Start the car, and bring your appetite. Here are the absolutely best places to eat along Western highways
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
Buckhorn Tavern, San Antonio, NM (pictured). The best roadside burgers are big and brawny and take-no-prisoners. Exhibit A: the green-chile burger at Buckhorn—a patty
as big as a big rig’s hubcap, sizzled on the griddle, then appliquéd with onions, cheese, pickles, and more. But it’s the
finishing touch of chopped New Mexico green chiles that lifts Buckhorn into the burger pantheon. $; 68 U.S. 380; 575/835-4423.
Hudson’s Hamburgers, Coeur d’Alene, ID. Every morning, customers swarm Hudson’s the minute it opens at 9:30. The draw? Simple burgers (no sides, not even fries!),
perfectly grilled—a formula that’s been working since 1907. $; 207 E. Sherman Ave.; 208/664-5444.
The Peg House, Leggett, CA (Sunset reader favorite). The Summer of Love returns to the California redwoods: back-to-the-Earth groove, live music, and a barbecue that grills lustfully
juicy bacon cheeseburgers. $; 69501 U.S. 101; 707/925-6444.
Diablo Burger, Flagstaff, AZ (pictured). Like Flagstaff itself, this stylish burger joint with a pretty patio combines sustainable and cowboy in one package. Local,
open range–raised and antibiotic-free ground beef is charbroiled medium rare, then joined by homemade pesto and fried egg,
or bacon, beet, and blue cheese. $; 120 N. Leroux St.; 928/774-3274.
Owl Bar & Cafe, San Antonio, NM. This is San Antonio’s other green-chile burger landmark—proof that the dinky town south of Socorro is burger capital of the
known universe. What’s better, Owl or Buckhorn? Your choice—so, yeah, you have to try ’em both. $; 77 U.S. 380; 575/835-9946.
Oak Creek Brewery and Grill, Sedona, AZ. Enlightened Sedona is rich in organic, good-for-you dining spots. If that’s exactly what you don’t want on the road, pull
over here. The half-pound Angus burgers are two-fisted big and can come with spicy Painted Desert slaw. Must-try: The smokehouse
burger, with smoked gouda cheese, barbecue sauce, and fried onions. $$; 336 State 179; 928/282-3300.
Hodad’s, Ocean Beach, CA (pictured). In the quintessential surf neighborhood, this is the quintessential surf-town burger joint, where the walls are encrusted
with out-of-state license plates and the seating options include a long surfboard that serves as a communal table. Must-try:
The Blue Jay Burger, a bacon burger served with blue cheese and grilled onions. $; 5010 Newport Ave., 3.5 mi. off I-5; 619/224-4623.
Burgerville, Kelso, WA. This Northwest chain specializes in great fast food—nothing fancy, but honest ingredients done right. Burgers are properly
seasoned, and many ingredients are regionally sourced (e.g., the salad’s blue cheese is from Oregon’s award-winning Rogue
Creamery). Must-try: Seasonal berry shakes; the cheeseburger. $; 600 W. Main St.; 360/501-4354; burgerville.com for other locations.
Photo by David Fenton
Rod’s Steak House, Williams, AZ. The original Rod was a cattleman and Route 66 entrepreneur in the ’40s. Nods to his legacy are still here in the dinnerware, signage (that’s Domino, the fiberglass steer, glowing atop the roof ), and cow-shaped menu, which serves up steakhouse classics. One deserved favorite is the sugar-charred sirloin, dripping with sweet beefy juices. But don’t neglect the prime rib, equally tasty and substantial. Must-try: The Rocky Mountain trout, if you’re not in the mood for meat. $$$; 301 E. Route 66; 928/635-2671.
Photo by Dave Lauridsen
Simon’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, Sedona, AZ. Ambience? No. Simon’s is a booth inside a brewery. You eat your dog against a backdrop of stainless steel tanks. But chef-owner
Felipe Roldan serves hot dogs inspired by his native Colombia: That includes one topped with pineapple, crushed potato chips,
and mozzarella, just like back in Bogotá. Must-try: The Wunderhound, a nod to Peru, with Peruvian chiles, onions, dill pickles,
and bacon. $; 2050 Yavapai Dr.; 928/496-0266.
