Berks County is steeped in history so it’s no wonder that our region is home to so many classic diners. Our roadside is lined with stainless steel dining cars, and if you venture beyond that, you’ll find more great diners in strip malls, shopping centers and in downtowns. Here is our list of diners in Reading, PA and beyond.
Stainless Steel Diners
When you think of diners, you likely think of the stainless steel structures filled with booths and a counter for quick service. You’ll find some excellent examples of these stainless steel diners in Berks County.
5th Street Diner
Temple
Not only does the 5th Street Diner glisten in the daylight with its stainless steel exterior, the red and blue neon lights shimmer at night. Though it’s no longer open 24 hours, the diner is still open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with late-night hours on Friday and Saturday.
American Diner
West Reading
The American Diner in West Reading stands out among the many restaurants that line Penn Avenue, thanks to its steel facade with blue accents (and off-street parking). The diner is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
Americana Diner
Bechtelsville
The front entrance of the Americana Diner in Bechtelsville is reminiscent of a colorful jukebox. With a menu filled with diner favorites at reasonable prices, you’ll feel like you’re in the golden age of jukeboxes as well.
Exeter Family Restaurant
Exeter Township
Consistently voted among the best diners and family restaurants in Berks County, Exeter Family Restaurant is also the only 24-hour diner in Berks County. We love them for breakfast, but you can get a great meal any time of day (or night).
Leesport Diner
Leesport
The Leesport Diner is the newest on the list. The diner opened in 2016 with a retro look, though it was a new build. Like many classic diners, Leesport offers an all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar in addition to its breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees.
Red Plate Diner
Wernersville
The Red Plate Diner gleams along Route 422 in Wernersville. The restaurant has been open for breakfast and lunch but recently expanded to offer dinner service as well.
Route 61 Diner
Muhlenberg
As the name suggests, the Route 61 DinerRoute 61 Diner is located along PA Route 61 north of the city of Reading in Muhlenberg Township. The diner is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
More Diners & Family Restaurants
The outside doesn’t have to be stainless steel for a diner to shine. Step inside and try the food at these diners and family restaurants where the food speaks for itself.
Airport Diner
Kutztown
Underneath the updated facade of the Airport Diner is an original 1960 Silk City Diner car. The restaurant has been expanded to include an additional dining room. Great breakfast and good burgers are among the diner’s hallmarks.
Bally Family Diner
Bally
The Bally Family Diner opened in 2024, taking over the space most recently known as the Pied Piper. The castle-like structure calls in patrons driving along Route 100 north of Boyertown.
Blue Mountain Family Restaurant
Shartlesville
The Blue Mountain Family Restaurant is located just off the Shartlesville exit of Interstate-78. The family-friendly eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to locals and all those passing through.
Brooks Cafe
Douglassville
Tucked away in a strip mall along Route 422, Brooks Cafe is is everything a diner should be. Great food. Fast service. Good prices. It’s one of our favorite breakfast spots thanks to dishes like the country fried steak and Hawaiian bread French toast.
Brooklyn Place
Reading
There aren’t many diners within the City of Reading, but Brooklyn Place fits the bill. Pancakes, French toast and omelettes anchor the breakfast menu with sandwiches and burgers at lunch. Plus the restaurant has Mexican favorites likes tacos, quesadillas and fajitas.
Chatty’s
Fleetwood
Chatty’s is one of the best-kept secrets in Berks. The restaurant is located along Route 12 near Fleetwood, but if you don’t know about it, it’s hard to find. There’s no website, no social media, just word-of-mouth about the pancakes, omelettes and other dishes that keep hungry guests streaming through the doors.
Crossroads Family Restaurant
Muhlenberg
Breakfast available all day, reasonable prices for all menu items, and a stacked dessert case: Crossroads Family Restaurant has everything you could want in a diner. They also have a liquor license which also sets them apart.
Deluxe Diner
Shillington
The Deluxe Diner stands along Lancaster Pike, offering a family-friendly atmosphere complete with free gifts for kids. The diner is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Heidelberg Family Restaurant
Robesonia
The Heidelberg Family Restaurant is one of the go-to restaurants in western Berks County. The restaurant has been a decades-long staple along Route 422 serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a full dessert case every day.
JAK’s Downtown Diner
Topton
Don’t let the location fool you. JAK’s Downtown Diner may look like a house on the outside, but the homecoming inside is 100% diner. JAK’s is open for breakfast and brunch seven days a week.
Janelle’s Diner
Bowers
Opening before 6 a.m. six days a week, Janelle’s Diner is a great spot for an early bird breakfast. Located just outside the village of Bowers, Janelle’s offers everything you could want from a diner: omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, burgers, and more.
Jukebox Cafe
Boyertown
It’s all about good food and good tunes at the Jukebox Cafe in Boyertown. The unassuming little restaurant along Reading Avenue is decked out in the finest 50s decor, including records on the wall.
Letterman’s Diner
Kutztown
Beneath the exterior of Letterman’s Diner sits one of the oldest dining cars in Berks County, a wood-frame car that is nearly 100 years old. It’s also one of the smallest, but the portions and prices make it worth the wait if the few tables are already full.
Michael’s Restaurant
Douglassville
Located near the Montgomery County border along Route 422 in Douglassville, Michael’s Restaurant serves all day in a classic diner setting.
Mount Penn Family Restaurant
Mount Penn
The Mount Penn Family Restaurant is your classic diner serving everything from steaks and seafood to sandwiches and salads. They have a robust breakfast menu, too, with pancakes, French toast, and egg dishes.
New Hamburg Diner
Hamburg
The New Hamburg Diner opened in 2024, several years after the original closed. The current iteration of the diner along State Street serves breakfast and lunch and still has the retro vibe with checkered floors, red booths and counter seating.
Penn Grille
West Lawn
The Penn Grille is a small diner attached to the Redner’s Quick Stop in West Lawn. Open for breakfast and lunch, the restaurant serves all the breakfast staples plus burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads at lunch.
Perry Restaurant
Shoemakersville
Tucked away on Bellevue Avenue, a few blocks from Route 61, Perry Restaurant has all the hallmarks of a diner menu from big breakfasts to lunch and dinner entrees.
Sunset Family Restaurant
Birdsboro
Located along Route 422 near Birdsboro, the Sunset Family Restaurant bills itself as “homestyle cooking,” offering all-day breakfast, senior discounts, and a range of lunch and dinner options.
Temple Family Restaurant
Temple
Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the Temple Family Restaurant is one of several diners in the Muhlenberg area. The restaurant boasts a large menu for all three meals, including breakfast sandwiches, egg dishes, pastas and more.
Trainer’s Midway Diner
Bethel
“Midway” between Harrisburg and Allentown, Trainer’s Midway Diner is one of the few roadside diners left along Interstate 78. Welcoming truckers and families alike, the Midway is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday.
Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery
Wyomissing
The only diner on the list that also has a full hot buffet daily, the Wyomissing Restaurant and Bakery is known for their all-day brunch with made-to-order omelets, French toast, waffles and crepes.
