The Hidden Gem of the Central Valley: A Taste of Denmark in Visalia…read moreIf you find yourself cruising down Highway 99 or heading toward the majestic Sequoias, there is a culinary "X" on the map you cannot afford to miss. Nestled in Visalia, Valhalla isn't trying to be a Michelin-starred temple of gastronomy and that's exactly why it's a masterpiece. As a food critic, I look for soul. I look for efficiency. As amateur food photographer/stylist, I look for that "honest plate." Valhalla hits the trifecta with a warm, "hygge" (Danish coziness) atmosphere that makes locals feel like family and travelers feel like they've finally found home. The Aesthetic: Rustic Hygge The vibe is "Elevated Roadside Charm." It's clean, bright, and unpretentious. The wood accents and subtle Danish motifs pay homage to the heritage of the Solvang-style roots without being kitschy. * Stylist's Note: The food here doesn't need tweezers or edible gold. It's all about the texture of a golden-brown crust and the vibrant contrast of a red lingonberry jam against a snowy dusting of powdered sugar. It looks exactly how you want comfort food to look: generous and real. The Menu: Scandinavian Roots Meet California Fresh The menu is a masterclass in "less is more." It honors Danish history while remaining approachable for the hungry traveler. Signature Dish, What Makes it Special Aebleskiver Spherical Danish pancakes, light as air, served with jam. The gold standard. Fluffy interior with a delicate crisp. The Viking Omelet Packed with savory proteins and local veggies. A powerhouse breakfast that fuels a hike through the Kings Canyon. Danish Sausage & Eggs Authentic, snappy sausages with a unique spice profile. A savory trip to Copenhagen on a single plate. Swedish/Danish Pancakes, Paper-thin, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth. Better than your grandmother's (don't tell her). Why It Works (The Restaurateur's Perspective) Valhalla succeeds because it knows its identity. In a world of over-complicated fusion menus, they stick to strong roots. * Service: It's the kind of place where the coffee stays hot and the smiles are genuine. * Accessibility: The menu is easy to read, making it perfect for a quick stop-off for travelers or a Sunday tradition for families. * Quality: You can taste the heritage. They aren't cutting corners on the fats or the flours; they are honoring the recipes passed down through generations. The Verdict: Whether you're a local regular or a wanderer looking for a rest, Valhalla is a mandatory pit stop. It is a reminder that the best meals aren't always found in big cities, but in the small towns where history is still served on a plate.

Honestly I would give this place a 3.5 star! Definitely authentic food and decor , that transforms…read moreyou back to Amersterdam or any other Dutch colony/ country. I had to satisfy my curiosity on a real Dutch breakfast... I ordered the sampler, comes with eggs, Dutch sausage, Dutch pancake and Dutch pancake balls. Pancake balls remind me of a cross between cornbread and a biscuit.The boisenberry jelly to dip them in, is Devine. It's like eating a donut hole with fruit jelly. The sausage is thick( minced pork) ... definitely thicker and has an off taste compared to regular breakfast sausage. Ordered a side of home fries, they were good but very stingy portion. Honestly felt like I could have eaten them all in one or two spoonfuls. Ordered the orange juice, boy was it fresh, thick and pulpy. Great way to top off an authentic meal. They have great meeting rooms for larger parties and a quaint gift shoppe ( filled with ornaments, cards , shirts and trinkets). Prices at this restaurant are very reasonable ! Credit/ debit card usage charges a fee.

5 stars! Flawless!…read moreToday is my birthday! We had a perfect table on the rooftop patio, perfect drinks, amazing food, attentive staff and a wonderful server, Ashley!

We had a great experience celebrating my college graduation here. Daisy was our server and she…read morestruck the perfect balance, attentive and friendly without constantly checking in or interrupting the meal. They had a special featuring three gin drinks and every one we tried was phenomenal. My favorite was the Flower Power, but the Nekocha was absolutely amazing. We started with the baked feta and Kalamata olive tapenade, which was rich, creamy, and delicious. For entrées, the NY strip was cooked perfectly and paired beautifully with the red wine reduction. The roasted chicken was incredibly moist and complemented well by the sautéed spinach and shiitake mushrooms. The sunset view made the evening even better. We were so full we had to skip the celebration dessert, which says a lot because we definitely would have ordered one otherwise! If you're looking for a place that feels a little elevated and don't mind spending a bit more for a relaxed dining experience and excellent food, this is definitely worth a visit.

Had a delicious breakfast with my husband. I had the special, chili verde omelet with country fried…read morepotatoes and peppers. He had a bacon and cheese omelet with crispy hash browns. Coffee was great, water too. Not that tap water taste. Restaurant was clean with exceptional service as always. Two breakfasts plates with two coffees was $47. A bit pricey, but it is what it is.

