(323) 467-1175

6145 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028 34.1053 -118.3234

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Neighborhoods: Hollywood Hills, Central LA

THE101COFFEESHOP.COM

Price:

$

Last updated 9.13.11

Category:

Restaurants , Diners

Payment Methods:

Check , American Express , Visa , Discover , MasterCard , Travelers Check

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite , Hotel Restaurants , Late Night Dining , People Watching , Lunch Spot

Cuisine:

Traditional American

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About 101 Coffee Shop

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – With stylish early-1960s decor, red-and-brown booths and a jukebox filled with everything from the Allman Brothers to Marvin Gaye, the 101 has an ambience that appeals to both neighborhood hepcats and motel guests. A large menu features the usual diner staples--burgers, grilled cheese, pancakes and eggs--along with twists such as fried-green tomato salad and "No Huevos" rancheros, a spicy vegetarian scramble of tofu, soy chorizo, corn and peppers.

Editor's Tips

Parking:
Street parking can be tough on Franklin: Definitely take advantage of the motel's free underground lot.
ambiance
78.5699987411499% positive
  1. “service was good along with the decor but, if the food sucks there's no hope.”
  2. “all in all a good back up breakfast place wih good ambience.”
  3. “The atmosphere is so cozy you'll never want to leave.”
  4. “The atmosphere is cool, all different kinds of people and great music to boot!”
  5. “Though the food is really good and inexpensive the 101 Coffee shop is all about ambiance.”
  6. “fun throwback with dependable food and snappy wait staff, although always helpful when we arrive with our full staff of 15 for breakfast.”
  7. “Great dimly lit, cozy, atmosphere in the evening along with one of the best jukeboxes in town.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “The nut 'n honey shake is insanely good, chocolate malt is good too.”
  2. “The food was excellent - turkey burger tasted like I grilled it myself, the onion rings crispy-crunchy AND the dessert was the best part.”
  3. “The cherry pie had that fresh warm homemade taste and the vanilla ice cream was REAL - you know the kind.”
drinks
60.0% positive
  1. “great people watching and coffee”
  2. “The barbecued chicken came with the best mashed potatoes and gravy I've had in 50 years, along with an enormous salad and decent coffee, and the chicken proved outstanding.”
  3. “love their carafes of coffee so you can eat uninterrpted with friends pouring away.”
  4. “do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what?”
  5. “The expensive drinks were delivered promptly - but the Starbucks prices were cheeky.”
food quality
77.58999824523926% positive
  1. “Best turkey burger ever.”
  2. “The burrito bore an uncanny resemblance to a full hot water bottle slathered in irradiated goo.”
  3. “The food is not so good.”
  4. “Our favorites include the black bean taquitos, the homemade mac-n-cheese is huge success among our children and fellow adults alike, the fried chicken specials, the huevos rancheros.”
  5. “The cherry pie had that fresh warm homemade taste and the vanilla ice cream was REAL - you know the kind.”
  6. “fun throwback with dependable food and snappy wait staff, although always helpful when we arrive with our full staff of 15 for breakfast.”
  7. “service was good along with the decor but, if the food sucks there's no hope.”
  8. “the food was terrible.”
  9. “The onion rings were a festival of freshly deep fried onion in crispy batter - however the watered down Ranch dressing disappointed, failing to adhere to the fries or rings.”
  10. “The food is really good and the prices are reasonable.”
  11. “the food is good, not great.”
  12. “Don't stop here for breakfast in the morning if you are expecting more than cold eggs after 40 minutes.”
  13. “The food was decent but this waiter was way out of line.”
  14. “So, i do really like this place- very kitschy and cute- i really prefer the legit diners like raes and nicks etc that have authentic midcentury design but 101 does a great job of emulating it as well as having the benefit of a cleaner, newer space that is”
  15. “Draws neigborhood artists, actors and musicians that want great food for a fair price.”
  16. “The fries are the best I've had almost anywhere.”
  17. “The barbecued chicken came with the best mashed potatoes and gravy I've had in 50 years, along with an enormous salad and decent coffee, and the chicken proved outstanding.”
  18. “The food and the juke box are the main attractions, with both being food value for money and have damn good taste.”
  19. “My sandwich was good, but the fries were cold.”
  20. “They have a delicious chai latte ($3.50) that I order every time.”
