Skip to main content

The San Fernando Valley: A Dining Destination

Support Provided By
Photo: BlackMarket Liquor Bar

The San Fernando Valley had a culinary moment way back when it introduced sushi to the U.S., but it hasn't been known as a dining destination for years. But it looks like the Valley is getting some culinary action once again.

Ventura Boulevard is the Valley's main commercial artery. It's where most of the well-known sushi restaurants (Asanebo, Kazu, Kiwami, Iroha, original Katsuya) live, mainly in Sherman Oaks and Studio City. The wonderful but understated Lebanese/Armenian/Middle Eastern neighborhood joints radiate out from there.

This latest crop of restaurants is also pretty thematic. This time around, it's gastropubs that are causing the sensation. Here are some of the best:

Hear more about the Valley's restaurant scene on KCRW's Press Play.

Tipple & Brine: A lot of oysters. And oyster shooters! And dishes you aren't surprised to like, such as burrata and bacon on buttered toast. (Toast is so hot right now. No, seriously.) And of course cocktails and an interesting beer list.

Black Market Liquor Bar: This one opened in 2011 and really got things cooking, as it were. Chef Antonia Lofaso, a "Top Chef" favorite, grew up in the Valley; her first job in the food industry was at Hot Dog on a Stick at the Galleria. With Black Market, she wanted to bring upscale food to this side of the hill. "It is not so much about kickstarting the trend; it was about wanting to bring a great culinary experience to an area that truly deserved it. The Valley was known for their sushi restaurants and now it has blossomed into something more and I couldn't be more proud." And indeed, the menu is upscale, and a little daring: deviled eggs are quail eggs, with tuna. The fancy toast: smoked trout with pickled vegetables.

Laurel Tavern -- This chef favorite opened in 2008, which is twelve lifetimes ago in restaurant years. You'll get good renditions of pub favorites here: a lot of meat, even more starches.

The Local Peasant: Though it wasn't the first Valley gastropub, it is the most heralded (and it even has a second location, up in Woodland Hills). Eat pretzels and burgers here.

Barrel & Ashes -- More of a barbecue place than a true gastropub, Barrel & Ashes deserves a mention just because it is so darn good. Plus, bbq and cocktails is an all-too-rare combination.

Photo: Black Market Liquor Bar

Support Provided By
Read More
A black and white photo of an adult dressed as the easter bunny with a giant costumed head, holding a little girl on their left who gives it a kiss on the cheek and, with his right arm, holding a little boy who brings his hands to his eyes as though wiping away tears.

Behold the Bunnies and Bonnets of L.A.'s Past Easter Celebrations

The onset of the spring season heralds the arrival of fragrant flowers in bloom — and all the critters that enjoy them, including the Easter bunny and families who anticipate his arrival with egg hunts, parades and questionable fashion choices.
A black and white image of an elephant holding a broom with its trunk. A man is seen near the elephant, walking towards the animal.

Lions and Tigers and Cameras! How the Movies Gave Los Angeles a Zoo

The early days of the movies in Los Angeles inadvertently allowed visitors to experience the largest collection of animals in the western United States. When animals weren't appearing in a movie, they were rented out to other film companies, performed for studio visitors, or in the case of filmmaker William Selig's collection — an opportunity to create one of Los Angeles' first zoos.
A vertical, black and white portrait of a blonde woman wearing a sparkly four-leaf clover costume as she holds her arms out and extends a leg as though in a curtsy.

Irish for a Day: L.A.'s History of 'Going Green' on St. Patrick's Day

Whether it was a parade, dance, tea party, home celebration or just enjoying a good ol' wee dram of whisky, here's a photo essay of how Los Angeles donned its green apparel to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and embrace the luck o' the Irish over the years.