BearCity's Profile
good, affordable food in North Hollywood?
Yeah, you can choose something lackluster at Porto's, but there are so many great options-
Potato ball, meat pie, croquettes, cheese rolls, guava cheese pastries, coconut macaroons, mango cheesecake, cupcakes, croissants, the list goes on - and many of these are under a buck. Stay away from the potato salad, to be sure.
Hayat's is just about 2 yrs old now, so not all that new. Certainly newer than Skaf's, which is by no means without its charm.
What specifically should one order at Skaf's? I've had their kebab plate and shawarma, which I found good but not great. I recall their hummus being really good. Even before Hayat's existed, though, I found I'd rather drive to Pita Kitchen in Sherman Oaks. Am I missing out on something, or is it just a matter of preference?
good, affordable food in North Hollywood?
This is my neighborhood, and I'm happy to help.
At the corner of Vineland/Lankershim, there are two good lunch/dinner options:
Hy Mart Deli: Amazing Mediterranean sandwiches. You can get it on a lavash wrap or a french roll that's been toasted on the panini press. Any of their sandwiches with falafel is going to be a winner, especially the Shahkloot Special and the Veggie Baby.
Habit Burger: If you want a fast-food burger done right in L.A., skip In-n-Out and get to Habit Burger. Order a burger. Get it with bacon. Enough said.
There are a lot of other good food options within short driving distance. Skaf's is alright, but it's surpassed by the new-ish Hyat's Kitchen for good middle eastern/ Lebanese food in the area.
If you're driving around, it's worth the 5-7 minute drive to go to Porto's Bakery in Burbank for an amazing, and amazingly affordable, array of sweets and savories. Try the potato balls and meat pies from the hot case.
The Thai options in the north part of North Hollywood are great, esp. Sri Siam.
Good luck and happy eating.
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Porto's Bakery
3614 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
Sri Siam Cafe
12843 Vanowen St, North Hollywood, CA 91605
Hy Mart
4762 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Hyat's Kitchen
11009 Burbank Blvd #117, Los Angeles, CA 91601
Habit Burger
4770 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91602
good, affordable food in North Hollywood?
North Hollywood is a great area for Thai food.
I'll second Sri Siam Cafe on Vanowen. Soups are especially terrific. Try the Tom Kha Kai (coconut chicken soup) and the Crispy Rice Salad with Thai sour sausage.
Also, not quite as spectacular as Sri Siam, but still very good, and open much later, is Sanam Luang Cafe on Sherman Way. Great noodles, especially the Pad Kee Mao and Pad See Ewe.
Most entrees at these places run about $6 - $8.
Indian in SFV
I live by Salomi and have ordered a couple of times, but both times I asked for hot, and was served ultra-mild food. I don't understand the appeal. Is there something they're particularly good at? Any specific dishes that you find excellent there?
Indian in SFV
That's true about the onion bhajis. I haven't used the third-party delivery service, so no bad experiences here. When they did their own delivery, it was pretty stellar. I really like that Lal Mirch will serve you very spicy food if you ask for it. Also, it should be noted, they have particularly delicious samosas and mint chutney.
ISO restaurant recs near Universal but not on City Walk
Rustic Spoon on Lankershim has been consistently good. It's Thai fusion.
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The Rustic Spoon
4384 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91602
Indian in SFV
I like Lal Mirch in Studio City. Significantly better than Bollywood Cafe, which is nearby. Their Chicken Tikka Masala and Vegetable Korma are excellent. Used to be my favorite delivery place, until they stopped delivering.
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Lal Mirch
11138 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Alberto's, now in Van Nuys
Tried it this weekend. Very good carne asada burrito. The California burrito is good as well, but I wouldn't want french fries in my burrito on a regular basis. The bean & cheese wasn't great; only okay. The Alberto's in Rosemead makes a great B&C, but this one was quite a bit different, and not as good. Carne asada is probably a little better at Van Nuys, though. Prices are slightly higher than the Rosemead location across the board.
Alberto's
14525 1/2 Vanowen St
Van Nuys, CA 91405
(818) 782-0440
My friend works in Hollywood, I work in Anaheim- need to meet halfway!
Renu Nakorn in Norwalk, right by the freeway.
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Renu Nakorn Restaurant
13019 Rosecrans Ave, Norwalk, CA 90650
Looking for great pizza place in Sherman Oaks/Studio City Area
The regular pizza at Joe Peep's is a soggy mess.
