I took a visitor from Finland to a Jim's location in Austin, and they were in awe. "It's just like from the movies!" (because it was - it has been used several times as a filming location).

If you have a classic diner in your town, take your foreign guests there for the experience.

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A_D_E_P_T 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Looks like they have them in Helsinki:

> https://maps.app.goo.gl/NCiZgiRjGckp6Jzn6

And if that doesn't appeal, there's another one: https://maps.app.goo.gl/e3ZWtXWEKPvDnded8

Something you've got to realize is that this form of culture is something that has gone far beyond America's borders. To the European, it is the very pinnacle of "American Food" -- and 50s/60s themed diners are all over the place.

From Belgrade, Serbia: https://share.google/qGq9vC7tKgf0ISyLz

To out-of-the-way towns in Austria: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bzHfTAobTRkHpvAN9

Germany's chock full of them. (The Germans are also more obsessed with "Cowboys and Indians" and Western US culture than any nation I've ever seen.)

France has multiple "American Diner" chains e.g.: https://www.happydaysdiner.com/

I'd hazard that there are nearly as many of these restaurants outside the US as there are inside of it. Within the US it's "throwback/nostalgia." Outside the US it's "exotic/kitsch."

Maybe your Finnish friend was remarking that the American version somehow felt more "real"? I don't know... I've been to all sorts, and the ones in Europe are truly very similar.

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chrisco255 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Your first link is a restaurant in a shopping mall. It has the interior facade of being a diner, and it serves...avocado bites, spicy chicken nachos, kimchi burgers, etc. Not really the same!

Vegas has an eiffel tower too...

	▲	pimeys an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I was born in Finland and 100% agree. Diners are something else. In Germany we have "American diners" where you pay for each cup of coffee. It's not the same.

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MrDrMcCoy 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Fun to see all that, but curious why I haven't seen any on any of my trips across the UK and Ireland. I even asked some locals and they did not know of any diners anywhere in the country. I would've thought they would've been all over it.

	▲	armadsen an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Eddie Rocket's is an Irish chain of American diners. I've eaten there in Dublin. Although at least that location is downtown, and in a bigger building, not a classic diner style building. The inside is very much American Diner themed with vinyl seats, chrome, jukebox controls at the table, and of course the menu of burgers, fries, shakes, etc. https://www.eddierockets.ie
	▲	A_D_E_P_T 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		The UK has these "American Diner" chains too: https://okdiners.com/ I thought that the "Elvis Diner" was practically a meme in the UK, actually. Hah.
	▲	ericgreveson 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		We have an independent one, Herbie's, just down the road from us outside Cambridge. It's pretty good! They have a wide range of imported US fizzy drinks cans too!

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thaumasiotes 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Something you've got to realize is that this form of culture is something that has gone far beyond America's borders. To the European, it is the very pinnacle of "American Food" -- and 50s/60s themed diners are all over the place.

What do they serve?

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A_D_E_P_T 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Burgers, shakes, pancakes, hot dogs, sometimes BLTs and tuna melts. That sort of thing. In Europe, the "American Diner" is usually the only place that'll serve a normal plate of pancakes. (Everywhere else it's crepes, which are completely different...)

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andrew_lettuce 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Fried chicken, liver and onions, biscuits and gravy - the breakfast options are my jam, but not really the other entrees. You can order dessert regardless though!

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xeromal an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Do they serve hashbrowns?

	▲	A_D_E_P_T an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Yes, in fact. I was at the one in Belgrade about a year ago, and their hashbrowns are terrific. It's mostly a burger and pancake joint, though.

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thaumasiotes 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Sounds pretty reasonable.

Within the US, there are at least two major diner chains:

https://www.dennys.com/

https://www.ihop.com/en

At a diner in America, I'd be unsurprised to see some less "diner" offerings. When I go to my local non-chain diner, I order fettucine alfredo. And the article here has a good picture of a diner advertising "American and Korean food". I think part of the core diner concept is a somewhat athematic menu that is meant to cater to local tastes.

With that in mind, Cheesecake Factory might also be thought of as a diner. https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/menu

So I'm a little surprised at the idea of a diner that only has classic burgers / shakes / pancakes, but I'd have to admit those are fairly core dishes.

	▲	xeromal an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I'd say a waffle house is a better chain if you're in the lower Southeast. Much closer to a true diner experience

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bigyabai 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I think there's a difference between the "squeeze-in" style diners and simply American-style diners like the ones you've posted. A lot of the nostalgia comes from the tiny prefab buildings that barely manage to fit a bar and row of booth seats. Those are the ones from the movies that feel more authentic/classic in person, at least to me.

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flutas an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I was really sad to learn recently an old diner I went to often in Venice Beach (Cafe' 50'S, on Lincoln and Lake) burned at some point and the building is just an empty husk now.

That place was great cheap food.

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fellowniusmonk 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Jim's is legit amazing. I end up going very rarely but every time I do it's been a perfect diner experience.

I tried their liver and onions (an aquired taste it turns out I don't really have) and a slice of some meregiune pie and idk, it really transported me, the food is always very real tasting, it's hard to isolate what it is that makes so much food taste manufactured now.

It's like Donns Depot, places that connect us to some wholesome parts in our shared history.