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We've compiled the best of the best in USA - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Skip the chain bakeries and head to Baked & Wired for their legendary cupcakes (the red velvet is a must), savory scones, and chocolate chip cookies. Any D.C. native will tell you this is one of their favorite spots! Also, coffee lovers will be pleased with all the options on the menu.
Follow a narrow beach pathway (between The Cheesecake Factory and Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort) lined with surfboards to reach this takeout spot specializing in banán, a frozen, vegan-friendly dessert made with local bananas and containing no added sugar. Other snack options include smoothies, smoothie bowls, and ulu (breadfruit) waffles. Try the “Riss Moore” flavor, filled with tropical fruits and named after surfer Carissa Moore, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion. There's no seating here, but Banán is steps from the beach and the main drag in Waikiki.
From the owners of Daikaya, Bantam King is another fun option for ramen in the Penn Quarter neighborhood. Chicken broth serves as the base of their flavorful ramen with noodles sourced from Sapporo, Japan. There's also a vegetarian option on the menu. In addition to ramen, Bantam King offers crispy Nashville hot fried chicken, a favorite among regulars.
French macarons with an Asian spin (think flavors like lychee, taro, Thai tea, and Hong Kong milk tea), fresh strawberry and mango cakes, and many layered crepe cakes (order by the slice), are all stars of the menu at Bao Bao. Grab-and-go baked goods include many types of buns from savory (curry beef) to sweet (pineapple with custard), and taro paste loaf bread. Milk teas, Ovaltine, iced tea drinks, and smoothies round out the offerings. The only con we can find is that there's no place to sit.
This is really the place to be in WHB. Sit and sip an iced coffee and watch the world go by from the porch or sidewalk tables or grab a gelato and join the others on the stoop. With cases filled with fresh-baked goods, the worst thing about this place is that it's just so hard to decide. Try the devilishly delicious deep-fried jelly- or cream-filled "cronuts"—all the rage these days, but this bakery has been doing it for years. A full menu of bagels, pancakes, omelets, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and entree dishes will keep you coming back for more. Don't let the long lines and chaotic scene inside scare you away—there are many friendly young people behind the counter who keep things moving and do it with a smile.
A U Street fixture for decades, Ben's serves chili—on hot dogs, on Polish-style sausages, on burgers, and on its own—to Washingtonians and visitors alike. The shiny, red-vinyl stools give the impression that little has changed since the 1950s (the original location still doesn't accept credit cards), but don't be fooled: this favorite of former President Barack Obama has rocketed into the 21st century with an iPhone app, an upscale Southern cuisine restaurant next door, and menu additions like turkey burgers and meatless chili that nod to modern times. Add cheese fries and a milkshake to your order if you dare. Southern-style breakfast is served from 6 to 10:45 on weekdays and from 7 to 10:45 on Saturday. Ben's has added spots on H Street NE and in Arlington and at Reagan Airport, too.
Perched on the Lake Worth Pier, Benny's has a walk-up bar, a takeout window, and a full-service beach-themed restaurant serving casual fare at bargain prices. "Beach Bread" is a take on a waffle sandwich; the fresh seafood is from Florida waters. Eat-in diners come here for long afternoons of beer and cocktails, enjoying prolific alfresco seating and a spectacular view of the sun glistening on the water and the waves crashing directly below. There's no free parking here, just meters.
A legit contender in New Hampshire's fierce battle for the best pancake house, this rustic timber-frame roadhouse is run by a family who've been producing maple syrup for five generations. Open only on weekends, Benton's serves stacks of pancakes in several flavors, including strawberry shortcake, Mounds Bar, and Grandma's apple cinnamon. There's stuffed French toast, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches, too, but who are we kidding? This place is all about those fluffy pancakes.
This little coffee shop, in a repurposed old A-frame house, is an adorable place and the perfect spot for a breakfast sandwich or midday coffee. Tasty beverages and delicious homemade scones, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, and muffins are a welcome respite from Nome's wind and the industrial surroundings. The homey atmosphere is helped along by soft benches, stained glass lamps, local art, original wood floors, and bookshelves full of magazines, books, and games.
One of the Charleston area's great soul food institutions, Bertha's is owned and run by sisters Julie Grant, Linda Pinckney, and Sharon Grant Coakley, who have been awarded the America's Classic prize from the James Beard Foundation for being an essential component of the community (the restaurant was opened in their mother's honor). There's almost always a line at the counter-service restaurant, but it's worth waiting for exceptional okra soup, fried pork chops, and lima beans.
Tucked away in nearby Salemtown is Big Al's Deli, a neighborhood deli in every sense of the word. Owner Alfonso Hamilton serves home-cooked Southern food out of an otherwise nondescript converted house, making for a dining experience that feels like you're right at home. Seating is limited inside but the food—especially the breakfast—is well worth the wait.
