Hawaiian Hot Chicken

Hawaiian Hot Chicken started as a late-night food stand along Reseda Blvd., but has now transitioned into a full brick-and-mortar a few blocks away on Lassen Street. Lines still form during peak weekend hours (when the drunk CSUN students all leave their dorm parties), but just know that the chicken here is worth the wait. Sandwiched in a sweet Hawaiian bun and topped with coleslaw, pickles, and their house “volcano sauce,” it’s different from the Nashville-style hot chicken you see around town, and that’s not a bad thing. The sweetness of both the bun and coleslaw cuts through the heat of the chicken, but never overpowers the meat - or the spice - itself. Definitely get a side order of the luau fries, they’re tremendous.