Plain American code reader needs PIN, say (7-6)

I believe the answer is:

cracker-barrel

'plain american' is the definition.
(US term meaning plain or simple)

'code reader needs pin say' is the wordplay.
'code reader' becomes 'cracker' (someone cracking a code).
'needs' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'pin say' becomes 'barrel' (pin is a type of cask).
'cracker'+'barrel'='CRACKER-BARREL'

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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