What shapes the investment
- Custom, covered or pre-fabricated
- Size, counter length and appliance count
- Materials and finishes
- How far the gas, water, drain and electrical have to run
- The cover, patio and lighting around it
Outdoor Kitchens in Encino
Outdoor Kitchen Design and Build in Encino
Outdoor kitchens for Encino homes, from a covered kitchen off the family room to a full cooking and dining pavilion on a third-acre lot. We plan the shade first, because an Encino afternoon decides whether the kitchen gets used, then design it around how you cook and host, run the gas, water and electrical, pull the permits and build it with our own crews.
- 25+years of experience
- 10,000+projects completed
- In-housedesign-build crews
- LIC #715731licensed & insured
- 5-star
Start here
What you're looking for
Start with how you cook and how you host, then decide how the kitchen handles the heat. These are the four kitchens Encino homeowners ask for most, shown in our work across Greater Los Angeles.
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01 A full kitchen outdoors Grill, sink, refrigeration and drawers in one run, so a whole meal gets cooked without going back inside. See outdoor kitchens -
02 Cooking under the patio cover A solid cover over the kitchen and the table, with fans, so dinner outside works in July, not just in April. See complete backyards -
03 Bar seating at the counter A raised counter with stools, so guests sit with the cook instead of waiting at the table. See entertaining kitchens -
04 Fire for after dark A fire pit a few steps from the kitchen, for the hour after the heat breaks. See fire features
Service options
Custom-Built Outdoor Kitchen
Best for Anyone who wants the exact layout, appliances and finish they have in mind.
- Any size, shape and configuration
- Choose all appliances and finishes
- Integrates with the patio, the pool and the planting
- Built to last in stone, stucco or concrete
- Full design customization
On your property Built in place on a concrete base. On a large Encino lot we place it to anchor its own outdoor room, with light counters that stay cool in the sun and the gas, water and electrical run and permitted with it.
- Patio covers
- Pergolas
- Bar seating
- Entertaining lighting
Covered Kitchen and Dining
Best for Anyone who wants to cook and eat outside through an Encino summer.
- A solid roof that keeps the cook and the table in shade
- Room for ceiling fans, misters and lighting
- Kitchen, dining and lounge in one outdoor room
- Gas and wiring run inside the structure
- Reads as part of the house rather than an add-on
On your property A covered structure is permitted in its own right, with setbacks, height and engineering to meet. We orient it against the late western sun, and keep its footings outside the root zone of any protected oak.
- Pools and spas
- Outdoor lighting
- Fire features
Pre-Fab Kitchen Island
Best for Homeowners on a tighter budget or timeline who want a quality kitchen quickly.
- Faster installation than custom
- Fixed sizes from manufacturers
- Most economical option
- Includes grill and basic prep space
- Can add storage, freezer or cooler
On your property Arrives as modular units and is installed on a prepared patio or concrete base, ideally under existing shade. The gas, water and electrical still have to be run and permitted.
- Simple patios
- Existing patio covers
- Modest entertaining spaces
How we work
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Before Assess how you cook and host
How often you cook, what you cook and how many people you feed decide the size, the appliances and how much roof the kitchen needs.
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Design Design and appliance selection
Layout, grill, refrigeration, storage and finishes, drawn with the shade, the dining and the pool around them and shown in 3D.
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Utilities Utilities and permits
Gas, water, drain and electrical runs are planned, and the City of Los Angeles permits pulled, before any cabinet is set.
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Installation Installation
Our crews build the base and the island, install and test the appliances and finish the counters. Pre-fab islands arrive mostly ready.
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Finished Integration and finishing
Paving, seating, shade, lighting and planting finish the outdoor room around the kitchen.
Key decisions
Things worth knowing before a first consultation.
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Custom, covered or pre-fab
A custom island fits the space exactly, a covered kitchen adds a room you can use all summer, and a pre-fab island saves time and money in fixed sizes.
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Shade first
Encino afternoons regularly pass a hundred degrees. The cook needs a roof or a pergola, oriented against the western sun, or the kitchen sits unused until fall.
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Where it sits on a large lot
Close enough to the house to carry food out, and placed as its own room with the dining, so a big yard reads as composed rather than empty.
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Protected trees
Oaks, sycamores and black walnuts are protected in the City of Los Angeles. The kitchen, its footings and the utility trenches go outside the root zone, and a mature canopy can be the shade it needs.
