Are These the Most Iconic Restaurants in Every State?
Fast food taste tests, waitresses getting massive tips, the best restaurants across America — these are just a few of the topics Yahoo Food readers loved the most. In a tribute to you, our reader, we are revisiting some of our most popular stories of 2015.
Credit: Lee Breslouer
By: Lee Breslouer
Finding the oldest restaurant in a state is easy — it’s usually as simple as asking Siri or Google. Determining the most iconic restaurant in a state is more difficult, as both Siri and Google will respond with a picture of a dude shrugging.
Luckily, after tons of research, awkward cold calls, and several cross country trips, we can name the most iconic restaurant in each state. To qualify for this list, a place had to have been around for 30+ years (all have been in business since at least 1980) and still be a crowd favorite. And while some of these restaurants may not have the best food or be tourist-free, they’re all famous. So, without further ado, here is our list. Hopefully, they’ve all got T-shirts.
More: Every State In The USA, Ranked By Its Food/Drink
Credit: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que
Alabama
Decatur (Est. 1925)
Alabama’s place in the great lexicon of barbecue rests squarely on the shoulders of one man: Big Bob Gibson. While other BBQ regions were dancing with brisket and ribs and pork, in 1925, Gibson started smoking chicken in a hand-dug pit in his backyard and serving folks on a picnic table. (He also served pork, but that’s such a side note to the chicken here.) In addition to making chicken the star — rather than the weird, dry BBQ’d poultry coated in a congealed sauce that’s served at every company picnic ever — Gibson rolled out his now-famous, peppery mayo-cider vinegar-lemon white sauce that’s synonymous with “Alabama barbecue”. North Alabama fervor means the family has relocated its physical space a number of times over the years — the current OG was opened in the ‘80s with a second location in the ‘90s — but the chicken is still smoky and juicy with crispy skin. And the white sauce is still damn amazing.
Alaska
Anchorage (Est. 1957)
In a former funeral parlor built in downtown Anchorage in the 1920s sits the oldest steakhouse in Alaska (“home of the 4” thick Filet Mignon!”). At this point, it seems somewhat hilarious that the style was originally intended to “look like a Parisian sidewalk cafe”, but no one is laughing at their very legit steaks (the signature is that 14oz Filet, though we like the rib eye), and, of course, Alaskan king crab legs. The Alaskans we talked to tell us the place has been a birthday dinner tradition for AGES, though the best (read: most affordable) move is to go during lunch for their “chorasco” tenderloin tips for $14.
Arizona
Tucson (Est. 1922)
Sure, there’s more than one El Charro now, but the original downtown location is the most iconic in the state. And their enduring popularity is no fluke — people can’t seem to get enough of their legendary carne seca, marinated Angus beef you can stuff inside tacos and enchiladas. They dry it themselves, of course. Sit on their patio on those cool desert nights with a house margarita, and you’re made in the shade. You can also sit out there during the day, if you want to literally be in the shade.
Arkansas
Hot Springs (Est. 1928)
Five generations of the McClard family have been working the smoker since they opened in the ’20s, which is a type of nepotism no one who’s ever eaten their ribs or chicken is complaining about. One of the most popular dishes is the tamale spread, a vast pile of food that includes tamales covered in Fritos, beans, chopped meat, onions, and cheese — it was initially thrown together in the early ’70s to help one of their dishwashers sober up, but eventually caught on with the customers. It’s uniquely McClard’s and uniquely Arkansas.
California
San Francisco (Est. 1861)
With respect to the Tadich Grill in SF and Musso & Frank’s in Hollywood, our choice is this legendary spot in Bayview. Anyone who has spent time playing soccer on Silver Ave or driving down Bayshore Boulevard or just living around SF knows the Old Clam House’s iconic sign and that giant clam sitting on the side of the roof and the fact that it’s the oldest restaurant in the same location in SF (again, apologies to Tadich). But more people should know about their incredible clam bake cioppino and the amazing kettle bread they bring out with hot clam juice and their own “Milwaukee steam beer”, which our SF-based editor swears by.
Colorado
Denver (Est. 1893)
The Colorado dining scene has come a long way since the Buckhorn Exchange opened. There’s practically a brewery and a buzzed-about restaurant on every street corner in Denver these days. But the Buckhorn Exchange is a glimpse into what Colorado restaurants used to be famous for — giant portions of steak that will feed you, your friends, and your friends’ friends. Beyond the steak, there’s also the opportunity to eat practically every animal that was on Noah’s ark. And eating here puts you in good company, as Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower both dined here.