  21. “The food overall was good, but the service absolutely horrific.”
  22. “The food is great!”
  23. “The food was excellent - turkey burger tasted like I grilled it myself, the onion rings crispy-crunchy AND the dessert was the best part.”
  24. “Huge dinner salads with a variety of veggies and homemade salad dressings.”
  25. “Wanting to satisfy my good friend in from London with a delicious Hollywood-style brunch I mistakenly thought Cafe 101 could fit the bill.”
  26. “Once someone introduced us, it became one of our favorite restaurants in L.A. (as far as casual, comfort food goes).”
  27. “The food is way too good to pass up.”
  28. “Though the food is really good and inexpensive the 101 Coffee shop is all about ambiance.”
  29. “For a diner, the food is good, healthy (if you want) and the price is right.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Just a few of the delectable choices at the best casual restaurant in town.”
  2. “Huge dinner salads with a variety of veggies and homemade salad dressings.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “have always loved this place for a good late night bite, and though it is usually pretty packed on weekend nights, I love thsi place.”
  2. “If you come for great macaroni and cheese or a chance to be blown away by visiting another place that was in Swingers, you will be sorely disappointed.”
  3. “all in all a good back up breakfast place wih good ambience.”
  4. “Just a few of the delectable choices at the best casual restaurant in town.”
  5. “It's a great neighborhood spot and a great place for eastsiders to meet Valley-ites since it's right off the 101.”
  6. “All around It is a great restaurant the only downfall that I would have to suggest is the service.”
service
61.99999809265137% positive
  1. “Just relax, people watch, enjoy the CD jukebox, and chill.”
  2. “First, the service was fantastic!”
  3. “service was good along with the decor but, if the food sucks there's no hope.”
  4. “do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what?”
  5. “The waitress was really nice, so I might be willing to give it one more shot.”
  6. “The other rude waiter avoided us the rest of the time because he realized he was being riduculous.”
  7. “not to mention the awesome service!”
  8. “The food overall was good, but the service absolutely horrific.”
  9. “All around It is a great restaurant the only downfall that I would have to suggest is the service.”
  10. “The atmosphere is cool, all different kinds of people and great music to boot!”
  11. “The rude waiter didn't even apologize for trying to make us move.”
  12. “Ridiculously horrible service and the rudest waiter in Los Angeles”
  13. “fun throwback with dependable food and snappy wait staff, although always helpful when we arrive with our full staff of 15 for breakfast.”
  14. “Slow service.”
  15. “As I said before, I've never had anything but wonderful service with a smile.”
  16. “My waitress was friendly(very cool!)”
  17. “The food was decent but this waiter was way out of line.”
  18. “Service is pretty rough--meaning, the staff is extremely rude.”
  19. “If you're on your way home from a late night of partying, maybe you don't notice the lousy service.”
  20. “great people watching and coffee”
  21. “like 101 a lot- always cute people and good people watching in the morning.”
  22. “(read: go when you're drunk) If you do venture here, be sure to try the chai latte shake, it's pretty much heaven on Earth, but it's a shame it's being held hostage by bad service.”
  23. “And the service is always impeccable.”
  24. “Well, each of the three times I have been here I have been an horrible experience with the waiting staff.”
  25. “Service was attentive but they had that kind of attitude "i'm here to help you, but not really serve you", not very upbeat.”
value
87.5% positive
  1. “Reasonable prices, great”
  2. “For a diner, the food is good, healthy (if you want) and the price is right.”
  3. “Though the food is really good and inexpensive the 101 Coffee shop is all about ambiance.”
  4. “The food is really good and the prices are reasonable.”
  5. “The expensive drinks were delivered promptly - but the Starbucks prices were cheeky.”
  6. “The food and the juke box are the main attractions, with both being food value for money and have damn good taste.”
  7. “Our favorites include the black bean taquitos, the homemade mac-n-cheese is huge success among our children and fellow adults alike, the fried chicken specials, the huevos rancheros.”
  8. “Draws neigborhood artists, actors and musicians that want great food for a fair price.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what?”
  2. “Don't stop here for breakfast in the morning if you are expecting more than cold eggs after 40 minutes.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

