For Los Angeles locals and visitors alike, the quest for the perfect diner experience is an ongoing affair. Conversations often begin with a familiar question among longtime Angelenos planning their morning meetups: “Breakfast at Clark Street Diner?”
The response sometimes comes with a touch of confusion, “Clark Street Bread? I’m not sure about a diner.” This is usually followed by a quick clarification, “It’s the reincarnation of the 101 Coffee Shop, right across from the iconic Hollywood Tower. The owner of Clark Street Bread took over, and remarkably, it feels just the same.” Recognition dawns, and the next question is always, “Oh! I’m in. What time?”
Even those who’ve never stepped inside its doors might recognize Clark Street Diner, formerly known as the 101 Coffee Shop and before that, the Hollywood Hills Coffee Shop. This location is etched in pop culture history. It’s the very spot where Vince Vaughn’s character famously held court in “Swingers,” delivering his pep talk to Jon Favreau. Beyond its cinematic fame in the 1996 classic, the diner has served as a backdrop for television hits like “Gilmore Girls,” HBO’s “Entourage,” and even a recent, dynamic music video by Meghan Thee Stallion.
A Hollywood Landmark with a Storied Past
The building housing Clark Street Diner is a piece of Hollywood history itself, dating back to the late 1920s. Over the decades, it has been home to various hotels, currently known as the Adler a Hollywood Hills Hotel. Before its early 2000s renovation, a liquor store even adjoined the coffee shop. That renovation marked a turning point when Warner Ebbink, known for Little Dom’s in Los Feliz, took over the restaurant space. Ebbink transformed the interior, embracing a warm, late-1960s aesthetic. He bathed the room in bronze tones, featuring flagstone walls, rich teak-colored leather booths, and tiles and counters in varying shades of brown. Natural light filters through the windows, casting a distinctly Southern Californian sepia tone over the space, its patrons, and the furniture.
For two decades, the 101 Coffee Shop thrived as a discreet and reliable haunt for a diverse clientele – actors, screenwriters, literary figures, tourists, and neighborhood locals. The announcement of its closure in January 2021 sparked an outpouring of grief across social media. Patton Oswalt shared cherished photos of his daughter in one of the booths, while Kat Dennings publicly mourned the absence of the iconic blueberry-stained Purple Haze milkshake. As former Times columnist Nita Lelyveld poignantly wrote in her tribute, “I didn’t stop to think about what a luxury it was to be able to count on the place I simply called ‘the 101’ until news broke last week that my diner around the corner had — without any last goodbyes — closed for good.”
Clark Street Diner: Honoring Nostalgia with Fresh Flavors
In November, Zack Hall, owner of the celebrated Clark Street Bread, stepped in to revive this beloved space, navigating the community’s deep nostalgia with exceptional care. The most noticeable addition is a pastry display case near the entrance, showcasing Clark Street Bread’s signature baked goods. This includes delectable sweet and savory croissants, fragrant cardamom-scented buns, savory cheddar-chive scones, rich rye-flour brownies, irresistible pull-apart monkey bread glistening with sugar, and seasonal treats like raisin-studded hot cross buns for Easter.
These pastries are an excellent starting point. Grab a pastry and a quality coffee – be it a cold brew, cortado, or a simple cup of joe – while you add your name to the waitlist. The wait is typically brief, and the people-watching is superb. The room is buzzing again, filled with a familiar energy. You can almost sense the proximity of the Capitol Records building and feel the pulse of Tinseltown. While the roar of the Hollywood Freeway remains muted inside, the diner exists in the shadow of its concrete veins, just a block away.
Hall executed a masterful menu transition, bringing in Juan Pablo Garcia, previously chef at Clark Street Bread’s Brentwood location, to helm the kitchen. The menu focuses on breakfast and lunch diner staples, elevated with a subtle sophistication. The food is remarkably good, offering familiar diner classics but with an emphasis on thoughtful seasoning and meticulous cooking techniques.
Must-Try Dishes at Clark Street Diner
For pancake aficionados in Los Angeles, Clark Street Diner is a must-visit. The blueberry pancakes are a standout – a stack of three fluffy, golden discs with delightfully crisp edges yielding to a soft, almost custardy interior. Generous amounts of plump blueberries are scattered throughout, and a taste of the accompanying syrup confirms its authenticity – real maple syrup.
Even simple requests are handled with finesse. An omelet, requested with a medley of vegetables and cheddar and cooked “soft,” arrives as a beautifully pale, French-style rolled omelet – perfection. The eggs Florentine are equally impressive, with yolks that burst and mingle with spinach and optional smoked salmon on an English muffin. The corned beef hash is a satisfyingly hearty dish, boasting a balanced mix of crispy and soft potatoes, savory corned beef, and expertly cooked eggs – over-easy is the recommended texture for this classic.
Unsurprisingly, given the owner’s bakery background, the bread is exceptional. Hall’s signature sourdough is beautifully crisped, and the avocado toast, sprinkled with mild chile flakes, transcends the usual clichés.
The waffle, made with almond and wheat flour, is another highlight. For those seeking gluten-free options, a rice flour and nut flour waffle could be a welcome addition to the menu, catering to a broader range of dietary needs.
Dinner service is planned to launch later this year, featuring the team’s interpretations of diner favorites from the 101’s dinner menu, including meatloaf, fried chicken, and mac and cheese. In the meantime, the lunch menu is available until 3 p.m.
For sandwich lovers, the patty melt, with its cheesy, oniony punch, is a superior choice to the standard burger. Vegan diners can enjoy a Beyond Burger patty melt on sourdough. Even the salads are elevated – the substantial arugula salad with sliced pear, blue cheese, hazelnuts, and pomegranate, dressed with tarragon vinaigrette, wouldn’t be out of place at acclaimed restaurants like A.O.C. or République.
While Clark Street Diner excels at breakfast, the ambiance is equally enjoyable around 11:30 a.m., when you can survey the booths filled with a tableau of diner classics – hash browns, tuna melts, pancakes, bacon, breakfast burritos, and steaming coffee mugs. With a recently acquired liquor license, the scene may now include mimosas, Miller High Life cans, and even glasses of orange wine for the more adventurous.
The Heart of Clark Street Diner: The Staff
However, the true spirit of Clark Street Diner lies in its staff. Sally Stewart, a server who worked at the 101 since its inception, has returned. Her presence is a comforting reminder of the diner’s legacy. Stewart brings an ageless rock ’n’ roll energy and a remarkable patience, even when faced with indecisive customers.
Diners are more than just restaurants; they are neighborhood landmarks where everyday moments unfold and where staff often build long-term careers. Clark Street Diner is in capable hands, ensuring that this Hollywood institution continues to thrive, offering comforting classics and a welcoming atmosphere for years to come.
Clark Street Diner
6145 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 848-4438, instagram.com/clarkstreetdiner
Prices: Breakfast entrees $10-$18, hot sandwiches $12-$16, pastries and breads $3.25-$8.50
Details: Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Beer, wine and spirits. Credit cards accepted. Lot and street parking.
Recommended dishes: blueberry pancakes, corned beef hash, eggs Florentine, monkey bread, patty melt
