Photo credit: Phoebe Measer

The Apple Pan has a classic look and feel, with their slogan outlined on all of their signs: “Quality Forever.” Their classic Hickoryburger has a unique, smoky flavor that I’ve never tasted before.

We live in a world where everything changes quickly — if you blink, you might miss something. One of the few things that has remained almost exactly the same for the past 77 years is The Apple Pan, a diner most famous for their burgers, fries and pies. Its iconic neon sign at the corner of a residential neighborhood on Pico Boulevard in West LA says it all: “Quality Forever.”

The main seating area consists of a counter that surrounds the kitchen, allowing customers to see their food being cooked from wherever they are sitting. I have to say, dining at The Apple Pan is a enjoyable experience, even aside from the good food. It’s casual, the food doesn’t take too long and, in my experience, the other customers are friendly and happy to be there.

As I walked into the restaurant last weekend for the first time in years, I hoped to get a seat at the counter without waiting. Without us even asking, a group of two moved over a seat while they were eating to help accommodate my group of three. The waiter, who seemed to be helping the whole counter space at once, came by shortly to take our orders. I ordered their signature Hickoryburger, a burger served with their special sauce, mayonnaise, pickles and lettuce. I added cheese to mine and, of course, got a side of fries.

Before the fries came out, our waiter stopped by to put ketchup on mini paper plates for each person. As an I-cannot-eat-fries-without-ketchup person, I greatly appreciated this. The fries were delivered in a square-shaped, light brown paper bowl. And let me tell you, these are some good fries.

They were crispy on the outside, yet perfectly soft on the inside. They were hot when they came out and tasted so fresh. I liked being able to enjoy the fries before the burgers came out, almost like an appetizer.

However, once the burgers came out, they quickly stole the show. The Hickoryburger is unlike any other burger I’ve had before. The patty had a smoky taste and came together really well with the other toppings, especially the crunchy pickles. The chefs were very generous with the fresh, crispy lettuce, which further complimented the smoky taste of the burger.

As I was finishing my burger, I noticed an informal line of people starting to form behind our seats. In all honesty, this made me feel a little pressured to quickly finish my meal. We hadn’t been there for very long, so I tried my best to not let my people-pleasing get to me. I hadn’t even got to the best part yet: the pie.

They have freshly baked pies, such as apple and pecan, as well as cream pies, including banana, chocolate, coconut and a seasonal pie. I ordered a banana cream pie, and a generous slice was placed in front of me almost immediately.

I am in no way exaggerating when I say this banana cream pie was nothing short of perfection. It sounds silly, but I was in heaven. It was sweet but not too sweet, and it was light, yet satisfying. A lot of bananas were packed into that one slice, making the consistency smooth and perfect.

If you are looking for a fun, cozy and casual night out to eat, I would definitely try The Apple Pan. Try not to feel pressured if there are people waiting behind you because the food is 100% worth taking your time for.