Boston Cheap Eats

A huge, brightly lit, boisterous Dorchester offshoot of the Chinatown Chau Chow restaurants, with a menu of more than 200 dishes and daily cart dim sum. The reviewer called the experience uneven but festive, with high marks for the tender spicy fried calamari, the salt-and-pepper shrimp, the tofu-skin shrimp nuggets and the garlicky pea pod stems.

A Chinese restaurant and lounge on the ground floor of a plaza near Quincy City Hall, part of a growing row of Asian spots on Hancock Street, with cheap tiki-style cocktails and weekday lunch deals. The reviewer found it uneven but liked the scallion-packed pancakes, the crisp-bottomed house pan-fried noodles, scallops in black pepper sauce and a jumbo shrimp lo mein.

The first U.S. franchise of a large Chinese hotpot chain, where diners cook raw meats, seafood and vegetables in split pots of mild and fiery broth on tabletop induction burners. The critic enjoyed the communal fun and especially the fresh lamb, from meatballs and thin slices to chili-laced lamb fried rice and the house noodles.

A bare-bones Dorchester takeout counter opened by three brothers, with a chef who spent 15 years at Chinatown Cafe roasting meats. The critic said the barbecue is the reason to come, above all the mixed plate of spiced roast duck, roast pork and soy sauce chicken over rice, plus the crispy pork belly and ginger-scallion chicken.

A small Chinatown storefront whose owners built a special gold menu of Cantonese favorites gathered from travels in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Guangdong. The critic was taken with the salt-and-pepper scallops, the stir-fried two-lobster special, a whole steamed tilapia and an unusual egg-white scramble with scallop and aloe, while a few dishes missed.

A pretty strip-plaza restaurant in Canton from Hong Kong-born owner Eddie Wu, formerly of the Norwood Ramada, serving Chinese dishes alongside a strong sushi bar. The reviewer found both sides equally good, loving the citrusy maguro sashimi, a fried dynamite tempura roll, the triple delight in a potato nest and the mai udon noodles, with notably attentive service.

An 18-seat Taiwanese home-cooking spot tucked into a residential corner of Allston, where chef-owner May Pan cooks with a health-minded touch, using little oil and salt and lots of fresh sauces. The critic loved the light five-spice calamari, a greaseless scallion pancake, a fresh oyster omelet, ginger pork dumplings and deeply flavored noodle soups such as pork with mustard greens.

A renovated, stylish Chinese dining room from the owner of Newton's Shing Yee and Ru Yee, built on a lighter menu with no canned vegetables and more steamed dishes. The critic liked the clean moo shi pork, the steamed bean curd, the Mongolian beef and above all the salt-and-pepper prawns, though the mango scallops were too sweet.

A bright, crowded 40-seat Taiwanese spot owned by the Huang family, popular with multigenerational Chinese families and for weekend dim sum, with everything cooked to order. The critic liked the bean-curd skin rolls, pan-fried turnip cakes, jumbo meatballs with baby bok choy, spicy eggplant and juicy crispy shrimp.

A family-owned Vietnamese-Chinese noodle spot run by siblings Lam and Tina Duong in the former Hu Tieu Nam Vang space. The critic was charmed by the friendly bilingual staff and by dishes built on texture, from the springy pork-and-seafood noodle soup to grilled shrimp paste on sugar cane, a lemongrass chicken wrap platter and a creamy avocado shake.

A brightly lit Brookline sibling of a popular Somerville Chinese restaurant, opened in the former Shalom Hunan space and strongest on Sichuan and Mandarin cooking. The reviewer liked the smoky but moist tea-smoked duck, the clay-pot eggplant with pork, the numbing ma po tofu and crisp garlicky greens.

A sleek Coolidge Corner hot-pot restaurant where diners swish thin meats, seafood and vegetables in a plain chicken broth they season themselves. The critic liked the light tempura and panko-fried oysters, the gingery gyoza, the beef shabu with its dipping sauce, and especially broth-soaked taro root.

