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It is hard for outsiders to imagine life at all in extreme desert climates. Yet, in the heart of the Mojave desert lies Victor Valley, a community of several smaller towns and cities that are thriving. Though it is over an hour’s drive to the nearest big city, Los Angeles, the valley offers a diverse selection of food options. From cowboy favorites to Far East cuisine, we explore the top 10 restaurants in California’s Victor Valley.

A traditional mixed-meat shawarma

Ala’ al-deen

You may be surprised to find that Victor Valley has more to offer than just fast food and southwestern cuisine, enter, Ala’ al-deen. This restaurant serves Middle Eastern cuisine to hungry patrons who are looking for something unique. For over 10 years, Ala’ al-deen has been serving favorites like falafel, hummus, kebabs, and shawarma. The thing that makes it really special is the attention and heart that is put into each dish. The owners and staff are not only trying to serve great meals, but are sharing a bit of their culture and soul with the community.

Bosco’s Diner

At first, this restaurant may seem difficult to find, but we promise it will be worth the effort. The restaurant is located in a strip mall, which could be off-putting. But once inside, guests are warmly welcomed and generously fed. The menu at Bosco’s Diner is an interesting mix of American and Asian classics. For brunch, enjoy an array of western standards like omelets, french toast, or steak and eggs. But stop by for lunch or dinner and you’ll find options like curry, thai chicken salad, and mango sticky rice. Bosco’s is an unexpected marriage of two worlds that works in delicious ways.

Victorville

The Corner Café

The Corner Café has been called a diner. In some sense it is, with a friendly atmosphere and laid-back vibe. But the food that locals have come to expect is certainly not that of greasy diners and hole-in-the-walls. Items are carefully prepared with home-style goodness. The café is open all day, with creative and traditional options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Start your day with their hearty breakfast classics, or stop by for a burger or salad at lunch. Dinner brings a different feel with pasta favorites, steak, and seafood. There is something for everyone at The Corner Café, regardless of the time of day.

Itchy Foot Island Deli & BBQ

The name of this restaurant is certainly odd, but definitely don’t let that stop you. Itchy Foot Island Deli & BBQ is not to be missed. The restaurant is relatively new to Victorville, having just opened in spring of 2015. Since then, the restaurant has received positive accolades, and lines of eager patrons. Itchy Foot serves island-inspired cuisine in an atmosphere that makes you feel like you are worlds away. Beef and pork are smoked in-house, then served a variety of ways, like on a sandwich, or in a meal with your choice of side dish. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Aloha King sandwich with peanut butter, honey, bananas, and Spam. It is a strange combination, but utilizes the canned meat beloved in amongst the Hawaiian Islands, and will make you second-guess what you thought you can and can’t do with flavor combinations.

A southern crawfish boil

Louisiana Cajun Seafood

Although Victor Valley is nearly 100 miles from the ocean, Louisiana Cajun Seafood has managed to create a successful restaurant based around fresh seafood with flair. Bringing the flavors of the Bayou out west, this restaurant is a spicy taste of perhaps the most vibrant of the southern states. The menu is highly interactive, allowing each guest to design a meal that they will love. Choose a type of seafood, and one of eight different sauces, varying in flavor and heat level. The result is a flavorful meal that is worthy of its Louisiana heritage. Fan favorites include crawfish or king crab legs with the Cajun Bomb sauce, a bold blend of classic cajun seasonings. For guests without a taste for seafood, the menu also offers hot wings and chicken entrées.

Italian cannolis

Mama Carpino’s

Every restaurant community needs at least one really good Italian spot, and Mama Carpino’s is exactly that. Located in the town of Apple Valley, this restaurant serves southern Italian fare that is as warm and comforting as the Old Country itself. Popular dishes like pastas, veal, pizza, and seafood appear on the menu in all of their glory, along with standards like garlic bread, tiramisu, and cannolis. The food is consistently good, and the service is always on point. There is no guessing at Mama Carpino’s, every dish is just what you’re expecting, and spot-on, every time.

Outpost Café

If you are looking for good, down-home cooking, look no farther than Outpost Café. Don’t let the location within a truck stop fool you, the food is outstanding. Typically, that type of setting would elicit some of the worst in dive and diner food. But this restaurant has figured out that serving great food, and treating guests like friends and family, builds loyalty. Try rustic eats like biscuits and gravy, or chicken fried steak. To accommodate truckers and early birds alike , the restaurant is open from 5 am til 10 pm. The Outpost Café is truly a hidden gem in Hesperia.

Paulina’s Mexican Grill

Of course, a valley in the Southwest has to have some great Mexican food. There are several spots in the Victor Valley, but Paulina’s Mexican Grill has a bit of an edge over the competition. The restaurant has been in business for nearly a decade, and is favorite amongst locals. The interior is a departure from the dive-Mexican that is expected by many, with tasteful and upscale-feeling décor. The plating and presentation of dishes is thoughtful and elegant, yet still bright and not at all stuffy. But most importantly, the taste is what keeps people coming back for more. The food is consistently good, and is raising the bar for Mexican cuisine.

Seoul Garden Korean BBQ

Seoul Garden Korean BBQ delivers an entirely different spectrum of flavor and ingredients to Victorville diners. The restaurant cooks up traditional Korean dishes, unfamiliar to many first-timers. For one reasonable price, you can enjoy the all-you-can-eat BBQ, which includes a variety of meats with rice, salad, soups, and seafood. For different preferences, you can choose from a menu of fresh sushi options as well. House specialties include the bulgogi pork and the Korean short ribs. Seoul Garden Korean BBQ is open for lunch and dinner, and is sure to get you out of your food rut.

Western royalty, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Spirit River Café

You really can’t get much more western than Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and the Spirit River Café was created to pay respect to their cowboy legacy. The restaurant-owners have established themselves in Hesperia as a no-fuss, family restaurant that is as old-time-California as the dust on your spurs. Expect hearty home-style cooking in an unpretentious setting, with selections from burgers to prime rib. The restaurant also supports local school districts, so eating at Spirit River Café is a great meal, and a great way to give back to the community. Borrowing a bit of charm from the nearby historical Route 66, this is a great place for locals, and passersby.

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