Connecticut
New Haven (Est. 1895)
There’s a lot of debate as to who invented the hamburger as we know it today, but that debate kind of ends at Louis’ Lunch, mainly because they’re tired of arguing about it, but also because the Library of Congress declared it so. The tiny joint still uses its original cast-iron grills, which cook the hand-ground patties vertically by blasting them with fire. Want ketchup and mustard? Head to one of the other places that claim to have invented the burger: at Louis’, your options are cheese, tomato, and onion on toast. That’s the way its been since they “invented” the burger back in the day, and that’s how it’ll always be.
Delaware
Newark (Est. 1851)
While that one scene in Wayne’s World helped define Delaware for an entire generation, every generation of Delawareans knows Deer Park as a historic spot where Edgar Allen Poe once hung out in the 1800s, right before he founded the Baltimore Ravens football team. It continues to operate as a Newark staple — a place where townies and college students alike enjoy burgers, nachos, and a pint of local-ish Dogfish Head.
Washington, DC
(Est. 1906)
DC is the country’s seat of power — I know this because I’ve seen one and a half seasons of House of Cards — and Occidental is where the power goes out for a rib eye or scallops. And it’s been this way since the beginning, with everyone from Amelia Earhart to multiple presidents dining here. While the original was demolished in the ’70s, it deserves a spot on this list because it reopened in the ’80s super-close to its original location and with its rep intact, as both of the presidents named Bush have since partaken of its steakhouse fare.
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Credit: Flickr/wallyg
Florida
Miami (Est. 1913)
Since Florida is home to many, many elderly people, it’s fairly surprising we were able to find a restaurant older than most of them. While Joe’s has opened up outposts across the country, the original has remained popular in Miami Beach since way back when. The only thing more famous than their iconic stone crabs are the people who’ve dined there: according to a book written about the restaurant, they include the likes of “Sinatra, Ali, and Jennifer Lopez”. It’s true, one of the judges from the 11th season of American Idol has eaten here!
Georgia
Macon (Est. 1959)
Georgia has music in its blood. Atlanta is the country’s epicenter of hip hop (and also Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta). And Macon, a charming Southern town about an hour and a half outside of ATL, is where the Allman Brothers Band lived, partied, and recorded in the early ’70s. As legend has it, they stopped by H&H when they were broke and starving, and one of the co-owners, Mama Louise, fed them. She became the legend after that, and continued to feed legions of Southern musicians who stopped by. Mama Louise shut the place down in 2013, but it recently reopened with new owners and with Mama helping out the kitchen staff, even into her 80’s. And perhaps most importantly, Oprah’s been there.
Hawaii
Honolulu (Est. 1976)
There are older restaurants, and places with wackier back stories (House Without A Key was in the first Charlie Chan novel!), but — for nearly 40 years — everyone knows Hy’s. The classic steakhouse is known for cooking their meats over native Kiawe wood, so you can’t really go wrong trying their roast rack of lamb seared over the hot charcoal, paired up with a Caesar prepared tableside. It may not have been in a book, but pretty soon they’ll be writing their own.
Idaho
Coeur d’Alene (Est. 1907)
Burgers and fries. That’s the all-American meal. And you can’t get it at Hudson’s, because they don’t serve fries. But you can get a burger — top it with hot mustard and spicy ketchup, if you know what’s good for you — with a side of a few different pies, if you want. There’s a lunch counter that fits about 20, and it’s packed every day at lunch. Squeeze yourself into a seat at the counter and have a double cheeseburger, a slice of chocolate pie, and a fountain drink. You won’t miss the fries. Besides, you can get fries anywhere, so their absence will force you to focus on the deliciousness of everything else on your plate.
Illinois
River Grove (Est. 1950)
Deep-dish is often the first food outsiders associate with Illinois, but the hot dog, more than anything, is intertwined with the local DNA. Gene & Jude’s stands as a giant among a crowded field of fine tubed-meat purveyors, having relocated to its present River Grove digs in 1950 after four years in Chicago. You know you’re getting a perfectly cooked, natural casing, Vienna Beef dog. You know it’s coming piled high with a mountain of perfect, fresh-cut fries whether you like it or not. And you know you better not even think about asking for ketchup — even for those fries.
