Driver Lifestyles
The Best Trucking Grub
If there's a subject the professional driver loves to talk about besides his truck and his romantic escapades (real or imagined), it's good food and where to find it.
It's a safe bet that the expediters and truck drivers of North America enjoy good food and they are always ready to tell others about a great little restaurant they've discovered, or to listen with interest about a great diner that another driver has enjoyed.
It's in the interest of hungry drivers everywhere that we've compiled this list of favorite food stops across the US. It was compiled from Internet listings, word of mouth recommendations and fond personal memories of good eatin'.
Obviously, the list is only a tiny fraction of the thousands of restaurants and eateries available across the US and Canada. We've listed all the information about the restaurant that was available, including the comments which range from "good food" to a paragraph or more.
Possibly, the most important reason for inclusion on this list is the availability of truck parking (and the good food).
ALABAMA
York Truck Plaza
I-20, exit 8
York, AL
Comments: "great buffet"
ARIZONA
? Name
I-10, exit 203
Eloy, AZ
Comments: "A little Mexican food place behind the Waffle House. North side of the Freeway, next to Babe & Sal's Polishers. Excellent food, neat and clean and they're glad you stopped."
Mary's Diner
US 89, just north of I-40, next door to a Conoco auto/truck station.
Flagstaff, AZ
Comments: "Great breakfast, giant biscuits, home style gravy and fantastic sausage."
The Damm Bar
South of I-40, about 2 miles on old 66
Kingman, AZ
Macayo's
75th Ave, north of I-10 in the north side of the mall
Phoenix, AZ
Comments: "Great Mexican food"
Silver Saddle Steak House
I-10 & S. 6th St
Tucson, AZ
ARKANSAS
Brown's Country Store
I-30, Congo exit 118, north side of the highway. Parking at the BP fuel stop next door.
Little Rock, AR
Comments: "Biggest/best buffet out there. Real nice folks, great food"
CALIFORNIA
Tommy's Burgers
I-15, Exit Lenwood Road, next to the Flying "J"
Barstow, CA
Comments: "Great burgers cooked the old-fashioned diner way"
Domingoes
Highway 58 - The only exit into Boron. Parking on either side of street.
Boron, CA
Comments: "Best Mexican food I have ever eaten."
Galaxy Burger
Corner of Carmenita and Avalon Blvd.
Cerritos, CA
Manuel's
Located on Evergreen at Wabash
East Los Angeles, CA
Porky Bob's
I-5, exit 751
Edgewood, CA
Homestyle Restaurant
I-10 west from T/A's to Haven Exit, go south to 1st stop light and right on E. Guasti Rd. go to end and turn left and a quick right on a small private road, will see the sign.
Ontario, CA
Comments: "Great chow and good prices! No tractor trailer parking."
Felippe's
Alameda Street, just east of Union Station.
Los Angeles, CA
Comments: "A lunch counter from the '30s and the '40s. Great French Dip sandwiches and chocolate cream pie."
Farmer Boys
Corner of Jurupa and Etiwanda
Ontario, CA
Chiriaco's
I-10 East of Indio, north side of the freeway
Summit, Ca
Comments: "Big lot, great food, nice folks, good place for sleeping, too. Next to the General Patton Museum."
Peggy Sue's 50's Diner
Located off Ghost Town Road, east side of the I-15 Freeway.
Yermo, CA
COLORADO
Los Potreros Colorado Cafe
I-25 & 58th Ave.
Denver, CO
FLORIDA
Kings Dynasty (located inside Days Inn motel)
510 Lane Ave, Hwy I 10
Jacksonville, FL
IDAHO
View Cafe - When last I stopped there, which admittedly was a couple of years back, the food was excellent, just like Mom's. Large portions make this a trucker's favorite. Homey atmosphere. Smokers allowed.
Located on Highway 95 South at Cocollala Lake.
