A Taste Of The South Bay : Dining Spots in Your Area

Six years ago, Rick Hankus bought a run-down coffee shop in Hermosa Beach and turned it into the Ocean Diner, one of the beach cities’ most popular, colorful and nostalgic eating experiences.

Enter the front door and you’re greeted by a 10-seat counter laden with trays of desserts. The walls are adorned with old movie posters, Life magazine covers and advertisements from the 1940s. Customers have even brought in World War II-era toasters and coffee pots that are on display.

Hankus began his career baking desserts in his home and selling them to restaurants, and he still makes by hand many of his dessert goodies, including the caramel sticky bun and a buttery coffee cake studded with pecans, chocolate chips, cinnamon and raisins. Each goes for $1.75.

A favorite at breakfast is the potato pancakes. Made from an old family recipe, they are topped with sour cream and applesauce and served with a side of bacon and sausage for $5.50. Another popular choice is the vanilla French toast stuffed with cream cheese and topped with whipped cream and a variety of fresh fruit. Served with sausage or bacon, it also goes for $5.50.

Not all the dishes are so rich; the diner takes pains to cater to health enthusiasts, offering homemade granola, cranberry and pecan whole-wheat pancakes and eight different salads.

At lunch, the Chinese chicken is a favorite--all white meat, water chestnuts, chow mein noodles and lettuce, complemented with a warm ginger soy dressing. Or, try the Greek chicken salad with feta cheese, black olives and fresh basil.

A diner tradition is the hot meatloaf sandwich, served open-face with mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables and soup or salad for $5.95. It is one of many dishes, coupled with the ambience, that make the Ocean Diner a pleasant trip to a bygone era.

Ocean Diner is at 959 Aviation Blvd. in Hermosa Beach. The hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and weekends from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (310) 372-3739.