Breakfast Eateries In and Around the Conejo Valley

Breakfast. Is it the most important meal of the day? Perhaps. But who cares, we’re just hungry and want to eat something delicious for breakfast right here in the Conejo Valley. And to that end, we’ve compiled a list, in no particular order, of eateries in the Conejo Valley that are known for their breakfast options.

(While hours of operation are listed, they are subject to change, so check with the eatery to confirm. Contact us with updates, addition and edits.)

Country Harvest is located at 3345 Kimber Drive in Newbury Park and has served the community since May 2002. Country Harvest opens at 7:30 a.m. daily for traditional breakfast options like Corned Beef Hash & Eggs, Three-Egg Omelets, eight different Benedict (open-faced English muffin) options, favorites like Chicken & Waffles, pancakes and more. They also have locations in Camarillo and Moorpark. countryharvest.restaurant (805) 375-4598.

Honey & Herb Belgian Waffle House is located in the Conejo Gateway Plaza at 765 Wendy Drive, Newbury Park Dr. Here you will find a unique array of savory and sweet waffle options. Open for breakfast and lunch Mon to Thu at 8 a.m. and Sat/Sun at 7:30 a.m. honey-and-herb.com (805) 375-9998

Lady C’s (formerly CiCi’s Cafe - name changed as of 1/14/26) is located at 30990 Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village, across the parking lot from Lure Fish House. This eatery, which originated in Tarzana in 2006 and opened this location in December 2016, is known for its incredible selection of unique pancakes, waffles, and crepes as well as savory breakfast and lunch items. The menu is over 30 pages long! Open at 7:30 a.m. daily. ciciscafe.com (818) 874-3391

Side Street Cafe is located at 996 Lawrence Drive, #103 in Newbury Park, tucked into an industrial park, but well worth going slightly out of your way for. Open Mon-Fri 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sat/Sun 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specializes in an all day breakfast menu featuring egg breakfasts, egg scramblers, egg benedicts, omelettes, waffles, pancakes, French toast and other specialties. sidestreetcafe805.com (805) 499-9323

Zooza Cafe is located in the Paseo Market Place at 3687 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks. Open 8am to 5pm daily with a breakfast menu that includes omelets, egg sandwiches, oatmeal and more. zoozacafe.com (805) 496-9669

The Royal Egg Cafe at 30815 E Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Westlake Village (in the North Ranch Gateway Plaza) offers a variety of organic breakfast items, including savory favorites, avocado toasts, breakfast burritos and much more . Opens daily at 8 a.m. theroyaleggcafe.com (818) 532-7710

Mikey’s Restaurant opened in the former home of The Nook Restaurant at 579 Ventu Park Road, Suite D, Newbury Park in mid-January 2024. Similar menu to The Nook, with a wide range of breakfast specialties. Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. mikeysrestaurants.com

Pickles Deli & Restaurant originally opened in 2006 at 1940 Newbury Road in Newbury Park. Open daily at 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., this traditional Jewish deli serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their breakfast menu is served all day includes egg dishes, lox, omelettes, Mexican specialties, French toast, pancakes and much more. picklesdeli.com (805) 480-4800

Brent’s Delicatessen & Restaurant at 2799 Townsgate Road in Westlake Village offers a large number of breakfast items - pancakes, French toast, fish plates, omelets, benedicts, egg specialties and more. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. brentsdeli.com (805) 557-1882

Agoura’s Famous Deli is located at 5915 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills in the Agoura Hills City Mall. You’re in luck for breakfast - pancakes, egg dishes, omelettes, waffles and more are offered . Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. agourasfamousdeli.com (818) 889-9113

Eggs ‘n’ Things in the Ralphs’s shopping center at 1542 Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks is one of four Eggs ‘n’ Things in Ventura County. Their extensive breakfast menu includes omelettes, French toast, pancakes, their special Swedish Pancakes, scrambles, benedicts and more. Open for breakfast at 6 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. weekends. eggsnthings.net (805) 497-1711

Cafe ViVi (previously Jinky’s Cafe) is located at 1724 E. Avenida De Los Árboles, Thousand Oaks (805) 493-8809 Opens at 8am daily. www.cafe-vivi.com

