10 California Eateries That Haven’t Changed Since The ’70s (In The Best Way)
Walking through the doors of certain California restaurants feels like stepping into a time machine.
While the Golden State has plenty of trendy spots with constantly changing menus, there’s something magical about eateries that have stubbornly refused to change with the times.
I’ve spent years hunting down these culinary landmarks where wood paneling, veteran servers, and classic recipes remain gloriously intact.
Here are ten beloved California institutions that have preserved their ’70s charm while still serving some of the best food around.
1. The Apple Pan – Los Angeles
Last week, I slid onto one of the worn counter stools at The Apple Pan, exactly where my dad took me for my 10th birthday in 1978. Nothing has changed. The U-shaped counter still surrounds grill masters who prepare the legendary Hickoryburger with methodical precision.
Cash-only since opening in 1947, this West LA institution serves its burgers wrapped in paper with sides of crinkle-cut fries. The servers, some who’ve worked here for decades, still write your order on small pads and calculate your bill by hand.
Their apple pie – served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – remains the perfect finale. When new owners took over in 2019, they made a sacred promise: change absolutely nothing.
2. Tadich Grill – San Francisco
Stepping into Tadich Grill feels like entering a portal to old San Francisco. I’ll never forget the first time my grandfather brought me here, explaining that the mahogany bar had survived the 1906 earthquake. California’s oldest restaurant (established 1849!) maintains its timeless charm with white-jacketed waiters who’ve memorized regular customers’ orders for decades.
The seafood-focused menu features classics like cioppino and petrale sole that haven’t changed in generations. Their sourdough bread, served warm and crusty, remains the perfect companion to their famous oyster stew.
The private wooden booths still offer the same discreet dining experience that has attracted politicians and celebrities for over a century. No reservations policy? That hasn’t changed either.
3. Philippe The Original – Los Angeles
Sawdust still covers the floor at Philippe’s, where I watched in awe as a server dipped my first French dip sandwich in jus when I was just eight years old. This downtown LA landmark claims to have invented the French dip sandwich in 1918, and they’re still making them exactly the same way.
The cafeteria-style ordering system feels delightfully retro, with long wooden tables where strangers share space and conversations. Their homemade mustard, famously hot and served from small containers on each table, clears sinuses just as effectively as it did fifty years ago.
The vintage phone booth and ancient coffee price (once 5¢, now a still-bargain 50¢) remind visitors they’re experiencing a living piece of LA history. Cash only, of course!
4. Hob Nob Hill – San Diego
My aunt swears Hob Nob Hill’s pancakes haven’t changed since her first visit in 1972, and after my recent breakfast there, I believe her! Operating since 1944, this San Diego institution maintains its mid-century charm with curved leather booths and friendly servers who call everyone “hon.”
Morning regulars still line up for their famous corned beef hash and cinnamon rolls the size of dinner plates. The menu proudly offers comfort food classics without pretentious modern twists or unnecessary updates.
Their chicken pot pie remains exactly as it was decades ago – a golden-crusted masterpiece that arrives steaming hot. The vintage photographs lining the walls tell the story of a restaurant that found its perfect formula long ago and wisely decided to stick with it.
5. Musso & Frank Grill – Hollywood
Martinis served with the extra portion in a sidecar! That’s how I discovered Musso & Frank’s legendary bartending when my film professor took our class there after graduation. Hollywood’s oldest restaurant (est. 1919) maintains its Rat Pack-era glamour with red leather booths and waiters in red jackets who’ve been serving celebrities for decades.
The menu reads like a time capsule – jellied consommé, Welsh rarebit, and sand dabs remain exactly as they were when Raymond Chandler wrote here. Their tableside service for dishes like Steak Diane preserves a dining theater rarely found today.
The Charlie Chaplin booth still sits in the corner, and the cocktails remain gloriously strong and straightforward. Even after a 2019 renovation, they carefully preserved every historical detail that makes dining here a journey back in time.
6. Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers – Los Angeles
At 2AM last weekend, I found myself at the original Tommy’s shack at Beverly and Rampart, watching cooks smother burgers with chili just as they have since 1946. The ritual remains unchanged – order at the window, grab your messy masterpiece, and devour it at standing counters while chili inevitably drips down your arm.
The simple menu (burgers, hot dogs, tamales – all with chili) hangs above the counter on the same style of signboard they’ve used for decades. Late-night crowds still mix together – club-goers, cops, hospital workers – all united by their craving for Tommy’s signature chili.
The original shack’s weathered appearance and no-frills service are part of its charm. When you’re handed that paper-wrapped burger, you’re experiencing the exact same taste that has satisfied Angelenos for generations.
7. Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant – San Francisco
My first visit to Sam’s Grill involved being ushered into one of their famous curtained booths, where my grandfather proudly summoned the waiter by pressing the booth’s original service button. Operating since 1867, this Financial District institution remains delightfully stuck in time with its private dining booths and career waiters in formal attire.
The seafood-centric menu features San Francisco classics prepared with no unnecessary flourishes – sand dabs, petrale sole, and rex sole remain exactly as they’ve been for decades. Their famous celery victor (celery marinated in vinaigrette) still begins most meals.
The ancient cash register near the entrance continues to ring up checks as it has for generations. When you dine at Sam’s, you’re not just eating dinner – you’re participating in an ongoing San Francisco tradition that refuses to acknowledge culinary trends.
8. The Madonna Inn Copper Café – San Luis Obispo
Pink. Everything gloriously, unapologetically pink! My college roommate’s family had a tradition of stopping at Madonna Inn’s Copper Café whenever they drove up the coast, and now I understand why. This Central Coast landmark, with its Swiss-Alps-meets-Vegas aesthetic, opened in 1958 and has steadfastly maintained its delightfully kitschy charm.
The café’s copper countertops and pink leather stools remain unchanged since the ’70s. Their famous pink champagne cake, topped with delicate chocolate curls, continues to draw visitors from around the world who snap photos before devouring every crumb.
Breakfast still features enormous portions served on hand-painted plates. The stained-glass windows, ornate wood carvings, and pink sugar cubes for your coffee create a time-capsule experience that no modern restaurant would dare attempt.
9. Canter’s Deli – Los Angeles
My first 3AM matzo ball soup happened at Canter’s, after a college concert in 1992, but the place looked like it hadn’t changed since 1972 (or even 1952!). This Fairfax district institution has operated 24/7 since 1953, with the same distinctive orange vinyl booths and iconic ceiling that resembles psychedelic autumn leaves.
The massive menu still offers perfect Jewish deli classics – pastrami piled high on rye, lox and cream cheese on bagels, and chicken soup that could cure anything. The bakery cases up front continue to tempt with the same black and white cookies and rugelach that have satisfied late-night cravings for generations.
Rock stars still stumble in after shows at nearby venues, just as they have since the Sunset Strip heyday. The adjoining Kibitz Room cocktail lounge maintains its dive bar charm with nightly live music.
10. Original Joe’s – San Jose
I’ll never forget watching the tuxedoed chef at Original Joe’s flambé a dish tableside while my wide-eyed 12-year-old self wondered if the ceiling would catch fire. Founded in 1956, this family-owned Italian-American restaurant maintains its old-school charm with red leather booths, career waiters in formal attire, and an exhibition kitchen where chefs still prepare dishes over open flames.
Their signature Joe’s Special (ground beef, spinach, onions, and eggs) remains exactly as it was decades ago – hearty, unpretentious, and deeply satisfying. The portions continue to be enormous, with enough food on one plate to feed a small family.
The dark wood paneling, white tablecloths, and vintage cocktail list create an atmosphere where you half-expect to see Frank Sinatra in a corner booth. When you’re handed the oversized menu, you’re holding a piece of California culinary history.