AMERICAN.Chili My Soul - Three and one half stars (4928 Balboa Blvd., Encino, 818-981-7685.) Recommended items: Chili folded in lavash la·vash n. A thin leavened flatbread of Armenian origin. [Armenian, from Turkish lava  .] , baked potato with chili, soul fries with chili, chicken barley chili, Durango chili, gunslinger GunslingerA high-strung portfolio manager who, looking for high returns, invests in very high-risk stock. Notes: Stay away from these guys, or they could end up shooting you in the foot! chili, poblano po·bla·no n. A cultivar of the tropical pepper (Capsicum annum) having a mild or fairly pungent dark green, thick-skinned fruit used in cooking. turkey chili, Santa Fe chili, Santa Cruz red chili and Texas pride chili. No alcohol. AE, MC, V. $. Dakota's BBQ - Three and one half stars (2525 Stowe St., Simi Valley, 805-582-1701.) Recommended items: Barbecued chicken-stuffed potato skins, fried onions, grilled vegetable salad, spinach and cheese dip, coleslaw with nuts, barbecued ribs (pork loin babybacks, prime rib beef), tri-tip, chicken (barbecued half, stone-pressed breast), French dip tri-tip sandwich, steaks (New York, porterhouse), apple cobbler. Full bar. AE, MC, V, Discover, Novus. $$$. El Paso Barbeque Co. - Three and one half stars (18938 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 818-996-5607.) Recommended items: Barbecued ribs (pork baby backs, short ribs and veal ribs), Texas chili, brisket brisket the mass of connective tissue and fat covering the anterior part of the chest in ruminants. Lies at the most ventral part of the neck, between the front legs and covering the anterior end of the sternum. of beef, barbecued chicken, prime steaks, rack of lamb Noun 1. rack of lamb - a roast of the rib section of lamb crown roast rack - rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton lamb roast, roast lamb - a cut of lamb suitable for roasting . Beer and wine. MC, V. $$. Emmanuel - Three and one half stars (11929 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818-766-3128.) Recommended items: Soup de jour, seared scallops with salsify salsify, common name for a tall, narrow-leaved biennial (Tragopogon porrifolius) of the family Asteraceae (aster family), native to S Europe but now naturalized and sometimes growing as a weed in North America. and Asian greens, warm salad with smoked bacon and goat cheese, seared foie gras and pears, crispy whitefish on spinach and asparagus, pork chop on sweet potatoes, crispy chicken on ragout ra·gout n. A well-seasoned meat or fish stew, usually with vegetables. [French ragoût, from ragoûter, to revive the taste, from Old French ragouster : re-, of fava beans, beets and pearl onions, venison on mushroom ravioli, creme brulee. Beer and wine. MC, V. $$$. Houston's - Three and one half stars (5921 Owensmouth Ave., Woodland Hills, 818-348-1095. Also in Century City, Pasadena and Manhattan Beach.) Recommended items: Spinach and artichoke dip, soup du jour (varies), hickory burger, couscous, iron skillet beans, filet mignon, seared tuna salad, barbecued ribs, backyard-style barbecued chicken, spicy chicken fettuccine with andouille an·dou·ille n. A spicy smoked sausage made with pork and garlic, used especially in Cajun cooking. [French, from Old French andoille, from Medieval Latin *inductilia, sausage and Cajun tasso ham, grilled chicken with black beans and goat cheese. Full bar. Major credit cards. $$. Leila's - Four stars (752 Lindero Canyon Road, Oak Park, 818-707-6939.) Recommended items: Blistered pasilla chile, pomegranate and orange beef satay sa·tay also sa·té or sa·te n. A dish of southeast Asia consisting of strips of marinated meat, poultry, or seafood grilled on skewers and dipped in peanut sauce. , oven-warm baby Brie, hearts of romaine, six-hour braised braise tr.v. braised, brais·ing, brais·es To cook (meat or vegetables) by browning in fat, then simmering in a small quantity of liquid in a covered container. beef, slow-roasted balsamic balsamic (bäl·sämˑ·ik), n a substance that can soften and reduce mucus. lamb shank, sesame and coriander-flavored Hawaiian