Best Hole-In-The-Wall Spots For Comfort Food In Every State
Comfort food is something we can all seem to agree upon. It's got us humming along to its catchy, telltale tune, you could say. You know the one. It starts with a low sizzle (that's the butter hitting the skillet), followed by an accompanying melody that's more of a gurgle (that's the gravy bubbling up). And the crescendo of crunches? That could be anything from the first bite of perfectly golden French toast triangles to the crusts of that epic grilled cheese.
Every state has its own version of that familiar comfort food chorus, many of which can be found hiding in the mom-and-pop places that know these recipes best. And that's exactly where we're headed in search of the best hole-in-the-wall spots for comfort food in every state. We're talking about the little joints where the food feels familiar, like mama used to make, whether that means a plate of chicken fried steak, a sandwich stuffed with all the good things you dream about, a classic casserole fit for an after-church potluck, or a scratch-made dessert that tastes like grammy baked it.
Speaking of comfort food, we have already chased down the best biscuits every Southern state has to offer and even explored the most beloved dishes across the U.S. This time, we're following the comfort-food chorus into the smaller, less-polished corners of the country. So cue up your favorite diner song, and let's follow the music.
Alabama: Staggs Grocery
Staggs Grocery is a family-owned hole-in-the-wall that knows what comfort food sounds like (scratch-made biscuits hitting the plate is an excellent intro). In fact, its homemade biscuits are the stars here, and while there are many biscuit toppings beyond gravy, these are especially epic when paired with the regional favorite of chocolate gravy. Staggs also offers burgers, breakfast sandwiches, and omelets to complete its comfort food chorus.
facebook.com/people/Staggs-Grocery
(256) 764-7382
1424 Huntsville Road, Florence, AL 35630
Alaska: Salsa Oaxaqueña
Cue the mariachi, because family-owned Salsa Oaxaqueña brings a taste of Oaxaca to Alaska. Created by Mexican immigrants passionate about sharing their culture with the community, the handmade tortillas here are fan favorites, wrapping tacos and other specialties with authentic flavors that diners specifically recommend seeking out. Also suggested? The tamales, mole enchiladas, guacamole served in mortars, and everything washed down with horchata.
(907) 865-5375
3505 Spenard Road, Suite B, Anchorage, AK 99503
Arizona: My Mother's Restaurant
If your mama opened her very own eatery, it would likely look and taste a lot like My Mother's Restaurant. This diner specializes in comfort-food plates like turkey dinners with stuffing, pot roast, meatloaf, even country-style ribs. Portions are anything but stingy, and when you add in the fresh-baked bread, lasagna, and enormous slices of pie? It's a very fine house-made feast.
facebook.com/p/My-Mothers-Restaurant
(602) 279-7225
4130 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015
Arkansas: Holly's Country Cookin'
When it comes to comfort food, Holly's Country Cookin' rocks a weekly playlist of delicious family recipes. Monday might bring roast beef, Wednesday could offer scratch-made lasagna, and Thursday may mean chicken and dumplings. Fried chicken and country-fried steak are mainstays, while sides run from turnip greens and fried okra to mac and cheese. Then comes dessert, including award-winning pies and cobblers.
(501) 328-9738
116 Harkrider St, Conway, AR 72032
California: Descanso Junction Restaurant
If comfort food had a cowboy hat, it would likely pull up a chair at Descanso Junction. This western-themed spot has a menu that'll make choosing just one plate feel absolutely evil, but the scratch-made cinnamon rolls deserve top billing. Then there are the eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, omelets, chicken-fried steak, and huevos rancheros. It's a spread worthy of a cowboy, but thankfully open to all.
(619) 659-2199
8306 Highway 79, Descanso, CA 91916
Colorado: Mama Jo's
We've featured the best comfort foods around the world, with mac and cheese being America's heartbeat. The mac and cheese from Mama Jo's Biscuits and BBQ has a pimento-cheese twist, and its fan-favorite biscuit sandwich features buttermilk fried chicken, pimento cheese, pepper jam, and house pickles. Besides biscuits, diners delight in jalapeño hush puppies, fried apple fritters, and more.
