At this Puerto Rican eatery, Chef Andre Cerbones is cooking up all the classics. Guy's favorite is the mofongo, which is made with mashed plantains, fried pork and a garlic sauce. According to Guy, "there is no way you can't love" the full-flavored ropa vieja with twice-fried plantains either.
Owner Helen Velesiotis may be Greek, but she knows how to cook up some "real-deal" Mexican food. Guy was skeptical about trying the Tacos de Lengua, which are beef tongue tacos. But after his first bite he was hooked on the dynamite flavor. Guy also enjoyed the shredded-chicken fried puffy tacos.
At this Latin American street food restaurant everything is made to order. Out of the 14 types of empanadas, Guy most enjoyed the chicken poblano, which has a nice flaky crust. He also liked the rich and satisfying chalupa cabra with guava and cream cheese rolls, cilantro, coconut slaw and curry.
As a San Antonio landmark of more than 60 years, the Bun 'N' Barrel knocks old-school classics out of the park. Must-try favorites include the Terrace Burger and the succulent brisket sandwich. Or, if you're Guy, try the "pretty addicting" spicy burger paired with the super fiery Thai chile sauce.
Guy couldn't stop himself from taking nibbles of Moroccan Bites' dishes. For starters, the fall-apart lamb served on fluffy couscous was playing a "tune called delicious." And don’t forget the Moroccan sausage sandwich made with an earthy spice mix and totally "out-of-bounds" relish.
This Texas restaurant and pastry shop doesn't whip out the typical Southern fare, but instead a Mediterranean menu which has customers and Guy singing, "shawarma, shawarma, shawarma." But it's not just shawarma that keep customers coming -- Afrah's homemade baklava has them staying for dessert, too.
This spot takes its sandwiches seriously, as Guy saw firsthand. He tried the duck pastrami and was pleased with how its fatty and smoky flavors balance each other. Another standout is the Noble Pig, starring house-brined ham, pulled pork, bacon and melty provolone piled on bacon-studded bread.
For real deal barbecue, head to this popular spot. Guy adored the smoky brisket and he couldn’t get enough of the slow-smoked pork sandwich. In addition to the ’cue classics of brisket, ribs and pulled pork, the restaurant is renowned for its mac ‘n’ cheese and Aunt Polly’s banana pudding. Locals love the Hot Mess, a sweet potato stuffed with barbacoa, cheese, chipotle cream and butter.
A cozy, comfortable diner, Counter Cafe specializes in comfort food like pancakes, burgers and biscuits and gravy. In addition to the classics, the 26-seat eatery offers up scratch-made Curry Chicken Burgers that Guy calls "juicy as can be" and a one-of-a-kind breakfast combo of quail and eggs.
Chef Jay Jerrier ditched the tech industry and followed his dream to make crazy Neapolitan pizzas like the Delia pie, topped with bacon marmalade, roasted grape tomatoes and arugula, that left Guy speechless. Cane Rosso’s most popular pie is The Honey Bastard, which is not even on the menu. This spicy-sweet pie includes mozzarella, hot soppressata, bacon marmalade and habanero-infused honey.
At this food truck, you never know what kind of sandwich you'll get. Guy called the Korean rabbit with rabbit meat, tater tots, kimchi, Sriracha and their secret sauce "the bomb." The shrimp caught Guy's attention with its tasty shrimp patty paired with blue cheese, baby spinach, onions and apples.
Matthew McConaughey brought Guy to his favorite cafe that grows its own produce. Guy and Matthew downed the hearty portion of King Ranch chicken casserole and loved its creamy texture. The contrasting flavors of the maple syrup and savory ham thrilled Guy as well in the Pig 'n Waffle.
This long-time Houston spot serves “real-deal Mexican food,” according to Guy, who tucked into the tamales and chiles rellenos made from owner Irma Galvan’s family recipes. “Light, fluffy (and) super flavorful,” Guy said after taking a bite of the tamales, which come stuffed with succulent morsels of pork smothered in cascabel chile sauce. The chiles rellenos also left him impressed. Galvan makes them the old-fashioned way, which means the poblano peppers come stuffed with a ground meat filling known as picadillo. After they’re stuffed, the peppers are dipped in an airy batter, then fried until a fluffy, crisp coating forms.
You’ve never tasted fusion like this before: this El Paso joint serves dishes made with flavors from around the world, like their Oxtail Tostadas and Pasta Chihuahua. “I think you made yourself a dish that is a one of a kind,” Guy said when he tasted the pasta, which is a Mexican take on a Bolognese. To make the dish, they mix a chorizo meat sauce and grilled steak with pasta and top with cotija cheese and fresh cilantro.
Fernando Marri recreates the food he ate growing up in Brazil at his food truck in Austin. Diners, like Matthew McConaughey and his Brazilian-born wife, swear by the authenticity. Guy loved the classic Feijoada and homemade Pao De Queijo, “I feel transported to Brazil.”
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.