Phantasy Star IV
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VII (it hooked a lot of you nerds)
Final Fantasy X
Chrono Trigger

You have to think simple, but not too simple to be boring. These are generally easy to learn & have great stories/characters. I didn't include personal favs like FFXII because the gambit system might be too complex for a n00b. I didn't include Secret of Evermore, because grinding for ingredients can be tedious. VI has too many characters, IV can be frustrating & FFI is too plain for the modern gamer. VIII's junction system might annoy a newcomer. X-2 might be alright, if the friend is an anime fan & is used to Japanese humor, because if they're not, it can come off as cheesy. IX probably just misses the cut, as I didn't want there to be 80% FFs on the list.