URGENT help needed -- Monday night - "Interesting" in the Valley
My dad is visiting from out-of-state and just asked me to find an "interesting" place to take me for dinner tonight in the SFV. Sushi is out because it is a Monday night, but otherwise, we're open to pretty much anything in the Valley. Ethnic is fine, as is any price range. I
think he would like Chinese, but we cannot drive to SGV. He likes A&W in Northridge, but I think he wants to try something different.
Places I am considering:
Puro Sabor
Krua Thai (though he is not a big fan of Thai)
March (for a little more upscale)
Fab Hot Dogs (if I want to be a really cheap date)
I'd like to come up with a good Mexican place, but the best I can come up with El Taco Llama, which may be an even cheaper date than Fab.
Come on, Chowhounds. Help me out.
By Jwsel
on Jan 25, 2010 11:12 AM
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How about The Hummos Bar in Tarzana? Great food, wonderful kebabs and salads.
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Tough to go wrong with Puro Sabor.
There's also El Katracho for Honduran food.
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El Katracho Restaurant
14838 Burbank Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411
Puro Sabor
6366 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401
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if you want Mexican, i would recommend Sol y Luna on Ventura Blvd - same owners as Melody's and Las Fuentes, but the nicest of the 3 places. - great food!
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How do you get in there? Every time I've tried, it has had a wait of 40+ minutes. I considered Las Fuentes, but I think most of the food at El Taco Llama is better.
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i tend to eat dinner early, so i miss the long waits at most places.
i think Las Fuentes is much better than El Taco Llama, though. i like both, but i see ETL as a "grab and go" place, whereas i will sit and stay to eat at Las Fuentes.
have you tried Salsa and Beer on White Oak? also good solid food at great prices. they sometimes have a wait, but it moves pretty fast, especially on a weeknight.
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How about Pho So 1 for vietnamese, at Sepulveda & Victory... Also, Les Tres Sisters for soul food, way way west on Devonshire?
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You could try Daichan in Studio City. I believe they are open on Mondays. Otherwise Tampa Gardens has been getting good buzz lately for good chinese.
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how about israeli?
ITZIK HAGADOL
itzikhagadol.com
the drill there, like in many other israeli restaurants is that they will serve you an 'array of salads.'
they bring about 10 little plates of different salads.
as you finish the salads they refill the plates for free.
because of the ayce aspect, if one person orders an array, everyone at the table must also order it.
in addition they serve skewered meat and fish dishes, steaks (expensive), and all sorts of other stuff.
i like this place so much i often make the drive from playa del rey in order to go there.
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What would your Dad say to a little Moroccan food? How about Simon's Cafe in Sherman Oaks for something off the beaten path? A little pastilla anyone? (Moroccan ground duck and chicken meat pie)...very nice on a rainy or cold winter day.
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Simon's Café
4515 Sepulveda Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
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I second Simon's - it's one of the few places I'll drive over the hill to the Valley for.
On another front, I just ate at Priyani's cafe in Northridge yesterday for lunch, and it was great. Lots of interesting food, very humble surroundings, but nice, helpful table service. Personally, I find Sri Lankan food very "interesting".
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Priyani Oriental Cafe
9035 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324
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I think Monday night is Fried Chicken special at Boneyard Bistro. And if that isn't up your alley, try the patty melt.
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Boneyard Bistro
13539 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
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If it is Chinese Food nearby that you want I would suggest Tampa Garden In Reseda We had Some Fabulous Cats Ear Noodles and XLB among other great dishes. I think they are open tonight but call and Check
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/667376#
8241 Tampa Ave.
Reseda, CA 91335
(818) 349-2221
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Tampa Garden
8241 Tampa Ave, Reseda, CA 91335
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Yeah, can't go wrong with either Puro Sabor or Tampa Garden. I've been to both the last few days. Great as always.
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Thank you for all the recommendations. We went to Puro Sabor, and my dad loved the ceviche and papa rellena we shared.
I've put Tampa Garden on my list of future places. I had a work crisis, so I couldn't drive that far west. But dad's eyes lit up when I described the comments. He loves noodles, and the description of the Cats Ear Noodles being liked gnocchi definitely made him curious.
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It's a bit late (obviously!), but Jwsel, let me second Noah's recommendation of El Katracho. Honduran food reminds one of Mexican, and yet...entirely different variants. It's worth checking out.
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Great choice, both of restaurant and food. Their ceviche is the top.
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Another intersting thing next time might be Vietnamese catfish. Pho 999 has it. You should call ahead so that you're not waiting forever. I'm not even sure if it's on the menu. It's always cooked nicely. and it's fun to assemble with the various vegetables and wrap. I have yet to have an equal or better version in little saigon.
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