Omaha Dives

Delicious Dive Dining

AFTER ONE TASTE, YOU’LL KNOW WHY OMAHA LOVES DINING IN DIVES.

Being an Omaha dive is an honor bestowed upon only the worthiest restaurants … those that serve quirky dishes destined for fame, attract hordes of ravenous fans, inspire numerous Instagram posts, and garner the attention of national television audiences.

Answer the call of the wild at Alpine Inn, where everyone loves the fried chicken ... everyone. Evening diners (okay, raccoons) sit outside the restaurant’s windows feasting on chicken scraps—your dinner party just got a lot bigger. The chicken’s perfectly seasoned crunch gives way to tender, juicy meat—after just one bite, folks (and animals) fall in love. California Tacos and More is a beloved collegejoint-turned-food-attraction after being featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” “Cali Taco” is known for its signature tacos (housemade fried, puffy taco shells stuffed with meat and fixings) and entrees with Mexican flair. Big Mama’s Kitchen is another “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” alumnus and was featured on the Travel Channel’s “101 Tastiest Places to Chow Down.” This soul food joint is known for dishes like the Afro Burger, Pig Ear Sandwich, oven-fried chicken and sweet potato pie ice cream. For more fresh fried food, cruise to The Surfside Club. Here’s the short and sweet menu: chicken, pork tenderloin, catfish and corn fritters – all fried and all delicious. Stop for a cozy and portable Runza, aka “a meal in a bunza,” at Runza. A local favorite and Nebraska invention, the Runza is a pocket of dough filled with beef, cabbage, seasonings and sometimes cheese. They’re so popular, out-of-towners order them by the case and take them home. Bronco’s, another Omaha fast-food tradition, opened nearly 60 years ago when “fast food” was still a new concept. Known for its 100 percent ground-beef burgers, Bronco’s still makes its French fries daily from fresh whole potatoes.

SOME DISHES NEED TO BE CONQUERED

The Stellanator at Stella’s Bar and Grill weighs in at 4.5 lbs. and contains a mere 4,900 calories. It includes … wait for it … six burger patties, six fried eggs, six pieces of cheese, 12 pieces of bacon, lettuce, tomato, fried onions, pickles, jalapeños and peanut butter. If you can eat it in 45 minutes, it’s free. Only 36 have succeeded, 651 others have tried and failed. The current record is held by a skinny girl named Molly; it took her just 3 minutes and 40 seconds to eat the whole thing plus an order of fries. Bring on the meat sweats!

Eli recommends Caribbean Delights in north-center Omaha. He likes to order the Jamacian Jerk chicken, fried plantains, sweet potato pudding and the must-try lemonade.