Moving to the Valley, what's good?- Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys

[anvali]

After 3 years on the Westside, I've decided to take the plunge and move over the hill. My new place is just off the 405 on Burbank Blvd. I've heard of a few places that seem interesting, but nothing has really stood out. I'm going to need new go-to's like: Pizza, breakfast, sandwich, take-out (all the asian styles), burgers and something that's reliably good to take visitors. Nightlife recommendations like a good neighborhood bar are also welcome.

I like to stay away from the chains but I'm not too proud to hit up the Zankou that I spotted when I decided on my new place.

Thanks!!

[ebethsdad]

Fish in the Village is a kosher fish market/restaurant in a strip mall on the southeast corner of Burbank and Whitsett. Excellent quality, decent prices, nice people.

I didn't see Skaf's listed anywhere on this thread. Its a bit east of you, Laurel Cyn and Oxnard, but worth the trip

Don Felix is a new Mexican sandwich place on southwest corner of Kester and Victory. Really good "Mexican burgers."

Farm Boy on Riverside and Hazeltine for takeout sushi.

The Kebab Factory is an Armenian grocer on southeast corner of Oxnard and Woodman. They just started offering takeout plates grilled on real mesquite. Also have Armenian pizza.

Lastly the Farmers' Mkt at Fashion Square on Tuesdays has some excellent choices including a really good BBQ booth.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

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Don Felix Restaurant
305 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004

[Jwsel]

Is Don Felix the cemitas poblanas place in the strip mall? If so, it has been there for years. The cemitas are pretty good.

On the northeast corner is El Carrusel, a decent bakery with great pupusas.

I recently tried San Marcos Mexican Grill on Hazeltine, just south of Oxnard (formerly in the location of El Jerezano). The tacos were very good (and the chorizo taco was not overly greasy) and on weekends they have menudo and birria (both beef and goat). I really liked the flavor and tenderness of the goat birria, which was served with fantastic homemade tortillas. (The tacos don't seem to be served on the same tortillas, which is a shame.) On Fridays through Sundays, they have a taco cart outside that will be serving until midnight. When you eat in the restaurant, they serve a bowl of frijoles for dipping.

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San Marcos Mexican Grill
5937 Hazeltine Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401

[Servorg]

Isn't El Carrusel on the NE corner? Or am I thinking of another bakery? And I think the cemitas poblanas place kitty corner is Don Adrian. Or is there also a sandwich shop called Don Felix too? Now I'm confused.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/593570

[Jwsel]

You're right. It is on the NE corner. I'll fix my earlier post.

[carter]

Swore I drove by recently and remember Jerezano's sign. Is it no longer? Not that I spend much time in that immediate intersection, but...
Talk to us.

[Jwsel]

It still has the neon "Tacos" sign, but it's definitely a new name and a new menu. The layout is the same, except they have nicer chairs to sit at and they have TVs showing games. The old menu is on the wall, so that is a little confusing since the items and prices don't always match. They also added a salsa bar, with several options.

[westsidegal]

in encino,
for israeli food:
itzik hagadol,
worth my drive from playa del rey

[FoodKitCat]

Being a valley girl myself, the first glib thing I wanted to say was "nothing." But then I remembered a great meal I had last week at a place called the Boneyard in Sherman Oaks. Whoa...great BBQ kinda upscale. Good wine list.

[torchsong]

Try Jinky's on Ventura at Hazeltine for breakfast, great crunchy french toast. Irelands 32 on Burbank at Woodman is a good place for some music and a drink but the food at the Robin Hood a block a way is better.

Skip Casa Vega. Overpriced, mediocre food and drink and even worse service.

A little further away, the Hummus Bar in Tarzana is great!

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Jinky's Cafe
14120 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Irelands 32
13721 Burbank Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Casa Vega Restaurant
13301 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

[rednyellow]

For a reliably good dinner, head to MIstral on ventura in Sherman Oaks. Great food and service in a lovely room.

[Servorg]

During the warm nights in the Valley, of which their are more than enough, our favorite romantic go to spot with a quiet, dark and beautiful patio is Rive Gauche on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. I like their French Onion soup and their seafood brochette and my wife always gets the pate de maison and usually the chicken and angel hair pasta.

