The Route 66 Cookbook.

The Route 66 Cookbook by Linda Ly

The Route 66 Cookbook.

My newest book celebrates 100 years of the most recognizable roadway in the United States. This unique compilation of recipes honors American transportation history with a focus on the food and restaurants that define Americana, encouraging you to explore new flavors from the Midwest to the West Coast.

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About the book.

Discover fascinating historical facts about the Mother Road’s early days and meet local legends that keep the spirit of Route 66 alive. Starting in Chicago, Illinois, and traveling over 2,400 miles to the endpoint in Santa Monica, California, you’ll make delicious pit stops in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

With stunning photography at every stop along the way, The Route 66 Cookbook gets you off the interstate and onto the Main Street of America for the ultimate road trip and culinary adventure. Whether you’re craving burgers and pies or Tex-Mex and Asian fusion, you can sample it all—even when you’re not on the road.

  • Recipe page inside The Route 66 Cookbook
  • Recipe page inside The Route 66 Cookbook
  • Recipe page inside The Route 66 Cookbook
  • Recipe page inside The Route 66 Cookbook
  • Recipe page inside The Route 66 Cookbook
  • Recipe page inside The Route 66 Cookbook

    • This book is perfect for the person who has it all

    What is great is that the author ACTUALLY packed up her kids and hubs, loaded up the RV and drove ALL of Route 66 from Santa Monica, CA to Chicago, IL to find the restaurants and diners in this book, to speak to the chefs and to find out what is keeping the Route still alive.

    Part love letter to the nostalgia lore of Route 66, part fusion cookbook, part history of traveling across country, this book is perfect for the person who has it all or loves cookbooks that bring a different part of the world to you. The pictures will have you hunkering to get into the kitchen, and most of the recipes are fairly simple, from pantry items, or ones that are now easily accessible. Having travelled the Route many times, I would say she found many of my favorites, and a few new ones that I can’t wait to go find!

     —bless their hearts mom

    What’s inside.

    Every one of my books is packed with helpful resources (such as recommended tools, brands, and kitchen techniques), useful tips and ingredient substitutions, and beautiful photos of what your dish will actually look like when you make it. Here’s what else you can find inside.

    • 66+ recipes
    • Hundreds of original photos of the landscapes, restaurants, and food that define Route 66 today
    • Hardcover, 192 pages
    • Published by Harvard Common Press
    • ISBN: 076039363X
    • Release date: October 28, 2025
    • Introduction
    • Kitchen Standards
    • Route 66 Map
    • Illinois
    • Missouri
    • Kansas
    • Oklahoma
    • Texas
    • New Mexico
    • Arizona
    • California
    • Contributors
    • Route 66 Associations
    • Custom hand-drawn map of Route 66 destinations featured in the book
    • Colorful stories of the iconic places and people that embody Route 66
    • The truth behind the famous “midpoint” of Route 66
    • How to find the actual beginning and end of the historic road
    • “At-Home Tips,” chefs’ tips, and other helpful suggestions for ingredient substitutions and cooking techniques
    • Directory of Route 66 associations and every restaurant featured in the book
    • And more!

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    Recipe Index

    • Grilled Thick French Toast: Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant & Bakery
    • Apple Strudel: The Berghoff
    • Dátiles con Almendras: Mercat a la Planxa at The Blackstone
    • Smoke-Filled-Room Cocktail: Mercat a la Planxa at The Blackstone
    • Sautéed Chicken Livers: Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket
    • Crispy Chicken Adobo Wings: Lola’s
    • Morel Mushroom Pie: Maldaner’s Restaurant
    • Docs S’mores Sundae: Docs Just Off 66
    • Strawberry Whipped Cheesecake: The Ariston Cafe
    • Butter Spritz Cookies: Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant
    • Weezy’s Coleslaw: Weezy’s Route 66 Bar & Grill
    • Heavenly Hash: Crown Candy Kitchen
    • Heart-Stopping BLT: Crown Candy Kitchen
    • Curly-Q Dog: Carl’s Drive-In
    • French Onion Soup: Historic Big Chief Roadhouse
    • Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup: Weir on 66
    • Cucumber and Onions: Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que
    • Beef Rub and Rib Rub: Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que
    • Blackberry Wine Cake: St. James Winery
    • Bang Bang Burger: Hoppers Pub
    • The Vernon—The Ultimate Route 66 Burger: College Street Cafe
    • Mom’s Yeast Rolls: Rise & Grind Coffee Station
    • Beans and Corn Bread: The Carthage Deli
    • Goulash: Streetcar Station Coffee Shop
    • Roast Beef Sandwich: Nelson’s Old Riverton Store
    • The Voodoo Child Pizza: Bricks & Brews WOodfire Grill & Pub
    • Egg Cream: Monarch Pharmacy and Soda Fountain
    • Calf Fries: Clanton’s Cafe
    • Chile Colorado: El Rancho Grande Mexican Food
    • Chef’s Special Pastel: Doctor Kustom Bistro
    • Poor Man’s Pecan Pie, a.k.a. Oatmeal Pie: Rock Cafe
    • Späetzle: Rock Cafe
    • Root Beer Bread Pudding: Pops 66
    • Green Chile Grit Cakes: Classen Grill
    • Posole: Green Chile Kitchen
    • Green Chile Apple Pie: Green Chile Kitchen
    • Onion Fried Burger: Sid’s Diner
    • Lucille’s Jalapeño Fried Pork Chops: Lucille’s Roadhouse
    • French Silk Pie: Country Dove Gifts & Tea Room
    • Mashed Potatoes: The Big Texan Steak Ranch
    • GoldenLight Cafe Chili: The GoldenLight Cafe & Cantina
    • Bobby’s Egg Custard Pie: Mama Jo’s Pies & Sweets
    • The Elvis Ugly Crust Pie: Midpoint Cafe
    • Del’s Rellenos: Del’s Restaurant
    • New Mexican Posole: Silver Moon Cafe
    • Chiles Rellenos de Camarón: La Plazuela at La Fonda on the Plaza
    • Tattooed Lady and Sonoran Dog: Clowndog Hot Dog Parlor
    • Super Burger: Western View Diner & Steakhouse
    • House Salsa: Brown Mug Cafe
    • Halibut Ceviche: The Turquoise Room at La Posada Hotel
    • Pork Wiener Schnitzel: Westside Lilo’s
    • Rack of Raccoon: The Roadkill Cafe
    • Greek Sandwich: Rutherford’s 66 Family Diner
    • Albert’s Ham Sandwich: Roy’s Motel & Cafe
    • Strawberry Margarita Pie: Chiquita Rosita’s
    • Chocolate Malt: Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain
    • Smoke and Peaches: La Cuevita
    • Sticky Short Rib Noodles: The Formosa Cafe
    • Wok Fried Rice with Pork Belly: The Formosa Cafe
    • The Route 66 Pup: Tail o’ the Pup
    • Grandma’s Chicken Soup: Mel’s Drive-In
    • KHEE to My Success: The Lobster
    • Seared Mushrooms with Scallion-Ginger Drizzle: The Lobster
    • Grilled Maine Lobster with Lemon Garlic Herb Butter: The Lobster
    • Ahi Tuna Crudo with Kohlrabi: The Misfit
    • Spicy Seafood Soup: The Albright

