help with lunch in Chatworth please

[iL Divo]

hi, meeting a friend in Chatsworth for lunch this Saturday.
she wants to meet in Westlake [since I'm there, she's willing to drive] but I'll be driving through Chatsworth on way home. she is close to Chatsworth.
she has no 'good' ideas for lunch and asked me to find a suitable place.
we want to dine and yak and giggle.
I've not lived in Chatsworth for years and it's changed so much I have no idea if there's a good place where the food is good and will be right for us to dine.

TIA

[iL Divo]

wanna thank all the posters
I'm book marking this thread.
her suggestion ended up being in Porter Ranch.
we had a good lunch but better chat, some mom&pop
place where I got salad she got a burger, said she's liked
it in the past, me, it was ok

[maiweezy]

My top recommendation would be Bolivar, bless Thi Nguyen for finding this lovely place: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/778790. Insanely good arepas and the two of you could share a giant meat platter! Nothing like bonding over various fried pork parts.

Other recs besides the ones already mentioned in the thread, though, I'm not 100% sure if these are open on Saturdays, I'm only in Chatsworth M-F:

Omino Sushi
Sushi USA (Omino has better sushi but I like the bento boxes at Sushi USA)
My Thai - not good ambiance but the food's good, they have some regional specialties like khao soi, hard to find at other Thai places in the valley
Buenos Aires Grill - good sandwiches, steaks
Jose Antonio Peruvian & Chinese Cuisine - LOVE the stewed tripe dish
San Carlo Italian Deli - a local fav, might not be good for sit-down lunch as it's a small space
Miller's Sensational Salads & Sandwiches - food is only OK but i love the owners and ambiance

Reseda:
Que Huong (or Pho 999 or Pho So 1, all on the same block- Que Houng is newer and tastier in my opinion
)Vinh Loi Tofu - vegetarian / vegan Viet food
Tampa Garden Chinese Delight - a chowhound fave, order jiazoi http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/741602
Shamshiri

Winnetka:
Fab Hot Dogs
White Rabbit - I am obsessed with their sisig burrito.
Johnny Pacific - Empanadas

Woodland Hills:
German Cold Cuts International - I buy cold cuts and sausage here regularly, the sandwiches are great, though the space is super tiny.
Grandma Kim's Family Diner - OK korean food
Henri's - AWESOME chicken fried steak
Go's Mart - EXPENSIVE but really good sushi, but don't go if you don't like truffle oil because he uses it a lot
Asal Bakery and Kabob - AMAZING Sangak. A bread that inspires some poetic prose from fellow hounds: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781761. This bread is the TRUTH. And they do special items on the weekends... but I just can't get myself to drive BACK to where I have to commute to M-F just for some lamb brain. Or can I? Maybe one day.

Northridge:
Small Island - my very favorite chicken katsu with curry in all the land, good ramen
Lum-Ka-Naad Thai Restaurant - I've never been but they have an authentic Issan AND southern menu, been meaning to check it out
King's Burgers - Old school burgers and sandwiches, and, sushi!

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Go's Mart
22330 Sherman Way, Los Angeles, CA 91303

Shamshiri Restaurant
19249 Roscoe Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

San Carlo Italian Deli
10178 Mason Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Buenos Aires Grill
8856 Corbin Ave, Northridge, CA 91324

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

German Cold Cuts International
6019 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

King's Burgers
9345 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

My Thai
21714 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Omino Sushi
20959 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Sushi USA
9800 Topanga Canyon Blvd Ste C, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Tampa Garden
8241 Tampa Ave, Reseda, CA 91335

Asal Bakery
20008 Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91364

White Rabbit Cafe
8316 Winnetka Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91306

[iL Divo]

gad you guys are good!
much thanks for all the suggestion.
what does les sisters offer?
never heard of it

[chuck]

Les Sisters has southern cajun food. Its a little hole in the wall place on Devonshire just east of Topanga

http://www.lessisters.com/

[SIMIHOUND]

Brent's is in Northridge and Westlake Village. If you meet between 130pm and 530pm when they are traditionally not busy on Saturdays you can grab a seat near the back and have time to talk and you will not be rushed by anyone.

[iL Divo]

in Westlake, did it used to be called Roxie's and before that Jerry's?
If so I know just where that is.
We've been many times

[SIMIHOUND]

The only know that the location was a REDS BBQ before it became Brent's. REDS is a BBQ joint in Simi. ROXIE is on Thousand Oaks Blvd near the arts center.

[iL Divo]

my mistake, you're right, not much sleep last night, HOT here

[asimen]

And before it was Red's it was Ottavios!

[iL Divo]

Ottavios as in Camarillos' Ottavios on Ventura Blvd? Never knew it had another location [apart from their off site 'banquet center'].

[asimen]

Yup, same Ottavios. But the Westlake location didn't last too long.

