El Gallo Giro offers authentic food from Mexico City. The owner is from Mexico City and loves to prepare food by hand. Located in the heart of the Hispanic neighborhood in Topeka, El Gallo Giro offers large tortillas filled with wonderful ingredients. The Pambaso is like a sandwich filled with meat, potatoes and other ingredients. The owner also makes desserts like flan, cheesecake and choco flan. (Updated 3/24/09)

From the same owners as Jade Garden, Oriental Express offers a second Asian restaurant featuring different Asian cuisines designed to suit any palette. Enjoy your favorite Chinese, Japanese and Korean dishes in this fast-food restaurant just off Wanamaker. Be surprised by the delicious tastes. This restaurant also features a sushi bar with well-trained sushi chefs. (Updated 3/23/09)

A pilgrimage to CW Porubsky Grocery and Meats during chili season has been a Topeka tradition since 1947. This friendly, family-operated business is a good place to get a good meal without spending a lot of money.

Charles Porubsky opened this still family-run business Jan. 1, 1947. His son Charlie runs things now. To this day, little changes there. Porubsky's has the same weathered bar signs and packs the same lunch crowd ranging from the everyday worker to the governor. A county judge is among the servers.

And while chili season at Porubsky's runs from Oct. 1 through April 1, a trip to Topeka's Little Russia is not complete without also stopping for a legendary hot pickle. Be warned: even during chili season, chili isn't served on Fridays. (Updated 3/13/09)

Giovani’s Pizzeria & Café is a New York style pizzeria opened by a guy who used to own a pizzeria in Queen’s before leaving the Big Apple behind in 2009. Owner Frank Conti prides himself in serving good Italian food, including pizza slices that spill over the edges of the plate.

Purchase pizza by the slice all day. Or try the sandwiches, chicken Parmesan, New York cheese steaks and pastas. Looking for something sweet? Try cheesecake, cannoli and homemade pie. In the mornings, check out bagel sandwiches, muffins and breakfast pizzas. Specials throughout the week.