Casaléna: Woodland Hills' Radiant New Mediterranean Italian Escape on Ventura Blvd

There's a particular kind of restaurant that doesn't just feed you, it transports you. Casaléna, the striking new Italian concept that has taken up residence at 22160 Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills, is exactly that kind of place. From the moment you step through the doors, it's clear this isn't a restaurant chasing a trend. It's a world unto itself, one built on light, warmth, and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like you've been invited into someone's home rather than seated at a table.

Food Journal Magazine stopped by to experience it firsthand, and what we found was a menu as thoughtful as the space itself, plus a genuinely warm welcome from owner Chloe Makhani, who greeted us like family and joined us on camera for our Instagram coverage of the visit. As an Open Table Diners Choice winner 3 years in a row and If your looking for some great food in Los Angeles, you definitely found it at Casalena!

The Story Behind the Name

Casaléna takes its name and its soul from "Lena," the fictional creative spirit said to have dreamed the restaurant into being. As the story goes, Lena possesses a singular gift: the ability to build a house out of light itself. Every design choice inside Casaléna traces back to that idea, a space meant to glow, to feel alive, to wrap visitors in warmth the second they walk in.

But Lena isn't just an architect of atmosphere. In the world of Casaléna, she's also the homemaker, the one who opens her kitchen and her family recipes to anyone who walks through the door. That dual identity - equal parts artist and host - shapes the entire experience. You'll spot her presence scattered throughout the restaurant in different forms and depictions, each one offering a slightly different glimpse of her personality, almost like running into the same gracious host in different rooms of her own house.

It's a concept that could easily feel gimmicky in the wrong hands. At Casaléna, it doesn't. It feels intentional, immersive, and - fittingly, given the restaurant's own tagline - built for the young at heart.

The Food: Bold, Layered, and Built for Sharing

Casaléna's menu reads like a love letter to modern Italian-American cooking, with enough range to satisfy a table full of different appetites. Here's what we tried.

Spicy Bluefin Tuna Crispy Rice The opener that sets the tone. Crisped rice cakes are topped with delicate slices of bluefin tuna, avocado, and chives, then finished with ponzu and a silky truffle aioli. The contrast is the whole point here - crunch against cream, heat against citrus - and it disappears from the table fast. Definitely a for sure level up from your standard Tuna Crispy rice!

Truffle Pizza A pizza built entirely around truffle, and it doesn't hold back. Truffle conserva, garlic confit, burrata, and provolone come together for a pie that's rich without being heavy, earthy in a way that lingers on the palate long after the last slice. Absolutely delicious!

Sweet Corn Agnolotti One of the standouts of the night. Pillowy agnolotti are filled and finished with roasted corn, brown butter, pepitas, and cilantro - a dish that manages to feel both comforting and seasonal at once, with the nuttiness of the brown butter playing beautifully against the sweetness of the corn. This is Chloe Makhani's favorite dish!!

Vodka Lumaconi A playful spin on a classic. The spicy vodka sauce coats lumaconi pasta generously, while ricotta and a pesto spice add brightness and a little kick, keeping the dish from ever feeling one-note.

Butterflied Whole Branzino A showstopper, both visually and on the plate. The whole branzino arrives butterflied and beautifully grilled, dressed in chimichurri with grilled lemon, alongside a refreshing cucumber mint salad that cuts right through the richness of the fish. My Favorite Dish!!

Short Rib Falling-apart tender and built for comfort, the short rib comes with whipped potato, confit pearl onion, and a deeply savory beef jus, the kind of dish that feels like it was made for a cold night, even in Southern California. Comfort food at its finest!

Lamb Chops with Chimichurri Char-kissed and perfectly seasoned, the lamb chops let the chimichurri do exactly what it's supposed to do: cut through the richness of the meat with herbaceous, garlicky brightness.

Taken together, the menu doesn't try to be everything at once, it's confidently Italian-leaning with global touches woven in where they make sense, and every dish we tried felt purposeful rather than trend-chasing.

Meeting Chloe Makhani

Part of what makes Casaléna special isn't just what's on the plate, it's who's behind it. Owner Chloe Makhani spent time with us during our visit, sharing the inspiration behind the space and the philosophy driving the menu. Her warmth was immediate and genuine, the kind of hospitality that can't be manufactured. You can catch Chloe in our Instagram video coverage from the visit, where she talks about bringing Casaléna's vision to life on Ventura Blvd.

Hours & Location

Casaléna 22160 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 (818) 704-1185

Monday – Thursday Open 11:30am – 12:00am Lunch Service: 11:30am – 3:00pm Bar Service & Late Night Menu: 3:00pm – 12:00am Dinner Service: 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Friday Open 11:30am – 1:00am Lunch Service: 11:30am – 3:00pm Dinner Service: 5:00pm – 11:00pm Bar Service: 3:00pm – 1:00am Late Night Food Menu served 5:00pm – 12:00am

Saturday Open 10:00am – 1:00am Lunch & Breakfast Service: 10:00am – 3:00pm Dinner Service: 5:00pm – 11:00pm Bar Service: 3:00pm – 1:00am Late Night Food Menu served 5:00pm – 12:00am

Sunday Open 10:00am – 12:00am Lunch & Breakfast Service: 10:00am – 3:00pm Dinner Service: 5:00pm – 10:00pm Bar Service: 3:00pm – 12:00am Late Night Food Menu served 5:00pm – 12:00am

The Verdict

Casaléna is the rare new opening that nails both halves of the equation. This is a concept with genuine heart, and a kitchen that backs it up. Between the Sweet Corn Agnolotti, the truffle pizza, and a host as gracious as Chloe Makhani, this is a Woodland Hills destination that earns repeat visits.

We definitely recommend going to Casalena! Its some of the best Los Angeles Food out there!

I definitely hope you are hungry!! - Matthew Tropp | FJM