HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES - EXTINCT RESTAURANTS, CAFES, BARS & PUBS G-L

The Kawafuku Café and Restaurant

Kawafuku Café and Restaurant is a distant memory for most Nisei residents of Los Angeles today. Most people only remember it as a “famous” restaurant or that it had tatami rooms upstairs. Over a span of fifty years, the name “Kawafuku” evoked images of classic Japanese cuisine, formal dining and traditional Japanese culture.

In 1923, Takichi Kato was forty-one years old and had lived in the United States for fourteen years. He was an accomplished chef, having worked for the Imperial household and the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Elite circles in Japan dubbed him “samurai chef,” a distinction given only to three other Japanese chefs in the world.

Takichi Kato was also a seasoned restaurateur whose vision led him to create not only a stylish and elegant restaurant, but a meeting place for Japanese associations and cultural gatherings. College graduates, prefectural associations, Japanese delegations and Nisei Week committees are among the community groups that held annual functions at Kawafuku. Initially located on Weller Street, Kawafuku Cafe moved to the corner of First and Los Angeles Streets in time for the 1932 Olympics. Maximum seating capacity was 600 people on both floors.

A stage was built upstairs for musical entertainment and dance performances. Prominently displayed in the restaurant was a taiko drum that would be played at special events. Bette Davis was once “kidnapped” by her friends and led blindfolded into one of the party rooms upstairs. Charlie Chaplin also visited the restaurant and had his photo taken on the stage. Japanese dignitaries such as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and Jigoro Kano [founder of modern day judo] were also visitors to the restaurant.

At the end of World War II, Takichi Kato was 63 years old. While the war took its toll on family finances, it was also age that caused him to sell Kawafuku Café to the Nakashima family. He opened a smaller restaurant called “Daruma Café” near First and San Pedro Streets. The Nakashimas operated the Kawafuku Restaurant that most nisei patrons remember today, which closed in the early 1970s to relocate from Little Tokyo to Gardena.

Gaston’s Restaurant	7517 Beverly Blvd.
Gazzarri's Restaurant	319 N. La Cienega
Ginza Restaurant	254 E. 1st St. Los Angeles (Japanese)
Glen's 741 Club Kindly provided by Daniel Sullivan	741 S. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA
Golden Anchor Restaurant	3357 Wilshire, Los Angeles, CA - formerly the Secret Harbor, now the HMS Bounty.
(Clearman's) Golden Cock Inn Collection of Daniel Sullivan	Rosemead at Huntington Dr. San Gabriel, CA
Golden Pagoda Restaurant	950 Mei Ling Way, Los Angeles, CA
Golden Pheasant Restaurant	713 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, CA
Golden Violin Restaurant	8917 Sunset
Good Fellow’s Grotto	341 S. Main St. opened 1905 closed in 1953. For a long time, this was considered the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles. Specializing in Steaks and Seafood. It was founded by Matteo C. Dujmovich in July of 1905. Mickey Cohen mentions this place in his book.
Googie’s Restaurant	Olive and Fifth downtown LA The quirky nature of this place gave the name to all 50s coffee shop architecture.
Gordon's Coffee Shop	9673 Wilshire Blvd.
Gotham Delicatessen (Cafe)	7050 Hollywood at Sycamore (est. 1923) signature dish the Gotham Special Sandwich
Gourmet and Plaid Room (Gourmet Hollywood Restaurant) Collection of Daniel Sullivan Collection of Kathleen B.	6530 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California (also 6534 Sunset). Owned by the Werder family, who also owned "Le Petit Gourmet" in Chicago, and the Blue Parrot Inns. Kathleen B. comments: The Gourmet Hollywood Restaurant was in business during the 1940s and 1950s. The postcard shows the patio. This postcard was mailed on 10-19-50. The writer celebrated her birthday here, thought it was "a very nice place", and had roast turkey for dinner. Here is a link to some history of this beautiful, historic building. It is now the Cat and Fiddle restaurant. http://www.thecatandfiddle.com/cathistory.html Before it was the Gourmet Restaurant, it was the Mary Helen Tea Room (see the "M" extinct page range).
