Al Horno - 110 Pearl St., New York

Al Horno Lean Mexican Kitchen's chefs take classic Mexican dishes and doctor them up—literally. They replace less-than-healthy ingredients with ones that doctors would approve of, swapping white rice for brown rice, for example, or filling whole-wheat burritos with lean barbacoa, low-fat cheese, and kale. Many dishes on the menu include cactus, which may boost anti-oxidant levels and help control blood sugar.

Chefs also toss salads in lemon-chia-seed dressing, pair turkey-chorizo tortas with sweet-potato fries, and create plates designed to help repair muscle or improve strength. Those who want to substitute their plate's brown rice for quinoa or mixed greens can do so without paying more money or trying to barter with their belt.