On Moorpark Street: Leonor's Vegetarian Mexican

Tucked back in a corner at Whitsett and Moorpark is a small restaurant with a few tables and a diner bar with swivel seats. The fluorescent lights and cafeteria-style tables with attached benches say nothing about the food served here.

For 21 years, Leonor's has stood here serving vegetarian and Mexican food. From faux chicken empanadas and Bolivian sandwiches to soy cheese pizzas and burgers. No complimentary chips and salsa are given, but there is no need as the portions are big. The $2.50 empanadas are enough for a one meal. If you do go, you must try the flax seed iced tea.

Some in the vegan community have bad feelings towards Leonor's, blaming the restaurant for lying about which products have whey or casein in them. When we posed the question to the manager, they were quite frank and told that everything is vegan except for meals that have "chicken" and soy cheese in them.

If Leonor's sounds familiar to you, but you haven't been to Moorpark location, it's because they don't advertise the other ones very well. The original Leonor's of 22 years, which serves some meat, can be found at Tujunga and Victory. The third and newest one opened two years ago at Laurel and Magnolia.

Leonor's is located at 12445 Moorpark St., Studio City.