50 Best American Restaurants near Lake Balboa

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

“Believe it or not this location is a hidden gem. The lady who works here is so nice and gives you very good service. They have burgers, beerlf, turkey patties, chicken, and impossible burgers. There shakes and buffalo are good too. They even have vegan burgers and vegan milkshakes. The lemonade and watermelon strawberry lemonade are made fresh. The booths themselves could uses a little TLC but everything is kept very clean. They are also right around the corner from Sky Zone if you need to grab a quick bite before or after some bounce time. I also like that they are open late. There is also a kids menu.“

“Such a wonderful vegan oasis in the San Fernando Valley! As locals know vegan offerings in the valley are limited compared with the rest of the city. I am so happy that I found this place I will be coming here often! Great food and atmosphere all around!“

“What a wonderful restaurant! It's in the Hammer Museum, but there's no museum fee. Just go to the second floor and it's a new world. Calm, wonderful menu that varies weekly, fabulous service, lovely wines and non alcoholic drinks. We will definitely be back“

“An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Spago Beverly Hills“

“My brother and I had the most amazing night of superb jazz and food this past Sunday, entertained by Betty Bryant and ensemble. Her fingers moved like liquid gold on the keyboard and her compositions were witty and mesmerizing. The word that kept coming to mind as they performed was "subtle." The music was powerful, but so discrete as to be gentle and gentile. Woodwinds, Bass, and Drums - all played with the kind of delight that makes everyone love the performers as well as the music. As for food, one dish stood out particularly: the creamed spinach with blue cheese. Please tell Chef I would love that recipe! I'm back home in Tennessee now and plan to attempt to copy it, but having the authentic recipe to serve to friends when we entertain would be over the top! Can't wait to visit my brother in LA again and return to Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill, Jazz, Etc. Just wow! And Thank You!“

“I have dined here twice, once for breakfast(which was amazing) and once for dinner. My recent visit was two weeks ago for dinner for my sister's birthday. Our food was absolutely scrumptious, everything we ordered was extremely DELICIOUS. There were five of us and all of us enjoyed our selections. The best part of our dining experience was our dining attendant, Michael. He was attentive, joyous, professional, knowledgeable, fun and gave awesome recommendations! We will be back very soon.
You must try:
**SHORT RIB POTSTICKERS( the sauce is divine)
Brussel sprouts
Japanese sweet potatoes(flavor town express)
Shrimp cocktail(trust me)
Braised short rib
Lemon chicken
Bread pudding (elevated classic)
Butter cake( one of the best we've had)“

“If you’re going to the Academy Museum for a visit or a screening make sure to stop at Fanny’s (located inside the museum’s first floor) for a coffee, snack or meal. They have a cafe and restaurant, both offering quality food and beverages and a full bar. The restaurant has comfortable seating options and the cafe offers outdoor seating. The service is friendly and attentive. You’ll definitely have a great time and a good meal!“

“excellent service. very rich“

“The menu are all small plates, delicious doesn’t matter what you order. The place was packed on a Monday night, a sign of good food and good service. The parking is $11 for dinner. In Los Angeles, this is very fair.“

“Great owner,staff,food,locations! Conscientious of patrons allergies, and very safe for celiac's“

“I'm hearing VERY PROMISING reviews about the quality of the waffles here, yes. I'm being told that the waffle quality is near (or surpassing!) the standards required.“

“Love the burgers and sushi.“

“The artistic name of the bistro matches the artistry and delicious flavors of the cuisine. A threesome: vegetarian, vegan, and carnivore found a multitude of savory options. Our waiter/thesbian: Chris was charming and anticipated our every request. Foreseeing a return.“

“I celebrated Mother’s Day on the 12th of May 2024 at Joey in Woodland Hills. Very friendly atmosphere. Friendly welcoming . We had a very good and friendly service from Kavin. Good food. Nice presentation.“

“Exellent !!!!!!! Good service !!!!“

“TLDR: good food, okay service.