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Rive Gauche Cafe
14106 Ventura Blvd Ste 200, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

[carter]

Really like some aspects of Rive Gauche as well, yet the inconsistencies in the kitchen steer me away. Property owners and restaurant operators are seldom a quality match, and this is case in point.
If they got a well-trained chef, this place could be a knockout. As it is now, all it does is live in the shadow of Cafe Bizou, and of course a bunch of trees!!!

[Servorg]

We don't go for the brilliant food. If it's brilliant food that is on our agenda we go to Animal of late. But for a romantic evening out after nearly 25 years of marriage Rive Gauche offers something else that is in short supply in LA. A comfortable, quiet (I love being able to have an intimate conversation with my wife at a "normal" db level) and romantic setting where we feel transported away from the every day cares and problems for a couple of hours. And all that for about $100 out the door, including two before dinner cocktails. Whatever they're doing, I hope they keep right on doing it for the foreseeable future.

[carter]

I will agree with your assessment on the ambiance, yet feel the food is like Cafe Bizou, neither of which have me returning. If only the food were better...

[emba]

1. San Marcos Mexican Grill: Below the corner of Hazeltine and Oxnard. There is a taco stand on the weekends until midnight. Amazing tacos. I'm spoiled, now I can't go anywhere else in the vicinity for tacos. Delicious tortas, burritos, carne asada, salsas everything. $5 lunch special. I always get some form of beef, the chicken was nothing special. I want to try everything on the menu but the other stuff is so good that I never do! I go at least once a week. Good service.

2. Beba's Saltenas: Same intersection, northeast corner. Bolivian food. The SALTEñAS ARE AMAZING. They are like empanadas, but very juicy on the inside. They have the south american style egg and raisins in there with the beef. The pastry itself was hard like a desert pastry, not like any of the other empanadas I've ever tried. I have no idea how they got all that juiciness in there. Delicious. The cinnamon-peach drink (reminded me of spiced apple cider) and the purple corn drink (maybe it was just the color, but reminded me of jamaica) were delicious. Not sure yet what to think about black potatoes and other entrees. The standard "carne-asada"-like plate was tasty, kinda what you'd expect, but juicy not grilled. Only problem, very little parking, pull into the driveway on the right if you dare (there are about 5 spots in there). But, there is tons of parking on the side street (across the street), adjacent to a bunch of car repair places. Very good service. Lovely outdoor patio. This is a tough location...especially with parking, but the actual restaurant is a little haven in an ugly industrial corner of Van Nuys. Help me keep it open =)

[Wheggi]

If you get on the west side of the Valley, the "Tampa/Winnetka Corridor" has some real gems.

Tampa Chinese Delight, SW corner of Tampa and Roscoe in Reseda for the best Xiao Long Bao in the valley and a fantastic family run atmosphere.

Brent's Deli on Parthenia and Corbin. May be the LA area's best deli.

Daglas on Winnetka and Vanowen for great greasy french fries. Couple them with the Cupid dogs next store for an iconic west Valley guilty pleasure.

Curry Bowl at Ventura and Corbin for Sri Lankan.

As mentioned on this thread, Carillo's Mexican Deli (Sherman Way W of Corbin) and QT Chicago Style Hot Dogs (The shopping plaza at Tampa and Victory has a branch) are winners.

[Galen]

2nd Tampa Garden Chinese Delight. If you're into red velvet cake, check out "Gourmet On the Go" (pizza/spaghetti joint) a few blocks north of the 101 on Sepulveda.

[WildSwede]

And dip Daglas's fries into the Cupid's chili - brings back great memories from High School!! ;-) Thanks!

[foodnmusic]

I'm in your 'hood. A few more for you:
Tony's Mexican Grill - Magnolia and Coldwater. Good grilled Seafood and the usual fare. Delivery as well.
Santino's Pizza - Woodman near Ventura. NY Style (get the square), small and family run.
QT's Chicago Dogs - Woodman and Moorpark, same center as Carnival. Dogs and Gyro's
Bars are spotty but find your crowd. Robin's Hood as previously mentioned, Ireland's 32 (woodman and burbank) for music and pub grub, Chimney Sweep (same center as QT and Carnival) for a true dive bar and the Fox Fire Room at Magnolia and Whitsett.
Marv's Deli - Magnolia and Whitsett, makes a far better corned beef or pastrami sandwich than Jerry's, Solley's etc and less of a schlep to Brent's.
Pita Kitchen - Van Nuys just South of Ventura, parking sucks but food is good.
And Firehouse Cafe, Victory and Reseda, for killer Gyro's
Happy eating and drinking

[carter]

Good list.
Have not been to Marv's in forever, yet always went when I worked in the office building next to jerry's in Studio City or to Rena's Kosher Deli on Burbank west of Whitsett when it was open, decades ago.

