The little big neighborhood city of Toluca Lake was established in the roaring 1920s with a mostly…read moreresidential make up encompassing some great hidden streets, avenues and sites. Moorpark Street being to most roaring part a century later in the 2020s. From longstanding historic eateries like Bob's Big Boy (on the border of Toluca Lake in Burbank) to the local Trader Joe's, Fresh Brothers Pizza and Tocaya Moden Mexican fast casual restaurant. Incredible personal favorites such as Something Vegan, Forman's Tavern and Paty's Restaurant. It's a fairly accessible area both by car and on foot with easy streets, a fairly function LA Metro system, the 155, 222, 224, 501 and Commuter Express not to mention the Pink Route bus via the nextdoor city of Burbank. Historical gems such as the Gary Marshall Theater are here as well as other small theaters and/or playhouses. Your main freeways are the 134, 101 and 170, but surface streets are very much the way in Toluca. The Lake of T resides alongside the Lake Country Club & Golf Course on Clybourn/Toluca Avenue. Toluca Lake Elementary and Toluca Crossroads School, both off Cahuenga Blvd, are the only schools in Toluca Lake. Bordering Burbank, Universal City, Studio City and North Hollywood in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley the T Lake has great places to eat, shop and stay with most of your essential needs within the "city limits," but also very closeby. Parking can be a challenge like almost anywhere in Greater, however you can definitely find it and find your way. The cost of living is steep with studios starting around $2k, one bedrooms around $2.4 for a one bedroom. Homes are worth a pretty penny as well and for the comfort and luxury of living in a little big slice of SFV/LA County greatness, you can definitely see why visiting, passing through and exploring is definitely something a lot of us can enjoy without breaking the bank, that said they have most bank branches (Chase, Us Bank, Wells Fargo, etc) here as well as a Fire Station (number 86), US Post Office and Neighborhood Council. The nearest library is in North Hollywood and the closest medical facilities are the UCLA Health Toluca Lake Primary Care and the Toluca Lake Medical Building on the cusp of North Hollywood. Toluca Lake is a skip over to Warner Bros Studios as well as Universal Studios. With some awesome accolades for cinema, television and digital mediums such as Pulp Fiction, the Netflix series Never Have I Ever, and T.J. Hooker to name a few. This overall neighborhood in the city is charming, intimate and inviting even more so for seasonal occasions like Halloween and Christmas, they go all out!

In my humble opinion? This is the cutest neighborhood in Los…read moreAngeles. I have yet to come across a cuter little village like city. The shops are mom and pop owned. The restaurants are super cute, and the people are cute and friendly. Yes, I used cute a lot...it's because Toluca Lake is SO DAMN CUTE! I've been planning to move here for a while, I just didn't have the financial means to relocate. I'm getting married in August and my fiance and I are looking for a place in Toluca Lake. When he proposed to me I agreed only under the condition that we move to Toluca Lake. Yep, I love this place that much. Even looking long term it makes sense. The house value will only increase in such a great neighborhood. Its a great little town to raise kids, and the schools here are spectacular. Oh and they have a lake and a car show every sunday during summer! What more can you ask for?!

Molhulland Drive, California…read more If you're looking for a chill, romantic drive, Mulholland Drive is a great pick!!! The views are beautiful, especially in the spring and fall when everything is green and wildflowers are blooming. The road winds through the hills, so you get nonstop scenic views. Driving with the top down and the wind in your hair makes it even better ~ super relaxing and enjoyable. It's the kind of drive where you just take it slow and enjoy the ride. There are several lookout spots where you can pull over, catch an amazing sunset, and later see Hollywood and San Fernando Valley city lights at night. Plus, there are plenty of spots perfect for Instagram ~ worthy photos. Definitely worth the drive.

Amazing place for first day of new year for sunrise! We had…read morea blessing time here. Highly recommended!!

