California dining is not only Los Angeles and San Francisco. These seven restaurants in our directory sit in Inglewood, Palo Alto, Clovis, Buena Park, Hemet, San Pablo and San Diego.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles, Inglewood
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles was founded in 1975 by Herb Hudson, a Harlem native. It is best known for chicken and waffles, served together or separately, with sides such as candy yams, grits, greens and mac and cheese. Expect lines on weekend mornings.
Zareen's, Palo Alto
Zareen's has been on California Avenue since 2016. The garlic naan is made to order in a clay oven, and the grilled chicken boti comes with naan, rice, dal, pickled salad and raita. A Mountain View location followed.
Yosemite Falls Café, Clovis
Yosemite Falls Café on Shaw Avenue is a big, family-friendly cafe with breakfast as the main draw: omelettes with three eggs, Mexican-style plates and traditional favorites, plus sandwiches, burgers and steaks.
La Huasteca, Buena Park
La Huasteca offers modern takes on regional Mexican dishes, including quesobirria tacos and chiles en nogada, in a hacienda-style room with a weekday happy hour.
Tommy's Drive Thru, Hemet
Tommy's Drive Thru is a casual drive-thru that serves American food, breakfast and Mexican dishes, with a pastrami sandwich and gyro among reviewers' favorites.
Empire Buffet, San Pablo
Empire Buffet at San Pablo Towne Center describes an all-you-can-eat spread of more than 100 items, covering Chinese dishes, American comfort food and sushi. Reviews are mixed on price and service, and buffet prices vary by meal, so call ahead.
Cafe Bassam, San Diego
Cafe Bassam on Fifth Avenue is described as the oldest coffeehouse in San Diego. Owner Bassam Shamma moved it from Fourth and Market. The room looks like a small Victorian museum, and the menu is light: panini, soups, a cheese plate, wine and baklava.
Choosing by mood
- Comfort food: Roscoe's and Yosemite Falls Café.
- Something different: Zareen's and La Huasteca.
- A place to sit for hours: Cafe Bassam.
- Quick and casual: Tommy's.
Practical notes
- Roscoe's Inglewood has been listed as open Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 10 PM; check Sunday and holiday hours with the restaurant.
- Zareen's hours vary by day; call 650-562-8700 before you go. The restaurant also offers outdoor seating and takeout.
- La Huasteca serves brunch, lunch and dinner, runs a weekday happy hour from 2 PM to 6 PM, recommends reservations and can be reached at (714) 670-6621.
- Cafe Bassam is listed from 7 AM to 1 AM and takes reservations; phone 619-557-0173.
- Yosemite Falls Café and Tommy's Drive Thru did not have hours or phone numbers available when we wrote their pages, so check before a special trip.
Getting around
These restaurants are spread across the state: Inglewood and Buena Park are in the Los Angeles area, Hemet is inland in Riverside County, Clovis is next to Fresno, San Pablo is in the Bay Area and Palo Alto is on the Peninsula. Treat them as separate stops on separate trips rather than one itinerary.
A dish to look for at each
- Roscoe's: the chicken and waffles combination.
- Zareen's: garlic naan from the clay oven.
- Yosemite Falls Café: a three-egg omelette.
- La Huasteca: quesobirria tacos.
- Cafe Bassam: baklava with a cup of coffee.
Hours, menus and prices change. Each restaurant page lists the phone number we have; call ahead before a long drive, especially on holidays.