It may seem like a stretch to include a restaurant that’s been around for 40 years on a list dedicated to hidden gems, but when’s the last time anyone thought about the Stockyard? Let’s face it: The city’s hip food enthusiasts aren’t clamoring to get into a steakhouse that (mercifully!) hasn’t been redecorated since the 1980s and that overlooks I-90. It’s time to reconsider the Stockyard, though. The beers are cheap and massive, and the burger is among the finest in the city. And the New Balance outlet is right down the street, which is lucky —because after gorging at the Stockyard, an eater might be in need of a new pair of running shoes.

La Befana isn’t exactly hidden, but it’s still not exactly well-known to anyone outside of Allston. Most people would name Santarpio’s and Regina as the two best pizzerias in the city, but not Allstonians. One reason La Befana might enjoy cult status is because it’s one of a small number of classic Boston pizzerias that actually offer pizza by the slice (note: at La Befana, one slice is actually two slices.) The other reason? The garlic knots. Definitely try the garlic knots.

Situated at the corner of Brighton Avenue and Craftsman Street, Alfredo’s is unassuming and easy to miss. This hole-in-the-wall, counter-service joint makes unpretentious Italian food that’s as good as it is affordable. One can eat at Alfredo’s, but there are only four seats, so it’s best to just order takeout. Try the spaghetti bolognese or the pasta puttanesca.

Home of the infamous soju-filled watermelon. Myung Dong 1st Ave offers above-average Korean food at below-average prices, and it’s maybe too easy to get tipsy when drinking that watermelon of soju. The walls are lined with flatscreen televisions, and those televisions are constantly showing K-Pop music videos. Go for the $7 ramen, and stay for the kimchi pancakes.

Habanero Mexican Grill is the ultimate in high-quality cheap eats. Tacos and pupusas cost just $1.75 each, and nothing — not even the signature plate, which comes with steak, pork, chicken, rice and beans, yucca, and fried plantains — costs more than $11. Everything on the menu is worth sampling, but nothing beats the humble burrito. Instead of steaming the flour tortillas, cooks at Habanero grill them on the flat top until they’ve browned slightly. The result: the best burrito in the city.

Located on Commonwealth Avenue, half a mile or so beyond hectic Harvard Avenue, Ittoku is a Japanese izakaya that’s true to form. Casual and welcoming and with a vast sake list, it’s a place to grab some drinks with the crew while snacking on some astoundingly good small bites. It’s also a restaurant that demands its patrons go out on a limb and order something challenging — the sunagimo (chicken gizzard) and gyutan (beef tongue) stew, for example, are both exceptional.