I recently reviewed a new restaurant in Oxnard called Los Guerreros Restaurant and Cafe, located at 111 S. Rose Ave. They’ve been open since January 2026, and the second I walked in, I got a real “at-home” feeling. It’s a quiet, relaxing spot that reminds me of a classic mom-and-pop shop the kind of place where you can actually eat in peace.
The first thing that stood out to me was the value. In today’s world, finding a street hot dog for $5 is wild! We ordered the Inka Burger, Birria Tacos, and Mayan Fries, along with a Horchata and Agua de Fresa. My best advice? Go in with a huge appetite. The portions are massive and will definitely fill you up. Everything from the food to the drinks was delicious, and you really can’t beat those prices.
Owner Q&A: Alvaro Ortiz
I had the chance to sit down with the owner, Alvaro Ortiz, to talk about his vision for the restaurant/cafe.
What inspired you to open a Mexican restaurant?
“The knowledge I have of Mexican food. I know I can make the best food to serve my customers.”
Which of your salsas is the best?
“They are all great tasting!”
Do you want to expand your business one day?
“Yes, I’d love to move into a bigger restaurant.”
What is the biggest hardship you’ve faced since opening?
“Bringing in new customers and handling the marketing side of the business.”
Overall this restaurant was delicious and you must try it at least once.
Hiking has always been something that I really enjoy, and I’m lucky enough to live in a city that has so many beautiful trails close by. Whether you’re in the mood for a lite, easy hike or an all day adventure Ventura County has so many options to choose from. Ventura County has some of the most unique and beautiful hiking trails, and I’d like to share with you some of my personal favorite trails ranging from easy, moderate, and difficult.
Starting off with some easy trails, I would recommend the Ventura Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens has a pretty short, out and back trail with easy inclines located in the hills right above Downtown Ventura. Throughout the hike there are tons of unique plants and flowers to admire along the way. As you continue hiking the view just keeps getting better and eventually you get a stunning overlook of the whole city. Now, you can either be a member at the Botanical Gardens to have daily access or pay a small entry fee, but it is free to hike here on Fridays and the upper portion of the trail is always free to hike on.
Ventura Botanical GardensRose Valley Falls
Another easy going trail that I love to spend time at is Rose Valley Falls in Ojai. This trail is a short out and back trail with very little inclines. At the end of this easy trail is a beautiful waterfall. This is the perfect hike to do if you don’t feel like going on a long strenuous hike but still want the reward of a gorgeous view. If you’re wanting a nice, peaceful day in nature then I would definitely recommend going to Rose Valley Falls.
Moving on to some moderate level trails, I would like to mention the trails at Arroyo Verde Park. This is a loop style hike that’s a little longer than the trails I previously mentioned. I would say this is a moderate level hike because there is quite a bit of gradual uphill involved. In my opinion, this hike is definitely worth it because the trails are surrounded by wildflowers and the view gives you a unique perspective of Ventura.
I would also like to mention the Ventura Hills Nature Preserve trails that recently opened up earlier this year. These trails are on a more moderate level, as they are a bit lengthy and have some areas that are pretty steep. I really enjoyed checking out these new trails mainly because of the unique perspectives throughout the hike. The ocean view is obviously stunning in itself but I also found it pretty cool that about halfway through the hike you end up behind the hill giving you a really cool view you don’t normally see. So overall this hike gives you stunning views and great exercise.
Ventura Hills Nature Preserve
And finally, if you’re looking for a full day adventure I’d recommend hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains. All of the trails in the Santa Monica Mountains are unique and memorable in their own ways, however, I’d like to put some spotlight on the trails that take you to Boney Peak. This hike is pretty difficult and strenuous yet it’s one of my favorites. A couple years back my mom, brother, and I did this hike and it was very memorable. I recently revisited the memories we had on this hike with my mom and got some of her opinions and asked her about her favorite parts. In this conversation she says, “I’ll never forget how diverse the terrain was throughout the whole hike.”, “I loved how almost every turn you make transports you to a different place.” And I couldn’t agree more, this was one of my favorite parts of this hike as well. The frequent change of scenery definitely motivated me to keep going. Although this was a very strenuous hike, the scenery and the view from one of the highest points in the mountain range made it all worth it.
