In the San Fernando Valley, every other restaurant seems to have “Established in 1953” printed on its menu or a blinking sign above its door letting you know you’re in the home of a very famous dish. And that’s the beauty of the Valley—a sprawling epicenter of LA kitsch and nostalgia. It’s also why curating this guide was so difficult. This is not a roundup of the Valley’s oldest restaurants, or a list of every place with a pot pie on its menu. These are true legends that helped make the SFV what it is today. From a Pinocchio-themed cafeteria to a jazz club that only serves baked potatoes, here are the Valley’s greatest old-school restaurants.
Dining and Cooking