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Food Journal Magazine

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About FJM

Take a journey with us on the road to culinary cloud 9 where we have everything you need as a foodie in one place. Events, Festivals, Hotspots, Reviews and the resource for the best food in Los Angeles, Ca. and surrounding areas! We curated articles and info from our favorite sources plus our own Food Journalists. Please show some love and check them out!

We may distribute the PR/articles that we write to a variety of flagship news sources and News Portals such as (although we are not directly affiliated) ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, Benzinga and the Associated Press. Let us know how we can cover your LA & surrounding areas restaurant or national food event and let the world know you have some of the best food in Los Angeles, California!

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August 2026 Featured Hotspot is Casalena In Woodland Hills, California

Food Journal Magazine is proud to name Casaléna as our August Featured Hot Spot. Set inside a sprawling 8,000 square foot destination at 22160 Ventura Blvd, this coastal Mediterranean escape takes its name from "Lena," the fictional creative spirit said to have dreamed the restaurant into being, and the whole place feels like it. Between the atrium, the sunken garden patio, and the rooftop, Casaléna delivers a menu as thoughtful as the space itself, from spicy bluefin tuna crispy rice and sweet corn agnolotti to truffle pizza and a showstopping butterflied whole branzino.

Hand-selected by Food Journal Magazine, Casaléna exemplifies the warmth and ambition reshaping dining in the San Fernando Valley, led by owner Chloe Makhani, a three-time OpenTable Diners Choice winner who welcomed our team like family. Our monthly Hot Spot selections are also candidates for the FJM Restaurant of the Year, and Casaléna belongs squarely in that conversation.

I hope you're hungry. - Matthew Tropp | FJM

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LA Restaurant News

Tel Aviv just landed in Tarzana.

We spent the night at TLV Tapas Bar, and this Mediterranean fine dining spot is proving you don't need to leave the Valley for a serious night out. Sleek space, kosher menu, and a lineup of dishes that kept surprising us course after course.

📍@tlvtapas
📽 @benol0gy

Highlights from the table:

🥯 Jerusalem Bagel with za'atar olive oil and marinated olives
🍋 Hummus Msabbaha, silky and finished with sumac
🍝 Short rib pappardelle in a deep beef stock reduction
🍣 Bluefin Crispy Rice with spicy tuna tartare and ponzu
🐟 Chilean Sea Bass with charred bok choy and Persian lemon
🥩 Arais, charcoal roasted beef and lamb wrapped and served with tahini

Full review is live now at foodjournalmagazine.com. Link in bio.

I hope you're hungry. - Matthew Tropp | FJM

We just stepped inside one of the most stunning dining experiences on Ventura Blvd and we are still thinking about every single bite. Casaléna in Woodland Hills is the kind of place that wraps you in warmth the second you walk through the door, and owner Chloe Makhani made us feel like family from the moment we arrived.

We started with the Spicy Bluefin Tuna Crispy Rice, topped with avocado, ponzu and truffle aioli, and it set the tone for the entire evening.

The Truffle Pizza with burrata and garlic confit was rich, earthy and absolutely unforgettable.

The Sweet Corn Agnolotti with brown butter and pepitas was the kind of pasta dish that makes you stop mid-conversation.

The Butterflied Whole Branzino with chimichurri and cucumber mint salad was a total showstopper, and the Short Rib with whipped potato and beef jus was comfort food at its finest.

We also enjoyed the Vodka Lumaconi with ricotta and pesto spice, plus the Lamb Chops with chimichurri that were charred to perfection.

This is what LA dining is all about. Head to the link in our bio to read the full Food Journal Magazine feature on Casaléna and plan your visit.

📍 22160 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

📽 @benol0gy

📍 @casalena.la

Thank you for the recommendation @g.yahveh

#Casalena #WoodlandHills #LAfoodie #FoodJournalMagazine #VenturaBoulevard

Dinner at Pasta | Bar in Encino is a Micheline star speakeasy that shines!

Tucked along Ventura Blvd, this Michelin-starred gem from the Scratch Restaurants family served us 12 courses that we are still thinking about. Head Chef DJ Nelson commanded the room all night, and the moment his kitchen team echoed back "Yes, Chef!" in perfect unison, we knew we were somewhere truly special.

📍 @pastabarla
📽 @benol0gy
🍽 @chefdjnelson

Here's a taste of what the evening looked like:

🍞 Margarita's Sourdough with cultured butter, the kind of bread course that makes you abandon all restraint

🥗 Wagyu Salad with herbs and ponzu, elegant simplicity at the highest level

🐟 Kanpachi with strawberry, sorrel, and amazake, it should not work as well as it does. It is transcendent.

