The best North Hollywood restaurants

Rodini Park is doing Greek food a little differently, offering a customizable experience with some of the best Mediterranean pastries in the city. Located in the North Hollywood Arts District, diners can choose either a salad, classic pita, big fat pita or bowl before adding your choice of protein, toppings and sauce. But the goodies don't stop there—Rodini Park also has a standout bakery, where you'll find breads, cakes and savory pies. Try the baklava cheesecake, a decadent slice of traditional cheesecake topped with the Greek dessert oozing with honey.

Fine dining in North Hollywood is scarce, but Spumante, a white tableclothed Italian restaurant, serves a clientele looking for high quality food in an elegant atmosphere. Open for lunch and dinner, the eatery offers classic Italian fare: fried calamari, risotto di mare, smoked salmon ravioli, veal parmigiana and more. Joe's Tiramisu (that would be owner Joe Salas) is a fantastic way to end the meal.

On a sun-baked northern stretch of the city-spanning boulevard, Cahuenga General Store is almost like a portal to a small sandwich shop on a backroad in Maine. With rows of antique cans and products lining the walls, and a makeshift wooden stage that seems set up for a bluegrass band, the rural vibe carries on in the sandwiches. Made quick and served with little fuss in a wicker basket, the counter serves high quality takes on a wide-range of classic sandwiches, from muffalettas to curry chicken salad to warm pear and ham. Try the Oscar Wilde (curry chicken salad) or the Tattoo (roast beef, melted Swiss, pepperoncinis).

They're not screwing around at Skaf's. The traditional Lebanese restaurant, which has locations in both Glendale and North Hollywood, offers an impressive variety of traditional dishes with plenty of flavor. You’ll often find owner—and namesake—Salim Skaf manning the grill, taking orders and describing their fantastic specials, like whole branzino and stuffed eggplant. The falafel sandwich, wrapped in lightly toasted pita, stands out as a filling snack at only $5.50 a pop; each delicious chickpea nugget is satisfyingly crispy and hearty. If you’re looking for a meal, we suggest adding some dolmeh and a side of hummus to your order.

The name says it pretty simply: Eat. Just eat. And with lines stretching down the street during weekend brunch hours, there's a considerable amount of fantastic dishes to eat here. Aside from the scrambles, breakfast sandwiches, pastas and more, EAT's French toast game is on point. Get the Killing Me Softly French toast—three layers of brioche stuffed with raspberries and Nutella, and drizzled in homemade vanilla and raspberry sauce. Hot damn.

Neighborhood favorite Hayat's Kitchen is a mecca for Valley dwellers craving falafel, shawarma, kebabs and more. The no-frills space is known for their chicken shawarma and kibbie nayeh (raw beef), but also for their treat at the end: a complimentary piece of baklava. Excellent customer service and consistent quality round out the dining experience at Hayat's Kitchen, a truly North Hollywood gem.

If all you need in life is sausages and beer, District Pub is your spot. The North Hollywood gastropub is known for their phenomenal beer list, a lineup of almost 50 brews that range from popular picks (Dogfish Head 90-minute IPA) to more creative beers (Beavers Milk Peanut Butter Milk Stout). There's a bottled beer list as well, with standards that include Golden Road Hefe and 805 Blonde). Pair with some of District Pub's sausages—alligator, lamb, Hungarian kolbasa, vegan apple sage and more—or gourmet burgers.

Poke around enough strip malls in the Valley and you'll find some true gems—like Hy Mart Sandwiches, a family-run sandwich shop in North Hollywood offering Mediterranean fusion food. What might that mean, exactly? Italian subs with "Mom's Feta" sprinkled in, or a burrito topped with falafel and tahini sauce, just to name a few. Stick around and Papa George might sit down and chat you up while you're devouring a Gyro Gone Wild.

Republic of Pie looks more like a homey living room than a coffee shop, but that doesn't mean their menu is something you could whip up in your kitchen. Beautiful (and indulgent) pies are made fresh daily—dare we say they are some of the best desserts in the Valley. If you're craving something sweet, go for the chocolate banana bread pudding pie, the cookies n' cream, or the coconut cream pie. Wanting something more savory? Their mac & cheese pot pie is crazy good, as is their ham & swiss quiche. As for the drinks, a long list of coffee and tea is written out on a blackboard, boasting items like the NoHo cold brew and a refreshing white tip Jasmine tea. Stick around until 6pm on weekdays and 3pm on weekends, when open mic sessions start and local musicians practice their craft infront of a crowd of Valley residents strewn across lovingly-worn couches.

Don't let the name scare you off. Viscious Dogs is more bark than bite, a ragtag hot dog joint on Lankershim Boulevard that serves some fantastic, unique weiner variations. From the Hot Chick (a bacon wrapped beef dog with melted mozzarella) to the Green Hornet (a Louisiana link with spicy habanero green sauce), there's a dog here for every diner. Viscious' most popular option is the Sweet and Spicy, a kielbasa link with house-made sweet and spicy Thai chili glaze on a massive poppy seed bun. Dive into your meal at one of the tables scattered around the small space while you gaze at mouthwatering photos of hot dogs hanging on the walls.