Indulgence Alert: Four Historic Places to Anti-Diet in Los Angeles

Atkins. Blood type. Macrobiotic, organic, raw, vegan. Leave it to Los Angeles to make dieting trendy. Produce in abundance, farmers markets filled year around, it’s no wonder the City of Angeles is all about healthy eating. But when the brown rice and kale wraps get to be too much—or too little—these historic dining spots will fill you up on some good ole’ down-home eating. And still do it with style.

Clifton’s Cafeteria

If you need to stock up on some meat loaf and Miracle-Whip Jell-O, and eat it beside an indoor waterfall with plastic deer, Clifton’s Cafeteria is the spot for you. For 70 years, the eatery has been serving unfussy food to Downtown denizens, endearing itself to the likes of Charles Bukowski. The kitsch here is totally unironic and about as historic as Los Angeles gets. So fill up a tray, grab a seat amid the multi-level forest decor, and dig in.

Cole’s

While the dispute over the true originator of the French Dip sandwich continues to rage, one thing is for sure: Downtown’s Cole’s is definitely the most ambient spot to indulge in this oh-so-soft LA creation. The pub serves up light diner fare, including the famed French Dip sandwich, under velvet wallpaper adorned with photos of celebrity diners. Its days as a mafia hang-out may be long gone, but the piano-bar Speakeasy in the back of restaurant keeps the Prohibition vibe alive.

Big Boy

Once a well-known national chain, this SoCal-based institution is the original home of the Double Decker hamburger. Need we say more? The Burbank location offers you a chance to not just dig in to the sinfully decadent sandwich, but also snap photos of its old-school Big Boy character, made famous by the movie Austin Powers. And if you end up really loving the sandwich, you can always open your own franchise.

Glaco’s Soda Pop Stop

Want to feel like a kid in a candy store? Highland Park’s Glaco’s is the go-to spot for vintage soda and sweets. But it’s not just retro labeling and the store’s 110+ years of operation that lend a sense of history—all brands carried use original recipes, free of high fructose corn syrups, extracts and concentrates. Cruise by on a quiet weekday, and owner John Nese will happily guide you through the aisles, tipping you off to his personal favorites.

Feeling sated finally? If you take it too far and need to celebrity svelte, don’t worry—there’s always a juice cleanse awaiting you.

[photos courtesy of Lauren Quinn, rick]