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Diner · Hummelstown, PA
The Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar is a 1950s-themed retro diner on East Main Street in Hummelstown serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside a full dairy bar with homemade ice cream — a genuine step back in time without the vintage price tag.
Our take If you're coming out of the Hershey area and planning a stop in Hummelstown, the Soda Jerk is right on your path down Main Street — an easy excuse to linger.
We appreciate spots that have been feeding locals for decades without reinventing themselves every season, and the Soda Jerk has been doing exactly that for over 30 years. The neon exterior, checkered floors, jukebox loaded with Buddy Holly and Elvis, and walls lined with black-and-white Hummelstown history photographs make it a diner in the truest sense. The menu spans American, Greek, and Italian comfort food — and that homemade ice cream at the end earns its own planning. It's the kind of place you can bring a full family and everyone finds something they want.
The Soda Jerk has been part of the Hummelstown-Hershey community for more than three decades. Its retro theme is earnest rather than gimmicky — the décor doubles as a neighborhood history exhibit, with vintage Hummelstown photographs sharing wall space with classic Coca-Cola signage. The menu keeps things straightforward: solid diner breakfasts, Greek and Italian entrées at lunch and dinner, and that dairy bar running alongside everything else. The result is a place that works whether you're grabbing a quick eggs-and-coffee breakfast or settling in for an ice cream sundae on a summer afternoon.
One thing that surprises first-timers is how far the menu reaches for a diner this size — beyond the eggs-and-pancakes basics there are burgers, paninis, hot and deli sandwiches, steaks and chops, seafood like a fresh salmon filet, plus Greek dishes such as a gyro and Italian plates like chicken parmigiana, all kept budget-friendly. Breakfast runs all day, there are dedicated kids' and seniors' menus, and listings note the menu accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free needs. Save room for the dairy bar: alongside the homemade ice cream they still make old-fashioned egg creams and ice cream sodas, plus build-your-own sundaes, splits, and ice cream boats. In warm weather a newly renovated outdoor deck opens up for bigger groups.
Hours can shift — check their site at sodajerkdinerhershey.com or call ahead before you make a special trip.
403 E Main St, Hummelstown, PA 17036
The Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar is in Hummelstown, PA. The map shows both pins — The Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar and our shop in Grantville — so you can see exactly where it sits relative to us.
A sampler of named dishes and dairy-bar treats drawn from their menu at the time of writing — the full menu is much larger and prices change, so confirm current offerings and pricing on their site.
Breakfast is a cornerstone of the menu — check their current hours on their website to confirm full-day availability, as it can vary by season.
Yes. The dairy bar is integrated with the diner, so you can eat your meal and order homemade ice cream, sundaes, or ice cream boats without leaving your table or moving to a separate counter.
It's genuinely family-friendly — the retro setting appeals to a wide age range, the menu has options for picky eaters, and the ice cream at the end tends to seal the deal for younger visitors.
Yes — alongside the indoor 1950s diner seating there's a large, newly renovated outdoor deck that's used in warmer weather and works well for bigger parties. The deck is seasonal, so if you're counting on eating outside, it's worth a quick call to confirm it's open the day you're coming.
Yes — the diner offers online ordering directly through its own website ("skip the wait, order online"), and third-party delivery via DoorDash has been available on outside listings. Takeout is also an option, so you can grab breakfast or lunch to go if you're passing through on a busy Hershey day.
The Soda Jerk sits right on Hummelstown's Main Street, which makes it easy to build a low-key family afternoon around it — a stop, a side trip, and a treat at the dairy bar to finish.
A guided cavern tour a few minutes away in Hummelstown — tour underground, then head back to Main Street for ice cream at the dairy bar.
An independent toy store in downtown Hummelstown that pairs naturally with a family diner-and-ice-cream stop on the same Main Street outing.
A Hummelstown brewery a few minutes away if the grown-ups want a craft beer after a family breakfast or lunch at the Soda Jerk.
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Visiting the Hershey area and need a mechanic? NextGen AutoWorks is a family-owned shop in Grantville, about 12 minutes north — we handle auto repair, tires, and PA state inspections. Traveling and something went wrong? Here's what to do if you have car trouble near Hershey — or book an appointment.
Verified via: The Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar (official site) · Soda Jerk Diner — Yelp · Soda Jerk Diner — Sinclair Trails (review) · Official site — About page (1950s theme; American/Greek/Italian; open every day) · Official site — Menu (named dishes, kids' and seniors' menus, all-day breakfast) · ReadyLink business listing (outdoor deck, sundaes/splits/boats, online ordering/DoorDash)
The Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar is an independent local business we're featuring in our guide — we're not affiliated. Details are from the business and public sources and were accurate at the time of writing; please confirm current hours before visiting.