I had been looking for a place to get Ethiopian style food for a while. I was looking forward to this spot. When we got there, they were setting up for a big party, but they let us eat anyway. When you sit down, they give you two menus. I went specifically for the Ethiopian, but that’s only a one page side menu. The rest of the menu is American breakfast/lunch foods. I wasn’t disappointed at all. Plenty of healthy options to choose from. I got the spongy enjera bread with some different veggie dishes to go with it. My plus one got a wrap. It was the same enjera bread with some stuff in it. Both were good, but she liked mine better. I liked the open plate style better too. The setting of the restaurant was interesting to look at. They have big murals on the walls of different cultural icons, both American and latino. I’d definitely go again and try a different dish, it was worth it, and I was totally full when I left. Good stuff.
Jimmy R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
Legit Ethiopian food. I don’t have to drive down to Fairfax in LA anymore. Never bought would be great to eat for breakfast. Try the vegetarian dish or the chicken dish. The chicken is very savory, satisfying yet sweet. It is well complemented by he Ethiopian bread and sides of veggies. At the time of this writing, I would say this is one of the only places near San Fernando Valley you can get Ethiopian food. If it isn’t, then it is the best tasting choice.
Raymond C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Glendale, Los Angeles, CA
I’m a fan! Me and my lady came here out of convenience due to the fact that she lives within a 5min walk. We were not let down. The food is reasonably priced, and oh so delicious. We’ve gone back 2 more times since our first experience and each time there was no change in satisfaction. The service was good and prompt as well. It’s slow enough so that you can enjoy your food without the loud talking of other people. I would say the only knock on this place is where it’s located but if you are ever in the area… definitely stop in for some good grub.
Tiger C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Dana Point, CA
Enjoyed our breakfast here — huevos rancheros. Opens earlier than Bravos. Recommend you check it out.
Ken L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Sebastopol, CA
Avoiding the horrible early morning traffic on the 210 Fwy is no easy task, but sometimes one is rewarded for taking an alternate route. I passed the Ranch Side Café, an unassuming diner with a sort of Western cowboy motif in the heart of horse ranch territory in Lakeview Terrace(I know it says Sylmar, but I think this is Lakeview Terrace). To my surprise, I saw a giant banner hanging from the roof saying, «We Serve Ethiopian Food». Wow! I suppose I don’t need to drive over to Fairfax to get Ethiopian noms at Merkato anymore. I tried the vegetable platter, which came on injera bread, as you would hope. All were good. Nothing is super hot here, but if you have an issue with«heat» in the food and think anything more than macaroni and cheese sets your tongue ablaze, you still probably should avoid it. Flavorful, good. Washed it down with a beer. Didn’t see honey wine on the menu, but they do have wine and sangria. So there’s some more Ethiopian delights which I’ll try. You can check it out on the link below. Sambusa, shiro wat, chicken stew, gored gored, and interestingly, something called Ethiopian Spicy Wraps. The latter are, according to the menu, spicy vegetables wrapped in injera bread, although in a nod to our Mexican sisters and brothers, you can also get this wrapped in a tortilla. After all, those of us who have lived for any decent amount of time in Los Angeles are at the very least honorary Mexicans, are we not? Injera bread is this sourdough-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture that is the signature bread of Ethiopia and Eritrea. The injera bread isn’t quite as sour as other injera bread I’ve had, but it’s all good. The owner has run the place since about 1998, serving burgers, omelettes, Mexican food, biscuits and gravy, salads, buffalo wings, sandwiches, etc. I asked him why he decided to serve Ethiopian food, and he replied that he kept being asked to do so. And I’m glad he did. I shall be back. I’m posting a link to their Ethiopian menu, and that’s very sweet of me. :D P. S. The beer is $ 3.25 domestic and $ 3.50 imported per bottle. Yeah. Oh, I know.
Adriana R.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Los Angeles, CA
Came here for breakfast but was a little let down. I had a standard plate with eggs, bacon, hash browns and pancakes. The potatoes didn’t have much flavor. Positive side is that they have a pretty extensive menu.
Richard B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Burbank, CA
This is a small«cowboy/country» style café right off the freeway in Sylmar. I had a meeting here with an associate and we only had beverages, so I didn’t have the opportunity to try the food. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. Based on the menu it looks like they have quite a variety of items and looking around at what other people were eating, I will be back to try out the food, sooner rather than later.
