Allende specializes in Mexican food served hotter and faster than a stock car. Whether you want a breakfast of huevos rancheros (eggs in ranchero sauce, a staple of a Mexican grill) or a full dinner entree with the oaxaquena (ham, strips of steak, cheese, onion, rice, beans and diced iceberg lettuce served with a side of tortillas), this Lincoln Park diner will get it to you in a hurry.

Other sizzling dinner options include the carne asada, Mexican pepper steak and the flautas plate. Any one of these will fill your stomach to the brim without draining your wallet to its barest minimum: The entrees, the most expensive portion of the menu, are all under $8. The breakfast plates and burritos (which are gargantuan) go for roughly half that price. If you're only looking for something quick to take with you on the L, Allende has tacos, tortas and tostadas that you can almost buy with the change in your couch cushions and can easily slip right into a backpack pocket.

While Allende's diner seating doesn't have the spit and polish of the typical ritzy Lincoln Park eatery, it makes up for it not only with the speed and cost, but also with a comfortable and casual atmosphere for diners and staff alike. Although there are a couple of booths scattered around Allende's narrow dining room, the majority of the seats have a direct site line to the grill, so you can see exactly how the cooks make everything taste so damn good.

But don't expect to be able to match their skill: Like the race car driver on television, the cooks at Allende make their craft seem a lot easier than it is. Especially after a long night at the bars, you're better off leaving any task involving burning hot grills and razor sharp knives to the experts. And since they're open well into the early morning, you can be sure Allende will be there for you.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Patrick Corcoran