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  3. America's Best Diners

America's Best Diners

By Food & Wine Updated June 15, 2016
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America's Best Diners: Skillet Diner
Credit: Photo © Courtesy of Skillet Diner
As synonymous with America as apple pie and the open road, diners have been an indelible part of our national consciousness for more than century. While many longstanding establishments continue to carry on the genre's rich traditions of affordable comfort food, Art Deco architecture and folksy service, ambitious newcomers are giving classic diner dishes chef-driven makeovers and expanding our understanding of what a diner can be. With a playing field this broad and diverse, definitiveness is an impossible goal, but these 23 spots represent a panoramic view of today's American diner.—Roger Kamholz
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Fremont Diner; Sonoma, CA

America's Best Diners: Fremont Diner
Credit: Photo © Ryan Donahue

Chef and owner Chad Harris taps into the agricultural gifts of the surrounding Carneros region to enliven his elevated take on comfort food, which at breakfast includes a fresh sunny-side up egg over house-smoked black-pepper brisket. A rusty pickup parked out front and walls lined with Harris's own antiques lend this tiny wine country waypoint—open since 2009—a throwback charm. thefremontdiner.com

  • Sonoma Travel Guide

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Harry's Coffee Shop; La Jolla, CA

America's Best Diners: Harry's Coffee Shop
Credit: Photo © Carolyn Saylor

Sure, you can get a very SoCal breakfast of chicken salad-filled fresh Hawaiian papaya at Harry's. But we're guessing its 50-plus years of service is more thanks to the bacon-studded waffles, warm cinnamon rolls, old-fashioned milk shakes and famously strong joe. harryscoffeeshop.com

  • America's Best Coffee Bars

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Hopscotch; Oakland, CA

America's Best Diners: Hopscotch
Credit: Photo © Lori Eanes

Touches like the checkered flooring and swiveling, vinyl-topped counter stools give Hopscotch its homey diner bona fides, as do menu favorites like buttermilk fried chicken and the First Base burger (it's layered with griddled beef tongue). But thoughtful cocktails and chef Kyle Itani's grounding in Japanese cuisine—evident in his elegant, roe-topped Yonsei oyster—make this modern diner a foodie destination to boot. hopscotchoakland.com

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Nickel Diner; Los Angeles

America's Best Diners: Nickel Diner
Credit: Photo © Kimberli Ransom

Chef Monica May and general manager Kristen Trattner took a gamble rehabbing a 1940s-era diner so close to Skid Row, but downtown L.A. has embraced Nickel and its refined (but no less hearty) approach to the classics of American diner-dom. Just try to finish the generous Double Stuffed Chicken. Or better yet, leave room for sweets like Nickel's beloved maple-bacon doughnut. nickeldiner.com

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Plow; San Francisco

America's Best Diners: Plow
Credit: Photo © Peter Belanger Photography

Let's be honest, sometimes we seek out diners to nurse a hangover. At Plow, the airy space works in tandem with the comforting food to set you right again. The diner's eponymous dish provides a tour of Plow's breakfast-centric all-day menu, with a combination of two eggs, sausage or bacon, two lemon-ricotta pancakes and the diner's celebrated crispy potatoes. eatatplow.com

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Florida Avenue Grill; Washington, DC

America's Best Diners: Florida Avenue Grill
Credit: Photo © Tammy Gordon

Since 1944, all of DC—from the political power broker to the value-conscious everyman—comes to the Florida Avenue Grill for a soul-food fix. Those in the know favor breakfast options (available all day) like hotcakes, biscuits, and fried catfish and grits. floridaavenuegrill.com

  • Washington, DC Travel Guide

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Au Cheval; Chicago

America's Best Diners: Au Cheval
Credit: Photo © Kari Skaflen

It appears rather fancy for a greasy spoon, but one look at Au Cheval's menu assures that you're comfortably in diner territory. And how: The lusted-for griddled cheeseburgers come with bonus patties (a single is a double, etc.), and eggs mingle with pretty much everything, from fries to foie gras. auchevalchicago.com

