Los Angeles' Less-Hip Coffee Shops

(Flickr pic by Jek-in-the-Box)

Gridskipper is in the hunt for non-hipster coffee shops in Los Angeles. The list is a tad suspect: Millie's in Silver Lake is on the list; um, have they been there? Hipsterville. We like Millie's, but we were probably also the least-tattooed patrons at the time.

Anyway. Here's what Gridskipper has to say:

The diner problem in LA is well-documented, and the complaints about the diners we do have -- overpriced, overly contrived, too many hipsters -- are familiar to anyone who lives here.

If you've ever been out of your apartment, you know all about the 101 Coffee Shop and Eat Well, and you either hate them or claim to hate them for the reasons mentioned above. But there are other diners in LA, and though they may be frequented by hipsters (in what American city are diners not beloved by hipsters, incidentally?), they don't have the hipster sheen of, say, Fred 62, and they serve all the greasy classics you love.

Here's the list; most are familiar, but it's a handy list anyway:

Bobby's Coffee Shop (22821 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills): "It ain't much to look at -- outside or inside -- but Bobby's is a classic diner, where you can feel your skin go into oil overproduction the minute you step inside."

CJ's Café (5501 W Pico Blvd; Mid-Wilshire): "CJ's combines the requisite greasiness of an American diner with the flavor and kick of a Mexican restaurant, and the results are nothing short of exquisite -- from omelets to chilaquiles, it's the ultimate hangover cure."

Jan's Restaurant (8424 Beverly Blvd; Beverly/Melrose/3rd area): "Drop in for amazing pancakes and some of the best eggs in the city."

Millie's Coffee Shop (3524 W Sunset Blvd; Silver Lake): "Something on the menu for just about everyone, from biscuits (with gravy) and scrambled eggs for those who like a greasy, fat-laden breakfast to homemade granola for those who are going to heaven."

Pann's Restaurant (6710 La Tijera Blvd; near the airport): "Pann's is one of the only Googie-style diners remaining in SoCal, and half the reason to go here is soaking up the architecture and atmosphere."

Rae's Restaurant (2901 Pico Blvd; Santa Monica): "It's been around forever, and looks the part with lots of great fifties fixtures (including the cash registers, which aren't equipped to handle those newfangled credit cards, so bring cash)."