Restaurants

For Southern Italian cuisine that will “knock your mama out the rocking chair,” Guy heads to Little Napoli. Enjoy the simplicity of the Baked Cannelloni “Tricolore,” with its blend of sauces, or savor the spicy Il Pescatore “Cioppino Rosso,” featuring fresh seafood and just the right amount of heat.

Inspired by DDD, a local guy opened Zobo and Meester’s to feed the hungry mouths around an industrial park. A favorite is the Flame Thrower panini which is a mixture of house-made roast beef and pulled pork spiced up with pepper jack cheese, house-made habanero salsa and jalapenos. On Saturdays only they serve authentic barbecue smoked on site.

From Scratch is what Guy calls “old school in hyperdrive.” They take classics and inject them with more flavors. For example, the biscuit and gravy consists of a handmade biscuit topped with a sausage patty and gravy. Another must-try is the brisket chili that is both spicy and sweet.

The chili recipe at this 1950s-style diner is so old that it came with the building when the LoGuercio family bought the place. Laced with beef cracklings and two secret spice blends, this meaty chili tastes extra delicious served over spaghetti and topped with cheese, onions and oyster crackers.

Don Chow Tacos Los Angeles food truck fuses Chinese and Mexican cuisines to create such unique dishes as Chimales (Chinese-Mexican tamales, meat-stuffed masa wrapped in corn husks and steamed). Also worth a try: Kung Pao Chicken Tacos and the sweet 'n' smoky Chinese BBQ Pork Burritos.

What started as a catering company soon became a hidden hot spot for Los Angelinos looking for tried-and-true Filipino comfort food. Guy loved the barbecue beef short ribs paired with a sharp crema horseradish sauce. And diners better watch out -- the addictive Bibingka cornbread is a real winner.

This restaurant brings Cajun flavors to Chinatown, with po' boys, muffulettas and breakfast beignets. A standout is the crawfish-laced mac and cheese that incorporates caramelized onions, white wine and a Creole spice blend.

Owners James Starr and Jason Bernstein cook up clever dishes with all-Californian ingredients. Guy's favorite was the pulled pork sandwich with pickled jalapenos and onions and a killer hot mustard sauce. The grass fed-lamb burger with yogurt dill sauce and sweet potato fries was "rock star" too.

Guy said the bark is worth every bite at this barbeque joint in Los Angeles. The fried chicken sandwich was so good Guy predicted a line down the street for it and jokingly dubbed the smoked pork belly his favorite salad.

This 19th-century firehouse serves eclectic dishes, including Basque-style Lamb Tacos with blue cheese, and crispy Popcorn Pork with chipotle dip.

This "real deal barbecue," including oak-grilled tri-tip, chicken and smoky pulled pork, is worth a road trip. 

Since 1981, Gloria Flores has been sharing her traditional El Salvadoran cooking to adoring Los Angeles locals. Guy's visit on Triple D left him scraping his plate of Adobada, a pork stew with a rich tomato sauce. And he was absolutely bowled over by the Seven Seas Soup brimming with crab legs and shrimp. “That is delicious — deep, deep flavor,” Guy exclaimed.

For delicious homemade tamales, drop by Mom's Tamales and sample one of eight options, all steamed and using scratch-made batter. The corn and cheese, chicken mole and beef tamales are particularly noteworthy. Also worth a try: specialties like stuffed peppers, queso fresco and sopes asadas.

Rutt’s is the go-to place for Hawaiian food in Los Angeles. Guy recommends the Hawaiian Royale with its tasty mix of teriyaki beef and scrambled eggs. Another pick is the Lau Lau plate: a flavorful blend of pork and butterfish wrapped in taro leaves. Locals love the large portions and value prices.

This eclectic Bakersfield restaurant can satisfy multiple cravings with its Mexican, South American and Caribbean dishes, including habanero-spiced fried chicken.