ILLINOIS
Portillos
Elk Grove Village (Just north of the old Denny's hang-out)
1500 Busse Highway
847 228-6677
http://www.portillos.com/portillos/menu.asp
Comments: "classic Chicago dog"
INDIANA
Garcia's
3932 25th St
Holiday Center Strip Mall
Columbus, IN
Comments: "Best Tex-Mex cuisine in the Midwest."
Loon Lake Lodge
6880 E. 82nd St
317 845-9011
Indianapolis, IN
Comments: "Different cuisine, like elk and buffalo meatloaf. Some dishes are pricey, but very good! If the restaurant is not too busy, there's parking for straight trucks and bobtails."
IOWA
Walcott TA (Travel Centers of America)
I-80, exit 284,
Walcott, IA
Comments: "Great steaks, great service, very good for a truck stop."
KANSAS
Big M Truck Stop Restaurant
US 50 & K-61
Hutchinson, KS
LOUISIANA
Cash's Truck Plaza
Off I-10 on Hwy 415
Port Allen, LA
MAINE
Dysarts
Take Exit 44 Off I-95 It's the first place off the ramp. Look for the gas pumps.
Bangor, ME
Comments: Homestyle food...favorite stop for most truckers and lots of locals. Enjoy the friendly waitresses, coffee and order up the "Truckers Special" for breakfast (anytime).
Smith's Truck Stop
Route 1
Blaine, Maine
MINNESOTA
Willard's saloon
Highway 87
Backus, MN
MISSISSIPPI
Uncle Roy's
I-59, exit 93
Laurel, MS
Comments: "Real good southern food"
MISSOURI
Clayton's Conoco, B&D Truck Stop, The J's Family Restaurant
I-44, exit 127 (Rt. 66),
Lebanon, MO
Comments: "Great food, and friendly service. Delicious hamburgers and thick shakes. Open 24 hours."
Lamberts
Sikeston, MO
Lamberts is also in Ozark, MO just south of Springfield.
Comments: "Home of the "throwed rolls". A menu from A to Z, and huge portions."
NEW JERSEY
Hot Dog Johnny's
Highway 46, a few miles east of the Delaware Water Gap.
Buttzville, NJ
Comments: "The place has been around since 1944, great dogs, old fashioned root beer"
NEW MEXICO
Bobcat Bite
Santa Fe, NM
"A vintage 1950s roadhouse that serves the perfect hamburger!"
NORTH CAROLINA
Zacks
Downtown area
Burlington, NC
Comments: "Greasy, messy hot dogs, but they sure are good!"
Sub-Station II
I-85 exit 124 and a half-mile north.
Greensboro, NC
Comments: "Good home-made subs and any kind of sandwich."
Yum-Yum
Garden St.
Greensboro, NC
Comments: "great dogs"
Pioneer Restaurant
I-85, exit 111 - 1 mile north and on the right
High Point, NC
The Dog House
North Main
High Point, NC
Comments: "Good Dogs"
Lexington Barbecue
Business 85 at US 64
Lexington NC
Comments: "Love the North Carolina style barbecue; limited truck parking."
Nebo Truck Stop
I-40 exit 90
Nebo, NC
Comments: "Good food at reasonable price."
DJ's Chrome Diner
Rock Barn Rd. exit on I-40 in North Carolina. beside the Wilco Truck Plaza
Comments: It's owned by Dale Jarrett, the NASCAR driver. It has a great look and great food. The people are friendly also"
OHIO
Der Dutchman
Multiple locations in central Ohio
Comments: "Great food and atmosphere, spectacular homemade desserts"
Boyd and Wurthman
Berlin, OH
Comments: "The best fried chicken I've ever tasted."
(Unnamed) Chinese restaurant
Exit 38, I-75 (north of the Williams Truck Stop)
Springboro, OH
Turn right off the exit (left if going south) In the shopping center on right hand side between the Kmart and Kroger.
Comments: "completely peeled shrimp, sauteed in garlic and swimming in butter."
