Nebraska Diners & Cafes
Nebraska's diners, cafes and small-town bars still serve the plates people drive for: chicken-fried steak, coney dogs, big burgers and pie. This guide lists places across the state that are open in 2026, grouped by region and listed alphabetically — it is not a ranking.
Small-town cafes often close early or on Sundays and some take cash only, so call ahead.
By region: Omaha Area · Lincoln and Eastern Nebraska · Central Nebraska · North and Sandhills
Omaha Area
Good Lookin'
Omaha · 4919 Underwood Ave. (Dundee) · 402-590-2111
Christian Brabec opened Good Lookin' in Dundee in February 2021, mixing diner classics with updated breakfast dishes; lunch is served until 2 p.m. A second location is in west Omaha near 168th and Center.
Harold's Koffee House
Omaha · 8327 N. 30th St. · 402-451-9776
Harold Halstead opened this counter-service coffee shop in the 1960s in the Florence area. Daily specials go up on a whiteboard, and it is known for its "Fluffy Cakes" pancakes.
Lisa's Radial Cafe
Omaha · 817 N. 40th St. · 402-551-2176
A diner has filled this brick building since 1940, first as the H & H Grill and later the Radial Cafe; Lisa and Cliff Schembri bought it in 2000 and the family still runs it. It is known for oversized pancakes, skillets and chicken-fried steak.
Nite Hawkes Cafe
Omaha · 4825 N. 16th St.
Dan and Alice Hawkes opened the cafe in 1942, and four generations of the family have run it. It serves large home-style plates at modest prices.
Saddle Creek Breakfast Club
Omaha · 8734 Pacific St.
Chef Chase Thomsen's brunch restaurant began on North Saddle Creek Road and moved to Countryside Village at 87th and Pacific in 2024, keeping its pink neon sign and Mexican-influenced breakfast plates.
Shirley's Diner
Omaha · 13838 R Plaza
A west Omaha breakfast-and-lunch diner opened in 1992, one of the few still serving liver and onions and hot beef plates.
Stella's Bar & Grill
Bellevue · 106 Galvin Rd. S · 402-291-6088
Estelle "Stella" Tobler opened a tavern in her Bellevue house in 1936 and moved it to the Galvin Road building in 1949. Her great-great-niece runs it now, and the burgers are still hand-pressed and cooked on a cast-iron grill. Closed Sundays.
Lincoln and Eastern Nebraska
Bob's Bar & Grill
Martinsburg · 5205 Main St. · 402-945-2995
Bob Lamprecht started Bob's in 1977 and created its big burger, an 11-ounce patty; his daughter Bobbi Keil has run it since 2020. Before that the family ran it as Dowling's Bar. Cash or check only.
Chances "R" Restaurant & Lounge
York · 124 W. 5th St. · 402-362-7755
It began in 1932 as the Cozy Lunch; Raymond and Shirley Reetz bought it in 1957 and grew it into a complex seating about 550. Bryan and Renee Jantz have owned it since 2021.
Glur's Tavern
Columbus · 2301 11th St. · 402-564-8615
Opened about 1876 as the Bucher Saloon, Glur's is billed as the oldest continuously operating tavern west of the Missouri and is on the National Register. A small kitchen serves burgers and a daily special, and there is a beer garden.
Hi-Way Diner
Lincoln · 2105 Nebraska Pkwy. · 402-423-6066
A throwback diner on Lincoln's Nebraska Parkway for more than 30 years, decorated with antiques and neon. It serves breakfast all day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with chicken-fried steak and hot beef sandwiches. Food Network named it to a classic-diner list in 2025.
Scotty's Bar & Grill
Marquette · 416 Marquis Ave. · 402-854-2009
A small-town Hamilton County bar and grill serving familiar favorites, chosen as a stop on the 2026 Nebraska Passport Heartland Eats tour.
Central Nebraska
Coney Island Lunch Room
Grand Island · 104 E. 3rd St. · 308-382-7155
The Katrouzos family has run this downtown lunchroom since 1933. Its coney dogs are topped with finely ground loose meat, chili seasoning, mustard and onion, with fresh-cut fries and malts. Weekdays and Saturday daytime.
Lee's Crossroads Cafe
Arapahoe · 656 Chestnut St. · 308-962-7979
A full-service cafe in Furnas County with classic American plates and some international dishes, chosen for the 2026 Nebraska Passport Heartland Eats tour.
The Speakeasy
Sacramento · 72993 S Road · 308-995-4757
A red-brick steakhouse in the ghost town of Sacramento, a gravel-road drive from Holdrege, run by chef Ryan Puls. Open Tuesday through Saturday evenings; reservations recommended.
North and Sandhills
Covered Wagon Drive In
Gordon · 327 N. Main St. · 308-282-0120
A drive-in on Gordon's Main Street serving burgers, tacos and ice cream, with outdoor seating; a stop on the 2026 Nebraska Passport Heartland Eats tour.
Green Gables of Pleasant Valley
Orchard · Near Ashfall Fossil Beds · 402-340-5245
A seasonal restaurant and gift shop in a red barn near Ashfall, open since 1992, with burgers, broasted chicken and homemade pie.
Longhorn Saloon & Grill
Harrison · 168 Main St. · 308-668-2112
A saloon in Harrison, near the Wyoming line, that revived the Coffee Burger, created at Sioux Sundries in the 1970s, as an eating challenge.
The Lunch Box
Orchard · 221 E. 2nd St. · 402-893-2111
A longtime Orchard cafe that ran for a while as Sugarz; the Shabram family bought it and brought back the Lunch Box name on January 12, 2026. It serves home-style meals and noon specials.
Monowi Tavern
Elsie Eiler, Monowi's only resident, has run the tavern since 2004, serving burgers and drinks to travelers. Call ahead.
Shamrock Salebarn Cafe
O'Neill · 49313 Salebarn Rd. · 402-336-8550
The cafe at the Shamrock Livestock Market sale barn on the east side of O'Neill serves home-cooked meals and a daily salad bar.
Recently closed
Embers Bakery and Cafe in McCook, the former Sehnert's Bakery, closed in October 2025; Sioux Sundries in Harrison, birthplace of the Coffee Burger, has closed.
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