The waffle was transcendent. I think they use the same crusty bread for a savory sandwich and the French bread. It's GREAT on the sandwich but it's kind of an odd choice for French toast imo. The hot chocolate that everyone has been talking about is fun but it's also kind of a sticky mess. read more

Been dying to try this for months but the lines were absolutely insane when it first opened. I finally went today as I heard the lines died down a lot and it's true! I went around 10:30am today (Thursday) and only waited 15 minutes. Honestly, food was great and service was good. Nothing amazing about the food but it's supposed to be a neighborhood diner so what do you expect? It's definitely 10/10 diner food, I will say. The waffle with butter and syrup is divine and the beef tallow fires were great. Tuna melt with tomato is solid, not a must try. The hot cocoa here is what they're known for and it's def worth trying -- just prepare to order hot coffee or drink a lot of water with it as it's super sweet (and I have a huge sweet tooth LOL). read more

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Ok so I finally went, and I understand both sides of this discussion now. I am going to go 4 stars because in fairness to them, the prices are printed clearly on the menu. The Great: The Food. Ordered a waffle with a side of bacon. The waffle was the best I've ever had, and the bacon was very good. Aside from the flavors of the food, what was really outstanding was it gave me no lethargy afterwards. I felt like I could easily do a 5 mile hike, which is not something I've ever thought after eating a waffle and bacon. 0 wait, 0 line, immediate seating at the counter 2pm Tuesday. The good: Server was extremely friendly, food came out fast, she offered me a milkshake on the house, and she was attentive throughout the meal while I sat at the counter. Arnold Palmer was average. The reason for -1 star: While the decor certainly is nice, it's kind of like a "pleasantville" take on a diner rather than an authentic diner. Asked the hostess for a table for one; she walks me to the countertop without asking if the bar would be ok first. Had she asked, I probably would have declined, but once inside I accepted the seat. The counter top where I was sitting had coffee rings on it, and was not as clean as it could have been. The hostess who sat me placed the dirty menu directly on top of the silverware. And finally...the prices are unreasonable. --- Now I almost didn't include the last part since you know the cost before ordering, but $9 for 3! pieces of bacon is absurd. Will I be back? Yes, I'd like to try a few different items from the menu considering how good the waffle was. And I would order the waffle again but not the sides. Will it be a regular stop? Unlikely, as the best breakfast burritos on the planet can be had for less than 1/3 the cost. read more

After months of trying to plan a visit we finally made our way this weekend and we had the best surprise ever. As we were walking to the diner we ran into none other than Phil Rosenthal, himself! We were so excited to meet him and he was so sweet just like on TV. Around 9:30am we waited about 1hr20min to get a table. Front staff was super friendly. We were seated inside, vibe and decor were great. Everything was clean. Our waiter was Emily and she had a trainee with her. Both gals were very nice. Phil told us to try the waffle and I am glad he did. It was really delicious with the maple butter. We also ordered a side of fresh fruit. Coffee was delicious and so was the orange juice. Eggs were also really fresh and tasty. We are looking forward to returning to try a few other items on the menu. read more

Max & Helen’s - Diner breakfast and fresh orange juice - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We were seated right away. It was clean & nice inside. I had the grilled cheese & tomato soup. He had the pastrami Ruben. We split the sweet potato fries. I had to try the celery root slaw because I'd never even heard of it. It was all delicious. They gave us a postcard with the bill and we picked up a couple stickers on our way out. Thanks read more

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What they say about the wait system is all TRUE! Don't expect anything easy or simple or accurate. They need to improve their current process for me to return. First, there is no number for the restaurant available anywhere. You are forced to go in person to put your name down. Second, we arrived on a Saturday around lunch time (1-2pm) and was told it would be a 45min wait. They took my phone number and said they would text me when the table will be ready. Never got a text! We happen to check back in about 45mins from putting our name down and luckily was next to be called, but had we not checked in we would never know. Later, I discovered a few messages sent via Yelp Inbox which I never check, and not many people do for restaurant check in's so found that odd. Third, patio seating is nowhere near as good as inside. There's not enough nostalgia vibes outside and you almost felt like an after thought being outside. Every other seat was either getting too much sun or tucked in a corner where no breeze was coming out. Given, we were there mid June, but I expected it to feel different outside. Food-wise, I really enjoyed dipping my waffle into the hot coco. It is pretty good but also pretty thick so it's not meant for real drinking. I couldn't finish the whole thing but it is something worth getting at least once. We also tried a few sandwiches and mostly like the breakfast sandwich. Cinnamon roll was underwhelming but I did enjoy the sweetness of the icing. Overall, nothing wow'd me as much as the hype did. It's a great diner and I think it has some potential to be an amazing experience they just need to work on their wait system and upgrade their patio. read more

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I first tried to visit Max & Helen's on its opening weekend and the wait was like 4 hours long. Since then I've heard that people are waiting as long as 8 hours to eat there, so I've been biding my time and waiting for just the right moment to go. I arrived on a weekday around 11:30 a.m. and I was pleasantly surprised that the wait was only 30 minutes for one person. I told them that the counter was okay. The great thing is that they take down your cell phone number and text you when the table is ready, but in the meantime you can click on an OpenTable link and see where you are on the wait list. I hung out in Chevalier's Books just a few doors down to take advantage of the air conditioning while I waited. About 30 minutes later, I received a text message that said that my table was almost ready and to check in with the host. They said they were just cleaning it up, so I only had to wait another couple of minutes before they brought me inside. Unfortunately, they sat me at the curved corner of the counter where there is less room between the counter and the counter stool, which is firmly planted into the floor and cannot be moved. I barely fit there. I couldn't even swivel my counter stool sideways because there was someone on either side of me. Now, I'm not the biggest person in the room, but I'm also not the smallest. I shoehorned myself into that space and let my upper belly hangover the counter, but I found it humiliating and painful and just not easy to eat. If it weren't so busy, I would have asked for a different counter stool in hopes that there would be more room, or I would even ask for a table, but just given the crowd and the amount of time I had (with only 2 hour metered parking) I just decided to suffer in silence. But honestly, I couldn't wait to get out of there. Everything on the menu does look really good, and I struggled to choose between the sweet and savory options. I have celiac, but there is really nothing gluten-free there, which I knew coming in to it, so I had decided to gluten myself as a special thing today. I decided that the waffle with the maple butter was probably most worth getting sick over. The waffle itself was good, not great. It comes with a monstrous amount of maple butter on top of it. Some people might want to use all that butter, but it feels like it's more for the Instagram photos then for actual eating. Even if half the people wanted that much maple butter, it just feels like a lot of food waste, something on particularly sensitive to. I would advise anyone who's not a maple butter fanatic to ask them ahead of time to go light on the butter. Since I had saved myself for this meal, I hadn't had any breakfast yet and it was already lunch time, so I needed more than a waffle. Even though it's not an option on the menu, I was able to order one sunny side up egg on the side. I also ordered a side of pork sausage breakfast links, which teeth did good but unfortunately were very rubbery. I've heard that the hot chocolate is really good, but it's 95° today so I just went for a diet Coke. I appreciate that they have crushed ice, which always makes everything taste better. The service staff was excellent, although I did feel a little uncomfortable that everyone kept mistaking me and the solo person next to me as a party of two, asking us if we were ready to order and placing my waffle in between the two of us as though we were sharing. No big deal in the large scheme of things, but it's just another thing that made it uncomfortable for me to dine alone there. I lived in New York City for 14 years, and this place does not evoke a New York diner or Jewish deli to me at all. That being said, it looks nice inside and I liked some of the decor touches. I won't be back as a solo diner, and given the gluten thing I probably won't risk it again. But I'm glad I tried it. read more

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Izzy, our server, was excellent! I ordered the tuna melt with a side of tallow fries. Both were delicious. My friend ordered an omelet and she was very pleased. They are super busy so expect to wait awhile. You can put your name in and they will text you when your table is ready. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Parking is tricky, especially on the weekends when it's crazy. P.S. Give Izzy a raise! read more

Max & Helen’s - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The vibes in here are so fun. Truly feel like you're in a good ol diner back in the day. The single pancake was unexpectedly crispy in texture on the outside while remaining so fluffy on the inside. I really liked it. It doesn't say on the menu but there is a lemony flavor to the pancake. I do wish there was a non lemon version. 8/10 Mashed potatoes and gravy. I ordered the side and it was good! Nothing crazy but nothing amazing. It's a solid dish. I do wish the gravy was warm though. Mine came out a bit cold. 6/10 HOT CHOCOLATE OMG THE BEST ITEM. I say come for just this. It is so thick. It's like a warm drinkable chocolate bar. It's what I imagine the chocolate river in Charlie and the chocolate factory to taste like. And the toasted marshmallow fluff on top made it so much more amazing. Definitely a decadent and rich dessert. 11/10 Banana cream pie. The chocolate shell lining the pie crust was unexpected and delicious addition. I wish it was a bigger slice given the price of $12.50. It was a comically small slice for the price hahah. 7/10 Overall I recommend this spot for the vibes and desserts. I may return to try the savory menu items but the dishes are pretty expensive on average. If the portions are like the pie, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Flavors are good. Prices compared to portion not good. read more

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Incredibly delicious meal. There were so many delicious items in the menu that I had trouble choosing. Breakfast platter, fries, club sandwich, waffle and cinnamon roll. Most delicious meal. Large portions that can be shared. Super friendly service, clean facilities, easy parking on Larchmont, and great ambiance. I would highly recommend! read more

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Diner located on Larchmont that recently opened as of early 2026. Before coming here, I heard about crazy wait times. And although I don't think I should penalize a restaurant for their popularity, I think it should at least be noted as part of the overall experience. Luckily for me, I took a zag where others zigged approach to dining here. I was in the area and came in around 5pm on a weekday. Zero wait! I walked and sat up right at the bar and overall the place was chill. Even though it was early dinner time, I really wanted to try the waffle that I heard so much about. Glad to say that it is indeed delicious. I also ordered a chocolate egg cream to wash it down because I feel like having an egg cream with my diner or deli meal always gives an NYC vibe - at least in my mind, haha. Sitting at the bar, the service was friendly and quick. I can't speak to how it it is when the place is crazy busy, but it was enjoyable for me. Definitely want to come back to try other diner classics (especially items like the tuna melt, etc.) Parking on/in the Larchmont area can get pretty hectic. Between all the pedestrians and other drivers that seem to have forgotten all common courtesies, driving and parking in this area can be stressful. There is a lot of street parking though. On more than one occasion, I've parked a block or two outside of the neighborhood and just walked in. read more

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Finally made it to Max & Helen's on a weekday for breakfast and was able to get a table with very little wait time. The staff is friendly and nice in the quaint diner. We started with a Cinnies cinnamon roll. I'll skip this next trip. The blueberry pancake was cooked to perfection as was the omlette and home fries. The side of sausage was pricey but tasty as was Lily's hot chocolate. I'd like to go back bc I missed ordering the waffle that was recommended by a regular and would like to try the lunch menu. read more

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Definitely too much hype behind this place. I'm glad I got it out of my system. I will say it's a glorified simple diner and diner food is the best! I thought it was weird that you can't substitute waffles or pancakes. The pancakes were my favorite though. Right about of crispness and different than other pancakes I've had - in a good way obviously. My party of 4 arrived around 10am and the wait was 1.5 hours. Was it worth it... as a first timer yes. Would I come back? Only for pancakes and if the wait was less. Small charming joint. Not a lot of seating options - don't recommend for large parties unless you're cool with sitting outside. The patio deck isn't leveled so you will be sitting at an uncomfortable angle. read more

Max & Helen’s - Larchmont slam - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Classic American Diner with a slight upscale feel in the Larchmont area and indulgent foods. I visited here with a friend for a weekday breakfast and our experience here was relatively good. To share, we had the following: -Waffle with Maple Butter: This was good and the waffle was crunchy, although it was a bit burnt. The butter was super sweet, but tasty and smooth. I wouldn't pay $17 for this again though. -Omelet Florentine: The egg was good, but the veggie filling was too slimy and oily for my taste. A "healthier" option though and I liked the side of toast with butter and jam it came with. -Lily's Hot Chocolate: Super thick and decadent. This was more like a dessert. It was pretty sugary, but I still enjoyed it. The food here was pretty pricey relative to other diners and I ended up paying around $40 per head here for breakfast foods. The food was still decent though, but this is more of a special occasion type of place. I felt pretty heavy after eating here. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back and trying this place again. I would share the hot chocolate with another person and try their other dishes. However, I would still opt for a mom n pop experience when it comes to breakfast diners. read more

