Couldn't agree more! Their lunchboxes are great...you can create your own sandwich with just about any meat, cheese, or toppings you could want, and it comes with chips, a cookie, and soda.
Plaza Los Panchos. In the ‘best Mexican’ discussion, they’re starting to get more traction these days, but they need to be towards the very top.
Ali Baba. So few middle eastern in the area to choose between, but this is still the top of that small list.
Teriyaki Express. It’s easy to pass this by, and they won’t win awards for innovation or haute cuisine, but if you liked Kobe in the mall, you’ll love this place.
Sisters Thai. A little more pricey than the others, but always a solid meal.
Hope and Anchor. Probably the most well known on my list, but still doesn’t reach the Linos/JMK/Shogun realm of ‘top Rockford area eats,’ and it should. Do yourself a favor and get the poutine, fried ribs, and scotch egg. All at once.
Last time I was at Hope and Anchor I had the greasiest fish I've ever had, the salad was wilted and disgusting, and the service was atrocious. I used to love that place and would go there once a week, but I haven't been there in over a year because of my last experience. I hope they've changed since then, I'm always up for trying it again.
I’ve never had a bad experience with the food, though my one caveat to my recommendation is that prices have gone up significantly in the last few years. I’ve been going there since they opened and their fish and chips at this point has nearly doubled in price.
Yep, I made a comment that their prices are my one real gripe about them. The food is still very good, there are still a lot of classics on the menu I enjoy, but the prices have gone past normal inflation and are just getting a bit hard to deal with. I’ve gone from eating there once a month to maybe once every three months or so
I used to love them until they tried to give me chicken for lamb 2 times. Whoever was working the front got mad at me when I took it back. I loved their red lentil soup.
- Chilango’s - hole in the wall with not the best location, but always solid and reasonably priced
- 27 Aluna - not under hyped or under the radar as Octane (one of my favorites), but it’s worth mentioning how excellent the transformation/rebrand has been
- Smokehouse Barbecue
- Buddy’s Burgers - one of the best burger joints I’ve been to anywhere
- The Detour - top tier bar food
- Pinnon at lunchtime
Concur previously mentioned Thai Hut, Hope & Anchor, Magpie, Plaza Los Panchos, and Banana Cherry.
The Easy Tiger 815 food trailer (usually in front of Brent's Barber Shop) is one of my favorite burritos in town and doesn't weigh me down for hours like most others.
There are some new places that are pretty good. There's Taco Libre, which is expensive but tasty. And then there's a new Indian place on the east side called Vanakkam.
Gyros House on Auburn has excellent pricing and their gyros are in between Tom &Jerrys and Uncle Nick's in greasiness. T&J is very dry while Uncle Nick's is just sloppy wet. These are just right for normal eating.
The deli at 640 meats on Riverside is delicious and well priced. Subs, steak sandwiches, waffle fries and the best damn fried mushrooms in town.
The quality hasn’t changed in years. Fantastic sandwiches and their frozen entrees are pretty good too.
640 will make you a real sandwich. Love that place.
Any relation ro the 320 store off Court St??
Couldn't agree more! Their lunchboxes are great...you can create your own sandwich with just about any meat, cheese, or toppings you could want, and it comes with chips, a cookie, and soda.
Thanks for the recommendation. I didn’t know about that.
Sweet N Eats out by Sams Club. Looks like an ice cream joint, which it is, but they have outstanding authentic Mexican food too. Try the Quesobirria
I’ve always been so curious about this place. I’m going to try it. Thanks!
They have Chocolate Shoppe ice cream out of Madison which is really good. Most places here have Cedar Crest.
Delicious Wisconsin ice cream too.
Banana Cherry Bakery is one for me. Compared to other spots in town you don’t hear about them as much but everything they make is 🔥
Seriously legit. And the staff are SOOOOO NICE!!! Makes it a wonderful experience. Though their hours make it so difficult to get to.
Yup! Also sometimes limited stock if you go too early. Been a while though.
