Rachael Ray heads to Bush Garden Japanese Restaurant, in Portland, OR, to sample the authentic Japanese-style sushi and kicks it in the karaoke lounge, on Food Network's $40 a Day.

This brewery pairs craft beers with classic Cleveland dishes. Indulge in deliciously charred bratwursts steamed in Great Lakes’ own lager. They’re paired with pierogi, whose creamy insides and crunchy outsides make for little pillows of lusciousness. Sweet-and-sour red cabbage completes the dish.

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Mama Dip's Kitchen is a favorite of many locals in Chapel Hill, N.C., thanks to traditional Southern favorites like fried chicken and Brunswick stew. When Rachael visited on $40 a Day, she thought the combination of Catfish Gumbo with Homemade Cornbread was ''just perfect.''

When Rachael visited Durham, N.C., on $40 a Day, her first stop was Elmo's Diner, where she savored the spicy Southern-Style Grits filled with jalapeño peppers, cheddar and ham. The menu is packed with plenty of other comfort-food classics like meatloaf and home-style roast turkey.

After a busy day in Durham, N.C., on $40 a Day, Rachael thought Caffe Driade would be a great place to sit down and unwind, and she couldn't wait to try the shop's award-winning coffee. She quickly fell in love with the iced cappuccino, calling it ''a thing of beauty.''

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The menu at Tupelo Honey Café in Asheville, N.C., is full of modern twists on classic Southern favorites – for example, Goat Cheese Grits with Shrimp and Fried Chicken Saltimbocca. The café's claim to fame is sweet potato pancakes, which got Rachael's approval on $40 a Day.

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When Rachael visited Asheville, N.C., on $40 a Day, she couldn’t wait to check out the French Broad Food Co-op Tailgate Market, a weekly highlight that has been around for more than a decade. Over 20 local producers sell their specialties here, including homemade desserts like pumpkin pie.

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As Rachael says on $40 a Day, Early Girl Eatery "serves up Southern fare with a gourmet flair." Her trip to North Carolina wasn't complete without Early Girl's locally sourced dishes including the Sauteed Local Mountain Trout topped with pecan butter. Take note -- vegans love the tofu scramble here.

Head to this New York dessert spot for indulgent treats like a frozen hot chocolate that Rachael says is worth the wait for a table. Want to really go all-out? Order the $1,000 Golden Opulence sundae (which requires 48-hour notice). It features Tahitian vanilla ice cream, Amedei Porcelana and Chuao chocolate, candied fruit from France, caviar injected with Armagnac, and as much edible gold as possible.

When Rachael went on vacation in Ashevile, N.C., on $40 a Day, she stayed at the inn located on the massive Biltmore Estate. Originally built by George Vanderbilt over a century ago, this gorgeous property is now home to a winery producing award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.

Perfect for a sushi outing, this Japanese restaurant is a Sag Harbor, N.Y., favorite. According to Rachael, Sen's "menu is as innovative as their fish is fresh," and she swears by the yellowtail roll. The fun bar crowd makes it worthwhile for a pre-dinner drink, as well. Rachael loved the Saketini.