Indiana
Indianapolis (Est. 1902)
For a steakhouse that’s been around 100+ years, it’s a true feat to remain relevant and fresh. But St. Elmo’s has somehow achieved it. They’re one of the best steakhouses in the country. And sure, you can still order tried-and-true menu items like the shrimp cocktail (it’s filled with horseradish, and may melt your throat), but they’ve also made key updates to the space, like opening an upstairs, upscale lounge with a bar from the 1800s. Ron Swanson’s even eaten here. Sounds like a good enough reason for it to stay popular for another 100+ years.
More: These Are 33 Of The Best, Most Iconic American Foods
Credit: Julie Pals/Northwestern Steakhouse
Iowa
Mason City (Est. 1920)
When in Iowa, do as the Greeks do. About two hours North of Des Moines lies a steakhouse that’s been around in one form or another since the ’20s, and the steaks are all prepared one way: Greek-style. This means they’re broiled in olive oil and doused with a special blend of Greek seasoning and secret ingredients, and the result is that you can cut your steak with a fork. The walls are plastered with old-timey movie posters featuring Chaplin and John Wayne in a cozy, 50-seat space.
Kansas
Salina (Est. 1922)
You know who’s sold a lot of sliders? White Castle. That company is also a Kansas product, like Raef LaFrentz. Yes, that Raef LaFrentz. But while Salina’s famed slider shop doesn’t have nearly as many locations as Harold and Kumar’s favorite fast-food joint, The Cozy Inn stays popular to this day with their no-frills meat sandwiches topped with cooked onions and steamed buns.
Kentucky
Louisville (Est. 1933)
Kentucky is the state version of your uncle who’s always at the horse track. A man who thinks nothing of popping open a beer at 11am on a Thursday. It’s no surprise it’s where horse racing is celebrated, and where booze was bootlegged before it was legal. Jack Fry’s was started by, umm, Jack Fry, who by all accounts was a shady dude, just like your uncle we mentioned earlier. Nowadays, it’s a beloved Louisville spot with wall-to-wall racing programs, photos of Derby winners, and an old-school vibe retained from way back when. The menu’s been updated since the ’30s, thankfully — the beef filet with prosciutto and asparagus in a sage beurre blanc proves that.
Louisiana
New Orleans (Est. 1880)
New Orleans is laden with 100+ year-old power players — Tujague’s, Antoine’s, and Galatoire’s all have to be mentioned — whose food has managed to improve over the last century, who boast impeccably choreographed service, and who could vie for a spot as the most iconic restaurant in Louisiana. But do any of them do that while pulling off a two-story turquoise facade complete with a turret and matching striped awning? Nope, only Commander’s Palace manages that feat, and it has been doing it in the Garden District since 1880. If a spoonful of their rich, sherried turtle soup doesn’t convince you that the grandam’s plates are just as symbolic of the state’s food hub as the building itself, let current chef Tory McPhail’s 2013 James Beard Award and chef alumni like Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse, both of whom helped spread the regional cuisine to the country, serve as a reminder.
Maine
The Lobster Shack Restaurant at Two Lights
Cape Elizabeth (Est. 1969)
Yes, it gets crowded. And yes, it’s touristy. And yes, it’s not the cheapest lobster roll you’re going to get. But the Leadbetter family spot on Cape Elizabeth earned its reputation as the place your mind wanders to when you think of fresh-off-the boat Maine lobster rolls and summer and getting sunburned, before heading to L.L. Bean for a sick new backpack with your initials on it.
Maryland
Lutherville (Est. 1971)
Marylanders have a love affair with seafood, and that love is expressed in their continued support of Ocean Pride. The restaurant steams its crabs fresh each day, and also serves up local oysters and rockfish. And while steamed crabs are the main event here, fried clams and crab cakes often supplement our clawed friends on the dinner table. The setting is as nautical as you’d expect, with photos of old-timey fisherman, fishing nets, and buoys covering the walls. And lest you forget the importance of the Ravens and Orioles in the region, a bar area sports 12 big-screen TVs to watch the game.
