Famous L.A. Restaurants and Bars in Movies and TV Shows

L.A. WeeklyFilm

Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsIn Boogie NightsMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsplayed by Don CheadleMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights“It was a problematic locationMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsbecause [the owner] didn’t seem interested. It was all about not disrupting the business...We also had gag squibs and had to do a big cleanup before morning before they were back in business.”Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsJ&J Sandwich Shop in downtown L.A. doubled as The Nite Owl coffee shopMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsJ&J Sandwich Shop in downtown L.A. doubled as The Nite Owl coffee shopMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightswhere many of the police office scenes from L.A. Confidential where shot. “After looking all over creation it just sort of stared us in the faceMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsJohn PanzarellaMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsJohn PanzarellaMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsThe PrinceMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightswas established in the 1920’s and has also been used in films such as Thank You for SmokingMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsand The Incredible Burt WonderstoneMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsMad MenMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsMad MenMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe restaurant at the Best Western Hollywood Hills Hotel was calledMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe Hollywood Hills Coffee Shop. The interior was completely remodeled when it became the 101 Coffee Shop. When tourists ask 101 managerMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightswhat booth was used in the movie he tells them to pick one because it doesn’t exist anymore.Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsWhen Universal Studios Hollywood guests experience the theme park’s behind the scenes Studio TourMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights000 filmsMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightscommercials and music videos. Among the highlights of recognizable sets are Courthouse Square and the iconic Clock TowerMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsBack to the Future. On this corner stood the cafe where Marty McFly first bumped into his future Dad.Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsLocation manager Richard DavisMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsDavis suggested the bar for La Bamba.Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsThe self-proclaimed “last real Honky TonkMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsTwinsMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsCSIMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsCSIMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightscomedian Andy Kaufman also worked as a busboy at Jerry’s Famous Deli in Studio City. In a clip from The Midnight Special TV seriesMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights“I was sixteen years old when I first started being a busboy. It’s the first job I ever had and I’ve wanted to hold onto it.” The deli was used in the Kaufman bio pictureMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights“I was sixteen years old when I first started being a busboy. It’s the first job I ever had and I’ve wanted to hold onto it.” The deli was used in the Kaufman bio pictureMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights“I was sixteen years old when I first started being a busboy. It’s the first job I ever had and I’ve wanted to hold onto it.” The deli was used in the Kaufman bio pictureMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights” says L.A. Confidential production designer Jeannine Oppewall of Boardner’s. The bar would be used for an intimate scene between Russell Crowe and James CromwellMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsOppewall saidMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsOppewall saidMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsestablished in 1942 in HollywoodMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsL.A. ConfidentialMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsGangster SquadMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsalso part of Boardner’sMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsalso part of Boardner’sMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsWhere’s My Car?Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsLittle Dom’s in Los Feliz was featured prominently is Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo as the restaurant where Benjamin MeeMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightswould experience a critical moment in his life. Lori BaltonMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsa location scout on the filmMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights“It echoes bygone daysMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsremembering the day he first met his wife.”Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsLittle Dom’s on Hillhurst Ave. opened in 2008 and has been seen in We Bought a ZooMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsShamelessMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsShamelessMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe long-established Polish restaurant in Santa Monica. InsteadMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe long-established Polish restaurant in Santa Monica. InsteadMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsI Love YouMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsNorbitMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsNorbitMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe workplace of Bill’s brother Budd in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 2Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightshoweverMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightshoweverMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe “adult cabaret” near the east L.A. interchangeMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe “adult cabaret” near the east L.A. interchangeMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsthe building was declared a historical landmark by the Los Angeles City Council.Miss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsJohnie’s Coffee ShopMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightshas been seen in multiple feature films such as The Big LebowskiMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsMiracle MileMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie NightsMiracle MileMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightsit kind of looks like a barnMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights’ and call it Pig BurgersMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights’ and call it Pig BurgersMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights’ and call it Pig BurgersMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightshoused in one of downtown L.A.’s art deco treasuresMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nightspreviously Rex Il RistoranteMiss Donuts on Sherman Way in Reseda from Boogie Nights

In a city with thousands of restaurants and bars, it can be a daunting task for film or television production to find the perfect location for an eating or drinking scene. Does the film take place in modern day or 1950s Los Angeles? Does the script call for an Italian restaurant or a coffee shop, a dive bar or a lounge? Can the screenplay be adjusted in order to better suit the story and fit the budget?

While for most business comes first, appearing as a location in a film or TV show no doubt has its merits and, in more cases than not, brings additional customers through the door. Here are some of L.A.'s most memorable movie restaurants and bars.

Special thanks to the Location Managers Guild of America, Teamsters Local 399 Hollywood, and the Writers Guild Foundation Shavelson-Webb Library for their assistance.

See also: Your Favorite Movies Were Filmed at These L.A. Restaurants and Bars

All photos by Jared Cowan. Follow him on Twitter at @JaredCowan1.

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