[foodnmusic]

Nothing has changed. It's still the same husband (look at this corned beef!) and wife running the place!

[lad1818]

Shoot down Sepulveda just past Ventura and there's Blue Dog Beer Tavern on that little side street behind the Whole Foods market. Great burgers and fries, and an interesting selection of beers.

[schrutefarms]

If you want to venture to Noho, EAT on Magnolia has really great breakfasts (order the Neds Shreds as a side!)

[Professor Salt]

I go to Van Nuys for work occasionally. There's a Nayarit style mariscos place on the NE corner of Vanowen and Kester. I tried it once so far. Had a decent camarones cucaracha, although it wasn't in the same league as Mariscos Chente. The ceviche mixto was ok - not brilliant, but it's good enough for me to check out again.

Sorry, don't recall the name, but check that intersection.

I second or third Puro Sabor. I also like Brats Brothers in Sherman Oaks, if you're a sausage kind of person.

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Puro Sabor
6366 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Brats Brothers
13456 1/2 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

[carter]

PS - If this is the one diagonally across from DMV, then it is Mariscos Las Islitas.

[Professor Salt]

That's it, carter. There's a Salvadoran place on the SE corner of that intersection that caught my eye. Haven't tried it though. Have you?

[carter]

No, I actually have not tried either of them.
I find Salvadoran food just too heavy for my taste. Papusas and empanadas generally sit like lead for way tooooo long.

[Professor Salt]

Yeah, they can be kinda heavy, especially when they're clumsily made.

If anyone else does like pupusas, I stumbled on some good ones at a Salvadoran place in a seedy strip mall on the NE corner of Roscoe Blvd & Noble Ave, across the street from Vista Middle School. Again, forget the name of the place, but I liked 'em there. Nicely thin masa, properly charred. Limited choice of fillings, but I liked their version of the revuelta

[Jodie]

PS: the Oyster House. I think it's on Moorpark. Sandra Tsing Loh just wrote a great article on it.

[afs]

Oysterhouse on a saturday afternoon, music, cold beer, burger or fish and chips..........always a good time.

[Jodie]

Casa Vega on Ventura for Mexican food, bad lighting, and celebrities. Senor Fred for Mexican food and bad lighting. Rive Gauche on Ventura between Van Nuys and Woodman for amazing food, amazing wine, and great lighting (including a fireplace). Nat's early bite for breakfast. There is a great Argentinian restaurant/grocery on Sepulveda and Roscoe for incredibly fresh empanadas (it has a blue and white awning). Blow off Cafe Bizou. It's gone way down. Welcome to the neighborhood.

[carter]

Casa Vega is the El Coyote of the Valley, yet with celebrities and bad lighting. Senor Fred's food is quite a bit better, and the lighting is quite dark as well, yet there is room to maneuver around, unlike the vega.
Carrillo's Deli on Sherman Way, SW corner Corbin, just west of Smart & Final, has very good Mexican food served in a fast food looking dining room, beer and wine, they make their own tortillas and guac, and is more than worth the out of the way trip. Have catered many a party from there over the years.
If John O'Groats might have been your thing on the west side, well, they now have one in Encino. Didn't do it for me, yet ymmv.

[jencounter]

just a note, Carter: that Smart and Final has closed.

[carter]

thanks for the update. Any signage regarding what might be replacing it?

[jencounter]

No, not yet - only signs directing customers to the new Smart and Final Extra.

[Jelly71]

the S&F is now at Sherman Way and Mason, where Albertson's used to be. next to Star's Burgers.

[SeaCook]

As kids we called Casa Vega Hernando's Hideaway because of that bad lighting. :-) That place is like the tardis it looks smaller on the outside than the inside.

[mucho gordo]

I have to agree about Cafe Bizou. Worst sweetbreads I've ever had.

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Cafe Bizou
91 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

[saulomite]

OK, having done the same a year or two ago, my thoughts... I live a little north of you, so my choices will be a little north.

Vinh Loi Tofu on Sherman Way west of Reseda. The guy is a genius with tofu at this vegan palace. Wonderful vietnamese soups, and meals. Highly recommend it.