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Max & Helen's is a great place for breakfast or lunch. We just love all of it. The place is super clean, comfortable and adorable. The service makes you feel at home. The entire staff is great and they take good care of you. I love their coffee. It is so well brewed and they have a nice choice. My favorite thing there are the waffles and hash browns. They also have great toast. Their entire breakfast menu is great. I wish they would crisp their bacon a little more, but I should have asked. Their lunch menu is also great. They have wonderful salads and sandwiches. Their BROWN DERBY COBB, with turkey, bacon, egg, blue cheese, avocado, tomato, cucumber, iceberg and great vinaigrette or ranch dressing is worth the 23$ price tag. We also love their PASTRAMI REUBEN dressed with sauerkraut, swiss cheese and, russian dressing on rye bread. It is always good. You will love this place. read more

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As the definitive globetrotting foodie, Phil Rosenthal has become such a comfortable presence that I've been figuratively devouring his episodes with relish. Quite intentionally, he's like Bourdain's non-adventurous opposite, a mensch who treats strangers in foreign lands like family. That's exactly the vibe Jamie W and I got here when we decided to stop by for breakfast. Waits, we heard, were upwards of two to four hours since it's just a compact, 40-seat space, so we decided to get here a half-hour before opening on Friday morning. As luck would have it, we were the first in line and got seated in a nice, wooden booth for two. It took only ten minutes for the space to fill up, and on first blush, the menu aspires to resemble an old-fashioned small-town diner (Photo 19). However, Phil's partner is celebrated LA chef Nancy Silverton whose culinary stamp is felt on items like the $9.50 Lily's Hot Chocolate where a dollop of charred marshmallow floats on top (Photo 6). Or the $17 Waffle topped with a glob of maple butter (Photo 7). Both were must-gets and delivered the goods nicely. So did the deceptively basic $8.50 Cinnie's Cinnamon Roll (Photo 10). It featured a ridiculously decadent icing over the still soft, warm, and enveloping dough. Triggered by a recent clip of Phil at the diner, we ordered the $12 Max's Fluffy Eggs which were mentioned on the tombstone of Phil's dad ("Are my eggs fluffy?"). The soft scrambled eggs were quite seductive all on their own (Photo 5). Where the meal didn't quite deliver were the more standard sides. The $8.50 Chicken Sausage Link was decent enough (Photo 9), but the $8.50 Pork Sausage Links were skippable (Photo 14). The $11.50 Vanilla Egg Cream was surprisingly nondescript given how Phil showed a Tokyo family how to make one on his first series (Photo 8). As a loving tribute to his parents, Phil's place is run by his daughter Lily and son-in-law Mason Royal, who serves as executive chef, FOOD - 4 stars...nice higher-end diner quality, a bit pricey with some real standouts like the fluffy eggs AMBIANCE - 5 stars...ideal vintage vibe, not too crowded...Larchmont is a nice area (never been before) SERVICE - 4.5 stars...we had a great server, staff was buzzing TOTAL - 4 stars...you should go for the love of Max & Helen RELATED - Exploring Los Angeles? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/wMvaGf-A-V read more

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Finally checked out Max & Helen's for a Sunday brunch with family. The 1.5 hour wait initially felt intimidating, but exploring the surrounding shops and farmers market made it much more manageable. What we ordered: Breakfast sandwich (7/10): Solid sandwich. Nothing special here. Turkey club (8/10): good amount of turkey. Fresh ingredients and balanced textured and flavors. Waffle with maple butter (9.5/10): Easily one of the highlights. Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and the maple butter was incredible. Pastrami Reuben (10/10): The standout dish for me. Absolutely delicious and something I'd order again for sure. Breakfast home fries (8/10): enjoyed the crispy pieces. The sour cream and onions were a good touch. Service was good throughout our meal, and overall this was a really enjoyable brunch experience. Would definitely come back... especially for that waffle and Reuben. read more

