I usually just ask the locals where to go when I'm in an unfamiliar city. People are usually happy to talk about their favorite place to eat, and often the best restaurants are the hole-in-the-wall places that don't advertise. I'm usually careful about asking at the hotel, because I often get the feeling they have agreements to recommend certain restaurants. However, asking shopkeepers, taxi drivers, or folks on the street will usually get you a decent local meal.