Excellent delicious burger and fries. We have stopped here for breakfast and it was also very good. The waitress is really nice and friendly. Definitely will be stopping again on our drives. Service dog friendly. read more

Ludlow Cafe - Deluxe Burger with Cheese and fries - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

This review is LONG overdue. Back on May 31st, I experienced one of the most genuine and affecting acts of kindness in my lifetime, thanks to the team at the Ludlow Cafe. I had gone camping alone in the Mojave so I could catch a meteor shower, when my car got thoroughly stuck in what I now know is referred to as "sugar sand" aka extremely soft sand. As a disclaimer, I highly recommend NOT camping alone in the Mojave unless you are experienced with the area, and/or own an AWD vehicle with rope and/or recovery traction boards. I spent over an hour (at 3am) trying to dig the sand away from the tires around my car following a four-hour drive. I decided to end my struggle and wait until morning. When I woke up, I managed to flag down an incredibly helpful couple who, using their off-road vehicle, attempted to push my car out of the ditch to no avail. Rather than leave me, they extended a generous offer to drive me to the nearest gas station on their way to Temecula. That gas station was a Chevron nearly fifty miles away, in the same plaza as the Ludlow Cafe. When I arrived at this cozy diner, teeming with positive energy, I sat at the bar with the day bag I packed, and rotated my stool back and forth looking up possible solutions for my predicament. Service was prompt and friendly, as I was offered iced tea and an ear for me to explain my circumstance. As I called AAA and a few local tow companies, it became clear how expensive this ordeal was going to be. AAA does not service situations like this, and most tow companies wouldn't touch the situation. I did find one company who was willing to pick me up and service the vehicle, but this would have set me back at least $600. As my options grew more and more limited, the waitress began to make a few calls to a group of locals who (now unsurprisingly) deal with these situations quite often and have created a task force for emergencies. She felt pretty confident that she could rustle up a helping hand. As things started to look up, I graciously ordered breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast, which was absolutely delicious and well-priced. Exactly the kind of reprieve I needed. Before long, the owner of the shop stops in, walks right up next to me, and she says warmly, "Hi Eric, so I hear you're having car problems." Still in disbelief that the owner of the shop and her co-worker have agreed to take me to my car and pull it out of the sand, I find myself stepping into the front seat of her Ram 3500 and we set off toward the Kelso Dunes. We talk about the area's history, different types of rattlesnakes, and how to survive out in the desert if you find yourself stranded. Time flies and we reach my car. Within minutes, my Toyota is secured with ratchet straps and the Ram plucks it out like a loose tooth! I'm both shocked and in a near euphoric state of gratitude. I profusely thank the pair and offer to pay them for their help (gas money, or anything!), to which they politely decline, and just ask that I let people know about their friendly little diner on Route 66. We took a picture to commemorate the moment, and then they set off for another fifty miles back. At this point I am beside myself. My whole day, week, and possibly even my health was saved because of the team at the Ludlow Cafe. Not to mention, the money saved which could have been $600+, not including any damage to the vehicle. I immediately scaled the 800 ft dunes fueled by pure excitement and what felt like a new lease on life! This will forever remain as some of the most sincere help I've ever received, and aside from the obvious lessons I learned from camping in the desert, I also learned that you should never underestimate the kindness of strangers and to pay it forward, because you never know how life-saving your act can be. If I could give this place one hundred stars I would. I look forward to the next time I can visit!!! Much Love, Eric read more

Ludlow Cafe - The two kind souls who helped me out! - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

It was either Ludlow Cafe or Dairy Queen in a last minute decision to stop for lunch. Figured we can get DQ anytime, let's hit up the little cafe. More so because it's not a franchise either and small businesses need our support. Cute little place. Definitely old and dated, but based on its location, I wouldn't expect anything less. The young man that greeted us, took our order, and brought us our food was really nice. We had the restaurant to ourselves basically. Husband ordered bacon cheeseburger with fries and it came with choice of soup or salad. He chose the beef & barley soup and said it was really good. Said his burger was good too and the bacon was perfect. I ordered a grilled ham & cheese. Thinking I should have gone with a burger. It had a few slices of super thin deli ham that were thrown on the grill for char, and then it had one piece of cheese. Half on each side. And I'm guessing the bread was toasted in the toaster, not on the grill. It could have been better. The fries on the other hand were cooked to crispy perfection. It wasn't a bad lunch, but it wasn't really great either. read more

