Whether you want a hearty breakfast, a satisfying lunch, or even a midnight snack, diners are the perfect place to satisfy a craving for American comfort food classics. These restaurants have been a part of the U.S. cultural landscape since the 1850s, when young entrepreneur Walter Scott began selling simple late-night eats to newspaper staff in Providence, Rhode Island. Today, diners often specialize in nostalgic dishes that take guests back to simpler times.
No matter where you go in the U.S., there are local diners full of loyal patrons who love their down-home recipes and the spot’s inviting atmosphere. Although most of these longstanding restaurants have their own set of fans, each state has one diner that stands out from the crowd. These diners have one-of-a-kind specialties, colorful backstories, and tasty everyday dishes that make them among the best in the country. Some are worth taking a trip to visit, while others are hidden gems that could be hiding nearly in your backyard.
Alabama: Salem’s Diner
In the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Homewood is the unassuming Salem’s Diner, an old-fashioned eatery that serves delicious diner basics. The breakfast offerings are reliably deemed delicious, especially the large omelets and a hashbrowns-based dish called The Trashcan.
The restaurant’s true claim to fame is its Philly cheesesteak, which attracted national attention after receiving high praise on “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.” The comedian dubbed this sandwich the most delicious cheesesteak he had tasted anywhere — including Philadelphia.
Check out the full list of the best diner in all 50 states here!
