A selection of the top Cheap Eats, where you can eat for $13 or less an entree. Ratings: 4 forks, don’t miss it; 3 forks, one of the best.
Adobo Express
3 forks
5343 N Lincoln Ave., 773-293-2362
Located in a strip mall next to the huge Korean Garden Buffet, Adobo Express is Filipino grocery store and hip, attractive restaurant. One side holds a food shop, a steam table and a couple of cafe tables. The other side is an artsy, contemporary, 35-seat room with teal and pumpkin wall. It offers traditional Filipino fare with small twists.
Recommended: The pork adobo, mung bean and shrimp potage.
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily
Credit cards: M, V
Angel Food Bakery
3 forks
1636 W. Montrose Ave., 773-728-1512
If the wedding-cake-bedecked windows of this cheery storefront aren’t a big enough draw, step inside and get a load of the cookies, scones, brownies and other sweets gracing the display cases. Grab a seat at one of the seven or so tables topped with ’60s-style cloths and little vases filled with beaded flowers. The vintage vibe carries over to the kitchen, and fresh, high-quality ingredients are this cafe’s bread and butter, plus chef/owner Stephanie Samuels’ own takes on Twinkies, Zingers, s’mores and whoopee pies.
Recommended: The crock of mac and cheese (served at brunch with a salty slab of seared honey ham and a lightly dressed arugula salad), French toast, Waldorf salad.
Hours: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri.; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, M, V
Aurelio’s Pizza
3 forks
18162 Harwood Ave., Homewood, 708-798-8050
Aurelio’s is close to an institution in Homewood, where its 600-plus seats are regularly put to use. The restaurant opened here in 1959; several franchises dot the south and west suburbs and Indiana. It’s called Aurelio’s Pizza for a reason: 28 versions of their signature thin-crust are offered, not to mention the combinations customers come up with. Stuffed and thick-crust versions are here, too, along with pasta dishes, sandwiches and salads.
Recommended: The thin-crust pizza, antipasto.
Dine-in hours: 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Fri.; 4-10:30 p.m. Sat.; 2-9 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, D, DC, M, V
Bangkok Cafe
4 forks
17 N. Vail St., Arlington Heights, 847-398-1989
The soothing atmosphere of Bangkok Cafe in Arlington Heights envelops diners as soon as they enter. The walls, in serene shades of gold, plum and sage, are decorated with elegant Asian artifacts as well as portraits of the staff–owner Kim Cho and her five sisters–that don’t seem the least bit hokey. The menu offers a varied selection of Thai dishes–mostly predictable (pad Thai, satay chicken) but occasionally unusual (mango curry, a trio of sublime desserts)–are well executed and beautifully presented
Recommended: The vermicelli noodle soup, shrimp egg rolls, the Pa-Nang Curry’s peanut sauce.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 4:30-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 4:30-10 p.m. Fri.; noon-10 p.m. Sat.; 4-8 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: D, M, V
Beggars Pizza
3 forks
10240 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn, 708-499-0505
From the street, Beggars Pizza looks like one of those strip-mall takeout joints whose tables are set up more as a courtesy for folks so ravenous they can’t wait to eat at home. In this case, looks are deceiving. The Oak Lawn restaurant makes an extra effort for diners with its cozy, six-table room. Carpeting and paneling absorb the noise generated by the busy counter and kitchen just a few feet away.
Recommended: Lasagna, thin-crust pizza, ribeye steak.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat.; noon-10 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, D, DC, M, V
Bhabi’s Kitchen
4 forks
6352 N. Oakley Blvd., 773-764-7007
If the turquoise, orange and gold walls in Bhabi’s Kitchen, a 50-seat gem, rev up your appetite, that’s precisely the goal of owner and former fashion retailer Qudratullah Syed. Bhabi’s (it means sister-in-law, a reference to real home-cooked meals) sets a new pace for Indian food in Chicago. Most dishes are cooked to order, so be prepared to wait.
Recommended: Bhabi’s samosas, chicken Qorma, rapini (broccoli rabe).
Hours: Noon-10 p.m. daily
Credit cards: A, D, DC, M, V
Boloney’s Sandwich Shop
3 forks
114 W. Main St., Barrington, 847-381-0645
At Boloney’s Sandwich Shop, high school sports schedules compete for wall space with black-and-white photos of old-time Hollywood celebrities. And for good reason–the deli doubles in capacity during the day when tables are set up next to the ticket till and popcorn machine in the adjacent Catlow Theater lobby.
