Growing up in the 1950s on a US military base in Germany, Craig Martin spent his evenings curled up next to the radio, trying to sneak in rock 'n' roll music and midnight broadcasts of The Wolfman Jack Show. Longing to revisit that era, Martin went on to build Cafe 50's, a place packed with memorabilia, 1950s-style American food, and tennis-shoe-clad servers dressed in crisp red-and-white striped uniforms.

Fast-forward to 2017, with the diner's 30th anniversary just around the corner. Despite its expansion to multiple locations and accolades from contemporaries—including a nod from FOX 11 News for being the best diner in LA—the establishment stays true to its founder's vision, keeping its spirit firmly rooted in a time when everything was just swell.

Though the interiors of its locations may differ—some house crooning Seeburg jukeboxes while others display boxy boob tubes and candy-dispensing cigarette machines—all of these spots have one thing in common. With breakfast served around the clock and 48 deluxe milkshakes available, they all cater to kids and the young-at-heart. During weekend brunches, house magicians charm children with boothside magic tricks, leaving adults free to make entrées like the breakfast burger disappear from their plate. Meanwhile, servers replenish shakes and pour out cocktails near the soda fountain. But the real cherry on top comes toward the end of the meal, when they dress up ice cream or nonfat yogurt with housemade fudge brownies and fresh banana slices.