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Stopped in this place middle of nowhere. Food was great. Service was great. Recommend stopping to break the long drive home will be returning next time I come through. Thanks for the great service and food. read more

Ludlow Cafe - Cool place!!! - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

What a gem of a place! We were driving through and needed a bathroom on our way to Laughlin so pulled off the 40 for the Chevron and then found this A-frame beaut and how could we not stop here! Double bonus that they were actually open on Thanksgiving!!! The decor of the establishment is classic meets rustic diner on Route 66 with lots of memorabilia, homey wood and some stone on the walls. Our waiter was so sweet and told us his faves were the club, chili, burgers, etc. nuff said! I ordered the club on sourdough and it was a delight! Fully stuffed with cheese, turkey (hey, it is Thanksgiving!), bacon, lettuce and mayo. Fries were hot and crispy. Beau got the burger without a bun and I stole a bite and it was tasty. A great stopping point indeed. read more

Ludlow Cafe - Peanut butter pie with bourbon ice cream - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

Service was excellent. As a diner it works. I'd eat there again when I travel through there

My husband and I stopped here on our way home from Laughlin. It was our first time stopping and wanted something other than a fast food joint. Service was great! Our server Michelle was very nice and had good suggestions. My husband got the french dip and I got the bacon cheeseburger combo. Both came with fries and a small salad. Good food and reasonably priced! We'll definitely stop again! read more

Ludlow Cafe - Front of the cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

Stopped by on our way way back from a Laughlin. Nice little place off the I-40 (Route 66). Yes, very rustic, chill and great service!! Service top notch!! My wife and I ordered a few things and not bad. My wife said she thought the Navy Bean soup was a little spicy. She liked it, but I loved it. Very tasty. I also had the chili and it was pretty good. We got the club sandwich which was really good. The only disappointment was the French Dip. A little pricey for such a small sandwich. Could've had a little more meat, a bigger roll and more fries for the price. Overall, a great place. Definitely will be back when in the area. We'll try the breakfast for sure. read more

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Been out on the road a few days ago and have passed this place several times over the years, decided we should stop for breakfast. When we walked in, it was like going back in time to a 60's era kitchy diner. We seated ourselves and got waited on quickly. We both decided to give their bisquits and gravy a try since we both like it. Our food came out fast as you would expect with premade bisquits. The bisquits were light and fluffy but had lots of heaft to them. They were split, so there were 4 pieces on each plate. There was a heaping mound of gravy that was well seasoned, but I was expecting sausage mixed into the gravy. Instead, there was cubed ham steak on top. It was still great and gad lots of the ham cubes. Overall, it was a great breakfast, and if we're in the area at breakfast time in the future, it will definitely be an option. read more

$7.00 gas and about the worst biscuits and gravy I've ever had. Eat before or after you pass this spot.

Ludlow Cafe is the cutest little old school diner in the desert you ever did see. It's a classic! You go knowing the waitress will speak to you like your her grandchild & the food will be cooked on a grill that's probably been "seasoned" for about 30 years. Rundown, I wouldn't say that. I'd say "aged with love?" Ok fine. It's seen better days but when we came it was clean and the food was good so we were happy campers none the less. I doubt anyone was expecting a diner in the desert to be like the Four Seasons anyways. Service: a little on the slow side as it's one waitress going back and forth between her 15 tables. She tries though and was very nice. Sweet older lady whom either owns the joint or has been working here since before I was born. Price: nice and cheap. Food: I was impressed at the size of the menu that they had. There were a lot of options, breakfast and lunch with everything in between. Most of the crew ordered breakfast and everyone ate quietly, they were pleased and happy. I was adventurous and opted for a classic cheeseburger. It was not special but a good old school burger. The little side salad though was delish. Yes it was mainly just a bowl of lettuce (hahaha) BUT the "salad sauce" which tasted close to ranch was BOMB and homemade. I'm adding this spot as a must stop when venturing this way. A classic no frills diner with character is what this little joint is. They deserve your business and I'm so glad we stumbled upon the joint. read more

Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

I love Ludlow and the cafe there. Same with Amboy down the road. I go there every chance I get. I'm looking forward to heading down that way soon. If I didn't have to go work on my boat I'd spend even more time there on the way through. I hope the motel doesn't close, last time I was there someone backed a truck into the roof over the drive through aria. There's a patch of roof that's totally exposed. They have to know about it but it's just been left that way for years. These historic places should be respected and kept up. Even if it was via go fund me or something. I hope someone takes an interest and advocates for this place. read more

This place is on route 66 and they have really great food here. I usually like getting the chili and my wife likes the tuna salad. There are some items outside that you can take pictures of. This place has mainly indoor dining., they also have a counter you can sit at. This place is located on highway 40. The people working here are really nice. read more

Stopped here for lunch on the first day of a very long, cross country road trip in February. Our server, Alyson I think, was very friendly and attentive. The food was good, certainly worth it for the price. Between the table, we had a french toast meal, a delux cheeseburger, and a pancake sandwich. Which is not served like a sandwich, it's really just a typical meal. The pancakes are huge though (see picture) and I couldn't finish them all with the eggs and sausage. Overall, a nice roadside café, and certainly a million times more affordable than the gas station across the street. read more

Ludlow Cafe - Pretty standard diner pricing - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

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I've only eaten there a couple of times but I haven't recommend that you take a freeway break and stop in. The lady that cooks at lunchtime is an excellent cook. 2 thumbs up! read more

A place to stop to take a break from the drive from So Cal to Williams. The server was short handed and was very stressed and showed it to the customers. Probably one of the most rudest servers I have ever come across. Definitely felt bad with it being so close to the holidays, but still couldn't really put a smile on her face. Food was okay. Nothing to write home about. And got our order wrong, but again with the way the server was, we didn't dare send it back or tell her it was wrong. So we ate it and left. Will probably try a new place if we ever make that drive to AZ again. read more

Wanted a quick lunch stop - and it was! Service was quick, food came up quickly, and we're wrapped up! Cheesesteak sandwich special was awesome! Barley soup was passable - nothing to write home about. Fries were hot and crispy. Definitely would recommend a stop. read more

We stopped for a quick cup of coffee - which was excellent- and ended up ordering delicious bowls of homemade chili. The same cook has been making the chili for the past 40 years, and each batch takes 8 hours. The waitresses was very friendly and attentive, and the diner was clean and inviting. We especially enjoyed the historic decor and mining artifacts and look forward to returning. read more

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Yes I love that they serve breakfast all day ,I usually order my food over the phone 20 minutes prior to arriving so that I can just pick up and go .So that we can enjoy our food while driving read more

This was such a cute place! Inside you'll find a mining theme based on the town's history. The staff is very friendly and I enjoyed my traditional meal of eggs, bacon and toast! They pack on that bacon too! If we ever drive through Ludlow again I'll make sure to stop by, you should too! read more

Super friendly place, like other reviews it's like stepping back in time. My friend and I ordered sandwiches to go. My BLT was fantastic. The egg salad was also good. However, the ham and cheese I would pass on. The potato salad was a unique flavor. Very vinegar/pickle taste. If that's your thing go for it. If not I would get chips or fries. read more

Great spot for breakfast...Still only takeout as of 08-03-2020.....But, everything was cooked perfectly and fast ! The bacon was good and the rye bread I thought was very good as well ! read more

Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

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Second time we've stopped here--a very small place & we don't go this direction very often but really good food and our server Michelle was awesome. read more

Ludlow Cafe - Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

Way better food and service than anyone should expect from a desert highway diner. Highly recommend for anyone traveling through Ludlow.

