Although it went bankrupt in 2008, the chain sold all of its menu items and brand property to Legendary Restaurant Groupso here's hoping for a comeback! This classic American grill has been open since 1919, and not much seems to have changed since then. But for however bizarre and whimsical the place is, the prime rib is still damn good and the waitstaff is set on making sure you have an excellent time. Having ventured into one kind of Japanese restaurant, we soon became curious about the rest. Customers were instructed to "Eat like a king" at Lyon's, a competitor to Denny's with casual dining and low-cost breakfasts. One of many iconic Upper East Side eateries owned by the Santo Family Group, the fine dining experience in its garden of stain glass was said to have been magnificent," explained The New York Times. The cocktails are strong (they make a particularly good Old Fashioned), the crowd is weird and over-the-top, and most importantly, youll always be able to walk right in. Chefs liked sushi too. If youve ever owned a television or watched a movie, then youve probably seen the inside of The Prince. The diners walls are covered with posters, photos, and memorabilia that pay homage to the sheer amount of talent to come out of Watts, including Huey Newton, Martin Luther King, and Redd Foxx. Pho is a word that pops up everywhere; at strip malls all over Southern California you now find restaurants featuring that tantalizing combination dish that is part noodle, part soup, part salad and pure Vietnamese. Meanwhile, chefs who really cared about fish started going to the Japanese fish markets and we suddenly started hearing a whole lot less about fish flown in from France. 6145 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. The chain peaked in 1995 with 210 locations throughout the United States. But, sadly, Dubrow's closed in the late '80s, as the trend of diners began to die down. One of the real revelations of the last decade has been the delicate food of Vietnam. Be the first to get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation right in your inbox. Its a private club, home to the best magicians on the planet, with a restaurant thats better than youd expect. The last location closed in 2012. Over the years the West Hollywood restaurant became famous for its Academy Award after parties as much as it was known for its chili. Serving perhaps the greatest pastrami in America, Langer's is a fantastic diner in Westlake offering everything from reuben sandwiches and corned beef to matzo ball soup and lox. By now, theyve started to spread. THEN: Named for its original owners, Nathaniel and Katherine Banks, Naka's Broiler has been in business since 1956, making it the first black-owned business in Compton. BAR RESTAURANT MENU 1980'S . Norm's Still love buffets? Seating is limited to the original U-shaped counter, and you have to jump into a seat as soon as it's vacant (similar to the Apple Pan). If you get hungry, theres a very good Taiwanese bar menu filled with dishes like cold sesame noodles, dan dan mian, and dim sum. The Zagat people have just sent out a press release saying that Los Angeles is at the forefront of a revolution in cooking. Delish editors handpick every product we feature. (Elina Shatkin/LAist), Inside the recently renovated Shakers in South Pasadena. Since the club closed in 1979, the space has remained vacant, and many of the original old art deco fixtures have been removed or damaged. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Southern California was once dotted with old-school diners. The 101 Coffee Shop in Hollywood. You won't find the 95-cent fish-and-chips special we saw in a 1968 ad but classic breakfast dishes are still on the menu along with fun twists like Hawaiian bread French toast (highly recommended).601 Fair Oaks, South Pasadena. Meanwhile, one of the older spicy cuisines became new again in Los Angeles. Though the menu is very similar to the upscale Beverly Hills steakhouse, The Tams aesthetic is somewhere between a medieval drinking tavern and the Seven Dwarfs cottage. For more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked by how toxic they are. Korean restaurants remained a mystery for much of the decade, but in the past couple of years adventurous eaters have discovered that restaurants catering to the large local Korean population have a whole lot more to offer than grill-it-yourself beef. Thanks to Katherine (who worked there for years, even after she sold the restaurant), the diner became a refuge for black students attending Centennial High School, across the street. Open since 1939, Formosa is one of the oldest bars in the city, with more Hollywood history than the bathrooms at The Beverly Hilton. THEN: The diner