VIP's Cafe in Tarzana: Where Coach John Wooden Had Breakfast and Neighbors Became Family
Published on October 20, 2026 by Leegie Parker
Leegie Parker | Real Estate Advisor | DRE 01020534 | Compass | Leegie.com
Quick Answer VIP's Cafe in Tarzana is a family-run breakfast and lunch diner at 18345 Ventura Boulevard, owned by Paul and Lucy Ma since 1998. Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden ate breakfast there nearly every morning for about 12 years, always at Table No. 2, and his usual order still lives on the menu as the Coach Wooden Special. |
VIP's Cafe in Tarzana is the small, family-run diner on Ventura Boulevard where John Wooden, the coach who led UCLA to 10 NCAA championships, ate breakfast nearly every morning for about 12 years. It's also one of my favorite places in the San Fernando Valley, and it's where some of my favorite photos were taken.
That's Coach Wooden in the middle of the VIP's dining room, leaning on his cane and completely charmed by my son, Wyatt, who was a baby in my arms. Wyatt is grinning right back at him. Today Wyatt is a young man over 6'5", and the people at VIP's have watched every inch of that growing up.
I included VIP's in my roundup of new restaurants and old favorites in Tarzana, but this place deserves its own story. Here's how a little coffee shop on Ventura Boulevard became Coach Wooden's second home, and why the whole neighborhood showed up for it when it needed help.
How did VIP's Cafe in Tarzana get its start?
VIP's Cafe in Tarzana has been run by husband-and-wife owners Paul and Lucy Ma since 1998, when Paul took over the diner at 18345 Ventura Boulevard. Under the Mas, it became a classic neighborhood coffee shop: booths, a counter where regulars catch up over coffee, generous breakfast plates, and a lunch menu with a few Chinese dishes alongside the burgers and sandwiches.
According to a 2010 Sports Illustrated feature, Paul arrived in Los Angeles in 1997 and knew very little about American sports when he bought the place. The kind older gentleman who came in every morning was simply a regular to him long before he knew he was serving a coaching legend. I love that. It might be the most Tarzana thing about the whole story.
Why did John Wooden eat breakfast at VIP's every morning?
John Wooden ate breakfast at VIP's nearly every morning for about 12 years because it gave him what he valued most: routine, good company, and a place where nobody made a fuss over him. He arrived around 8 a.m., sat at Table No. 2, and usually ordered two eggs, very crisp bacon, and a well-toasted English muffin with butter and strawberry jelly, with hot tea and honey on the side.
Paul and Lucy quietly kept that booth open for him without ever making it feel reserved. We used to see Coach there all the time. Some mornings he sat with just one friend. Other mornings he was at a big table surrounded by former players, holding court, and clearly enjoying every minute. Bill Walton and Mike Warren were among the former Bruins who joined him for breakfast.
Whoever he was with, he was friendly and talkative with everyone in the room. His son, Jim, once called VIP's "Cheers without beer," and anyone who has spent a morning there knows how right that is. The UCLA connection runs deep, too. As the Los Angeles Times reported in 2020, every UCLA men's basketball coach from Steve Lavin to Mick Cronin made a breakfast pilgrimage to VIP's soon after taking the job.
What happened at VIP's when Coach Wooden died?
When John Wooden died on June 4, 2010, at age 99, Paul Ma closed VIP's on the day of his memorial so the staff could attend. So many employees wanted to go that Paul couldn't choose who should stay behind, and according to the Los Angeles Times, it was the only day the restaurant voluntarily closed in its first 22 years under the Mas.
The family honored him with a plaque at Table No. 2, filled the walls with photos and memorabilia, and added the Coach Wooden Special to the menu. In 2012, on what would have been his 102nd birthday, his usual breakfast was set at his booth with a birthday cake and a copy of the Times sports section. As recently as October 2025, VIP's was still marking his birthday.
How did the Tarzana community save VIP's during COVID?