Gourmet Beverly Restaurant	460 N. Canon Dr.
Grace Hayes Lodge	11345 Ventura Blvd.
Granada Café and Tea Room	672 Lafayette Park Place
Grand Pacific Restaurant	114 No. Main St. Nick Shrick, Owner and Tony Vicvich, waiter.
Grandview Gardens Restaurant	749 and ½ N. Alameda, also 951 Mei Ling Way, Los Angeles, California. Chinese food.
Greenwich Village Café	6728 Hollywood Blvd. Christie Hotel, Hollywood, California.
Gwinn's Restaurant Collection of Daniel Sullivan	2915 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA
The Haig Jazz Club	638 S. Kenmore, Los Angeles, CA of Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan fame
Ham Tree Inn	6135 Washington Blvd. Culver City, California.
Harmony Cafeteria	6262 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, California
Harmony House (Bill & Helen Hoffman's)	38 N. La Cienega
Har-Omar Restaurant	1608 N. Cosmo and later 1605 N. Ivar, Hollywood. Armenian food.
Harry Carpenter's Drive In Restaurant Menus kindly donated from the Collection of Kathleen B.	6290 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California and 2nd Los Angeles location
Harry Raymond Steak House Collection of Daniel Sullivan	2627 Mission St. San Marino, CA
Hateshi's Indian Inn	7384 Melrose
Hatton's Collection of Daniel Sullivan	1610 N. Vine, Hollywood, CA
Hawaiian Hut (The) Restaurant	7210 Beverly Blvd.
Hideaway Supper Club	5775 W. Adams
Health Cafeteria (The)	639 S. Olive, 217 W. 6th St., 1000 W. 7th St. Los Angeles, California. Scientifically nutritious menus, music in the Evenings.
Heidleberg Gardens Restaurant	11026 Washington Culver City, Calfornia - Dutch
Helen Foster Restaurant Collection of Daniel Sullivan	202 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA
Helene's Restaurant	1723 N. Highland, Hollywood, CA
Henry’s Restaurant	6321 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, California
Herbert’s Restaurant	751 S. Hill and Fairfax at Beverly. Art deco drive up place designed by Wayne McAllister.
Hi Hat (in the 40’s – not Herbert Somborn’s Restaurant that became a Brown Derby Restaurant)	8657 W. Pico, Los Angeles, California
Hi Hat (Herbert Somborn's) Restaurant - Here are three images of a Hit Hat Restaurant menu generously provided by Annette S. click to expand	3927 Wilshire Blvd. This place had a short life and became a Brown Derby Restaurant for about a year, before being bought by Alexander Perino and becoming the first location of Perino's. See my History of the Brown Derby Restaurant Page and Kevin Roderick's Wilshire Boulevard book.
Highland House Restaurant	1733 N. Highland (1/2 block North of Hollywood Blvd.) - Ben Dimsdale's first restaurant.
Hilario Preciado Mexican Restaurant (1881).	13 Main St. Los Angeles. This is the oldest reference to a restaurant I could find in Los Angeles. One of the first restaurants in Los Angeles?
Hody's Restaurants	6006 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood and Ventura/Sepulveda in Van Nuys and Hollywood/Vine in Hollywood and South La Brea at Rodeo in Los Angeles and Van Nuys/Roscoe in Panorama City and 5242 Lakewood Blvd. in Lakewood
Hof-Brau Garden	6361 Sunset
Hofbrau at the Turner Inn	634 W. 15th St. Los Angeles, CA
Hoffman Cafe	215 S. Spring St. Los Angeles, CA circa 1897
Ho Sai Gai Restaurant	611 N. La Brea
Hollywood Stable Restaurant	1453 Cahuenga, Hollywood, CA
The Home Stretch Cocktail Lounge Collection of Daniel Sullivan	3671 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA
Honker Restaurant	897 Granite Dr. Pasadena Continental cuisine - the name doesn't sound very elegant to me!