ono, Kona coffee grilled New York steak, double espresso profiterole pro·fit·er·ole n. A small round cream puff. [French, perhaps diminutive of profiter, to profit, from Old French, from profit, profit; see profit. . Wine and beer. AE, MC, V. $$$. Monty's Steak House - Three and one half stars (5371 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-716-9736.) Recommended items: French-fried dill pickles, ginger chicken wontons, pepper bleusteak, delmonico rib-eye steak, prime New York, full pound porterhouse, prime rib, chili, lobster, colossal baked potato, cheesecake. Full bar. Wine lockers. Major credit cards. $$$$. Paul's Cafe - Three and one half stars (13456 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-789-3575. Also in Tarzana with full bar at 18588 Ventura Blvd., 818-343-8588.) Recommended items: Soups, spinach salad with portobello mushrooms, roasted duck breast, wild mushroom ravioli, pan-roasted filet mignon in Bordeaux wine sauce with artichoke and gorgonzola potatoes gratin, pan-roasted whitefish, garlic-rubbed rack of lamb, roasted pork tenderloin, heated chocolate brownie. Beer and wine. All major credit cards. $$. Saddle Peak Lodge - Four stars (419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, 818-222-3888.) Recommended items: Melange of wild mushrooms with smoked duck in puff pastry stack with fava beans, carpaccio of buffalo tenderloin, mustard-sauced saddle of Colorado lamb stuffed with roasted peppers and baby spinach, game plate du jour, pan-roasted rare breast of duck and leg of duck confit with pink peppercorn sauce, tenderloin of elk with seared Canadian duck foie gras and wild mushrooms, tarte tatin or rhubarb tart with Dandy Don's coconut ice cream. Full bar. MC, V. $$$$. 2087 - An American Bistro - Three and one half stars (2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 805-374-2087.) Recommended items: Soups, fried calamari, Caesar salad, crispy whitefish, crabmeat-crusted Chilean sea bass, tamarind tamarind (tăm`ərĭnd), tropical ornamental evergreen tree (Tamarindus indica) of the family Leguminosae (pulse family), native to Africa and probably to Asia, but now widely grown in the tropics. lamb chops, ravioli primavera, glazed lemon tart. Full bar. AE, MC, DC, V. $$$$. Wolfgang Puck California Cafe - Three and one half stars (Universal CityWalk, 1000 Universal Center Drive, Universal City, 818-985-9653. Also in the Promenade Mall at 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills and elsewhere.) Recommended items: Butternut squash soup, pizzas (especially spicy chicken, vegetable or prosciutto and goat cheese), spinach papardelle with goat cheese and blanched garlic, rotisseried chicken (barbecue or rosemary) with garlic mashed potatoes. Beer and wine. No reservations. MC, V. $$. belgian Benita's Frites - Four stars (Universal CityWalk, 1000 Universal Center Drive, Universal City, 818-505-8834.) Recommended items: Frites (fries) with garlic mayo sauce, beignets. No alcohol. Cash only. bistro Mistral - Three and one half stars (13422 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-981-6650. Also in Beverly Hills.) Recommended items: Onion soup, escargots, ahi tuna or New York steak tartare
Examples are
Pinot Bistro - Four stars (12969 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818-990-0500.) Recommended items: Carmelized onion and salmon tart, duo of pates, marinated herring, country crouton plate, raw Northwest oysters, escargots, oxtail ox·tail n. The tail of an ox, especially when used for food. ox  tail ragout, steak and pommes frites, whitefish with roasted garlic sauce, cote de boeuf bearnaise, linguini with shellfish, chocolate cake, strawberry and rhubarb pie. Full bar. AE, MC, V. $$$. cajun-creole Big Mama's Kitchen - Three and one half stars (22526 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-222-1257.) Recommended items: Creole and soul food specialties: Shrimp po' boy sandwich, meat loaf, smothered pork chops, ``chitlins'' dirty rice, hot link, red beans 'n' rice, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, red velvet cake A Red velvet cake