Remember when late-night options were limited to fast-food drive-through windows and greasy spoon diners? Fortunately the Valley restaurant boom has yielded more than a few notable options for dining past midnight. From potstickers to pizza to pork belly, here are five of our favorite places to grub while the rest of the Valley sleeps.  

THE VILLAGE

Finding late-night fare is hard enough, but finding an eatery that has a mozzarella bar is a certain kind of luck. Top that with a variety of Spanish-bent tapas—think blood sausage and pan con tomate—and wood-fired pizzas that are offered until midnight, nightly? You’ve got yourself a good reason this gastropub has been abuzz since day one.

LAUREL TAVERN

Who are we kidding? We’ll take their chubby cubes of pork belly—glazed in maple and served on a skewer—any hour of the day. But it sure is nice to have creative comfort food like that, as well as Laurel Tavern’s slew of burgers, into the dawn of the new day. There are mussels bathed in a white wine-garlic broth and chorizo sliders too. Indeed, the pub’s grilled asparagus, doused in almond vinaigrette and brussels sprouts, redefines late-night junk food.

THE LOCAL PEASANT

If it’s, say, Friday night at midnight and you’re looking for a 10-ounce, grass-fed New York steak, look no further than The Local Peasant—the Valley’s homegrown gastropub that found a loyal following in Sherman Oaks and then added a spacious location in Woodland Hills. Also on the menu: tasty variations on burgers, as well as meatballs, fish and chips, and gourmet pizzas. Health-conscious eaters will be satisfied with salad options, but let’s be honest—post-midnight, we’re going for their bacon-amplified mac & cheese. 

GYORO-GYORO IZAKAYA JAPONAISE

At most after-hours spots, you’re lucky enough to see even a limited late-night menu, but at this Japanese restaurant and bar (which really comes alive at night), diners have access to some 300 items right up until closing. You can’t go wrong with stewed pork belly kakuni or lobster tail, slightly charred. We also highly recommend digging into the robata menu, where skewered items like lamb and shiitake mushrooms are grilled over charcoal. Though known for its authentic, Tokyo-inspired small plates, Gyoro is one of the few spots in town where you can also get late night sushi. 

STIR LA

The menu at this lounge-meets-sports bar is expansive. Tuna ceviche paired with quinoa? Check. Paella garnished with shrimp, mussels and calamari? Check. If meat is your thing, there are burgers dressed with the likes of onion rings and serrano peppers, as well as grilled skirt steaks and a Peruvian-inspired take on filet mignon. Because you’ll probably find yourself catching a late-night game on one of the many flat screens, there are baby back ribs served with mashed potatoes and, yes, even hot wings.  

Kitchen serves until midnight; open until 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 13359 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, stir-la.com 

More Late-Night Options

Casa Vega

Boneyard Bistro

Mexicali Cocina Cantina