09/05/10

Terrible food in a dimly lit atmosphere

by Masonmindell at Citysearch

The funny waiter keeping my son laughing was not enough to make up for undercooked green beans (the waiter hopefully exlaimed "They're al dente!"), lumpy, flavorless mashed potatoes with inedible over cooked meatloaf and tepid, bland lentil soup (I've had better from a can). The atmosphere may be mid- century modern but it feels more like an uninviting cafeteria in a the lobby of a flea bag hotel. My wife said I ordered the wrong thing but a quick look around the place and I could see other underwhelmed patrons looking wanly at their bad looking sandwiches and over dressed salads. Style mid century or otherwise does not an eatery make.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/06/10

Try the Barbecued Chicken

by Richard Coanda at Citysearch

The barbecued chicken came with the best mashed potatoes and gravy I've had in 50 years, along with an enormous salad and decent coffee, and the chicken proved outstanding. A flatiron steak by comparison seemed rather ordinary. Eggs benedict were good. Muffins you can buy at the cash register are heavenly. Cappaccinos are okay. Service was usually swift. Good ambience too. I like it.

  • Pros: Great mashed potatoes and gravy
  • Cons: A disappointing waffle once
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/02/09

Love this place

by StephieMM85 at Citysearch

I have always loved this place for a good late night bite, and though it is usually pretty packed on weekend nights, I love thsi place. I really hate diners that try to look all 50s. Boring. You know it's no good when Denny's starts remodeling trying to look like a 50s diner. But this place is so 60s/70s it's hilarious. The rock wall reminds me of my grandma's house and how she refused to update the look of her house. But my favorite thing about this place...The Fried Green Tomato Salad.

Loves it!

  • Pros: Good Food, Great Late night place
  • Cons: Busy
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/09/09

worst service in LA

by th0mkat at Citysearch

Three times the charm, as they say.

Well, each of the three times I have been here I have been an horrible experience with the waiting staff.

Let me say , the busboys were working there asses off, even pointing out to the servers they had customers.

Maybe the charm of this place is to the late night rockers and the history on the wall.

If you're on your way home from a late night of partying, maybe you don't notice the lousy service.

Don't stop here for breakfast in the morning if you are expecting more than cold eggs after 40 minutes.

The wait staff I have encountered could have cared less if I ever came back again.

My experience was so horrid with one young man that I stiffed him entirely, something I never do.

On another occasion, I watched two little chickies talking so profusely about how much their weekend "sucked" that they never had a word for me or any of their other customers.

You might as well go to Jerry's Diner for over priced diner fare, or Canter's for waitress abuse.

Later? I don't think so.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/07/09

very good cup of joe!

by kidobandido at Citysearch

I have to say I've been to a lot of "diners"/coffee shops around the country and I was really impressed by their cup of coffee, just a cup of black.

Service was attentive but they had that kind of attitude "i'm here to help you, but not really serve you", not very upbeat.

I hope I get to eat something next time.

The Details on 101 Coffee Shop

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • slow service
  • love thsi place
  • favorite casual restaurant
  • rude rudest waiter
  • bad experience
  • warm homemade taste
  • reasonable prices
  • warm vanilla ice cream
  • really nice waitress
  • great people
  • fine hashbrowns
  • cool atmosphere
  • really hate diner
  • cold fries
  • full staff
  • love mikey fitz
  • outstanding chicken
  • great local spot
  • great atmospheredecor
  • great late night grub
  • good mac
  • worst breakfast
  • awful place
  • full hot water bottle
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