is a type of rich and sweet chocolate cake (though it is often made without chocolate flavoring) which has a distinctive dark red or red-brown color. Common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, flour, cocoa powder, and often either beets, or red food coloring. , bread pudding, pear cobbler. No alcohol. Cash only. $$. californian-nouvelle Caioti Pizza Cafe - Three and one half stars (4346 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, 818-761-3588.) Recommended items: Caesar salad, Joan's cucumber salad with kalamata olives, pizzas (especially the Rockefeller pizza with oysters and shrimps or the caramelized shallots with roasted potato pie), pheasant ravioli with oyster mushroom sauce, broken lasagna, half a pressed crispy chicken with ponzu sauce, Sweet Lady Jane's cakes. No alcohol. AE, MC, V. $$. chinese AB Seafood - Three and one half stars (18434 Devonshire St., Northridge, 818-360-3830.) Recommended items: Live lobster and Dungeness crab from the tank - each cooked to order, soups (minced chicken with corn, hot and sour, eggflower), whole live catfish (from the tank) with black bean sauce, shrimp (sizzling or kung pao), fresh clams with black bean sauce, pork chops (pan fried), sauteed asparagus, sauteed pea sprouts, ma po tofu, Singapore-style curry-sauced thin rice noodles. Beer and wine. Major credit cards. $$. A&W BBQ Seafood - Three and one half stars (9306 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, 818-882-6668. Also at 7213 Reseda Blvd., Reseda, 818-342-0990, and 16906 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Granada Hills, 818-368-9757.) Recommended items: Catfish with hot and sour soup Hot and sour soup can refer to soups from several Asian culinary traditions. In all cases the soup contains ingredients to make it both spicy and sour. North America United States In American Chinese cuisine hot and sour soup is almost vegetarian. , roasted duck egg noodle soup, fresh clams in satay sauce, frog legs in mildly spicy sauce, whole sea trout sea trout: see croaker. , Szechwan bean curd, rice noodles in black bean sauce, steamed chicken, Hong Kong steak, dim sum on carts, Beer and wine. MC, V. $. China Wave, Seafood City - Three and one half stars Recommended items: Minced seafood and ham in lettuce cups, clams with black bean sauce, oysters with ginger and green onion, whole steamed fish, beef chow fun Beef chow fun is a staple Cantonese dish, made from stir-frying beef, hefen (wide rice noodles) and bean sprouts. It has became a necessary dish in Chinese yum cha restaurants in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and even overseas, as well as in cha chaan tengs. , salt and pepper
Mandarin Deli - Three and one half stars (9305 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, 818-993-0122, also downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or , Monterey Park and Anaheim.) Recommended items: Dumplings, pancake with onion, noodle-soups, cold noodles with spicy sauce, noodles with bean sauce, pan-fried soft noodles, cold shredded tofu salad, cold san tung chicken salad, sliced beef with garlic and chili sauce. MC, V. $. Oak Cafe - Three and one half stars (18446 Sherman Way, Reseda, 818-881-8678.) Recommended items: Hong Kong specialties. French onion soup French onion soup is an onion and beef broth based soup traditionally served with croutons and cheese as toppings. Although ancient in origin, this dish underwent a resurgence of popularity in the 1960s due to the growth of French cooking in the United States. , baked lobster soup, crystal shrimp, baked mussels, barbecue pork buns, grilled pork chops, chicken Madras, Portuguese chicken, Singapore-style chow mi fun. No alcohol. MC, DC, V. $$. P.F. Chang's China Bistro - Three and one half stars (21821 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills, 818-340-0491, Sherman Oaks and elsewhere.) Recommended items: Hot and sour soup, Peking steamed dumplings, chicken lettuce wrap, Dan Dan noodles Dan dan noodles is a classic dish of Chinese Sichuan cuisine. It consists of a spicy ground peanut and sesame sauce