🍝 Agnolotti with oxtail, comté, onion, and rosemary, worth the price of admission alone

🍄 Gnocchi with sunchoke, truffle, and hazelnut, comfort food elevated to poetry

🫙 Tagliolini in gyukotsu broth with beef tongue and seaweeds, boldly, beautifully LA

🍝 Garganelli Ruvida with porcini, madeira, and brioche, a course that wraps around you like an embrace

🐟 Black Cod with white asparagus and fumet, the kind of dish that quiets a table

🦆 Squab with rapini, green garlic, and fioretto, seasonal, Californian, and perfect

🍓 Harry's Berries Pavlova with tonka and fig leaf, quietly extraordinary

🍫 Namelaka with cherries, red walnut, and black currant — a perfect punctuation mark

The Valley has a Michelin star. And it deserves every single one.

🎥 Full article coverage now live at foodjournalmagazine.com

#PastaBarEncino #MichelinStarLA #SanFernandoValley #LAFoodScene #FoodJournalMagazine

Perched high above the Sunset Strip, Merois by Wolfgang Puck blends panoramic Los Angeles views with a menu that’s bold, refined, and deeply layered in flavor. Each dish feels intentional—balancing texture, heat, and brightness in a way that keeps every bite interesting from start to finish.

📍 @meroiswesthollywood
📽 @r_delpinoargandona

Article & Review is Live on foodjournalmagazine.com

What we tried:

• Hamachi Tostada — delicate yellowtail paired with yuzu kosho and creamy avocado, finished on a crisp base that delivers a perfect contrast of citrus, heat, and texture

• Crispy Blue Fin Tuna — layered over short grain rice with chili aioli and ponzu, bringing together richness, crunch, and umami in every bite

• Ginger Beef Dumplings — savory and aromatic, with spinach, sesame, and black bean soy adding depth and a subtle earthiness

• Black Perigord Truffle Shumai — sweet prawns and Kurobuta pork elevated with fragrant black truffle for a luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth finish

• Lobster Spring Roll — crisp, golden exterior with tender prawn and lobster inside, balanced by a sweet chili sauce that adds just the right kick

• Ingrid Bengis’s Scallop Pad Thai — perfectly cooked scallops with rice noodles, Thai basil, crispy garlic, and peanuts, delivering a rich yet balanced take on a classic

• Wood Grilled Jidori Chicken — smoky, juicy, and finished with broccolini, chili rub, and Sichuan chili crisp for a bold, slightly numbing heat

• Crispy Rice Crab Salad — bright and textural with green cabbage, red onion, and peanuts, tying everything together with freshness and crunch

From elevated seafood to indulgent, truffle-forward bites, Merois captures the essence of modern LA dining, stylish, vibrant, and unforgettable.

#FoodJournalMagazine #WestHollywoodEats #LosAngelesFoodie #WolfgangPuck #FineDiningLA

Bacari Sherman Oaks — Mediterranean Small Plates in the Valley

We recently visited Bacari Sherman Oaks and explored a lineup of beautifully crafted Mediterranean small plates from Executive Chef Lior Hillel.

@eatwithbacari
@chefliorhillel

Highlights included the refreshing Barramundi Crudo with herbed cucumber relish, za’atar, and citrus, the rich Lamb Hummus with warm pita, and the crispy Moroccan Cigars filled with lamb and chicken.

The Ricotta & Beet Gnocchi with chèvre fondue and chimichurri was a standout, while the bold Charred Broccoli with harissa tahini delivered smoky, spicy flavor. The Chicken Schnitzel topped with whipped feta and arugula-mint salad brought a Mediterranean twist to a classic.

Dessert sealed the experience with the layered Pistachio Crèmeschnitte and the indulgent “Best Cake” made with medjool dates, brown sugar caramel, and crispy bacon.

A great spot for Mediterranean small plates and vibrant dining in Sherman Oaks.

Read the full feature on Food Journal Magazine.

Foodjournalmagazine.com

📽 @benol0gy

#FoodJournalMagazine #BacariShermanOaks #VenturaBlvdEats #bestfoodla #LAEats

One incredible night celebrating LA’s newest dining spots. 🍽️

The Best New Restaurants Celebration 2026 brought together some of the most exciting restaurants shaping the future of Los Angeles dining. Hosted at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood, the event featured standout bites, amazing chefs, and a room full of passionate food lovers celebrating LA’s ever-evolving culinary scene.

📽 @loomeed
📍 @thesunrosewesthollywood
📍 @lamag

✨ Restaurants on the list included:

Somni x Cinco Jotas
Max & Helen’s
Alba Los Angeles
Marea Beverly Hills
Broken Spanish Comedor
Lapaba
Maydan Market
Merois & Ospero
Electric Bleu
La Monique
Casa Dani Los Angeles
Bar Siesta
Daisy Margarita Bar
Fiorelli Pizza
All About the Cinnamon
Yi Cha
Dante Beverly Hills

LA’s food scene keeps getting better — and these restaurants are leading the way.

