Follow our centennial culinary crawl down Kansas’ Route 66
Photography by Kenny Felt
Route 66 through Kansas may be short on miles, but it’s certainly long on flavor. The 13.2-mile stretch in the southeast corner of the state packs in 19 homegrown eateries, offering everything from trendy coffee shops and American classics to thick slabs of steak, international cuisine and charming confectioneries. With so many options, it seemed a culinary roadmap was in order.
Although this route is short, you’ll find plenty to see along the way. Give yourself two to three hours for the journey so you have time to pull over for photos and order plenty of food. Many of these stops have limited hours, and hours can change from what’s listed online, so call ahead before planning a visit.
Start in Galena
Early morning travelers fuel up at JBirds, where gourmet coffees come with dessert-like names such as Fudge Brownie or Caramel Toffee Latte. Stock up on fresh-baked goods, too; their bestsellers include blueberry muffins and pecan pie twists. For something more savory, JBirds serves biscuits and gravy and hearty breakfast sandwiches.
Just off Route 66, Streetcar Station Coffee Shop offers another hometown welcome. An indoor mural features “Dinky,” the electric streetcar that once connected Galena to Joplin, Missouri, and Miami, Oklahoma, with stops near the shop. These days, owner Danny Anderson dishes up local history alongside gourmet coffees, hot chocolates, Italian ices and smoothies. Breakfast fare is also available, but Anderson really talks up the lunch specials.
“You don’t want to miss my wife’s goulash or her internationally famous potato soup,” he says. “A group of young Irish women once declared it a ‘taste of home’ and asked for the recipe.”
Since 2018, Sweet Creek Diner & Bakery has been a family-owned spot known for its generous portions. The bakery turns out giant cookies and flaky cream horns, while the diner cooks up all-day breakfasts and homestyle dinners.
Sweet Creek serves its signature country fried steak three ways: traditional dinner, sandwich, or featured in the breakfast skillet. Daily specials offer more hearty comfort foods, including “Flashback Friday.” This tourist-favorite special serves up a classic Midwestern combo every Kansan remembers from grade school: chili and cinnamon rolls. They even serve it on a lunch tray alongside a baked potato with sour cream on the side.
Drive around the corner, just half a mile off Route 66 on what is considered “old Route 66”—where travelers drove before the highway was redirected in 1961—and you’ll find Cars on the Route, one of Kansas’ must-see eateries along the Mother Road. It operates out of a restored 1934 service station and is home to the 1951 International boom truck that inspired Tow Mater, the rusty, good-natured character from Pixar’s 2006 film Cars.
“This movie was responsible for reviving the towns on the route,” says co-owner Renee Charles.
At the same time the movie came out, the building’s owners renovated the garage and turned the service bay into a dining space and souvenir shop. Today, they serve simple Americana classics: grilled burgers, Philly cheesesteaks and chicken nuggets.
A few blocks south, Gravy’s Place keeps its beer cold and its walls lined with memorabilia. Locals regularly meet at this rustic hangout to catch up, play pool, sing karaoke and listen to live music. Owner Randy Graves mostly focuses on refreshments, but he also “doctors up” toaster-oven pizzas and other simple bar foods. Every so often, he brings the community together with potluck dinners.
Another block south, beautifully painted tables give Mi Torito a vibrant, upbeat atmosphere. This family-run Mexican restaurant serves traditional dishes with modern twists. One entire section of the large menu is devoted to local favorites, including the Kurt’s Special—a bed of rice piled high with grilled chicken, steak strips, veggies, grated cheese and cheese sauce for good measure.
For an impressive lineup of wings—Nashville hot, Caribbean jerk and spicy ranch, just to name a few—along with other classic bar food, head to Kicks Bar and Grill on Route 66. Grab an ice-cold beer to wash it all down. Stages inside and outside set the scene for live music every Friday and Saturday night, and sometimes Thursdays.
Make Your Way Through Riverton
The sandwiches at Nelson’s Old Riverton Store aren’t fancy, they’re just plain good. Owner Scott Nelson credits the Kansas-produced meats from Fanestil Meats in Emporia, which they slice fresh for each order.
“We never make them ahead,” he says.
Riverton may have only around 700 people and just one restaurant, but it’s a required stop for Route 66 travelers. After all, the store has been here longer than the Mother Road herself.