Boney Mountain Trail, Santa Monica Mountains
Overall you can’t go wrong when picking a trail to hike in Ventura County. There are so many other really cool hiking options here as well that I wasn’t able to mention in this article. If you are interested in other trails in the area (or anywhere really) I would highly recommend getting the Alltrails app. This app is super helpful when looking for new trails and finding up to date reviews on them as well.
Who doesn’t love authentic Mexican cuisine? At La Flor de Michoacán in Ojai, authenticity is what has enabled their longevity and loyal customers for 25 years strong.
Upon arrival, you are greeted by the embrace of an inviting and powerful representation of culture. The artwork, the menu, even the advertisements – they stay true to the essence of Michoacán where much of the inspiration of the store is drawn from.
The store is proudly owned by the Local Lopez family, at the head of which are Martín and Ernestina Lopez. It is a one stop shop – a combination of both a restaurant and corner store. I had a great opportunity to interview Oscar and Ulises Lopez to discuss how La Flor’s journey has unraveled during its 25 year run.
“I think it all started with my dad’s first experience working at a similar store in Carpinteria” said Oscar Lopez, the son and long time employee of La Flor. “He learned from that experience and was able to translate what he learned to his own restaurant.”
Martín has collaborated with his elder son Ulises Lopez to create a menu that keeps customers happy day in and day out. Everything is made in house, including the fan favorite habanero salsa.
In a town where there seems to be an everlasting revolving door of restaurants and shops, staying relevant is a challenge, but not one they haven’t been ready to take on. “One of the biggest things is adapting to what people want so we can provide something for everybody… That’s one thing my dad has taught me…”
When asked about what it means to one day carry the legacy of the family store Oscar said: “To me, it’s like a golden goose being handed down, it means a lot. It means freedom. And I want to build upon it and maintain it… It’s a blessing.”
The passion held for the store and the family values they upkeep are unmatched and undoubtedly felt through the delicious, authentic cuisine made in their kitchen. The genuine want to connect with customers is seen through the many community events such as fundraisers for those in need, the raffle like the one held during this celebration of 25 years, and the constant updates to store inventory.
La Flor has been my favorite Mexican restaurant in the entirety of Ventura County, and it was a blessing to be able to celebrate the longevity they have created, and the history made. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 25 years brings!
The celebration and raffle will be going on until the end of April. You can locate La Flor De Michoacán at 702 W El Roblar Drive in Ojai California – Open Every day of the week. Follow them on Instagram!
Leslee Ramirez said, “Whenever I want to shop for trendy, high-quality items, I visit B Max Clothing.”
Have you ever found yourself spending an entire day visiting countless clothing stores in search of a pair of shoes for that dress? Or a skirt for that birthday party you were invited to next weekend? You’re probably a shopping lover (like me), but these kinds of situations can definitely be frustrating when it seems like we’ve searched the entire city and there’s not a single place that has anything worthy of our attention.
With rising prices and constantly changing fashion trends, it’s become increasingly difficult to find a place that offers clothing, accessories, and shoes worth buying at affordable prices. People today only shop online to save time, but I think it’s important to support local businesses. Besides, when it comes to buying clothes or shoes, there’s nothing better than trying them on and checking the quality in-person before you make a purchase.
I have visited numerous clothing stores throughout my life, and I can say that I always go back to those that caught my attention the first time I saw their window displays. But there is one in particular that I cannot resist visiting.
B Max Clothing is a boutique located in Fillmore, California. They have a wide range of items, including shoes, accessories, and clothing. The business targets women—from teenagers to adults—and all these beautiful ladies will undoubtedly find themselves walking out of this store with a new purchase.
A fantastic store is always up to date with the latest fashion trends. However, you may find different items or clothing colors depending on the season. For example, in fall, you might find high boots or a brown sweater, and in spring-summer, you might find a wide variety of open-toe shoes or sleeveless tops.