The Linkery, San Diego (pictured). One of the nodes of San Diego’s crucial beer culture, the Linkery is also sausage central, sourcing its meat more carefully
than even Alice Waters. Must-try: Käsekrainer sausage, in a sandwich, in a taco, on a picnic plate. $$; 3794 30th St., 3.5 mi. off I-5; 619/255-8778.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
The New Moon Café, Olympia, WA. Vegetarians, this road food is for you. At New Moon, you’ll be in touch with Olympia’s hippie heritage, with emphasis on tofu and tempeh in the Benedicts and omelets. (Carnivores can chow down on the sturdy Howda Burger.) Must-try: The russet home fries. $; 113 Fourth Ave. W.; 360/357-3452.
Photo by Young & Hungry Production
Neptune’s Net, Malibu, CA (pictured). Seafood-wise, it’s not Manhattan’s Le Bernardin or San Francisco’s Swan Oyster Depot. But they don’t have Malibu. And it
can be very fine to pull up to the Net on a hot afternoon, jostle for a parking space near the dozens of motorcycles, then
sit back on the patio and down a pitcher of beer with some fish and chips while you scan the Pacific for whales. Must-try:
Shrimp tacos with pineapple slaw. $; 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy./State 1; 310/457-3095.
Go Fish, Vancouver, B.C. To find this little sea blue shack near the fishing boats, look for the long line of customers hungering for peerlessly fresh
fish spiced up with big-city flavors like chipotle crema and wasabi mayo. If the limited seating area is packed, grab a nearby
bench for a grand city view. Must-try: The Salmon Tacone, an elegant cone-shaped fish taco. $ U.S.; 1505 W. First Ave.; 604/730-5040.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
Reel Inn, Malibu, CA (pictured). Fish tacos are the Steve McQueen of road food: casual and cool. Surfers were the first to discover them, at snack shacks
like Reel Inn. Today, they’re still a fixture on its chalkboard menu: fresh-caught salmon or ahi tuna wrapped in warm corn
tortillas with melted cheddar, crisp lettuce, tomato, and salsa. The setting helps, of course. The best fish tacos (with one
notable exception, below) are eaten within sight of the ocean. $$; 18661 Pacific Coast Hwy.; 310/456-8221.
Lupita’s Cantina, Oak Creek, CO. Here’s our exception, inexplicable and amazing: fab fish tacos (mahimahi, shrimp) in a tiny town high in the Colorado Rockies.
$; 102 E. Main St.; search for Lupita’s Cantina on Facebook.
Photo by Joe Schmelzer
Ruddell’s Smokehouse, Cayucos, CA. Heaven. On the Central Coast, smoked albacore tacos, smoked salmon tacos—perfect for eating on the patio or for carrying
down to the beach. $; 101 D St.; 805/995-5028.
South Beach Bar & Grille, San Diego (Sunset reader favorite; pictured). As unofficial fish taco capital of the nation, San Diego had better serve good ones. This place, in Ocean Beach, serves
great ones, grilled or fried. $; 5059 Newport Ave.; 619/226-4577.
Monico’s Taqueria, Wailua, Kauai, HI. It’s only fitting that Kauai’s tropical coast should boast superior fish tacos: Monico’s succulent fresh ahi version is almost
impossible to beat. $; 4-356 Kuhio Hwy.; 808/822-4300.
Photo by Paul Markow
Casa Antigua, Camp Verde, AZ. This family-run restaurant, in a plain-Jane strip mall, is the definition of unpretentious. But the food is the real thing:
Sonoran-style Mexican, simply but perfectly done. Must-try: The generously stuffed spicy pork tacos or the potato tacos, made
with french fries—not exactly authentic Sonoran but strangely delicious. $; 452 Finnie Flat Rd.; 928/567-6300.