(303) 333-7627
3525 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Connecticut: Sandy Hook Diner
Some dishes become so famous, they have their own fan following. At Sandy Hook Diner, that level of lore belongs to the Texas sandwich and home fries combo. But don't sleep on the various omelets, eggs Benedicts, French toasts, Nutella-banana pancakes, or the Monte Cristo, which add equal razzle-dazzle to the menu. Besides good eats, folks also dig the old-fashioned setting, complete with counter seating.
facebook.com/p/Sandy-Hook-Diner
(203) 270-5509
98 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook, CT 06482
Delaware: Mary's Kountry Kitchen
When it comes to local favorites, the pancakes at Mary's Kountry Kitchen are the main event everyone comes to experience. Family-owned and serving Southern-flavored, home-cooked comfort food for decades, Mary's menu covers delicious breakfast and lunch offerings that showcase everything from eggs and bacon to seafood, meatloaf, burgers, and weekly specials. But those pancakes are the prima donna of this breakfast ballet.
(302) 998-1313
222 Main St, Wilmington, DE 19804
Florida: Skyway Jack's Restaurant
Skyway Jack's serves a menu of down-home favorites, with country breakfasts boasting eggs, grits, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and syrup-soaked pancakes. Come lunchtime, the playlist shifts to catfish, stuffed flounder, chicken and dumplings, and more. Even scrapple gets a solo here. And with a gargantuan rooster standing guard outside, Skyway Jack's is clearly ready to rise, shine, and satisfy every appetite.
(727) 867-1907
2795 34th St S, St Petersburg, FL 33711
Georgia: H&H Soul Food
H&H Soul Food has a soundtrack baked right into its history, with close connections to the Allman Brothers Band inspiring the names of some of its best biscuit creations. The Midnight Rider features fried chicken, bacon jam, and pimento cheese, and the Ramblin Man boasts brisket, egg, fried green tomato, and cheese. Add fried chicken and collards, and you've got Southern comfort with serious rhythm.
(478) 621-7044
807 Forsyth St, Macon, GA 31201
Hawaii: Adela's Country Eatery
Adela's turns noodles into a choose-your-own-adventure situation. Start with a housemade pasta made from Hawaii-grown produce (perhaps taro, avocado, ulu, or Okinawa sweet potato), then pick a sauce and pile on toppings. Prefer something pre-composed? There's saimin, garlic butter shrimp, macadamia-crusted fish, fried rice, and more. Fans point to the ube and malunggay noodles with crispy pork. To finish off the meal, there's ube bread and cheesecake.
(808) 236-2366
45-1151 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Idaho: The Chef's Hut
The Chef's Hut is a classic diner celebrated for its massive patty melt. Morning diners? They can indulge in comfort food faves like chicken-fried steak and eggs, homemade sausage gravy, sweet-and-savory chicken waffles, coconut-crusted French toast, and eggs Benedict. It has earned a reputation among residents as the ultimate morning-after recovery spot (the ultimate badge of honor for any neighborhood greasy spoon).
(208) 376-3125
164 S Cole Road, Boise, ID 83709
Illinois: S&G Restaurant
Indulging in the iconic pecan roll at S&G Restaurant in the Windy City is an absolute must for any true pastry appreciator. While this sweet treat steals the spotlight, Chicago comfort food fans have plenty of other menu delights to explore, including French toasts, waffles, steak and eggs, and morning skillets. These skillets are actually internet famous, coming fully loaded and packing a serious punch.
(773) 935-4025
3000 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Indiana: The Lemon Drop
Picture a tiny yellow diner, a miniature train circling overhead, a griddle working overtime behind the counter, and an onion burger arriving on buttered, toasted bread. That's The Lemon Drop, where nostalgia and comfort food fare collide. This old-school spot adored by locals specializes in onion burgers, toasted cheeseburgers, and tenderloin sandwiches, with crinkle-cut fries, onion rings, scratch-made pie, milkshakes, and even lemon cokes anchoring the nostalgic scene.
(765) 644-9055
1701 Mounds Road, Anderson, IN 46016
Iowa: J's Homestyle Cooking
J's Homestyle Cooking has a hot roast beef sandwich that reportedly slaps, showcasing meat, potatoes, and scratch-made gravy. The breakfast menu is no slouch either, with eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, country fried steak, and French toast made with options including raspberry or apple fritter that keep customers smiling. For lunch or dinner? Meatloaf or liver and onions offer delicious, home-style options.
(319) 266-3199
1724 W 31st St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Kansas: Pop's Diner
Pop's Diner has plenty worth getting out of bed for. The cinnamon rolls have locals obsessed, while the breakfast menu makes mouths happy with pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, and more. The handwritten specials board constantly surprises with comfort food like brisket sandwiches, and residents often post the latest items online to keep everyone in the loop. Talk about turning a lunch special into a neighborhood event!
