Top 10 Iconic Los Angeles Eateries
1. Musso & Frank's - Established in 1919, Musso & Frank Grill is the oldest restaurant in Hollywood. The waiters are old, the food is old-fashioned, and the atmosphere is Old Hollywood at its best.
2. Pink's - Not really a restaurant, this hot dog stand has been in business since 1939 at the same location. Pink's is the great equalizer of Tinseltown: everyone has to stand in line, and there's always a line.
3. Yamashiro - Built in 1920 as a private mansion, this replica of a Japanese palace on a Hollywood hilltop offers some of the best views of Los Angeles, especially by night.
4. Encounter Restaurant and Bar - This unique architectural gem was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in 1961 as a Jet-Age "Theme Building" at Los Angeles International Airport. It has been a restaurant since 1997.
5. Clifton's Cafeteria - This last vestige of the Clifton's chain was originally known as Clifton's Brookdale. Open since 1935, it features a woodland-themed interior complete with waterfalls and forest critters.
6. Bob's Big Boy - Built in 1949, this Burbank landmark is the oldest remaining Bob's Big Boy in America and a classic example of the post-war coffee shop and mid-century design.
7. The Formosa Cafe - Dating to the 1930's, this Hollywood watering hole features a red-and-black Chinese interior and hundreds of photos of all the stars and industry bigwigs who have dined here over the years.
8. Philippe's The Original - The oldest restaurant in Los Angeles, Philippe's claims to have invented the French Dip sandwich. The current location opened in 1951.
9. El Cholo - Established in 1923, this Mexican restaurant is famous for its tamales and claims to have invented nachos. The location on Western Avenue is the oldest.
10. The Pig & Whistle - Originally opened in 1927 and popular with the stars of the day, this upscale Hollywood watering hole closed its doors in the 1950's. It was restored to its former glory and reopened in 2001.
