Los Nopales

4544 N. Western Ave.
Mexican
773.334.3149

This place is a little BYOB restaurant on Western that has excellent food at really great prices. It is pretty tiny so get there early so you don't have to wait. Everything there tastes really fresh and homemade--I would definitely recommend the tilapia taco. The service was pretty slow when we went but it was really busy. Even so, I do want to go back since I live in the area and the food is really tasty!

Solga

5828 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago
773.728.0802
Korean

I am getting to like Korean food now, especially the BBQ. This place is nice inside--not as dingy and smelly as other ones. (It uses gas grills instead of the charcoal.) You walk in and the smell is fragrant and appetizing. The waitstaff here is also attentive and nice--not too typical of Korean restaurants. They speak decent English and when you ask for something, they bring it. We got the bulgogi, which was prepared a little bit differently than I am used to: since we ordered two orders, they put noodles underneath and boiled it in soup over the gas grill. Personally, I like the meat-grilled-on-the-pan type better. But we did order the galbi, which was grilled on the pan, and that was excellent! We also got the seafood pancake, which was good. And of course, there were many of the "little plates" that covered the table. There was definitely more than enough food! We were so stuffed upon walking out of there. This place is pretty crowded and seemed to have many large parties so make reservations or get there early.