Corner Bakery Cafe is located at 111 S. Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. Open daily at 7:30 a.m., Corner Bakery offers pancakes, scramblers, egg bowls, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast wraps, oatmeal, yogurt and more. cornerbakerycafe.com/location/corner-bakery-cafe-thousand-oaks (805) 496-6993

Denny’s is located at 2830 Camino Del Rios in Newbury Park, serving breakfast 24/7. Who doesn’t love a Grand Slam? And of course pancakes, crepes, omelettes and classic breakfast that Denny’s offers. (805) 498-4440 dennys.com

IHOP is located at 5031 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills (open 24/7) (818) 991-4957 IHOP offers, if you can believe it, pancakes! Plus omelettes, crepes, Belgian waffles, French toast and breakfast combos. The chain’s name was officially shortened from International House of Pancakes to IHOP in 1979. restaurants.ihop.com

JOi Cafe, located at 2855 Agoura Road in Westlake Village in the Westlake Commons, is a fantastic plant-based eatery that’s open for breakfast daily at 7 a.m. You’ll find unique choices on their breakfast menu, such as Superfood Pancakes, The JOi Scramble (no eggs involved), JOi Breakfast Burrito and more. www.joicafe.com

Sunrose California Eatery opened on October 24, 2023 in the Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills. Their breakfast and brunch is served all day, featuring a variety of options including toasts, burrito, omelet, pancake, egg dishes and more. Opens for breakfast at 8 a.m. daily. www.thesunroseca.com

The Galloping Hen opened its Thousand Oaks location at 3085 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd (at Hampshire) in November 2024 They serve breakfast and lunch, including omelettes, eggs benedicts, other breakfast dishes, burgers, salads and more. Learn more at thegallopinghen.com.

Marmalade Cafe at The Promenade at Westlake, opens daily at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. You know, I’ve eaten there dozens of times, but never for breakfast, but their menu looks great! Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles, Chorizo & Eggs, frittatas, benedicts, pancakes, combos and much more. I’ll have to check it out. www.marmaladecafe.com/locations#WestlakeVillage-Location (805) 370-1331

Justine’s Cafe is located in the Westlake Village Industrial Park, 31356 Via Colinas #103 in Westlake Village. Open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Justine’s offers a full breakfast menu that includes egg dishes, omelets, breakfast burritos, French toast and more. www.justinescafe.com (818) 879-8786

The Cookie Cafe opened in December 2024 at 30651 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Agoura Hills. Open daily for breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner, they offer omelettes, breakfast burritos, quiche, waffles, eggs, sweet crepes, and more. www.thecookie.cafe (747) 222-6221

Decker Kitchen, located in the Lake Lindero Country Club at 5719 Lake Lindero Drive in Agoura Hills, serves a breakfast menu from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. that includes breakfast burritos, breakfast plates, and more. deckerkitchen.com/breakfast-menu (805) 418-7746

Bo’s House of Omelettes & Waffles (formerly the iconic Harold’s House of Omelettes), has served the Conejo Valley since 1961. Located at 2440 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks and open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Bo’s serves Belgian waffles, omelettes, eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, scrambles, pancakes, combos and more. houseofomelettesto.com (805) 906-2138

The Breakfast Cafe, believe it or not, serves breakfast, of all things, daily, starting at 7 a.m., at 686 Lindero Canyon Road in Oak Park. You will find all of the standard breakfast favorites here…pancakes, French toast, waffles, omelettes, breakfast burritos, egg combos and more. www.breakfastcafe.online (818) 865-8807

Howdy’s Agoura Cafe opened at 29001 Canwood Street in Agoura Hills in March 2026, offering breakfast items including bacon and eggs, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and more. Also open for lunch and early dinner daily. www.howdysagoura.com 310-500-6015

P & L Burgers is located at 2000-A East Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks in the Oakbrook Plaza. So what is a place named after burgers on this breakfast eateries list? Because they serve a great breakfast daily starting at 7 a.m. - egg dishes, omelettes, pancakes, French toast and more. pandlburgers.com/BreakfastMenu.html (805) 493-5336

There is a separate list of COFFEE SHOPS IN THE CONEJO VALLEY and all of these coffee shops serve some form of breakfast - Five07 Coffee Bar and Eatery, Honeycup Coffeehouse, Longevity Coffee, Caffe Aroma, Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, Conejo Coffee, Cafe Sapientia, and others are on this list.

