Minutes before the lunch bell rings on Wednesday afternoon, students anxiously wait to take advantage of their CSF (California Scholarship Federation) off-campus lunch. Academic counselor Evangelina Escovedo awaits them in the courtyard and crosses off name after name of 132 qualifying students, allowing them to leave campus for their 30-minute lunch period.

CSF members strive for academic excellence. To qualify, students are required to have three A’s in their main academic classes. These students have an assortment of eateries to choose from when going off-campus. 

Questions have arisen over boundaries on how far students can go. Those with a vehicle may decide to drive to a restaurant farther away from campus but this brings some complications that may result in a loss of their privilege and opportunity to have lunch off-campus. 

For decades a food shopping center off of Cedar and Herndon, affectionately-called “The Promised Land,” has provided food for families around the Valley bringing unique and diverse dining to its visitors. The Promised Land is the recommended lunch location for students to avoid receiving tardies and losing their lunch pass privileges. There is a variety of establishments that are available for students, both food and dessert options that provide ample time to get food, eat, and return to school on time.

Here are my top five recommendations for The Promised Land restaurants that accommodate your time and money. 

$-$$-$$$ = Prices Low to High 

Promised Lands Restaurants

Casa Corona – $$

Casa Corona is a family-owned and operated Mexican restaurant that has been open since 1999. Casa Corona serves the “freshest ingredients,” bringing authentic Mexican food to those who chose to dine there. Some Highlights off the menu include:

California Burrito- $14.99

-Carne asada, Spanish rice, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and garlic fries inside then deep fried to a golden brown and crowned with guacamole and sour cream.

Two Soft Grilled Tacos- $15.99

-Spiced chunks of carne asada or grilled chicken on corn or flour tortillas with fresh cabbage, cheese, cilantro and pico de gallo. Served with refried beans and Spanish rice.

Chile Relleno Dinner- $15.99

-A chile stuffed with cheese rolled in a light batter and fried. Served with refried beans and Spanish rice.

Student Burrito- $9.99

-An affordable option for students and staff of schools (Student ID Needed have to ask for) 

Hand Crafted Horchata- $4.50

Viva! Be bowl’d – $$

Viva! Be Bowl’d is owned and operated by Elsa Rodriguez. She is also an owner and operator of Casa Corona the business directly next door. Viva! offers mixed bowl options for all types of diets and preferences. They provide healthy nourishing food with endless combinations available to customers. Some highlights include…

Spicy Buddha Bowl- $14.99

-White rice, steak bites, charred corn, charred zucchinis, matadores, guacamole, creamy chipotle, and onion whips 

Mexcellent- $12.99

-White rice, black beans, grilled chicken, charred corn, cilantro, avocado mash, pico de Gallo, creamy cilantro dressing and tortilla twist

Perfecto Protein Bowl – $15.50

-½ White rice, ½ romaine lettuce, ceviche, steak, chicken, los matadores, cucumber, cilantro, guacamole, onion crisps with creamy cilantro dressing.

Student Bowl – $9.99

-An affordable option for students and teachers (Student ID Needed have to ask for)

(Vegan Options Available)

Homi-ya Ramen – $$

Homi-ya Ramen is known around the valley for “its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on only using high quality fresh ingredients” and its “friendly staff.” Homi-ya brings more than just ramen offering an assortment of food to customer’s taste buds. Some items include…

Kimchi Miso Ramen – $12.99

Homemade kimchi Stir Fried with Chashu and Egg in Miso Soup Base 

Combination Yakisoba – $13.99

Shrimp, Cashu, Chicken, Bean Sprouts, Green Onions, Onions

Chicken Fried Rice – $10.99

Jowli’s Filipino Cuisine – $ 

Jowli’s Filipino Cuisine, a locally owned restaurant, serves authentic Filipino cuisine. With its generous portions and a welcoming atmosphere, Jowli’s is the perfect place to eat. Their prices are reasonable and they offer a wide variety of dishes so there is something for everyone. A few of their menu items include…

Chicken Adobo Combo  – $13.80 

-Chicken thighs cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves, garlic, and peppercorn with small sides of lumpia, rice, and pancit 

Shanghai Lumpia – $8.85 

-Spring roll wrap of ground pork, onions, peppers, carrots, and garlic 

Pancit Bihon Canton – $11.85 

-A noodle dish with carrots, cabbage, celery, and chicken topped with spring onion, garlic and lime 

Turon – $5 for 6 pieces 

-Fried banana rolls with sugar and jackfruit 

Cupcakes Bakery – $

Cupcakes Bakery is a locally owned family run pastry shop that prides themselves the “highest quality cupcakes around.” Holding on to their core values Cupcake Bakery makes all of their delicious treats from scratch stating “Its a tradition for quality.” Cupcake Bakery brings many unique treats to your cravings other than their famous cupcakes such as Strawberry Pizza, Brownies, Ice Cream, Cookies, and Cheesecake. Some highlights of their menu include… 

Oreo Cupcake – $4.95

– A chocolate cake with Oreo pieces topped with cream cheese frosting and an Oreo cookie 

Red Velvet Cupcake – $4.95

– A signature Red velvet cake topped with cream cheese frosting and red sprinkles

Orange Cream Circle Cupcake – $4.95

– A vanilla cake topped with cream cheese frosting “tasting like a 50/50 bar”

Strawberry Cupcake – $4.95

– A vanilla cake topped with cream cheese frosting and a strawberry

My Top Picks 

Factors of where each location lands on the ranking consist of service, price and wait time.

1: Casa Corona 

– Casa Corona provided delicious Mexican food with amazing service only taking about 6-7 minutes to bring out the order.

2: Homi-ya Ramen  

– Homi-ya Ramen delivered amazing food with caring staff, who bring out your order with a smile within a matter of minutes.

3: Viva be bowl’d

– Once again they have a great staff, delicious food and drinks, and food is put together right in front of you. If you’re looking for lunch on a time crunch Viva is for you.

4: Cupcake bakery 

– Most enthusiastic staff of any other location greet you as soon as you walk in ready to help The cupcakes were solid.

5: Jowli’s Filipino Cuisine  

– While last on this list Jowli’s is still a good option I just found the food less appealing and tasty than restaurants before it the service also felt lackluster. 

At the Promised Land, students can find an array of mouth-watering food options, ensuring the enjoyment of lunch while still returning to school on time. Students should consider these eateries next time they head out for an off-campus lunch. 

For more articles from the Feather, read Golf Swings into the new season or 17th Annual Econ Fair showcase young entrepreneurs.