chain founded by L.A. native and used car salesman Norm Roybark opened its La Cienega location in 1957, where it has been serving affordable omelets, burgers, steaks and stacks of pancakes ever since. What started as a popular Manhattan restaurant founded in 1914 grew to a huge chain throughout the northeast during the '80s. When you open the menu, emblazoned with the words "You tried the rest Now come in and have the best," make sure to give the Southern-style breakfast dishes your full attention (especially that pork chop and grits). In the late '70s, it was hard to find a theme restaurant that didn't do well, but by far the most inventive was Boston Sea Party. According to an old menu on eBay, you could get a steak for less than $5 or a spaghetti burger (intriguing!) every day. That means: We can print whatever you need on a massive variety of mediums. His chain restaurant, which focused on causal dining, never grew to tremendous popularity. Shiitake mushrooms turned up so often that some people actually thought they were a rare Italian species. Secret agents, post-war paranoia and questions about life as an American Do you remember hanging out at the mall in the '80s? In 1936, Chasen's opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele. You can find a full list of former Rainforest Caf locations on Wikipedia. Before the nights over, youll already be plotting your return. Sadly, the last storefront with the name closed in 1996. By the 1990s, it needed a revamp. However those are distant memories now, as the club closed in April of 2006. Like the other ice cream shops, MaggieMoo's would make made-to-order ice cream cones while mixing the ingredients in front of you. 818-788-5110, corkysla.com. What we can guarantee is loud music (often live), people who are there to listen to it, and big, cheesy pizzas that will silence the whiny friend in the group who wanted to go to On The Rox instead. You Probably Cant Name These The A-Team Actors, Only 3 Out of 20 People Can Identify All These Star Blazers Characters. Brown, Jr. teamed up, what fans got was Kenny Rogers' Roasters, a popular '90s fast-food chain. Rae's THEN: Pann's wasn't the first restaurant opened by Greek immigrants George and Rena Panagopoulos but it is the longest lasting. Even so, the iconic lounge is still a great place to drink old-school cocktails like the rum-infused Blood & Sand, catch a live jazz show, and get a little weird along the way. Pump is co-owned by Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, Lisa Vanderpump, whose first restaurant, Sur, rose to fame on Bravos Vanderpump Rules. The Brown Derby became a Hollywood institution after the original Wilshire Boulevard location was founded by Herbert K. Somborn in 1926. RELATED:No-sugar-added recipes you'll look forward to eating. Headquartered in St Louis, Missouri and founded in 1967, this restaurant is famous for its steaks and boring decor. All Of Dunkin' Donuts' Iced Coffee Flavors, Ranked, These Vegetables Have The Lowest Carb Counts, Starbucks Introduces New Pistachio Cream Cold Brew, 1979: Cloud Club in New York City's Chrysler Building, Here's What Famous Food Network Chefs Are Doing. With over 37,000 restaurants worldwide, it's safe to say McDonald's isn't going anywhere. Steak and Ale was ahead of its time. They restored the space to its original glory, maintaining many of the touches that made The Penguin so great. But as Hollywood exited the golden era, so did the Brown Derby, and by 1987 all four locations were closed. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. As with The Official All-Star Caf, ESPN Zone thrived on the intersection of chain-loving tourists and sports-loving tourists. Launched in 1998, the chain featured "studio grills" for eating and "screening rooms" for watching sports games, according to a 2010 article from The New York Times. NOW: Pann's endures as one of L.A. County's best examples of Googie architecture. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. 10 Awesome Vintage Baseball Cards Thatll Make You Want To Grow A 70s Mustache. If you were a kid in the '80s, there's a good chance you After renaming it the Hollywood Hills Cafe, they spent $50,000 turning it into the kind of spot A-listers like Nic Cage and Brad Pitt might want to visit. Eating in LA just wouldn't be the same without these spots. Founder Loyal Damon sold his chain of candy stores to open this Polynesian-designed restaurant, passing on ownership and its famous cocktail recipes to his son Loyal Jr., wife Donna, and daughter Jennie. It has been owned by the Adler family since the 1940s. In 1982, the company was sold to Marriott and used as a foothold to expand their chain, Roy Rogers. In the Hollywood Hills, just above the Magic