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Pakistani
Shalimar in San Francisco is the Tenderloin Pakistani counter where a tandoor-fired chicken tikka, naan and dal lands under thirteen dollars at lunch service.
TryChicken tikka with naan and dal
TipEat at the back tables; the front counter has the tandoor view but no chairs.
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Cantonese
Yuet Lee in San Francisco is the Chinatown late-night Cantonese counter, where a plate of salt-and-pepper squid plus rice and beer runs twenty dollars.
TrySalt and pepper squid
TipCash only after midnight; the kitchen window seats fill the fastest at 23:30.
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Thai
Rooster & Rice in San Francisco is the Thai khao man gai counter, with poached chicken on rice cooked in chicken fat, for thirteen dollars across four sites.
TryKhao man gai (Thai poached chicken on rice)
TipOrder the steamed and fried combo; you get both proteins for a couple of dollars more.
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Greek
Souvla in San Francisco is the Hayes Valley Greek spit-roast sandwich counter, with a lamb sandwich, a frozen Greek yogurt and a take-away built for a fast.
TryLamb sandwich
TipOrder ahead via the app and skip the 12:30 line; the frozen yogurt is the closer.
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Russian
The Sentinel in San Francisco is Dennis Leary's South of Market lunch window, serving a corned beef and Russian dressing sandwich to a long FiDi office line.
TryCorned beef sandwich
TipOrder ahead via the website by 11:00; the window is a six-deep line from 12:15-13:30.
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Bakery
Bob's Donuts in San Francisco is the 24-hour Polk Street doughnut counter since 1960, with an apple fritter and a five-pound monster doughnut challenge.
TryApple fritter or buttermilk bar
TipCash and card after 02:00; the buttermilk bar is the locals' order over the fritter.