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Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari, NM
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Del's Restaurant

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Del's Restaurant is a restaurant in Tucumcari, NM, on Route 66 Boulevard, the old Route 66 through town. It opened in 1956, while the highway still ran down this street, and it has had only a handful of owners since. Its tall neon sign, topped by a large figure of a Hereford bull, is a local landmark. The menu mixes American diner food and steaks with New Mexican dishes.

What is Del's Restaurant?

Del's is a low brick building on the main street through Tucumcari, with a tall pole sign out front. Panels on the sign read "Restaurant" and "Since 1956," and a big Hereford bull stands on top. A mid-century postcard shows the same building and the same sign layout.

Chicken-fried steak is the dish it is best known for.

History of Del's Restaurant

Del and Wilma Akin opened the restaurant in 1956, and Del ran it until 1978. That year he sold it to Jessica Braziel, who had been his secretary. In 1995 Jessica's two daughters, Yvette Peacock and Yvonne Braziel, took charge and ran it for about 26 years. In July 2021 the sisters sold Del's to Chase Waters, who grew up in Tucumcari and had worked there as a teenager.

Visiting Del's Restaurant: tips

Del's stands right on Route 66 Boulevard, the old Route 66, so it is an easy meal stop on the drive through Tucumcari. The pole sign with the bull on top is the picture to take.

Updated · Written by Route 66 Trip Guide

Practical info

Address
1202 E Route 66 Blvd, Tucumcari, NM 88401
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

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Del's Restaurant with the 6 closest stops and another place to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.

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Stops near Del's Restaurant

All of New Mexico
Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari, NM

Cactus Motor Lodge

Tucumcari, New Mexico · 0.1 mi from Route 66

The lost Cactus Motor Lodge: a 1941 Tucumcari motel, since torn down, whose neon sign went to Albuquerque.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

0.1 mi from Del's Restaurant

Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, NM

Roadrunner Lodge

Tucumcari, New Mexico · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A 1940s motor court and a 1960s motel joined into one restored Route 66 stay on Tucumcari's main drag.

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0.1 mi from Del's Restaurant

Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, NM

Blue Swallow Motel

Tucumcari, New Mexico · on Route 66

A 1940s Tucumcari motor court with a glowing neon swallow and garages tucked between its rooms.

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0.3 mi from Del's Restaurant

Arch Hurley Conservancy District Office Building in Tucumcari, NM

Arch Hurley Conservancy District Office Building

Tucumcari, New Mexico · 0.3 mi from Route 66

A 1940 Pueblo Revival government office in Tucumcari, with peeled-log posts holding up its front porch.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

0.8 mi from Del's Restaurant

Baca-Goodman House in Tucumcari, NM

Baca-Goodman House

Tucumcari, New Mexico · 0.4 mi from Route 66

An early 1900s Tucumcari merchant's house that held a place on the National Register for just four years.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

1.0 mi from Del's Restaurant

Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari, NM

Odeon Theatre

Tucumcari, New Mexico · 0.6 mi from Route 66

An Art Deco movie house in Tucumcari, just off the old road and listed on the National Register.

Historic theaterPhoto credit

1.0 mi from Del's Restaurant

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