I found this place through the VSP insurance website as I have insurance through my husband's work. I had zero expectations as it was my first time. It started off a little meh for me as there is only street parking and as I am disabled, the walk was a little hard for me. BUT the service totally made the walk worthwhile. I did pay extra for the eye X-ray thingie but that was so much better than getting my eyes dilated. I'm diabetic as well and I have to get my eyes checked yearly to ensure that my eyes are ok. This was a much easier exam than getting the dilation. Much easier and much safer for me. Then I got taken to the back and the optometrist was great as well. She recommended some things and talked with me about some other issues as well. She also told me that the pores on my eye lids were getting gunky and to start doing warm eye compresses at night and it has been helping. Then the nicest very helpful lady... I wished I had gotten her name... Helped me to find new glasses. She was so helpful in bringing glasses to me and looking up colors for me and just being overall extremely helpful. Normally I'm used to being told, go and look and see what glasses you like... Instead here, she assisted me with everything which was very much appreciated. Overall, the parking sucked but I guess that's LA.... Lol BUT the service was amazing and I think I might've finally found my permanent optometrist!! read more

Avoid this place if you can and go elsewhere. This is not your friendly neighorhood optometrist. I decided to give this place a second chance due to all of the 5 star reviews but I'm disappointed once again. My experience was similar as last time. They are not transparent with the fees they charge you until after you swipe your credit card. I booked an appointment over the phone and was told that my eye exam is $30 along with a $75 contacts fitting fee. My insurance covers my eye exam, so I should only be charged $75. This additional retinal exam was not clarified over the phone. If this were to be clear, then I would have opted out because I have no need for this. I was overcharged. I called AND texted to make things right and they come up with excuses that I signed a form that I never did sign and that they did call me. Transparency is this office's biggest weakness. As a patient here, you're simply a paying customer who's only valued for your business versus your overall wellbeing. read more

I had a great visit with Valley Optometry today. They are open on the weekends which is great. I had an appointment on Thursday that I wasn't able to make it to and they rescheduled me for Saturday. The staff was super nice and helpful. My eye doctor was great. She went over my eye exam in detail while we looked at the scans of the inside my eye which was pretty cool. I learned some things about the eye that I didn't know. I highly recommend Valley Optometry. read more

Though the name has changed to align with Dr. K's other practices, quality of service and outstanding choices of frames remains the same. Definitely worth the 20 minute drive from Pasadena. read more

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New patient. I had a lovely experience setting my appointment over the phone with the front desk ladies and optician, but once I arrived and met with the doctor, I was taken aback. Dr. Shao is incredibly condescending and rude. She did not explain anything kindly and it felt very belittling when she answered my questions. I am not an optometrist. I don't know the answers to these questions, that's why I'm asking them. I will not be going back. read more

Took some of my sunglasses here for repair and they definitely did not disappoint. Maria and Allen are on top of their game for 10/10 customer service. They helped me in about 10 minutes, had a smile on their faces, and didn't give me any issues. They made my visit super smooth. Thank you guys! read more

I have nothing but good things to say about this location. Found that they accepted VSP, tried using a coupon/deal for a very particular brand and was given different contacts at no cost to try that the doctor recommended instead. I still wanted to push to order the coupon/deal from VSP, but after comparing 3 different brands I decided that contacts simply are not for me at this stage of life (developed astigmatism). I was not charged for the trial contacts. I found this to be very generous and helpful for my situation exploring the option. I finally settled on getting new frames instead. Staff were extremely helpful when I asked for low cost options as I wanted a new pair primarily for working out. They were transparent about the additional exam cost. No surprises with anything. Also, not entirely sure who is in control of the store music... but they tend to play very nostalgic 2000s/2010s music when I've been in the clinic which just made my experiences even better. read more

Well, MY search for an optometrist is over! This shop is completely professional AND friendly AND reasonably priced. Forget Costco or high priced snob shops; everyone here is a total professional and understands what great customer service is about. I do enough trashing on Yelp, so this should even things out. My experience was enjoyable and perfect. read more

Been a patient here for years and have been very happy with the care received via Dr. Kawamoto. The staff there are great too! Friendly and skilled with eyeglass repair! read more

What a truly terrific staff & experience. From my first call through every step of the process they could not have been more polite, professional and patient (I had a lot of questions). I waited too long to get my eyes examined/update my contacts and glasses. Do your selves a favor & SEE THEM SOON. Promise you won't regret it!!! read more