I had the pleasure of dining here with my Argentinian friend a while ago. It was during a DineLA…read moreweek. It was the best afternoon we had! The ambience was very jovial yet elegant, I felt like it should become my Argentinian getaway! We chose the special options offered and they were well thought out. I opted for the branzino lunch including a starter of an empanada, a side of rice and broccoli My friend opted for the steak with a caper sauce and with same sides. They were gracious enough to let me take my friend's empanada to go. The food was excellent as were their wine selections, my white wine was crisp, it paired nicely with the meal. My friend's Malbec was perfect with the beef. As we lingered, our server offered to "top off" our wines, I was blown away by this gesture, it alone should garner great acclaim! The dessert was excellent! I thank them for this gem!

Dined at Bodega Malbec last week for dinner. It was a 6p reservation and there was plenty of…read moreseating inside. Outside on the street there were not a lot of options since it was a beautiful valley night. I can say this was my first time trying Argentinian food and it won't be my last. They did not have cocktails which was a disappointment for me but they had a very affordable wine selection filled with, you guessed it, Malbec. They also serve beer if that is your thing. Getting to the meat of the review, I had the ribeye that was cooked to perfection. It came with three dipping sauces and I tasted one of the three and opted to forgo any sauce. It just wasn't my flavor. For the side we got the mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts with bacon. Both good neither great. Jumping to the desserts. We got the crème brûlée a trio of sorbet and a chocolate mousse. I don't eat chocolate but it was devoured by the rest of the table. The sorbets were refreshing and the brûlée was tasty. Now to what I loved. The tapas aka appetizers. Beets and burrata salad 10/10 Empanadas three ways Spinach and cheese 9/10 Beef 9/10 Chicken 9/10 Garlic shrimp 10/10 Each appetizer I thought was better than the next with the burrata probably being my favorite. A nice Toluca lake gem at a good price with many options.

Such a great find! We stumbled across this place since it was just a block from our Airbnb and…read morewithin easy walking distance. The service was fantastic--we were greeted and seated quickly, and our server was incredibly friendly. As for the food, the pasta dishes across the table were a huge hit; everyone was completely satisfied with their meals and the portion sizes. We also started with the caprese salad to share, which had amazing flavor. Highly recommend if you're looking for a delicious, hassle-free dinner!

We had a wonderful experience here! We ordered the pasta, steak, and lamb chops, and everything was…read moredelicious. The steak was especially memorable--it had an amazing crispy crust unlike any I've had before. What stood out most was how warm and welcoming the restaurant felt, like enjoying a home-cooked meal at a family member's house. Our waitress and the entire staff were incredibly kind and attentive, which made the experience even better. Aside from the steak and salad, I felt like the other dishes could use a boost of flavor, but I would still definitely recommend this spot and can't wait to return!

The murals of Chandler along the bike and path of North Hollywood have changed and expanded with…read moretime, with new murals and pieces being added not only the buildings, walls and spaces that highlight it, but the path itself, with more benches and even workout equipment so you can enjoy the beauty of North Hollywood in more ways than one. The murals and art stretch from the near Chandler Ave/Vineland Blvd down to Chandler/Cahuenga Blvd... Short stroll to from the Metro B (Red) Line. It stretches for a half mile and is an easy 10 to 15 minute stroll depending on your pace. A few local staples at both end including Great White Hut (restaurant) and Iliad Bookshop, not to mention a great brewery in-between (Lawless), off Craner Avenue (tiny side street). Lots of parking in the area, free of restrictions, walkable distance to other parts of NoHo like my favorite dives The Good Nite and Bullet Bar, both on Burbank Blvd. Take a stroll through a slice of North Hollywood's Chandler Blvd Art & Mural walk and enjoy a slice of valley outdoors.

Being an art lover, I found out about this place on Yelp. Since it was a nice day and this is…read moreoutdoors, we took a drive out here. My review is based on my observations, with no research on its background. This stretch of a few blocks appears to be the exterior wall of some industrial businesses. The city at some point built an outdoor walking, jogging and bike path for all to enjoy. Then came the murals to bring color and life to an otherwise dull and grim row of fences/ walls. We strolled about 10 minutes and viewed some pieces. They were mostly nice, but really hoped there was some information telling me the background of the mural and the artist(s). Unfortunately, some were also tagged by graffiti. If you're nearby, it's a nice way to spend about 10-15 minutes on a stroll, and it's free to see. There was plenty of street parking. Wear sneakers as the walking surface can get uneven.

