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Max & Helen’s

3.9 (480 reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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MAX & HELEN’S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Max & Helen’s

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Reviews With Photos

Best pancakes in the game
Ralph B.

Best pancakes in the game. Lemon zested out, fluffy and cakey with a slightly crispy outside? Perfection. All I had was the classic breakfast combo but it was absolutely excellent. No notes.

Ashley C.

Am I allowed to give this place 10 stars? We have been big fans of Phil for a long time, so we made it a point to come here to the new diner during our visit to LA, even if it meant a long wait. Of course we didn't want to wait too long so we decided to show up about 15 minutes before opening and hope to get in during the first round of seating. It was Labor Day so I'm not sure if that helped us but when we showed up, there was plenty of parking and I was only third in line. We needed a table for eight which didn't seem like it was possible to get all of us together from photos I've seen. However, since I was early enough in line, they were able to put tables together by the window, so we were all seated together which was awesome! Our server Trey was amazing and super friendly. All the staff was awesome here, very representative of Phil and his personality. Even though we didn't get to see him in person, it felt like we were very much in his family's home kitchen. All of the food is basically your standard diner classics, but done really really well. If you saw it in pictures, you might think it just looks so normal, but the taste just doesn't compare. Our server recommended the maple butter waffle, which I think I would normally have skipped, but he specifically recommended it so we decided to try one. We immediately ordered a second one once the whole table devoured the first one because it was so good. Since I wasn't sure if we'd be back again, I pretty much ordered everything I wanted to try. Definitely overordered, but I'm really happy that I didn't leave with any regrets. I had to try the iconic egg cream, which didn't disappoint. It was a nice little treat and felt like an elevated chocolate milk. We also had the cinnamon roll, which they absolutely nailed and I know those are difficult to make personally. The entire thing was so fluffy that there was no bad bite on that plate. The cream cheese added a nice tartness without being an overly sweet plate overall. We also shared the Larchmont Slam which was a nice complete meal if you want to order just one thing. My favorite part on that plate were the golden yellow over easy eggs, and the potatoes. The sour cream and green onions made it feel like I was eating pierogies. Even simple things like slices of bacon were cooked to perfection. They have some merchandise for sale too if you want to take home some memorabilia. It was such a memorable experience to be able to visit here and I highly recommend it!

Lily got chocolate
Elly P.

The hype is real! Food: - Lily's hot chocolate: homemade marshmallow was delicious! Chocolate drink was super rich and needed one more note of flavor, but was all around tasty - Larchmont slam: All items were delicious! Eggs were orange in color and so fluffy! Bacon was crispy, Potatoes tasted fresh and were well fried, and best of all the pancake! This pancake was fluffy and the chef managed to make it crispy on the outside ring! Amazing, 10/10 would come again Other: - Parking alright, since this is Larchmont you can park in the neighborhoods for free or on the street for $ - Wait: an hour + on weekends - Store: location is on the smaller side

Catch of the day - salmon
Tamar K.

Love this diner. Didn't see a review of the brisket so wanted to add the photo. It was delicious with a side of horseradish. Friday's special - catch of the day - was salmon today. Also delicious

Christin C.

I'd give Max & Helen's around 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up since I haven't tried many of their signature dishes yet. We arrived a little before 5 p.m. on a Saturday and were seated right away. The host offered us the choice of indoor or outdoor seating and gave our son a coloring sheet, and our waiter was friendly throughout the meal. The tomato soup was solid, with a smooth texture and high-quality ingredients. The waffle was crispy and light, with a yeasty aroma. The maple butter was a great touch, though the waffle itself was a bit too salty for my taste. We asked our waiter whether he'd recommend the patty melt or the burger, and he steered us toward the burger. We ordered it medium, but it came out closer to medium-well. That said, it was still a solid burger overall. I can tell that Max & Helen's focuses on classic diner food made with quality ingredients and executed well. However, nothing we tried really stood out as exceptional. Considering the price and overall quality, I'd be happy to return and try some of their other dishes, especially their signature items. That said, I wouldn't go out of my way to visit or wait a long time for a table.

