Taste Walk Glendale is the ultimate package in food festivals. Not only are you tasting the best of Downtown Glendale’s food scene, but you’re doing so right at the restaurants themselves. Taste Walk Glendale takes a traditional food festival and turns it on its head in the best of ways…if you’re a foodie looking for an insider experience, best to get in the know before this annual event blows up in LA. At Taste Walk Glendale, there is no one central location where restaurants drive in their food from miles away. Sure, there are plenty of booths where friendly restaurant staff hand out endless samples of signature items, but those booths are steps from the kitchen. Whether it’s Bacari GDL serving beautiful appetizers out front, Lao Sze Chuan inviting you inside for a display of Mongolian beef, or Damon’s Steakhouse dedicating a server to greet guests with a burger platter in hand, each stop adds a personal touch to the experience. And sure, there are a few centralized locations, but think of them as miniature block parties, where neighboring restaurants join forces in their shared alleyways. The name says it all. This is a walking food tour of Downtown Glendale’s ½-mile restaurant row, where rules go out the window for one day and restaurants open their doors to anyone with a wristband and a signature blue bag. Guests wander the streets like high school freshmen, albeit savoring Electric Pussycat’s strawberry pop tart milkshakes and Porto’s potato balls while studying the event map. Live music plays every step of the way, livening the mood and alerting passers-by that something truly special is taking place. 40 eateries, drinkeries and sweeteries in all, from Georgina dumplings at The Khinkali House to chicken tikka masala at All Indian Café and Homemade Waffle Jack waffles. If that’s a lot to take in, you can justify it with all the extra steps you’ll get walking from place to place. Expect more amazing things at Taste Walk Glendale 2019. For more information, visit TasteWalkGlendale.com
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As you walk through the XOC Tequila Grill patio, mist cascading gently from above, freshly made tacos in hand and your fourth margarita of the day within sight, you leave LA for moment. You’re at a beachside cantina off the coast of Cabo, energetic conversations around you blending together to form an orchestra of white noise that keeps up the energy without becoming overwhelming. This mist continues to refresh, the tacos keep coming, and of course so do the margaritas…this isn’t just brunch, this is an escape. Made-to-order south of the border specialties are a game-changer at XOC Tequila Grill. Dedicated service staff pump out chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, four types of street tacos and much more from an outdoor stand that playfully emulates the taco carts roaming around LA. They certainly don’t skimp on the meat, piling on rich al pastor, carnitas, carne asada and chicken on command. Of course, in true brunch fashion, XOC Tequila Grill’s made-to-order repertoire boasts omelets with all the American classics…but let’s be serious you want that al pastor in an omelet too. Add waffles and pancakes to the list, piled with fresh berries, chocolate chips and oh-so-good caramel sauce. You’ll also find your bacon, sausage, potatoes and other fixings, plus of course the necessary rice and beans, red and green chicken enchiladas, assorted fruit and even seared tuna. Bottomless champagne, mimosas and of course margaritas are a huge sell, bringing in hoards of Angelinos and making for very entertaining conversation as late morning drifts into early afternoon…for all you know, some of they could still be rallying from the night before. In any case, the mood remains excellently balanced between fun and relaxed, with attentive service staff making sure your glass never empties. XOC Tequila Grill is located at 6316 N Topanga Canyon Blvd Suite 1110, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Open 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Mon – Thurs, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Fri, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sun. Weekend brunch is $24/person, bottomless mimosas and margaritas an additional $16.50/person. For more information call (818) 992-7930 or visit XOC Tequila Grill online. |
AuthorBenjamin Brown is a seasoned restaurant writer and hospitality consultant, serving up SoCal's hottest food news and reviews. Categories
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