The Neighborhood

Fork and Knife

local food guide

Check out these places...

If you want to know where the best places to eat around CSUN, here’s your guide!

fresh potato factory

Fresh Potato Factory

Located on Reseda near Vincennes, Fresh Potato Factory serves healthy plant-based meals close to campus.

Owner Shawn Mahdavian, a CSUN Alumni, brought to life a new concept of fresh food. He wanted to eliminate the use of freezers, microwaves and fryers in his restaurant. If the restaurant was going to be called Fresh Potato Factory it had to live up to being fresh. Today, what brings people coming back to Fresh Potato Factory is the use of fresh ingredients in popular dishes like the Veggie Burgers and the Baja Wrap. “It’s the fact that it’s rich in so many nutrients that it makes people crave it,” says Mahdavian.

The level of quality of customer service found at Fresh Potato Factory is like no other. They understand that when you go out to eat, you expect good service wherever you go. “We are a restaurant, people come to us when they are hungry and it’s important to take care of them with a level of attention they expect,” Mahdavian says.

Besides serving fresh ingredients, Fresh Potato Factory uses only biodegradable utensils, napkins and cups. Their mission is focused on the Northridge community and giving back.

“We give back to society,” says Mahdavian. “Whether that’s with a church, a club on campus or a rescue mission, we want to give back to our community.”

CHOP STOP

Chop Stop has quickly built its reputation in the Northridge community as a restaurant that serves customers food that is fresh, fast and easy. They promise to get your food out to you in four minutes or under and this is something that draws customers back wanting more. Besides their guarantee of getting your order fast, it’s their popular dish like the Santa Fe Chop or the seasonal Roasted Garlic Chop that satisfies the cravings of hungry college students. 

“We will 100% cater to all kinds of diets, with over 40 kinds of toppings, we want to make sure everyone can enjoy our salads without feeling limited,” says Riad Sahoum, co-owner.

Chop Shop creates an environment centered around helping its customers. All employees are trained to ensure all of the dishes come out consistent and that customers get exactly what they ordered. “We are all about trying to help our customers from the second they walk in and ease them through the process of ordering,” says Sahoum.

Chop Stop understands the frustrations of parking on Reseda. To ease the hassle, they’ve implemented a curbside pickup for orders placed over the phone and valet parking just behind the store. “We see what’s wrong and we understand because we experience it too, so we try and fix that problem to make it easier for our customers.”

chop stop
presto pasta logo

PRESTO PASTA

Presto Pasta proudly supports CSUN Sports Teams and the surrounding community. You’ll see Presto Pasta’s on-campus presence in the Matadome and on the sports fields. With our close proximity to CSUN and college-conscious budgets, experience real low prices and Real Italian cuisine!

Daily News Readers voted Presto Pasta, BEST Italian Cuisine for the 6th consecutive year, 2014 through 2019! Presto Pasta introduced what has become a popular addition to our menu—Zoodles! Hand-spiraled, Fresh Zucchini Noodles! Gluten-free, Low-carb, and Keto Friendly!

Presto Pasta in Granada Hills is known for its college student budget affordability, extensive menu, and the family-owned personalized attention. Our “fast-casual” concept refuses to compromise the flavor and quality of a sit-down restaurant, due to locally-sourced fresh ingredients prepared daily in our Scratch Kitchen.

Presto Pasta’s Signature Dish is Chicken Piccata. Sautéed chicken breasts in a lemon white wine butter sauce with capers, served with fettuccine alfredo. Salad or veggies may be substituted for pasta too!

Presto Pasta restaurants are community-oriented and philanthropic, having held fundraisers for nonprofits and schools for over 20 years.

Presto Pasta Granada Hills, near the CSUN campus, on the corner of Chatsworth and Zelzah.

Order Online at PrestoPasta.com!

HALAL HOUSE

Halal House is one of Northridge’s newest eateries. It’s only been open a little over a month, but it’s already become a hit spot for college students on a budget looking for a variety of flavors.

The menu includes foods from many different parts of the world. They combined the original Greek concept with sauces that come from India and Pakistan, Afghan-style rice made with various spices, and food from all over the Middle East. You can even order US-inspired Crispy chicken sandwiches and House burgers.

Owner Omar Kabir says, “there are less than 10 halal options in the San Fernando Valley. A restaurant being certified Halal assures me that animals are treated ethically and humanely. Being someone that follows a Halal diet, I’m excited to provide popular options to people like me who either miss or struggle to find popular foods that are halal in the area. I’m excited to see all of the young minds coming up with different and creative ideas, and believe that Northridge will soon cement itself as a Mecca of the foodie movement in LA.”

One of Halal House’s best features is the option to build your own plate with a number of delicious choices. Each order is made according to the customers’ liking with different proteins, toppings and other delicious sauces.

“The build your own plate allows everyone to bring out their inner artist and create their own masterpiece,” says Omar.

Having family members who are CSUN Alumni and staff, Halal House is open to supporting and collaborating with all student organizations with their initiatives. They are passionate about providing a sense of community and feel that food is the best way to bring people together. Make sure you bring your appetite and get a taste of home on the go!

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