Local (and/or healthy) eating between Cincinnati and Albuquerque

Hey, hope you can help. We're driving from Cincinnati to Albuquerque on August 9th, passing through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas along the way. We're stopping over in Lebanon, Missouri and Amarillo, TX. We're sticking to major interstates due to time constraints, but are happy to hop off onto smaller roads if it'll help us find great places to eat. We prefer organic, locally-grown or raised food BUT will definitely make exceptions as long as it's home-cooking. NO CHAINS! We love meat, so no problem there (bring on the BBQ!) Hoping you can help - thanks!!! - Amy

A must stop would be "The Big Texan" on I-40 in Amarillo, Texas. Known the world over for their 72oz. steak. It's free if you can finish it and all the fixuns within 60 minutes.
http://www.bigtexan.com

Well, in Oklahoma must stops are Sid's in El Reno, just west of Oklahoma City, for the onion burger, and T-Bone Steak House in Weatherford for the chicken fried steak and the strip steak. Before you get to Albequerque take a hitch up to Santa Fe for a green chile cheeseburger at the Bobcat Bite.
 
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Overview/133/sids
 
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Overview/1385/bobcat-bite

For that onion burger I also recommend Sid's...
 
See why on the same trip report thread.
 
The Big Texan is also reported on here.
 
http://www.roadfood.com/F...er-places-m657646.aspx

Welcome to the board, Amy
 
Are you in Berlin Germany or in Cincinnati Ohio?

In Oklahoma City, OK take Exit 139 off I 40 N to Kilpatrick Turnpike. Go 5 miles and take Highway 66 E. Go 6 miles to Ann's Chicken Fry House for outstanding road food for lunch or dinner. When you get your fill of good fried chicken go E less than a mile to I 44 and go S to I 40 about 3/4 miles to I 40. Get over in your left lane going S and take the I 40 E ramp to I 40 E. For outstanding BBQ get off I 40 at Exit 150 A and go N on S Walker Ave. Take your second left on Reno and go E to Oklahoma. Take a right on Oklahoma and go to S E 2nd. Take a right and go to Johnny Bench Drive to Earl's BBQ. You can see Earl's from I 40 but it sure is difficult to reach. The BBQ makes it worth the effort.
You may want good ole country food for breakfast or lunch or a fine steak for dinner. Cattlemen's Steakhouse located in the Oklahoma Stockyards offers outstanding road food and it's the most convenient location off I 40 in Oklahoma City, OK. Get off I 40 at Exit 148 A and go S on S Agnew Ave. to Cattlemen's Steakhouse. I would have a hard time trying to choose between fried chicken, BBQ or Cattlemen's country food.
Ann's Chicken Fry House @ 4106 Northwest 39th St., Oklahoma City, OK 405 - 943 - 8915.
Earl's Rib Palace @ 216 Johnny Bench Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 405 - 272 - 9898.
http://www.earlsribpalace.com/
Cattlemen's Steakhouse @ 1309 South Agnew Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 405 - 236 - 0416.
http://cattlemensrestaurant.com/
Get off I 40 in Amarillo, TX at Exit 68 B to Georgia St. Turn N and go to Frontage Road. Take a left then take your first right on S Kentucky to Dyer's BBQ for outstanding road food for lunch or dinner.
Dyer's BBQ @ 1619 South Kentucky St., Amarillo, TX 806 - 358 - 7104.
Get off I 40 at Exit 332 in Tucumcari, NY and go N on S 1st St. to Tucumcari Blvd. Take a right and go to Kix on 66 for good road food for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Kix on 66 @ 1102 East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari, NM 575 - 461 - 1966.
http://www.kixon66.com/
Get off I 40 in Albuquerque, NM at Exit 159 B to I 25 S and go to Exit 224 B on I 25 S. Exit and go back E on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Go 5 blocks and take a right on Maple. Go 3 blocks to Central and turn right to go to 66 Diner for outstanding road food for lunch or dinner. For outstanding Southwest cuisine for breakfast go 7/8 blocks E on Central from Maple to Frontier Restaurant.
If you want good road food in Albuquerque and don't have time to get too far off I 40 get off at Exit 160 and go N on Carlisle Blvd. NE to Rudy's Country Store and BBQ.
66 Diner @ 1405 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 505 - 247 - 1421.
http://www.66diner.com/
Frontier Restaurant @ 2400 Central Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 505 - 266 - 0550.
http://www.frontierrestaurant.com/
Rudy's Country Store and BBQ @ 2321 Carlisle Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 505 - 884 - 4000.
http://www.rudys.com/

Thanks! Great ideas. Will let you know which ones we manage to try. Anyone got anything for me in Missouri, between St. Louis and Springfield?

Try A Slice of Pie in Rolla, MO.  There regular non-pie food is pretty good, too.

The Five and Diner in St. Robert, between Rolla and Springfield.

amyhordes


Thanks! Great ideas. Will let you know which ones we manage to try. Anyone got anything for me in Missouri, between St. Louis and Springfield?

 
The headquarters for Bass Pro Shops happens to be in Springfield, Missouri. We found the Hemingways inside of the Springfield store was surprisingly good a couple of years back.
 
Home - Hemingways Blue Water Cafe Restaurant | Bass Pro Shops
 
Our plan was just to stop for breakfast, which we did.  But after breakfast, and after spending several hours in the store itself, we had a very enjoyable lunch too.  We found the food to be real good, and extremely affordable.  Nice setting and view too, above the first floor with a patio next to the indoor waterfalls.