New Restaurants in Tarzana (Plus Old Favorites We Love)
Updated: 4 days ago
Published on August 31, 2026 by Leegie Parker
Last updated on September 16, 2026
Leegie Parker | Real Estate Advisor | DRE 01020534 | Compass | Leegie.com
Quick Answer
New restaurants in Tarzana this year include Danny's Corner Kitchen, Flavez Burger, Wakey Wakey, Shams Cafe, Labanz Cafe, Tillie's Coffee, Burritos Blvd, and now Philz Coffee, which opened September 16, 2026, all open along Ventura Boulevard, with Handel's Homemade Ice Cream still coming soon. Tarzana's longtime treasures are still going strong too, places like VIP's, Fabrocini's, and Tasty's Donuts that have fed this community for decades. |
New restaurants in Tarzana have shown up on Ventura Boulevard at a pace I have not seen in years. At least eight new spots have opened here since May 2026 alone, everything from a Middle Eastern-inspired coffee shop to a burger joint that runs monthly "flavor drops," and one more, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, is still on the way.
I have lived in Tarzana for more than 30 years, and I still get a little thrill watching a "coming soon" sign go up on the Boulevard. But this town has never just been about what's new. Some of my favorite spots, like VIP's, where I have been having breakfast for three decades, have not changed a bit, and that is exactly why I love them.
So this one is a mix. Below you will find every new restaurant and cafe that has opened or is about to open in Tarzana, plus the longtime treasures on Ventura Boulevard that still make this neighborhood feel like home.
In This Post
What's Brand New in Tarzana Right Now?
At least eight new restaurants and cafes have opened in Tarzana since May 2026, most of them clustered along Ventura Boulevard between Reseda and Yolanda.
Sign 1: Philz Coffee
Philz Coffee opened at 18640 Ventura Boulevard on September 16, 2026.
The closest Philz locations right now are in Studio City and Calabasas, so this fills a real gap for Tarzana regulars. I am not much of a coffee drinker myself, but I hear their food menu is worth a visit on its own, so I am looking forward to checking it out for that reason.
Sign 2: Danny's Corner Kitchen
Danny's Corner Kitchen took over the longtime Wicked Cow space at 18507 Ventura Boulevard, pairing smash burgers with a full Mexican menu.
Chef Daniel Cux became the new owner in 2026 and turned the page on a Tarzana fixture rather than closing it for good. The signature burgers stayed, and the menu grew to include birria, tacos, burritos, and house-made salsas. It is a fun one to watch if you remember Wicked Cow, since the bones of the place are the same but the flavors have expanded.
Sign 3: Flavez Burger
Flavez Burger opened at 6120 Reseda Boulevard with a made-to-order burger menu built around monthly "flavor drops" instead of one big permanent menu.
The team behind Flavez also runs a Japanese restaurant in Glendale, and that chef-driven background shows up in the seasonal specials they introduce each month. The starting menu is simple by design, made-to-order burgers done well, with new flavors rotating in regularly.
Sign 4: Wakey Wakey
Wakey Wakey brought a new neighborhood coffee shop to 19540 Ventura Boulevard, serving espresso, matcha, teas, and specialty drinks.
Tucked into a corner of Capril Plaza, this one has a bright, playful atmosphere with a family-friendly design connected to an interactive children's play area, making it an easy stop whether you're grabbing a quick coffee or bringing the kids along.
Sign 5: Shams Cafe
Shams Cafe relocated from Northridge to 19004 Ventura Boulevard and has been serving Middle Eastern-inspired coffee in Tarzana since May 2026.
Shams built its following on drinks you will not find at a typical coffee shop, saffron rose lattes, date cream lattes, and sand-brewed coffee among them. The move to Tarzana gave the brand a bigger stage on a busier stretch of Ventura.
Sign 6: Labanz Cafe | Dessert & Dairy
Labanz Cafe | Dessert & Dairy opened at 19321 Ventura Boulevard on May 22, 2026, specializing in Middle Eastern-inspired desserts.
Think pistachio and kunafa-style sweets, milk cakes, and crepes, alongside coffee and matcha. It has quickly become a go-to for anyone looking for something sweet after dinner nearby.