over noodles, usually very garlicky, and often served with cold sliced cucumbers. , spicy Szechwan calamari steak, Chang's chicken, Cantonese duck, wall of chocolate. Full bar. AE, MC, DC, V. $$. Sam Woo Bar-B-Q - Four stars (6450 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, 818-988-6813.) Recommended items: Barbecued meats (duck, pork and chicken), Chinese greens with pork chow mein, shrimp with walnuts in special sauce, rock cod with black bean sauce, roast pork with oyster hot pot. No alcohol. $$. Yang Chow - Four stars (6443 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, 818-347-2610. Also at 819 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, 213-625-0811.) Recommended items: Wine-marinated or hacked chicken, slippery shrimp, sauteed crab, fish potage, braised lion head, Chinese spaghetti in hoisin sauce hoi·sin sauce n. A thick, sweet, pungent sauce used in Chinese cooking. [Chinese (Cantonese) hoísin, seafood, equivalent to Chinese (Mandarin) h , rice cakes. Full bar. MC, AE, V, DC. $$. continental Brandywine - Four stars (22757 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-225-9114.) Recommended items: Calamari Greco, sauteed foie gras, roast duckling, fresh fish du jour, bouillabaisse bouil·la·baisse n. 1. A highly seasoned stew made of several kinds of fish and shellfish. 2. A combination of various different, often incongruous elements: a bouillabaisse of special interests. , chicken Montrachet, veal Benedictine, chateaubriand, steak Diane, paella (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), cherries jubilee, bananas foster, crepes suzette. Wine and beer. $$$. Diwan Noun 1. diwan - a Muslim council of state divan privy council - an advisory council to a ruler (especially to the British Crown) 2. diwan - a collection of Persian or Arabic poems (usually by one author) divan - Three and one half stars (13045 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818-501-6015.) Recommended items: Soup du jour, ahi tuna chopped salad, escargots, stuffed chicken, grilled quail, New York steak, veal chop, rack of lamb, sauteed whitefish, pepper-crusted salmon. Full bar. Major credit cards. $$$$. Matterhorn Chef - Three and one half stars (13726 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, 818-781-4330.) Swiss/German/Italian. Recommended items: Zuppa di vongole (clam soup), gemuse suppe (vegetable soup), flaedi suppe (consomme with Swiss pancake soup), gnocchi Piemontese, coniglio con polenta (roasted rabbit in red wine), jaeger pork steak, Bruhwiler's herrenfilet (medallions of veal, beef and lamb), Berner platte (smoked pork loin, smoked bacon and sausages, sauerkraut and string beans), cassata. Full bar. Most credit cards. $$$. french Cafe Bizou - Four stars (14016 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-788-3536. Also in Pasadena and Santa Monica.) Recommended items: Dollar salad or soup, alternative goat cheese salad, lobster and salmon ravioli, stuffed mushrooms, rare duck breast salad with wild rice and port wine sauce, grilled ling cod, roasted whitefish with two sauces, sesame seed crusted salmon in red wine sauce, roasted monkfish on risotto, pork tenderloin, steak au poivre steak au poiv·re n. pl. steaks au poivre Steak studded with coarsely ground pepper before cooking and often flambéed with cognac. , tarte tatin, flourless warm chocolate cake. Full bar. AE, MC, V. $$. Le Petit Bistro - Three and one half stars (13360 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-501-7999. Also in West Hollywood.) Recommended items: Gazpacho, soups du jour, eggplant tart, escargots, Caesar salad, crabcakes, spicy shrimp, turkey meatloaf, entrecote en·tre·côte n. A cut of steak taken from between the ribs. [French : entre, between (from Latin inter; see inter-) + côte, rib (from Latin costa with pommes frites, duck legs confit, roasted chicken, baby lamb chops, calf's liver, sorbets, bread pudding. