Sometimes I have a really hard time remembering the 100 or so restaurants I want to try when it comes time to actually pick a place. Maybe you do, too. My reviews should help you with that. And for me, there's this ever-evolving list of the untried, which not only serves as a reminder, but fulfills my compulsive need to organize everything. This list is not exhaustive, of course, and recommendations are always appreciated.
Encino
Cafe Carolina
Katsu-Ya
Hirosuke
Stevie's Creole
Tempo Mediterranean
Van Nuys
El Rincon Chileno
El Parron (Chilean)
El Criollo (Cuban)
Mercado Buenos Aires
Green Oaks Korean BBQ
Tacos el Jerezano (5973 Hazeltine)
El Trapiche (pupusas)
pupusa place on Van Nuys near Vanowen in IHOP building
Puro Sabor (Peruvian on Van Nuys)
Elsewhere in the Valley
The Great Taste (7141 Kester)
Ole Tapas Bar (Studio City, live flamenco Tue. nights)
Wine tasting at Artisan Cheese Gallery
Wine Bistro ($39, Studio City)
Tama Sushi
Nata's Pastries
Clay Oven
India Cafe
Taste of India
Bollywood
Iwata Sushi (Ventura and Van Nuys)
Leaf Cuisine
Oliva
Panzanella
La Pergola
Coffee Roaster
Pane Dolce
Lula's Beehive
Sushi House of Taka
Santa Monica/Brentwood/Venice
A Votre Sante
Vicenti
Urth Caffe
The Counter
Cora's Coffee Shop (Ocean Ave)
La Botte ($55)
Le Petit Cafe ($32)
Taiko (sushi, $27)
U-Zen
Culver City
K-Zo
Bottle Rock
Vinum Populi
Beacon
Pasadena
Firefly Bistro
Tibet Nepal House
The Venezie ($53)
Crepevine
La Huatesca (upscale Mexican)
Zephyr Coffeehouse
Other
Campanile ($70, La Brea)
Bin 8945 (WeHo)
Susina Bakery ($14, La Brea)
La Boheme ($50, WeHo)
Grace ($60, WeHo)
Sona ($80, WeHo)
Los Balcones del Peru ($20, Hollywood)
Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles
Golden Deli (Vietnamese, San Gabriel)
Hatfield's
La Paella
A.O.C.
Chosun Galbee (3330 W Olympic Blvd)
BCD Tofu House (3575 Wilshire Blvd)
Soot Bull Jeep (3136 W. 8th, b/t Normandie and Vermont)
Meals by Genet (Little Ethiopia)
Lee's Sandwiches (Westminister)