Sign 7: Tillie's Coffee
Tillie's Coffee opened at 18641 Ventura Boulevard, sharing its space with Uba Tuba rather than replacing it.
Tillie's is an independent, family-owned concept started by an aunt-and-niece team, serving espresso and matcha with a genuinely community-oriented feel. Sharing a space with an existing local favorite instead of pushing it out is a nice touch, and it means you get two reasons to stop in one spot.
Sign 8: Burritos Blvd
Burritos Blvd opened at 19511 Ventura Boulevard in May, serving California-style burritos alongside classic favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Having a burrito spot open all day, not just for lunch, fills a real gap on this stretch of the Boulevard.
What's Opening Soon in Tarzana?
One more opening is on the way in the weeks ahead, and it has been a while in the making.
Sign 9: Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is coming to 18729 Ventura Boulevard, marking franchisee Zara Afshar's third location in the San Fernando Valley.
Afshar has lived in the Valley for about 40 years and already operates Handel's locations in Northridge and Calabasas. She has said Tarzana was a personal choice, since it is her hometown and her community. That kind of local investment is exactly what makes a new business feel like it belongs here from day one.
Tarzana's Treasures: The Places That Never Change
New openings are exciting, but Tarzana's identity has always been built on the places that have stuck around, sometimes for decades, run by the same families and the same faces.
Sign 10: VIP's
VIP's has been a Tarzana fixture since the late 1990s, opened by husband-and-wife owners Paul and Lucy Ma and still run by the same family today.
I have been going to VIP's for close to three decades, and it is one of the most treasured places in my life. My favorite server, Karen, and George, who have worked there as long as I can remember, still greet me like family every time I walk in. It still feels like the neighborhood coffee shop it has always been, the kind of place where regulars sit at the counter, read the paper, and catch up with the same people every morning.
VIP's was also Coach John Wooden's favorite place to eat. I saw Coach Wooden there many times. He had breakfast there nearly every morning for about twelve years, always in the same booth, Table No. 2, which Paul and Lucy quietly kept open for him without ever making it feel reserved. That booth still carries a plaque today, and his usual order lives on the menu as the Coach Wooden Special. The diner is still known for its made-from-scratch pancakes.
I remember being there when my son, Wyatt, was an infant, and Coach Wooden was so sweet with Wyatt and we even got photos together. Nearly three decades in, VIP's has not changed. It just feels like home, and that is a rare thing to say about any restaurant after this long.
Sign 11: Fabrocini's
Fabrocini's has been serving family-owned Italian dining in Tarzana for more than 46 years.
Their Caesar salad alone is worth the visit, and the consistency here over nearly five decades says everything about why locals keep coming back.
Sign 12: Hummus Bar
Hummus Bar continues to be one of Tarzana's most reliable spots for Israeli-style grilled meats and mezze.
It is the kind of place you bring out-of-town guests to, generous portions, bold flavors, and a menu that never seems to disappoint.
Sign 13: Uba Tuba
Uba Tuba is one of my son Wyatt's favorite spots in Tarzana, known for its acai bowls, empanadas, smoothies, cheese waffles and more.
You might just happen to see Wyatt in there working, so say hello if you do. The acai bowls are some of the best around, and if you have not tried the cheese waffle yet, it is worth the trip on its own.
Sign 14: Tarzana Armenian Deli and Grocery
Tarzana Armenian Deli and Grocery has been owned and operated by the Chelebian family since 1972, more than 50 years serving the neighborhood.
I have known their daughter, Zepure, for years. She is every bit the excellent cook her mom was, and it still means something to walk in and know the same family is behind the counter after more than five decades.
It remains one of the best lunch stops in the neighborhood for a satisfying pita wrap sandwich, salads, and dips, plus a small grocery area stocked with hundreds of products.
Sign 15: Amazing Siam Thai
Amazing Siam Thai serves some of the best Thai food in Tarzana, even though it often gets overlooked.
If you have not tried it, it deserves to be on your radar. Genuinely delicious, and less crowded than it should be given the quality.
Sign 16: Tarzana's Sushi Favorites: Kushiyu, Niko Sushi, and So Sushi
Tarzana's sushi scene runs deep, with Kushiyu, Niko Sushi, and So Sushi each earning their own loyal following.