Love this place. A diamond in the rough. Food and service are great. Stop in when you're in the area!

Nice service and ambiance. Same with food. Shakes good, club sandwich good, burger good, chili good. Generally GOOD !!

What a great find. So much character not only in the food but the employees. We all had omelettes, biscuits and gravy and departed happy and full. The coffee is awesome. read more

Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

It has food. It is a covered shelter. It has historic stuff. The restrooms have seat covers and soap. There was no wait for a table. We didn't get sick. Ok. That is all. read more

Ludlow Cafe - Stopping here is exciting!!! Being facetious. - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

Waitress was friendly and helpful. Food was very good, with some interesting spices. The restaurant has been here for years, and, yes, it's showing its age, but it's an icon, part of the history of Route 66. And up until 1988, the phone numbers were Ludlow #1, Ludlow #2,etc! read more

Thrilled to go for the ambience. Feels like I was in a fun time warp. I loved how Liver and Onions was one of the first thing on the menu. Breakfast- ok! ( I had eggs and home fries ) Coffee-meh read more

California's Route 66 certainly has its gems. Here in the ghost town of Ludlow, you've got the one standing cafe still in business after all these years. Perhaps its here to cater to tourists, but it's a relic of American history that undeniably needs to be checked out. We came here and ordered a small burger with fries as a quick meal. Really- we just wanted to bask in the ambiance of a place so old and filled with story that needed to be told. Our burger and fries came out to about $10 and it's as basic of a meal as you could get. Nothing really fancy about this diner aside from the fact that it's the only restaurant in the entire area. A lot of customers were ordering malts so I regret not getting one here. Service is really friendly and they also sell a few Route 66 souvenirs in case you forgot to grab some along the way from Chicago. Stop by, grab a quick (and basic) bite to eat, and head on your way to the end of the trail. You are almost there! Make sure to refill your water bottles before continuing on your journey. read more

Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

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3 stars for food....fourth star for the service. It cannot be easy having to deal with weary travelings driving thru the desert out here. But the waitress that helped us on our recent visit did a great job for us. The food wasn't bad...but I really hoped for more flavor from the chili and a bit heavier hand with the seasonings from the fries and burgers. But...all in all, this is a worthwhile stop in for a sit down meal before you head back out on the road. read more

Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

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Brandon was the guy cleaning he was very good and the restaurant was very clean, Michelle had amazing service and the food was great. HARD WORKERS OUT HERE!! read more

Service was very good our waitress knew the history of the town was friendly but taking care of business, the food was good ,the wife loved the biscuits and gravy thought they were great,I had the hamburger and eggs the patty was well done but ok. All&all a good breakfast in a clean desert restaurant, what else could you want. read more

First stop on our road trip to Texas! It's a basic cafe and the pancakes and waffles were ok. My husband and I had coffee, it was probably the worst cup of coffee we've ever had! The prices are a little high for what it was, a little understandable because this is the only place besides Dairy Queen. The waitress and staff were very friendly, so that made up for it. read more

Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

Stopped here cause we were in the middle of nowhere & quite hungry! The food was plentiful and filling but very, very greasy. read more

Ludlow Cafe - dining area - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

The only place on the road so you know it's gotta be good. Old fashioned American dinner with a very slow vibe to it. The food will get you to keep driving and it's a great place to stretch your legs. They have coffee so it's a + read more

Ludlow Cafe - Cool atmosphere - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

Classic dinner from a bygone era with all the traditional dishes, chicken fried steak and coconut cream pie anyone?

Stopped here on our way home from Laughlin. Service was slow but can't blame them for having a staff shortage!! Ordered the Sausage and eggs! It came with more than expected. Very delicious and filling :) read more

Ludlow Cafe - American Near Me - Ludlow, California

The best, by far, Clam Chowder soup ever, flavorful & hot. . Very tasty burger & hot crispy fries. Great friendly fast service. Definitely would recommend and stop by again read more