Restaurants near Lake Balboa

“The food! I live in NY and have to say, this off beat exquisit inconspicuous little gem can’t be found there. No hype, great atmosphere, creative authentic food. I’ll be back!”

“I used to go to the OG location in North Hollywood so I was thrilled when this location opened up. If you love tea, their selection is awesome and they’ll do their own blends that are super refreshing. Their pastry selection is on point and I love that they’ll make breakfast sandwiches. It’s a bummer there isn’t much space to stick around and enjoy your beverage while you work or something, so don’t expect a big space. But it’s still delightful and I’m so glad there’s a good coffee shop in the area that isn’t a giant corporation.”

“Fantastic food, fair prices, friendly service. Thank you, Sam and the staff, we enjoyed the food and the company. The place feels warm. The food we took to our fellows in the office got many compliments. Thank you,”

“Was thrilled to find a place with so many vegan and vegetarian options for a bunch of new food I've never tried before! We asked for some recommendations and the ladies explained what each dish was and offered samples. In the end, we went with the Armenian potato salad, mujadara, itch / eech, and lahmajun - all were tasty, but the eech was my favorite. Looking forward to trying more!”

“Black Heart Coffee is a hidden gem in Lake Balboa with some of the best coffee around! Their menu features healthy, fresh ingredients, and their breakfast and lunch options are top-notch. The cozy, cute interior adds to the overall vibe, making it perfect for either dine-in or takeout. I often meet friends and clients here for coffee or lunch, and the atmosphere is always welcoming. I love the portobello sandwich for lunch and avocado toast for breakfast. There are so many menu items I have yet to try. The prices are great, and the staff is super friendly. Plus, they offer additional parking in the back or on nearby residential streets, making it convenient for any visit. Highly recommend”

“This place has brought me good luck and good food.”

“The whole experience food service is professional and kind”

“The interior is beautiful and the drinks are great! However, a downside is the baristas they tend to hire have horrible attitudes. They tend to have stank faces and don’t say “please” or “thank you”. I normally don’t care and come here often but lately it’s been getting very rude. So watch out 😂”

“Omg the most delicious breakfast I have ever had , mr jamshid is the kindest person, thank you always and appreciate your neatness for this wonderful restaurant”

“Thanks for the delicious “mummy quesitos”. They were a hit!!! at the party. And of course one of our puertorrican treats!!!� Thanks so much.”

“Best cakes and desserts in the SFV, we get goodies from Wendy for all our dessert needs!”

“The food is always super fresh & tasty, absolutely recommend you try them out, best mariscos around👌”

“Super friendly, very clean place, great atmosphere, plus there boba is Yummy 😋”

“Very friendly and healthy atmosphere me and my guests had a blessed. Amazing food, beautiful hall”

“I first tried to come here on the grand opening but was super busy. I figured I wait a little before trying it so it isn’t too busy. Today I finally decided to give it a shot and I was not disappointed. Jay was super friendly and helpful. I arrived a little early for the order and he assured me it’ll be ready in a few minutes. The pizza was really good along with the wings. Definitely will be coming back!”

“Very good food Tasty, pretty good everything”

“Nothing like a late night burger at Fatburger. Server was Very friendly and nice. Especially for late night. Food was just the right thing for the late night craving. Music inside was a good mix. Absolutely the right mood to end the night.”

“The employees at thus location are so amazing. I personally consider them family to me at this point. I love these guys and gals. Love , T Aka Dopio over ice in a venti cup with a nitro lid ☕️”

“Went there for a little date on Halloween and didn’t disappoint. I had the mushrooms and my partner the duck, both were very delicious.
I think some more classy better quality cutlery and candle holders would help the place reflect the fancy vibe they want.
There’s lots of parking space around”

“#AmazingBar #ORBarWEHO 🥰”

“Good time for my family when we visit L.A”

“Great spot for lunch or dinner”

“Wonderful find at the Hammer museum. Menu changes daily and is very creative. We enjoyed every course. They offer a fixed prix menu if three courses or an ala carte option. I believe the three course fixed prix option was $75.”

“Great Food, Disappointing Service — A Missed Opportunity

Saltie Girl has a well-earned reputation for exceptional food, and in that regard, it delivered. Every dish that came out of the kitchen was flavorful and beautifully presented — the oysters, in particular, were a standout.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the service.

After ordering a bottle of wine, it took over 20 minutes for our server to return, only to inform us that the manager would be retrieving the wine. Another 10 minutes passed before she reappeared — not with the wine we ordered, but with a different, more expensive bottle. Rather than apologizing for the mix-up or offering it at the original price as a courtesy, the switch was presented matter-of-factly. A gesture of goodwill here would have gone a long way.

To make matters worse, our oyster order was mishandled — not once, but twice — with incorrect counts and missing varieties. For a restaurant that charges premium prices, these details matter. Guests expect not only excellent food, but also attentive, polished service to match.

In the end, the meal was delicious, but the experience left a bitter aftertaste. I truly hope management takes this feedback seriously and invests in training their staff. As much as I enjoyed the food, I won’t be returning until the service rises to the level of the kitchen. Dining here should feel seamless — not like a constant series of corrections.”

“Wonderful service and outstanding food.”

“You can always expect to have a fabulous time at Haidilao. While this chain can be more expensive than normal for hot pot, you will always know what you're getting when dining at Haidilao - high-quality, consistent, and above-average hot pot. It's like the Din Tai Fung of hot pot, and most folks would tend to agree. It's beloved for good reason.

I would suggest going with a large group, as you'll have the opportunity to try more dishes than you normally would if you had gone with a smaller group of 2 or so. Plus, it's always more fun in a larger group, in my opinion. Additionally, I definitely recommend being careful not to over-order, as it happens more often than not. Remember: You can always order more later!

I've been to Haidilao twice now and I definitely would add this to my roster of easy, group-friendly dinner ideas if you're looking for soup during a cold winter night (or any night, for that matter).

Overall, I'm a big fan of Haidilao and strongly encourage you all to check it out!”

“Excellent food and service. Thank you!”

“I just ordered for the first time today and I must say your food is fantastic! Generous portion with pickles and delicious soft boiled eggs, pickles, puréed fresh tomatoes and a small amount of hot sauce that isn’t too hot. Just right. Went to your place near corner of Van Nuys and Burbank. HIGHLY RECCOMENDED”

“Delicious authentic Roman cuisine …”

“Delicious food and super friendly staff. I would highly recommend”