Jumbo’s Clown Room has been a neon-lit pillar of Los Angeles nightlife since it first swung open its doors in 1969. What began as a cozy hangout for Jumbo and his friends evolved into a cultural microcosm.
By 1973, a pizza oven appeared in the corner, so Thursday nights meant free slices for anyone lucky enough to squeeze inside. Eventually, the pizza oven disappeared and the poles showed up, transforming the space into the Jumbo's we know today.
Over the decades, Jumbo’s has drawn an eclectic crowd: rockers, regulars, food-world royalty, and dancers who double as cookbook authors, like Pantera (Scarlett Kapella), who blessed the world with Wine Me, Dine Me, 69 Me.
It’s no wonder the place became a low-key pilgrimage site for culinary insiders. Even Anthony Bourdain paid tribute in 2011, stopping by with Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo during an episode of "The Layover" after dinner at Animal.
He summed it up the way only Bourdain could: “I think I got L.A. all wrong. Jumbo’s is a fine establishment.”