The wait staff knows your name and order by heart. The coffee tastes like dirt some days, but you and your friends never seem to mind. And when your family comes into town for the holidays, you get excited to bring them to "your spot."
Diners are an American tradition, and everyone thinks his or her hometown's greasy spoon is the best.
For this list, we scoured Yelp reviews, local newspapers, and culinary awards to find the most popular and beloved diner in every state. We defined diner as a restaurant whose primary purpose is serving breakfast, and awarded bonus points to dives open 24-7.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
ALABAMA: Bogue's Restaurant
Named after owners Pat and Mildred Bogue, Bogue's Diner opened in 1938. Mildred's sweet roll recipe made the Birmingham diner famous. When plans to bulldoze the diner and build a chain drug store in its place took shape, the neighborhood and Bogue's regulars rallied to save it.
ALASKA: Snow City Cafe
Locals and tourists wait hours for a table at the Anchorage diner Snow City Cafe. The diner is so popular that it has 482 glowing reviews on Yelp. Diners come back time and time again for the cafe's original concoctions like crab omelets with a side of reindeer sausage.
ARIZONA: 5 & Diner
The 1950s-inspired 5 & Diner has six locations across the Grand Canyon state. Known for its shakes and malts, the 5 & Diner serves 12 signature burgers to choose from. The mouthwatering Big Bopper Burger contains double-decker beef patties, melted American cheese, and the special house sauce.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider