DINING DEALS : BUENO Y BARATO.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Dos Arbolitos, 16208 Parthenia St., Sepulveda, [phone]. With a range of $1.25 (for its good black bean soup) to $6.25 (for a hearty caldo de pescado), you won't find better, traditional Mexican fare than at this step up from a fast food stand.

Stuff your face

Roscoes, 22746 Roscoe Blvd., Canoga Park, [phone]. They'll make a full pound burger for you if you order it in advance (because Roscoes bakes its own buns) and stuff you with tasty roast pork or chicken dinners for under $12. Good house produced soups and fresh fruit puddings here, as well as a full bar. Now taking credit cards, too.

Staying soba

Shinbashi, 16161 Ventura Blvd., Encino, [phone]. Two of Japan's favorite pastas, soba and udon, bring a tasty, healthy noodle act to the Valley's main culinary thoroughfare for the first time with everything except one combo menu item priced under $9. Who said there isn't more to life than spaghetti?

Down home cookin' 

Skoby's Bar & Grill, 20419 Devonshire St., Chatsworth, [phone]. This is the home of pan-fried chicken and gravy with mashed potatoes, blackeyed peas, hot corn bread, with soup or salad for $11.95. Early dinners (5 to 6:30 p.m.) include eight listed at $8.95. The Skoby family used to own the Queen's Arms and King's Arms, former Valley dining landmarks.

Mother knows best

Mother India, 7544 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, [phone]. This is where the sari is as commonplace as jeans, the fare is from both the north and south of India, very inexpensive (almost everything is under $8) and very good.

Meaty rib stop

Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, 11715 Moorpark St., Studio City, [phone]. Teeny cafe where moist meaty ribs, chicken, good greens, marvelous mashed spuds, vinegary baked beans and habit-forming hush puppies are part of some of the town's best fill-'er-up barbecue fare on plates from $4.75 to $11.50.