An absolute 5 star experience! Upon walking in I immediately loved the vibe. Cool music, fun decor, and a pair of friendly staff members behind the counter greeting me with a smile. This was definitely unlike any optometrist office I have ever been in. There was no wait at all- they took me back as soon as I checked in. Everything was clean and all the tech seemed very state of the art. Dr Kawamoto was thorough, kind, and made me feel great even tho my vision is horrendous. She even gave me a complimentary two week pack of contacts and some eye drops. The woman helping me check out went the extra mile and explained to me what my insurance covered, how to get the most out of my plan, and how to get the best deal for my contacts. Such amazing service! Street parking was easy to find, was $1 for an hour at the meter. I 100000% recommend checking out El Portal! read more

I called in to figure my daughters broken glasses situation, and Allen was amazing! He answered every question and every situation possible to get her frames fixed. Also it being cost effective since the plan kicks in the new year! He was so professional and gave the best customer service! Can't wait to go back in January to change her glasses! read more

The eye exam was fine. My glasses were not made correctly the first time so they had to send them back. However after 8 months of having them they're already scratched up. I paid for the scratch resistant coating and it apparently does not work. I went back in to ask for a listing of what I paid for and also a copy of my prescription. They asked me if I had an appointment. ....Like why would I need an appointment to get a copy of my receipt and Rx? They gave me the Rx, but not what I paid for. My fault for not realizing this before I left. The prescription, however, failed to include the DP measurements most likely because they don't want you to purchase glasses elsewhere. I got the measurements anyway. I still need go back AGAIN and find out what I paid for on my lenses. They DID however tell me that my glasses are still in warranty and if I need to send them out, it will take 2 weeks. The staff is mostly friendly. The doctor doesn't have the best sense of humor and gets annoyed with any jokes you make to ease your own discomfort. All in all it was a good experience when initially buying the glasses. They are patient and helpful when helping you to try on different frames in order to see which will fit you best. The one on one treatment for this was really nice and felt like an elevated experience. Makes you feel like you're a celebrity in a town of celebrities. read more

They were knowledgeable and proficient with the glasses I bought - they worked with my insurance, filled my prescription and had a reasonable time frame to have everything ready - but the main reason I chose them was a call I made beforehand asking if they could also put prescription lenses into my sunglasses. I was told a set price on the phone then quoted a significantly higher one in person plus a "mounting fee". I told them it felt a little like bait and switch to get me in the store and was pretty much dismissed. So have them send you a quote to your email if you're on the phone with them, I won't be going back. read more

I've been a patient here for well over 4 years now and have never had a bad experience. The staff is always friendly and always professional. They have a great selection of eyewear and the appointment process is very easy. The doctors are all very kind and very undivided in their attention during appointments. Nancy helped me out this last time. I was ready for some new frames after wearing my last pair into the ground. She was helpful and kind and efficient. They are taking every precaution with Covid and making sure there are never too many people in the office (appointment only). Grateful for the easy going and friendly experience! read more

Valley Optometry Eyecare - Gucci frames - so cute. - Optometrists Near Me - North Hollywood, California

I have been coming to El Portal for about 2 years. I came here because of the great reviews and believe me its all true. The staff is great and knowledgeable. I love that they open on Saturdays it works for my schedule as I'm a 9-5er. I always book with Dr. Shin she is very intelligent and easy-going. My experience here is always positive. Recommend parking on the weddington st and bring your quarters because parking enforcement is no joke in this area. read more

This is my second year getting an eye exam including a diabetes check. They are fantastic, from the staff to the eye doctor. I would recommend the business to everyone. They are also priced fairly. read more

Very friendly staff and Dr Keith is the best!! The staff is totally understanding and helpful I had my glasses adjusted a couple of times and they get all the little things I say and understand.... read more

Changing my review to one star because my eyeglasses constantly slip down my nose and get dirty too often because my eyelashes keep rubbing up against the lenses. Apparently I have a low nose bridge but did not realize this at the time. I guess optometrists don't want to make sure you have the right glasses fit and just care about making money. I tried getting my glasses adjusted elsewhere but they end up making the temples so tight I get blisters and other irritation on the back of my ears, so my only option is to have secure glasses but my ears hurt, or tolerate my glasses constantly slipping down my nose read more

Had an amazing experience with my eye exam at El Portal. The staff, Elizabeth and Sandy, were so delightful to work with. Both were knowledgeable and so accommodating. Dr Krystal was also so insightful and and kind. She carefully explained what she doing, and made me feel comfortable. I'm looking forward to going to back in the future! read more