Petro Truck Stop
Off I-280
Toledo, OH
Comments: "Big portions, clean and well-stocked salad bar."
Skyline Restaurants around Cincinnati
Multiple locations around the city and in Northern Kentucky
"I love Cincinnati-style chili! The chili is a little sweet for some tastes, but it goes great over the spaghetti. Throw in that big handful of grated cheese, add the crackers and it's a great meal. Don't forget the cheese coney dogs. Gold Star chili places are good, too."
Tony Packos
I-280, take Front Street exit north about 1 mile.
Toledo, OH
Comments: "Good Hungarian food! They have famous people sign hotdog buns which are on display in cases on the wall."
Fork in the Road
OH 38 towards Kenton
Somersville, OH
Comments: "Good breakfast, 2-3 eggs, real home fries, toast, bacon, coffee - $3.95"
Amish Door
US 30
Wooster, OH
Comments: "Authentic Amish cooking, great portions."
OREGON
Chang's Mongolian All You Can eat buffet
Portland OR.
Heaven On Earth
I-5 exit 86
Quines Creek, Oregon
PENNSYLVANIA
Diamond J's
I 80 exit 15
Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania
SOUTH CAROLINA
Lizards Thicket
Multiple locations off I 26/I 20 and US 1.
Columbia, SC
Comments: "For about $5.00 you can get a really good down home cooked Southern meal."
TENNESSEE
Kathy's Family Restaurant
I-40 Exit 432B,
Newport, TN
Comments: "Friendly service, good food, convenient parking close to I-40."
R-Place Family Eatery
21 Romines Dr
Morris, TN
815-942-3690
Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Open all holidays.
Comments: "R-Place has its own bakery, a large, varied menu, and collectibles on the wall that belong in a museum. Friendly service and upscale food, at least compared to most truck stops. The Premium Ethyl is a two-pound freshly ground hamburger loaded with toppings and served on a homemade bun. It costs $17.95 and is served with a timer. If you finish it in less than an hour you get it for free and your name gets put on a plaque that hangs on the wall."
UTAH
Echo Cafe
I-84, exit 117
Echo, UT
Comments: "A hole in the wall diner with great food."
VIRGINIA
Servicetown Restaurant
I-95, exit 133 (Rt. 17)
Fredericksburg, VA
Comments: "Across from the Day's Inn, and there are several other Truck Driver friendly hotels in the area. Servicetown has some of the best food a driver could want to eat."
WEST VIRGINIA
Tudor's Biscuit World
WV 34 & US 35
Teay's Valley, WV.
Comments: "Their promotional lit says they have 50 stores in 4 states. I love those biscuits for breakfast or dinner!"
WISCONSIN
Sunshine Restaurant
Amherst, WI
Comments: "A family owned and operated restaurant with good food, friendly service, and low prices. Conveniently located off of Highway 10, truck parking is located across the street."
WYOMING
Crueljack's Restaurant
I-80, Exit 99
Rock Springs, WY
Comments: "Kind of pricey, but the food is great, and there's a lot of it, too! The atmosphere is very nice, and the staff is always friendly."
CANADA
Ontario
Fifth Wheel Truck Stop
Highway 401, Exit 320, West of Toronto
Milton, ON
"I know this ain't the prettiest truck stop in the world, but I've always enjoyed their food, especially the breakfasts with Canadian Back Bacon, big chunks of potatoes and the peanut butter they serve with the toast."
Swiss Chalet Chicken
Comments: "Wow, do these guys have fantastic Chicken! And with the exchange rate it is a GREAT dining experience. Rotisserie Quarter Chicken meal - get the dipping sauce for the Chicken and enjoy"
"In Montreal and at least one in west end Toronto, look for St.Huberts Chicken. It's very similar to Swiss Chalet."
Tim Horton's
Found across Canada
Comments: "The coffee is the best!
Associate Editor Lisa Brooks contributed to this article.