Will try and jump back on with more...

http://www.vinhloitofu.com/

[westsidegal]

second the vinh loi tofu recommendation.
i like it so much that i drive there from playa del rey

[Jelly71]

And a few feet from there is Sandwich Express. I love their banh mi, especially the #6 grilled pork.

[happybaker]

Love Vinh Loi Tofu. LOVE.

Also for a great jewish bakery, bea's bakery in Tarzana. Not cheap but very well executed eastern european baked goods.

http://www.beasbakery.com/

Good luck!

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Vinh Loi Tofu
18625 Sherman Way Ste 101, Reseda, CA 91335

[GK in SO]

I live right in the same 'hood. Here you go:

Pizza - Lido Pizza on Victory and Sepulveda. Been around for 50 or so years, because they have frickin' great pizza. Crispy yet chewy crust, zesty very tasty tomato-y sauce, generous real cheese, and generous toppings.

Chinese - Really tasty, fairly cheap Americanized food at Bamboo Forest, Burbank and Kester. They use all white meat chicken, really tender. We love the shrimp sizzling rice soup, orange chicken (the BEST you'll ever have) or orange shrimp, chicken in hot schezuan (sp?) garlic sauce, mu shu anything, crispy chicken or shrimp, and shrimp in lobster sauce.

Breakfast - Nat's Early Bite, Burbank and Hazeltine. Awesome waffles, pancakes and tons of other stuff as well. Get there early, the lines can get long on weekends but it's for a damn good reason...great food! Cafe style atmosphere.

Sandwiches - no real good true sandwich place around. Oh, you can get various falafels, subway garbage, wraps etc. but no real good sandwich shop around here.

Sushi - Little Island Sushi at 14622 Ventura Blvd. Newest incarnation of the Brothers Sushi resto in Woodland Hills, the only sushi place where EVERY TIME I've gone (for about the past 15 years), it's been excellent. Well, LI just opened a few months ago and I finally tried it. I have to say it's similarly excellent in quality to Brothers, plus very friendly service. I love their halibut and yellowtail sushi, the Treasure Box roll, and the Green Island roll.

Do a search of these boards, and you'll find other restos such that you should NEVER have to step foot inside Zankou or another chain! Good luck!

[carter]

There is an Armenian deli/sandwich place on the NE corner of Burbank & Kester that I have heard is quite good, been there seemingly forever. Also heard some good things regarding El Katracho on the SE corner of same intersection, just east of the Chevron( which has some of the cheapest gas prices in the area).
99 Ranch Market center at Victory & Sepulveda, NE Corner, has a pho shop and a Sam Woo BBQ adjacent to it, while there is another pho shop on the NW corner of the same intersection in the mini-mall with El Pollo Loco(to be avoided).
Many like Springbok on Victory west of the 405 around Woodley or so, which is south African in focus, sort of.
Get used to Vallarta markets, meaning at least the one at Victory & Woodley. Good deli, produce, and a variety and prices that are hard to beat.
Also, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Gelson's on Van Nuys Blvd. just south of the 101 has superb produce, and the friendliest staff between Valley Village and Encino. Adjacent to Best Buy.
The Little Island sushi GK in SO referred to above is on the 2nd floor of La Reina shopping center on Ventura two blocks west of Van Nuys Blvd. Always well thought of operation in Woodland Hills, now in Sherman Oaks. Also, Iwata and House of Taka in that same area for additional sushi options.
Thai food - sherman Way, between Fulton & Bellaire, meaning just east of coldwater Canyon, or one on Vanowen in that same area. Forget the rest by comparison.
Carnival has quite good middle eastern/Lebanese food on Woodman between Moorpark and Ventura.
Stanleys on Ventura two blocks west of Woodman, corner Matilija, has a great patio out behind the restaurant, and on nice sunny days, it cannot be beaten, and the food is quite good, salads number around 10-12 in number and the portions are huge, tastes are very good. Been there 25 years, so something must be right.
Bamboo in Sherman Oaks and Kung Pao Bistro in Studio City only are the Chinese places of choice.
Boneyard Bistro probably has the best quality food, with Mistral also in the running for that award.
Italian is basically a dead issue - tied among 10 different places, with none really any better than any of the rest - truly ho-hum selection.
San Remo Italian on Victory is being converted to the Matterhorn, which will provide a combination of German, Swiss and Italian food. Should open not long after you arrive. Owners used to have a place where Barone's is now located.
Quite a few Indian places, and they all seem about the same to me, yet others may offer preferences subsequent to this post.

