Among other things, Times Square is famous for affording access to more than a dozen subway lines that can take you pretty much anywhere you want to go in the city. But, in a sense, you can travel even farther just by walking around the area and visiting some of the many fabulous restaurants that specialize in the cuisine of various countries and regions. It would be almost impossible to make an exhaustive survey of these establishments, but here's a selective list of some of the most interesting and noteworthy, none of them more than five blocks from the epicenter of the square.

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A new and particularly exotic addition to the area is Hawaiian Tropic Zone (727 Seventh Avenue at 49th Street). This place is already famous for its sexy hostesses and waitresses, who wear exclusive, Nicole Miller-designed fuchsia bikinis and floral sarongs. If that's not enough enticement, be advised that the food here is excellent. The Crackling Asian Spiced Pork Shank (with Lap Chung and Shrimp Fried Rice) isn't exactly lean, but it's indescribably sumptuous. Other recommendations: the Pu Pu Platter (for the table), the Petite Island Seafood Sampler (for two), and the Jumbo Crab Cocktail “Phillips.” Among the tastiest of the cocktails are the White Peach Bellini, the Raspberry Lychee Martini, and the Bikini Punch. The venue is a 16,000-foot, tri-level space, with Olympic-style flame torches and a two-story waterfall offering a retreat from midtown Manhattan. Nightly entertainment happens on the cat-walk stage located behind the spacious bar.  Aloha! (Phone 212-626-7312; hawaiiantropiczone.com)

Ruby Foo's (1626 Broadway at 49th Street) is billed as a Dim Sum & Sushi Palace, with “palace” the operative word: This two-level restaurant is huge and beautifully appointed. You can easily make a meal from the Dim Sum menu alone, sampling everything from Szechuan Pork Dumplings to Shrimp and Lobster Spring Rolls to Edamame with Sea Salt. If you're a sushi fan, you might want to try the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass Maki Roll, the Smoked and Spicy Salmon Lollipop Roll with Chipotle-Garlic and Thai Basil Sauce, or the Yahoo Roll with Tuna, Shrimp, Grilled Pineapple, Yuca Crisps & Wasabi Drizzle. Among the most popular entrees are Wok Seared Sizzling Filet Mignon, General Ruby's Stir-fry Chicken, and – of course – the Peking Duck. Please note that March is “Noodle Month,” with attendant specials! Ruby's also has a gluten-free menu, for those who need to avoid gluten.(Phone 212-489-5600; brguestrestaurants.com)

There are dozens of Italian restaurants located within the immediate vicinity of Times Square, but those that specialize in Northern Italian cuisine are rare. That makes Pietrasanta (639 Ninth Avenue at 47th Street) a really special place. Open since 1987, the restaurant recently changed hands, but the new owners were smart enough to keep the menu pretty much the same as it always was. The antipasto list features such items as Mozzarella Fritta, Portobello Griglia, and Formaggio di Capre e Noci (pistachio encrusted goat cheese, beets, and seasoned pecans on a bed of arugula, endive, and radicchio). Among the excellent pastas are Fettucine Verde (spinach fettucine with pesto, peas, prosciutto, onions, parmesan & a touch of cream), Penne con Pancetta, Gnocchi con Funghi (with wild mushrooms, herbs, parmesan, pine nuts & cream), and the ever-popular Fettucine alla Pietrasanta (with zucchini and peas in a light tomato cream sauce, topped with homemade mozzarella).  There are also some great chicken, veal, and fish dishes, and the restaurant offers a terrific $10.95 brunch on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. (Phone 212-265-9471; pietrasantarestaurant.com)

What's the most authentic French restaurant in the vicinity? One superbe candidate for that designation is Chez Napoléon (365 West 50th Street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues). A neighborhood fixture since 1960, this warm and cozy place was actually in danger of shuttering a few years back, partly due to ridiculous anti-French sentiment engendered by that country's refusal to become involved in the Iraq war. (Turns out they were right about that one, weren't they?) But quality will out, and Chez Napoleon is now more popular than ever. Still presiding over the kitchen is the Bruno family matriarch, known affectionately as “grand-mere” Marguerite. Absolute musts among the appetizers are Moules Napoléon (baked mussels with garlic butter and bread crumbs), Coquille St. Jacques (sea scallops in a cream sauce, topped with melted cheese), Celeri Remoulade, and Rillettes de Canard, while the standout entrées include Coq au Vin, Lapin Marguerite, Canard a l'Orange, Bouillabaisse, and Steak au Poivre. Aside from its fantastic food, the restaurant is beloved for  the elaborate, French-themed jigsaw puzzles that line the walls. (Phone 212-265-6980; cheznapoleon.com)

For a taste of Ireland, check out Emmett O'Lunney's Harmony View Restaurant (210 West 50th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). This place boasts that it has “an Irish theme with the spirit of the American Frontier.” Among the traditional favorites on the menu are Shepherd's Pie, Fish & Chips, and Bangers & Mash. Try the Traditional Irish Onion Soup, finished with a touch of cream, topped with a garlic crouton and melted mozzarella cheese. If you're in the mood for steak, try the Dublin Broil: marinated, sliced flank steak, charcoal grilled. with mushrooms and burgundy wine sauce. Also pretty special are O'Lunney's Crab Cakes, served with Cajun Aioli. Your choices of beers include Guinness, Harp, Smithwick's, and Magner's, along with Coors, Stella, and Budweiser. (Phone 212-957-5100; harmonyview.com)

If you ever have a hankering for homemade Haggis, head straight over to St. Andrews (120 West 44th Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue), which also features such specialties as Cock-a-Leekie Soup (traditional Scottish soup made with chicken and leeks), Fresh Brook Trout Stuffed With Crabmeat & Scottish Oatmeal, Horseradish-Crusted Shetland Isle Salmon, and Roasted Thistle-Honey Chicken. Consider the $49.95 wine dinner, which includes a choice of any appetzier, entrée, and dessert plus unlimited glasses of four great wines. (Selections are subject to change, but on a recent  night they were Charles de Fer Tradition; Nederburg, Lyric; Montgras, Cabernet/Syrah; and Cusumano, Nero d'Avola.) There's also a regular prix-fixe menu available all evening at $29.95. St. Andrews stocks more than 250 single malt Scotches and more than 125 varieties of beer. In a delightful show of authenticity, the waiters wear kilts! (Phone 212-840-8413; standrewsnyc.com)

The exclamation point in the name Arrriba Arriba! (762 Ninth Avenue at 51st Street) is appropriate.  If you're in the mood for a quiet, intimate dinner, go elsewhere; but if you want to enjoy delicious Mexican Food in a lively, fun, boisterous room, this is the place for you. (They have a DJ on duty every night.) One of the most phenomenal dishes on the menu is the Crepa de Camarones, which consists of two flour tortilla crepes with sautéed shrimp, cheese, and chili cream sauce, served with rice and salad. Other delicious options: Pollo a la Parrila, Chicken Mole, Carne Asada, and the very popular Budin de Tortilla (a baked pie tortilla filled with cheese and chicken and smothered in green sauce). If you can get a seat at the tiny bar, you might want to sample the Nachos, Taquitos, Chalupas, and Quesadillas. The margaritas here are memorable, and so is the Sangria. (Phone: 212-489-0810; arribarriba.com)