MartAnne’s, Flagstaff, AZ (pictured). This tiny storefront kitchen and eatery draws long lines, especially on weekends, for Mexican breakfast-into-lunch dishes
like green chile chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. Snag a seat at a dinette table inside the brightly painted restaurant,
or get takeout and enjoy it on the benches around the corner at Heritage Square. Must-try: The Jerry, a green chile–pork enchilada
topped with two eggs over easy. $; 10 N. San Francisco St.; 928/773-4701.
Criollo Latin Kitchen, Flagstaff, AZ. Criollo’s windows give you an up-close look at Flagstaff’s surprisingly vibrant street scene. Cuisine here starts in Mexico,
then ventures into Central and South America, with standouts like braised pork shoulder with mole sauce, and pork belly tacos
with housemade pickles. Must-try: The coconut-and-masa fried calamari appetizer, served with mango slaw and a creamy cilantro
aioli. $$; 16 N. San Francisco St.; 928/774-0541.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
Romesco Baja Med Bistro, Bonita, CA. The suburban San Diego location is improbable. Still, this is the sole north-of-the-border outpost from Javier Plascencia,
the mad genius of Baja Med cuisine and the most influential chef in Mexico at the moment. Must-try: Ahi tuna tostada. $$$; 4346 Bonita Rd., 4.3 mi. off I-5; 619/475-8627.
La Super-Rica, Santa Barbara, CA (pictured). Milpas Street’s Mexican dive is famous for serving freshly made antojitos to people who don’t necessarily know what the word
means (little portions, aka appetizers). Must-try: La Super-Rica Especial (marinated pork and cheese-stuffed pasilla chile).
$; 622 N. Milpas St.; 805/963-4940.
La Tarasca, Centralia, WA. At this family-run authentically Mexican restaurant, it can be tough to decide between carnitas from the cook’s home state
of Michoacán and other must-haves like rellenos or posole accompanied by fresh-made corn tortillas. Must-try: Chile verde.
$$; 1001 W. Main St.; 360/736-7756.
Photo by Young & Hungry Production
Lynda Sandwich, Westminster, CA. Owned by pop singer Lynda Trang Dài, this Vietnamese sandwich shop has a glamorous interior and a menu that includes both
beignets and bánh mì. Must-try: Lynda’s special, which comes with cold cuts, liver pâté, pickled vegetables, and housemade mayonnaise. $; 15380 Beach Blvd., 6 mi. off State 1; 714/898-5400.
Quan Hy Restaurant, Westminster, CA (pictured). Quan Hy, in Westminster’s Little Saigon, specializes in the dishes of central Vietnam, and it’s spiffier than most of the
pho parlors that surround it. Must-try: Great versions of the spicy soup bun bo hue, and clam salad with peanuts and rice crackers. $; 9727 Bolsa Ave., 8.3 mi. off State 1; 714/775-7179.
Pacific Fish Center, Redondo Beach, CA. It’s a few blocks off Pacific Coast Highway (State 1) but closer than Seoul. This Korean seafood restaurant, right on Redondo
Pier, is known for its steamed Dungeness crabs, gigantic sashimi platters, and (if you want to go there) live prawns and octopus.
Pretty expensive, and very Korean, but not at all intimidating. Must-try: Korean fish soup. $$$; 131 Fisherman’s Wharf; 310/374-8420.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
Renu Nakorn, Norwalk, CA. Right off I-5, almost halfway between Los Angeles and Disneyland, is the best Isaan-style Thai restaurant in the country.
You can sear your eyebrows off with the catfish larb or the jackfruit stir-fry salad, but you don’t have to: The sour sausage,
crying tiger beef, and fried catfish are calmer but tasty. Must-try: The crispy rice salad called nam kao tod. $; 13019 E. Rosecrans Ave.; 562/921-2124.
