Toasted Bun diner pops up in a new spot

A taste of Glendale’s past has come back to life with the reopening of the Toasted Bun diner, which closed its doors last year after more than 50 years in business.

The eatery opened in 1962 on California Avenue next to a tire shop and shut down after the building owner sold the property about a year and a half ago.

The diner’s owners, brothers Albert and Rene Garcia, said they knew they had to get the business going again, but it took some time to find another suitable spot in Glendale.

“We started looking for a place that would have a homely vibe and something that we could really make work,” Rene Garcia said.

Then, the opportunity came along to take over the Eat Well diner location at 1013 S. Brand Blvd.

The counter-top dining area, the booths and the vibe they were going for were all there.

The only thing missing was the generations of longtime customers, but they soon started showing up again once the Toasted Bun reopened last month.

“We have so many customers that said they used to come here when they were kids and now they’re bringing their own kids,” Albert Garcia said. “It’s kind of like a staple for them.”

The Garcias also replaced the Eat Well menu with a new one and say if they were to pick a signature dish, it would be the corn pancakes.

And while diner fare like omelets and waffles aren’t known for being the healthiest foods, the brothers say they are trying to keep up with the times.

Minimal salt, soy bean oil, turkey bacon and even soyrizo (a chorizo substitute) make up some of the key ingredients.

“People don’t eat the same way they did in 1962,” Albert Garcia said jokingly.

While past regulars have started returning through quick word of mouth, the Garcias are quickly establishing new ones as well.

They say Glendale police officers come by often. In fact, there’s an egg scramble dish called the S.E.D. that’s named after the department’s special enforcement detail.

There’s also the George’s Special Breakfast and other dishes named after the most loyal of customers.

“We’ve been lucky, the customers have been really loyal ... we’re one of the last of the ‘old Glendale’ that’s still around,” Rene Garcia said.

The Toasted Bun is open until 4 p.m. every day, though the Garcias say they want to eventually expand hours to include a dinner service.

--

Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian