Far from Church Street, amongst strip malls in Burlington’s ‘burbs, a show-stopping vintage neon sign lights the way to this fast food institution. And the inside does not disappoint; old-school but by no means run down, the checkered tile and red booths look as shiny as they might have in the late ‘40s, when Al’s first opened.

The crowds are still coming, too. They’re here for the prices, of course: $2.01 for a Hamburger, $1.33 for a Grilled Cheese, $1.96 for a Hot Dog. But they’re also here for the “Frys,” which are sliced in-house from Idaho or California russets before being fried twice in a mixture of oil and beef tallow. Not convinced that $2 snacks will live up to your standards? Just ask the James Beard Foundation, which recognized Al’s with an America’s Classics Award in 2010.