(620) 983-2307
115 N Walnut St, Peabody, KS 66866
Kentucky: The Whistle Stop
Meatloaf is one of those old-school comfort foods folks rarely find today, but The Whistle Stop not only has this favorite on the menu, but it's famous and scratch-made daily. Cue "Stand By Me," because this version stands by comfort food lovers alongside pot roast, fried chicken, fried catfish, and the iconic Kentucky Hot Brown, making this country treasure feel like a greatest-hits album of classics.
(270) 369-8586
216 E Main St, Glendale, KY 42740
Louisiana: Bon Creole
Step inside Bon Creole, and you're immediately greeted by the rich aroma of a slow-cooked roux. For decades, this joint has defined what real-deal Cajun cooking is all about. While fans flock here for gumbo and award-winning po'boys, the heartbeat of the joint lies in its plate lunches. From crawfish étouffée to comforting shrimp stews, every meal is scratch-made and served with Louisiana hospitality.
(337) 367-6181
1409 E St Peter St, New Iberia, LA 70560
Maine: Deb's Bristol Diner
"Here Comes the Sun" could easily soundtrack a morning at Deb's Bristol Diner, especially when sunlight meets a plate of scratch-made breakfast. The biscuits are a thing of beauty, particularly when paired with eggs, savory gravy, or creamy butter. They also have a clever muffin move, griddling muffins for results that are nothing short of glorious. There are also pancakes, Benedicts, bacon, and cinnamon buns.
(207) 563-8005
1267 Bristol Road, Bristol, ME 04539
Maryland: Chick & Ruth's Delly
"Under Pressure" is the perfect musical description for the challenge of choosing breakfast at Chick & Ruth's Delly. Breakfast runs all day, showcasing star attractions like crab omelets and biscuits with sausage gravy. Offerings then shift seamlessly into pure Maryland territory with crab mac and cheese alongside Annapolis fries smothered in crab dip, Old Bay, and cheddar. The other deli fare and fan-favorite milkshakes also shine.
(410) 269-6737
165 Main St, Annapolis, MD 21401
Massachusetts: Miss Worcester Diner
Miss Worcester Diner makes breakfast feel old-fashioned, right down to its vintage 1948 rail car setting. The compact spot sticks to breakfast and lunch, with omelets, homemade corned beef hash, home fries, pancakes, and even a wealth of creative French toast options enough to leave one dizzy. Diners adore the comfort food, and attest the old-time energy and warmth enough reason to make this a must-stop.
(508) 753-5600
300 Southbridge St, Worcester, MA 01608
Michigan: Duly's Place Coney Island
Duly's Place Coney Island has been serving Detroit with an edible comfort food hug for over a century. The menu offers everything from pancakes to omelets, French toast, cheeseburgers, chili cheese fries, and, most famously, Coney dogs gloriously drowned with chili. Experts applaud it, local food editors include Duly's and its comfort fare among Motor City's best, and diners particularly appreciate its affordability.
dulysplaceconeyisland.zoyaf.com
(313) 554-3076
5458 Vernor Highway, Detroit, MI 48209
Minnesota: Our Kitchen
Our Kitchen earns praise from critics and even one food writer's testimony of being the finest diner breakfast they've tasted. Pancakes, French toast, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches fill the mornings, while lunch adds sandwiches, burgers, fries, and chicken strips. The hash browns are favorites here (crisped exterior, fluffy interior), made perhaps even cooler by patrons at the counter having a front-row view of their comfort food cooking.
(612) 825-3718
813 W 36th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Mississippi: Sugar's Place
Sugar's Place specializes in soul food comfort fare, with shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, fried chicken, and catfish sharing the menu with beloved sides like candied yams and collard greens. Food influencers praise the flavor-filled wings, creamiest of mac and cheeses, and decadent honey bun cake, while locals describe this spot as a place where comfort food is clearly made with love.
