Ranch Side Cafe
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Who would have guessed there would be an eatery that serves Ethiopian cuisine near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in northern San Fernando Valley? Featuring about 5 different varieties. No need to go to Fairfax to Little Ethiopia, an hour away. Interior is decorated mostly with all things western cowboy with smattering of movie stars & bit of British royalty. Other menu items are basically American diner breakfast, lunch, dinner, punctuated by standard northern Mexican. Service is polite, understatedly welcoming and subtly aware. My ice tea was refreshed many times due to the piquancy of Dorowot. 1) Dorowot/Ethiopian Chicken: Injera, a hole pocked, spongy, huge "pancake" made from Teff, gluten-free, faintly nutty, earthy grain native to Ethiopia. It reminds me of Indian rice based Appam with many holes from the carbon dioxide given off while the batter mixture is fermented. Dorowot here is not slowly stewed for 3 days to create a rich, dark, thick, sauce demi-glace by the likes of Master Chef Genet Agonafar, but the dark red, paprika enriched thickened sauce may be braised for about 3 hours which is enough to mellow out the chiles so it only leaves a slow burn. Chicken leg & thigh cooked in this red sauce anchor this main dish. The three vegetable accompaniment are: a) Soft, smooth, velvety, sweet cabbage cooked with buttery olive oil b) Chunks of earthy, dulcet red beets that have an initial firmness yielding to cleavable softness. c) Collard Greens are chopped with pieces of garlic, cooked retaining fresh greenness. Ranch Side's Dorowot at $21 may be a good value compared to the more detailed $31 Dorowot by Genet. 2) Awazè Tibs: Sweet, butter aroma hits first, Acidic tomato paste-like, red chile piquancy. Slow burn as well as a subtle smokiness to this complex stew. Owner explained the Berbere was the name of the chile based spice mix. There is a subdued sourness that comes into play along with aromatics from chopped onion and green bellpepper. I ordered off menu so I asked that the mushrooms and cubed beef be mixed together. Mushrooms are soft and cushy while the beef has a good chaw to add contrast in texture. 1-2a) Old Prague Traditional Czech Beer, Bohemian Premium Lager: The art on the can depicts elegant old buildings of the Stare Mesto old town and picturesque Karlov Most crossing tbe Vlatava River on the way to Hradcany castle. Toasty, roasted grain, light fizzy acidity, brown sugar, long lasting sweet, burnt, tingly finish. 3) Peach Cobler has a wheat flour crust that is very moist and plush to the point of feeling almost like a pudding picking up the cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg spicing. Canned yellow Cling peach slices seem suspended in this rather overly sweet, rustic version. I had to take the peach cobbler home since it was so sweet. But glad I did since it pairs perfectly with strong Japanese Matcha, powdered green tea. 4 stars for a taste of Ethiopian international cuisine
A great sage once inspired me by saying "be realistic, plan for a miracle". Shouldn't we all live by that? I have wanted ethnic and exotic restaurants to move farther north and even come to the SCV. My wishes have been granted and we have Lebanese, Japanese, and Indian restaurants that rival the best in the southland. But, we lacked Ethiopian, one of my favorite cuisines. Not any more! Joy of joys, there is Ranch Side Cafe, just 20 minutes from Valencia and a stone's throw from two freeways. Ranch Side Cafe is sui generis. There is a stupefyingly broad and deep menu of American and Mexican fare (see my photos), but most and best of all, there is a very credible Ethiopian list too and that is what we visited for. A sunny cool day, bathed in golden light, this place just glowed warmth and welcome. It took a minute to appreciate all the little touches and the original artwork on the walls. There were ample tables inside and out, and a cheerful staff. The minute we walked in, we were greeted from across the room and invited to sit anywhere we wanted. I always choose a window (clean!) and then sat down to study the choices that were many. People think vegetarians eat rabbit food, you know, plain vegetables and non-gluten breads. If anyone is observant they will realize that we eat far more complex and seasoned food than meat-eaters. Ethiopian meals place a large emphasis on non-animal dishes, so it is a natural for me. Add to it that they have unique and elegant spices and the ordinary vegetable becomes a heavenly ambrosia. Also, it was full even on a late Sunday afternoon -- people streamed in the entire time we were there. Lake View Terrace (of Patrick Swayze fame) is a beautiful, verdant, horse-loving town, too, so the trip there was delightful as well. Our vegetarian platters were cooked to order. We enjoyed cups of delicious hot Italian coffee, a lovely server named Marisa who anticipated our every wish, and we took home half of the generous dishes we got. The tab was downright scandalously reasonable. Sunny, warm, cheerful, clean, delicious, upbeat and homey -- we are going to return for the Mexican menu next time. I am grateful to the gods for hearing my plea for Ethiopian food so close to home.
