As Route 66 celebrates its centennial this year, marking 100 years of America’s Mother Road, road-trippers will be mobilizing en masse to traverse the legendary highway. And they’ll be hungry. Since its debut in 1926, road trip dining has been intrinsically linked with Route 66, including along the 400-plus miles that span Oklahoma, where old-school burger joints and vintage diners share pavement with bustling food halls and forested tasting menus. Celebrate the centennial with this ultimate dining guide to Route 66 in Oklahoma.
Nowhere on Route 66 — Afton
From its population of 734 to the skinniest stretch of Route 66, known as Ribbon Road, everything is a bit smaller in the northeast Oklahoma town of Afton. Everything, that is, except the portions. At Nowhere on Route 66, a curiously named barbecue joint lined with black-and-white photos and burlap sacks, you’ll find burly platters of pulled pork, sliced beef, ribs and barbecue beans, alongside double-pattied burgers, fried catfish and potato salad. Keep an eye out for inventive daily specials, which run the gamut from goulash to Cuban sandwiches.
Clanton’s Cafe — Vinita
For a dining experience nearly as hallowed as Route 66 itself, Clanton’s Cafe stands out as the oldest continuously operating restaurant on Oklahoma’s stretch of Mother Road. And for a taste of history, follow the giant “EAT” sign into a timeworn dining room bedecked with booths, photos and framed accolades. The all-day eatery is pure Americana, from chicken-fried steak and Western omelets to fried pickles, patty melts and stuffed baked potatoes. Try the calf fries, aka fried bull testicles, a rite of passage in Oklahoma.
Mother Road Market — Tulsa
Oklahoma’s first food hall, the aptly dubbed Mother Road Market, sits in the heart of the Tulsa Market District, where murals and Muffler Men loom large as roadside attractions. Bustling with eateries, shops and even a Route 66-themed mini golf course, the food hall represents the diversity of Oklahoma’s food scene and the diverse travelers drawn to the Mother Road—from Afrikan Delights and Akira Sushi & Ramen to Cajun-inspired LeRoux’s Kitchen and Nicky’s Smokehouse.
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Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy — DePew
At Tulsa’s FarmBar, James Beard-nominated chef Lisa Becklund is one of the most lauded chefs in Oklahoma for her ever-changing tasting menus using farm-fresh ingredients. And much of that magic begins in the woods in DePew, where Becklund and partner Linda Ford run Living Kitchen Farm & Dairy. Here, tucked amid towering oaks, diners gather for tasting menus at communal tables in a cabin, served seasonally from April to December. Most ingredients are grown mere steps from said table, with themed menus like “Wood, Smoke, Fire” and an “Heirloom Garlic Dinner.” Reservations are required.
Rock Cafe — Stroud
As much a restaurant as a veritable Route 66 museum, Rock Cafe touts its own distinguished connection to the Mother Road, as one of the stops that inspired Pixar’s Cars. After visiting the cafe in 2001, the Pixar crew based the Sally Carrera character on owner Dawn Welch, and they left behind a slew of Pixar memorabilia that lines the walls. In the kitchen, the same grill has been cooking burgers for over 75 years, served alongside gravy-slathered chicken-fried steak, crispy okra and pecan pie.
Chicken Shack — Arcadia
A stone’s throw from the Arcadia Round Barn, Chicken Shack is a Route 66 attraction in and of itself. Set on a sprawling patch of farmland, with a Route 66 mural out front, the restaurant features tons of indoor seating, a bar and a sea of outdoor fire pits and picnic tables, where guests feast on finger-licking broasted chicken, potato wedges, okra, banana cake and more.
El Coyote — OKC
In OKC, Route 66 diners have their pick of old-school and new-school eats. For the latter, El Coyote is a modern homage to Santa Fe in the historic Britton District, where acclaimed chef Jonathon Stranger serves green chile queso, sorghum-glazed beef tacos and red chile rib tips, and guests toast with pineapple margaritas and boozy horchata by the kiva fireplace.
Classen Grill — OKC
For a classic diner vibe, reimagined, Classen Grill is a restored ode to the original restaurant that opened in the ’70s. Today, it’s got all the trappings of a retro diner, while contemporary touches—like rotating artwork and farm-to-table ingredients—update it for a new generation of hungry road-trippers. Donut holes and fried green tomatoes kick things off on the brunch-centric menu, followed by cheesy grits, banana nut French toast, garden hash, chilaquiles and more.
Onion Burgers — El Reno
Oklahoma onion burgers are having a moment on menus nationwide, but the Route 66 originals have stood the test of time to transcend trends. They were invented as a Depression-era novelty in the 1920s, at the bygone Hamburger Inn, but even as the Depression ebbed, the love for onion burgers remained, inspiring Robert’s Grill to open in 1926, followed by Johnnie’s Grill in the ’40s, and Sid’s Diner in the ’80s. All three still stand, mere blocks apart, each serving their own tried-and-true take on tradition by heaping smash patties with crispy slivers of fried onions.
Lucille’s Roadhouse — Weatherford
Named for Lucille Hamons, known as the “Mother of the Mother Road” for her legendary hospitality at her namesake service station and hotel in nearby Hydro, Lucille’s Roadhouse stands as a testament to her legacy—and the enduring tradition of roadside dining. Although the original Lucille’s no longer operates as a restaurant or hotel, the Weatherford spin-off serves homemade comfort food all day, from pork chops and eggs at breakfast to corn nuggets, pulled pork sandwiches and chicken-fried chicken. There’s also a full bar, with a selection of colorful martinis.
White Dog Hill Restaurant — Clinton
In a former country club from 1925, overlooking the rolling hills of western Oklahoma, White Dog Hill Restaurant is definitional destination dining. With a meaty menu of steaks and chops, and a robust wine list to match, the upscale eatery has become revered for sunset dining, while the adjoining Beany Bar—located in the original caretaker’s house—features a dizzying array of house cocktails, including the dessert-worthy Dream Boat, made with coffee liqueur, bourbon, cold-brew coffee, Licor 43-infused cream and dark chocolate.