Novo Cafe in The Shoppes at Westlake Village has a breakfast menu that includes all your favorites - benedicts, French toast, egg dishes, omelettes and more. Geared towards late sleepers - they open at 11 a.m. www.novocafe.com/westlake (818) 318-1466 (updated 1/6/26)

There is a separate list of BAKERIES IN THE CONEJO VALLEY, many of which offer more than pastries for breakfast -Village Bakery & Cafe in Agoura Hills, Le Pain Quotidien in Westlake Village, Emil’s Bake House in Agoura Hills, Historia Bakery Cafe in Thousand Oaks, La Cereza Bakery and Cafe, Furn Saj Bakery in Calabasas, Cafe Ficelle and others.

Agoura Village Bakery is located in the Twin Oaks Shopping Center at 5839 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills. In addition to a fantastic array of decadent pastries and other baked goods, they offer omelettes, scrambles, French toast, pancakes, protein shakes and more. Opens at 8 a.m. daily. www.agouravillagebakery.com (818) 736-9898

You may not be aware that Cronies Sports Grill is open daily for breakfast at 9 a.m. Mon-Fri and 8 a.m. Sat/Sun at 1620 Newbury Road in Newbury Park (805) 498-7888 and 8 a.m. Mon-Fri and 7 a.m. Sat/Sun at 5687 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills (818) 889-0889. Cronies’ breakfast menu includes pancakes, waffles, eggs, breakfast sandwiches, omelets and more. www.cronies.com/menu?menu=breakfast-menu#1

Panera Bread’s Conejo Valley locations in Thousand Oaks (Janss Marketplace) (opens at 7 a.m. daily) and Westlake Village (5784 Lindero Canyon Road) (opens at 7 a.m. Mon-Sat and 8 a.m. Sun) serve breakfast sandwiches, baked egg soufflés, oatmeal and more. www.panerabread.com

Rise Southern Biscuits Righteous Chicken opened in the summer of 2022 in the Conejo Valley Plaza at 1408 N Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Rise specializes in chicken, biscuits, donuts and other southern specialties. Very limited outdoor seating. Open 7 am - 2 pm risebiscuitschicken.com/locations/thousand-oaks (805) 291-4274

On a side note, something I’ve found interesting in compiling this list is that most eateries offer omelettes, while a few offer omelets. According to Grammarly.com, omelet is the American English spelling whereas omelette is the British English spelling. Thus, I regret to inform you that most Conejo Valley breakfast eateries are not using proper American English. But I guess as long as the omelette is delicious, we’ll give them a pass.

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Breakfast No More

Chocolatine French Cafe was located at 2955 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, but closed its doors in August 2023.

The Newbury Park IHOP closed its doors on November 19, 2023.)

Jinky’s Kanan Cafe at 29001 Canwood St in Agoura Hills closed its doors on 12/12/23 but they indicate that they plan to reopen elsewhere in Agoura Hills.)

Stella’s Gourmet Restaurant at 2385 Michael Drive, Newbury Park, which served the local community, since 1981, closed its doors in December 2023.

The Nook Restaurant in Newbury Park closed in December 2023 but reopened under new ownership as Mikey’s Restaurant in mid-January 2024. It originally opened in September 2019.

JOiBIRDS Cafe at 299 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks opened in November 2023 but closed in October 2024.

Jinky’s Cafe Thousand Oaks is now Cafe ViVi as of January 2025.

Drive-In Movie Theaters That Once Were Located in Ventura County

Once upon a time there were drive-in theaters around Ventura County, providing family entertainment combined with fresh air.

The Simi Drive-In was located at 361 Tierra Rejada Road. It opened in 1963 and closed in 1997, for a 34 year run.

The Pacific 101 Drive-In in Ventura was located at 4826 E. Telephone Road (at the 101). This theater opened in 1948 and closed in 1998. Fifty years!

