Local Eats

[anoddmind]

every major city has a "world known" 5 star restaurant, but what about the mom&pop operations that have great meals at a good price and you always leave full? where do the natives eat at in your area?
Tampa:
1. Hugo's - little Spanish/Cuban restaurant on S.Howard, $5 bay side burger is great, or for a fast lunch try the ropa vieja sandwich (eat it immediately, it's not at tasty when the Cuban bread gets soggy.
2. Cafe Hey - just north of downtown, it's a little sandwich shop with some great coffee. the ambiance that this place creates is kind of a younger artistic approach with art for sale on the wall. I have never been let down by the soup of the day and the menu is always refreshing
3. Bamboozle - Vietnamese restaurant in down town. They remembered my roommates name after one visit! each meal you order is custom made and great, a good place to try pho if you have never had it.

[SilentBob]

Springfield, MO:
1. Mexican Villa - locally owned Tex-Mex place that is awesome and cheap.
2. Lambert's - Down home cooking and they throw rolls to you. Always go on an empty stomach because portions are huge and free pass arounds.
3. Hong Kong Inn - Best chinese food I've ever had, serves Springfield's own cashew chicken but I prefer the General Chicken
4. Ziggie's Cafe - 24/7 diner, best after drinking haha

[ColibriDon]

I'll throw in some places in Tampa and Orlando:

Tampa:
Mema's Alaskan Tacos in Ybor City. It was mentioned in Playboy as a great place to grab a bite late at night. It really is.

Bern's Steakhouse--Classic. Best steak in Tampa. Done.

La Teresita--Very nice food. Cheap as hell, solid Cuban cooking with a very Hialeah feel.

Orlando:
El Cerro-Great Mexican Food at good prices, right on University coming out of UCF.

Lazy Moon-On University, as well, in fact the same damn shopping center as El Cerro. Unbelievable Pizza at dirt cheap prices.

...I need to stop talking in this thread. I'm starving and this is only making it worse. More to come.

OH! Also, the Columbia in Ybor City in Tampa! Go there, NOW!

[joytron]

Long Beach, CA

1. Pho Hong Phat
-great pho place owned by a really nice Cambodian Family. (all the serve is pho but its the best broth in town)
2. Siem Reap
-cambodian food, with a lot of Thai/chinese/Viet dishes. Def. go for the Hot Pot, Its a coconut curry broth that comes with noodles, raw veggies, shrimp, beef and assorted seafood. you cook everything on your table. Some of the best food i have ever had
3. Thai Basil/Thai Issan/Bai Plu thai and sushi
-THe three best thai places, where almost everything on the menu is perfect. The green curry and pad thai are perfect, and dont forgot sticky rice and mango for dessert.
4. Binh Duong
-another great viet place. They serve pho and everythign else, so i prefer to go here when im in the mood for sometihng other then pho.
5. Super Mex
-a mini chain (four restaurants in and around Long Beach), super mex borders on sit down and fast food. Def. reccomend the shredded beed burritos, chile rellenos, and my personal favorite; the machaca plate

[Karot]

Seattle
Jade Garden - dim sum. packed, all the time
Dicks - cheap fast burgers, one step up from mcdonalds but still delicious
Hot mama's - relatively cheap new york style pizza, I really like any pizza so Im kind of biased

[Arcane]

i'm from SoCal, so most people in my area go to:

In n Out Burger - a California staple
Abierto's/Adalberto's/Roberto's - your hole in the wall mexican joint, where they wrap all your food in white or brown paper
any good pho restaurant - where they serve beef tendons, tripe, etc with the pho.

[SuburbanSmoker]

bay area CA
The east
1. Kinders- BBQ deli, will make you shit your pants its sooo good.
2. Casa Arosco- started out as a hole in the wall mexican place in a shotty marketplace to become a huge success. amazing mexican food at good prices.
3. It is cali, who doesnt go to in n out?

[Arcane]

3. It is cali, who doesnt go to in n out?

apparently, joytron....haha!