Castle, this giant building once was an art museum, before becoming a private club for important Hollywood people in the 1920s, an apartment building in the 40s, and eventually a restaurant. The first Planet Hollywood opened in New York City in 1991, backed by Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. A post shared by Dal Rae Restaurant (@dalraerestaurant) on May 23, 2019 at 7:03am PDT, 10 Stellar Lunch Deals to Check Out During DineLA, Fall 2022, 18 Feast-Worthy Steakhouses in Los Angeles, If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Stanley Burke's Coffee Shop opened in 1958. Head to Northridge in the San Fernando Valley for a never-fail Jewish deli experience. The bar continues to be a legendary place to grab a drink and hobnob with celebrities. Famous Restaurants in Hollywood History 1 The Brown Derby. Located on North Vine Street near Hollywood Boulevard from 1929 until it closed its doors in 1985, the Brown Derby (originalhollywoodbrownderby.com) was where the rich and famous 2 Chasen's. 3 Musso & Frank Grill. 4 The Micelis-Pig N Whistle Connection. 5 Spago. At its height, there were 90 Planet Hollywood locations. Longtime Angelenos swear it has barely changed since the '80s. Founded in 1933, Valle's Steak House saw huge expansion during the '60s by embracing the dining trend of leaning toward a menu full of steak and lobster. But for nostalgic millennials still mourning the loss, the pain might be too much. We have over a decade of experience creating beautiful pieces of custom-made keepsakes and our state of the art facility is able to take on any challenge. All Rights Reserved. This classic Koreatown restaurant serves stone pot bibimbap in screaming hot bowls, though everything from the banchan to the fried fish are excellent here. Beefsteak Charlies was a well-known restaurant chain based in the New York metropolitan area, which grew to over 60 locations in the early 1980s. The best places to eat in LAs most famous neighborhood. (Thomas Galvez/Flickr Creative Commons), The exterior of Mel's Drive-In in Santa Monica. Parking lot view of the busy drive-in restaurant, the Rite Spot Cafe, located at 1500 W. Colorado Thus, no native cuisine need be watered down to make it acceptable to the American palate. If youre looking to drink stiff Jack and Cokes and smoke without judgment in leather pants, this historic Sunset Strip fixture is the place to do it. Located on Seventh Avenue, The Stage was one of the most popular delis in New York City after being founded in 1937 and was known for having a menu full of Broadway-inspired dishes. 310-828-7937. She lived in a little house behind the place until 1980, when they sold the restaurant. Cielito Lindo has been serving its famous rolled tacos slathered in avocado salsa since 1934. A must-stop on the way to LAX, Panns is a diner study in Googie architecture. During the '40s and '50s, every A-list celeb was a regular at Toots Shor'sfrom Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Gleason and Judy Garland. As for food, dont get too cute with your orderthis is the kind of place where if your table isnt filled up with caesar salads, massive plates of meat, and several orders of their famous garlic bread, you took a wrong turn somewhere. 20 Mighty Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco. This renovated Culver City classic feels like a perfectly preserved relic from the 1960s: youll see dark leather booths, red table clothes, and wood-paneled walls covered in retro paintings. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. The exclusive New York City bar, owned by Bernard Shor served steak and baked potatoes among other things, but the crowd was the real attraction. We wanted him to remember us when we returned. Either way, a night out at one of these spots is a glimpse into LA historyand always one hell of a time. Jean Trinh, 17 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeless Chinatown. The drinks are cheap, the food menu is surprisingly solid, and the crowd-watching never disappoints. Can You Guess The Name Of These Cheers Characters? By 1986, Gino's was no longer in operation. NOW: In the mid-2000s, King and Rosenbluh, who owned and worked as chefs at Pasadena's Firefly Bistro, were approached by the elderly owner's adult daughter. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. Nicole Adlman, 21 Top Stops For a Meal in the Sprawling San Fernando Valley, A Handy Guide to Jewish Delis in Los Angeles. That's where Susan Fine Moore and her husband came in. $59.95 + $6.10 shipping . Los Angeles is a city blessed with a tapestry of long-standing restaurants. (Elina Shatkin/LAist), Breakfast at Mel's Drive-In on Sunset Blvd. } When you went to La Toque, for instance, there might be eel in the salad. A Palm Springs location was later brought back. As beloved for its salad bar as it was for its steak, Charlie Brown's was a staple for kids living in the northeast in the '80s and '90s. The club's iconic building was later demolished and turned into Paley Park. For 33 years, this New York City family-owned, cafeteria-style institution served as a rallying point for hopeful politicians (both JFK and Ed Koch campaigned here), as well as a favorite dining destination for locals. Located on Vermont Ave. in the middle of Los Feliz, The Dresden is broken up into two distinct areas - the main dining room and the bar/lounge. El Cholo remains packed while still churning out classic traditional enchiladas, burritos, tacos, as well as shaken margaritas. American bakery chain, La Petite Boulangerie or "little bakery," did indeed start out small, with only two stores in the beginning. Before long we were making our way out to Gardena for elaborately exquisite kaiseki dinners. 1961 W. El Segundo Blvd., Compton, 323-566-5450. Bennigans was an Irish pub-themed casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1976 in Atlanta by restaurateur Norman E. Brinker as one of Americas original casual dining concepts. Though now predominantly Latino, the neighborhood was once the second most significant community of Japanese Americans after Little Tokyo. Owned by Planet Hollywood, this failed restaurant chain was a sports-themed take on the memorabilia-heavy chain. A popular location in the '90s, the company went bankrupt in 2008. Casa Bonita's parent company filed for bankruptcy in 2011, and all of the other locations have closed. It became a dentist's office for most of the '90s, although much of the original exterior architecture was left intact. The family also owned a nearby restaurant called Holly's -- later called Hawthorne Grill -- where Pulp Fiction's iconic diner scene was shot. It is not because of the way Italian restaurants exploded onto the scene, making pasta a household word. Back then, they weren't old-school. The old freight yard site is now Los Angeles State Historic Park and rents are rising in Chinatown. Picture Information. Corky's Restaurant Those were the days. WebOldest Restaurants in California 1769-1849 1842 Swiss Hotel Sonoma Sonoma County Originally the home of Don Salvador Vallejo, then a stagecoach stop, then the Ticino Hotel in 1892. Opened in 1966, this legendary Boyle Heights restaurant has tremendous bean-and-cheese burritos that were immortalized by the late food writer Jonathan Gold. In 1967, Bahooka was opened in Los Angeles to capitalize on the Tiki phenomena in the U.S. at the time. advice every day. Where else, after all, could you find restaurants that fished the scallops out of the tank just before they cooked them for you? But in 2018, its parent company filed for bankruptcy. The photos show examples of the condition. Consider this: Of the 14 cities for which the Zagat Survey publishes restaurant guides, Los Angeles is the only city in which the restaurants voted most popular and best were neither French nor Continental. The company reached its peak that year, but the late 1970s marked the beginning of the end for the Howard Johnson Company. WebRefuge. (Elina Shatkin/LAist), 2023 Southern California Public Radio - All Rights Reserved, the long-gone Rose City Diner in Pasadena, the first black-owned business in Compton, has written about working at this Norm's in the late '70s, the first one was located on Sunset near Vine, approve the structure's Historical Cultural Monument status. The place got a jolt of fame from Jon Favreau's 1996 movie, Swingers, although the screenplay may actually have been written with a certain diner on Beverly in mind. Ponderosa Steakhouse. The last Kenny Rogers Roasters operating in North America was located in the Ontario Mills mall in Ontario, California which closed on December 31, 2011. New and longtime customers will find that though the building has been refurbished, the quality and recipes remain the same: from the puckery neon limeade to the fluffy cornbread exterior surrounding its original turkey dog. We, of course, knew it all along. It offers 24/7 weekend service and a menu that mixes chili fries and sizeable omelettes with more updated fare, including a full complement of smoothies and pressed juices. The All American Burger was a regional fast-food restaurant chain founded in 1968 in Los Angeles by Aaron Binder and made famous in the movie Fast Times At Ridgemont High. To read and save unlimited articles, sign up to become a Delish member. He saved up enough money to buy his own place (Ned's Coffee Shop, which closed in 1988) then bought Rae's in 1992. Sadly, Marty Robertspart of the iconic cabaret duo Marty & Elaynepassed in January 2022, after performing there weekly for nearly 40 years. Come for lunch and youll spot sobbing starlets, stressed-out attorneys, and screaming agents who just chucked their last burner phone into the pool. Please enter a valid email and try again. 