Heart’s Coffee Shop, a Valley comfort-food icon, serves up its final meals
The sign outside Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley is seen on the restaurant’s final day of business after nearly five decades. Yuk and Sue Wong opened Heart’s in 1979, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Order tickets collect on a spindle at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Co-owner Yuk Wong, who opened Heart’s with his wife, Sue, in 1979, worked the restaurant’s grill, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Longtime customer Brandy Sorney of Encino, who has been coming to Heart’s Coffee Shop for 25 years, presents co-owner Sue Wong with a potted plant on the restaurant’s final day of business. Wong and her husband, Yuk, opened Heart’s in 1979, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Jin Chen serves water to longtime customers David Aitchison and Angie Pagani at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Waiter Jesse Garcia carries five plates of food from the kitchen to customers at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Martin Vergara takes a selfie with his family at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. The Vergara family has been coming to Heart’s for 25 years, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Customers fill every seat at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Gordon Johnston of Van Nuys shakes hands with co-owner Sue Wong at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Wong and her husband, Yuk, opened Heart’s in 1979, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Waiter Jesse Garcia chats with customers at the counter at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
A long line forms in the parking lot outside Heart’s Coffee Shop as customers wait for a meal on the longtime San Fernando Valley restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Heart’s Coffee Shop is seen near Saticoy Street and Balboa Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley as customers dine inside on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Eric Miele plays with his 4-year-old son, Ander, at their table while waiting for breakfast at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Co-owner Yuk Wong works the kitchen grill at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Wong and his wife, Sue, opened Heart’s in 1979, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Jin Chen, left, hugs co-owner Sue Wong at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Wong and her husband, Yuk, opened Heart’s in 1979, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Jin Chen serves water to longtime customers David Aitchison and Angie Pagani at Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley on the longtime restaurant’s final day of business. Opened by Yuk and Sue Wong in 1979, Heart’s is closing after nearly five decades, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
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The sign outside Heart’s Coffee Shop in the San Fernando Valley is seen on the restaurant’s final day of business after nearly five decades. Yuk and Sue Wong opened Heart’s in 1979, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
A tradition came to a heartfelt but tasty close on Sunday.
Heart’s Coffee Shop, a long-lived Van Nuys diner that has served customers for five decades, served its final meals Sunday.
“There is so much love in this restaurant,” said Angelique Pagani, from Van Nuys, a customer since her childhood in the mid-1980s. “The food is outstanding.”
The restaurant, at 16918 Saticoy Street near Balboa Avenue, was scheduled to close at 2 p.m. Sunday following breakfast and lunch service.
“Now that the restaurant is closing down, what’s going to happen next?” added Pagani. “We want another great family restaurant again in the Valley. I hope that’s going to happen again on this property, but who’s to say what’s going to happen.” A developer has bought the property and hasn’t disclosed any future plans.
“We had a great run and created a great legacy in the San Fernando Valley that we’re very proud of. But I feel very very sad, my heart is broken,” said Susan Wong last week.
She’s the daughter of Yuk and Sue Wong, who opened Hearts in 1979 at 16918 Saticoy St. near the intersection of Balboa Avenue. Wong said the permanent closure was a result of rising food costs, inflation, labor shortages and the economy in general.
The Wongs interacted with customers on Sunday during the eatery’s bittersweet final day, as diners were eager for one last plate of pancakes or country fried steak.
Over the years, Heart’s became a neighborhood icon, famed for its heart-shaped sign, plush old-fashioned booths and its deep menu of yummy American comfort food.