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$. Le Sanglier - Three and one half stars (5522 Crebs Ave., Tarzana, 818-345-0470.) Recommended items: French onion soup, mussels, escargots, Boston salad, lobster and shrimp ravioli, rack of lamb, liver and onions Liver and onions is a dish that is currently more common to the southern United States than northern or coastal states. The meal, which once enjoyed a more widespread popularity, could usually be found at family diners and American home-style restaurants. , pear tarte tatin. Full bar. Major credit cards accepted. $$$$. greek The Great Greek - Three and one half stars (13362 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-905-5250.) Recommended items: Deluxe family feast, avgolemono soup, moussaka mous·sa·ka n. A Greek dish consisting of layers of ground lamb or beef and sliced eggplant topped with a cheese sauce and baked. [Serbo-Croatian, from Turkish mussakka with bechamel sauce, saganaki Saganaki (Greek σαγανάκι) is a salty and aromatic cheese-based Greek appetizer of fried or broiled cheese. The cheese used is usually Kefalograviera, Kasseri, or sheep milk Feta cheese. , grilled eggplant, spinach pie, lamb kabob, charbroiled lamb loin, braised lamb with Greek pasta, taramasalata ta·ra·ma·sa·la·ta or ta·ra·mo·sa·la·ta n. A paste of fish roe, olive oil, lemon juice, and potatoes or moistened bread crumbs. [Modern Greek : taramas, preserved roe (from Turkish (``Greek caviar'') dip with pita bread, baklava made with four different nuts, jalaktopouriko custard. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$$. international Cheesecake Factory - Three and one half stars (6324 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, 818-883-9900. Also in Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey and elsewhere.) Recommended items: Grilled shiitake mushrooms, chicken wings three ways, coconut beer shrimp, Yucatan grilled chicken, linguini with fresh clams, Bombay curried noodles, cheesecakes, apple dumpling. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$. Cinnabar cinnabar (sĭn`əbär), mineral, the sulfide of mercury, HgS. Deep red in color, it is used as a pigment (see vermilion), but principally it is a source of the metal mercury. - Three and one half stars (933 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 818-551-1155.) Recommended items: Vegetarian soup, dim sum tasting, tuna and salmon roll, free-range veal medallions, charbroiled Pacific swordfish on potato, pan-roasted breast of chicken, lemongrass lemongrass, n Latin name: Cymbopogon citratus; part used: leaves; uses: antitussive, antirheumatic, antiseptic, anxiolytic, antibacterial, antifungal, insomnia, vomiting, high blood pressure, fever; precautions: none known. bouillabaisse, baked apple canelloni. Full bar. MC, V. $$. Karl Strauss Brewery & Garden - Three and one half stars (1000 Universal Center Drive, Universal City, 818-753-2739.) Recommended items: Red trolley chili, black bean soup, beef skewers, chicken lettuce wraps, sausage sampler, Bangkok chicken, cheese steak sandwich, fish and chips fish and chips pl.n. Fried fillets of fish and French-fried potatoes. Noun 1. fish and chips - fried fish and french-fried potatoes dish - a particular item of prepared food; "she prepared a special dish for dinner" , Cajun stew, beer sampler. Full bar. AE, MC, V. $$. italian Cavaliere - Three and one half stars (Red Lion Hotel, 20200 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, 818-676-0885.) Recommended items: Shiitakes and fontina fon·ti·na n. A ripened cheese of variable texture and flavor, originally produced in Italy. [Italian.] cheese, cioppino ciop·pi·no n. pl. ciop·pi·nos A stew made of several kinds of fish and shellfish, tomatoes, and white wine. [Italian, perhaps variant of northwest Italian ciuppin.] , insalata Fiorentina, all ravioli dishes, gnocchi provincia with Gorgonzola sauce, veal chop Milanese, torta della nonna. Beer and wine. AE, MC, V. $$$$. Gioia - Three and one half stars (20969 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-347-3413.) Recommended items: Soups, fagottino di bresaola bre·sao·la n. Sliced salt-cured, air-dried beef that is dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper before serving. [Italian, diminutive of