When it comes time to grab a quick present for the Yankee Swap, nothing fits the equally diverse and yet difficult personalities of your family and friends like a gift card. Stop by a local restaurant and it’s doubly good. Who doesn’t like to eat and/or drink for free, amirite?! With that in mind, our dining and dish master Marc Hurwitz, from Hidden Boston Restaurants fame of course, put together a top ten list of eateries that doubles as a can’t-miss buying guide for gift cards. Chow down.

 

Sunrise Restaurant

1157 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester

A completely under-the-radar Vietnamese eatery near Savin Hill that offers cheap eats including an outstanding duck soup.

 

 

 

O’Sullivan’s

282 Beacon St., Somerville

A somewhat small and unassuming pub that features some of the best burgers in the entire Greater Boston area.

 

 

 

Donna’s Restaurant

980 Saratoga St., East Boston

A spacious, family-friendly breakfast spot that only locals seem to know about in the Orient Heights neighborhood.

 

 

 

Joe Sent Me

2388 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

A “speakeasy” that has above-average pub grub, a great jukebox, and lots of nooks and crannies throughout.

 

 

 

Village Sushi and Grill

14 Corinth St., Roslindale.

A serene Japanese and Korean dining spot in Roslindale Village with a backdoor patio that feels like a secret.

 

 

 

Skampa

424 Cambridge St., Cambridge

A plain-looking sub shop featuring roast beef sandwiches that rival some of the best the North Shore has to offer.

 

 

 

Dogwood Cafe

3712 Washington St., Jamaica Plain

A cozy and somewhat romantic comfort food spot in Forest Hills that includes a fireplace and an attractive bar area.

 

 

 

Mul’s Diner

75 West Bdwy., South Boston

An old-school greasy spoon diner that’s one of the last old-fashioned eateries in this booming part of Southie.

 

 

 

Atwood’s Tavern

877 Cambridge St., Cambridge

A dark and atmospheric beer bar with great live music and a closed-in side patio that few seem to know about.

 

 

 

Genki Ya

398 Harvard St., Brookline

The original of a growing group of sushi bars featuring organic sushi along with a handful of excellent Japanese entrees.