Hotel Dupont Café	1955 North Cahuenga
Hotel Green	One half hour from downtown by Pacific Electric Railway to Pasadena. Charles Bedell Hervey, owner.
House of Murphy	410 S. San Vicente, Beverly Hills, California
House of Shiskebab	7563 Sunset Blvd.
Hudson House	2260 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa, California
Hula Hut Collection of Bronwen B.	8204 Beverly Blvd.
(The) Humming Bird Cafe	1143 East 13th St. featuring a live "minstrel" show
Imperial Gardens Restaurant	8225 Sunset (Japanese)
Irene's Restaurant	1102 W. 7th, Los Angeles, California
The Islander Restaurant	385 N. La Cienega
It Cafe	1637 N. Vine St. Hollywood, Clara Bow (the "It" girl) and Rex Bell, owners. In the Hollywood Plaza Hotel.
Italian Village Café (Generously provided by Patricia B.)	423 and 425 West 8th St. Joseph Tadini, owner and 6728 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, California
Jack Dalton's Restaurant	8751 Pico Blvd.
Jack Demsey’s Barbara Inn	1927 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, California
Jade Cafe	6619 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, California
Jails Restaurant	4212 Sunset Blvd. and 1207 West 6th. Los Angeles, California
Jane Assell’s Tea Room	2976 Wilshire, Los Angeles, California. She also had a restaurant in the Gaylord Apartments / Hotel
Jazzland Café	Central at 106th “A bright spot in a dark world”.
Jean’s French Restaurant	3070 W. 7th, Los Angeles, California
Jewel City Cafe	Seal Beach, owned by Gus Mann with entertainers including Mike Lyman cerca 1917
Jewel City Restaurant	556 West Broadway, Glendale, CA
Jitterbug House	875 N. Vine
Johnie’s Coffee Shop (Romeo’s Times Square) As it stands today - empty but used for filming.	Fairfax at Wilshire. One of the greatest Googie places designed by Armet and Davis. Closed but the building still stands to await a dubious fate. Just off the Miracle Mile. Previously on this site was a Simon's Drive In. I'll forgive Romeo's for tearing down Simon's (I guess!). Would some wild and crazy billionaire please buy this and reopen it. It would definitely be a viable place if you ran it like Swinger's on Beverly.
Johnie's (Harvey's) Broiler UPDATE: Most of this treasure has been torn down. A very big loss. This is how it sadly stands today.	7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA. Known to most by its original name "Harvey's Broiler" Many American's don't realize that they have a culture. Quite obviously, we do - just as detailed and full of tradition as any other. Harvey's / Johnie's Broiler was an icon of our culture - the sort of place that makes American culture unique (especially for a specific time and place - 50s California). I still cannot comprehend why such an icon of American culture can be allowed to go out of business. This is the sort of place that the Federal government should take over and run as a commercial national park, if you will. This place was far more historic than many older historic sites that have been preserved - but so much is lost once it ceases to operate. Wake up America! Our living history is disappearing.
