I felt like Tom Cruise in my own version of the blockbuster Mission: Impossible. My assignment: to uncover 10 nice restaurants in my hometown, Dallas, where a person can have dinner for less than $10. Did I accept? Did I ever.

For this mission, there were a couple of ground rules to follow. The entrée couldn't cost more than one crisp Alexander Hamilton. That means the challenge didn't include drinks, appetizers, and tax. Another factor: no fast-food lines or express drive-throughs. The conclusion? A meal doesn't have to cost a fortune to rank at the top, even in a booming metropolis. Here are the results of my challenge (in no particular order).

1. Green Papaya, (214) 521-4811. Sporting a funky red interior and an ultrahip location (Oak Lawn Avenue), this spot attracts lots of trendy diners in search of great Vietnamese cuisine. I appreciate the well-explained menu with simple descriptions. All of the soft rice noodle dishes, salads, and vegetarian items cost less than $9.95. You can score a big bowl of soup for $8.95 or less. If you need to clear your sinuses, try the Canh Chua ($8.95),a hot-and-sour soup with chicken or shrimp. Another favorite is the Com Chien Dac Biet ($9.95), a special fried rice with egg, shrimp, and chicken.

2. The Dream Café, (214) 954-0486. Most people think of this eatery as a haven for vegetarians and health nuts. The dinner hour draws crowds of people, especially families, looking for food that is good for you and also tastes delicious. In keeping with the health-conscious theme, order the Square Meal ($7.50), which loads organic black beans, brown rice, and steamed vegetables onto one plate. The garden stir-fry with chicken or tofu ($9) is another hit. The sandwiches, from a club with chicken and bacon to A Sandwich Called Wanda with salmon, all cost less than $10.

3. La Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant, (214) 821-2608. Feast on wood-fired pizzas and heaping bowls of pasta at this small cafe. If you're looking for a romantic setting, ask to sit in the front dining area. Choose from pizzas in two sizes--piccola ($7.95) and grande ($9.50)--and with a variety of toppings, including homemade Italian sausage, pepperoni, capers, artichokes, jalapeños, goat cheese, prosciutto, and meatballs. Aside from the thin crust pies, try the Penne Tomato ($9.50), pasta with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil.

4. Veracruz Café, (214) 948-4746. It's hard to get more authentic Mexican cuisine than this. Chef Lilia Mata, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, draws on her background to bring warm and spicy flavors to this cozy and dramatic (oxblood walls and lacy curtains to keep it dim) eatery. The Sopa de Atlahua, a seafood soup concoction with shrimp, scallops, fish, calamari, oysters, and vegetables, is a meal on its own ($7.95 for the small). Try the Enchiladas Suizas with a delicious cream sauce ($9.95), Pipian Enchiladas ($9.95), or the Enchiladas Huastecas ($8.50) in a yummy red sauce.

5. La Duni Latin Café, (214) 520-7300. The impressive menu here lists flavors from places such as Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, and Venezuela. People flock here for the Latin American coffee, desserts, and pressed sandwiches. All of the sandwiches, from a traditional Cuban to one with a citrus-oregano-marinated chicken breast, cost $9.95. We also like the Ensalada de Arroz con Puerco ($9.95), a basmati rice-and-pork loin mixture served over mixed greens with cheese.

6. Celebration Restaurant, (214) 358-0612. Dallas diners love this spot--it's been around for 34 years and seems to only improve with age. The down-home cooking here is hard to top, unless it's in your ma's kitchen, and then you have the hassle of cleanup. Entrées come with homemade breads; three fresh veggies served family style; and your choice of salad, soup, or fruit. Choose from homemade meatloaf ($9.95), baked chicken ($9.95), or spaghetti ($8.95) as entrées. You even get seconds.

7. Tom Tom, (214) 522-1237. Head to this stylish spot in fashionable West Village for Asian food with a kick. Order the Chicken Coconut Curry ($9.95), with bok choy, snow peas, and bean sprouts, or the Pad Thai With Chicken ($9.95), with flat egg noodles and sweet peanuts. Most of the rice plates are less than $10. Of these, try the Rock Shrimp Fried Rice ($9.50), Malaysian-style Beef Rendang ($9.95), or the Kung Pao Chicken ($9.50).

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8. Pavarotti's Italian Café, (972) 991-2828. Savor a candlelit meal in this quiet neighborhood eatery.

9. Monica's Aca y Alla, (214) 748-7140. This Deep Ellum spot has $4.50 enchilada plates on Thursdays.

10.Amore Italian Restaurant, (214) 739-0502. Entrées at this Snider Plaza haunt come in half and full servings. All half portions cost less than $10.