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Need Some Comfort? The LAist Guide To The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches In LA and OC

A grilled cheese sandwich has been pan fried until the bread is golden brown. The sandwich is laying atop a crumpled paper wrapper that has been flattened out. The sandwich has been cut in half, but is still connected by ooey, gooey cheese strands stretching from one half of the sandwich to the other.
The grilled cheese sandwich at the Hat.
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Anna Gragert
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LAist
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Editor's note: This story first published in February 2020, but much has happened since then, including the closure of some restaurants that were on the original list. This story has been updated and republished.

Sandwiches don't get more basic than cheese and bread, yet a grilled cheese sandwich is much more than the sum of its parts. There's the choice of cheese, of bread, of butter. How much of each item do you use? Do you grill or toast it? For how long? What about condiments? And soups? And sides?

For some of us, grilled cheese is more than a nostalgic childhood staple or a quickie meal — it offers solace. It smoothes out the indignities of a bad workday and soothes the sting of unwelcome news. It's the ultimate comfort food, simple enough to be made by a child and universal enough you can find the ingredients almost anywhere.

It's also a modern Los Angeles classic, made with all kinds of intentions and iterations.

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Here are a few of our favorite places to indulge in and around L.A. and the O.C. If we missed your favorite place for a grilled cheese, please let us know and we may include it on our list. (After we go and test it out, of course!)

A grilled cheese sandwich has been cut in half and sits on a white plate, positioned so that you can see the interior: The golden brown bread shows off griddle marks, and pale cheese oozes out the middle alongside a mix of sauteed greens and sliced mushrooms.
A build-your-own grilled cheese sandwich at Clementine.
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Shelley Boyle
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Courtesy of Clementine
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Clementine

Long before grilled cheese sammies became a gourmet staple, chef Annie Miler has spent every April celebrating Grilled Cheese Month. Year-round, Clementine has a build-your-own grilled cheese option that allows you to get creative with the types of breads, cheese, proteins and more, starting at $10.25. (Add roasted cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes for $2.75. Add "the works" — lettuce, red onions, pickled jalapenos and mayo — for $1.50.)

Location: 1751 Ensley Ave., Century City
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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A grilled cheese sandwich threatens to overwhelm the small paper plate it's placed on: The cheese is nearly oozing off the side, and the sandwich ends are overhanging the plate. The bread has been grilled until golden brown and there are sliced pickles perched along the back of the plate.
The no-frills, classic grilled cheese sandwich at the Apple Pan.
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Anna Gragert
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LAist
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The Apple Pan

The $7.75 grilled cheese at the Apple Pan serves as a reminder not to underestimate the power of basic ingredients. Choose between Swiss or Tillamook cheddar and white, wheat or rye bread. If you don't specify, you'll get melted-to-perfection cheddar on white bread with a side of black olives and crinkle-cut, cinnamon-tinged pickle coins. It's fast, no-frills diner food. Save room for one of the housemade pies (we vote for banana cream).

Location: 10801 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A.
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight.

A person sits at a table holding one half of a grilled cheese sandwich that is so expansive it needs two hands: The cheese is also dripping off the ends onto the second half of the sandwich that sits below on a round wooden plate. There are small pickles off to the side. The plate is on a small, tiled cafe table and there is also a glass of red wine on the table.
The grilled cheese sandwich at Esters Wine Shop goes well with a glass of wine.
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Abby Mahler
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Courtesy of Esters
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Esters Wine Shop & Bar

Provolone, Reggiano and Reading cheese are blended with béchamel that oozes out from slices of salted pain de mie baked at Milo + Olive, Esters Wine Shop & Bar's sister spot. The sandwich is paired with cornichons and a spicy red pepper jam. And on first bite, you'll understand why the sandwich costs $18.

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Location: 1314 Seventh St., Santa Monica
Hours: Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon to 9 p.m.

A stack of grilled mac 'n' cheese standwiches threaten to topple over: In all, there are four sandwich halves stacked one atop the other, and they are starting to slide off to one side. The bread has been pan fried until golden brown, and then stuffed with mac 'n' cheese as the filling. The sandwiches are stacked upon brown paper wrap and have been placed on a metal tray.
The grilled mac 'n' cheese sandwich at The Melt.
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Courtesy of The Melt
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The Melt

The Melt's $7.99 best-seller places muenster, fontina and sharp cheddar between slices of French bread. But you could argue that the $10.49 Mac Daddy grilled cheese — creamy mac 'n' cheese with flawlessly cooked noodles (not too soft, not too al dente), sharp and medium cheddar, smoked bacon and crisp onions — is what makes the Melt stand out. (Vegetarians can order it without bacon.) It's a comfort food collision in the best way. The Melt has multiple locations across California, including in Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Irvine and San Diego.

