Pros -friendly owner…read more-tots with sloppy Joe was super delicious -wagyu meat -sloppy Joe isn't too sweet -parking in the lot Cons -none Rating 9/10

WTF!!!! I don't even know where to start with this Sloppy…read moreJoe. I've had a lot of sandwiches in my life, but this might be the best thing I've ever eaten on a bun. There's a burst of flavor in there that I genuinely can't explain -- whoever's back there cooking needs a statue erected in their honor. Absolutely epic. The beef tallow tater tots are the perfect sidekick -- crispy, rich, exactly what you want alongside that sandwich. Don't sleep on the banana pudding either. It's on a whole 'nother level of delicious. On top of the food, the two guys working the booth were outgoing, friendly, and clearly happy to be there. You can tell this crew puts genuine love and care into every meal they serve -- that's what makes a pop-up special. Only complaint: I wish they had a location in Arcadia so I didn't have to travel for it. Until then, I'll keep coming back. Highly recommend.

This is my favorite Mel's Diner. Avoid the one at Universal Studios theme park. It's awful…read more The staff at the Sherman Oaks location are terrific. They always remember you and welcome you in like family. The shakes, burgers, fries and all the breakfast is delicious. Fun for the entire family and great atmosphere. This is my go to in my neighborhood for breakfast or a nice dessert or quick coffee break.

Several things come to mind. This was my first visit. I always look at cleanliness. This place…read moreneeds a deep deep clean. And, I'll circle back to the second to last photo. I had a dirty fork, asked for a clean one, immediately received, with an apology. The salt shaker has food on it. I guess I don't need salt. Underneath the music selector box(es), someone needs to clean there too. Under mine, were crumbs and tidbits of dust and such. The table next to us, has a balled up piece of paper. :( We ordered, about 15 mins later we received our food. I got handed my toast with either my husband's or my son's gravy under the toast plate (he explained that it probably dipped into one of their plates) and now gravy on three of my fingers. (I had this once happen to me from another restaurant where it was avocado and none of us ordered avocado.) So I'm traumatized with how food is served to me, like in a "were the dishes washed" aspect. This accident happened luckily in front of our server. He changed/cleaned my toast plate then gave me back my toast. We all had coffee. Coffee service was above and beyond and always topped off. Food was very nice and exactly as requested. This place is very expensive. You might think, it's comparable! I say it is not. I believe it's slightly above, where adding a side of meat, was 5.49 (which I refused to do) and for the money people are spending there, they should be "spotless clean". That's my take and my rating averages 3 stars, with the clean being a one star. They can do better with all the worker bodies moving around. This appears to be pure laziness.

AMAZING MUST-TRY I…read morelove Greek food. The food here is absolutely delicious. The reason I don't get Greek food more often is it's usually more expensive than other cuisines. This place is surprisingly affordable - I can make a habit out of going here. The Greek salad was fabulous. I also tried the chicken gyro, also delicious. The people who work here are very friendly.

I don't usually leave reviews, but this one was bad enough to say something. Both my order and my…read moregirlfriend's order were completely wrong--like not even close. It's frustrating to spend money and end up with food you didn't even ask for. And then there's the sauce... I don't know what's in it, but it's so ridiculously spicy it feels like it could double as a fire starter. Completely overpowers everything and makes the food almost inedible. Between the messed-up orders and the over-the-top heat, this was a pretty disappointing experience. Definitely not rushing back anytime soon. UPDATE: (in response to owner since I cannot respond) No one put me up to this, it's an honest review. I ordered through Uber Eats so fixing the order wasn't an option. The fire starter is the Chipotle Aioli you seem to put on all your dishes (at least the items on my order.) this was not requested but is an ingredient included. Instead of a having a helpful response I get a very sarcastic tone from you. Was hoping for an overall better experience.

Ventured into Hi Ho at the height of Friday dinner time, when the whole Sportsmen's Lodge shopping…read more& dining nook was packed with people, including at least 75 kids under the age of 6. Yowza! Luckily, Hi Ho wasn't quite as busy as the pizza and ice cream shops, but there were still quite a few folks, and the staff did manage to tend to everyone nicely. If you haven't been, Hi Ho is a simple, fast food burger joint in terms of decor, but the menu (from the same people who own Matu) is a small, curated selection of very high quality options: mostly Wagyu burgers in a few different configurations, and chicken tenders + some very good, hand cut fries. This time I opted for the Pastrami Heat, a double cheeseburger fortified with spicy grilled onions and a not-too-large topper of Wagyu pastrami. I don't usually go for such an elaborate burger, but I just had a hankering. And while I won't say the burger was small, it was not as ridiculously enormous as you might get other places. The double patties were juicy and flavorful, nicely seasoned and coated in properly melted American cheese. The spicy grilled onions did pack a nice punch, but there weren't a lot of them, so their effect was minimal (definitely could use more of those). House-made pickles were pleasingly artisan, with a layered, briny flavor far more enjoyable than the commercial dill chips usually deployed. Finally, the Wagyu pastrami was really quite good. Marbled and juicy without be too fatty or too rich, thinly shaved and portioned just large enough to make its presence known without becoming unwelcome halfway through. Though decadent for sure, this was an enjoyable treat that was only about 50% guilt-inducing. Fries were fresh, hot, crispy and well done, cooked in beef tallow. Also a treat. Prices are in line with what you're paying at other fast casual burger places like Five Guys or Burger Lounge, but the quality here is definitely a step above, so you could almost say it's a deal. Of course, if you also stop into neighboring Erewhon for a smoothie, your budget will be blown.

Stopped by for some burgers. It was $44 after tax and included 6% service fee for the pastrami…read moreheat, hiho double and Aston fries. We were satisfied and filled up! It wasn't too crowded inside on the hot Friday night we came but a good stream of people ordered take out or ate in outside seating.

