Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Founded in 1949, Norm's has become part of the cultural tapestry of Los Angeles.
- Norms Restaurants is an iconic diner chain based in Los Angeles.
- Norms has been featured in countless movies, TV shows, and even a song by Tom Waits. But it's also a place where normal people gather.
- I ate breakfast at the Norms in West Hollywood, which is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. Here's how it went.
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Sometimes, you wanna go where everyone knows your name.
And for many Angelenos, Norms is just that place. The diner chain, founded in 1949 by Norm Roybark, has become interwoven into the cultural tapestry of the city, with more than 20 locations.
It's a 24/7 gathering place for normal folk, but it's also been featured in countless movies and TV shows, and even appears in songwriter Tom Waits' album, "Nighthawks at the Diner." Most recently, it was the setting for an episode of Jerry Seinfeld's talk show, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."
On a recent visit to Los Angeles, I went to Norm's to see if the diner chain that captivates the imagination could also captivate my taste buds. Here's what it was like.