Olympic Cafe, House of Breakfast

Just down the block, my family has been going to House of Breakfast for over 30 years. A very fond memory of my childhood was the toast here. There was something special about the melted butter and spreading the jam over it with that stainless steel knife. It was always toasted perfectly. It's not that I didn't eat toast for breakfast at home. It's a great example how food can taste better or have a fresher feel outside the home sometimes.

There used to be a big Japanese population in my neighborhood. There are still many Japanese families and Olympic Cafe, 3728 West Olympic Blvd, LA CA 90019, 323-731-5405, is one of the last clues to that ethno-populous.

For instance, they still have Spam and Portuguese sausage on the menu. That's very Hawaiian-Japanese. The pancakes are delicious, light and fluffy, not overcooked. You can even substitute sides with fried rice. It's a wonderful place for breakfast.