Pok Pok, Portland, OR (pictured). It wows the fooderati, but Pok Pok began as a shack, and it’s still road-food heaven to sit on the patio (or visit the to-go
window) for chicken wings marinated in fish sauce and palm sugar. Must-try: Ike’s Vietnamese fish sauce wings; papaya pok
pok. $$; 3226 S.E. Division St.; 503/232-1387.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
Pizzicletta, Flagstaff, AZ. It may seem too sleek (and its hours too limited) for a road-food stop, but dinner-only Pizzicletta occupies a historic laundry
building along that greatest of American roads, Route 66, and it’s your last chance for cutting-edge carbs before you tackle
the Grand Canyon in the morning. You’ll share a long table or small bar area with others; the Neapolitan-style pizzas are
baked in a wood-fired oven. Must-try: The Amore Oi Mari, with mascarpone, prosciutto, arugula, Meyer lemon, and pecorino.
$$; 203 W. Phoenix Ave.; 928/774-3242.
Grinders Hot Sands, Shoreline, WA (pictured). Homemade Italian meatballs, mozzarella, grilled onions … owner Mitch Gilbert has all the ingredients for flavorful, jaw-stretching
subs. His secret weapon is his 78-year-old mom, who helps out with soups and dances “like she has a motor on her butt” during
Grinders’ live blues jams in this dimly lit hideaway. Must-try: The Sauball Sandwich, meatballs and sausage in one tasty
package. $; 19811 Aurora Ave. N./State 99; 206/542-0627.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
Macy’s European Coffeehouse, Flagstaff, AZ. This rambling hangout is the typical college-town coffeehouse, drawing dreadlocked Northern Arizona University students,
chino-clad professors, straitlaced business types, and a few savvy tourists. Caffeine’s the star: Macy’s was Arizona’s first
small coffee roaster, and the espresso drinks are potent and fierce. Must-try: The baked-on-the-premises, lumberjack-size
blackberry-almond scones, perfect for splitting. $; 14 S. Beaver St.; 928/774-2243.
Hallava Falafel, Seattle, WA (pictured). In the slightly gritty Georgetown neighborhood, artists and hipsters favor the bright yellow food truck with just three items
on the menu: “Russo-Turkic” falafel, shawarma, and fries. The sandwiches require two hands to devour, and boast added sass
from beet relish and dill-packed tzatziki. Must-try: The shawarma, a Middle Eastern wrap whose shaved meat is sliced straight
from the spit. $; 5825 Airport Way S.; 206/307-4769.
Pel’meni, Bellingham, WA. There’s no menu in this narrow storefront, and none needed; just a lineup of steaming stockpots filled with the shop’s namesake
Russian dumplings. Take a seat at the simple wooden tables, then dig into silver dollar–size purses of tender dough, sprinkled
with curry powder and crowned with sour cream and a slice of rye. Must-try: Pel’meni stuffed with ground beef. $; 1211 N. State St.; 360/715-8324.
Photo by José Mandojana
Skillet Diner, Seattle, WA (pictured). Dressed-up diner food, with big mugs of coffee (from a local independent roaster, yes) and plates of pork belly (house-cured,
of course) with cornmeal waffles. The mod-comfy diner anchors a thriving neighborhood that draws shoppers and fun-seekers
from breakfast to late-night drinks. Must-try: Fried chicken sandwich; corned beef hash; pork belly and waffle. $$; 1400 E. Union St.; 206/512-2000.
Southern Kitchen, Tacoma, WA. Everything is as it should be, Southern-style, in this small but hopping restaurant. Mason jars arrive brim-full of sweet
tea, and the cook takes special pride in fried chicken and bread pudding. Allow time for a post-lunch nap. Must-try: Fried
green tomatoes, hush puppies, fried catfish. $$; 1716 Sixth Ave.; 253/627-4282.
Carol’s Corner Cafe, Vancouver, WA. Giant portions of old-fashioned comfort food, in a timeworn spot packed with regulars. Don’t be fooled by the many “half-orders”
the menu offers; our leftovers from a “half” breakfast weighed in at 2 pounds. Must-try: C.C. Hash; homemade biscuit and gravy.