Walt W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Santa Clarita, CA
A friend suggested this restaurant as a great place to grab a breakfast on the way into Angeles National Forest on Little Tujunga Canyon Road. Well, we don’t have to be on our way up Little Tujunga just to visit enjoy this wonderful café anymore! Its one of our newly found great places to eat! Its just a little off the I-210 on Foothill Blvd near Osborne. The décor is really cool — a mural of Desi and Lucy adorns one wall, accompanied by really well drawn murals of cowboy stars and scenes around the varies walls and a set of photos of celebrities who have dined here(William H. Macy can’t be wrong). The owner-waitress is exceptionally friendly and attentive, keeping the coffee cup constantly full of tasty Jones coffee(roasted in Pasadena). When I see corned beef hash on the menu, I almost automatically order it… at Ranch Side it came with three eggs which I asked to be over easy and served on top of the hash… the owner-waitress asked if I’d like country fries or hash browns which sort of threw me a bit as I’ve never had a potato side with my CB hash… OK, country fries. she said the hash came with green peppers and if that was OK — sure, its different I figured. What a great breakfast! The eggs were perfectly prepared and served as I had requested(some places seem to forget my request for the eggs on top of the hash). The corned beef was flavorful and cooked just right with the potatoes… the green peppers were a really nice addition and I wish more places would have thought of adding them. As for the country fries — excellent… wonder why I’ve never had a side with my hash anywhere else before? My wife, who is the real breakfast person in our family, said her California omelet was a solid five star hit. I noticed a generous amount of avocados and cheese in a fairly large omelet, also served with those delicious country fries. We plan to make this our regular stop when we’re in the area — nice, happy people who run great little restaurants deserve our business when they serve such terrific food, great coffee in such a cozy little café. Just a note in closing — I really want to try the Ethiopian food… didn’t expect to see that offered at a western themed café, so it must be really good. We will return!
Guayaba K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Sylmar, CA
I only came here to check out the Ethiopian menu and was pleasantly surprised with how tasty it was. Sure the menu is tiny, maybe like 6 – 9 items, but it was good. The place in its self is a café w/American type food. I can only speak for the Ethiopian food, but the place was packed on a Thursday @ 2pm, so I assume the Other food is good too. The place is a bit dirty looking, «divey» if you will, but I love that it’s local and offers such food. There’s lots of cool art on the wall by Hector Ponce. We ordered the vegetarian plate which comes w injera and several types of sample foods to dip it in. Lentils, cabbage, chickpeas etc. the most amazing thing in the plate was the roasted carrots and beets! amazing! Also had the samosa type things(don’t remember the name). They were ok. Nothing fancy. Greasy and dry @ the same time. Prob won’t order those again. Service was cool. Plenty of parking behind restaurant with lots of shady trees. I’d love to go back and try some more Ethiopian dishes.
Emill S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Long Beach, CA
This is my go to place in Sunland. I love the servers and the food is good. I usually come in the morning before working out and have my nose in my iPad while I eat, but this is a great environment for meetings, or just a group of friends. The food is a mixture of American, Mexican and Ethiopian. I was glad that they started serving Ethiopian food because that is a wonderful addition to our food choices in the Terrace-Sunland-Tujunga area. My only complaint: They need to add some kitfo to their Ethiopian menu; that’s what I travel to little Ethiopia to buy and I would love to just drive 2 miles down the street and get it.
Jo G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Los Angeles, CA
I was working a minute away and was in need of some grub so I decided to try this place out. The customer service was great and they are very friendly the food was great overall experience was excellent.
Carmen B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sunland, CA
Yummy breakfast, homemade corned beef hash. Great, friendly service from stunningly beautiful Ethiopian women!
Vinny M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Santa Monica, CA
Last Sunday a group of us motorcycle riders decided to meet here before we went for a ride. What a charming, warm and delightful place. One of the busboys helped us set up a table as soon as we walked in and then garbed coffee for us. It was a chilly morning outside so coffee was needed. Our waitress presented us with menu’s and showed us the specials on the board. We all had different dishes. When the food came out it was presented well and tasted delicious. There was not one complaint from any one at our table. I looked around the table afterwards and some of the guys couldn’t finish the portions they were given. I had the Salmon Benedict special. I ate it all and wanted more but didn’t order any do to the ride I was going on. I looked around the entire place to find it in very good repair and very clean. The entire staff was friendly to all of us and to each other as they got busier. I was impressed with their over all integrity to serve us all like we were VIP’s. Thank you and I’ll be back. Find them and get there. You’ll be pleased.