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We had been waiting to try Max & Helen's since it opened. We knew the wait-times were long. We decided to go on a weekday morning and we waited twenty minutes before we received the text to return to the hostess stand after initially giving our name. Not too bad. We were quoted 20 - 30 minutes for two people, first available seating. We sat at the counter. We were elbow to elbow with others. The menu is more souped up than a typical diner menu but it was standard diner favorites. For all of the lead up to finally getting in and receiving our order, we were not blown over by the food. It presented well but it was average. The interior of Max & Helen's is the best part of it. It looks great! The logo and branded dinnerware, cups, takeout bags and merch all are nicely done. Servers varied in friendliness from one to the next. Food came out quickly. Coffee was refilled. Nothing about the experience or food was worth writing home about, but glad we tried it. read more

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Max and Helen's is a great restaurant with a better outside ambiance. The servers were polite and attentive and made sure to provide the best service. I ordered the pastrami Reuben which was recommended and it did not disappoint. The bread was toasted perfectly and the pastrami was extremely tender. I will be going back. read more

Max & Helen’s - Menu - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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To kick things off, this restaurant is enough for more than just one visit. Once I saw a photo of the tuna melt sandwich on Yelp, I knew exactly what to order. Since I'm a bit of a melt sandwich fan, the tuna melt sandwich here exceeded my expectations, the fries (fried in beef tallow, not oil) equally so. If I can eat something that usually needs ketchup on it, but tastes even better without it, that's a big plus. However, my family and I stopped at this place on a hot Sunday, so the ambiance wasn't as I expected. The service did its best to make things easier, so props to them! But due to the popularity of the eatery, the wait time (60-90 minutes) is immense. However, if you're willing to wait, it's worth a trip, or three. read more

Max & Helen’s - Tuna Melt and Tallow French Fries - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ok I gave this place 2 stars only because it was cute and the people were nice. The food honestly was not good at all. We got chicken and waffles (one of the specials) and a patty melt. Truthfully the food didn't have any seasoning. It's difficult to have a flavorless patty melt and 100% flavorless chicken. The texture of the waffle was pretty decent but it was really only flavored by the extreme amount of butter on it. I don't recommend this place at all. The hype has died down and I see why. It's also expensive. I would go basically anywhere else on the street for brunch respectfully. read more

Max & Helen’s - Waffle and chicken - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious diner vibes here with amazing breakfast served all day !! I had the caramelized grapefruit and fluffy eyes so soft side of avocado side bacon and bagel with side of cottage cheese and berries. It was perfect for sharing if your watching your waistline I like to try little if everything .. all delicious. We sat at the bar section and seated very quickly we were grateful to even get a seat it was full house. Definitely recommend read more

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Oh Max & Helens, woke up at 6:45 am for ya to drive over and wait in line before ya opened. Was it worth it? Yes it was but would I wait more than 30 minutes-1 hour or even more. Absolutely not! I would most definitely come here again but the hype just made the expectations way higher and thats why the reviews here aren't good. The bar is just set way to high to be the best waffles, pancakes ever. We got sat right away outside and didn't have to wait, the line wasn't long at all before they opened. Got their classic waffle and larchmont slam. We wanted to get their tuna melt but it qualifys at lunch for 11am. The waffle was crispy and really damn good but the honey butter made the waffle. Like I've never had butter like that before. The larchmont was solid, the potatoes reminded me of a baked potato with the sour cream on top and the softness from the butter. I thought each one of the items in the slam were good too. I would be back for sure but I aint waiting long haha. read more

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The food is amazing, with great-quality ingredients. The Dry Aged Patty Melt, Tuna Melt, and the Larchmont Slam are my absolute favorites from the menu and definitely worth trying. The waffle with maple butter and the pancakes are a must they're delicious and perfect for breakfast or brunch. The Lily's Hot Chocolate is more enjoyable during the fall and winter, it's the perfect cozy drink. Coffee is always a great option! The milkshakes, however, were not what I expected. They weren't my favorite the taste and texture could definitely use some improvement. Aside from that, everything else is worth the price, and I would definitely keep coming back to try more dishes from the menu. read more

Max & Helen’s - Waffle with maple butter - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Had some friends arrive early to wait for our party and the total wait was around 2 and a half hours which apparently is good compared to other days (I've heard 4 from people standing around) I enjoyed their breakfast sandwich as it was really good. It's $16 so I assume it's gotta be anyhow. The pancakes were perfectly cooked and the potatoes were delicious. I think this is a good spot for brunch. Just keep in mind of the wait. Friendly service and staff with great atmosphere inside and outdoor seating areas read more