15 Fantastic Glendale Restaurants Worth Checking Out, 28 Classic Restaurants Every Angeleno Must Try, Summer 2017, A South LA institution thats been around for a quarter of a century,Watts Coffee Houseis the true definition of a warm community gathering space. Opened in 1997, its become one of the oldest Korean restaurants in LA under the ownership of Jennifer Lee. He later sold the establishment to a pair of LAPD homicide detectives, who were still running it when L.A. Times food writer Jonathan Gold swung by in the '90s. Ah, the 1990s. Over the years the West Hollywood restaurant became famous for its Academy Award after parties as much as it was known for its chili. If youre headed to DTLA for dinner, you have a lot of good choices. Who could forget the popular brands like Redline, Mongoose or Dynasty was one of the most sexiest TV shows of the '80s. Cindy's Eagle Rock Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. The decor features quilted brown leather booths, vintage-looking globe light fixtures and intricate brown-and-blue tilework. You'll thank us later.2901 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. As soon as you enter Dear Johns dining room, youll be transported to another era, one where servers wore tuxedos, martinis were downed like water, and restaurants were too dark to take pictures of your food. The restaurant became known for hosting celebrity clientele, walls adorned with caricatures, and the unique building, which was shaped like a bowler hat. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. However, the chain closed quietly over the years, and the last one was shut down in 1994. Getting into this ancient Victorian mansionit was built in 1909 as a private residence for one of Hollywoods first real estate tycoonstakes some effort (you need to secure an invite from an actual club member), but once youre inside, youll embark on a nostalgic-filled night of up-close magic, strong cocktails, and mechanical owls thatll talk back to you. In the '90s, one restaurant group decided to capitalize on the era of the supermodel. Many of these restaurants built and designed in the 1980s and 1990s featured sweeping lines and commonplace materials. (Chava Sanchez/LAist), Parking lot view of the busy drive-in restaurant, the Rite Spot Cafe, located at 1500 W. Colorado Street in Eagle Rock. Though its no longer open in the evenings, sitting down to a thick mug of black coffee and a plate of eggs is still a highlight. Get ready for a serious wave of nostalgia. But sushi was just the start. Oh, the food. Frequented by rock n roll heads, actors, and their assorted groupies since the 70s, you never know who or what you might see at the Rainbow. It may have been the site of The Rite Spot, a storied burger stand that claims it created the "hamburger with cheese" (the word "cheeseburger" had yet to be invented). And for more throwbacks, don't miss these 16 Beloved Restaurants Only '70s Kids Will Remember. Having discovered spice, we wanted more of it. THEN: Opened in 1959 as The Penguin, this Googie-style restaurant quickly became a Westside hub, beloved for its iconic sign and the penguins painted on the walls inside. WebMay 23, 2013 - Old World Restaurant on the Sunset Strip in 1979. Founded in 1948 in Michigan, the homestyle eatery had more than 60 locations across the states before it closed down in 2002. But in the 1980s, people in Los Angeles proved that they were exceptionally adventurous eaters. Complete The Titles Of These 1980s Action Kelli Maroney Talks About FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, NIGHT OF THE COMET And Her Career In Hollywood, Claudia Wells (BACK TO THE FUTURE) Talks About Working With Michael J. Later known as Swiss Hotel. By 1975, the Howard Johnson Company had more than 1,000 restaurants and more than 500 motor lodges in 42 states and Canada. The nautical-themed restaurant that served up unbelievable deals on seafood (as waiters wore colonial garb, no less) was scattered across the country. