April 27, 2026

The Oldest Restaurants in Ventura County and Nearby Areas

April 27, 2026/ Conejo Joe

We do our best to support local restaurants here in the Conejo Valley and throughout Ventura County. But local eateries come and go, for many reasons. Running a restaurant is not easy, but some of them manage to operate longer than others.

Here’s a compilation of some of the longest-operating restaurants in Ventura County.

1946: El Tecolote originated in Moorpark in 1946 and moved to its current location at 333 N. Lewis Road in Camarillo in 1952, serving traditional Mexican fare. It is the longest operating eatery under the same name in Ventura County. www.facebook.com/eltecoloterestaurant

1947: Johnny’s Mexican Food originated in Santa Paula in 1947 and moved to its current location at 176 N. Ventura Avenue, Ventura in 1961, offering, well, you know. Johnny Lopez passed away in December 1994. Before he passed, he convinced his family to keep the eatery. New ownership kept things the same when the eatery changed hands in 2004.

1949: Dominick’s Italian Restaurant at 477 North Oxnard Boulevard in Oxnard has been family owned and operated since 1949, serving delicious pasta, New York style pizza and more. dominicksoxnard.com

1952: Otani’s Seafood is a family owned seafood restaurant in Downtown Oxnard that has operated since 1952, featuring Japanese style seafood with a twist of Mexican flair. Located at 608 South A Street in Oxnard. www.otanis-seafood.com

1957: Thousand Oaks Meat Locker started out as a custom butcher shop in 1957, then transformed into a BBQ eatery since the mid-1970s at 2684 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks. www.thousandoaksmeatlocker.com

1958: Casa De Soria Mexican Restaurant opened at 1961 E. Thompson Avenue in Ventura in 1958. They claim to have served over 7 million meals since then to Mexican food lovers! www.casadesoria.com

1959: Tony’s Pizzaria has been family owned and operated since June 1959 at 186 E. Thompson Blvd in Ventura. Founded by Johnny “Tony” Barrios and now operated by his children and nephew., Tony’s Pizzaria specializes in New York style hand tossed pizza. www.tonyspizzaria.net

1958: Neptune’s Net, with an address of 42505 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, is technically located in Ventura County in the unincorporated community of Solromar (it uses Malibu for its zip code). Neptune’s Net is open 364 days a year, closed only for Thanksgiving. This is a casual, order at the counter and find a table type of place that is located across from County Line Beach. neptunesnet.com

1961: Harold’s House of Omelettes at 2440 Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks. Harold Warner originally opened Harold’s at 1938 Thousand Oaks Blvd. The eatery closed May 7, 2021 but subsequently was acquired and reopened as Bo’s House of Omelettes & Waffles, so they are staying on the list. More information at houseofomelettesto.com.

1961: The Rock Store opened in 1961 at 30354 Mulholland Highway in Cornell (an unincorporated community of Los Angeles County located near Agoura Hills). originally as a small town grocery store. An extremely popular motorcyclist hangout, It currently offers breakfast and lunch Friday to Sunday. www.facebook.com/p/The-Rock-Store-100064273106365

1963: Chester’s Asia Restaurant has operated in Camarillo since 1963 at 2216 Pickwick Drive in the Pickwick Shopping Center. chestersasiarestaurant.com

1965: Thousand Oaks Fish & Chips is currently located at 3825 Thousand Oaks Blvd in the North Ranch Shopping Center. It established itself in the Conejo Valley in 1965. www.thousandoaksfishandchips.com

1966: Little Tony’s Italian Restaurant is located at 1441 Redwood Street in Oxnard, next to Weinerschnitzel. Open daily at 4pm for dinner. 805-486-1414 www.yelp.com/biz/little-tonys-italian-restaurant-oxnard

1968: Boccaccio’s Restaurant at the Westlake Landing, 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, has been operating since 1968. www.boccacciosrestaurant.com

1968: Jack in the Box Thousand Oaks opened at 484 Moorpark Road this year and still operates today. it was completely remodeled in 2025.

1969: Ottavio and Noella Belvedere opened Pizza Villa on Ventura Blvd in Camarillo in 1969 and changed the name to Ottavio’s Italian Restaurant in 1974, so we’re going to credit them for 1969. The moved to a larger location at 1620 Ventura Blvd in 1977 and have operated there ever since. www.ottavio.com

1970: Cactus Patch Restaurant is a diner located at 197 E. High Street in Moorpark that has served breakfast and lunch since 1970. The original owner passed away in 2020 but other family members and staff continue to operate this eatery. www.facebook.com/CactusPatchRestaurant

1970: The Old Place Cornell restaurant opened at 29983 Mulholland Hwy in Cornell (Agoura Hills) in 1970. This is Los Angeles County but close to us here in the Conejo Valley . oldplacecornell.com

1973: The Newbury Park McDonald’s at 850 Wendy Drive premiered in the spring of 1970. (There’s probably other fast food places we need to research and add to this list.)