I'll start with the good 😊 My husband and I have come here quite a bit throughout the years and have attended a handful of the special events they've put together. They had a rum event where they paired dishes with a variety of rum tastings. It was a great date night and nights like that will keep us coming back. I also remember a delicious to-go Valentine's box during covid that was so thoughtful and delicious. We have enjoyed tasting every dish we've been able to try.

A couple of our favorites have been the smoked trout on ciabatta and the ricotta gnudi. The smoked trout is a hearty bite but somehow light at the same time haha. It's craveable. We like it as a starter or if we're still feeling hungry after a few other dishes. The ricotta gnudi however, is sooo rich and satisfying after a few bites, making it a very decadent and shareable plate. It's probably too much for only two people but we still eat all five pieces and only feel a little guilty after. I give 5 out of 5 stars for the food here.

With that being said, we recently went to try Antonia's winning dishes from ToC. We ordered both dishes and felt like they were probably better when Antonia made them haha. The sausage didn't have a great texture and both dishes needed salt but overall, they weren't bad and I'm happy we tried them.

I think they fall a little short in customer service and possibly staffing. We have had a couple of good interactions but on the norm, it seems like they are understaffed in areas. This is the reason I'm giving 4 stars vs 5. Well, that and because we'll often book a reservation online but when we show up, we have unfortunately been seated at the worst tables. It's usually the smallest table they have and in a very noisy location. Maybe we have had bad luck. Maybe it's because we're two small people without a dog, so they think we'll be happy crammed into the smallest spot they have?

This last visit, we were lead to an indoor table that was sandwiched between two large groups. On one side, the table was about an inch away from someone's back. On the other side, there was a group of about 12 girls having a bachelorette party and scream laughing. We just knew it would be hard to have a conversation there, so we asked about seating outside. They accommodated us by seating us at maybe the next worst table haha. It was just outside the front door but we knew it would be 100% better than where we were. We appreciate them moving us 🙏

I guess the point to that story is, be vocal on where you want to sit. Also, your chances of getting a good table seems to increase if you bring your dog haha, which is unfortunate.

Oh! And as far as parking goes, it's a little hard to find a spot but they offer valet. The area around the restaurant is super cute if you want to walk around a bit before or after your meal. I recommend checking out Color Me Mine just down the street for a nice date night.“

“Excellent service and enjoyed the St. Patrick’s Day Menu! Thank you for a great experience.“

“Terrible place duchie not mad“

“The food is phenomenal!! Everything is amazing“

“Thank you so much 😊 🥃🥃🥃🥤🍷🍷“

“The experience was good, and some bites were amazing, but once you enter the second part I found it a bit inconsistent.

Tartare was too salty, and didn’t taste like it belonged at this price point. The mixed pairing was a bit confusing. It felt like there wasn’t enough for the price and the wine pours were incredibly stingy. The white wine pour in particular was so small I thought it was for the one dish, but it was for two, and they didn’t even top me up.

Ultimately the food is pretty good, but it’s not good enough for the price, and being forced into a mediocre pairing sucks.“

“The service was top notch. There is also a rooftop pool overlooking the city. Cool!☺“

“Great tasting food! Highly recommended.“

“😃very clean place to visit“

“Food, service, and ambiance: well-deserved five stars. Try the brie and truffle baguette - it's finger-licking good. In general, I recommend ordering shareables like their charcuterie plate.“

“One of my absolute favorites from home. The best staff ever, amazing food and more. My final meal before moving to Texas was here shared with great friends and family. Flying back next month for the first time since I moved a year ago and ALREADY a meal or two here has been in the group text!“

“Great service @ amazing food!“

“Craig’s is our go to place to dine and celebrate all important occasions. It is truly our home away from home close to where we reside. Craig and his team are like family. The food and service are excellent and always consistent. This is definitely an incredible place for people watching as well. Thank you Craig for always warmly welcoming us.“