(601) 352-2364
168 E James Meredith Drive, Jackson, MS 39201
Missouri: Home Town Diner
Home Town Diner in rural Hermitage has a strong word-of-mouth popularity backed by an equally robust menu of comfort foods. Its menu showcases omelets, waffles, French toast, pancakes, sandwiches, burgers, lunch plates, desserts, and more. Food writers emphasize the reasonable prices and homemade bread, while lavishing particular praise on the scratch-made biscuits and gravy. Glowing diner reviews make it clear why word travels so fast.
facebook.com/p/Home-Town-Diner
(417) 912-6704
902 W Highway 54, Hermitage, MO 65668
Montana: Faye's Cafe
Faye's Cafe makes breakfast a comfort food adventure, letting diners build meals around preferences such as sweet, spicy, cheesy, or meaty — or bravely hand the choice over to the cafe. The menu changes according to what's fresh and sparking culinary creativity, but pancakes and Eggs Benedict are oft-mentioned. Folks love it so much, they're known to drive many miles for a taste.
(406) 223-7481 (text only)
415 E Lewis St, Suite 104, Livingston, MT 59047
Nebraska: Shug's Comfort Food
Shug's Comfort Food serves soul food that makes meals feel personal, with mac and cheese, yams, fried chicken, catfish, and desserts leading the way. Local news highlights its home-like atmosphere, where founder and chef Brandon Davis presents comfort food guests can tell is made with genuine care. Influencers are not shy in their adoration, and locals strongly recommend it as their favorite mom-and-pop spot around.
(531) 213-2218
105 W Mission Ave, Bellevue, NE 68005
Nevada: The Bagel Cafe
Created by Long Island transplants who simply wanted a hole-in-the-wall spot that felt like home, The Bagel Cafe brings New York deli comfort to Sin City. Scratch-made bagels, soups, sammies, cookies, and cakes fill the menu, with pastrami and matzo ball soup earning the highest marks. Locals call it their go-to, and editors include this off-Strip spot among the finest in Vegas.
(702) 255-3444
301 N Buffalo Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89145
New Hampshire: The Farmer's Kitchen
The Farmer's Kitchen's proprietor, Duane White, started cooking at age 4, learning the tricks of the trade to now serve up breakfasts and lunches with a homestyle spirit in a hole-in-the-wall setting. Signature comfort foods include homemade corned beef hash, three-pepper sausage gravy, and fresh-made muffins. Diners especially delight in the western omelet, home fries, portions, and prices — calling this the finest morning meal they've tasted.
(603) 755-9900
444 NH-11, Farmington, NH 03835
New Jersey: Lucille's Country Cooking
Lucille's Country Cooking carries on founders Jim and Lucille Bates' legacy with all-day breakfast and plenty of homestyle favorites. Pancakes can come loaded with bananas, berries, walnuts, or chocolate chips, while lunch brings burgers, sandwiches, and fries ranging from sweet potato to gravy-and-mozzarella Disco Fries, chili-cheese Jersey Devil Fries, and more. Food writers highlight its homemade pies, and even Anthony Bourdain once stopped in.
(609) 698-4474
1496 Route 539, Warren Grove, NJ 08005
New Mexico: Vick's Vittles
Vick's Vittles serves serious comfort food, especially its Cowboy Burrito, showcasing scrambled eggs, country potatoes, cheddar jack cheese, and chopped chicken-fried steak wrapped in a tortilla, then covered with green chile cream gravy. Diners describe it as enormous and addictive, and the green chile gravy with biscuits also gets big props. Food writers admire the down-home cooking, and Yelp's Albuquerque breakfast list includes Vick's among its stars.
(505) 298-5143
8810 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123
New York: B&H Dairy
Almost a century now, B&H Dairy has kept its focus on kosher, Eastern European comfort food. Breakfast brings challah French toast, matzo brei, and omelets, while lunch presents specials, soups, and sandwiches. National publications highlight pierogis, blintzes, and matzo ball soup, while writers deem it the ideal, classic diner spot. Locals and visitors? They can't get enough of the pancakes, sammies, and borscht.
(212) 505-8065
127 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
North Carolina: Winnie's Tavern
Winnie's Tavern's burgers have folks buzzing, with locals and the restaurant itself proudly deeming them Wilmington's finest. Featured on The Cooking Channel, The Trailer Park Burger is the clear favorite, featuring Cajun-fried green tomatoes, jalapeño pimento cheese, bacon, lettuce, onion, pickles, and chipotle mayo. Other mouthwatering menu choices include the Stationwagon and Carolina burgers, fried chicken and fish sandwiches, and foodie-recommended fried okra.