1974: The first Cisco’s Mexican Restaurant opened in Westlake Village in 1974. That location closed in 2018 but Cisco’s continues to operate at 1712 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks, making it one of the oldest eateries in the Conejo Valley. www.ciscosthousandoaks.com

1974: The first Eggs ‘n” Things restaurant opened in the same building as its current Camarillo location at 1200 Paseo Camarillo. Now Eggs “n” Things has locations in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Ventura as well. www.eggsnthings.net

1974: Rhineland Deli Thousand Oaks has been open since 1974. It relocated to 1817 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in 2022 as it continues to serve its signature delicious German-inspired sandwiches and other items. www.instagram.com/rhineland_deli

1974: Mrs. Olson’s Coffee Hut opened in 1974 at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, 2800 South Harbor Blvd. www.mrsolsons.com

1976: The Alamo Restaurant was established in 1976 at 2311 Borchard Road in Newbury Park, specializing in Mexican dishes. www.alamo-rest.com

1979: Azar’s Sport Bar & Grill originated as Azar’s Red Robin on September 19, 1976 at 2215 Michael Drive in Newbury Park, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails and live music. www.azarsportsbar.com

~1980: Don’t have the exact date, but A-Burger opened over 40 years ago at 155 S. Oxnard Blvd in Oxnard. I’m told that this was originally a Whataburger. www.facebook.com/ABurgerOxnard

1982: Andria’s Seafood Restaurant and Market opened at Ventura Harbor Village on May 13, 1982 and this family business has operated continuously since that date. www.andriasseafood.com

1982: Don Cuco Mexican Restaurant opened in Simi Valley in 1982. It is located at 3991 Cochran Street. www.doncuco.com

1984: P & L Burgers at 2000-A East Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks originally opened in 1984, making it the oldest burger place in the Conejo Valley. pandlburgers.com

The Oldest Eateries in Ventura County that closed in recent years:

1947: Lupe’s Mexican Restaurant on Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks closed its doors in August 2016, after 69 years in business.

Lupe’s Mexican Food in Thousand Oaks in 1975. (Photo courtesy Thousand Oaks Library Conejo Through the Lens Collection.)

1949: The Sportsman Restaurant at 53 S. California Street in Ventura closed in 2018. The Camarillo location at 4426 Central Avenue is still open. www.sportsmancamarillo.com

Familia Diaz operated at 245 S. 10th Street in Santa Paula from 1936 to 2015. It was sold to new owners, and now operates as Chapala Mexican Restaurant. chapalamexicanrestaurantca.com

Familia Diaz in Santa Paula changed ownership and is now called Chapala Mexican Restaurant. We’ll keep this image here in memory of the previous occupant.

Dorothy’s Chuck Wagon Cafe was located at 2344 Ventura Blvd in Old Town Camarillo. The building was constructed in 1944 and original owner Larry Logue opened Larry’s Malt Shop there in 1946. It was Carmen’s Snack Bar when owned by Ed and Carmen Quinn. Dorothy Johnson took over as new owner in 1983. In June 2022 she announced the cafe had closed. The building was sold in May 2022.

dorothy's chuck wagon.jpeg — The former Dorothy’s Chuck Wagon Cafe in Old Town Camarillo (closed in June 2022).

The Golden Chicken Inn was located at 701 S. Oxnard Boulevard in Oxnard (at 7th Street) opened in 1929 but changed ownership and became New Chicken in the summer of 2025. It is one of the last remaining Chinese structures in the area. www.newchickenoxnard.com

golden chicken oxnard.JPG — Golden Chicken Inn in Oxnard opened in 1929 and became “new chicken” under new ownership in 2025.

The Ranch House originally opened at its quaint location at 102 Besant Road in Ojai in 1956. In July 2025 it was reopened under new ownership as The Rochers at the Ranch House. Learn more at www.therochersrh.com.

April 25, 2026

Mugu Rock Then and Now

April 25, 2026/ Conejo Joe

Mugu Rock is a large rock formation formed when a 200 foot deep cut was made into the rocky ridge from October 1937 to February 1940. Prior to the modern day PCH at Mugu Rock (at the time called U.S. 101 Alternate (State Route 60), drivers went around a 275 foot radius curve that is now fenced off.

The photos in the video above from the October 1940 edition of California Highways and Public Works show what it looked like before, during and after the cut was made, compared to what it looks like today.

April 18, 2026

Highlights of a Dozen Fun Things to See and Do In and Around Camarillo

April 18, 2026/ Conejo Joe

Residents voted to incorporate Camarillo as a city on September 29, 1964 (the same day that Thousand Oaks residents voted to do the same). Today Camarillo has the 5th largest population out of 10 cities in Ventura County, with about 71,000 residents.