Italian dialectal *bresada (thin-dried beef wrapped around goat cheese), fettuccine with lobster and zucchini, ricotta and spinach dumplings in fresh tomato sauce, pappardelle Pappardelle (sg.: pappardella) are large fettuccine. The name derives from the verb “pappare,” to gobble up. The fresh types are two to three centimetres (¾-1 inch) wide and have fluted edges. Dried egg pappardelle have straight sides. pasta with wild boar sauce, risotto of the day, pastry-covered bowl of fish soup with seafood cooked in parchment, fruit tart. Full bar. AE, MC, V, Transmedia. $$$. Posto - Three and one half stars (14928 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-784-4400.) Recommended items: Parmesan cheese chips, shrimp and lobster cakes, baby octopus in tomato broth, chicken sausage salad, roasted tuna with fat capers, saddle of Carpinteria rabbit, carmelized hazelnut tart. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$$. Rustico - Three and one half stars (1125 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, 818-889-0191.) Recommended items: Soups, cannelloni/manicotti, truccioli, burrata, spezzatino, margherita pizza, bouillabaisse, vermicelli vermicelli: see pasta. , linguine with clams, profiteroles. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$$. Tuscany - Three and one half stars (968-4 Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village, 818-880-5642 or 805-495-2768.) Recommended items: Sweet roasted peppers in garlic sauce, duck corn crepes with orange rind and tarragon, breast of chicken with artichokes or stuffed with mascarpone cheese, veal chop with porcini mushrooms, rack of baby lamb with stone-ground mustard sauce. MC, AE,DC, V. $$$. japanese Katsu-ya - Three and one half stars (11680 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818-985-6976.) Recommended items: Nigiri sushi (tuna, albacore, yellowtail, scallop, regular and spicy) and special rolls (baked scallops, sauteed lobster), tuna tataki sashimi, tuna steak with Japanese salsa, Japanese ceviche, green salmon. Beer and wine. AE, MC, V. $$. Kazu Sushi - Four stars (11440 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818-763-4836.) Recommended items: Regular sushi, hand rolls, crab sunomono, albacore or octopus salad, mountain vegetable salad, combination tempura, mushroom delight, black cod. Sake, beer and wine. All major credit cards. $$. Kobe - Three and one half stars (22984 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-591-8055.) Recommended items: Kaiseki multicourse meal, variety of sushi, ``ohmygod'' sushi roll, garlic and sesame seared tuna sashimi, spicy scallop hand roll (preferably with soybean paper), wild duck (kamo) hot soba, zaru cold soba, smoked herring sushi, tempura. Beer and sake. All major credit cards. $$$. Kushiyu - Four stars (18713 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 818-609-9050.) Recommended items: Kushiyaki appetizers on skewers: chicken, beef, tuna, swordfish, salmon, halibut, shrimp, squid, scallops, smelts, quail egg, mushrooms, onion, clams, pork-wrapped asparagus, green beans and okra. Also nabe (pot-boiled) dishes and variety of deep-fried snacks plus sushi. Beer, wine and sake. MC, V. $$. Makoto Sushi - Three and one half stars (17920 Ventura Blvd., Encino, 818-708-7065.) Recommended items: Sushi, sashimi, oshinko pickles, edamame Edamame is a preparation of immature soybeans in the pod commonly found in China and Japan. The pods are boiled in water together with condiments such as salt, and served whole. soybeans, scallop sashimi, yellowtail collar, baked halibut or barracuda, baby squid in miso sauce, soba, special salads. Beer, wine and sake. Major credit cards. $$. Niko Sushi - Three and one half stars (19001 1/2 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 818-705-0460) Recommended items: Any nigiri sushi snack, lobster roll, spicy tuna roll, live scallop sashimi, seafood salad, blue crab cut roll with soybean paper, spicy tuna wonton, grilled squid, baby yellowtail sushi or sashimi, stuffed eggplant, gyoza gyo·za n. A pocket of dough that is stuffed, as with minced