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Dare I say this is the best breakfast in Los Angeles. Went right at 8 a.m. on a weekday to avoid the line. An absolutely stunning experience. Seated right away. The waiters were refilling our water and coffee every five minutes. So attentive! The waffle with the Guinness? Just wow. The butter was decadent, and I slathered it all over my other food as well. There were multiple moments of silence during the meal when I was just smiling at how good the food was. Each component of the Larchmont Grand Slam was a standout. The velvety, fluffy orange eggs. The hint of lemon in the crispy yet fluffy blueberry pancakes. The perfect meat-to-fat ratio in the bacon. The homemade hot sauce on the eggs? The sourness was the perfect contrast to the richness in the other dishes. And omg, the potatoes with the sour cream tasted like deconstructed latkes. I can't recommend this place enough. Also, cutie free stickers and a postcard bill! I don't care if it's slightly overpriced compared to other diners. The quality of ingredients is worth every penny! read more

Max & Helen’s - Waffle - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I had been to Max and Helen's before and was excited to go back to try lunch. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing. We ordered a club sandwich, a BLT, tallow fries, and the celery root coleslaw. The sandwiches and fries were good, but the celery root coleslaw missed the mark. When it was set on the table, I honestly thought it was a pasta dish. There was no crunch and very little flavor. The bigger issue was the service. It took about 10 minutes before anyone approached our table. We ordered, the food was brought out, and that was pretty much the extent of the service until the check came. Nobody checked on us, nobody refilled our waters, and nobody cleared our plates. Midway through the meal, I started wondering if our server had left for the day. What made it stand out even more was the table next to us. When they sat down, I overheard an employee mention to the server that he had worked with one of the guys at that table at a previous job. As the meal went on, I couldn't help but notice that the employee was at their table at least once every five minutes, constantly refilling water and OJ, clearing dirty plates, and removing used napkins. Meanwhile, less than three feet away, we sat with empty water glasses and dirty dishes. At first, it was almost comical, but it really just highlighted the poor level of service we were getting. When it was time to pay, we had to wait again. I was just about to get up and approach the hostess when our waiter finally appeared. He never asked if we wanted dessert. I left disappointed. The food was better than Denny's, but the service wasn't and neither was the price! read more

Max & Helen’s - Club Sandwich - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I visited Max & Helen's a couple times this year, and I prefer to go in the evening. When I went for dinner on Friday at 6pm, I waited about 20 minutes to get a table for 5 people, which was shorter than the 45 minutes for lunch on Tuesday at noon. The restaurant's small and located on a busy street, so I parked in the nearby neighborhood. There's indoor & outdoor seating, classic diner decor with a modern twist, and overall friendly service. I thought their menu was a bit pricey, but I'd come again just for the presentation, quality, and Tallow French Fries ($8.00), which were fragrant, well-seasoned, and perfectly fried. Also, I couldn't miss out on Lily's Hot Chocolate ($9.50). It was divine...rich, sweet, and made for a good drink & dessert. For lunch, I tried the Omelet Florentine with sourdough toast ($19.00; simple & filling) and a side of Celery Root Slaw ($6.50; fresh & tangy). For dinner, I had the Meatloaf ($28.00; salty, savory, and definitely sharable). read more

