50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants Lake Balboa

“This is a good coffee spot. Neat interior, friendly staff. Only ever eaten the tater tots, I'll bet they're frozen store-brand tots but they were gas nonetheless, especially with the sauce they serve them with.

Espresso is good. The signature black heart is good also. Most recently I asked the guy taking my order what's better, their signature or the golden latte, and he told me the golden is less sweet and more healthy. I tried it, and indeed, it was real good, and tasted pretty healthy.

9/10 will be coming back. They serve full, like actual meals here too so when I get one of those I'll come back and update to an 8/10 or 10/10.“

“I love this place the staff is always nice and the food is always good.. I will say the meat can be undercooked every time I go my burger is always undercooked and I have to request a new one but I still continue to return to the store I just have to ask for my meat to be well done“

“Since Or Bar opened in the old Gold Coast space, it has become my favorite local place. Good drinks, great people. I love all of the staff here!“

“Delicious authentic Roman cuisine …“

“5 stars for the delicious and high quality sushi. plus i have a gluten allergy and the chef/ server was super considerate and knew exactly what needed to be modified. my favorites were the bluefin tuna nigiri and the yellowtail hand roll (with soy paper), and i don’t typically like yellowtail.

however, i did not realize there was a 16% service fee included in the bill. it says so on the menu so that’s my oversight but at kazu nori, for example, the server tells you not to tip because of the service fee. so on the little screen i tipped 20% on top of the 16% service fee and tax. it’s my bad for not paying closer attention but they don’t verbally tell you either.“

“So glad my daughter and I stopped here. We each had breakfast burritos and they were excellent. Not only delicious, but big. We both tried the hot salsa and liked it. The atmosphere was very inviting. The service was the best I've received in a very long time. The server was very attentive and sweet. The cook came out and asked if we were enjoying our meal. He was interested in our feedback. We both decided we would be back even though we don't live in the area. It was definitely worth the effort of finding parking. Don't pass this place up
PS, the cook let us try the birria. That's what I'm ordering next time. Yum“

“**A sweet slice of heaven in Santa Monica!** Junior Cookies is an absolute *gem*. I came in for the cookies (which are AMAZING – warm, gooey, and perfectly crisp on the edges), but I stayed for the whole vibe. Their ice cream is ultra creamy with rich, dreamy flavors that pair perfectly with the cookies—highly recommend making your own cookie cream with ice cream with cookies! I was also pleasantly surprised by how good their coffee is. It’s bold, smooth, and just what I needed to balance out the sugar rush. Honestly, it’s rare to find a cookie shop where the coffee actually stands out, but Junior Cookies gets it right. Best coffee, best cookies, best matcha, and best ice cream in la! The place is super cute inside, with a cozy neighborhood feel and friendly staff who seem genuinely happy to be there. You can tell everything is made with love. The cookies and recipes are unique. 5 star bakery in LA. If you're in Santa Monica, **don’t miss this spot**. Whether you’re craving dessert, a caffeine fix, or just want to treat yourself, Junior Cookies delivers!“

“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“

“My absolute new favorite restaurant! We were visiting family in LA from Chicago and they took us here, I ended up going three times in my one week visit. Cheese stuffed zaatar and the sojouk kachopuri were my favorite and the garlic chicken wrap was my husbands. Honestly everything we had was delicious and the kids kept asking for the pepperoni pizza and mini pizzas.“

“Best lobster roll of my life“

“Solid brunch menu (I had the oysters and the Eggs Benedict with a Brut Rose Champagne and the trifle for dessert). My server Corbin was very friendly and attentive. The outdoor space is cool, trendy, and hip, but not over-the-top. The music pulses, but it’s not a distraction to conversation. I’ve been looking for good places since moving to LA almost 6 months ago. This was one of the few times I wasn’t disappointed.“

“Great atmosphere, Hector was great!“

“Excellent food and service. Thank you!“

“I highly recommend this restaurant. Great food and great service.“

“Absolutely fantastic for date night or literally any other dining event you might have!!!! Food was incredible especially the glazed pork belly and the brussel sprouts. AND dessert is an absolute must, everyone needs to try the bread pudding! Good price point for the quality of food and the cutest Mediterranean inspired design.“

“Update 4/4/26:
Thank you so much for correcting the situation, I’m glad faregrounds has integrity and amazing customer service. Yesterday I tried the spicy don and banana matcha - both were so delicious. I loved the crispy chicken in it , I’m so impressed that it’s completely organic and no bad oils. As for the matcha it wasn’t overly sweet, it was just right. I really want to try your other options next.

3/27/26 - Unfortunately I did not like the food. I ordered the cheesesteaks and it grossed me out. Why dont you guys cut off the fat. You really think I want to pay $20 for a sandwich full of blubber?“

“I have been going to Porto's since the 1980's..the one in Glendale. How elated I was with having them being in Northridge where I live. The food is terrific and the lines go fast due to a tremendous quick system they have. The catering for parties has never let us down and people you have invited that never have experienced Portos are thrilled. The cakes are delicious. What I do miss is not having the individual cake slices for purchase so you can experience the taste. They only have the neapolitan, Parisian, and carrot for slices. I've seen the menu change over time and do miss some of the items.“

“I am not vegan myself but the food here is really good. I always get the chicken Pho and the broth is savory and great. Tried mango sticky rice for the first time for desert and fell in love. It was really good. Definitely recommend to check this place out.“

“It is the best açaí in OC.😉💪🏿💪🏾💪🏻“

“We went on Valentine's Day, and it turned out to be such a lovely and memorable experience for both of us at the Brazilian steakhouse. From the start, the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming, and Ellie was especially kind. She checked in on us and made us feel genuinely cared for along with the hostess who was amazing. We even shared how disappointing our Valentine's Day dinner last year had been elsewhere, which made this experience feel like a complete and refreshing opposite in the best way. Everything from the service to the pacing and overall vibe was fantastic, and the food was outstanding, with the seasoned beef easily being our favorite among the delicious cuts. Overall, it was a wonderful Valentine's Day that we'll truly look back on fondly and we will definitely be back again!“

“Malama polo restaurant is best�Highly recommend for all.“

“Hadasa (sorry if I spelled it wrong) made our first impression wonderful she was patient during the rush and went over the menu with us
We will definitely come back if there’s service like that ! We loved the Birria ramen! Thank you“

“Garcia brothers Cafe is absolutely amazing. The staff is very attentive. The food is killer. The atmosphere, ambiance is amazing. Absolutely my favorite Cafe.“

“Wonderful place Great drinks and food“

“excellent service. very rich“

“Last time I went I had the fior de latte, pistachio, hazelnut flavors which are absolutely amazing. They have so many interesting seasonal flavors like tiramisu, peach, truffle, and even rhubarb. Its amazing the amount of international presence in the ice cream. All natural ingredients, nothing artificial, everything tastes so organic, smooth, and exactly like the base flavor. And the owners are so charming and hard working. However, it is VERY expensive for ice cream, id go back everyday if 3 scoops and waffle cone wasnt almost 20 bucks. I understand it is because everything is to the highest standard and super amazing quality, unfortunately the price is just very high. So all in all, amazing treat, amazing place, with high price tag.“

“Just really tasty vegetarian entrees. Samoas are a hit and the naan is so delicious and soft and warm. Today they gave me a hot chai tea. Very thoughtful. Cold and raining ☔️ and it was hot and delicious 🫖“

“The food was delicious! We got the medium heat spice, which was perfect for me. My son wants to try the hotter one next time. The place was very busy so that might be why none of the tables were clean and they were out of ice. But we will still be back because the chicken was that good 👍“

“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.“

“Visiting from out of town, and happened to have dinner here. I liked that the place was easy to find, and had lots of parking. The service was top notch! Very attentive, quick, and friendly! Hubby had the lime and chili ramen and really enjoyed it. It was very flavorful. I had the yakisoba noodles with pork. The pork was lovely and well cooked. Very tender! But, for me, the sauce on the noodles was really heavy on vinegar. I was expecting/wanting a more savory/umami flavor. They were way too sour for my taste. I’m certain that there would have been a lot of other menu items I would have enjoyed! I wish I’d tried their miso ramen instead of the yakisoba.“

“Semona was an awesome host for a group of us that sat outside if you want an absolutely delightful experience in an outdoor setting with beautiful lights and wonderful scenery. This is the place to be. Oh and by the way a food is exquisite thanks guys for a really excellent evening.“

“Hidden coffee and pastry gem in the Heart of Beverly Hills. Definitely a great date spot 🤫 Do not miss the chance to visit if you are a tourist 😋 For locals try their Salmon Bagel reminds me of New York 🗽
P.S. also they have luxury and bougie cakes 🤪“

