dineL.A. Restaurant Week returns July 18–31, 2016, featuring more than 300 options for lunch and dinner, including many restaurants in the San Fernando Valley. Since budgets and calendars are often limited, we’ve narrowed down your options to the eight most compelling meals—one for each neighborhood in our primary coverage zone. Traverse from west to east and learn what makes these choices so intriguing and what to order. Click on each restaurant name to see full dineL.A. Restaurant Week menus and to book reservations.

CALABASAS

SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa ($20 lunch, $39 dinner)

Local legend Kazunori Nozawa, who ran Sushi Nozawa in Studio City for 25 years, teamed with several partners on a streamlined version of his vision in 2008. Their Calabasas (and Studio City) branches participate in dineL.A. Restaurant Week. Dinner is an especially good value, featuring edamame, salmon sashimi, two pieces of albacore sushi, two pieces of salmon sushi, two pieces of yellowtail sushi, two pieces of sweet shrimp sushi, two pieces of large scallop sushi, one toro hand roll and one crab hand roll.

WOODLAND HILLS

LUKE Bar & Restaurant ($49 dinner)

At this modern American restaurant, executive chef Nico Sy and pastry chef Joy Cuevas are teaming on a three-course dineL.A. dinner with a choice for each course. Roasted carrots with cumin yogurt, avocado, cilantro and spiced pepitas sound like the more enticing starter. Mains include LUKE's signature buttermilk fried chicken, but it would be tough to pass up 28-day dry-aged Manhattan steak with herb butter, broccolini and potato puree. For dessert, a buttermilk panna cotta comes with citrus consommé and segments of navel, cara cara and blood oranges. Bonus: Each dinner comes with a glass of white or red wine.

TARZANA

Kravings Brazilian Fusion Steakhouse ($25 lunch, $49 dinner)

Open-flame cooking is a hallmark of Brazilian rodizios, and Kravings is the Valley's leading practitioner. They serve 12 types of meat carved tableside for dinner and provide 10 kinds of meat at lunch from Tuesday through Friday. If you can spare the time, endless lunch is a great way to go—with options like picanha (top sirloin seasoned with Brazilian sea salt), lamb porterhouse with chardonnay mint sauce, and chicken hearts for more daring eaters. You can also take unlimited trips to the salad bar, which stocks more than 30 hot and cold options.

ENCINO

Red Room Food & Wine Bar ($29 dinner)

This restaurant with warm patio and deep wine list features an eclectic menu that looks to have enough food to satisfy even the most ravenous appetite. Start with a grilled Castroville artichoke with remoulade, yogurt dip and basil. From there, consider a similarly seasonal asparagus flatbread with candied bacon, roasted spring onions and wild arugula. The third course stays savory with hearty options like steak frites with twice-cooked Kennebec potato frites and house-made pickled mustard seeds.

SHERMAN OAKS

Café Bizou ($15 lunch, $29 dinner)

Revisit a seasonal French classic. In this case, value is readily apparent for both meals of the day. Lunch brings summery berry and fig salad for either a first or second course, plated with baby greens and arugula, spiced candied almonds, goat cheese and raspberry wine vinaigrette. Seafood is featured in surprisingly prominent fashion given the low lunch price tag. Cedar planked North Atlantic salmon and black taglialini pasta tossed with lobster, sea scallops and shrimp are both appealing. Desserts like flourless chocolate cake, crème brûlée and tiramisu are available for a paltry $3 supplemental cost.

STUDIO CITY

The Bellwether ($39 dinner)

Chef Ted Hopson and partner Ann-Marie Verdi have quickly become the belles of the Valley ball thanks to their seasonal comfort food, varied beverage program and welcoming setting. They feature California avocado prominently in the first course, whether it's in hummus, gazpacho with chilled white shrimp or butter lettuce salad. Course 2 includes three options, and it will be hard to resist The Bellwether's stupendous french fries with house hot sauce, chive crème fraîche and California avocado mousse. Bone-in New York steak is the clear choice for main course, served with charred California avocado and heirloom tomato salad.

TOLUCA LAKE

Malbec ($20 lunch, $39 dinner)

This Argentinean restaurant, which also has locations in Pasadena and Santa Monica, provides an even better value at dinner. Grilled baby squid with Spanish chorizo, tomato and golden raisins is a strong way to start. Argentina is closely associated with grilled meat, and tira de asado backs up that reputation. This short rib entree comes with garlic confit, fried sweet potato and salad. Finish with a mousse of dulce de leche, which comes dressed with walnuts and berries.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD

The Federal Bar ($20 lunch, $29 dinner)

Knitting Factory Entertainment runs this impressive gastropub in a former bank in NoHo Arts District. Chef Shad Davis has created crave-worthy menus for both meals, but dinner really stands out. To start, consider house-smoked chicken wings brushed with sweet whiskey sauce. Entrees bring two meaty options, a veggie bowl and, perhaps most impressive, red sangria-poached whitefish with saffron quinoa risotto. Finish with caramel budino and almond biscotti. The Federal Bar also boasts one of the Valley's best beer programs, and they include a complimentary 8-ounce pour of brews like Craftsman 1903 or Sierra Nevada Kellerweis.