Vietnamese$dorchesterDaily 06:00-18:00
Ba Le on Dorchester Avenue rolls banh mi in Boston's Vietnamese corridor since 1996. $7 sandwich, baguette baked fresh daily; Boston Legacy Business Award.
Try: BBQ pork banh mi
Tip: Cash and card both. Pho is also a budget order, $11 a bowl Cash is faster than card.
Chinese$chinatownMon-Sat 11:00-18:30, closed Sunday
Gene's on Bedford Street has hand-pulled wheat noodles in Boston's Downtown Crossing since 2013. Cash only, $12 cumin lamb noodles the menu order.
Try: Hand-pulled cumin lamb noodles
Tip: Cash only. The flatbread sandwich is the under-$10 lunch order; the noodles need a seat.
Vietnamese$dorchesterSun-Thu 10:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 10:00-22:00
Pho Hoa on Dorchester Avenue has poured beef pho in Boston's Vietnamese corridor since 1992. $13 large bowl, 18 pho varieties on the menu; Boston Magazine.
Try: Pho dac biet
Tip: Cash speeds the bill at lunch. The 11:30 opening is the easy walk-in seat before the noon office crowd arrives.
Pizzeria$north-endMon-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
Regina Pizzeria on Thacher Street has fired brick-oven thin-crust pies in Boston's North End since 1926. The original location, walk-ins only.
Try: Margherita pizza, shared
Tip: No slices; whole pies only.
Pizzeria$north-endDaily 11:30-22:00
Santarpio's on Chelsea Street fires Boston-style thin pies in East Boston since 1933. Located in North End. At 111 Chelsea St. Booking recommended.
Try: Cheese pie
Tip: Take the Blue Line to Maverick. Cash only. The lamb skewer-and-pie combo is $25 for one.
Japanese ramen$cambridgeMon-Tue closed; Wed-Fri 16:30-21:30; Sat 12:00-14:00, 16:30-21:30; Sun 11:30-16:00
Yume Wo Katare on Mass Ave in Porter Square Cambridge has poured Jiro-style ramen in Boston since 2012. At 1923 Massachusetts Ave. Booking recommended.
Try: Jiro-style ramen
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday through Sunday from 16:30; line forms 30 minutes before doors.