and Eateries Along Route 66

Fuel your Route 66 road trip with classic diners and local Oklahoma favorites. From burger baskets and mouthwatering barbecue to sweet treats and novelty sodas, no trip along the Mother Road is complete without stopping to fill up at one of these iconic Route 66 eateries.

Lucille’s Roadhouse in Weatherford captures the style of a 1950s diner with polished chrome, glass brick and turquois vinyl chairs. The menu features a scrumptious selection of greasy spoon classics like hand-breaded chicken fried steak, pork chops, burgers and hand-cut Angus steaks. The restaurant exterior evokes the spirit of the Mother Road with vintage gas pumps inspired by the original Lucille’s, a historic but now-closed gas station a few miles down the road.

Established in 1939, the Rock Cafe in Stroud has maintained its historic rock walls and foundation along with its original grill named “Betsy.” The diner is famous for their alligator burger, Rueben sandwich and German jagerschnitzel. Over the years, the Rock Cafe has served celebrities such as Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening. Dawn Welch, the Rock Café’s owner, was the inspiration for Sally Carrera in the 2006 animated Pixar film, “Cars.”

Gather around a picnic table and enjoy award-winning barbecue at the Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston. The barbecue stand has become a local institution, opened by a father and son team after nearly a decade on the competitive cooking circuit. Among the duo’s numerous awards, they held a finalist spot on the TV show “BBQ Pitmaster.” Feast on their mouthwatering St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork, and brisket alongside top notch sides like apple pie BBQ baked beans, mac and cheese, and coleslaw.

POPS in Arcadia is famous for its 66-foot-tall pop bottle sculpture (illuminated after sunset) and extensive selection of glass bottled soda. A haven for Americana lovers, POPS has more than 700 varieties of soda in classic flavors like root beer and sarsaparilla along with wacky flavors such as pickle and buffalo wing. The on-site restaurant offers a few Route-66 themed dishes like the Mother Road Breakfast and the Round Barn Burger along with a gift shop offering kitschy keepsakes galore.

Elk City's 66 ToGo offers young road trippers a little extra fun. Their “Meals with Wheels” kid’s meals are served in paper boxes that look like vintage cars and pickups. There’s plenty of options for grownups too, like coleslaw-topped pulled pork sandwiches or beer battered fish baskets. Finish your meal with a scoop of frozen custard in flavors like bourbon pecan fudge, cherry amaretto cheesecake and caramel cashew. If you find a new favorite, pick up a quart or pint to take with you.

Housed within a cottage-style former gas station, Dairy King is known for their classic burgers and soft-serve ice cream. Grab a booth at this charming diner that is decorated with Route 66 memorabilia and be sure to grab a handmade Route 66 cookie shaped like the iconic road sign. Ask the owners about the town’s history and they’ll fill you in on famous citizens like baseball legend Mickey Mantle and a notorious Bonnie and Clyde shootout.

Get your fill of home-style cooking at the Route 66 Café in Clinton. This family-owned restaurant is located in a former grocery market from the 1930s. The menu features hearty Okie favorites like chicken fried steak, smash burgers and build-your-own burritos. Breakfast favorites are served all day, so you can dig in to a stack of pancakes or plate of steak and eggs whenever you like. If you need something sweet, finish your meal with a homemade cinnamon roll or fried oreos served with a side of vanilla ice cream.

If you’re cruising through the “Capital of Route 66,” you can find a wide variety of eats at the Mother Road Market in Tulsa. This diverse market of shops and restaurants features classic fare like Howdy Burger as well as world cuisine. Try a flavorful bowl of goat curry from Afrikan Delights or fill your plate with color with a vegan falafelopolis at Bodhi’s Bowl. In addition to Korean dishes, Sobahn 82 has an amazing beverage selection with yuzu cha, Vietnamese iced coffee and a variety of Moshi flavors.