(910) 762-1799
1895 Burnett Blvd, Wilmington, NC 28401
North Dakota: Frieds Family Restaurant
Frieds Family Restaurant brings together familiar diner fare and German-Russian specialties, making its menu especially suited to a down-home comfort food list. All-day breakfast sits alongside burgers, fried chicken, steaks, and regional dishes including knoephla soup and fleischkuechle. Then there are the famed caramel rolls adored by fans, plus the pies recommended by food writers deeming this hole-in-the-wall destination as worth the trek.
facebook.com/p/Frieds-Family-Restaurant
(701) 667-1127
1010 Boundary St NW, Mandan, ND 58554
Ohio: Fred's Diner
Fred's Diner delivers old-school comfort food from breakfast through dinner, with generous, familiar plates ensuring no one leaves hungry. The menu includes fried chicken and hot honey biscuits, French toast, waffles, corned beef hash, burgers, melts, sandwiches, and country-fried steak with sausage gravy. Its popular chicken dumpling soup gets pointed out as a homestyle must-try, diners praise its portions and pricing, and food writers label Fred's a tucked away treasure.
(330) 535-3733
930 Home Ave, Akron, OH 44310
Oklahoma: Cafe 75
Cafe 75 keeps its comfort food simple, showcasing chili cheeseburgers, pork tenderloin, grilled cheese, Frito chili pie, and daily specials like meatballs with brown gravy. Its chicken-fried steak snagged national coverage, praised for its crisp exterior and tender meat, while fries and homemade chocolate sheet cake also impressed. Local news highlights the family-run operation and gluten-free options, and food influencers recommend the fried chicken, chicken-fried steak, and onion rings.
(918) 759-7220
1214 Commercial Ave, Mounds, OK 74047
Oregon: Styr Kurbside Kitchen
Styr Kurbside Kitchen brings Southern comfort food to the PNW, with Cajun-fried catfish and chicken and waffles among its biggest draws. Food writers claim the catfish has become somewhat of a local celebrity, while the menu showcases a healthy range of below-the-Mason-Dixon classics prepared with care. Fans also give the shrimp po'boy a shout out, and one influencer deemed this Springfield spot a primo lesser-known jewel.
facebook.com/styr.kurbside.kitchen
152 28th St, Springfield, OR 97477
Pennsylvania: Kuppy's Diner
Kuppy's Diner has been serving its community almost a century, with the same family still leading the charge generations later. Breakfast sizzles on the griddle, offering buttery eggs, bacon, pancakes, and French toast, while Eggs Benedict, biscuits with sausage gravy, and the McKuppy's breakfast sandwich also bring sunrise smiles. Food writers praise its homestyle dishes, while diners especially love the sausage gravy and scrapple.
(717) 944-5122
12 Brown St, Middletown, PA 17057
Rhode Island: The Middle of Nowhere Diner
The Middle of Nowhere Diner earns its name being an out of the way hole-in-the-wall, but diners say its comfort food is worth seeking out. Breakfast bangers include eggs and home fries and the famous four-egg omelets. Burgers are another customer lure, with food writers saying they alone justify the journey. Even national coverage has included the diner among America's best small-town restaurants.
(401) 397-8855
222 Nooseneck Hill Road, Exeter, RI 02822
South Carolina: Mac Smith's Country Store and Grill
Mac Smith's Country Store and Grill has been serving classic Americana eats since the 1940s, but its burgers and hot dogs became the reason customers kept returning. Food writers call them some of The Palmetto State's finest, while Clemson students and alumni have guarded the spot as a top-secret treasure for decades. That long-time following gives this stop serious comfort food cred.
facebook.com/macsmithscountrystoreandgrill
(864) 224-9759
2201 Lebanon Rd, Pendleton, SC 29670
South Dakota: Nick's Hamburger Shop
Highly recommend by locals, Nick's Hamburger Shop has been attending the grill, whipping up blissfully delicious hamburgers and cheeseburgers, since the 1920s. Fries, shakes, and homemade pie are also big winners, as is Nick's top-secret relish. The shop once set a record for selling 4,450 hamburgers during South Dakota State University's 1947 Hobo Day, showing how deep the hometown following at this mom-and-pop restaurant runs.
(605) 692-4324
427 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006
Tennessee: Lil Black Bear Cafe
Classified by locals as the ideal hole-in-the-wall, Lil Black Bear Cafe has earned BIG breakfast honors, including being named America's top breakfast spot and Pigeon Forge's finest café. Its menu offers French toast, biscuits and gravy, burgers, hot dogs, and more. Diners praise the pancakes, omelets, Reuben, and patty melt, while the Smoky Mountain Squealing Burger, featuring pulled pork and cheddar, is also worth mentioning.
