Top 15 Affordable Restaurants in Thousand Oaks, CA

Denise Fernandez From the moment we walked into Red O, everything about this restaurant was exceptional. The atmosphere was fantastic and the space itself is absolutely beautiful—warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed down to the smallest detail. The management and staff were truly incredible: welcoming, attentive, and genuinely passionate about providing a great experience. The food was pure perfection. The filet mignon was cooked flawlessly—tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented—and the salmon risotto was rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced. This was an outstanding dining experience from start to finish, and I can’t wait to return!! Highly recommended.

Universal Experiences I had an amazing experience at Twisted Meats in Thousand Oaks, and I can honestly say this place is now one of my favorite spots for Mediterranean-style food in the area. I ordered the doner kebab sandwich, and it was absolutely outstanding. The meat was perfectly cooked — tender, juicy, and packed with deep, rich flavor. You can immediately tell the doner is prepared with care and quality ingredients. Every bite had a great balance of seasoning, char, and freshness, without being greasy or heavy. It was flavorful in that authentic, comforting way that keeps you wanting more. The bread was soft and warm, holding everything together beautifully without falling apart. The sauces and toppings were incredibly well balanced — nothing overpowering, just enhancing the flavor of the meat. You could taste how fresh everything was, from the vegetables to the herbs and spices. This wasn’t a fast-food style kebab — this was a crafted, restaurant-quality doner that rivals what you’d get in Europe or the Middle East. Portion size was generous too. I left satisfied but not weighed down, which is always a great sign. It’s the kind of meal that makes you think, “Yeah… I chose the right place today.” The atmosphere at Twisted Meats was clean, relaxed, and welcoming. The staff were friendly and efficient, and you could tell they take pride in what they serve. My order came out quickly and looked just as good as it tasted — fresh, hot, and beautifully put together. If you’re anywhere near Thousand Oaks and craving real, high-quality doner kebab, this place is a must-visit. Whether you’re new to Mediterranean food or already a fan, Twisted Meats delivers on flavor, quality, and consistency. I will absolutely be coming back — and next time I’m already thinking about trying more from the menu. But that doner kebab sandwich? It’s already a winner in my book. Highly recommended!

Joseph Ahearn Simply the best and most authentic middle eastern food option. Amazing grape leaves, kabobs and combination platters. I love the lentil soup. The staff treats you like family.

Hannah West Delicious clean food, Manny and Cynthia were so incredibly nice and respectful! Cynthia greeted us and answered all our questions, she was super sweet. Manny was an excellent server got us refills and anything we needed. He was very kind!

Herrera Manuel Was greeted with warm welcoming energy and was offered a highchair for my son. Was given suggestions on food and The food is amazing, kind people, amazing menu, great options for children. The food was filling and left me wanting to come back to try more. There also is vegan options and as a Vegan of 10 years, not a lot of places taste that great but this food is so flavorful.

Scott Silver My Dad and I finally tried Phil’s for the first time tonight. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We sat in the bar/lounge in the back of the restaurant which was extremely cozy and had many TV’s with multiple games on. I ordered their manhattan cocktail and it was exquisite. The portion sizes are gigantic so we split the wedge salad and it was fantastic. I ordered the prime rib dip and it was delicious. The combo of the au jus and horseradish was delicious and the beef was thinly sliced and perfectly cooked. My Dad enjoyed the stroganoff, but thought it could have used egg noodles and the sauce perhaps a bit thicker. It was still very tasty and I highly recommend Phil’s overall. My only complaint is there are very few vegetarian or seafood dishes, since I have pescatarian family members.

Ella H. This place is an absolute hidden gem! If you are craving seriously authentic, fresh Italian food- you really need to dine here. I had the wild caught blue crab cake, linguine with bolognese sauce and the nuova capri salad which was similar to caprese but elevated to a whole new level. Everything is delicious- but you’ll know that when you walk in and are instantly surrounded by heavenly aromas. The staff is absolutely incredible, so kind courteous and attentive. Paulo is so cheerful and knowledgeable, if he recommends anything- it’s worth trying! The owners are so sweet and taking painstaking care to ensure a wonderful experience. I have been a life long loyal customer to another Italian Restaurant in town, and I am happy to say Marcello’s Ristorante is officially my new favorite go to for an excellent meal!

Ron Hirsty Just saw this place. I had the blackened rockfish and felt it was quite good. There isn’t another place with this type of food. Yes fast food / take out but good quality well prepared fish. I will return here.

Larry Oberle This is my favorite Wood Ranch location. We have dined at the Agoura, Camarillo and Moorpark locations but Thousand Oaks is my preferred spot. From the servers, to the bar staff and the store manager Tim, I always feel they go out of their way to make sure I have the best experience. The food is always amazing and fresh. The sea bass is a nice addition they added recently which is a big hit with my wife. Both dine in and take out have been 5 stars for us. Thank you!

Adam Button Jake was such an exceptional server! He made my dining experience very enjoyable and the food tasted amazing. He kept making my friends and I laugh and kept the mood high up. I highly recommend coming here and requesting Jake for your server because he will make your experience wonderful!

Luis Ramirez We were pleasantly surprised to find Creole Kings at the Thousand Oaks mall. We’ve been to the Topanga location several times and have always left impressed, so when we saw the new spot, we had to give it a try. I ordered some fried okra while my wife and daughter went to Hot Dog on a Stick. Before long, they were both reaching over for my okra, and it quickly disappeared. That pretty much says it all. The food here is consistently excellent. Everything we’ve tried has been fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. You can tell the kitchen takes pride in what they make, from the crispy sides to the rich, soulful main dishes. The service has always stood out, too. The staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely proud of the food they serve. They make you feel welcome from the moment you walk up. It’s great to see Creole Kings expanding, and this Thousand Oaks location delivers the same quality and hospitality that made us fans in the first place.

Michael Guynn Plata is a great addition to Janss. Mexican food, but with a bit of an elevated presentation. With this elevation often comes pretentiousness, but not at Plata; flavors and the comforting factor are not lost. Some of the dishes Ive tried havent been my favorite, there are some unique flavor combinations on the menu that dont always work for me. But theyre always executed well. The dining area is clean, modern, and comfortable, and the service is quick and friendly. Definitely a good option if youre in the area.

camila de la cruz we went here for dinner after shopping at kohls!! sadly we had to wait 25 mins but the dining experience was great!! summer, our waitress, was super friendly, i think she’s my favorite. i hope she’s doing well. my aunt ordered fish tacos, my mom ordered ribs and i got the crispy chicken sandwich! summer even gave us 2 lil duckies as a gift. we really hope shes doing well. as a cowgirl and western lover myself, i will definitely return here!

Colin B I loved my Sunday margaritas and great Mexican food, chips and salsa soo much.. its only fair I let out the secret...this place is amazing! Strong drinks, great service, perfect outdoor seating. 5 plus stars and thank you!

Yesenia Quintero This place is one of a kind. From the atmosphere to the customer service. Walking in you see the amazing mural they have on the back wall but you also get an instant aroma of the delicious food they have brewing. Jesse’s friendly face at the counter invites you in and his knowledge of the food leaves you conflicted on what to order. I had a classic, their menudo. It came with handmade tortillas and their taco bar has the most flavorful red salsa I’ve ever had. Perfect combination for the menudo. I also had an agua fresca. Their cucumber mint was refreshing. My girlfriend had their pozole. Although I didn’t taste it I couldn’t help but steal one of her tostadas, slap on some of that red salsa and some cheese and sour cream. To finish it off we had a plátano frito with lechera. Honestly, everything was to die for. Will definitely be back for more. We were left with a craving for their specialty, their huarache.