Addictive vegetarian fare and friendly service come from the three adorable Thai women who own and operate this critically acclaimed, foodie-approved Melrose find.

Health-conscious neighborhood gays have been known to get jealous when they see the sweet-natured owners coo too fondly at other regular customers. But all is soon forgiven. The low-key vibe is convivial, and the food is cheap and fantastic. Our favorite options include the spring rolls, dumplings, yellow- or jungle-curried veggie chicken, and sauteed pumpkin. Still, there's a long list of other selections we can't wait to try, including the hot wings, papaya salad, mushroom tom kah, green-curry spaghetti, and veggie pepper steak in spinach-mushroom sauce. The restaurant was initially known as Busaba, but the owners and quality of food remain the same. —Lonny Pugh