Fried Chicken waffle
Jessica G.

Roughly 25-30 minutes wait on a weekday lunch time. Bit painful amidst LA heatwave and this also meant choosing the outdoor seat as indoor one took longer. Kinda sadly someone coming solo after us got directly seated indoor at the bar without single-minute wait. Our table server Izzy, was however showing top-class hospitality, serving cheerfully. The indoor space did look gorgeous despite not huge. We got their most called-out dish, the waffle with maple butter, for which Wednesday special enabled you to get it with fried chicken. Verdict? Luscious but I probably wouldn't wait that long to get this. The maple butter was the standout part, but I was just okay with the waffle itself. Fried chicken came in filling size and juicy meat, but slightly greasy for my liking. Would love to try their Hot Choc, but probably would wait until it got cooler!

Sugar milkshake and cookie
Shirley C.

Like walking into the past when you enter the wood paneled restaurant. My last visit was limited to the sidewalk/street patio seating . Inside You find small tables fill the space. The counter has stool seats around a beautiful wooden display that is both functional and historic Service was great! The Staff makes sure the small spaces are kept tidy and ready for patrons The food is absolutely amazing Their unique grapefruit is just so good!! Like having dessert for breakfast The pastrami hash was excellent too

Omelet Florentine
Angela C.

Max & Helen's is the brainchild of Phil Rosenthal and chef Nancy Silverton. It's named after Phil's late parents and it's definitely an upscale diner experience - diner style food with elevated ingredients and prices. Located a couple doors down from Chevalier's Books (which ironically is where I first saw Rosenthal's book on display), it was a bit hard to find, there's no big sign, just "diner" on the top, and "Max & Helen's" on the window, which is blocked by the hostess stand, so I didn't spot it initially. When my son and I arrived for an early dinner on a Saturday night, there was no seating available inside, but we were able to get a seat on the street patio right away. I was super happy as I've heard that the wait can be hours long. The hostess stand also had some stickers and matchbooks - so nostalgic with the old school print and a drawn picture of Max & Helen on the inside flap. The inside seating is on the smaller side, tight booths, a few tables and a counter to seat 9 or 10 (I didn't count all of them). Loved the decor with the Edison bulbs and tiles, and bringing the diner theme with the teal paper napkin and sugar dispensers. I have been craving matzo ball soup for the past couple weeks, so I had to order that. I also tried the Omelet Florentine w/ English muffin and my kiddo got the Cheeseburger Deluxe with tallow fries. The food came out quickly and was all great. I asked for hot sauce and they told me they have their own house made hot sauce which I had to try. It was very good and had a good kick! I loved the ingredients in the omelet, I've never had leek in an omelet before so that was a unique and yummy add. My kiddo really liked his burger, I loved the tallow fries. And the matzo ball soup was my favorite. It was like chicken noodle soup, but instead of noodles, you get a matzo ball. I loved all the chunks of veggies and chicken and especially the dill in it, it really gave it a nice flavor. Wish I had room for a slice of pie and I was really curious about the egg cream, but we had no more room in our bellies. That only means I have to come back!!

Tara J.

Finally got to try this spot after seeing it mentioned across social media and a few news spots. I recommend getting there early to be seated. I arrived at 8:30am and it was a reasonable 30 minute wait for a table for two to be seated. Plenty of immediate seating open at the counter. Since the restaurant is in Larchmont village my partner and I walked around the neighborhood until we received our text telling us that the table was ready. Service was friendly, fast and upbeat. The food tasted like a classic homemade/diner breakfast. Made fresh to order and served hot. Ingredients tasted fresh and overall the food was tasty.

Diner breakfast
Justin J.

Met a friend here for brunch, she wanted to check it out so off we went to Larchmont to see what Max & Helen's had to offer. Got there around 930a and it was pretty busy, but we were able to get seated outside right away. After a quick glance at the menu, we were ready to order. We went with the Larchmont Slam, the NY breakfast sandwich, the Diner breakfast and a side of French toast. The NY breakfast sandwich was pretty tasty, on a kaiser roll with bacon, a fried egg, mayo and American cheese. Simple but it all works together. The Larchmont Slam was fairly basic, but the chocolate chip pancakes were better then I thought they would be. The diner breakfast consisted of two eggs, toast and bacon or sausage. Again, very basic and didn't stand out in any way. Finally, the French toast was two slices of French toast with some fruit on top. Super simple and, again, didn't stand out. Overall, a very basic diner style spot in Larchmont. The breakfast sandwich was tasty, and the chocolate chip pancakes worked, but everything else, given the price point for simple breakfast items, was not worth it. With so many options for breakfast/brunch, you can do better but, if you plan on going, the breakfast sandwich and the chocolate chip pancakes are the way to go.

Mitzi Ball Soup.
Kevin F.

I've been to alot of diners, we all have, but this one stands apart in my opinion. Owned by Phil Rosenthal and Chef Nancy Silverton it impresses from the classic diner look and feel to the made scratch food. Instead of breakfast, I opted for matzo ball soup and a pastrami reuben. Both were delicious. The matzo ball soup was clearly homemade from the broth, ample veg to the chunks of chicken throughout. The pastrami was grilled and how pastrami should be. My wife had a florentine omelet which she loved. The pastrami hash and eggs was delivered to the table next to us and looked fantastic. Next time ... and there will be a next time.

Front of entrance
James L.

We came here for breakfast on a weekend morning about 15 minutes before opening and there was already a line. Max & Helen's has been open for a while now, and I think the hype is here to stay. The restaurant is a tribute to Phil Rosenthal's parents, Max and Helen, and has that classic diner feel with an elevated East Coast touch. Everything we tried was cooked really well. The waffle with the maple butter was probably my favorite. It was so good that you really don't need any extra syrup. Just a simple dish done perfectly. The smoked salmon on the Courage platter was also amazing. It was my first time trying Gingrass smoked salmon and it instantly became one of my favorites. Coffee is also a must here. Service was warm and friendly, just like Phil. Definitely worth getting here early and waiting in line. I can see this becoming a real LA breakfast staple.

Pauline T.

For Saturday brunch, the wait time was an hour but Larchmont village gives you plenty to do while you wait. I'm happy we were seated inside - the interior is so cozy and charming. The booths are really comfortable. Service was extremely friendly and the food came out quickly despite them being busy. The florentine omelet was so buttery and fluffy. We took the bread and dipped it in the tomato soup, which added the perfect acidity to our meal. The waffle was delicious and didn't even need syrup. I enjoyed my meal so much and can't wait to return!

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Max & Helen’s Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Max & Helen’s

Can we get take out?

Yes

What time do people start lining up on Saturday mornings?

I would say to call but whenever I get there I get in pretty quick

Is there reservations?

When a patron has to wait more than 40 minutes for a table at a diner, it's not worth the wait.

What is the wait like these days? Planning to go this Monday, should I go early morning like 8am or more like 11am? Would appreciate any insight.

As early as possible. IT gets packed

Is the wait still 7 hours?

No! We went today (Tuesday) at 12:30 and waited 20 minutes. Weekends are definitely a long wait but they text you when your table is ready.

Are there any vegan options?

I really don't think so. It's a diner! not a fancy restaurant

Do they accept cash?

I cannot see why they would not accept cash.

Are there any gluten free options?

I would suggest calling to truly verify but they should be able to accommodate in some way.

I can't tell because of the insane prices, is this meant to be a neighborhood diner or a 3 Michelin starred restaurant?

It is owned by a well known chef and a TV writer so it is on the high end side but not too horrible. The portions are fantastic for the price.

Do you take reservations?

Yes!

Would we be able to eat there if we are with our support animal and have proper documentation?

That's the law. They're not even supposed to ask for documentation. They can just ask if it's a service animal and what tasks it's trained to perform.… 

How long is the wait during the day for lunch?

I went today, Saturday and I was told it was 7 - yes SEVEN - hours

Are dogs allowed? Do they have outdoor seating?

Doubt dogs are allowed, very small space. As of November when I went there was no outside seating.

View All 14 Questions

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