Many drivers choose to pack their meals or eat at truck stops along the road, but some days neither option sounds good. Even if you’re on a diet, it’s okay to have a once a week cheat meal. Stop by one of these regional hot spots while on the road to change it up a bit.
Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge: Paxton, NE
Just a 20-minute drive off Interstate 80, Ole’s has been a must-visit restaurant for eight decades. As one reviewer stated, “it’s a restaurant and a museum,” with great food and tons of big game mounts from across the world. The first thing you see when you enter the establishment is a full-grown polar bear. What a greeting. Just don’t stare at the elephants and bison for too long, your food will get cold.
Jack Stacks BBQ: Kansas City
With five locations throughout the city, you will have zero problems finding a Jacks Stacks BBQ. Soul is the main ingredient at this world-class, award-winning BBQ stop. Make sure you have plenty of napkins!
City House: Nashville, Tennessee
Italian cuisine with a southern twist. City House chef, Tandy Wilson, recently won the James Beard Award for Best Chef for the southeast region. Their southern bourbon options are a great side-kick to this southern comfort food as long as you’re not planning to hit the road right after.
Cou-Yons Bar-B-Q: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Considered to the best BBQ in Baton Rouge by TripAdvisor and considered a Top 50 BBQ joint in the U.S. by Yelp, Cou-Yons has the awards to match their top-notch food. If BBQ isn’t your thing, Cou-Yons also serves quality Po-Boys and seafood straight out of the Gulf of Mexico.
Ben’s Chili Bowl: Washington DC
Select from one of the three Ben’s Chili Bowls scattered throughout the city for a dog and some chili. Affordable, delicious and quick, Ben’s Chili Bowl will have you fed and back on the road in minutes. If you’re not in a hurry, be sure to take a few to study the photos on the walls. You might recognize a few faces.
Tattooed Moose: Charleston, South Carolina
Tattooed Moose was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Each of the three locations in Charleston will provide you with hearty pub meals and craft beer to wash it down. Don’t worry about reservations—it’s first come, first serve.
Pizzicletta: Flagstaff, Arizona
As one reviewer on TripAdvisor put it, Pizzicletta is a “rainbow at the end of a 500-mile drive.” The establishment itself is cozy and hidden, but the food makes it stand out. After downing a pizza, you can stop into their shop and purchase a Pizzi truck hat.
White Gull Inn: Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Do you need a place to stay for the night? Do you want some quality breakfast before hitting the road tomorrow morning? Head over to White Gull Inn. This historic bed and breakfast provides guests with award-winning dining since 1896. Even if you do not want to stay, White Gull Inn serves candlelight dinners and fishbowls year-round.
Tad’s Chicken’n Dumplins: Troutdale, Oregon http://tadschicdump.com/
Opened in 1920 as a fish house, Tad’s Chicken ’n Dumplins has evolved into a historic roadhouse with a blast-from-the-past feel and amazing meals. If you’ve been convinced, you might want to mark 2020 in your calendar, it’s their 100 year anniversary and they probably won’t skip on the celebration.
24th Street Cafe: Bakersfield, California http://24thstreetcafe.com/
Breakfast and burgers, what more could you ask for? Great food and a small-town feel, it’s considered one of the best breakfast places in Bakersfield. Make sure to plan ahead, the establishment is only open Monday through Thursday.
Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack: Tallahassee, Florida
Ranked #14 of 686 restaurants in Tallahassee, Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack menu is fresh and hearty. Do you want oysters and grouper straight out of the bay or just the traditional burger? Choose wisely or, choose both. One of the perks of eating at Bird’s.
E Bar Tex Mex: Dallas, Texas
Head to E Bar Tex Mex in Dallas for a Texas-sized meal. The newer Dallas Restaurant provides customers with an abundance of Tex Mex options to match the amount of food you get. Just think about bringing a doggy bag or a larger pair of pants.
They serve breakfast too!