Original Pantry Cafe

Visited: February 21, 2025Place: old fashioned American{a} type CafeVisit: 1st TimeHeadline: Best service and Food I ever had!I've wanted to try this place out since I started passing it by when I went to work in the mornings. Today, I woke up early to travel to DTLA for a nice old-fashioned breakfast. The local news reported that this historical cafe may close. This cafe is accessible by public transportation and within walking distance. Parking is available across the street, and the fare varies. When the cafe opens, people line up around it, a marvelous sign of great business. This is what catches my eye every time I pass it. The waiting time isn't long, so enjoy the vibe around the location. To ensure your seating, cafe employees ask how many people are at your party so they can get you inside as soon as possible. Once I entered, it was pretty loud, with people talking and the kitchen bustling around. I would need to speak loudly to others, but it was an experience. A table server immediately greets you and asks what you want to drink. Coffee and a large Orange juice.Quickly served. We needed more time to decide on a breakfast. The menus are posted everywhere in the restaurant. Although it may seem confusing and overwhelming, the time to choose was enough for us to finalize our choices. #3: Two EGGS, Two PANCAKES or FRENCH TOAST, POTATOBACON or SAUSAGEI got the version on eggs {scrambled}, pancakes, potatoes, and sausage.me mum got the same, but instead of pancakes, French toast.While the server took our order, my mum went to the bathroom with separate stalls for men and women. Unfortunately, there are no multiple-stall bathrooms. However, the bathroom is certainly accessible and clean.The wait for the food wasn't long either. The dish was delicious! Enjoyed every munch of it. The server also checked for anything else, which was splendid! My mum's coffee was refilled whenever possible, and my orange juice lasted the entire time!We shared the pancakes and the French toast to give it a taste test. The pancakes were so filling that they had a sweet kick that they didn't need maple syrup. The French toast was also very unique!We finished our plates and thanked the server for his superb service! I headed to the cashier's box, where I could pay with a cash card or Apple Pay. It was almost $60, but the experience and the tasty food were worth the price. I would come back again for any special occasion or if I'm craving a superior meal.Luckily, they had souvenirs, so I bought a .25-cent postcard! All n all, I Love this place! This is an excellent recommendation for those who want to experience breakfast in DTLA.

I hardly know where to begin with my experience at The Original Pantry!First off, parking is located across the street and will set you back about $5 to $10, so make sure to bring some cash since they only accept bills.Don't let the line outside fool you--it moves surprisingly fast. At least for me it did. If you're driving by, definitely stop in, regardless of how long the line looks because the food is worth it. Once it was our turn, the customer service was outstanding! We were seated quickly, and the ambiance really transports you back in time--it's wonderfully nostalgic. I love that they havent made any changes. They have all the original decor in great condition on the walls. The delicious aroma of pancakes filled the air, making my mouths water in anticipation! I literally wanted everything avaliable on the menu to eat, lol.The food was amazing and I have to say, my table was quiet for about 40 minutes lol. The pancakes melted in my mouth, the ham was one of our favorites! Taste like Thanksgiving ham!!! Extremely excellent fresh food and the coffee was the best around. Just go already!!

We finally visited The Original Pantry Cafe after how many years. The last time we were here was several years ago. We went on a Saturday afternoon with a party of 5. Thanks to my brother who's a foodie and said will go in the afternoon where there's no crowd. There was no wait time. We arrived and were seated right away. This was several minutes before 2pm. It was meant to be. We came out of the restaurant at 3:10pm and sure enough there was line. That's how I remember The Original Pantry Cafe years ago.Excellent customer service from beginning until the end of our dining experience. Just how I remembered when we used to frequent this restaurant. I do recall they used to have unlimited sourdough bread. They still gave us plenty of sourdough bread. Our order consists of Philly Cheesesteak with fries, Country Fried Steak, French Toast, Steak with hash brown and Ham and Cheese Omelet. We loved and appreciated the fact that they accommodate people with food allergies. Our server was excellent and kind and checked their ingredients concerning the French Toast and the milk they use. They only use whole milk for the French Toast and do not use any form of peanut nor tree nuts for their bread, sourdough and eggs. The Philly Cheesesteak was delicious and grilled perfectly. The beef was tender and flavorful. Plenty of beef with the right amount of cheese.Parking was easy we just parked across the street and the parking fee was inexpensive for downtown LA.

