West LA
The Apple Pan
For anyone who’s lived in LA for even a short amount of time, this place probably needs no introduction. Even if you’ve never actually set foot in the place (and if you haven’t, you should), The Apple Pan is an LA staple and serves up one of the city’s few paragons of burgers to which all others are compared. Walking into the place is like stepping back in time, not because it’s a 1940s themed eatery, but because the place is actually from the 1940s. It’s the restaurant that originally inspired the layout, menu, and style of the Johnny Rockets chain (though, of course, it remains far superior). No tables, no waiters. Everyone sits around one large horseshoe counter. Seating is limited so make sure to go when you have a little time to spare.