From vegan places to a single man serving up burgers for over 5 decades, Van Nuys is home to one of the most diverse culinary scenes in the Los Angeles area. With so many places to try and so many options, it can be hard to decide where to eat.
Well, no worries! We have rounded up the top 11 restaurants in Van Nuys, California. We raided their menus so you can know exactly what to order as well as tricks of the trade to ensure that you have the best experience possible.
Read on to discover your next favorite lunch or dinner location in Van Nuys!
12 Best Van Nuys Restaurants:
Pho So 1
Pho So 1 is one of the best restaurants in Van Nuys and one restaurant that I find myself going to at least 1-2x per week.
They are serving the best bowl of pho in the valley and can be a contender for one of the best pho in all of Los Angeles. The broth is thick and rich and doesn’t need the aid of hoisin sauce or sriracha to to lend it flavor. The brisket, the tendon, tripe, meatballs and the herbs harmonize perfectly to give you a phenomenal tasting experience.
Besides the pho, they have tons of classic Vietnamese classics, including: broken rice dishes, vermicelli, egg rolls and crepes. Everything is exceptionally tasty and there is little to no items that I would not order.
6450 Sepulveda Blvd Van Nuys, CA 91411
Corner Grille
Looking for a Korean fusion restaurant to blow your mind (and tastebuds)? Well, Corner Grille has been serving up mouth watering and mind bending Korean BBQ, tacos, and burgers since 2016 and is easily one of the best places to eat in Van Nuys.
Located in a strip mall, this laid back, quick service restaurant provides delicious food quickly and efficiently in ways that you wouldn’t think exist!
Try a Kalbi burger made of tender Korean beef and served on a warm Hawaiian bun. The meat is so tender that it falls apart in your mouth. You can also try any one of their number of Korean BBQ tacos, paired with made in house salsas.
8261 Sepulveda Blvd Panorama City, CA 91402
Costa Grande
Hot Cheetos inside a burrito? While it may sound strange, Costa Grande customers swear by it! In fact, almost every item on the menu has a cult following.
One patron ordered their delicious breakfast burritos and loved them so much, decided to order dinner as well! Go see what all the hype is about for yourself.
If hot Cheetos in your burrito aren’t your thing, choose one of the more traditional Mexican entrees like fish tacos or a chicken burrito. You can’t go wrong!
7139 Sepulveda Blvd Van Nuys, CA 91405
Ay Papa Que Rico
What began as a small family owned restaurant has now expanded to 4 locations is a local favorite among Van Nuys Restaurants.
Any Papa Que Rico’s very own Chris Rodriguez created the signature Cuban flavored chicken that is now known as the “fire-grilled chicken.” This flavor combination has drawn in crowds for years.
After mastering the chicken, the restaurant has moved on to making everything on their menu delicious and unique. Ribs, rice, beans, platano maduro, and sandwiches all quickly have become crowd favorites. There is simply nothing on their menu that is not delicious and bursting in flavor!
7344 Van Nuys Blvd Ste 1 Van Nuys, CA 91405
AYCE Gogi
One of the more fun ways to try a new cuisine is to cook it yourself! That is exactly the type of experience you can expect at AYCE Gogi, one of the best Korean BBQ restaurants in Van Nuys.
They offer all you can eat options of beef, chicken, pork, and seafood that they will marinate and cut for you. Once the meat is ready to be cooked, they will bring it to your table, where you will cook it with the Korean BBQ on your table!
All the delicious meats are served with your choice of many traditional sides like bibimbap, fried rice, spicy garlic noodles, and steamed eggs.
Box Thai Street Food
What looks like an unassuming Thai restaurant from the outside is one of Van Nuys’ best kept secrets! Box Thai Street Food has been dazzling people’s taste buds for years with their amazing play on classic Thai flavors.
Whether you are hoping to enjoy chicken satay (which we totally recommend) or try something exotic like their new pineapple curry, there is something for everyone on their extensive menu. The best part is, every single item is unbelievably delicious.
If you are hoping to beat the crowds that line up to enjoy Chef Poo’s expertise, you can make a reservation online!
