Happy midterm season, Trojans! Although this time of year is nowhere near positive or happy for many, I’ve been trying to make the most of my last semester by not only working hard to complete my graduation requirements but also going out and having fun equally as much. 

Right after I turn in my assignments or quizzes at 11:58 p.m., I’m usually headed out to the bars with friends or trying to see what I can get myself into. But my most daunting yet recurring dilemma is where to eat afterward when it is 2 a.m. and everything is closed. 

So, as a continuation of my parting senior gift, I’m letting you all in on my tried-and-true 24-hour late-night staple. Whether you’re just getting out of the clubs and looking for somewhere to eat or have an early morning exam you need to cram for, NORMS is the place to go. 

NORMS is a chain of diners native to Los Angeles with 24 locations across Southern California, founded by Norm Roybark. Between each location, the restaurant maintains a Southern hospitality atmosphere with classic diner foods such as breakfast platters, burgers and steaks. NORMS also offers an array of standard beverages, including mixed lemonades and milkshakes. 

NORMS was established in 1949, with each location housing a large neon flag-shaped restaurant sign that has maintained its design since creation — a testament to the diner’s long-standing history and nostalgic retro aesthetics. Slight notes of the 1950s design continue inside the restaurant, with wood-grain tables as well as bright orange accents on the seats and ceiling beams. 

As opposed to Denny’s or other national diner chains, NORMS offers a special L.A. charm with quick service, extra fresh meals with a home-cooked feel and affordable pricing across the menu. Some breakfast platters are priced as low as $7.99, and the most expensive meal hits just above $23.99 for the steak dishes. 

No matter the time of day, whenever my friends and I come bursting through the door in hunger and anticipation, almost every seat is filled, with servers hustling and bustling between each table. Despite the consistent crowd at NORMS, the staff is patient and attends to groups within a couple of minutes. 

The menu is formatted like a small food dictionary, with endless sections of dishes and price points to please any palate or wallet. For people who enjoy breakfast foods in the evening like myself, the hotcake shareables are a dream come true. 

Personally, I switch up my order every time I go to try something new. Some of my favorites have been the hash browns and hotcakes, which any restaurant can do just fine, but NORMS has that extra crispiness in the hash browns and a nice soft texture in the hotcakes that puts it on top compared to other American diners. The hotcakes don’t taste artificially sweet nor feel too slick with butter, a hard ratio to master. 

However, my favorite dish at NORMS, which reigns supreme above all else, is their Melting Pot Omelette. Made with sausage, bell peppers, bacon, ham, onions and cheddar cheese, the omelet is well structured, yet the eggs are still soft and airy, making it a satisfying midnight munchie meal. The Melting Pot Omelette is also served with the choice of hash browns and hotcakes on the side, which may be part of the reason why I am biased toward the dish. 

Aside from the homestyle quality of food and local hospitality, NORMS is also unfortunately a disheartening victim of larger national corporations overtaking smaller businesses and local chains. 

NORMS’s La Cienega Boulevard location, first established in 1957, is the restaurant’s longest operating storefront and has been considered an L.A. historical monument since 2015. Raising Cane’s, a chicken fingers fast food giant, technically owns the La Cienega location space and planned to not renew NORMS’ lease, which would kick them out of their historical storefront and be replaced with a Raising Cane’s restaurant. 

Although the issue was settled, and Raising Cane’s agreed in December 2024 to not overtake the La Cienega location for now, the potential risk of NORMS’ closure is a reminder to support small restaurants and local chains whether they are of historical importance or not. Because you never know if they may get overtaken by national businesses and suddenly disappear. 

Jason Pham is a senior writing about affordable eating and restaurants in his column, “Dining Dollars,” which runs every other Monday.