Yard House

Tucked away in the Northridge Fashion Center, Yard House is one restaurant that doesn’t disappoint during happy hour.

Eighteen delicious appetizers are half-off, and the list is directly from the full menu. The generous proportions are big enough to share. It’s a challenge to make a decisions for an appetizer, because there’s so many different choices.

Try the $6 blue crab cakes with fresh papaya and mango. Good menu choices are the $7 blackened ahi sashimi or the chicken lettuce wraps with pine nuts and green onions. The sashimi was thinly sliced with a soy vinaigrette and pickled ginger. The rare seared ahi tasted mouthwatering.

An even better choice was the lobster, crab and artichoke dip. The dip included baked pita chips that had plenty to share.

You can’t go wrong with four beef sliders with fries for $7.75, a discounted price from the original $10.45. These were mouthwatering. Once again, the prices make it worth it to try something new, such as the $5 Americanized moo shu egg rolls, with apple ginger plum sauce.

Yard House lives up to its “World’s Largest Selection” expression. With 148 taps of imported, specialty crafted lagers and ales, there’s always something new to try. The beer menu includes everything from Coors Light, to Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale. Having too many beer options is better than having too few. The prices make it worth the effort to explore an unfamiliar taste. A pint of domestic beer is $3.50, and a pint of craft or imported beer is only $1 more. Not your style? Try a chilled house martini.

Loud classic rock music fills the lively restaurant. The only downside – be prepared to read the captions if you plan to watch a sports game on the flat screens.

Place: Yard House

9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA 91324

Hours: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday; 10 p.m. – close, Sunday – Wednesday

Deals: Discounted beers, $2 off wine by the glass, well drinks $4.25-$4.75, and house martinis $6. Half-priced selected appetizers and half-priced pizzas.

Taps Valley Gastropub

The first thing to know about Taps Valley Gastropub: Los Angeles Kings and Dodgers fans are more than welcome to grab a drink and cheer for their hometown. Taps proudly displays a LA Kings and a Dodgers jersey on the wall. This Northridge establishment has six flat screen televisions inside. There’s no bad seat in the house.

What’s not to like about chalkboard menus, tap brews and a good valley gastropub?

Plus, there’s a 10 percent discount if customers pay with cash.

The happy hour beer and wine list isn’t the largest in town. Also, only drinks are discounted. Four selected pints are $4, and all bottled beers are $1 off. Four dollar red and white sangria is a choice for non-malted grain lovers. Look for the yellow smiley faces on the chalkboard menu for happy hour deals.

Taps doesn’t have a full bar, and don’t walk in with a hungry appetite during happy hour, unless you’re willing to pay full price. It’s always better to go to a happy hour restaurant that has both discounted food and drinks. Taps doesn’t offer food during happy hour, which is unfortunate.

However, if you are starving, the full menu has upscale bar food. Try the Standard Burger with blue cheese, spring greens and caramelized onions. It’s full price is $11, but worth a try. It was juicy and cooked to perfection.

Taps is located in a small strip mall next to Smart & Final and LA Fitness. Don’t be fooled by the bland outside exterior. The purple walls and black tables give the inside a vibrant atmosphere.

If you’re looking for a laid back spot with a friendly neighborhood vibe, Taps happy hour is the place to be.

Place: Taps Valley Gastropub

18673 Devonshire St., Northridge, CA 91324

Hours: Open – Close on Sunday; 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Deals: $1 off all bottled beer; $4 sangria and $4 selected beers on tap.

Bonefish Grill

Seafood lovers should definitely add Bonefish Grill to their favorite list of happy hour restaurants in the San Fernando Valley. Customers can expect high-quality food at affordable prices.

This is not a typical seafood joint. The establishment has dark wood and white table cloths. While the adept servers wear modified chef’s garbs. Urban-inspired revolving doors welcome customers, and dim lights give an intimate vibe. Bonefish is more along the lines of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, than TGI Friday’s or Red Robin.

Bonefish Grill combines a varied happy hour menu, with a casual and tasteful atmosphere. Also, the service is wonderful for a chain restaurant. Bonefish has happy hour everyday, however, small dishes are not discounted on Friday and Saturday.

We started with ahi tuna tartare tacos, and an order of chipotle shrimp sliders. The two tacos are priced at $8 and served in a crisp wonton shell. A good choice. The sliders are $9, and are served in a bamboo steamer with spiced BBQ sauce. Another good choice.

An even better choice was the oyster shooter glass. The shooter is $5, and was layered with salsa verde, cocktail sauce and habanero vodka. It was meaty, and the flavor was fresh.

Bonefish offers regional beers, wines and handcraft cocktails. The bar offers options from $3.25 house wine, to $1 off draft beer and a $7.50 signature version of the Moscow mule.

Don’t feel like seafood? Bonefish covers all tastes. Try the $9 BBQ pork sliders, or caramelized lamb chops. The $6 golden mac and cheese bites with chili sauce was a table favorite. The sauce tasted perfect with the crispy outside texture and warm soft inside. Flavor is one reason to go back to Bonefish.

Finish things off with three warm croissant-like doughnuts, tossed in cinnamon sugar. Don’t forget to add the warm chocolate sauce and sea salt caramel.

Place: Bonefish Grill

Northridge Fashion Center, 9301 Tampa Avenue #218, Northridge, CA 91324

Hours: 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday and Sunday; 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Friday – Saturday (drinks only).

Deals: Small plates starting at $5 – $13, discounted handcrafted cocktails, $ 3.25 house wine, $1 off draft beer and $3.25 for well drinks.