Reset

101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown -
"Countdown 20-1"

  (21 restaurants)    
Aired on: March 22, 2011 
Aired on: March 22, 2011 
Restaurant What to Get Show / Episode /
Recommended By
Yelp!
Rating
Yelp! rating descending order
Restaurant Notes
Gus's World Famous Fried ChickenSee Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken Video ($)
(3340 ratings)

310 S Front St Map It!
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-4877
  • Fried Chicken
    looks good; get the original (hot & spicy); classified recipe has been w/ family since 1953 (not even wife knows!); secret is liquid batter; looks good; suggest dipping in ranch dressing; looks good; spicy chicken
4.5 out of 5
3340 ratings
#12 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown)
Hillbilly Hot DogsSee Hillbilly Hot Dogs Video ($)
(415 ratings)

6951 Ohio River Rd Map It!
Lesage, WV 25537
(304) 762-2458
www.hillbillyhotdogs.com
  • Home Wrecker
    1-lb hot dog w/ mega toppings; 15-inch all-beef hot dog, deep-fried, jalapeno peppers, habanero sauce, coleslaw, and sauerkraut; eat in 12 min and win a T-shirt; looks good
  • Single Wide Burger
    3.5-lb all-beef burger; size of man-hole cover
  • Hot Dog
    Guy got it w/ pickled jalapeno peppers, nacho cheese, BBQ sauce, mustard, mayo, ketchup, chili sauce, chopped onions, coleslaw, relish and sauerkraut; looks good
  • Rahall Redhot Wiennie
    named after Congressman Nick Rahall; hot dog w/ ketchup, hot mustard, fried onions, jalapeno & habanero peppers and sauerkraut
4.5 out of 5
415 ratings
#15 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); total dive...yard-sale junk creates fun atmosphere; dining area inside abandoned school buses...looks fun; where Roger & Jane Holme (DDD fans) celebrated their 100th DDD restaurant at (they got 1 Home Wrecker & 2 Wide Burgers...to spell out '100')
Cotham's In the CitySee Cotham's In the City Video ($)
(50 ratings)

1401 W 3rd St Map It!
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 370-9177
www.cothams.com
  • Hubcap Cheeseburger
    hubcap-sized burger
4.0 out of 5
50 ratings
#18 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); Bill Clinton has visited
Fentons CreamerySee Fentons Creamery Video ($$)
(5204 ratings)

4226 Piedmont Ave Map It!
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 658-7000
www.fentonscreamery.com
  • Banana Special
    banana split (large one); banana split; unanimous #1 pick for Top 5 Restaurants-Best Dessert; huge scoops, of vanilla, chocolate & strawberry ice cream cradled by a whole ripe banana, bathed in pineapple, strawberry & chocolate fudge; topped off w/ almonds, whipped cream & cherry
  • Cookie Connection
    warm chocolate chip cookie under scoops of Cookies n' Cream & cookie dough ice cream topped w/ hot fudge, marshmallow topping, whipped cream, crushed Oreos & a cherry
4.0 out of 5
5204 ratings
#1 (Top 5 Restaurants-Best Desserts); #4 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); founded in 1894 starting as delivering milk by horse-drawn wagon; ice cream made by hand
Katz's DelicatessenSee Katz's Delicatessen Video ($$)
(15370 ratings)

205 E Houston St Map It!
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-2246
katzsdelicatessen.com
  • Corned Beef Sandwich
    2nd top seller; looks good; looks good; 2nd top seller; looks good
  • Pastrami Sandwich
    top seller; looks good; Adam adds corned beef, Russian dressing & slaw; brined for 30 days; hand-carved, hence thicker-sliced; looks good; top seller; looks good
  • Knoblewurst (garlic beef sausage)
  • Rueben
    looks good
4.0 out of 5
15370 ratings
#5 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown);
Food War: Katz's vs. 2nd Ave... Katz's won (3-votes-to-2); oldest deli in America (1888); where "Harry Met Sally" was filmed (orgasm scene); don't lose your ticket to order or it will cost you $50 (and they have a cop guarding the door)
Lambert's CafeSee Lambert's Cafe Video ($$)
(765 ratings)

2305 E Malone Ave Map It!
Sikeston, MO 63801
(573) 471-4261
www.throwedrolls.com
  • All-You-Can-Eat Sides
4.0 out of 5
765 ratings
#19 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown);
#1 (World's Best Places to Pig Out); HUGE portions; "throw rolls" they throw the rolls to you from across the room
Roscoe's House of Chicken & WafflesSee Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles Video ($$)
(4496 ratings)

