Mockingbird is one of those rare bastions of civility that's open on a Monday night, all the better to enjoy a glass of wine and a carefully constructed cheese plate at the restaurant's stately bar, under the whimsical and watchful eyes of a ceiling full of gargoyles. Of course, you can order the cheese plate at your table, with your meal. If you're feeling particularly continental, order it for dessert. But the constantly rotating cheese plate — which lately has featured selections like local goat and beer-bathed tomme from Houston's own Pola alongside a smooth sheep's milk Ossau from France — is sure to be a highlight of your meal. And at three cheeses for only $9 (along with a selection of crackers, fruit and honey), it's one of the best deals in town.

Necessity is the mother of discovery. You might expect the fried chicken at Randalls to be mediocre, but someone there has a love for crispy, golden-brown, juicy country-fried bliss that cannot be denied. On a bad day, it is better than most chains. Paula Dean would agree: The eight-piece combo of Southern delight is greasy finger-licking good.

The soup dumplings, or "steamed pork buns," as indicated on Fu Fu's menus, are small, doughy bags of concentrated broth and meat eagerly waiting to erupt in your mouth. These meaty morsels are both amazingly delicious and amazingly hot. If you're not careful, you'll scorch your lips, tongue, gums and anything else the molten inner liquids come into contact with. But handled correctly, you would find yourself with a new addiction.

El Rey may cater mostly to weekend partiers and yuppies looking to get their Mexican or Cuban fix, but when it comes to slinging breakfast tacos, the chain taqueria is tops. The jam-packed flour or corn tortillas come with fluffy eggs and choice of potato, bacon, ham or a mix of onion, chile pepper and tomato hunks. Off-menu, spicy chorizo is often available. The green salsa is thin and tart, with a great kick to start off the morning. Check out the eatery's colorful interiors and listen to Mexican crooners singing over the loudspeakers as you wait for your freshly made tacos. And at $1.65 a pop, you'll see why folks are lining up out the door most mornings to get their much-needed dose.

What's better than a truly authentic, Hong Kong-style meal of dim sum? Being able to get that meal nearly any time of day or night. Unlike most establishments, Dim Sum King serves the traditionally Sunday afternoon meal all day long, six days a week (no dim sum for you on Tuesdays), so you can quell that craving for yum cha and dumplings whenever the mood strikes. The menu is helpfully divided into three sections — small, medium and large plates, with corresponding prices — and has pictures as well as English descriptions under the Cantonese titles, helpful when encountering dishes like "White Cloud Phoenix Talons." The staff speaks limited English, but is always friendly and helpful. Favorites on the vast menu include savory turnip cakes, tangy beef balls and crunchy deep-fried shrimp balls, but the wide selection leaves room for ample experimentation over many visits.

READERS' CHOICE: Dim Sum King

Sugarcane is quickly becoming Houston's best option for an organic cocktail, and one sip of its unique take on the margarita will explain why. It's called a "Skinny Margarita" because it only has about 100 calories, but the real treat is how good it tastes. The bartender starts with an organic tequila (ask for Dulce Vida Blanco), then mixes in organic agave nectar, Citry Organic Orange Liqueur, freshly squeezed lime juice, freshly squeezed orange juice and a splash of spring water. The result is a lusciously simple and refreshing margarita on the rocks that satisfies your Tex-Mex craving even without a big plate of nachos on the side.

Busting out of a strip mall on Woodway, Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen is a true Texican kitchen. Sylvia herself roams the place, checking on tables as her enormous turquoise earrings sway delicately along with her nonstop motion. She is the center of this colorful universe, where she mimics the flavors of her youth in the Rio Grande Valley. The enchiladas, of course, are the star of the show. The cheese enchiladas get our vote for best in town. The homemade tortillas rolled and filled with a blend of cheddar cheeses and topped with Sylvia's signature enchilada chili are smooth and lack the seemingly requisite pools of grease. Meat enchiladas, too, are a win. They're packed with fresh, well-seasoned meat, and kicked up a notch by the thin, homemade sauce. Another plus? Portions are reasonable and not slathered with superfluous amounts of cheese.

Rumor has it that visiting Englishmen will get off the plane from London and hop a cab directly to the Red Lion for its fish and chips. Whether or not there's truth in this rumor, the delicious fish is undeniable. The fresh cod fillets are fried in a light, crispy batter that seems to magically adhere to the moist, flaky fish. Served with a side of fries and peas, this dish definitely doesn't disappoint.

This Korean restaurant's seafood pancake, or hae-mool pah-jun, is a force to be reckoned with. Diners often make the mistake of assuming this pancake to be less filling than it truly is while becoming addicted to its taste — it's presented as an appetizer but is the size of a medium pizza. The batter houses shrimp, octopus, oysters and chives that dance in the mouth. Add some of the accompanying spicy house sauce, and you'll soon regret ordering the all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue platter.

Hubcap Grill is a relative newcomer to the Houston burger scene, yet its influence is undeniable: Come lunchtime, the teensy downtown eatery is packed with suits, families, athletes, hipsters, youngsters, old folks, Americans and multinationals, all eating contentedly in close comfort. Among creative menu options like the Frito Pie Burger and the Peanut Butter Sticky Burger sits the Philly Cheese Steak Burger, our pick for best cheeseburger in Houston. This two-hander is a thing of beauty crowned with thin-sliced ribeye steak and melted Swiss cheese. The patty is juicy without sog, nicely enveloped in the warm queso, and the buns are lightly toasted to offer just the right crunch. It may not be a cheeseburger in the traditional sense, but it's one that will have you joining the crowd that worships at this house of ground beef.