An Allston grill spot modeled on Japanese yakitori stalls, from a co-owner of Brookline's Khao Sarn, serving inexpensive skewers and small plates. The critic enjoyed the seaweed salad, the caramelized chicken-pineapple and steak-mushroom skewers, the chicken udon and the braised short rib, but wished for a livelier room and a liquor license.

A roomy Allston restaurant with Thai and sushi menus plus about two dozen Cambodian dishes, bringing Khmer cooking closer to the city than Lowell or Lynn. The critic was most excited by the Cambodian side, praising the pungent prahok pork dip with vegetables, the herb-laden chicken soup, the sweet and sour stew with lotus root and the caramelized beef loc lac.

A brightly painted, self-serve Thai counter on the quiet edge of Davis Square, built from owner Benjapon Jivasantikarn's Babson MBA business plan around a short, speedy menu. The reviewer loved the rich coconut curries, especially the Panang and yellow, the peanut-sauced vegetables, lively soups, a minty chicken salad and the fried banana roll, though some dishes were skimpy on vegetables.

A Coolidge Corner Thai restaurant whose owners balance familiar crowd-pleasers with more authentic regional dishes. The critic urged diners to skip the standard items in favor of the miang kum leaf wraps, green papaya salad, larb kai, the braised pork moo pa lo and the stuffed fried tofu square.

A small Quincy storefront Thai spot, best known for delivery, decorated wall to wall with the owner's collection of duck memorabilia. The reviewer found the entrees mostly solid neighborhood fare but loved the lemongrass-steamed mussels, the chewy vegetable pancakes, a lineup of distinct dipping sauces and the desserts.

A small Vietnamese storefront at the edge of Chinatown with a 177-item menu, opened by a former waitress who learned by watching restaurant kitchens. The critic loved the avocado and mango shakes, the omelet-like Vietnamese crepe, the grilled pork vermicelli bowl, the do-it-yourself rice paper rolls and a big fragrant bowl of beef pho.

A sleek 40-seat Thai restaurant opened by a chef who spent 15 years at Amarin of Thailand in Newton, mixing classic dishes with a few new ones. Service was shaky in the early weeks, but the critic loved the coconut chicken soup, flavorful pad Thai, shrimp whale tails, honey spareribs and the crispy-noodle bird nest, while the masaman curry was bland.

A family-owned Vietnamese spot run by Tam and Diep Bui and their son Khai in a small strip mall, mostly doing takeout, where each dish is cooked to order and served the moment it is ready. The critic praised the freshly rolled spring rolls, an intense chicken pho, vermicelli bowls with barbecue beef or shrimp and ham cakes, and lemongrass stir-fries.

A spotless, cheerful Thai restaurant across from Berklee, run by the Sueksagan family since 1979 and formerly called Bangkok Cuisine, with every dish made to order. The reviewer liked the crisp tofu-skin Thai nuggets, well-made chicken satay, the loaded Tom Yum noodle soup, addictive kah-prow and a richly sauced pad see-you.

A small home-style Bangladeshi restaurant run by Ali and Nasrin Imam, with Nasrin cooking in a tiny open kitchen and the menu aimed at budget-minded students. The reviewer found it uneven and sometimes oily but enjoyed the interactive fuchka chickpea crackers, the beef and lentil boot gosht, a tangy chili-laced eggplant and moist bone-in chicken curries.

A tiny 15-seat halal spot near Main Street in Waltham serving the home cooking of Hyderabad. Despite a cool reception at the door, the critic enjoyed nearly everything, singling out the shami kebab, the big flaky chapati, the onion paratha and a first-rate chicken biryani.

A Turkish kitchen sharing a cafeteria line with a sub shop downtown, where chef Osman Kiranoglu, a Sultan's Kitchen alum, makes nearly everything from scratch each morning. The critic was won over by the juicy grilled kebabs, a house-built doner, a generous meze sampler and a caramelized milk pudding worth a special trip.