Johnny Wilson's Ready Room Restaurant Collection of Daniel Sullivan	365 N. La Cienega,, Los Angeles, CA
Johnson’s Fine Food Restaurant	525 So. Fairfax, also Wilshire at 633 S. Ardmore
Jon's Black Derby Restaurant	320 S. Main, Santa Ana, California
Judson’s Restaurant	9675 Wilshire, Los Angeles, California
Jule's Wilshire Restaurant	3151 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, California (Jewish food)
(Embassy Hotel) Jungle Room Collection of Daniel Sullivan	509 W. 9th St., Los Angeles, CA
Katie kohn's Restaurant	729 S. Spring st. Los Angeles, California
Kawafuku Café	204 ½ E. First St. The Kawafuku Café and Restaurant Kawafuku Café and Restaurant is a distant memory for most Nisei residents of Los Angeles today. Most people only remember it as a “famous” restaurant or that it had tatami rooms upstairs. Over a span of fifty years, the name “Kawafuku” evoked images of classic Japanese cuisine, formal dining and traditional Japanese culture. In 1923, Takichi Kato was forty-one years old and had lived in the United States for fourteen years. He was an accomplished chef, having worked for the Imperial household and the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Elite circles in Japan dubbed him “samurai chef,” a distinction given only to three other Japanese chefs in the world. Takichi Kato was also a seasoned restaurateur whose vision led him to create not only a stylish and elegant restaurant, but a meeting place for Japanese associations and cultural gatherings. College graduates, prefectural associations, Japanese delegations and Nisei Week committees are among the community groups that held annual functions at Kawafuku. Initially located on Weller Street, Kawafuku Cafe moved to the corner of First and Los Angeles Streets in time for the 1932 Olympics. Maximum seating capacity was 600 people on both floors. A stage was built upstairs for musical entertainment and dance performances. Prominently displayed in the restaurant was a taiko drum that would be played at special events. Bette Davis was once “kidnapped” by her friends and led blindfolded into one of the party rooms upstairs. Charlie Chaplin also visited the restaurant and had his photo taken on the stage. Japanese dignitaries such as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and Jigoro Kano [founder of modern day judo] were also visitors to the restaurant. At the end of World War II, Takichi Kato was 63 years old. While the war took its toll on family finances, it was also age that caused him to sell Kawafuku Café to the Nakashima family. He opened a smaller restaurant called “Daruma Café” near First and San Pedro Streets. The Nakashimas operated the Kawafuku Restaurant that most nisei patrons remember today, which closed in the early 1970s to relocate from Little Tokyo to Gardena.
Kelbo's Hawaiian Bar-B-Q Restaurant	101 N. Fairfax, also W. Pico Blvd. Owners June and Tom Kelley.
Kentucky Boy's Restaurant	8629 Pico Blvd.
Keystone Restaurant	112 N. Spring St. Los Angeles, CA cerca 1897
King's Arms Restaurant	4323 Riverside Dr. Toluca Lake, CA
King’s Restaurant (The)	8153 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, California. George Distel, owner. Master Chef Mel Moore.
King's Tropical Inn (Provided by Patricia B.)	One of the greats. 5879 W. Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA. at Adams "Heavenly fried chicken", also squab dinners for 90 cents. I thought I saw the building this was housed in still standing but damaged after the Northridge earthquake. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. It appears to gone now! Original Restaurant (est. 1924) The Adams & Washington location opened April 26, 1930. All of the above postcards - Collection of Kathleen B. (Click to expand these beautiful postcards!). Comments by Kathleen B. on these cards: I remember going to the second restaurant when I was a child. I remember a pond in the middle of the restaurant. I'm not sure if that is what is shown in this card. People were allowed to write on the lampshades that were at each table/booth. Maybe they weren't supposed to, but the shades were filled up with people's names written on them. I was excited when my Dad would add my name to a shade. My grandfather always ordered squab. The first card shows the address as 5741 W. Washington. The second card just gives the intersection. I looked in my 1967 phone book and the address for King's is listed as as 5879 W. Washington.
Kit Kat Club Restaurant	Washington Blvd. Culver City, California
Klemptner’s Blue Plate Restaurant	1633 North Vine, Hollywood, California
Klemptner’s Marine Restaurant	617 South Spring, Los Angeles, California
Knotty Pine Restaurant	2629 Crenshaw Blvd.
