Its sister site in Evanston may be popular, but Chinatown's Joy Yee consistently has a line out the door on the weekends. It's a great place to go if you’re by yourself, because you'll get through the line faster, and you'll be able to practice the sport of people-watching while you eat. The menu here, like that of many Chinatown joints, is gargantuan, but it's better designed (with lots of photos), and therefore a bit more manageable than most.

Portions are huge, too, so don't think you can finish off an appetizer or soup in addition to an entree. Either stick to one course or plan on taking half your meal home after you cry "Enough!" The style of cuisine reaches across national boundaries, so you’ll find Japanese octopus meat balls, Szechwan string beans in garlic sauce and coconut Thai green curry chicken, as well as Korean and Malaysian dishes, all vying for your consumption. If the notion of drinking a fruity "freeze" appeals to you, then Joy Yee's will be your paradise, as they offer dozens of flavors, such as the kiwi strawberry freeze and the lychee and papaya freeze.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Abigail Derecho