Pacific Dining Car

Step inside Pacific Dining Car and you’re instantly transported to another era. This downtown Los Angeles institution, designed to resemble an actual train dining car, has been serving hungry Angelenos since 1921. With its dim lighting, booth-lined interior, and old-school atmosphere, the place feels like you’ve wandered onto the set of a classic noir film. Mae West was once a regular here, and it’s easy to understand why—there’s an undeniable charm to this throwback establishment.

What sets Pacific Dining Car apart from other steakhouses is its commitment to round-the-clock service. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this is one of the rare spots in LA where you can get a proper steak dinner at 3am. The real secret, though, is the late-night menu available from 10pm to 6am, when prices drop significantly. Their famous “baseball steak”—a thick, baseball-shaped cut that had its Hollywood moment in Training Day—costs less than half the regular price during these hours.

The dining experience here is wonderfully unpretentious despite the upscale menu. Whether you’re wrapping up a night out, starting an early morning, or just craving comfort food at an unusual hour, the welcoming atmosphere makes everyone feel at home. The booths provide the perfect setting for intimate conversations or people-watching—and at this spot, you never know who might walk through the door.

While it may not claim the title of LA’s absolute finest steak, Pacific Dining Car delivers something arguably more valuable: character, history, and availability when you need it most. For night owls, classic establishment seekers, and anyone who appreciates a good story with their meal, this is an essential Los Angeles experience.