But once you go inside you are drawn in by all the Mexican inspired decorations. The restaurant is filled with artificial trees of apples and white flowers. The walls are dark blue and mustard yellow. Some walls have paintings of women cooking. They have wooden tables with red and blue chipped chairs. They have big, yellow suns hanging from the celling and against the walls.

The restaurant is cut into several rooms divided by black bars wrapped with vines. They have a patio outside as well. One room in particular differs from the rest because it has a big moon hanging from the wall. This room also has big, ceramic fruits against the wall from red strawberries, mangoes, and half-cut papayas.

For beverages they have the typical Coke Cola, Sprite, and Root Beer but if you are in the mood for something more refreshing and crisp then try their homemade sweet “Horchata” ($1.95) which is rice milk that is made out of scratch. They also serve beer, wine, and margaritas.

The restaurant carries burritos, tacos, tortas, and burritos. They have a variety of meat which includes shredded beef “machaca”, marinated pork “al pastor”, steak, lean fried pork “carnitas”, and chicken.

Their most popular plate is their “Platillo de Steak Picado” ($10.59) which is grilled, soft steak cut into pieces and tossed in with fresh cut tomatoes and later cooked in tomato sauce. The plate, like every other entrée in the restaurant, comes with fluffy rice mixed with peas and brown, refried beans. The beans are topped with melted mozzarella cheese and with three oily but crispy chips. You also get creamy guacamole that is mixed in with diced tomatoes and onions. Once you taste the guacamole you can taste a hint of lime and cilantro after.

Their tortas ($6.59) are tasty as well if you are looking to eat a big sandwich. It has your choice of meat, sliced tomatoes and spicy jalapenos, sour cream, diced onions, chunks of avocado, and melted cheese inside a feathery, soft, French bread that is spread with brown refried beans.

Their lists of desserts are good as well. They have homemade “flan” ($1.95) that melts into your mouth as soon you taste it. The flan is rich and sweet. Another great dessert is their “Jericalla” which is a creamy egg custard. The dessert is sweetened with scrumptious caramel you cannot possibly taste the egg. It is a delicious and very sweet way to end your meal.

If you are looking for a casual night out with the family then this is the place for you but come early because on the weekends it is impossible to find a seat with the kind of coordination they have. You have to pick your items from the menu on the wall and go to the cashier to order. They will give you a number and you have to pick up your food, if you order dessert or drinks then that will another separate line. The food is excellent but they should probably rethink their organization.

Las Fuentes 18415 Vanowen Street, Reseda (818-708-3344). Sun-Wed 8 am – 10pm. Thurs – Sat 8 am – 11 pm.

Pagoda Inn, specializing in Mandarin and Szechewan styles of Chinese cuisine, has been open since the mid 80s, and all that time run and operated by the Cheng family.

One might first overlook the unimposing Pagoda Inn next to the large Wholefoods Market and large Z Pizza chain, but on closer look a uniqueness stands out.

All the stores in the center have brick storefronts, with the exception of Pagoda Inn, who has a pine wood theme, which bleeds over into the restaurant itself.

Inside, the hustle and bustle of market-goers changes into a very calm and relaxing scene of the fancy, family dining.

The room is dimly lighted by hand painted paper lanterns on the roof and an assortment of house lights, as well as decorated by cherry wood dining chairs set around white cloth covered tables.

The clean, white walls are adorned with Asian landscape paintings and calligraphy drawings.

The restaurant also hold an old fashion bar, similar to one expected to be seen in the typical 50s American household.

Calm, romantic piano compositions play over the restaurant’s sound system.

Once you are settled, an attentive and helpful waiting staff comes to your service with your menus, ready to take drink orders.

The menu holds a variety of meal options, differentiated by lunch to dinner sections, as well as sections devoted to specific ingredients such as seafood, pork, beef, poultry, vegetables, and an extensive healthy selections section.

Opening at 11:30am, service starts with lunch, but there is little disappointment to be had.

The lunch menu is served until 4pm and is a much better deal than you’d find at any imitation Asian cuisine restaurant of the likes of Panda Express.

Lunch varies from $5.95 to $8.95 and comes with your choice of Egg drop soup or hot and sour soup.

The first selection on the menu is quite possibly the most tasty: Kung Pao chicken($5.95).

The Kung Pao chicken is made with chewy, tender dark meat bits along with crunchy roasted peanuts, wonderful water chestnuts that explode with flavor, and small grilled red peppers that pack a major punch, all drizzled in a thick, tantalizing mandarin sauce.

On the side of the whopping pile of chicken you receive, there is a pile of perfectly prepared rice, not too sticky and not too dry, a slaw-like salad that has a wonderfully orangey sweet flavor to it that would make a lover of even the slaw intolerant, and an orange wedge to top it off.