1514 N Gower St Map It!
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-7453
www.roscoeschickenandwaff...
  • Waffles and fried chicken
    recommend eating both together at same time; Duff adds hot sauce also
  • Herb's Special
    top seller; 4 pieces of chicken smothered w/ gravy & onions; side of 2 waffles; chicken pan-fried for 30 min; looks good
  • "The Oscar"
    3 Chicken wings, grits, one egg & fluffy hot biscuit
4.0 out of 5
4496 ratings
#2 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); opened in 1975; celebrities who have eaten here: Snoop Dogg, CNN's Larry King & David Beckham; multiple locations
Salt Lick BBQSee Salt Lick BBQ Video ($$)
(5437 ratings)

18300 Fm 1826 Map It!
Driftwood, TX 78619
(512) 858-4959
www.saltlickbbq.com
  • BBQ
  • Brisket Jalapeno Sandwich
    smoked 4-6 hrs in oakwood & wet pecan shells; recommended w/ housemade pickled jalapenos & spicy habanero BBQ sauce by Bobby Flay; looks good
  • BBQ Beef Ribs
    available only on Sunday afternoons; looks good
  • Beef Brisket
    smoked 20 hrs & regularly basted; looks good; looks good; top seller
  • Peach Cobbler
  • Family Style Plate
    heaping helpings of beef, sausage, and pork ribs, served with potato salad, cole slaw, beans, bread, pickles, and onions; sold per person; "some of the best BBQ I've ever tasted"; looks good
4.0 out of 5
5437 ratings
#7 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); opened in 1967; institution BBQ restaurant; large open pit BBQ
Al's BeefSee Al's Beef Video ($)
(603 ratings)

1079 W Taylor St Map It!
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-4017
www.alsbeef.com
  • Italian Beef Sandwich
    have it dipped Italian beef gravy w/ Italian relish; looks good; winner of Best Sandwich (Midwest); topped w/ spicy gardinaire (Italian relish) and dipped in beef gravy; have it dipped Italian beef gravy; looks good
3.5 out of 5
603 ratings
#5 (Top 5 Restaurants-Best Sandwiches); #11 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown);
Food War: Al's #1 vs. Mr. Beef... Mr. Beef won (4-votes-to-1); opened in 1938; in Little Italy
Albano's PizzeriaSee Albano's Pizzeria Video ($)
(166 ratings)

5913 W Roosevelt Rd Map It!
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 863-0060
  • Pizza Puff
    plate-sized; "calzone on steroids", but deep-fried; looks good
3.5 out of 5
166 ratings
#8 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown)
Anchor BarSee Anchor Bar Video ($$)
(2184 ratings)

1047 Main St Map It!
Buffalo, NY 14209
(716) 883-1134
www.anchorbar.com
  • Buffalo Wings
    offer mild, medium, hot and "suicidal"; medium sauce is the same recipe from the original in 1964; larger wings; coats sauce tossing in a large bowl
3.5 out of 5
2184 ratings
#17 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown);
Food War: Anchor Bar vs. Duff's... Duff's won (3-votes-to-2); opened in 1935; birthplace of the chicken wing since 1964; can mail-order wing sauce
Arthur Bryant's BarbequeSee Arthur Bryant's Barbeque Video ($$)
(1798 ratings)

1727 Brooklyn Ave Map It!
Kansas City, MO 64127
(816) 231-1123
www.arthurbryantsbbq.com
  • BBQ
  • Beef Brisket
    smoked for 12 hours; top seller
  • Ribs
    pork spare ribs; vinegar-based sauce
  • Burnt Ends
3.5 out of 5
1798 ratings
#14 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown);
Food War: Arthur Bryant's vs. Gate's... Arthur Bryant's won (4-votes-to-1); opened in 1930; iconic BBQ; long lines; known for its BBQ sauce; served on butcher paper w/ loaf of bread
Big Texan Steak RanchSee Big Texan Steak Ranch Video ($$)
(2830 ratings)

7701 E I-40 Map It!
Amarillo, TX 79118
(806) 372-6000
www.bigtexan.com
  • 72-oz Steak Challenge
    challenge: 72-oz steak, shrimp cocktail, tossed salad, baked potato, roll in 1 hour and eat for free; challenge: 72-oz steak, shrimp cocktail, tossed salad, baked potato, roll in 1 hour and eat for free
  • 72 oz Big Texan Challenge
    challenge - 72-oz steak with sides in 1 hour; Adam won; challenge: 72-oz steak, shrimp cocktail, tossed salad, baked potato, roll in 1 hour and eat for free
3.5 out of 5
2830 ratings
#16 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown);
#10 (World's Best Places to Pig Out)
Louis' LunchSee Louis' Lunch Video ($)
(1172 ratings)

