Most Historic Food Drive-In in Illinois is Nearly 80 Years Old

It's hard to have real staying power in the restaurant business. That's why the most historic food joint in Illinois is impressive as it's a drive-in that's managed to stay vital for nearly 8 decades.

This new historic food place declaration has just been shared by Love Food. I really like their choices as they haven't taken the easy road and picked big city restaurants. It would have been very easy for them to just pick one of Chicago's famous eateries, but they didn't. Instead they chose a much-beloved drive-in restaurant in Springfield as the most historic Illinois food place.

Congrats to the Cozy Dog Drive-In on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois. It was Ed Waldmire who created the unique corn batter deep-fried hot dogs back in the 1940's as the Cozy Dog was founded in 1946. Their official website says they still serve Ed's homemade chili which is likely why you'll see vehicles parked outside of the Cozy Dog nearly all of the time in Springfield.

If you've traveled along the Illinois part of Route 66, you have no doubt either passed by or experienced the Cozy Dog's food. If there is such a thing as Route 66 comfort food, this is it. We're fortunate that they've managed to remain vital for nearly 80 years and not stopping anytime soon.