Food 10/10 Service 10/10…read moreAmbiance 7/10 Stopped by because I wanted some bomb shrimp tacos and I heard really good things about this place especially the shrimp tacos and crunchy tacos and sure enough I see what the hype was about. The place itself is a super hole in a wall type of situation but immediately you are greeted by such great staff members I ordered my food and went to sit outside because it was a bit hot inside but I love people watching so outside it was lol. 2 LOADED shrimp tacos with rice and beans and a LOADED chicken crunchy taco with a Coke Zero only 27$ which was very reasonable especially for the great quality, they brought me out chips and salsa and a side of green sauce and everything was just so fresh I didn't even need to ask for more sauce. I will def be coming back and trying other things on the menu. The staff was super attentive and caring which is always an A+ for me.

Tried their Mega breakfast burrito and it did not live up to my expectations based on reviews here…read more I had high hopes and this burrito was just meh. Not bad, but not delicious. Pros: great service and friendly staff! They do not skimp on the meat and food is hot and fresh in minutes! Cons:The "golden potatoes" were a non-factor in the burrito. All the flavors and textures mushed together for a consistent average creation. The salsas were also lackluster. Neither had any kick, green was watery and the red remained me more of pace in a bottle than freshly made salsa. I want to support local spots so I might give them another chance and ask for crispier potatoes and crosstown fingers the salsas are better the next time.

Rusty's Shawarma has become one of my favorite places to eat. I always order the chicken and beef…read morewrap, and it never disappoints. The meat is always flavorful, fresh, and perfectly cooked, with generous portions every time. The fries deserve a special mention too--they're consistently seasoned to perfection and are easily some of the best fries around. It's rare to find a place that gets both the main dish and the sides right every single visit. Great food, consistent quality, and friendly service. If you're looking for an amazing shawarma spot, I highly recommend Rusty's Shawarma!

Good, juicy chicken shawarma wrap. The flatbread was perfectly grilled with char lines showing all…read morethroughout. The chicken itself was very moist and had a lot of flavor. It was combined with some veggies, herbs and a few sauces including ketchup, mayo and spicy truffle sauce for $1 more. The wrap was very satisfying and it was actually pretty large as well and definitely filled me up. The truck looks visible and is parked by a large plaza on Ventura blvd, with plenty of parking. The customer service was very friendly and the gentleman working there ran me through the best-selling items there, so I could make my choice. Good spot. Would definitely come back.

I've been coming here since the early 2000s, and it's still hands down one of my all-time favorite…read morespots on Ventura Blvd. Some places come and go but Pita Kitchen has stayed consistent, and that says everything. I've brought plenty of friends over the years, and every single one of them has said the same thing after their first visit: this place is legit. Anytime I try Mediterranean food in a similar price range, I find myself comparing it back to Pita Kitchen and honestly, it's hard to beat. My go to is the steak plate with Greek salad perfectly grilled, flavorful, and always fresh. You can really taste the quality in every bite. Pro tip: eat it there, right when it comes out. That's when it truly hits different. In a time where a lot of restaurants lose their edge or disappear altogether, I'm genuinely glad Pita Kitchen is still here and still delivering. A true staple. - Ian Lantz

Back to back issues with this restaurant…read more I found a hair last week in my food. I didn't even want a new plate. Today I went to the restaurant and I saw a gentleman in the kitchen with a wet mop, touching the wet mop, then touching my food right after. I will never go back to Pita Kitchen and do not recommend. This place is extremely unsanitary and unprofessional. They need to rewrite or follow through on their SOPs, standard operation procedures.

I love discovering vegan-friendly spots in my own neighborhood, and Maroon Kitchen & Bar was such a…read morepleasant surprise! I came in for lunch and started with the hummus and falafel. The hummus was creamy, the falafel had a great texture, and together they made for a really satisfying appetizer. For my entrée, I went with the plant-based koobideh served with rice and salad. This was definitely the highlight for me. It was flavorful, well seasoned and hearty enough that you're not left feeling like you just had a "vegan alternative." The restaurant itself has a nice, welcoming atmosphere and feels like a great addition to Ventura Blvd. Whether you're stopping in for lunch, dinner or looking for a vegan-friendly Mediterranean option in Sherman Oaks, this is worth checking out. I cleaned my plate, so that should tell you everything!

My first time at Maroon, and it will definitely become a frequent stop. This location on a busy…read morestrip of Ventura has hosted a variety of fast food chains over the years, but the owners of Maroon have transformed the space nicely, creating a comfortable, relaxing restaurant bedecked with plants and creative decor, lively music on the audio system, and a friendly staff. Though you order at the counter, the rest of the experience is elevated well above any fast food tropes, and the menu of Mediterranean foods has enough variety to make you pause and really think before deciding. As a first-timer, I opted for the Gyro sandwich, making it a combo by adding fries. The meat was cooked to order, the pita was puffy and tasty, and the rest of the toppings (tomatoes, cucumbers and tzatziki sauce) were fresh as can be. You can see that the tzatziki is made in-house, and the flavor is fantastic. The sandwich, overall, was generous without being crazy-big, boasting great seasoning and a satisfying combination of flavors. I added some hot sauce (which also seemed house-made), and that provided a really enjoyable jolt. The fries were crisp and seasoned with Mediterranean spices, so they were a nice change of pace from what you get so many other places. Food is served on real plates, and though soft drinks are served in cans, they are accompanied by a real glass with ice. Beer and wine are also available, and would pair nicely with various entree plates, especially in the evening. Kudos to these folks for creating someplace new and newly conceived, with good quality food and an atmosphere that puts you at ease. Here's hoping they have many years of success.