Spend Time in Baxter Springs
Make Punkins Place your first stop in Baxter Springs. Caffeine seekers will find standard coffee along with lattes, espresso, spiced chai and plant-based energy drinks with names inspired by famous Route 66 landmarks (think Cadillac Ranch and Blue Whale Meteor Crater). Grab a cozy seat inside or hit the drive-thru if you’re in a rush. Pastries change daily but always offer some variation of scones, muffins and cookies.
History meets food at Lion Rojo, a Mexican restaurant tucked inside the former Crowell Bank building, which, in 1876, was robbed by infamous outlaw Jesse James. Today, the restaurant specializes in traditional meals made with locally sourced ingredients. Their commitment to fresh ingredients shines through their salsa, which carries a hint of sweet heat, and in their perfectly seasoned chicken fajitas.
Two more restaurants along Route 66 offer authentic Mexican fare. Just down the street, Don Juan’s Mexican Restaurant has an extensive menu with popular foods such as tamales, carne asada and slow-cooked pork fajitas. Wash it all down with a sweet and creamy horchata or a bottle of fruity, bubbly Jarritos.
Near the end of the route, don’t skip El Cabritos. For more than two decades, this restaurant has served everything from enchiladas and quesadillas to specialties such as beef steak topped with a ranch-style sauce.
Ice cream lovers will savor the rotating selection of small-batch scoops at Carlene’s Ice Cream and Deli. Blackberry cobbler ice cream and a chocolate, caramel and cashew concoction dubbed “Bear Claw” are some of their unique flavors. Beyond frozen treats, Carlene’s also whips up fresh sandwiches and seasonal items.
Keep the sweet treats coming at Monarch Pharmacy & Soda Fountain. Kelly McAllister opened this spot in 2015 when she returned to her hometown to start a full-service pharmacy with an old-fashioned soda fountain—just like the pharmacies from the 1950s. This shop sells a rotating selection of homemade ice cream by the scoop, plus hand-crafted shakes, malts, floats, sodas and phosphates. Be sure to ask the soda fountain attendant about their brown cows, black cows and egg creams.
Just next door, Bricks & Brews Woodfire Grill & Pub heats up artisan pizzas in a large wood-fired oven. Owner Doug Puckett says the oven cranks at 650 degrees, keeping the turnaround time, including assembly, to about 5 minutes. Best of all, it gives the pizza a distinct smoky flavor and a perfectly charred crust.
Puckett opened the restaurant in 2021, but he first worked in the historic brick building back in high school when it was an auto supply shop. He renovated the space, preserving its character and adding an upstairs party room with a stage where musicians play on weekends. Auto-part gears hold up the outside awnings, transmissions have been turned into bathroom sinks, and Route 66 memorabilia is everywhere.
Further south, Weston’s Route 66 Cafe has kept locals happy for more than 30 years with good old-fashioned homestyle cooking. Fluffy pancakes, eggs cooked to order, and other breakfast options are served all day alongside comfort classics such as meatloaf, pork tenderloin sandwiches, chicken fried steak, and creamy chicken and noodles served over mashed potatoes. Generous slices of pie, sheet cake and other homemade desserts fill a glass case near the front.
Along your drive, don’t miss the distinctive flavors from Route 66’s two standout Asian restaurants, where tastes range from sweet and salty to sour and umami. Oriental Garden’s all-you-can-eat buffet is packed with classic Chinese dishes such as egg rolls, kang poong chicken and lo mein. Don’t skip their dessert selection.
A little further south, Rice House Chinese Restaurant cooks everything fresh to order. Think sweet and savory General Tso’s chicken, pepper steak, classic fried rice and soups, just to name a few. With lunch portions, full-size plates and combination platters, diners have plenty of options.
Near the end of the trail, Van’s Steakhouse capitalizes on Baxter Springs’ reputation as the first cattle-trade center in Kansas, with western décor, saddle-covered seats and some of the best steaks in the state. This family restaurant dishes up 14-ounce ribeye, smoky sirloin and chicken fried steak along with other stick-to-your-ribs entrées and sides. And, according to locals, they serve some of the best pie in town.
Eating our way through this historic byway was an adventure. My husband and I sampled food at every stop, and we were impressed by the variety and quality, not to mention how clean each place was. But what stood out the most? The friendly, welcoming staff at each stop. We definitely got our culinary kicks on Route 66!
