The Best Places to Eat on the Drive Between Los Angeles and Palm Springs

Angelenos have plenty of reasons to make the trek to Palm Springs, whether heading to the desert for a weekend by the pool or for a festival like Coachella . With the drive out surpassing 100 miles from most areas of Los Angeles and taking at least a few hours no matter the traffic conditions, there is sure to be a meal stop or two along the way. Plus, no road trip is fun when someone gets too hungry.

Whether traveling through the 10, 20, 60, or 91 Freeways, there are plenty of options that don’t require venturing too far off the path. Here are the best pit stops between Los Angeles in Palm Springs for a great meal, including restaurants serving vegan machacas, a triple-decker club sandwich, and handheld burritos. Once in Palm Springs proper, there are plenty of more outstanding options for every meal of the day .



New this update: Glendora doughnut shop, the Donut Man, joins the list with its famous strawberry-stuffed sweets. If awake in the early hours while in Palm Springs, Eater editor Mona Holmes might be that person quietly wading in a hotel pool at 5 a.m.

to watch the sunrise with coffee and a cocktail. Hue Thai Bakery & Deli The best bánh mì in all of Los Angeles is at Hue Thai in Rosemead, which just happens to be on the road to Palm Springs. For approximately $6, the bánh mì đặc biệt combines a supreme ratio of pickled vegetables, cold cuts, and pate placed into a crisp baguette baked on the premises.

It’s delicious enough to eat right away, with shards of crust flying all over one’s car seat, or a bit later when hunger pangs strike. There are a few tables in the dining room, but this is also a sandwich that travels pretty well if needing to get back on the road. Just remember to bring cash, Hue Thai is cash-only.

Also featured in: The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Los Angeles Get Into the Guts of LA Dining With 19 Delectable Offal Dishes Burritos La Palma Burritos La Palma’s slender burritos filled with birria de res are fantastic road trip food, made with fresh, pliant tortillas in the Zacatecas style. Grab a few and down them in the car or sit for a plate of the platillo especial — two burritos served side-by-side with beans, crisp lettuce, and covered in cheese and chile verde. Don’t be put off by the smaller size — these burritos have a low price point to match, and it's easy to try more options without filling up too quickly.

If not in the mood for something too meaty, the bean and cheese burrito is excellent, with just the correct melty cheese ratio. Also featured in: The 38 Best Tacos in Los Angeles Even in Taco-Loving LA, These Burritos Reign Supreme Garduno's Taco King A longtime Baldwin Park staple, Garduno’s serves satisfying Mexican cafe classics like burritos, huevos rancheros, and more. If arriving in the morning, try the hearty machaca burrito or chilaquiles which will surely provide enough energy for the drive.

For lunchier bites, Garduno’s offers carne asada tacos, a well-stuffed California burrito, a carnitas platter, and more. Plant-based diners also have plenty of options here, with an entire menu dedicated to vegan selections. Settle into a table with the Soyrizo burrito, shredded jackfruit machaca, vegan chilaquiles, and a slice of tres leches cake.

A post shared by rebecca (@raw.beccaa) Kountry Folks Homestyle Restaurant Owner Erin House purchased Kountry Folks in 1998 and has kept the rustic spot going ever since. Though it’s a slight detour off the 91 Freeway, it’s worth it for the battered and deep-fried proteins smothered in gravy, like golden brown fried chicken that takes 15 minutes to order to ensure it’s juicy and crispy.

Or share a triple-decker club sandwich with fries while surrounded by charming old-school diner decor. Not everything is rib-sticking, like the barbecue chicken salad with chicken breast and ranch dressing. A post shared by Anthony Gonzalez (@nightshift_worker) Mitla Cafe Opened in 1937, Mitla Cafe is one of SoCal’s finest stops for chile rellenos, burritos, and tacos dorados.

Founded by Lucia Rodiguez, the goal was to serve easy Mexican comfort food alongside daily specials during the pre-war era. It became a community hub, welcoming famous folks like Cesar Chavez, but later became credited for inspiring Taco Bell. Legend has it that Glen Bell came into the restaurant and opened a restaurant oriented around crunchy tacos after trying Mitla’s 10-cent tacos dorados.

Though Mitla Cafe is a little detour from the 10 Freeway, it’s worth it to try the hearty and historical pit stop. Also featured in: The 20 Best Affordable Restaurants in Inland Empire Sign up for our newsletter. Check your inbox for a welcome email.

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Granlund's Restaurant Find Granlund’s 10 minutes away from the 10 Freeway near Redlands. The dining room’s slightly dated decor contains ample pink paper cut-outs, bright colors, and faux flowers — a year-round Valentine’s Day theme, essentially. It also packs a lot of charm.

The menu includes breakfast classics (try whatever quiche is on deck for the day), salads, lasagna, cakes and pastries, and a notable Tex-Mex turkey melt. The homey vibrations make it just right for a lingering breakfast or lunch when your eyes start to glaze over on the road. A post shared by Granlund's Restaurant (@granlundsrestaurant) Hadley Fruit Orchards Travelers have been visiting Hadley Fruit Orchards since 1931.

Located a stone’s throw from the Cabazon Outlets and famous dinosaurs, Hadley is beloved for its milkshakes, cakes, bars, and cookies made with locally grown dates. (Nut mixes and vegetable chips from the market side won’t hurt to grab to snack on during the rest of the drive, either.) While there, skip over to the Cabazon dinosaurs for a quick hello to a brontosaurus.

A post shared by Hadley Fruit Orchards (@hadleyfruitorchards) Pit Stop Diner Located inside the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa complex is a nostalgic 1950s-style diner popular among truckers for its steak and eggs, fish and chips, and Frisco melt — the latter served on Parmesan-crusted sourdough with grilled onions, Thousand Island, and a seared beef patty. If traveling with kids, the little ones can eat well and stretch their legs before hopping back on the road. The red leather seats and checkered flooring will bring you back in time with them.

A post shared by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa (@morongocasinoresort).