My boyfriend brought me on a date yesterday and the food did not disappoint. This was my first time trying out Ethiopian food and I thought it was soooo delicious. I love that it is vegetarian and that I get to use my hands to enjoy it. My bf and I are definitely coming here again for future dates.
This was our first time here for breakfast and it was soo good we came back for dinner as well. The customer service from the employees and the owner are outstanding. The place is kind of old school but it has a good vibe to it. We got some breakfast items and they were all very delicious and fresh. They have outside seating as well which is really nice. The parking is plenty. We also got the peach cobbler to go but I highly recommend you eat it there. Definitely give it a try if ever in the area. We'll be coming here more often that's for sure.
The Ethiopian food is great. The chile relleno was not great. The chile part was good, but the sauce on top didn't taste great. The rice was also bland. I'll definitely come back for the Ethiopian.
just moved into the neighborhood and had such a wonderful experience at The Ranch Cafe. Our waitress, Lee, truly made our day. She was so welcoming, kind, and genuinely excited to have us there, which meant a lot as newcomers. Lee gave us great recommendations and everything she suggested was spot on. The service was attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel special instead of routine. It was the perfect welcome to the area, and we'll definitely be back. Thank you, Lee, for making our day!
The food and service are incredible here! Love family run businesses like this. They serve American, Mexican, and Ethiopian food here. I went with my kids and of course they had a standard American breakfast - pancakes, eggs, bacon. I love Ethiopian food and there's not many options around but their veggie plate and lentil sambusa are amazing! I have yet to try their Mexican but I'm sure it's as delicious as everything else here. Can't wait to return!
Awaze Tibs with Injera was the bomb Delicious and that spicy sauce was perfect heat balance for me. Last time I had Ethiopian food was about 12 years ago on Fairfax... This place serves American, Mexican, AND Ethiopian .... Staff are friendly and helpful... I will definitely come back
(3/5) Food was actually solid -- biscuits & gravy were rich, eggs cooked right, and the sausage hit. No complaints on flavor. But the experience got weird real quick. The menu clearly states that Ranch House breakfasts come with your choice of country potatoes or hash browns. I ordered the Biscuits & Gravy & Eggs (which is listed in that section), but when I asked about the missing hash browns, I was told they don't come with it and it's an extra charge. That directly contradicts what's printed on their own menu. Not trying to argue over potatoes, but it's the principle either update the menu or honor what it says. It just leaves a bad taste, and not the good kind. I'd come back for the food, but the pricing/menu clarity needs work.
We stopped here randomly while looking for a breakfast spot later in the afternoon. It's right off of the osborne exit from the 210 freeway. It's an interesting restaurant, the menu is split with american/mexican/ethiopian food. My husband and son ordered breakfast, my other son had chicken fingers/fries. I had the ethiopian veggie plate, it was really good, both spicy and flavorful. I was stuffed and could barely finish half the plate. Service was great and the owner also was kind and came out to greet us. We definitely will be back!
We made a quick stop here on a drive and were absolutely blown away! They had fresh, delicious homemade peach cobbler straight out of the oven. The smell inside was wonderful, but the taste was absolutely delicious. It was still steaming warm when they handed it to us! The staff was incredibly welcoming and provided exceptional customer service that made our visit even better. We couldn't even wait to eat it and actually devoured it while we were on the road. This may officially be our new favorite spot for a quick driving break and an amazing treat. We will definitely be back!
