A neighborhood diner in the Richmond district of San Francisco, Q Restaurant specializes in "funky, American comfort." Try the Pulled Pork or Funky American-Style Duck Confit, made over 16 days, finished in the deep fryer and served with polenta and asparagus. Guy's take: "So worth it!"
Chef Katherine Dabrowski grew up helping her mom in the kitchen and now she is sharing her Polish dishes at Polka. Guy devoured the pierogi done three ways - with meat, sauerkraut and potato. The goulash impressed with its tender meat and gnocchi. For dessert, try the creamy filled crepes.
Although this auto-repair shop turned grub stop may be small, "the flavor's big." So says Guy, who devoured the 10-ounce burger patties served with handmade everything, from the fries and ketchup to the mayonnaise. But the real end-of-the-meal kicker? A side of Brussels sprouts with smoky bacon.
The middle of the desert might not seem like the best place to open a Greek diner, but the Mad Greek Restaurant has been attracting crowds for over 20 years. Chef Larry Dabour uses his grandmother's recipes for specialties like gyros, spanakopita (spinach pie) and shawarma — Guy's favorite.
A British couple visits California and what do they decide to do? Start a British comfort food shop! Guy and his son loved these "real deal" fish and chips made with wild Alaskan cod. The bangers with a side of mash also garnered praise. Feeling brave? Try the fried haggis balls.
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.
A burger to us is fresh ground steak to Joe. At Joe's Cable Car, the meat is the star (that and his neon-orama dining room). Fresh chuck is ground daily to attain griddle glory as a patty melt or burger (favorite topper: avocado). Guy's verdict? Big. Juicy. Bananas (contains no actual banana).
JAX at the Tracks may be an old-school diner, but all the dishes have an upscale, gourmet twist. Owner Bud Haley redid everything when he took over, including the menu. For a DDD first, Guy couldn't help but love the housemade English muffin used for the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict.
The quintessential mom-and-pop place, Humboldt Sweets cranks out what Guy calls “cinnamon rolls gone wild.” These jumbo-sized caramel-pecan cinnamon rolls are gooey and sweet. Another popular item on the menu is the ham and cheddar scone with a side of bacon gravy.
In Guy's hometown of Santa Rosa, Calif., his favorite place to get a meal on the weekend has always been Hank's Creekside, where owner Hank Vance grinds the whole wheat for his famous pancakes in-house. He also serves up Homemade Corned Beef Hash, Eggs Benedict and Cinnamon-Walnut French Toast.
A 1927 rail cable car with Portuguese food? Guy says The Grubstake Diner is a one-of-kind San Francisco find. Today the menu pays homage to owner Fernando Santos' Portuguese heritage. Guy loved the spicy pork chops and raved about the "green soup" made with kale and topped with plenty of linguica.
Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet won a James Beard Award for Best American Classic, so it's no surprise this Napa Valley staple serves up amazing hamburgers. The special is the Wisconsin burger, with grilled mushrooms, bacon and melted cheddar cheese. As Guy said, ''It's all about the quality.''
When a New Jersey transplant opens a hot dog joint in Reseda, California, you get classic hot dogs like the Bald Eagle Ripper served with a sweet relish made with cabbage, carrot, garlic and oregano. Adventurous eaters may want to try the double-dog burrito or the deep-fried, bacon wrapped hot dog.
Emma Jean's son and daughter keep tradition alive with their mother's recipes. This legendary trucker paradise aims for a "keep it simple" menu that's stayed true to its roots for more than 60 years. The result? Guy devoured the homemade biscuits and couldn't resist the all-American Brian Burger.
Guy's love of taquitos met its match at El Indio, where this "home of the great taquito" has been dishing tasty Mexican cuisine for more than six decades. Regulars flock for the handmade chile rellenos and, if you're waiting in line, you might get a hot-off-the-press tortilla.
Make restaurant favorites at home with copycat recipes from FN Magazine.
Let Guy take you on a coast-to-coast tour Friday at 9|8c.