Open since 1924, the Pantry offers all-American basics done right and served up fast. During lunch and dinner hours, each table gets coleslaw and a loaf of sour sourdough bread (58 tons of which are served a year). Read more statistics (for instance, 20 head of beef cattle are needed to supply the daily servings of steak) in the booklet with the Pantry history, free at the cashier's cage near the door. Owned by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, this is a good place to go at 3 a.m. when you're hungry and the city is a ghost town.
Reader Reviews
January 18, 2007
spinsLpsLos Angeles, CA
The breakfasts are pretty good with large portions but stay away for lunch and dinner. I had the Mac and Cheese last night and I nearly threw it up. Really bad. Especially the vegetables. Right out of a can and probably cooked for three hours.
November 9, 2006
Patrick ClearyLos Angeles, CA
The Set-Up: coleslaw, sourdough bread, and hash browns. The best option, not on the menu, but the waiter will serve it up quicker than you can spit out the words. Goes well with a whiskey drunk.
November 9, 2006
dBBurbank, CA
Breakfast is great, the rest of the meals are AWFUL, but, as the joke goes, the servings are big.
Never closed means no time to decorate, thus, a well-preserved antique L.A. atmosphere, with serious waiters who have been there forever -- don't dilly dally -- make up your mind and order.
Best dishes
Steak and eggs for breakfast, pancakes, grilled steak and chops.
Drink picks
Coffee (they serve more than 20,000 cups per week), soft drinks, tea.
Of Note
$1 to park in lot across 9th Street with Pantry validation.