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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 orange-sponged walls, eclectic artwork (all for sale) 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
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
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