Extremely disappointed at this place. Had an appointment at 12:20 and called them to let them know I was running late. They said that they have a 10 minute grace period or they would have to rescheduled. I got there at exactly 12:30 and by the time the lady asked for my name and checked the time it was 12:31 and they said I had to re schedule. The place was empty and no one was waiting. I was only there for a vision exam which they said over the phone that would take 20-30 minutes. Don't waste you time here. read more

Valley Optometry Eyecare - Front - Optometrists Near Me - North Hollywood, California

I have ALWAYS had a wonderful experience with the front desk and service at El Portal Optometry. The staff is incredibly kind, forgiving, AND accommodating as well as I always have a pleasant experience with the doctors on staff and get my contacts ordered and received right on time. El Optometry has been my one and only vision correction center I have ever had in Los Angeles and it probably won't ever change. Ten stars in my book! read more

Just got a free adjustment with them it was done in about 3 min! They go by appointments only, Friendly and professional service from the initial phone call til I walked out the door, read more

I'm a new patient to El Portal Optometry. Making an appointment was super easy. I called verified my insurance and had an appointment scheduled. During my appointment I noticed they took the necessary safety measures to ensure the machines, seats and eyeglasses were sanitized before anyone used them and that patients were at least 6 feet apart. They also had hand sanitizer at each desk. I was seen by Dr. Kristal Kawamoto - she was so nice, explained everything she was doing and offered to answer any questions I had. After my exam, I was assisted by Nancy.  She was so helpful and kind. I spent a long time trying to figure what frames I wanted and she helped me decided what would work best for me. Overall great team. I'm glad I went here for my exam. read more

My wife and I had started to think we'd never find an optometrist who could give us an accurate prescription and have the kind of service that was professional without being pushy. Well, we took a chance on El Portal after reading numerous reviews and making sure they were in our VSP insurance network. The systems they use for determining prescriptions were dead-on accurate. The frame selection was excellent. I found Oakley frames that fit perfectly and my wife went with Ray-Bans in a classic style but more elegant. The whole vibe is very easygoing, very friendly, and fits in perfectly with the NOHO neighborhood. We will never go anywhere else. Or, at least, until I'm blind. But maybe by then, they'll sell white canes and tin cups with pencils. read more

By far the best experience I've ever had with a full eye exam. The staff is personable and on top of everything. Very little wait time and no pressure to buy/upsell. Straightforward and honest and point out the most urgent issues rather than try to sell a whole package. The equipment is state of the art. They are very clear about payment options with or without insurance. No pressure to buy the most current lenses or add contacts to the package. Excellent options for trendy frames from more generic to name brand. I just can't recommend this place enough. Felt like the staff knew me for years. Will be a life time customer read more

I've been coming to El Portal for about 5 years now and generally have a good experience. I usually see a different doctor but for todays appointment they scheduled me with Dr. Shao. She was incredibly condescending when explaining an issue she was seeing with my eyes. When I asked if I'd be eligible for lasik, she was again condescending and wanted me to give her my timeline of when I'd want the procedure. When I said I'd have to look into the cost before I made that decision, her response was along the lines of "insurance doesn't cover this so figure it out". I left my appointment feeling very dejected and I cried on my way home. I would expect to be treated with kindness at the dr.'s office, but that was not what I received today. Hopefully Dr. Shao improves her bedside manner going forward, but I will be sure all my future appointments are with someone else. read more

After months of research to get new glasses, we decided to try out El Portal -- Really glad we did! Jesus was the most helpful and friendly guide to the optometry, and Dr. Andy was professional and knowledgeable. They offer plenty of options for frames and the glasses were ready sooner than expected. Overall it was a great experience, the only reason why I am not giving 5 stars is because there is no parking, and finding an open spot on the (metered) street can be a nightmare. But as long as you factor an extra 10-15 minutes to find parking before arriving, you're bound to want to recommend El Portal, we already have! read more

I went to this optometry office for my latest pair of glasses. I was intending to return a year and a half later for a check up. But they have recently started charging what they call Optomap retinal imaging, saying it is required to be performed as part of their safety protocol. They say that you must pay $25 dollar for this procedure. So basically the customer is paying for their state-of-the-art equipment so they can keep safe. To me this is an unnecessary procedure and simply a way for the customer to pay for something that is useless. I have no fear of Covid and this is a way to gauge people. I will not be returning. read more

Love this place! Their front desk staff are super nice, especially Nancy. I didn't have to wait at all, they took me right at my appointment time. Dr K was great. Very through and informative. During COVID they are taking all necessary precautions; masks, temperature check, very little contact, everything sanitized, etc. I had a contact + glass lenses exam, purchased their lower end frames and got 7 months of bifocal contacts for $414. Make sure to check in to save $5. They also have an offer on Yelp for $10 you get $25 credit. So I purchased that and ended up saving $20 total. Every little bit helps! read more