👉 Save this list for your next LA food adventure.

Read the full article on Food Journal Magazine.

#FoodJournalMagazine #LAmagazine #LosAngelesFood #FoodieLA #TheSunRose

The BEST happy hour in LA

Credit: @losangelesgoodeats
Give them a follow for amazing foodie hotspots!!

📍@bar.coucou

$13 cocktails & wine, $12 bites. This is the West Hollywood location. You can order à la carte or pick 3 for $33🍸
The Apero Hour is daily from 5pm-6pm💐

#happyhourla #foodinla #losangelesfood #losangelesgoodeats #FoodJournalMagazine

There’s elevated Southern Thai magic happening on Sawtelle Blvd 🥢✨

Walking into Emporium Thai Market feels like stepping onto a beautifully designed stage of bold flavors — the space itself is as impressive as the food. From the soaring ceilings to the sun-lit patio, every detail sets the tone for a meal worth savoring.

📍@emporiumthaimarket
📽 @benol0gy
📽 @loojitsu

We dove right into small plates that immediately woke up our tastebuds —Jane’s Wings glazed in tangy house sauce, Chicken Satay with rich peanut sauce, and the delicate Seafood Hor Mok, a coconut curry custard that melted on the tongue.

For mains, we had to try the Pla Tod Kamin, a crispy whole fish with vibrant turmeric and garlic, and the Thai Basil Prawn & Scallop, loaded with chili, bell peppers, and that fragrant basil kick. Even the Chicken Pad Thai — often a “safe” go-to dish — was balanced, savory, and far from ordinary.

And dessert? Yes, please. The Cardi B Mango Sticky Rice lived up to its hype with sweet mango, warm coconut-sticky rice, and rich cream. We also indulged in Sweet Roti, a crisp Thai flatbread drizzled with condensed milk that’s pure comfort.

Emporium Thai Market didn’t just serve dinner — it redefined what Thai food can be: soulful, elevated, and undeniably delicious. 🍽️❤️

#EmporiumThaiMarket #SouthernThaiCuisine #LAFoodie #ThaiFoodLovers #FoodJournalMagazine

Funghi Pizza

One of the best pizzas ever!!
Hands down!!

@bianca_siciliantrattoria
Downtown Los Angeles

Redbird LA: A Downtown Culinary Landmark

In the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, Redbird is more than a restaurant — it’s an immersive dining experience where history, design, and bold Modern American cuisine converge. Set inside the former rectory of the iconic Vibiana cathedral, this stunning space blends LA’s past with its ever-evolving culinary future.

Led by Top Chef Masters alum Chef Neal Fraser, Redbird’s kitchen shines as a true team effort, guided by Chef de Cuisine Jason Bowlin and Executive Sous Chef John Gronkiewicz. The experience is elevated even further with an award-winning cocktail program from Bar Director Tobin Shea, a world-class wine list curated by Wine Director Jaime Arzate, and pastry excellence from Pastry Sous Chef Kory Cashel, alongside celebrated Pastry Chef Ligia Rossi.

It’s no surprise Redbird holds recognition from the Michelin Guide and the 50 Best Discovery list.

🍽️ Highlights from our menu journey included:

🔥 Shishito Peppers charred with crispy quinoa and bottarga

🥑 Avocado Salad with little gem lettuce, bacon, and buttermilk blue cheese vinaigrette

🐟 Kombu-Cured Hamachi paired with Cara Cara orange, capers, shallots, chili, and kohlrabi

🥩 Beef Tartare with caramelized onion crema, egg jam, pickled pearl onions, and shaved marrow

🍄 Black Truffle Gnocchi in Reggiano crema with chanterelles and chives

🍝 Cavatelli with guanciale, black trumpets, Swiss chard, and Garrotxa goat cheese

🐠 Whole Crispy Branzino served in a fragrant lemongrass and black lime Thai-inspired broth

🐖 Heritage Pork Chop over creamy polenta with braised collard greens, pear mostarda, and toasted hazelnuts

And for the grand finale…

🍫✨ Peppermint Mocha Tart — a decadent coffee crémeux layered with peppermint crème on a crisp chocolate sablé base.

Redbird isn’t just another Downtown LA dining destination — it’s a bucket-list restaurant that captures the soul of Los Angeles through unforgettable flavors, hospitality, and atmosphere.

📽 @benstack1n
📍@redbirdla

Hope you’re hungry.

— Matthew Tropp | Food Journal Magazine

#RedbirdLA #DowntownLAEats #FoodJournalMagazine #BestFoodInLosAngeles #MichelinGuideLA

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