A small cafe carved out of half of a Cushing Square hair salon, with an Armenian husband who once cooked in his father's Aleppo restaurant at the stove and sidewalk seating in warm weather. The critic was won over by a silky hand-mashed baba ghanouj, lemony lentil soup, juicy chicken shawarma and tender beef and kafta kebabs, though the roast chicken and falafel were tired.

A Persian restaurant in a former pizzeria near Inman Square, with roomy wooden booths, clay-oven taftoon bread and kabobs grilled over charcoal. The critic recommended skipping the leftover pizza in favor of smoky eggplant dips, charcoal-grilled ground chicken and beef kabobs, and above all saffron chicken with barberry rice, finished with syrup-soaked fried pastries and Persian tea.

A famously packed Ball Square brunch spot that moved into the larger former El Guapo space next door and added dinner, with owner Yasser Mirza newly cheerful as host. The critic found dinner inconsistent but loved the homemade hummus and muhammara, the white pizza, a big cooked-to-order burger, eggplant dishes and cheesecake, on top of its well-known pancakes and omelets.

A from-scratch Greek family cafe reborn at the Norwood Airport years after a fire destroyed its Quincy home, run by Taso Kapsaskis with desserts by his wife Maroula. The reviewer loved the tender stuffed grape leaves, thick tzatziki, a fluffy-topped pastichio, oregano-scented souvlaki, the weekend baked lamb and the house pastries.

A bright, renovated Brazilian restaurant in a former bikers' bar, owned by Marcelo Lima and Harris Footer, built around a rotisserie and a weekly-rotating buffet, with live music late in the week. The critic enjoyed the carved rotisserie meats, the all-you-can-eat rodizio option, crisp cod fish cakes, an oversized chicken parmesan and house-made flan and passion fruit mousse.

A minuscule takeout-only kitchen behind an easy-to-miss door, where former Kendall Cafe chef Dalu Arruda cooks a short menu of soups, focaccia sandwiches and hot plates with Brazilian touches. The critic praised the spiced jerk chicken, the hearty Portuguese kale soup, the stuffed focaccia sandwiches and above all the gluten-free tapioca cheese rolls, while noting that the owner's perfectionism slows service.

A 10-seat Allston counter spot from a former Brazilian buffet manager and her husband, serving dozens of square-folded, Brazilian-style savory and sweet crepes with global fillings. The critic found the savory ones fresh and light, liking the chicken salpicao, the pesto veggie and the mango curry, and enjoyed the indulgent Nutella and dulce de leche dessert crepes.

A bright, plain Moody Street spot cooking generous homestyle food from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The critic praised the squash-blossom cheese pupusas, the steak-and-yucca house platter, citrusy grilled chicken, a huge shareable seafood soup and nicely caramelized plantains.

A cheerful Salvadoran-Mexican storefront in Allston run by chef-owner Edelmira Orellana, with homemade corn tortillas and big plates. The critic singled out the fresh-corn tamales with fruit shakes, the cheese and loroco pupusas, the marinated carne asada and pork chop, and the chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce.

The long-awaited second branch of the South End's Addis Red Sea, opened in the former Indian Club space in Porter Square with communal injera platters. The critic found the spicing milder than hoped but enjoyed the spiced-butter cottage cheese, the lentil and chickpea dishes, the collard greens, a rich doro wot and the tender mild alcha stews.

A family-run Jamaican spot in Codman Square owned by Chris Lorenz Graham with his wife and sister, cooking dishes they learned from their mother, who also bakes the desserts. The critic praised the peppery patties, crisp jerk chicken, tender oxtail with soft dumplings, and especially the rum-soaked fruit cake, while finding the stewed fish a bit flat.

A tiny family-run Jamaican counter spot in the former Emma's pizza space, run by Valerie and Leon Welch with a daily-changing board of island home cooking. The reviewer found it an ideal family takeout option, praising the gently spiced jerk chicken, the fiery beef patties and especially the vinegary escabeche fish.