Max & Helen’s - Celery Root Slaw, Tallow French Fries, Omelet Florentine - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place got so much buzz when it first opened, which was to be expected since it's helmed by OG chef Nancy Silverton and Emmy-winning producer/writer ("Everybody Loves Raymond")/foodie Phil Rosenthal. Located in charming and busy Larchmont Village, it initially had purported waits of up to 8 hours. The place is narrow and pretty petite; they added a good-sized patio later. About 6 months in, the waits have lessened, especially on weekdays. I visited twice and had no waits, but I was solo so was seated at the counter. They serve breakfast all day (8am-8pm) and lunch/dinner after 11am. The day-to-day operations are run by Phil's daughter Lily Rosenthal Royal and her husband Mason Royal. The decor and menu scream classic retro diner. The prices and food quality are of course more upscale. The bottom line for me is the place is totally fine as a local diner or if you're in the area, but I question the value of driving a great distance to dine here, or waiting more than 2 hours. There are plenty of quaint shops along this part of Larchmont Blvd, plus a lot of other eateries, both independent and chains. Since these were my first visits to Max & Helen's, I ordered the dishes that have received the most buzz. Breakfast was: the waffle, the Larchmont Slam, the hot chocolate. Lunch was: the patty melt, the tallow fries, the vanilla egg cream, the sour cherry pie. Waffle $17. From what I ordered, this was the best overall dish. The waffle was appropriately golden and crispy. The taste is not too sweet, but the dollop of maple butter makes up for that. Larchmont Slam $27--2 eggs, bacon or sausage, home fries and a pancake. The eggs were nicely soft-scrambled and had nice deeply golden yolks. I chose the sausage patties (you can get links too) and they were quite herb-y. The home fries are diced potatoes with lots of crispy edges, topped with sour cream and green onions. Reminded me of the potatoes at the Original Pantry Cafe, but crispier and with the toppings. The pancake also has nice crisp edges, a close second to the waffle. Hot Chocolate $9.50. Very thick and not too sweet, a bit reminiscent of the chocolat chaud at Angelina in Paris. Topped with a bruleed marshmallow. More like a dessert than a beverage. Patty Melt $27. High quality meat. The bread had little rye taste, it was very toasty/crisp, therefore quite greasy from the flat top. Nice caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese. Couldn't taste the spicy mayo. Note if you order the Cheeseburger Deluxe $27, tallow fries are included. Tallow French Fries $8. Very good, thin and very crisp. Vanilla Egg Cream $11.50. My first time trying this New York classic. Chocolate is the more traditional flavour, but I'm not much of a chocolate-lover. This was a fizzy vanilla soda, not to sweet. I'll try the vanilla milk shake next time. Sour Cherry Pie $12.50. The cherries were nicely tart. The crust was flaky, a bit over in my opinion, and a smallish portion. I love visiting this area of LA, and would return the Max & Helen's when I'm in these parts again. Larchmont Wine & Cheese and Clark St. Bakery are other popular places a few doors away from Max's. There's a Farmers Market here twice a week. read more

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Came here 12.2025 for the waffle, hot chocolate, cinnamon roll by Cinnies , and had a waygu pastrami, chili cheese fries, and the sausage patties. The sweet items were 10/10 and savory items were pretty good except the chili cheese fries were mostly fries and little chili. The sausage patties were very tasty. The vibes are strong old school diner with the perfect lighting, old photos, and wood detail. Service was good, they're super busy but try to keep the inside functioning smoothly. Would I wait hours again? No. There was a shorter wait because it was a holiday. But still the hour or some they said was longer. But it was really good. Maybe if it ever slows down.. which I doubt. read more

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Friday morning 8.10 am we checked in and waiting time to be seated was 45 minutes. We got the outdoor table and it's nice in the early morning. The hot chocolate was really thick and sweet but works for me, I liked it. Eggs were fluffy, waffles and pancakes were great. Service was good and somewhat attentive. Overall it's a nice place to have brunch but I wouldn't wait more than an hour just to dine here. It wasn't bad but it's not extremely delicious either. read more

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Really wanted to love this place, but unfortunately the food was below average and the service was horrendous. We came in on a Friday morning and were able to easily find street parking. We added our name to the waitlist & were told it would be an hour wait. Ended up being a 2 hour wait & were not given an update... Once we were seated, our server took our order & then we didn't see her again. We only saw her when she came to tell us the kitchen "messed up our order" and our food would be delayed. I tried getting the attention of any server but no one helped us. At the end of our meal, I ended up just getting the attention of the manager to ask for more water, to-go boxes and the check. Apparently our server's shift had ended, but they did not assign a new server to our table. We ordered the patty melt, tuna melt, French fries, and hot chocolate. The only thing that was outstanding was the hot chocolate. It was smooth, creamy, and decadent. The patty melt and tuna melts were so greasy it was hard to eat. I was asked what temp I would like the patty melt, and although I asked for it "medium," I was served a well-done patty. The patty melt would also benefit from more of the sauce. Would not recommend either sandwich. Overall, would not recommend and would not return. Not worth the high price point or the wait. read more

