Kitsch/Strange/Weird/Scary Diner in LA?

[EyeEmPompei]

I'm trying to find a weird diner type place to take my boyfriend for his birthday, but it looks like the strangest have been closed for quite some time. I'm in desperate need of something sort of like Clifton's, only with tasty food. Really the stranger the better.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[magicapple]

Damon's in Glendale is kitschy but not really weird. Tacky Hawaiian interior complete with plastic crabs & lobsters hanging in nets tacked to the wall. The best part is they make a really mean Mai Tai. I also have heard that Bahooka in Rosemead is similar in the cheese factor, but I haven't checked it out.

[Frommtron]

When you say kitsch, I say Bahooka.

[Will Owen]

...or Clearman's North Woods. Few things I've seen around these parts are as mind-bending as the existence of a timber lodge with snow on the roof and frosted windows, across the street from a Trader Joe's on a 100+ degree day.

[Frommtron]

That's a new one for me! Sounds fantastic.

[Will Owen]

Just drive north from Bahooka about 4-5 miles - it's on Rosemeade, on the west side of the street just before Huntington Drive. There are at least two others. Can't remember exactly where they are, but I go by them every so often.

The effect is much better, of course, when they've recently washed the schmutz off the "snow"...

[Newkie]

Stinking Rose on La Cienega is pretty unusual and kitschy: very dark, everyone sits in private mini booths enclosed in draped velvet, garlic strung up everywhere and of course, everything on the menu is drenched in garlic. The food is only ok, though it's probably the best you can get if you're going for a weird themed restaurant.

[Diana]

"it's probably the best you can get if you're going for a weird themed restaurant."

You know, I'm pretty certain that isn't the case, really.

[SauceSupreme]

I say take him to a sojubang in Koreatown like Dang Sung Sa. Not very strange for me, but then I don't know how you roll.

[justagthing]

Not sure of the name, but how about the restaurant where you dine in the dark?

[Servorg]

Opaque

[chefschickie]

That just looks so weird.... how can you find the bathroom?!?! ;)

[paprkutr]

I don't remember the name, but what about the restaurant that you eat in the dark? Everything is in the dark, I believe it is in Hollywood or West Hollywood.

[Emme]

Opaque - I thought of this place as well - it definitely is not diner though as requested. It is, however, strange and weird.

If cooking your own food is weird, there's shabu shabu places as well as korean bbqs... shame that there really isn't any *good* conveyor belt sushi, as that's a bit kitschy (luckyfish and daichan kaiten would be two i'd recommend)

[Emme]

if you're willing to drive a little, try Frisco's!
http://www.friscos.com

[annalulu]

Have to agree with Frisco's. go on a weekend night and the teenage servers are roller skating around. Live DJ and everything. The crowd was pretty mixed/weird when I was there! My burger was pretty tasty as well.

[attran99]

I grew up eating at Frisco's. Very kitschy. Any burger on the grilled parmasan bread is awesome. Their shakes are awesome, too!
But if you're willing to drive, my cousin says there's a great fondue place in San Juan Capistrano called La Fondue. The fondue is better than The Melting Pot, and they have high-end and game proteins for the entree fondues. It's dark and a lot creepy.
http://www.lafondue.com

[lreeve]

Bertha's Soul Food. It's in a pretty innocuous part of inglewood. And you can stop for dessert at the famous Randy's donuts a few blocks down--you can't miss the giant donut.
You could also try Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.

[hrhboo]

Can't vouch for the food, but Nova Express on Fairfax is pretty bizarre.
http://novaexpresscafe.com/

[EyeEmPompei]

I regret to say that they're no longer in business according to their website. That's totally what I'm looking for though.

[Servorg]

This thread may be of some help: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/524766