Recommended: Turkey salad, the “Reubenesque,” and “Dagwood” sandwiches.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Mon.-Sat.; closed Sun.
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
Bombon Cafe
4 forks
38 S. Ashland Ave. (near Ogden), 312-733-8717
A literal bright spot on a careworn block of Ashland Avenue. This offshoot of the popular Bombon Bakery in Pilsen features cheery yellow walls, casually mismatched whitewashed wooden chairs and a display case brimming with beautiful cakes, jewel-like tarts and artisan breads.
Recommended: La Cubana sandwich, sopecitos.
Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; closed Sun.
Credit cards: A, M, V
Bowl and B.B.Q. Korean Restaurant
4 forks
1277 Elmhurst Rd., Des Plaines, 847-758-1277
Located in a nondescript strip mall a few miles north of the backside of O’Hare, Bowl and B.B.Q. Korean Restaurant serves up many varieties of soup and barbecued dishes in a spartan dining room. A major draw of a Korean meal is the assortment of pickles and other nibbles served up with your meal.
Recommended: Fried dumplings, somyeon, described as “thin noodles with hot beef broth,” bibimbap.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; noon-10 p.m. Sat.-Sun.; closed Mon.
Credit cards: A, M, V
Cafe Smilga
3 forks
2819 83rd St. (at Lemont Road), Darien, 630-427-0929
Don’t let the sanitized strip-mall setting fool you: If you want to experience Lithuanian cuisine, buy Lithuanian foodstuffs and hear the Lithuanian language spoken, Cafe Smilga is for you. The rustic decor, simple yet comfortable, consists of large wooden-plank tables and benches; the ceiling is covered in fishnet, a reminder that the Baltic Sea rubs part of the nation’s coast. A waitstaff takes and serves orders, but this is a deli too, so lots of folks line the counter to buy meats, cheeses, baked goods and salads to take home.
Recommended: Zeppelin (an oval dumpling made from grated, boiled potato, is filled with meat), balandeliai (oversized cabbage rolls).
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: M, V
Curry Hut
3 forks
410 Sheridan Ave., Highwood, 847-432-2889
Don’t let its humble name, nor its workaday setting fool you. Soft Indian music fills a lovely room with white-napped tables against turmeric walls. Small vases with red carnations grace the tables. The full-service vest-pocket bar is tucked into one corner. A few tables with umbrellas dot a small patio.
Recommended: Mo mo, a Nepali dish of spiced minced chicken steamed in dumplings.
Hours: Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily; dinner 4:30-9:30 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; 4:30-10 p.m. Fri. and Sat.
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
The Elephant Thai Cuisine
3 forks
5348 W. Devon Ave., 773-467-1168
This small, storefront Thai restaurant in Edgebrook has room for just nine tables. But big windows up front and vivid colors–one long wall is the color of green tea ice cream, the opposite wall is mango–make the dining room seem large and inviting.
Recommended: Chive dumplings, beef noodle soup, pad thai.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; closed Sun.
Credit cards: M, V
Feed
3 forks
2803 W. Chicago Ave., 773-489-4600
On a desolate stretch of Chicago Avenue and backed up nearly to railroad freight yards, is this country-cooking joint that looks like a chicken shack. Inside, the rustic barn-red walls and chicken motif–from a painted frieze of hens to a wall of framed exhibition poultry photos–give the impression of a well thought-out, tongue-in-cheek scheme.
Recommended: Chicken, corn pudding, fried okra, red velvet cake.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
Credit cards: None. Cash only.
First Slice Pie Cafe
3 forks
4401 N. Ravenswood Ave., 773-506-7380
On the ground floor of an unassuming three-story brick building in Ravenswood is the Lillstreet Art Center, home to the First Slice Pie Cafe. The menu shows an array of French and Mexican influences, with an emphasis on the slow-cook method.
Recommended: Shredded duck sandwich, Latin hip hop salad, pies.
Hours: 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; closed Sun.
Credit cards: None
Frontera Fresco
4 forks
Marshall Field’s, 7th floor, 111 N. State St., 312-781-4483
Whisk up the express elevator on the State and Randolph side of Field’s to the 7th floor, where Rick Bayless has opened his first restaurant in years, a fast-food spot in a food court.
Recommended: Tortilla soup, huaraches, quesadillas.
Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon-Sat.
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Glenn’s Diner
3 forks
1820 W. Montrose Ave., 773-506-1720
It may say “diner” in the window of this spot just two doors west of the Montrose Brown Line stop, but inside Glenn’s Diner there’s no chrome, no Formica. Instead, you’ll find dark wood tables, lighter oak wainscoting with creamy white walls above, and a long granite-topped bar where you’re welcome to pull up a stool. The recalculation of expectations continues with diner classics done with more attention to quality than the typical corner dive.
