Breakfast in/around LAX

[msparksls]

I am landing in LAX around 7am, and will have to wait until my girlfriend catches up around 1pm. I rented a car also. Are there any good breakfast spots worth driving to without having to venture too far from the airport? I'd rather not waste gas and rush back to the airport if it's not worth it. I don't mind a good coffeehouse either. Otherwise, should I just stay put at the airport? Thanks!

[Servorg]

www.panns.com

[Servorg]

For some reason the mapquest map that pops up on the Pann's website shows the restaurant way, way farther (east) from LAX than it really is. Follow the google map in this link to find it (maybe 15 minutes from LAX by car).

[msparksls]

thanks for the quick response!

[A5 KOBE]

Pann's for sure!!!

[westsidegal]

what day of the week?

[msparksls]

saturday morning. thanks!

[JEN10]

South of the airport in Manhattan Beach (15 min.) is the Kettle, and Uncle Bills. A bit further south in Hermosa Beach( 20 min.) is Ocean Diner, Good Stuff, and Rocky Cola Cafe. Even further South (30 min.) is The Original Pancake House in Redondo Beach.

[westsidegal]

fwiw, in my experiene uncle bills has been far superior to the kettle.
haven't tried any of the others.

[JEN10]

My top 2 choices if you are ever in the area would be Ocean Diner and Original Pancake House.

[msparksls]

thanks for all the references JEN10!

[JEN10]

Seems like you have plenty of time, so go enjoy yourself!!! The beach cities are easy to navigate from LAX, Most the places I posted are off of Sepulveda Blvd. and easy to get to. Have a great trip in LA!!!

[Baron]

Let's not forgtet Dinah's. Closest thing we have to a diner. About 2-3 miles south of the Airport on Sepulveda. May I suggest you try their Swedish Pancakes served with lingenberry butter. Very thin, just the right texture with crispy edges. Generous portion too. They are very good. Large menu if you're not in the mood for carbs.

[westsidegal]

if you end up going to dinah's , here are the only items that i would heartily recommend:
the baked german pancake (and it's little brother dutch baby)
the baked apple pancake
the swedish pancakes that baron recommends
and
the chile relleno omlette
t

[Baron]

I have GOT to try that chile relleno omlette.

[msparksls]

you guys are making it tough now =) really appreciate it!

[Cinnamon]

I had one at the Dinah's. But it wasn't very good at all... watery and kind of institutional-food tasting, not doing justice to the concept of a chili relleno omelet!

[westsidegal]

it tastes good to me.
i like my sauce to be made with tomatos, not with tomato paste.
this will always result in a more watery sauce.
also, i like the fact that a deep fat fryer had no role in the making of these omelets. . . .

sorry it didn't ring your bell as it does mine.

[Cinnamon]

Maybe it was an off day at Dinah's. I'll try other things there, but this really tasted like someone microwaved eggs, took a pepper out of a can and dumped a can of sweetened stewed tomatoes over it all. (I would *love* to have a good chile relleno omelet made with tomatoes - and certainly not tomato paste.)

Is Dinah's food sometimes variable like that? The place was packed (so, one would think, all the people must be going there for a reason), but I distinctly got the impression I must've ordered the proverbial wrong thing!

[westsidegal]

most likely that dish will never appeal to you.
i'd give the baked pancakes (german and apple) a try and i'd give the swedish pancakes a try.
none of their other dishes, imho, are as good.

[Cinnamon]

OK, will go there again and will give the baked pancakes a try. :)

(May have to wait till the diet allows a little.. till then it'll be South Beach pancakes at Joni's. I could, however, try some other basic breakfast at Dinah's and prod my dining partner to order the German pancakes... that would be easy, and I could request a sample.)

While I wasn't thrilled with what I got at Dinah's (first time there), I am definitely with you on liking Shamshiri, Antica and Mariscos Chente. (Note to O.P., who by now is probably enjoying dinner in L.A. -- those are not 'breakfast' options.)

[westsidegal]

i have not been pleased with their other basic breakfasts.. . . .

[Baron]

Matter of fact, I had an urge for those Swedish pancakes we talk about. So I payed a visit to Dinah's. But they were just ok today. Not like I remember. Next time I'm in the mood for shrimp, I'm going to head on over to Mariscos Chente, your home away from home. The one time I went there, they were closed. You've really spread the word about them. They should give you your own table, or name a dish after you, or something.

[westsidegal]

now i'm getting scared.
the pancakes were 'not as you remember them.'
AND cinnamon reports that the omelet was no good.
i wonder if there has been a change in the cooks/chefs.
i know that the kitchen staff tends to stay there till they die/retire, but now, some of them are probably old enough that they actually MIGHT be dying/retiring.

i lost 20 pounds since the days that i was a regular at dinah's. in part, i lost the weight by stopping being a regular at dinah's ( the apple pancake with butter exceeds my daily caloric allowance all by itself).
maybe things have fundamentally changed there?
oy, oy, oy

[Cinnamon]

Oh maybe I'll give the relleno omelet a try again, and still prod the dining partner to get the pancakes. You've had some very good tips on foodie things and I'm increasingly suspicious that it must've been an off day.

[westsidegal]

it just occurred to me that there might be another, additional, reason the omelet was watery--
if you ordered egg whites only, by their nature, the whites are more watery than are whole eggs.
at this point in the game i'm used to this since it's been years since i had an omelet made with yolks.. ... .

[Cinnamon]

This had yolks too. Dinah's is located in a place that is especially convenient to my commute, so it'll be tempting to try again just out of curiosity.

Lately, Nichol's over by the Marina shopping center where Pavilions is has been really impressing me as a breakfast spot. It's not a bargain exactly but they seem to use pretty high-end ingredients and they don't skimp on them (when a recipe calls for it).

[westsidegal]

in that case, i'll try nichols again.
thanks for the tip.

[Baron]

I'll go tp Nichols if they promise to call me "hun" just like back in Jersey.

[Servorg]

Nichols, unfortunately, isn't a "hun" kind of place but the service is generally very good (and we go very regularly).

[bulavinaka]

>>About 2-3 miles south of the Airport on Sepulveda.<<

Go north my friend, go north...

[MahiMahiFish]

Go hang with the locals in Manhattan Beach, beautiful spot with great breakfast. Also, very close to the airport.
North End Cafe
3421 Highland Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
I see they don't have a website? Here's some Yelp help:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/north-end-caf...

[msparksls]

ah,another great suggestion, thanks!

[bulavinaka]

If you something different from the normal breakfast fare, and since you've got tons of time, you might also consider Bruddah's in Gardena. It's about 25 minutes from LAX, but you'll feel you jumped on the red-eye to Hilo...

[msparksls]

really, thanks everyone. calling it a night, early ass flight dammit! hope to return the favor if you're ever over in the NJ/NY area

[kel]

Was't there a great diner near North of LAX around Westchester or around 405?