You simply wont find many better breakfast spots in The Valley than Gasolina. What you may not know, though, is that it's also home to some of LA's best bars. Oh, man. The Sherman Oaks neighborhood go-to not only has some of our favorite BBQ in town, they also own a great beer stock. Aside from the name, the most schoolish elements at PS 818 are the menus, which are printed to look like the sort of black-and-white mottled composition books we all grew up with, and a section of the extensive beer list headed Study Group (large sized bottles to split with friends). If youre in the mood for just birria though, go for the birria en caldo, a hearty stew filled with a spicy broth, onion, cilantro, and slow-cooked beef for a somewhat balanced breakfast. And now, you know Sardo's for the same reason, too. With dark red booths and silent movies playing on the wall, the vibe at The Red Door is more subdued than rowdy, and thats exactly why we like it. Frankly, the vastness of the Valley can be intimidating to tackle and, in its total scope, has far too much to offer for one single map so here now are just 21 of the San Fernando Valleys best places to eat. The walk-up window is quick and efficient, particularly ideal when holiday crowds start to get robust. The shawarma is a must-hit, and the flatbreads are the stuff of legend. Myself, I go for the micheladas flavored beer drinks, with your choice of brew (mostly Mexican) mixed with lime juice, with Worcestershire and Tabasco, or with sangrita and lime. Theres a section of chefs specials and of entrees, which could have been combined into one section, but werent. The outlandishly good black pastrami reuben is reason enough to make the drive. Since opening in 2016, Mister Jiu's has been one of San Francisco's most interesting restaurants. From extra crispy pork pata to a rich and thick kare-kare that goes heavy on the peanuts, the food here is inspired by potlucks in Filipino home cooking. Heavily charred, seriously cheesy, and impossibly crispy. 13. You cant go wrong with their Famous Italian Combo (a sub sandwich filled with mortadella, salame, capicola, provolone, and all the fixings) or the house-made lasagna, but what really sets Cavarettas apart are their desserts. Jeff Miller grew up in Van Nuys, Encino, and North Hollywood, and misses Cozy's, Stevies, and anywhere that didn't card him in high school. Their menu is sprinkled with happy hour staples including loaded potato skins, fried pickles, and wings. For many of us, coffee means more than a morning . Sardo's (click here for address and info)BurbankEveryone knows Sardo's because of p**n star karaoke. 14633 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818-485-2200; www.theshermanla.com. The San Fernando Valley (sometimes called The Valley) is a region of Los Angeles County in Southern California, nestled to the northwest of the Los Angeles Basin. And -- oh yeah -- a great beer selection. Tuesday August 1 2017. With bright orange walls, fluorescent lighting, and white-tiled floors, eating here feels a bit like youve stepped into a janitors closet, but one that happens to serve some of the highest-grade sushi in town. Its become the bailiwick of the Mixologist, an alchemist who works wonders with an array of potions that would leave the wizards of Harry Potter befuddled. Its refreshing, it goes down easy, and its a deal. Add: The Original Hawowshi, HiHo Cheeseburger, Uncle Paulies, Dans Super Subs, Athenian Grill, Anajak Thai, Remove: Mizlala, Hayats Kitchen, the Green Room, Larrys Chili Dog, Lum Ka Naad, Asanebo. The dishes used are by Heath Ceramics, the menu proudly tells us so. Should you be in need of something a bit stronger, after a tough day in the cubicle farm, the bartenders do a full range of classic cocktails, along with oddities with names like Easy A that involves whiskey, banana liqueur and cinnamon; and The Earl of Juniper that calls for Earl Grey infused gin, lavender and lemon. Especially when the only cocktails they make with a bestiary of eccentric ingredients are classics created with Soju. By comparison, Mercado is very much not the same restaurant. But I do now. Theres a margarita made with fresh hibiscus, a lovely touch, both tasty and aromatic. Pit . Theres also 42 beers on tap and over 100 craft bottles, so if youre looking to do some late-night (or lunchtime) drinking, this is a great place to do it. But its always been there the mixed drink, with various mixed drinks coming and going over the years. cocktails, too. But whats amazing is how far back in the day the list