An award from the James Beard Foundation cements your restaurant as a leader in the culinary world and bestows the respect of the late “dean of American cookery” on your establishment. About 25 years ago, the organization began to honor favorite vintage restaurants with a special America’s Classics Award. The class of 2026 was announced recently and includes a WWII-era oyster house in Philadelphia and century-old Johnny’s Café in Omaha.

The Serving Spoon in InglewoodCredit: Photo courtesy The Serving Spoon

Only one restaurant was honored in California, the modest Serving Spoon in Inglewood. The building was built in 1969 and housed Molly’s Coffee Shop in the 1970s.  Since 1983, the mini-mall soul food restaurant has received immediate rave reviews and continues to serve up catfish and collard greens, though the offerings these days mostly revolve around breakfast since the last seating is at 1:30 p.m.  Third-generation owners Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane keep up the family traditions.

The Serving Spoon in InglewoodCredit: Photo courtesy The Serving Spoon

In the 28 years the program has been in effect, only five L.A. area restaurants have received the honor: Philippe’s, Langer’s, Yuca’s, Casa Vega and Guelaguetza.

Canter’s DelicatessenCredit: Photo by Steven Miller

The city of Los Angeles also has a program to recognize historic restaurants – and businesses of all kinds with 722 operations honored so far. The list includes plenty of restaurants like Cole’s and Eastside Deli that date back over 100 years but is also filled with more contemporary shops like an ice cream shop and 98 cent store in South Central from the 1990s.

Cole’s French Dip in Downtown Los AngelesCredit: Photo by Caterpillar84

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It’s surprising that icons like Musso and Frank or Canter’s or Formosa Café are not on either list. Some of L.A.’s finest legacy restaurants are profiled in historian Peter Moruzzi’s book Classic Dining: Discovering America’s Finest Mid-Century Restaurants. This writer wishes they could also be included on these surveys.

Musso & Frank GrillCredit: Photo by Courtney “Coco” Maul