Top Twenty | 21-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | Fast Food
100. Chino Bandido (Phoenix, AZ) In 1990, Frank and Eve Collins had a brilliant idea: throw Chinese and Mexican food together in a bowl, force patrons to fill out order forms that are more puzzling than the Sunday New York Times crossword, and serve a freshly baked snickerdoodle with each meal. Should this have worked? Probably not, but oh, how it did…
99. Soowon Galbi Korean BBQ (Los Angeles, CA) How can a restaurant set itself apart in the KBBQ-saturated Southland? Extremely high-quality meat. Check. Tasty sides that just keep coming. Check. A low all-you-can-eat price that includes booze. There we go. We suspect that last point may have something to do with why this place is packed every night.
98. Congee Village (New York, NY) Like a giant Chinese theme park — wood-paneled, neon, and kitschy — Congee Village stands out among the drab apartment buildings and plain storefront awnings of Allen Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The staff is business-like and the menu is huge. On a busy weekend, grab a number and wait at the bar nursing one of the many very cheap, very strong drinks. When you finally make it through the crowds of tourists, young hipsters, and Chinese families to your table, enjoy the free salted peanuts and order a bowl of congee. A stomach-warmer and hangover cure starting at $2.95 a bowl, you won’t be disappointed.
97. S’Mac (New York, NY) Opened in the East Village in 2006, this is the perfect stop for a rainy day. A cheese-inspired orange and yellow theme is enough to cheer up even the most angst-filled of New Yorkers, and the cast iron skillets full of gooey mac & cheese will warm you from the inside out. This is comfort food. Build your own casserole or order recommended dishes such as the 4 Cheese, the Cheese Burger, or the Spanish-inspired La Mancha. As with any baked entree, the wait can be long, so for those with limited time, order from the take-out shop next door.
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96. Georgetown Cupcake (Washington, D.C.) If you can handle a long line of crazed reality TV fans and irritated DC locals, you are a better person than any of us. The secret to surviving the wait at this overcrowded Georgetown spot is to bite your tongue and stand (and stand, and stand) your ground. After that first mouthful of delicious cupcake, all will be forgiven — assuming you can choose one from the long list of everyday flavors, daily specials, and seasonal varieties.
95. El Pinto (Albuquerque, NM) It’s truly all about New Mexican food at El Pinto. No, not some spankin’ new variety of Mexican food, we’re talking about the unique local cuisine of the 47th state. The smell from the flame-roasted chiles is so spicy it may singe your nose hairs, but when incorporated into El Pinto’s salsa, the stuff of addiction is born. Definitely order it on the nachos: a pyramid of cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and plenty of cheese in every bite. And yes, the dry desert air is a valid excuse to indulge in a pitcher of margaritas.
94. Tango Sur (Chicago, IL) Piles of steak, flames at the table, and empanadas to die for, it’s no wonder people line up for this Lakeview BYOB restaurant. The romantic Argentinian spot is dimly lit and lively, and a meal for two costs about the same as you’d pay in gratuity at one of those pricey Loop steakhouses.
93. Slows Bar-B-Q (Detroit, MI) This Corktown favorite opened right around the time Detroit’s automotive industry went kaput and, if the crowds here are any indication, this is one barbecue joint that doesn’t need a bailout. The people come for the ribs, which are dry-rubbed with 13 spices and slowly (very slowly) smoked to bring out the flavor. An array of Southern sides, a few rounds of barbecue chicken wings, and a well-curated beer list to wash it down make this place worth frequenting.
92. Fat Matt’s Rib Shack (Atlanta, GA) The barbecue at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack is consistently stellar. The meat is tender, flavorful, and the ribs fall off the bone — but the main dish isn’t even the best part. The strength of the sides here is almost unprecedented in a barbecue joint: a hearty Brunswick stew may be the best you”ll ever taste, the rum baked beans are sweet, spicy, and full of heart, and the mac & cheese is a Southern-style tangle of gooey goodness.
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91. Bunk Sandwiches (Portland, OR) With such a tiny menu, it’s hard to imagine this no-bullshit sandwich joint appealing to a wide cross-section of people, but it isn’t the quantity of menu items that matter here. Every sandwich Bunk makes is an event: the roast beef with caramelized onions (smeared with slightly spicy horseradish and topped with cheddar), the pork-belly cubano (piled with ham, pickles, Swiss, and yellow mustard), and even the simple Tillamook cheddar. We suspect the item of most frequent worship is the meatball parm hero — and not just because we’re pretty sure it’s killed a few people.
90. Mi Nidito (Tucson, AZ) Don’t let the name fool you. Mi Nidito, meaning “my little nest,” may have originally been small, but they pack a huge flavor. Their famous chile relleno, voted the best by Tucson Weekly, earned them a spot on Hispanic Magazine’s list of the United State’s best Mexican restaurants. Since 1952, locals and tourists have gladly lined up for a meal — President Clinton, Jimmy Smitts, and William Shatner have all been caught digging in here.
89. Hillbilly Hot Dogs (LeSage, WV) A weenie stand that can entice jaded East Coasters to willingly enter West Virginia? Hillbilly Hot Dogs has been getting many visits from out-of-towners since Diners, Drive-ins and Dives paid ‘em a visit, but locals in the know have been bellying up to the bathtub tables at this backwoods joint for much longer. The reason? The deep-fried hot dogs with tons of fixins are outstanding, and the owners treat everyone like family — even when they’re trying to destroy us with the 15-inch, fully loaded Home Wrecker.
88. Jestine’s Kitchen (Charleston, SC) Jestine earned her following by serving up classic comfort food like fried okra, collard greens, and mac & cheese. The fried pork chops and tender, juicy meatloaf keep the locals hooked. The sweet tea flows freely here, and no meal is complete without a slice of Jestine’s famous Coca-Cola cake.
