Anh Hong is a casual but excellent Vietnamese restaurant in Dorchester.

The Laughing Monk Cafe is a Thai-Japanese restaurant in Mission Hill that has some sneakily great sushi.

Ban Toi is a great casual Vietnamese restaurant in Dorchester with a few dishes that have the potential to save a bad day.

Gene’s is a counter-service spot Downtown with outstanding hand-pulled noodles.

Kala Thai is a great little Thai spot next to the Haymarket downtown.

Ebi Sushi is a casual sushi spot in Union Square, and it’s just one more reason we’re jealous of people who live in Union Square.

Yeli’s is a great (and cheap) counter-service Dominican place in Jamaica Plain.

Picco is a South End spot that does two very important things - beer and pizza - very well.

The Backroom at Moody’s is a great restaurant attached to a great deli in Waltham.

Casa Razdora is a counter-service Italian place downtown with great sandwiches.

Yankee Lobster is a seafood shack on the Seaport that makes a lobster roll you should probably try.

Alex’s Chimi’s is a counter-service Dominican place in Jamaica Plain.

El Pelon is a great counter-service taco spot in the West Fens.

Pit Stop is a take-out barbecue place on the Dorchester/Mattapan line with great ribs and other barbecue standards.

Wheelhouse is a counter-service burger place Downtown.

Sam LaGrassa’s is a Downtown lunch place that serves really big sandwiches.