Just because you’re stuck in mid-Mo doesn’t meant you can’t enjoy a little intercontinental cuisine. Ditch the usual takeout pizza this weekend and try out one of these taste-tested dishes, all of which are $10 or less. Feeling worldly and cultured yet?

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_Try Cajun at…_ Jazz

217 N. Stadium Blvd.

Hours: Sunday-Monday: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – midnight

**Eat this:** Gumbo

**Pay this:** $3.99

This Louisiana kitchen is tucked away near the Columbia Mall. Try a cup of their gumbo, the official state cuisine of Louisiana. It’s a traditional soup that combines African, European and Native American influences. Jazz’s version is made with fish, potato, rice, onion and peppers in a thick, savory roux (a broth base of flour and butter). The result is a spicy party in your mouth that will leave you licking the spoon for every last drop.

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_Try Vietnamese at…_ Saigon Bistro

912 E. Broadway

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. 

**Eat this:** Pho ga (pictured above)

**Pay this:** $7.50

Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, Saigon Bistro serves up the sexiest bowl of noodles you’ll ever eat for $7.50. Pho ga (Pho is pronounced like the first syllable of fudge) is Vietnamese chicken noodle soup, plus magic and love. Saigon Bistro’s version uses long rice noodles in chicken-based broth, plus chopped green onions and onion flakes. To add crunch, a side garnish of basil, cilantro and raw bean sprouts is provided along with hoisin and chili sauce for those who like it hot. Although the chicken itself is somewhat flavorless, a mix of the right amount of sauce and herbs make the broth and noodles delicious. 

_By Lizzie Tontz_

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_Try Polish at…_ Café Poland

807 Locust St.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

**Eat this:** Pierogi

**Pay this:** $6-10

There is no comfort food quite like the pierogi. A pierogi is no ordinary dumpling; it is a dumpling sent down to us mere mortals from whatever the Polish equivalent to Mount Olympus is. Unleavened dough is stuffed with ground meat or mashed potatoes and cheese. It is then fried, and typically served with onions and sour cream. Yes, feel free to do a double take; it is essentially pasta stuffed with mashed potatoes. Café Poland serves up some mind-blowing pierogies as well as any other food you’d need to satisfy your eastern European cravings. They also have espresso and a pretty sweet turntable (serious hipster enclave potential).

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_Try Thai at…_ Chim’s Thai Kitchen

201 N. Tenth St.

Hours: Sun – Thurs. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri – Sat. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. 

**Eat this:** Pad Thai

**Pay this:** $9

Chim’s Thai Kitchen does not screw around when it comes to Pad Thai. Their take on the classic Thai dish is pretty formidable in the size department. The dish made up of traditional pho noodles, eggs, tofu (or any other meat choice), peanut and Thai chilies will most likely be the size of your entire head. Eating an entire pad Thai in one sitting might seem tough, but Chim’s dish is so good that it’s almost impossible not to consume the entire thing. If you’re feeling hardcore, order it with level ten spices and learn what it feels like to have your brain melt. 

_By Zack Nolan_

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_Try Mexican at…_ Taqueria El Rodeo

805 E Nifong Blvd.

Hours: Open for breakfast, if that tells ya anything

**Eat this:** Enchiladas verdes

**Pay this:** $7.99

Taqueria is one of Columbia’s hidden gems. Its dive-like atmosphere contrasts the tastily authentic Mexican food. I usually order chicken enchiladas with queso sauce on top (BEWARE: the ranchero a.k.a. red sauce is _really_ spicy). This time, I went for the enchiladas verdes: tortillas filled with chicken and topped with green sauce. As usual, the food was excellent. The main course is always delicious, but the refried beans are my favorite part. There’s something about them that sets them apart from all other beans. As far as service goes, keep in mind that you’re at a traditional Mexican food establishment. Patience and a little Spanglish are virtues that make the food worth waiting for.

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_Try Mediterranean at…_ Oasis Café

2609 E. Broadway

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

**Eat this:** Chicken shawarma with hummus

**Pay this:** $6

Oasis Café wasn’t my favorite. Mediterranean food tends to be an acquired taste. Given that I’ve had this kind of fare before, Oasis’ cuisine was okay. It just didn’t have a wow factor. The chicken shawarma was cooked in various spices, and ginger was the only one I could pick out as a specific taste. Oasis’s hummus was really smooth and didn’t have a distinct spice or flavor that stuck out. It went well with the complimentary warm pita. Overall, I found the menu to be limited in comparison to other restaurants of this type. Most of the dishes included chicken shawarma or gyro with surprisingly few falafel options.  On the bright side, the service was good, and the restaurant was tidy.

_By Lauren Rutherford_