Cool, Gay-Friendly Diners
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Frontier, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Other than Denny's and some similarly bland chain restaurants, this rambling restaurant is the only place in New Mexico's largest city that's open 24/7. With its gaudy red sign and yellow barnlike roof, Frontier sits directly across from the historic campus of the University of New Mexico, along fabled Route 66. It's the definitive student hangout, serving cheap and tasty breakfast burritos, green-chile cheeseburgers, and obscenely large cinnamon rolls.

KoKoMo, Los Angeles, California
In a city teeming with outstanding diners, many of them with devout "family" followings, airy KoKoMo stands out for its great people-watching (Jodie Foster and Drew Barrymore are both said to be regulars) and superb, vaguely Louisiana-inspired cooking (such as batter-fried catfish and eggs). KoKoMo sits inside the famed L.A. Farmers Market, so before or after you eat, you can wander the dozens of stalls stocked with gourmet produce and food.

Mae's Phinney Ridge Cafe, Seattle, Washington
Dykes with tykes, Gen Y-ers, yuppies - all these and more flock to this northern Seattle restaurant near the Woodland Park Zoo for espressos, blueberry-almond coffeecake, and Reuben sandwiches. Painted Holstein cow art abounds, both inside and on the building's exterior - some of the table tops are even done in this quirky design. Not surprisingly, dairy products are heavily featured, including particularly enticing white-chocolate milkshakes.

Monty's Blue Plate Diner, Madison, Wisconsin
In the progressive, collegiate city of Madison, Monty's Blue Plate Diner has cultivated a popular following for its attractive art deco confines and innovative food. The management tailors its menu to the high-brow and healthful tastes of this urbane city. How many diners do you know that serve a decent Nicoise tuna salad? Or a meatless "meat loaf" (made with onions, carrots, mushrooms, and Cheddar and topped with a ginger-cashew sauce) that's not only edible but tasty? Traditionalists should fear not, however; Monty's also serves a first-rate charbroiled burger.

The Roxy, Portland, Oregon
Gay meets grunge at Portland's campiest restaurant. On any night you'll see big hair, pierced extremities, muscle Ts, leather chaps, rubber, drag - you name it. The Roxy gets going late in the evening, when the several nearby gay bars let out. Pancake plates are named after busty celebs, according to the height of the stack (the "Pamela Anderson," as you might guess, satisfies even the biggest appetites).

Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor's Gay Guide to the USA and as well as numerous other guidebooks.