LAKE VIEW TERRACE

Home of the annual Watermelon Festival, Lake View Terrace is one the SFV’s more rural and affordable areas with a true town and country feel. While some sections remain zoned for equestrian and agriculture, other parts contain high density housing, schools, and the popular Ranch Side Cafe, a great greasy spoon that serves up American, Mexican and Ethiopian cuisine.

Perhaps the most visited attraction in Lake View Terrace is the Hansen Dam Recreation Center, popular for its golf course, equestrian center and aquatic center complete with two manmade lakes, and Discovery Cube Los Angeles, SFV’s first major museum.

GRV LOCAL EATS

RANCH SIDE CAFÉ (11355 FOOTHILL BLVD. SYLMAR, CA 91342)

At first glance, American brunch and Ethiopian cuisine sounds like a strange combination, but it is worth every penny and every bite. Whether you’re in the mood for the classics or something more exotic, Ranch Side Café has the perfect menu for everyone.

TACOS EL PIMI (12350-12368 VAN NUYS BLVD.)

When choosing a place to eat, it’s easy to overlook food trucks, unless that food truck belongs to Tacos El Pimi, of course. One whiff of their succulently seasoned meat and you will have to witness firsthand the flavors of the most notorious taco truck in Los Angeles.

THE HIDEAWAY (12122 KAGEL CANYON RD.)

A great spot for traditional American or Mexican with a nice rustic backdrop. Whether you come for a good meal or a casual drink, the Hideaway provides an edible escape from the city life.

VERDICT

Lake View Terrace offers land, space, and air to breathe. It's a bit of a ways away from everyone else, but for some, that's a plus. Property prices are affordable for those who don't mind the extra commute. If you move in, you should be prepared to stay a while.