If we’re going to be honest, the past year and a half have been really difficult for restaurants across the country, and Los Angeles hasn’t been immune to this – though, to be fair, 2021 has already seen a significant return to on-site dining thanks to eager restaurant buffs looking to go back to what they love best…and amazing food. L.A.’s restaurant scene seems to be mostly back to its pre-pandemic shape, though challenges do, of course, remain what with safety, staffing and financing factors at play.

Woodland Hills Magazine has, since our inception, been a source to answer the age-old question of “Where should I eat tonight?” and with typical restaurants here being less than six months old (on average), we can provide a sense of what’s new to the local dining scene. 

Ay Papa Que Rico, with four locations throughout the Valley in Van Nuys, Arleta, Sun Valley and Canoga Park, opened its doors to the public three months ago and has already become known as “the home of the fire-grilled chicken,” a signature Cuban-flavored dish cooked to perfection and which was created by owner Chris Rodriguez. After knocking out The Crazy Chicken and many other plates bursting with robust flavors that customers loved, Ay Papa Que Rico has taken center stage in Woodland Hills to become a vessel for all things delicious chicken, ribs, rice, beans, platano Maduro, sandwiches and more. The menu here spans Cuban and Central American influences, with all poultry, pork and beef sourced from producers who raise their animals humanely with no growth hormones or antibiotics.

Pickles and Swiss, located in Woodland Hills at Westfield Topanga and The Village, 6344 Topanga Canyon Boulevard #1030, has already become a quintessential premium sandwich shop in town – and it’s only been open a matter of days. Here, a wide variety of hot and cold sandwiches, build-your-own sandwiches, paninis, wraps and soups populate an engaging menu, one which also includes tossed salads and even gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Pickles and Swiss is all about getting the details right to make sure your sandwich is sublime, its owners putting in the time and work to deliver premium selections you’ll love.

Don Pz Pizza, located in Woodland Hills’ Warner Center, opened its doors around six weeks ago, offering pizza selections that are handcrafted from a secret Neapolitan recipe that dates back 88 years. All of the ingredients used are organic, freshly-made and sourced directly from Italy, the cheese fresh and blended/aged for two years. The dough is made with active cultures and live probiotics combined with a high-quality Italian flour-making process, rendering the slices easily digestible and highly enjoyable. Don Pz’s pizza is a Neapolitan take that ends up coming out light, airy and crispy, having been cooked in a wood fire oven at 932 degrees.

Cork Dork Wine Bar, located at 1125 Lindero Canyon Road in Thousand Oaks, has been open for three months now and has already taken the Woodland Hills wine-tasting scene by storm, offering enchanting local beers, over 40 different wines by the glass (including ounce-by-ounce selections) and mouthwatering modern California cuisine. Indeed, Cork Dork is described as a place where the characteristics of wine and food are harmoniously united to serenade the gourmands and oenophiles in all of us; the way we see it, this lavishly-appointed new spot provides a relaxed atmosphere, some “dorky education” and, most of all, a fun and delicious experience.

Saigon Brothers, opened two months ago and located at 9165 Reseda Boulevard in Northridge, is a Pacific noodles and grill spot guaranteed to satisfy every Vietnamese culinary craving. The mission at this new L.A. eatery is to provide the highest quality fresh food to its customers, the owners taking pride in their ability to serve cuisine that is healthy, light and flavorful – all at the same time. On any given day, you can find the kitchen staff at Saigon Brothers using the freshest natural ingredients from local distributors, even if it’s just to craft a unique and aromatic bowl of noodle soup. As the restaurant continues to become a part of the Woodland Hills community – with additional locations planned – its founders have committed to going above and beyond customers’ expectations.

Nothing sparks joy in our lives quite like dining at a really awesome and downright delicious new restaurant in L.A., and if you haven’t noticed, the city’s food scene has been making up for quite a bit of lost time. With things somewhat “booming” again, the aforementioned Woodland Hills spots are the ones you need to put on your radar when dining out this summer.