When Richard Blais wants a sweet reminder of childhood, he heads to Playa Provisions and orders the Waffle Taco, which he calls “a chocolate pinata.” This taco-shaped waffle cone is stuffed with sprinkles-and-cake-laced frozen custard, then coated in chocolate ganache and topped with more sprinkles.

Pizzanista draws upon the thin-crust quality of New York-style slices and the abundance of fresh California produce to create irresistible hand-tossed pies. Stop by on Sunday for a slice of the Macaroni & Cheese Pizza. The mac is made from a trio of cheeses (Asiago, fontina and a sharp cheddar), heavy cream and noodles, then loaded onto a tomato-slicked pie featuring a sourdough crust.

Satisfy your comfort food cravings with a stop at Plan Check, where you can pair creative burgers with craft brews. The PCB (Plan Check Burger) features a beef patty dressed up with eclectic condiments like dashi-flavored cheese and chewy ketchup leather (think homemade-ketchup-as-fruit-roll-up).

This Compton location is closed, but you can still get Bludso's craveworthy 'cue at the Hollywood locale. The joint serves up Texas-style barbecue like the ribs with a side of spicy barbecue sauce that won over Guy Fieri. Owner Kevin Bludso really goes all out at the holidays with deep-fried turkeys injected with a decadent concoction of butter and seasonings, which he refers to as “liquid gold.”

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.

This small doughnut shop stands out in a big way, thanks to its unexpected fillings and toppings (Manchego cheese, anyone?). Try the Bacon 182 (a sweet-savory treat with coconut bacon and real maple glaze) and the Strawberrylab (a strawberries-and-cream-filled beauty topped with chocolate ganache).

In addition to Mexican-style tacos, this funky little spot serves up a San Diego specialty: carne asada fries. Graham Elliot can’t get enough of this hearty dish. Crisp, golden fries come heaped with beer-marinated beef, creamy guacamole, sour cream and two kinds of cheeses: aged cheddar and Cotija.

“The Flavor Table is Mom’s cooking,” says Jaleel White, who heads to this home-style restaurant to indulge in a favorite comfort food mash-up: Peach Cobbler French Toast. Sugary peaches are simmered with fresh vanilla bean to make a rich filling that’s served with cinnamon-laced French toast.

Head to one of Terroni’s locales for delicious traditional Southern Italian fare. A must-try is the Lamb Ragu, featuring pasta made by hand, then tossed in a savory sauce of tender lamb and herbs. For a sweet finish, indulge in the sugar-dusted fried dough balls with a decadent Nutella filling.

Tuck into classic American comfort food at this casual joint. The most-indulgent dish on the menu is arguably the chicken and waffles. The chicken is battered in a pickle juice-laced mixture to kick up the Southern flavor, then blanched in pork lard and double-fried until extra crisp. The twice-fried bird comes nestled on Belgian-style waffles stuffed with housemade applewood-smoked bacon

The brother duo behind The Carving Board is changing the sandwich game with innovative creations like the Spaghetti Meatballwich. Sliced meatballs are smothered in garlic marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese, then nestled between two crunchy slabs of baked spaghetti in place of bread. Jeff Dunham was impressed. “This is genius,” he gushed. “I have never had anything like this.” 

This airy, eclectic spot takes classic Mexican dishes and gives them a modern spin, complete with organic ingredients and vegan options. Order the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich for a sweet finish. This irresistible dessert features caramel ice cream nestled between two deep-fried cinnamon pastries.

When Daphne Brogdon is craving a meaty German meal, she heads to this classic tavern and orders the jagerschnitzel. For this dish, a massive pork cutlet is pounded, breaded and fried until crisp and golden brown, then slathered with a creamy mushroom gravy. Daphne opts to pair it with spaetzle, a German egg noodle made fresh in-house.

Along with a stunning view of the Los Angeles skyline, this rooftop spot features an inventive menu dreamed up by The Next Iron Chef contestant Eric Greenspan, whose creations include a gooey grilled cheese and a ceviche made with hibiscus and pink peppercorns. If stopping by for breakfast, opt for the pancake lasagna: layers of fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, crumbled sausage and bacon, and maple bechamel, all smothered in melted cheddar cheese.

This bar delivers big on culinary creativity with its fresh spins on the classic burger. Try the John Belu-Cheese Burger, which stars a ground chuck-and-blue cheese patty that is battered and deep-fried, then dunked in Buffalo sauce to give it some bite. A topping of Pringles completes the creation.