Recommended: Tiger shrimp cocktail, Chicago-style barbecue chicken, potato pancakes.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tues.-Thurs.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun.; closed Mon.
Credit cards: M, V
Go Roma Italian Kitchen
3 forks
28361 Diehl Rd., Warrenville, 630-393-ROMA (7662)
Newbies may be confused at first about how to order at Go Roma Italian Kitchen. Customers walk in and encounter menus on the wall. Stand there and study the menus, and you may feel like you’re holding up people behind you. On the other hand, most of the customers seem to be regulars and bypass the menus. Think hearty Italian fare. The centerpiece is hand-stretched pizza, with eight versions on the menu (such as pizza margherita, smoked chicken, oven-roasted vegetable) plus 20 other ingredients you can order to customize your own.
Recommended: Bruschetta, thin-crust pizza.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-9 p.m. Sat., noon-8 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
Honey 1 Ribs
3 forks
2241 N. Western Ave., 773-227-5130
If you’re a barbecue fan, susceptible to being dazzled by a smoky inhale, you don’t have to walk inside this Bucktown storefront to know there’s something terrific going on. Smoky smells account for the succession of cars with blinking lights double-parked in the bus zone outside.
Recommended: Combination of rib tips and links, fried chicken, gizzards.
Hours: 1-9 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; closed Mon.
Credit cards: M, V
Infini-Tea
3 forks
902 Main St., Antioch, 847-395-3520
Great place for a spot of tea in a cozy nook. There’s plenty of tea paraphernalia and tons of Victoriana that many people associate with the English. Indeed, the snug room does seem like the kind of tearoom you might find in an English seaside resort.
Recommended: The “Crabbie Lorrie,” The “Tea Lite Service.”
Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun.-Wed., 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thurs. and Fri., 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sat.
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
Larsa’s Fine Mediterranean Cuisine
3 forks
3724 W. Dempster St., Skokie, 847-679-3663
This Assyrian family restaurant features calming white walls, tile floors, white tablecloth-topped (then plastic-protected) tables, brass lighting fixtures, all dominated by a mural of an ancient Assyrian feast. The Middle Eastern big three of hummus, tabbouleh and baba ghanoush tops the appetizer list confidently.
Recommended: The Cornish hen, hummus, tabbouleh and baba ghanoush.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tue.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 1-9 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, DC, D, M, V
M. Henry
4 forks
5707 N. Clark St., 773-561-1600
Although it’s a few blocks north of Andersonville’s true restaurant row, M. Henry is in good company these days: This stretch too has seen a spurt of new eateries, serving everything from Thai to Italian to Colombian-Cuban food. But on weekend mornings, at least, it’s easy to pick out this breakfast-brunch-lunch venue.
Recommended: The Latina omeletta, Birds in a basket, Gertrude’s ultimate veggie burger.
Hours: 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tue.-Fri.; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Credit cards: A, M, V
Maiz
4 forks
1041 N. California Ave., 773-276-3149
An inviting spot on a dark block in Humboldt Park that packs seating for about 60 into a narrow space. Diners are drawn to chef Carlos Reyna’s Mexican “street food.”
Recommended: Totopos (tortilla chips). Another antojito, mini quesadillas capatalinas, are palm-sized cheese-filled turnovers.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Tues.-Sun.
Credit cards: None
Mario’s Mondo Cafe
3 forks
Glenview Plaza, 1869 Waukegan Rd., Glenview, 847-724-3716
Tucked in the back of a strip mall on a street lined with strip malls, Mario’s Mondo Cafe is easy to miss. So consult your map, because this pristine cafe, with its eclectic artwork and dressed-up tables, is a good find for a casual breakfast or lunch.
Recommended: The create-your-own frittata, chicken pesto panini.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; closed Sun., Mon.
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
Marrakech Expresso Cafe
3 forks
4747 N. Damen Ave., 773-271-4541
This cafe is located next to a Ravenswood hot dog stand and, at first glance, seems a lot like a typical cafe. Despite the laid-back vibe, art exhibition on the walls and coffee drinks, this 50-seat eatery actually treats its food seriously.
Recommended: The grilled kefta kebabs, lamb shank, “Mom’s magical Moroccan crepe.”
Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Mon.-Tues.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; to midnight Sat.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: None
Memories
3 forks
2333 S. Michigan Ave., 312-328-0100
Owners Clarice Grandberry, Earl Grandberry and Louise Williams describe the fare as soul food “with a healthy touch.” But don’t worry if you’re a purist; any break with tradition in preparing such well-known dishes as catfish (a day’s special), short ribs and salmon croquettes seems hardly noticeable.
Recommended: Baked turkey wing, baked sweet potatoes, beef short ribs.
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Sat.; 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.; 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.
Credit cards: M, V
Milk and Honey Cafe
3 forks
1920 W. Division St., 773-395-9434
Even people who hate self-service will love the set-up at Milk and Honey Cafe, a stylin’ Wicker Park eatery. No matter how busy it gets, everything you need is well stocked. Sidewalk tables go fast on weekends–they make for great people watching–but inside seats are good, if a bit wedged together.
Recommended: Grilled chicken sandwich, scrambled egg sandwich, huevos.
Hours: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, D, DC, M, V
Pho Xe Tang (Tank Restaurant)
3 forks
4953-55 N. Broadway St., 773-878-2253
Under green awnings boldly etched with the name of this Vietnamese and Chinese restaurant, families crowd around tables large and small, with some tables shared by strangers busily chowing down on punch bowl-sized containers of the beef noodle soup called pho. The food is good but the place ain’t pretty.
Recommended: The goi cuon (version of the classic cold summer roll), shrimp egg rolls, Banh cong (deep-fried shrimp cakes topped with a shell-on shrimp).
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon., Tues., Thurs.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.; closed Wed.
Credit cards: D, M, V
Rhythm & Spice Restaurant
3 forks
2501 W. 79th St., 773-476-5600
This bright neighborhood Caribbean cafe is just off a residential corner on 79th Street. Large, handwritten signs taped to the windows promise “best jerk chicken.” If you’re dining in, order as quickly as possible, then expect to wait up to a half-hour for your cooked-to-order selection.
Recommended: Curried goat, jerk chicken and catfish.
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tues.-Thurs.; 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
Rockwell’s Neighborhood Grill
3 forks
4632 N. Rockwell St., 773-509-1871
“Neighborhood” was a good addition to Rockwell Grill’s name, as this restaurant/bar with some patio seating seems to have been here for years among the two-flats, graystones and courtyard buildings in the Lincoln Square area. The walls in the Grill are delightfully cluttered with scores of black-and-white, framed vintage.
Recommended: The burgers made our 2005 Chicago Tribune best burgers list, the Texas Toothpicks appetizer.
Hours: 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., to 11 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, M, V
Rudy’s Mexican Grill
3 forks
55 N. Barron Blvd. (Illinois Highway 83), Grayslake, 847-223-6176
This fresh, clean spot (only eight tables) offers familiar favorites. Decor is spare, but youngest son Israel said his mom is collecting the decorations slowly to be sure everything is just right.
Recommended: Chicken chimichanga, fajitas mar y tierra, Chuletas ahumadas (smoked pork chops with grilled onions, tomatoes and jalapenos).
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.-Wed.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.
Credit cards: D, MC, V
S3 Kitchen
3 forks
814 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 708-383-7773
A petite storefront in Oak Park seats about 20, with a sleek yet comfortable design that borders on utilitarian. Disposable dishes are used whether you get takeout or dine in. Owner Karl Bader has produced a creative, mouthwatering and adventurous menu.
Recommended: The Asian chicken wrap, penne, chicken, prosciutto and sun-dried tomato salad with creamy artichoke dressing.
Hours: 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.
Credit cards: M, V
Sabor a Cuba
3 forks
1833 W. Wilson Ave., 773-769-6859
The restaurant’s two dining rooms are crowded with white-paper-and-cloth-topped tables and high-backed wooden chairs, but framed photos, burgundy-and-silver swags draped around the windows and lively but unobtrusive Latin music add some warmth. In summer, there’s also a flower-festooned sidewalk cafe.
Recommended: Ham croquetas yuca rellena, “famoso sandwich Cubano.”
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tue.-Thu.; noon-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, DS, M, V
Siam Rice Thai Cuisine
3 forks
117 N. Wells St., 312-606-9999
Although tucked in a tight corner right next to the “L,” Siam Rice Thai Cuisine is a super-sleek restaurant that looks nothing like the usual gritty Loop lunch spots. With dark cherry wood walls, alternating in some sections with earth-toned slate tiles, plus more slate on the floor and tall windows along the north wall, this light, large Thai place is loaded with style. And it packs them in. The “lunch hour” seems to go on and on.
Recommended: Thai pockets, Thai eggplant and green beans.
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