4 years ago
In the town of Sylmar back actually more Lake View Terrace sits a cafe ready to lasso your taste buds and then some! Just off the 210 Fwy on the famous Foothill Blvd that peaks just before Newhall through Sylmar and into the San Gabriel Valley and even San Bernardino County area and as history will tell you is in fact Route 66 for most of its stretch. Lucky for me this stretch brought me to the Ranch Side Cafe... covered outdoor patio seating just before the entrance and plenty of choose-your-own table seating inside. Amazing wall art, knick-knacks, and famous figures from past to present including Lucille "Lucy" Ball with Desi Arnaz, The King "Elvis," Mother Teresa, Selena, and a wall of pictures, autographs, and nostalgia that really make this place feel not only inviting but like home. RSC has an extensive menu of Ethiopian, Mexican and American varieties with some fusions from all. The Summer Vegan Ethiopian Tacos and Lentil Sambusas are a must. There's a salsa bar, cerveza (that's beer), and wine not to mention a variety of drinks for all (like juices, sodas, teas, and coffees). Breakfast, Lunch, plus all times of day food specials from Burritos to Melts & Sandwiches, Sides, Salads, Soups, Plates, and loads more including deserts. The service is above and beyond from everyone and there's literally something for everyone... Good gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, keto-friendly options, etc... Easy parking in a fair-sized lot... Definitely not something you'd expect in a less populated side of the Los Angeles Valley, but considering not only are the patrons and staff sunny and full of local charm but the area as well... It's easy to see why Ranch Side Cafe is the right kind of cafe for many. Giddy up into RSC in your trusty metal steed! read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
Holy moly what an amazing spot! The menu was honestly so hard to choose something from because of all of the great items, but we tried the wings (awesome flavor!), the Chile relleno burrito and the sambusas. Everything was delicious, and the peach cobbler at the end was a religious experience. I'm only upset I found this place so late in the game, absolutely try this place! read more
Appropriately named since they sit right in the heart of one of LA's major areas of horse properties and stables. With an eclectic and diverse offering of food choices; American, Mexican and Ethiopian. Today's visit was my first, my wife's second. Empty on our arrival just before noon, and politely instructed to have a seat wherever we like. And for those of you concerned about a separate menu for the Ethiopian dishes, you'll find all cuisine choices in one fairly extensive menu; breakfast, lunch and dinner served all day. So after perusing the menu several times, nearly getting lost in the multitude of choices, the wife went with the Healthy Omelette Breakfast with potatoes and two slices of sourdough toast. Unfortunately they had no turkey sausage available, the one letdown today. I chose the Ethiopian Chicken with vegetables on a bed of injera, and a root beer. This injera was the consistency of a crepe but absorbed the flavors oh so well! But so thin you'll start your meal using no utensils the traditional way, but don't lose track of your fork, you'll definitely be needing it halfway in. And everything on this plate was amazingly delicious! From the chicken to the best tasting beets I've ever eaten. A friendly atmosphere and before long, a very diverse clientele started filing in right after our settling in. And a good choice of both indoor and outdoor seating, very cozy. But the food is the real star here, one of the most satisfying meals I've had dining out anywhere in months. Total before tip; $41.04 and worth every Penny. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
My friend and I like to do "tack days" where we drive up to East Valley Tack, then get lunch somewhere in the area. Last time we did this, we stumbled upon this gem of a place - an American cafe with Mexican and Ethiopian food and decked out in western cowboy themes. I got the veggie Ethiopian plate, and it was...so good. I accidentally ate a pepper and nearly died, which made the server very concerned. Washed it down with some fries and orange bang, and was right as rain after a few minutes. Definitely going back. read more
3 years ago
This food was incredible! My husband and I were extremely impressed with the authentic Ethiopian food. I especially loved the Shiro Wat in the veggie platter. Being 35 weeks pregnant, I thought perhaps the spices would be too much for me but they graciously accommodated for me by limiting the spiciness level. I'm already excited to go back ... only wish I lived closer! As per the other reviews, my husband and I appreciated knowing that this place is very dog-friendly. Immediately, the gentleman helping us took our drink orders and offered our small dog water. It was so nice to be able to enjoy this eatery together! read more
11 months ago
Burnt bacon. Burnt hash browns. My bf got the avocado toast and it wasn't even toast just soggy ass bread. I don't understand there were only 2 people eating inside it wasn't busy at all how do you mess up something so simple? It was gross. Never coming back. read more
I have drove by this little corner cafe and always wondered and keep saying we need to try this place. Well today my goddaughter and grandbebe while visiting the cemetery nearby side to stop by and it did not disappoint very cute home comforting portions are shareable Coffey is dead on Perfect! You all know unlike my . I enjoyed the special of the day , fish tacos . So I'm always looking for that fish taco now, but I need to explain to you that this is not your usual Ensenada light style taco. It was good I was still constipating if I really enjoyed it or not and ultimately I did enjoy it again it is different. The reason is different is because they do cut up the fish so it's enjoyable to eat peace by peace as you're taking a bite, however I'm used to the trimmings on top of the fish taco to have more of a citrus and in this case it's more of a call coleslaw not sweet but has a touch of it so that's all I can say to you if you like that, kind of taste that this is the fish taco for you if you're looking for the Ensenada Taco, then no! Though you should still give it a try cause I really did enjoy it my grandbaby enjoyed the pancakes and my goddaughter enjoyed the chocolate chip pancakes read more
Can't decide between American Food, Mexican Food, or Ethiopian? Well, Ranch Side Cafe has a menu that, finally, includes all three! (This is always what the world has been waiting for.) We were in the mood for Ethiopian and with a complete lack of that genre of food up here in the Santa Clarita Valley we were delighted to find that Ranch Side Cafe, a one-stop shop for just about all foods, existed...we had a couple of vegetarian plates delivered and it was just like being in Little Ethiopia on Fairfax. How was this possible? We don't know, we were just happy it was as 6 different vegetarian Ethiopian dishes rolled out from the injera bread right on our table at home, ready for us to tear off pieces, scoop up deliciousness, and enjoy. The colors were beautiful...the portion size was great (2 of us each got our own vegetarian plate and it was more than enough.) And we'd definitely get it again! (Uness we wanted an omelet or burrito in which case were could also get those at this same restaurant. Why are there even other restaurants when all the possible foods of the world are available at this one? What a world! read more
Business owner information
Zenashe B.