    Praise for The Route 66 Cookbook

    Early press reviews

    • Linda Ly has created a delightful guidebook in addition to highlighting recipes from a range of eateries along the United States’ historic Route 66. Not all are from the midcentury golden era of the highway (a number are more recent), and there’s something for every taste, with the restaurant recipes adapted for home cooks and kitchens. Some recipes are more intricate than others, so the entries work for a range of cooking abilities and offer a varied menu.

      The book includes brief histories of the restaurants and their owners, offering fun facts (such as which ones inspired characters in the Pixar movie Cars) and shows people carrying on family businesses, making it a good read for anyone who enjoys on-the-road narratives. This is a great pick for armchair travelers and road-trip enthusiasts, as it weaves in some nostalgia while also describing new tastes and ideas from quirky stops across the U.S.
      —library journal
    • The magic of a memory-making Route 66 odyssey is the people met along the way, the time capsule diners, and the meals shared with friends and fellow adventurers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could keep those memories fresh or share them with friends after the trip along the Main Street of America ends?

      Well, that is exactly what Linda Ly Taylor makes possible with The Route 66 Cookbook, a delightful blending of history, trivia, and the special recipes that have transformed some Route 66 treasures into must stop destinations for the Route 66 traveler. This is no mere cookbook. It is the ultimate souvenir for the Route 66 enthusiast or armchair traveler that wants to bring a bit of the Route 66 magic into their kitchen. 
      —JIM HINCKLEY, author of route 66: 100 years
    • What is great is that the author ACTUALLY packed up her kids and hubs, loaded up the RV and drove ALL of Route 66 from Santa Monica, CA to Chicago, IL to find the restaurants and diners in this book, to speak to the chefs and to find out what is keeping the Route still alive.

      Part love letter to the nostalgia lore of Route 66, part fusion cookbook, part history of traveling across country, this book is perfect for the person who has it all or loves cookbooks that bring a different part of the world to you. The pictures will have you hunkering to get into the kitchen, and most of the recipes are fairly simple, from pantry items, or ones that are now easily accessible. Having travelled the Route many times, I would say she found many of my favorites, and a few new ones that I can’t wait to go find!
      —bless their hearts mom
    • Just in time for the highway’s centennial celebration, The Route 66 Cookbook highlights 66 recipes from the best stops along Route 66 compiled by author Linda Ly.

      This book is an armchair traveler’s fun read and also a good way to plan your own road trip filled with anecdotes, eateries, and recipes.

      Even if you don’t make the drive on Route 66 in your lifetime, you can cook your way down the road and remember this is one of the historic treasures of America we hope will continue to survive despite modernization and budget cuts.
      —melanie young, host of fearless fabulous you
    • When I was first asked to write a blurb in support of The Route 66 Cookbook, my first thought was, “Do we really need another thematic book based on Route 66?” but then I go to reading and realized that Linda Ly’s new addition to the plethora of books out there that celebrate the Mother Road was unique.

      Better than that, it was useful, informative, and a fun, fresh addition that showcases a ton of really great eateries and tasty recipes. With so much on the market, buyers should be careful about what they invest in when seeking the better know and understand Route 66, but The Route 66 Cookbook, is without a doubt, a book that should be confidently added to your collection.”
      —BRENNEN MATTHEWS, Editor-in-chief at route magazine
    • One of the great joys of cruising Route 66 is experiencing local culture—and that includes food! Linda Ly has crafted a culinary journey that is about more than stereotypical diners and classic roadside fare. It’s an exploration of the American Dream by way of small businesses and vibrant cuisine, couched in the stories that make them special. You’ll want to make every recipe in here, then set out on your own to see what else you can find.
      —Rhys martin, author of lost restaurants of tulsa
    • Linda Ly has nailed it with this well-informed and eye-pleasing treasure chest of scrumptious recipes. From Strawberry Whipped Cheesecake in Illinois to Spicy Seafood Soup in California, herein you will find the very best from the boulevards and backroads of America’s legendary highway. Buy it!
      —jim ross & shellee graham, authors of route 66—the first 100 years

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