[radman123]

i agree with carter

[Jwsel]

These are generally okay recs, except for Bamboo and Kung Pao Bistro. Both are dreadful. For decent Chinese -- not spectacular, but solid -- the best bets are Sam Woo BBQ at Victory/Sepulveda and Bamboo Forest on Burbank and Kester.

For Italian, Spumoni on Ventura, just west of Van Nuys is your best bet. They specialize in gnocchi and have a fantastic bolognese sauce.

For takeout Mexican, Pico, Pica, Rica at Magnolia, just east of Kester is one of the better options. All the tortillas are handmade and the huaraches and carnitas are quite good. I prefer to go to one of the El Taco Llamas in North Hollywood in a pinch. There also is a market on Kester, just past the busway (on the west side of the street) that has a carniceria in back. They have decent guisados.

El Carrusel on Kester at Victory has great pupusas, as well as good pastries.

For Thai, North Hollywood is your best option. Thai n I in Encino has very good chicken and ribs.

La Frite is a decent option for salads and hamburgers (served open face).

[carter]

Your idea of dreadful makes me wonder about the rest of your recommendations.
Spumoni does gnocchi, but that is never a reason for me to eat Italian food.

[westsidegal]

respectfully disagree with your recommendation of kung pao bistro.
to my palate, the food there is yuck.

[carter]

Only the Studio City location, not the Sherman Oaks location - they are different owners, different menus, etal.
Studio City is a vegetarian's dream, in that they probably have over 20 entrees with the soy fake meat product that I frequently order.

[mucho gordo]

That's news to me. I've been going to the Studio City location almost since they opened many years ago and know Jimmy, the owner, quite well. Which dishes use " fake meat" and does the menu reflect this?

[carter]

There is one whole page of nothing but "fake meat", aka vegetarian dishes with soy-based items. Be glad to "meat" you there some night and introduce you to the vegetarian menu that many revere, yet many more have not discovered.

[mucho gordo]

My apology, Carter. It seems I misunderstood your post. Yes, they certainly do have a vegetarian menu using 'fake meat' . My interpretation of what you said implied that ' fake' was being passed off as real meat.

[mucho gordo]

You're right about Thai food; Sanamluang is, by far, the best. It's open 24 hrs and all the Thai people in the area eat there.
Also right about the Kung Pao China Bistro in Studio City being the best Chinese place.
I would also recommend Mom's BBQ Kitchen on Hazeltine and Vanowen. A 'hole-in-the-wall creole style place with an "A" on the door and several awards to their credit..
For hamburgers that are really cholesterol sandwiches you must try Boulevard Burgers on Ventura in Woodland Hills. And, just up the street, is Zano's for Italian. They have a spicy Cajun pasta that is superb.

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Kung Pao Bistro
11402 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Boulevard Burgers
21718 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

[WildSwede]

I agree on Lido's. I love the "spicy" version of their pizza and their wonderful home-made pastas!! Yum!

[bulavinaka]

Natas for great Portuguese pastries and lunches.

[orythedog]

Amir's Falafel No 2
818-509-8641
11711 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Carnival
4356 Woodman Ave, Sherman Oaks

[LA Buckeye Fan]

Robin Hoods for shepards pie and fish and chips. Also a cute little pub. Sorry my link didn't post. On Burbank Blvd in Sherman Oaks.

[westsidegal]

for columbian food, absolutely try:
La Perla Del Pacifico
12727 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, CA 91605
310-926-2318

they are located in an ethnic shopping mall--don't be deterred.
absolutely fantastic food

[loreeLB]

I second that!!!

[loreeLB]

Barone's pizza on Oxnard & Woodman - The BEST!!!! It's on the chowhound best Pizza list!
There is also Carney's for chili dogs & such on Ventura
Art's Deli in Studio City on Ventura is always great too!

[Ogawak]

There's been a recent spate of discussions on Van Nuys. Brent's in Northridge really impressed me recently. Great corned beef and pastrami.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/671268
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/567816
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/689527

[Galen]

A must try place is Puro Sabor for Peruvian.

[Ogawak]

Puro Sabor is definitely on my list of places to try while in the Valley. I don't live here, but my wife goes to a massage place around here. Exciting new territory for rrestaurants.

[wienermobile]

I will second Brent's. One of the best deli's in LA.

[jonahlee]

Oh yea, have to try Brent's. Just amazing. Love their Corned Beef!