Kopper Kart (The) Restaurant	2167 W. Florence, Los Angeles, California
Kowloon Restaurant	6124 W. Pico, Los Angeles, California. Popular with Foreign Correspondents
La Coquille Restaurant	4491 S. Sepulveda, Culver City, California
La Corona Restaurant	634 E. Colorado, Pasadena, California
The Lady Cavendish Restaurant	816 N. Vermont, Los Angeles, CA English Restaurant (English Meat Pies and Plum Pudding)
La Madelon Resturant	7290 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California
La Maria Restaurant	6480 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California (Italian)
La Marina Inn Restaurant	199 Culver Blvd. Playa Del Rey, California
La Maze or Cafe Lamaze Restaurant	9039 Sunset Old Hollywood star hangout, that became the rock club Gazzarri's. The Doors and many other sixties greats played here. I don't know this place's present incarnation, but I do believe the building still stands (Key Club?). See my great restaurateur page for Marcel LaMaze
La Palma Cafeteria	615 S. Grand, Los Angeles, California (opened around 1912)
La Rue Restaurant	8631 Sunset (1945-1969). One of Groucho Marx's favorite places. Near the Mocambo and the Trocadero at the Sunset Plaza. Owned by Hollywood Reporter creator William "Billy" Wilkerson, who also owned the Cafe Trocadero, Ciros and the Vendome, as well as a La Rue in Las Vegas. La Rue was primarily French food. Specialty Terrine de fois gras Truffe.
Larry Potter's Supper Club	11345 Ventura Blvd. Chef Paul Franks
La Strada Restaurant	3000 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, California
Latitude 20 (degrees) Restaurant	3901 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA
Le Chapeau Rouge Restaurant	1210 N. Highland, Hollywood, California
Le Madelon Restaurant	7369 Melrose
Lem’s Café	320 E. First St. Los Angeles, California Chinese, George Lem, owner
Lighted Tree (The) Restaurant Both images collection of Kathleen B.	7621 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA also 7213 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA
Lindy’s (Steak and Chop House) Generously provided by Bronwen B.	3656 Wilshire, Los Angeles, California
Linny's Restaurant	252 N. Beverly Dr. Delicatessen
Little Budapest Restaurant	4282 Beverly Blvd.
Little Czechoslovakia Restaurant	7519 Sunset
Little Gypsy Restaurant	8917 Sunset Gypsy music and specialty Chicken Paprika
Little Hungary Restaurant	8917 Sunset
Little Joe's Italian Restaurant (1910)	Another very historic place. 900 N. Broadway. Nice Italian restaurant curiously located in the middle of Chinatown by the time it closed. Building still standing with sign. This started in 1910 as a grocery store at 5th and Hewitt which served spaghetti off a wooden table. I'm hearing rumors it may be reopened! Gnnochi alla Romano a specialty. This sign still stands long after the restaurant closed.
Lobster Shack	21000 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA
The Lock Restaurant	977 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
London Club Restaurant	Next to the Cotton Club, also run by Frank Sebastian
Louis French Restaurant	Yucca and Wilcox, Hollywood, CA
Luau Restaurant - Matchbooks Collection of Daniel Sullivan	421 N. Rodeo Dr (1954 to 1978). Early Tiki-like place (see Sugie's). Suckling Pig a specialty. The men's room's unique feature was clamshell shaped urinals. The owner, Steve Crane, was one of Lana Turner's husbands. He also owned Lucey's Restaurant. Steve Crane died in 1985. Another host here - Al Mathes. Formerly the Tropics Restaurant.
Lucca Restaurant The above images generously donated from the collection of R. Rovere The above menu and postcard donated by Jeremy from Australia.	5th at 501 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA. Started out in San Francisco. Owner - Bert Rovere, who also owned the Paris Inn - see the Great Restaurateur page. The restaurant could accommodate 500 patrons. It also had a store and something called a "poker chip" bar. Collection of Kathleen B.
Lucey's Restaurant Collection of Daniel Sullivan	5444 Melrose Ave. A big star hangout. It later became "Casa Lucey's" Mexican food in the 60's. See my great restaurateur page for much more information regarding the restaurant and former owners Antonio Luciano, Fred Brosio and Nathan Sherry. Collection of Kathleen B.
Luigi's Restaurant	1001 N. Euclid Ave., Anaheim, California
Lombardi's Restaurant	141 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, California
Lyman’s Café Alabam	520 South Spring St. Los Angeles, California Owner, the great Mike Lyman