Satay chicken from Peninsula. Photo by Bre McGeePeninsula

Now that Peninsula has been cooking on Eat Street for a few years -- the Malaysian restaurant opened in 2006 -- how is it holding up? Quite well, thank you. It remains the area's most ambitious Malaysian dining experience, both in terms of its cuisine -- a complex melting pot of Indian, Chinese, Thai and traditional Malaysian preparations -- and in the trappings of surroundings and service. The fragrant dishes lean toward spicy but seldom fiery. Don't miss the beef rendang, the banana-wrapped fresh fish, the pickled green beans in peanut sauce, the plump chicken satays, the lamb simmered in coconut milk and chiles. An open kitchen provides some entertaining dinner theater, vegetarians will want to permanently plug the restaurant into the GPS and the bar shakes up all manner of cocktails that incorporate Southeast Asian flavors.

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Salsa A La Salsa. Photo by Carlos Gonzalez

  • THE BAD WAITRESS: American. This winkingly divey diner makes customers write down their own orders at the counter, but the food delivered by the perfectly competent wait staff makes up for the inconvenience. Well-executed spins on classic American fare, including a robust breakfast selection, makes the Bad Waitress a perfect brunch or even pre-work spot. Retro movie posters and other vintage décor also make this a prime bring-the-out-of-towners location. --James Norton
  • JASMINE DELI: Vietnamese. Offering quick and delicious Vietnamese classics, Jasmine Deli has become a temple to the idea of good cheap eats. From bountiful spring rolls to the hot bowls of soulfully flavored soup to broken rice plates, the extremely casual Jasmine offers little pretense, low prices and a great deal of comfort.
  • HOANG THIEN Y DELI: Vietnamese. Hoang Thien Y is a quiet little spot -- a deli not much bigger than a phone booth, serving up cuisine ranging from the comforting (pork bahn mi) to the confounding (tripe and durian fruit, for starters). Extremely affordable, the deli's dishes are largely made for first-generation Southeast Asian immigrants by first-generation Southeast Asian immigrants, so go in with an open mind and flexible palate. And the timid customer can still enjoy the atmosphere while taking the easy gastronomic route: Just grab a smoothie, wolf down one or two banh mi, and pick through the trays of colorful Vietnamese desserts up by the counters. --James Norton
  • LITTLE TIJUANA: Mexican favorites from this college rite-of-passage. Open late-night.
  • PANCHO VILLA: Mexican. Familiar items such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas alongside a variety of more exotic dishes. Service is friendly and portions very large.
  • PHO TAU BAY: Asian/Vietnamese. A favorite stop for adventurous Eat Street explorers, Pho Tau Bay is a little farther off the beaten path than Quang and the two Jasmine restaurants, but it rewards those who make the effort -- this is some of the best and most interesting food on the street. Try anything with the house barbecued pork -- a broken rice plate or noodle dish, for example. --James Norton
  • SALSA A LA SALSA: Creative Mexican cuisine, incorporating the use of various Mexican peppers and spices to prepare dishes like Puerco con Nopalitos en Salsa Roja, Camarones a la Diabla and Salmon Tatemado, plus standard Mexican favorites.

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Marinated baby back ribs from Jasmine 26. Photo by Tom Wallace

  • BLACK FOREST INN: German. The schnitzel and sauerbraten are good year-round, and on a sunny summer day there's no more blissful place to quaff down a stein of Hacker-Pschorr or carve up a bratwurst than the lovely patio.
  • EL MARIACHI: Mexican. Quesadillas, tacos, Tampico-style steak, whole fried fish and more.
  • HARRY SINGH'S CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT: East Indies meets West Indies, with rotis, curries, calaloo, jerk chicken and Caribbean soft drinks, plus dangerously hot-hot sauce. Vegetarian items.
  • JASMINE 26 VIETNAMESE: The more upscale sister restaurant to the humble-as-rice Jasmine Deli around the corner, Jasmine 26 takes its cues from restaurants like the now-departed Azia, blending traditional Asian flavors with Western-friendly fusion influences. From caramelized claypot catfish to ginger Cornish hen to chicken lollipops, Jasmine 26 puts on more of show than your typical Eat Street hole in the wall, and charges accordingly.
  • JERUSALEM'S: Middle Eastern. Falafel, kebabs, baba ghanouj, chicken and lamb curries, deep-fried veggies and much more.
  • MARKET BAR-B-QUE: Ribs pit-smoked and served "naked," with sauce on the side.
  • PING'S SZECHUAN BAR & GRILL: Chinese. Distinctive Asian cuisine.
  • RAINBOW CHINESE RESTAURANT: Attractive decor and a diverse menu characterize this treasured Eat Street restaurant. The fare includes superb, hearty noodle soups and chow-fun dishes.
  • SEAFOOD PALACE: Lobster and fresh fish are the specialties here.

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