Norm's Restaurant

Super fabu unspoiled L.A. Googie coffee shop institution. Since 1949.

Popular food: Early-bird dinners; late-night, post-party grub and great breakfast specials.

Unique food: Try the steak, fried shrimp, and ice cream plate special -- a gut buster of heroic proportions, all for under nine bucks.

Drinks: No booze, good shakes and decent coffee.

Seating: Big counter to watch the cooks in action, but act like a cop and grab a booth in back.

Ambience: Pristine Googie coffee shop untouched since an avocado green and golden harvest makeover in the 1970s; mixture of old folks, working stiffs and neighborhood Joes -- stay away late at night to avoid them pesky hipsters!

Extras/Notes: Steak, steak and more steak -- good and cheap at Norms! Go for the T-bone. Ed Ruscha made Norms famous in the art world with his 1960s painting "Norms on Fire."

Parking: Big free lot, metered street.

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