India House - Buffalo Grove. Decent Buffet. Usually one or two really good things on the small buffet.
Pita Inn - Wheeling - Lunch special, tamarind drink, good eats, and dirt cheap.
Dundee Rd. west to Jimenez (a little gritty, but decent eats) Bottom of this page has their specials for the week:
http://www.carniceriasjimenez.com/specials_2.php. I'd be on the chuletas plate for 5.50. I'll probably get that once or twice before the new specials come out next Wed.
Benihana on Milwaukee just N of Dundee.
These are all well within striking distance of 294 and Lake Cook. I work right there, and these are all in my rotation for "something different" - altho Pita Inn has become a regular lunch go to.
Notes - if you've never been to Pita Inn, it gets PACKED at peak lunch hour times (for good reason.)
- Benihana has decent sushi lunch pricings. Their sushi is ok.
Oh SNAP!
China North! Forgot about that one. Chinese lunch buffet on Sanders just S of Dundee. Small buffet - probably 6 hot dishes, plus a few fried things, and fruit. If you like chile oil, and you wanna eat like a little piggy, you are right there.
We cannot be friends if you do not know the difference between Mayo and Miracle Whip.