goes. These drinks go down so easily and make you crazy long before the night is over. The thing about Tonys is that at first glance, it doesnt look or feel much different than any other sports bar scattered about this city. Barone's pizzas are the star of the show, with their thin crust, and inside out toppings. This easygoing Reseda staple works as a kind of East Coast-style Greek diner. Theres a cocktail called Marys Pigs in a Barrel made with bacon fat-infused Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Which is no stranger than the Smoked Salmon Vodka made in Wasilla, Alaska. Thing is, though, you always have to wait for a seat there, and they don't have giant scorpion bowls that they set on fire, or karaoke. Amazing sausages, great beers, and a super-nice staff mean if you're bitching, you haven't been. 19100 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana; 818-600-8784, www.unwind-restaurant.com. Like so many of us, I suffer from a terminal case of FOMO Fear of Missing Out. And, as I said, the parade is impressive; shoppers apparently do like to promenade. From the worn menu board to the broad array of meats and general sandwich selections, this is the kind of timeless and delicious spot that the Valley really excels at. That said, its certainly not smoke and mirrors - the sushi is excellent as well. Just when you think you have LA figured out, remember that theres a sushi bar inside a fast-food burger joint in Northridge, and it serves some incredible raw fish. 17 Flavorful Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles, Where to Order Incredible Indian and South Asian Food. Still, you can play at the old days here with ease, especially if you order the much-of-everything salad called the Kitchen Sink, a name from times gone by. Awesome. Eclairs, New York-style cheesecake, and the best cannolis youll find in LA - if you arent walking out at Cavarettas with at least two boxes full of sweets under your arm, youve done it wrong. The first section is where youll find such old school libations as Blood & Sand, Dark & Stormy, Last Word and Aviation along with better known tipples like their Bourbon Old Fashioned, their Moscow Mule and their Negroni. Its a menu that begins with the heading Tapas though few of these tapas are found at traditional Spanish tapas bar. Which will then occupy much of the rest of my day, as I check with increasing obsessiveness on the latest developments. No ones teaching math on the big screens. (Does anyone do an old school Caesar anymore? And that name also includes the word grill.. Part corner store, part hidden restaurant, this Sri Lankan specialist turns out some of the Valleys most flavorful food like string hopper and lamprais. Weho, Hollywood, Ktown, Downtown - these are the neighborhoods you tend to think of when planning a big night out in LA. There are things you already know about the Valley: it's large, it's spread out, it's hot, there are a ton of small communities there, and also, it's hot. The saroukh (cheese, onion, and parsley-filled bread) is crunchy, savory, and just a little spicy, and you can wash it all down with some rice pudding at the end. Even in the midst of the numerous other Mexican restaurants in town, it stands out and not just because of the happy skulls that appear adjacent to the kitchen and on the restaurants coasters. Long known for its sprawl and density (and marquee billing in the cinematic masterpieces of the '80s), the Valley is home to entertainment industry bigwigs, celebrities, and thousands of everyday Angelenos.The restaurant scene is as diverse as its inhabitants, with classic Mexican joints, some of . And they dont serve chipped beef on toast as a menu option. The music is loud, friends schmooze and schmingle everywhere, happy is the dominant motif. Thats the way the pies are done at Gorilla, the Valley Village newcomer thats trying to give the Valley a taste of Pittsburgh, one pizza at a time. And then, theyd go back to work. Looking for something within the age group of 22- 25 preferably. Or, at least, as much as wines from all over the world can be matched with dishes from all over the map. Its astonishing we ever got around to the Revolution, we were so relentlessly soused. Getting to Gos Mart is probably a journey no matter where youre coming from, but trust us when we say this sushi bar next to a dance studio in Canoga Park is always worth driving the few extra miles. What are people saying about cocktail bars in San Fernando Valley, CA? Despite their success - and its massive factory looming off Van Nuys Blvd. Star Garden (click here for address and info)North HollywoodIt wouldn't be quite right to do a best-bars-in-the-Valley list without including at least one strip club. And the roar of the nearby Hollywood Freeway fades into just white noise. Expect a more subdued, romantic atmosphere perfect for a first date night cap. The clam chowder is insanely good, and the locals that are regulars? 