Shish-Kabob Palace, Philadelphia

Voted the 2014 Philly Hot List "Top 5 Best BYOB restaurants"—the recipes at Shish-Kabob Palace have arrived in Philly from Uzbekistan, a land of fertile valleys and roaming cattle. Inspired by the nearby Russian and Middle Eastern culinary cultures, Uzbek cuisine ranges from hearty rice plov to flavorful meat kebabs. The aroma of spiced lamb, chicken, fish, and steak sizzling over a natural oak charcoal grill wafts out into the Shish-Kabob Palace's dining room, where diners can relax over a BYOB tipple or two. In the kitchen, the chefs stuff traditional dumplings with meats and potatoes while keeping pots of borscht cabbage stews and lamb shurpa simmering on the stove. Though the Shish-Kabob Palace whips up an abundance of recognizable favorites such as kebabs and fries, it also extend its culinary expertise to less common specialties such as the Blabber Mouth—a decadent assortment of fresh tomatoes, garlic, and beef tongue from cows with the herd's finest singing voices.