Massachusetts
Boston (Est. 1826)
It can’t really be anywhere else. You can make arguments for a lot of other places actually — The Student Prince in Springfield and maybe Jacob Wirth or Chart House — but they don’t hold up. Whenever you ask anyone about old places to eat in MA, the brain immediately goes to Union Oyster, before all the rest. It has to. It sits right down by Quincy Market, was originally Atwood & Bacon, and the original menu has a choice between Virginia, Narragansett, or Cape oysters. Plus clams from Ipswich. Their very helpful timeline points out that Daniel Webster used to hang there eating plate after plate of oysters while drinking brandy and water, and it also informs that toothpicks were first used in the US there, when a dude from Maine used to pay Harvard guys to eat there and request them. So yes, it’s Union Oyster by a knockout. Please pay the waiter.
Michigan
Frankenmuth (Est. 1888)
Like the long road to Wall Drug in South Dakota, signs for the German-modeled town of Frankenmuth can be spotted with alarming frequency for about 1,000mi before you reach it. Mostly for Bronner’s, the largest 365-day Christmas store. But the real draw is the Bavarian Inn, a magical place where buxom, dirndl-clad waitresses serve up gigantic, all-you-can-eat fried chicken (and mashed potatoes, soup, bread, and, ugh, veggies) to folks who travel from all corners of the region for a taste. Yes, it’s pretty corny inside the massive faux-German compound: especially when the polka bands get down. But damned if it isn’t an institution. And giant beers make it all the more surreal.
Credit: Carl Brenden
Minnesota
Minneapolis (Est. 1954)
It might seem odd that we let a bar sneak into this rundown of iconic restaurants, but that’s because this is more restaurant than bar. Matt’s qualifies as a restaurant because a real bar is stocked with hard liquor and is not frequented by families with kids. Most importantly, it’s an iconic restaurant because Matt’s invented the “Jucy Lucy”. It’s spell differently, here, because someone “forgot to add the i”, but it doesn’t matter how you spell it, really, because the burgers have hot, beautiful cheese pouring out of the middle of the patty. Thank you, Minnesota.
Mississippi
Jackson (Est. 1935)
Mississippi has a taste for Gulf fish, and Mayflower’s current owner (his Dad’s uncle co-owned it back in the ’30s) says it’s unlike the seafood available anywhere else. Chalk it up to the brackish water the fish live in, with both fresh and saltwater. Their legions of customers seem to enjoy it — the redfish is the most popular menu item, and it’s served up with shrimp & oysters or a sauteed soft-shell crab. And while the food is distinctly Mississippi, the decor is straight out of a New York diner of old, with black-and-white tile floors from the ’30s and mirrored walls.
Missouri
Kansas City (Est. 1940)
Kansas City BBQ didn’t get its start at Arthur Bryant’s, but it’s as close as you’re gonna get to the original. Charlie and Arthur Bryant learned from Henry Perry, the originator of the style, in the ’20s, and the brothers took over his operation in 1940. Since 1958, Arthur’s Brooklyn Ave location — he bought the whole shebang from his brother in ‘46 — has been a temple of slow-cooked meats. Whether it’s the beef and fries (12oz of slow-cooked beef brisket on a sandwich with fresh-cut fries), pulled pork, or burnt ends, you’ve gotta slather it in that original sauce, which hasn’t changed since Arthur made it himself way back when. Its popularity continues to this day, with presidents from Truman to Obama stopping in for a bite, and ravenous KC sports fans mobbing the place on Royals and Chiefs game days.
Montana
Fort Benton (Est. 1882)
Located just east of Great Falls — with their highfalutin waterfalls and tiki mermaids — the small town of Fort Benton itself is so old and iconic that a good portion of the town is a historic district thanks to its rich history of steamboats. The Grand Union Hotel is also on the National Registry of Historic Places, having established itself seven years before Montana even became a state, long before the city fell on hard times thanks to the railroad. Now restored to its original glory. the old hotel offers up a high-end, seasonally-based menu in the Union Grille, which specializes in European and Indian twists on Montana classics, and where for 11 months a year (January’s a no-no) you can gorge yourself before sleeping it off in one of the hotel’s posh rooms.
Nebraska
The Drover Restaurant & Lounge
Omaha (est. 1978)
While the state has way more cattle than people, Nebraskans are trying to even things out by ordering plenty of whiskey steaks at The Drover. And even though they haven’t been around as long as some of the other spots on this rundown, there’s no denying that the Certified Angus cuts with a whiskey marinade — a combination of whiskey, soy, garlic, and pepper — have been keeping butts in seats for 30+ years. Eat there and there’s no doubt you’re in Nebraska, with plenty of Western art on the walls and two fireplaces to keep you warm during those cold, cold winters.
