Popular brings a fish-focused Mediterranean menu to Encino’s kosher dining scene, pairing handmade pasta and dairy dishes with a cocktail bar. The restaurant opened in March 2026 as the seventh concept from Tel Aviv Restaurant Group, the team behind Tel Aviv Grill and TLV Tapas Bar. Executive Chef Dor Priezler leads the kitchen.
The space has a history of kosher dining: it previously housed Aroma Cafe & Bakery, later known as Street Cafe by Aroma. Popular’s menu centers on fish, vegetables and cheese, with separate sections for small plates, raw dishes and mains.
Fish, Pasta and Mediterranean Small Plates
Small plates include Moroccan frena with za’atar oil ($12), hummus msabbaha with hot garbanzo beans and tatbila ($14), and smoked eggplant with tahini, feta and serrano pepper ($17). The cheese burek ($25) combines savory cheeses with honey and thyme syrup. A fish cigar ($23) wraps branzino, herbs, chili and lemon zest in thin pastry, served with sumac yogurt and chive oil.
Raw selections include bluefin sashimi with truffle, ponzu and crispy chili salsa ($32) and yellowtail sashimi with yuzu koshu and serrano ($34). Vegetable dishes include roasted kohlrabi with whipped feta ($22) and a wild cabbage skewer with almonds and miso beurre blanc ($20).
For mains, bucatini cacio e pepe ($29) comes with black pepper cream, Urfa and a Parmesan tuile. Wild mushroom gnocchi ($33) is served with broccolini and goat cheese. Fish dishes include whole branzino with garlic butter and pickled lemon harissa ($43), sea bream risotto ($41), and the King’s Schnitzel ($35), made from breaded branzino and served with fries.
Desserts and Cocktails
Desserts include knafeh with cheese, rose syrup and pistachios ($22), white chocolate mousse ($21), and crumble cheesecake with blueberry coulis ($23). Cocktails are $19; alcohol-free choices include a blood orange spritz and strawberry-ginger fizz, both $12. Espresso drinks and Turkish coffee round out the menu.
Location, Hours and Kosher Certification
Popular is located at 18047 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91316. It is certified kosher dairy, Chalav Yisrael and Pas Yisrael by the Rabbinical Council of California (RCC). Current hours are Sunday-Wednesday, 5:30-10pm, and Thursday, 5:30-11pm; closed Friday and Saturday. The phone number is 818-796-2276.
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