clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A side angle shot of a stacked pastrami sandwich on toasted bread and an emerald-green counter.
Brent’s Deli.
Stan Lee

21 Top Stops For a Meal in the Sprawling San Fernando Valley

Mining the Valley for gems hidden in plain sight

View as Map
Brent’s Deli.
| Stan Lee

The all-encompassing swath of flat land in northern Los Angeles known as the San Fernando Valley (or just the Valley) offers a wealth of exceptional cuisines, from simple everyday subs and hot dogs to some of LA’s best Thai food, period. Here, street food stars compete for space with old-school burger stands and cool-kid breakfast spots, with millions of nearby diners ready to pounce on not just the next big thing, but the everyday staples that keep millions of Angelenos fed. 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 some of the San Fernando Valley’s many great places to eat.

Read More

Dan's Super Subss

Copy Link

This Woodland Hills classic oozes charm. 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.

A submarine sandwich with meat and cheese in a basket.
Dan’s Super Subs
Farley Elliott

Gasolina Cafe

Copy Link

Some of greater LA’s best Spanish food hides in plain sight out in Woodland Hills, where owner Sandra Cordero turns out all-day dishes like pan con tomate, tortilla española, and monthly paellas.

A young, hip crowd inside of a cafe with red tones.
Gasolina Cafe.
Gasolina Cafe.

Cupid's Hot Dogs

Copy Link

It’s all about the retro love at Cupid’s in Winnetka, where roller skaters send hot dog orders out from the small kitchen to waiting fans.

Two hot dogs with sauce and relish next to chips on a red table.
Hot dogs from Cupid’s.
Farley Elliott

Apey Kade Restaurant

Copy Link

The wide breadth of Sri Lankan food is on full display at Apey Kade in Tarzana. From raw kale salads to rice to hearty soups and stews, this place can do it all.

Brent's Deli

Copy Link

An LA deli institution, Brent’s has been a staple in the Northridge neighborhood for nearly 40 years. The outlandishly good black pastrami reuben is reason enough to make the drive.

Brent’s Deli The Hot Dish
Brent’s Deli
Wonho Frank Lee

Baja Subs Market & Deli

Copy Link

Part corner store, part hidden restaurant, this Sri Lankan specialist turns out some of the Valley’s most flavorful food like string hopper and lamprais.

Lamprais at Baja Subs on a green plate.
Baja Subs
Wonho Frank Lee

Acasa Food Truck

Copy Link

Parked in front of a parking lot off White Oak Ave in Encino, Acasa Food Truck serves delicious Mexican fare from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Menu highlights include California burritos, carnitas and al pastor tacos, chimichurri steak quesadillas, and more. Not all food trucks have great vegetarian options, but Acasa has a section of its menu dedicated to meat-free diners.

Tel Aviv Glatt Kosher Grill

Copy Link

Sabich, schnitzel, challah, shawarma — it’s all possible at Tel Aviv Grill, the Kosher Valley micro-chain that makes some of LA’s best Israeli food.

Furnsaj Bakery

Copy Link

Granada Hills mainstay Furnsaj Bakery doesn’t look like much from the outside of its strip mall digs, but head inside for some of the best Lebanese food in all of Los Angeles. The shawarma is a must-hit, and the flatbreads are the stuff of legend.

Sadaf Restaurant

Copy Link

Given that Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian population outside of Iran, it’s no surprise that the city is rich with incredible Persian restaurants. With another location in Thousand Oaks, Sadaf in Encino is arguably the best Iranian spot the Valley has to offer. The kashke bademjan, or eggplant delight as it’s called on the menu, and ghormeh sabzi are top-tier.

El Cocinero Restaurant

Copy Link

El Cocinero has arguably the best vegan Mexican food in the Valley, if not all of LA. Housed in a Van Nuys strip mall, this fast-casual restaurant has various plant-based meat options available to add to tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, loaded fries, and nachos. Standouts include the impressive al pastor and the jackfruit carnitas, plus the nut-based flan for dessert. It’s worth coming early, as on most nights, there is a long line out the door.

Bill's Burgers

Copy Link

There are burgers and burger-makers, and then there’s Bill Elwell. The namesake man behind this Van Nuys beef and bun legend still mans the griddle as often as possible, turning out some of the sturdiest and least expensive meals in the Valley.

A handheld burger with lots of cheese from Bill’s Burgers in the San Fernando Valley.
Bill’s Burgers
Farley Elliott

Anajak Thai Cuisine

Copy Link

This longtime family-owned Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks won the LA Times restaurant of the year award in 2022. It’s been the cool-kid hangout of the past two pandemic years thanks to lots of fun collaborations, weekly taco parties in the back alley, and plenty of natural wine.