“Excellent brunch food and drinks, lovely atmosphere. Chilaquiles, shakshouka and pain au chocolat were delicious. Cannot wait to go back to the patio for dinner!“

“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)“

“Great night for Luke’s 50th Birthday!!“

“We loved this place; delish food, great location and lovely Parisian vibe!“

“We were 5 ppl ,ordered like 8 dishes all were amazingly great my first time to Gokaku Rama. Was so worth it after all day in universal su Dr ios,3 min drive to Gokaku place ..I did not want to end my meal .this is the best restaurant“

“Quickly becoming my favorite chocolates! We first tried these as a gift item at work holiday party, but *surprise* these were actually really really good chocolates! My partner ended up ordering me more, and now it’s become a bit of a tradition in our household. They always do lovely holiday themed bon bon sets. The chocolate is always very fresh with creative fillings - a real treat. We order shipping to NYC and it’s great every time.“

“Great food and wine with a view“

“I don't even know where to begin, if you're gluten-free and dairy free, then this is heaven... And if you're not, it's heaven too. The food is spectacular and the people are so nice. I do have to say, though that I like this location far better than the one on Abbott Kinney because they have more choices for me. And if you're vegan, and you want the best cheesecake ever, run don't walk.“

“A group of 4 of us had dinner together at this restaurant, and we ALL enjoyed the food. It’s a tapas / Family style and has a lot of options to choose from. we ordered the cauliflower, meatballs, shishito peppers, tagliatelle pasta, spicy Korean fried chicken wings… it was Enough to feed a small family! Cooked to perfection. Also we had the fluffernutter dessert.. honestly everything was Delicious!!!
the tagliatelle pasta and Korean wings were my favorite.
And given that I don’t drink, I love that they have a pretty decent mocktails menu! Thank you to our server, very accommodating!
The service was perfect.
Great ambience.
What more could you ask for?!
10/10 experience!
Highly recommend“

“One of the BEST restaurants in LA. Nothing I seen in LA can compare to this place. Everything here is thoughtful, starting with the tables and ending with how the food is placed. All dishes is beyond delicious with fast impeccable sevice.The waiters are very professional, friendly and attentive.The atmosphere is like in a garden and the decorations are aesthetically pleasing: the plants, tables, chairs, glasses and plates. I would 100% recommend this restaurant to everyone. (I do suggest to get a reservation before hand because the wait without a reservation is long.)“

“Phenomenal service and amazing Gelato in the Italian style from Argentina 🇦🇷. Very friendly and welcoming. Lots of places to sit, work, visit. They've even got a back patio with gorgeous umbrellas. Great wifi and also coffee options. Support local and come enjoy some of the best coffee and dessert in LA“

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

“I am 65 years old. We had dinner at Humble Bird Saturday night. I have never, repeat, NEVER had chicken this good. Crisp, juicy (but not dripping like other places), no grease in sight. We got mild, but used the hot honey supplied and what a combination of flavors. We also got potato salad and slaw. Both great additions to an already wonderful meal. The staff was really friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The place was spotless. I live north of Seattle, but would consider driving down just for more of their chicken...Well, and to visit my kids.“

“This place is incredible, highly recommend! Amazing drinks, atmosphere and people! Kava is an excellent alternative to alcohol and I loved the Green Goblin drink which is a combination of Kava and Kratom. You can't find anything like it anywhere else! Check it out and enjoy!“

“First time coming here last weekend and it was great. Great staff back of the house and front of the house. Food is very flavorful. They all have fresh squeezed juices. By far my favorite. It's a small place but it's great to have a small lunch or dinner date. I come on the weekend for brunch and we loved the chilaquiles and the birria burrito. Will definitely come back again.“

“What an amazing space of delicious creativity. The staff are amazing and it’s just not for students it’s for friends and families. The pizza is amazing and filled with your favorite ingredients. The fresh taste and the crisp crust will make you want an xl pizza upon your return. Hey this is the place for great food and fun.“

“Delicious Iberico and Arctic Char that we were gifted. On- line recipe suggestions are spot on!“

“This use to be one of my favorite locations. The service is fast, and the cashiers are always nice and professional. It’s also a very safe location but not a lot of places to eat outside like other locations. Overall it’s still a good clear restaurant with fresh food.“