Maybes it just me but it seems like there's always something new popping up in the area. It's a…read moretine little neighborhoods but packs a major punch with what they have. There's a good selection of restaurants, some bars, and a few shops here and there. Mainly more eateries than the others. It pretty much street parking along the main roads or neighborhoods. There's a huge parking lot a block away where the red line station is. Crowds are alway pretty mellow. Not stuffy like the city scene. Majority of time if we're in the area, it normally for a meal and then a drink afterwards.

A great sub neighborhood of North Hollywood with good food, bars, and entertainment…read more From the North side of the 134 Freeway down Lankershim Blvd passed local favorites like the Ha Ha Comedy Club, Tiki No (tiki bar), Lotus Vegan (originally on Vineland), Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre, the local Amazon Fresh, Player One (barcade) Brew Bros Brewing, Pitfire Pizza (with amazing outdoor layout) and down to North Hollywood Station (a major city transit hub). Or from the Vineland Avenue perspective you can cruise to places like Idle Hour (the wheel barrel bar), TeaPop (cafe meets art gallery) and that crazy multiple intersection with Lankershim + Camarillo Street that only a creative mad genius could have been ambitious enough to design O.O and place in the NoHo Arts district. Getting around via any method of travel including on foot is an interesting one. There is some free residential and business parking as well as street with few restrictions and plenty along outer streets like Vineland Place, but just keep in mind during the day certain areas are limited to 2hr parking. Enjoy a slice of NoHo via these district of creative expressive bliss... More than one Starbucks because a lot of locals need their fix (plus one is drive thru and the other is walk in) but highly recommend supporting the smaller mom & pops such as Amp Coffee, Horror Vibes and Amsterdam on Magnolia near the stellar newer brewery in the area Lawless (a hidden gem must). Q-Tip: Check out nohoartsdistrict.com for local events, entertainment or places to explore as well as stay.

Luminaria is a very nice event organized by the Studio City Council for 6 years now. It takes place…read moreat the historic Campo de Cahuenga. I've never heard of this event before this year, so I attended today (Sunday, Dec. 2nd) for the 1st time. Takes places from 3 pm - 7 pm. Luminaria is a festival of lights that starts the holiday season in the area, brings joy on a December evening (kinda cold for LA). Parking - Universal subway lot, for free! With the bookmark from the event printed out or of the Eventbrite ticket (free) also printed and placed on the dashboard of your car. Simple, right? Then, you're off to go, ready to enjoy the festivities: music (nice carolers) to put you in a festive mood, a self-guided tour of Campo de Cahuenga (great way to learn about the history of California), drawing for kids, vendors, cookies, hot chocolate and cider for everyone. For free!!! Wonderful event to attend, nice, simple, low key. Everyone in the staff was nice and welcoming. The lights are beautiful (they don't use real candles for safety reasons), calm, serene, creating a nice atmosphere. I loved attending Luminaria and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Happy holidays!

A local flavor in Burbank if you're looking for a Christmas decoration extravaganza. The house is…read morewell done. Parking can be a little tough, so good luck. You can listen along in your car to Christmas music when you tune in to 99.1 or listen to it outside as well. Feels a little strange to be hanging out in front of someone's home, but that's why we're here right? To see Christmas on Clark st. Seasons greetings.

A MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING ! 4 & 1/2 STARS! People come from all over SOCAL during the…read moreHalloween season to see the Clown House & others on Clark St. in Burbank & go trick or treating. There is also a Christmas celebration that's less known & not as big but has some great lights up & down Clark street. They have a good show @ 3600 W Clark St. It is also less than a 10 minute ride from Holiday Fantasies Come to Life which is Spectacular & gets better every year. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

For our last dinner on our Studio City trip, my sister and bro-in-law booked Ca Del Sole, an…read moreItalian restaurant in Toluca Lake they always wanted to try. Toluca Lake is an expensive area in LA, but the actual lake is fenced in and not available to the public. I even had trouble finding it on Google Map, but I did see the Hollywood Reservoir, LOL! The restaurant is good-sized and very trendy yet welcoming for families. Parking is $7 valet. They have a surprisingly big kid's menu and have a good mix of seafood and meaty entrees. Highly recommend the grilled Spanish octopus with white beans. Very tender. The Bruschetta was also very good - crispy at first bite but then super soft and melts in the mouth. Wife and I both got fish entrees. She had the chilean sea bass special while I went for the excellent bown-sugar smoked Scottish Salmon. It was a nice thick piece, but very moist and tasty. Our 6yo son got the penne pasta with butter sauce and chicken, one of his favorites. An excellent Italian restaurant for date night or family dinner. Their big menu and excellent service are 5-star worthy.

Pros -fried calamari is really good…read more-the olive tapenade is delicious Cons -parking is valet only or street Rating 7.5/10

You find out new things each time you come here. I've been loads of time but usually for lunch or a…read morestroll through the mall. There's nothing fancy there but since it's there might as well walk through. But along the main strip, they do have a good amount of restaurants, bakery and quick and easy dining. Not to mentioned some shopping along the way. We came for dinner with some friends which I didn't even know that that had a night market happening. I was told that it goes on during The weekend. It's nothing to fancy just a few vendors with homemade gifts and a few food stalls. It's a good way to showcase your business as it right along the strip where the movie theatre and restaurants are. I've also been to a Yelp event just along here which was fun. Downtown Burbank isn't crazy but it does pack a lot into it. With Finney's, Yardhouse, Granville to name a few of the bigger chain restaurants. You have the movie theatre, more restaurants and shopping along the strip. Then there's the mall at the corner. It's a few block radius which isn't too big but all packed in together. Also loads of sushi restaurants which I love. Plenty of parking at one of the many parking structures. There's street parking if you get lucky.

Gotta love DTBK, Downtown Burbank in the city of Burbank is a central hub of food, entertainment,…read moreculture and more. From the local Burbank Town Center to the AMCs (16, 8 and 6) to the cool statues like Batman outside of the Slice House by Tony Gemignani Enjoy fun vendor marts, the Taste of Burbank festival and gatherings throughout the year. Parking garages are plentiful, but they can absolutely fill up on weekends as well as holidays. Walking is fun with easy navigation (very pedestrian friendly) - I'm often around exploring from Angeleno Avenue to Burbank Blvd/San Fernando Blvd, which breaks up but highlights the center of Downtown. Enjoy sandwiches at the Wild Carvery, ranked #30 among top sandwich shop spots in 2025. Dine in at Granville, Wokcano and other little big chains. Another Broken Egg Cafe is very much a popular spot for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Shop it up at Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's and more. Selfcare at Purpose LA Barbershop, The Local Salon inside the mall (aka BTC - Burbank Town Center) and Eden Nails & Spa to name a few. Laugh it up at the iconic Flappers comedy club off the corner of 1st Street/Magnolia Blvd. Take the Downtown Burbank Metrolink, local city LA Metro or Burbank Busses, Pink and Orange routes. Some parts of Burbank do have an incline, especially in the down of town area. Easy but busy freeways like the 5, the 134 being the closest connection. Depending on your destination to or from Magnolia Blvd, Glenoaks Blvd and even Burbank Blvd can be the next best thing. For the nightlife Fantasia Billiards is a fun place to shoot some pool and have a drink, nice patio overlooking the main Boulevard. And Round1 Bowling & Arcade stays open until 2am w/ karaoke rooms, eats and solid beverages #FunForAll The cost of living ranges (2k for a one bedroom), but the area is very inviting, rich in life and culture, not to mention cuisine. Summers can be quite hot, but also enjoyable. Winters and fall will definitely see some exciting season holiday decor, plus happenings. Explore, visit and thrive in Downtown Burbank.