# Your Favourite Diner Meals **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [July 19, 2023, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241 "2023-07-19T07:32:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/1 "2023-07-19T07:32:50Z")
Just wondering what Dopers’ favourite diner meals are. For the purposes of this thread, “diner” refers to a place to get a meal. Nothing more, nothing less. It might be in a repurposed streetcar, or it might be a hole-in-the-wall in a streetfront of other businesses, but it’s a diner, with good, basic, North American meals. (Note 1.) Me, I’m fond of a grilled cheese sandwich, and tomato soup. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. A BLT sandwich and mushroom soup. And always, apple pie and coffee to complete the meal. What are your favourites? Note 1: By “North American,” I mean “US and Canada.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/2 "2023-07-19T07:34:48Z")
Chicken-fried steak breakfast with eggs and hashbrowns. Or, if I’m not in the mood for breakfast, fish (preferably battered halibut) and chips. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/3 "2023-07-19T07:36:35Z")
Usually a chicken club sandwich. It’s one of those deceptively simple dishes that’s just a royal PITA to make at home. If it’s a weekend morning, eggs benedict, for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/4 "2023-07-19T07:39:44Z")
Another vote for chicken fried steak. But everything (including gravy) has to be made from scratch. Also the steak itself has to be a reasonable portion. Don’t give me a steak bigger than my plate. That’s just ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/5 "2023-07-19T08:31:20Z")
Hashbrowns. Nobody makes a salty, greasy, crispy circle of potato goodness like a classic diner. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/6 "2023-07-19T09:02:50Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Hashbrowns. Preferably topped with grilled onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and white gravy. Denny’s used to call this “covered and smothered”, but I haven’t been there in several years and looking at their delivery menu it doesn’t seem to be a standard option anymore. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/7 "2023-07-19T09:09:01Z")
The Americana in Shrewsbury, NJ makes a perfect chicken cordon bleu. My favorite diner dish. In general a humble ham and swiss omelet is my go to at diners. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/8 "2023-07-19T10:22:34Z")
corned beef hash with eggs with A-1 ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/9 "2023-07-19T10:54:59Z")
Denver (or Western) omelet with hashbrowns, sourdough toast, and coffee. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/10 "2023-07-19T11:10:38Z")
Nothing beats a good diner breakfast. We go to [Marie’s Diner](https://www.maries-diner.com/) for an occasional treat (it’s more than 20 miles away, so not on our normal rotation.) Good food, good portions, attentive but not annoying servers, and Diet Coke (not Pepsi!!) Last time, I got the Country Benedict - definitely yum! We’ve not been there for other meals, yet… ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/11 "2023-07-19T11:20:54Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Hashbrowns. Nobody makes a salty, greasy, crispy circle of potato goodness like a classic diner. This is the way - another vote for hashbrowns, with a pair of fried eggs, a couple of sausage links, toast, and coffee. The perfect diner breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/12 "2023-07-19T13:32:22Z")
A patty melt. When going to a new diner the first/only time, it’s my go-to. If it’s not good, I won’t trust anything else sold by the restaurant, and will be unlikely to return. If the fries suck, the waitperson spills my non-sweetened iced tea on my lap, and the short order cook yells at me because I accidentally looked at him funny, but the patty melt is excellent, I’m likely to give the place another try! ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/13 "2023-07-19T13:45:13Z")
Greek Coney Islands are a thing here is the Detroit metro area, basically a diner with sme Greek food added. I’ve come to prefer getting a gyro and fries when I go there, its my latest favorite. For breakfast I go for the pork chop breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/14 "2023-07-19T14:08:06Z")
I have three go-to’s 1. A patty melt ! 2. Liver and onions 3. Eggs Benedict … all three are a pain to cook at home, just for me. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/15 "2023-07-19T14:57:42Z")
If I’m not doing breakfast for lunch/dinner (3 eggs, poached; well toasted sourdough toast, charred breakfast potatoes), then it is likely to be a BLT (on sourdough toast) and a bowl of chili. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/16 "2023-07-19T15:08:31Z")
I am very limited at a diner, having never enjoyed the ability to eat many foods Americans relish such as hamburgers, hotdogs, soda, sweet soft white buns, processed cheese, – it’s a long list and it isn’t because I’m a snob although I am, my palate just doesn’t accommodate these and hasn’t from day one. A safe meal at a diner for me is scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, rye toast hold the butter please. Coffee is tolerable if it is fresh and very hot. I can also usually eat a BLT. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/17 "2023-07-19T15:20:23Z")
Scrambled eggs, white toast (toasted lightly), crispy bacon, hash browns, & OJ Cheeseburger, fries, & Diet Coke Chocolate malt for dessert ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/18 "2023-07-19T15:22:02Z")
Turkey club and ice cream soda. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/19 "2023-07-19T15:23:26Z")
Club sandwich all the way. Not a chicken club, a deli meat turkey & ham club on white toast. Cut into 4, with a pickle, and hopefully some steak fries. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241/20 "2023-07-19T15:26:10Z")
Turkey and ham club sandwich toasted on white bread here too, hold the tomato. Yes fries. Yes dill pickle on the side, and a glass of (unsweetened) iced tea. And could we get a couple more napkins, please? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-diner-meals/987241.md?page=2)