Korean and Japanese$$college-hill
Den Den Cafe Asiana on Benefit Street is the all-day Asian counter from the Den Den hospitality group. Bibimbap, soba, tonkatsu, rice bowls, gyoza.
Signature: Hot-stone bibimbap, Seafood pancake, Katsu
Order: Hot-stone bibimbap and a seafood pancake; an order of fried chicken to share.
Tip: Counter ordering; bring it back to the small dining room or take out. Late lunch is the quietest hour.
Korean$$east-side
Den Den's Korean fried chicken counter on Angell Street: double-fried wings and drumsticks in plain or gochujang glazes; small dining room, takeaway.
Signature: Double-fried wings, Sweet-and-spicy drumsticks, Tteokbokki
Order: Double-fried drumsticks with sweet-and-spicy glaze, plus an order of tteokbokki.
Tip: Half-and-half a tray of plain and spicy; orders ship in 12 to 15 minutes once you order.
Cambodian and Southeast Asian$$west-side
Apsara on Public Street is Providence's longest-running Cambodian kitchen, with a pan-Southeast Asian menu running through Vietnamese, Thai and Lao classics.
Signature: Nime chow, Khmer curry, Singapore noodles
Order: Nime chow with peanut sauce and a Khmer curry; Singapore noodles if you want heat.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays; lunch is the quickest sit. Counter is no-frills strip-mall style, but the cooking is serious.
Peruvian and Bolivian$$$west-side
Los Andes on Chalkstone is the Providence Peruvian and Bolivian destination, with a waterfall and koi-pond patio. Lomo saltado, anticuchos, salteñas.
Signature: Lomo saltado, Anticuchos, Salteñas
Order: Lomo saltado and a round of anticuchos; ask if there are salteñas at lunch.
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday for dinner with a 15:00 Sunday lunch; book the patio in summer.
Syrian$$fox-point
Youssef Akhtarini's Aleppo Sweets on Ives opened in 2019, three years after his family resettled from Syria. Eight baklava plus a mezze menu.
Signature: Baklava, Mezze, Lamb kabob
Order: Pistachio baklava, an order of muhammara and a lamb kabob plate.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; the takeaway counter does the same baklava as the dining room.
Japanese$$east-side
Wara Wara on Hope Street has been serving ramen, cold sake, oysters and tapas since 2016. Compact dining room; the bar takes counter orders late.
Signature: Ramen, Pork belly buns, Oysters and sake
Order: A bowl of tonkotsu ramen, pork belly buns, a glass of cold junmai.
Tip: Closed Sunday; the small bar turns over for walk-ins on weeknights.