When it comes to finding the best food in a city, it often pays off to take a chance on the hidden holes in the wall where locals trade hype and fanfare for authentic recipes and quality flavors. These four tiny U.S. restaurants offer some of the best culinary delights in their respective cities.
La Superior, New York, New York
Unassuming doesn’t begin to describe the white-and-red brick facade of Brooklyn’s La Superior, where the neighborhood’s best Mexican food is made fresh behind metal roll-up doors in a tiny diner-esque kitchen. The margaritas are cheap and the guacamole is house-made, but the true and time-tested draw of La Superior is the tacos. Authentic Mexican varieties range from the familiar carne asada and fried fish to the more daring chipotle shrimp and lengua (that’s tongue meat tacos for the uninitiated). What the interior lacks in space and seating, La Superior more than makes up for in flavor and quality.
Chutney, San Francisco, California
Tourists and locals alike rarely venture into the TL (also known as the Tenderloin neighborhood), but that means smaller crowds at one of San Francisco’s top holes in the wall: Chutney. This Indian and Pakistani restaurant blows the curry scene out of the water with its tried and true sauces, and you’ll eat like a king for less than $10. Cliche as it may be, diners rave about Chutney’s signature chicken tikka masala, which is served in heaping bowlfuls with fresh naan and basmati rice. If you’re feeling more adventurous, though, opt for the lamb saag (lamb cooked with fresh spinach) or seekh kebab (ground, spiced lamb skewers cooked in a clay oven).
BUNK Sandwiches, Portland, Oregon
While there are plenty of local flavors to try thanks to Portland’s energetic and quirky culinary scene, if it’s hole-in-the-wall dining you’re after, you won’t want to overlook the monster creations at BUNK Sandwiches. Get yourself to their Morrison Street location (just keep an eye out for the blue awning with block lettering) and get ready to question everything you thought was true about sandwiches. From the pork belly cubano with ham, swiss, pickles and mustard to the house-smoked turkey and avocado banh mi with daikon and carrot pickles, jalapeños, cilantro and aioli, Bunk Sandwiches’ creations might set the flavor bar so high that sandwiches will be forever ruined for you.
Katsu, Chicago, Illinois
When it comes to sushi, the prospect of eating raw fish at a hole-in-the-wall joint can make one apprehensive, to say the least. But when it comes to Chicago’s Katsu, dining at a hole-in-the-wall also means enjoying some of the best cuts in the city. Tucked away in Chicago’s West Rogers Park, Katsu took the local dining scene by storm in 2013 when this little hole-in-the-wall managed to take top honors in Zagat’s “Top Food” category for Chicago. Tuna tartare with quail egg, stunning sashimi platters and fresh nigiri keep Katsu a local favorite, and the traditional-style Japanese cuisine means you won’t be finding Westernized, sauce-laden rolls anywhere on the menu. Keep in mind, though, that while the atmosphere and location scream “hole-in-the-wall,” the prices are on par with a higher-end sushi joint.
(Main image: jonny.hunter)
