The 25 best restaurants along Route 66, according to Yelp

You’re only going to eat so many meals on your next road trip. Why settle for a bad one?

This year marks the 100th anniversary of America’s iconic Route 66, a beloved (albeit decommissioned) thoroughfare known for its quirky attractions and nostalgic charm. But throughout its history, Route 66 was also dotted with an abundance of burger joints, drive-ins and greasy spoons, all helping to keep motorists well-fed as they charted their courses down the Mother Road.

Today, there’s still plenty of great grub to be had on the old Route 66 — if you know where to look.

Delgadillo's — Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, an eatery and roadside attraction along Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona, is pictured in a 2013 photograph. Delgadillo’s ranked No. 11 on Yelp’s 2026 list of the best eateries along Route 66. (Getty Images)

To help narrow down some of the finest eats along “The Main Street of America,” the analysts at Yelp have scoured the site’s databases to find the best-reviewed restaurants on and around Route 66. Visitors to these establishments can find some of the best American cuisine and regional specialties the route has to offer, from frozen custards and chicken-fried steaks to green-chile enchiladas and mile-high meringue pie.

Recipe: Combat the winter chills with chicken orzo soup

And if it’s ribs or pulled pork you’re after, look no further than the No. 1-ranked spot on Yelp’s entire list: Watson’s BBQ. This unassuming eatery, which operates out of the Tucumcari Ranch Supply store in Tucumcari, New Mexico, earned praise from Yelp’s users for great food, big portions and top-tier hospitality.

“I can’t remember the last time I had real BBQ like this,” one reviewer wrote after tasting the restaurant’s smoked brisket.

Route 66 - Watson's BBQ — A billboard along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, advertises Tucumcari Ranch Supply and its Watson’s BBQ eatery, located just a few blocks away. Watson’s BBQ was ranked No. 1 on Yelp’s 2026 list of the best eateries along Route 66. (Grichka Beysson-Leandri/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

But one single meal — no matter how generously portioned — is unlikely to fuel motorists for an entire cross-country road trip. Lucky for them, there are dozens of other top-reviewed restaurants along the route. Find some of the best (according to Yelp) on the list below.