The dinner menu is equally as yummy, but higher priced, from $9.95 to $26.95.

Try the chicken in curry sauce(10.95).

You’re instantly hit with a wave of the wonderful curry spices upon receiving this dish. The white chicken meat slices are scrumptiously tender, which plays off of the crunchy green pepper, grilled onion, carrot mix, all enveloped in a lovely dark yellow curry sauce.

I recommend putting your side of rice in the dish to give the sauce a bit more texture.

To top off your meal, have a dessert for $2 to $3.95.

I advise trying the lychee on the rocks.

This dish is chilled lynchee fruit on a bed of ice, which have the texture of olives, but a light sweet flowery flavor that brings melons to the mind.

Lastly, the meal is ended with a fortune cookie.

When you come to Pagoda Inn, make sure you bring an empty stomach, as you should expect some heavy portions.

Pagoda Inn:

Location: 19348 Rinaldi St

Northridge, CA 91326

Hours- Monday to Thursday,

Sunday 11:30am – 9:30p.m.

Friday to Saturday 11:30am – 10pm

Soft warm fresh made pizza bread rolls are placed in front of you at your table. The flavorful rolls have a dab of mozzarella cheese sprinkled with garlic salt in the middle.

The service is nice and friendly and the waitresses are attentive; constantly asking if there is anything more they can do.

The ambiance is homey, with sawdust on the floor, wooden tables, chairs and booths. The room contains many “climbing Jerusalem” plants hanging from the stucco ceiling that is covered with playing cards.

The walls are painted a forest green and are covered with wood paneling. There are pictures of food and old drive-in movie theaters, which are out lined in blinking pin lights.

The restaurant specializes in pizzas and gives customers family style food with large portions. There are private spacious booths and it has a casual family celebration type atmosphere.

The pepperoni pizza has thin crunchy crust and the cheese is oily. It has the New York style that Californian’s don’t usually have the option of tasting.

Their famous antipasto salad blends together perfectly, with the combination of crispy romaine lettuce, mozzarella and provolone cheese, Cotto salami, Mortadella, pepperoni, pepperoncinis, garbanzo beans, red onions, fresh tomatoes and just the light dab of red vinegar dressing that comes on the side.

The restaurant also offers a gluten-free selection of most of the menu options, which includes gluten-free pizzas, pastas, desserts, sandwiches, salads and drinks.

The Original Pizza Cookery was founded by Jordan Klempner in 1975 and was designed to seem like the inside of a home.

There is only one location 2 miles from Pierce College, which is located at Woodland Hills at 6209 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (818-887-4770).

1. USA Donuts & Croissants

USA, located on Topanga Cyn Rd, makes a fritter as perfect and traditional as can be. The outside is a scintillating golden brown that has a slight crunch to it. A light icing layer has been drizzled over the outside of the wonderful round pastry. The inside has a soft, almost doughy texture that envelops the small chunks of fresh apple and cinnamon. The shop has a traditional donut shop look to match the traditional food, with a long glass bar holding an assortment of pastries and donuts.

2. Jolly Donuts
Further down Topanga is Jolly Donut, full of neon, attention-catching signs. Drawn in by the scene, you step onto a deep red tile floor and see the bright colorful pictures adorning the walls. The apple fritters here have a very beautiful presentation, much shinier and brighter than their USA counterpart. Once you bite in, you feel a satisfying crunch of the well-cooked dish, and then taste a very sweet overtone not present in some fritters. Be careful, though; all card purchases have a 50 cent charge.

3. Dulcet Gourmet Donut

If you’re looking for a bit more of an apple flavor to you fritter, head down to Dulcet Gourmet on Vanowen. The fritters here have a tantalizing white glaze of icing, but this is seemingly only for show and texture, as the icing’s flavor is in no ways overpowering. Dulcet has a very classy look, with white walls and floor as well as a marble topped bar. If you’re also looking for a cold treat to go with your pastry, the shop has a full ice cream bar with numerous flavors.

4. France Doughnuts

Off of Sherman Way is France Doughnuts, a very eye appealing shop that also deals in selling lottery tickets. The store is all white aside from the red front counter that draws you into to place your order, which can take a while based on the number of people that frequent this small shop. France’s fritters are darker in color, but well glazed and shiny. They are often cooked well done and the later you go, the less apples you’ll be able to taste due to the slightly overpowering oil taste, so get your fritter fix early.