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Little Goat; Chicago

America's Best Diners: Little Goat
Credit: Photo © Huge Galdones

Chef Stephanie Izard's follow-up to her reliably packed Girl & the Goat is a big, rich, satisfying update of the traditional diner concept, complete with a dozen inventive sandwiches and offbeat breakfasts like spaghetti with clams, eggs and guanciale. The attached bread shop supplies an array of fresh, crusty starches. littlegoatchicago.com

  • Chicago's Best Foodie Street

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Moody's Diner; Waldoboro, ME

America's Best Diners: Moody's Diner
Credit: Photo © Lydia King

In more than 80 years of family ownership, Moody's has been a standard-bearer for New England's unfussy working-class cuisine. (One daughter has even published a Moody's cookbook.) Chowders, fried haddock and lobster rolls anchor the seafood-heavy dinner menu. And no breakfast at Moody's would be complete without one of its cinnamon rolls or blueberry muffins. moodysdiner.com

  • America's Best Lobster Rolls

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A1 Diner; Gardiner, ME

America's Best Diners: A1 Diner
Credit: Photo courtesy of A-1 Diner

A1 may be housed in a humble, 1946-vintage Worcester Lunch Car, but owners Mike Giberson and Neil Andersen have admirably high culinary aspirations for their 25-year-old establishment. International flavors crop up on an ever-changing roster of specials, which complements a menu of more familiar diner classics. facebook.com/A1Diner

  • America's Best Doughnuts

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Becky's on Hobson's Wharf; Portland, ME

America's Best Diners: Becky's on Hobson's Wharf
Credit: Photo © Marty Madden

The coffee starts flowing at owner Becky Rand's friendly diner at 4 a.m., to serve Portland's early-rising lobstermen. But this diner with a scenic harbor view does a good job on much more than just java: Visitors love the blueberry pancakes, chowder and build-your-own club sandwiches. Naturally, lobster finds its way into a number of dishes, including the bib-worthy double lobster dinner. beckysdiner.com

  • America's Best Brunch Spots

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Mickey's Dining Car; St. Paul

America's Best Diners: Mickey's Dining Car
Credit: Photo © Jerry Huddleston

From the 24-hour service to the charming 1930s prefab Art Deco structure, Mickey's is a classic of the genre. Order a thick shake to wash down one of the epic half-pound burgers. Or check out another favorite, Potatoes O'Brien—a pan-seared hash made with ham, onions and peppers. mickeysdiningcar.com

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Goody Goody Diner; St. Louis

America's Best Diners: Goody Goody Diner
Credit: Photo © Otter Graphics

The Connelly family acquired this former A&W Root Beer stand in the `50s and has been perfecting its menu of diner staples ever since. For the particularly ravenous, the plates of chicken and waffles can be piled with as much as half a bird. Then there's the famous Wilbur Omelet, a beast of a breakfast stuffed with hash browns, green pepper, onion and tomato, topped with chili and cheddar cheese. goodygoodydiner.com

  • Best Fried Chicken in the U.S.

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Town Topic Hamburgers; Kansas City, MO

America's Best Diners: Town Topic Hamburgers
Credit: Photo © Julie Fallone

By doing the important stuff right—meaty chili, hand-dipped malts and shakes, craveable griddle-kissed burgers with onions on fresh steamed buns—Town Topic has expanded to three locations in the Kansas City area, including one that's open 24 hours. towntopic.com

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Tops the Diner; East Newark, NJ

America's Best Diners: Tops the Diner
Credit: Photo © Abby Hocking

Tops is a gem in a state rich with great diners. If you can't find something you like on its novel of a menu, then you don’t like to eat. The list of lovingly crafted cheesecakes alone exceeds a dozen varieties. thetopsdiner.com

  • America's Best Regional Desserts

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Highland Park Diner; Rochester, NY

America's Best Diners: Highland Park Diner
Credit: Photo © David Rice

Believed to be only surviving Orleans Company-built diner, this handsomely restored Rochester institution traffics in well-executed home-style cooking with contemporary flourishes. Fans adore the fresh-squeezed orange juice, corned beef hash and home-style apple pie. highland-park-diner.com

  • America's Best Apple Pies

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Tom's Diner; Brooklyn

America's Best Diners: Tom's Diner
Credit: Photo © Carole Debeer

New York City's diner scene has suffered some tough losses lately, so it’s all the more comforting to tuck into a booth at this funky, septuagenarian landmark in Prospect Heights. Tom's selection of fluffy pancakes is seemingly inexhaustible. Throwback sippables like the cherry-lime rickey,egg cream and root beer float complete the classic soda-fountain picture.

