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FoodRestaurants

These 8 Postcards Of Southern California’s Most Beloved Restaurants Will Make You Long For The Past

Explore retro postcards of Southern California's classic restaurants from the past.

Published May 2, 2020

Written by 

Angela Timmons

If you love the idea of stepping inside a time machine and heading back to the past, you'll love these retro postcards of some of SoCal's most classic restaurants from the way back. Old-time eateries from Malibu to Arcadia and everything in between, there's a little bit of everything to make you long for the good ol' days.

1. Carpenters

Vintage postcard featuring Carpenters restaurant in Santa Anita, showcasing its exterior, dining room, and bar area.
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Dating back to the 1920s, Carpenters was a bustling drive-in restaurant located in Arcadia. Featuring a menu of burgers and fries, this local hot spot was a great place to grab "fast food" before fast food even existed.

2. The Mira Mar Restaurant

Vintage postcard of Mira Mar Restaurant in Oceanside, California, featuring classic cars and a nighttime scene.
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Located in the town of Oceanside, this historic house turned restaurant opened in 1942 and catered to a swanky crowd.

3. Imperial Restaurant: French Dinners

Vintage postcard of the Imperial Restaurant, featuring a red wooden building and colorful landscaping.
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Located in the town of Garden Grove at 8641 Garden Grove Boulevard, this upscale homestyle cafe featured fine cuisine and gourmet sandwiches.

4. El Gordo Restaurant

Vintage postcard featuring El Gordo Restaurant in San Gabriel, California, showcasing its exterior and interior.
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Located at 8360 Las Tunas, San Gabriel, CA, El Gordo Restaurant was known for its excellent Mexican food and charming gift shop.

5. Big Rock Beach Cafe

Vintage postcard of Big Rock Beach Cafe in Malibu, featuring classic cars and a seaside view.
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Located in the beach town of Malibu with an endless view of the ocean, the Big Rock Beach Cafe was a prime destination to score a tasty meal with the most epic view around.

6. The Frontier

Postcard of The Frontier Coffee Shop in Arcadia, with a vintage car and a wagon in the foreground, and a race track nearby.
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Located at 250 W. Colorado in the town of Arcadia directly across from the Santa Anita Race Track along historic Route 66, this classic restaurant was quite the destination back in the day.

7. Cary's of Santa Ana

Vintage postcard of Cary's of Santa Ana, featuring a white house with a green awning and colorful flowers.
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This cozy homestyle restaurant located at 2032 N. Main Street in Santa Ana was known for a menu of comfort food. From steaks to chicken and gigantic onion rings, Cary's was a popular destination in town.

8. Cafe Las Ondas

Vintage postcard of Cafe Las Ondas in Laguna Beach, California, featuring a coastal view and charming architecture.
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Located in Laguna Beach, Cafe Las Ondas was a superb oceanfront cafe in the heart of SoCal.

What a fun way to go back in time! If you love vintage photos of Southern California, you may also enjoy these great pictures of SoCal dating back to the 1950s.

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