Sharky’s Goes for Diner Glory in Studio City

The loss of longtime Valley diner legend Twain’s a while back caught many folks off-guard. The Googie staple of Studio City was as iconic as they come, complete with peaked ceilings and rotating sign sitting high above Ventura Boulevard. Now the place is back again — albeit in a different form — thanks to some enterprising work from one very unlikely source.

The Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill brand may not immediately conjure up imagery of fried eggs and hash browns, and for good reason. The booming restaurant chain has never done breakfast before, which marks a first with their newest location set to open September 17 inside the former Twain’s diner in Studio City.

In fact, the company doesn’t have a long history of rehabbing old buildings either. But that’s just what they’ve done with this corner gem, tearing the place down to the studs in order to reclaim some of the restaurant’s lost glory. The result is a seamless transition between old and new, as many of the original details remain from the Twain’s days, but with an updated and more colorful twist.

The bright orange accents that ring the open room are a nod to days gone by, the neon era that first brought Twain’s to light. So too are the custom hexagon tiles that line the counter, where customers can belly up as ever before for dishes hot off the line. Elsewhere, the Sharky’s design team has returned the building to its natural state, whether that means loads of glass frontage looking out over Coldwater Canyon or the raw wood beams that slant through the ceiling at wide intervals.

Most of the restaurant’s 121 seats are comprised of booths, the big leather sink-your-seat-into-it type, though there’s lots of room for communal dining and stretching your elbows out at the bar. You can also sit outside on the new patio, which hugs the restaurant on two sides.

As for the menu, expect the same slew of flavors you might already expect from Sharky’s. The company is known primarily for their dinner and lunch menus, working updated iterations of everything from burritos to salads to pizzas. With this Twain’s recovery though, the company thought it important to keep the morning vibe of the address so they’ve moved into breakfast as well. That means breakfast burritos, tacos, pancakes, french toast, chilaquiles, and more. The full morning menu is below.

The new Studio City Sharky’s officially opens for business on Saturday, September 17. The restaurant will keep daily hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with an extension to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Sharky’s Studio City
12905 Ventura Blvd.Studio City, CA