Maxine's Cafe

The number of bonafide diners left on the Westside can be counted on one hand, and Maxine’s has the best feel-good story among them. For decades, this corner spot on the Mar Vista-Culver City border was Maxwell’s Cafe, before Maxwell retired, sold the place, and moved to Costa Rica. Now it’s run by a local woman who changed the name to Maxine’s (and added good coffee) but blessedly kept everything else: the cooks, the recipes, the prices, and the vintage cabin-like decor. The food is simple, but a notch above the diner average. Get the signature Garbage Omelet smothered in “spanish sauce,” the giant chilaquiles plate with black beans, or the waffle deluxe decorated with pecans, bananas, and strawberries.

photo credit: Garrett Snyder