California Pizza Kitchen
16101 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA
818-907-7783

The whole concept of gourmet pizza would have been laughable before the early '80s and the inception of California Pizza Kitchen. Now, the yellow-and-black themed chain is a veritable institution and serves up thousands of barbecue chicken pizzas every day. Pies are thin-crust and on the smaller side, but loaded with flavor. A popular family restaurant, CPK also sees hordes of lunching businesspeople and tired shoppers munching on one of their many pizza variations. The salads and pastas are also worth a try.

Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.