The Guide to 24 Hour Restaurants in Los Angeles

Centrally located on Fletcher Drive at Glendale Boulevard, Astro Family Restaurant is a convenient after-hours stop if you’re in Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz or Atwater Village. Designed by the acclaimed architecture firm Armet & Davis (see NORMS below), the cozy Googie-style restaurant offers a menu that's heavy on diner and coffee shop staples and includes veg-friendly options like the Beyond Burger and Beyond Tacos. Check the signs at the front for daily specials.

California Donuts has been around since 1982, but the popularity of the family-owned Koreatown donut shop spiked with the advent of Instagram thanks to their delightfully photogenic creations. Specialties include donuts covered in Fruity Pebbles, Froot Loops, Girl Scout cookies, M&Ms and Reese's Pieces; as well as donuts shaped like unicorns and pandas. The best part, though, is that you can pick up a donut, a half-dozen, or dozen at any time of day or night.

Established in 1931, Canter’s has served classic deli fare to Angelenos from all walks of life for more than 90 years. With its 24-hour service and proximity to Hollywood and West Hollywood nightlife, the Fairfax Avenue restaurant has been an institution for generations of club kids that have crowded into the booths after last call. Everyone from Elvis to Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, Prince, The Doors, Guns N' Roses, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin have hung out there. Presidents Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon have all stopped by Canter's.

The deli's adjacent bar, the Kibitz Room has hosted impromptu performances by Slash, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lenny Kravitz, Rick James and Joni Mitchell.

The menu is packed with deli favorites along with plant-based options like vegetarian matzo ball soup, Veggie Pesto Melt, Veggie Burger and Mrs. Goldfarb's "Unreal" - vegetarian corned beef / pastrami (available Reuben or Brooklyn Style). Don’t forget to pick up something from the bakery counter!

Located near the bars and clubs of Lincoln Heights, Cypress Park and Chinatown, Carnitas Michoacan can be a scene after last call. That’s when revelers line up to order from a menu filled with hefty burritos, tacos served with a variety of fillings that have helped make this 45-year-old restaurant a local favorite. Indoor seating is available, if you can’t wait until you get home to dig into your 2am meal.

Located in the heart of North Hollywood, the NoHo Diner is a convenient pit stop after catching a show at The Knitting Factory, pinball and drinks at Player One, or karaoke at The Good Nite. With its stained glass windows and walls covered with faded film and TV star photos, NoHo Diner is a charming flashback to the San Fernando Valley of the past. There’s a lot of variety on the menu with an emphasis on American diner classics, like burgers and sandwiches or breakfast omelettes served with potatoes and toast at any time of day or night.

Soak up some L.A. history while you’re noshing on late-night eats at the landmark NORMS on La Cienega Boulevard, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument that you can visit 24/7. Opened in 1957, the longest-operating NORMS is a Mid-Century L.A. treasure. A significant Googie building designed by Armet & Davis with interior features by trailblazing architect Helen Fong, the restaurant was immortalized in Ed Ruscha’s 1964 painting Norm’s, La Cienega, on Fire.

There are plenty of Original Tommy’s locations across L.A. County, but the essential all-night spot is the first one, which founder Tom Koulax opened in May 1946. Located in Westlake on the corner of Beverly and Rampart Boulevards, Tommy’s is the go-to when it’s late and you have a major appetite. Chili is the draw, whether it's in a single, double or triple cheeseburger; slathered on a hot dog and fries; or piled on a tamale with a slice of cheese, pickles and tomato. Dig in at one of the stand-up counters or enjoy your after-hours feast in your car.

Your red eye flight has landed at LAX, you're hungry and the local food options are closed. Luckily, Randy’s Donuts has you covered. The giant donut that tops the original Inglewood shop has made it a pop culture icon that's appeared in everything from Iron Man 2 and Get Shorty to Entourage and the music videos for Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Californication."

The assortment of donuts that's available at all hours has made Randy's an institution for locals and travelers alike for more than 70 years. In addition to the classics, you’ll find varieties like the marshmallow-covered S’mores, Matcha Tea, Oreos, Bacon Maple Long John, and a churro-topped Maple Raised.

In his LA Times review of Sun Nong Dan, Jonathan Gold describes the signature galbi jjim as "Hendrix shredding a Bob Dylan song or David Choe slapping paint onto a wall, all the sensations of the dish run through a distortion pedal and cranked up to 10." Order the family-style galbi jjim with cheese - it's a must - and your server will blowtorch the shredded mozzarella so it melts over the bubbling short rib stew.

Two of the four Sun Nong Dan locations are open 24 hours - the original at Alexandria Plaza on 6th Street; and Western Avenue, which is just a couple of blocks south of The Wiltern and perfect for a post-concert meatfest.