MIKE B.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Burbank, CA
Wow. My wife and I just moved across the street. We hoped this place would be our go to place. We ate here three times and gave it a try. This is a amazing location and could be a great restaurant but a prime example of a owner who has given up. In fact they wave the white flag outside the place as you drive by. So very sad. We have tried the Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner hoping to find this places niche. They don’t have one. The seem to struggle with the identity. From the demographic and atmosphere you would suspect this place would be a tri tip, ribs, and meat and potato type place. NOTSO. They have a hand in on Mexican and Ethiopian food.(I know, bizarre, right?). The only thing going for this place is: Million $ location, friendly female servers, and it’s clean(cause it’s empty).other than that the owners look like they just gave up. Sell the place to someone who cares about food.
Michelle G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sunland-Tujunga, CA
Ranch side café is one of my favorite breakfast places. I love that it is close to home. But most of all I love their food! Just the perfect amount to fill you up. I’ve eaten here over the last ten years and have never been disappointed. It is family restaurant and all the staff are very nice and attentive. My favorite is the eggs florentine with country potatoes but today I tried their Ethiopian fir fir and it was AMAZING! I will definitely be ordering that again. It’s right off of the 210 on Osborne, give it a try you will not be disappointed!
Darrio C.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Sylmar, CA
Great Service and priced for every budget. Nice location and just a cool little spot!
Melinda S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Pacoima, Los Angeles, CA
My husband and I have been here a few times now because the breakfast is YUM. If you want a diner style breakfast without going to an overcrowded chain diner, this is the place to go. You can always find a table without waiting and the food has always been good. Again, try out the breakfast I don’t think you will be disappointed. As far as lunch, I’ve only had the BLT and that was pretty good. The lettuce, tomatoes and bread were fresh and the bacon crispy; just the way I like it. There is a nice patio area which the manager allowed us to eat with our dog there. So, if you have a well behaved dog here is another pet friendly place you can add to the list. Overall, it’s a nice, laid back place with good food and a pretty view of the mountains and horses.
Tim L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Gabriel, CA
I found this place after visiting the newly opened Discovery Cube Los Angeles, which is actually located in Sylmar. The restaurant is on the small side. Food is standard diner food, nothing special though. Service was excellent. Price was reasonable and atmosphere was quiet and casual. There must be a ranch nearby since there were quite a few customers with riding gear on. Overall, food is average but the service was undeniably good.
Angela H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Burbank, CA
The best breakfast I’ve had in a long time! I’ve tried Biscuits & Gravy at several places around LA and finally found a spot who got it just right. And the bacon was cooked to crisp perfection. I’d post a pic but couldn’t stop eating long enough to take one. Also a plus is the clean, spacious interior and interesting ranch style décor. It’s a bit far from my pad but I’ll be definitely be back.
Jennifer T.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Alhambra, CA
— – Long Story Short — – Food was okay. Service was good. Plenty of parking and seating indoors. Very interesting design indoors. I’d come back if I were suddenly starving after a day at the range, but not so much otherwise. — – Short Story Long — – This is the restaurant that you pass by every time you go to Angeles Shooting Range. You can’t miss it. We’ve passed by this place so many times but FINALLY had the chance to try it last weekend. =FOOD= 1) Pulled Pork Sandwich with Fries — The first bite was good. After about 3 bites of my half, I decided it would be best for me to swap the second half with boyfriend’s sandwich. The bbq sauce was a little toooooooo strong for me. It overpowered the pulled pork, which was actually very tender and juicy! That was too bad. The best part? FRIES of course! They were actually done pretty well! Perfectly crispy/soft and hot! 2) Tri Tip Sandwich — Kind of the opposite of the pulled pork sandwich, but actually pretty good. I wish the meat was slightly juicier, and that the sandwich had more flavor overall. Regardless, I preferred this sandwich to the pulled pork. Neither this Tri Tip, nor the Pulled Pork sandwiches were phenomenal, but they were pretty decent. =SERVICE= The service wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. The food did come out pretty quickly, and our very friendly waitress had no trouble getting the bill the 2nd time we asked. =FINALVERDICT= Since it’s really close to Angeles Shooting Range, and we go about once a month, we were bound to stop by at least one time. The food didn’t blow me away, but it was something I’d be okay having again. Perhaps next time I’ll stick with their menu items instead of their«Daily Special».