Los Angeles has many hidden restaurant finds. The majority of the longstanding establishments are places that serve comfort food and excel in delivery. One such place is More than Waffles, a family-owned restaurant that opened in 1975. I recently visited them with my friend Dean.
More than Waffles is located in the Encino Town Center on Ventura Blvd. We parked in the mall parking lot and found the mall to be closed and void of people. We discovered a floor downstairs where we found More Than Waffles. The inside dining room was already full. Fortunately, heaters were available for outdoor diners like us.
The interior is small with tables parked closely together. At this early hour, I was surprised at the number of young families that were present. Outdoors was a different experience as it was more quiet and tranquil. The area was next to a fountain and heaters helped keep diners warm.
The menu is extensive with egg dishes, pancakes, french toast, benedicts, crepes and of course, waffles. The waffle section has over 30 waffles listed from savory like bacon and cheese, healthy like oat bran, dessert-like with crumbled oreos mixed in the batter and topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. It’s hard to make a decision!
Their Waffles with Nutella is beautifully presented. They are made in the Belgian style with deep pockets that collect the chocolate sauce. It is topped with sliced bananas, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream.
I seldom find savory crepes and found Ika’s to have a tasty Mediterranean flavor. Two large crepes are filled with fresh spinach, turkey sausage, fresh basil, garlic, feta, scrambled eggs and topped with melted mozzarella. I felt the flavor profile would also work well as a scramble. Sweet crepes include nutella, fresh strawberry, wild blueberry, and lemon.
Their eggs benedict is made with two large slices of ham placed on top of two Belgian waffles. Dean thought that the eggs were perfectly cooked and the hollandaise sauce was delicious. After trying a bite, I felt that the waffles weren’t as crispy as true Belgian waffles.
I ordered chilaquiles for my wife and she was quite pleased with it. Tortilla chips are mixed with scrambled eggs, salsa, and topped with a generous amount of melted mozzarella. The dish was very “cheesy” and of course, the mozzarella stretched making for a fun experience.
While More than Waffles is known as a breakfast place, their menu also lists, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pasta. Carb watchers will appreciate Nicole’s Breadless Sandwich. This sandwich is made with a veggie patty with mixed greens, avocado, tomato, and mozzarella.
Fido is welcome here and dogs are cool to hang out under your table in the outdoor sitting area. In fact, More Than Waffles is listed on bringfido.com.
If you don’t like waiting, be sure to get there early. More than Waffles is a popular weekend destination and wait times can approach an hour in length.
More than Waffles offers delicious food with attentive service. It is a popular restaurant for couples and families.
More than Waffles
Inside Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd #109, Encino, CA 91316; 818.789.5937
morethanwaffles.com