Nevada
The Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge
Las Vegas (Est. 1972)
Since 1972, Peppermill’s been the place in Vegas where you can order steak & eggs and a Bloody Mary when it’s 4:30 am and you’ve been up all night, then politely ask the person sitting across the table from you exactly who they are and how you both got there. No matter the time of day, this spot’s got all the neon and indoor-fire pits your heart desires. It’s a gleaming, pulsing ball of energy and kitsch you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere but in this city.
New Hampshire
Hancock (Est. 1789)
How embedded in New Hampshire’s history is the Hancock? Well, when they first opened their doors, George Washington was in his first year as president, so, you know, pretty embedded. While it’s gone by many names over time, the bed & breakfast has the distinction of being the state’s oldest continuously operated business. The menu ranges from burgers to pot roast and haddock, but for those looking for a more traditional taste of New England, come for the weekly Innkeeper’s Sunday Supper, where you get all regal with a fixed menu served up like they did back when ol’ George was running things and America was still in its teething phase.
Credit: Flickr/Alan Levine
New Jersey
East Newark (Est. ~1930-’40s)
The NJ Board of Tourism says that there’s a higher concentration of diners in Jersey than anywhere else in the country, so it’s fitting that a diner is the most iconic in the state. But unlike the typical greasy spoon you might envision when the word “diner” comes to mind (or maybe you’re a huge fan of ’80s-era Barry Levinson movies), Tops features a full bar and two full-time bakers whipping up fresh cheesecake, plus the usual diner-y fare of beef ribs, meatloaf, and burgers.
New Mexico
Albuquerque (Est. 1962)
Not only is this New Mexico’s most iconic restaurant, it’s also one of the best Mexican spots in the country. Their red chile ribs are reason enough to schedule a visit soon, but it’s also one of the largest restaurants you’ve ever been in, period. It’s like how big your rich friend’s house seemed when you were a kid: rooms open up into other rooms. After a few of their margaritas it gets even more difficult to navigate (trust us). Nevertheless, it has iconic status because, in a state of excellent Mexican food, this is a solid standby, and one that people have been returning to time after time.
New York
New York City (Est. 1888)
New York is the entry point for many immigrants as they make their way into the US, and back before the Lower East Side had a Whole Foods, it was home to many of those same immigrants and their families. Katz’s has been a linchpin of the neighborhood for over 100 years. It’s a place where tourists and locals unite over one thing: the consumption of outrageously large meat sandwiches. If there’s anything more American than a panoply of cultures, ages, and social classes coming together over food, I don’t know what is.
North Carolina
Ayden (Est. 1947)
Barbecue is as ingrained in the state’s DNA as much as college basketball (or Dawson’s Creek), and Skylight has been a shining beacon of the state’s vinegar-doused ‘cue for 50+ years. If whole-hog pork — don’t skimp on the skin — is your thing, Skylight is the must-visit BBQ mecca in the state. Hell, it even calls itself “The Capital of Barbecue”. We’re not going to fight that.
North Dakota
Grand Forks (Est. 1961)
Described even by the owner as a “classic hole in the wall”, the Red Pepper has satisfied UND students’ late-night cravings for 40+ years. And basically nothing about it has changed in that time… kinda like Susan Sarandon’s face. The Grinder — a strange mash-up of white sauce, lettuce, hot sauce, swiss, and taco meat, plus either ham, salami, or turkey — is what’s ordered here more than anything else.
Ohio
Lebanon (Est. 1803)
Staking a claim as Ohio’s oldest continually operated business, this joint’s got some serious history. Located between Cincinnati and the old National Road, the hotel and restaurant welcomed everyone from railroad workers to 12 presidents, writers like Mark Twain and Chuck Dickens, and everyone in between. More importantly, the food’s good. And yes, they serve lamb in the ancient, historic joint.
Credit: Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City (Est. 1910)
OKC remains an active hub in the state’s huge cattle industry, and Cattlemen’s is the steakhouse beef-crazy Oklahomans have embraced since they operated as a bootlegging and gambling shop that also happened to serve food. Whether you’re dining in Cattlemen’s older cafe section or the “newer” steakhouse side (decked out in wood paneling and large Western murals of cattle and cowboys), you’re getting one of the best steaks in the state at a place where the rib eye is king. They’re even open for breakfast, just like they were in the ’30s. And of course you can order a steak for breakfast — you’d be wrong not to.