Kushiyu, owned by Shawn Koizumi, is our go-to for celebrating anything and everything. Niko Sushi and So Sushi round out a sushi lineup that is stronger than most people give Tarzana credit for.
Sign 17: Tabu Shabu
Tabu Shabu, in Tarzana Village, brought Japanese hot pot to Tarzana, letting guests cook their own meal right at the table or bar.
It is a newish addition to the neighborhood, and it has quickly become a fun night out. The staff and owners are genuinely friendly, and there is something about cooking your own hot pot with a group that makes for a great atmosphere every time.
Sign 18: Tasty's Donuts
Tasty's Donuts has been a family-run walk-up donut shop on Burbank Boulevard since the early 1990s, owned and operated by the same family the entire time.
A husband and wife run the counter, with their sons often helping out, and after more than three decades they still turn out some of the best old-fashioned donuts around. It has been a longtime favorite of mine, my son, and his friends for years, and regulars know a few extra donut holes always seem to find their way into the bag.
There is no trendy interior here, just a walk-up counter, friendly faces, and the kind of consistency that keeps generations of local families coming back for apple fritters, glazed and old-fashioned classics, cinnamon rolls, and breakfast sandwiches. You will find them at 18521 Burbank Boulevard in Tarzana, just west of Reseda.
Just Beyond Tarzana
If you are willing to cross into Woodland Hills, two more openings are worth knowing about. Big Daddy's Shwarma is expected to open at 19732 Ventura Boulevard in mid-September 2026, and just down the street at 20032 Ventura Boulevard, an Original Tommy's Burgers is soon to be under construction, a 1,300-square-foot restaurant with an outdoor patio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the newest restaurant to open in Tarzana?
As of September 2026, Philz Coffee is the newest arrival in Tarzana, having opened September 16, 2026 at 18640 Ventura Boulevard. Burritos Blvd and Tillie's Coffee opened in May 2026, and Danny's Corner Kitchen also recently took over the former Wicked Cow space at 18507 Ventura Boulevard.
When is Philz Coffee opening in Tarzana?
Philz Coffee opened at 18640 Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana on September 16, 2026, joining existing Valley-area locations in Studio City and Calabasas.
What are Tarzana's most beloved longtime restaurants?
Tarzana's longtime favorites include VIP's for breakfast and lunch, Fabrocini's for Italian dining, Tarzana Armenian Deli and Grocery for pita wraps and Mediterranean groceries, and Hummus Bar for Israeli-style grilled meats and mezze. Several of these have been open for decades and are still run by the same families.
Is Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana getting more new restaurants?
Yes, at least eight new restaurants and cafes have opened along Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana since May 2026, most recently Philz Coffee on September 16, 2026, with Handel's Homemade Ice Cream still expected in the weeks ahead.
Key Takeaways
• At least eight new restaurants and cafes have opened in Tarzana since May 2026, including Danny's Corner Kitchen, Flavez Burger, Wakey Wakey, Shams Cafe, Labanz Cafe, Tillie's Coffee, Burritos Blvd, and Philz Coffee. • Philz Coffee opened in Tarzana on September 16, 2026, and Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is still coming soon. • Longtime Tarzana favorites like VIP's, Fabrocini's, Hummus Bar, Tarzana Armenian Deli, and Tasty's Donuts continue to anchor the neighborhood, some for over 30 years. • Newer local favorites like Uba Tuba and Tabu Shabu round out the mix, from acai bowls and cheese waffles to Japanese hot pot cooked right at your table. • Tarzana's sushi scene, led by Kushiyu, Niko Sushi, and So Sushi, remains one of the best-kept secrets in the San Fernando Valley. • Just outside Tarzana in Woodland Hills, Big Daddy's Shwarma and an Original Tommy's Burgers location are also on the way. |
Let's Swap Recommendations
This list barely scratches the surface of everything happening on Ventura Boulevard right now. I would love to hear from you, drop me an email and tell me your favorite Tarzana spot, old or new, or which one on this list you are most excited to try. This town runs on the people who show up for each other, and that includes swapping a good restaurant tip.
Leegie Parker
Real Estate Advisor, Compass
DRE 01020534
310-739-9202 | Leegie@Leegie.com | Leegie.com
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