261 Crown St Map It!
New Haven, CT 06511
(203) 562-5507
www.louislunch.com
  • The Original Burger
    The Original Burger; served on toast; no ketchup, no fries; served on toast; no ketchup, no fries; blend of 5 ground meats; served on toast; only available toppings are cheese, tomato and onion, no ketchup; no fries, just potato salad
3.5 out of 5
1172 ratings
#1 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); est. 1895; birthplace of the hamburger (since 1900)
Primanti BrothersSee Primanti Brothers Video ($)
(1678 ratings)

46 18th St Map It!
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 263-2142
www.primantibros.com
  • Sandwich
    sandwiches piled-high topped with french fries, cole slaw and tomatoes; sandwiches topped with french fries, cole slaw and tomatoes
  • Capicola & Cheese Sandwich
    5 slices of capicola, cheese, coleslaw & fries stuffed between 2 thick slices of Italian bread; Adam likes to add a runny egg; sponsored by Kevin Pollak; looks good
  • Cap & Egg Sandwich
    capicola, egg & cheese w/ fries, slaw & tomatoes in sandwich
  • Pitts-Burgher Cheesesteak
    cheesesteak sandwich stuffed choice of meat and cheese with french fries, cole slaw and tomatoes
  • Corned Beef Sandwich
    sandwiches topped with french fries, cole slaw and tomatoes
3.5 out of 5
1678 ratings
#3 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown);
#7 (World's Best Places to Pig Out); since 1933; multiple locations
Voodoo DoughnutSee Voodoo Doughnut Video ($)
(9778 ratings)

22 SW 3rd Ave Map It!
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 241-4704
www.voodoodoughnut.com
  • Memphis Mafia
    Fried dough with banana chunks and cinnamon sugar covered in a glaze with chocolate frosting, peanut butter, peanuts and chocolate chips on top; Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Fritter; looks good
  • Voodoo Doll Doughnut
    signature doughnut; signature doughnut; signature doughnut
  • Bacon Maple Bar Doughnut
3.5 out of 5
9778 ratings
#20 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); also a wedding chapel
Durgin Park [CLOSED]See Durgin Park Video ($$)
(551 ratings)

340 N Market St Map It!
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 227-2038
  • 32-oz Prime Rib
    bone sticks over the plate; dry-aged
3.0 out of 5
551 ratings
[CLOSED]; #10 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); est. 1827 (but serving food since 1742); Boston institution serving "Yankee Cooking"
Jack-n-Grill [CLOSED]See Jack-n-Grill Video ($$)
(362 ratings)

2524 Federal Blvd Map It!
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 964-9544
  • 7-lb Breakfast Burrito
    if guys eat it, it's free; if girl eats it, it's free and girl gets to eat at Jack-n-Grill "for life"; challenge: if guys eat it, it's free; if girl eats it, it's free and girl gets to eat at Jack-n-Grill "for life"; Adam lost
3.0 out of 5
362 ratings
[CLOSED]; #13 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown); huge portions
Pat's King of SteaksSee Pat's King of Steaks Video ($)
(4614 ratings)

1237 E Passyunk Ave Map It!
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 468-1546
www.patskingofsteaks.com
  • Cheesesteak
    most popular w/ cheese whiz; cooked in high heat: 550-degree flat-top grill; cheese wiz on top of steak; to eat, alternate 1 bite cherry pepper (side item), 1 bite cheesesteak; looks good; most popular w/ cheese whiz
3.0 out of 5
4614 ratings
Tie for #6 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown): Pat's vs. Geno's (across the street from each other);
Food War: Pat's vs. Tony Luke's...Pat's won (2-votes-to-1); original cheesesteak since 1930; long lines; cash only
Geno's Steaks ($)
(3576 ratings)

1219 S 9th St Map It!
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 389-0659
www.genosteaks.com
  • Cheesesteak
    most popular w/ cheese whiz; most popular w/ cheese whiz
2.5 out of 5
3576 ratings
Tie for #6 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown): Pat's vs. Geno's; restaurants are across the street from each other; opened in 1966
Lulu's Bakery & Cafe [CLOSED]See Lulu's Bakery & Cafe Video ($)
(1576 ratings)

918 N Main Ave Map It!
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 222-9422
  • Chicken Fried Steak
    plate-sized; looks good; plate-sized
  • Cinnamon Roll
    3.5-lb cinnamon roll; plate-sized; 3.5-lb cinnamon roll
  • Cinnamon Roll Challenge
    3-lb cinnamon roll covered in butter & homemade icing; finish in under 30 minutes to win a t-shirt; Casey won
2.5 out of 5
1576 ratings
[CLOSED]; #9 (101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown)
101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown -
"Countdown 20-1"
  (21 restaurants)    
Aired on: March 22, 2011 
Aired on: March 22, 2011