A little more than a mile and a half south of the SF State campus sits an unassuming burger joint outlined in red neon.

Just over the border of Daly City, the closest branch of the Nation's fast food chain has attracted students for years. They mingle with cops, lunch-crowd workers, high school kids and all manner of locals. The reasons for this popularity are numerous.

Every location of the Bay Area-only chain is open till either the wee hours of the morning or never closes, making them ideal for the hungry student cramming all night.

The food selection is decent. All the usual fast-food fare is available - from bacon burgers to veggie, and a few extras such as salmon - all for less than $6, though the slogan just under the sign outside that states "Giant Burgers" is a little misleading. The burgers are, as the menu promises, about 3/4 of a pound, yet most of that consists of bun and veggies rather than the patty itself.

The food is good, but nothing to write home about. This applies to the other meals on offer such as varieties of breakfast till 11:30 a.m. all priced less than $8. For around the same price, a chili dog, grilled cheese or BLT are also available.

But here's the main reason, the real reason, to go to one of the 24 Bay Area locations: the pies. I grew up less than a mile from one of those locations, and my parents' fridge was rarely without a Nation's pie. The assortment is large, with all the traditional pies such as blueberry or apple starting at $2.20 a slice to $8.95 for a whole pie. Specialty pies such as the Nation's banana cream are priced at $2.45 for a small slice to $10.25 for a pie. And a whole cheesecake will set one back $11.95.

The Daly City location is on the corner of John Daly Boulevard and Park Plaza in the Westlake Shopping Center, just a few minutes drive down 280 and John Daly Boulevard.

If you're ever in the area, check out the chain's original store on San Pablo Dam Road in El Cerrito or any of the other locations centered mostly in the East Bay.

The chocolate cream pie paired with a cup of coffee or a vanilla milk shake is recommended. But whatever you try, the bright glow of the neon signs in the window says it all: "Great Food," "Great Pies."