OKLAHOMA –
A new cookbook celebrating the upcoming Route 66 centennial is highlighting some of Oklahoma’s most iconic roadside restaurants and the recipes that have made them favorites for generations.
Recipe developer Linda Lee’s Route 66 Cookbook features restaurants from all eight states along the historic highway, including a chapter dedicated to Oklahoma.
“It actually surprised me,” Lee said. “Route 66 was the first time that I’d ever been anywhere in Oklahoma, and I had a really great time.”
Lee traveled the entire Mother Road with her family in an RV, stopping at restaurants across Oklahoma to collect recipes and hear the stories behind them.
“I was in Tulsa, and then I was in a place like El Reno,” Lee said. “Everywhere I went, no matter where it was, the people were so hospitable. I just really enjoyed the Southern hospitality, the friendliness.”
Linda Lee
Which Oklahoma Restaurants Are Featured?
The Oklahoma chapter includes recipes from:
- Clanton’s Cafe in Vinita
- El Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant in Tulsa
- Duet Jazz Bistro in Tulsa
- Rock Cafe in Stroud
- Pops in Arcadia
- Classen Grill in Oklahoma City
- Green Chile Kitchen in Yukon
- Sid’s Diner in El Reno
- Lucille’s Roadhouse in Weatherford
- Country Dove Gift & Tea Room in Elk City
Signature Oklahoma Recipes
Among the featured dishes are several longtime customer favorites, including:
- Green Chile Kitchen’s pozole and green chile apple pie
- Rock Cafe’s oatmeal pie, often called “poor man’s pecan pie”
- Lucille’s Roadhouse’s fried pork chop with jalapeño gravy
- Country Dove Gift & Tea Room’s French silk pie
Green Chile Kitchen owner Pam Henry said the restaurant’s green chile apple pie stood out because it’s unlike anything most people have tried.
“It’s super unique,” Henry said. “People love it.”
At Rock Cafe in Stroud, owner Misty Daniels said being included in the cookbook was an unexpected honor.
“We don’t advertise anywhere, so you hear about us from word of mouth,” Daniels said. “We feel really lucky and blessed when we get put in something like this.”
The Rock Cafe, which first opened in 1939, continues serving homemade comfort food while preserving the feel of a classic Route 66 diner.
“We are still doing the same thing they were doing in 1939, just talking to people and telling stories,” Daniels said.
Oklahoma’s Route 66 Culture Stands Out
After traveling all 2,400 miles of Route 66, Lee said Oklahoma left a lasting impression.
“I think you’re doing an amazing job,” Lee said. “I think Oklahoma is really selling its culture and the history that it has on Route 66. It really gives people a good feel for the whole vibe and the flavor of the road.”
The cookbook arrives as Oklahoma prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026, giving travelers another way to experience the Mother Road, either by recreating the recipes at home or visiting the restaurants themselves.