pork or shrimp, and fried. [Japanese.] . Beer and wine. AE, MC, V. $$. Ueru-Ka-Mu - Three and one half stars (19596 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 818-609-0993.) Recommended items: Ebi dango (shrimp balls), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), yaki nasu (grilled Japanese eggplant), gindara yaki (grilled black cod), nasu oroshini (boiled Japanese eggplant), niku jaga (pork and potato in sukiyaki su·ki·ya·ki n. A Japanese dish of sliced meat, bean curd, and vegetables seasoned and fried together. [Japanese : suki, strip (from suku, to be thin) + yaku, sauce), spicy calamari salad, tuna and cucumber with vinegared miso dressing, deep-fried soft-shell crab. Beer, wine, sake. MC, V. $$. Yamakawa - Four stars (10118 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, 818-763-8355.) Recommended items: Gyoza (dumplings), yellowtail collar, marinated tuna, black cod, assorted sushi and sashimi, salmon skin salad, live lobster, fried tofu, tuna steak, grilled beef in brandy sauce, skewered seafood, bento box meals, banana tempura. MC, V. $$. korean Cho Eun (Evergreen) - Three and one half stars (17621 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 818-708-0099.) Recommended items: Uncurdled bean curd soup, barbecued pork with hot sauce, Korean sausage (soo dae) soup, beef and mountain herbs over rice, steamed wonton platter, seafood and green onion pancake Green onion pancake is a Chinese snack consisting of a non-leavened, salty flatbread infused with oil and minced scallions (green onions). Unlike a true pancake, it is made from dough instead of batter, similar to the Indian paratha. The western name is "scallion pancake. . No alcohol. Major credit cards. $. mexican El Abuelo - Four stars (452 N. Maclay Ave., San Fernando, 818-365-8283.) Recommended items: Sopes, carne en su jugo, tamales, mole poblano, enchiladas rancheras, taquitos tapatios, tostada with pork adobada, albondigas, pozole po·zo·le n. Variant of posole. , cake of the day, fresh juices and Mexican soft beverages. Cash only. $. El Trocadero Mesquite Steakhouse - Three and one half stars (24274 San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the , Newhall, 626-284-6615.) Recommended items: Queso fundido with chorizo, soups, flank steak, ribeye steak, grilled quails, grilled tri-tip steak, quince with cheese. Full bar. AE, MC, V, Discover. $$. La Parrilla - Three and one half stars (19601 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 818-708-7422. Also in East L.A.) Recommended items: Grilled filete Veracruz, seasoned beef with glazed plantain plantain (plăn`tĭn), any plant of the genus Plantago, chiefly annual or perennial weeds of wide distribution. Many species are lawn pests and the pollen is often a hay fever irritant. P. , marinated pork steak, a Mexican version of an English mixed grill, seafood soup. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$. La Paz - Three and one half stars (4505 Las Virgenes Canyon Road, Calabasas, 818-880-8076.) Recommended items: Whole fried fish, whole fish Veracruz style, whole fish in garlic, soup of the seven seas, seafood enchiladas, pork Yucatan style, barbecued goat, goat tacos. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$. Sharky's Mexican Grill - Four stars (13238 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-785-2533. Also in Woodland Hills, Northridge, Tarzana and Hollywood.) Fast food. Recommended items: Mahi mahi or shark burritos and tacos, charbroiled steak tacos, shrimp or shark quesadillas, chicken tostadas, chicken taquitos, black or pinto beans. No alcohol. Cash. $. middle eastern Araz - Four stars (11717 Moorpark St., Studio City, 818-766-1336.) Lebanese/Armenian. Recommended items: Lentil soup, yogurt dip, moutabel, tarator chicken, soujouk, mouhamarra dip, lamb tongue, falafel fa·la·fel or fe·la·fel n. 1. Ground spiced chickpeas shaped into balls and fried. 