5 late-night eateries in Los Angeles

All-night diners are a bit of an endangered species, so it’s thrilling to find a classic one still in the wild. Designed by famed Googie architects Armet & Davis and built in the 1960s, this space-age structure still soars. The interior reveals a similarly sunny tone, with an orange tiled wall that matches the freshly squeezed orange juice.

There are no locks on the front door of the Pantry, which has never been closed since opening in 1924 (although it’s only been at this location since 1950). Owned by former LA mayor Richard Riordan, this is the spot for late-night diner food with massive portions of pancakes, ham, and eggs to soak up the evening’s regrets.

This traditional Jewish deli, owned by the fourth generation of the Canter family, is one of California’s oldest delis. It’s beloved by locals and celebrities, who slip in for late-night noshes. Back in the day, The Doors and Frank Zappa frequented the Kibitz Room, the adjacent cocktail lounge; today it hosts local bands.

A late-night institution in Koreatown and revelers fill this busy home-style Korean restaurant well into the wee hours of the morning. It’s not the best food in Koreatown (if you were looking for the best, you wouldn’t be out at 3 am), but it’s solid and soaks up a substantial amount of alcohol.

The décor is basically dorm room if you went to college in the late 80s/early 90s and liked punk rock. It’s messy, loud, and wonderful here – and the Thai food, a mix of traditional and Americanized, is good too. Only open until 4 am, it was at one time director Quentin Tarantino’s favorite place to write.