$; 7800 N.E. St. Johns Rd.; 360/573-6357.
Cora’s Coffee Shoppe, Santa Monica, CA. Former surfers’ hang revamped by Bruce Marder, who owns the expensive (and good) Capo next door. Sweet patio, great tacos,
and an American Kobe burger that’s one of the best in town. But there’s an Italian accent too: burrata omelet, bucatini with
lamb ragù. Must-try: The rotisserie tacos de carnitas. $$; 1802 Ocean Ave.; 310/451-9562.
Photo by David Fenton
Fremont Diner, Sonoma, CA (Sunset reader favorite; pictured). Undoubtedly the most important meal of the roadtrip day. You have ground to cover, scenery to see, souvenirs to acquire.
You need those American start-the-day classics—biscuits and gravy, smoked brisket hash—you never quite make at home. Fremont
Diner does all the above. And the patio view into the surrounding Sonoma vineyards? More proof that, on this morning, the
world adores you. $; 2698 Fremont Dr.; 707/938-7370.
Mrs. Olson’s Coffee Hut, Oxnard, CA. Sea-breezy setting for hearty, locally beloved breakfasts, which explains the long weekend lines. A good place to order a
breakfast burrito for the beach, which is only a block away. Must-try: The banana walnut pancakes. $; 117 Los Altos St., 4.7 mi. off State 1; 805/985-9151.
Orange Inn, Laguna Beach, CA. In a high-priced town, a low-cost surfers’ and beachgoers’ delight: strong coffee, homemade blueberry muffins, breakfast
burritos, smoothies. $; 703 South Coast Hwy.; 949/494-6085.
Photo by David Fenton
Road Island Diner, Oakley, UT. The Sopranos meets Big Love with this New Jersey diner transplanted to the Utah mountains and brilliantly restored. But the chromey setting isn’t the
only lure: Green-chile scrambled eggs and homemade cinnamon rolls will thrill families criminal, polygamous, or ordinary.
$; 981 W. Weber Canyon Rd.; 435/783-3467.
Bisbee Breakfast Club, Bisbee, AZ. Bisbee gets a breakfast joint as quirky as it is. Here, in a former Rexall Drugs, catch up on gossip—the place is a locals’
favorite—while you devour huevos rancheros and blueberry-granola pancakes. $; 75A Erie St.; 520/432-5885.
Rexville Grocery, Mt. Vernon, WA. Up in the Skagit Valley, the perfect gentrified country store with just-right indulgent breakfasts: Swedish pancakes, Hangtown
fry with local oysters, smoked salmon frittata. $; 19271 Best Rd.; 360/466-5522.
Photo by Thomas J. Story
Gott’s Roadside, St. Helena, CA (pictured). Not South Beach. Not the Zone. No diet plan encourages the consumption of thick, rich, two-full-glasses’-worth-in-the-metal-canister
milkshakes. But you’re on vacation, remember? You don’t care. Which is why, when you hit a truly great milkshake stop like
Gott’s, you proudly order an Espresso Bean shake with added Oreos. And, no, you don’t share. $; 933 Main St.; 707/963-3486.
Big Dipper, Missoula, MT. Classic shake shack atmosphere, down to the star-studded Big Dipper neon sign. But the milkshake flavors veer into the intriguingly
outré, like Mexican chocolate, cardamom, and chai. $; 631 S. Higgins Ave.; 406/543-5722. Also in Helena: 58 N. Last Chance Gulch; 406/513-1051.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
K&R Drive Inn, Rice Hill, OR (Sunset reader favorite; pictured). Oregonians venerate K&R shakes the way they do Mt. Hood, as a symbol of the state’s superiority. And while the drive-in
off Interstate 5 may not look like much, the shakes (70-plus flavors, made from local Umpqua ice cream)are deliciously overwhelming.
$; 201 John Long Rd.; 541/849-2570.
