Like every city in America, Los Angeles has a deep and ingrained love affair with cars. Whether it's putting new tires on a car, performing scheduled maintenance like an oil change, or adding a car modification, Los Angeles has the best in cars for everyone. There are several eateries in LA that are also a part of classic car culture. Here are 5 great places to eat in Los Angeles that every car enthusiast should check out:
Bob's Big Boy in Burbank
4211 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505 Bob's Big Boy is one of the original ‘California Coffee Shop' houses popular in the 50s. Even today, you can come and sit down in the beautifully designed restaurant, or take advantage of the old-style drive-in area in the back. Every Friday night, Bob's Big Boy plays host to a classic car gathering of its own. Featuring classic cars, rat rods, custom motorcycles, and more, this car gathering has attracted some of Hollywood's best to stop by and check out the collection of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and unique vehicles not found anywhere else. Some enthusiasts even bring their specialty car parts and new tires for sale if you're looking for a special part for your car.
Mel's Drive-in, in Santa Monica
1670 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404 Although the original Mel's Diner is in on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, car enthusiasts in Los Angeles can now enjoy a taste of Mel's classic Drive-in restaurant in beautiful Santa Monica. This iteration of Mel's Drive-In Diner just opened in the summer of 2017. The owners renovated another classic diner, the vintage 1959 eatery the Penguin coffee shop. They plan on keeping the diner open 24 hours a day, true to the classic diner theme.
Ruby's Diner in Redondo Beach
245 N Harbor Dr, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 Ruby's is a long-standing chain of 40's style diners in the Southern California area. There are Ruby's restaurants at the end of the pier in Huntington Beach and Balboa Island. However, the Redondo Beach location especially stands out for car enthusiasts. That's because, since 1997, it has been home to its own car gathering every Friday afternoon. Their weekly "Cruise to the Beach" event features classic and muscle cars, vintage Cadillacs and all sorts of other cars new and old. Some come every week and bring a different classic car each week, so there's always something different and exciting to check out each week.
Frisco's Carhop Diner
18065 Gale Ave, Industry, CA 91748 Best time to go: Saturday Night. Eating at Frisco's is like taking a trip back in time to the old 50s car hops, where waitresses would dash orders to hungry customers on roller skates. Frisco's still offers this experience, as their skating servers dish up some classic diner fare. Come by on Saturday Nights, when Frisco's features live singers performing old time 50's music, skating carhops performing dances, and more. One night will guarantee to give you the full 50s rock and roll car experience!
Galpin Horseless Carriage Restaurant
15505 Roscoe Blvd., North Hills, CA 91343 Probably one of the more interesting restaurants in this list, the Galpin Horseless carriage restaurant is the only diner offered inside an actual car dealership! You can look at some of the latest cars and car modifications from the Galpin family while dining on some seriously delicious eats. For over 47 years, numerous celebrities have dined in the restaurant's intimate and unique setting. And Galpin Ford promises that there won't be any pushy salespeople to interrupt your dining experience, so feel free to relax and enjoy the food and atmosphere.
Bonus: Paramount Drive-in Theatres
7770 Rosecrans Ave, Paramount, CA 90723 The Paramount Drive-in Theatre lay dormant for over 22 years. However, the drive-in has undergone some heavy renovation to bring it back into service. It is now open to the public once again as one of the last Drive-in theaters in Los Angeles. The new theatre features 2 75 foot screens and FM radio sound to capture that classic drive-in feel. Like the drive-ins of old, there are plenty of food items from their snack shop to enjoy while watching your movie, and not just popcorn and hot dogs, either. Bring your whole family, and enjoy a night at the drive-in, just like the good ol' days!
Good Eats from the Kings of New Tires in Los Angeles
Hopefully, this list will whet your appetite to check out one of these great restaurants. And if you're looking for a great place to take your vehicle for new tires, scheduled maintenance, and automotive repair, then the best place for you to go is to West Coast Tire & Service in Los Angeles. West Coast Tire & Service has also been a major staple of the car enthusiast community, offering new tires and auto repair to 5 generations of car buffs for over 45 years. Even these auto repair experts take the time to enjoy the local venues and check out the local car community while dining on great food. Maybe it's about time you do too!