DINING DEALS : MOM'S NOT THE WORD.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Ma's Cafe, 9306 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, [phone]. Ma is the surname of the owner, but mom will love the prices at this map-jumping Asian-American delight with all items, even a grilled mussels dish and a New York steak plate, under $6, most under $5 and some as low as 50 cents. Save! Save! Save!

Rad chicken monster

Chicks, 23355-3/4 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, [phone]. Huge Rube Goldberg-ish contraption cooks delish rotisserie-style chicken with a Mexican accent. Check the chicken spread, the marinated carrots and the flour crisps here. Most everything is well under $10.

Candy is dandy

Candy's Meson, 226 E. Alameda Ave., Burbank, [phone]. This Cuban-Spanish kitchen first beguiles you with the best darned white rice and black beans in the West and goes on from there. Ropa vieja (shredded beef) is only $3.95 for lunch. Try the tortilla a la Gallega ($6) at dinnertime and soup for as low as $1.

Peru viands

Las Quenas, 12708 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, [phone]. You'll be splurging here on a Peruvian three-course meal if you spend as much as $7. There are 35 two-course meals priced under $5 with entrees such as roasted pork in tamarindo sauce and the traditional aji de gallina chicken dish. Parsimony begins here.

Margarita meets Ewing

Tortilla Inn, 18114 Parthenia St., Northridge, [phone]. Steak Ewing with a tomato-chili sauce and boiled beans is still only $7.95 here. And other house specialties including several low-fat dishes range from $4.25 to $8.75. This landmark Mexican cantina and cafe continues to astound in its third decade.

No spend Nozawa

Nozawa, 6010 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood, [phone]. Big platters of properly cooked Japanese food at ridiculously low prices (nothing over $5.50) make this a value tour de force. But you have to be patient and serve yourself.