Hmm. No chains?
Mexican: Pablo's. Small place in Pacific Grove. I get the Chipótle Steak Burrito... mouth on fire? Good. Ordering it mild is for sissies.
Chinese: Yang's Happy Family was good until they closed. The new owners lowered the selection and raised the prices... and as a karma penalty, had a few kitchen fires and kept having to close. New owners now, but haven't reopened. We go to Chinatown in downtown Monterey (I like Wing's better, but my parents think it's too expensive. Plus, they're closing soon).
Italian (well, pizza anyway): Gianni's! Darkness can probably testify just how much butt this place kicks. They have other Italian stuff too, but it's mostly pizza. And calzones.
Chains...
Mexican: Del Taco! Too bad Monterey (county even) doesn't have any. Have to drive for over an hour, to Watsonville, to get our fix. Mmm... Macho Burritos...
Chinese: ...there are Chinese food chains? Oh, wait, yeah there are. We don't eat there. Why pay more when the food is worse and not even a buffet?
Italian Pizza: Round Table. Straw Hat is good too, but I've only been there once. In Santa Cruz.
Else: Hmm... I'd have to say Black Bear Diner (service) or In-n-Out Burger (fast). (In-n-Out is another thing we don't have. Well, we do, but it's in the 'bad' part of Salinas so we never go there.)
I think I'm done.
I've eaten at all of those (sept for the happy family thing) when I lived in Cali.