Sky View Drive-In in Oxnard at 1250 S. Oxnard Blvd opened in 1955 and closed in 1988.

The Santa Paula Drive-In Theatre was located on Harvard Blvd at Barkla (which I believe today is Palm Ave). It opened on Thursday, May 18, 1950 and closed in the 1978 time frame.

Pacific’s Thousand Oaks Drive-In Grand Opening in August 1967

The Thousand Oaks Drive-In was located at Kelley Road and Newbury Road in Newbury Park (now Kohl's) It opened in 1967 and closed in 1983.

The West Wind All Digital Drive-In in Goleta closed in September 2022 after operating from 1966 to 1991, then 2010 to 2019, then once again from 2020 to 2022.

MOVIE THEATERS IN VENTURA COUNTY AND ADJACENT AREAS

How Do I Find the Nearest Mailbox to Me?

My wife asked me if there is a way of finding the nearest local mailbox.  Sure, we know of a couple mailboxes within a mile of our home in the Conejo Valley but it's nice to be able to find other mailboxes when you're out and about.

She used to put letters and bills and such in the mailbox for our mail carrier to pick up, but with the rash of folks swiping things out of home mailboxes, she would prefer to drop letters off into a more secure "blue" mailbox.

The US Post Office has a "Find Locations" section on its website to find a variety of locations, including post offices, approved postal providers, self-service kiosks and collection boxes (aka mailboxes). Find your local mailbox at tools.usps.com/find-location.htm. This tool on the USPS site works great and provides additional information, including daily pickup times.

And of course since there's data out there on where the mailboxes are, there are websites that take that this data and create their own mailbox map. Mailboxmap.com does just this. Simply type in your location and the map will clearly lay out mailbox, post offices and UPS stores for your mailing needs. 

The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society Meets Monthly and is Open to the Public

The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society is a group of classical guitar enthusiasts that meets the last Wednesday of the month at Studio Channel Islands Art Center, 2222 E. Ventura Blvd, Camarillo.

Each session is free to attend and open to the public. There are no fees or dues. Doors open at 6PM. Members of the group as well as guests perform for the group starting at 7PM (guest performers start at 8PM). Donations are accepted for guest performers.

So if you're up for an enjoyable evening of live classical guitar, visit www.vccgs.com and check out upcoming performances.

Upcoming planned performances:

• 2/25/26: Jack Sanders

• 3/25/26: Carlos Bedoya

• 4/29/26: Jennifer Kim

• 5/27/26: Folias Duo

Bank of America "Museums on Us" Program Offers Free Admission to Over 225 Museums Nationwide

If you are a Bank of America or Merrill customer, your bank credit or debit card and photo ID will gain you one free admission to over 225 cultural institutions across the country on the first full weekend of each month. Visit the "Museums on Us" program website at museums.bankofamerica.com for details.

And while there are no Ventura County museums on the list, there are a number of other choices within driving range:

• Autry Museum of the American West

• Skirball Cultural Center

• Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach (Saturdays only)

• Discovery Science Center, DiscoveryCube Orange County (Sundays only)

• Santa Barbara Museum of Art

• MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation in Santa Barbara

Free admission is limited to individual cardholder at participating institutions.

Mexican Restaurants In the Conejo Valley

According to Pew Research Center analysis published in 2024, approximately 11% of restaurants in the United States serve Mexican food. Though Mexican restaurants are present in 85% of U.S. counties overall, nearly 40% of all Mexican restaurants in the country are in California (22%) and Texas (17%). Based on data from March 2023, Los Angeles County had 5,484 Mexican eateries; imagine, it would take you over 15 years to try one of these eateries every day.

So, here we have compiled a list of Mexican eateries in the Conejo Valley, which stretches over portions of both Ventura and Los Angeles counties and includes Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park and Calabasas, west of the Calabasas Grade. Eateries are categorized by full service (sit down and be served), order at the counter (and be served, or pick up your food), and fast serve.