The in-store atmosphere has a California vibe. When you walk into the store, there is good music playing, from English pop to Spanish ballads. They also have a weekly arrivals section and a plus-sizes section. One of my favorite sections is the accessories section. Seriously, I could spend hours looking at the necklaces and earrings.
Accessories section
The customer service is excellent, whether you interact with a staff member or the store owner. I mention this because I have experienced it firsthand. Let me tell you about a time when I was looking for a pair of shoes to wear with a dress I had previously purchased. At the time, I wasn’t sure what color or style I was looking for, so I picked up the first pair that caught my eye. The owner was there, and I remember our interaction very well. She gave me her opinion on the right size for me and which ones would go best with my dress. To be honest, I think there’s nothing like feeling welcomed when you arrive at a shop; it definitely makes you want to come back.
You can find the store as @bmaxclothing on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok. I recommend checking out their Instagram (their most active social media platform) and watching the content they have posted. You can also visit their website B Max Clothing. Do not hesitate to stop by B Max Clothing the next time you want to go shopping.
There is something special at Ventura College most may not know about. There is a learning opportunity for children between the ages of 2-5. The Orfalea Child development center is at the far west end of campus at Telegraph and West Campus Way. The emphasis of the center on STEM education has earned them the Golden Gear award in 2019.” The center is one of the top programs in the county”, states Deanna Hall a professor and co-chair of the center. She has been in education for 35 years. Students enrolled in the Early Education program earn their associate’s degrees while not only observing but actual hands-on experience working with the children at the center.
The classes are small with a 1 to 10 ratio and the classrooms for the children aged 3,4 and 5 will never go over 20. The 2-year-old class has one teacher for every 6 children. The advanced students will serve as teachers’ aide alongside permanent highly qualified teachers employed by Ventura College. The school’s outside learning lab has a garden where children can not only plant and grow their own vegetables but fulfill their desire to play at the mud table. The center has a “jungle” of trees that provide opportunities to look for lady bugs in the grass and be young explorers. The outdoor area also has a constructed river with rocks and logs to play on. The sensory adventure continues with what else but a pirate ship to play on.
The center has scholarships available for qualified students; more information can be found by visiting the center or emailing vcchilddev@vcccd.edu. The quality care is comparable to most child learning centers. The center is family focused as it encourages parents to participate in volunteering and hosts STEM Day events twice a year. The center has built the curriculum to ignite the children’s imagination and lay the foundation that will begin their educational journey. For more information on how you can take advantage of this program visit https://www.venturacollege.edu/departments/student-services/child-development-center
Hello everyone, long time no see! The last post I made on here consisted of a playlist that contained songs from exclusively Ventura County artists. Well, today I’m back with one of those artists, Young Lord, a rising rapper out of Oxnard.
I took the time to sit down with Young Lord at his studio to get a little insight on what’s next for this career and what he’s planning for the year 2024. And of course I got a tour of the studio!
He was extremely welcoming and felt like a friendly face which made asking questions a little easier on me. “So how are things with your music lately, anything we should keep an eye out for?” I asked the 25-year-old rapper.
“Oh you know, things are good, I’m working on a lot of new stuff that I can’t wait to release hopefully as soon as possible, and start getting to work on some of ideas I have for the future” he replied.
“Sounds like you have the near future planned out, but what’s happening right now in the life of Young Lord, any recent releases we should add to our current music rotations?, I asked.
“Yeah, I actually have a couple of recent releases that should be on everyone’s radar,” he laughed, “No, but seriously I did just drop a few tracks on all streaming platforms called BACK2BACK and Dior Cologne Freestyle, and I even dropped music videos to both songs on Youtube.”
“Oh, I’ll be to link both songs so that all our readers and viewers can watch and listen, so now that those songs are out, what’s next in terms of marketing what’s already released?” I asked Young Lord.
After listening to both songs and watching both music videos, I’ve decided not to link them in this article because they weren’t so family friendly, but I still think everyone who’s interested in checking them out should absolutely do so! I still really like both songs. Both songs feature Young Lords unique melodies and catchy word play with equally as enticing visuals to match.
