Wheggi's Profile
Moving to the Valley, what's good?- Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys
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.
Swiss Matterhorn returning to Van Nuys
Oh heck yeah, I'm all over this like a bad rash! Loved Old Heildelberg, and really liked Swiss materhorn. Hopefully it keeps the same decor: we're really lacking this kind of restaurant in the area.
Looking for Mexican in the SFV or the Conejo Valley
Letty's and the market are seperate, with Letty being a little more pedestrian and the market is more, well, market! While my co-workers really enjoy Letty's, I actually prefer the market: their burritos eat pretty well when you're sitting on the back of a work truck.
If you are willing to go to the SFV, I suggest either Carillo's or La Fuentes.
breakfast with family( including 2 five year old twins)....in the valley
More Than Waffles in Encino is pretty good
Nasty, guilty pleasures
The fries at Daglas in Winnetka, with the grease soaking through the brown paper bag. Uggh . . . but yum!
Bean & Cheese Burritos--Who has the BEST?
Is that the restaurant at Roscoe and Tampa, or the one at Roscoe and Balboa? That place at Balboa makes absolutely gnarly burritos, and IIRC are open 24 hours as well.
NY Style Chinese food in LA?
I should add that while you'll find some tables in the front, this is a newer (as in the last year) addition. Since they first opened 40 years ago it had just been a small lobby and counter: take out only. Also, until recently it had been the same guy in the back cooking since I was a kid in the 70's. He may still pilot the wok on occasion, but I think that other family members handle more of the business nowadays.
Best Pizza (NY Style) in LA
Not too sure: I've only purchased whole pies, and in my house they go quick ;)
NY Style Chinese food in LA?
I still contend that Ying's Kitchen in Sylmar serves this kind of food. Gigantic pork filled egg rolls, egg foo yung smothered in brown gravy, s&s pork that has no vegetables involved. A real guilty pleasure that may make the Chinese Cuisine Purists shudder but is delicious for what it is. Simply put: it is a different animal than you'll be finding in the SGV, and comparisons cannot be drawn.
Where is the "real" cajun/Creole in LA county?
Not from NO myself and by no means am any kind of expert of the quisine, but I enjoy the gumbo at Le Sisters in Chatsworth
Best Egg Rolls in LA area
Ying's Kitchen in Sylmar makes a freak of an egg roll. It's more like a burrito than a spring roll, crispy on the outside and packed with some kind of pork/vegetable mixture (heavy on the pork side). If you are up that way check them out.
Beat my street: best food within 2 miles of your house.
The contenders in my neighorhood:
Fab Hot Dog
Cupids Hot Dog (a chain, but it holds a special place in my heart)
QT Chicago Dog
(its a pretty good dog nieghborhood!)
Brooklyn Pizza
El Taco Llama
Brents
Pho So 1
Johnny Pacific Empenadas
Carillo's Mexican Deli
And this Thai place on Receda with a pretty expansive menu, can't recall the name but its good.
What is the definitive Socal food experience?
And if we're talking donuts, we're talking Donut Man in Glendora! Best darn fruit donuts in the entire universe.
Best Pizza (NY Style) in LA
I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but it seems as if recently Brooklyn Pizza in Reseda (Tampa and Vanowen) has changed their recipe for thier crust. It's much thinner, with a crisper outer crust that is really quite good.
Quintessentially Los Angeles Dinner?
There's an original Tommy's ("don't see the shack, take it back!") right off the 405 on Roscoe in Van Nuys, right across the street from the Budwieser brewery. Open 24 hours too. Doesn't get more convienant than that.
Food trends from a few years ago
We're currently filling out our son's baby book. He was born in mid-2005 (yeah, we're a bit behind) and for the life of us we can't remember what the hot 'food trends' of the year were. Does anyone know where we could find out what was popular then? Thanks
Excellent mushroom soup?????
My wife swears by Brent's Mushroom Barley soup, with lots of rye heels!
BEST FRENCH FRIES IN LOS ANGELES
Daglas here in the SFV, at Winnetka and Vanowen. Love 'em!
Great Eats-San Fernando Valley
Went to Dos Arbolitos for the frist time this evening, and have to admit that I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. It seemed to me like (and stick with me on this one) an Americanized version of a "Mexican" Mexican restaurant (as compared to something like Sol y Luna - which is American/Mexican Food - or Carillos, which is the real deal). I had the Camerones a la Diabla and found the flavors to be tame and the shrimp to be a bit on the small side. I also notied that their horchata comes from the machine instead of handmade and then served out of the big glass (or plastic?) container like real quality agua frescas are. All in all the place wasn't bad, put considering the amount of really good Mexican food to be had why should anyone settle for just "eh".
Maybe that there wasn't a single Mexican family eating at the place should have told me something.
First Date in Woodland Hills area
I second the Brandywine. I proposed to my wife there. :)
REAL indian food in LA
Awesome, thanks. I was sorely dissappointed with my local place (poonjab palace? the restaurant in Northridge shopping center with the BevMo and Guitar Center) and have been meaning to try Woodlands. Guess I'll go there next time.
REAL indian food in LA
Curious: is Woodlands on Topanga Cyn in the Valley owned by the same people who own the Woodlands in Artesia you guys are talking about?
Most Romantic Birthday Dinner Spot?
You already did your dinner, but I was about to suggest Brandywine on Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills. Nice little intimate spot.
Opaque at the Hyatt
I'm taking my wife this friday for her birthday. She works with the visually impared and is really looking forward to it. I myself am cringing at the 99 bucks a pop price tag but I'm hoping she enjoys it. Does anyone have a take on the food there?
favorite fried chicken?
Les Sisters in Chatsworth makes a pretty mean fried yardbird.
Mexican in Oxnard
I'm currently working in Oxnard and noticed that there are a TON of Mexican restaurants there! Woo Hoo! Unfortunately I only have two more days in the area, so I'm hoping to hear what you feel is the go-to spot for Mexican lunch. Thanks!
Late Night West Valley places to grub?
I think that the Winnetka bowling alley diner is open 24. They make a better breakfast than you'd expect.
Off Menu in Chains
As most people know, when you go to In-N-Out Burger there are a number of common "off menu" orders you can place, such as 4X4 and Animal Style. What I'm discovering now however is that this culture of menu items for those in the know extends to other chains as well. For example, at most Starbucks here in the North Los Angeles county you can order an "Undertow". This is a shot of expresso with a pump of vanilla, in which they then cascade a large spoonful of heavy cream, folding it in so that curls into the bottom without mixing. You then immediately shoot it down (just like you would a shot of alcohol). The duel sensation and flavor of the cold cream and the warm sweet espresso is awesome.
I have also heard that Jamba Juice has an "employee's menu" with a collection of drinks that aren't on the menu (one being called a Starburst or something like that) though I haven't tried any of these yet.
Does anyone know of any other popular off-menu items at the various chains they visit?
- Wheggi
Fish & Chips -- Not Atlantic Cod
I just came back from a fishing trip out of Ventura (caught limit on rockfish and have been having a grand ol' feast of fish) and noticed a seafood fry place in the harbor. Anyone have any experience with the place, not only with the kind of fish used in their F&C but the quality of the place on a whole?
