Two roads diverge between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and both are well traveled: California State Route 1, curving its way along the dramatic California coastline, and Interstate 5, a four-lane straightaway through the state's agricultural heartland. Whether you choose the more scenic Highway 1, as it's often called, or try to set a new land speed record on I-5, there are plenty of lovely places to stop and eat.

These are some favorite pit stops on and off the beaten path, listed from north to south.