15 Oldest Restaurants In Los Angeles Where Every Meal Tells A Story
Los Angeles may be famous for its red carpets and palm trees, but hidden behind the glamor are some of the city’s oldest, most iconic eateries.
These historic restaurants have stood the test of time, serving generations of Angelenos with recipes and traditions that date back decades—sometimes over a century. I’ve spent years tracking down these culinary landmarks, where every booth, barstool, and bite tells a story.
From timeless diners to classic steakhouses, these beloved spots offer more than just a meal—they dish out a rich slice of LA history that you can taste with every nostalgic, satisfying bite.
1. Philippe The Original (Est. 1908)
Stepping into Philippe’s feels like walking through a portal to 1908! Last week, I joined the perpetual line of hungry folks waiting for their legendary French dip sandwiches. The sawdust-covered floors crunched beneath my feet as I navigated the communal tables.
What makes this place magical isn’t just the sandwich – though watching those skilled carvers dip crusty bread into savory jus is practically a religious experience. It’s the penny candy counter, the vintage phone booth, and the ancient coffee still served for just 45 cents.
Fun fact: Philippe’s claims to have invented the French dip by accident when founder Philippe Mathieu dropped a sandwich in meat drippings!
2. Cole’s P.E. Buffet (Est. 1908)
The eternal rivalry between Cole’s and Philippe’s over who truly invented the French dip sandwich continues to amuse me. My grandmother swore Cole’s was the original, and I’ve kept the family tradition alive by staying loyal to this atmospheric spot in downtown LA.
Walking through the red door feels like entering a speakeasy time capsule. The mahogany bar gleams under warm lighting while bartenders mix classic drinks with flair. I always order their signature sandwich with a side of atomic pickles that pack a zingy punch.
3. Musso & Frank Grill (Est. 1919)
Whenever I want to impress out-of-town visitors, I take them to Musso & Frank. The moment we slide into those red leather booths, I watch their eyes widen at the sight of bow-tied waiters who’ve been there for decades.
Hollywood’s oldest restaurant hasn’t changed its menu much since opening day – the drinks arrive ice-cold in their own little carafes, and the flannel cakes remain my breakfast obsession. Famous writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Raymond Chandler once nursed drinks at this very bar, crafting stories between sips.
I always request Table 1, which was Charlie Chaplin’s favorite spot, positioned perfectly for people-watching along Hollywood Boulevard.
4. The Original Pantry Cafe (Est. 1924)
Never closed, never without a customer! My first visit to The Pantry happened at 3 AM after a concert downtown. Even at that hour, the place hummed with energy as bleary-eyed night owls and early risers shared counter space.
Cash only and proud of it, this 24-hour institution serves portions that could feed a small army. The sourdough bread arrives warm and crusty, followed by plates piled high with eggs, hash browns, and their famous thick-cut bacon. Former LA Mayor Richard Riordan loved the place so much he bought it in 1981!
The waitstaff moves with practiced efficiency, some having worked here for 30+ years, serving up history alongside hearty comfort food.
5. Pacific Dining Car (Est. 1921)
My grandpa proposed to my grandma at Pacific Dining Car in 1953, so I’ve always felt a special connection to this 24-hour steakhouse designed to resemble a luxury train car. The green leather booths and wood-paneled walls create an atmosphere of old-school elegance.
Famous for their Baseball Steak (a thick-cut top sirloin), this place has fed LA’s power players for a century. I once spotted a table of studio executives hammering out a movie deal at 2 AM while enjoying their legendary breakfast steaks and eggs.
The original location maintains a collection of vintage menus showing how prices have changed – in 1921, a complete steak dinner cost just 85 cents!
6. Tam O’Shanter (Est. 1922)
Walking into Tam O’Shanter feels like stepping into a storybook cottage! The Scottish-themed restaurant, with its steeply pitched roof and Tudor-style exterior, stands out among LA’s sleek modern buildings like a cheerful anachronism.
I celebrated my promotion here last year, feasting on their famous prime rib that’s been carved to perfection tableside since the Roaring Twenties. Walt Disney was such a regular that they named his favorite table after him – he reportedly sketched early Mickey Mouse ideas on napkins while dining here.
The whimsical interior features tartan patterns, cozy fireplaces, and waitstaff in kilts. Their Yorkshire pudding recipe hasn’t changed in a hundred years – and thank goodness for that!
7. El Cholo (Est. 1923)
The aroma of sizzling fajitas greets me every time I push open El Cholo’s heavy wooden doors. My family has celebrated birthdays here for three generations, watching as the restaurant grew from a tiny adobe-style building to the LA institution it is today.
Their menu acts as a time machine, noting exactly when each dish was introduced. The famous green corn tamales (added 1925) remain seasonal treasures, available only May through October. Vintage photographs of early Los Angeles line the walls alongside celebrity snapshots spanning nearly a century.
Legend has it that El Cholo introduced the first nachos to Los Angeles in the 1950s – a culinary innovation that changed snacking forever!
8. Canter’s Deli (Est. 1931)
Canter’s neon sign has beckoned night owls and celebrities alike to this Fairfax District landmark for over 90 years! My first memory of Canter’s involves my dad taking me for matzoh ball soup when I had the sniffles – the ultimate Jewish penicillin.
The 24-hour deli maintains its 1950s aesthetic with orange booths and that iconic ceiling resembling an abstract painting. Their bakery case tempts with rotating trays of rugelach, black and white cookies, and cheesecake slices bigger than my hand.
