We got to the 661 Night Market at 7:30pm.

The first challenge wasn't finding food. It was finding somewhere to park.

Cars circled the lot in every direction with no real system, no parking marshal and no obvious flow. Eventually, after enough laps, we found a space and headed in.

First impressions were promising.

The place was buzzing. A live band had people spread across the grass, the atmosphere was lively, and the mix of food stalls, local vendors and families made it feel like exactly the sort of summer event Santa Clarita needs more of.

Then we got hungry.

That's when the night unraveled.

First stop: BBQ.

Sold out.

Next stop: pizza.

We queued...

Sold out.

Third stop: smash burgers.

We reached the front...

Sold out.

One last option had a queue stretching across the market. By that point we'd already struck out three times, and with no guarantee there'd be any food left by the time we reached the front, we called it a night.

Three sold-out vendors.

Four failed attempts.

Zero dinner.

So there won't be a Secret Sauce review of the Night Market this week, because it's hard to review food you never got to eat.

That's a shame, because the event itself has a lot going for it. The atmosphere was fantastic, the live music was genuinely excellent, and there was a real community feel throughout the evening.

The problem was simple: demand completely outpaced supply.

A few more food vendors, better crowd management and someone directing traffic in the parking lot would make a huge difference next time around.

With four failed food attempts behind us and two increasingly hungry reviewers, it was time for Plan B.

That plan was Okawa Sushi & Ramen.

It couldn't have been a bigger contrast.

The restaurant was quiet when we arrived, with just one other couple dining, although it filled steadily while we were there. Ordering happens through a touchscreen at the table, which somehow still feels futuristic, even though it probably shouldn't.

We ordered enough to make up for the dinner we'd never had.

Crispy Rice Tuna Roll.

Tonkotsu Black Garlic Ramen.

BBQ Short Rib Dinner.

Miso Soup.

Green Tea Mochi.

The Crispy Rice Tuna Roll was the standout. Crispy, fresh and packed with flavour, it disappeared quicker than anything else on the table.

The Tonkotsu Black Garlic Ramen wasn't far behind. Rich, deeply savoury broth carried the bowl from start to finish. It could have done with a little more pork, but the broth more than made up for it.

The BBQ Short Rib Dinner quietly did its job. Tender, well seasoned and served with white rice, tempura vegetables, a California roll and gyoza, everything was solid without trying to steal the spotlight.

Not everything landed.

The miso soup had an odd flavour that threw the whole bowl off, while the green tea mochi tasted more supermarket freezer than restaurant dessert.

But when the highlights are this good, they're enough to make you forget the weaker dishes.

Sometimes Plan A doesn't work out.

Fortunately, Plan B knew exactly what it was doing.

Best For: A relaxed dinner when you're craving sushi, ramen or both.

Order: Crispy Rice Tuna Roll and the Tonkotsu Black Garlic Ramen.

Skip: The miso soup and the green tea mochi.

Return Visit: Absolutely for the ramen and tuna roll alone.

Secret Sauce Score:

Las Delicias Classica Taqueria
26515 Golden Valley Rd, Santa Clarita.

Walk in and Las Delicias feels like it means business. Order-at-the-counter setup, TVs showing the game, a patio outside, and plenty of people grabbing lunch.

Then they hand you two bags and send you on your way.

No explanation.

Turns out the salsa lives at a self-serve station with three choices: jalapeño, avocado and spicy chili, plus pico de gallo. You're apparently just supposed to know. We didn't.

We grabbed all four anyway. Occupational hazard.

No disasters here. It stayed together from first bite to last, which is more than some contestants have managed. Functional rather than memorable.

The carne asada never really stepped forward. There was enough of it, but it lacked the tenderness and flavour you'd want to carry a burrito. It did the job without ever threatening to steal the show.

The evidence is right there in the photo.

Most of the rice had gathered in one corner instead of being worked through the burrito, meaning some bites were packed with rice while others barely saw it. Not enough to ruin lunch, but enough to keep reminding you it was there.

Four salsa options is generous.

Unfortunately, quantity beat quality. They all worked, but none left much of an impression once the meal was over.

The championship's second test delivered a surprise.

A few minutes in the air fryer crisped the tortilla nicely and brought everything together better than it had been on day one. Not many burritos improve overnight.

This one did.

Want to know how the Burrito Belt Championship is scored? Read our full scoring guide https://scvsecretsauce.com/p/the-burrito-belt-championship

Las Delicias commits the hardest crime in this championship.

Not being bad.

Just being forgettable.

Everything you'd expect was inside: carne asada, beans, cheese, rice and pico but nothing demanded your attention. The uneven rice probably cost this burrito a point because, without it, this felt capable of scraping into the sevens.