Oregon
Portland (Est. 1879)
You wouldn’t know it looking at the gorgeously preserved vaulted ceilings of Portland’s oldest restaurant, but Huber’s has been through a lot since opening in 1879. Best-known for its traditional turkey dinners and tableside Spanish coffee shows, the place survived Prohibition and Portland’s seedy days as a hub of human trafficking on the shoreline. It even made it through a gigantic flood, and stayed open the whole time, serving hungry and stranded workers who rowed up to its windows via boat. To this day, the turkey is the best in the city, though you’d be forgiven for getting a steak to go with that flaming coffee. No boat required.
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh (Est. 1951)
Pittsburgh is the steel city in a state full of proud, hardworking people, and at DeLuca’s you can eat like you just got off work at the steel factory, even if you work as a Social Media Manager for a brand of paper towels. Of course, you’ll have to wait in line, as this is a hungry city. Inside, you’re greeted with spacious, uncomfortable booths, gaudy tiled floors, and a lunch counter you’d expect in a greasy spoon from the ’50s. The menu is enormous: they serve up a million different types of omelets, a calorie-bomb burrito called the MOAB (Mother of all Burritos), pancakes, and crepes. Even a Social Media Manager’s gotta eat.
Rhode Island
Providence (Est. 1888)
Though the diner was arguably popularized in Jersey, Providence lays claim to its creation. There’s nothing anywhere quite like Haven Bros, which dutifully parks its trailer next to City Hall in the early evening and stays open all night, feeding burgers, shakes, and hot dogs to everyone from politicians to the late-night bar crowd. There’s not a ton of room inside, so most get the food to-go, sit on the steps of City Hall, or chill at one of the tiny plastic tables outside. There’s even a new documentary about the truck, in which the director claims that it’s the “last continually operating survivor of the legacy that began the fast food” and food truck trends. Hard to argue with that.
South Carolina
Hemingway (Est. 1972)
Scott’s isn’t just one of the best BBQ spots in SC, it’s one of our best BBQ spots in the country. The pork is what keeps South Carolinians (and people from all over these United States) coming back time and time again, and it’s manned by the son of the guy who started the whole operation, so he’s got a pretty big stake in making sure everything’s up to par, year after year. The inside’s about as no-frills as it gets, with a few tables and a fridge full of soda. But people don’t go to Scott’s for the atmosphere — it’s for a pound of BBQ with their spicy sauce and fried skins on the side. As good as it was in ‘72.
South Dakota
Wall (Est. 1931)
You begin to see signs for it about 1,000mi before you arrive in South Dakota. They promise free ice water. $.05 coffee. A goddamned Tyrannosaurus Rex! There are many, many, many finer restaurants in South Dakota, but none are as famous, for good or ill, as the one in Wall Drug. It’s impossible to avoid the Badlands-bordering, 76,000sqft wonder of tourist-trapping randomness, so just go in. Hit the cafe and score a hot beef sandwich and a maple donut. It won’t hold a candle to the many, many better food options in the state. But you will emerge with a “Where the Heck is Wall Drug” sticker. You will have chased that sandwich with a T-Rex viewing. And you’ll be happy you stopped every time you see a roadside Wall Drug sign every five minutes for the next 300mi.
Tennessee
Nashville (Est. 1961)
There are actually two different Pancake Pantry’s in TN, opened a few years apart from one another (strangely, they have different owners), but the one in Nashville is our pick for the most iconic. From the hoards of people who wait in line to be seated there like extras in a Portlandia episode, to their status as one of America’s best breakfast spots, to the generations of Tennesseeans who have frequented the place, Pancake Pantry is legendary. The sweet potato pancakes with homemade cinnamon cream syrup are the flapjacks to get, though you can also go off-beat with the Sante Fe, a cornbread pancake with cheddar, bacon, and green chile cooked right into it. No matter which of the 23 varieties you choose, you can’t go wrong.
Credit: Flickr/Anthony Quintano
Texas
Driftwood (Est. 1967)
There are no pits that smell quite as much like Texas as the Salt Lick. Although other smokers’ stars have risen higher in recent years, Salt Lick remains the state’s quintessential meat pilgrimage because it’s just so damn Texan. The whole experience is like the slow unfurling of a Lone Star flag, from the 30-minute journey from Austin down farm-to-ranch roads to the sprawling wide-open ranch estate to the same circular smoking pit that’s been turning out spectacular meat since 1967. There’s a reason they go through over a million pounds of brisket a year, and that reason is Texas.