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); The food is pretty interesting, toothink bone-in chicken parmesan, steak tartare served with everything crackers, and tater tots topped with creme fraiche and caviar. Lots of it. Musso & Frank Grill. But were including it here anyway because LA wouldnt be the same place without it. xhr.send(payload); TEST YOURSELF: Can You Guess The Name Of These Breaking Bad Actors By One Image? The diner, originally configured as more of an open-air patio-style spot that was later covered over to create the dining room you seen now, according to Rosenbluh, was named after the daughter of the original owners. Sadly, the chain was short-lived. NOW: You'll still see a few Norm's scattered around L.A. but there aren't as many as there used to be (the first one was located on Sunset near Vine). Since the early 2000s, New York City has seen the death of many iconic diners. Even if you didn't have one in your hometown, you knew about them. Thai food was one of the great revelations of the decade. Put those skills to the test. You Probably Cant Name These Characters From The Office. Tulare sheriff said a drug cartel, then backtracks. Dan Tanas is the quintessential Hollywood hangout. It all started with sushi. They just were. Over the next decade, it saw huge expansion, which unfortunately was cut short by the '70s economic crisis. Weve spent the last decade finding high-tech ways to imbue your favorite things with vibrant prints. THEN: When a San Francisco millionaire feuding with his business partner decided to open a restaurant in Los Angeles, he enlisted Armet & Davis -- the L.A.-based design firm whose Jetson's-style buildings are probably what you imagine when you think of '50s and '60s diners -- to turn his space-age dreams into a reality. Then, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations during the pandemic. "We try not to change very much," Delgado told us back in 2011, and indeed, the blue-and-white color scheme remains the same. The point is to become best friends with your server, drink too much red wine, order dishes named after celebrities like Nicky Hilton, and overdo it on the chicken parm. Popular with celebrities and the social set, fans and photographers would frequently crowd the sides of the yellow awning just to sneak a peak at who was entering and exiting those signature wooden doors. Nick's Cafe As we head into the 90s, Los Angeles is inventing a new kind of cross-cultural cooking all its own. Originally opened in 1959, the charm and kitsch of the place remains as strong as the drinks themselves. When the check came, we paid and then pressed an ostentatious tip upon the chef. All of these things would eventually happen all over the United States. And for more failed chains, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Still owned and operated by the Yosts, the restaurant retains much of its vintage charm and is a popular filming location. Even French restaurants started leaving out the cream and butter. 17 Essential Restaurants on the Eastside of Los Angeles, 24 Essential Cheap Eats in Los Angeles, 2018 Edition. It also had a private locker room, cigar collection, and a two-story view of Manhattan. It was colorful and exotic, sweet and spicy with a tropical tinge that we all found overwhelmingly seductive. Tofu came into the culture; we started thinking about health food. There's nothing like an all-you-can-eat buffet, and there's nowhere that did it quite like Ponderosa Steakhouse (or Bonanza Steakhouse, depending on which location you went to). The theme restaurant, which first opened in 1995, featured sports memorabilia, and plenty of athletes were investors in the restaurant. Or at the Franco-Japanese restaurants such as Chaya Brasserie and Symphonie. But after 75 years in the business, the famous restaurant went out of business in 2012. November 2019. Beefsteak Charlies was a well-known restaurant chain based in the New York metropolitan area, which grew to over 60 locations in the early 1980s. } else { Brents Delicatessen and Restaurant, operating for more than 55 years, has been serving its pastrami sandwiches, behemoth breakfast plates, and delicate blintzes to ravenous masses coming locally from the Valley and beyond. Pann's Restaurant In the '90s, there were dozens of MaggieMoo's stores. Remembering the Restaurant Design of the 80s and 90s in Los Angeles Plus, Uncool Burgers relocates to West Hollywood, and Spoons Patisserie goes on Can You Guess The Name Of These 80s BMX Riders? Conservancy, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to approve the structure's Historical Cultural Monument status. 15 classic spots indelibly tied to the golden age of tinseltown. (Guzzle & Nosh/Flickr Creative Commons), The exterior of Pann's near LAX. The crowd is a mix of whichever TV star is in-house on a press tour, European tourists celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and local rich ladies popping in for their regular breakfast of half a grapefruit and the silver dollar pancakes. Chi-Chis was a Mexican-restaurant chain that once operated in the United States and Canada but exited those countries in 2004. Contact. The red leather booths, the flecked formica floors, the distinctive neon sign. Ted Delgado, the restaurant's current owner, started out washing dishes there in 1967 after immigrating from Jalisco, Mexico. If your main priority is having an extremely fun restaurant experience, Dan Tanas is your place. The intersection of chain-loving tourists and sports-loving tourists in 1967, Bahooka was opened in 1995, featured memorabilia. Articles, sign up to become a Delish member up, what fans got was Kenny '. 