87. The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen (San Francisco, CA) “A San Francisco mecca for grilled and gooey goodness, The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen dresses up the classic childhood sammie for a more grown-up and sublime experience. Outfitted in Americana bric-a-brac, reclaimed woodwork, and metal fixtures, the eco-conscious, modern kitchenette offers seven sandwiches on hearty wheat or sourdough. The menu includes standouts like the mushroom gruyère with thyme butter, the Piglet, a cheddar-and-ham sandwich with rosemary butter, and the bold Jalapeño Popper made with chèvre, applewood-smoked bacon, and apricot-jalapeño relish. And for those who need no such elaborate fixings, the cheddar-and-havarti Mousetrap should sate you.” — Jolene Torr
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86. Loveless Cafe (Nashville, TN) Known for wood-paneled walls lined with photos of Grand Ole Opry stars, crispy fried chicken, and the salty scent of country ham and red-eye gravy, this is a Nashville favorite. It’s the buttermilk biscuits and house preserves that made this place a local institution. The biscuit lady may have passed away, but she left behind her carefully guarded secret recipe. Every meal comes with a plate of hot biscuits and preserves, but no one will judge you for ordering more.
85. Boss Oyster (Apalachicola, FL) Known for serving fresh Apalachicola Bay oysters any way you want ‘em — raw, fried, steamed, baked, and even roasted — this middle-of-nowhere oyster joint attracts mollusk lovers from all corners. A typical meal here includes some dock-sitting, plenty of delicious corn fritters, and the smug satisfaction of knowing that those suckers on the West Coast will never have oysters as good as these.
84. Busboys & Poets (Washington, D.C.) Politics, poetry, and the liberal agenda meet in this D.C. spot. The hybrid restaurant includes a bookstore, cafe, bar, and stage, and free wi-fi entices guests to stay a while. The menu is long and varied, but the entrees represent Southern-style comfort food like catfish with lemon butter sauce. Local vegetarians and vegans abound, thanks to the vegan pepperoni calzone and the coconut tofu bites.
83. A Salt & Battery (New York, NY) You won’t find black pudding or bangers and mash at this New York City fry shop, but the fish and chips are enough to make any Brit feel right at home. Dip in house-made tartar sauce, sprinkle with malt vinegar, close your eyes, and you’re back in London. Use a thin paper napkin to dab up extra grease — save any calories you can for the deep-fried Mars Bar. Tip back your can for that last drip of Boddingtons, and step out of the shop into fresh city air. Take a deep breath and realize that the scent of fryer grease is lingering in your hair and on your sweater. Eau de Chips.
82. Ann’s Snack Bar (Atlanta, GA) The stern yet sweet owner for 37 years, Miss Ann is known as the gatekeeper to the Ghetto Burger. More rigid than the Soup Nazi, Miss Ann will tell you if you can come in and where to sit (there are only seven stools). The burger contains two massive patties (which Ann shapes herself each shift), thick and beefy chili, deep-fried bacon, loads of cheese, onions, lettuce, and tomato. Despite the strict rules (or probably because of them) this little diner off the highway in East Atlanta is always full of laughter, banter, and satisfied patrons.
81. Matt’s Bar (Minneapolis, MN) Ignore the fact that you just waited an hour in line. Ignore the fact that you’re just passing through Minneapolis on your way to some undisclosed location. Step into the corner dive bar, grab a seat at the counter, order a Jucy Lucy, and feel like a local. What is a Jucy Lucy? A hamburger with a molten-cheese center. And the incorrect spelling is part of the charm.
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80. Salt Lick Bar-B-Que (Driftwood, TX) After traveling 20 minutes south of Austin, through farmland and ranches, you’ll arrive in Driftwood, at the Salt Lick, where hanging racks of rib and sausage links from a giant pit greet you. Just in case an open pit filled with succulent hunks of barbecue can’t hold a crowd, the homemade peach cobbler or pecan pie are ready to pinch hit.
79. El Rey Taqueria (Houston, TX) El Rey’s is known for serving authentic Mexican and Cuban food with fresh ingredients. Shrimp tacos filled with cilantro, tomato, avocado, and pieces of mango are a local favorite, but it’s the breakfast menu that really makes this place shine. The chorizo-and-egg taco is habit-forming, and the Cuban coffee will knock you on your ass.
78. Solly’s Grille (Milwaukee, WI) This cozy family diner is known for their buttery burgers. Gooey melted cheese tops the patty, and real Wisconsin butter smothers it all. Is there any wonder it’s a cult favorite?
77. Redbones Barbecue (Somerville, MA) This biker-friendly barbecue offers the pedal-inclined free year-round bicycle valet parking. No wonder so many choose to unstrap their helmets and step inside for the hearty Southern menu and 24 microbrews on tap. Redbones often plays host to local brew fests, and what better way to enjoy a brew than with fried okra, a pulled-pork sandwich, and globs of barbecue sauce?
76. Taco Matamoros (Brooklyn, NY) Among all the trucks, stands, take-out windows, and restaurants serving tacos in New York City, what an honor to be considered the best. Not much English is spoken at this family restaurant in Brooklyn, but as long as you love tacos, you’ll be just fine. At $1.25 each, order the tacos al pastor with spit-roasted pork shaved into two slightly crispy corn tortillas and topped with radishes, onions, cilantro, and salsa. Stumble in on a Sunday morning for the spicy Menudo — it’s strong enough to ease any hangover.
Top Twenty | 21-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | Fast Food
Photos (From Top): alifayre, jonny.hunter, jbcurio, I’ll Never Grow Up
