For Oak Park High School students, where classes tend to be vigorous, an after school pick-me-up may be necessary. Oak Park may be small, but there are some great places to eat here and nearby in Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills. There is something for everyone in this area, from Chinese to Mexican to the classic In-and-Out Burger. Based on student opinion and online reviews, here are the best places to eat locally.
- Sapientia Cafe
Situated in the corner of Oak Park Plaza, right next to OPHS, Sapientia Cafe is a family-run coffee shop serving quality drinks and food. Ever since it opened in 2019, it has gained fame with Oak Park natives and become a popular place to study or meet up with friends. Nextdoor has hailed it as a Neighborhood Fav for five years in a row.
The interior is cozy and minimalistic, with tables outside if you want to enjoy the summer sun and inside if you want to whip out your computer and get that science homework over with. There are also a few cushy armchairs, perfect for lounging around and listening to the cafe’s relaxing beats.
Some of their most popular menu options include the avocado toast, which you can add lox or prosciutto to, and their Korean shaved ice, which comes in six delicious flavors: plain, mango, strawberry, matcha, coffee and Oreo.
- Sunrose California Eatery
Sunrose California Eatery is still a new addition to Oak Park’s culinary backdrop and is located in Whizin Market Square in Agoura, a plaza that grows more and more popular by the day. Just one look at the gorgeous website photos transports you to that morning calm of eating brunch with friends on a lazy Sunday.
Their most popular dishes include the Dutch baby, a very aesthetically pleasing egg white omelet and their flatbreads for a meal later in the day. It’s the fashionable type of place you snap a cute selfie at, all about the “classic California with a modern twist.”
- The Pan Kitchen Mini Pot & Thai
Serving a fusion of several different Asian cuisines, every one of Pan’s Kitchen’s foods are delicious. The little eatery is situated in the North Ranch Pavilions plaza and is decorated vibrantly on the inside with bright florals for a quick selfie; it also has robot servers.
Their most loved items are their pad thai, with your choice of protein and their mini pots, which is basically single-serving hot pot. Pan Kitchen is the only local spot for a meal like this, unless you’re willing to drive down to Chinatown. This hidden gem is worth a visit for lunch or dinner.
- Sushi & Wasabi
A great classic sushi place when that raw fish craving hits, Sushi & Wasabi can be found near the Twin Oaks Shopping Center on the way from OPHS to the 101 freeway. Take a seat in one of their booths, separated by Japanese lattice walls and check out the art covering the left and right walls.
Some of their popular items include the Kenji roll, with spicy tuna and cucumber on the inside and albacore on top, and the teriyaki chicken bowl, which comes with a side of miso soup.
- Moody Rooster
A little outside of Oak Park, in the Westlake Commons, is Moody Rooster, a new American-style restaurant. Fun fact: head chef Collin Crannel has also worked in other upscale restaurants in Los Angeles, including a Michelin-starred restaurant, and has now brought his talent to the Oak Park neighborhood.
Moody Rooster has a rustic sort of atmosphere, with brick, wood and stone. It’s just the place for a family night out, from warm service to decadent seasonal dishes, which rotate out with what is in season. A few of their best dishes are their crispy gnocchi, which reviewers declare as just as good as the pasta you find in Italy, flatbreads with a variety of unique toppings and burrata and heirloom tomato salad.
Walk a little down, and you’ll come by Moody Market and Provisions, where they sell pre-made snacks, sandwiches and more; small pick-me-ups that are just as good as their restaurant-made food. Just make sure to get a reservation beforehand as they can get crowded during weekend nights.
- Tifa Chocolate & Gelato
After all this food, we need a dessert place. With spots in Whizin Market Square and the Shoppes at Westlake, Tifa Chocolate & Gelato serves up authentic Italian gelato with seasonal flavors, as well as candies made in-house. Originally a family-run business, Tifa has gone from a small cart to multiple locations.
Their top flavors include strawberry balsamic, a fresh spin on the classic strawberry flavor, and dark chocolate. They also serve premium drinking chocolates that are paired with a variety of flavors. Savor an afternoon hanging out with your friends here, where they provide board games and tables perfect for big groups.
So, the next time you want a quick matcha latte on the walk home, or if you’re celebrating mom’s birthday by taking her out for a nice dinner, swing by some of these places. They won’t disappoint.
