Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Los Angeles Los Angeles Breakfast Club
Gastro Obscura

Los Angeles Breakfast Club

Friendships have been forged over ham and eggs every Wednesday morning for a century.

Los Angeles, California

Added By
James T. Bartlett
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
LABC meets every Wednesday morning at the Friendship Auditorium.   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
A place setting at the LABC.   Mickey Corcoran/LABC
Attendees at the LABC.   Larry Underhill/LABC
Meetings can be large and boisterous.   Larry Underhill/LABC
The Shrine of Friendship   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Every week there’s a talk.   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Speakers’ podium   Avoiding Regret
Attendees at the LABC.   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Friendship Auditorium in Griffith Park   Avoiding Regret
“Ham An’ Eggs” is their anthem.   jbartlett2000 / Atlas Obscura User
Every member and speaker gets a mug   Avoiding Regret
The club’s mascot, a sawhorse named “Ham”   Avoiding Regret
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Once a week, a century-old breakfast club in Los Angeles meets for a morning full of food, fun, and light exercise. Its members really, really love ham and eggs.

The quirky club, which bills itself as a “democracy of ham and eggs” is a friendly, social gathering. Its anthem is a short rhyme called “Ham n’ Eggs,” which is basically a song about the many ways to enjoy the staple dish. Members have a secret handshake that mimics the act of flipping an egg.

One of the club’s beloved inside jokes is a cryptogram dedicated to their two favored foods. The final lines of the puzzle, which was created by a newspaper cartoonist, reads "O-I-C-V-F-M-N-X!" which translates to “Oh, I see, we have ham and eggs!”

The food-themed festivities commence promptly at 7 a.m. each Wednesday. Attendees have a hot breakfast, then an MC announces the club news. After, a pianist accompanies everyone in songs, poems, and some gentle exercises. There’s also the pledge of allegiance, a round-the-room meet-and-greet (“Hello Ham!” “Hello Egg!”), and finally an interesting, invigorating lecture about L.A. history and world events before proceedings end at 9 a.m. sharp.

It all began in 1925 when local businessmen riding the trails through Griffith Park wondered aloud whether someone could build a clubhouse, a relaxed place to have breakfast before going to work. They managed to turn this pondering into reality. Over the decades, the agenda has changed very little, though it now takes place in the Friendship Auditorium rather than in a stable.

Early on, moguls, magnates, oil men, politicians, athletes, writers, and actors all came here to lay aside their rivalries and “start the day off right.” There was even a “Ham and Eggs” radio program, which aired for an approximately 25-year stint and was for a time revived as a podcast.

The club opened its doors to women in 1981. Now, it’s a haven for any and all looking for a welcoming way to begin their Wednesday.

Those opting for official membership still undergo the appropriately odd ceremony, which involves sitting on a sawhorse named Ham while blindfolded, holding the horse’s tail with one hand and putting the other in a plate of fried eggs. Though membership had dwindled in recent years, a boost from social media has spread the word about this slice of retro heaven for anyone who loves quirky old L.A.

Related Tags

Food Breakfast Clubs Ham Eggs

Know Before You Go

The LABC meets Wednesdays at 7 a.m. sharp. Tickets must be purchased in advance, RSVPs close Monday morning. Guest tickets are $25, members receive a 25 percent discount. Membership dues are $285/yearly or $28.50/monthly. Dress: business casual. Free parking onsite.

Community Contributors

Added By

jbartlett2000

Edited By

Avoiding Regret, rachelskytt, Anne Ewbank

  • Avoiding Regret
  • rachelskytt
  • Anne Ewbank

Published

October 4, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.avoidingregret.com/2017/02/the-democracy-of-ham-and-eggs.html
  • http://www.avoidingregret.com/2017/04/welcome-to-shrine-of-friendship.html
  • https://www.kcet.org/food-living/the-strangest-club-in-los-angeles-the-la-breakfast-club
Los Angeles Breakfast Club
3201 Riverside Dr
Los Angeles, California
United States
34.113983, -118.268644
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Snow White Cottages

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Philosophical Research Society

Los Angeles, California

miles away

The Good Ship Grace

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 237
Stories 62

Nearby Places

Snow White Cottages

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Philosophical Research Society

Los Angeles, California

miles away

The Good Ship Grace

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 237
Stories 62

Related Stories and Lists

Raise a Toast to L.A.'s Century-Old Breakfast Club

food

By Shannon Brown

Related Places

  • At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Nai Mong Hoi Thod

    This Chinatown hole-in-the-wall serves what might be the ultimate oyster omelet.

  • In this salad, rice gets topped with pinches of toasted coconut, dried fish, finely-sliced herbs and vegetables, bean sprouts, a tiny knot of noodles, crushed black pepper and dried chili. 

    Yala, Thailand

    Thai-Islam Phochana

    Start your day with sticky rice sweets and aromatic curries at this classic Thai-Muslim breakfast spot.

  • Denver, Colorado

    Denver Omelet Plaque

    This sidewalk tribute honors Colorado's great culinary creation.

  • Vending machine at Glaum Egg Ranch

    Aptos, California

    Egg Vending Machine at Glaum Ranch

    At this California chicken ranch, four bucks will get you 18 eggs and a chorus of dancing animatronic poultry.

  • Mentone, Indiana

    Mentone Egg

    A giant concrete egg marks this Indiana town as the "Egg Basket of the Midwest."

  • It’s hard to believe these replicas aren’t actually edible.

    Tokyo, Japan

    Sampuru Shops of Kappabashi Street

    Tokyo’s “Kitchen Town” hosts a number of shops selling intricate food replicas.

  • Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.

    Rome, Italy

    C'è pasta... E pasta!

    Fried artichokes and other Roman-Jewish classics are executed with care at this no-frills cafeteria.

  • Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.

    Rome, Italy

    Giano Restaurant

    Inventive Sicilian specialties are executed with flair at this restaurant overseen by chef Ciccio Sultano.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.