Dry-aged black sea bream with nam jim seafood sauce from Anajak Thai.
Whole dry-aged fish at Anajak Thai.
Matthew Kang

Viet Kitchens

Copy Link

Chef Danny Ly’s contemporary Vietnamese restaurant in Panorama City is home to one of the best Vietnamese sandwiches in the Valley. The bánh mì đặc biệt is made wonderfully rich with a generous swipe of pate and an abundant layer of mayonnaise on top. Other options include eight types of phở, rice dishes, and vermicelli salad.

Sushi Note

Copy Link

There are no shortage of great sushi restaurants in the neighborhood, and Sushi Note ranks somewhere near the top. Snag a seat at the seven-seat bar dedicated to serving omakase from celebrated chef Kiminobu Saito.

Roberta's

Copy Link

Located amongst other gems in the Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge, Roberta’s is one of the best spots in the Valley for a wood-fired neapolitan (by way of Brooklyn) pizza. Customers can also find some vegetable dishes on the menu, but not the pasta served at the Roberta’s location in Culver City. No matter — the pizza is the way to go, especially the classic margherita or the bee sting, which comes with tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, basil, chili, and spicy honey.

Roberta’s blistered pizza, drizzled with honey and pepperonis.
Roberta’s Bee Sting pizza
Matthew Kang

HiHo Cheeseburger

Copy Link

This wagyu beef specialist has made a name for itself with locations across the LA basin, but it’s the sunny, patio-friendly Studio City outlet that’s really been turning heads lately. For one of LA’s best burgers, bar none, this is the spot.

A juicy HiHo Cheeseburger sits as a product shot.
HiHo Cheeseburger.
HiHo Cheeseburger [Official Photo]

Cilantro Mexican Grill

Copy Link

North Hollywood’s Cilantro Mexican Grill makes what may be the best meat burrito in the entire city. Tucked into a quiet corner of a busy gas station, this place draws dozens upon dozens of lunchtime diners eager to enjoy the craftsmanship of chef Adolfo Perez, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate with a corporate chef background who is now making his dream come true.

Gorilla Pies

Copy Link

Heavily charred, seriously cheesy, and impossibly crispy — that’s the way the pies are done at Gorilla, the Valley Village pizzeria that’s trying to give the Valley a taste of Pittsburgh, one pizza at a time.

An overhead shot of two pizzas on round trays with a metal sheet of cheesy bread in the top left corner.
Gorilla Pies.
Farley Elliott

Uncle Paulie's

Copy Link

Cool-kid sandwich spot Uncle Paulie’s has found its Valley audience in Studio City, where fans arrive early and often for bacon egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, daytime East Coast-style subs, and more casual favorites.

Cahuenga General Store

Copy Link

It’s far from difficult to find a good sandwich in the Valley, but no spot is quite like the iconic Cahuenga General Store — a vintage cafe that serves salads, soup, and simple and delicious sandwiches. Just know that the many baskets, tins, candles, and other home goods that lovingly fill the inside may add to the atmosphere, but they’re not for sale.

A twinkly exterior of a suburban sandwich shop at night.
Cahuenga General Store.
Cahuenga General Store

Loading comments...

Dan's Super Subss

This Woodland Hills classic oozes charm. 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.

A submarine sandwich with meat and cheese in a basket.
Dan’s Super Subs
Farley Elliott

Gasolina Cafe

Some of greater LA’s best Spanish food hides in plain sight out in Woodland Hills, where owner Sandra Cordero turns out all-day dishes like pan con tomate, tortilla española, and monthly paellas.

A young, hip crowd inside of a cafe with red tones.
Gasolina Cafe.
Gasolina Cafe.

Cupid's Hot Dogs

It’s all about the retro love at Cupid’s in Winnetka, where roller skaters send hot dog orders out from the small kitchen to waiting fans.

Two hot dogs with sauce and relish next to chips on a red table.
Hot dogs from Cupid’s.
Farley Elliott

Apey Kade Restaurant

The wide breadth of Sri Lankan food is on full display at Apey Kade in Tarzana. From raw kale salads to rice to hearty soups and stews, this place can do it all.

Brent's Deli

An LA deli institution, Brent’s has been a staple in the Northridge neighborhood for nearly 40 years. The outlandishly good black pastrami reuben is reason enough to make the drive.

Brent’s Deli The Hot Dish
Brent’s Deli
Wonho Frank Lee

Baja Subs Market & Deli

Part corner store, part hidden restaurant, this Sri Lankan specialist turns out some of the Valley’s most flavorful food like string hopper and lamprais.

Lamprais at Baja Subs on a green plate.
Baja Subs
Wonho Frank Lee

Acasa Food Truck

Parked in front of a parking lot off White Oak Ave in Encino, Acasa Food Truck serves delicious Mexican fare from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Menu highlights include California burritos, carnitas and al pastor tacos, chimichurri steak quesadillas, and more. Not all food trucks have great vegetarian options, but Acasa has a section of its menu dedicated to meat-free diners.