You'll catch a whiff of Big Daddy's tasty food as you turn off U.S. 82 into Cloudcroft. There's something for everyone at this homey joint, where the staff seems to know darned near everyone by first name. Don't expect anything fancy—just solid American favorites like burgers and barbecue, and some Mexican staples, too, like enchiladas and huevos rancheros. Though the menu leans heavily on meat, these folks happily accommodate vegetarian requests.
From its upstairs, open-air dining room decorated with kitschy surfer chic, this restaurant invites customers to enjoy views of the pier and a bustling corner of Alii Drive. Fortunately, an excellent, extensive menu makes it well worth a stop; fresh fish plates including fish tacos are a sure bet. The clam chowder is some of Kona's best. Try the smashburger (a cooking technique that adds flavor while reducing grill time) or the marinated sirloin or New York strip. Death by Chocolate is the dessert to die for. They also serve breakfast from 7 until noon, and there's a happy hour, as well as live music nightly. Great prices keep the locals coming in.
Whether you have a penchant for all things classic Americana, or you just want a hearty breakfast served with a smile, Billy Gail’s is not to be missed. This roadside diner serves throughout the day, but it's best known for the generously portioned breakfasts, which range from four-egg omelets to buttermilk pancakes larger than the plates on which they are served. From the outside, this place looks like a log cabin; step inside and you’ll find wood-paneled interiors and tables cloaked in red gingham vinyl.
You're probably not going to go to Billy's for your fanciest occasions (or if you're trying to eat healthy), but if you're looking for some amazing Cajun snacks with no frills, then this is the place for you. Go inside and order at the counter to see what they've serving that day or swing through the drive-thru if you're in a rush.
Just a short drive from the busy downtown you'll find this seasonal roadside food shack that always has a line of locals waiting to order the famous Box Burger with hand-cut Parmesan and truffle oil fries. Fresh lobster and crab rolls, fish tacos, and pulled pork sandwiches with rhubarb barbecue sauce are the last thing you'd expect to find at this eclectic spot along a busy road out of town.
Sure, it looks like a dusty old cowboy bar and it is set right in the heart of a village that's appeared in several Western movies, but the extensive menu of creative breakfast plates, sandwiches, and grills reveals a locavore-minded approach to food that you might not expect from the setting. You might start the day with the Saloon Scramble, a hefty plate of feathery eggs served with green onions, venison-blueberry sausage, and jalapeño hot sauce; or later in the day, consider the thinly roasted lamb with vegetables, Manchego cheese, and a refreshing yogurt sauce atop naan flatbread.
Skilled baristas churn out a dizzying array of coffee drinks—drip, cold brew, all the fave espresso options—in a clean downtown space with white walls and teal wainscoting. Pastries, avocado toast, quiche, and egg-inflected sandwiches (some vegan or gluten-free) are the breakfast hits, with banh mi and the like added for lunch.
Nestled in the funky Mills 50 neighborhood, this small, casual, Michelin Bib Award–winning taco place serves corn tortillas and fresh guacamole with every dish. Tacos like the vegetarian (shiitake mushrooms, onions, zucchini, and crema fresca) or the smoked greens (kale, shiitake, plantain, onions, and ricotta) are unusual alternatives to the classic chicken tinga or carne asada options. There's a second location in the hip Hourglass neighborhood with a Sunday brunch option.
It's worth the 15-minute drive north of downtown Salt Lake to sample what may very well be the finest small-batch ice cream in the Rockies, or at least Utah. Innovative flavors at this bustling shop in cheerful downtown Bountiful include lavender studded with chunks of honeycomb and mango sticky rice. Offerings change according to which ingredients are available in season.
There's almost no combination on Earth as satisfying as pizza and beer—which just happen to be Blind Lady's specialties. The old world-style pizzas are topped with organic ingredients, like homemade chorizo and avocado, which offer an excellent complement to their extensive beer selection, which is updated on their chalkboard daily. Just be patient waiting for a seat at the popular neighborhood spot, which is decorated with upcycled materials such as reclaimed wood floors and glass cases of vintage beer cans.
A great spot to stop for a beer and an inexpensive, healthy bite to eat, this bohemian café offers a menu built around salads, burgers, and relatively nutritious pub fare—think hummus plates and artichoke dips. There are tons of vegetarian options and a decent selection of gluten-free items, all of which are clearly marked. If you visit in the summer, try to get a seat on the back patio—it overlooks a pretty garden with a stream running through. Not that sitting inside is so bad: the interiors are interestingly done up with whimsical art and an array of differently shaped blue glass bottles.
