This spot draws the crowds with its tasty Mexican eats. The Carne Asada Super Burrito is a favorite of 49ers fans, featuring succulent meat and flavorful beans. Another standout is the Carne Asada Super Taco Dorado, which stars tender grilled sirloin wrapped in a combo of crispy and soft tortillas.
This neighborhood fixture puts its own spin on classic diner food with inventive dishes that defy ordinary names. Try the Nebulous Potato Thing: a mound of home fries punched up with a secret seasoning salt, topped with melty cheese, then finished with a sunny-side-up egg, salsa and sour cream.
Head to this hip tavern for your fry fix. Michael Symon favors the Gravy Frites, which are cooked in duck fat and then smothered with mozzarella cheese and brown gravy. The Animal Style Frites are also a must-try: These fries come heaped with cheese curds, pork belly lardons and sunny-side-up eggs.
At this pizzeria, a secret family recipe is followed to make the more than 1,000 pounds of dough produced here daily. Try the signature White Clam Pie, which was invented in the 1950s. Baked in a coal-fired pizza oven, this mouthwatering pie comes complete with fresh cherrystone clams.
This spot serves ice cream in irresistible ways. There’s a grown-up version of a float that’s bittersweet in the best way: raspberry lambic beer poured over vanilla ice cream. Another star is the sundae featuring scratch-made dark chocolate ice cream and a fudgy brownie drenched in a rich sauce.
Swing by this former gas station to fill up on mouthwatering ‘cue. Try the burnt ends sandwich, a house specialty that’s served only three days a week. This beauty is stuffed with the flavorful tips of beef briskets that are seasoned and then smoked for 17 hours, resulting in a gorgeous char.
You don’t need reservations to eat at this pizza joint in the Cosmopolitan Hotel — just a sense of adventure. The by-the-slice counter service is unmarked and tucked away at the end of an unassuming hallway in the hotel. Reward yourself for uncovering this clandestine spot with a white slice. All the dough is made with a yeast that’s been aged for 10 years to ensure maximum flavor. The white pie is finished with a trio of cheeses — mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan — and drizzled with garlic oil.
Want a comforting bowl of mac and cheese? Stop by a Cheesetique locale to try a simple yet scrumptious take on the classic dish. This version deploys goat Gouda, Asiago and Cacio di Roma to create a complex flavor that is at once tangy, buttery and sweet. White truffle oil adds an earthy note.
Nostalgia tastes oh so sweet at this ice cream parlor whose standout dish is an old-fashioned sundae. The Mt. Vesuvius features homemade vanilla ice cream with volcanic-inspired toppings: hot fudge for the lava, crunchy malt powder for the ash and fresh whipped cream for the cloud garnish.
Head here to savor New American cuisine from high atop the cliffs of Big Sur. Sierra Mar’s focus is on innovative dishes that incorporate local ingredients. A standout is the roasted rack of lamb served with mushrooms, barley risotto and Japanese pumpkin plucked straight from the garden outside.
This shop churns out individual-sized cheesecakes perfect for giving in to the urge for indulgent desserts. A standout is the Quadruple Chocolate Cheesecake: A cocoa-laced cookie crust, silky cheesecake batter and three varieties of chocolate buttons are layered together to make this rich creation.
Fentons has been making ice cream by hand and generously scooping it out for sundaes, floats — you name it — for more than 100 years. Duff says the "crazy-good" winner is the Banana Special, which features 3 pounds of dense ice cream finished with pineapple, strawberry and chocolate sauce.
You'll find more than two dozen great doughnuts at Gourdough's, but the Black Betty is the reigning queen. It's filled with blackberry jam, glazed with cream cheese icing and topped with cake-mix crumbles, honey butter and a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream. Customers also line up for their two-for-one, Texas-sized Donut Burgers.
In a city known for its flavorful Cajun and Creole cuisines, fiery dishes abound, but the Spicy Gumbo at Liuzza’s really stands out by combining both culinary traditions. A savory base is punched up with a robust Cajun-style roux, while tangy crushed tomatoes and steamed shrimp add Creole flavor.
This classic New York spot dishes up Jewish comfort food and lively entertainment. Indulge in a massive skirt steak seasoned with kosher salt and a fresh garlic spread. Also try the mashed potatoes dressed up with crispy fried chicken skin and a decadent drizzling of schmaltz (rendered chicken fat).
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.