Astro Family Restaurant is a venerable Los Angeles institution located a hop, skip, and a jump from the beautiful shores of Silver Lake. Astro has graced the glamorous corner Glendale Blvd. and Fletcher Dr. since 1974. Silver Lake has been through many changes over the last thirty years. It went from a neighborhood known for being dingy and overrun with gangs to a neighborhood that is trendy and is overrun with hipsters. Through all of the trials and tribulations, Astro has been there with its hearty menu.

Astro has a large selection to choose from and everything (including breakfast) is available 24/7. Astro offers all the traditional diner fare: an assortment of omelettes/frittatas, french toast, pancakes, burgers aplenty, sandwiches, Italian, and Mexican dishes. One of the signature dishes is the old-fashioned sandwich, which consists of turkey, ham, swiss cheese, and coleslaw on rye bread grilled to perfection.

I’ve spent my fair share of time at Astro over the last ten years. At one point, during a summer of gainful unemployment, I was there every night at 2:15am like clockwork. I’ve seen the wait staff come and go, but one thing they all have in common is that they are all “characters.” From the saucy Swedish ex-pat Lola to the sultry Eleanor to the adorable Marjorie. The customers at Astro fall into the “character” category as well. Go on almost any night of the week and you’ll see a few of the people sitting at the same table and eating the same food as the night before.

My most recent trip to Astro did not disappoint. My friend and I arrived at about 1am, just before the rush, so that we could take our seats order our food and watch the parade of late nighters waltz in.

I ordered the monte cristo sandwich (above), which was every bit as greasy, delicious, and comforting as I had hoped. My companion ordered the clubhouse sandwich, which has perfectly crispy bacon. We shared a plate of onion rings (it seemed more like a platter than a plate--pictured below).

I had not been to Astro in a long time and I was nervous that it would to meet my high expectations, but I was wrong. It is as fun and vibrant as ever. The food is somewhat over priced, but is beautifully presented and tastes great. The ambience is pleasant. People watchers will be right at home at Astro. Those looking to soak up the alcohol with some comfort food will not be disappointed. If you are in the vicinity of Glendale and Fletcher do yourself a favor and pop into Astro Family Restaurant. It has something for everyone.

Astro Family Restaurant
2300 Fletcher Drive
323-663-9241
Open 24 Hours

Photos by Rafi Ryan for LAist