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The first few times I’ve driven past this place I thought it was a soup kitchen because there was a long line which went around the building. It wasn’t till a little later that I realized it was actually a restaurant and one which has been around since 1924! It was my first visit and luckily the line wasn’t too long, only 4 parties ahead of us. As the line got longer, some people sneaked into the side “exit” door which angered some patrons already waiting in line. The “sneakers” were trying to bypass the long line waiting for a table to stand in the ‘counter seating’ line, but because they didn’t adhere to protocol, people were upset! The menu is on the wall — breakfast, breakfast, and more breakfast, that was all they served, plus soup and coleslaw. Very strange! I saw people eating coleslaw for breakfast and although I was eager to sample I could bring myself to eat coleslaw for breakfast, so I declined. At first, I thought that for this greasy spoon, the prices were a little high, until we got our meals and that’s when I realized “oh shit! that’s a lot of food!” I got simple bacon and eggs (pictured) with wheat toast and my friend, sausage, eggs and pancakes. Sausage is homemade! All meals are served with coffee or tea, on the house! They bring you coffee as soon as you sit down and because I don’t drink coffee, I asked for iced tea instead. OJ is of the Tropicana kind so if you’re okay with that then go right ahead. My plate arrived with two fried eggs and five whopping slices of bacon. These were thicker cut and cooked to perfection, not anything like those dinky slices you get at regular breakfast places and a mound of potatoes are served on a bread plate whether you ask for it or not. The charming elderly Latino gentlemen who serve you probably have been there forever and they do everything briskly and efficiently, you can’t but fall in love with this place, I certainly did. Parking is validated across the street at the lot.
Original Pantry Cafe, 877 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Tel: 213-972-9279
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