5. Starbucks’

Often times the commercial pastries leave more to be desired, but this is not the case. Starbucks’ apple fritters. This is not your average, traditional fritter. Unlike its somewhat flat and round partners, Starbucks’ fritters are thick and squarish. Also, Starbuck’s fritter has a noticeably lumpy appearance that breaks apart easy, good for sharing. This fritter is also has more of a cinnamon roll-ey texture to its dough, and has more of dough than apples. There is also very little icing and is the least sweet out of the five. So if you have a fritter craving and are looking for a more healthy alternative, head on down to your local Starbucks’.

Charburger (The Habit)

The charburger is the heart and soul of the Habit menu. Consisting of a charbroiled patty, toasted buns, fresh lettuce and tomato, grilled or raw onions, pickles and mayo; it is the classic American burger. Priced at $2.95, the charburger is worth every penny. Cheese is an additional $0.50, bacon is $0.75, and avocado is $1.00. Even on a $5 budget, one can dress their burger with an additional topping or two or upgrade to the double charburger priced at $3.95. The bacon cheeseburger at the Habit is just as good as any version that can be found at double the price. 22651 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364 (818)225-2231. 14622 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (818)386-0955. 17132 Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA 91316(818) 783-6162.

Double-Double (In-N-Out)

Two beef patties, two slices of cheese, two toasted buns, lettuce, tomato, grilled or raw onions, and spread (their specialty 1000 island-esque sauce). Unlike many fast food chains, In-N-Out produces a burger that doesn’t raise questions of content, authenticity, or edibility from the consumer upon encountering their meal. The family-owned chain is nearly exclusive to California, so college students around the country aren’t all necessarily blessed to have this restaurant down the street like Pierce College. The double-double is priced at $2.75, which means that the price of this burger and fries will still come out under $5. 19920 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364 1-800-786-1000. 6841 N Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, CA 91303 1-800-786-1000. 8830 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA 913241-800-786-1000.

Chili Cheeseburger (Tommy’s)

This item is simply listed simply as the “cheeseburger” on the Tommy’s menu, meaning you will actually have to ask to hold the chili if you don’t want it on their standard burger. However, this is not recommended because though it is not an artisan chili, it is very good for the price. At $2.25, Tommy’s chili cheeseburger is one of the cheaper and tastier chili cheeseburgers around. The price leaves room for a side of fries or even two chili cheeseburgers under $5. Being another chain that is basically exclusive to California, Pierce students get to enjoy another good, cheap burger that a student in Delaware or Nebraska may not ever get to experience. 7240 Topanga Cyn. Blvd., Canoga Park, CA 91303. (818)340-8775.

Fatburger (Fatburger)

The fatburger at Fatburger has all the classic makings of a burger. Accompanied by lettuce, tomato, pickle, mustard, mayo and diced onions, the thing that stands out about the burger is the actual hamburger patty. The succulent, perfectly grilled burger patty on a fatburger is what sets it apart from its run-of-the-mill burger brethren. Priced at $4.99, the fatburger is the most expensive burger on the list. However, it does compete with most burgers above it in price. 21911 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364. (818)702-0257

Pastrami Burger (Boulevard Burgers)

When the phrase “local burger joint” is brought up, Boulevard Burgers comes to mind. The pastrami burger is a combination of the restaurant’s specialties, and it is delicious. The burger patty is juicy and the pastrami is good enough to put on a deli sandwich, which is rather surprising at a burger place. The most exciting part about this burger is the fact that it still manages to reside under $5, at $4.69. The pastrami burger and bacon cheeseburger are both recommended, and both within $5 as well. 21718 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364. (818) 703-6005.

As soon as you hear your name you rush to the counter to get your first peek at the wondrous sub placed before you.  An amazingly giant classic roast beef sandwich sitting in a red basket with polka dot wrapping underneath.

The sandwich is dazzling from the over flow of Italian dressing glistening off the lettuce and onion.  The fresh bread swirls in your nostrils as you inhale the scent to find a hint of pickle juice and mustards.

As the first bite comes, the roast beef and Swiss cheese come through the juicyness of the Italian dressing and the crisp lettuce adds a crunch that complements the onion and mustard all in one.  You lust for more and devour the first half as say to yourself, “the next half better be just as good.”

As you attempt the second half of this colossal sub you realize you ate too fast as there is a small bob in your throat and you wash all of the first half down with a Coke the size of a bowl.  And you know just by looking at the second half that you’re going to need every drop of that Coke.

With a nod of the head to the celebrities you look down at the last half.  Daughnting seems the task, but the memories of the first half say “I’m worth it so eat me.”  With a huff you draw up the dipping wonder that lays in your hands.

The lettuce and onion slavered in Italian dressing, check.  The Swiss cheese encompassing this salad-in-a-bun, check.  The roast beef bulging towards you and still being glued to the white bread that envolpes this sandwich of sandwiches, check.

