If something’s been around for a long time, it’s bound to be there for a reason. In addition to being old, these restaurants are tasty staples of Kansas history and cuisine. However, the fact that they’re still running well in this day and age, means that these longest-standing Kansas restaurants are serving mouthwatering meals every day. Though these aren’t all necessarily the oldest restaurants Kansas has to offer, they’re all pretty old.
1. 1857 Hays House - 112 W Main St Council Grove, KS
Though there's a few naysayers who prefer other eats in town, the historic nature of these meals is true to time. As the story goes, it's the oldest restaurant West of the Mississippi. In addition to great, classic, food, their fried chicken buffets on Wednesdays are sublime.
2. 1870 Brookville Hotel - 105 E Lafayette Ave Abilene, KS
Though it's not the original location of this hotel, it's been operating for a very long time, compared to the rest of our restaurants. My personal favorite is their fried chicken and homemade pickles, which just can't be beat. It's been going this long for a good reason, believe me.
3. 1879 The Beaumont Hotel - 11651 SE Main St Beaumont, KS
The Beaumont has been around since the 1800s as well, serving classic meals like chicken fried steak and homemade pies. Their breakfast is also stellar, if you're going to stop in earlier.
4. 1910 Livingston's Diner - 9747 E 21st St Wichita, KS
This amazing BBQ sandwich is from Livingston's Diner, a fantastic place to dine since 1910. They've been serving home cooked meals since they started, and they don't plan to ever stop! Every meal I've had here is stellar, and it's no telling when they'll stop.
5. 1922 The Cozy Inn - 108 N 7th St Salina, KS
Cozy Inn and their classic sliders have been traveling in sacks since... forever. Well, 1922 to be exact. Burgers with onion and mustard, classic flavors that created a burger joint to rival White Castle's fame.
6. 1934/1958 Olpe Chicken House - 8 E Hwy-99 Olpe, KS
Though it's not famous like Hays House or Brookville Hotel, this spot is a favorite of many Kansans, especially in the Southeast. With chicken like theirs, I'm surprised they don't have more restaurants open across the state!
7. 1935 Idle-A-While Cafe - 201 S Vine St, Cherokee, KS
Though my go-to meal here is a modern steak and onions, this old cafe in Cherokee is an oldie but a goodie. They've been serving since the 30's, and don't show any sign of stopping!
8. 1938 Dagwood's Cafe - 1117 Sw Blvd Kansas City, KS
Any breakfast here is a breakfast for champions, and you'll feel like one when you taste the food at Dagwood's. Pictured above is the biscuits and gravy combo, my ultimate breakfast dream.
9. 1948 Bobo's Drive-In - 2300 SW 10th Ave Topeka, KS
If you're a fan of steakburgers, you'll fall in love with these. Bobo's is a cornerstone of Topeka dining, and in my opinion, no one should leave without having a shake or malt. However, there's not a lot of seating space, so I wouldn't try visiting during peak times unless you're okay with a wait.
10. 1949 Al's Chickenette - 700 Vine St Hays, KS
Al's is the newest of the old restaurants on this list, but the chicken here is made as if it's been here for as long as the Hays House. Fried chicken is a must at this eatery, so don't even think about getting anything else!
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