Travel

Sherman Oaks Restaurants

Establishment neighborhood
Anajak Thai
14704 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
Chef Justin Pichetrungsi received a James Beard award shortly after taking over his family’s Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks. In a city full of great Thai spots, it’s one of the best. The à la carte menu is classic—chicken satay, drunken noodles, and curries, all present—with seasonal twists. Two special menus to consider: One weekend a month, Anajak Thai hosts a ticketed omakase-style dinner. And every Tuesday, they take walk-ins only for an unbelievably good taco night starring excellent ingredients like albacore, uni, and ikura. 
Sushi Note
13447 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
If the complimentary sparkling cocktail you were handed upon arrival didn’t clue you in, Sushi Note is more than a neighborhood sushi joint. It’s also a wine bar. And a great one at that (co-owner Dave Gibbs is the discerning palate behind Augustine Wine Bar and Mirabelle). What sets it apart: It takes your traditional omakase tasting menu and one-ups it with sommelier-curated wine pairings from the best vineyards in Burgundy. And we haven’t even gotten to the sushi yet. Yuzu-and-truffle-drenched scallops, peppered albacore, and simple, salt-dusted sea bass that might be the single greatest bite within miles, and then there are the precisely sliced, perfectly seasoned cuts of nigiri that defy description. It’s only after you leave that you realize the sushi was so spectacular, you didn’t even drizzle it with soy sauce. Our advice: Snag a seat at the bar, go for the tasting menu, and watch the chefs work their magic.