Canter's Fairfax Restaurant Delicatessen & Bakery

One of the things that makes people fiercely loyal to a restaurant is history. If the place grows along with the people, it can start to take on a life of its own. But this is only one half of the equation- to have real staying power, an establishment needs to serve food that people are compelled to eat- food that stands the test of time. Enter Canter’s Jewish Delicatessen, a genuine LA landmark that is as famous for its celebrity clientele as it is for its Reubens and house-made pickles. It started in Jersey City in 1924 and then came west. Canter’s proceeded to grow with LA, and establish itself as an institution. We wet our whistles with a couple of cream sodas to start, and quickly dug in to our fat sandwiches. The Canter’s Special was corned beef with saurkraut, and it lived up to its name, and then some. We also enjoyed pastrami that was hot and savory, and about five different varieties of mustard that really made each bite unique. Matza ball soup is a must, and the crispy bagel chips accompanying it gave a nice crunchy contrast. The menu is huge here, and with so much to try, you’ll be coming back again and again. The world famous pickles were crisp and tangy, with just the right balance of salt and spice. The huge selection of pastries and sweets in the bakery seems to go on and on. Cupcakes, scones, bagels, loaves of bread, pies, muffins, rolls, tarts...it really is endless. As numerous rock stars and actors have found, there’s a lot more to appreciate at Canter’s than just late hours! more

When you're done clubbing in Los Angeles and you're still somewhat sober, head over to Canter's from some good ol' slice of "greasy spoon" pie. Beyond the pie, the best thing about Canter's is just people watching or the waitresses! There are some waitresses that have been there for longer than I've been alive and they get to talking about "the old days", it's really quite a treat. Canter's is "old school" L.A., and you don't really see tourist types there, just those L.A. locals that know where to get a good piece of pie at 2am! more

Famous for their bakery and for their outstanding food, this 80s style cafe diner has walls filled with autographs from the famed. Great food, open late night, always packed, great place to go. It was also in a movie once! I usually get the chilly cheesesteak with mozarella cheese. One word = orgasmic. They have it on toasted french bread and the steak is in chunks smothered in cheese and spices. The portions are pretty okay sized but you might wanna order an appetizer if your a guy more

Canter's is one of those places that has been in L.A. for a long time and has become a legend. It's open 24 hrs. which is great. They have a bakery with an extensive selection from which to choose. There are sandwiches, soups, meatloaf, turkey, pastas, etc. The menu is huge which makes it harder to decide exactly what you want. The sandwiches have a ton of meat in them. The prices are what I suspect to be inflated due to the fame of the place. more