“Well, that’s what I’m trying to figure out right now, I do what I can on social media you know like Instagram and TikTok, and my label helps me out with the advertisements, but I want it all to be very organic and not too try hard, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah I definitely understand where you’re coming from, it can be hard to want to push your art onto people, but how else will they know if you aren’t constantly telling them?”
We exchanged a back and forth of what’s to come for the Oxnard local rapper, but we’ll save that for another time, he wanted everything to come out when he was ready to put it out, and as an artist I respect that.
After some conversation he took me around the studio to see where he does most of his work, and of course I took pictures.
It’s such a cool and creative space, so much art surrounding you while you create art, I told the young rapper. The space felt inspiring and motivating, Hopefully I’ll be back here soon with more updates on the rising star out of Ventura County, Young Lord.
Be sure to follow him on Instagram @RealYoungLord
Follow me on Instagram @MorenoAlyssa_
And follow the VC Social on Instagram @VCSocialBrand
Ramon and I took an adventure down to a Saticoy, to see a historical landmark of theirs that is B&J’s Drive In. This drive-in has been in Saticoy forever, but it didn’t earn its name until about 60 years ago. The Jenkins family were the long time owners but it is now owned by Alfredo M. We got to sit down and have an in-depth interview with him that you can watch above ^ He talks about how he came to own B&J’s, restaurant struggles, what he hopes for their future and more! Here’s the food we tried during our visit!
Corn Burritos
Rating —-> Ramon: 7 Valerie: 7.5
These burritos are county famous, they are definitely something that helped put B&J’s on the map! They are a crispy, salty, cheesy treat. The bean filling adds a level of protein that helps make you full off of these alone!
Old Fashioned Combo
Rating —> Ramon: 9.9 Valerie: 9.9
This one was definitely both of our favorites. This burger was packed to the nines with 2 patties, an onion ring, bacon and other traditional burger toppings. Even though it sounds like a lot, it melded together beautifully. Everything complimented each other, it’s definitely big enough that you can share between 2 people!
Lemon Pepper Wings
Rating —> Ramon: 8 Valerie: 7.5
The wings were crispy and tangy from the lemon pepper sauce. Such a chill food to share among with friends. Would’ve loved to have more of a peppery kick to them, more on the mild side.
Chili Cheese Fries
Rating —> Ramon: 8.5 Valerie: 9
These chili cheese fries were very honestly the bomb.com. They are super cheesy, crispy and savory! The crinkle fries have nice ridges to hold the chili so you can get everything in one bite. Everyone I know that knows B&J’s always recommends!
B&J’s is a welcoming family friendly environment! They have annual toy drives and cruise and chill days. They make the Saticoy community proud and continue to carry on the legacy that is B&J’s. Such a variety of food and very affordable. Such an amazing experience! Thank You Alfredo for giving us your time and resources, we wish you the very best of luck!
Carnitas El Rey entrance, 2437 E. Main St, Ventura, CAMichoacan styled murals adorn the restaurant walls.
Along the Way
Currently Carnitas El Rey has three locations in Oxnard, Santa Paula and now Ventura. All three El Rey restaurants and it’s Owners: Juan and Gricelda Zavala, have an impressive reputation for their authentic real deal Michoacan style carnitas.
Pinto beans, rice, homemade tortilla, carnitas, Agua de Tamarindo.
The Food
Nancy and I went to Carnitas El Rey to check it out. What we found was a beautifully decorated atmosphere and authentic Michoacan carnitas that were tender, full f flavor, and all around fabulous. A couple tips from fellow VC Social blogger Nick Lerma, get there early because they are SO GOOD that they could run out, and make sure to try the rice.
We made sure to do both and were not disappointed. Nancy and I each ordered the taco plate which came with beans and rice. Nancy had an agua de tamarindo and I had a sangria senorial soda to drink. I tried the green salsa, it was flavorful. While it didn’t make me sweat, it was just enough to dew my forehead. Everything was fresh, delicious, everything was clean, and everyone was warm and friendly.