For the beginning of the end you take the first bite.  The mustard gives a taste that makes fresh bread taste even better rolls along the tongue with the dressing.  The fresh lettuce and onion slip past giving the hint of their presence and complementing the cheese as the roast beef parades forth.

Authentic deli meats, freshly baked rolls, crisp and delicious vegetables and a tasty blend of mustard, mayonnaise and Italian dressing; these are the ingredients that you will find in a Cavaretta’s sandwich.

The capicola sandwich from Cavaretta’s is sure to be a treat for any aficionado of Italian deli food. The perfectly spiced and thinly spiced deli meat pairs very well with the Italian dressing on the sandwich. A deli decorated with Godfather posters, this Italian staple is a meal fit for Don Corleone.

If it is a hot sandwich you are craving, the meatball sandwich from Cavaretta’s is one of the best in the San Fernando Valley. Their “famous” cannoli is also a perfect desert to accompany the sandwich. It is topped with chocolate chips and powdered sugar.

Cavaretta’s is fairly crowded during the lunch hours of the day, so service is based on the take a number and wait format. Fortunately, since you don’t have to stand in line, you can walk around the market and see all the authentic Italian food it has to offer.

The shelves are stocked with items such as cannoli shells, gnocchi, sauces, herbs, and other things of that nature. Their bread and deli meats used to make their sandwiches are also available for purchase.

One of the aspects of Cavaretta’s that helps legitimize the authenticity of the deli is their rare products for sale. These include their imported provolone cheese which is a necessity for any Cavaretta’s sandwich, Stella Doro cookies, Illy espresso, fresh water mozzarella, and many more.

Due to the crowded nature of the deli, it is recommended to order a meal to-go or go later in the day. Seating is limited.

Cavaretta’s stays true to their “if you can’t smell it, we don’t have it” motto. The aroma of fresh bread, lasagna, deli meats, and any food consisting of cheese, garlic, and marinara sauce consumes the air. The scent of Italian cuisine compliments the classic deli vibe.

Upon entering, there is a wall filled with Kodak pictures of satisfied customers. They also sport a coveted San Fernando Valley landmark plaque from the City of Los Angeles.

There is a plethora of possible meal combinations. With a wide variety of deli meats and specialty sandwich, you could probably go every day for a month eating a different sandwich.

This deli offers quite a few options for sides and drinks. Along with typical soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Seven-Up, they also offer Arizona Iced Tea and some classic glass bottle sodas and a wide variety of beer. There are racks of assorted chips by the register as well as different deserts available. Get the cannoli!

Cavaretta’s has been open since 1959 and run under the same management since 1983. Even with their longevity and vast amount of customers, this little shop on Sherman Way manages to keep their integrity with fair prices and high quality.

A meal at Cavaretta’s will cost $8-$11 on average. This includes a sandwich, side and a beverage. The sandwiches stand at a fee similar to other delis in the Los Angeles area.

Living in the West Valley, it is likely that someone will recommend that you eat at Cavaretta’s in your lifetime. This deli delivers quality that will embarrass any surrounding sandwich chain such as Subway, Quizno’s, or Jersey Mike’s. This is not just another overhyped Los Angeles based hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

Cavaretta’s Deli is located on 22045 Sherman Way in Canoga Park, California. It shares a parking lot with adjacent businesses such as the Cobalt Café, Canoga Billiards and Canoga Camera.

The closest intersection is Topanga Canyon and Sherman Way.

Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (818)340-6626. www.cavarettasdeli.com.

The Sandwich Bar 26 is a classic definition of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

Aside from being literally a rectangular hole in the wall, the Sandwich Bar is a small, family owned, Israeli sandwich shop.

Upon entering your senses are filled with the sound of stir-fry and the smell of cooked beef. It is also filled with the sounds and sights of Israeli news and television on the two flat screens.

But don’t let that distract you, as the smell of food increases to savory levels you can only turn your head and stare to the other half of the rectangular room and watch as two chefs fry food behind a class case.

Their menu includes such savory fooods as stir-fried beef and vegetables on a baguette with sweet sauce, (10.95) schnitzel chicken on a plate of rice with vegetables, (11.95) or a classics set of onion rings (3.99).

Whatever you order is guaranteed flavor. Sure the side rice is pretty plain, but then you can add one of their signature sauces: Spicy, Sweet (my favorite) or garlic ranch.

Sandwich Bar 26 is located on 17932 Ventura Boulevard Encino, CA 91316 (818) 342-1126

Tel: (818) 716-9366 Fax: (818) 716-9790