Full Service (Sit Down and Be Served) Mexican Eateries

Adobe Cantina first opened in 1997 in a rustic setting at 29100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating available. Feels “off the beaten path” yet really isn’t. www.adobecantina.com (818) 991-3474

Cisco’s Mexican Restaurant at 1712 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks opened in 1999, serving authentic Mexican food indoors and outdoors. The first Cisco’s opened on Westlake Boulevard in 1974, making Cisco’s the longest-operating Mexican eatery in the Conejo Valley. ciscosthousandoaks.com (805) 493-0533

Habanero Mexican Grill operates at 520 N. Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park (Walmart/Walgreens Center), where it opened in February 2017, offering a full selection of Mexican specialties. habaneromexicangrills.com (805) 375-0755

Hacienda Tapatio Mexican Restaurant and Bar opened on November 3, 2025 in the former La Paz location at 4505 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. (818) 880-8076 www.haciendatapatio.com

Los Dos Amigos operates at 1421 Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks, where it offers Mexican specialties for lunch and dinner in a sit down and be served environment. www.los2amigos.com (805) 373-0087

Norita’s Bar & Grill Cocina Mexicana opened at 702 Lindero Canyon Road (at Kanan) in the former Margarita’s Mexican Grill in April 2025.. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. www.noritasbarandgrill.com (805) 206-3500.

Patron Mexican Bar & Grill offers traditional sit-down service at its locations at 1620 Newbury Road, Newbury Park (805) 498-3188 and 3709 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village (805) 418-7717. Taco Tuesday 4pm to close and happy hour from 3-6:30pm daily. patronmex.com

Plata Taqueria & Cantina is located in the Whizin Market Square, 28914 Roadside Drive #110, Agoura Hills. This family owned eatery opened in January 2015 and over the years became so popular that it expanded to a second location at The Oaks mall in August 2024. This is a sit down and be served eatery. www.eatplata.com (818) 735-9982

Plata Cocina Mexicana opened at The Oaks mall, across from the AMC theatres, in August 2024. This former Red Robin location was completely remodeled, with nearly 300 seats, large patio area, and a large, beautiful bar. This is a sit down and be served style eatery. www.eatplata.com (805) 750-5957

Red O Taste of Mexico opened in August 2025 at The Promenade at Westlake in the former The Grill on The Alley location. RED O serves Baja-inspired seafood, unique Mexican plates, and craft cocktails. www.redorestaurant.com/westlake-village (805) 600-0902

The Alamo Mexican Grill and Cantina at 2311 Borchard Road in Newbury Park was established in 1976. In addition to the traditional sit down and be served eatery, The Alamo has a popular take out window out front. www.alamo-rest.com (805) 498-3115

The Cliffdiver Restaurant serves primarily Mexican cuisine at 720 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, where it opened in June 2022. Burritos, fajitas, taco platters, and more. www.thecliffdiver.com (805) 370-1585

The Latigo Kid at 5617 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills has served authentic Mexican food in a sit-down setting since 1987. www.facebook.com/TheLatigoKidMexicanRestaurant (818) 889-1195

The Latigo Kid in Agoura Hills (with the “old” sign)

Order at the Counter Mexican Eateries

Bad Ass Street Tacos operates at 2951 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, serving up its street tacos and other specialties. Small indoor area and decent sized outdoor patio area. www.badassstreettacos.com (805) 370-TACO (8226)

Blue Agave Tacos and Beer opened in March 2025 in the Agoura Hills City Mall at 5879 Kanan Road offers Mexican breakfast, lunch and dinner specialties. Plenty of indoor seating. Limited outdoor seating. blueagavetacosandbeer.com (818) 575-7038

Cafe Rio opened in the spring of 2020 at 595 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks, serving made-to-order Mexican favorites. www.caferio.com (805) 329-4111

El Sancho Loco Taqueria opened at 2271 Michael Drive in Newbury Park in the summer of 2010 in what was previously Taco Bell, offering authentic Mexican fare in a casual atmosphere. Order at the counter and they will call your name - there are plenty of tables inside and outside. www.elsancholocotaqueria.com (805) 376-8226

El Taco Chico opened at 640 Lindero Canyon Road in Oak Park in early 2020, offering a full range of Mexican specialties…burritos, tacos, chimichangas, tortas, etc. eltacochicoca.com (818) 532-7363