16851 Victory Blvd Ste 6 Van Nuys, CA 91406
Moms Haus
Looking for an escape to the Big Easy? Mom’s Haus is bringing all the flavors of New Orleans to the Valley!
When you walk in to the Mardi Gras themed restaurant and hear the jazz music playing, you know you are in for a great time with even better food. No one does southern hospitality like Mom’s.
Enjoy southern classics like gumbo, shrimp and grits, and etouffee and end on the sweet note of peach cobbler or a sweet potato pie. You will feel like you really are in the bayou!
Mom’s Haus easily lands on our lists of Van Nuys restaurants that you don’t want to miss!
14062 Vanowen St Van Nuys, CA 91405
The Drunken Crab
The Drunken Crab is one of our favorite Van Nuys restaurants when it comes to great seafood.
They specializes in seafood by the pound, all cooked together in delicious spices and seasonings before it is served to the table.
The Drunken Crab offers more than just seafood boils, they offer an experience. While this style of eating is generally reserved for vacation in Louisiana, they have brought it to the Valley!
Enjoy your seafood boil “Louisiana Style” and enjoy your choice of shrimp, clams, crawdads, lobsters, or mussels served with corn on the cob, sausage, and potatoes for a true Cajun meal this side of the bayou!
13350 Sherman Way North Hollywood, CA 91605
Salsa & Beer
If you are looking for authentic Mexican food with a laid back cantina style feel, you need to check out Salsa and Beer. A longtime staple in the Van Nuy area, this is a place you do not want to miss.
Treat yourself with the free bean dip, chips, and a salsa bar as you wait for any number of large portioned entrees to arrive hot and ready from the kitchen.
Choose from 12 types of fajitas, over 11 types of tacos, and any combination of traditional Mexican meals you can think of. Just when you think you have reached the end of decisions, you see the extensive list of imported Mexican beers.
Plan ahead, Salsa and Beer is one of the most popuplar Van Nuys Restaurants and is not a well keep secret and is known to have lines and wait times during peak hours. But it is so worth the wait!
6740 White Oak Ave Van Nuys, CA 91406
El Cocinero
Doing what no other Mexican restaurant in Van Nuys has set out to do before, El Cocinero is taking vegan food to a whole new level.
People will line up just to get a taste of the best $5 tacos in the San Fernando Valley and the best part is, no animals were harmed in the making of these must eat meals.
El Cocinero has all the traditional Mexican meats, al pastor, asada, chicken, carnitas, chicharrón and birria, available with or without gluten, creating an all inclusive eating experience.
Enjoy your meal with a delicious agua fresca in horchata or Jamaica flavor. Either will help take the edge off if you’re hoping to play it risky with the delicious spice blends in your tacos!
If you are looking for one of the best vegan Restaurants in Van Nuys, look no futher than El Cocinero.
Bill’s Hamburgers
What may seem like a tiny and common burger shack on the outside, houses Van Nuys best burger restaurant. Take a step back in time and enjoy a classic burger made with love by Bill’s Hamburgers very own Bill Elwell.
Bill has been flipping burgers on his one of a kind griddle since 1965, and now well into his 90’s, can still be found where loyal patrons have seen him for 6 decades (at the time of publication).
The wait time may be long, since it is just Bill back there, but the food is worth it! Some of the best burgers and the cheapest lunch you will find in Van Nuys. However, they only accept cash, so plan ahead if you are hoping to enjoy one of these iconic burgers before Bill calls it quits.
14742 Oxnard St Van Nuys, CA 91411
Dr. Hogly Wogly’s BBQ
If you are looking for the best bbq restaurant in Van Nuys, look no further than Dr. Hogly Wogly’s.
Known for their amazing fall off the bone meat that is dry rubbed with a spice blend of 13 spices and then marinated in a home made BBQ sauce, it is no wonder that they run out of their famous meat almost daily!
When everything is slow cooked in a brick smoker for 14 hours, the menu is far from fast food. However, Dr. Hogly Wogly’s BBQ is full of friendly staff members who provide great quality of service.
Enjoy a classic beef brisket or BBQ chicken and see what all the fuss is about! Don’t forget to pair your meal with coleslaw or home made baked beans for a true BBQ experience.
Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit.
She has been living the van life for 3 years and has not looked back since.
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