Apricot Tree on California’s I-5 is a Hip, Retro Diner

Interstate 5 can be boring, long, and even desolate in parts but there’s one spot on the stretch from Northern to Southern California that is worth a grub stop everytime.

When heading South on I-5 towards Los Angeles, a funky little generations-old hidden gem provides the perfect refreshing and refueling in the Apricot Tree Restaurant where Carlos Delgado has been serving up Apricot specialties since couples were, themselves, carrying lunchboxes. Think outside the box (no pun intended); this is no fast food drive-thru here.

In Firebaugh, California, visible off the freeway, this quaint eatery and gift shop provides impeccable service and clean ambiance with the added fun of thousands of vintage lunch boxes and Thermoses lining the walls and ceilings. While you pick out your favorites or guess which ones you both used to carry to school and recess, be sure you order the Apricot Club, Apricot Omelet, Apricot Shake, Apricot Chicken, and especially the fries they have been known for, for decades. This great little retro eatery also incorporates fresh local ingredients whenever in season and even makes their own homemade fudge.