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These Are the Most Iconic Diners in America

These Are the Most Iconic Diners in America

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Angel's Dining Car

Courtesy of Edward A. via Yelp

Arcade Restaurant

Courtesy of J.L. P. via Yelp

Band Box Diner

Courtesy of Jack G. via Yelp

Blue Benn Diner

Courtesy of Ken C. via Yelp

Bob's Diner

Courtesy of Daniel P. via Yelp

Brunswick Diner

Courtesy of RunAway B. via Yelp

Casey's Diner

Courtesy of Sagar T. via Yelp

Casper's

Courtesy of Angeles W. via Yelp

Clanton's Café

Courtesy of RunAway B. via Yelp

Clover Grill

Courtesy of Lon D. via Yelp

Dumont Crystal Diner

Courtesy of Angelica O. via Yelp

Florida Avenue Grill

Courtesy of Paul D. via Yelp

Franks Diner

Courtesy of Santino C. via Yelp

Fuller's Coffee Shop

Courtesy of S L. via Yelp

Hamburger Inn Diner

Courtesy of Lisa R. via Yelp

Haven Brothers Diner

Courtesy of Al L. via Yelp

Hector's Cafe & Diner

Courtesy of Sandi H. via Yelp

Historic Village Diner

Courtesy of Patrick N. via Yelp

The Hole in the Wall

Courtesy of Raul G. via Yelp

Jerry's Main Lunch

Courtesy of Jerry's Main Lunch via Yelp

Joe Brown's Café

Courtesy of Rayna B. via Yelp

Kuppy's Diner

Courtesy of John H. via Yelp

Lindy's Diner

Courtesy of Alejandro S. via Yelp

Littleton Diner

Courtesy of Al Z. via Yelp

Luxury Diner

Courtesy of Chad R. via Yelp

Majestic Diner

Courtesy of Jennifer M. via Yelp

Al's Breakfast

Courtesy of Bob K. via Yelp

Oasis Diner

Courtesy of Andrew K. via Yelp

Orem's Diner

Courtesy of Henry F. via Yelp

Original Market Diner

Courtesy of Kirk I. via Yelp

Payne's Soda Fountain & Sandwich Shop

Courtesy of Seth B. via Yelp

Rae's

Courtesy of Justin F. via Yelp

Rudford's

Courtesy of Jenn R. via Yelp

Ruth's Diner

Courtesy of Joyce J. via Yelp

St. Francis Fountain

Courtesy of Andrew D. via Yelp

Snappy Lunch

Courtesy of Aaron B. via Yelp

Virginia Diner

Courtesy of J David H. via Yelp

Summer's Restaurant

Courtesy of Nancy C. via Yelp

The Summit Diner

Courtesy of Cindy C. via Yelp

White Mana Diner

Courtesy of Andy S. via Yelp

Angel's Dining Car
Arcade Restaurant
Band Box Diner
Blue Benn Diner
Bob's Diner
Brunswick Diner
Casey's Diner
Casper's
Clanton's Café
Clover Grill
Dumont Crystal Diner
Florida Avenue Grill
Franks Diner
Fuller's Coffee Shop
Hamburger Inn Diner
Haven Brothers Diner
Hector's Cafe & Diner
Historic Village Diner
The Hole in the Wall
Jerry's Main Lunch
Joe Brown's Café
Kuppy's Diner
Lindy's Diner
Littleton Diner
Luxury Diner
Majestic Diner
Al's Breakfast
Oasis Diner
Orem's Diner
Original Market Diner
Payne's Soda Fountain & Sandwich Shop
Rae's
Rudford's
Ruth's Diner
St. Francis Fountain
Snappy Lunch
Virginia Diner
Summer's Restaurant
The Summit Diner
White Mana Diner

The diner is a uniquely American eating place, once especially common along the Eastern Seaboard, up into New England. Today there are examples found not only there but scattered around the country, though their numbers have diminished dramatically since the mid-20th century and the rise of cookie-cutter fast-food places.

Diners grew out of horse-drawn lunch wagons — a process equivalent to today's food trucks spawning brick-and-mortar restaurants. New Jersey, in particular, was a center of lunch wagon manufacturing, and transitioned naturally into becoming the nation's diner-making capital, producing prefab units that could be shipped around the country and set up almost ready for business.

There are a handful of still-extant diners that were once railroad dining cars (or are built around them), but all classic diners have a shape similar to those conveyances — long and narrow, a configuration that made them easy to deliver by truck or train. Many diners were built in the Art Déco era of the 1920s and early '30s, and are vivid expressions of that style — which became so firmly associated with these places that even those built later often echoed the look.

Though there are exceptions, traditional diners tend to share a group of characteristics: Most are open only for breakfast and lunch; most have menus featuring a wide assortment of egg and pancake/waffle dishes and burgers and sandwiches, though some also serve heartier fare; they almost never serve alcohol; most have counters, along with at least a few booths; many are found along roadsides. And many are iconic features of their local restaurant landscape.

What makes a diner iconic? Design, longevity, food specialties, associated legend and lore, and its place in the community. To determine the most iconic diners in America, 24/7 Tempo reviewed numerous websites dealing with state or regional dining and commercial history, as well as some sites published by diner candidates themselves, then used editorial discretion to make a final choice.

Though age was not the final determinant in assembling this list, we did find that older diners were the most likely to deserve iconic status. Two date their origins back to the late 19th century, and even the newest one listed here has been around for 66 years. (For more choices, check out the can't-miss restaurant in every state.)

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