Real Vietnamese cuisine is marvelous, and it is real here! Soups are a staple of Vietnamese cooking, and the most traditional is beef and noodle, which is delicious. The steamed dumplings are also wonderful. There are lunch specials that are a great value and a fixed price sampler dinner for six or more that is outstanding in quantity and quality. This restaurant is in the Monticello Shopping Center ­ a bit off the beaten path, so you will find mostly locals here. Reservations accepted.

Cooked or uncooked? That is the question here, and you can pick your answer. Chefs make the food sizzle at your tableside grill, or you can belly up to the sushi bar for some Hurricane rolls and other uncooked delicacies. The service is attentive, and the selection of wines and beers is as extensive as the menu. There are various coupons for this restaurant in some of the local guidebooks. There is also takeout sushi.

Showmen chefs make this a fun place for the whole family. They slice, dice, grill and make other magic with their sharp knives and witty conversation. The house specialty combines beef, chicken and seafood, and most entrees come as a complete meal with soup and salad. There is also a children's menu. The sushi can be ordered as a combination platter or à la carte. There are Japanese and domestic beers as well as a wide range of exotic cocktails. Reservations are suggested.

Some of the best barbecue in town is also the best value! Mongolian-style barbecue is not the Southern style many Americans are accustomed to; here you'll find slivers of well-seasoned meat seared on a grill. Served with rice, vegetables or noodles, the barbecue is intense. It's also a treat to watch the cooking! The buffet at Peking is legendary for its quantity, and the Sunday brunch is popular with locals.

Off the beaten path, this Chinese restaurant has excellent Peking, Hunan and Szechwan cuisine. There is an all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner buffet that the locals love and that has kept them coming back to for over 10 years. The food is good and plentiful, and the surroundings are quietly pleasant. For a Chinese meal that is a deal, join the locals here!