The airy beignets (from a 143-year-old recipe) at this 24-hour, wood-paneled Metairie haunt leave the better-known Café du Monde in their sugar dust. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The curbside café has been Darlinghurst’s de facto community center since 1957. Order a flat white, claim a stool, & watch the neighborhood pass by. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
It’s welcomed plenty of tourists over its 137 years—plus Freud, Lenin, and Trotsky—but the utterly grand café serves the flakiest strudel in town. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Wake up with a bowl of rice porridge at this Happy Valley institution—and pair it with an order of fabulously crisp youtiao (Chinese crullers). More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The best breakfast on the Bosporus: a lavish spread of eggs, sheep’s-milk cheeses, olives, tomatoes, and warm sourdough bread on a rooftop terrace. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Follow Islington’s beau monde to this Middle Eastern bakery and café, where the tantalizing bread platter (toasted tableside) is a meal in itself. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Chef John Currence’s motto? “Lard have mercy!” Biscuits slathered w/ sausage gravy & the burrito w/ house-made chorizo will have you praying for more. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Perpetually crowded for its maple-bacon biscuits, Valrhona chocolate–dipped doughnuts, and egg sandwiches stuffed with bacon, Gruyère, & tangy aioli. More places to eat like a local tandl.me/12ufz7c
Join vendors from Tsukiji Fish Market queuing up at dawn for a post-shift sushi breakfast at this 13-seat spot. You won’t find fresher toro in Tokyo. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Squeeze in amid the regulars at this outdoor fish stall—they’re all devouring massive plates of perfectly steamed mussels. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
You’re in B.A.—you need a good rib eye, plus sweetbreads, chorizo, and a nice, earthy Malbec. Find it all at Palermo’s most beloved grill house. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
South Africa is renowned for its free-range lamb, and this is the place to try it—straight from the owner’s farm and impeccably grilled over coal. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Northern Vietnam’s signature dish, chà ca, takes a turn: white fish is marinated in galangal, shrimp paste & turmeric, then sautéed at your table. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Yucatecans arrive in droves to this corner stand at 7 a.m. for addictive tacos such as eggs with chaya leaf and castakan (twice-fried pork belly). More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Vendors hawk irresistible snacks to strolling families along this strip of sand. Look for pao bhaji, a mouth-tingling vegetable-and-potato stir-fry. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
This is the spot for fiery, cayenne-infused, Nashville-style deep-fried “hot chicken.” Cool your palate with a craft beer and pimento mac-and-cheese. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The most delicious plate of pasta in Rome: cacio e pepe w/ pecorino and handmade noodles, garnished upon request w/ a dollop of sheep’s-milk ricotta. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Everyone comes here for bánh cuón: dainty, ravioli-like crêpes filled w/ ground shrimp or barbecued pork & drizzled w/ pungent nuoc cham sauce. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
On Fridays Iranian Americans flock to the courtyard for abgoosht: lamb-and-bean stew that’s mashed into a paste and served w/ lamb broth and pickles. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
A chalkboard menu behind the counter tells you what’s on offer (fish pies; grilled herring; a crab sandwich with chips) at this classic holiday spot. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Sabina Bandera has crafted seafood cocktails and ceviches—pismo clam, sea urchin, octopus, mussels, & more—from her humble stall for almost 40 years. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Chic South Americans congregate amid the dunes for languorous midday meals. Keep things simple: sea bass cooked over coals and a pitcher of clericó. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Tables in the sand are piled with deep-fried snapper and irresistible khoei jii (shrimp paste, crabmeat, coconut, & spices, roasted in coconut husk). More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The restaurant is known for its whole suckling pig, but the café next door has a suckling-pig panino that’s just as delicious & one-fifth the price. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
In three pastel-trimmed cottages on the shore, a chef cooks up the freshest possible conch—harvested from the ocean moments before it’s on your plate. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The roast chicken is an essential New York bite: pan-seared breast served in chicken stock with cabbage stuffed with confit leg and vegetables. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The Caraquet oysters on the half shell are an essential New York bite. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The Regina pizza is an essential New York bite: fior di latte, Italian tomatoes, Pecorino Romano, olive oil, and fresh basil. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The soup dumplings are an essential New York bite: Shanghainese xiao long bao with soy-vinegar- ginger sauce. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The sushi here—arctic char, ebi (shrimp), uni (sea urchin), and ikura (salmon roe)—is an essential New York bite. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The classic bagel sandwich—Scottish smoked salmon, cream cheese, and red onion on a poppy-seed bagel—is an essential New York bite. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The carbonara is an essential New York bite: pasta tossed with house-cured pancetta, eggs, Parmesan, and black pepper. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Choose your own fillings or defer to chef Delphine Zampetti for a deceptively simple baguette sandwich at her petite, retro-flavored deli. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Rustic wooden tables and an open kitchen give the space a farmhouse vibe; the menu of neo-bistro classics is both soulful and inventive. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
