101 Coffee Shop

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.

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User Reviews (39)

ambiance	78.5699987411499% positive	“Great dimly lit, cozy, atmosphere in the evening along with one of the best jukeboxes in town.” “all in all a good back up breakfast place wih good ambience.” “fun throwback with dependable food and snappy wait staff, although always helpful when we arrive with our full staff of 15 for breakfast.” “Though the food is really good and inexpensive the 101 Coffee shop is all about ambiance.” “service was good along with the decor but, if the food sucks there's no hope.” “The atmosphere is so cozy you'll never want to leave.” “The atmosphere is cool, all different kinds of people and great music to boot!”
dessert	100.0% positive	“The cherry pie had that fresh warm homemade taste and the vanilla ice cream was REAL - you know the kind.” “The nut 'n honey shake is insanely good, chocolate malt is good too.” “The food was excellent - turkey burger tasted like I grilled it myself, the onion rings crispy-crunchy AND the dessert was the best part.”
drinks	60.0% positive	“The expensive drinks were delivered promptly - but the Starbucks prices were cheeky.” “do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what?” “love their carafes of coffee so you can eat uninterrpted with friends pouring away.” “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.” “great people watching and coffee”
food quality	77.58999824523926% positive	“Don't stop here for breakfast in the morning if you are expecting more than cold eggs after 40 minutes.” “The food was decent but this waiter was way out of line.” “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.” “Though the food is really good and inexpensive the 101 Coffee shop is all about ambiance.” “My sandwich was good, but the fries were cold.” “The food is great!” “The food is really good and the prices are reasonable.” “Huge dinner salads with a variety of veggies and homemade salad dressings.” “The fries are the best I've had almost anywhere.” “For a diner, the food is good, healthy (if you want) and the price is right.” “The food was excellent - turkey burger tasted like I grilled it myself, the onion rings crispy-crunchy AND the dessert was the best part.” “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” “Wanting to satisfy my good friend in from London with a delicious Hollywood-style brunch I mistakenly thought Cafe 101 could fit the bill.” “Once someone introduced us, it became one of our favorite restaurants in L.A. (as far as casual, comfort food goes).” “the food was terrible.” “Best turkey burger ever.” “The food is way too good to pass up.” “They have a delicious chai latte ($3.50) that I order every time.” “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.” “The food overall was good, but the service absolutely horrific.” “The food is not so good.” “The food and the juke box are the main attractions, with both being food value for money and have damn good taste.” “service was good along with the decor but, if the food sucks there's no hope.” “The burrito bore an uncanny resemblance to a full hot water bottle slathered in irradiated goo.” “fun throwback with dependable food and snappy wait staff, although always helpful when we arrive with our full staff of 15 for breakfast.” “the food is good, not great.” “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.” “Draws neigborhood artists, actors and musicians that want great food for a fair price.” “The cherry pie had that fresh warm homemade taste and the vanilla ice cream was REAL - you know the kind.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Just a few of the delectable choices at the best casual restaurant in town.” “Huge dinner salads with a variety of veggies and homemade salad dressings.”
overall	100.0% positive	“It's a great neighborhood spot and a great place for eastsiders to meet Valley-ites since it's right off the 101.” “All around It is a great restaurant the only downfall that I would have to suggest is the service.” “Just a few of the delectable choices at the best casual restaurant in town.” “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.” “all in all a good back up breakfast place wih good ambience.” “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.”
service	61.99999809265137% positive	“My waitress was friendly(very cool!)” “Service is pretty rough--meaning, the staff is extremely rude.” “As I said before, I've never had anything but wonderful service with a smile.” “The food was decent but this waiter was way out of line.” “Ridiculously horrible service and the rudest waiter in Los Angeles” “First, the service was fantastic!” “The waitress was really nice, so I might be willing to give it one more shot.” “Slow service.” “like 101 a lot- always cute people and good people watching in the morning.” “All around It is a great restaurant the only downfall that I would have to suggest is the service.” “The food overall was good, but the service absolutely horrific.” “not to mention the awesome service!” “Service was attentive but they had that kind of attitude "i'm here to help you, but not really serve you", not very upbeat.” “If you're on your way home from a late night of partying, maybe you don't notice the lousy service.” “And the service is always impeccable.” “do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what?” “fun throwback with dependable food and snappy wait staff, although always helpful when we arrive with our full staff of 15 for breakfast.” “Just relax, people watch, enjoy the CD jukebox, and chill.” “The other rude waiter avoided us the rest of the time because he realized he was being riduculous.” “great people watching and coffee” “The atmosphere is cool, all different kinds of people and great music to boot!” “(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.” “The rude waiter didn't even apologize for trying to make us move.” “Well, each of the three times I have been here I have been an horrible experience with the waiting staff.” “service was good along with the decor but, if the food sucks there's no hope.”
value	87.5% positive	“For a diner, the food is good, healthy (if you want) and the price is right.” “The expensive drinks were delivered promptly - but the Starbucks prices were cheeky.” “Though the food is really good and inexpensive the 101 Coffee shop is all about ambiance.” “The food is really good and the prices are reasonable.” “The food and the juke box are the main attractions, with both being food value for money and have damn good taste.” “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.” “Reasonable prices, great” “Draws neigborhood artists, actors and musicians that want great food for a fair price.”
wait time	0.0% positive	“Don't stop here for breakfast in the morning if you are expecting more than cold eggs after 40 minutes.” “do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what?”

09/05/10

Terrible food in a dimly lit atmosphere

by Masonmindell

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.

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01/06/10

Try the Barbecued Chicken

by Richard Coanda

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

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04/02/09

Love this place

by StephieMM85

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

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03/09/09

worst service in LA

by th0mkat

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.

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03/07/09

very good cup of joe!

by kidobandido

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.

101 Coffee Shop

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What People Are Saying About 101 Coffee Shop

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User Reviews (39)

09/05/10

Terrible food in a dimly lit atmosphere

by Masonmindell

01/06/10

Try the Barbecued Chicken

by Richard Coanda

04/02/09

Love this place

by StephieMM85

03/09/09

worst service in LA

by th0mkat

03/07/09

very good cup of joe!

by kidobandido

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