Sakuma Bros. Farms, Burlington, WA. In the Skagit Valley, Sakuma grows strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, and invites visitors to pick them and take
’em home. Great fun, but even better is rewarding yourself with a Sakuma’s fresh berry milkshake at the end of the day. $; 17790 Cook Rd.; 360/757-8004.
Shields Date Garden, Indio, CA. This beloved desert tourist attraction offers mango and mango-date shakes, but we stand by the classic Shields Date Shake,
insanely sweet yet not cloying. And, yes, they’re still playing their inimitable movie, The Romance and Sex Life of the Date. $; 80-225 State 111; 760/347-7768.
Photo by Andrea Gómez Romero
Park Cafe, St. Mary, MT (pictured). “Pie for strength” is the motto here, and we couldn’t put it any better. Because, let’s face it, even the most idyllic of
summer roadtrips have their stresses. The wrong turn, the misread map, the must-see natural wonder inexplicably closed for
the season. In those perilous why-did-we-go-on-this-vacation-and-by-the-way-why-am-I-married-to-you moments, what can make
things magically all right? Pie—warm, sweet fruit spilling out of tender crust. Pie—chocolate cream with a cumulus cloud of
whipped cream floating above. Pie, pie, pie. 3147 U.S. 89 W.; 406/732-4482.
Sunglow Family Restaurant, Bicknell, UT. The menu reads like a joke. Pinto bean pie? Sweet pickle? Sunglow has earned its rep for odd flavors—and, really, they’re
good. But if you’re not in the mood for exotic, dive into its tasty classics—the banana and coconut creams are especially
noteworthy. 91 E. Main St.; 435/425-3701.
Rock Springs Café, Rock Springs, AZ. “The Rock” has been in business here in Black Canyon since 1918, so it knows how to do classic road food right. The mesquite-smoked
pork ribs are fall-off-the-bone succulent; the chicken and biscuits wholesome yet indulgent, like what you’d get at a really
good church supper. Still, many travelers make the 45-mile drive from Phoenix for one thing: pie. Dozens of varieties are
arrayed in glass cases like diamonds at Tiffany’s, but tastier. Must-try: The Jack Daniel’s pecan and the rhubarb crumb. $; exit 242, 35769 S. Old Black Canyon Hwy.; 623/374-5794.
Photo by David Fenton
Anjou Bakery, Cashmere, WA. Pie perfection. Cherries or marionberries are encased in the world’s most buttery shortbread crust—imagine a whole pie wrapped
in a sweet, tender cookie, and you’re halfway there. 3898 Old Monitor Rd.; 509/782-4360.
Linn’s, Cambria, CA (Sunset reader favorite). Barely known outside California, the juicy, tart olallieberry stars in Linn’s pies, available at its farm store and the in-town
Easy as Pie Cafe. Store: 6275 Santa Rosa Creek Rd.; 805/927-8134. Cafe: 4251 Bridge St.; 805/924-3050.
Mom’s Apple Pie, Sebastopol, CA (pictured). Maybe your mom occasionally disappointed you. This mom never will. She shines with the local Sonoma County Gravenstein
apples, but don’t ignore summer favorites like rhubarb and peach. 4550 Gravenstein Hwy. N.; 707/823-8330.
Pine Country Restaurant, Williams, AZ. One of those breakfast-all-day kinds of places, where despite the knotty pine and lace curtain decor, the omelets are crêpe-slender
and elegant. More exuberant is the coconut cream pie: The towering slices come with a redundant side of whipped cream, which
you’ll eat anyway. Must-try: Not crazy about coconut? The Dutch apple is not to be sneered at. $$; 107 N. Grand Canyon Blvd.; 928/635-9718.
Photo by Kerrick James
ChocolaTree, Sedona, AZ. Raw, organic, and vegan cuisine is the emphasis here. But earnestness is easy to forget while eating buckwheat waffles dotted
with coconut cream and dark chocolate. What’s really worth the detour into West Sedona are the artisanal chocolates: raw;
sweetened with agave syrup, coconut sugar, or honey; and made on the premises with fair trade Ecuadoran cacao. Must-try: Mayan
spice chocolates (dark chocolate blended with chile peppers that were grown onsite). $; 1595 W. State 89A; 928/282-2997.
