6. Paulie's: Summer Salad
Oh, you haven't had Paulie's Summer Salad? Then you haven't had one of the best things on the menu. Spicy arugula, pickled cherry tomatoes, a slice of fresh melon, all topped with fresh-shaved Parmesan, first-press olive oil and lemon juice. I order this salad 100 percent of the time that I go to Paulie's -- no joke. So bright and delicious (those cherry tomatoes should be illegal), and it comes out in a jiffy.
5. Villa Arcos: All the Tacos
I didn't think I could love Villa Arcos more, and then they started taking debit and credit cards. This is my kind of place: All of the tacos are amazing, their hot sauce is legit, nothing on the menu is more than four bucks. Breakfast tacos at Villa Arcos have saved my life a half-dozen times since I moved to Houston. Truth.
(I know "best tacos" is a controversial topic around here, and I'm bracing myself.)
4. Eatsie Boys: Kale Salad
The Eatsie Boys Kale Salad has changed a bit from the original version I fell in love with -- the current salad includes tempura kale, so I'm not exactly complaining -- but it's both light and filling, and even though it's pretty healthy, you still feel as if you're indulging a bit. It's always the simplest salads that taste the best, so all the kale needs is the white miso dressing and yellow raisins it comes with to be a complete thing unto itself. It's honestly a little magical.
3. Mytiburger: Mytiburger #1
A regular Mytiburger (lettuce, tomato, pickles, mustard) plus cheese, a side of fries, a medium ice tea, all for $6.70. (Assuming you can resist the rest of the menu -- good luck.) Even an average burger would be a deal at six bucks, but this one is big, fresh and cooked to juicy perfection. The '50s diner vibe is cool, and the staff is so friendly. After they learned we had just moved to the neighborhood, they told us to remember to order ahead next time and pick up through the drive-through if we wanted take-out.
2. Whataburger: Whataburger Patty Melt
After struggling to find something to love on the Whataburger menu, an EOW commenter pointed me toward the brand's eponymous patty melts, assuring me they were far superior to other sandwiches. I've switched to the patty melt and haven't looked back, unless to test the occasional new menu item. When I am eating Whataburger, it's almost always a dripping, buttery, greasy, tasty patty melt.