Busy Bee Cafe, Hugo, Oklahoma

I recently visited my mom in Hugo, Oklahoma with my sister and her husband. One of the grand traditions of going to Hugo is getting breakfast, or the best burger around, at the Busy Bee Cafe at 122 South Broadway Street. It was put here in the 1930's and has been operating ever since. The most recent owner has had it since 1972.

Diners such as these spotted the landscape in the 30's and 40's. They were made so that one person could run it. This was done by having about 10 stools that were facing an open kitchen. First come, first served. You waited for a stool to open up if they were full.

Me and my entourage are at the very end of this row of locals. We forgot to wear our hats:-) "The" menu is above my head on the wall.

Close up of the menu. My brother-in-law and I order the breakfast #5, not sure what a #5 is, but it said Bee Breakfast and it was the most expensive breakfast on the menu. Surely it is a combo plate. My sister is having french toast. I don't endorse Pepsi products:-)

The cook/chef is taking our order, all word-of-mouth, no ticket. I forgot his name, I wish I could remember. He was very personable and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He knew everyone who came into the diner by name and food preference.

The chef works his magic. You can see that there is more than one person working this diner. As our chef put it "the technology today means we need more people". They have a fax and phone to answer that wasn't around when this place was built. Also, they added on a drive-thru, of sorts. They built a window that faces the alley. You have to know it is there to use it. The next photo has a better shot of the drive-thru.

You can see the manager working the drive-thru window at the far end of the diner. Our chef is tending to our breakfasts, and the middle cook/guy is there to work the incoming fax and phone orders.

Me and my sister waiting to dig in! (this is my early morning, no coffee yet, sun in my face, look)

Jeff, on the right, enjoying his #5, which turned out to be eggs cooked to order, hashbrowns, thick-sliced toast, and slab o' hamsteak. The French toast is on the left. Needless to say, everything was delicious in a greasy spoon sort of way. Everything on our plate was cooked using butter and/or bacon fat. It doesn't get any better than this!

Me enjoying my #5. Yummm, Yummmm!

All I can say is if you happen to be going through, or even close to Hugo, Oklahoma (due north of Paris, Texas and the Casino), you have to stop and get your greasy spoon fix here. This isn't for the squeamish, only professional greasy spoon afficionados allowed!

Bon Apetit!