Rachael headed to this cozy garden restaurant for lunchtime lobster rolls, oversized omelettes and comforting sweet and savory breakfast dishes. Rachael recommended the "delicious," "nutritious" house-made granola with seasonal fresh fruit that will "pop in your mouth."

This old-fashioned candy shop has been serving up 29 flavors of popcorn, including Cheddar Ranch, Cookies & Dream, and Jalapeno, for 15 years. If you can't visit their Chicago-area store, order your favorite flavor online. Rachael recommends Macadamia Magic, which she calls "buttery and delicious."

The name comes from its location behind the famous Chicago Theatre. As an extension of the Illinois Institute of Art’s Culinary Arts department, the Backstage Bistro serves lunch prepared by chefs-in-training. As you dine, watch the students in action through floor-to-ceiling kitchen windows.

The name says it all. With decidedly retro vibes, Kitsch'n on Roscoe serves favorites that we all grew up on, but with an international twist. Order an updated tuna melt, Loaded "Phat" Jacks, Chilaquiles or, like Rachael, Green Eggs and Ham and soak up the kitschy cuteness.

Among the busiest restaurants in Chicago's Greektown, Greek Islands is vast with a menu to match. For a true taste of the Mediterranean, the kitchen cooks authentic, family-style favorites—from Calamari to Moussaka to Roast Lamb—with many ingredients imported from Greece.

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The oldest continuously operating restaurant in Atlanta serves traditional Southern cuisine like fried chicken, local fish and spiced oatmeal cake for lunch and dinner. The restaurant's herbs and produce are grown in an outdoor garden, which is open for diners to stroll through after a hearty meal.

Stop into this sweet Southern bakery for freshly baked breads, cakes, pies and pastries. Owner Sonya Jones serves the shop's signature sweet potato cheesecake by the slice, which Rachael said was "unbelievable" and "surprisingly light."

Known best for their signature "flying" biscuits, this casual Southern spot serves comforting breakfast dishes made from scratch all day long. According to Rachael, the fried green tomatoes with cashew-jalapeno relish "rock" and the fluffy biscuits are "almost too good to eat in public."

Finding a bar in Miami that won't break the bank isn't an easy task, so Rachael found Ortanique to be a pleasant surprise on $40 a Day. This spot claims to have the best mojito in Miami; Rachael was inclined to agree, calling it ''Cuba in a glass.'' She also enjoyed the curried lobster crab cake.

Rachael Ray visits Mama Vieja, a Columbian restaurant in South Beach, FL, on Food Network's $40 a Day.

When Rachael visited Miami for $40 a Day, she had to order the signature Cubano sandwich at Gloria and Emilio Estefan's restaurant, Larios (she promised Gloria she would). The menu's filled with authentic Cuban favorites like Masitas de Puerco, and the fresh ceviche has a rhythm all its own.

When planning a trip to Miami Beach, be sure to stop by the National Hotel. Steps from the swimming pool that's "worth a trip from anywhere," according to Rachael, you'll find casual dining at the Aqua Bar & Grill. Try a burger there, then head to the Blues Bar for a cocktail and some live jazz

Rachael Ray visits sizzling South Beach for authentic Cuban cuisine at David's Cuban Cafe, open 24 hours in Miami Beach, FL, on Food Network's $40 a Day.

Rachael Ray cools off in South Beach with a healthy smoothie from The Smoothie Shop, where they're mixing up fresh fruit smoothies, in Miami Beach, FL, on Food Network's $40 a Day.