America's Best Places to Eat Like a Local 2013

These one-of-a-kind restaurants are so beloved and authentic we can’t imagine them existing anywhere other than their hometowns.

Opened in 2012 by a father-and-son team, Hattie B’s has become the Nashville spot for fiery, cayenne-infused, deep-fried “hot chicken.” It’s an inspired twist on a dish that’s comfortingly familiar.

Like beignets (made from a 143-year-old recipe) in New Orleans or a bagel sandwich in New York, the best regional American fare feels close to home—even if you’re dining far from yours.

With the combined forces of our staffers and contributors, we canvassed the 50 states, happily put our stomachs to work to yield a menu of America’s must-try dishes from Maine to Honolulu. It’s the all-American slice of Travel + Leisure’s coverage of the Best Places to Eat Like a Local.

—Nikki Ekstein

Restaurant Pricing Key
$ Less than $25
$$ $25 to $75
$$$ $75 to $150
$$$$ More than $150

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Southern chef John Currence’s motto? “Lard have mercy!” Flour biscuits slathered with sausage gravy and the burrito filled with house-made chorizo will have you praying for more. bigbadbreakfast.com. $

The perpetually crowded joint is famous for its maple-bacon biscuits, Valrhona chocolate–dipped doughnuts, and egg sandwiches stuffed with bacon, cave-aged Gruyère, and tangy aioli. $$

The airy beignets (made from a 143-year-old recipe) and café au lait at this 24-hour, wood-paneled Metairie haunt leave the better-known Café du Monde in their sugar dust. morningcallcoffeestand.com. $

Try a classic bagel sandwich that comes with Scottish smoked salmon, cream cheese, and red onion on a poppy-seed bagel at this Lower East Side institution. $$

“I love to eat at Tecolote for breakfast. Get the burrito with sausage or bacon smothered in green chiles, and plenty of the mini cinnamon rolls.” tecolotecafe.com. $ —chef Kelly Urig

Opened last year by a father-and-son team, Hattie B’s quickly became the spot for fiery, cayenne-infused, Nashville-style deep-fried “hot chicken.” Cool your palate with a craft beer and killer pimento mac-and-cheese. hattieb.com. $$

The oysters alone (from a farm up the road) are worth the hour-long drive from San Francisco to a dockside shanty on Tomales Bay. But a bowl of clam chowder feels particularly restorative on a foggy northern California day. $$

“Tortilleria y Tienda de Leon’s, at the back of a grocery store, is super-authentic. The nopales (cactus) salad is a must.” 503/255-4356. $ —chef Naomi Pomeroy

For some of New York’s best pizza, head to Greenpoint, Brooklyn for the Regina pizza that comes topped with fior di latte, Italian tomatoes, Pecorino Romano, olive oil, and fresh basil. pauliegee.com. $$

Catering to one of the nation’s largest Vietnamese communities, Bellaire Boulevard is lined with countless pho and bánh xèo joints—but everyone comes here for bánh cuón: dainty, ravioli-like crêpes filled with ground shrimp or barbecued pork and drizzled with a pungent nuoc cham sauce. 281/564-0419. $

The city nicknamed “Tehrangeles” is home to hundreds of thousands of Iranian Americans, many of whom live or work in Westwood. On Fridays they flock to Attari’s courtyard for the special abgoosht, a nourishing lamb-and-bean stew that’s mashed into a paste and served with lamb broth and piquant torshi (pickles). $$

Roast pig was never as glorious as at this bare-bones pit stop in Allapattah, a historically Cuban enclave west of the city’s Design District. At lunchtime, line up with the cops for a superlative pan con lechón (chopped-pork sandwich) served on warm Cuban bread. 305/635-0137. $

Pristine shellfish, displayed on ice in wire baskets lining a gleaming zinc counter, are the main attraction at this handsome Ballard oyster bar. The shucking itself is a work of art. thewalrusbar.com. $$

Try the East Village’s Calliope for some of the city’s best roast chicken: a pan-seared breast served in chicken stock with cabbage stuffed with confit leg and vegetables. calliopenyc.com. $$$

No less an authority than Shake Shack’s Danny Meyer gives this his vote for “one of the juiciest, most satisfying cheeseburgers you’ll ever have.” Bonus points for the Cardinals game blaring above the bar. 314/773-6600. $

“My favorite Thai restaurant in the Bay Area is Hawker Fare, which chef James Syhabout took over from his mother. Now it has a fun, modern vibe and Syhabout’s versions of the gutsy food he grew up eating.” hawkerfare.com. $$ —chef Daniel Patterson

Think of Brigtsen’s as fine dining stripped of all pretension. The signature dish—sesame-crusted, shallow-fried rabbit served with mustard sauce—is a masterful blend of Cajun ingredients and Creole technique. $$$