When COVID-19 shut down dining rooms in March 2020, VIP's came close to closing for good, and its regulars raised more than $11,000 in two weeks to help Paul and Lucy keep the doors open. A regular named Ryan Hagen started a GoFundMe, and the support came from everywhere: UCLA coach Mick Cronin gave $2,500, Coach Wooden's family gave $1,000, and, according to the Times, one longtime customer in her 80s mailed in a check for $2,000.
VIP's reopened for takeout in May 2020, and the fund eventually passed $12,000. Neighbors kept ordering, kept showing up, and kept the place going until the dining room could fill back up.
This is the part of the story I think about most. A neighborhood is more than its houses. It's the places like this, and the people who decide they're worth saving.
Why does VIP's still feel like home?
VIP's still feels like home because the same faces have been there through everything, and they remember you. Karin and Mr. George have watched Wyatt grow up, from when I was pregnant with him, to the baby Coach Wooden fussed over, to a toddler, and now to a young man over 6'5". Every time we walk in together, they light up.
The Mas' son, Michael, is often there now, helping his parents run the cafe, so the family story keeps going. And you never quite know who'll be at the next table. Dave Grohl is a local and I've seen him there, but everyone lets him enjoy his breakfast in peace, which is exactly how Coach liked it too. It's one of the reasons I call Tarzana home.
What should you order at VIP's Cafe in Tarzana?
VIP's Cafe in Tarzana is known for hearty, classic breakfast food: made-from-scratch pancakes (Wyatt's go-to), Breakfast Burritos, the Coach Wooden Special, and a loco moco that landed on the menu after a regular introduced Paul to the Hawaiian dish. Lunch brings burgers, sandwiches (the tuna on toasted sourdough is my favorite), and a few Chinese plates you won't find at most Valley diners.
VIP's is open every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch only, with booths, counter seating, and outdoor tables facing Ventura Boulevard. Order the Coach Wooden Special, look for the plaque at Table No. 2, and say hello to Paul and Lucy.
Frequently Asked Questions About VIP's Cafe
Where is VIP's Cafe in Tarzana, and when is it open?
VIP's Cafe is at 18345 Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, CA 91356. It's open every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and serves breakfast and lunch only. Seating includes booths, a counter, and outdoor tables facing Ventura Boulevard.
What is the Coach Wooden Special at VIP's?
The Coach Wooden Special is VIP's menu tribute to the breakfast John Wooden ordered there nearly every morning for about 12 years. His usual was two eggs, very crisp bacon, and a well-toasted English muffin with butter and strawberry jelly, with hot tea and honey.
Is John Wooden's booth still at VIP's?
Yes. Table No. 2, the booth where John Wooden sat for about 12 years of breakfasts, is marked with a plaque, and photos and memorabilia from his time there line the walls. VIP's remains a favorite stop for UCLA fans visiting Tarzana.
Who owns VIP's Cafe in Tarzana?
Husband-and-wife owners Paul and Lucy Ma have owned VIP's Cafe since 1998. Their son, Michael, now helps run the cafe, and longtime staff members like Karin and Mr. George have been part of the VIP's family for years.
Key Takeaways • VIP's Cafe at 18345 Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana has been owned by Paul and Lucy Ma since 1998. • UCLA coach John Wooden ate breakfast at VIP's nearly every morning for about 12 years, always at Table No. 2, which now carries a plaque. • Wooden's usual order lives on as the Coach Wooden Special on the VIP's menu. • VIP's closed on the day of Wooden's 2010 memorial so the staff could attend, its only voluntary closure in its first 22 years under the Mas. • In 2020, regulars raised more than $11,000 in two weeks through a GoFundMe to help VIP's survive the COVID shutdown. • VIP's is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch. |
If you're new to Tarzana, or thinking about making it home, VIP's is the first place I'd send you. Grab a booth, order the Coach Wooden Special, and you'll understand this neighborhood in one morning.
And if you'd like to talk about life in Tarzana, or anywhere in the San Fernando Valley and on the Westside of Los Angeles, call or text me at 310-739-9202, or email Leegie@Leegie.com. I'd love to hear your VIP's story, too.
Leegie Parker
Real Estate Advisor, Compass
DRE 01020534
310-739-9202 | Leegie@Leegie.com | Leegie.com
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