Rock stars from the nearby Troubadour club would frequently stumble in after shows – Guns N’ Roses reportedly wrote parts of their debut album while feasting on pastrami sandwiches at Canter’s!
9. Clifton’s Republic (Est. 1935)
Clifton’s took eccentricity to spectacular heights with its forest-themed interior complete with a massive fake redwood tree rising through multiple floors! During the Great Depression, founder Clifford Clinton never turned away hungry customers, operating under the policy “Pay What You Wish.”
After extensive renovations, today’s Clifton’s maintains its wonderfully weird woodland charm while adding modern touches. My nephew’s eyes grew saucer-wide when he spotted the taxidermied animals and glowing rock formations during our lunch there last month.
The cafeteria-style service harkens back to simpler times, though now you can enjoy craft drinks alongside your comfort food in this truly unique piece of LA history.
10. Lawry’s The Prime Rib (Est. 1938)
The spinning salad bowl performance at Lawry’s still makes me giggle like a kid! A server dramatically whirls a salad bowl atop a bed of ice, creating a theatrical prelude to the main event – the famous prime rib carved from silver carts.
Last anniversary, my husband and I splurged on their Lawry cut (the biggest they offer) and Yorkshire pudding. The elegant Art Deco dining room with its high ceilings and white-jacketed servers creates an atmosphere of bygone luxury.
Lawry’s invented seasoned salt in this very restaurant before it became a supermarket staple. They’re also responsible for creating the annual Beef Bowl tradition for Rose Bowl football teams!
11. Pink’s Hot Dogs (Est. 1939)
Standing in line at Pink’s feels like a quintessential LA experience! The iconic hot dog stand started as a pushcart at the corner of La Brea and Melrose before growing into the local landmark we know today.
My personal favorite is the Martha Stewart dog topped with relish, onions, bacon, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut, and sour cream. The walls feature signed celebrity photos – everyone from Orson Welles to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has succumbed to Pink’s chili-topped temptations.
Even after midnight, the line often stretches around the block. I’ve had some of my most interesting conversations with strangers while waiting for that signature snap when biting into their natural-casing dogs!
12. Bob’s Big Boy (Est. 1949)
The Burbank location of Bob’s Big Boy stands as a perfectly preserved slice of 1950s Googie architecture! That checkered exterior and the iconic Big Boy statue holding his burger aloft make me smile every time I drive past.
Friday nights bring classic car enthusiasts who gather in the parking lot, transforming it into an impromptu vintage auto show. Inside, the red vinyl booths and chrome accents transport diners straight back to the Happy Days era.
I still order what I did as a kid – the famous double-decker Big Boy burger with extra special sauce. The Beatles once dined here after a Hollywood Bowl performance, sitting in what’s now known as “The Beatles Booth” (still available by reservation)!
13. Langer’s Delicatessen (Est. 1947)
Langer’s #19 pastrami sandwich changed my understanding of what pastrami could be! The combination of hand-cut pastrami, coleslaw, Russian dressing, and Swiss cheese on double-baked rye bread has earned its reputation as possibly the finest pastrami sandwich in America.
Located across from MacArthur Park, this Jewish deli has survived neighborhood changes while maintaining its commitment to quality. The vintage neon sign and wood-paneled interior haven’t changed much since the Truman administration.
Founder Al Langer worked until age 100, often greeting customers personally. The line for takeout often stretches down the block, but trust me – that first bite of their hand-carved, steaming pastrami makes any wait worthwhile!
14. The Apple Pan (Est. 1947)
Blink and you might miss The Apple Pan’s unassuming exterior on Pico Boulevard! Inside this tiny time capsule, the U-shaped counter wraps around grill cooks who prepare burgers exactly as they have since 1947.
My grandfather introduced me to their Hickoryburger topped with a special smoky sauce that’s downright addictive. The white-aproned servers (some who’ve worked there for decades) still write orders on small pads and calculate bills by hand.
No meal here is complete without a slice of their namesake apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream. The restaurant has never had a telephone for reservations – you simply show up, wait your turn, and enjoy an authentic slice of old LA when your counter stool becomes available!
15. Casa Vega (Est. 1956)
The red leather booths at Casa Vega have hosted countless celebrity sightings since the 1950s! Dimly lit to the point where you might not recognize your dining companion, this Sherman Oaks Mexican restaurant maintains an atmosphere of old Hollywood glamour.
Founder Ray Vega opened the restaurant when he was just 22, creating a Valley institution that continues under his daughter’s leadership today. Their cheese enchiladas swimming in rich sauce remain my go-to comfort food after a rough week.
Marlon Brando was a regular, and Quentin Tarantino featured the restaurant in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
16. Norms Restaurant (Est. 1949)
That zigzag pennant sign at the original Norms on La Cienega perfectly captures mid-century Googie architecture! Designed by Eldon Davis in 1957, the building became a protected historic landmark in 2015, preserving its space-age charm for future generations.
Open 24/7, Norms has satisfied late-night cravings for decades with their famous Bigger Better Breakfast served around the clock. The orange booths and counter seating maintain that classic diner feel where waitresses still call you “hon” as they refill your coffee cup.
My college study group would camp out here during finals week, fueling all-nighters with stacks of pancakes and bottomless coffee. Their “Hotcake Special” remains one of LA’s best breakfast bargains!