The Original Pantry

Pros: Great prices, nostalgic atmosphere
Cons: Long lines, limited menu selections

The Original Pantry Cafe is one of the oldest continuously-operating restaurant in LA... and since they're open 24 hrs and don't close for holidays, I DO mean CONTINUOUS service! In fact, their souvenir T-shirts boast "Never closed, Never without...

Pros: Tasty Steak. Terrific Bread!
Cons: You have to pay to park.

The Pantry is located just north of the Staples Center and is a great place to order a Porterhouse and enjoy their fabulous french bread.A downtown landmark, the Pantry claims it never closes and is owned by Mayor Richard Riordan.

The decor is...

Pros: good plentiful food, good prices
Cons: long wait, less than great selection

It's funny how participating in a walkathon can make you REALLY hungry, and seven hungry women need a lot of food. One of my friends suggested The Pantry, as her notoriously picky husband has spoken very highly of it. So we headed over and got in line....

Pros: bit of L.A. history, of sorts; good food, if 'heavy' is what you like
Cons: could kill you

The Pantry is just what it sounds like: a storehouse of heavy, traditional American fare, made from the most traditional ingredients: flour, eggs, milk, meat 'n potatoes. And, like most pantries I know, it's not the cleanest of places. Still, it seems...

Pros: STEAKS ARE DELICIOUS
Cons: NONE

Alright all you Meat Eaters, if you haven't eaten at The Original Pantry, you have not had LA's Finest. As one of the only restaurant that is still in business after over 50 yrs, the Original Pantry has a reputation, and they do their best to uphold...

Pros: Large portions, quick service, delicious food
Cons: Only one location

It was an odd situation that brought me to Downtown Hollywood, those of which I will not disperse, but the important thing is that I was brought to The Original Pantry, and I didn't regret it.

From the moment you walk in, you know you're in a...

Pros: GREAT FOOD, AFFORDABLE PRICES, OPEN 24 HOURS
Cons: TOO SMALL

The Original Pantry is an excellent restaurant to eat at for almost any occasion. The food is truly American and quite a bargain. The decor takes you back to Hollywood at it's best and you can even find an occasional celebrity eating there. The service...

Pros: Great food; best steak dinner dollar-for-dollar anywhere in town; doggy bag required.
Cons: The wait (at times).

First of all, let's deal with the critics. Parking: sure, it's not free, but with cashier validation, it's just a dollar. Get over it. Lines: can be a hassle at peak times, but doesn't that mean that this is a POPULAR place? What's wrong with that. Selection: it's a steak house. If you're one of those who is worried about your diet or carbs or whatever, please stay away and don't complain about our cafe.
The Pantry is where people go to eat, not dine. it is not a gourmet affair, but a regular diner that does what it does better than anybody else. Huge portions (doggy bags available), prices that were reasonable even 10-15 years ago, and service that harkens back to an era thought lost forever. There are no menus, but if you don't know that then you probably got here by accident. Breakfast is king, lunch is filling, and a dinner steak from the Pantry is remembered forever. If you like to eat, this is the holy land of steak.