atlanta good eats tagged interest

Truck drivers, night shift workers, and chronic late-night road trippers have probably felt the effects of the unfortunate decline of the 24-hour restaurant since the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. In fact, citing data collected via Yelp, The Food Institute reported in 2024 that the amount of 24/7 restaurants in the United States had dropped by a whopping 18%, with the percentage being even higher in some metropolitan areas like Los Angeles.

For those of us who rely on late-night dining to accommodate our irregular schedules, the loss of round-the-clock restaurants is, in a word, devastating. However, I'm happy to report that all is not lost — each U.S. state has at least one 24/7 dining option available, and many boast multiple, whether in the form of a popular national chain or an old-timey diner that's been around for decades. To choose the 50 best spots around the country, I considered menu selection, the accessibility of each location, and the number of positive online customer reviews. So, whether you're in need of a quick late-night pit stop or a spot to cater to your midnight cravings, these 24-hour restaurants will be happy to accommodate you.

Customers who frequent Delaware's Wilmington Diner, formerly known as the Marsh Road Diner, seem to particularly appreciate the large portions the diner serves up, even saying that they get two meals out of a dinner. The restaurant has an expansive menu with breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, and even seafood. Though the diner is open around the clock most days of the week, it does close from 9 p.m. Sundays to 6 a.m. Mondays.

wilmingtondinerde.com

(302) 762-6030

407 Marsh Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809

Our next pick is one of the oldest eateries in Fort Lauderdale, having been around for over 70 years. The Floridian Diner's menu is, in a word, massive — and it can likely satisfy whatever craving hits you in the middle of the night, whether you're in the mood for breakfast, sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, or seafood. It even offers five different types of meatloaf, which include Italian, Mexican, Spanish, or extra-cheesy twists.

thefloridiandiner.com

(954) 463-4041

1410 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Upscale Hawaii services the Honolulu area 24/7, and loyal customers are grateful for its extensive hours. Given that some Yelp reviewers note long wait times, coming at nighttime may even be your best bet if you want to get a quick meal on the go. Boasting a 4-star rating, the restaurant is generally popular among online reviewers, who say it gives generous portion sizes. Those who love the quality of the dishes recommend the garlic rib eye steak, teri burgers and fries, and fried saimin.

upscalehi.com

(808) 842-0344

1333 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96819

Located in Chicago, Illinois, Griddle 24 has a menu as long as your arm, and the pictures on its website and in Yelp reviews make everything look positively scrumptious. Customers seem to agree with this conclusion, with one patron calling Griddle 24 "probably the best [late-night] diner I've ever been to!" Diners seem to be particularly impressed with the restaurant's breakfast menu options, as well as the four Reuben sandwich offerings, which include turkey and a corned beef-pastrami combo.

griddle24.com

(872) 259-9602

334 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

You may have heard of Perkins American Food Co. before, as the chain has locations all over the nation. And if you've ever driven through Iowa in the middle of the night looking for a spot to eat, you may have happened upon one of the 24-hour Perkins locations in the state. These spots tend to get positive reviews from diners, who praise the consistently great quality of the food — think American comfort food — and applaud the chain's friendly service.

perkinsrestaurants.com

Multiple locations in Iowa

If you've ever been to Wichita, Kansas, you may have noticed that it's pretty devoid of 24-hour eateries, save for Rene's Mexican Restaurant. Though reviews of Rene's seem to be pretty hit or miss, this spot has a huge menu on which we're pretty sure you could find something to your liking. Customers who enjoyed their meals have ordered such dishes as the Colorado burrito, the carne asada tacos, and the supreme quesadilla.

facebook.com/nelicastro25

(316) 260-5333

677 N Eisenhower St, Wichita, KS 67212

Are you a fan of po'boys who has just so happened to find yourself on a late-night jaunt around New Orleans, Louisiana? If so, we highly recommend you stop in at one of Melba's locations and treat yourself. The small chain has garnered a great reputation thanks to its plethora of positive mentions in the press — and customers seem to agree with this sentiment. Check out the restaurant's online reviews, and you'll find that its daquiris are an unexpected favorite among patrons.

melbas.com

Multiple locations in New Orleans, LA

Unless you've held a long-time aversion to fast food joints, it's a safe bet you've eaten at Burger King at least a couple times in your life. And if you're ever looking for an always-open eatery in Maine, you may be stuck with the international chain as your only available option. Don't despair, though; if you aren't a fast food fan, and therefore can't find anything appealing on the menu, it may be worth it to give one of Burger King's secret menu items a try.