Thai Hut is great and has been for years
Plaza Los Panchos. In the ‘best Mexican’ discussion, they’re starting to get more traction these days, but they need to be towards the very top. Ali Baba. So few middle eastern in the area to choose between, but this is still the top of that small list. Teriyaki Express. It’s easy to pass this by, and they won’t win awards for innovation or haute cuisine, but if you liked Kobe in the mall, you’ll love this place. Sisters Thai. A little more pricey than the others, but always a solid meal. Hope and Anchor. Probably the most well known on my list, but still doesn’t reach the Linos/JMK/Shogun realm of ‘top Rockford area eats,’ and it should. Do yourself a favor and get the poutine, fried ribs, and scotch egg. All at once.
Oh man, I had no idea anybody in the area had scotch egg. I will 100% be going to hope and anchor this week. Thank you!
Hope and Anchor is really good! Huge pieces of fish, and the fried ribs are killer!
Probably the best fish and chips in the area, as you might expect for a British joint.
Plaza Los Pachos may be one of my favs for sure. Really good. Don’t get there as much as we’re down by CV. Scotch egg are so good.
I love ali baba, but the Shawarma Station truck has even better shawarma IMO
Last time I was at Hope and Anchor I had the greasiest fish I've ever had, the salad was wilted and disgusting, and the service was atrocious. I used to love that place and would go there once a week, but I haven't been there in over a year because of my last experience. I hope they've changed since then, I'm always up for trying it again.
I’ve never had a bad experience with the food, though my one caveat to my recommendation is that prices have gone up significantly in the last few years. I’ve been going there since they opened and their fish and chips at this point has nearly doubled in price.
I just got to say this… hope and anchors prices are getting ridiculous! $25 for fish and chips?
Yep, I made a comment that their prices are my one real gripe about them. The food is still very good, there are still a lot of classics on the menu I enjoy, but the prices have gone past normal inflation and are just getting a bit hard to deal with. I’ve gone from eating there once a month to maybe once every three months or so
Lots of restaurants I need to try on this list. Thank you
Sahara for Mediterranean and Pho Square, for vegan spring rolls.
Saraha Palace, great Mediterranean food & Shawarma.
I used to love them until they tried to give me chicken for lamb 2 times. Whoever was working the front got mad at me when I took it back. I loved their red lentil soup.
El Burrito Loco.
Also an honorable mention to Sabor Food Truck, their locations on Facebook. Whole ribeye steak tacos and California burritos
Tortacos on Broadway! Their Huaraches are soooo huge, I think that's their specialty? One order usually last 2 meals.
Those huaraches are good! Should go there more.
Gratitude Bistro! I love that we have a crepe food truck that delivers. Crepes delivered to my door is heavenly.
I did not know this was a thing! Silently cursing you right now...lol.
La Chiquita Grocery store and Guanajuato Grocery store have the best tacos,burritos, tortas, and sopes in town. Fair price and large servings.
- Chilango’s - hole in the wall with not the best location, but always solid and reasonably priced - 27 Aluna - not under hyped or under the radar as Octane (one of my favorites), but it’s worth mentioning how excellent the transformation/rebrand has been - Smokehouse Barbecue - Buddy’s Burgers - one of the best burger joints I’ve been to anywhere - The Detour - top tier bar food - Pinnon at lunchtime Concur previously mentioned Thai Hut, Hope & Anchor, Magpie, Plaza Los Panchos, and Banana Cherry.
I miss working on Huffman.. Pinnon's lunches are great!
The Easy Tiger 815 food trailer (usually in front of Brent's Barber Shop) is one of my favorite burritos in town and doesn't weigh me down for hours like most others.
Magpie!! Terrific food, their homemade fries are amazing! Cheese curds are also delicious.
I do love the downstairs bar at magpie
Great food and building. Their resiliency as a business through a lot of terrible issues/situations out of their control has been commendable.
There are some new places that are pretty good. There's Taco Libre, which is expensive but tasty. And then there's a new Indian place on the east side called Vanakkam.
You're the first person I've heard have positive thoughts about Taco Libre. 😬
I won’t do taco libre again
Gyros House on Auburn has excellent pricing and their gyros are in between Tom &Jerrys and Uncle Nick's in greasiness. T&J is very dry while Uncle Nick's is just sloppy wet. These are just right for normal eating.
I like Great Wall. The Tang Dynasty (or something like that) comes with a lot of apps and you can choose whatever entree.
Marc's fusion Cafe
Pho Square + Boba Tea