At this elbow-to-elbow “hors d’oeuvres bar,” the bread basket is communal, but the foie gras skewers and boudin noir macarons are just for you. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Across from impossible-to-book Frenchie lies its edgy sibling, whose 80’s rock playlist and small plates (pulled pork on brioche) are all the rage. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The classic Parisian bistro every carnivore dreams of, w/ knife-cut steak tartare, foie gras haricots verts and, of course, a venerable steak frites. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Two blocks from the Eiffel Tower, noted chef Christian Constant pays homage to his grandmother’s recipes at his casual, bi-level brasserie. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
It’s all about creative cocktails & grilled hot dogs at this South Pigalle nightspot, where a fashionable crowd mingles w/ chefs fresh off the line. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Local sea dogs come to the sepia-toned cervecería for house-brewed lager & a dizzying array of tapas (boat-fresh squid; flash-fried padrón peppers). More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
On Monday nights, the wine bar becomes the hangout for the culinary scene. A guest cook—sometimes from Noma or Relae—prepares a tasty one-pot dish. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
This bistro hits all marks of Nouvelle Montréal cuisine: taxidermy in the dining room, chalkboard of nose-to-tail specials & scruffy hipster chefs. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
This cozy bar serves Brazilian comfort food: sausage-filled cheese bread; sandwiches of pancetta, arugula, and Minas Gerais cheese; and dulce de nata. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Pristine shellfish displayed on a gleaming zinc counter are the main event at this handsome Ballard oyster bar. The shucking itself is a work of art. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Shake Shack’s Danny Meyer calls this “one of the most satisfying cheeseburgers you’ll ever have.” Bonus points for Cardinals games blaring at the bar. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The under-the-radar private restaurant has a 12-course set menu featuring Sichuan classics such as fiery pork ma po dofu and chile-laced braised beef. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Culinary superstars like Eric Ripert seek out this diminutive dining room for the city’s finest ceviche. It’s only open for lunch; reserve in advance. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
On a gritty block, this restaurant has no sign—just a buzzer that reads pozole. Try the spicy hominy stew, best with tostadas slathered in crema. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Come without a reservation & you’re rolling the dice—the quirky owners will decide if you deserve to try Roman classics like house-made fettuccine. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The signature dish—sesame-crusted, shallow-fried rabbit served with mustard sauce—is a masterful blend of Cajun ingredients and Creole technique. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The chef layers rice in a colossal pan with rabbit, tomatoes, saffron, and snails. Licked by flames from an open fire, the paella is near-mythical. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Lamingtons, squares of vanilla sponge cake slathered in chocolate icing and dusted in coconut, come stuffed with panna cotta and berry compote. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
This fishing village is known for cao làu soup: its thick noodles are cooked in water from local wells & its tangy broth is laced w/ juicy pork. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
NYC chef Zak Pelaccio swears by the hokkien mee, a tangle of egg noodles charred in a wok with crisp bits of lard, pork, shrimp, fish cake, & cockles. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The best gas station you’ll ever eat at. Head to the tagine window for a chicken stew pungent with preserved lemons and olives. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Hong Kongers come for comfort food such as fried rice with fish roe. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Follow your nose to this stand that sells prized varieties of the much-maligned fruit. The mao shan wang is as creamy and rich as its name implies. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Plenty of shops sell bak kut teh—a pork-rib soup that’s the ultimate hangover cure—but this version has extra-tender ribs and a long-simmered broth. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
A tiny bakeshop with superior tau sar piah, crumbly sesame-seed-encrusted pastries filled with sweet or savory bean paste. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Slurp up every drop of fish head steamboat, a rich stock of grouper or pomfret bobbing with thick slices of fish, prawn, squid, cabbage, & sour plum. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The Chase family crafts hearty vegetarian dishes— savory onion crêpes; velvety leek soup—from ingredients grown on their farm in nearby Freedom. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Eastern European immigrants, multigenerational families, and Food Network chef Michael Symon all swear by the old- school stuffed cabbage & kielbasa. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The best tuna poke on Oahu, says Ed Kenney, chef-owner of Town restaurant. Order a portion tossed with pickled mango, kimchi, boiled peanuts, and poi. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Oysters fresh from Gulf Coast waters—served raw on the half shell or fried on Louisiana’s answer to Texas toast—rule at this tile-lined seafood joint. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Behind a lavender façade, the shop’s exotic flavors include burnt sugar, licorice, honey-lavender, apple cider & cinnamon-spiced Mexican chocolate. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Boisterous families head here for terrific tong shui (sweet Cantonese soups & custards), durian-and-tofu pudding, & super-rich black-sesame ice cream. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The city’s best knafeh: generous pockets of shredded phyllo and sweet cheese crowned with local pistachios and syrup, and served piping hot. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Parisian-style tartlets are made w/ regional ingredients (apricots; pistachios). Try the flaky ricotta-and-chocolate-filled Romanella w/ an espresso. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
