Hungry?

Do you have a favorite Neighborhood Mom and Pop Restaurant?

SFV Granny’s favorite food is sushi. Husband’s is Mexican. The Valley is filled with many family-owned restaurants specializing in these crowd-pleasers — practically on every corner it seems in our search for Husband’s perfect chili relleno. Of course, since many folks living in the Valley originally came from other countries, we have a wide variety of ethnic cuisine to choose from. But every now and then SFV Granny needs to get some BBQ ribs, and some of those places have been around longer than me!

SFV Granny’s Comfort Foods

Sushi For You: (818)-343-2850. 18052 Saticoy Street. Reseda 91335 Central SFV

SFV Granny has been going to this little place since it opened. Whenever I’m near the vicinity, the car automatically makes a detour to eat here. Who knows how many sushis the owner has rolled to send his son through college — he graduated in June. For me, it’s the plump rice!

Los Burritos: (818) 353-0834. 6583 Foothill Blvd. Tujunga 91042 NE SFV

Currently, Husband’s favorite chili rellenos among dozens of restaurants. I like the beans, which is my test of a Mexican place. My mom loves the shredded pork tacos, if you’re not a rellenos fan. Last time we were in, there were a couple of Glendale police in the back booth chowing down. That was a big endorsement!

Chinese Garden Delight: (818) 349-2221. 8241 Tampa Avenue. Reseda 91335 Central SFV

Brother-In-Law discovered this gem years ago before the owners even had kids. They offered a scrumptious honey/walnut shrimp long before Panda Express came out with it. By far, that’s SFV Granny’s favorite dish, though everything is delicious. Parking is tight in a small corner lot. The food is prepared from scratch, so be patient. When grandkids are in tow, we take stuff to do while waiting.

The Great Wall Chinese Restaurant:(818) 996-8900. 18331 Sherman Way. Reseda 91335 Central SFV

For SFV Granny, it’s the Mu Shu Pork. Ask for extra pancakes to roll up the yummy pork filling. This is a traditionally decorated Chinese restaurant, with a traditional menu. No wonder they host so many family events. They’ve even been in the movies!

My Brother’s Bar-B-Q: (818)-348-2020. 21150 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills 91364 SW SFV

When we first moved to the Valley years ago, retired friends took us to their long-favorite place. Maybe they’ve been going there since the McGuire family opened in 1957. They must have been about the only restaurant around in those days in Girard (now Woodland Hills). Homemade sauce, pit barbeque style.

Breakfast

More Than Waffles: (818) 789-5937. 17200 Ventura Blvd #109. Encino 91316 S Central SFV

The secret about this place is knowing where to find it! You have to park in the Encino Town Center lot (first mall ever on Ventura Blvd.), then walk through to the lower level in the bottom corner. Always busy! Especially challenging to get seated on the patio, but the inside is Americana. The other food may be great, but SFV Granny goes for their original family Belgian waffle recipe. Light and airy since 1975.

CiCi’s Cafe: (818) 881-670 4. 18912 Ventura Blvd. Tarzana 91356 S Central SFV

It’s the pumpkin! Not many places use that as a standard ingredient, so that’s why SFV Granny orders pumpkin french toast. Smacking my lips while writing this, it’s so good. If you must go on a weekend morning because the unbelievable breakfast menu calls you out of bed, prepare for a long wait and a tiny parking lot in this strip mall. Sit at the bar, as there’s not much room.

Bakery/ Lunch

Porto’s Bakery Burbank:(818) 846-9100. 3614 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank 91505 SE SFV

Porto’s Bakery & Cafe: (818) 956-5996. 315 N. Brand Blvd. Glendale 91203

If you live in SFV, you’ve no doubt been to Porto’s. The lines spill out onto the sidewalks for good reason — the potato balls! The bakery goods are luscious for the eye and mouth. There’s nothing more to say about this wildly successful Cuban family bakery.

Pizza.

Sadly, SFV Granny’s favorite place closed in the summer… a tasty crust is everything when you’ve been eating this food since college days (devoured Shakey’s way back in the mid-70s). Currently, the pizza that calls to me is over the hill, out of the Valley. C’mon, the gourmet crust is made with sweet potato and is soft on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside. So, currently looking for a new delectable Valley pizza. What’s your favorite, to-die-for recommendation?

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