Midnight Snacks
5 spots to enjoy a delectable, late-night meal
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CategoryUncategorized
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Written byTiffany Shinn
Remember when late-night options were limited to fast-food drive-through windows and greasy spoon diners? Fortunately the Valley restaurant boom has yielded more than a few notable options for dining past midnight. From potstickers to pizza to pork belly, here are five of our favorite places to grub while the rest of the Valley sleeps.
THE VILLAGE
Finding late-night fare is hard enough, but finding an eatery that has a mozzarella bar is a certain kind of luck. Top that with a variety of Spanish-bent tapas—think blood sausage and pan con tomate—and wood-fired pizzas that are offered until midnight, nightly? You’ve got yourself a good reason this gastropub has been abuzz since day one.
Kitchen serves until midnight; open until 2 a.m. daily.12345 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, thevillagestudiocity.com
LAUREL TAVERN
Who are we kidding? We’ll take their chubby cubes of pork belly—glazed in maple and served on a skewer—any hour of the day. But it sure is nice to have creative comfort food like that, as well as Laurel Tavern’s slew of burgers, into the dawn of the new day. There are mussels bathed in a white wine-garlic broth and chorizo sliders too. Indeed, the pub’s grilled asparagus, doused in almond vinaigrette and brussels sprouts, redefines late-night junk food.
Kitchen serves until midnight Friday and Saturday and until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; open until 2 a.m. daily.11938 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, laureltavern.com
THE LOCAL PEASANT
If it’s, say, Friday night at midnight and you’re looking for a 10-ounce, grass-fed New York steak, look no further than The Local Peasant—the Valley’s homegrown gastropub that found a loyal following in Sherman Oaks and then added a spacious location in Woodland Hills. Also on the menu: tasty variations on burgers, as well as meatballs, fish and chips, and gourmet pizzas. Health-conscious eaters will be satisfied with salad options, but let’s be honest—post-midnight, we’re going for their bacon-amplified mac & cheese.
Kitchen serves until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday; open until 2 a.m. daily. 14058 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks/22901 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, thelocalpeasant.com
GYORO-GYORO IZAKAYA JAPONAISE
At most after-hours spots, you’re lucky enough to see even a limited late-night menu, but at this Japanese restaurant and bar (which really comes alive at night), diners have access to some 300 items right up until closing. You can’t go wrong with stewed pork belly kakuni or lobster tail, slightly charred. We also highly recommend digging into the robata menu, where skewered items like lamb and shiitake mushrooms are grilled over charcoal. Though known for its authentic, Tokyo-inspired small plates, Gyoro is one of the few spots in town where you can also get late night sushi.
Kitchen serves until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 1:45 a.m.Friday and Saturday, and until 10 p.m. Sunday. 17401 Ventura Blvd., B21, Encino, otootorestaurant.com
STIR LA
The menu at this lounge-meets-sports bar is expansive. Tuna ceviche paired with quinoa? Check. Paella garnished with shrimp, mussels and calamari? Check. If meat is your thing, there are burgers dressed with the likes of onion rings and serrano peppers, as well as grilled skirt steaks and a Peruvian-inspired take on filet mignon. Because you’ll probably find yourself catching a late-night game on one of the many flat screens, there are baby back ribs served with mashed potatoes and, yes, even hot wings.
Kitchen serves until midnight; open until 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 13359 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, stir-la.com
More Late-Night Options
Casa Vega
3301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman OaksUntil 1 a.m.
Boneyard Bistro
13539 Ventura Blvd., Sherman OaksUntil 1 a.m. only on Friday & Saturday
Mexicali Cocina Cantina
12161 Ventura Blvd., Studio CityUntil 1 a.m.