- - 12 Famous 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' Restaurants That Closed and Their Reasons

Fred HernandezFebruary 13, 2026 at 8:05 PM

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If you’re a fan of Guy Fieri’s "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," you know the thrill of walking into a restaurant that’s earned a Flavortown seal of approval. But not every spot featured on the show has managed to stay open.

From sky-high rents and pandemic shutdowns to diminishing foot traffic and owner burnout, a surprising number of Triple-D favorites have closed their doors for good. Even a visit from Guy Fieri isn’t always enough to guarantee long-term survival.

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Guy FieriI (I)1. Ben's Best Deli (Queens, NY)

After 73 years in business, this beloved kosher delicatessen shuttered in 2018. Jay Parker, the owner and son of the original owner, cited slow business tied to a lack of parking after the city installed bike lanes. The closure is part of a larger trend of kosher delis disappearing across New York City.

2. Eight Noodle Shop (Napa, CA)

In a region better known for wine tastings, Eight Noodle Shop offered a casual place to grab comforting noodle bowls. In 2019, just one year after appearing on the show, the restaurant closed permanently. No specific reason was publicly shared, leaving a ramen-shaped hole in the hearts of many Napa locals.

3. The Red Door (Seattle, WA)

This cozy neighborhood pub served fish and chips, burgers, and other comfort food staples for more than 30 years. With an expiring lease and rising operating costs, the owners were forced to close in March 2020, just days before widespread pandemic shutdowns hit Seattle.

4. Krokstrom (Kansas City, MO)

Scandinavian cuisine is hard to come by, which made this one sting. Despite widespread praise and national attention, the Nordic comfort food restaurant closed in late 2019. The owners had openly shared their struggles to keep the business profitable and warned that closure was possible if things didn’t improve. Fans still talk about the wild mushroom strudel and Flying Jakob Swedish casserole Guy tried on the episode.

5. Brint's Diner (Wichita, KS)

This no-frills diner was old school in the best way. Brint’s closed permanently in April 2022, but the end didn’t come out of nowhere. The restaurant had gone through multiple ownership changes and previous closures over the years, making it one more example of the classic American diner slowly vanishing.

6. Grubstak (Chandler, AZ)

Grubstak took comfort food to another level with over-the-top loaded bowls. The Sweet Lou’s BBQ Stak piled waffle fries with BBQ-braised beef, applewood-smoked bacon, and house-made coleslaw. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed for good in June 2021 following COVID-19 shutdowns and broader business downturns.

Related: 15 Photos of McDonald's in the 1990s That Unlock a Core Memory

7. Purple Carrot Food Truck (Arlington, VA)

Purple Carrot’s farm-to-table approach focused on seasonal ingredients that tasted unmistakably fresh. Carrot sliders and rotating vegetable dishes made it a standout on the food truck scene. The truck closed around 2020 without a formal goodbye, though fans can still find elements of its cooking through Red Haven pop-up dinners.

8. Queen's Comfort (New York, NY)

Another casualty of the pandemic, Queen’s Comfort closed in October 2020 after nine years in business. Limited outdoor seating, seasonal slowdowns, and ongoing rent costs made continuing impossible. The loss hit hard for locals who still miss dishes like the Atomic Fireballs (spicy mac and cheese balls).

9. Pok Pok (Portland, OR)

It’s hard to imagine Portland without Pok Pok’s famous fish sauce wings. After nearly 15 years and multiple locations, the restaurant group shut down all remaining outposts by the end of 2020. Pandemic shutdowns delivered the final blow, though the business had already been facing mounting challenges.

10. Percy Street BBQ (Philadelphia, PA)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a pork belly sandwich as good as Percy Street’s. The restaurant closed in 2017 after a mix of ownership changes and extensive water damage caused by flooding. Despite early hopes of reopening, it never returned.

11. Joe's Cable Car Restaurant (San Francisco, CA)

This iconic Mission Street burger joint was featured on Triple D for its fresh ground beef steaks and old-school diner vibe. After nearly 49 years in business, owner Joe Obegi decided to close the restaurant on March 16, 2014 when he chose to retire rather than sell. The closure marked the end of a beloved local landmark known for juicy burgers and neon charm.

12. Blueplate Lunch Counter & Soda Fountain (Portland, OR)

Guy Fieri visited this old-school lunch counter and soda fountain in downtown for its classic American comfort food. Think burgers, grilled cheese and tomato soup, milkshakes, and house-made sodas. Blueplate operated downtown for nine years before closing permanently on April 29, 2016 after its owner opted to shut down and pursue other projects.

Related: Why Kudos Bars Disappeared and How to Make Them at Home

This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”