Apple Pan

My paternal grandmother is not a good cook.  A wonderful woman, yes, but a horror in the kitchen.  When I was young, my family would drive up from Orange County to visit her and my grandfather in West Los Angeles but always with a caveat – we’d stop at the Apple Pan.  This tiny shack on Pico Boulevard is an LA institution with its original menu and décor which date back to the 1940’s.   In my formidable years, I wanted to be a grown-up just so I could work in the movies and eat at the Apple Pan every day.  I suppose this dream isn’t so far-fetched but if only my waistline would co-sign with these ambitions…

The options are limited but oh so satisfying.  I always order the fries well done as they arrive with the perfect amount of crispiness on the outside that crunch into a soft, slightly salty potato center.  You can’t go wrong with either the hickory or steak burger – it’s just a matter of personal preference.  The hickory features their special house-made barbecue sauce while the steak burger is their take on an all-American classic.  Both come adorned with pickles, lettuce and mayo with the opportunity to add a slice of Tillamook Cheese (which is an obvious yes).  At this point in the meal I’m almost always full…but that doesn’t mean the party’s over.  It is the Apple Pan for goodness sake’s!  Now here’s where things get controversial. Yes, they are known for their apple pie.  Yes, it is great.  However, the banana cream pie is the real show stopper.  The cream mixes with sliced bananas proudly perched on top of flaky pie crust into a delectable presentation with an entrancing fragrance.  It’s pretty close to pure perfection. 

After such a satisfying meal, I’m either ready to curl up on the couch with a good movie or immediately schedule my next appointment at the gym.  Even though I am now firmly cemented in my adulthood, it doesn’t seem like all that much has changed as far as my priorities go. Maybe instead I should call up my grandmother and see if she’d be up for a visit?  

Lauren’s Rating: Worth Going Back Over and Over

Apple Pan

10801 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles 90064

(310)475-3585

Hours: 11:00a-12:00a Every Day