The last time I was at the edge of Skid Row was about 1968 when my dad piled all four of us kids in the woody station wagon and drove us to the Watts Towers, Skid Row, and Mc Arthur
Park in order to make us appreciate our comfy, cozy life in Tarzana. He also told us his sob story about the way his mother made him eat the peels from oranges and walk through the snow to school during the winter. First off, I didn't think
that either Skid Row, the Watts Towers, or Mc Arthur Park were all that bad. Secondly, my dad grew up south of Beverly Hills, so I think he might have been lying about the snow (and the orange peels too). Anyhow, I don't have issues with Skid
Row or any place else that makes a Maple Bacon Donut ($2.75)! Guy Fieri digs Nickel Diner and so do I! Get there early or you will definitely wait, but it will be worth it. Get the donut while you are waiting. A moist, thick cake donut is topped with
a thin maple glaze, coated with lots of bacon chunks. The donut is both sweet and savory. Order a cup of delicious steaming hot coffee ($2.50) to go with it. This is the most unusual, yet scary good donut. For breakfast, I had the special house-made corned
beef hash ($14). I am a corned beef hash lover from way back when (maybe even 1968), and have not had hash this good. It is delicately charred and crispy on the outside and meaty and tender on the inside. Served with two buttery fried eggs, spinach, two
homemade biscuits, hollandaise (on the side) and homemade strawberry-plum-vanilla jam; this was truly a breakfast worth talking about! On the tamer side, my husband had two eggs scrambled, with crisp bacon ($9.25) and house potatoes. For $.50, he added
toast and homemade jam. There's plenty of free street parking on Sunday in the now-called "Gallery District." Service is excellent and friendly too. Tomorrow I should fast, really, I should. Nickel Diner 524 South Main Street Los Angeles Street
(213) 623-8301. Closed Monday. Tuesday-Saturday 8am-3:30pm and Dinner 6pm-10pm.
Recommended Dishes: Corned
Beef Hash, Biscuits, Homemade jam, Maple Bacon Donuts.