We dined here on a Sunday morning around 11-11:30AM. We waited about 20 minutes for a table but…read morethat was expected as we were informed when we got there. Although the food here was good, the atmosphere was chaotic. The floor staffing was not able to service the dining room and the delegation of duties appeared haphazard (two servers working the counter as well as part of the floor). We waited about 10 minutes and had to call over a server because no one had come to take the drink order. That server could have corrected this but instead said that we were not in her area and our waitress had broken a cup and cut herself. She could have been more gracious and taken our drink order. Our server came over a couple of minutes later and apologized, but she seemed overwhelmed. We received our coffee and later our food, but I asked for milk for my coffee on three occasions before any was brought to me. The food was good and was served fairly promptly but no refills on coffee were offered and when we asked for refills there our request was acknowledged but never fulfilled. When we went to the counter to pay our check, our server was unable to make change for a $52.08 bill from $62.08. This could be a good local place based on the food, but the service is such that I cannot recommend it.

my burger was raw and my table was super dirty and a homeless guy was asking for my foodread more

Food: Very good Service: Excellent…read more Ambiance: Themed and decorated appropriately. We always enjoy the casual atmosphere in this small cafe.

Brunch on a busy Sunday... yes please! Wait was about 20 minutes; honestly went pretty fast. The…read moredining room was full. I ordered the country fried steak ; delicious. Crispy outside; meaty inside; covered in that country gravy. Add on eggs, potatoes and toast; and you got yourself a very filling breakfast. My husband wanted the special; ribeye chiquillies; however they were out of it. Did sound delicious. He opted for the chiquillies with tri tip. It was good; but not really what we wanted. The ribeye was the twinkle in his eye. Wish it was taken off the menu as soon as it ran out. It is a bit pricey but it is good.

Great hidden breakfast gem located off the beaten path but so worth the find. Clean, simple and…read morewelcoming atmosphere with fast and friendly service. The menu is full of the staples and each of them is better than the next. Everything tastes fresh and home made. The chicken fried steak is one of the best u have ever had, the gravy that covers is it so good. My wife's chilaquiles were flavorful and spicy. All the servings were large and you could taste the love in every bit. Such a great spot and a must if you are in the area!

We love everything the food, service, atmosphere, and the cake! 10 outa 10! Highly recommend…read more Definitely worth the $$$

Great vibe to this place and they have a cool 'basement' section as well. Came here with our two…read moreyoung boys for dinner and while they don't have a kids menu, they can do some basics (i.e. buttered noodles, cheeseburger, pizza) in a kid's portion. Sangria and the blush & barrels cocktail (sp?) were refreshing and delicious. Roasted beet salad and fried artichokes were a great start. Margherita pizza and chorizo chickpea pasta rounded out main course. Very friendly and accommodating service. Only drawback is that it can get too loud in the space.

Very good food, worth the wait. It was very busy but I can see why, everything tasted fresh and…read morehome made. Nothing tasted like it was from a box or can. Service was great. And the prices really weren't that bad for good quality food. You get a lot of food for the price. I highly recommend this place.

Was in town and wanted a breakfast that was healthy. So many options to choose from, but I chose…read morefrom the light menu. I picked one French toast, one egg, bacon or sausage deal. I got egg whites and crisp bacon. I totally forgot to tell the server no powder sugar on my French toast and she saw me tried to dump it off. She did not hesitate to have the cooks. Remake me another set of French toast. Which I appreciate. she asked if I was diabetic and I told her Well I'm trying not to be. I really appreciate her going above and beyond and correcting it. That's a sign of a good waitress that is attentive to our customer needs. She had a big tip from me. My total breakfast was under $15. Ambience I got there early before eight so it was quiet on this cool morning . As I was wrapping up my breakfast more people started to come in about 9 AM. If you're in town and want breakfast, stop by and support the small business . Until next time, I will see you on Yelp .

My little sister and I walked in on a late afternoon, greeted promptly! Cute seating area, received…read morefood quickly ordered two Korean corn dogs and let me say it was a lot we had a hard time finishing them. To be honest there wasn't much flavor other than the spicy mayo but maybe just an off day maybe?

Despite the name, Mochido offers a variety of drinks and Korean food besides mochi donuts. The…read moredonuts themselves were a standout although the wait was a drag. Interestingly there was only one employee working when we visited and I watched in amazement as she took orders and prepared everything. Our drinks took 25 minutes to complete and we were the first group in line. *Mochi Donut: there were seasonal flavors and the employee was kind enough to explain the different flavors as the names were a bit abstract. I opted for the spring donut which was white chocolate and matcha. The texture was the best I've tried. Perfectly bouncy in the center with a light exterior. It wasn't too oily nor sweet and the glaze was subtle. Despite the description, I couldn't really differentiate the white chocolate and matcha from a standard glaze. *Spring Fruit Tea: described as a passionfruit and rose tea. Disappointedly, neither flavor was prominent. The tea was steeped well but this was missing some brightness. *Creme Brulee: very sweet but fragrant. This was rich and milky with strong notes of burnt cream. However, we got less sugar for this and it was still too sweet. If there was an option to lower the sugar even more, I would opt for that. The milk based drinks tasted better than the fruit ones. If I was in a rush, I would stick to the donuts but drinks were pretty good if you don't mind the wait.