A selection of the top Cheap Eats, where you can eat for less than $13 an entree. Ratings: 4 forks, don’t miss it; 3 forks, one of the best.
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 a few 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
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
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
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
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.
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 chef 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
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
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), the mini quesadillas capatalinas (palm-sized cheese-filled turnovers).
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Tues.-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
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
