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Every year, tourists from all over the US and around the world visit the world-famous scenic Route 66. This expansive highway runs from Chicago to Los Angeles, ending on the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
On I-15, between LA and Vegas, among the giant strip malls with fast-food franchises, endless billboards and gas stations, lies a gem off the beaten path in Victorville: Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe, also known as Emma Jean’s. This cute diner with a 50s Americana feel has been around since 1947 and is considered a historic landmark in Victorville, as well as a roadside attraction on Route 66.
If you’re driving from LA, it’s about an hour and a half drive.
I found this place while I was exploring Route 66 stops within a reasonable driving distance from LA, which means San Bernardino County. When I was on my way to visit a glass museum in Victorville, I came across this pistachio green building with the Route 66 logo painted on the wall and a bench made out of an old Chevy pickup truck. Enticed by the cute exterior and the old-school feel, I made a u-turn and went back to check it out. Sadly, the diner was closed.
About a month later, on my way back from Joshua Tree, I decided to go there via Old Woman Springs Rd, a two-lane highway spanning from Yucca Valley to Victorville in Apple Valley.
The cafe has limited hours and opens Monday-Friday from 5 AM to 2:45 PM and Saturdays from 6AM to to 12:30 PM.
Before I talk about the food, let’s take a quick dive into the history of this classic American diner.
Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe has been a truck driver’s paradise since 1947. Richard Gentry was a truck driver who often stopped at the cafe to indulge in the delicious food. There, he met Emma Holland, a waitress who had worked at the cafe for many years. In 1979, Richard bought the restaurant from the owners as a gift to his wife. Today, although both Richard and Emma have passed away, their son Brian Gentry and his wife Shawna continue to carry on the legacy.
It wasn’t just me that was lured by the cutesy diner exterior when I decided to pull over that day. Hollywood directors also set their eyes on Emma Jean’s Holland Cafe, which served as a backdrop for the movie Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004). After I watched the scene, I realized I sat in the same spot where a disheveled Uma Thurman covered in dirt from head to toe asks for a glass of water.
However, Emma Jean’s most important feature was on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2007). On the show, Guy eats his way through America’s most iconic restaurants on cross-country road trips. Although it’s been 15 years since the show first aired, it’s still one of the network’s most successful shows! Whenever a restaurant makes an appearance on this show, it becomes a travel destination with visitors not only from the States, but from around the world.
Inside of the diner, you’ll find old license plates, Route 66 memorabilia, funny signs, autographed posters by Guy Fieri, knick-knacks and memorabilia from the cafe. When I arrived a little bit after 12, there was a tourist couple and a couple of locals were having lunch.
I was vastly impressed by their extensive menu. For a small diner like that, you’d think their menu offerings would be more limited, but that could not be further from the truth.
Their two most requested menu items seemed to be their biscuits and gravy and their onion rings, which looked very crispy.
However, the signature item at Emma Jean’s is the Brian Burger, which is named after Brian, and it’s also advertised on the sign outside of the diner. I already knew this before I went there, so I stuck to the Brian Burger with fries and a shake. Indecisive as to what flavor to pick, I asked the girl, who recommended the strawberry shake.
The Brian Burger is served on toasted crispy sourdough bread that’s been grilled with Parmesan cheese, a thick juicy patty, one Ortega green chili pepper that was very mild, and a slice of American cheese. The cook was so nice and asked me if I wanted to add more spice, which I politely declined.
Not only was I starving from the drive from Joshua Tree, but I also hadn’t eaten anything for breakfast. I was ready to dive in, but I had to be careful because the bread was still piping hot from the grill! As you can see, the patty was very juicy. I personally prefer cheddar cheese on a burger. I think American cheese is milder in taste, whereas cheddar is usually sharper and the cheesy flavor pairs better with the patty. A slice of cheddar cheese would have topped my experience.
The strawberry shake was amazing and I didn’t expect to finish it. It had real bits of strawberry and the metal cup had some ice cream in it. It was so good!
I was already so full from the shake and the burger that I didn’t finish the fries. But if you don’t order a shake and you have some room for dessert, you should try their cobbler of the day, which is their specialty dessert, or their brownie skillet. The flavor of the cobbler is constantly changing. As you can see, at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe you will leave fully satisfied!
As I was eating my burger, a red-haired woman (not Shawna), popped out of the kitchen for a hot minute to bring in some white ice cream containers, then she headed back. Shortly after, a guy wearing a truck driver safety vest walked in. He seemed to be a regular and ordered the Trucker Special sandwich, a very substantial sandwich that includes a slice of American cheese, bacon, Ortega green chili pepper and the same sourdough cheese bread from the Brian Burger.
Other breakfast items
As you can see, every dish looks so good because of the quality of the ingredients!
A woman who appeared to be in her seventies walked in with a cane. “Come on, Mama,” she said to an even older woman behind her. Both of them also sat at the counter. While all this ensued, they were making conversation with one of the older hosts, who everyone seemed to know. The cook also interacted with some of the customers. Before the tourist couple left, they purchased the same Emma Jean’s Holland shirt that the staff was wearing.
Another middle aged couple, who seemed to be from the area, also walked in and sat down on the barstools.
After I went to Emma Jean’s, I read an article on DailyPress, and the following excerpt perfectly encapsulates my experience.
“But it is not the structure or views that folks from around the world come to Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe for. Nope, it’s the delicious items on the menu, the family atmosphere, the attentive and humorous banter with the staff, and a true bit of authentic Americana.”
Have you seen Pixar’s Cars movie (2004)? The protagonist, Lightning McQueen, gets stranded in a random desert town on Route 66. That’s what this area reminded me of!
There are a few classic diners in LA, and some of them try to replicate Emma Jean’s ambiance with no success. A diner in a small desert town between Vegas and LA with an ingrained Americana feel. Your only way to experience this in LA is by going to Flo’s V8 Cafe in Disney California Adventure, which was inspired by the Cars movie.
I’m already planning out my second visit on a weekend, which will require me to wake up extra early to make it before 12:30! Remember that they’re closed on Sundays!
Address: 17143 National Trails Hwy Victorville, CA 92394
Instagram @HollandBurger