Utah
Salt Lake City (Est. 1930)
While some diners are in buildings shaped to look like trolley cars, Ruth’s is inside an actual trolley car that rolled its way around SLC in the early 1900s. Nowadays, it’s home to an iconic breakfast spot (though they serve lunch and dinner too) with an enormous patio providing creek-views and a perfect place to soak up the great outdoors. The setting isn’t the only reason people have been continually visiting since the ’30s — the gigantic mile-high biscuits help too. They come with every entree, including an extraordinary pulled pork Benedict.
Vermont
Warren (Est. ’60s)
Skiing and sustainability are two of the Vermontiest things about Vermont, so it’s fitting that the state’s most iconic restaurant is linked to both of them. For one, it’s located in Warren, which skiers and riders know as the home of Sugarbush. And two, its committed to sustainability, as Common Man sources most of its ingredients from local producers. Plus, it’s in a barn. And not just any barn, but a mid-19th century Vermont barn — one that originally burned down in 1987. The owner at the time simply found a “new” mid-19th century barn from a few towns over and rebuilt the restaurant in the same footprint. And while the current restaurant can be described as “upscale”, one of the co-owners said to keep in mind that it’s also “in Vermont, in a barn”. Add that attitude to the list of Vermontiest things about this place.
Credit: Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que
Virginia
Williamsburg (Est. 1971)
Sometimes, greatness springs from desperation. When Pierce’s opened, the guy hired to paint the sign inexplicably added an extra “t” to “pit” — and then had the cojones to want more money to fix it, which the owners did not have. So it stuck. That may have been the only setback Pierce’s has ever experienced, as the once-tiny operation cooked between 450,000lbs of Boston butt over hickory and oak last year. Not bad for a cinder-block building on the side of a highway. Their Tennessee-style ketchup/vinegar sauce gives the pork a tangy kick. Virginians know a good thing when they taste it, and they’ve been supporting Pierce’s since it opened in the ’70s.
Washington
Seattle (Est. 1950)
Canlis almost shouldn’t work. It’s perched awkwardly on the side of a hill next to a highway, it’s one of the few fine-dining spots in decidedly casual Seattle, and it’s still serving dishes from the ’50s (if you give ‘em 48-hours notice). But once you’re inside this quintessential Northwest eatery, which was subtly remodeled last year and is currently searching for its sixth chef in 63 years, it is obvious why it does: first, there is the unique and breathtaking view over Seattle’s Lake Union/Ship Canal. Then there’s the classic, yet effortlessly current, food, including the city’s best steak — just make sure you’ve got a jacket and something that’s very rare in Seattle… a reservation.
West Virginia
Huntington (Est. 1959)
You know that uplifting movie We Are Marshall? The legendary Frostop is about a mile from the campus of Marshall University. And here at Frostop, legions of West Virginians have experienced the joy of having a carhop bring a slaw dog and some homemade root beer in a frosted glass right to your door. It’s like a more efficient version of picking up food through a drive-thru, but this way you won’t have to do that awkward reach out of your window.
Wisconsin
Kenosha (Est. 1926)
One thing to know about Frank’s is that “the garbage plate” is especially popular, even today. If it was the ’60s and you were working a manufacturing job way back when Kenosha had those sorts of gigs, it probably tasted even better. Those hardworking guys got off of third shift and tore into that lusty combination of hash browns, grilled peppers, onion, meat, and cheese. Of course it has cheese: it’s Wisconsin. The “half” version of the dish has three eggs in it. Did we mention that it’s in Wisconsin? Another fun fact: Frank’s seats 55 people in a rail car-style building that was made that way because it was easier to ship on the rails, not because it was a former rail car.
Wyoming
Buffalo (Est. 1880)
Located in the historic (and wonderfully preserved) Occidental Hotel in the center of this charming little mountain town, the Virginian looks like it could easily serve as a set for an old-timey period piece with its stately decor and Old West vibe. But you can’t get icon status for being purty. Luckily, you’re in cattle country, and the Virginian serves up amazing steaks. You don’t count Teddy Roosevelt among your fans if you mess up your rib eye. Or your bison. Or your elk. Hell, could be the ghost of the old Bull Moose is still designing the menu.
More from Thrillist:
Red, White, And Booze: Mapping All 50 States’ Most Iconic Beer/Hooch
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