Locations: 735 S. Figueroa St., downtown L.A., 7111 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood and 665 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine.
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in DTLA. Daily, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. in West Hollywood. And Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight in Irvine.

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The Hat

The Hat is best known for its pastrami sandwiches but it also makes a killer grilled cheese. The bread is so crunchy you'll think it was fried in butter. The cheese is as gooey and as American as it gets. Together, they create a simple, nostalgic sammie that costs only $4.99. Staffers are happy to customize it with add-ons and your choice of bread. In a world that can be overwhelming, the Hat makes a classic sandwich, done right. There are multiple locations across the Southland, including Alhambra, Brea, Glendora, Lake Forest, Monterey Park and Pasadena.

Locations: 1 W. Valley Blvd., Alhambra, 1210 E. Imperial Hwy. in Brea, 611 W. Route 66 in Glendora, 23641 Rockfield Blvd. in Lake Forest, 2300 S. Atlantic Blvd. in Monterey Park, 491 N. Lake Ave. in Pasadena and 5505 N. Rosemead Blvd., Temple City.
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. in Alhambra, Brea and Monterey Park, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Lake Forest and Temple City, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Pasadena, and Sunday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. in Glendora.

A grilled cheese sandwich sits atop an orange plate that rests atop a red diner tabletop. The sandwich has been sliced open so that the insides are visible, and oozing out, because this sandwich has been stuffed with guacamole, tomatoes and grilled onions in addition to the melty cheese. A pickle spear has been placed off to the side of the plate.
The grilled cheese sandwich at Swingers.
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Anna Gragert
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LAist
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Swingers Diner

The Stuffed Grilled Cheese, $15.95, at Swingers houses jack and cheddar cheese, guacamole, sliced tomatoes and grilled onions. Imagine an In-N-Out grilled cheese but bigger, more aggro and with a California diner twist. The creaminess of the mashed avocado is perfect with the sharpness of the cheese while the tomatoes add acidity and the grilled onions bring sweetness. Swingers stays open late and this is an ideal way to fill your stomach after a night out.

Location: 8020 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Grove
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Two sandwich halves, made with toasted white bread, are sitting on top of each other. inside is melting white cheese. They sit on top of a wooden board which is sitting on top of a wooden table.
A grilled cheese sandwich at the Carving Board.
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JP Cordero
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Courtesy of the Carving Board
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The Carving Board

The $8 grilled cheese at the Carving Board is made with mozzarella and cheddar on grilled pain de mie. Simple yet finger-licking good. There's also a $13 buffalo grilled cheese with grilled chicken, buffalo sauce and mozzarella on that same toasty pain de mie.

Locations: 18607 Ventura Blvd., Ste. #100 in Tarzana, 216 E. Olive Ave. in Burbank, 7300 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, 11676 Gateway Blvd. in West L.A. and 687 South Hobart Blvd. Suite D in Koreatown
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Tarzana, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Burbank, Daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., in Hollywood, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in West L.A. Daily, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Koreatown

A waffle grilled cheese sandwich is just what it sounds like: A grilled cheese sandwich made with waffles, instead of bread. Just such a sandwich sits on a metal serving tray, alongside a bowl of tomato bisque made for dipping. A spoon rests inside the soup.
A grilled cheese sandwich at Waffle Love.
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Courtesy of Waffle Love
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Waffle Love

When a waffle meets a grilled cheese, what do you get? A sandwich that delights in texture as much as it does in taste. Stuffed with muenster, provolone and a tart garlic butter, Waffle Love's $8.93 croissant-waffle sandwich brings sweetness to a savory meal. Paired with tomato bisque, $13.85 for the combo, it's a model brunch food for those times when you can't decide whether you want breakfast or lunch.

Locations: 9411 Reseda Blvd., Northridge and 3768 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at both locations. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Northridge and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Long Beach

A grilled cheese sandwich lays on red-and-white checkered paper laid out on a white plate. The sandwich has been cut in half and the cheese is oozing out. The bread has been gridded in butter until it's golden brown. Off to the side is a small bowl of tomato soup for dipping.
A grilled cheese sandwich at Cassell's.
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Wonho Frank Lee
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Courtesy of Cassell's
)

Cassell's Hamburgers

If you enjoy a diner-style grilled cheese, look no further. Cassell's beautifully buttered $9.50 sandwich is filled with cheddar, Swiss and mozzarella that oozes out from between the bread and turns crisp. Imagine a grilled cheese studded with flecks of Cheez-Its and served with a side of "tomato jam" (i.e. fancy ketchup that may spoil your love for Heinz). Definitely get an order of their Kennebec fries or the sweet potato waffle fries.

Location: Inside the Hotel Normandie, 3600 W. 6th St., Koreatown
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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