In 2018, after two decades as a U District standby, the homey Tempero do Brasil was reborn as Alcove Dining Room. Chef Emme Ribiero Collins, daughter of the Tempero owners, has given the space a handsome remodel while continuing the family tradition of serving food that highlights the underappreciated diversity of Brazilian cuisine.

Diners come to Xi’an for one thing: wide, chewy, delectable biang biang noodles, made by hand every morning and at their best when adorned simply with a dose of hot oil.

The U District’s most satisfying sushi is found at this laid-back oasis at the north end of the Ave. The nigiri is spot on, the creative roll combinations are mostly triumphs, and the appetizers include some unusual specialties you won’t find at a typical sushi bar.

Choose your own toppings as you work your way through the cafeteria line at this bustling emporium of handmade udon. There are some worthy deep-fried dishes, too, including the tempura chikuwa, which is fishcake in the shape of a tube.

Bugis is a one of a handful of new restaurants aiming to bring some interior style to the U District dining scene. The setting is tastefully casual, with big windows, clean lines, and exposed brick, while the short, Korean food menu features rice bowls and hot pots.

The name here is an executive summary of the menu, which features six kinds of byreks (Albanian stuffed pastries similar to spanakopita) and a dozen baguette sandwiches, including four for breakfast. This is Mediterranean-style comfort food, served in a plant-filled dining area that’s well suited for lingering.

For a classic student-friendly, no-frills restaurant, it’s hard to beat Korean Tofu House. In an unadorned basement dining room, the hardworking crew serves up cheap, filling, savory Korean specialties, including kimchee tofu soup, bibimbap, and bulgogi.

Among the numerous gyro joints on and along the Ave, Aladdin is the perennial student-favorite, serving tender meat and light, crispy falafel late into the night.

Portage Bay Cafe serves high-quality breakfast and lunch with organic, sustainable eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, and salads. A few blocks removed from the rough and tumble of the Ave, the attractive, casual dining room is an ideal place for students to bring visiting parents.

Shultzy’s has grown over the years from a modest takeout joint into one of the most colorfully decorated places on the Ave: Walls and ceilings are bedecked with memorabilia showcasing themes of beer, boating, and college. It makes a pleasant setting for digging into the meat-centric menu of burgers, cheesesteaks, and, especially, the signature sausages.

This spot serves tacos and burritos, but the unquestioned star of the menu is the pupusa, El Salvador's famous masa flatbread that resembles an overgrown tortilla and comes stuffed with cheese, meat, and vegetables.