“great place to visit and dine it’s an icon“

“Upscale but relaxed and casual- nice vibes. We had a great view of the open kitchen from where we sat.“

“The bar at the Valley Inn is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in LA. Yes, it’s tiny but get there early, secure your seat and you’re in for a ride of the greatest cocktails served up by a ladies and gentlemen’s gentleman - the maker with the shaker, Bill. Seriously, make a friend of this guy and then introduce him and the bar to your favorite people - only your favorite people! The food in the restaurant is great but a tad expensive but the bar will become your new happy place. Bravo“

“The holy land of Hollywood. Canter’s is a staple of Los Angeles, and has been visited by many of the greats and legends. With an extremely impressive menu list, you will be happy with whatever you get. The pastry counter is excellent with some great black and white cookies.“

“Absolutely amazing place!! 🥰“

“Excellent food and service.“

“Excellent customer service . Food is delicious , all waitress are very attentive. Recommend“

“We are visiting town from Texas and ran across Irvs burgers in Balboa. Service was friendly and quick. Breakfast burritos was perfect and the patty melt was amazing. Definitely recommend the chili cheese fries as well. The manager was friendly and welcoming! Thank you for your hospitality, quick eat, and delicious ice ice cream!“

“Friendly great food and cheerful! I laughed!!“

“Great food, Great outside patio. Counter service is good, once you get your food though best not expect anything else in terms of service. We asked for the heater to be turned on and some ketchup...still waiting. This has been my experience pretty much everytime.“

“Beautiful setting, fantastic service, and food was incredible! Highly recommend.“

“I was recommended to Nati’s by a friend. The menu is diverse & serves every craving you have when hungry! I just love Mexican food & these cooks have a gift! There’s a nice mix of Oaxaca & Jalisco in the food! The Nopales breakfast & salsas are excellent! Must try! Definitely coming back for more!!!“

“Staff is amazing. Food and coffee excellent. Highly recommend.“

“my go to when I'm in west hollywood.love the vibe...and drinks..“

“A truly elegant and memorable dining experience.
The caviar service was exceptional — incredibly rich, beautifully balanced, and easily one of the most memorable caviar dishes we’ve had. The creamy layers paired with the caviar were outstanding.
The prix fixe menu was thoughtfully composed, and the entire service team was extremely well-organized, making the meal flow seamlessly from start to finish.
A special thank you to Jamie, who took such wonderful care of our table and genuinely went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect.
I’d also like to thank Akili, who was incredibly helpful with our reservation and all the arrangements leading up to our visit. Everything was handled with such care and professionalism.
From the food to the service to the coordination, everything felt intentional and refined. Highly recommended for a special occasion.“

“Best food to enjoy with your love ones .. I recommend this place 100% and it’s not expensive for the portions you get in your order! Thanks Dogs Haus! 🍔 🍟“

“Hugo's is our family's ultimate go-to place when we need a place that satisfies everyone of every age and taste. Great salads, burgers, sandwiches, breakfasts, sides. Everything leans towards healthy-ish, so that's a plus. The wait staff has always been consistently professional.“

“Looks like a nice hotel with great service.“

“the food is great but I think the people make the place!!!!“

“We needed a place to eat dinner late on Friday night and found Henri's. They were closing in 15 minutes but gladly allowed us to sit and order. We didn't want to make it hard for them so we just ordered breakfast for dinner and it was delicious! We are picky in our bacon and hashbrowns and want them cooked very crispy. They were the best we ever had! The next day we came back for breakfast for real and pretty much ordered the same thing. Unfortunately it must have been a different cook. Although it was good and plentiful it was not cooked as nicely as the night before. Definitely NOT a deal breaker cause Henri's is really very good and the staff is exceptionall - both visits. We could tell it is a local favorite and that is always a good sign.“

“Todo estuvo excelente, primera vez que los visitamos y muy rico y limpio...muchas Gracias !.“