The Gower Gulch is a mini strip mall and has seen its share of many restaurants. All types of food, from all over the world, have had much success in the Gower Gulch. Vala Kitchen is one of these new fabulous restaurants that really is a great addition to Hollywood and the Gower Gulch. The day I went they had many happy customers dining on their very wonderful Persian inspired cuisine. Everybody I spoke with said it was the best Persian food in Los Angeles, better than Persian cuisine in Little Tehran on Westwood Boulevard, which is really amazing. One gal told me she came in from my old childhood neighborhood, Carthay area, she was happy she did. Another adventurous diner came in from the westside and usually frequents places on Westwood Blvd., she loves the food at Vala Kitchen. After trying some menu items, I will agree. Owner’s Sam Mirhadi and Mo Naderi have made sure that their food is the perfect remedy for those that crave their homelands delicious cuisine. Vala Kitchen has caught on amongst the local community as well as the Persian community. I noticed that they’re putting a Grocery Outlet where the drugstore used to be in The Gower Gulch, which is a huge plus for Hollywood as well as for me. The Grocery Outlet happens to be one of my favorite places to shop. The closest one is downtown LA – which means for Vala Kitchen, it will be getting lots of foot traffic. The food is fresh, clean and flavorful, and the service and the staff make you feel like you’re eating in their own kitchen. They do not have a liquor license, but they said they will be getting one very soon. It really did not matter to me because their lemonade was super refreshing.
Here’s what I tried:
Drink:
Lemonade, not too sweet and super thirst quenching.
Pita Bread and Butter, of course you are going to eat this lovely pita bread with their delicious eggplant and hummus.
Soup:
Harmony Soup, lentil soup with onion strings on the top. A very rich hearty soup. The perfect way to start my terrific lunch.
Appetizers:
Persian Eggplant, it is a beautiful presentation, with a drizzle of a yogurt cream sauce. The flavor is so lovely, served with crispy onion strings on top.
Torshi, Vegetable pickles. This is like a Mexican Escabeche or Italian Giardiniera. They are pickled and delicious.
A Mezza platter, with falafel, hummus, tahini, cucumber and tomato salad, and dolma, all super flavorful, with great presentation, I really enjoyed all of it.
Entrees:
For the main course, they made me a mixed grill of chicken koobideh, lamb chops and beef koobideh with white rice, mixed in with saffron rice. I never went into the kitchen, so I really do not know the cooking method, but it says on their menu grilled, the flavor was one of a marinade and grilled. Whatever the process is – it is super scrumptious. Alongside came grilled onions, tomatoes, and spicy green peppers. The rice is the perfect accompaniment, each grain was separated and cooked to perfection.
Dessert:
Traditional Baklava with a honey sauce. This is a great ending to a perfect meal. It is not too sweet, with a great cinnamon sugar flavor, and the honey sauce is simple, elegant and delicious.
My favorite dishes were the eggplant and the lamb chops, I would order these every time. The falafel had great flavor as well and was fried to perfection. I marked down my interest on the menu, and what you see here is what they served me. They have some amazing other Persian dishes that I will have to go in and try another time. This is Mediterranean food at its best, which is a really healthy diet.
The interior is very much a surprise, you cannot tell from the outside that it is designed very simple but sleek, with nice olive-green seat cushions and a monochromatic color theme. It is a calm and soothing environment, adding to the great overall experience.
So, when you’re in the mood to try some great heart healthy Mediterranean cuisine – come to Hollywood and try Vala Kitchen, truly a hidden gem in the heart of Hollywood.
Vala Kitchen
6110 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-800-0081