You want the “mango avalanche”—shaved ice piled high with cubes of fresh fruit, mango pudding, condensed milk, and mango sorbet. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Ditch your preconceived notions of Chinese food and order the pan-fried goat cheese, mashed potatoes with pickled vegetables, and mint salad. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
A “living wall” by artist Patrick Blanc forms the backdrop for models and scenesters nibbling on crudi atop the trendiest garage in the world. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
A stomping ground for the city’s freethinking intellectuals & cultural elite. An eclectic menu ranges from jamón ibérico to oxtail ragù w/ polenta. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Get the beef enchiladas with red chile sauce. The sauce begs to be scooped up with the perfectly fried chips that come warm to the table. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
"Vietnamese with a French accent" is a good description of Elizabeth Street Café. Start with an order of pork buns before digging in to a bowl of pho. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Opened by two high-school friends as part of a revitalization project in this blue-collar town. Get the diver scallops with butternut-squash risotto. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
It begins with a drive through bucolic Anderson County and ends at an old country store with grass-fed burgers, and pimento-cheese sandwiches. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Amazingly fresh fish for under $12. The chef-owner personally delivers each dish and explains the preparation. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Everything about Phil's is unpretentious and quaint. Large, steaming bowls of cioppino are one of the most popular dishes. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The Sancimino brothers (six of them!) are always joking around behind the counter. Order cracked crab and a pint of Anchor Steam. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Come for breakfast. Get the burrito with sausage or bacon smothered in green chiles, and plenty of the mini cinnamon rolls. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
This simple restaurant makes hummus from chickpeas ground by hand daily. Baskets of warm pita and the tenderest lamb & beef kebabs complete the meal. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The most charming restaurant in western Sicily. Nearly everything is made in-house: tangy ricotta, fragrant honey, garlicky salumi, silky tagliatelle. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Beside the harbor, Els Pescadors serves up the day’s catch—prawns, John Dory, sea bass, turbot—from the boats bobbing a stone’s throw from your table. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
At this traditional restaurant/beer garden, regulars gather over plates of schnitzel and Älplermagronen (creamy macaroni with cheese and potatoes). More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Roast pig is glorious as at this pit stop in Allapattah, a historically Cuban enclave. Line up for a superlative pan con lechón served on warm bread. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
On a car-free isle, everything at this harborfront restaurant is impossibly fresh, from the crawfish sautéed in lemon oil to the creamy goat cheese. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The oysters alone are worth the hour-long drive from San Francisco. But a bowl of clam chowder feels particularly restorative on a foggy day. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
This family-run trattoria serves the best farinata, a pizza-like pancake made from chickpea flour adorned w/ hunks of gorgonzola or Stracchino cheese. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The bouillabaisse here is oceans away from all others—brash and intense, rich with saffron and garlic and tasting unmistakably of the sea. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Superb pork spare ribs, tender brisket, and juicy smoked chickens (with skin as crackly as potato chips) draw the faithful to Fargo's newest location. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The vibe is Mad Hatter meets 1950’s hausfrau at this Kreuzberg bakery where Andreas Minsch turns out giant cinnamon rolls & Black Forest cherry cake. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Even the most jaded epicurean succumbs to this Willy Wonkaesque haven. Lose yourself amid the shelves of chocolate bars, truffles, and pralines. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The top place for drinks at sundown attracts a chic clientele w/ great music & dishes like a superbly salty, sambaza (a sardine-like freshwater fish). More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The standouts on the menu are fried meatballs in a basil sauce, tiny cuttlefish, and gnocchi that are nothing short of revelatory. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Order hamburgers and fries from a drive-through with a 1955 Chevrolet on the roof; its headlights and taillights work at night. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
Yachts drop anchor for lunch perched over the Med. The only thing fresher than the peppery arugula salad is the ricci (sea urchin) in the spaghetti. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
For more than 50 years, this pint-size kitchen has served an irresistible version of fatteh, with layers of pita, chickpeas, yogurt, and pine nuts. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
The new-wave coffee shop from rock-star barista Thomas Lehoux, whose cappuccinos are made with cult Telescope beans. More places to eat like a local: tandl.me/12ufz7c