[iL Divo]

oh wow, very interesting.
I worked for years and years with the Ottavio's family's daughter in law Kelly, wondering if Ottavio's is still open in Cam, probably

[Kitchen Queen]

Please don't ever eat at Ottavio's! The food is TERRIBLE! I ate at the Camarillo location last year. There's so many other options!

[iL Divo]

oh no worries there. last ate there 15 years ago for a wedding shower before that...< many years. I didn't enjoy their food but never mentioned it to Kelly.
was only mentioning Ottavios because that name was brought up, nothing to do with Chatsworth.

[asimen]

By the way, that Roxy's is closing soon.

[SIMIHOUND]

They have been saying that for a while now. It was a great place to nosh after a show at the arts center

[iL Divo]

yep or after taking the kids through winter wonderlands at Christmas driving up and down the streets enjoying beautifully decorated holiday fair homes.

[asimen]

From the June 18 Ventura County Star:
"IN TRANSITION: After nearly a year of increasingly persistent rumors, it's official: Roxy's Famous Deli in Thousand Oaks will close on June 26, according to notes seen taped this week to the eatery's host station and now-empty deli case. "After 20 very successful years ... we have lost our lease," reads the note signed by owner Constantino "Dino" Papanicolaou, who in the same note invites patrons to try his newly opened Napa Grill at Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards. Meanwhile, rumors already have started about the restaurant in line for the Roxy's site. Described variously as a gastro pub or an "American" place, it has an anticipated fall opening date."

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Roxy's Famous Deli
1345 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

[iL Divo]

oh Chuck I love the sound of that.
thanks for information

[LA Buckeye Fan]

Les Sisters has no ambiance, but the spicy fried chicken, smothered porkchop, hot pups and cheeseburger are all very good.

[iL Divo]

I'm just gonna send her a link to this page and let her decide.
most of these sound so good to me.
this is only 2nd time in 25 years that we've seen each other.
don't know her taste anymore

[maiweezy]

The gumbo is good though it's very salty. The smothered fried chicken is popular but I prefer their fried shrimp. Good hush puppies.

[JThur01]

Woodlands has a lunch buffet and a great selection of Southern Indian items.

[westsidegal]

+1 woodlands

[maiweezy]

Woodlands is all vegetarian fair. Very good. Though for buffets I love Village Tandoori in Northridge, though I recall someone on the board mentioning something bad about the management. Red Chili Halaal (more towards Reseda) is very good. Tawakal is great but really slow (the wok tossed lamb is amazing).

[Kitchen Queen]

I don't care for it but, thousands do:

www.lostoros.com

Los Toros Mexican [phone]

21743 Devonshire St just E of Topanga. N side of the street. Also:

The Country Deli [phone] · 9901 Topanga Canyon Blvd Good but, not Brent's. Has outdoor seating and no one bothers you. You can gab till dusk! West side in the corner and in same plaza as Starbucks.

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Los Toros Mexican Restaurant
21743 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Country Deli
9901 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Chatsworth, CA 91311

[maiweezy]

I don't get it either. The Machacado is the only good thing I've had there. Though, I think you can get a cheap restaurant.com gift certificate to use there. I prefer Villanueva or any of the various taco spots scattered throughout town.

[reality check]

Les Sisters Southern Kitchen

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Les Sisters Southern Kitchen
21818 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311

[chuck]

I will second Les Sisters.

[lapizzamaven]

isnt there a Brents Deli outpost there? ive been there and if you like pastrami or brisket, Go! but stay away if youre counting calories...

[asimen]

Brents Deli is on Parthenia, near Corbin, technically in Northridge. Also in Northridge I'll occasionally meet people at Wood Ranch BBQ or Rosie's. But I'm watching this thread carefully - I've been working in Chatsworth for over two years now, and still have trouble with this.

[reality check]

There is a Rosie's BBQ on Topanga, just south of Devonshire, not related to the Rosie's in Northridge. You ever been there?

[iL Divo]

thanks to those that replied. just now called Rosies. while they are open/eat in I more got the impression they mostly cater.
by the look of the building, uh

[Kitchen Queen]

The one on Topanga is all about take out. No place to sit and eat, really.However, if open, Chatsworth Park is across the street......

[reality check]

They have a small area with about 4-5 tables.

[iL Divo]

kitchenqueen
ah the memories of this little girl going to Chatsworth Park Elementary school.
but I really preferred riding my horses through Chatsworth Park or better yet Spahn's Ranch. take out to the park, great idea!

[asimen]

Haven't been to that one. My understanding is that they have different ownership than the one on Tampa, by the way. Also, they had a "B" in the window for a while, so I kind of shied away....

[iL Divo]

yep a B would make you take notice

[HaroldandMaude]

Khun Dang is a very good Thai restaurant on Topanga Canyon. And there's a good Indian lunch buffet at Woodlands, also on Topanga.

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Khun Dang Restaurant
13436 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, CA 91605