One neat feature of Camarillo is its revitalized Old Town on Ventura Boulevard, a one mile stretch adjacent to Highway 101 between Lewis Road and Carmen Drive. There is a mixture of eateries, galleries, salons, boutiques and shopping along the pedestrian friendly thoroughfare that has transformed the area. Parking is free. More at www.facebook.com/camarillooldtown.

Here are a dozen other fun things to explore, see and do in Camarillo:

The roughly 2 mile Calleguas Creek Bike Path from Pleasant Valley Fields to the corner of Flynn and Upland Road in Camarillo is a family favorite, providing 4 miles of bicycling round-trip. The path is adjacent to Calleguas Creek with several street underpasses, keeping the path completely free of vehicular traffic.

McGrath Family Farm off the Central Avenue 101 offramp grows organic fruits, vegetables and flowers and is open 7 days a week from spring through fall. McGrath also offers farm tours, visits with the farm animals and "pick your own" produce. A quick, healthy and fun stop with the kids.

The Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing Aviation Museum is open Friday through Sunday at the Camarillo Airport with hangars devoted to preserving, displaying and flying World War II aircraft. Docents are extremely knowledgeable and eager to share information. This is a Camarillo must-see.

Also at the Camarillo Airport is the annual Wings Over Camarillo Air Show in the August time frame. This is a weekend display of restored World War II military aircraft in flight, aerobatic, vintage and experimental aircraft displays, classic cars and plenty of family fun. This is one event in Camarillo that you have to see up close at least once. Visit wingsovercamarillo.com for more information.

The Camarillo Ranch House is a 3-story, 14 room, 6,000 square foot Victorian home built by Adolfo Camarillo in 1892. The City restored the beautiful home to what it looked like during the 1914 to 1930 time frame. Today the house is a popular event venue and is open for docent-led tours several days a week. The Camarillo Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

The Camarillo Ranch House is a popular wedding and other special events destination.

I'm amazed at how few of the people I talk to have heard of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, more popularly known as the Camarillo Bird Museum. The 22,000 sq ft non-descript facility in an industrial office park hosts a collection of over 250,000 sets of bird eggs representing approximately 4,000 species; 18,000 nests and 56,000 bird study skins. The Museum is open to the public for one-hour tours on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 2pm.

The Camarillo Premium Outlets is Ventura County's premiere outlet mall, featuring over 160 shops and eateries. On the east side are the original outlets, including the Main Court and Fashion Court, while on the west is the newer The Promenade section. In between is the Edwards Camarillo Palace 12.

Harley's Camarillo Bowl is the go-to spot for most kids that I know in the Conejo Valley who throw bowling birthday parties. I know because when the kids go bowling, I make sure to join them. Harley's gets the job done with 20 lanes, a small arcade, and a bar that serves up cold beer.

There are dozens of great farmers' markets around Ventura County, including the Saturday morning Camarillo Certified Farmers Market in Old Town Camarillo from 8am to noon.

NEW: kidSTREAM Children’s Museum is premiering on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 3100 E. Ponderosa Drive in Camarillo. With a focus on science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math (the “STREAM” in kidSTREAM), this children’s museum inspires curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills in young learners.

There are a number of nicely appointed parks of all shapes and sizes in Camarillo, including six larger parks. One of my favorites is the hidden away Camarillo Grove Park at the bottom of the Conejo Grade, 6968 E. Camarillo Springs Road. This 24.5 acre park offers hiking trails, a dog park, outdoor nature center and more.

The Pleasant Valley Historical Museum is dedicated to the preservation of local history and the adjoining Charles L. Honn Botanical Garden features plants and trees indigenous to the Pleasant Valley and the surrounding region. Both are fun, short, worthwhile visits, which is good because the Museum and Garden are only open from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, except holidays. Admission is free. (MUSEUM IS UNDERGOING EXPANSION AND IS STILL CLOSED AS OF JANUARY 2026. Check their website for updates at pvhsonline.org.

April 05, 2026

Over 40 Things To Do in Santa Barbara

April 05, 2026/ Conejo Joe

Incorporated on April 9, 1850, the city of Santa Barbara is a popular destination for Ventura County residents as it can be reached in an hour or less via the 101. Santa Barbara is referred to as the American Riviera, with the longest south-facing section of coastline on the west coast.

The city was inhabited by the Chumash over 13,000 years ago. But it received its name from Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602 when he entered the channel on the 4th of December, the day of the feast of Santa Barbara.

If I had to move from the Conejo Valley to some other place in the world, Santa Barbara would be on my short list for its temperate weather, laid back feel and so many things to do, which we highlight below.