Establos Meat Market & Taqueria at 140 Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks offers a full range of Mexican food specialties, such as tacos, burritos, tostadas, tortas and more. www.instagram.com/establosmeatmarket (805) 370-0124

Frankie’s Breakfast Burritos opened October 12, 2025 at the Roadside Plaza, 28708 Roadside Drive in Agoura Hills. They serve breakfast burritos, lunch burritos, tacos, nachos, and more. frankiesburritos.com

La Esquina Mexican Grill is located at 2397 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, next to Slice Pizza. Order at the counter for takeout, or eat at tables under the covered patio outside. www.thecornermexicangrill.com (805) 371-5333

La Katrina Tacos & Beer is opening on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 2751 E. Hillcrest Drive in Newbury Park, in the PetSmart/Boot Barn/Ross plaza. Their menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner Mexican specialties. www.instagram.com/lakatrinatacosandbeer

La Poblana Mexican Grill opened at 540 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks in August 2024. Owned by the same folks who operate the La Poblanita Taco Truck at 420 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. www.lapoblanamexicangrillca.com (805) 261-4389

Latino Market & Grill has offered authentic Mexican specialties since 1991 in the Oaks Plaza strip mall at 711 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. www.latinomeatmarket.com (805) 244-6498

Los Agaves de Luna Restaurant is located at The Shoppes at Westlake, 20750 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village, where it opened in July 2015. It is a family-owned and operated restaurant that originated in Santa Barbara in 2008. You order at the counter and are served your delicious, authentic Mexican food indoors and outdoors. https://los-agaves.com (818) 874-0779

Manny’s Mexican Grill is a quick-serve eatery located at 1038 Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks, serving traditional Mexican food. (805) 492-4709

Reynalda Cucina & Amor opened in January 2023 at 2865 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, serving Mexican specialties and offering hand-made tortillas. Order at the counter and take your food to go or eat one one of tables inside. www.instagram.com/reynalda_cucina_amor (805) 852-8116

Ruperto’s Kitchen Mexican Food opened at 3321-B Kimber Drive in Newbury Park in July 2019, serving Mexican specialties. www.rupertoskitchenca.com (805) 668-7999

Sharky’s, a popular, Mexican fast-serve eatery, has locations at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, 111 S. Westlake Blvd in Westlake Village, and 1930 Newbury Road in Newbury Park. A long-time local favorite. www.sharkys.com

Snapper Jack’s Taco House is a fast-serve “Cal-Mex” eatery located at 604 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. www.snapperjackstacoshack.com (805) 494-9777

The Sea Casa is a fast-serve Mexican eatery that has served the Conejo Valley at the Westlake Plaza, 1014 S. Westlake Blvd, Westlake Village for as long as I can remember. www.theseacasa.com (805) 374-1921

3 Amigos Fresh Mexican Grill is a quick-serve Mexican favorite, located at 365 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks (805) 493-1033 and 139 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park (805) 499-7200.

Chain Mexican Eateries

Baja Fresh, which originated in Newbury Park in 1990, has one remaining location in the Conejo Valley, at 30861 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Westlake Village. www.bajafresh.com (818) 889-1347

Chipotle Mexican Grill has locations in Newbury Park (935 Broadbeck Drive), Thousand Oaks (Oaks Mall near the AMC Theaters) and Westlake Village (5754 Lindero Canyon Road), offering popular Mexican fare. www.chipotle.com

Del Taco operated one location in the Conejo Valley, at 591 North Ventu Park Rd., Newbury Park (805.499.4439). www.deltaco.com The first Del Taco opened in Yermo, CA on September 16, 1964, under the name “Casa Del Taco.” Publicly-traded company Jack in the Box (Nasdaq: JACK) acquired Del Taco in March 2022.