bk.com

Multiple locations in Maine

Boston, Massachusetts' South Street Diner has been around since the 1940s. It was founded to cater to working-class individuals and their often wonky hours, and it's still open 24/7 to this day. Customers are generally happy with what they order at the diner, and one Yelp reviewer in particular gave high praise to the restaurant's vegan chicken tenders, noting how they've never seen that option on a menu. The pancakes also seem to be a popular choice among patrons.

southstreetdiner.com

(617) 350-0028

178 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

Natives of Ann Arbor, Michigan, especially students at the University of Michigan who have found themselves trapped in late-night schoolwork, have probably found themselves at the Fleetwood Diner at least once or twice. Its small, eccentric interior would be reason enough for us to pop in, and the diner's pretty decent online reviews seem to make this spot worth a visit. If you go, expect greasy spoon food that's well-priced for what you get.

orderfleetwooddiner.com

(734) 995-5502

300 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

We've previously lamented Whataburger's lack of hot sauce, but that's not enough to keep us from visiting one of the chain's 24-hour locations the next time we need a late bite in Mississippi. With several locations open 24/7 around The Magnolia State, it's a no-brainer stop for a quick meal on a nighttime road trip. Never been to Whataburger? On your first visit, try a classic burger with some of the chain's famed Fancy Ketchup.

whataburger.com

Multiple locations in Mississippi

Town-Topic Hamburgers has been a Kansas City, Missouri staple since it was founded in 1937, with some locals staying loyal to the establishment after growing up on its burgers. Though the restaurant now has three locations around the city, only its location in the Crossroads Art District is open around the clock. If you ever find yourself craving a late-night bite at Town-Topic Hamburgers, be prepared to take your order to go, as some reviewers say the dining room isn't open all night.

towntopic.com

(816) 842-2298

2021 Broadway St, Kansas City, MO 64108

Among the highest-rated selections on our list is Shellie's Country Café in Helena, Montana, whose slogan is: "Nothing fancy, just good food." Several online reviews mention the familial feel of the diner, which is comforting to hear — after all, there's no place better for late-night eats than in the kitchen of a long-lost relative. In addition to the welcoming atmosphere, diners also note the generous portion sizes for what you pay, and reviews regarding the quality of the food are overwhelmingly positive.

shelliescountrycafe.com

(406) 442-0033

1803 Cedar St, Helena, MT 59601

Abelardo's Mexican Fresh has well over a dozen locations in and around Omaha, Nebraska, but only a few spots are open 24/7 — so make sure to check your proposed location's hours before heading in. The chain has an extensive menu that even includes such items as rice bowls and fruit drinks. Locals who are regulars seem to be particularly impressed by the amount of food you receive for the price, though online reviews are somewhat mixed.

abelardosmexicanfood.com

Multiple locations in Omaha, NE

Located inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas is Grand Lux Cafe, which we consider to be the best of the 24-hour eateries in Nevada. Its 4.5-star rating with over 7,000 Google reviews seems to back this up. Reviewers almost universally applaud the high quality of the food, which ranges from American to international-inspired dishes, and the excellent service they received. Even diners that mention a long wait (either to be seated or to get their food) tend to say that the wait was well worth it.

grandluxcafe.com

(702) 414-3888

3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

The first location of The Red Arrow Diner opened in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1922. Since then, it's expanded to include a total of four locations around The Granite State, all of which are open around the clock except for its Concord location, which is only open 24/7 on the weekends. Customers who enjoyed eating at the diner mention the consistently good quality of the food, with a few even saying that they consider The Red Arrow Diner to be the epitome of an American diner.

redarrowdiner.com

Multiple locations in New Hampshire

If you ever find yourself fiending for food at 2 a.m. in New Mexico, we have some good news — there's probably an open Del Taco location near you where you can grab a quick bite. Yes, most New Mexico locations of the popular chain are open 24/7, which is good news for late-night Mexican food lovers. Never been to Del Taco and need to make a decision on the fly? Go with the national chain's widely loved fish taco or bean and cheese burrito, or try something off of Del Taco's value menu.