A 19-seat Arlington cafe and catering shop from Nevis-born chef Johnny Levins, formerly of Green Street Grill, and his partner Jodi Auerbach. The reviewer called the cooking remarkable and well layered, praising a grilled cornmeal fungi cake with mushrooms and shrimp, rasta pasta with calabaza, light crab cakes, jerk-dusted pork shoulder and a homey pineapple rum cake.

A plain counter-service Jamaican spot run by chef Stanley Byfield and his family, with lunch and dinner portion sizes at any hour and an ice cream shop next door. The reviewer enjoyed the flaky beef patties, crisp-skinned jerk chicken, fork-tender stewed beef, meaty oxtails with butter beans and home-baked lemon tartlets.

A small 19-seat Italian takeout and catering spot opened by a Somerville-born cook and named for his Sicilian grandmother, with a steam table of daily specials, Sicilian-style square pizzas and cooked-to-order entrees. The critic recommended the cracker-topped baked haddock, the stuffed meatloaf, the turkey dinner, the garlicky spinach Florentina pizza and the arancini.

A Dedham deli owned by the Caruso family since 1959 that turns into a casual bar-and-dinner spot four nights a week. The critic enjoyed the grilled shrimp skewers, honey mustard wings, butternut squash ravioli with walnuts and the cracker-thin flatbread pizzas.

A 1950s-style counter-service burger joint, part of a small South Shore family chain, known for root beer brewed on site. The critic, guided by her son, liked the bargain cheeseburger, the burger-and-dog combo with crisp fries, thick onion rings and the Black Cow root beer float shake.

A pair of relaxed grilled-sandwich cafes, the original in the Charlestown Navy Yard and a newer one in Central Square with all-day breakfast and a smoothie bar. The critic liked the spicy Cuban, the Reuben, the Baja chicken with cilantro-lime creme fraiche, the best-selling Southwestern turkey and a gooey grilled PB&J, though too many sandwiches leaned on mayo.

A friendly, tucked-away family cafe on Farnsworth Street run by an Albanian-born couple and their children. The critic enjoyed the dense veggie wrap, the dill chicken salad sandwich, homemade baklava and an excellent spinach and feta omelet breakfast.

A dim, pine-paneled South End dive bar with kitschy decor and a tiny kitchen that changes its menu every six weeks. The critic found some dishes overcomplicated but loved the griddle-crisped bean and cheese quesadilla with mango salsa, the pressed turkey and ham grinder, and pecan-crusted lamb chops that were a real bargain.

A Glynn Hospitality Group spot on Boylston Street that combines a sports-pub front room, a cozier fireplace dining room and a patio popular with Red Sox fans. The reviewer saw casual food as its strength, liking the cheese-stuffed eggplant small plate, crisp spring rolls, a seared scallop and pear salad, thin-crust brick-oven pizza and the fried banana dessert, despite a service slip.

A self-service burger joint near BU built around green practices, from efficient equipment and recycled decor to local ingredients and compostable tableware, with a tightly focused eight-item menu. The reviewer praised the juicy half-pound char-grilled burger on a Portuguese roll, flawless skin-on fries, a moist chicken sandwich, an aged-cheddar grilled cheese and a smoky Mattapan-made hot dog.

A small, plain Cleary Square takeout spot where the owner's Georgia-raised mother cooks Southern food for all three meals. The critic loved the light fried chicken, the moist meatloaf, smothered pork chops with cornbread and sides like collards and mac and cheese, plus a cheap breakfast with garlic grits.

A casual grab-and-go barbecue counter that chef Paul Turano opened in the former space of his upscale Canton restaurant Olio. The critic found the meats mildly seasoned but tasty, liking the tender dry-rubbed ribs, juicy half chicken and pulled-chicken sandwich, plus sides like garlic grits and smashed potatoes and a homemade whoopie pie.

A bright bakery-cafe at the foot of Beacon Hill with a partly open kitchen, turning out pastries plus sandwiches, quiche and baked empanadas. The critic rated the browned-butter brownie among the best anywhere and also liked the carrot cakes, red velvet cupcakes, empanadas and lightly dressed salad sandwiches, though prices ran high and service could be gloomy.