Sichuanese ( 15005 N.E. 24th St. Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: 425-562-1552)

One of the best authentic/traditional chinese food I ever have in US.


Tony Luke's Cheesesteak

The best cheesesteak in Philadelphia, IMHO, a lot better than tourist trap Jim's, Pat's or Geno's.


John's Roast Pork

Their roast pork is awesome.

mmmm... Philly cheesesteak!

I once drove down for an hour and a half each way just for meal, lol

--Russ :p

I'm hooked on these Cuban sandwiches from a new place in town:

Casual Habana Cafe, Main St, Hackensack, NJ


--Russ

In Orlando
Brian's Restaurant, Orange Ave, Orlando, FL
One of my favorite diners anywhere, open for breakfast and lunch, and one of the reasons I return to Orlando even though I moved 1200 miles away and have little reason to return
Other good ones, The Deli Planet near Downtown Orlando, and any location of American Pie Pizza (local chain)

In San Juan
The Burger Joint, Ashford Avenue, Condado, San Juan, PR
I missed In n Out and Five Guys until I tried this place. I'm good now :)

Others in San Juan, Via Appia also in Condado; 311 (Trois Cent Onze) in Old San Juan; Buenos Ayres in Condado and Guaynabo; and countless more that I can't remember.

Caffe Italia in Waterbury, CT. A little coffee shop, in a not so great area (across from the projects) in a not so great town, with the best espresso/espresso based drinks you could imagine. I've been to some of the best restaurants in the world and their espresso can't come close. The crema is so thick that it takes a good 10 seconds for the sugar to settle into the coffee.

The atmosphere is pretty unique too. Go at any time and there will be a bunch of older guys playing cards yelling at each other (in italian, of course). If there is a soccer game on you can bet the place will be packed.

I've learned that the details they observe when making the coffee are quite extensive. Of course, there are a number of water filtration systems in back. The grind and the packing of the ground coffee into the machine varies based on the weather (hot, cold, humid, even windy), for example. If a cup comes out and "doesn't look right" it is thrown out. They also import their own beans from a small producer in Italy.

Amazing place and absolutely the best espresso!

Tony Luke's is certainly becoming a tourist trap though - they're expanding to NYC and I believe they have venues at the Wachovia Center, the Linc, and Citizens Bank Park. Plus Tony Luke, Jr. is a budding actor in Hollywood!!!

This leaves only one of the Big 5 steak joints left - Dalassandro's. If you can find it, it's worth it to make a trip there.

On O'ahu: Zippy's regular chili with rice and add cheese and onions! yummo...

Then, head on over to Kapahulu and have an original Leonard's malasada...

Then, after all of that...you'll be in carb overload...lol...

Mahalo,

Patrick :)

In louisville

Havana Rumba
&
Mojito Tapas

Great Cuban food

Is it made with real Philadelphia cheese?

fyi - philly cream cheese is actually from NYC

Well, I prefer mine with cheesewiz

I always get my tony luke's from Oregon. Steve's Prince of steaks in northeast philly is quite good however their servings is not as generous as Tony Luke's.

In San Diego, well Ocean Beach, Hodad's makes some fine burgers, and the shakes are killer.

In Tijuana, there is a great little bar...I think it was called Paulo's that makes some absolutely amazing street tacos.

All I remember from my visit to TJ was a bunch of TACO BELL's next to one another all along the walk to the center from the US border... the rest of my memories remind me of the awful feeling I got standing in line for 2 hours to get back in the states... UGH!

--Russ

Chapel Hill NC Crook's Corner Restaurant. Some of the best food I have had in years! We were in Chapel Hill for a week & liked it so much we went back a 2nd night.

Yup! At least the one in B-ham and the original in Tuscaloosa.

I might also add Mount Hamil tap in Houghton, IA for fried chicken. They only serve three nights a week and its always packed. Don't bother looking....its at the end of a gravel road in the cornfields. Miles from anywhere, and not on any map.