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
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
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
Minnies
3 forks
1969 N. Halsted St. 312-943-9900
Black-and-white tiled floors lend a retro feel to the front room of Minnies, where a long counter serves as both bar and dining area. Down a hallway lined with another counter, there’s a smaller room with banquettes and tables–and a wonderful two-wall mural circa 1950 of three old dames enjoying cocktails. OK, so the gimmick here is self-evident: Everything is done on a small-scale. The house special is your choice of three Minnie Sandwiches plus an 8-ounce carafe of house rose, red or white wine plus their “infamous frites” (fries) for $13.
Recommended: The Cuban Minnie, beef tenderloin Minnie
Hours: 6 a.m-1 a.m. daily. Takeout window open 24 hours daily.
Credit cards: AE, D, DC, MC, 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
Spacca Napoli
4 forks
1769 W. Sunnyside Ave., 773-878-2420
It’s hard to miss Spacca Napoli, the only restaurant on this side street in Ravenswood–first, because of its pumpkin-hued facade, and second, because there’s likely to be a passel of hopeful diners spilling out onto the sidewalk most nights. Meals start with a choice of nine antipasti, which include salads, meats and various sauteed vegetable choices, and the main event here, the pizzas, are terrific. The dozen options range from the plainest marinara pizza (no cheese) to a tomato-sauce-free white pizza with prosciutto, arugula, provolone and Parmesan.
Recommended: The margherita pizza, four cheese pizza (with gorgonzola, emmenthal, fontina and mozzarella), insalata mista
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Wed.-Thu.; 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; noon-9 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: A, M,V
