One of the best things about road trips… is the food.
Let’s be honest, you may have all the best intentions, but all the diet go out the window when on the road… except one.
That is, road trip food has no calories.
Particularly when it’s the food eaten while on the most famous road trip of them all – Route 66.
Here’s some that really got our attention…
Cozy Dog Drive In
This noshery has been in the same location since the mid-1940s and is famously home of the original corn dog.
Big Texan Steak Ranch
This place is famous for its free 72-ounce steak dinners. Yep, free. Provided you can down it in an hour. We’re talking a prawn cocktail, baked potato, salad and a bread roll with butter… and the 72-ounce steak, which is just over 2kgs.
Along with some pretty great American BBQ, they have a craft brewery.
The Chili Parlor
It’s been called the best chili in Illinois.
Formerly ‘The Den’ and ‘Joe Rogers’ Chili Parlor’, founder Joe Rogers opened his first restaurant on December 31, 1945 after creating his “perfect chili recipe”.
These days, locals reckon that the secret to their great chili is the ability to order it “your way”. From meat or no meat, beans or no beans, or mild to – if you dare – firebrand, it’s definitely worth a stop.
Jiggs Smoke House
When your road trip needs a BBQ fix, Jiggs’ no-frills sandwiches won’t disappoint. They’ve got smoked ham, beef summer sausage, pork link sausage, pork ribs, and brisket, plus classic sides like BBQ beans, potato salad, pickles and chips.
You son of a gun, I’m in.
Le Roy’s Highland Restaurant
You want oversized portions? Le Roy’s have been doing it since 1976.
Alongside the huge cheesy breakfast burritos and hot cakes, their most popular dish is the Le Roy’s Burger. We’re talking a 1/3 pound beef patty (that’s nearly half a kilo) with pastrami. Tummies always leave full here.
Westside Lilo’s Café
This diner serves up all the classics but also a few German specialties like schnitzel and bratwurst.
They also do a cinnamon roll that’s the size of your head, because hey, you gotta keep your strength up.
Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner
Reportedly beginning as the Kingman Cafe back in the 1930s, Mr. D’z these days has cemented its reputation for classic diner-style decor and food.
Mr. D’z is also home to another American classic – a homemade root beer that Oprah Winfrey apparently raved about.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
This legendary dessert shop kicked off in 1929 and still draws huge crowds with its super-thick frozen custard… but they also have some pretty classic standards like malts, floats and ice cream sodas. They also have these things called ‘concretes’ which is a frozen custard but with another topping mixed in. Whatever it is, we’re in.
Speaking of Route 66, we could be sending you on the trip of a lifetime with 96FM’s Real Music Road Trip!
You’ll begin in Las Vegas, where you’ll see Robbie Williams live in concert, then Jerry Seinfeld, THEN you’ll pick out a Ford Mustang and hit the iconic Route 66 all the way to Chicago!
We’ll then fly you to LA to see the Eagles play Hotel California, in its entirety.
Oh, and we’ll throw in $10,000!
Click here to find out how to get on our standby list!