I'm very happy I discovered this optometry shop. They keep very clean Covid protocols with appointments only. I had my eye on a specific pair of Prada black frames which they kindly ordered for me. Not their fault just the matte black version arrived by mistake. I was lucky in having the pleasure to work with Jesus who went out of his way to help me. We reordered the classic shiny black frames and they arrive next week for me to pick up. This location works with my VSP insurance and I'll definitely return again in the future. Thank you, Stuart read more

Customer service wise, el portal deserves 5 stars! The staff is amazing and kind and attentive and getting appointments here is always easy and hassle-free. But as a glasses wearer of over 20 year now, I can't overlook how terrible the glasses are. I've purchased 2 pairs here and both literally fall apart apropos of nothing. I didn't even know what a glasses repair kit was until I received my first pair of glasses from El Portal and now I own two and can't even travel with the glasses I purchased from them for fear of not having access to a repair kit. For how much these glasses cost, I shouldn't have to live in fear of my lenses popping out. And make no mistake, they do. Frequently. Walking through the grocery store, running on the treadmill, or even just picking them up to put them on my face. You never know when they'll just fall a part. So disappointing. If walking through a grocery store with packing tape literally holding your lens to your frames or dodging a small disk of glass while getting your cardio in isn't your idea of a good time, I would use your insurance on contacts here and buy your glasses elsewhere. read more

The office is conveniently located in North Hollywood. I was immediately welcomed in when I arrived and everyone was very friendly. The office has a pleasant atmosphere good selection of frames. My exams took no time at all and the doctor treated me like a person and not just a patient. Probably the best experience I've had in any doctor's office. read more

Came here for years to get glasses and exams. Decided to get myself a pair of rayban prescription sunglasses, they never told me they were going to take the branding off the glasses, but they did. When I asked about it- they said it would cost an additional 600+ dollars because insurance wouldn't cover it. The mumbling man who did all of this was a little curt about the whole thing, wasted my whole morning and didn't seem to care. I'd recommend asking some thorough questions about the product you're getting if you shop here or going somewhere else entirely. Gross. read more

Very nice people, they adjusted my glasses for free, even though I was never their customer. Maybe next time I will be!

I've been coming here for years. And I have always appreciated how consistent they are. Coming for glasses here feels like getting your hair cut at a cool place with people who know what they are doing. They are so good about the details. read more

So, this place has friendly staff but they kinda want to sell you alot things you don't need. Also the copay will be more because they do extra exams you don't ask for but it is good if you need it. They need to be upfront with all their extra charges and if you want to change your prescription you need to pay $45 if 3 months have passed. Also. If you go after your exam to choose a pair, you pay $10 copay just to pick new glasses, I'm like ok what else. I don't take that long usually to buy glasses but their frames for some reason are even more expensive then other places. Now I need to wait for my insurance to renew. It's fine I can still see with my old glasses but I was hoping that this place near my home would have been a blessing but will have to drive to Porter Ranch in April . Choose your glasses same day, if not they will charge you $10 bucks and who knows what else. Extra fees, will be back if I need extra exams I guess. I think its $30 to $75 bucks in total I don't remember. read more

If you are hard to fit or set in your ways about your glasses. Shop no more, please see Myra. She is patient, kind, and really knows how to pick glasses for you. I have worn the same frames for over 25 years, and Myra found an awesome frame I really love. I'm grateful for her talent and she is an asset to El Portal Optometry. read more

I just want to say that Mayra is the best! She knew exactly what I wanted and since they didn't have it in store she ordered me a big variety to see and knew what would look good on me. The ladies in the front desk, Cecilia and Helen, are always so happy and nice and are so welcoming! Diana helped me get my glasses when they were ready and she helped make sure that they fit my face perfectly. Honestly I've been to other optometrists and they don't compare to the amazing service I get here. This is my forever favorite place for any of my eye needs. read more

I'm never going back to that Mall optometrist. Service here was exceptional. From the staff to the doctor. Wait time was like 5 minutes. It was great. Myself and my daughter got out eyes checked, and I got my glasses. It went smoothly, and they were thorough. I didn't feel rushed to pick out some new glasses. They let me try on like 10 different pairs. Also, no more paperwork! I appreciate that they're being green with the use of tablets. Glasses took a bit longer than anticipated to be ready (2 weeks instead of 1), but when I got them, they were exactly want I wanted, and they fit perfectly. read more