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Sid's Diner; El Reno, OK

America's Best Diners: Sid's Diner
Credit: Photo © Ryan Reuter

You can't leave Sid's without one of owner Marty Hall's onion-fried burgers, an El Reno delicacy where the patty and thinly sliced onions magically become one on the griddle (well, thanks to a few spirited whacks of the spatula).

  • Best Breakfast Sandwiches in the U.S.

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Modern Diner; Pawtucket, RI

America's Best Diners: Modern Diner
Credit: Photo © Diane Tani

In the state where the American diner was born, the Modern is a standout. This 1941 Sterling Streamliner-manufactured diner has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The list of daily specials is known to be impressively long, as is the selection of eggs Benedicts.

  • America's Best Brunch Spots

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24 Diner; Austin

America's Best Diners: 24 Diner
Credit: Photo © Vanessa Escobedo Barba

Chef Andrew Curren's fresh approach to comfort food, available round-the-clock, has garnered 24 heaps of praise. The ground brisket burger and grilled cheese on sourdough are just two of many favorites. Stop in Tuesdays for that paragon of Southern-style good eating, chicken and dumplings. 24diner.com

  • Andrew Curren's Guide to 24/7 Eating

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Crossroads Diner; Dallas

America's Best Diners: Crossroads Diner
Credit: Photo © Jerry Ward

Chefs/partners Tom Fleming and Carl Strelecki are well-versed in haute cuisine, but their passion is perfecting down-to-earth American fare. Pastry cred comes in the form of delectable cinnamon sticky buns, topped with caramel-pecan sauce. For protein (and, well, fat), the pork schnitzel, chicken-fried steak and house-made corn beef don't disappoint. crossroads-diner.com

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Ruth's Diner; Salt Lake City

America's Best Diners: Ruth's Diner
Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ruth's Diner

Updates by various owners over the years have kept this 80-year-old diner feeling fresh without sacrificing its vintage charm. The patio attracts crowds in summertime, but it's the diner staples like biscuits and gravy and a unique raspberry chicken dish that keeps Ruth's busy year-round. ruthsdiner.com

  • Best Biscuits in the U.S.

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Skillet Diner; Seattle

America's Best Diners: Skillet Diner
Credit: Photo © Courtesy of Skillet Diner

Skillet's food-driven reimagination of the traditional diner menu was originally sold from chef Josh Henderson's Airstream trailer. Now the enterprise includes brick-and-mortar diners in Capitol Hill and Ballard, known for decadent mac and cheese and a bacon jam burger topping that is so good, it's practically gone viral. skilletstreetfood.com

  • Seattle Travel Guide

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    1 of 23 Fremont Diner; Sonoma, CA
    2 of 23 Harry's Coffee Shop; La Jolla, CA
    3 of 23 Hopscotch; Oakland, CA
    4 of 23 Nickel Diner; Los Angeles
    5 of 23 Plow; San Francisco
    6 of 23 Florida Avenue Grill; Washington, DC
    7 of 23 Au Cheval; Chicago
    8 of 23 Little Goat; Chicago
    9 of 23 Moody's Diner; Waldoboro, ME
    10 of 23 A1 Diner; Gardiner, ME
    11 of 23 Becky's on Hobson's Wharf; Portland, ME
    12 of 23 Mickey's Dining Car; St. Paul
    13 of 23 Goody Goody Diner; St. Louis
    14 of 23 Town Topic Hamburgers; Kansas City, MO
    15 of 23 Tops the Diner; East Newark, NJ
    16 of 23 Highland Park Diner; Rochester, NY
    17 of 23 Tom's Diner; Brooklyn
    18 of 23 Sid's Diner; El Reno, OK
    19 of 23 Modern Diner; Pawtucket, RI
    20 of 23 24 Diner; Austin
    21 of 23 Crossroads Diner; Dallas
    22 of 23 Ruth's Diner; Salt Lake City
    23 of 23 Skillet Diner; Seattle

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