Outdoors

Museums and Historic Sites

Other Fun Stuff

April 04, 2026

Things to Do With the Kids in Ventura County When It's Wet Outside

April 04, 2026/ Conejo Joe

It doesn't rain nearly often enough here in Ventura County, but when it does, that's a great excuse for staying inside. You are in the right place as we have compiled this extensive list of well over 200 indoor activities from Agoura to Simi Valley to Ventura and everywhere in between!

Geared Towards Little Kids

Gaming and Arcades

Other Indoor Fun

Indoor Action and Sports

Arts and Crafts

These are just a sampling of the various activities and events in Conejo Valley Guide, so make sure to explore and find something fun to do!

April 04, 2026

Hiking in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Calabasas

April 04, 2026/ Conejo Joe

Trailhead at northern end of Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas

The Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space is owned and maintained by the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority. The 2,983 acres of open space was part of the Ahmanson Ranch in the Simi Hills of eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County, bordering the cities of Calabasas, Hidden Hills, West Hills, Bell Canyon, Simi Valley and Agoura Hills. The land, purchased in 2003, is contiguous with the existing 2,650 acres of open space in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon.

This is a vast space of rolling hills, native perennial grasslands, oak trees and woodlands. Two plant communities, Southern Coast Live Oaks Riparian Forest and Southern Willow Scrub, make up over 20 miles of riparian corridors in the park.

The Victory Trailhead at the eastern end of Victory Boulevard is the main entrance into the Preserve, with a large gravel parking lot (there is a fee).

There are two main trailheads into the area. The Las Virgenes Canyon Road Trailhead is accessed at the northern terminus of Las Virgenes Road. Offstreet parking is available here; there is no official parking lot or facilities. The Victory Trailhead is the main trailhead for the preserve, located at the western terminus of Victory Boulevard in West Hills. There is a large gravel parking lot at the Victory Trailhead, where parking (as of February 2019) is $3.

Excerpt of map posted at the Victory Trailhead

If you are looking for a hike of roughly 4 to 5 miles round trip, take the East Las Virgenes Canyon Trail that links the Las Virgenes Road and Victory trailheads. To explore more within the Preserve, check out the Lasky Mesa area southwest of the Victory Trailhead via the Mary Weisbrock Loop Trail. Or from the Las Virgenes Road trailhead, instead of heading east, continue north, where you can veer off into to the adjacent Cheeseboro Canyon area or find a loop that connects you back to the main trail. (See map for details.)

Peaceful and serene back here, albeit a bit dry.

While it can be quite dry during much of the year - particularly during times of drought - it sure greens up nicely after the winter rains (shown here in February 2019).

From a historical perspective, the Preserve was part of the 113,000 acre Rancho San Jose de Gracias de Simi tract granted to Javier, Miguel and Particio Pico by the King of Spain in 1795, later transferred to Jose de la Guerra y Noriega and sold in the late 1800s to Thomas R. Bard. Bard divided the Rancho into tracts to build homes.

The property was later owned by a William Randolph Hearst company, which unsuccessfully drilled for oil in the 1930s and later sold it to George E. Barrett, Jr. Barrett built a ranch here in the late 1930s. R. E. Crummer bought the property in 1949. H. F. Ahmanson Company bought the land in 1963 and failed in the 1960s in its attempt to develop the land.

In 1986, Ahmanson initiated a new attempt at a master-planned community centered atop Lasky Mesa and stretching across the surrounding hills and valleys. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the project in 1992, but there were numerous opponents that ultimately led to the sale of the property to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy tin 2003. The public parkland was dedicated on April 10, 2004.

More information at mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/upper-las-virgenes-canyon-open-space-preserve-formerly-ahmanson-ranch.

Another shot after lots of rain in February 2019.

April 01, 2026

Earth Day Events In and Around Ventura County

April 01, 2026/ Conejo Joe

Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22nd each year since 1970. Earth Day events celebrate the planet we live on and helps to renew our commitment to building a safer, healthier and cleaner world. Here is a compilation of 2026 Earth Day as well as Arbor Day events in Ventura County and neighboring areas.

Sat 4/18: Calabasas Earth Day Festival (2-5PM)

Sat 4/18: Arbor/Earth Day Celebration in Thousand Oaks (10AM-2PM)

Sat 4/18: Ventura Earth Day Festival (11AM-4PM)

Sat 4/18: Earth Day Event at the Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College (11AM-4:30PM)

Fri 4/24: Earth Day and Arbor Day Events in Simi Valley (1-2PM, 3:30-5:30PM)

Sat 4/25: Earth Day Festival in Westlake Village (3-5:30PM)

Sat/Sun 4/25-26: Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival (11AM)

Sat 5/3 Moorpark Earth Festival & Arbor Day Celebration (9AM-1PM)