Ethnic eateries dish out the best way to save a buck dining out

The U.S. economy is in trouble. Gas prices are up. Interest rates are down. Layoffs loom. Scary as that sounds, it doesn't mean you have to give up dining out.

After all, you've got to keep your strength up.

For those nights when you can't quite justify a big-ticket dinner check, you don't have to stick to home-cooked rice and beans or bland burgers and fries.

Our secret for delectable cheap eats? Ethnic eateries, where flavors are big and prices are small.

Here are 10 ethnic places where you can dine very well for less than $15 a plate. They may not be fancy, but your palate won't know the difference.

Bowl Square

1051 Elmhurst Road, Des Plaines, (847) 357-8084

Bowl Square focuses largely on simplified versions of Korean staples, such as kalbi, thinly sliced, grilled beef short ribs, and the "green rice bowl" (bibimbap), a fresh-tasting bowlful of shreds of nicely seasoned beef, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, bean sprouts, dried gourd and hot rice, with a side of hot sauce.

You'll also find a few dishes from other Asian cuisines, such as tofu pad Thai, sweet-and-sour chicken, chicken or shrimp fried rice and a California roll.

Cho Dang Tofu Village

1719 W. Algonquin Road, Mount Prospect, (847) 956-8638, and 1721 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville, (630) 848-0884, www.chodangtofu.com

Sizzling-hot soups are the specialties at Cho Dang, which serves Korean-style entree soups in heated stone bowls. The bubbling broths come laden with tofu and vegetables and your choice of seafood or meat and are tailored to your taste in spiciness. Alongside, you get an egg to stir into the soup, another hot stone bowl of rice and a selection of kimchi and other pickles and vegetables, all for less than $10.

For a few dollars more, you can order a combo with kalbi (beef short ribs), plus a few other entrees.

Ikea Café

1800 E. McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg, (847) 969-9700, ikea.com

The bustling cafeteria inside the Scandinavian furniture giant opens early with a 99-cent breakfast special and continues throughout the day with a variety of such Swedish specialties as meatballs with lingonberries and roasted potatoes, gravadlax, a lovely dilled salmon plate and Swedish apple cake.

Kabob.a.Licious

Kingsport Plaza, 937 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (847) 352-2000, KabobaLicious.com

Baked-to-order tandoori flatbread sets this quick-service apart. Choose from seven types of chargrilled kebabs: served in a sandwich; with a salad; with basmati rice, grilled vegetables, fresh bread and yogurt sauce; or in a double-skewer entree with fresh bread, rice, grilled vegetables and a side of must o'khiar, a thick, Iranian yogurt-and-cucumber spread flavored with mint. Marble-topped tables, wooden chairs, ceramic-tile floors, a steel-and-marble counter and bright-red walls make this counter-service spot much more agreeable for dining in than typical fast-food restaurants.

Mitsuwa Marketplace

100 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 956-6699, mitsuwa.com

Inside the area's largest Japanese supermarket, a food court offers a variety of inexpensive Asian meals. Sample maki and nigiri-zushi from Daikichi Sushi; hot meals such as yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) and a rice and curry plate at Otafuku-Tei; set meals with entrees like tempura and tonkatsu (pork cutlet) from Kayaba; hearty noodle soups from Santouka Ramen; dim sum and other Chinese specialties from Jockey Express, a mini-branch of Hoffman Estates' Jockey Wok 'n' Rolls; Korean dishes such as bibimbap from Mama House; delicately flavored breads and cakes from Pastry House Hippo; and treats like a green-tea parfait from the Japanese ice-cream parlor.

Pepper and Salt

2263 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, (847) 524-1401

Homey Pakistani specialties like nihari (chicken or beef stewed with onions) and haleem (meat and oat porridge) vie with more familiar dishes, such as lamb biryani and chicken tikka, at this friendly, if utilitarian eatery, which also offers a wide variety of sweets. A daily $7.99 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet draws bargain hunters, but even at dinner, nothing costs more than $9.

Pierogi Place

Marketplace of Rolling Meadows, 1665 Algonquin Road, Rolling Meadows, (847) 734-6811, pierogi-place.com

As informal as a hot-dog stand, with counter service and a menu on the wall, this little eatery offers 15 kinds of savory and sweet pierogi; a quartet of Polish-style dinner plates like beef goulash and breaded-pork cutlets; plus a variety of soups and other add-ons. Mustard-colored walls lined with rustic-wooden beams and contemporary prints, a tile floor and wood tables provide nice-enough surroundings for those who care to eat in.

Pita Inn

122 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling, (847) 808-7733, pita-inn.com

A variety of Middle Eastern fare figures at this busy counter-service spot where the flavors are fresh and portions are ample. A weekday "businessmen lunch" combo plate of shish kebab, kifta kebab, shawarma, falafel, rice pilaf, salad and house-made pita bread is just $3.95, and a dinnertime version runs $6.95.

Tensuke Market

3 S. Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village, (847) 806-1680, tensuke.us

Another Japanese grocery, Tensuke has a tiny cafe that serves complete meals of Japanese-style grilled fish, teriyaki chicken, noodles and more for less than $10 a plate. Freshly made sushi is available, too.

Zum Zum Sweets & Carryout

1910 N. Rand Road, Palatine, (847) 358-2600

This mainly carryout spot may be tiny -- with only a couple of tables for dining in -- but it serves up big flavors with spicy Indian/Pakistani fare and snacks like samosas. You can get a meal for about $5. On the weekends, they serve Indian-style breakfast.

How to save a buck

Use discounts

Consider discount offers as an excuse to expand your dining repertoire. Look for coupons and specials in this paper and other publications, on restaurant Web sites and coupon sites and at the restaurant itself. Sign up for restaurant mailing lists to be notified of their latest deals. You can also buy discounted gift certificates on Restaurant.com and eBay and two-for-one Entertainment Book coupons. Some restaurant chains offer deals where you can buy, say, $125 worth of gift certificates for $100. (Be sure to check out exactly what you're getting, though, because deals may have blackout dates or other restrictions.)

Dine off-peak

Restaurants often offer specials on weeknights or for early or late-night diners. Watch ads or call and ask. If there's an alluring restaurant that's beyond your budget, go for lunch or brunch instead of dinner.

Join frequent-diner clubs and rewards programs

Clubs at restaurant chains such as Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises award points for every purchase that can be redeemed for free meals later. OpenTable.com gives you points for making online reservations, with large premiums at certain restaurants. Rewards Network rebates part of your check when you dine at member restaurants, or you can sign up through American or United airlines and earn frequent-flyer points.

Go to counter-service, buffet and BYOB restaurants

If it's self-service, tipping's not required. Bringing your own wine also lowers the tab. (Call ahead to ask whether BYOB is allowed and if there's a corkage fee.)

Look for complete-meal deals

Seek out restaurants that include soup, salad and side dishes in the price of your entree rather than charging a la carte for each dish. Some places even include dessert in the price. Even upscale restaurants often offer a prix fixe, or set menu, of several courses for one price. For hearty eaters, restaurants with all-you-can-eat buffets or specials can be a bargain.

Share

If you often find yourself taking home leftovers that languish in your fridge, consider splitting your orders with your dining companions. Some restaurants add a surcharge for splitting an entree, but many do not; some will even divide the order for you in the kitchen. And, even if it's not listed on the menu, if you ask, some places will allow you to order half portions at a price slightly higher than half-price.