Eater LA Editor Matt Kang broke the story on the Tire Shop Taqueria in 2014, but it's still going strong, grilling that carne asada over charcoal and topping everything with guac to the hungry throngs.

Famous for expertly prepared cochinita pibil and tikin xic, this Yucatanean specialist is tucked away in the Mercado La Paloma. Chichen Itza might have the word-of-mouth reputation of a hidden gem, but the crowds on the weekends will certainly suggest otherwise. Weak stomachs beware: The habanero sauce is not to be trifled with.

Tracey's bills itself as a Belizean restaurant, and the Caribbean coastal flavors are in full swing here. Opt for the stewed chicken and rice for a primer and wash it all down with a Jamaican ginger beer.

Revolutionario is the change-of-pace player in your stable of taquerias, and with toppings like tofu tagine, smoked lamb, grilled cauliflower, beef brisket and pineapple kimchi, it's a chef-driven taqueria gaining some serious traction with the locals and USC students.

Figueroa Philly slings cheesesteaks to all manner of USC fans, serving steak that's sliced up thin with grilled onions and packed into genuine-issue Amoroso rolls. Whether you like it slathered wit’ Whiz or topped with provolone, it’s a juicy mouthful of a sandwich worth a stop by if you're a cheesesteak guy.

It's not in the best part of town, but King's fries up some of the best catfish and red snapper in the city at this humble corner seafood shack. The interior could use a little TLC, but the gently battered catfish is the genuine article and nearly just as good when you take it to go.

Do people at USC still call it Chano’s? Yes. Will you regret eating a massive order of French fries topped with chopped carne asada, pico de gallo salsa, guacamole and shredded cheese out of a Styrofoam box at 2:15 a.m.? Maybe. Can a student graduate from USC without visiting Chano’s (err... El Huero) a single time and still be considered a Trojan? Absolutely not.

Ebaes bills itself as Asian fusion tapas, but it’s really just some pretty solid Asian pub food that’s been quietly gaining traction with the USC community, thanks to its incredibly affordable happy hour deals and addictive Korean-style garlic-soy chicken wings. Fans of Americanized sushi rolls (read: This is no Kazunori) will appreciate Ebaes’ selection, and the more adventurous folks will notice the slightly spicy, coconut-milk adulterated Ebaes “ramen.”

Bacaro LA is a local favorite tapas bar that serves well-executed food to go along with a respectable list of wines and beers. Four words: Happy Hour Open Bar. For $20, you’ll get 90 minutes of all-you-can-(responsibly)-drink beer and wine, which you can certainly use to wash down orders of their tasty pizzas and caramelized pork belly skewers.

Former and current USC football players extol the virtues of the buttery, made-to-order omelettes at this Hawai’i-themed breakfast joint that offers toppings like Portuguese sausage and Spam in addition to the usual suspects. If you’re feeling peckish for carbs, don’t gloss over the Da Kine French Toast, which is prepared with Hawaiian bread for just enough sweetness to make you consider skipping syrup altogether.

Nature’s Brew is a hidden gem of a café, tucked away off Hoover and Union. The place puts together an excellent brisket sandwich (balanced nicely with a minty pesto and pickled red onions) and a surprisingly decent smoked salmon omelette in addition to smoothies and a full espresso bar.