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Gas, water and electrical
Gas and electrical runs and a sink drain are what trigger permits, and in Encino those go through City of Los Angeles Building and Safety. Planned early, the lines run under the paving instead of across it.
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Materials that stay cool
Light counters and paving stay comfortable in the sun; dark stone gets too hot to touch on an August afternoon.
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Integration with the yard
The kitchen anchors an outdoor room. The pool, dining, lounge, lighting and planting complete it.
Investment and timeline
No quote written off a photograph can account for what your property is like.
What shapes the schedule
- Design and appliance selection
- City of Los Angeles permits and utility coordination
- Appliance and cabinet lead times
- Installation and system testing
- Surrounding hardscape and planting
Why luxury lagoon was drawn together with the rest of the property
Decking, drainage, utilities, planting, shade and lighting all bear on where a feature goes and how it gets built. Settling them on one set of drawings is what keeps conduit out of the wrong trench and stops paving being cut to fit afterward.
- Placement The kitchen sits on the terrace between the house and the pool, a short carry from the back door.
- Water feature A rock waterfall built into the slope spills into the pool beside the kitchen.
- Terrace One paver terrace connects the kitchen, the seating and the pool deck.
- Planting Low planting along the fence and the slope frames the kitchen without crowding it.
- Utilities Gas, water and electrical were drawn on the plan with the pool equipment, so the lines run under the paving.
Access, engineering, permits, finishes and scope vary a lot from one property to the next, so the investment and the schedule for your project are set once we have seen the site and the design is settled.
Tell us about the property and what you want the space to do. We will walk through the design, site and permitting factors likely to shape it.
What customers say
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After redoing the backyard, Pacific Outdoor Living also handled the driveway, walkway, and outdoor kitchen, creating a home made for hosting. Each project coordinated seamlessly with the others, and the vision came together beautifully. We now have an outdoor space perfect for entertaining and family gatherings.
Lily Chavis Google review Backyard, driveway and outdoor kitchen -
The new backyard living area turned out beautifully, with responsive people throughout and the project completed within the expected time and budget. Their responsiveness and professionalism made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We were impressed by their commitment to staying on schedule and respecting our budget.
Sam Strom Google review New backyard living area -
The pool, spa, and patio renovation turned out beautifully, and the custom waterslide became a favorite feature for the family. Our kids absolutely love it, and it's become the gathering spot for our entire neighborhood. The quality of the work and attention to creating a family-friendly space was exceptional.
Monty Richards Google review Pool, spa, patio and a custom waterslide
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Encino?
Usually, if the kitchen has gas, electrical or plumbing. The gas line, new circuits and a sink drain are what typically trigger permits, and a covered structure needs its own. Encino is in the City of Los Angeles, so they go through Building and Safety, and we handle them in house.
How do you keep an outdoor kitchen usable in Encino heat?
Shade over the cook and the table, oriented against the late western sun, light counters and paving that stay cool, and fans or misters under the roof. With those in place, the kitchen gets used through the summer instead of only in spring and fall.
Can the kitchen go near our oak tree?
Often, with care. We keep the island, its footings and the utility trenches outside the root zone of a protected tree, and a mature canopy can give the kitchen the shade it needs. Work that encroaches needs city review, which we plan for.
What appliances should we include?
Start with how you cook. A grill and enough prep space are essential; refrigeration, a sink, side burners, a pizza oven and a warming drawer are the most popular additions. Refrigeration earns its place in the heat.
Should the kitchen be covered?
In Encino, almost always. A pergola filters the sun; a solid cover keeps the cook and the appliances in full shade and makes room for fans and lighting. A covered structure has setbacks and height limits to meet, so we plan it with the permits.
What does an outdoor kitchen cost in Encino?
It depends on size, counter length, appliances, materials, how far the gas, water and electrical have to run, and whether it is covered. On a large lot, the length of the utility runs can matter as much as the kitchen itself. Your designer prices it from a measured plan.
Can you build the kitchen as part of a larger remodel?
Yes, and it is often the best value. Running the gas, water and electrical while the pool and paving are going in costs less than opening finished work later.
Do you build outdoor kitchens across Encino?
Yes, on the flat lots north of Ventura Boulevard and the hillside estates south of it, and in Tarzana, Sherman Oaks and the rest of the San Fernando Valley. Use the address checker on our Encino page to confirm coverage for your property.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a consultation with one of our designers to discuss your project goals and explore what's possible on your property.
What happens next: we set up a visit, measure the property and talk through what you want the space to do. Then you get a design to look at before you commit to anything.