Restaurants

KoJa Kitchen not only redefines food truck cuisine, but owner and Chef Alan Tsai is reinventing traditional Korean-Japanese eats too. KoJa short ribs are kiwi-marinated, then placed between two rice patties. Guy couldn't believe his taste buds. This is "Asian food at its best," he said.

At Bubba's Diner, they believe that "great ingredients turn out really good quality food." The Ahi Tuna Pot Stickers with homemade wrappers served on a bed of wilted spinach melted in Guy's mouth, as did the Soft-Shell Crab BLT. Locals like the Kobe beef meatloaf and Creme Brulee French Toast.

Diners flock to Hobo's for the best barbeque in Southern California. Guy tries the lasagna, a unique dish of pulled pork and chicken layered with pasta sheets, cheese and barbeque sauce.

Chef-Owner Rick Hodges and his wife, Margie, are slinging more than six varieties of chili daily at their Wild West-themed restaurant. Each portion is served in an individual toasted flatbread tub (hence the restaurant’s name), which Guy thought was a great touch. He stopped here to sample the Turkey Drive Chili, which features roasted ground turkey seasoned with plenty of chili powder and Cajun spices.

A neighborhood favorite for more than 60 years, Tommy's Joynt is a German hofbrau serving fresh-carved hot meat sandwiches packed full of turkey, pastrami, brisket, ham and more. Need a recommendation? Guy says the corned beef "just melts in your mouth" and the roast beef is "better than prime rib."

Be it the rocking chairs out front or the food, The Front Porch is the funky little neighborhood joint with plenty of charm. Guy swung by this South-meets-San Francisco joint and doled out his share of love for the "killer," "outstanding" and "succulent" Dr. Pepper short ribs and shrimp and grits.

Guy calls Tee Off Bar & Grill a "five-star dive bar." The husband-and-wife-owned spot is known for high-end, homemade dishes like Double Pork Chops With Apricot Relish and Deep-Fried Sweet Corn, but it's their signature dish, Paul's Crafty Mac N Cheese, that has Guy promising to come back for more.

San Francisco locals swear by HRD for its Korean-style breakfasts. On Triple D, Guy hunkered down on the huge spicy pork and kimchee breakfast burrito. Want another pick-me-up? Try the Korean Loco Moco made with a hodgepodge of kimchee-fried rice and burger patty all atop sunny-side eggs.

This authentic Puerto Rican comfort food restaurant is channeling the flavors of the Caribbean. Guy was won over by the Pastelon de Carne, a hearty dish that locals liken to lasagna. Ground beef is seasoned with adobo, then studded with olives and layered over a base of sweet plantains. And don’t sleep on the bistec sandwich that comes stuffed with melty Swiss cheese, tender sirloin, grilled onions and avocado slices. “That’s like [a] Puerto Rican-Cuban-Philly cheesesteak,” Guy declared.

Only at Guy's restaurant can you get a little Italian, Mexican, Cajun and Asian. The grilled-onion-and-garlic tortilla stack, inspired by Guy's mom, has "dynamite" texture and flavor. Guy's Sashimi Won Tacos dressed with eel sauce were double gold winners at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

If you follow the intoxicating aroma of fresh-baked rye bread in Palm Springs you could find yourself at Sherman’s Deli & Bakery. Once there, try the house-made turkey pastrami which is layered on that fabulous bread. “If that’s the only thing that you sold here I could expect lines all the way to Wisconsin,” said Guy. Or try the real-deal latkes that serve as the "bread" for meltingly tender brisket topped with creamy horseradish sauce. Be sure you don’t leave without a taste of the fan-favorite banana tart. 

Diners come to Daniele Ius place for an amazing breakfast experience. The popular Cortez French Toast is the perfect marriage between cinnamon rolls and French toast. “If you like French toast it doesn’t get much more creative than that,” said Guy. The spicy Dragon Potatoes are another favorite. Guy compared the dish to a gigantic, deconstructed carnitas burrito.

This local favorite makes excellent bread and pastry but also legit food. The popular Black Bean Chili has good old-school flavor, but it’s kicked up with a tangy cilantro pesto and served with jalapeno-cheddar challah muffins. Diners also rave about the Korean Pork Salad.

Momona was started by three friends hoping to fill in a culinary gap in Chico, CA. They brought in the food they wanted to eat which was great noodles and baos that combined Hawaiian and Asian flavors. Guy loved the unique combination of flavors in the Mochiko Fried Chicken Bao and the Chico Ramen.

This pan-Asian joint goes above and beyond the average sushi menu with items like Tom Kha Thai Steamer and Pork Belly Bibimbap. After moving to Chico, California from San Francisco 20 years ago, owner and chef Darren Chadderdon realized he missed the diverse Asian flavors available in the big city. He decided to take things into his own hands, and traveled to Thailand to take cooking classes before returning home to open his own restaurant. The Tom Kha Thai Steamer, a sweet and spicy seafood soup, blew Guy away: “I wanted that to be great,” he said after the first bite. “It’s not great, it’s phenomenal!”