State Fare

A menu filled with the sort of Americana classics you’d expect to find at, well, a state fair—right down to a “Big Tex” grilled cheese with Gruyere and short ribs—has made Lee Ellis’s latest venture in Gateway Memorial a fast hit with Memorial Villages families.

Izakaya Wa

True to the informal izakaya format, at this low-key, high-energy spot, grilled skewers of Japanese beef and pints of Kirin Ichiban are more commonly found on diners’ tables than sushi and sashimi (though you can—and should—get both).

Luchi & Joey's

Both Tex- and Mex-style tacos are on offer at this cute above-ground outpost of the popular downtown-tunnels joint. Chorizo-and-egg tacos are a no-brainer at breakfast, while fish tacos—especially the avocado-topped salmon version—are the big catch at lunch and dinner. 

Pho & Crab

Inventive and irreverent takes on traditional Vietnamese dishes make every visit here a conundrum: lemongrass-basil mussels, or crab pho with shrimp and scallops? We say, get both.