Garden of Tranquility is one of those nice surprises sometimes found when you venture a little farther away from the center of the city. While the outside is rather shabby and the service varies from decent to downright rude, the food is always excellent and the atmosphere quite pleasant. Particular favorites are the Hot & Sour Soup, which definitely lives up to its name, and the Hong Kong Fried Noodles with Vegetables, an abundance of fresh, steamed vegetables in sauce atop a pile of garlic-fried noodles. If the crowd outside is any indication, lunch seems to be the best time to go, and it's no wonder-lunch specials include their famous soup, steamed rice, a nicely-portioned entrée of your choice, fortune cookie and a Hershey's Kiss, all for under $10.

- by Tamar Love