Instead, it settles comfortably into the middle of the table.

Safe.

Competent.

And unlikely to trouble the Burrito Belt leaders.

Heres the new Leaderboard:

Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ
24201 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita.

It was the Fourth of July.

The kitchen is still somewhere between building site and fully functional, so instead of attempting a family BBQ ourselves, we did what any sensible people would do and ordered one in.

The spread came courtesy of Lucille's.

Brisket. Baby back ribs. Chicken. Beans. Mashed potatoes. Cornbread. Biscuits. BBQ sauce. Enough food to keep everyone happily distracted for a while.

Before anyone was allowed near a paper plate, I handed photography duties to my partner in crime. She absolutely nailed the photos... until she realised she'd placed the takeaway box on the kitchen counter the wrong way around.

Naturally, AI came to the rescue.

So we're publishing both versions because moments like that are too good not to share.

Not bad right…..Anyway...

Everyone loaded up their paper plates and tucked in.

Here's the funny part.

Nobody at the table knew they were about to become Secret Sauce judges. In fact, most of them still have no idea who's behind SCV Secret Sauce.

Within a few bites, the comparisons had already started.

That's when the lightbulb went off.

Without telling anyone why, I quietly asked everyone to score each item out of ten.

Average Score: 6.6/10

The verdict?

The chicken was juicy. The BBQ sauce was a hit. The ribs held their own.

But brisket is the headline act at any smokehouse, and this one simply didn't deliver. It was tough, lacked the tenderness you'd expect, and ended up being the biggest disappointment on the table.

That gives Lucille's a Secret Sauce Score of 7/10 and makes them the first official contender in our newest competition.

Ten smokehouses.

One Pitmaster Cup.

One champion.

The contenders:

The Burrito Belt Championship now has a smoky little brother.

Let's see who's lifting the Pitmaster Cup.

Smoke Wars isn't replacing the Burrito Belt Championship, and we won't be tackling a smokehouse every week.

Instead, we'll be taking on the contenders throughout the year, one BBQ at a time, until all ten have been put through the Secret Sauce treatment.

When the smoke clears, one restaurant will be crowned Smoke Wars Champion and awarded the Pitmaster Cup.

And because eating all this BBQ is more fun when everyone gets involved, one lucky Secret Sauce subscriber will also win a family BBQ feast from the winning smokehouse.

The race for the Pitmaster Cup officially starts with Lucille's.

Nine contenders to go.

Openings, events, and things worth knowing.

Only in Southern California can you celebrate Christmas in triple-digit heat.

Old Town Newhall's monthly SENSES Block Party lands tonight (Thursday, July 16) from 7–10pm, with this month's theme: Christmas in July. Expect live music, local restaurants running the street bar, food trucks, festive decorations and plenty of people pretending 100°F is perfect sweater weather.

Summer Saturdays roll on.

This week's headliner is FABBA, an ABBA tribute taking over Central Park on Saturday, July 18. Food trucks arrive from 5pm, music starts at 7pm, and entry is completely free.

Not your thing? RagDolls, an Aerosmith tribute, follows on July 25, with the series continuing every Saturday through the end of August.

Looking ahead, City Cinemas brings free outdoor movies back on Friday, July 24 with Cars (G) at Central Park.

Food trucks arrive from 7pm, the movie begins around 8pm, and all you need is a blanket, a chair and a little optimism that the evening cools down before Lightning McQueen hits the screen.

Old Town Newhall is getting a new coffee shop.

San Fernando Coffee Co. is taking over the former Honu Coffee location, promising locally roasted coffee and the kind of relaxed neighbourhood atmosphere that feels right at home in Newhall.

We've already filed it under Future Sauce Express Stop.

Meanwhile, Valencia Town Center is preparing for a major addition. Round1 Bowling & Arcade is opening a 125,000-square-foot entertainment complex featuring bowling, billiards, karaoke and imported Japanese arcade games.

More importantly for us, anyway, it's also bringing YUU Japanese Food Hall.

We'll be keeping a very close eye on that one.

The Burrito Belt Championship rolls on with another contender stepping into the ring.

The Secret Sauce Review heads to an Italian restaurant.

On the calendar: a birthday bash at MB2 Entertainment — go-karts, laser tag and arcade games, all right here in SCV.

And one more thing...

The Slice House giveaway is now officially closed.

One lucky subscriber is about to have Secret Sauce delivered straight to their door. We'll be revealing the winner over the coming days, so keep an eye on your inbox. It could be you.

Know about a restaurant opening?

Found a hidden gem?

Heard about a local event or a food truck worth chasing across town?

Hit Reply and tell us.

The best recommendations usually come from readers.

We're listening.

See you next Thursday.