Iron Chef Judge Simon Majumdar can't help but lick his fingers when eating the beloved bag of shrimp at The Boiling Crab. The juicy garlic shrimp comes packed with spicy Cajun flavor in a steaming plastic bag. It's perfect for ripping open and devouring piles of tasty crab, clam or lobster.

When feeling homesick, Curtis Stone wants the slow-simmered Coq au Vin found at La Poubelle. La Poubelle specializes in French dining with classic renditions of steak frites and luscious filet mignons. But for Curtis, the Coq au Vin dish acts as the perfect way to capture his mom's comforting meals.

If you're used to mushy, bland egg salad sandwiches, Adam Gertler suggests heading to Europane for a rude awakening. The "ineggscapably good" sandwich is made with medium-boiled eggs, chives and a delicious sun-dried tomato pesto -- a perfect addition to Europane’s salted caramel macarons-

Aaron Sanchez samples a variety of caviar at Tsar Nicoulai in San Francisco, CA, on Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

For Tyler Florence, nothing says the holidays quite like the fresh Dungeness crab in The Seafood Cobb at The Rotunda. Next to the crab, this salad serves rock shrimp, apple wood smoked bacon, Maytag blue cheese, avocado and more. When it's not the holidays, diners love The Rotunda's afternoon tea.

This wharf-side cafe was the first place in America to serve an Irish coffee, and today they've got it down to an art form. Get a seat at the bar to watch the tenders make up to 10 whiskey-laden coffees at a time. Tyler Florence claims it's the best thing he's ever drank.

Northern California may not be the first place you think of for classic steakhouses, but Cricklewood is just that. They serve up aged Black Angus beef, Sonoma County wines and the best thing Guy Fieri ever ate in a bowl: French onion soup.

Adam Gertler, host of Kid in a Candy Store, says his favorite sweet on a stick is the lollipop duo from Stefan's at L.A. Farm. Chef Stefan Richter uses liquid nitrogen to make the frozen pops in flavors like passion fruit, red wine and mint. Fitting for a menu of smart, New American cuisine.

Wolfgang Puck admits he can't sleep at night because of Valentino's white truffle tagliatelle. Generously topped with the prized white fungus from Piemonte, Italy, the tagliatelle defines Valentino's reputation for fine Italian cuisine, as does the striking wall-to-wall wine collection.

Giada De Laurentiis, of Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, recommends Riva Restaurant in Santa Monica, CA, where they specialize in Northern Italian cuisine like wood-oven pizza and hearty pastas.

Wolfgang Puck may use butter instead of oil for his lobster but the Chinese no-no doesn't bother Sandra Lee. On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Sandra is "grateful" for his Chinese fusion Shanghai lobster with curry sauce and crispy spinach. For more crunch try Wolfgang’s classic chicken salad.

Stop by this Italian specialty shop to chow down on the Godmother sub, a favorite of chefs Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken and Curtis Stone. This super-stuffed beauty is layered with prosciutto, mortadella and salami. Other additions, like provolone cheese and pickled peppers, round out the flavor.

Santa Monica's not known for great fried chicken, but on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Michael Symon guarantees that it could be — for Cha Cha Chicken's coconut fried chicken. The sweet and spicy flavor, crunchy exterior and sweet mango sauce, truly exemplifies Cha Cha's bold Caribbean flavors.

Established in 1865, Cold Spring Tavern came from a time of stagecoaches. Today, bikers line up for the Bar-B-Q Beef sandwich, one of Cat Cora's favorites. Made with hunks of tri-tip beef, barbecue sauce and spicy salsa, the sandwich satisfies her hankering for the perfect meaty bite.

Few would guess cupcake guru Candace Nelson grew up in the spicy rim of Southeast Asia. So finding Lukshon's spicy Southeast Asian chicken pops was a welcome surprise. The pops quickly became her favorite. Meanwhile, locals still obsess over Chef Sang Yoon's super-spicy Dandan noodles.