2. A sandwich filled with such a mixture. , shish kebab, souvlaki Noun 1. souvlaki - made of lamb souvlakia kabob, kebab, shish kebab - cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables , quail, marinated chicken breast, stuffed zucchini, eggplant plate, baklava, Armenian coffee. No alcohol. MC, V. $. Koko's - Three and one half stars (13661 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, 818-997-8152.) Armenian specialties. Recommended items: Soujouk, baba-ghannouj, lamb tongue, barbecued quails, kebabs (minced beef, lamb or chicken), seasoned ground beef items, jumbo shrimp, whole fish, baklava. No alcohol. All major credit cards. $$. Olympia Kebab House - Three and one half stars (10658 Zelzah Ave., Granada Hills, 818-360-9993.) Recommended items: Moutabel, bastourma, mouhamara, dolma dol·ma n. pl. dol·mas or dol·ma·des A fruit or vegetable, especially a grape leaf or cabbage leaf, cooked with a filling of ground meat, herbs, or rice. [Turkish, filling.] , dalakh, salads, soujouk, beef or lamb kebab, chicken kebab, combo kebab plate, lamb chops, whole cornish hen, baklava. No alcohol. AE, MC, V. $$. seafood Delmonico's Lobster House - Three and one half stars (16358 Ventura Blvd., Encino, 818-986-0777.Also in Beverly Hills.) Recommended items: Maine lobster bisque, spicy ahi tuna tartare, Maine lobster stuffed portobello mushroom, steamed Maine lobster, lobster linguini, Maine lobster and filet mignon combination plate. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$$$. Fins Creekside - Three and one half stars (23504 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, 818-223-3467. Also in Westlake Village.) Recommended items Cajun gumbo, tomato and anchovy salad, raw oysters, signature swordfish with mushrooms, macadamia-crusted halibut with Thai peanut sauce, garlic New York steak, lazy man bouillabaisse, warmed pecan pie. Full bar. AE, MC, V. $$$. King's Fish House - Three and one half stars (4798 Commons Way, Calabasas, 818-225-1979.) Recommended items: Chowders or gazpacho, ceviche, seared ahi tuna appetizer, daily selection of oysters, grilled artichoke, cioppino, Maine lobster, scallop and shrimp brochette bro·chette n. 1. A small skewer or spit used to broil or roast meat, fish, or vegetables. 2. Food broiled or roasted on a small skewer or spit. , char-broiled thresher shark, bread pudding, chocolate cake. Full bar. All major credit cards. $$$. south american La Portena - Three and one half stars (16150 Nordhoff St., North Hills, 818-920-3894.) Recommended items: Argentine specialties: Empanadas, Picada assortment platter, milanesa de pollo, parrillada, sorrentinos pasta, filet of whole fish, panqueques. Beer and wine. Major credit cards. $$. thai Sate - Four stars (11044 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818-985-9544.) Recommended items: Sate (chicken or beef), mee krob, kra ton torng (stuffed pastry shells), shrimp sticks, yam yai, roast duck curry, yellow chicken curry, pad thai, sweet and sour sweet and sour adj → agridulce fish, crispy pompano, spicy scallops, noodles in spicy peanut sauce. No alcohol. AE, MC, V. $. Takzin Thai - Three and one half stars (18594 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 818-757-1514.) Recommended items: Chicken or beef satay, honey ribs, Tarzana roll, triangle Thai, tom yum kai soup, mushroom pork, Takzin steak, scallops (with garlic and mushrooms or bell pepper and chili), whole pomfret Bangkok fish, duck curry, pad thai, spicy noodle, pineapple fried rice. Beer and wine. All major credit cards. $$. vietnamese Pho So 1 - Three and one half stars (6450 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, 818-989-6377. Also in Reseda, Alhambra and Las Vegas.) Recommended items: Seven courses of beef, rice noodle soup with chicken, charbroiled pork and egg roll with rice vermicelli and vegetable, special pork rice paper roll Vietnamese-style ham, beef and shrimp marinated with lemon grass and cooked with table-top griddle, durian durian, the highly esteemed, edible fruit of Durio zibethinus. The edible portions are the seeds found inside the large spiny fruits, which may weigh several pounds. shake. Beer. MC, V. $. CAPTION(S): 7 photos Photo: (1 -- 7) no caption (restaurant items) |
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