Senor Fred on Ventura at about Woodman. Great atmosphere (very dark and kind of Queer Eye Meets Spain) and really good food and service. Their chips are PERFECT.

Amir's Falafel, 11711 Ventura Boulevard, is pretty good for, well, falafel.

There's a Mexican place called Bronco's that's on Woodman and Moorpark that has good cheap stuff.

Nicely's is a great little sandwich/breakfast place on Cahuenga in a strip mall just before Barham on the highway side.

There's a great french dip sandwich place next to the car wash that's east of Guitar Center.

Shiki is great and has a sushi lunch special that is too big to finish. It's next to The Sportsman's Lodge toward's Jerry's in a strip mall.

Bollywood for Indian across from the Fox and Hounds (Ventura/Vineland area)

Those are my choices. I hope you likee.

Carnival and Shiki are my latest favorite spots.

OK, thought of another one, but this'll be like a guessing game since I have no idea of the name. It's a Vietnamese place on the east side of Sepulveda near- I think- Sherman Way, at the north end of a strip mall that mainly houses an enormous Asian supermarket, the name of which also escapes me... lame, I know, but I've got a call out to my friend who took me to the market originally, maybe she can at least remember the cross street.

Pappo's Hot Dog Show on Riverside, across from Bob's Big Boy (which is great on Classic Car Night too!)

Taste Chicago as I've already mentioned multiple times.

I don't know if it's still there, but there was a Greek place called Athen's Garden on Magnolia by the TV academy that used to have enormous combo plates.

Deeper into the valley there's also El Paso BBQ Steak house on Ventura, which while being in a weird little strip mall, was surprisingly good.

Topanga's not really the valley, but I have to drive through it to get there, and Froggy's is awesome as well.

Grandma Thai Kitchen on Burbank across from Valley College. The food's great and I can never leave without having the coconut ice cream. It's not pretty, but does that matter?

The last few times I've been to Casa Vega the food has been really good. I go during the day though cause it's crazy at night.

Oh yeah, I like Nat's so much I started a tribe.


tribes.tribe.net/nats

Anarbagh.

Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ

You can get great Bangers and Mash at Ireland's32 and kiddycorner to it at the Robin Hood. Both are @Burbank and Woodman.

Spumoni on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks has the best gnocchi in L.A., and the head waiter kicks a$$.

does anyone know if afghan house is still around and/or worth trying?
read a review years ago in the l.a. weekly that RAVED about it.

Oh man so many. Here's what comes to mind. I'll add more later when I think of them all...

Mi Casa in Burbank (I know I probably spelled it wrong)
LaLa's - Studio City
Jacks Classic Hamburger Stand - N.Hollywood/Toluca Lake area
Dragon St - N. Hollywood
Little Toni's - N. Hollywood
Mo's - Toluca Lake
Pattys - Toluca Lake
California Sushi - Chatsworth
The Munch Box - Chatsworth
Uncle Ernies Pizza - Chatsworth

Tony's Healthy Mexican Grill, always packed little family place/formica heaven on Magnolia @ Coldwater. DEEEElicious, esp. the Salmon plate on Friday nights. So friendly too!
I hear D'Amore's, in the same strip mall, is supposed to have great 'za, but haven't tried it yet.
All the great joints in L.A. are in strip malls, by the way. If you're new to town and don't know that yet.
Ahi, for sushi. On Ventura/ColdwaterAsk Jimmy the owner for the "better than yellowtail". I forget what it is, but it IS (better than YT).
Aroma Cafe in Tujunga Village. On Tujunga, south of Riverside. Kept me from getting homesick for San Francisco when I first moved here many summers ago. Made suffering the miserable, smoggy heat in the V. bearable. It's more the atmosphere than the food, but some of the food is pretty decent. You can get POTS of tea if you ask for them (they're not on the menu). The bookstore and garden rock. B-fast is the best meal.
Speaking of which-Nat's, on Burbank somewhere near Kester (not sure exactly) has great homemade sausage. Although they still can't compare to the phenomenal Nick's near my old home on Pico. Nick's biscuits and gravy are a lifetime experience. I dare you to argue that after tasting them!