(865) 366-1181
3068 Veterans Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Texas: West Side Cafe
West Side Cafe serves all-day breakfast alongside satisfying comfort food lunch plates, with a menu featuring everything from omelets to French toast, steak and eggs, breakfast burritos, chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, and more. Its pancakes are award-winning, which explains why locals selected it among Fort Worth's top breakfast spots. Diners praise perfectly prepared eggs and biscuits, and there are even fresh-made cakes and pies daily.
(817) 560-1996
7950 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76116
Utah: Joe's Cafe
Utah gets its fix of Southern favorites thanks to Joe's Cafe. Biscuits and gravy, French toast, pancakes, and omelets grace the menu, as do burgers made from fresh, never-frozen patties. The sweet grits are the real stars here, earning extraordinary praise from customers and food guides alike. One diner admitted to jonesing for these grits daily, while another — formerly anti-grits — was won over by Joe's version.
(801) 607-5377
1126 S State St, Orem, UT 84097
Vermont: TASTee GRILL
Tucked inside a gas station, TASTee GRILL delivers delicious down-home cooking. The menu presents pancakes, burgers, patty melts, grilled deli and breakfast sandwiches, and daily specials, with locals particularly praising the breakfast burrito, calling the pancakes perfect, going gaga over the biscuits and gravy, and applauding the prices as a steal. Local news agrees, highlighting the comfort food and especially kind owner as well.
(802) 489-5122
1041 Shelburne Road, South Burlington, VT 05403
Virginia: The Cavalier Store
The Cavalier Store, or "The Cav," has been beloved since its opening in the 1940s, evolving from a corner market into a burger joint known for cold brewskies and shared camaraderie. Its cheeseburgers spark intense devotion, while fries live rent-free in diners' minds, and homemade ranch earns additional praise. Dubbed the "Cheers" of Lynchburg, it's where generations have met for comfort food and fellowship.
(434) 845-3837
2920 Rivermont Ave, Lynchburg, VA 24503
Washington: Voula's Offshore Cafe
Amid Seattle's fancy schmancy brunches and lattes priced sky-high, Voula's Offshore Cafe offers a menu packed with comfort food favorites. Guy Fieri's picks include the Piñata Benedict with smoked pork, poached eggs, and chipotle hollandaise, as well as the Smokey the Salmon. Hash browns and glorious biscuits and gravy are also worth mentioning, as are the highly praised Chinese Pancakes.
(206) 634-0183
658 NE Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98105
West Virginia: The Root Beer Shack
Roadside meets comfort food fantasy at The Root Beer Shack, which presents patrons with everything from root beer (floats and slushes included) to hot dogs piled with chili and cheese, burgers, fries, and more. Food writers highlight its old-school charm, and diners coo over crispy fries and onion rings, juicy burgers, and hot dogs with that spot-on sauce. And those root beer slushes? Shack-tacular.
(304) 420-1180
1420 Staunton Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Wisconsin: Franks Diner
Franks Diner is a popular hole-in-the-wall serving mouthwatering comfort food meals from a historic rail car. The famous Garbage Plate compiles eggs, meat, cheese, and optional jalapeños, with a vegetarian version available. Fresh-made pancakes, French toast (classic or cinnamon swirl), omelets, scratch-made biscuits and gravy, and homemade bread also draw applause, explaining why local publications rank Franks among the area's most beloved breakfasts.
(262) 657-1017
508 58th St, Kenosha, WI 53140
Wyoming: G-Ma's Diner
Forget big restaurant chains, because G-Ma's Diner is a hole-in-the-wall with it all. Its breakfasts are beloved, boasting biscuits and gravy (or green chili), homemade corned beef hash, pancakes, and more. Lunch rolls around to offer daily specials (fish and chips, meatloaf, and more), plus a Philly Burger and endless fry variations. Foodies fawn over scratch-made fare that makes visiting G-Ma's feel like feasting at home.
(307) 265-0070
4755 W Yellowstone Highway, Mills, WY 82604
Methodology
To find these hole-in-the-wall comfort food stars of each state, the goal was simply to find food that tastes like home. We largely focused on those who know these places best (locals, longtime regulars, and travelers who followed a recommendation). National publications and experts helped call out contenders, but local enthusiasm mattered most — because we know these restaurants are built around repeat customers and familiar faces ... that's YOU.