Ann Ahmed has captured imaginations and appetites with her second restaurant Lat14, and third Khâluna, but Lemon Grass was her first and is just as delicious and buzzworthy. Try the zippy papaya salad, the tom kha (a coconut milk-based soup with galangal) or any one of the roast duck preparations.

Don’t let the no-frills vibe fool you. This family-run deli is known for its can’t-miss, perfectly-smoked meats. Expect friendly-counter service, pork ribs with a balanced sweet-smokey glaze, and brisket so tender you can cut it with a plastic fork. Multiple locations.

While Giulia is a hotel restaurant in sleepy downtown Minneapolis, it pretty much stands on its own. Giulia shares its vaulted space with the Emery’s lobby, but the hotel overlap stops there. The focus on northern Italian flavors are precise and spot on — think virtually faultless ricotta meatballs, a play on arancini (here, named suppli) paired with apple, and maltagliati: homemade, silky ribbons of pasta with a tonkotsu-style Japanese stock that’s wildly flavorful.

One of many standout spots on Nicollet Avenue, Apoy serves traditional Filipino cuisine and a few original dishes of its own. Start with the classic lumpia or tender, caramelized tocino. The Shrimp Bicol Express pairs creamy coconut with piquant ginger in a tantalizing sauce. For dessert, the halo halo, a shaved ice medley of coconut, plantains, jackfruit, and sweetbeans (plus a scoop of ice cream on top) is the perfect antidote to a hot summer day. (For a special occasion, make a reservation for a kamayan, a traditional Filipino feast.)

Nearly lost in the menagerie of PR-backed restaurants that populate Dinkytown, Korea Restaurant keeps quietly chugging along with a glorious assortment of bibimbap, bulgogi, and potstickers. Lunch is mayhem, but worth every second of wait time. Prepare for self-service and generous helpings, and don’t be shy to refill on the side dishes.

Find perhaps the Cities’ best Afghan cuisine in this cozy restaurant just off of Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. Khyber Pass has a lovely interior — the walls are draped with traditional Afghan tapestries — but since the pandemic began, it’s been takeout only. Try the sabzi korma, an organic lamb curry, or the kebabs. Dishes like the vegetarian shola and aushak (leek dumplings) make this a favorite spot for vegetarians. A side of the cilantro and walnut chutney is a must.

Tucked into a petite stone building on University Avenue in St. Paul, Cambodian restaurant Cheng Heng is a Frogtown gem. Try the fiery red kor koo noodle soup, or the machu angkor, made with winter squash, pineapple, and lotus stems. Save room for the thuck kaw chuew: Beans nestled under sweetened condensed milk and crushed ice.