That amazing smell. Donuts. Freshly fried maple bacon donuts. This is the Nickel Diner. Right here on South Main Street.
For fifteen years this little diner has been a downtown LA institution. It’s nestled in a spot once considered the most notorious intersection. But the Nickel Diner became a beacon of comfort and delicious food. A place where business people and Skid Row residents alike could find a homey meal.
The owners Monica May and Kristen Trattner poured their hearts into this place. They renovated a long-forgotten diner. They uncovered hand-painted menus from the 1940s. They even found original tile flooring from a Woolworths. The result? A perfect pre-World War II era diner. High ceilings vintage wallpaper comfy red leather booths. The atmosphere is simply magical.
Guy Fieri even filmed an episode of Diners Drive-Ins and Dives here. Jonathan Gold a renowned food critic loved the Nickel Diner too. He raved about their pulled pork hash. The donuts though are legendary. They make only five kinds. Maple bacon strawberry Nutella red velvet and an Irish car bomb. Each one is a masterpiece. Worth every penny.
But sadly the Nickel Diner closed in 2023. Inflation the pandemic and the egg shortage proved too much. A case of eggs went from $20 to over $100. That’s a lot. It just wasn’t sustainable.
The owners still hope to continue their mission. They want to find a way to feed the community. Maybe they’ll open a commercial kitchen. Perhaps they’ll write a cookbook. One thing is sure. The Nickel Diner will be remembered. It was more than just a diner. It was a neighborhood institution. A place of comfort a symbol of hope. A testament to love and community. And of course the best darn donuts in LA.