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
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
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
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
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 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.
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
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 and adventurous menu.
Recommended: 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.
Recommended: Thai pockets, Thai eggplant and green beans.
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
Credit cards: A, D, M, 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: Margherita pizza, four cheese pizza (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