Thank you sooooo much. We are so glad you have enjoyed our food.
3 years ago
We actually stopped here by accident.. my 5 year old Had to poop .. I'm glad she did because we needed ended up staying here for dinner. We were about 2 hours from home still and hungry.. I fell in love with not just food but everything! Our server was super sweet, didn't catch her name but she tried to get the Dodger game On for us . I truly appreciated that! I shared with all my fam and friends about this restaurant. EASY on/off freeway.. I will definitely be back again!! Thank you!! read more
The simplicity of a small cafe in a ranch adjacent area was charming to the eye. The staff was friendly and accommodating. I had the 3 egg avocado and cheese omelette with hash browns. My eggs were perfectly cooked and the hash browns were ideally crisp on the outside and warm and buttery on the inside. I also had mimosa's which were a super generous portion! I love that! If you sit outside you can watch the caballos (horses) passing by every once in a while. Looking at the menu there are a lot of cafe style options and I think I will try some lunch options as well. I'm totally a fan and I will be back. Bathrooms could use a small paint job or upgrade only for the fact that it's a "bathroom" but great job Ranch Side Cafe. read more
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I would've never expected such an authentic taste in Ethiopian restaurant on foothill. And the options are awesome with American and Mexican choices. I feel lucky that I don't have to drive all the way to Fairfax, Little Ethiopia area to get my favorite Injara. And there's is quite amazing. I thought I'd be more impressed with the sample size. But I wasn't in as impressed as I thought I would've been. The chicken stew was absolutely amazing. And I was a tibs was seasoned and cooked so well. I think this is a fantastic place and I'm definitely coming back to try more of the other selections from different parts of the menu read more
American, Mexican, and Ethiopian Cuisine? Who knew? My boyfriend was craving Ethiopian food, last time we went was last year pre Covid. A lot of the food was still available via take out but we we're driving back for Oxnard beach and wanted to get something in the Valley. I found this place, along with another East African place in Van Nuys that looked cool. The East African place did not pick up their phone, so we called up this place. I was excited because they had outdoor seating and our dog could join us outside. We called this place and they told us to come on in. We got there and grabbed a table outside. The waitress was super nice and brought our doggie a cup of water, as it was a scorcher of a day! We ordered two sambusas and the spicy chicken stew to share. The Sambusas had lentils and was crispy and delicious. The chicken was tasty and very flavorful. The dish came with a hard boiled egg, three Ethiopian veggies (kale, beets and cabbage?) and was served on top of injera, which is their version of a tortilla/naan bread. It was nice and sour, tasted very authentic! Overall a great meal to finish off a nice hot day at the beach! Will definitely come back to try their other Ethiopian food, maybe their Mexican! I like that they have vegan tacos along with a bunch of other things! read more
3 years ago
The ambiance is chill great people. It does get busy and you will have to wait a bit for seat. But they are very accommodating when they know you have been waiting for a while. The food is great lot of options to choose from. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Portions is very fair read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Zenashe B.
Thank you Vanessa!
3 years ago
1 year ago
5 years ago
Tried out this place over the weekend and I was so happy! I love Ethiopian food and I used to live walking distance from Little Ethiopia, so when I found this spot in the valley, I was elated. The first pic is the Veggie Plate on injera. The vegetables were all different so it was a fun flavor explosion. The next pic is the Shiro Wat which is a chickpea flour stew. So buttery and melted right on your mouth. The last pic is Awaze Tibs which had lean tri-tip and was cooked in this incredibly flavorful butter sauce. The best part of the meal is always eating the injera that has soaked up all of the oils and spices. Was not disappointed with this meal and I'm looking forward to coming back soon! Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: N/A we took it to go read more
1 year ago
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5 years ago
Adorable restaurant with western decor. Huge menu selection of breakfast, salads, burgers, Ethiopian and Tex mex. We loved the chicken fried steak, the biscuits and gravy, BLT sandwich... Everything is clean, the service is fantastic. Usually not too busy. Indoor and outdoor seating. read more
6 years ago
Upon entering immediately greeted. Seat yourself. Option of dining indoors or outside in the patio area. You will be provided paper menus. Variety of food options. Food arrived fresh and hot. Waitress provided excellent customer service with a smile. Food was delicious. Highly recommend eating here. read more
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More info about Ranch Side Cafe
11355 Foothill Blvd
Sylmar, CA 91342
Lake View Terrace
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(818) 834-0031
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http://ranchsidecafe.com
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