One of the San Fernando Valley's longest-running restaurants is marking a significant milestone, giving locals a chance to step back in time. On Thursday, September 10, Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks will celebrate its 70th anniversary by turning back its prices to 1956, the year it first opened its doors. Diners can get a house combination platter, which includes rice, refried beans, and a choice of two main dishes like enchiladas or tacos, for just $2.15. These retro prices will be available from 11:30 a.m. until midnight.
It's been a busy period for the beloved Mexican restaurant. In March 2026, the Vega family, led by current owner Christy Vega and building on the legacy of founder Rafael "Ray" Vega, unveiled a new 3,000-square-foot patio featuring an 18-seat bar and a retractable roof. Just two months later, the City of Los Angeles officially renamed the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Fulton Avenue as Vega Square, acknowledging the restaurant's deep roots and contribution to the region’s dining scene. In 2022, the James Beard Foundation also recognized Casa Vega with its America’s Classic Restaurants designation.
In Pasadena, the family behind Himalayan Cafe is currently facing a difficult time. NBC Los Angeles reported that staff at the family-owned restaurant are anxiously awaiting news from their relatives in Nepal, after historic flash floods recently devastated parts of the country near its border with China.
Meanwhile, Eagle Rock’s Wildcrust is set to host chef Liwei Liao of The Joint Seafood & Uoichiba on Thursday, September 10, for a special à la carte menu. Liao, known as a dried fish specialist, will present Japanese-leaning seafood dishes such as a toro salad, as well as an escabeche and iwashe (sardine family) pizza, complete with an optional sake pairing. Reservations are available via Resy.
For a dose of Southern California charm, Langer's Delicatessen in Los Angeles recently shared an unexpected story on Instagram. Texas resident and ESPN feature writer Roberto José Andrade Franco, after a visit to the legendary restaurant, realized he couldn't recall if he'd left a tip for his server. Upon returning to El Paso, he dropped $50 into an envelope and mailed it, ensuring the good deed reached its destination 800 miles away.
Further up the coast, on Sunday, August 30, chefs from Los Angeles’s Baby Bistro and Ceviche Project went to Santa Barbara to host a guest dinner at the historic El Encanto hotel. This event, part of El Encanto’s Sunday Family Dinner series, aimed to highlight the Central Coast's local bounty. Tickets were $112.10 per person before taxes and gratuity and were bookable through Resy.
Even outside the immediate Southern California area, the region’s culinary influence is making headlines. SF Gate recently reported that a prolific Los Angeles operator, Leo’s, has been drawing consistently long lines in San Francisco’s Ocean Beach neighborhood since its first truck opened in the Bay Area in 2025, now selling up to 10,000 al pastor tacos weekly.