This bakery/luncheonette/farm stand is the unofficial canteen for the harbor city of Belfast. The Chase family crafts hearty vegetarian dishes—savory onion crêpes; velvety leek soup—from ingredients grown on their farm in nearby Freedom (yes, Freedom). $

Superb pork spare ribs, tender brisket, and juicy smoked chickens (with skin as crackly as potato chips) draw the faithful to the newest location of Fargo’s, just up the road from its former takeout shack in the Brazos Valley town of Bryan. 979/778-3662. $

Eastern European immigrants, multigenerational families, and Food Network star chef Michael Symon all swear by the old-school stuffed cabbage and kielbasa at this cafeteria-style favorite. $$

Craving oysters in New York? Williamsburg’s Maison Premiere has excellent Caraquet oysters on the half shell. maisonpremiere.com. $$$

Is this the best tuna poke on Oahu? Hometown hero Ed Kenney (chef-owner of Town restaurant) says so. Order a portion tossed to order—along with pickled mango, kimchi, boiled peanuts, and poi—and decide for yourself. 808/732-4806. $

Oysters fresh from Gulf Coast waters—whether served raw on the half shell or fried on Louisiana’s answer to Texas toast—rule the roost at this narrow, tile-lined, classic New Orleans seafood joint. $

Behind a distinctive lavender façade on Inman Square, the shop’s intense, exotic flavors (more than 50 each day) include burnt sugar, licorice, honey-lavender, apple cider, and cinnamon-spiced Mexican chocolate. christinasicecream.com.

A showstopping “living wall” by horticultural artist Patrick Blanc forms the backdrop for the equally photogenic array of models and scenesters nibbling daintily on crudi at the penthouse atop 1111 Lincoln Road—perhaps the trendiest parking garage in the world. juviamiami.com. $$$$

“My top place to eat in Charleston is Two Boroughs Larder. Get the tuna conserva with shishito peppers and sofrito.” twoboroughslarder.com. $$ —chef Sean Brock

“I drive more than 40 miles each way to Taqueria del Solfor beef enchiladas with red chile sauce. The sauce begs to be scooped up with the perfectly fried chips that come warm to the table.” taqueriadelsol.com. $ —Valerie Holt, CNN iReporter

“‘Vietnamese with a French accent’ is a good description of Elizabeth Street Café. Start with an order of pork buns (our favorite) before digging in to a bowl of pho.” elizabethstreetcafe.com. $$ —Josh Neff, CNN iReporter

If you’re looking for good pasta, skip Little Italy and try NoHo for Il Buco’s carbonara (pasta tossed with house-cured pancetta, eggs, Parmesan, and black pepper). ilbucovineria.com. $$$

“As part of a revitalization project in this blue-collar town, two high-school friends opened Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen. The diver scallops with butternut-squash risotto are the best I’ve had.” cornerstonepk.com. $$ —Patty Carbee, CNN iReporter

“Words can’t explain the religious experience that is eating at Grits & Groceries. It begins with a drive through bucolic Anderson County and ends at an old country store with a tiny farmyard. Grass-fed burgers and pimento-cheese sandwiches top the list.” gritsandgroceries.com. $$ —Jennifer Norman, CNN iReporter

Head to Midtown for Shanghainese xiao long bao (soup dumplings) with soy-vinegar-ginger sauce. cafechinanyc.com. $$

“Diana and Jim Simpson’s Seafood Express is a school bus that’s been converted into the best place we know of to get fish-and-chips. Jim’s a fisherman; he plies the cold Alaskan waters for the sweet shrimp, halibut, and salmon that make up the focus of Diana’s menu.” hyderalaska.com. $$ —Jack Donachy, CNN iReporter

“Go straight to Coconut’s Fish Café for amazingly fresh fish for under $12. The chef-owner personally delivers each dish and explains the preparation.” coconutsfishcafe.com. $$ —Terrance Mullins, CNN iReporter

“Everything about Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery is unpretentious and quaint. Large, steaming bowls of cioppino are one of the most popular dishes.” philsfishmarket.com. $$ —Penelope Penn, CNN iReporter

“Swan Oyster Depot turned one hundred in 2012. The Sancimino brothers (six of them!) are always joking around behind the counter. Order cracked crab and a pint of Anchor Steam.” $$ —Ron Nichols, CNN iReporter

“The best hamburgers and fries I’ve had are from a drive-through called the Neon Grill. There’s a 1955 Chevrolet on the roof; its headlights and taillights work at night.” 269/982-1952. $ —Rick Huffman, CNN iReporter

There are many sushi restaurants in New York, but try Midtown’s Sushi Yasuda for Arctic char, ebi (shrimp), uni (sea urchin), and ikura (salmon roe). $$$$