A trip down Pacific Coast Highway would be remiss without a bite of local seafood at Neptune's Net. Frills are not this beachside fish shack's forte, but plates of the freshest catch around are. The restaurant side's grill and fryer has your fish and chips fix, and the seafood side steams to order.

Denver's oldest craft brewery, the Wynkoop Brewing Company, is a local favorite. Take a complimentary tour of the brewery, then head to the bar for four-ounce samples of anything on tap. At $1 each, Rachael recommends trying the Mile Hi.P.A. and the "very drinkable" hard cider.

An Italian market and deli, Parisi serves some of the best lunch specials in Denver. With fresh pizzas, salads and pastas with homemade sauce, there are authentic Italian options to please every palate. Rachael recommends trying a sandwich with fresh mozzarella on "fantastic" homemade focaccia.

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is the perfect port for hungry diners. Owner Tom White keeps prices low so customers can buy lots of fish and he can make space for daily fresh catches. Rachael was impressed by this commitment to freshness, as even her Caesar salad dressing was mixed to order.

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Corkscrew Cafe was initially going to be a museum for owner Walter Georis' expansive corkscrew collection. The superb grounds surrounding the space soon gave way to a garden, however, that now supplies the cafe kitchen. Stop off for a sandwich or salad whose greens were picked on-site that morning.

In San Francisco's famous Chinatown, locals crave dim sum from Oriental Pearl, where low prices and authentic flavors stack up to great value. Loaded carts circle the dining room delivering plates of vegetable egg rolls, pot stickers and the house specialty chicken "meatball" wrapped in egg white.

A Denver favorite that calls itself "the affordable French restaurant," Le Central offers the tastes of Provence with an always-changing menu incorporating the freshest ingredients around. Try a selection of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes for what Rachael calls "country cooking at its best."

The warm, inviting atmosphere at Julia Blackbird's attracts diners from all over Denver. Owner Julie Siegfried's Native American, Mexican and Spanish cuisine also includes vegetarian-friendly menu options. If you're looking to "start your day with a kick," Rachael recommends trying their breakfast.

MooTime Creamery serves handcrafted ice cream made at its nearby factory. Customers can create flavors by picking a base from 62 kinds of ice cream, sorbet, yogurt or sherbet, then adding in any of 37 mix-ins that are then blended together for a dessert that a dazzled Rachael promises "is divine."

On Food Network's $40 a Day, Rachael Ray goes to Citizen Cake, a restaurant, bar and patisserie from Chef Elizabeth Falkner with a recommendation from the Michelin Guide, in San Francisco, CA.

The Big Kitchen made Rachael a believer in tofu with its flavorful Tofu Rancheros. Nurturing owner Judy Foreman believes in giving diners great food at a great value, vowing, "If I'm taking their money, I'm stuffing them" — a promise she delivers on every piled-high plate.

Point Loma Seafoods is a family-owned takeout cafe and fish market dedicated to offering the best quality seafood daily from local fishermen and importers. Rachael was wowed by the homemade chowder and the scallop-sandwich at this seaside shop. She confirmed, "It doesn't get any fresher."

Old Town Mexican Cafe is known for using fresh ingredients and authentic recipes to make "mouthwatering traditional Mexican dishes." Slow cooking keeps the pork tender; legendary margaritas keep the bar scene vibrant. Thrilled with her carnitas and mango margarita, Rachael raved, "That's killer!"

First Awakenings is starting the day off with a California fusion breakfast. The signature Crepeggs are just what they sound like - a sweet French crepe shacking up with scrambled eggs (think of them like really delicate omelets). Get it like the natives do, with avocado, ham and Jack cheese.