Taco plate. Pinto beans, rice, homemade tortillas, carnitas, chopped onions and cilantro, green salsa.
If you’re looking for a new gem to check out in Ventura, we definitely recommend Carnitas El Rey! Check out their opening day post on Instagram on your way there.
On February 23, 2024, the Ventura Music Hall hosted a musical phenomenon, The Frights. They’re a band that seamlessly blends some elements of surf rock, punk, and alternative sound. In combination this creates a feeling that is both nostalgic and refreshing in a modern way. What sets The Frights apart from other bands is not just the way they strum their guitars, but their commitment to staying authentic since the very beginning. In today’s day and age artists find popularity by using auto tune. The Frights on the other hand embrace the imperfection of their raw and unfiltered voices. This approach to sound is a great reminder that music is really just another art medium.
A very intriguing aspect of The Fright’s music journey is how they are able to achieve an inherently timeless sound that has found its way into the ears of the new generations through social media platforms. Most notably TikTok has become an unexpected ally in introducing the band’s surf rock sound to a wider audience. Songs like “You Are Going to Hate This” and “Tungs” have become one of their most popular performances and a great contributor to the new exposure was from rising social media platforms like TikTok.
The band released their first EP “Dead Beach” and their first ever studio album “The Frights” in 2013 and have become a household staple in the surf rock community. Although the band has seen some changes throughout the years, they still manage to maintain their raw unfiltered sound. The lead vocalist Mikey Carnevale has been with the band since the very beginning and is joined by Richard Dotson, Marc Finn, Jordan Clark, and Elias Avila. For those who are not very familiar with The Frights, here are their Top 5 most streamed songs, and for good reason.
5. Kids
4. Crust Bucket
3. Tongues
2. You Are Going to Hate This
1. Tungs
Missed the show? Have your own!
Live At The Observatory is a great album to listen to if you want to experience or relive the feeling of hearing The Frights live.
A new small and local business that just recently opened in the Market Place in Oxnard, CA is waiting for business to take off!!
Do not let the name mislead you. Surfko is a general clothing store that sells primarily women and men’s clothing. They also sell children’s clothing. Surfko is a store for all beautiful ages. This store recently launched men’s shorts for the beach. These shorts are two in one. Not only are they every day walking shorts, but they are also board shorts. Wait until you hear how affordable these one of a kind shorts are. For only $10, you get stylish every day lounge wear and waterproof swim trunks!
Gray Surfko shorts: $10Green Surfko shorts: $10
The prices at this store are out of this world. Not only are the prices cheap, but everything in the store ranges from $2-$10. There is nothing in the store that costs more than $10! These prices are like no other 💸.
History 📜
Surfko’s very first location started back in 2012 at the Camarillo Outlets. The store was located by the well known UGG store and the food court. The company first started off as a surf company that manufactured T-shirts and sweatshirts. As business was growing, Surfko was able to expand to a more general clothing selection. Thanks to being at the Camarillo Outlets for 12 years, they are now able to have a wide variety of affordable clothing. Some clothing products that Surfko sells in store includes:
Hawaiian shirts
Jackets
Denim Jeans
Joggers
Fleece pants
Sweatshirts
Hoodies
T-shirts
Pajamas
Tank tops
Leggings
Skirts
Shorts
Dresses
Unfortunately, due to recent inflation and rent prices sky rocketing the owner decided not to pay the expensive rent prices at the Outlets. This is the reason they are at a new location in Oxnard, CA. They need all the support they can get right now!
🗣️Surfko’s Motto 🗣️
At Surfko they believe it is important to have good quality, fabrics, and great designs. Plus, the best deals on clothing items, so that we as customers can save money.
💵Forms of Payment 💳
Surfko accepts many forms of payments via:
American Express
Apple Pay
Visa
Venmo
Google pay
PayPal
Mastercard
Shop
Meta Pay
Cash
Don’t forget to check out surfko whenever you are in oxnard, ca… guaranteed you will find something you like + it is affordable 🎉!
Feel free to follow Surfko’s social media to help their business grow 🙂
VC Social 