El Pollo Loco (Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken”) operates locations at 591 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, 2750 Camino Dos Rios, Newbury Park, and 5050 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills. El Pollo Loco U.S. is traded publicly under stock symbol LOCO, serving Mexican-style grilled chicken, tacos, burritos, and more. www.elpolloloco.com

Taco Bell locations in the Conejo Valley include 1928 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks, 25 Rancho Road, Thousand Oaks, 5589 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills, and 791 N. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park. A little Taco Bell history. Glen Bell opened his first Taco Bell restaurant in Downey, CA in 1962, serving what his customers called “Tay-Kohs.” Before creating Taco Bell, Bell started Bell’s Drive-In and Taco Tia in the San Bernardino area. Bell passed away in 2010. www.tacobell.com Taco Bell is owned by Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM), which also operated KFC, Pizza Hut, and The Habit Burger.

Source: “About 1 in 10 restaurants in the U.S. serve Mexican Food,” Pew Research Center (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/11/about-1-in-10-restaurants-in-the-us-serve-mexican-food)

Adios Burritos (Mexican Eateries That Have Closed Over the Years

The historic Lupe’s Mexican Restaurant in Thousand Oaks closed its doors on August 29, 2016, after serving the Conejo Valley for 69 years.

Two historic Mexican eateries operated at 159 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd (now The Tipsy Goat), including Casita Valdez from 1961 to 1979 and Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant from 1979 to 2009.

Letty’s Mexican Food at 2454 Hillcrest Drive in Newbury Park was a local favorite for over 20 years, until it closed in April 2015.

Mejico Grill & Tequila Lounge opened at 29008 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills in September 2018 but closed in February 2021 after a fire. Still closed as of June 2025.

Loteria Grill at The Promenade at Westlake opened in April 2012 and closed in February 2017.

Cisco’s Mexican Restaurant Westlake Village closed its doors in February 2018.

Sabor Cocina Mexicana operated at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks from August 2010 to March 2020.

Casa Escobar closed its doors at 2809 Agoura Road, Westlake Village on September 10, 2016 after six years at that location.

Julio’s Agave Grill operated at 2809 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, in the former Casa Escobar location, from November 19, 2018 to July 1, 2023.

Rubio’s Newbury Park served its last fish taco in January 2019, after over eight years in operation. It also had a location at Janss Marketplace at one point.

Casita Valdez operated 159 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks from 1961 to 1979, when it changed ownership and became Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant until 2009.

El Torito closed its Thousand Oaks location on Moorpark Road on January 24, 2012, a sad day in history.

Freebirds World Burrito operated in Agoura Hills from 2011 to 2016.

Chuy’s previously operated in Thousand Oaks on Moorpark Road (Whole Foods Plaza) but closed in 2011. It also had a location in Agoura Hills at Kanan and Agoura Road.

Margaritas Mexican Grill in Oak Park opened in April 2015 and closed in late summer 2024 for a nine year run.

The Taco Bell at 4955 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas closed in January 2025.

Tiki Taco opened in the Best Buy Plaza Thousand Oaks in April 2023, closed in 2025 and is now called Breakers Sports Bar & Grill.

La Paz Mexican Seafood operated in Calabasas at 4505 Las Virgenes Road from 1989 to early 2025, serving Yucatan style Mexican food. www.lapazmexicanfood.com

El Sanchito was located behind El Sancho Loco Cantina at 3845 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard. It closed in early 2025.

El Sancho Loco Cantina in the North Ranch Shopping Center at 3845 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Unit B, Thousand Oaks announced it has closed its doors on 2/7/26.

The Murals of Santa Paula Provide a Pictorial History of the City

The City of Santa Paula is the geographical center of Ventura County, located in the rich agricultural Santa Clara River Valley. The city is surrounded by rolling hills and rugged mountain peaks in addition to orange, lemon and avocado groves. Santa Paula is often referred to as the "Citrus Capital of the World."

Santa Paula covers an area of 4.7 square miles and at the date of the 2020 U.S. census had a population of 30,657. It is the 7th largest (and inversely 4th smallest) city in Ventura County in terms of population. The city was incorporated on April 22, 1902.

Something unique to see while in Santa Paula is a series of eleven murals that depict various historical aspects of the city, including its first inhabitants, the Chumash, the discovery of oil, its Latino culture, founding of the Santa Paula Airport, local farming and more. Learn more at this link and by visiting spcity.org/743/Murals.

Click this link for other things to do in Santa Paula!