I've been wanting to try this place for a long time since I see a long line every morning when I pass by. However, I was very disappointed with my experience here.I came on a Saturday morning at 9am and there was a long line, but I only had to wait 20 min since there was only 2 of us. Walking in, the diner seemed old and musty - it didn't seem like it was maintained well. The service was also quick.My friend and I got the 2 eggs, hash browns, bacon, and pancakes breakfast combo. The pancakes were horrendous. First bite, it seemed off. The insides felt slimy and grainy. I took a couple more bites to make sure, but same thing. When I opened the pancake, I realized it wasn't cooked all the way through. Gross! My friend's pancakes were also not cooked all the way through. The hash browns and sunny side up eggs were okay. I wish the hash browns were crispier and the eggs were cooked more, some parts were still raw. The only good thing was the bacon and there was a lot provided which I liked.Overall, I did not enjoy this experience. The owners should reevaluate the quality of the food and the overall customer experience. I understand this place gets busy and they want people to come in and out as fast as possible, but the quality of the experience shouldn't have to suffer because of that. I would not recommend this as a breakfast/brunch place to anyone.

I got the cheeseburger with fries and coleslaw . I ended getting the sourdough bread instead and it was the best decision I could do. The meat was boiled hot every time I will take a bite :). The fries were on point and the coleslaw was delicious. One thing was the wait but it was worth the wait. It's always busy so make sure you have a hat and sunscreen on. It's always busy and I love that sound of a restaurant. I hope they don't closed this place up. It's the heart of LA

Love it or hate it, you can't deny the food is good. First it's in the middle of downtown LA so yes the area is a lot. There is a parking lot cross the street and usually there is a giant long line where you have to wait to get in. The food is all great, but love their omelette and French toast the best. There is a huge variety of breakfast and lunch topics and the hours are limited now so plz check it outIf you're sitting at the bar, please talk to the cooks and staff because no one really does. Also, tip the cooks too because they do a lot of hard work! So we always tip the waitress and the cooks to helped us. Awesome ppl here and now they take credit card!

This place has been a place of nostalgia for me since my college days, and has always been a very popular spot. I came here for lunch most recently around noon, and there is a long line, about 45 minute wait, wrapping around the block outside. Parking normally sucks in this area but luckily the parking lot across the street takes validation from the restaurant. A lot of the items on the menu are some kind of combination of classic foods such as eggs, sausages, hash brown/potatoes, pancakes, and coffee. I had the portuguese sausage with scrambled eggs and hash brown, and the food was served pretty quickly. I dont' think the food is anything spectacular, but the vibes are good and service is quick. Also, it's cash only.

Go to the Pantry because it's a LA institution but don't go there for great food. I've been to the Pantry many times but it's been at least 10 years since my last visit. On a late Saturday morning, we waited for an hour. By the time we finished, the line was shorter. You can park across the street and get a validation for a discount. We had a steak and egg and a number 3, which is pancakes, choice of bacon or sausage, eggs and potatoes. The steak came way too rare and we had to send it back twice and it ended up overcooked. The over medium eggs came over well and the pancake was way undercooked. You get the idea now. It's completely hit and miss. Service was good. And the ambiance is a throw back through time. This year is their 100 year anniversary. It's no longer 24x7 so check the hours before you go. If you haven't been you should. But just don't have too much expectation for the food.

When I was in town for a convention, I finally had a chance to visit this spot that I had bookmarked for some time. Luckily my Yelp bookmarks showed it was just a quick 7 minute walk from my hotel at the JW Marriott. I am so glad I made the trip out there! :)There is a profuse sense of its long residency in Los Angeles' tapestry that is etched into every corner of the cafe. From aged photographs on the wall to the wear of tens of thousands of customers across its checkerboard floors to the lamp orbs illuminating the brown booths and pale white walls and countertops, the interior is saturated in history. There are even mementos from iconic figures (such as Jack Black, Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, etc.) who once were frequent patrons of the cafe. When you visit, expect to wait a little with your fellow eager diners. Once I got seated at the counter, a uniformed, friendly staff member took my order. The Original Pantry Cafe's menu focuses on classic American diner dishes - from hot breakfast plates to sandwiches to steaks to a handful of desserts. For $17.40, I ordered their 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, bacon, and hash-browns (ordered a cup of Joe for an extra $3.50). While I sipped my coffee, I enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of clattering silverware, the fiery sizzling of the stovetops, etc. My eyes widened when they brought it out - they fully load the plate with strips of bacon, a mound of hash-browns, and two fluffy pancakes. This meal is the quintessential classic American breakfast you want - hearty portions and unapologetically saturated with flavor. I walked out full and cheerful. I'll definitely be stopping by again when I inevitably find myself there for another convention.

It's been too long since our last breakfast here. The line on a Saturday morning wasn't too bad, and it moved at a steady pace. We opted for the counter and got inside quicker than others.I love eating at the counter with the hustle and bustle of the grill and the aromas of breakfasts cooking. We each enjoyed two eggs, grilled potatoes, grilled sourdough toast with a generous side of bacon. Pantry salsa and black coffees rounded out the breakfasts. Service was very good.