Black Cow Cafe, Sedona, AZ (pictured). It’s easy to overlook this ice cream spot because it’s jammed into uptown Sedona’s beehive of T-shirt shops, tour operators,
and time-share hustlers. But this folksy parlor makes its own rich, dense ice cream and crispy waffle cones. Must-try: The
prickly pear or malted vanilla. $; 229 N. State 89A; 928/203-9868.
Bright Angel Fountain, Bright Angel Lodge, Grand Canyon N.P.'s South Rim, AZ. Okay, the Dreyer’s ice cream is good but the same as you’d get at the supermarket back home. But back home, you can’t take
your cone out the door and lick it while gazing at the Grand Canyon. And that, for us, is one of the best vacation experiences
to be had anywhere. $; 928/638-2631.
Photo by David Fenton
You always had good reasons to drive State 83 along Windward and North Shore Oahu: the beaches at Kailua (President Obama’s
vacation spot), the world-class surf. But here’s the best reason of all: Hawaii’s tastiest, least expensive food.
It doesn’t get more Hawaiian—try laulau (taro-wrapped pork), lomi lomi salmon, and kulolo (sweet taro pudding) at the Holo Holo Stop ($; 47-528 Kamehameha Hwy.; 808/230-0062) in Kane‘ohe.
Then head up the road to open-air Surfin’ Tacos ($; 54-296 Kamehameha Hwy., Hau‘ula; 808/293-4440) for tacos island-style—laden with fresh fish, cilantro, and the joint’s Secret Surf Sauce.
The Famous Kahuku Shrimp Truck ($; 56-580 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku; 808/389-1173) may look like an abandoned vehicle, but it’s the best of the North Shore shrimp trucks, with butter-garlic shrimp shelled,
butterflied, and coated with caramelized garlic bits.
Or head to Hale‘iwa and Opal Thai (pictured; $; 66-460 Kamehameha Hwy.; 808/381-8091), whose Bangkok-born owner serves the island’s finest Thai.
For dessert, double back to Sunset Beach and Ted’s Bakery (59-024 Kamehameha Hwy.; 808/638-8207). The chocolate haupia (coconut milk) pie has been fortifying big-wave surfers for years.
Photo by David Fenton
New Mexico
Start just outside Santa Fe, where the breakfast-anytime San Marcos Café ($; 3877 State 14 N.; 505/471-9298) shines with superior cinnamon buns and startles with noisy resident peacocks. In Madrid, find tasty cones and shakes at Jezebel Soda Fountain (2860 State 14 N.; 866/539-3235), and good lattes at Java Junction (2855 State 14 N.; 505/438-2772). For buffalo burgers and a Harley-Davidson crowd, it’s the Mine Shaft Tavern ($; 2846 State 14 N.; 505/473-0743). Dinnertime? In Sandia Park, Pete’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina ($; 12540 State 14 N.; 505/281-0315) serves green-chile pasta with shrimp, and sopaipillas. For superior comfort food, try meat loaf or trout at Cedar Crest’s
Greenside Cafe ($; 12165 State 14 N.; 505/286-2684).
Oregon
Start the day with a cinnamon roll the size of a birthday cake at Heaven on Earth ($$; 703 Quines Creek Rd.; 541/837-3700) in Azalea. Next stops: Grants Pass, for local-beef burgers at Eddy’s ($; 956 Rogue River Hwy.; 541/479-8667). Then grab some jerky at Gary West Smoked Meats (690 N. Fifth St.; 541/899-1829) in Jacksonville. And double back for a blue cheese at Rogue Creamery (311 N. Front St.; 866/396-4704) in Central Point. Time for dessert. Take the road to Crater Lake National Park. On the way, you’ll hit Beckie’s Cafe (56484 State 62; 541/560-3563) in Prospect, famed for its berry pies.
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