Longstanding Inglewood Restaurant the Serving Spoon Just Won the 2026 James Beard America's Classics Award

"The award recognizes 'locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal that serve quality food and are beloved by their communities,' according to the foundation. The Serving Spoon joins a prestigious list of previous America's Classics winners in Los Angeles, including Sherman Oaks Mexican restaurant Casa Vega, Oaxaca standby Guelaguetza, pastrami specialist Langer's Deli, and French dip favorite Philippe the Original."

"Set off Centinela Avenue in the heart of Inglewood, the Serving Spoon has become a pillar of Los Angeles's Black community. The menu spans diner classics like the Spooner Breakfast with a choice of breakfast meat, sides like homestyle potatoes or grits, and bread, alongside Southern dishes like shrimp and grits and catfish nuggets."

"The Serving Spoon was founded in 1983 by Harold E. Sparks. In the four decades since opening, the diner has passed through generations of the Sparks' family: In 2004, Sparks' daughter Angela and her husband J.C. Johnson inherited the business, and in 2022, the pair sold it to their children Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane, who operate the restaurant today."

The Serving Spoon, founded in 1983 by Harold E. Sparks, has become a cornerstone of Los Angeles's Black community in Inglewood. The diner has remained in the Sparks family for four decades, passing to daughter Angela and her husband J.C. Johnson in 2004, then to their children Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane in 2022. The restaurant serves classic diner fare including pancakes, eggs, and Southern specialties like shrimp and grits and catfish nuggets. Combination plates honor staff members with personalized names. The James Beard Foundation recognized the establishment as a 2026 America's Classics award recipient, joining prestigious Los Angeles winners like Casa Vega, Guelaguetza, Langer's Deli, and Philippe the Original.

Read at Eater LA