In this weekend's New York Times Travel section, Saveur's Editor at Large David McAnnich penned a piece on why the San Fernando Valley is one of L.A.'s most underrated gems.
"Sure, it’s got strip malls and strip clubs in equal abundance, and it lacks the chic cachet that so many people associate with Los Angeles. But that lack of hipness is exactly its charm," says McAnnich.
Though we're happy to see that McAnnich gave some love to the suburban sprawl that exists outside of Hollywood, the story is highly North-end centric, and considering he's the editor at large at a food-focused publication, there are a lot of great restaurants he missed.
McAnnich did mention the classic Brent's Deli in Northridge, but he forgot about the heaps of amazing Israli and Persian restaurants that the Valley has to offer, like Itzik Hagadol or Hummus Bar and Grill. And what about the fresh tofu and soymilk-making Vinh Loi in Reseda, or the handmade organic pasta purveyors at Cafe Carolina? And don't forget the South side (Encino, Studio City, and Sherman Oaks), which has become home to great craft beer bars (Laurel Tavern, Boneyard Bistro, Blue Dog Beer Tavern, and the Local Peasant), craft cocktails (Bow and Truss and Black Market Liquor Bar), and even Ludo-worthy pop-ups.
When it came to markets, Mexican superstore Vallarta got a shout out, but what about Canoga Park's India Sweets and Spices or the massive family-owned Tapia Brothers produce stand that's served Encino since 1985?
Of course, as writers we understand that there are word counts, and there's a lot of ground to cover out in the Val. But not venturing outside of Northridge would be a mistake for anyone traveling all the way across country for a tour of the SFV.
Let us know about some of your favorite Valley gems in the comments section.