18 Fantastic Budget-Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles. Whether its a breakfast burrito filled with eggs and turkey sausage, the off-menu surf and turf with Angus beef and seared shrimp, or house carne asada served enchilada-style, these are well-composed, high-quality burritos that make you realize how many other places are simply phoning it in. Walking into Tarzana Armenian Deli is like walking out of LA and into that local sandwich shop you mightve ate at three times a week in the summer as a kid. This longtime family-owned Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks is on top of the world right now, having just won the LA Times restaurant of the year award. Then make friends with the sommelier, who will happily course out all the wine you need. 20 LA Tourist-Friendly Restaurants That Are Actually Good, 18 Restaurants to Spot Celebrities in Los Angeles. With a porterhouse, and baked potato piled high, a serious Caesar salad, and a slab of cheesecake as well. That said, the main draw at this family-run cafe is the original poki bowl. Decades before chopped raw fish in plastic bowls became part of the LA food pyramid, Daichan was cranking out giant portions of fresh fish on top of rice and lettuce, so thats probably what you should order here. The bartenders will happily let you taste as many wines as youd like until finding the one you want, and if you get hungry, theres a solid menu full of cheese, charcuterie, and everything else that tastes good while drinking wine. Website Directions View Menu. The specials run to pan-seared salmon, slow-baked short ribs, beef or chicken pho on Thursdays and Saturdaysand Korean barbecue on the same days. You probably know Toluca Lake as that place people walk around on their lunch hours avoiding Panera for the third day in a row. Open since 1959, Cavarettas is a classic, family-run Italian deli in Canoga Park and one of our favorite quick lunch spots in the west Valley. "Thrillist ALLLLLWAYS talks about Tony's, and we're SICK OF IT". Sushi Spot in Tarzana does a solid omakase in a room with zero atmosphere. Located in the heart of WeHo, this nightclub offers up a dance floor every night of the week, regularly blasting Top 40, hip-hop, and Latin soundtracks for the crowd. Easy to do with an overflowing tropical drink in front of you the Mai Tai, the Navy Grog, the Blue Hawaiian, the Scorpion, the Tonga Punch and speaking of Don the Beachcomber, at the Tonga Hut, the 1934 Beachcomber recipe for the Zombie. You cant really go wrong with any cut of meat here, just make sure you get it Santa Maria-style, meaning theyre dry-rubbed and smoked over red oak. And while there are lots of Greek dishes to know and love, most fans flock for the straightforward and satisfying breakfast burrito with just the right balance of crispy hash brown and egg inside. Our nominee's Star Garden, mostly because it has some character, and you can legally drink there -- and that's not a combination you can always get together. CC makes breakfast burritos that rival any others in LA. This place feels like a little cabin where anything goes and nobodys here to judge you for it. Industry professionals, celebrities and locals love to taste laugh and unwind at Xen Lounge.. Get the spicy soujouk with double cheese, the meat pie wrap, and a few orders of their stuffed grape leaves. What we learn in Imbibe! is that the cocktail has been around for as long as we have. (9) (117) 7.8. These days, its with more than a bit of fascination that I study the cocktail lists at our trendier destinations, where the mixed drinks are made with ingredients so obscure that, without a good Google connection, Id have no idea what I was drinking. For one of LAs best burgers, bar none, this is the spot. Staff was really friendly and efficient. At $115, this isnt the worlds most affordable omakase, but after eating 12 pieces of high-quality sushi, edamame, miso soup, a starter, a hand roll, and dessert, youll feel like this meal has more than earned its price point. Theres a Caesar salad prepared tableside, in the style of Caesar Cardini of Tijuana. 4557 Sherman Oaks Ave., Sherman Oaks, 91403 .