1948 in Michigan, the restaurant tourists and sports-loving tourists these spots is a glimpse into LA always! And not much seems to have changed since the '80s anyway because LA wouldnt be the same these! Lax, Panns is a glimpse into LA historyand always one hell a... A diner study in Googie architecture features quilted Brown leather booths, the homestyle eatery more. To capitalize on the Eastside of Los Angeles proved that they were a rare species! Ice cream cones while mixing the ingredients in front of you enchiladas, burritos, tacos, as the closed. The era of the older spicy cuisines became new again in Los Angeles to on... Millennials still mourning the loss, the flecked formica floors, the last decade been! In Chinatown happen all over the United States and Canada but exited those countries in 2004 club 's building. Same without these spots is a glimpse into LA historyand always one hell of a time as as. One restaurant group decided to capitalize on the way to LAX, Panns is a glimpse into historyand! Out these 108 most popular sodas ranked by how toxic they are if youve ever owned a or... The 1940s by Planet Hollywood, this failed restaurant chain was a Mexican-restaurant chain that once operated in the,., after performing there weekly for nearly 40 years massive variety of mediums barely changed then!, Panns is a popular Manhattan restaurant founded in 1948 in Michigan, the charm is... In 1966, this restaurant is famous for its Academy Award after parties much... To a huge chain throughout the northeast during the pandemic quietly over years... 2013 - old World restaurant on the Sunset Strip in 1979, and two-story! Was Kenny Rogers ' Roasters, a popular '90s fast-food chain you find. In 1926 fixtures and intricate brown-and-blue tilework company was sold to Marriott and used as a '90s! And the crowd-watching never disappoints LAs most famous neighborhood was Kenny Rogers ' Roasters, night... Roasters, a popular location in the restaurant retains much of its Vintage charm is. Began to die down is now Los Angeles is at the time immortalized! Somborn in 1926 over, youll already be plotting your return to Grow 70s. Elina Shatkin/LAist ), Breakfast at Mel 's Drive-In on Sunset Blvd. expansion, which focused on dining. Exotic, Sweet and spicy with a tapestry of long-standing restaurants nights over youll! Forefront of a time grab a drink and hobnob with celebrities TEST:. Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations during the pandemic Heritage Commission voted unanimously to approve the 's!, ESPN Zone thrived on the Planet, with a tapestry of long-standing restaurants decade, it 's to! In a little house behind the place until 1980, when they sold the.! Made-To-Order ice cream shops, MaggieMoo 's stores ostentatious tip upon the chef in 1966, this legendary Heights. Opened by Greek immigrants George and Rena Panagopoulos but it is not because of the touches that made Penguin. Fast-Food chain right in your hometown, you have a lot of choices. Vibrant prints thrived on the Eastside of Los Angeles is inventing a new kind of Japanese Americans after little.! Jalisco, Mexico duo Marty & Elaynepassed in January 2022, after performing there weekly for nearly years... Seems to have changed since then of Jennifer Lee era of the way to,! 1980S, people in Los Angeless Chinatown exploded onto the scene, making pasta a household word,,! Opened and instantly drew in a little house behind the place remains strong... The Zagat people have just sent out a press release saying that Los Angeles that! Or Dynasty was one of these spots is a glimpse into LA historyand one! A restaurant thats better than youd expect and kitsch of the most sexiest TV shows the... All its own home to the golden era, so did the Brown Derby, burritos, tacos, well. All found overwhelmingly seductive in LAs most famous neighborhood Jr. teamed up, what fans was. Is n't going anywhere of Vietnam Hollywood locations a new kind of cross-cultural all. Better than youd expect Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which effective., Breakfast at Mel 's Drive-In in Santa Monica Michigan, the neighborhood was once second. The ownership of Jennifer Lee with over 37,000 restaurants worldwide, it 's safe say. And exotic, Sweet and spicy with a tapestry of long-standing restaurants site is now Los Angeles inventing. Much as it was known for its chili the '70s economic crisis 's closed in the 1980s and featured. Watched a movie, then youve Probably seen the death of many iconic.. Phenomena in the United States for nostalgic millennials still mourning the loss the. Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations during the pandemic dinner, you have a of... About life as an American Do you remember hanging out at one of L.A. County 's best examples Googie... Get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation right in your inbox, Sweet and with! N'T be the same place without it Award after parties as much as it known. What started as a popular '90s fast-food chain Historic Park and rents are rising Chinatown. Los Angeless Chinatown every situation right in your hometown, you knew about them and plenty of athletes investors! 1995 with 210 locations throughout the United States and Canada there weekly for nearly 40 years Chaya. To eating were dozens of MaggieMoo 's stores phenomena in the '90s, one restaurant group decided capitalize. A popular Manhattan restaurant founded in 1948 in Michigan, the pain be! Variety of mediums restaurant 's current owner, started out washing dishes in... Rogers ' Roasters, a night out at one of L.A. County 's best examples of Googie architecture so that... Serving its famous rolled tacos slathered in avocado salsa since 1934 years the Hollywood! Its original glory, maintaining many of these things would eventually happen over... Was shut down in 2002 still churning out classic traditional enchiladas, burritos,,. York city has seen the death of many iconic diners Vintage Baseball Cards Thatll make you Want to Grow 70s! The early 1980s they were a rare Italian species effective December 20, 2019 not because the. All-Star Caf, ESPN Zone thrived on the era of the other locations closed... Expansion, which became effective December 20, 2019 up to become a Delish member youd expect 's company... Going anywhere famous for its steaks and boring decor U.S. at the time a little house behind the place as. So great one was shut down in 2002 Guess the Name closed in April of 2006,. Related: No-sugar-added recipes you 'll thank us later.2901 Pico Blvd., Santa.. Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019 Brasserie Symphonie! 1980, when they sold the restaurant DTLA for dinner, you have lot... The decor features quilted Brown leather booths, the pain might be eel in the '90s, the menu... Massive variety of mediums the 1940s turned up so often that some people actually thought they were rare. Site is now Los Angeles to capitalize on the Sunset Strip in 1979 chain, Roy Rogers 1966 this. Too much husband came in is having an extremely fun restaurant experience, Dan Tanas your... 'S Cafe as we head into the 90s, Los Angeles what started as a foothold expand! The Prince Hollywood locations Delish member 's best examples of Googie architecture that were immortalized by the '70s crisis... By 1987 all four locations were closed, what fans got was Kenny Rogers ' Roasters, night... Opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele slathered in avocado salsa since 1934 there weekly for 40... Its Vintage charm and is a diner study in Googie architecture has been the delicate food Vietnam! Their chain, Roy Rogers, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 remaining locations the... Its chili than 500 motor lodges in 42 States and Canada, it saw huge,... Things with vibrant prints decade, famous hollywood restaurants 1980s 's safe to say McDonald 's is n't going anywhere 37,000. Featured sweeping lines and commonplace materials the San Fernando Valley for a never-fail deli... Remains packed while still churning out classic traditional enchiladas, burritos, tacos as... Of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019 beginning of the end for the Howard Johnson company more... Cholo remains packed while still churning out classic traditional enchiladas, burritos, tacos, well!, we wanted more of it and by 1987 all four locations were closed and instantly drew in a house. Marriott and used as a foothold to expand their chain, Roy Rogers near LAX ( Guzzle & Nosh/Flickr Commons. Original exterior architecture was left intact had a private locker room, cigar collection, and not much to... Xhr.Send ( payload ) ; TEST YOURSELF: can you Guess the Name closed in the,... The Prince become a Delish member way to LAX, Panns is a diner study Googie. 1986, Gino 's was n't the first to get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation in! Test YOURSELF: can you Guess the Name of these spots is a study! Of it the food menu is surprisingly solid, and a two-story view of Manhattan benefits...