deltaco.com

Multiple locations in New Mexico

The quaint interior of Charlotte, North Carolina's Midnight Diner is enough to make us want to go there any hour of the day, and it's a pure bonus that this spot is open 24/7. Customer reviews back up this sentiment, with many praising the diner's cute, old-timey interior. If you find yourself there and are wondering what to get, many reviewers also say that the pancakes are delicious.

midnightdinercharlotte.com

(980) 207-3641

420 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Founded in 1983, My Friends Restaurant offers 24/7 service to locals in Cleveland, Ohio, though we must mention its own disclaimer that offerings may differ between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Though it doesn't look like a bakery at first glance, several reviews mention the restaurant's fabulous dessert selection (think layer cakes, cheesecakes, and pies, with one happy diner even mentioning baklava) as a must-try when you come in. Also notable by customers are the restaurant's stellar service and its various sandwich selections.

myfriendsrestaurant.com

(216) 221-2575

11616 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102

24-hour restaurants in Oregon are minimal, but if you ever find yourself needing a late-night bite in Portland, you'll likely end up giving Tik Tok Restaurant andamp; Bar a try. Though customers who tried the restaurant for Thanksgiving left unimpressed, folks looking for a dive bar seem generally satisfied, with one reviewer noting the heavy pour of the spot's cocktails. Service, however, seems hit or miss, so you might not go to this spot expecting to be treated like family.

tiktokrestaurant.com

Multiple locations in Portland, OR

If you need to make a late-night food stop in Rhode Island, we hope you're near Providence, because the town's local IHOP is your only bet for around-the-clock eats in the whole state. Luckily, the plethora of IHOP locations around the country make it likely that you've dined at one before; if you haven't, it's a pretty consistent pancake place that will always serve up some solid offerings. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if the unexpected ingredient used in IHOP's omelets makes them your new favorite late-night comfort food.

ihop.com

(401) 626-4314

45 Pleasant Valley Pkwy, Providence, RI 02908

Our pick for the best 24-hour restaurant in Texas goes to Café Brazil, which has five locations open 24/7 in the Dallas area. Online reviews of the small chain's location on the N Central Expressway consistently mention the spot's bottomless coffee offering, which we love to see at a diner. Though reviews regarding service are mixed, it seems that weekends get undeniably busy, and that you should expect service to be a bit slow if the place is packed — which shouldn't be a problem if you go at nighttime.

cafebrazil.com

Multiple locations in Dallas, TX

We were hoping to be able to avoid international chain McDonald's on this list, but the fast food joint is the only 24-hour restaurant open in Vermont and is therefore the best option available when the 3 a.m. munchies hit. We're sure you already have a go-to McDonald's menu item or two, but if you need a kick of caffeine and want to try something new, we'd recommend giving this iced coffee milkshake hack a try.

mcdonalds.com

Multiple locations in Vermont

Texas Tavern has been serving the citizens of Roanoke, Virginia 24-hour eats since 1930. Known for its Cheesy Western, a cheeseburger with an egg, this spot seems to be a popular local haunt. A quick glance at its menu showcases stunningly low prices, and online reviewers agree, with many applauding the good bang-for-your-buck value of Texas Tavern. Food aside, customers even say that dining here feels like going back in time, making it a must-visit the next time we find ourselves in Roanoke.

texastavern-inc.com

(540) 342-4825

114 Church Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011

Our pick for the best 24-hour eatery of West Virginia has two locations, one in the north and one in the south of the state — giving you a couple chances to try Omelet Shoppe if you're traveling along Route 77. Reviewers of the Beckley location compare the restaurant to Waffle House, but perhaps even better (which is high praise in our book). If you stop in, do yourself a favor and try one of the restaurant's titular omelets.

theomeletshoppe.com

Multiple locations in West Virginia

As previously noted, the number of 24-hour restaurants has severely decreased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that, unfortunately, in some states, there was only one 24-hour restaurant to recommend. For those that have multiple 24/7 options, I took into account the restaurants' locations and menu selections, as well as Yelp and Google reviews. If an establishment is more easily accessible (i.e. if it's in a city), it gained a higher ranking than more out-of-the-way spots in that state; and restaurants with a decent variety of menu items got the mention over those with limited food and drink offerings.

Of course, customer satisfaction played a key role in selecting which spots made the list. So, I took into account both the average rating as well as the amount of online diner reviews when choosing which 24-hour eateries to include.