Restaurants

Hari Om Cuisine of India combines cuisine, flavors and cooking techniques from the North-West Frontier of India to create dishes that are fresh and authentic.

The North Pole's Country Cafe has enough holiday giddyup for all nine reindeer. Guy was ready for a long winter's nap after polishing off their butter-basted Turkey Dinner with homemade stuffing. Eating local? Order the Cranberry-Glazed Ham, lacquered with wild Alaskan cranberry sauce.

It's always Christmas at the Elf's Den Restaurant & Lounge. Chef Tony Ysais' North Pole workshop is out of toys, playing instead with homemade rolls and Reindeer Sausage Hoagies. Guy insists that you open wide for the Almond-Crusted Beef Tournedo with bearnaise and gravy more than just once a year.

At Big Daddy's BBQ & Banquet, they're serving the "northern most southern barbecue." Guy's DDD visit to the Fairbanks, Ala. favorite wasn't complete without sampling the finger-licking Arkansas-style ribs and smoked turkeys from Chef Harold Groetsema, aka Big Daddy.

It's a Triple D holiday essential to relive the famous Chinese restaurant dinner scene from 'A Christmas Story. Pagoda Restaurant loads Hollywood flavor into every nook and cranny of their tangy Alaskan King Crab Legs with Ginger. Beefing up this holiday? Black peppery Pagoda Steak is your ticket.

Chef and Owner Pete Blohme is making show-stopping seafood in Alabama including an amazing bouillabaisse and a dish with a prized cut of meat from red snapper. He is also the chef and owner of one of Guy’s other favorite joints, Panini Pete’s.

Anyone looking for a fast-food restaurant that is a little more upscale than just burgers and fries should check out Panini Pete's in Alabama. The Italian caprese panini is made with fresh mozzarella and homemade dressing, and the turkey panini has some of the most tender turkey Guy's ever tried.

When you're hungry for serious Creole food, head on down to Gumbo Shack. The local favorite has bands playing every weekend, gumbo ranked #6 on Alabama's Top 100 Foods to Eat Before You Die, and crawfish so spicy Guy Fieri almost couldn't handle it.

Anyone looking to try a po' boy in Daphne, Alabama, should check out Manci's Antique Club, a storied institution that started as a gas station in 1924. It's currently owned by Gwen Manci and her husband, Alex, who serve Southern classics and other comfort food favorites. Guy was a fan of the shrimp po' boy and the Jazzy Burger, topped with Jezebel sauce — ''the craziest sauce I've ever had,'' Guy said.

At Renee’s Organic Oven, husband and wife team Steve and Renee Kreager are serving up Italian classics their own way. The Tailored Tony is like a Sloppy Joe made for a healthier palate. For this open-faced focaccia local organic beef is infused with tomatoes and topped with melted provolone and roasted red peppers. Also try the Spinach Dip Calzone. Guy described it as a cross between the best jalapeno popper you’ve ever had, a gigantic perogi and a chicken sandwich.

Chef and Owner Amanuel Gebremariam is bringing the bold flavors and traditions of East Africa straight to Arizona. Guy loved everything saying, “each one of the dishes is individually its own little song and what comes together is the Ethiopian musical.”

When Wendy Garcia moved to the states from Mexico she ditched the carnivore life and starting cooking things her own way. She uses fried jackfruit for her Carne Asada plate and serves it with eggplant chicharron and crispy soy chorizo. The dish was so good Guy had to call his mother and tell her all about it. Also try the cactus tacos. Nopalitos are cooked down with cashew sauce and loaded into tortillas with cabbage and pickle veggies and topped with cashew cream.

A native of Vietnam, chef and owner Hue Tran describes the food at Slanted Rice Vietnamese Bistro as 90% Vietnamese and 10% fusion. Don’t miss the vegetable packed egg rolls rolled in lettuce and fresh mint and served with a spicy-sweet vinaigrette.

The Thumb is a gas station, car wash, craft shop, wine cellar and competition-style barbecue restaurant, all in one. Chef and owner Kipp Lassetter is a former surgeon, and here he runs a fine operation. Chicken, pork and brisket are all smoked in-house. Try the smoked and fried pork over creamy grits with jalapeno bacon.

If you're craving a classic American breakfast with a Southwest twist, visit Perk Eatery. The tender pork shoulder in the breakfast enchiladas impressed Guy, as did the gravy over crispy sausage and sage stuffing. Locals enjoy the Wine Country French Toast with roasted grapes and Brie cheese.