Max & Helen’s - Tune melt & fries - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place has been so hyped up on social media, and I'm not sure if it's really worth the price. For context, my friend and I shared the Larchmont slam and a hot chocolate, and we paid $42 including tip. The Larchmont slam is basically just a normal diner breakfast, nothing special. The hot chocolate is truly one of a kind, but I didn't really enjoy it. It was very thick (almost like chocolate syrup), and I could dip my pancake in it to make chocolate pancakes (great hack by the way). However, I couldn't even drink 1/4 of it because it was too rich for my taste. Overall, I think it's worth a try, but I probably wouldn't go again; sorry! read more

Max & Helen’s - Larchmont slam - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I came on a Wed at 7pm with ZERO WAIT! I was dining solo, but there were so many empty tables inside and outside. Food was excellent- I opted for breakfast for dinner with the Larchmont Slam. It was my first time there so how I could I order anything else?! Gotta go classic. Every element of this plate impressed me. If I had to rank, I would put the pancake at number 1. Might've been the best pancake I've ever had. Fluffy with the crispy edge and HUGE. Number two would be the potatoes, they were cozy and homely, with sweet, buttery onions, and a dollop of sour cream on top. Chicken sausage was, well, good chicken sausage. And the scrambled eggs were... fluffy! No notes. Special shout out to their housemade hot sauce!! Don't skip this! So good. I don't care that people say this place is overpriced or whatever (I agree it was expensive, $27 for my meal was crazy) but at least it was HIGH QUALITY AND DELICIOUS! I feel like part of the price I paid for was the atmosphere-- nothing like a bar at a diner to give you a healthy dose of "Ah yes, life is great and I am well taken care of" read more

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Pancakes, waffles, omelets and more... Max and Helen's is a delicious breakfast spot in Larchmont Village. The ambiance was cool. We dined outdoors on this beautiful sunny day. Service was excellent. Breakfast is served all day here. Great location for breakfast and shopping on Larchmont. read more

Went in the morning and able to get in right away. Sat at the counter and ordered their famous Hot Chocolate and Waffle with Maple Butter. The Hot Chocolate was thick and delicious. My oh my! The thick marshmallow topping was sticky and sweet! Highly recommend. The waffle was warm, fluffy, crispy and amazing! The maple butter took it over the top. You must try. I also ordered a to go order of their incredible chili and fries. Oh my goodness was that chili good! Thick chunks of veal and pork, full of flavor and well seasoned. I dipped the tallow fries in it and I was in heaven Make sure you save room. Highly recommend Max & Helen's! read more

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Great food. Good service. And it's the cutest place! We tried several dishes and they were all delicious! read more

Max & Helen’s - Me and Phil Rosenthal - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I was a hater before I could even get inside the club. But now I am a Max & Helen's believer. Max & Helen's takes what you know and love about American diner food and elevates it to new levels. Greasy yes, but in a soul warming nostalgic way. While yes pricing is proud (which was my biggest qualm prior to going) you can really taste the difference in thoughtful, higher quality ingredients and amazing service. My fiancé and I made a last min decision to try our luck and pop in on a Friday evening around 6 and we did not regret it! We were immediately sat at the highly coveted bar seating and were warmly welcomed by the staff. We started with the waffle which was to die for. Fresh off the iron, crispy but light, and came with a dollop of maple butter that slowly melts across the surface totally engineered for a perfect bite. Let's say it was demolished in under 2 minutes. I got the Larchmont slam with soft scrambled eggs, pork sausage links, a blueberry pancake, and the leek breakfast potatoes. Perfectly balanced and was a huge portion. My fiancé got the patty melt with a side of fries which were amazing. Do NOT skip on dessert, you must get the hot chocolate!! Rich, decadent and topped with a brûléed marshmallow creme it's a total show stopper. It honestly might have been my favorite part of the meal. I think my biggest tip is to go during dinner service if you're dying to try it out like we were. There's nothing more whimsical than brunch for dinner! read more

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Went on a Tuesday at 11am. Only waited 15 minutes. The waffle was very very good. Light and crispy with amazing maple butter. Service was also very good. The hot chocolate is literally just hot melted chocolate, super thick and rich. Eggs florentine also very good. read more

Max & Helen’s - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Still yummy! Still friendly staff and servers! And now outside seating to boot! We arrive just after 8 am and we were able to get right in:) read more

Max & Helen’s - Diner Breakfast - Delis Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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