Top 5 Places to Eat On or Around USC

No big intros, lets just get to the list.

5) Chano's

Why it Made this List: The late night eating options around USC's campus generally consist of: McDonald's, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Denny's, Subway and Del Taco. By merely being open until 3 am just about every night and not being part of a huge chain of restaurants, Chano's endears itself to the party crowd on the Row. The food always hits the spot for those willing to make the drunken, treacherous trek to go and get it. Make sure you wash it down those tacos with an Horchata or a Champurrado.
Shortcomings: Being open late at night and a chain restaurant are pretty much the only reason this one's on the list. The quality of the food isn't the greatest and it's certainly not the healthiest option. It's also kind of a sketchy location late at night, but then again, what location late at night near USC isn't?

4) Galen Center

Why it Made this List: First let me clarify... USC has two Galen Centers. The Galen Center is the new stadium across Figueroa where the Trojans plays home basketball and volleyball games. Galen Center is the oddly placed building behind Heritage Hall (USC's athletic nucleus) where USC's varsity athletes go to dine. This hidden spot is one of campus' best kept secrets because while it's exclusive to athletes during dinner, its open to the public at night. The food is fit for a hungry Trojan athlete. They have delicious hamburgers with fresh fries, juicy "daily grille" specials, and plenty of protein overall. The best part about Galen Center though is the atmosphere. The room is decked out like what I imagine a Trojan chain restaurant would be like, there are comfy booths, and big screen televisions showing ESPN and ESPN News non-stop. There's also the intangible cool factor of eating where the Trojan team eats.
Shortcomings: But you didn't honestly think this wouldn't come at a price did you? Galen Center will run you well over $10 for a decent sized meal. That's not terrible for being on campus, but the problem for students on a meal plan is that Galen Center doesn't accept Dining Dollars, only cash (or discretionary funds on a USC Card). Also, the kitchen is slow sometimes.

3) Armando's

Why it Made this List: This is another hidden gem on campus at USC. In fact it's very well hidden because it's just inside the maintenance parking lot across the street from the Lyon Center. The restaurant itself isn't much, a food truck parked in a parking lot. But it may be one of the best all-around dining experiences at USC. The truck is owned by Armando, a friendly cashier/restaurateur who seems to finish every sentence with "my friend". The food is a mix between Mexican cuisine and American treats. The USC Chicken sandwich, California Burger, and Macho Burrito are some of my personal favorites. While there is an extensive menu on the side of the truck, the cool part about Armando's is the secret menu. Trojan football fans can order a Taylor Mays, a Keith Rivers, or a Lendale White at Armando's (I don't remember what's in each one, except that there's generally a lot of meat). This is the place where Pete Carroll and his coaching staff get their breakfast burritos from in the mornings. The cost of all this is usually under $5, and I guarantee you won't get a better meal at that price or friendlier service anywhere else on campus.
Shortcomings: It's not as cheap as you might expect it to be. The line and wait times during a lunch time rush are generally pretty bad. Obviously you shouldn't eat here if you're looking for a sit down place.

2) Viztango Cafe

Why it Made this List: It made this list because goddamnit I love my Italian food. And there's no better place to grab a delicious, huge portion of pasta. Boy do they have a variety of pastas.... pesto sauces, red sauces, alfredo sauces, and pink sauces with a wide variety of proteins and pasta shapes. The Farfalle Pesto is a delicious mix of farfalle pasta, a pesto sauce, chicken, and sun dried tomatoes. The Linguini Seafood is linguine with a big mix of clams, shrimp, etc. with tomatos, basil, and a buttery sauce. But that's just two options from a huge picture menu that you can choose from. They have sandwiches and pizzas too, but I haven't tried them yet because there are so many damn pastas to try. The dining room is only ok, but the service is very fast.
Shortcomings: I wish it were open just a little bit later. It can be a little bit pricey, but considering the size of the portions and the fact that with a student a discount card you get a "small" Caesar salad and a bunch of garlic bread, I don't think it's a problem. The food does have a little too much oil a lot of the time though.

1) Parkside Restaurant

Why it Made this List: Anyone who knows USC might have a shocked look on their face right now. Wipe it off, stop buying the negative hype and read on. This is hands down the best quality and bang for your buck at USC as far as food goes. Parkside boasts a wide variety of delicious, perfectly portioned food in an all-you-can-eat style. They have unique cuisines and dishes. Mongolian, Vietnamese, Italian, it all changes from day to day while still maintaining the staples of pizza, burgers, fries, salads. The Tomato Basil soup is a keeper. There's a wide range of desserts too. Apple pie? All yours. Jello? Boring, but take your pick from a bunch of varieties. Ice cream sundae? Make your own! Fruit? Sure, ya damn health nut. Pudding? Yes. You get the idea. Don't forget to come in on Fridays for the best dessert on campus, Oreo pie. I think Parkside is unfairly criticized because people get bored with it after eating there on a meal plan day after day after day. I think that would be the case at just about any of the other restaurants on this list. The sheer value, quality and variety make this my top pick.
Shortcomings: For some ridiculous 'green' reason, Parkside decided to abolish trays. Considering the sheer amount of plates you have to grab to get your fill of Parkside food, this is completely impractical. I think USC did this as a way to cut down on costs rather than actually have a conscience surrounding the environment, but I digress. Also, silverware and condiments can be tough to find as their spread out around the dining room, making it a little inconvenient.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Ground Zero Coffeehouse (If they had anything substantial foodwise they'd clearly make the list... Best milkshakes in Southern California, and easily the best milkshakes I've ever had)
Chipotle (Best burritos around campus! Too bad it's a chain)
Wok Crazy (Not enough value, but a pretty good Asian styled place)
In N' Out (One can dream right? Culver City ain't close enough! I need a Double Double Animal Style on Figueroa and Jefferson right now!!!)

DISHONORABLE MENTIONS
EVK (EVK sucks... It just does)

Later,
Alex