No soup for you! A group of Los Angeles diners claims they were “blacklisted” from a popular Little Tokyo restaurant on Halloween night — after refusing to pay an automatic 18% gratuity for large parties. The dining dustup unfolded at JinCook, a Korean restaurant in the bustling DTLA enclave — where six friends couldn’t be … Read more
A classic California diner could soon be reduced to rubble. The future of Mel’s Drive-In in Santa Monica is uncertain as the site’s owners have submitted plans to raze the iconic diner and replace it with a hulking mixed-use building. Plans for the new building call for an eight-story structure with 138 apartments. There will … Read more
Order’s up? For decades, the neighborhood diner has been New York’s 24/7 workhorse: a breakfast booth, a lunch counter, a late-night refuge and an occasional hangover cure. Now, the classic diner is under siege. Rents are rising, costs are ballooning, neighborhoods are gentrifying — and aging owners are ready to call it quits. Nearly 200 … Read more
A Route 66 legend could soon be no more. The future of the Bagdad Cafe, a popular waypoint along America’s legendary Mother Road, is hanging in the balance — following the closure of the cafe’s kitchen and the death of its founder. Inspired by the 1987 film of the same name, Andrea Pruett opened the restaurant … Read more
The rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could be changing more than what Americans put on their plates, as restaurants increasingly look to wellness drinks and other alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. The National Restaurant Association’s new 2026 Restaurant Beverage Trends report found growing interest in a wider range of drink choices, particularly among younger consumers, as restaurants … Read more
As more diners end 24-hour service, a handful have managed to keep the tradition alive, keeping their lights and griddles on around the clock. The original Red Arrow Diner opened its doors in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1922. Over the decades, the business expanded, changed ownership, and moved locations. Currently, the historic diner is the flagship … Read more
Diner 24 is getting an encore of sorts, opening new digs in New York City’s Theater District where customers will be serenaded by singing waiters while chowing down on classic eats, Side Dish has learned. The new two-story space is slated to open late next month at 1674 Broadway, a landmarked building run by the … Read more
They’re spilling the beans on The Bell — and it’s giving some grubbers nauseating hell. Fast foodies are sourly split as a trending vid allegedly reveals the “disgusting” manner in which Taco Bell prepares its beans. And while queasy critics call for the health inspector, unfazed fans are championing the chow with a “chef’s kiss” stamp of … Read more
Like NYC restaurant owners don’t have enough s–t to deal with. There’s tariffs and supply chain issues, inflation and rising rents — now, these mostly-small business operators are left holding the proverbial bag of salad, as customer fears over the explosive diarrhea epidemic create a new, unwanted set of nasty headaches. Talk about a crappy situation. … Read more
The owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea is facing up to a year in jail and a fine of roughly $13,510 after the eatery allegedly served ants atop its sorbets. The proprietor of the Seoul restaurant, not identified in court documents, acknowledged serving ants, which are not among the insect species approved for human consumption … Read more
A classic family-owned vintage diner in Van Nuys is shutting down after nearly 50 years of serving customers. Heart’s Coffee Shop, a community staple since 1977, has been the go-to spot for traditional American comfort food and a retro atmosphere in San Fernando Valley. Regulars saw the diner not just as a place to eat, … Read more
As if waiting for a Double-Double wasn’t stressful enough. An Arizona In-N-Outt Burger turned into an unexpected fight club after a physical altercation broke out inside the fast food location, with video capturing one man being knocked to the floor by a single punch as customers scrambled to get out of the way. The confrontation … Read more
Fried for all. Beloved big-box retailer Costco has expanded its food court offerings and is now delivering this hot, fried fan favorite to its food courts nationwide. Previously, Costco’s breaded chicken fingers were only available at select locations as the retailer tested the tenders. The coveted and divisive item is now available at Costco locations … Read more
Choosing an entrée isn’t always easy, especially at a restaurant with an extensive menu. Many diners find it helpful to ask their server, “What’s your favorite?”, or simply, “What should I order?” Restaurant professionals, however, say those questions may not always lead to the best recommendation. Instead, they recommend asking questions that help reveal what a restaurant … Read more
In the bougie Hamptons, where more cafes are serving $20 iced matchas and $32 over-the-top breakfast creations, these days it’s rare to find a humble abode serving classic diner grub. That’s part of the reason people are lining up outside Babe’s, a new eight-seat, no-reservation Sag Harbor diner that has become one of the East … Read more
People aren’t ordering a bottle of wine for the table the way they used to, according to a new report. But industry experts say restaurants are making up for the revenue shortfall in other ways. “We believe habits have shifted away from a group ordering a bottle of (typically red) wine to share with dinner in favor of … Read more
This breakfast will break you. Hundreds have tried, but fewer than 50 succeeded in scarfing down an epic stack of deep-dish pizza-sized pancakes at Nappi’s Nook in Nesconset as one of Long Island’s most popular – and deceptively difficult – eating challenges making rounds on social media. “Everybody comes in, ‘oh that’s easy, I could … Read more
Diners at a growing number of restaurants and bars are being asked to stash away their phones — or even lock them up — as part of a push for more memorable nights out. The trend is gaining traction across the US, with more spots experimenting with restrictions, incentives or locked pouches, Fox News Digital recently reported. Charlotte … Read more
Securing a table at a top NYC restaurant has long required some planning and a great deal of patience. Lately, however, going out to dinner in the Big Apple has become a full-on competitive sport — call it the Hunger Games — complete with a list of unwritten rules and strategies for winning. Eager diners in the … Read more
Getting a seat at LA’s most expensive restaurant isn’t just another dinner reservation. It’s a victory in the “Hunger Games” of fine dining. Exclusive Somni, a tiny West Hollywood boite with just 14 seats and one nightly seating, has catapulted into the stratosphere of global fine dining, securing a coveted three Michelin stars. That’s the … Read more