BUT they offer a thin-crust, light-topping version called "Blue-collar Pizza" that is pretty damn good. The crust doesn't get overwhelmed by all the weight and moisture like the regular pizza.
Also, if you want a more non-traditional "California-style" pizza, Caioti Pizza Cafe is the spot. I love the Sunchoke, Bacon and Dill. Unfortunately, their "traditional" pizza is...a soggy mess.
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Caioti Pizza Cafe
4346 Tujunga Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
Bludso's vs BigMistah BBQ update
Being a big fan of pork ribs, I've gotta say that both Big Mista and Bludso's are delicious. Their subtle differences make it hard to pick a favorite. Both good, just slightly different preparation and sauce.
Marche in Sherman Oaks
It may as well be Arleta to those many, many Angelenos who don't dare venture over the hill.
Marche in Sherman Oaks
Closing as of May 8, according to LA Weekly.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/restaurant-closings/marche-la-restaurant-closing/
Need lunch suggestions - Lankershim/Magnolia in NoHo
I am very familiar with this neighborhood. I heartily second Kansas City BBQ. Love their Burnt Ends Sandwich, Beans and Sweet Potato Fries, and the pork ribs can be delicious, though inconsistent.
For middle-eastern sandwiches, the Hy Mart Deli, at the intersection of Lankershim and Vineland, is a hidden gem. I love the veggie baby on a french roll (they even have a little panini press to put some extra crunch on the crust), though all of their sandwiches with falafel are delicious. Plus it's a true mom and pop operation, and they're very nice people.
Recs for a Bar To Watch Sunday Night Football at in Los Angeles?
Fratty is right. There really is something magical happening around the Hollywood Big Wang's. I walk by there all the time, and in the past couple of years the area immediately around Wang's has acquired a smell I've only smelled previously on Bourbon Street in N.O., a sour-beer-vomit-urine bouqet, that's the most unappetizing smell in town. I miss the simplicity of the neighborhood's original, mostly-urine smell.
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Big Wangs
1562 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Recs for a Bar To Watch Sunday Night Football at in Los Angeles?
Between WeHo and Silverlake, Hollywood Billiards. Multiple viewing areas, nice selection of TVs, way more bearable than Big Wang's in terms of clientele.
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Hollywood Billiards
5750 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
One Burger: Hungry Cat, 25 Degrees or Lucky Devil's?
Lucky Devil's. Great burger, and the pecan shake and beer selection push it over the top.
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Lucky Devils
6613 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Hollywood Recs
Lucky Devil's for high-end burgers and frozen-custard shakes.
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Lucky Devils
6613 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Where to take my family in Pasadena?
Second Pie and Burger. Great pie, great burger. (Stick to those items, though.)
Samosa House, Culver City
So here we are praising mediocrity because of its proximity to where you live.
Samosa House clearly has its place, and its west-side devotees, but if someone is looking to Chowhound for great Indian food in L.A., it is criminal to be sending them to Samosa House.
Samosa House, Culver City
"White bread" is not a reference to what kind of bread is preferred. Every dish I've ever tried there has been under-seasoned. Not without flavor, just without the appropriate level of flavor for Indian dishes.
Breed Street Vendors update
Thanks for the update. Good to hear not everyone has been driven out by the good ol' LAPD. Thanks, LAPD, for protecting us! Good grief!
Samosa House, Culver City
Samosa house is bland, bland, bland. IMO, a direct result of them catering to the neighborhood they're in. The input of west-siders may be great for environmental awareness, but it has driven Samosa House to tone down flavors. Watered-down food for white-bread (read: brown-rice) people.
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Samosa House
11510 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA
Are There ANY Good Italian Delis in the Valley?!
I really like the meatball & sausage sandwich at Tony's Italian Deli in Burbank (the one on Magnolia). Good bowtie pasta salad, too.
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Tony's Italian Deli
1124 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506
Has anyone been to Grub
It's cute, if a bit overpriced. I haven't returned since being served an ice-cold Sloppy Joe.
Peruvian Food: Los Balcones del Peru, Mamita's and Mario's
Agreed on the fish dishes, in general, but their saltado pales in comparison to mo-chica.
Mazzarino's opening soon? Sherman Oaks
It's been a couple of years since it was open, but the spicy red sauce, the Arrabiata, had been the item for me. If you don't eat Italian food with red sauce, this is not the place for you.
Mazzarino's opening soon? Sherman Oaks
Just drove by, and they are open. There's a big banner out front that says, and I quote, "Mazzarino's is open."