Tel Aviv Glatt Kosher Grill

Sabich, schnitzel, challah, shawarma — it’s all possible at Tel Aviv Grill, the Kosher Valley micro-chain that makes some of LA’s best Israeli food.

Furnsaj Bakery

Granada Hills mainstay Furnsaj Bakery doesn’t look like much from the outside of its strip mall digs, but head inside for some of the best Lebanese food in all of Los Angeles. The shawarma is a must-hit, and the flatbreads are the stuff of legend.

Sadaf Restaurant

Given that Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian population outside of Iran, it’s no surprise that the city is rich with incredible Persian restaurants. With another location in Thousand Oaks, Sadaf in Encino is arguably the best Iranian spot the Valley has to offer. The kashke bademjan, or eggplant delight as it’s called on the menu, and ghormeh sabzi are top-tier.

El Cocinero Restaurant

El Cocinero has arguably the best vegan Mexican food in the Valley, if not all of LA. Housed in a Van Nuys strip mall, this fast-casual restaurant has various plant-based meat options available to add to tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, loaded fries, and nachos. Standouts include the impressive al pastor and the jackfruit carnitas, plus the nut-based flan for dessert. It’s worth coming early, as on most nights, there is a long line out the door.

Bill's Burgers

There are burgers and burger-makers, and then there’s Bill Elwell. The namesake man behind this Van Nuys beef and bun legend still mans the griddle as often as possible, turning out some of the sturdiest and least expensive meals in the Valley.

A handheld burger with lots of cheese from Bill’s Burgers in the San Fernando Valley.
Bill’s Burgers
Farley Elliott

Anajak Thai Cuisine

This longtime family-owned Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks won the LA Times restaurant of the year award in 2022. It’s been the cool-kid hangout of the past two pandemic years thanks to lots of fun collaborations, weekly taco parties in the back alley, and plenty of natural wine.

Dry-aged black sea bream with nam jim seafood sauce from Anajak Thai.
Whole dry-aged fish at Anajak Thai.
Matthew Kang

Viet Kitchens

Chef Danny Ly’s contemporary Vietnamese restaurant in Panorama City is home to one of the best Vietnamese sandwiches in the Valley. The bánh mì đặc biệt is made wonderfully rich with a generous swipe of pate and an abundant layer of mayonnaise on top. Other options include eight types of phở, rice dishes, and vermicelli salad.

Sushi Note

There are no shortage of great sushi restaurants in the neighborhood, and Sushi Note ranks somewhere near the top. Snag a seat at the seven-seat bar dedicated to serving omakase from celebrated chef Kiminobu Saito.

Related Maps

Roberta's

Located amongst other gems in the Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge, Roberta’s is one of the best spots in the Valley for a wood-fired neapolitan (by way of Brooklyn) pizza. Customers can also find some vegetable dishes on the menu, but not the pasta served at the Roberta’s location in Culver City. No matter — the pizza is the way to go, especially the classic margherita or the bee sting, which comes with tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, basil, chili, and spicy honey.

Roberta’s blistered pizza, drizzled with honey and pepperonis.
Roberta’s Bee Sting pizza
Matthew Kang

HiHo Cheeseburger

This wagyu beef specialist has made a name for itself with locations across the LA basin, but it’s the sunny, patio-friendly Studio City outlet that’s really been turning heads lately. For one of LA’s best burgers, bar none, this is the spot.

A juicy HiHo Cheeseburger sits as a product shot.
HiHo Cheeseburger.
HiHo Cheeseburger [Official Photo]

Cilantro Mexican Grill

North Hollywood’s Cilantro Mexican Grill makes what may be the best meat burrito in the entire city. Tucked into a quiet corner of a busy gas station, this place draws dozens upon dozens of lunchtime diners eager to enjoy the craftsmanship of chef Adolfo Perez, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate with a corporate chef background who is now making his dream come true.

Gorilla Pies

Heavily charred, seriously cheesy, and impossibly crispy — that’s the way the pies are done at Gorilla, the Valley Village pizzeria that’s trying to give the Valley a taste of Pittsburgh, one pizza at a time.

An overhead shot of two pizzas on round trays with a metal sheet of cheesy bread in the top left corner.
Gorilla Pies.
Farley Elliott

Uncle Paulie's

Cool-kid sandwich spot Uncle Paulie’s has found its Valley audience in Studio City, where fans arrive early and often for bacon egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, daytime East Coast-style subs, and more casual favorites.

Cahuenga General Store

It’s far from difficult to find a good sandwich in the Valley, but no spot is quite like the iconic Cahuenga General Store — a vintage cafe that serves salads, soup, and simple and delicious sandwiches. Just know that the many baskets, tins, candles, and other home goods that lovingly fill the inside may add to the atmosphere, but they’re not for sale.

A twinkly exterior of a suburban sandwich shop at night.
Cahuenga General Store.
Cahuenga General Store

Related Maps